Protests escalated across Iraq's south and its capital Baghdad on Sunday as demonstrators sealed off streets with burning tyres in outrage at the government's slow pace of reform.

The youth-dominated rallies demanding an overhaul of the ruling system have rocked Shiite-majority parts of Iraq since October, but had thinned out in recent weeks amid the geopolitical storm of rising Iran-US tensions.

On Sunday the anti-government protest movement was re-ignited with hundreds of angry young people descending on the main protest camp in Baghdad's Tahrir Square as well as the nearby Tayaran Square.

Others burned tyres to block highways and bridges, turning back cars and leading to traffic jams across the city.

"This is only the first escalation," one protester with a scarf wrapped around his face told AFP as smoke from the tyres turned the sky behind him a charcoal grey.

"We want to send a message to the government: stop procrastinating. The people know what you're doing," he said.

Security forces used tear gas to try to clear out the protesters, who responded by throwing rocks.

At least 10 people including police officers were wounded in the resulting skirmishes, a medical source told AFP.

In the holy city of Najaf, youth wrapped in checkered black-and-white scarves and carrying Iraqi flags lit tyres and began a sit-in on a main road leading to the capital.

Rallies swelled in the cities of Diwaniyah, Kut, Amara and Nasiriyah, where most government offices, schools and universities have been shuttered for months.

Protesters are demanding early elections based on a reformed voting law, a new prime minister to replace current caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi and that officials deemed corrupt be held to account.

Abdel Mahdi resigned nearly two months ago, but political parties have thus far failed to agree on a successor and he has continued to run the government as a caretaker.

Demonstrators have publicly rejected the names circulating as possible replacements and are furious that other sweeping reform measures have not been implemented.

"We began to escalate today because the government did not respond to our demands, notably forming an independent government that could save Iraq," said Haydar Kadhim, a demonstrator from Nasiriyah.

"Last Monday, we gave them a deadline of seven days. That deadline ends tonight," Kadhim told AFP.

The rallies are the largest and bloodiest grassroots movement in Iraq in decades, with nearly 460 people dead and over 25,000 wounded since they erupted on October 1.

While the violence at the protests themselves has dropped slightly, activists say they face an escalating campaign of intimidation, kidnapping and assassination attempts.

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

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali insurgents linked to al Qaeda claimed responsibility for a car bombing on Saturday that wounded at least 15 people in Afgoye, northwest of the capital Mogadishu.

Police said the injured included Turkish contractors as well as Somali nationals.

Turkey's state-owned Anadolu news agency said at least four Turkish employees of a construction firm were wounded and are being treated in hospital, citing information from the Turkish embassy in Mogadishu.

"A speeding suicide car bomb rammed into a place where the Turkish engineers and Somali police were having lunch," police officer Nur Ali told Reuters from Afgoye.

"So far, we know three Turkish engineers and their translator were injured," he said. "Two other policemen were injured in the blast."

Al Shabaab, which frequently carries out bombings to try to undermine Somalia's central government, which is backed by the United Nations and African Union peacekeeping troops, said it carried out the attack.

"We are behind the martyrdom of the suicide car bomb in Afgoye," Abdiasis Abu Musab, a spokesman for the group, said. "We targeted the Turkish men and the Somali forces with them. There are casualties of death and injuries."

The group and government often differ in casualty figures.

Residents and police said al Shabaab fighters tried to mount an attack on Afgoye, about 30 km (18 miles) from Mogadishu, late on Friday but were repulsed.

Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said six Turkish nationals and nine Somali citizens were wounded in Saturday's bombing.

"The wounded are being treated at our Mogadishu Recep Tayyip Erdogan hospital. Two of our citizens are in a serious condition," Koca said on Twitter.

"Four of the nine Somali wounded are in a serious condition. We are in contact with our embassy," he added.

Local residents described a "huge blast" followed by "clouds of smoke".

Story continues

"Before the blast, several Turkish engineers and well armed convoy of Somali police were at the scene," Farah Abdullahi, a shopkeeper, told Reuters from Afgoye. "We see casualties being carried but we cannot make if they are dead or injured."

Turkey has been a major source of aid to Somalia following a famine in 2011 as Ankara seeks to increase its influence in the Horn of Africa to counter Gulf rivals like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Turkish engineers are helping with road construction in Somalia. A group of engineers was among those hit in late December in a blast at a checkpoint in Mogadishu that killed at least 90 people.

"We curse and condemn in the strongest terms the bomb terror attack which targeted innocent civilians in Somalia," the Turkish Defence Ministry said on its Twitter account.

(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Additional reporting by Feisal Omar in Mogadishu and Daren Butler in Istanbul; Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Mike Harrison)
Police are more effective when there is a strong connection between officers and the communities they serve. Officers who feel a personal stake in the place where they work will, more often than not, do a better job. And mutual trust and respect makes it easier for them to look after the safety and well-being of their neighbors.

Its for those reasons that the Casper Police Department should be commended for reaching out to the community to fill its ranks. The agency recently held a job fair in Casper to recruit locals to the force. We think thats a smart approach to addressing staffing shortages that have affected the department in recent years.

To be clear, there are great police officers in Casper who hail from outside Wyoming. Being born here isnt a prerequisite for a successful law enforcement career. But there are benefits to bringing more locals into the fold.

For one, local knowledge has its benefits. A person with a long history in Wyoming may have richer understanding of the culture and community here. That understanding could help forge deeper connections with the residents an officer serves. Those connections may make it easier for officers to address a problem, solve a crime or simply grow the bond between the citizenry and the department.

Recruiting locally also addresses a vexing problem that extends well beyond the Casper Police Department: retaining young Wyomingites. We all know how difficult it can be to keep young people from leaving our state for better economic opportunities in bigger cities. Often times, those young people dont want to leave: they feel a strong pull to the uniquely Western life of Wyoming. But if there arent jobs, they will go elsewhere.

Hiring local keeps those people in Casper. And an officer who is from Wyoming is more likely to make a career here, rather than moving on after a few years. That, in turn, has its own benefit in the form of a force thats more experienced, rather than one that has to constantly fill the ranks with new blood.

The department has wisely taken other steps to keep officers from leaving for economic reasons. Chief Keith McPheeters made changes to the departments structure so that its pay scale no longer maxes out after only five years. That upward mobility creates a stronger incentive for officers to stay and build a career here.

The ranks of the Casper Police Department are filled with great officers who were both born here and who moved from far away to take the job. Those who came from elsewhere should be commended for coming to our community and choosing to care for its well-being. But there is surely a benefit from encouraging more locals to protect and serve Casper. The department should be lauded for making the effort.

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BEIJING, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 16, 2020, the "Great Sharing, New Economy-Beijing Summit of Global Sharing Economy Forum" was held at the China National Convention Center. It was sponsored by the China General Chamber of Commerce and China Association for the Promotion of Industrial Development, organized by ToJoy, and received strategic cooperation and support from the Global Alliance of Sharing Economy (GLASE) and the Institute of Industrial Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University, Renmin Business School, and the School of Management, Xi'an Jiaotong University, etc.

At the Summit, Jose Maria Figueres, Executive Chairman of GLASE and former President of Costa Rica, announced the "Global TOP10 Sharing Economy News in 2019." The list was compiled by the global Sharing Economy Research Institute, and led to much discussion in global business and academic circles.

Details of the list are as follows:

1.National Information Center Issues 2019 Chinese Sharing Economy Development Report. Number of "sharing economy" participants up to 760 million.

According to the report, the trading volume of the Chinese sharing economy market in 2018 was 294.2 billion yuan, an increase of 41.6% over the previous year.

The number of Chinese sharing economy participants was about 760 million, of which about 75 million were service providers, a year-on-year increase of 7.1%.

The report forecasted that over the next three years, China's sharing economy would maintain an average annual growth rate of more than 30%.

2. Global Shared Computing Power Platform Pekka launches beta version, computation power sharing forecasted to unlock big possibilities for sharing economy.

Shared computing platform Pekka released its beta version this year, inviting users to make use of cloud computing services at a lower cost than traditional services.

Computing power sharing could be a breakthrough in the sharing economy. According to PEKKA's statement, about 68% of worldwide computer processing power is not fully utilized.

If these idle resources can be fully shared, not only will computer processing efficiency be greatly improved, but it will also promote the rapid development of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analysis, and blockchain.

3.WeWork frustrated, founder removed, Softbank and Goldman Sachs spend $11+ billion on rescue package.

In 2019, WeWork suffered a number of public relations crises, including its withdrawn IPO, and the stepping-down of founder Adam Newman.

By the end of the year, SoftBank Group and Goldman Sachs had spent over $11 billion USD to rescue the company, showing the continued financial support for the future of office sharing.

4.Sharing Economy Included into China's Government Report for Third Consecutive Year, mentioned by state leaders repeatedly

In the government work report at the National People's Congress in March 2019, Premier Li Keqiang pointed out that China aims to continue to support the growth of the platform and sharing economies.

At this year's China International Import Expo and World Internet Conference, President Xi Jinping also issued a similar statement to encourage the development of the sharing economy.

The type of sharing economics China is promoting is intended to enable enterprises and individuals across the global economy to share both development opportunities and the dividends of economic globalization.

5.Global Alliance of Sharing Economy (GLASE) Founded to Boost the Great Sharing Economy

In November, the Global Sharing Economy Alliance (GLASE) was officially established in Vienna. 26 former presidents and prime ministers, 250 politician, nonprofit figures, and businessmen were present for the inauguration of GLASE: an organization officially established to connect global chambers of commerce and businesses by leveraging technology to empower them to optimize sourcing of resources, funds, talent, and more. GLASE pledges to provide one-stop partner services for enterprises to expand across global markets.

Attendees stated that many years from now, people will remember 2019 as the founding year of GLASE. This year GLASE debuted its "double reduction" strategic vision; the concept of optimizing resource and talent allocation and efficiency to enable a halving of resource and labor hour requirements for businesses that cooperate in the era of the Great Sharing Economy.

6. Uber IPO disappointment, founder cashes out, rival Lyft launches electric bicycle sharing business in San Francisco.

Following an IPO that was a major disappointment for many investors, former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick sold over 90% of his shares in Uber and announced he would step down from its board. Just two days later, Uber's rival Lyft announced that it would launch a shared electric bicycle business in San Francisco, planning to deploy 4,000 electric bicycles by April.

Though is the originator of the shared ride-hailing platform, which disrupted the global travel industry and inspired subsequent competitors. Uber's 2019 results have shown that the sharing economy is no exception to the rule of survival of the fittest and the need for sharing economy companies to continuously innovate.

7. Great Sharing Economy foundational theory outlined in The Age of Great Sharing English and Chinese editions. More editions will publish across several languages

To clearly articulate the foundational principles of Great Sharing Economy Economic Theory, sharing economy experts Jun Ge and Guo Yukuan published a book that will serve as the guide for many businesses and governments that wish to transition into the Great Sharing Economy to improve their future.

As the book has stimulated much discussion already with its English version, more translations and local editions are expected soon.

8. Heal and MediCast compete fiercely; sharing health care resources shows preliminary viability in New York

New York City patients now have access to on-demand services provided by many doctors through house-call appointment platforms. Companies such as Heal and MediCast represent a new generation of tech-enabled companies that provide such services. Many are optimistic about the industry's chances to produce new tech giants such as Amazon and Uber that can change the way people live.

For now, the shared medical treatment only leverages the available time of doctors into value, but some see this is as just the tip of the iceberg for optimizing sharing of medical resources

9. Sharing economy pioneer Airbnb announces plans to be listed in 2020

Since its launch in 2008, Airbnb has expanded to 100,000 cities in approximately 190 countries around the world, with over 500 million guests served. As of September 15, 2019, users have earned more than $ 80 billion in revenue through the Airbnb platform.

Airbnb announced that the platform has been profitable for two consecutive years and is expected to go public available in 2020.

10. Seven of the TOP 10 Global Companies by Market Capitalization Are Companies with Sharing Platforms

The Nikkei Asian Review compiled a global company market capitalization list on December 20, 2019. Several of the top ten companies count digital platforms as a major part of their business models.

On these platforms, APPs, software, product information, social networks, etc. are shared by users around the world, so the market value of these companies is essentially generated by a variety of shared content.

It should be noted that the founding of GLASE and the introduction of the strategic vision of the "double 50% reduction," i.e. reduction of global new resource consumption and labor hours by 50% respectively, indicate a positive direction for the development of the sharing economy. Perhaps the Great Sharing Economy based on co-creation, collaboration and win-win results will soon become the norm of this era.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078806/ToJoy_Top_Companies_by_Market_Cap_Infographic.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078807/ToJoy_World_Sharing_Economy_Speaker.jpg
As many as 38 Union ministers would be touring J&K extensively to hold close to sixty meetings across the UT over the next six days.

According to J&Ks chief secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the visiting ministers will interact with the people to educate them about the schemes and projects being implemented or to be implemented by their ministries in J&K. (Photo: PTI)

Srinagar: The first team of Union ministers began its tour of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday to what the officials said disseminate the information about the importance of the government policies with regard to overall development of the Union Territory (UT) and its people along with steps taken in this direction in the last five months.

As many as 38 Union ministers would be touring J&K extensively to hold close to sixty meetings across the UT over the next six days. They would also interact with the people and inaugurate a host of projects and works from tube wells and lane drain protection walls to a two-lane bypass road and a school of engineering. The tour from January 18 to 24 is being coordinated by the Union home ministry.

Three of the ministers, including Arjun Meghwal, Ashwini Choubey and Jitendra Singh who had to reach Jammu by a routine flight from Delhi could not land in the winter capital due to bad weather. Their flight was diverted to Srinagar where from they flew in Jammu in a helicopter later.

According to J&Ks chief secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the visiting ministers will interact with the people to educate them about the schemes and projects being implemented or to be implemented by their ministries in J&K.

The outreach programme will cover five themes viz rapid development after J&K was brought under Presidents Rule in June 2018 and bifurcated into two UTs five months ago, cent percent coverage of 55 beneficiary oriented schemes to all residents of the UT, rapid infrastructure development including implementation of Prime Ministers Development Programme, flagship schemes and iconic projects, good governance and rule of law with equality of opportunity to all and rapid industrial and economic growth in all sectors wit focus on incomes and employment, he said.

Divisional commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu have been designated as nodal officers to coordinate the visit.

Mr Subrahmanyam has asked the district administrations to make all necessary arrangements for the programme. He has also issued directions to different departments for putting in their best efforts towards successful conduct of this people friendly initiative.

He added, The Union ministers will visit the districts under the public outreach programme with an objective of disseminating information about the importance of Centrally-sponsored schemes in overall development of every part of J&K.

Congress has criticized the Centres decision to send its ministers to J&K, asking what was the need to send propagandists if everything was normal there and wondered when would opposition leaders be allowed?. It said that this is the first government which passes the laws first and then seeks support for it from the public.

BJP government, in another propaganda exercise, has decided its time to explain the benefits of revoking Article 370 to Kashmiris. This is the first government that passes laws and then seeks support for it. When will the opposition leaders be allowed to visit Kashmir, the Congress asked in a tweet on its official handle earlier this week.

Senior party leader Kapil Singh had in a tweet said, Amit Shah says all is normal in Kashmir. If so, why send 36 propagandists to Kashmir? Why not allow non-propagandists to go and understand the situation prevailing there? Congress spokesman Manish Tewari wrote on the micro-blogging site 36 ministers running around J&K in 6 days is a sign of panic not normalcy. Abrogating Article 370 was a blunder & no quick fixes will work. Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall; All the kings horses and all the kings men Couldnt put Humpty together again.

Senior Congress leader and former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had said that by arranging visits of Union ministers to the erstwhile state, the Centre has made a third bid to spread lies about situation there post abrogation of its special status given under Article 370.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 16:29:00|Editor: ZX

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HEFEI, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese carmaker Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp. Ltd. (JAC Motors) is recalling 150 of its X5 trucks over safety concerns, the State Administration for Market Regulation said Sunday.

Starting from Jan. 18, JAC Motors began recalling certain Kangling X5 vehicles produced between July 10 and August 18, 2019, as the size of a seat belt part failed to meet the quality standard of GB14166-2013 due to a loose mould in the production.

In extreme conditions, it may lead to the fracture of the buckle, thus posing threats to the safety of the passengers.

The Anhui-based automaker will inspect these cars and replace faulty parts for free, according to the administration.
She's proved hugely popular with British fans this year, taking part in both Strictly Come Dancing and RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

And Michelle Visage, 51, showed off her new dance skills for adoring crowds with her Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice, 29, at RuPaul's DragCon UK, hosted at Olympia London on Sunday.

Dressing up a pair of ripped jeans with mink coloured stilettos, large gold hoops and a massive pair of glasses, the star brought casual glamour to the extravagant event.

It's show time: Michelle Visage, 51, showed off her new dance skills for adoring crowds with her Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice, 29, at RuPaul's DragCon UK, hosted at Olympia London on Sunday

Michelle treated fans to an impromptu performance as hundreds of guests eagerly waited to meet the star on day two of the fun-filled event.

From skyscraper silver heels and dazzling jewels, to purple wigs and stand-out fascinators, drag artists from across the country certainly brightened up an otherwise grisly day in their bright, bold attire.

The convention, presented by World Of Wonder, offered fans the chance to meet the entire cast of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, along with some of their favourite queens from the US - along with Michelle.

Glowing in green! Michelle cut a casual figure in a pair of relaxed jeans, but added a pop of colour to her outfit with a pair of statement glasses

Sweet: Michelle shared a snap of herself alongside Giovanni at the event

Supportive: Tess Daley and Oti Mabuse also attended the event to see Michelle

Amongst the much-loved faces include the likes of Alexis Mateo, Baga Chipz, Bianca Del Rio, Divina De Campo, and Cheryl Hole.

Michelle took to Instagram to encourage those attending the second day of the Dragcon to come and see her at her booth, where the star sold merchandise throughout the convention.

She told Instagram followers of the convention: 'Hello gorgeous babies it's Michelle Visage from RuPaul's Dragcon. We are here in the UK. Day 2 come see me at booth D33.'

Worth the wait: After queuing to get in, fans were treated to an impromptu dance show by Michelle and dance partner Giovanni

Social: Michelle shared a funny video with her Strictly Come Dancing co-stars

Proud: Giovanni showed off his pass into the convention when he took to social media

According to the convention the judge's stall was particularly busy, attracting large queues.

The Instagram account for the convention captioned the video message from Michelle: 'Got talent? Got the moves? Got your merch? Michelle Visage's booth was packed to the brim during Day 1, make sure you come thru early and get your swag on Day 2. Catch all the magic on the West Coast, link in bio to snatch your tickets to #DragConLA this May!'

After the first day of the convention some fans of the show branded drag icon Ru Paul's DragCon UK event a 'shambles' after being forced to queue for hours outside the venue amid reports the event was overbooked.

Still on the mend: Wearing a knee support under her ripped jeans it seems the dancer has yet to recover from her Strictly injury

Taking to the stage: Michelle was joined by Oti at the event

Those attending took to social media to share their anger after waiting to enter convention for up to four hours while the iconic star Ru Paul, 59, was meeting fans inside.

Some attendees claimed that they had requested refunds due to the length of the queue but revealed that they have been told that none would be given.

An event spokesman told MailOnline entrances were closed off temporarily over health and safety concerns.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 23:05:44|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his Malaysian counterpart, Mahathir Mohamad, sent congratulatory messages respectively to the opening ceremony of 2020 China-Malaysia Year of Culture and Tourism, which was held Sunday in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

In his message, Li said China and Malaysia are neighbors across the sea, and the two sides have enjoyed a traditional friendship for thousands of years.

Chinese navigator from the Ming Dynasty Zheng He set out seven times for the expeditions to Western Seas, during which he docked his massive fleet in Malacca five times and forged a profound friendship with the locals, Li said, adding that it has become a much-told story in the history of China-Malaysia exchanges.

Li said that the China-Malaysia relationship has maintained a healthy and stable development in recent years, and the two countries have enjoyed close cooperation bilaterally and within such multilateral frameworks as the China-ASEAN cooperation, which have promoted the respective development of the two countries and brought new momentum to regional prosperity and stability.

The Chinese premier said he hopes the two sides can take the Year of Culture and Tourism as an opportunity to expand cultural interactions, deepen tourism cooperation, and boost personnel exchanges, so as to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples, continue to write new chapters of bilateral friendship, and further consolidate the foundation of public and social support for the development of the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership.

In Mahathir's message, noting that Malaysia and China share a long history of relations, he said he believes that the Year of Culture and Tourism will lead to new progress in bilateral relations and friendship.

Mahathir said he wishes the two peoples happiness and well-being in the Year of the Rat, and that bilateral relations and cooperation will keep moving forward.
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Until recently, Hoan Ton-Thats greatest hit was an app that let people put Donald Trumps distinctive yellow hair on their own photos.

Then Ton-That did something momentous: He invented a tool that could end your ability to walk down the street anonymously and provided it to hundreds of law enforcement agencies.

His tiny company, Clearview AI, devised a groundbreaking facial recognition app. You take a picture of a person, upload it and get to see public photos of that person along with links to where those photos appeared. The system  whose backbone is a database of more than 3 billion images that Clearview claims to have scraped from Facebook, YouTube, Venmo and millions of other websites  goes far beyond anything ever constructed by the U.S. government or Silicon Valley giants.

Federal and state law enforcement officers said that while they had only limited knowledge of how Clearview works and who is behind it, they had used its app to help solve shoplifting, identity theft, credit card fraud, murder and child sexual exploitation cases.

ENCRYPTION: Apple takes a (cautious) stand against opening a killer's iPhones

Until now, technology that readily identifies everyone based on their faces has been taboo because of its radical erosion of privacy.

But without public scrutiny, more than 600 law enforcement agencies have started using Clearview in the past year, according to the company, which declined to provide a list. The computer code underlying its app, analyzed by The New York Times, includes programming language to pair it with augmented reality glasses; users would potentially be able to identify every person they saw.

Clearview has also licensed the app to at least a handful of companies for security purposes.

The weaponization possibilities of this are endless, said Eric Goldman, co-director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University. Imagine a rogue law enforcement officer who wants to stalk potential romantic partners, or a foreign government using this to dig up secrets about people to blackmail them or throw them in jail.

Clearview has shrouded itself in secrecy, avoiding debate about its boundary-pushing technology. When I began looking into the company in November, its website was a bare page showing a nonexistent Manhattan address as its place of business. The companys one employee listed on LinkedIn, a sales manager named John Good, turned out to be Ton-That, using a fake name. For a month, people affiliated with the company would not return my emails or phone calls.

While the company was dodging me, it was also monitoring me. At my request, a number of police officers had run my photo through the Clearview app. They soon received phone calls from company representatives asking if they were talking to the media  a sign that Clearview has the ability and, in this case, the appetite to monitor whom law enforcement is searching for.

Facial recognition technology has always been controversial. Clearviews app carries extra risks because law enforcement agencies are uploading sensitive photos to the servers of a company whose ability to protect its data is untested.

RELEASE NOTES: Sign up for Dwight Silverman's weekly tech newsletter. It's free.

The company eventually started answering my questions, saying that its earlier silence was typical of an early-stage startup in stealth mode. Ton-That acknowledged designing a prototype for use with augmented reality glasses but said the company had no plans to release it. And he said my photo had rung alarm bells because the app flags possible anomalous search behavior in order to prevent users from conducting what it deemed inappropriate searches.

In addition to Ton-That, Clearview was founded by Richard Schwartz  who was an aide to Rudy Giuliani when he was mayor of New York  and backed financially by Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist behind Facebook and Palantir.

AMR ALFIKY/NYT

Another early investor is a small firm called Kirenaga Partners. Its founder, David Scalzo, dismissed concerns about Clearview making the internet searchable by face, saying its a valuable crime-solving tool.

Ive come to the conclusion that because information constantly increases, theres never going to be privacy, Scalzo said. Laws have to determine whats legal, but you cant ban technology.

Addicted to AI

Ton-That, 31, grew up a long way from Silicon Valley, in his native Australia. In 2007, he dropped out of college and moved to San Francisco. The iPhone had just arrived, and his goal was to get in early on what he expected would be a vibrant market for social media apps.

In 2015, he spun up Trump Hair, which added Trumps distinctive coif to people in a photo, and a photo-sharing program. Both fizzled.

Ton-That moved to New York in 2016. He started reading academic papers on artificial intelligence, image recognition and machine learning.

CES 2020: Anxiety, fear and cats

Schwartz and Ton-That met in 2016 at a book event at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. Schwartz, now 61, had amassed an impressive Rolodex working for Giuliani in the 1990s. The two soon decided to go into the facial recognition business together: Ton-That would build the app, and Schwartz would use his contacts to drum up commercial interest.

Police departments have had access to facial recognition tools for almost 20 years, but they have historically been limited to searching government-provided images, such as mug shots and drivers license photos.

Ton-That wanted to go way beyond that. He began in 2016 by recruiting a couple of engineers. One helped design a program that can automatically collect images of peoples faces from across the internet, such as employment sites and social networks. Representatives of those companies said their policies prohibit such scraping.

Another engineer was hired to perfect a facial recognition algorithm that was derived from academic papers. The result: a system that uses what Ton-That described as a state-of-the-art neural net to convert all the images into mathematical formulas, or vectors, based on facial geometry  like how far apart a persons eyes are. Clearview created a vast directory that clustered all the photos with similar vectors into neighborhoods. When a user uploads a photo of a face into Clearviews system, it converts the face into a vector and then shows all the scraped photos stored in that vectors neighborhood  along with the links to the sites from which those images came.

Clearview remains tiny, having raised $7 million from investors, according to Pitchbook, a website that tracks investments in startups. The company declined to confirm the amount.

Going Viral With Law Enforcement

In February, the Indiana State Police started experimenting with Clearview. They solved a case within 20 minutes of using the app. Two men had gotten into a fight in a park, and it ended when one shot the other in the stomach. A bystander recorded the crime on a phone, so police had a still of the gunmans face to run through Clearviews app.

They immediately got a match: The man appeared in a video that someone had posted on social media, and his name was included in a caption on the video. He did not have a drivers license and hadnt been arrested as an adult, so he wasnt in government databases, said Chuck Cohen, an Indiana State Police captain at the time.

The man was arrested and charged; Cohen said he probably wouldnt have been identified without the ability to search social media for his face. The Indiana State Police became Clearviews first paying customer, according to the company. (Police declined to comment beyond saying that they tested Clearviews app.)

The companys most effective sales technique was offering 30-day free trials to officers. Ton-That finally had his viral hit.

Federal law enforcement, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, are trying it, as are Canadian law enforcement authorities, according to the company and government officials.

Ton-That said the tool does not always work. Most of the photos in Clearviews database are taken at eye level. Much of the material that police upload is from surveillance cameras mounted on ceilings or high on walls.

Despite that, the company said, its tool finds matches up to 75% of the time.

CHARLOTTE KESL/NYT

One reason that Clearview is catching on is that its service is unique. Thats because Facebook and other social media sites prohibit people from scraping users images; Clearview is violating the sites terms of service.

Some law enforcement officials said they didnt realize the photos they uploaded were being sent to and stored on Clearviews servers. Clearview tries to preempt concerns with an FAQ document given to would-be clients that says its customer support employees wont look at the photos that police upload.

Clearview also hired Paul Clement, a U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, to assuage concerns about the apps legality.

In an August memo that Clearview provided to potential customers, including the Atlanta Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office in Florida, Clement said law enforcement agencies do not violate the federal Constitution or relevant existing state biometric and privacy laws when using Clearview for its intended purpose.

Clement, now a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, wrote that authorities dont have to tell defendants that they were identified via Clearview as long as it isnt the sole basis for getting a warrant to arrest them. Clement did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The memo appeared to be effective; the Atlanta police and Pinellas County Sheriffs Office soon started using Clearview.

Woodrow Hartzog, a professor of law and computer science at Northeastern University in Boston, sees Clearview as the latest proof that facial recognition should be banned in the United States.

Weve relied on industry efforts to self-police and not embrace such a risky technology, but now those dams are breaking because there is so much money on the table, Hartzog said. I dont see a future where we harness the benefits of face recognition technology without the crippling abuse of the surveillance that comes with it. The only way to stop it is to ban it.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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AGONCILLO, Philippines  National officials said Saturday theyre bracing for a long crisis whether the Taal volcano erupts more disastrously or simmers precariously for weeks or months, as massive numbers of displaced villagers languish in emergency shelters.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said more than 900 villagers who fell ill have been treated, mostly for exposure to ash, in evacuation sites since the volcano began erupting in Batangas province near Manila, the capital, last weekend.

About 125,000 people fled from ash-blanketed villages and crammed into hundreds of emergency centers in Batangas alone and many others took shelter in relatives homes, disaster-response officials said, appealing for masks, bottled water, portable toilets, food and sleeping mats.

Its really massive because youre talking of more or less 100,000 evacuees in evacuation centers, so the infrastructure and services needed are really huge, Duque said. This is not going to be for the short term, but for the medium if not long term.

After belching a massive plume of ash and steam more than 9 miles into the sky when it rumbled back to life last Sunday, Taal has been spewing smaller emissions and shuddering with fewer earthquakes in recent days. But despite a perceived waning of its restiveness, continuing volcanic quakes, the drying of Taals crater lake and other signs indicate magma is moving beneath, said Renato Solidum, who heads the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

We have this perception now that its waning versus underground subsurface activity, which indicates otherwise, Solidum said at a news conference, adding that experts have not seen a definite trend that its weakening.

The 1,020-foot-high Taal is one of the worlds smallest but the second-most restive of about two dozen active Philippine volcanoes. It remains at alert level 4, the second-highest warning, indicating a hazardous eruption is possible within hours or days.

Duque said hundreds of villagers have been treated for respiratory infections, hypertension, diarrhea, skin lesions, flu and coughs in evacuation centers. About 300,000 masks have been sent to calamity-hit areas.

The governments main disaster-response agency will hold a meeting this week to discuss concerns, including hygiene in evacuation camps, Duque said. He has sought the help of the military to build latrines and repair toilets in emergency shelters, mostly school buildings.

In the hard-hit town of Agoncillo, Mayor Daniel Reyes said all 42,000 residents abandoned their homes, including 8,000 who are now encamped in evacuation centers and need food, water and aid. They rushed out of their homes without bringing anything, so they will really be dependent on our help, Reyes said.

Agoncillo still has about two weeks worth of food, water and aid packs and will need help from the provincial and national governments when supplies get depleted, he said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

While tending to the thousands of displaced residents, Reyes said he and other officials were preparing contingency plans in case Taal erupts violently.

There is a great possibility that it will erupt, Reyes said, citing a briefing by government volcano experts.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a string of faults around the ocean basin where many of the worlds earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Aaron Favila and Jim Gomez are Associated Press writers.
Residents of Athar village participated in human chain formation on boats in Gandak river in Muzaffarpur. (Photo Credit: PTI File)

New Delhi:

Taking a potshot at the human chain formation in Muzaffarpur under Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars flagship programme, Jal, Jeevan, Hariyali', RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said school children were forced to stand in long queues without slippers and many had fallen ill. The former deputy CM claimed that a school teacher in Darbhanga's Keoti had also died.

Tejashwi Yadav, RJD: School children were forced to stand in long queues without slippers due to which many have fallen ill. A school teacher in Darbhanga's Keoti has also died. This is only because of the arrogance of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. https://t.co/HZg4V349xW pic.twitter.com/N6xuyvvlzU  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

Earlier, residents of Athar village participated in human chain formation on boats in Gandak river in Muzaffarpur in support of CM Nitish Kumars flagship programme, Jal, Jeevan, Hariyali. The programme is aimed at fighting climate change and social evils.

Tejashwi Yadav added, When there were floods, no helicopter was in sight but for video recording of human chain formations, 15-16 helicopters were used. So much money has been wasted over it.

Also Read: Nitish Kumar Says No To NRC In Bihar As He Calls For CAA Debate In State Assembly

Jal-Jeevan Hariyali Abhiyaan was launched by CM Nitish Kumar on the occasion of Bihar Prithvi divas on August 9.

As a part of the statewide initiative by the government, the human chain was organised to showcase its environment conservation drive besides social reform measures like prohibition and campaigns against dowry and child marriage.

In Patna, chief minister Nitish Kumar, flanked by his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and other dignitaries, stood holding hands at the Gandhi Maidan, where the participants formed a pattern resembling the map of Bihar.

Also Read: NPR Updation To Start From May 15 In Bihar, Says Sushil Modi, Warns Officials Of 'Action' In Case Of Refusal

Speaking after the function, CM Nitish thanked the people of the state for making the event a success and said, I hope the number of people who have participated exceeds what we had intended to achieve.

This is the third human chain organised at the instance of Kumar, the first being in 2017 followed by another a year later.

(With PTI inputs)
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday, January 18, stated, "All states are bound to implement any law pertaining to citizenship." His statement comes in view of some states refusing to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

He said, "When any law or amendment related to citizenship is made by Central government or Parliament, the states are bound to implement it. Unfortunately, some people are trying to put forth their political propaganda by taking steps which are contradictory to their constitutional commitments."

'Kashmiri Pandits should get back their respect'

According to Naqvi, the Kashmiri Pandits who were ousted from the Kashmir Valley should get back their land and respect. He said, "It was unfortunate how they had to leave their houses behind and move from the valley. It is the need today that they should get back their respect back and can become a part of their homeland again."

Read: Pratap Sarangi slams CAA protests, says 'those who set fire to country are not patriots'

Refusal to implement CAA

Since the passing of the newly amended citizenship law, few states across the country have shown strong resistance towards implementing it. The Kerala government earlier this week moved the Supreme Court against the Act, seeking to declare it violative of the principles of equality, freedom and secularism enshrined in the Constitution. It was the first State government to challenge the Act and to pass a resolution against the law.

Following in the southern states footsteps, the Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a resolution demanding to scrap the contentious law. Reports stated that Maharashtra is also considering to pass a resolution against CAA.

Read: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi offers condolences over demise of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said

Protests against CAA

Rallies against CAA that first broke out in Assam, spread across the country. Violent protests have been witnessed in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Several universities across the country witnessed clashes between the police and the students after the violence in Jamia Millia.

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

Read: Anti-CAA violence: 3 arrested madrassa students released on bail in Muzaffarnagar

Read: 'Understand your Constitutional duties!': Naqvi slams Mamata's plan to skip NPR meet

(With ANI Inputs)
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Donald Trumps legal team has called the charges in the impeachment trial against him brazen and unlawful.

The US presidents team was responding to the Senates official summons for the trial ahead of opening arguments on Tuesday.

House Democrats said the president had betrayed public trust with behaviour that was the worst nightmare of the founding fathers.

President Donald J Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain, the House prosecutors wrote, and then attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing congresss investigation into his misconduct.

Mr Trumps legal team said the president categorically and unequivocally denies the charges of abuse and obstruction against him. This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away, the presidents filing states.

All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters

The competing filings give a glimpse into the arguments both sides plan to make during the impeachment trial.

Their aim will be to make a strong enough case to persuade the 100 senators who will give the verdict and for the American public preparing for a presidential election in 10 months.

Senators swore an oath to do impartial justice as the chamber convenes to consider the two articles of impeachment approved by the House last month.

The Houses 111-page brief outlined the prosecutors narrative, beginning with Mr Trumps phone call with Ukraine and relying on the private and public testimony of a dozen witnesses, consisting of ambassadors and national security officials at high levels of government, who raised concerns about the presidents actions.

The House managers wrote: The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the framers of our constitution and their constitutional oaths.

Mr Trumps team called the two articles of impeachment a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.

The US presidents team encouraged politicians to reject poisonous partisanship and vindicate the will of the American people by rejecting both articles of impeachment approved by the House.

 Donald Trump denies knowing Lev Parnas 13 times

The Senate is still debating the ground rules of the trial, particularly the question of whether new witnesses will be permitted as fresh evidence emerges of Mr Trumps actions with Ukraine that led to impeachment proceedings.

New information from Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Mr Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is being incorporated in the House case.

At the same time, Senate Democrats want to call John Bolton, the former national security adviser, and other potential eyewitnesses, after the White House blocked officials from appearing in the House.

As Republicans control the Senate 53-47, they can set the trial rules, though four Republicans could join with the Democrats to change course.
Two men were arrested for allegedly cheating people on the pretext of providing them jobs abroad, police said on Monday.

The accused have been identified as Firoz Alam (45), a resident of Bihar, and Abir Poilan (34), a resident of Chirag Delhi, they said.

On November 29, 2019, Praveen Sharma, a resident of Bihar, filed a police complaint alleging that Jamal Ahmed, a travel agent from SK Enterprises, Tughalkabad Extension, told him they can find him a job in Uzbekistan, a senior police officer said.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal, the travel agent sought Rs 60,000 from Sharma for his firm's services and managing his visa.

He asked Sharma to hand over his passport and pay Rs 10,000 in advance and Rs 2,500 for medical expenses. A fake medical examination was conducted by the accused, Biswal said.

After a few days, Ahmed told Sharma his visa has arrived and asked him to send Rs 20,000 in a bank account. Sharma deposited the money and tried to contact the accused but his phone was switched off, the DCP said.

On November 29, Sharma came to Delhi from Bihar to visit the firm but office was locked.

More than 70 people have approached the police since to complain about the fraud.

During investigation, police found more than Rs one crore was deposited and withdrawn from two bank accounts linked to the fraud.

One of the bank accounts was in the name of Divine, a proprietorship firm, and Poilan was its owner, the DCP said.

On January 13, police arrested Poilan near Khizarabad in New Delhi. On his instance, Alam was arrested. Alam was seen with Poilan in a CCTV footage when money was being withdrawn from one of the two accounts, Biswal said.

During interrogation, Alam said he used to send people abroad for job. He was doing this for five to six years in Taimoor Nagar, Biswal said.

Nine passports, five mobile phones and several other documents were seized from them, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
This event marks our 3-year re-certification and commitment to the Quality Management principles in the ISO standard. The feedback from our customers the past 3-years has proven the value of INCATechs discipled Quality Management Systems.  Bruce Freedman, VP of Corporate Development

INCATech is delighted to announce that we have once again been awarded our ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification. The certification, awarded by SRI Quality System Registrar covers the corporate and functional office management and provisioning of resources to projects for development and delivery of Enterprise Content Management, Enterprise Modernization, Management Services, IT Service Delivery, and Geospatial Services and Solutions to customers.

ISO standards are process-based. Certification recognizes organizations that can link business objectives with operating effectiveness. Companies that achieve management system certification have demonstrated effective implementation of documentation and records management, proven top managements commitment to their customers, establishment of clear policy, good planning and implementation, good resource management, efficient process control, measurement and analysis, as well as institutionalized continual improvement.

About SRI

SRI Quality System Registrar is an internationally accredited registrar for management systems standards, such as ISO 9001, AS9100, IATF 16949, ISO 45001, ISO 13485, ISO 20000-1, ISO 27001, and environmental management systems standards such as ISO 14001, RC14001, and RCMS. SRI also provides public training for auditing, implementing, and maintaining these standards.

About INCATech

INCATech is an SBA 8(a) certified Woman Owned Small Business that has provided innovative technology to U.S. government and commercial customers for nearly a decade. Our expert teams apply Agile methodologies and use state-of-the-art products to achieve your mission goals and deliver breakthrough results. incatech-corp.com


OTTAWA  Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet will hear from the heads of Manitoba Hydro and CentrePort, along with a handful of prominent Winnipeggers, during their retreat in the city, which starts today.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet will hear from the heads of Manitoba Hydro and CentrePort, along with a handful of prominent Winnipeggers, during their retreat in the city, which starts today.

The Prime Ministers Office has released the list of people who will speak to the ministers as they gather to craft policies for the spring session of Parliament.

The speakers are mostly concered with business opportunities on the Prairies. Conservative MP Candice Bergen had called on Trudeau to invite agricultural groups and first responders who deal with crime linked to methamphetamines.

She had questioned the cost of sending nearly three dozen ministers to Western Canada without hearing from people who disagree with the Liberals.

Skip the Dishes co-founder Chris Simair will be part of the panel discussing regional economic competitiveness. (Phil Hossack / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Winnipeg MP Jim Carr will brief ministers on regional economic competitiveness, with a panel including refugee advocate and former foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy; CentrePort head Diane Grey; Manitoba Hydro CEO Jay Grewal; Skip the Dishes co-founder Chris Simair; and Northwest Company vice-president Gary Merasty, a former Saskatchewan grand chief.

Discussions on health care will be part of the agenda, but not a major theme. Former Liberal MP Doug Eyolfson, an emergency room doctor who had pushed for action on meth, will lead a discussion along with Health Minister Patty Hajdu.

However, the cabinets main themes for the retreat will likely garner more national attention.

A session on the state of the economy will help ministers craft this springs budget. Economists Armine Yalnizyan and Kevin Milligan and Canadas chief statistician, Anil Arora, will be involved.

A discussion on climate change will include economist Andrew Leach and climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe, the duo who last fall graded the major parties campaign plans to cut carbon emissions. (They gave the Liberals a B for ambition and an A for feasibility).

Former Liberal MP Doug Eyolfson will lead a chat alongside Health Minister Patty Hajdu. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files)

There will also be a focus on the Trans Mountain pipeline and Indigenous consultation on that project, with a presentation from the projects bureaucratic heads. Opposition from some of the First Nations along the pipelines route in British Columbia has garnered international attention, as has RCMP officers with military-style equipment.

The Trudeau government bought the pipeline for $4.5 billion after Kinder Morgan decided to scrap plans to twin the pipeline due to political uncertainty and legal hurdles. The government cleared one of those hurdles Thursday when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled British Columbia cannot regulate what flows through the pipeline, which is to carry diluted bitumen from Albertas oil sands to the B.C. coast for export overseas.

The ministers will also discuss Canadas role in the world, which will likely include Irans shooting down of a plane this month near Tehran, killing all on board, 138 of whom were flying to Toronto.

Trudeau will meet with Mayor Brian Bowman on Monday. (John Woods / The Canadian Press files)

Trudeau will meet Monday with Premier Brian Pallister and Mayor Brian Bowman, separately.

The choice of Winnipeg is a nod to the East-West divide exposed in the election. The Liberals were shut out entirely in Alberta and Saskatchewan, where voters were irate over environmental policies they believe have gutted the energy industry.

Manitoba, where the Liberals lost three of seven seats, is somewhat friendlier territory.

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"We are also committed to listening to and working closely with Canadians in the Prairies to address their specific concerns," the Prime Ministers Office wrote.

Starting Wednesday, Trudeau and his ministers will hole up again for three days in Ottawa with Liberal MPs.

Caucus chair Francis Scarpaleggia noted in an interview that this will be the "first real working session" of caucus since the election.

Since most Liberal MPs have never experienced a minority Parliament before, he expects the retreat will focus heavily on the challenges that will bring, with insights shared from veterans like himself whove been there before.

 With files from The Canadian Press

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Caitlyn Jenner took to the podium at the Women's March in Los Angeles on Saturday, addressing the crowd with a stirring speech about transgender rights.

The activist, 70, was attending the march for the first time - having completed gender reassignment surgery in January 2017 - and used the platform to entreat women to 'turn this country around'.

'Together as women, trans women and cis[gender] women, we have the power to influence our communities, our families, our friends, and colleagues, and turn this country around!' she declared.

Stirring! Caitlyn Jenner took to the podium at the Women's March in Los Angeles on Saturday, addressing the crowd with a speech about transgender rights

Caitlyn looked chic in a white top and a blazer, her chestnut locks falling in waves around her features as she spoke passionately in the Californian sunshine.

The stage also saw the likes of Mira Sorvino, Amber Heard and Bella Thorne take to it, all giving their own impassioned speeches.

Thousands gathered in cities across the US on Saturday as part of the nationwide Women's March rallies - which focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity, reproductive rights and immigration.

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang's wife Evelyn, who recently spoke out about being sexually assaulted by a doctor, spoke onstage in New York.

Transgender activist: She was attending the march for the first time, and used the platform to entreat women to 'turn this country around'

Three years on: She completed gender reassignment surgery in January 2017

Yang said: 'As terrifying as it was to share my story on a national stage, I had to believe that coming forward would help me reclaim my voice and help others reclaim theirs, otherwise we would all just be another statistic in shadows.

'I am standing here today also as a survivor of sexual assault. There are far too many of us.'

Hundreds showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington, D.C. for the rallies, which aim to harness the political power of women, although crowds were noticeably smaller than in previous years. Marches were scheduled Saturday in more than 180 cities.

Impassioned: 'Together as women, trans women and cis[gender] women, we have the power to influence our communities, our families, our friends, and colleagues, and turn this country around!' she declared.

Icon: Caitlyn looked chic in a white top and a blazer, her chestnut locks falling in waves around her features as she spoke passionately in the Californian sunshine

Shining the spotlight: The stage also saw the likes of Mira Sorvino, Bella Thorne [L] and Amber Heard [R] take to it, all giving their own impassioned speeches

Speech: Presidential candidate Andrew Yang's wife Evelyn, who recently spoke out about being sexually assaulted by a doctor, spoke onstage in at the Women's March in New York

The first marches in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the country on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. That year's D.C. march drew close to 1 million people.

In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of men, women and children filled several blocks as they made their way to a park adjacent to City Hall, where a rally featured speeches by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Maxine Waters and others.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom credited women for mobilizing against gun violence, creating the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and discrimination, and taking back the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.

'In 2020, I have no doubt that it will be women who will lead again, rise up and move this country forward on a path toward justice,' she said.
Everyone loves a parade. But not everyone can march in one. And Brendan Fay took that personally.

When he emigrated from Ireland in the 1980s, he also came out as gay. Proud of his heritage and sexuality, he wanted to walk up Fifth Avenue in the largest and longest St. Patricks Parade in the world. But he came up against the traditional Irish organizations that made up the parades board -- not the least of which was the Catholic church headed by the Cardinal Archbishop of New York.

Fay could walk with any of the myriad organizations, he was told, but not with a gay contingent.

Years of protests, arrests and negotiations finally paid off when the Lavender and Green Alliance  300 strong  marched in 2016.

We waited 25 years and I was moved to tears, Fay said. It was an inspiration and a challenge.

Not just resting on such a major accomplishment, Fay, 61, has devoted his life to making the Catholic church inclusive. As a film producer and director, he highlights the lives of individuals who have made the church more understanding, people like Franciscan Father Mychal Judge, the New York City chaplain to the Fire Department who died in 9/11, and John McNeill, the ex-Jesuit priest who authored the most complete moral theological work on same sex relations to date, The Church and the Homosexual.

The Queens resident will speak at Our Lady of Grace, my church in Hoboken, next Saturday in an appearance sponsored by the LGBTQ@Grace group.

Fay spent 1988 residing at 78 Grand St. in Jersey City, researching Margaret Anna Cusack (1829-1899), the founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. That house was her first of many Jersey City missions. Known as the Nun of Kenmare, Cusack was quite a rabble-rouser, challenging the authority of bishops to the point that her religious community disowned her for a period of time.

Like Fay, Cusack emigrated from Ireland. Fay took a tour to Ireland to the places where she lived and ministered and was inspired by her.

She spoke to my heart because she was not afraid to speak out, he said.

Among the posters in his office in Queens are Harvey Milk, Oscar Wilde, Dorothy Day and Jesuit Daniel Berrigan. People ask him, Who is this nun?

Studying at St. Johns University in Queens, where he still lives, he wrote a major paper of Cusack for his masters in theology. Through the years, he has taught religion at various Catholic institutions, including La Salle Academy on the Lower East Side, which has an outreach to children of immigrants and the poor.

Fay was a child of the 60s and 70s in Ireland, growing up between Vatican II and the Stonewall riots. His parents were working class and his father active in the St. Vincent de Paul Society of his parish, and that inspired Fay. He was an altar boy and educated by the Sisters of Mercy.

When he was 26, he came to New York.

It was a unique time of great change and great awakening, he said.

He was one of seven children and never broached his sexuality in Ireland, where it was still a crime to be gay until 1993. Now, the prime minister of Ireland is a gay man.

Greenwich Village, Fay said, was not only the epicenter of gay life, but when he arrived, it was also the epicenter for the AIDS epidemic. Fay was involved in efforts by the church and gay groups to minister to people with HIV and AIDS.

There were also heady movements of social engagement with apartheid and nuclear disarmament.

There was a social awakening in church and society, he said.

Fay first sought to march in the New York St. Patricks Parade in 1991. Frustrated after years of trying, he organized the first St. Patricks for All Parade in 1999 in Queens and it kicked off in March 2000.

At one point, Hillary Clinton marched in Queens.

Sixteen years later, Cardinal Dolan gave his blessing and that was the turning point for the Manhattan parade inclusion. About 100 march annually since the first.

Its so important to be ourselves, Fay said, recalling a statement from the Catholic bishops that homosexuals are like everyone else and deserve respect, friendship and justice.

Through his films, writing, speaking and protests, Fay lives out that message.

I wish we would live up to that call for inclusion.

The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken.

If you go ...

LGBTQ@Grace will host A Conversation With Brendan Fay from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, in the Our Lady of Grace Parish Center, 411 Clinton St., Hoboken. Free admission. Free limited parking in the churchs Willow Avenue lot between Fourth and Fifth streets. For more information, call 201-659-0369.
Experts say the impact on the schemes NAVs may vary in the coming days, depending upon how fund houses treat the developments on VIL and whether there are any further rating downgrades or credit events.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com.

The insolvency risks facing Vodafone Idea (VIL) because of the AGR (adjusted gross revenues) dues spilled over to more mutual fund (MF) schemes on Friday, with the exposed schemes seeing 4-10 per cent dip in net asset values (NAVs) on the back of valuations provided by rating agencies.

Overall, the MF industrys debt exposure to VIL stood at Rs 3,389 crore as on December 31, 2019, spread across 45 schemes, showed data from Value Research.

UTI Credit Risk Fund, which had 17 per cent of scheme assets exposed to debt papers of VIL, saw 10.42 per cent dip in its NAV. UTI Bond Fund (8.32 per cent exposure) saw 4.15 per cent mark-to-market (MTM) impact on its NAV.

In a note, UTI MF said, Given the above uncertainties and to protect the interest of unitholders, UTI AMC (asset management company) has decided to value the non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of Vodafone Idea at the lower of the two prices provided by the valuation agencies with effect from January 17, 2020.

The note added that UTI AMC would review the valuations based on future developments and keep the investors informed.

The two close-end fixed maturity plans (FMPs) of UTI MF -- Series XXX-IX (1,266 days) and Series XXVII-II (1,161 days) -- also saw 3.08 per cent and 1.7 per cent impact, respectively, on NAVs. Overall, UTI MF had Rs 557 crore of exposure to debt papers of VIL.

The other schemes that felt the pinch on Friday belonged to Nippon India MF and Birla Sun Life MF. Nippon India Hybrid Fund, which had 7.42 per cent of scheme exposure to VILs debt paper, saw its NAV dip by 3.83 per cent. The NAVs of the 13 FMPs of Nippon India MF (which had a combined exposure of Rs 64.37 crore) saw an MTM impact of 2-4 per cent. Overall, Nippon India MF had debt exposure of Rs 243 crore to VIL.

Aditya Birla MF, which had Rs 514 crore of debt exposure to VIL, didnt see any major impact in four of its schemes that hold VIL debt exposure. The MTM impact ranged from 1 per cent to below 1 per cent.

Experts say the impact on the schemes NAVs may vary in the coming days, depending upon how fund houses treat the developments on VIL and whether there are any further rating downgrades or credit events.

The MTM impact has come after the valuations provided by the rating agencies. However, some may decide to value it in conservative terms and some fund house may take a different approach, said a fund manager, requesting anonymity.

Franklin Templeton MF decided to markdown its debt exposure to VIL to zero on Thursday itself, the day the Supreme Court (SC) rejected the review plea of VIL on AGR dues amounting to Rs 55,038 crore. This was done to prevent savvy investors getting advantage over others, by redeeming immediately after the SC ruling. Also, fresh inflows were subject to certain restrictions to prevent new investors from seeking arbitrage play on any MTM reversal.

Franklin Templeton MF had Rs 2,074 crore of debt exposure to VIL as of December 31, 2019, in six of its schemes. The markdown had led to 4-6 per cent dip in these on Thursday.

If VILs loan facilities are downgraded below the current rating of BBB-, that would make it below investment grade. This move would require all fund houses to mark down their debt exposure to VIL, in accordance with the mark down levels stipulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India for every rating action below the investment grade.

Last November, Care Ratings had downgraded the long-term bank facilities and NCDs of VIL to BBB- from A- after SC ruled in favour of the government, which was seeking Rs 1.47 trillion of statutory dues from telecom players.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 11:09:36|Editor: huaxia

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MADRID, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The signing of the phase-one economic and trade agreement between China and the United States "is of great value for all of us," said the head of a Spanish think tank.

Rosa Cervera, president of Catedra China, made the comments in an interview with Xinhua after Beijing and Washington formally signed the deal on Wednesday at the White House.

The agreement covers issues that range from expanding bilateral trade in such sectors as agricultural products, manufactured goods, energy and service, to further broadening market access and enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights.

The United States has pledged to cancel some of its additional tariffs on Chinese products, marking a policy change from hiking to cutting additional tariffs.

"We think it isn't positive to put up barriers, so it's great news," said Cervera, noting that the tense situation generated by U.S. additional tariffs on Chinese products has brought tension into commercial relationships.

Catedra China is a non-profit organization that groups Spanish and Chinese experts from the educational, business, media and other sectors of society in Spain.

Given the changes that have taken place in global politics in recent years and that there are many groups of countries, dialogue and multilateralism are crucial in this day and age, stressed Cervera.

In addition, the differences between Western and Eastern social models require mutual understanding and tolerance, said Cervera.

"Neither form of thinking can impose itself on the other, because both have evolved through a society, using its traditions and social-cultural thoughts," she said.
Further strengthening its capabilities to hit enemy targets from submarines, India on Sunday successfully test-fired the 3,500 km strike range nuclear-capable K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile off the coast of Andhra Pradesh.

The test-firing was carried out from an underwater platform in the sea during the daytime, government sources told ANI.

The missile is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for being deployed on the fleet of the Arihant Class nuclear submarines being built by India.

India is expected to carry out more tests of the missile before it is ready for being equipped on the nuclear submarines. At the moment, only the first nuclear boat INS Arihant is operational for the Navy.

K-4 is one of the two underwater missiles that are being developed by India for its submarine force.

The other one is the over 700-kilometre strike range BO-5.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Nebraska State Fair has been a hot topic in the news this past year. With the unprecedented weather conditions during the 2019 fair, there have been rumors and misconceptions flying around with regards to the financial stability of the fair.

As the chairman of the Agriculture Committee, which has oversight over the fair, I requested a meeting with Chris Kircher the chairman of Nebraska State Fair Board, to discuss the current state of the fair and boards plans for the future. On Dec. 27, Chris and I met for several hours in my office in Lincoln. Upon conclusion of our meeting, I am very confident in the financial stability of the fair and direction the board is taking the fair for the future.

Here are some of the highlights from that meeting. First, the fiscal side of the fair, followed by items the fair board is working on to make the 2020 State Fair even better.

Rumors that the State Fair is on the verge of bankruptcy couldnt be further from the truth. The organizations balance sheet remains strong and the State Fair is fortunate to have a guaranteed partner in the Nebraska Lottery, which is expected to produce a total of around $4 million in revenue for the fair in 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 08:34:26|Editor: zyl

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Four South Koreans and three Nepalis remained missing since Friday following an avalanche in western Kaski district, as over 150 foreign tourists and Nepalis were rescued on Saturday from around the area, local officials and trekking agencies said.

The incessant snowfall caused the avalanche near a popular trekking route in the Himalayan country. The area is close to the base camp for Annapurna, one of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.

"Four South Koreans and three Nepalis, guides and porters and who were separated from their nine-member group are still out of contact as over 150 Nepalis and foreigners rescued from around the area on Saturday alone," Bhim Gurung, chairman of ward No-11 of the Annapurna Rural Municipality, told Xinhua on Saturday evening.

Gurung, who was involved in rescue operation, said that around 110 foreigners and around 40 to 50 Nepalis were rescued by local people and by helicopters.

Efforts to mobilize helicopters from early morning for rescue operation were hampered by continued bad weather. According to helicopter companies, they would rescued trekkers in the afternoon after weather condition improved.

"But we could not land helicopter at the main avalanche-hit area from where trekkers are missing," said Yogesh Sapkota, chief marketing officer at Simrik Air, which was involved in the evacuation on Saturday.

As his company rescued 80 to 100 trekkers, Sapkota said, there is almost no trekker left in Annapurna base camp area. "Around 40 people have already arrived in capital Kathmandu while many reached the nearest city Pokhara," he added.

Despite rescue efforts on Saturday, helicopter companies and trekking agencies said that the situation of the seven people missing remained unknown.

"Search operation is underway but it has not been effective due to bad weather," Sirata Lama, general secretary of Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN), an umbrella organization of trekking companies present in the country, told Xihua on Saturday evening.

Spring and autumn are regarded as the ideal season for trekking in Himalayas, however, many foreign trekkers opt to trek in winter for adventure and due to individual time availability, according to the trekking companies.
To further increase tourism demand from the Middle East to Japan, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) and Etihad Airways will start a joint consumer campaign from January 19 to promote Japan as a destination of choice for travellers from the Middle East seeking authentic, unique and luxurious experiences.



In March 2019, JNTO and the Japan Tourism Agency, an agency within Japans Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, highlighted the Middle East as a new key market for strategic development, within which increased marketing activities will take place based on the markets high potential for luxury-based outbound travel. Since then the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has strengthened its promotional presence within the region, including the appointment of a representative office in Dubai with Aviareps in September 2019. On October 29, 2019, JNTO and Etihad Airways signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to jointly promote Japan within the Middle East for the next three years.



Continuing its ongoing marketing efforts and commitment to the Middle East market, JNTO is also planning to open a direct office in the UAE in 2020, through which promotional activities in the region will be further strengthened.



Robin Kamark, chief commercial officer, Etihad Aviation Group, commented: Japan is an important market for Etihad, and this year we will celebrate our 10th year of flying to this unique and culturally-rich country. Few destinations offer such a fascinating travel experience and we are very proud to collaborate with JNTO to promote the country further.



Etihad flies to both Tokyo and Nagoya and we look forward to continuing to support the growth of business, tourism and cultural links between the UAE and Japan.



Shuichi Kameyama, executive senior vice president, said: We are extremely happy to commence joint promotions in the Middle East with Etihad to encourage increased visitor traffic from Abu Dhabi and beyond to Japan. Through these collaborations we look forward to not only welcoming many more guests from the region to experience the very best that Japan has to offer, but also for our organisation to further strengthen and deepen our relationship with Etihad Airways going forward. We will further increase our presence this year by returning to the Arabian Travel Market in April 2020. - TradeArabia News Service
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A 48-year-old Afghan national was arrested for allegedly burgling a house here in south Delhi, police said on Sunday.

The accused has been identified as Jamshed, a resident of Malviya Nagar and a native of Kabul in Afghanistan, they said.

According to police, a person lodged a report on January 9 that his house had been burgled.

The accused fled with Rs 1,90,000, gold and diamond jewellery and some other items.

Based on a CCTV footage, police identified Jamshed and arrested him on Saturday from near Press Enclave in Saket, a senior police officer said.

During interrogation, it was found that he came to India in 1996 and got married to an Indian national in 2004. He was staying in the country illegally.

He was first arrested in 2009 in Hazrat Nizamuddin area for burgling a house. Stolen items and housebreaking tools were recovered from his possession, police added.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday demanded that the Union government come clean on the de-radicalisation camps operating in India.

He described as "outrageous" the disclosure of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat that de-radicalisation camps were operating in the country.

The CDS had said there is need for de-radicalisation of Muslim youth, particularly in Kashmir.

"Army commanders are entering domestic This is unprecedented.

What is shocking is that already such camps are existing," Yechury told reporters here.

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

Amazon Inc chief executive Jeff Bezos seems to have got an icy welcome in India. A couple of days ago, addressing a gathering of local Amazon sellers, Bezos announced an investment of $1 billion (approximately Rs 7,000 crore) to digitally upgrade small businesses in India.

Despite his financial commitment, his Nehru jacket and his adulatory tweets for Mahatma Gandhi, the Government of India is not impressed.

While demonstrators from the Confederation of All India Traders outside the Amazon event shouted Jeff Bezos, Go Home, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal timed a broadside on Thursday: They are not doing a great favour to India by investing a billion dollars.

ALSO READ: All foreign investments must adhere to law of the land: Piyush Goyal on Amazon row

What Goyal was suggesting is Amazon was using loopholes in the law to beat competition with predatory pricing, and then bank-rolling the losses with the fresh investment. If on a turnover of $10 billion you are going to have a loss of $1 billion, it certainly raises questions where the loss came from, he said.

Doublespeak

Indias army of small traders is facing the heat of online retail, which is offering better prices and more choice. Facing shutdowns and unemployment, these traders have been complaining to the government, who has now decided to ally with its traditional BJP base. There appears to be government doublespeak in the new-found empathy for small traders as the policy for foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail has clearly favoured the online camp so far.

Foreign investment in direct retail was barred in the country till 2011. Then in a series of concessions, FDI has progressively been allowed in multi-brand retailing, but as business-to-business (B2B) deals. Initially 49 per cent was allowed, and thereafter raised to 51 per cent in December 2012. Walmart, Carrefour and Tesco took advantage of the opening, but the law still does not allow direct sales by these groups to consumers.

On the other hand, the FDI policy towards online retailers has all along been indulgent. E-commerce platforms running a digital marketplace have been allowed 100 per cent FDI since end-2016 and there is no rationale as to why brick-and-mortar retailers did not get the same concession. Further, the Amazon, Flipkart and other marketplaces were supposed to be just that  facilitators to bring buyers and sellers together. However, it was a thin veil, and it is Amazon and others who did the pricing, and controlled the inventory of sellers. They were the retailers.

ALSO READ: After Piyush Goyal snubs Amazon CEO, Bezos says will create 10 lakh new jobs in India

A new set of rules from February 1, 2019, attempted to tighten up things. Businesses having the marketplace as an equity partner were barred from selling products on that marketplace. Ownership or control over the goods and products of a vendor by the marketplace would similarly be a disqualification. However, all along, the government has done precious little in the form of enforcement. For the Amazons and Flipkarts, it has been business as usual.

Rolling back Digital India

But in all this brouhaha, whats happened to the governments commitment to a Digital India?

The retail sector is a driver of the economy estimated to be a $600 billion market and contributing 10 per cent of the countrys GDP. However, e-commerces share is a miniscule 5 per cent. Again, despite the growth in the Internet, the culture of online shopping is still in its infancy. India had 665 million Internet users in 2019, but just 50 million are online shoppers today, with active monthly purchasers at 20 million.

But it is the potential for growth that is mind-boggling. The Internet economy is set to double from $125 billion as of April 2017 to $250 billion by 2020. Driving this would be e-commerce revenue, which is galloping at 51 per cent annually, and expected to jump from $39 billion in 2017 to $120 billion in 2020.

Instead of riding this wave, hugely disruptive signals are being sent out. It displays that the government intent as well as its regulations are flexible, ever-changing and cannot be relied upon. If there is one thing that investors dont like, it is unpredictability. Why cant there be a single retail law that applies equally and across the board to all formats? As retail guru Kishore Biyani said, there is no such thing as offline and online. It is all a single marketplace.

ALSO READ: Amazon to invest USD 1 billion in digitising Indian SMBs, says Jeff Bezos

One can take the path of linear growth or that of exponential growth. Over one year, one mom-and-pop store may become two and revenue may expand 10 per cent. But for India, it is digital-enabled exponential growth that will give us 20x, 100x growth. Bezos expects to export $10 billion worth of goods from India annually by 2025. It can be a game-changer for jobs and income. The digital marketplace does well because it is efficient, and offers choice and convenience. It is the way of the future. Whatever we do, Jeff Bezos will be back soon.

$600bn is the estimated size of Indias retail sector, one of the drivers of the economy, which contributes to 10 per cent of the countrys GDP5% is the share of e-commerce sector, compared to this
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cited Adnan Samis Indian citizenship and exiled writer Taslima Nasreen, who has been living in Delhi on a residence permit, as another example to debunk the criticism that the amended citizenship law is discriminatory against Muslims.

The minister reeled off numbers to drive home the point.

Three hundred and ninety one Afghanistani Muslims and 1595 Pakistani migrants were given citizenship from 2016 to 2018. It was during this period in 2016, that Adnan Sami was given citizenship, its an example. Taslima Nasreen is another example. This proves all allegations against us are wrong, said Sitaraman, who was addressing a CAA event here as part of BJPs nationwide Jan Jagran Abhiyan campaign in support of the act.

The amended citizenship law speeds up the process for granting citizenship to members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian minorities who fled Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan fearing religious persecution and retuned to India on or before December 2014.

Lahore-born Sami had first arrived in India on March 13, 2001 on a visitors visa with the validity of one year. His Pakistani passport issued on May 27, 2010 expired on May 26, 2015 and his passport was not renewed by the Pakistan government which led him to approach the Indian government with the request to legalise his stay in India on humanitarian grounds.

Union home ministry finally cleared his Indian citizenship on January 1.

Taslima Nasreen, who had to leave Bangladesh in 1994 in the wake of death threat by fundamentalist outfits for her alleged anti-Islamic views, has been living on a residence permit in New Delhi since 2004.

Citing more numbers as proof, Sitharaman said, In the last year, 2838 Pakistani refugees, 948 Afghanistani refugees, 172 Bangladeshi refugees have been given Indian citizenship. From 1964 to 2008 more than 4,00,000 Tamils (from Sri Lanka) have been given Indian citizenship.

The minister further underlined that the act is an attempt to provide people a better life and that the government will not snatch away anyones citizenship.

People who came from East Pakistan settled at various camps in the country, theyre still there. Its been 50-60 years now. If you visit these camps, your heart will cry, said Sitharaman.
Q: I renewed my automobile license registrations yesterday and, as in years past, I noticed that the new stickers provide an expiration date  my birthday.

As we are warned constantly not to provide birthdays, Social Security number, etc. to potential scammers, I wondered  again, as I do every year  why these dates are listed on our license stickers. So I asked the clerk, who had no idea.

Granted, these stickers dont list the year in which the vehicle owner is born. But lets assume an unscrupulous individual is walking down my street, the cars are parked near the sidewalk in the front yard and Im working in the yard.

He or she can gather my address, my month and day of birth, and, with a little observation, can guess my age and go online to try out a few years either way before they hit the right one.

A parking lot provides a smorgasbord of information, assuming that a miscreant can access information with a month/date and a license plate number. Given the clever ways identity thieves operate, Im sure thats a pretty good starting point for them.

Far-fetched? Perhaps. But again, why does that date have to be on the sticker? Who is it helping but someone who doesn't need that information?

Assuming Im stopped by the police, their computer will provide my date of birth and all other sorts of info just by punching in my license plate number. They certainly dont need to see the birth date on the sticker.

It cant be there as a reminder to me that its time to renew. I receive reminders in the mail. In my thinking, its not needed, and its just making it easier for someone who doesnt need that information to access it.

Am I missing something?

A.P., Brooklyn Heights

A: I agree with your premise: It might be a little fantastical to think an identity thief would go to the trouble of getting your birthday off your license plate sticker. But con-artists and scummy scam artists will go to unbelievable lengths to get and use personal information for nefarious purposes.

Weve seen all kinds of things happen over the years that we wouldnt have thought possible.

Next thing you know, Ohio will put Social Security numbers on peoples driver licenses or the United States will put peoples Social Security numbers on their Medicare cards. Oh wait, they tried that already. And it was a bad idea.

Printing the car owners birthdate on the sticker seems so unnecessary. I asked the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to explain why its there.

Its because the registration expires on the actual DOB; law enforcement use the actual date listed to determine whether or not the registration is valid or expired, said BMV spokeswoman Lindsey Bohrer. She noted that Ohio Revised Code ORC 4503.191 says the sticker shall indicate the expiration of the registration period.

This practice started in 2006, she said, when the BMV started a print-on-demand system that allows validated stickers to print the actual date of expiration in small type under the larger month and year expiration.

We all know our auto registrations expire on our birthday, not at the end of the birthday month. And to your point, a law enforcement officer can determine whether a registration is expired by running the plate number.

I cant speak for what law enforcement can or cant look up in their cruisers, Bohrer said, adding: The BMV is an administrative agency and follows the direction of the Ohio Revised Code and Administrative Code regarding registration stickers.

So it seems this will take the Ohio General Assembly to change the law.

The stupidity of this practice reminds me of something even more stupid that Ohio used to do: Only in the past 20 years did the state agree to stop requiring people to have their Social Security numbers on their driver licenses. And its been only in the past few years that Medicare stopped printing peoples Social Security numbers on their Medicare cards.

These practices stopped because enough people spoke out in protest.

Murray is The Plain Dealers personal-finance writer. Because of the volume of requests, she cannot help everyone who contacts her. To reach her: moneymatters@plaind.com. On Facebook: MurrayMoneyMatters. On Twitter: @teresamurray. Previous columns online: cleveland.com/moneymatters

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A Canadian man sought by Flathead County authorities after crashing a rented airplane into a lake and swimming away as it sank with his girlfriend inside has been arrested in Texas after 24 years as a fugitive.

Jaroslaw "Jerry" Ambrozuk was arrested Wednesday on a warrant for negligent homicide in the Aug. 22, 1982, death of 18-year-old Dianne Babcock.

Police in Plano, Texas, arrested the 43-year-old and set bail at $20,000. However, authorities said the Canadian national cannot bond out due to outstanding immigration violations.

It was not known Thursday night if Ambrozuk has an attorney. A call to his house in Plano was not immediately returned to The Associated Press.

Authorities said Ambrozuk, then 19, and Babcock were supposed to have been flying from Penticton, British Columbia to Vancouver, B.C., when he somehow veered off course into Montana.

Authorities said Ambrozuk's strange behavior after the crash raised suspicion.

He didn't report the crash or his girlfriend's death to authorities, he apparently built a campfire on the shore of the lake to dry off and then vanished.

Authorities know that Ambrozuk called a friend after the crash, saying the plane was at the bottom of Little Bitterroot Lake near Marion. He said he swam free of the wreckage but Babcock's seat belt was jammed and he was unable to free her.

"We didn't really believe we would find the plane in Bitterroot Lake," said Sheriff Jim Dupont, who was a deputy at the time of the crash.

But a search found evidence along the shore of a campfire. In the burned debris, Dupont _ a pilot _ recognized plane parts.

"That's when we started looking for the plane," Dupont said.

Searchers found the Cessna 150 in 220 feet of water. Babcock's body was still inside. Her seat belt wasn't jammed. She had drowned.

Dupont said it didn't appear Ambrozuk tried to help Babcock.

"She wasn't injured to the point she couldn't get out of the aircraft," he said. "Why wouldn't he help her get out?"

Missing from the plane were cash and other items. A sealed, waterproof trash bag with a rope attached was found on the lake shore. People who later said they saw someone who looked like Ambrozuk on the shore said he was wet, but carrying a dry duffel bag. Authorities wondered if Ambrozuk had sealed the duffel inside the trash bag and removed it when he got to shore.

The mystery of the crash and Ambrozuk's disappearance was featured twice on the television program America's Most Wanted.

Dupont said earlier he believed Ambrozuk might be in Texas. That was confirmed Monday when a woman called saying she believed Ambrozuk was living in Plano, Texas.

Dupont contacted police in Texas and they found him.

When he was arrested Ambrozuk, living under the alias Michael Lee Smith, acknowledged his identity and asked for a lawyer, Dupont said.

Montana will extradite him on the negligent homicide charge.

Ambrozuk has led a successful life, driving a Dodge Viper and living in an exclusive neighborhood, said Flathead County sheriff's Detective Pat Walsh.

He has also been an illegal immigrant since 1982, Walsh said.
Chennai: Backing the Citizenship Amendment Act, BJP leader Ram Madhav today said that even Austria had amended its law to grant citizenship to Jews and asserted that people coming to India for genuine reasons can seek to become its nationals.

The stand that persecuted religious minorities fleeing Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh should be accommodated and provided citizenship has been echoed by leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee, he said.

"Austria amended its law to grant citizenship to the children, and grandchildren and of Jews," the BJP leader said at a meeting in Chennai.

Asserting that the Citizenship Amendment Act only fast-tracked grant of citizenship to minorities from neighbouring countries, he said the protests against it were not happening for "valid reasons and they are misinformed."

"I appeal to our Muslim brethren to not fall prey to false propaganda. The CAA does not apply to any Indian citizen, but only to those coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh," he said.

Mr Madhav added that people coming to India for "genuine reasons" from anywhere can seek citizenship.
World leaders gather in Berlin on Sunday to make a fresh push for peace in Libya, in a desperate bid to stop the conflict-wracked nation from turning into a "second Syria".

Chancellor Angela Merkel will be joined by the presidents of Russia, Egypt, Turkey and France and other world leaders for talks from around 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) held under the auspices of the United Nations.

The summit's main goal is to get foreign powers wielding influence in the region to stop interfering in the war -- be it through weapons, troops or financing.

Leaders of both warring factions -- strongman Khalifa Haftar and the head of Tripoli's UN-recognised government Fayez al-Sarraj -- are also expected at what is the first such gathering since 2018.

Speaking to reporters before leaving Istanbul for Berlin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the summit could be "an important step on the way to cementing the ceasefire and a political solution" in Libya.

But pro-Haftar forces upped the ante ahead of the talks by blocking oil exports at Libya's key ports, crippling the country's main income source in protest at Turkey's decision to send troops to shore up Sarraj's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The move underlined the devastating impact of foreign influence in the crisis.

"Libya needs all foreign interference to stop," the United Nations' special envoy Ghassan Salame told AFP.

The UN hopes all sides will sign up to a plan to refrain from interference, and commit to a truce that leads to a lasting end to hostilities, according to a draft of a final communique seen by AFP.

That document also urges all parties to re-commit to a much-violated UN arms embargo and raises the prospect of intra-Libyan political talks in Geneva at the end of the month.

If all goes to plan, the Berlin participants will hold an evening press conference.

But the summit has already ruffled feathers, with several countries in the region fuming at being left out, including Greece, Morocco and Tunisia.

Libya 'Second Syria'

Libya has been torn by fighting between rival armed factions since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Most recently, Sarraj's troops in Tripoli have been under attack since April from Haftar's forces.

Clashes killed more than 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters and displaced tens of thousands, until a fragile ceasefire backed by both Ankara and Moscow was put in place on January 12.

At follow-up talks in Moscow, Sarraj agreed to a permanent truce but Hafter walked away without signing the deal.

Although Sarraj's government is recognised by the UN, powerful players have broken away to stand behind Haftar -- turning a domestic conflict into what is essentially a proxy war in which international powers jostle to secure their own interests.

Alarm grew internationally after Erdogan ordered troops to Libya early January to bolster Sarraj.

Underlining the stakes involved, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "we have to make sure Libya doesn't become a second Syria."

Sarraj meanwhile issued a call for international "protection troops" if Haftar were to keep up his offensive.

"Such a protection force must operate under the auspices of the United Nations. Experts will have to advise who should participate, such as the EU or the African Union or the Arab League", he told Die Welt newspaper on Sunday.

He also criticised the EU, saying it had not been proactive enough on Libya.

"Unfortunately the role of the EU so far has been very modest... even though some EU countries have a special relationship with Libya, we are neighbours and have many interests in common," he said.

Lip service?

Erdogan has repeatedly urged Europe to stand united behind Sarraj's government, warning that Tripoli's fall could allow jihadist groups like the Islamic State or Al-Qaeda to regroup.

He has also warned that further unrest could prompt a new wave of migrants to head for Europe.

For Turkey, a fall of Sarraj's GNA could jeopardise a maritime boundary agreement the parties signed. It gives Ankara extensive rights over the eastern Mediterranean where the recent discovery of undersea gas reserves has triggered a scramble by littoral states.

But Haftar is backed by Turkey's fiercest regional rivals -- Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Erdogan has also accused Russia of sending in mercenaries to help Haftar, as Moscow seeks to extend its influence in the region.

The International Crisis Group's Libya expert Claudia Gazzini said the Berlin conference "could be a modest step forward" on the path to peace.

"Yet the risk remains that some participants will merely pay lip service to the diplomatic initiative, even as they continue to fuel a war from which they benefit."

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CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Sunday said that the Narendra Modi government should come clean on whether 'deradicalisation' camps exist in the country and if so whether the Army was running them.

"Our Central Committee has discussed the outrageous statement made by Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat. He said that there is a need to de-radicalize Muslim youth including children, particularly in Kashmir. Shockingly, he said such camps exist," Yechury told reporters at a press conference here.

"We ask the Modi government to come clean and tell the country whether these camps exist or not. If they exist, is the Army running them? This sort of instrument is the biggest one that has been used globally against minorities," he added.

The CDS, General Bipin Rawat had on January 16 said that programs aimed at counter-radicalisation of youth should be started for saving them while there is still time.

"We should start counter-radicalisation programs while identifying who are the people to have been radicalised and to what degree. Then look at them who are completely radicalised and then look towards the future. What we are seeing in Kashmir, young boys and girls as young as 10 years old have been radicalised, but they can still be isolated from radicalisation in a gradual manner," Gen Rawat said at the panel discussion during Raisina Dialogue 2020.

Asserting there is a need to counter the radicalisation programs, the CDS said that the sources of radicalisation need to be found out and treated.

"Radicalisation can be countered, anything which has started can end. You need to see where it is starting. It is starting from schools, universities, from some other sources. We get the nerve of the whole things from where the radicalisation is coming, we have to start isolation of these people through deradicalisation camp," Rawat said.

"We have such deradicalisation camps going in our country and so does Pakistan... ideology and radicalisation are the issues which have to be addressed on priority," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the government complex in central Seoul, Jan. 10. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Gov't to revisit financial hub vision amid HK unrest



By Kim Jae-kyoung, Lee Kyung-min



With the Moon Jae-in administration rolling out a series of measures focusing on redistribution over growth, there has been growing concern here and abroad that "socialism" is permeating into the capitalist South Korea.



Many foreign experts, in particular, have criticized Seoul government for tipping the balance of economic policies toward socialism, which they claim violate free market principles and will eventually lead to an exodus of foreign capital.



The nation's top economic policymaker, however, strongly refutes this criticism describing the Moon administration's income-led growth policies as an inevitable choice to tackle the ever-deepening issue of polarization and to ensure sustainable growth.



"I would disagree with such an argument," said Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki in an exclusive interview with The Korea Times at the government complex in central Seoul, Jan. 10.



"I believe they have gone too far. In an era of per-capita income of $30,000, it will be difficult for Asia's fourth-largest economy to move forward without addressing such issues as polarization and the fair distribution of wealth," he added.



He explained that income-led growth strategies should be taken as a process to find a new, sustainable growth model for the upcoming decades escaping from the old model that has underpinned Korea's explosive growth over the past 40 to 50 years since the 1960s.



In this regard, Hong, who concurrently serves as deputy prime minister, reiterated that the government will push for income-led growth policies, making minor modifications only when necessary.



"I don't think it is a proper explanation that our policy priority is skewed toward wealth redistribution over growth. The key growth engine for the Korean economy is now innovation and inclusiveness,'" he said.



This means that the government is pursuing a two-pronged strategy  on one hand, boosting growth potential through innovation, and on the other hand, narrowing economic inequalities by enhancing social safety nets for the underprivileged.



"Growth potential-bolstering, long-term measures will be introduced to facilitate innovation and structural reform in the industrial and public sectors," he said.



"This, together with plans to help induce corporate investment and strong domestic consumption, will lay a firm groundwork for the country to sustain robust growth in the long term," he added.





Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the government complex in central Seoul, Jan. 10. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



Hong's comments came in response to foreign experts' growing criticism that ever-increasing regulations and a series of "socialist policies" are undermining the market economy here and driving away businesses and capital.



In a recent report, Paul Choi, head of Korea research at CLSA, voiced concerns that Korea is moving away from a market economy citing draconian measures to cool the real estate market and the restrictions on Tada's ride-hailing services.



In July, Bloomberg columnist Shuli Ren wrote that the so-called Korea discount has been deepening over the past two years as "President Moon Jae-in's socialist experiments have sapped the animal spirits from this once-vibrant economy."



"I don't think it is appropriate to argue that Korea is backpedaling in deregulation because the government has been making the utmost efforts to ease regulations businesses are complaining about," he said, adding that the introduction of "regulatory sandboxes" is a case in point.



Regarding the Tada case, he said that there was no reason why a new business based on a "sharing economy" should not be allowed here if it has been introduced in an advanced economy with a similar economic size as Korea.



"It (Tada chaos) was the result of failing to resolve conflicts among stakeholders (Tada and taxi drivers). We did not intend to disturb a new business. There was just a lack of effort to reach a compromise," he said.



"(For a new business), we need to set up a social dialogue system encompassing all stakeholders to ensure a win-win result for everyone," he said. "The establishment of a social fund or temporary permission of regulatory sandboxes could be options."



Enriching 'social capital'



The 61-year-old minister said that the continuing unrest in Hong Kong could offer a good opportunity for Korea to revisit its long-term vision to become a financial hub in Asia.



He said that a possible option would be to set up a special zone in Songdo in Incheon or Yongsan in central Seoul where exceptional tax and regulatory incentives could be provided.



"Korea is one of the world's top 10 economic powerhouses, and the country has a lot to offer in finance as well. If the unrest in Hong Kong extends over a longer period and global financial firms relocate to avoid risks there, I think the option is quite possible given (Korea's) geopolitical location and economic dynamism," he said.



"The government has yet to look into the issue in detail but raising such an issue is necessary and I'm aware of it," he added. "The government needs to examine it in a prudent manner."



To make the country a more attractive destination for foreign capital, Hong said that Korea, on top of offering various incentives, needs to become a country equipped with better "credibility" and "predictability"  two values that he believes are key to attracting foreign investment.



"Incentives the government offers are important but what is more important is credibility, so-called social capital," he said.



In his view, the country's ultimate goal should be enriching its social capital, a fundamental basis not only for immediate gains  financial or otherwise  but for sustainable growth.






YARKAND, China  The winding, crowded lanes of old Yarkand, an ancient Silk Road town, preserve patterns of life that go back centuries.

On a recent morning, smoke wafted from sputtering grills of lamb and ovens lined with baking flatbread. Clangs rang from a coppersmith shaping bowls with a hammer. Twangs from a dutar, a two-stringed lute, floated from a store selling traditional musical instruments. In a dimly lit teahouse, old men in Muslim head caps murmured in conversation.

Sitting on the fringe of the Taklamakan Desert, Yarkand remains a cultural cradle for Uighurs, a mostly Muslim minority in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. But their way of life is under intense pressure.
Dr Bryanna Moore at the Texas Medical Centre for Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Monash University's Bioethics Centre's PHD candidate Courtney Hempton and bioethics lecturer at Deakin University Dr Evie Kendal also argued concerns that doctors may coerce terminally ill people into taking their own lives lacked any robust evidence.

A law that prohibits Victorian doctors from instigating conversations about voluntary assisted dying with terminally ill people is a "gag clause", a group of academics say. Credit:Alamy

In a paper published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, the academics conclude a section of the state's act which prohibits doctors from initiating discussions about physician-assisted death operates as a "gag clause", and undermines their ethical obligations to patients.

A law that bans Victorian doctors from instigating conversations about voluntary assisted dying with terminally ill people poses an unprecedented, unwarranted infringement on communication between health practitioners and their patients", a group of medical ethicists warn.

"The stated intent ... is not to discourage open discussion, but to ensure that patients are not coerced or unduly influenced into accessing voluntary assisted dying, the authors wrote.

Although this aim is undeniably important, the Ministerial Advisory Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying offered no evidence from other jurisdictions that such coercion has previously occurred. Indeed, it cited research indicating that fears that people from particular groups will be pushed into making such requests are ill-founded."

Ms Hempton said as part of the research, assisted-dying legislation was reviewed in eight jurisdictions, including Canada and the US. There was no clause to prohibit a doctor from instigating a conversation about euthanasia in any of the states where it was a lawful option, she said.

"It did seem to be lacking any logical evidence to justify such a provision in Victoria," Ms Hempton said.

Any Victorian doctor found to instigate euthanasia conversations with terminally ill patients faced the prospect of having their health practitioners licence revoked by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
It is always surprising there is such a wide gap between what journalist outsiders think goes into becoming a successful leader and what the partisans who must choose look for.

You must be able to win over these activists, local leadership and, crucially, caucus members to move from convention fluke victor to long-term success. The first ingredient they assess is always culture. Does the leadership aspirant breathe the political culture of the tribe? Do they understand some of its history, ancient wounds, preferred vocabulary and shared mythology?

For progressives this must start with medicares inviolability and sacred place. You must also have a deep conviction that fairness matters more than order, hierarchy or material success.

For progressive conservatives  that strange Canadian offshoot of British One Nation Toryism  you must be skeptical about both the state and the market, and about the promotion of rapid change of any type. For Harperite conservatives you must believably swear to the sacred place of balanced budgets and lower taxes.

For Conservatives, the leader who failed at this first hurdle was Kim Campbell. Seen as an outsider, speaking a very mixed political dialect, and not respectful of party history or elders, she was doomed from the start.

The second box is a demonstrated ability to move minds and shift political loyalties. Few partisans choose a leader to save the furniture, and when they do, they usually fail at even that low bar. You want a leader who has the ability to clobber the other guy. Its not the same as charisma  that overworked term of art that afflicts much political journalism  its toughness, persuasiveness, broad appeal, etc.

Such a loser was Michael Ignatieff. For a party down so low, the search was for someone who could at least prevent a further slide.

Thomas Mulcair was equally indigestible for many New Democrats. He would never be Jack, but he might be able to hold the line, was the prayer. A Quebec Liberal by formation, he had no progressive vocabulary or sensitivity to its mythology. Happy to be seen more as an angry enforcer than a persuader, a leader who spent half his week in Montreal, and all to rarely available to the faithful across Canada, he was the most disastrous leader the party has elected.

The third essential is believable conviction. Political vacillation in public you may be able to get away with tactically, but if your party is not convinced of your values and your commitment to them, you will fail.

Andrew Scheer was never a believable representative of modern social conservatism to its adherents, nor was he believably a leader committed to tolerance and inclusion to most Canadians.

Only once you have ticked those boxes in the hearts of a large chunk of your activist members can you then safely move to focus on the public attributes, which outsiders see as the acid tests.

Do you have a track record of success? Not as important as pundits believe: Jack Layton and both Trudeaus had very thin federal political CVs when they were chosen.

Are you a compelling Commons fighter, TV adept, and debater? Yes, the ability to perform persuasively is essential. Does anyone really believe that the robotically partisan Pierre Poilievre would be a more likeable, persuasive, compelling counter to Justin Trudeau or Jagmeet Singh in public debate? It appears as if there will not be a strong woman candidate, which is a real weakness in 2020.

It is this division between the internal and the external capabilities that makes a partys choices so tough. Poilievre could win the internal tests hands down. Jean Charest would have a harder time than him in ticking the party culture and strong conviction boxes, given his long and complex career. But could he thump the two opposing leaders better than Poilievre? Are you kidding?

So that division may mean a path to success for someone who straddles the inside and outside tests more successfully, perhaps Peter Mackay or Erin OToole. But therein lies another rub. The compromise candidate  Andrew Scheer, Stephane Dion  can sometimes be the worst choice of all.

As the Tory contest unfolds, the only horse race predictions worth listening to are those who have served in the party trenches, who are more committed to the survival and success of the tribe than to any one candidate, and who are themselves representative of mainstream Tory culture and conviction.

Journalists, pollsters, and political opponents claims of predictive powers deserve a far more skeptical hearing. Including this one.

Robin V. Sears is a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group and was an NDP strategist for 20 years. He is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: is a principal at Earnscliffe Strategy Group and was an NDP strategist for 20 years. He is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @robinvsears

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Nomination process for BJP National Prez to be held on Monday, J P Nadda to succeed Amit Shah

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 19: The BJP is set to get its new national president in place of Amit Shah on Monday, with its working president J P Nadda expected to be elected to the post unopposed. The process of nomination for BJP National President will be held on Monday at party headquarters in Delhi.

Top party leaders, including Union ministers and those from states, are likely to arrive at the BJP headquarters to file nominations in support of Nadda, who has long been seen as the choice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah for the job.

Nadda's decades-long experience in the organisation, starting from student politics, proximity to the RSS and clean image are seen as his strengths. Shah held a meeting with senior party leaders, including several Union ministers and chief ministers of the party-ruled states, on Sunday evening.

Though there was no official communication about what transpired, sources said the party leaders deliberated over the details of the election exercise.

Senior BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, who is in charge of the party's organisational poll process, said that nominations for the national president's election will be filed on January 20, and a contest will take place the next day if required.

The BJP has the convention of electing its president with consensus and without any contest, and there is little possibility that it will be any other way this time.

The election of a new president will bring to end incumbent Shah's tenure of over five-and-a-half years during which the BJP expanded its footprints across the country like never before and enjoyed its best phase in electoral contests despite suffering a few setbacks in state polls.

With Shah joining the Modi 2.0 government as home minister, the BJP began the exercise for electing his successor as the party has the convention of 'one person, one post'.

Nadda was appointed as the party's working president in July last year in an indication that the Himachal Pradesh leader was the likely choice for the top organisational job.

In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he was in-charge of the BJP's election campaign in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, where the party faced a tough challenge from the grand alliance of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

J P Nadda set to be elected unopposed as BJP president

The party won 62 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Having risen through the saffron ranks, Nadda has long been a member of the BJP parliamentary board, its highest decision making body. He had served as a minister in the first Modi government.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 23:23 [IST]
Book by former PGC officer highlights unusual wildlife encounters

Dick Bodenhorn has published a book highlighting some of the unusual encounters he had while working with the Pennsylvania Game Commision.
Southwest China's Yunnan Province will encourage foreign companies to invest in the province, offering a maximum reward of 50 million yuan (7.3 million U.S. dollars).

The reward method said the province will grant 2 percent of the total invested foreign capital to newly-registered projects if their foreign investment reaches or exceeds 30 million U.S. dollars within a year.

The existing projects that have increased foreign investment by more than 10 million U.S. dollars will also enjoy the rewards, and the total amount of the rewards for each project will not exceed 50 million yuan, according to the method jointly released earlier this month by the provincial departments of finance, investment promotion, commerce, market regulation and foreign exchange.

The projects receiving the rewards shall not move out of the province or have their registered capital reduced within five years, according to the method.

The rewards will be granted from 2020 to 2023 for investment in the fiscal years of 2019 to 2022.

The companies that qualified in 2019 can send applications for the rewards by March 1 this year, according to the provincial department of finance.
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Amid escalation of war of words between him and the LDF government, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan made it clear on Sunday he will not remain a "mute spectator" as he sought a report from it over moving the Supreme Court against the Citizenship law without informing him.

Days after the Governor hit out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government for not informing him before moving the apex court and declaring that he was not a "rubber stamp", the Raj Bhavan sought the report from the state Chief Secretary on the matter.

"The Governor's office has sought a report from the Chief Secretary for not informing him about the state's move to approach the apex court against the CAA," a top Raj Bhavan source told PTI on Sunday.

Confirming that he had sought the report, Khan, who arrived here this evening from Bengaluru, told reporters that it should not be seen as a "personal fight".

"This is not personal fight. My only concern is that the Constitution and the law must be upheld and the business of the government must be transacted in accordance with the law", he said.

Khan's stand had drawn the ire of ruling front with CPI (M) mouthpiece Deshabhimani slamming him for making "political statements" and alleging he was "threatening" the state in a "tough language".

However, the government has said it did not violate any rules and no deliberate attempts had been made to challenge the authority of the governor's office.

Law Minister A K Balan had said on Saturday the government would clear all apprehensions raised by Khan.

Days after passing a resolution in the assembly against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the state government had on January 13 approached the supreme court against the controversial law.

An upset Khan had on Thursday said it was "improper" and protocol and courtesy demanded that he should have been informed by the government prior to moving the court.

Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the LDF regime since it convened a special assembly session to pass the resolution seeking scrapping of the CAA, on Sunday said the government moving the court without his knowledge was an illegal act.

"This is in contravention of the rules. This is an illegal act. I am not fighting any personal vengeance. I am just pointing out that the law and Constitution must be upheld," he said.

When pointed out that the Law Minister had said no rule had been violated by the state government, the Governor challenged him to show the law.

"Let him quote the Law. I am quoting here. Even after this, you are saying somebody has given his personal opinion. I am giving you the law. What the government has done was illegal. Let them show me the provision. I will take everything back. I will not sit like a mute spectator. I have to ensure that the Constitution and the law are upheld".

Khan further said: "Please do not make it as a personal fight. I am not important. What is more important is the Constitution and the law of the land. My only point is that the transactions of business of the state must be done according to the law.

Attacking Vijayan, the governor had earlier said the public affairs and the business of the government cannot be run in accordance with the "whims of an individual or a political party" and everyone has to respect the rules.

Khan had told reporters in Delhi on Friday that as per Rule of Business Sec 34 (2) sub section 5, the state government should inform the Governor regarding matters that affect the relations between the state and the Centre.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday said in independent India the post of governor was superfluous.

"Now we are not subjects of the Central government. We need to start the discussions whether the post of governor is required or not," he said here.

The Governor's role was that of a representative of the President, he said adding it was a continuation of the colonial era.

Meanwhile, CPI-M state secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged Khan was making "unnecessary interference" in the day-to-day affairs of the state government.

"The governor is defaming a state government which was elected by the people of the state. The post of Governor is not to defame the state government," Balakrishnan said in an article in the party newspaper.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
YEREVAN.  There are no words of consolation to relieve the pain of the loss of former national security service chief Georgi Kutoyan, fomer director of the same service Arthur Vanetsyan told reporters.

Georgi Kutoyan was one of the most honest and decent people I have known. It is hard to believe that he will no longer be with us. I would like to extend my condolences to Kutoyan's family, friends and relatives, and look forward to the thorough investigation into this case so that there are questions left once it is over, he said during a memorial service for Kutoyan on January 19.

Ex-director of Armenia's National Security Service Georgi Kutoyan was found dead with a gunshot wound in his apartment on January 17.
Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital, where patients infected by a mysterious SARS-like viral pneumonia are being treated, in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 18, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Countries Step Up Measures to Prevent Spread of Viral Pneumonia From China as It Reports More Cases

Chinese authorities on Jan. 19 reported a third death due to a viral pneumonia that first broke out in the central city of Wuhan.

And for the first time, China confirmed cases of infection outside of Wuhan, suggesting that the disease has spread more widely than authorities previously let on.

A London research institute estimated that the number of potential infections in Wuhan could be over 1,000.

Over the weekend, the U.S. and Canadian governments joined a growing list of countries that are stepping up monitoring of the disease to prevent its spread: three U.S. airports began screening passengers for possible infection, while three Canadian ones added alert messages for travelers from Wuhan.

The disease is caused by a new type of coronavirus, according to Chinese authorities. The latter is a family of viruses that includes the common cold, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome).

Other Chinese Cities

In the countrys capital Beijing, two people were diagnosed with the Wuhan pneumonia on Jan. 20.

According to state-run newspaper Beijing News, two locals caught a fever after they travelled to Wuhan, and were then hospitalized.

Both live in the Daxing district of Beijing, and are in stable condition.

And on Jan. 19, Chinas National Health Commission confirmed one case of infection in Shenzhen City of southern Chinas Guangdong Province.

The patient is a 66-year-old man who is from Wuhan and lives in Shenzhen.

The patient visited his family in Wuhan from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4, and began to exhibit symptoms on Jan. 3. He visited the doctor after he returned to Shenzhen, and was quarantined since Jan. 11.

Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post cited three anonymous sources in a Jan. 19 report that said one suspected patient is being hospitalized in Shanghai.

Chinese netizens began spreading information about suspected patients in Guangzhou City, the capital of Guangdong. They said there were doctors and nurses from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and the Army General Hospital in Guangzhou who were exhibiting symptoms.

The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University soon took to its official Weibo accounta Twitter-like social media platformon Jan. 18 to dispel the rumors. But the hospital quickly deleted the post and refused to give any explanation when contacted by media.

Global Alert

On Jan. 16, Taiwans Centers for Disease Control issued a level two travel alert for people traveling to Wuhan, recommending that travelers strengthen their defenses against the disease.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started on Friday screening passengers traveling from Wuhan at three major U.S. airports: New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and San Francisco.

Also on Friday, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that airports in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver were rolling out new messages on arrival screens asking travelers from Wuhan to contact a border service agent if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms.

If a traveler steps forward, a specially trained quarantine officer would then screen him or her to identify whether theres a potential public health risk.

Human-to-Human Transmission?

So far, World Health Organization (WHO) and other health officials have said there could be a possibility of human-to-human transmission.

In a Jan. 19 report by Chinas state-run broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), Li Gang, director of the Wuhan Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said: [We] didnt rule out the possibility of a limited human-to-human transmission.

And at a Jan. 16 press conference, Chuang Jen-hsiang, deputy director-general of Taiwans Centers for Disease Control of Health and Welfare Ministry, said that after visiting Wuhan to learn about the outbreak, he concluded that the disease has possible human-to-human transmission.

Chuang explained that 13 of the initial 41 patients had never been to the Huanan Seafood Market, where Wuhan authorities have linked the outbreak.

Chuang mentioned a case previously reported by Wuhan authorities of a woman who had never been to the market who fell sick after her husband, who works at the market, exhibited symptoms. In another case, a father, son, and nephewall vendors at the marketwere diagnosed with the viral pneumonia.

Meanwhile, a research institute under Imperial College London released a report on Jan. 17, in which researchers estimated that 1,723 people in Wuhan could potentially have the illness.

The calculation was based on the infection cases outside of China, number of passengers at the Wuhan airport, daily international passengers flying out of Wuhan, and the number of days before the international cases are discovered.

One of the researchers, Neil Ferguson, said that the current situation calls for more transparency and information sharing from the Chinese side in order to prevent its global spread.

They [Chinese authorities] should be getting widespread testing of people reporting respiratory diseases with pneumonia hospitals across the city, we dont know if thats the case yet, he said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

Eva Fu contributed to this report.
Shops and eateries were shut and vehicles remained off roads in Maharashtra's Shirdi temple town on Sunday, while an MP of the ruling Shiv Sena also extended support to the bandh called over a controversy on the birthplace of 19th century saint Saibaba.

The controversy erupted after Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at "Sai janmasthan" (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district.

Local residents and leaders in Shirdi are demanding that Thackeray withdraw his official statement where he described Pathri as Saibaba's birthplace.

The chief minister has convened a meeting over the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday.

The bandh began here at midnight, but the Saibaba temple remained open with devotees being allowed to offer prayers, officials of the temple trust and Ahmednagar district administration said.

The 'prasadalaya' and the temple kitchen were also open to ensure devotees were not inconvenienced, they said.

Long queues of devotees were seen in front of the 'prasadalaya', breakfast centre and 'laddoo' sale centres of the temple.

Shiv Sena's Lok Sabha member from Shirdi, Sadashiv Lokhande, on Sunday extended his support to the bandh.

"I am a Sai devotee first and an MP later. I support this protest. Saibaba came to Shirdi when he was 16. He never revealed his caste or religion, so he should not be divided. I am going to speak to the chief minister about the issue," he told PTI.

Lokhande also said he will see how to resolve the issue and call off the bandh.

To mark the protest, several locals took out a rally around the temple area on Sunday morning.

"Devotees hailed Saibaba while starting the rally from Dwarkamai temple here. The procession passed through Palkhi route around the Saibaba temple. It later concluded at the Dwarkamai temple, located on right side of Saibaba temple's entrance," local BJP functionary Sachin Tambe-Patil said.

Terming the bandh as "successful", Tambe-Patil, who is also former trustee of the Saibaba temple, said, "Commercial establishments, shops, restaurants and local transport (autorickshaws and other private vehicles) are closed and a complete shutdown is being observed in the town as well as in 25 villages around Shirdi."



"However, the Saibaba temple is open and devotees are coming to offer prayers," he said.

Devotees who made pre-bookings at hotels were allowed to stay and taxi services from the airport to the temple were also unaffected, the district administration official said.

The state transport buses from other locations were being allowed to come to the town, he added.

Former Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who is the local BJP MLA, on Saturday said he supported the bandh call.

Local residents and leaders in Shirdi have taken exception to the chief minister's announcement, saying the birthplace of the famed saint was not known, and Pathri cannot make a claim to being his birthplace.

It was at Shirdi in Ahmednagar district where Saibaba, whose devotees cut across religious lines, spent much of his life.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Jan 19 : In the wake of complaints against some of the state governments for promoting ruling party leaders using public money, a Supreme Court-mandated content regulation panel wants states to set up content regulators for government advertisements.

In case states are not keen to constitute their own panels, they can vest the authority in the three-member content regulation committee formed by the Centre.

The move assumes significance given that Delhi is slated to go to polls next month and a three-cornered fight between AAP, BJP and Congress expected.

With complaints received in the past against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and also previous Rajasthan government, the three-member central panel has asked Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry to nudge states for setting up content regulators at the earliest.

Failing this, a status report would be given to Supreme Court and states may face contempt action.

The Committee on Content Regulation in Government Advertising (CCRGA) had earlier sought explanation over a full-page advertisement in various newspapers by Rajasthan government led by the then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

The advertisement on foundation laying of projects worth Rs 15,100 crore had featured photograph of Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In its reply, the Congress Party-led Rajasthan government in January, 2019 said that the advertisement was published with the permission of the then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje without following the guidelines of the Supreme Court.

The state, however, did not respond on setting up content regulation committee for government advertisements.

In its meeting on December 14, the CCRGA chaired by former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) O.P. Rawat decided to ask I&B Ministry to again take up the issue with the state or approach the Supreme Court for contempt of its order.

Only the states of Chhattisgarh and Nagaland have tasked the CCRGA with the responsibility of content regulator.

"The CCRGA met earlier this month and expressed dismay over delay in setting up state-level panel for regulating the content of government ads. The issue would be taken up with the I&B Ministry for necessary action," an official aware of the development said.

As per a Supreme Court order, central government is required to bring a legislation on the content regulation of government funded advertisements in all media platforms. While the proposed legislation will take time, a three-member panel has been tasked to oversee the content of government funded advertisements.

(Nirbhay Kumar can be contacted at nirbhay.k@ians.in)
Photo: Head Lettuce/Yelp

Food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending at this very moment?

We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to deduce which eateries have been seeing especially high review volumes this month.

To find out who made the list, we looked at San Diego businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.

Read on to see which spots are extra cool this winter.

Happy Lemon Del Mar

photo: roz e./yelp

Open since early December, this spot to score bubble tea, juices, smoothies, coffee and tea is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Coffee & Tea" on Yelp.

Citywide, such spots saw a median 2% increase in new reviews over the past month. Happy Lemon Del Mar only recently appeared on Yelp, but while many new businesses struggle to gain reviews, it has seen strong initial popularity.

Interested? Here's more about the business from its Yelp history section: "Happy Lemon, established in 2006 has dedicated itself to make the best boba drinks in the world. The franchise has overwhelming success across the global, with locations in mainland China, Australia, Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and of course, the United States. We use the best quality tea combined with fresh lemons to produce the perfect line of drinks for our customers. Enjoy!"

What does the business focus on? "In our largest store yet, we're serving up traditional bubble teas, citrus-packed lemon teas, and of course, our famously frothy rock salt cream toppings. Just one taste, and you'll understand why customers are sipping our drinks at over 1,000 locations worldwide  this tea is unique, healthy, and downright delicious."  that's according to its page on Yelp.

Story continues

Located at 12925 El Camino Real, Suite AA2 (between Carmel Valley Road and Elijah Court) in Carmel Valley, Happy Lemon Del Mar is open from 11 a.m.9 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.10 p.m. on Friday-Saturday.

Head Lettuce

Photo: head lettuce/Yelp

Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about University City's Head Lettuce, the spot to score salads and wraps is a hot topic, according to Yelp review data.

While businesses categorized as "Salad" on Yelp saw a median 1.3% increase in new reviews over the past month, Head Lettuce appeared on Yelp relatively recently. Many new businesses struggle to gain reviews, but it has seen a surge of interest.

Open at 4150 Regents Park Row, Suite 175, since early December, Head Lettuce's eight centerpiece salads include crispy chicken Cobb, ramen crunch at Tijuana Caesar.

Head Lettuce is open from 10:30 a.m.9 p.m. daily.

Ramen Ryoma

photo: jason k./yelp

Hillcrest's Ramen Ryoma is the city's buzziest ramen spot by the numbers.

The tapas bar and izakaya, which offers hand-massaged ramen noodle dishes and more, opened at 815 University Ave. (between Falcon and Goldfinch streets) in early December. While it's still relatively new to Yelp, it has seen a surge of new reviews. Meanwhile, the median new review count for the Yelp category "Ramen" was up 1.8% over the past month.

Ramen Ryoma is open from 11:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m.10 p.m. on Sunday.

Mikami Revolving Sushi & Bar

Photo: sam l./Yelp

Kearny Mesa's Mikami Revolving Sushi & Bar is currently on the upswing in the sushi bar category on Yelp.

While businesses of that type saw a median 1.1% increase in new reviews over the past month, this sushi bar increased its new reviews by 53.1%  and kept its rating consistent at 3.5 stars.

Open for business at 7319 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. since early November, Mikami Revolving Sushi & Bar takes patron orders via touchpads at the tables and delivers them via a conveyor belt that runs throughout the dining area.

Mikami Revolving Sushi & Bar is open from 11 a.m.9:30 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m.10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

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In terms of major policy shifts, the city of San Francisco has served as a political torchbearer of sorts for California  and at times, the nation. Now, with the citys new, Bernie Sanders-endorsed district attorney, Americans across the nation should be concerned about how a radical shift in prosecuting for the Golden City could have immediate national implications.

Within 48 hours of being sworn in on Jan. 8, San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin fired seven veteran attorneys, including several who were responsible for managing critical criminal units such as homicide, gang, and general felony.

As a former San Francisco assistant district attorney, I know this isnt just a typical case of administrative shake-up. Rather, it is a dangerous and disruptive move that does a grave disservice to victims and the community.

The institutional knowledge possessed by someone like Ana Gonzalez, who headed the citys gang unit, is irreplaceable. Criminal organizations and their operations are often very complex, especially in a metropolitan area such as San Francisco. Without prosecutors who have a deep understanding of the various syndicates and the players within them, lawful prosecution of crimes becomes tremendously more difficult, allowing real criminals to walk free.

Assistant District Attorney Mike Swart, who was also among those fired, was recently honored by the Commission on the Status of Women of the City & County of San Francisco for successfully bringing to justice the killer of Pearla Ann Louis, who was violently murdered and stuffed into a suitcase.

Some have pointed to Boudins lack of experience as an excuse for his reckless actions  he has never actually prosecuted a case. The truth, though, is far more sinister.

On top of quickly dismantling the violent crime division of his office, Boudin seeks to end the prosecution of what he deems quality of life crimes, including public camping, offering or soliciting sex, public urination, and blocking a sidewalk. Instead of handcuffing criminals, Boudin is handcuffing the prosecutorial process and Lady Justice herself.

These firings werent based on any incompetency within the department; they were just a transparent effort to cripple the departments prosecutorial ability. Boudin is advancing a radical ideology thats focused on completely redesigning the citys  and the nations  criminal justice system.

This dangerous reality is also being peddled by a new brand of Bernie Sanders-endorsed Democrats across the country. And, worse yet, the ideology is seemingly inspired by American communist revolutionaries who gained notoriety during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

For Boudin, the ties that bind him to the violent leftist movement of the last century couldnt be closer.

His adoptive parents are none other than Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, the notorious leaders of the communist-driven domestic terrorist group Weather Underground. Ayers was involved in the bombings of a New York police station, the U.S. Capitol, and the Pentagon in the early 70s.

As a young adult pursuing a career in law, Boudin didnt abandon the radical ideology of his upbringing; he embraced it by moving to Venezuela. Boudin served as a translator for Hugo Chavez, the communist dictator who dismantled the nations democracy and set the country on the path to its current state of socialism-induced economic collapse.

Now, as a Yale-educated attorney, Boudin has inexplicably found himself believing that he himself is the victim of a broken criminal justice system. As a result, hes committed to radically transforming that system.

Of course, if this was just this one citys district attorney with a wild, made-for-Netflix story, it probably wouldnt be worth noting. But its much more than. This is exactly the kind of candidate Bernie Sanders  who has his own checkered past supporting communist dictators abroad  has been championing all over the country.

In 2018, one of Bernies most high-profile endorsements was of Andrew Gillum, the Democrat candidate for Governor of Florida. Bernies support propelled Gillum to a major upset in the Democratic primary. Gillum, who campaigned frequently alongside Sanders, signed the Freedom Pledge by a radical group whose extended statement on racial injustice calls for defunding prisons and police and proclaims police were never meant to protect and serve me and you. (Gillum has denied embracing its full agenda.)

Since losing the Democratic presidential nomination to Hillary Clinton in 2016, Bernie Sanders has waged a proxy war in Democratic primaries across the nation to nurture his radical agenda. Now Bernie is his own champion on the campaign trail. He is also, arguably, todays frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. That should give every American pause.

Americans who think Bernie Sanders and could never implement the policies of his comrades in California and around the country at the federal level are wrong. They came less than half a percentage point away from victory in Florida and Georgia last cycle.

As President Reagan famously said, Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. He was right, because the road to communism is paved by the apathy of free people.

For criminals, actions should have consequences. That will also be true in 2020 at the ballot box when voters are provided a choice between protecting law and order or protecting criminals.

Kimberly Guilfoyle is the national chair of the Trump Victory Finance Committee and a senior adviser to Donald J. Trump for President Inc. Twitter: @KimGuilfoyle
HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has accused Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao of practising headline management by making false and hollow claims of development.

Addressing a series of meetings in Nalgonda and Kodad as part of his election campaign for municipal elections, he charged that Rama Rao has even failed to perform as minister for municipal administration and urban development.

Development in areas under municipalities and municipal corporations has come to a standstill ever since TRS came to power, he stated.

The TPCC chief asserted that whatever the existing infrastructure in urban local bodies, it has all been the work of previous Congress regimes. Rama Rao has only been making false claims of development in newspapers and cheating people with fake promises.

Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the TRS working president was forcing newspapers to publish his interviews on front page. Such tactics will not work in favour of TRS as people have realised that only Congress can bring in development, he maintained.

The TPCC chief said the TRS government has given least priority in allocating funds to municipalities and municipal corporations. Many urban bodies had no money to bear operational expenses. Even funds for construction of double bedroom houses for weaker sections have not been allotted, he stated.

Uttam Kumar Reddy claimed that the Congress party would win majority of seats in all municipalities and municipal corporations going to polls on January 22.

As promised in its Vision 2020 Document, Congress would ensure better roads, safe drinking water, cleanliness, proper sewerage system and other civic amenities if voted to power, he added.
Intensifying its protests against the Controversial Citizenship Act, CPI(M) said it would soon launch a nation-wide house-to-house campaign and explain to the people the "link" between CAA- NPR-NRC.

The intense campaign would take place all over the country, party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said while briefing the media about the three-day central committee held at nearby Vilapilsala.

The Central committee has also called upon the people "not to answer any questions concerning the NPR" when the enumerators come to their houses, Yechury said.

"The ongoing people's movement comprising students, youth, women and ordinary citizens, clearly shows that people realise the threat posed by the CAA to our Constitution.

These protests are continuing everyday in various locations in the country for nearly two months," he said.

Claiming that the legislation was "not just unconstitutional but anti-constitutional," Yechury said the party condemned the police violence that had taken place during the anti-CAA protests country-wide.

Innocent people were "targeted and framed for the damage of property caused by the police," he alleged.

"The NPR and NRC prepared will affect millions of poor people, tribals, dalits, homeless, disabled, transgenders and other marginalised communities ad targeting the minority Muslim community," the party said in a statement, adding many of these sections will find it impossible to produce documents to have their name entered into the NRC.

Asked about the Congress-led UDF backing out from the joint protest against the CAA in the state, Yechury said the fight against the Act was beyond politics.

"The protest is not based on election fronts. There is no political joining of hands. We are fighting beyond politics.

We need to save India for a better India. If Congress has backed out, they have to answer," he said.

The party has also provided "a new slogan for the people" to protest against the National Population Register (NPR)--"Jawaab Nahi Denge" (We shall not answer).

"The Central committee also decided that all party units will conduct a house-to-house campaign explaining the linkage between the NPR and the NRC and calling upon the people not to answer the NPR question," Yechury said.

The CPI(M) also demanded that all the detention centres be dismantled and the directions to set up the such centres in various states be withdrawn.

The party expressed shock over the comment of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat that de-radicalisation camps are needed for people including young children who are being radicalized in the country, particularly in Kashmir.

"Shockingly, he indicated that such camps are already functioning. The Modi government must immediately clarify if such camps exist in Jammu & Kashmir."



According to the CDS, it appears that they do and the army is running these camps, Yechury said.

The Left party alleged that the Centre failed to honour the assurances made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir at the time of its accession to India.

It is now more than four months since most of the political leaders including three former chief ministers and thousands of others had been detained.

Some of them are being detained under the draconian Public Safety Act, he said seeking their immediate release.

The party also demanded restoration of communications and public transport facilities in Kashmir.

Condemning the economic policies of the Modi government, the central committee said the country was heading towards a recession.

"The economic crisis has been caused by the sharp decline in the purchasing capacities of the vast majority of our people. Consumer spending in rural areas declined by 8.8 per cent in 2017-18.

The solution for a turn around in the economy lies in providing the people with the capacity to purchase, thus increasing the levels of domestic demand which may lead to revive all closed factories," CPI(M) said in a release.

Later, Yechury addressed a massive anti CAA protest meeting, which was attended by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other left leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
F lorence Pugh is undoubtedly the breakout star of this years awards circuit.

Thanks to her standout turn as Amy March in Greta Gerwigs Little Women adaptation, the 24-year-old has earned her first Oscar nomination - along with a Critics Choice nod and her second Bafta nomination (she was on the organisations Rising Star shortlist in 2018).

2020 has plenty more on the cards for Pugh, too. Once awards season is over, shell join the Marvel universe in the new Black Widow spin-off film, playing fellow Oscar nominee Scarlett Johanssons younger sister.

But though her ascent to mainstream stardom might seem meteoric, Pugh has in fact put in the work in a series of stellar performances since she was just a teenager - you just might have missed them.

To catch up on Pugh's impressive filmography ahead of her Oscars debut, consider this a cheat sheet on her standout roles to date - and how you can watch them from your sofa...

The Falling 

Pugh starred opposite Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams

Pugh made her screen debut in this haunting psycho-drama from director Carol Morley, which was released in 2015 and is set in an all-girls school in the late '60s.

The actress proved herself an exciting new talent as Abbie, the rebellious best friend of Maisie Williams Lydia, whose unexplained fainting fits seem to trigger an outbreak of hysteria among the pupils.

Available to rent on BFI Player

Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is not your average period drama

After watching Lady Macbeth, Little Women director Gerwig just knew she had to cast Pugh as Amy March - as her performance proved that she would be able to punch in the same weight class as Saoirse Ronan.

In this 2017 indie period drama, based not on Shakespeares tragedy but on Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, a Russian novella inspired by the play, Pugh is compelling (and often frightening) as Katherine, a young woman trapped in a loveless marriage with an older, abusive husband.

Available to rent on BFI Player

The Little Drummer Girl

Pugh played an aspiring actress in this Le Carre spy thriller (BBC)

The star landed her first lead TV role in The Little Drummer Girl, the BBC miniseries based on John Le Carres 1983 novel.

Billed as a spiritual sequel to the broadcasters hit adaptation of The Night Manager, the six-part show was directed by Park Chan-wook and saw Pugh play aspiring actress Charlie, who gets caught up in the world of international espionage when she meets an Israeli intelligence officer (Alexander Skarsgard). Le Carre was so impressed, he named the heroine of his next novel Florence.

Available to download on Amazon

Fighting With My Family

Pugh is a knockout as an aspiring wrestler

Proving that shes nothing if not versatile, Pugh followed The Little Drummer Girl with Fighting With My Family, a comedy written and directed by Stephen Merchant set in the world of WWE  via Norwich.

She played Saraya, an aspiring wrestler (based on former champion Paige) who is offered the chance of a lifetime to fly out to the States and join WWE. Also boasting Dwayne The Rock Johnson on exec producing duties, the film also starred British comedy stalwarts including Nick Frost and Julia Davis.

Available to stream on Netflix

Outlaw King

Pugh tries her hand at medieval drama in Outlaw King / Netflix

Netflixs re-imagining of Robert the Bruces rebellion didnt exactly earn rave reviews, but critics agreed that Pughs turn as Elizabeth de Burgh, the young wife of Chris Pines Bruce, was one of the best bits. The two-hour historical epic also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Billy Howle.

Available to stream on Netflix

King Lear

Pugh holds her own against a cast stacked with British acting heavyweights in this abridged screen version of Shakespeares tragedy, set in modern London.

She is Cordelia to Anthony Hopkins Lear, with Emma Thompson and Emily Watson as her scheming sisters Goneril and Regan. In a neat twist of fate, she and on-screen father Hopkins are up for Best Supporting Actress and Actor respectively at the Oscars next month.

Available to stream on Amazon Video

Marcella

Marcella was Pugh's first TV role

This Scandi-inspired ITV thriller (the makers even gave lead star Anna Friel a trademark jumper in a nod to The Killings Sarah Lund) marked Pughs TV debut back in 2016.

She has a three-episode arc as Cara, a webcam model caught up in the cold case Friels DCI Marcella Backland is re-investigating.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Sunday called upon the youth to come forward and play a constructive role in the making of a new India.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony at Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) here, he said India has been known and recognised for its knowledge, wisdom, culture and values.

The governor said the objective of was not only imparting knowledge but it makes people civilised.

" also has the objective of promoting unity and prosperity of nation," Mishra said, adding youths should play a constructive role in the making of a new India with their knowledge and

Union minister of state for railways Suresh Angadi, MNIT director Prof Udaykumar R Yaragatti and others were present in the function.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ERIE, Pennsylvania  The story of a Minnesota orphan figures prominently into the most generous gift ever received by the Cleveland Clinic. The tale of that orphan  Hugh C. Lord  is worth recounting as it provides inspiring reminder of the ingenuity, hard work, and relentless curiosity that built American manufacturing.

First, the gift.

In October, the Cleveland Clinic, no stranger to philanthropic largess, was gifted a staggering $261 million after a North Carolina-based company called LORD Corporation (founded by Hugh Lord in 1924) was purchased by Parker Hannifin Corporation based in Mayfield Heights.

The $3.675 billion sale of LORD Corp., an adhesive and coating manufacturer, triggered the gift to the Clinic as part of the estate plans envisioned by Thomas Lord, a former patient of the Clinic and son of the aforementioned Hugh Lord.

In a statement released by the Clinic after the gift was announced, Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and president of the Cleveland Clinic said: Cleveland Clinic was founded on the ideal that innovation, research and teaching are integral components of patient care. Mr. Lords generous gifts allow us to continue tackling todays most complex medical challenges, discovering the next breakthroughs and improving lives worldwide.

The same day the Clinic announced its gift, similar gifts of $261 million from the LORD Corporation were also announced by Duke University, the Massachusetts Institution of Technology (MIT), and the University of Southern California (USC).

The joint distribution of more than $1 billion to foundations representing the four institutions is believed to be the largest combined contribution of its kind for science and technology education and research, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Further insight into the scope of those remarkable gifts is provided by Candid.org, an organization that tracks and helps manage philanthropy. In 2019, Jim C. Walton, the youngest son of Walmart Inc. founder Sam Walton, gave $1.2 billion in Walmart shares to the Walton Family Foundation, making his donation the single largest gift in the nation last year, according to Candid.

However, the combined gifts awarded by Jura Corporation (the philanthropic arm of LORD Corporation) totaled $1.4 billion, which edges out Waltons gift, as well as the $1 billion pledge by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife to the Schmidt Family Foundation, according to financial data compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

When developing his estate plan, Tom Lord identified research institutions that shared his vision of continuous learning and innovation. We are thrilled his legacy of developing new products to solve the worlds problems will continue, said Lt. Gen. Frederick McCorkle, USMC (Ret), president of Jura Corp.

The combined gift of more than $1 billion from the LORD Corporation to the Cleveland Clinic (above), Duke University, the Massachusetts Institution of Technology and the University of Southern California is believed to be the largest combined contribution of its kind for science and technology education and research. (Plain Dealer file photo) The Plain Dealer

Elementary school dropout to patent lawyer

I took the brief trip to Erie, Pa., in order to better understand the origins of the LORD Corporations generosity  consummated by the recent Parker-LORD corporate marriage. Erie shares a lake with Cleveland and is the northwest Pennsylvania town where Hugh Lord, the orphan, made his name and created a motion control company.

After both of Lords parents died before he reached the age of 12, an uncle living in Dunkirk, New York, petitioned Minnesotas Orphan Court as next-of-kin to be given custody of the boy. According to Courage and Innovation, a biography of the LORD Corp. published in 2005, that uncle was granted custody but routinely mistreated his nephew. The uncle, who owned a lumber mill, viewed Hugh primarily as a source of cheap labor. The relationship didnt last.

By the age of 15, Lord had had enough. In 1885, the teen packed his belongings and walked 80 miles from Dunkirk to Meadville, Pa., where a few of his maternal relatives lived. A year later, he moved, again, 40 miles north to Erie, Pa. He was impoverished, possessed no marketable skills, and had only completed the 6th grade.

Thats when Hugh Lords perseverance and grit began to manifest. After toiling for two years as a gristmill operator, he realized his life was in a predictable spiral. He was 18, an elementary school dropout, and had no interest spending his life grinding grain into flour.

Lord enrolled in a local Erie high school and graduated two years later. He then promptly turned his attention to the study of law and began to read, or intern, under a well-known attorney from Erie. In those days, it was not necessary to attend law school in order to become a licensed practicing attorney.

Lord was admitted to the Erie County bar in 1890, where he quickly developed a reputation as a skilled patent attorney. His unique legal talent reportedly rested in his ability to recognize ways to improve upon the scope of his clients inventions. That visionary ability is what eventually led to the start of the Lord Manufacturing Company, which would eventually become known as LORD Corporation.

Squeaking automobiles that traveled Erie, Pa. streets motivated Hugh Lord to design mechanical devices to quiet them. His business continued to grow until it was purchased by Parker Hannifin Corporation for $3.675 billion.

A quest to quiet noisy cars

In the years after World War I, Erie was a bustling port town known for steel, iron, and cast-iron manufacturing. With ample disposable income, the emergence of affordable automobiles filled the citys streets with noisy prototype cars like the Hupmobile. The screeching sounds made by those vehicles became a pet peeve for Lord as well as a driving source for his inspiration.

Around 1919, he began experimenting with rubber and metal in his basement, relentlessly working on the creation of mounts, mechanical air compressors, and different constructions of rubber tires that he hoped could quiet the jarring sound of metal grinding on metal.

It turned out Lord was a creative inventor. Using money earned from his law practice, he began to develop devices that could quiet the sounds and rough vibration of motorized vehicles. He managed to turn a slim profit on his inventions after more than ten years  just in time for the Great Depression.

Despite the severe economic downturn, the Lord Manufacturing Company, was developing a reputation as a national leader in mechanical noise and vibration control. Thanks largely to Hugh Lords inventions, the companys motion control products were suddenly gaining recognition by the both the automobile and aviation industry. The company began to focus on air travel. By reducing vibration in aircrafts, both the safety and longevity of planes were greatly improved.

In 1943, a talented chemist named Donald M. Altstadt, who would eventually become CEO, was hired by the company. Less than ten years later, he would co-develop a breakthrough adhesive product called Chemlok, which became the gold standard material for the science of bonding rubber to hot metal.

That chemical development catapulted LORD Corporation, still a relatively small company, into a leadership role in the transportation industry. Today, most aircrafts that fly with a motor have a LORD motion control product in their assemblage.

Hugh Lord (left) and Tom Lord. Courtesy of LORD Corporation

The next generation

This brief history brings us to Tom Lord, the only son of Hugh who survived past the age of two, who would engineer the quarter-billion-dollar gift recently given to the Cleveland Clinic.

In 1928, Tom Lord graduated from Yales Sheffield Scientific School, which emphasizes instruction in science and engineering.

Tom Lord, who took control of the company after his father died in 1952 at the age of 85, had closely watched and learned from his father. The fierce survival streak that Hugh had nurtured as an orphan was replicated in the son. Here is how Tom Lord recalled his late father in a 1973 speech given in Erie to the Newcomen Society in North America:

Hugh Lord was determined to have no outside financial help to fetter his decisions. Success or failure of his new enterprise would rest solely on his efforts and the accomplishments of those upon whom he relied. So, it was root, hog, or die.

In time, with his leadership, his tenacity and his endless drive, we learned the business. Innovation and inventions were continuous and the learning process, so important to our founder, was instilled in his colleagues and became a way of life with us. For Hugh Lord his company grew to be a living symbol  that innovation, inventions and patents can be significant factors  in establishing a successful business.

It is not entirely clear when Tom Lord first developed a fondness for the Cleveland Clinic. Bob Hagel, a former LORD Corporation chemist and noted photographer, who helped write and edit Courage and Innovation, said it was well known that Tom Lord had received treatment at the Clinic over the years and was a huge fan of the hospital.

Lord favored the fact that Cleveland physicians were salaried hospital employees rather than freelancers. He believed this model led to better patient outcomes. In the process of visiting Cleveland, he also struck up a friendship with Dr. Floyd Loop, a pioneering heart surgeon who served as CEO of the Clinic from 1989 to 2004.

In the late 1970s, Tom Lord also briefly flirted with University Hospitals, the long-time rival of the Cleveland Clinic. In 1977, Lord, who suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis, had two prosthetic finger joints installed in one of his hands, in what was considered experimental surgery at the time. It is not known whether the surgery improved his dexterity or not, but the finger implants appear to have been both the beginning and end of his relationship with University Hospitals.

Tom Lord died in 1989, but not before he had devised a plan to strategically share the wealth created in the event that LORD Corporation was ever sold.

Heres what Ed Auslander, CEO of Lord Corporation at the time of the sell to Parker Hannifin, said of the planned gifts:

For 95 years, LORD Corporation transformed innovative ideas into materials and solutions to move every person in the world. Consistent with Tom Lords deep-rooted values and social responsibility, he leaves a permanent mark on using knowledge and an entrepreneurial spirit to solve technological challenges, making the impossible real.

That legacy of movement started with the 80-mile trek of an orphan from New York to Eastern Pennsylvania. Hugh Lord started a company to solve the screeching sounds made by automobiles. Tom Lord, his heir, then surrounded himself with other mechanical and chemical geniuses and continued to advance motorized travel, making it safer and more comfortable. LORD Corporation, which moved its headquarters to North Carolina in the 1980s, changed the nature of planes and automobiles by advancing the science of rubber and metal adhesion.

It all started when a young orphan named Hugh Lord decided to take a long walk.
One of the Philadelphia MOVE 9 has been released on parole after almost 42 years in prison for a crime he maintains he did not do.

Delbert Orr Africa emerged from State Correction Institution - Dallas in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with his arms splayed resembling the shape of a cross, four decades after he first held the Christ-like during a deadly police siege of 1978.

The freed man, 73, hugged relatives and cried as he stepped out from behind prison walls on Saturday following a lengthy time inside for the third-degree murder of officer James Ramp.

His road to prison began after notoriously brutal mayor Frank Rizzo complained the black liberation group was a nuisance, citing violation of the health code and weapons violation.

Delbert Orr Africa was released from prison after almost 42 years on Saturday

His family members hugged and cried as they met him outside prison following his release on parole. He attended a 'Welcome Home' event after his release (left)

Delbert Africa, the spokesman for MOVE was convicted for the murder of a Philadelphia cop

After 15 months of clashing, cops entered their commune with guns and a water cannon and a police shootout ended with officer Ramp being killed by a single bullet.

He was one of nine MOVE Philadelphia members convicted of killing police officer James Ramp in 1978 during a siege on the black liberation group's home

Images from the siege show members including the Move 9 - five male and four female members - being treated with excessive force as they are arrested.

Despite his apparent surrendering, shocking black and white images that were shared by attorney Brad Thomson upon his release, show the cops jabbing him in the neck with a rifle, dragging him by his hair and kicking him in the head.

'A cop hit me with his helmet. Smashed my eye. Another cop swung his shotgun and broke my jaw,' Delbert told the Guardian while incarcerated.

'I went down, and after that I don't remember anything till I came to and a dude was dragging me by my hair and cops started kicking me in the head.'

The MOVE 9 were Chuck, Delbert, Eddie, Janet, Janine, Merle, Michael, Phil, and Debbie Africa.

Despite his apparent surrendering, shocking black and white images that were shared by attorney Brad Thomson upon his release, show the cops jabbing him in the neck with a rifle

Cops are seen dragging him by his hair and kicking him in the head during the siege of 1978

Members of MOVE, a cult founded by John Africa, avoid being arrested as they gather in front of their house in the Powelton Village section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

He was also reunited with one of his daughters, Yvonne M Orr, on the grounds of SCI Dallas. The two were tearful as they embraced

'I'm so happy to have my brother home,' Janine Africa (one of the Move 9) said on Saturday after the release

On Saturday, Delbert and his loved ones posed with a sign that read 'Love Live John Africa' in reference to the group's founder who died. He's pictured with former imprisoned MOVE member, Carlos Africa (left)

The group insists a stray bullet from police killed the officer but they were convicted for his death, each receiving 30 years to life.

In 1985, a second siege on the house included a city-authorized aerial incendiary bomb. Authorities let fire spread through the mainly African-American neighborhood and 61 houses were burned down.

Delbert Orr Africa's 13-year-old daughter was one of 11 people who died inside the new MOVE house on Osage Avenue, and one of five children who perished. Group founder John Africa also died.

'I just cried. I wanted to strike out. I wanted to wreak as much havoc as I could until they put me down,' Delbert told the Guardian. 'That anger, it brought such a feeling of helplessness. Like, dang! What to do now? Dark times.'

The Guardian reported 'he survived in solitary confinement by developing a black history quiz with other prisoners...they would play by tapping out messages... questions like: when was the Brown v Board of Education ruling in the US Supreme Court? What year was the BPP founded?'

During his time behind bars he was placed in solitary confinement six years into his incarceration, because he refused to cut his dreadlocks due to spiritual beliefs.

In September 2019, his daughter created a GoFundMe page to help raise $15,000 in preparation for his release

During his time behind bars he was placed in solitary confinement six years into his incarceration

He was placed in solitary because he refused to cut his dreadlocks due to spiritual beliefs

Each member of the group takes the last name 'Africa' and they'e known for tackling issues such as animal rights and police brutality

One more member, Chuck Africa, remains in prison and could be released soon

The group was pictured at a Welcome Home reception after the release. Delbert laughs and smiles

His lawyer said the release of Delbert on parole 'affirms what the movement to free the Move 9 has been arguing for decades: that their continued incarceration is unjust'

On Saturday, Delbert and his loved ones posed with a sign that read 'Love Live John Africa' in reference to the group's founder who died.

Thomson said the release of Delbert on parole 'affirms what the movement to free the Move 9 has been arguing for decades: that their continued incarceration is unjust'.

He added: 'With the release of Delbert, that leaves Charles 'Chuck' Africa as the last member of the Move 9 to still be in prison. Chuck went before the parole board last month and we are optimistic that he will be released in the very near future.'

Two other members of MOVE had previously died in state custody.

Delbert was pictured with Pam Africa, Minister of Confrontation of the MOVE Organization, minutes after he walked out of prison.

'I'm so happy to have my brother home,' Janine Africa, one of the Move 9, told Philadelphia Inquirer.

He was also reunited with one of his daughters, Yvonne M Orr, on the grounds of SCI Dallas. The two were tearful as they embraced.

A shoeless girl stands in the rubble outside the MOVE house (in the Powelton Village neighborhood) after a shootout between the Black Power commune and police officers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1978

A female African Americanmember of MOVE, founded by John Africa, preaches to the crowd that gathers in front of their barricaded house in the Powelton Village section

Police officers provide cover for firefighters who aim a water cannon at the MOVE house. The shootout resulted in one death, a number of injuries, and the arrest of nine MOVE members; seven years later, following continued conflict, the city authorized the aerial bombing of the group's headquarters

Aerial view of smoke rising from smoldering rubble where some 60 homes were destroyed by fire after a shoot out and bombing at the back-to-nature group MOVE's house in West Philadelphia, while police were attempting to force the group's eviction

Relatives and supporters of the radical back-to-nature group MOVE conduct an anniversary march through the Osage street neighborhood, one year to the day after police bombed a MOVE house, destroying 61 homes and killing 11 MOVE members (May 13, 1986)

But Delbert was not able to reunite with his other daughter. She was killed when the Philadelphia police firebombed the new MOVE house on Osage Avenue on May 13, 1985.

Also there to greet him was Carlos Africa, a MOVE member and former political prisoner, who was released from prison decades ago but returned on Saturday to drive Delbert home.

The group was pictured at a Welcome Home reception after the release.

In September 2019, his daughter created a GoFundMe page to help raise $15,000 in preparation for his release.

'I have to have some major things in place in order to ensure he's re-acclimated (e.g. health insurance, housing, etc). I would greatly appreciate your financial support by donating to my GoFundMe campaign for my father,' Yvonne M Orr wrote on the crowdfunding page. 'Delbert Orr Africa is now 73 years old, having served nearly 42 years for a crime none of the Move 9 committed. Please help me get him resettled into his 'new' world. Thank you in advance for your consideration!'

By Sunday morning it had raised $8,173.

Two African American members of MOVE, founded by John Africa, stand in front of their barricaded house in the Powelton Village section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste on Sunday said there was no proposal for a nationwide National Register of Citizens exercise as of now, and the one carried out in Assam was "experimented" by the Congress.

Addressing a press conference in Kanker supporting Citizenship Amendment Act, the Union minister of state for steel also said states had no right to decide against implementing a law passed by Parliament.

Queried on the NRC, he said, "In the entire country, NRC is neither a subject (of discussion) nor there is a proposal about it before us. We are not willing to do such an exercise. It should be made clear."



He added that "what would happen in the future" was not a matter of discussion at the moment.

"As far as Assam is concerned, the NRC exercise was conducted on the direction of the Supreme Court. There was a Congress chief minister in that state and prime minister of the same party at the Centre (when NRC process was launched in Assam), then who should be held guilty? NRC was experimented by Congress not by the BJP," he claimed.

Hitting out at some Congress governments for claiming they would not implement CAA in their respective states, he said, "The Parliament has power to enact laws as per the Constitution. Some state governments have said they will not implement CAA. When Parliament has passed the law and the President of India has approved it, states have no right to make laws (to block its implementation)."



He said CAA was not against any community and accused the Congress of spreading disinformation on it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India pledged a 50 million dollars as assistance to Sri Lanka on Saturday as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discussed a range of bilateral issues

Colombo: India pledged a 50 million dollars as assistance to Sri Lanka on Saturday as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including strengthening cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing and maritime security.

Doval arrived in Colombo on Saturday on an official visit during which he will also meet several foreign diplomats and discuss important issues of mutual interest.

"A very cordial discussion was held with National Security Advisor of India, Ajit Doval today. Strengthening of bilateral cooperation on national security, intelligence sharing, maritime security & fostering of regional collaboration, were some of the key points of discussion," Rajapaksa said in a tweet.

A very cordial discussion was held with National Security Advisor of #India, Ajit Doval today. Strengthening of bilateral cooperation on national security, intelligence sharing, maritime security & fostering of regional collaboration, were some of the key points of discussion. pic.twitter.com/hRHeHbvww5  Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) January 18, 2020

The President's office said Doval pledged that India will provide USD 50 million to Sri Lanka to help the country purchase equipment for its security forces.

Doval has become the second-highest-ranking Indian official to visit Colombo after Rajapaksa assumed office in mid-November.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa chose New Delhi for his first overseas visit after becoming the president.

India's pledge for enhancing defence cooperation comes days after Russia said it will assist Sri Lanka, which is seeking ways to consolidate its regional position through balanced diplomacy and attracting foreign investments, to improve its defence capacity.

"We have been providing Sri Lanka cooperation in defence and we will continue to do so," Russian Foreign Minister Serge Lavarov said here on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka has seen a flurry of visits from high ranking foreign officials this week, including from the US, Japan and China.
HAIKOU, China, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The third session of the Sixth People's Congress of Hainan Province opened in Haikou on January 16. According to Shen Xiaoming, governor of Hainan Province, in his government work report, the GDP of Hainan Province is estimated to increase by 5.8 percent year on year in 2019. The province has set a GDP growth target of 6.5 percent for this year.

According to the work report of the People's Government of Hainan Province, last year, Hainan's tourism revenue increased by 11.3 percent year on year, and the number of overseas tourists increased by 13.6 percent, which is 9 percent higher than the country's average. The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents increased by 8 percent. The per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents is expected to increase by 8 percent and 8.2 percent respectively in 2020.

According to the report, since April 2018, more than 7,700 international skilled workers have come to work in Hainan. In 2019, the foreign investment in actual use and the number of newly established foreign-funded enterprises in Hainan increased by more than 100 percent. The province aims to create 130,000 urban jobs this year.

Shen Xiaoming said that 2020 marks the year when the well-off society will be built in an all-round way and the "13th Five-Year Plan" will come to an end. It is a key year for the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port. Doing a good job in government work will be of great significance. Hainan will focus on the following works: The first is to speed up the construction of the free trade port and build new heights of opening-up. The second is to comprehensively strengthen institutional innovation and cultivate and strengthen core strengths. The third is to continue to promote industrial transformation and lay a solid foundation for high-quality development. The forth is to accurately implement the quality improvement and upgrading of the "five networks" and strengthen the support and guarantee capability. The fifth is to do a good job in the overall planning of urban and rural areas and promote the coordinated development of the whole province. The sixth is to strictly implement the tasks of the first phase of National Ecological Civilization Pilot Zone and raise the quality of the ecological environment to a new level. The seventh is to strive to make up for the shortcomings in social undertakings and optimize the supply of public services. The eighth is to actively address major problems in the field of people's livelihood and ensure that the fruits of development benefit all our people.

SOURCE The People's Government of Hainan Province
When Elwood Blues picked up his brother Jake at the Joliet Prison, they set out on a Mission from God. They felt called to raise money to prevent the foreclosure of the Catholic orphanage in which they grew up. Its a movie filled with music and car crashes, but the main point is this mission from God. Nothing was going to stop them from raising the money to pay off the creditor before it was too late. It was a race against time, but nothing would stop them from saving their home.





In our reading last Sunday from Isaiah 42 we heard God speak to a group of exiles, reminding them that they were Gods covenant people. God said to them: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. ( In our reading last Sunday from Isaiah 42 we heard God speak to a group of exiles, reminding them that they were Gods covenant people. God said to them: Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. ( Is 42:1 ).





This morning weve heard a second Servant Song as found in Isaiah 49. In todays reading, we hear that God called the Servant to be a light to the nations while still in my mothers womb. The words covenant people dont appear in our reading, but if you drop down to verse eight, we hear God say to the Servant, to Israel: I created you and appointed you a covenant people (Is. 49:8 Tanakh). So, what does it mean to be Gods covenant people? This morning weve heard a second Servant Song as found in Isaiah 49. In todays reading, we hear that God called the Servant to be a light to the nations while still in my mothers womb. The words covenant people dont appear in our reading, but if you drop down to verse eight, we hear God say to the Servant, to Israel: I created you and appointed you a covenant people (Is. 49:8). So, what does it mean to be Gods covenant people?





The people who heard this word from God lived in exile. Their homes and their Temple had been destroyed. They had lost their sense of identity. We hear this lament in the Servants complaint to God: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity. The Servant confesses that my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God, but I dont sense much enthusiasm in that confession.





Do you ever feel that way? Do you feel like this religion thing isnt working out the way you had hoped? Last Sunday evening, Brett and I gathered with a group of interfaith friends for our semiannual Tim Hortons summit where we try to solve all the worlds problems. As you can see, weve not figured it all out yet, but we keep trying. While we were discussing the challenges facing our different faith communities, Amin raised a good question. What good is it to believe in God and practice our faith? What difference does being devout mean in daily life? What benefit does it provide?





The exiles were asking that same question. Its the same question the author of Ecclesiastes raised. Here is what Koheleth had to say, as its rendered in the The exiles were asking that same question. Its the same question the author of Ecclesiastes raised. Here is what Koheleth had to say, as its rendered in the Tanakh.





Utter futility! said Koheleth

Utter Futility! All is futile!

What real value is there for a man

In all the gains he makes beneath the sun?

Have you ever felt like that? Maybe we should adopt the Epicurean vision, and eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.





The Servant may have felt like this Covenant People thing was futile, but God didnt give up on Israel. In fact, God laid bigger plans on the Servant, saying: It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth (Is. 49:6).





God would restore Israel to its former home, but that was only the beginning of Gods plans for Israel. The Servant may have had a narrow vision of Israels calling as a Covenant people, but God has a universal vision. So, God said to the Servant you will be light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.





This morning we gather as a covenant community on Martin Luther King Weekend. Dr. Kings witness continues to call out to us. His dream remains unfulfilled, but the call for justice is still there. We also gather on a Sunday we receive and vote on our annual budget. On a Sunday like this, its good to remember the Servants complaint: I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity. Sometimes we feel as if we have spent our strength for nothing, but then we hear God call out to us, reminding us that we have a calling. Were called to be a light to the nations so that Gods salvation might reach to the end of the earth. This morning as we look at the budget, we have two questions laid before us. First, what are the resources God has provided us? Second, how should we use these resources?





We ask these questions at a time when people across the globe are letting fear take hold. We watch as people circle the wagons to protect themselves from perceived threats. We see this in the growing anti-immigrant sentiment here and abroad. We see it in responses to refugees. Consider the decision of the governor of Texas, who has shut the door on refugees coming to his state.





We can give in to these fears, or we can take up this calling to be a light to the nations. One of the things I like about living in Troy is our diversity. In the nearly twelve years that weve been here, my circle of friends has grown to include Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and more. My life has been enriched by these relationships, but getting there can be risky. We may have to let go of cherished beliefs about ourselves and our faith. We might even develop what Barbara Brown Taylor calls holy envy.





Our call to be a covenant people doesnt displace Gods covenant with our Jewish friends. Paul speaks of God grafting us into the family through Christ so that we can share in this work of bringing Gods light to the nations. As we look around at the covenant community to which we belong, we might not seem rich or powerful, but as Paul told the Corinthian church, were not lacking in any spiritual gifts as we await the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ ( Our call to be a covenant people doesnt displace Gods covenant with our Jewish friends. Paul speaks of God grafting us into the family through Christ so that we can share in this work of bringing Gods light to the nations. As we look around at the covenant community to which we belong, we might not seem rich or powerful, but as Paul told the Corinthian church, were not lacking in any spiritual gifts as we await the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ ( 1 Cor. 1:7 ).





We have a budget to pass this morning. Yes, we take in less than we spend, but fortunately there are reserves that make up the difference, at least for now. But I wonder whether there might be some undiscovered gifts out there that might help sustain our mission from God to be a light to the nations. While we need to be wise stewards of the gifts given to us, we cant simply hide them away in the fear that someday we might run out of cash. Remember that the Lord is faithful. Yes, the Holy One of Israel, . . . has chosen you.





When Jake and Elwood heard their call, they gathered up their old band and headed out on their mission from God to save the orphanage. What about us? What is our mission from God?





Richard Ward suggests that Our mission is to become a light to the nations by becoming agents of Gods order of compassionate justice. [Feasting on the Word, p. 247]. Amy Oden reminds us that Gods story is always larger than ours, holding our stories within Gods life and weaving them into the wide-open future. [Preaching This Week, Jan. 19, 2014]. Timothy Simpson writes that: Richard Ward suggests that Our mission is to become a light to the nations by becoming agents of Gods order of compassionate justice. [p. 247]. Amy Oden reminds us that Gods story is always larger than ours, holding our stories within Gods life and weaving them into the wide-open future. [Jan. 19, 2014]. Timothy Simpson writes that:

What the world needs is not another group scrambling for advantage or clamoring for privilege, but rather a community of people engaged in acts of transcendence that move beyond the interests of self towards the furtherance of the common good. This will happen when the church tells the truth about how and why it was chosen by God and reorders its practices accordingly. [Political Theology, 2014].





If were going to join in the work of furthering the common good, well need to think outside the box. Well need to think in terms of partnerships with other congregations and faith communities. Since our identity is rooted in our relationship with the Living Christ, he serves as the foundation for our witness. That witness is rooted in the call of Abraham to be a blessing to the nations. This calling is mediated to us by the Spirit of God through Gods covenant people, the people of Israel.





Like the servant in Isaiah 49, we may feel as if we are laboring in vain. Its understandable. It sometimes feels as if were not making much of an impact on the world. We may wonder if this religion thing is worth the effort. But, remember that Jake and Elwood had to overcome many obstacles to fulfill Gods mission. That may be true for us as well. Nevertheless, God continues to answer our concerns with this message: I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. This, I believe, is what it means to be part of Gods covenant people.









Preached by:

Dr. Robert D. Cornwall, Pastor

Central Woodward Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Troy, MI

Epiphany 2A

January 19, 2020

(Eccl. 1:2-3).
Iran says black box of crashed plane to be sent to Ukraine

TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The black box of a passenger plane which crashed over Tehran's airspace earlier this month will be sent to Ukraine for reading the data, an official in Iran's Aviation Organization said on Saturday.

"The black box cannot be read in Iran, and following the request of the Ukrainians, it will be sent to Ukraine," said Hassan Rezaeefar, the director of Incident Investigation of Iran's Aviation Organization, the Iranian Daneshjoo news agency reported.

If the black box cannot be read in Ukraine, it will be sent to France for the same purpose, Rezaeefar said.

On Jan. 8, a Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 passenger plane crashed near Tehran, and all of the 176 people on board were killed.
Mumbai, Jan 19 : A promotional video Deepika Padukone shot for her new film "Chhapaak" has backfired.

In the video, Deepika is seen throwing a TikTok challenge at a user named @faby_makeupartist.

"I want to challenge Faby with three of my most favourite looks,a Deepika is seen telling the make-up artist Faby.

The actress adds that the three looks that Faby has to recreate on herself are of the films "Om Shanti Om" and "Piku", besides her look as the acid attack survivor Malti in "Chhapaak".

In the 39-second video, Faby goes on to rapidly create all three looks on herself, one by one to the beats of peppy music.

Perhaps Deepika was trying to give out the message that "Chhapaak", where her role of Malti is based on real-life acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, happens to be one of her most memorable roles along with "Om Shanti Om" and "Piku". Social media, however, isn't amused. The trolling started shortly after a user named Dr Smokiee posted the video on Twitter.

"And just when we thought that @deepikapadukone couldn't mock Laxmi anymore through her PR stunts in JNU she comes up with tik tok challenge on acid attack victims. Gross," wrote Dr Smokiee along with the video, on his Twitter account @SmokingSkills_.

Soon, the video started going viral, but with negative reactions to Deepika's promotional brainwave.

"This is sick beyond imagination. This is demeaning of every acid victim. @deepikapadukone should apologise immediately," wrote user @HarjeetR.

"How in the world an acid attacked face can be her favourite look?? This is disgusting. Goes on to show how less they care about this issue. Everything they are doing is just for money," wrote user @shruti2909.

Tweeted @shradxy: "Carrying scars is not "a look" you sick @deepikapadukone." "WTF is an acid victim look?" asked @vikrantkumar.

"You do a movie on an acid attack victim, cry in every other promotional event n now this below the belt challenge where a acid attack face is her fav!" tweeted @Sharanyashettyy.

"This promo isn't cool or cute. It's insensitive and ghastly. The movie wasn't about you and your make up. It was about a woman scarred for life. And victims like her, whose marks can't be wiped off, unlike your make up. You lost the plot," tweeted @smitabarooah.

Some even seemed to suggest Deepika's video promotion has affected their admiration for her.

"Someone is receiving ludicrous amount of bad advice!!! Unless the sole aim is to be the most insensitive celeb in the history of this country,a wrote @vedvyazz.

"I am disgusted that I once liked this lady," wrote @arpankaushik.

There have been many more such reactions on Twitter.

The video was one among several that Deepika had recorded with various TikTok artistes for the promotion of "Chhapaak".
NASA astronaut Christina Koch is pictured working in the vacuum of space 265 miles above the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. She and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir (out of frame) conducted a spacewalk to install new lithium-ion batteries that store and distribute power collected from solar arrays on the stations Port-6 truss structure. Credit: NASA.

The Expedition 61 crew is fresh off the first spacewalk of 2020 and preparing for two more before the end of the month. Meanwhile, the International Space Station residents continue ongoing microgravity research and life support maintenance.

NASA spacewalkers Jessica Meir and Christina Koch successfully installed two new lithium-ion batteries on Wednesday that store and distribute power collected from solar arrays on the station's Port-6 truss structure. They will finish the battery replacement work during another six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk scheduled for Monday at 6:50 a.m. EST. NASA TV begins its live coverage of the spacewalk activities at 5:30 a.m.

The third spacewalk is planned for Jan. 25 with astronauts Andrew Morgan and Luca Parmitano. They will finish the complex thermal repair work they began last year on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, an astrophysics device searching for evidence of antimatter and dark matter.

All four astronauts met in the afternoon and called down to Mission Control for a briefing with spacewalk specialists. The quartet had a routine discussion with the engineers about spacewalking gear and procedures.

On the Russian side of the orbiting lab, the two veteran cosmonauts worked back and forth on space science and the upkeep of the space station. Alexander Skvortsov spent a portion of his day on cell biology research before servicing an exercise cycle. Oleg Skripochka checked out a variety of hardware that detects micrometeoroid impacts on the station and observes natural catastrophes on Earth.

On-Orbit Status Report

Food Acceptability: The crew completed a Food Acceptability Survey using the Data Collection Tool on an available SSC (Station Support Computer). This investigation seeks to determine the impact of repetitive consumption of food currently available from the spaceflight food system. Results will be used in developing strategies to improve food system composition to support crew health and performance on long duration missions.

Cerebral Autoregulation (CA): In preparation for a future CA data collection, the crew performed the appropriate cable reconfiguration. As the body's most important organ, the brain needs a strong and reliable blood supply, so the brain is capable of self-regulating blood flow even when the heart and blood vessels cannot maintain an ideal blood pressure. The Cerebral Autoregulation investigation tests whether this self-regulation improves in the microgravity environment of space.

Mouse Mission-5 (MM-5) prep: In preparation for MM -5, the crew Installed Mouse Habitat Cage Unit (one) to the Cell Biology Experiment Facility-Left (CBEF-L) Incubator Unit (IU) and removed Mouse Habitat Cage Unit (three) from CBEF-L IU. JAXA Mouse Habitat Unit-5 (MHU-5) examines the effects of partial G on mice using the JAXA-developed mouse habitat cage units (HCU) that can be installed in the newly developed Centrifuge-equipped Biological Experiment Facility-L (CBEF-L) on the ISS. Stress caused by partial G may alter gene expression in cells of the body. The investigation analyzes any such alterations and their possible effects on development of germ cells, which carry genetic information and expression to subsequent generations.

Systems:

P6 Battery Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Operations: Following a successful P6 Battery Channel 4B EVA#3, the ISS crew participated in a debrief conference with the ground team specialists providing the ground team with valuable feedback on the EVA processes. The crew also performed the Extravehicular Activity Mobility Unit (EMU) battery charging and Metox regeneration activities, both of which restore the EMU suits for the upcoming EVA. In addition, the crew completed some preparatory tasks for the next P6 Channel Battery EVA#4 including procedure reviews along with Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) practice procedures.

Columbus Cycle 15 Software Transition: Today, the crew supported the preparation for the Columbus Module software transition by rotating the Human Research Facility (HRF2) rack and installing an upgraded Mass Memory Unit (MMU). The crew removed the MMU MkI and replaced it with the upgraded MMU MkII; the new MMU has the Cycle 15 Software already installed. This completed the second part of a two part MMU Remove and Replace (R&R) that transitions the Columbus Module Software to Cycle 15.

Completed Task List Activities:

No items were completed off the task list

Ground Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Payload Operations Support

SSRMS P6 Battery EVA Support

Friday, 1/17 (GMT 017)

Payloads:

Acoustic Diagnostics

Bionutrients

CIR/AMCE manifold bottle replacement

Confined Combustion

Food Acceptability

JWRS bubble removal

GLACIER2 desiccant swap

HERMES vacuum valve

Standard Measures

Veggie-1 h/w R&R

Systems:

Rechargeable EVA Battery Assembly Installation

EVA Tool Configuration

EVA Procedures Review and Conference

Camera Battery Charge Initiation and Swap

EVA LLB Ops Init/Term

METOX Removal/Install

BSA and METOX Term

EMU Water Recharge

EHS TOCA Buffer Container Change Out

COL PWS2 T61P Software Loads, Activation, and C/O (Cycle 15)

Saturday, 1/18 (GMT 018)

Payloads:

Payload NAS clean

Systems:

Crew Off-Duty

Sunday, 1/19 (GMT 019)

Payloads:

Bionutrients

Confined Combustion

LIDAL

Systems:

EVA Procedure Review

EVA Procedure Conference

EVA Tool Configuration

EVA Tool Audit

EVA Equipment Lock Prep Part 2

Crew Departure Prep

Today's Planned Activities:

All activities are complete unless otherwise noted.

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Review

Preparation of reports for Roscosmos website and social media

URAGAN. Observation and photography using photo equipment

ECON-M. Observation and Photography

Daily Planning Conference (S-band)

OTKLIK. De-installation of Control Unit () and Operator Console ().

Reading Pille dosimeter data after US EVA

MSK-2. Activation of glove box cleaning.

PAO hardware setup. Video/audio check

TV Conference with Representatives of Vladimir Region

Cleanup HRF-2 rotation path.

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination Setup

MSK-2. Equipment Reconfig.

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination - Subject

Columbus Video Camera Assembly 2 Adjustment

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Periodic Health Status (PHS) Post EVA Examination - Crew Medical Officer (CMO)

HRF-2 Rack Tilt Down at COL1A4

Health Maintenance System (HMS) Post-EVA Periodic Health Status Examination - Stow

JAXA Mouse Mission Cage Detachment from CBEF-L IU

MSK-2. Disable Glove Box Cleaning.

Environmental Health System (EHS) - Microbial Capture Device (MCD) and Coliform Water Sample Analysis 44 +/- 4 hours post processing

MMU1 Remove and Replace

MSK-2. The second replacement of containers with nutrient medium. Insert in - No.07 at +4 deg C setting. Tagup with specialists as necessary

OTKLIK. Closeout Ops

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Lithium Ion Battery Charger Verification

HRF-1 Rack Tilt Up at COL1A4

Portable Onboard Computers (POC) Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics (DOUG) Software Review

Columbus Bay 4 Restore

120 to 24 VDC Conv Removal

Utility Outlet Panel (UOP) Activation.

Battery Stowage Assembly (BSA) Operation Initiation

URAGAN. VSS PL R&R. Tagup with specialists

Public Affairs Office (PAO) Event in High Definition (HD) - JEM

-3 Cycle Ergometer Activities.

Stereo macro-photography of window No.1 cavity - procedure and r/g review

Stereo macro-photography of window No.1 cavity - Locating photo equipment

Metal Oxide (METOX) Regeneration Initiation

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) Procedure Conference

Monitoring RSK1 Laptop Battery Charge

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and one of the most prominent women of color in Congress, is endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders for president.

Her choice could bolster Sander's strength on the left and give him an advantage over his opponent Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the closing weeks before the first nominating contest in Iowa on February 3. Jayapal, the lead sponsor of the House "Medicare for All" bill, has been courted by both candidates for an endorsement.

"Bernie has the bold passion, authenticity & clarity that working people across this country desperately need," Jayapal wrote on Twitter. "We are building the progressive movement that will bring justice & opportunity & transform our country."

Jayapal will join Sanders for a rally in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday to unveil her endorsement.
The First High Criminal Court will pronounce its judgement in the case involving a Bahraini man whos accused of attempting to kill his neighbour in Muharraq Governorate, on January 28. As reported earlier, the defendant is accused of stabbing the victim several times over a dispute about a parking spot in the neighbourhood. According to court files, the incident took place on February 12, 2019, in Galali, a town that is located few hundred metres to the east of Bahrain International Airport.

The suspect was reportedly arrested on the same day. Chief Prosecutor Adnan Fakhro announced back then that the Public Prosecution had completed its investigation into the case. The results of the investigation revealed that the suspect stabbed the victim several times using a kitchen knife.

Mr Fakhro earlier explained that the Prosecution was initially notified by Samaheej Police Station, which arrested the stabber and facilitated shifting the victim to the hospital, where he recovered from his wounds. In a statement issued one day following the incident, the Chief Prosecutor revealed: The Prosecution has moved to the crime scene and inspected it. Testimonies of the victim and eyewitnesses were heard, and a coroner was assigned to examine the victim and the knife used to commit the crime and the fingerprints on it. The Prosecution interrogated the suspect and heard his statements, before ordering his detention until the date of the trial.

According to Mr Fakhro, the investigations revealed that the accused had the intention to kill the victim, as he prepared a knife for this purpose and monitored the victim while the latter was walking on the public road. He stabbed him several times, which led to his falling on the ground. The accused then continued to stab the victim with the intention of killing him. He later fled the scene and the victim was rushed to the hospital where he received treatment, Mr Fakhro added.

The suspect denied the accusations, claiming that he was attacked by the victim, who the suspect alleged was threatening him (the suspect) using a knife and a fist fight broke out before every walked to separate destination. However, an eyewitness informed the prosecutors that he saw the suspect stabbing the victim while the latter was on the floor. The witness also informed that the suspect fled the scene and left the victim bleeding on the floor. On July 9, the court ordered to conduct a mental evaluation of the suspect to determine if he was responsible for his actions.
Farewell ceremony will take place today at Boryspil Airport from 13.00 to 19.00.

Open source

The bodies of the Ukrainians, who died in a plane crash in Iran, were delivered to Ukraine. A live broadcast of the farewell ceremony broadcast by the 112 Ukraine TV channel.

A farewell ceremony will take place today at Boryspil Airport from 13.00 to 19.00.

As we reported, the Iranian side said it was ready to hand bodies of deceased Ukrainian citizens over to Ukraine. Ukraine's Interior Ministry informed about that on January 16.

"Today, experts of the Ministry that stay in Tehran received the DNA profiles of the remains of all eleven deceased citizens of Ukraine. Preparations for further passage to Ukraine are underway", says the message.

Their remains are supposed to reach Ukraine by January 19.

On January 8, Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines, flight PS752 with 176 passengers aboard crashed in Tehran, not far from Imam Khomeini airport.

11 citizens of Ukraine died in the crash of Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines (PS 752 flight). President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the passenger plane crash in the Iranian capital left no survivors.
- Atwoli claimed the two leaders were lying to themselves about Luhya unity

- He said the Mulembe nation will continue to be in political cold if leaders don't work together

- Musalia and Wetang'ula have been searching for the elusive Luhya unity

The search for the elusive Luhya unity has seen trade unionist Francis Atwoli call for dissolution of Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ford Kenya parties.

In particular, the Central Organisation of Trade Union boss challenged the respective party leaders Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang'ula to fold up their camp as show their willingness to support each other.

READ ALSO: Tanga Tanga MPs claims their pressure forced Uhuru to fire Mwangi Kiunjuri

Mudavadi speaking in a previous function. He has been asked to dissolve his party. Photo: ANC Official.

Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: DP Ruto achemka kufuatia madai alipuuzwa na Uhuru Mombasa

Speaking during the Building Bridges Initiative sensitisation forum in Bukhungu, Kakamega county on Saturday, January 18, Atwoli warned the region will continue to be in the cold if its leaders do not work together.

"We must say the truth, Wetang'ula is a very sharp politician since his campus days. But these two leaders (Wetang'ula and Musalia) are lying to each other about Luhya unity. If they are serious, let them fold their parties to form one,"he said.

Wetang'ula is the leader of Ford Kenya. Photo: Moses Wetang'ula.

Source: Facebook

Atwoli who has previously been accused of sidelining Mudavadi, said the former vice president was the right man to lead the Mulembe community.

"We should not blame one another, we are heading to is for the benefit of all of us. Let Mudavadi lead the Luhya nation. He is our leader. There are certain young politicians insult him daily. Musalia was denied chance to succeed president Moi because he understands economy," he added.

Crowd gathered at Bukhungu stadium during the BBI sensitisation forum. Photo: Gladys Wanga.

Source: Facebook

Speaking at the same function, Wetang'ula called for national unity of purpose devoid of mistrust and political mischief through the BBI recommendations.

"Every opinion counts and lets not be tempted to go the direction of thinking that if I dont agree with you then I am against you. We can always see things differently.

The centre piece of BBI is born of electoral malpractice, electoral injustice and lack of integrity of elections, now that we are here, we must put the people of Kenya the centre of BBI," he said.

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.

Babu Owino shoots a DJ at B-Club : Kenyans react | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Addressing the rally, retired IAS officer Arvind Bhatikar, who has been spearheading anti-CAA protests in Goa, claimed the new Citizenship law will 'destroy India. There is a need that we must uphold the Constitution of India. The Citizenship Amendment Act is discriminatory and against the Constitution', he alleged

Panaji: Hundreds of people protested against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Goa, even as the ruling BJP dubbed the agitation as "desperation of the Congress" and like-minded people. Citizens under the banner of 'Goa Unity Forum' gathered in Ponda town of South Goa district on Saturday and held a protest rally.

Addressing the rally, retired IAS officer Arvind Bhatikar, who has been spearheading anti-CAA protests in Goa, claimed the new Citizenship law will "destroy India". "There is a need that we must uphold the Constitution of India. The Citizenship Amendment Act is discriminatory and against the Constitution," he alleged.

On the occasion, Sahitya Akademi Award winner Konkani writer N Shivdas said the Constitution is like a "holy book" that unites people of all religions. "We all must uphold and protect this holy book," he added.

Congress MLA Ravi Naik alleged that CAA was "not only against the Muslim community but also against Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes". However, Goa BJP leaders took to social media to condemn the protest.

"Why Azadi slogans at Ponda rally? CAA is a law. Not a word about it. Only emotive, misguiding speeches. Palpable desperation of Congress and like-minded!" BJP's Goa general secretary and former MP Narendra Sawaikar tweeted.

In another tweet, he uploaded a picture of a protester holding a placard with the message: "We Stand with JNU". "Authorities need to find the source of such posters at Ponda rally," Sawaikar said in his twitter post.

BJP's South Goa district general secretary Navin Pai Raikar also hit out at the protesters. "These are migrants who live in Goa on government doles. Let's give them Azadi by sending them where they belong!" he tweeted.
Ferozepur A convicted drug smuggler Satnam Singh, out on bail, and his accomplice Gurpreet Singh were arrested on Saturday with 4kg heroin that they had smuggled in the country from Pakistan on January 6, police said at a press conference on Sunday. The counter-intelligence wing of the police intercepted the Swift car (registration number DL-9C-AB-4693) of the accused at a special check-point near Khai Pheme Kee village, around 12km from district headquarters of Ferozepur, on the Ferozepur-Fazilka road.

Ferozepur counter-intelligence wing Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Ajay Maluja said the operation was planned on a tip-off. Satnam Singh, alias Satta, of village Kishore Singh and Gurpreet Singh, of Khunder Hedar village under Mamdot police station in Ferozepur, have been arrested. During a search, 4kg heroin was recovered on them.

On the modus operandi of the smugglers, he added, They had smuggled 5kg heroin from Pakistan with the help of aide there named, Riyaz Chacha, on January 6 night from the border out-post of Ghatti Maste Kee in Ferozepur. Of this, they had already sold a kg in their area. When intercepted, they were on their way to deliver 4kg of heroin to a Amritsar-based smuggler as instructed by their Pakistani Chacha.

On the dubious background of Satnam, he added, Satnam was awarded rigorous imprisonment of 12 years in a drug smuggling case. He has served five years, and was presently out on bail that Punjab and Haryana high court had granted. Satnams uncle is also a drug smuggler and is now in jail.
Xi visits Yunnan on inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year



Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a village of the Wa ethnic group to extend his Chinese New Year's greetings to the villagers in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 19, 2020. Xi visited Yunnan Province Sunday on an inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)





KUNMING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited southwest China's Yunnan Province Sunday on an inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year.

Xi went to a village of the Wa ethnic group in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong Sunday afternoon to learn about poverty alleviation efforts and extend his Chinese New Year's greetings to the villagers.

He also visited the old town of Heshun, a gateway on the ancient Southern Silk Road that linked China's Sichuan and Yunnan with Myanmar and India, to learn about exchanges, historical and cultural inheritance, as well as ecological and environmental protection along the trade route.
My stomach swirled with nerves as I prepared for airport security. I was with my mum, dad and older brother Edward and we were surrounded by groups seemingly just like us: it was November and everyone was jetting off for some much-needed winter sun.

But their excited chatter washed over me as I tried to swallow back my tears. I was so afraid my crumbling emotions would give us away. Even once we were through security, the fear we would be stopped coursed through me. I knew that to anyone watching, we must have looked just like the thousands of other passengers but we knew the truth: while the four of us would be flying out, only three would return.

When I was little, Dad and I would build dens out of logs and climb trees together. He worked on an Army base and would bring home thick ropes that we would clamber up. He was strong and stoic  I couldnt imagine anyone, or anything, ever hurting him.

Charlotte Fenton (pictured left with her brother Edward and their mum Sara) explained why she's campaigning for a change in law, following her father's assisted suicide

But then, in 2008, when I was 13, and he was 50, Dad was diagnosed with Huntingtons disease  a genetic condition that causes cells in the brain to degenerate. Doctors confirmed his worst fears and gave him a prognosis: he had just ten years to live.

We werent a family who spoke openly about our emotions, and Dad didnt want Edward or I to know about his diagnosis  but Mum insisted. She sat us on the sofa in the living room, the front door slamming as Dad left to take our dog for a walk, and told us.

I felt numb and when Dad returned, we didnt talk about it. He didnt want to. That night in my room, I scanned the symptoms online. Tears dripped on to my keyboard as I scrolled; falling, choking, mood swings.

He hadnt shown any of these signs yet but, over the years, we became helpless bystanders as Dad succumbed to each symptom. Huntingtons also caused Dads moods to darken, and he would often be angry.

We would tiptoe around him. Birthdays were no longer celebrations but reminders that I had another year less with him. So when my friends began moving away for university, I knew I wouldnt join them. I got a job as an administrator at a local company.

Dad knew his death was likely to be a painful one, that he was going to end up losing control of his body and mind altogether.

In 2017, he began threatening suicide. It was either that, he told us, or Dignitas  a centre in Switzerland where severely and terminally ill people can go to end their lives under the guidance of professional staff.

Assisted suicide is illegal in the UK but it was what Dad wanted, and he began to bring it up regularly. We would brush him off and say he was being silly. There was a tug of war between his yearning to die on his own terms and us wanting him to live as long as possible. But then, one Friday in April, he changed our minds for us.

Charlotte's father Keith (pictured together), chose to end his life at Dignitas in Switzerland, after battling Huntingtons disease

I was brushing my teeth with my boyfriend, Zak, when I noticed the pills. Dad often took tablets, so I didnt think anything of the empty packet of painkillers on the edge of the sink. I went to bed but was woken at 3am by Mum banging on the door. Dad had taken an overdose. He begged us not to call an ambulance and, instead, to let him die. Eventually, he relented.

In hospital, every so often, hed let his eyelids settle and say, Im going now, as if willing himself to die. After that night, Dads symptoms meant he could no longer look after himself and, as a family, we found it too difficult to care for him full-time.

So he moved into a care home during the week, spending weekends at our house. I would do what I could to comfort him  brushing his teeth, pulling on his socks and delivering his meals on my lunch breaks. He ate soft foods he wouldnt choke on, like rice pudding. And he would only ever drink cold tea  hot water burned his mouth.

Before he went into care, I had thought Dad was being so selfish  I couldnt understand his desperation to die when he had us to live for. But after his overdose, I slowly began to realise we were the selfish ones.

Read the full feature in Februarys Cosmopolitan, on sale now. http://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/assistedsuicide

Despite this, when Mum told me that summer that she had agreed Dad could go to Dignitas, I was angry: why wasnt our care enough for him? But the more I thought about it, the more I understood Dignitas to be Dads saviour. He had to go while he could still consent and take the lethal drug himself. Otherwise, he risked being trapped in his ailing body until death came naturally, a thought that was impossible for him  and us  to bear.

He hated being in care, and I couldnt stand the idea of watching him deteriorate. I decided I wanted to be by his side in Switzerland. Dad booked his death at Dignitas for November 30, 2017, aged 59. Id pleaded with him for one more Christmas  but he was adamant.

It had been a long process. To be accepted at Dignitas, he had had to become a member, send Dignitas a formal request and a medical file, pay 9,500 for the process, then undergo multiple consultations there.

Having control over his death gave Dad a new lease of life but we were sworn to secrecy for fear of prosecution. Even though assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, it is illegal to help someone to go if you are a UK citizen.

We told the care home we were going on holiday. We booked Dad a return flight to avoid suspicion.I also quietly hoped it could be a way out, if he changed his mind. As the date drew nearer, I focused on making it through each day and hiding my tears from him. Hed say to me, You dont mind, do you, Lottie?

Dad, its your life, do whats right for you, Id reply. It stung but I meant it: I didnt want him to suffer.

Charlotte (pictured) who was given her father's wedding ring before his death, describes Dignitas as being like a fancy apartment rather than a hospital

The fact his death was premeditated meant we had time to say everything we wanted to. My brother and I each wrote him a letter. As I described how proud I was of him, that he was my hero and always would be, I sobbed so hard the ink ran, and the paper soaked with tears. For our last family day out, the four of us went to Bournemouth beach. I pushed Dad along the pier in his wheelchair as he laughed, watching our dog, Alfie, splash in the waves.

We planned to spend a few days in Zurich before Dads death. Weirdly, once we made it through the airport, and the fear of being caught there, the week was fun. We behaved like normal tourists, visiting glassy lakes and drinking at cottage-like pubs.

The security of death had made Dad carefree. He walked more than he had in years, released from the fear of falling, and the night before we went to Dignitas, he finished everyones leftover desserts, swallowing spoonfuls of cream and flaky pastry.

ASSISTED DYING: WHAT THE LAW SAYS It is a crime to assist suicide in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If convicted, the maximum penalty is 14 years jail. In 2010, the Director of Public Prosecutions issued a policy on cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide, which covers actions in England and Wales, and even if the suicide happens abroad. It includes a list of factors to influence whether someone is prosecuted for assisting suicide. Prosecution is less likely if the person made a voluntary, informed decision to end their life; and if the assister was motivated by compassion. Prosecution is more likely if the person taking their own life was under 18, lacked capacity to make an informed decision, or was physically unable to end their life without assistance. There is no specific crime of assisting a suicide in Scotland. But it is possible helping a person to die could lead to prosecution for culpable homicide. Advertisement

On the morning of his appointment, I blinked awake, and for two precious seconds I forgot what was about to happen. In the car, Dad gave his wedding ring to me and his watch to Edward. The band was loose around my finger, so I slid it on to my bracelet.

Dignitass blue building morphed into view, looking more like an industrial unit than a medical facility. Edward went to wait in a cafe  he has sensory processing sensitivity, meaning he feels more deeply than others, and would have been too overwhelmed.

It wasnt like a hospital: there were no corridors or strip lights, and we didnt see another patient. Dads room was like a fancy apartment, painted white with a bed, kitchenette and a radio playing classical music. The doctor said: Keith, I must ask you again: do you want to die today?

Yes, Dad said. Im positive.

Dads head rested on a pillow and the foot of the bed was lined with candles. He drank the prescribed medication through a straw, filming himself as evidence in case the police thought we had forced him. My stomach lurched; there was no going back.

Death doesnt come straight away, so as the medication took hold, the world was still. Dad lived for another two hours, with Mum and I by his side.

I kept glancing at the clock and looking back to Dads chest, feeling relief every time it rose and fell, then berating myself for holding on to hope. His last breath was a wisp  a quiet, dignified end. Mum and I gripped each other as we sobbed. When it was time to go, I felt glued to the spot; I couldnt bear to leave Dad alone. Back home, I was engulfed by a wave of devastation and didnt leave the house for days.

Mum went back to Dignitas to collect Dads ashes and in the January, we held a funeral and celebration of his life. Many of the 100 guests were blindsided by how Dad died, so I read a passage he wrote explaining his decision.

Charlotte (pictured) said she's campaigning for a change in law as a last act of love for her father, she wants terminally ill people in the UK to have the choice of when to end their lives

I rattled through the words, suppressing the lump in my throat: People might not agree, but this is my life and I want control over my death. We scattered his ashes at a tree wed planted for him on Hungerford Common, five minutes from our house.

A few people disagreed with Dads choice and a couple of my friends struggled to understand why he wanted to die, but at the time of Dads death, he was close to needing a feeding tube. In that situation, who would rather watch their loved one suffer over having a dignified, pain-free death at the time they choose?

Campaigning to change the law is our last act of love for Dad. We want terminally ill people in the UK to be able to choose when they end their lives and we promised him we would put it into action. With the help of Dignity In Dying, Mum set up a support group for families like ours.

As well as losing Dad, I also had to deal with the fear that I had inherited the faulty gene that causes Huntingtons. I couldnt be tested until I was 18, and I had the test last year because the fear had begun to stop me living. The test came back negative. Now I can get on with my life.

As told to Cyan Turan of Cosmopolitan. Read the full feature in Februarys Cosmopolitan, on sale now. If you have been affected by the issues here, visit dignityindying.org.uk

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/assistedsuicide //
Ireland's next government, whatever its composition, will pursue the same Brexit policy as guided the outgoing administration - namely, damage limitation.

None of the political parties welcomed Brexit and the Government has enjoyed widespread support for the approach pursued, with some ritual condemnation for failure to make unspecified preparations.

With the failure of the pro-Remain forces in the UK to secure a second referendum, the priority was to avoid barriers on the NI land border, accepting that Brexit was going to happen. That has been achieved, at the cost of understandable fears in Northern Ireland about possible trade disruption between NI and Britain.

During the first week of the election campaign the political parties sought to assert their credentials on the Brexit issue, but in truth there is little to differentiate them. The Government can legitimately claim to have handled the issue well, but the opposition parties can claim to have been supportive.

The withdrawal agreement is likely to pass both the UK and European parliaments in time for the UK to become a non-member at midnight European time next Friday week. In March, the UK and the EU will commence negotiations on a long-term trade relationship to be concluded by the end of the year - the UK government has ruled out any further extension of the no-change transition period.

There could be a no-deal outcome, an orderly no-deal rather than the chaotic no-deal that was sidestepped through October's capitulation by Boris Johnson to the EU's insistence that a hard border in Ireland be avoided.

Johnson objected to Theresa May's formula which would have seen the entire UK staying inside the EU customs regime, including a common external tariff. He resigned from cabinet, secured the Tory leadership and accepted a border in the Irish Sea, always on offer from the EU but unacceptable to Mrs May, and went on to win a comfortable House of Commons majority in December.

Now comes the hard bit - for Ireland, as well as for the British government. The Republic's trade with Britain dwarfs north-south trade and will face extra headaches if the UK-EU talks fail. If there is no deal, the UK (minus Northern Ireland) will nonetheless have access to the European market on the same terms as any other member of the World Trade Organisation.

Northern Ireland will retain its current EU access but there could be frictions in trade between NI and Britain.

Virtually every country in the world is a member of the WTO. The 16 exceptions are minnows including North Korea, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, which enjoy no automatic rights of access to the European market. But WTO members - a category which includes the UK and all other significant economies - can trade freely with the EU in line with published tariff and quota arrangements applicable to all. As a result of the various WTO multilateral negotiations of recent decades, the tariff and quota terms available will give Britain zero or low tariffs on most categories of manufactured goods and commodities, but not services.

An EU non-member can do better, gaining preferential access via a free trade agreement (FTA) and this is what will be negotiated from March onwards.

The simplest way to think about the upcoming FTA negotiations is to imagine that the EU is a facility with three grades of access.

Gold members are the EU-27, which have full access. The UK, in choosing to quit, loses the gold card - but, as a WTO member, is entitled to the third category, the bronze card available to everyone, which delivers the same trade access as is currently availed of by countries like Russia or Egypt.

But it can seek a silver card, offering superior access.

There is just one type of gold card, EU membership, and one type of bronze card, available to all.

But there are numerous countries with silver cards, all different and negotiated in FTAs which must conform to WTO requirements. These are bespoke agreements rather than cut-and-paste and must be agreed by both parties - bronze card holders have no entitlement to an upgrade and negotiations can fail.

Come February 1, the UK becomes the holder of a bronze card with the loss of gold card privileges deferred until the end of 2020. There is a commitment from the EU to negotiate for a silver card in good faith - but the loss of privileges in 2021, should the talks fail, is automatic, non-discriminatory and does not involve the erection of new barriers against trade with Britain.

The UK was not expelled from the EU. It chose to leave - and that meant bronze card status and the chance to negotiate a preferential deal. There have been many such negotiations, mostly successful, but some have failed, notably an attempted deal with the USA.

A few non-member European countries have silver cards that confer privileges in the EU market that come close to actual membership - Norway and Switzerland are examples - but they have complex deals which tie them to freedom of movement, jurisdiction of the European Court and annual financial contributions.

The UK has ruled out such close ties - and has accordingly constrained the quality of the silver card which it might be able to secure.

In recent speeches, the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, chief negotiator Michel Barnier and trade commissioner Phil Hogan have stressed that these UK ''red lines'', which were enunciated by Mrs May shortly after the referendum in late 2016, mean that the UK will not be offered a top-of-the-range silver card.

The EU will be alert to the unrealistic expectations in Britain about what is feasible - the EU cannot offer an enhanced deal to the UK, ignoring the red lines, without endangering its FTAs with numerous silver card holders around the world, important trading partners like Canada, Japan and South Korea. All three EU officials have stressed that time is short and that it may not be possible to negotiate any kind of comprehensive FTA.

The talks could go badly wrong. The UK, in addition to seeking trade access comparable to the gold card status enjoyed as an EU member, is also ambitious to conclude new deals with the USA and other non-European partners which would position it as an EU competitor.

Preferential free trade agreements involve level playing field rules about labour, environmental standards and the avoidance of selective state aids to national firms. British resistance to such provisions could mean a very limited FTA, possibly excluding agriculture and food, or no agreement at all.

This matters to Northern Ireland as well as to the Republic - if there is a limited, or no, agreement, the potential frictions to NI's trade with Britain are magnified. Like the Republic, NI's trade with Britain is far more important than cross-border trade.

The Houses of Parliament clock is being refurbished and out of action. On January 31 to mark the United Kingdom's deliverance, there are to be celebrations, and the Daily Express wins the prize for sheer fatuity with last Thursday's front page headline: ''Big Ben must Bong for Brexit.' The bong could still turn out very costly, for the UK and for both parts of Ireland.
The loss of his military titles and appointments is likely to be particularly painful for Prince Harry.

The Prince often appeared to be at his happiest either serving in uniform or spending time with fellow veterans.

But Buckingham Palace last night announced that as part of Harry and Meghan's new arrangement, the Prince is required to step back from his 'official military appointments'.

The loss of his military titles and appointments is likely to be particularly painful for Prince Harry as he often appeared to be at his happiest when serving in uniform. Pictured: Harry in a Spartan armoured vehicle in the Helmand province, Southern Afghanistan

After training at Sandhurst, Harry was commissioned as an officer in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals in April 2006.

During his ten years in the Army, he undertook two operational tours of Afghanistan and qualified as an Apache helicopter commander.

His second tour of Helmand, in 2012, is believed to be one of the few times in his life that the Prince truly found contentment away from the restrictions and pressures of Royal life.

Known as 'Captain Wales' by his comrades, he proudly told one fellow soldier: 'I've got the best of both worlds. I get to do all this. I can fly helicopters. I can shine a spotlight on the work I want to do.'

It was the Army which offered Harry his first taste of life away from being a royal.

After training at Sandhurst, Harry was commissioned as an officer in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals in April 2006. During his ten years in the Army, he undertook two operational tours of Afghanistan and qualified as an Apache helicopter commander

Harry's military career ended in June 2015 but he has remained a passionate supporter of the Armed Forces and was handed a number of ceremonial military titles.

He said at the time: 'Luckily for me, I will continue to wear the uniform and mix with fellow servicemen and women for the rest of my life, helping where I can.'

His highest profile military title is as Captain General of the Royal Marines, a role he was handed by the Queen in December 2017, succeeding the Duke of Edinburgh.

As the ceremonial head of the elite unit, Harry is entitled to wear the uniform and insignia equivalent to a Field Marshal.

His two-year association compares with the 64-year term of his grandfather.

Harry will also quit his role as the Commodore- in-Chief Small Ships and Diving in the Royal Navy and as the Honorary Air Commandant at RAF Honington in Suffolk.

As the ceremonial head of the elite unit, Harry is entitled to wear the uniform and insignia equivalent to a Field Marshal. Pictured: The Queen smiled at Harry as she inspecting soldiers at their passing-out Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in 2006

Harry's determination to quit as a senior Royal had already sparked criticism from fellow veterans.

James Glancy, a former captain in the Special Boat Service, last week said that he and military colleagues would not raise a toast to the Duke if he tried to earn money from his Royal position with commercial ventures.

There was nothing in Buckingham Palace's announcement, however, to suggest that Prince Harry give up his private association and support for a string of military charities, including Walking With the Wounded.

Similarly, Harry could continue his involvement with the Invictus Games for injured Armed Forces personnel and veterans.

Former First Sea Lord, Lord West, expressed his regret over Harry stepping down from his military appointments.

He said: 'The whole situation is extremely sad and I think it is unfortunate, after his splendid service in the military, that he will now no longer be involved with the military in the UK.'
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Though healthcare is expensive for Americans across the board, it can be especially taxing for families with children. If you're in the latter camp, you're probably eager to save as much money on medical costs as you can. But if you don't contribute to a tax-advantaged healthcare account, you'll miss out on a key opportunity to reduce that financial burden.

Unfortunately, recent data from Aflac reveals that 26% of families did not contribute to a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) over the past two years. And that's a mistake they regret.

If you have the option to save in an FSA or HSA, it pays to take advantage of it. You'll reap a world of tax savings, which will do one important thing: put more money back in your pocket.

It pays to fund a tax-advantaged health plan

Both FSAs and HSAs let you contribute pre-tax dollars to pay for medical expenses. Your associated savings, meanwhile, are a function of the tax rate that applies to your earnings. If you fall into the 24% tax bracket and contribute $2,000 to either account, you'll save $480 automatically, which is reason enough to fund one of these plans.

FSAs and HSAs work differently, though. With an FSA, you're limited to $2,750 this year in total contributions, and your funds must be used up by the end of your plan year or otherwise forfeited. As such, if you max out your FSA, you run the risk of not incurring enough expenses to deplete your balance, and losing money in the process.

HSAs, meanwhile, let you contribute funds that don't expire. In fact, you can take the money you don't need for near-term healthcare expenses and invest it for tax-free growth. As such, the risk of overfunding your account doesn't come into play as it does with an FSA.

That said, not everyone can contribute to an HSA. To do so, you must be enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan with an annual deductible of $1,400 or more at the individual level, or $2,800 or more at the family level. Your plan must also have an annual out-of-pocket maximum of $6,900 for individual coverage, or $13,800 for family coverage.

If you qualify for an HSA, you can contribute up to $3,550 this year as an individual, or up to $7,100 on behalf of a family. And if you're 55 or older, you get a $1,000 catch-up on top of the limit you qualify for, similar to the catch-up available to older savers in tax-advantaged retirement plans like IRAs and 401(k)s.

Reap those tax savings while you can

If healthcare is a major expense in your budget, which it probably is, especially with kids in the mix, then you don't want to pass up the opportunity to make it a bit more manageable by funding an FSA or HSA. Though these plans won't help you pay less when you fill a prescription or visit the doctor, they will produce a fair amount of tax savings, and by virtue of that alone, you come out ahead.
A young woman has been rushed to hospital after being struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm in Brisbane.

The woman in her 20s was driving a crane at Port of Brisbane when she was struck at 2.50am on Sunday.

She was rushed to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a stable condition, a Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said.

Queensland is bracing for up to 40mm of rain in some areas on Sunday, as storms hit the state after already wreaking havoc in New South Wales and Victoria this week.

The woman in her 20s was driving a crane at Port of Brisbane (pictured) when she was struck by lightning at 2.50am on Sunday

Storms peppered southeast Queensland overnight with heavy falls recorded on the Sunshine Coast and the Wide Bay area.

The weather bureau warns the storms will continue on Sunday but the rainfall level is likely to be far less, with falls of up to 40mm predicted.

'We could see showers and thunderstorms developing throughout the afternoon but we're not expecting rainfall rates to be as intense,' meteorologist Kimba Wong told AAP.

Falls of 20 to 40mm are predicted for the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

'Possibly a little bit higher if you do get a storm roll over you,' Ms Wong said.

Overnight, areas around Bundaberg in the Wide Bay-Burnett region were the hardest hit, with 95mm of rain falling in the six hours to midnight.

Coolum on the Sunshine Coast also received a drenching, with 91mm of rain recorded.

'The Gold Coast pretty much missed out last night, which is probably a good thing - just a couple of light rainfall totals of 5 to 10mm,' Ms Wong said.

Fields on the Gold Coast were heavily flooded on Saturday after more than 200mm of rain hit some parts of the region

The enormous rainfall saw the Gold Coast rivers overflow (pictured), with fears more storms on Sunday could see flooding worsen

'Most of the action was around the Sunshine Coast, where there may have even been some flash flooding just because the land was already so wet from the night before.'

Flooding continues to subside on the Gold Coast after some areas recorded triple their usual monthly rainfall on Friday night and Saturday morning.

The deluge hit Loders Creek the hardest with 325mm of rain falling in 12 hours, and more than 200mm recorded in parts of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

The heavy rainfall also left thousands of motorists trapped in traffic gridlock after the M1 Motorway was cut for almost seven hours on Saturday.
As arguably the first famous influencer, she has earned a documentary about her life.

And on Saturday, Paris Hilton attended the 2020 Winter TCA Tour at The Langham in Pasadena to promote her upcoming documentary, This is Paris.

The 38-year-old was a vision in white as she graced the stage for her panel interview.

Her big day! On Saturday, Paris Hilton, 38, attended the 2020 Winter TCA Tour at The Langham in Pasadena to promote her upcoming documentary, This is Paris

Paris tucked in a satin blouse into a printed wrap skirt.

The reality beauty draped a matching blazer over her tan, model figure and topped off her ensemble with white pumps.

The blonde beauty wore her voluminous hair down and parted to one side. Her make-up featured a bronzed eye and a pale pink lip.

Worked hard for it! As arguably the first famous influencer, she has earned a documentary about her life

Stunning: The beauty was a vision in white as she the graced stage for her panel interview

Glam: The blonde beauty wore her voluminous hair down and parted to one side. Her make-up featured a bronzed eye and a pale pink lip

In an interview with Deadline, the star explained that fans will 'see who I truly am.'

'I've never done anything like this in my life. In this film I discuss things I've never discussed before. I hope that people are going to see who I truly am,' she began.

'It follows me in my real life, everything I've done before was me playing a character. I was talking about things that are very hard to talk about. It was an amazing experience but it was very scary. I was freaking out.'

Tight crew: Paris was joined on stage by Aaron Saidman and director Alexandra Dean

Bringing the magic: Also taking the stage was illusionast David Blaine, 46

Paris rose to fame in 2003 when she and Nicole Richie starred in their own hit reality show, The Simple Life.

The show followed two privileged, Hollywood women as the tour the rest of the U.S. and learn how live like regular Americans.

Paris appeared to be a 'dumb blonde' on the show, but admits it was all an act.

'I was in on the joke. Sometimes it is annoying people assuming I am the blonde airhead that I played on the show, but I like proving people wrong.'

This is Paris premieres on Youtube on May 20.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 20:31:25|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan security forces have killed three Taliban militants in the southern Helmand province, said an army statement released on Sunday.

The security forces backed by fighting planes, according to the statement, stormed Taliban hideouts in the restive Nad Ali and neighboring Gereshk district on Saturday, killing three armed insurgents.

Without providing more details, the statement said that the security forces would continue to chase the insurgents elsewhere in the country.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of the restive Helmand and neighboring Kandahar and Zabul provinces have not commented on the report.
BURLEY  Drevan Kai Addis of Burley graduated from Army boot camp and combat engineering training at U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Addis is the son of Leticia Gonzales and Brian Addis of Burley, both of whom attended his graduation in October.

Addis enlisted July 3, 2019, and was sent to Fort Lenard Wood for training for 10 weeks, and four weeks to complete combat engineering requirements. He is now stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, awaiting further orders.

Fort Leonard Wood has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.

Addis said, I joined for a steady job and to get an education. He feels he made the right decision and is proud to contribute to the nations security.

One of Addis jobs as a combat engineering is breaching (blowing up doors and buildings) and is now a specialist in demolition, he said. Combat engineers primarily supervise, serve or assist as a member of a team when they are tackling rough terrain in combat situations. They provide their expertise in areas such as mobility, countermobility, survivability and general engineering.

Addis was awarded the Rifle Expert Marksmanship Medal for hitting the target 40 out of 40 rounds. He won the top honors out of 200 soldiers.

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More than 70,000 photos of Tinder users have been stolen and shared by a cyber-crime website, it has been reported.

The criminals only stole photographs and data from female accounts and it is feared that the images could be used to set up fake profiles for catfishing scams.

The photos were discovered by cybersecurity firm White Ops and were accompanied by a text file containing about 16,000 unique Tinder user IDs, according to Gizmodo.

More than 70,000 photos of Tinder users have been stolen and shared by a cyber-crime website, it has been reported (file image)

It is unclear exactly what the images will be used for but it could be to target and harass the users themselves or to generate fake user profiles on other platforms.

Aaron DeVera, a researcher at the cybersecurity firm White Ops, said they discovered the images on a website known for trading in malicious software.

It is also possible that the information could also be used to train a facial recognition product.

A Tinder official told Gizmodo that the use of any photos or information outside the confines of the app is strictly prohibited.

The company said it will take whatever steps it could to have the data removed offline.

DeVera said that he is particular disturbed by the fact that whoever amassed the profile data is 'very openly targeting female-presenting users.'

Aaron DeVera, a researcher at the cybersecurity firm White Ops, said they discovered the images on a website known for trading in malicious software (file image)

He added: 'Dumps of data such as this typically attract fraudsters, who use it for making large collections of convincing fake accounts on other platforms.

'Stalkers might use this in a more targeted manner, in an effort to add to a collection of data to use against an individual. Long-term concerns is that these pictures could be used for fraud and privacy violations.'

He also implied that 'raunchy' images could be among those leaked, saying: 'Given the context of this being a dating app, there are photos a person may not necessarily want presented to the public.'

It comes as some dating apps were found to have been leaking personal information to advertising tech companies in a possible violation of European data privacy laws.

This was revealed by a report from The Norwegian Consumer Council on Tuesday.

The council, a government-funded nonprofit group, commissioned cybersecurity company Mnemonic to study 10 Android mobile apps.

It found that the apps sent user data to at least 135 different third party services involved in advertising or behavioural profiling.


It turned out Foxx had had private communications about Smollett with lawyer Tina Tchen, the former chief of staff to former first lady Michelle Obama. It was also learned that though Foxxs office told reporters she had recused herself from the case, she didnt, really. She only recused herself in the colloquial sense, a Foxx spokesperson said, which made it even more ridiculous.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumps trade deal with China last week opened up export opportunities for American farmers, manufacturers and energy producers. And his trade pact with Canada and Mexico, approved Thursday by the Senate, could help restore some auto production in the United States.

Yet perhaps more than anything, last weeks twin breakthroughs on trade provided a breather from two chaotic years of Trumpian policymaking  involving threats, truces and heavy U.S. tariffs imposed on friend and foe alike on a scale unseen since the 1930s. The uncertainty had been clouding the economy, causing businesses to delay investments until they knew how the trade turmoil would shake out.

We got trade peace, said Mary Lovely, an economist who studies trade at Syracuse University.

At least for now.

But Lovely and other critics warn that the deal with China leaves unresolved most of the toughest and most complicated issues dividing the worlds two biggest economies and that progress could unravel over time. They also caution that the new North American trade pact, though it might spur some job growth, will likely make American-built cars more expensive and less competitive globally.

Whatever the outcome, the presidents approach to trade marks a clear break with seven decades of U.S. policy that had favoured ever-freer world commerce. Rather than seek to tear down trade barriers and pursue rules designed to benefit all countries, the administration unabashedly embraced an America First agenda. Armed with tariffs, threats and combative rhetoric, it sought to force concessions out of China, Mexico and Canada.

Previous presidents would have said its about win-win, its about trade liberalization, its about global growth, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Trump would say: No, its not. Its about whats good for America ... This is essentially: Might makes right. Were big and important, so we can push other countries around.

Free trade has long been a mutually accepted priority for the worlds major industrialized economies. Many trade experts say they worry that in the long run, Trumps relentlessly confrontational stance and eager embrace of tariffs could pose risks to both the U.S. and global economies.

And even as tensions ease at least temporarily with China, the Trump administration is readying tariffs on the European Union over subsidies to the aviation giant Airbus and on France over a digital services tax that targets U.S. tech giants like Google and Amazon.

Here is a closer look at Trumps recent record on trade:

REVAMPING NORTH AMERICAN TRADE

Senators voted 89-10 Thursday to approve Trumps U.S.-Mexico Canada Agreement, a month after the House had passed it 385-41.

The so-called USMCA replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, which had eliminated most trade barriers among the United States, Canada and Mexico.

NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, triggered a surge in trade among the three countries. And it created a regional manufacturing bloc to compete with East Asia and Europe. But Trump and other critics argued that NAFTA cost the United States jobs by encouraging factories to move south to capitalize on low-wage Mexican labourers, who were largely prevented from forming independent unions.

Trumps top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, crafted a replacement trade agreement that is intended, most of all, to return some factory production to the United States.

To qualify for USMCAs duty-free benefits, automakers must derive 75% of their production content from within North America  up from 62.5% under NAFTA. That means more auto content would have to be homegrown in higher-wage North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere.

At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States or Canada  not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount.

After sealing a deal with Canada and Mexico, Lighthizer had to negotiate with Democrats, who had taken control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections. He ended up drawing overwhelming bipartisan support by agreeing to Democratic demands. These included calls to strengthen language meant to ensure that Mexico adopts labour reforms that will encourage unions.

But USMCA could produce negative side effects.

The new content requirements will raise production costs, resulting in higher auto prices, reduced U.S. demand, lower auto exports, and more rapid substitution of machines for workers, Syracuses Lovely and Jeffrey Schott of the Peterson Institute for International Economics concluded in a report last month.

A CEASE-FIRE WITH CHINA

After 18 months of trade combat, the United States and China agreed to an interim truce Wednesday.

Under the so-called Phase 1 deal, Trump scrapped his plan to impose tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese imports, and he halved his import taxes on an additional $110 billion worth. (The administration still maintains tariffs on $360 billion in Chinese products, and Beijing has imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.) In return, China agreed to do more to protect intellectual property and to curb its practice of forcing foreign companies to hand over trade secrets as the price of admission to the Chinese market.

But the centerpiece of the deal was Chinas vow to buy an extra $200 billion worth of U.S. manufacturing, energy and farm exports this year and next. The mandated purchases are unusual for modern trade agreements. Trade pacts now usually set the rules for commerce but let customer demand sort out who buys how much of what.

Trumps deal is not about competing on price and quality anymore, Lovely said. Were using our market power to force purchases.

Critics wonder whether China is really capable of meeting the targets. Under the deal, for instance, China is supposed to buy $40 billion in U.S. agricultural products a year  a wildly ambitious goal considering that its never bought more than $26 billion a year and that during the trade war it has redirected some of its farm purchases to other exporting countries.

And things could get nasty if the United States decides China isnt living up to its commitments. In an unusual move, the two countries did not arrange to let any disputes go to a neutral arbitrator. Instead, they will try to work out their differences in a series of consultations. If they cant, the United States could impose tariffs  and the deal could unravel.

Perhaps most significantly, the Phase 1 deal did nothing about the U.S. key complaint that China uses illicit trade practices in its drive to surpass the United States in such advanced technologies as robotics and quantum computing. Specifically, it didnt address Beijings massive subsidies for its own tech companies.

Those issues are expected to be taken up in future talks  talks that arent likely to go anywhere until after Novembers U.S. election.
What caused the fire in Bhopal hospital that killed 4 infants?

Digvijaya Singh on BJP MLA's call to break legs of Congressmen: I'll go to his house to recite Ramdhun

Huge clash breaks out between BJP, Congress workers at a restaurant launch event in Bhopal

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Bhopal, Jan 19: Huge clash broke out between BJP and Congress workers in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on Sunday evening during the launch of a restaurant.

On Sunday, as per a video by news agency ANI a huge scuffle broke out between BJP and Congress workers at a launch of a restaurant in Bhopal.

#WATCH Madhya Pradesh: Clash breaks out between BJP and Congress workers in Bhopal during launch of a restaurant pic.twitter.com/bX4Ibd5x0s  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

Congress party worker who gave ride to Priyanka Gandhi fined Rs 6100 for not wearing helmet

The video shows both the party workers throwing chairs while the Bhopal police is trying to control the situation at the spot.

On Sunday, in another incident District collector, Nidhi Nivedita of Rajgarh in MP and her deputy took on 'unruly' protesters who defied prohibitory orders to hold a rally in Biaora town supporting the new citizenship law. Video clips of which have gone viral on the internet showed the BJP organised the pro-CAA rally. The video clips purportedly show the collector slapping a man and additional collector Priya Verma taking on some men who were part of the crowd.
honolulu police

Hugh Gentry/Reuters

At least two Honolulu police officers were reportedly shot in a fiery incident on the southeast end of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

The officers were taken to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition and both died in the hours following the incident, law enforcement sources told Hawaii News Now.

Local outlets reported that the deadly scene started with an attempted eviction that devolved into a stabbing before police were involved in a shooting.

Videos of the scene near the Diamond Head area show several police cars gathered near at least one massive fire as shots rang out.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

At least two Honolulu police officers were reportedly shot and killed Sunday morning on the southeast end of the Hawaiian island, according to multiple local reports.

Hawaii News Now reported that at least four homes in the Diamond Head area of the island were destroyed in a fire in that spread amid a shooting. The outlet added that police identified the suspect as Jerry Hanel, who is believed to have died.

The deadly scene started with an attempted eviction, according to HNN.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports that officers had responded to reports of an assault around 9:30 a.m. when they encountered a gunman who opened fire.

Law enforcement sources told that after firefighters and police responded to a reported stabbing around 9:30 a.m. local time.

After a shooting broke out, two officers were taken to a nearby hospital in extremely critical condition and later died.

As gunshots rang out, videos of the scene showed a massive fire that reportedly spread from one house to three others, devastating the homes.

Hawaii News Now added that after a shooting was reported, the home believed to be the scene of the incident went up in flames as gunshots rang out either inside or near the house and several vehicles appeared to also be on fire.

A video posted to YouTube by Hawaii's Star-Advertiser shows a cluster of police cars with shots ringing out in the direction of a house that appears to be on fire.

Story continues

A picture posted on Twitter by local reporter TJ Horgan showed thick smoke could be seen from a distance. Horgan also wrote that according to the local police scanner, three houses were on fire.

The FBI told CNN that the agency was responding to the situation.

The area where the incident occurred is popular with tourists looking to visit landmarks like Waikiki Beach, the Honolulu Zoo, and the Diamond Head State Monument.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell wrote on Twitter that it was "an unprecedented tragedy" for locals and Hawaiians, and his office was in touch with police about the ongoing investigation into the incident.

Read the original article on Insider
Police in Kagera Province in Tanzania have arrested a 30-year-old man accused of killing his 2-year-old son for answering the long call of nature in bed.

Daniel Juma, who hails from Kazingati Village in Rulenge, Ngara District, is alleged to have brutally assaulted the boy on December 27, 2019, and locked him up in the house until Monday, January 14, when he was rescued by neighbours and taken to hospital.

Bahati, however, died on admission at hospital.

Police say Juma inserted a sharp metallic object in the boys buttocks after he pooped on bed, consequently, causing him grievous bodily harm.



Authorities say Juma, a divorcee, shared the bed with the boy and his 28-year-old girlfriend, Emilian Juma, who had visited Daniel that night.

Mtanzania newspaper quotes Kagera Provincial police boss, Revocatus Malimi, as confirming the incident.

After the child answered the long call of nature on the bed, Juma reached for a sharp metallic object that he used to stab the boy in the face, buttocks and other parts of the body. The suspect, thereafter, drove the sharp object in the boys anus, causing him serious injuries, said Malimi.

Even after brutally assaulting the boy, he did not take him to hospital, but locked him up in the house while treating him with herbal medicine. When the boys health deteriorated, Juma fled the house, added Malimi.

Neighbours said they heard Bahati calling for help in the afternoon of January 14. They broke down the door and found he had been brutally attacked. The residents, thereafter, alerted the village leadership.

Bahati died at 6pm on January 14, when he was being taken to hospital. We managed to arrest the suspect through the help of locals, said Malimi.

Police say once investigations are concluded, they will charge Juma with murder.

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OTTAWA - Canada and its allies are pushing Iran to move the black boxes from the Ukrainian jetliner it shot down to a facility that can quickly download its crucial flight data.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Phillipe Champagne speaks to media prior to the start of the Liberal Cabinet Retreat at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mike Sudoma

OTTAWA - Canada and its allies are pushing Iran to move the black boxes from the Ukrainian jetliner it shot down to a facility that can quickly download its crucial flight data.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says the request emerged from his conference call on Monday with counterparts from Britain, Sweden, Afghanistan and Ukraine, all of which lost citizens in the crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752.

It was the first follow-up conversation of the so-called International Co-ordination and Response Group for victims of PS752 since Champagne hosted its inaugural meeting in London last week.

Canada pushed to form the group to add weight and unity to the international effort to ensure Iran's co-operation after its Revolutionary Guard shot down the passenger plane earlier this month, killing all 176 aboard.

A summary of Champagne's call with representatives from the response group says Iran is co-operating with foreign experts in the investigation, but also emphasizes the need for Iran to allow a thorough and credible international investigation.

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"Members of the ICRG call on Iran to move the black boxes to a facility with all of the technology and expertise required to quickly and reliably download and analyze the data without delay," the summary says.

"Iran has indicated it is willing to do so."

On Sunday, Champagne wrote to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif  two days after they met face to face in Oman  to stress Canada's view that the black boxes should be sent quickly for analysis by experts in either France or Ukraine.

A preliminary report released Monday by Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said it needs technical assistance from France and the United States to analyze the data.

The black boxes sustained physical damage, but their memory is intact after the flight was hit by two missiles within three minutes of taking off from Tehran's airport on Jan. 8, the report says.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2020.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 15:18:55|Editor: ZX

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SHENZHEN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Cruise liner tours have become quite popular in southern China as the traditional Spring Festival holiday approaches.

In the metropolis of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, tickets have sold out for the Costa Venezia, the first ship designed by Costa Cruises, the Italian brand of Carnival Corporation built especially for Chinese guests.

With a gross tonnage of 135,500 tonnes, the 323-meter-long Costa Venezia offers 2,116 cabins for a total of 5,260 passengers.

The vessel will depart from the Shekou cruise liner homeport in Shenzhen. Since opening in 2016, the port has welcomed 17 cruise liners from around the world and received about 1.35 million tourists.
PORTLAND, Ore. - Marijuana sales in Oregon along the Idaho state line are 420% the statewide average, according to a state report.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/1/2020 (724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FILE - In this June 20, 2012, file photo, Idaho State Police Trooper Justin Klitch, right, makes a stop and charges the driver with possession of marijuana after leaving Oregon, in Fruitland, Idaho. Marijuana sales in Oregon along the Idaho state line are 420% the statewide average, according to a state report. Idaho residents are purchasing recreational marijuana in Oregon because it is illegal in Idaho, the report released Friday, Jan . 17, 2020, by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis said. (AP Photo/Nigel Duara, File)

PORTLAND, Ore. - Marijuana sales in Oregon along the Idaho state line are 420% the statewide average, according to a state report.

Idaho residents are purchasing recreational marijuana in Oregon because it is illegal in Idaho, the report released Friday by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis said.

The report also showed stronger marijuana sales for Washington state along its border with Idaho in 2019 than along its borders with Oregon or Canada.

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The sales in counties along the Idaho border were much stronger than I anticipated, analyzer Josh Lehner said. Obviously recreational marijuana is not legal in Idaho, but even after throwing the data into a rough border tax model that accounts for incomes, number of retailers, tax rates and the like, there remains a huge border effect.

A border effect occurs when two neighbouring jurisdictions have different rules prompting residents to travel to nearby regions to take advantage of the different regulations, experts said.

The report found about 75% of Oregon sales and about 35% of Washington state sales in counties along the Idaho border were caused by the border effect.

Idaho borders three states that have legalized recreational marijuana sales including Oregon, Washington and Nevada, officials said.

Advocates for legalizing medical marijuana have started collecting signatures to get an initiative on the general election ballot, the Idaho Statesman reported.

The number 420 is a colloquial term referencing marijuana or cannabis consumption.
WHEN I think about the kind of child I was, I would say that I was the exact same kind of person that I am as an adult. I have always been fascinated by things that I dont quite yet understand. I recognise that I hardly understand anything and that most of the world is and always has been so beautifully complex to me.

I have always loved becoming good at things, trying to push myself to do things that I couldnt do before. I have been a student my whole life  really the life of an astronaut is the life of a student. In order to fly a Russian spaceship, not only did I have to learn how to fly a spaceship, I also had to learn Russian and then study orbital mechanics and control theory in Russian.

The key is, to be inspired by something that is bigger than yourself. My parents recognised that you are the result of the things you choose to do and choose to become good at, so they encouraged us not just to be curious, but to find out the answer and then make that answer part of who you are. I was lucky enough to be born in Canada, a place that was supportive, I wasnt ever hungry for food or worried about the power being off.

I was not a perfect student by any means, I made a few trips to the principals office. I had the opportunity to go to special schools too. They came around and tested us when I was in third grade and they thought that some of us could handle a curriculum that was beyond the normal curriculum. So, I went to special schools for grades five, six, and seven. When I finished grade seven, I was looking ahead at grade nine.

In Canada, the transition from eighth grade to ninth grade is where you transition from middle to high school. When I was in seventh grade and had been going to this non- standard study school, I realised I wasnt ahead on reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead we had been doing odd, mind-expanding things. I actually asked my parents to take me out of this school so that I would be on a level playing field when I went to high school. At the end of high school, I found that I was tired of school; I wanted to go and tour Europe. I realised that if I switched schools to one with a semester system, then I could graduate early and be six months ahead in my life.

I was a good academic student. I didnt find school difficult, I would say I found it interesting. I liked English best, it was my favourite subject. Socially, I had a good close circle of friends. I joined clubs, I was in the ski club and I was the president. There was an inter-school competition which was called Reach For The Answer  it was one of those panel quizzes, and I was on that. I was in the chess club and the debating club, those kinds of pursuits. I was definitely in the nerdy, geek side of the social scene, and that carried right through to university.

I recognised early on that teachers went home at night to families of their own and had fears and strengths and weaknesses of their own. We tend to view teachers as one or two-dimensional people. When I was in third grade, we were learning how airplanes worked and I realised that the teacher was explaining the process incorrectly. It was something that I knew and understood because my Dad was a pilot. I realised from that moment on that teachers are fallible. They are not ordained with perfect knowledge, they are just doing their best to teach us things to the best of their ability.

I had a few teachers who really changed my perspective for the positive. When I went to the special school for a few years, they assigned us one teacher each for all subjects. My teacher was a lady from Estonia, Irene Wudelis. She was smart, well-read, curious, and tried to have me not just pass the test, but to teach me about life. She lived long enough to be able to see me succeed and become an astronaut and fly into space.

I had one maths teacher in my last year of high school who was the first person to teach me that a maths text book was by its nature a book. It was written by some person who sat down with the idea of passing on thoughts to you. It was to be read from page one all the way through. I had never looked at a text book that way before. It made maths a tool, just like a shovel or a screwdriver  a way to lever your own abilities to do something that would otherwise be impossible.You have to speak to people in their own language. When a person is six or seven, they live in a different world than you do. The line between fantasy and reality is quite different to your own. When you are speaking to a younger person, when you are going to attempt to give them worthwhile ideas, its so important initially to get into their world enough that they will be able to hear you.

The three main areas that are important to learn as a young person is that you are responsible for yourself, for your own body, and your own choices. You only get one body, so think about how you treat it. Everybodys body is imperfect, so think about how you are going to treat your one.

The second is that we are in a complex world becoming more technical and if you are going to be successful then you need to push your own mental abilities as far as education will take you. Plan to be a continuous student your whole life. Be rapaciously curious about the world.

The third thing is, make decisions and stick with them. Proving to yourself that you can change who you are through your own decision-making is a revelation to many people, and a skill that you can get better at. If you want to fly in space, you need these three skills: you need a healthy body, you need to be well educated and you need the ability to make decisions and stick to them with the courage of your own conviction.

Electric Irelands Brighter Energy Programme aims to empower customers to maximise energy efficiency. The programme is supported by new products and services, including a 100% Green Electricity Price Plan. The announcement came at the launch of Were Brighter Together, Electric Irelands brand campaign which features astronaut Chris Hadfield.

electricireland.ie/ brightertogether
When President Donald Trump decided early in his administration to pressure fellow NATO members to spend more on their military budgets, he threatened to pull out of the alliance.

When Iraqi leaders this month said they wanted U.S. troops to leave their country, the president said he would impose "very big sanctions" on Baghdad in response.

And after tensions with Iran recently escalated to the point of potential war, his administration privately threatened large automobile tariffs on European countries if they didn't call out Tehran for alleged violations of the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump has sought to dismantle.

Trump's maximalist approach to diplomacy has become a hallmark of his administration's foreign policy, one that has scored him some short-term victories, been derided as extortion by his detractors and played a central role in an impeachment fight over his actions toward Ukraine that will play out on the floor of the Senate this week.

Although the president has been inconsistent in how he has carried out his worldview, he has made clear that he has no plans to back away from his strong-arm tactics even as they have increasingly antagonized American friend and foe alike, leaving the United States potentially more isolated on the world stage.

Trump heads to Davos, Switzerland, on Monday for an economic forum attended by world leaders and corporate honchos where tensions with his administration will probably be on display. The president is expected to use his address there Tuesday to crow about successful trade deals, a humming U.S. economy and his recent showdown with Iran.

"We are booming. Our country is the hottest country anywhere in the world. There's nothing even close," Trump said Thursday as he confirmed he planned to go to Davos. "Every world leader sees me and they say, 'What have you done? This is the most incredible thing that we've ever seen.' "

Trump's visit to Davos will put him in close quarters with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and executives from European manufacturers days after news that the Trump administration had threatened a 25 percent tariff on European automobiles.

The White House has not announced whether Trump will meet directly with Merkel, although diplomats said they expect the two to talk. Germany has been a central target of Trump's threats on several fronts, as he argues that it does not compensate the United States enough for the military units hosted there and has been allowed to take advantage of economic policies that are unfair to American consumers and companies.

How to deal with Iran is also likely to be a discussion at the forum, particularly if Trump and Merkel meet.

Last week, the Trump administration confounded European officials by threatening to impose the auto tariff if the governments of Britain, France and Germany didn't initiate a mechanism in the Iran nuclear accord that could reimpose an arms embargo and economic sanctions on Tehran. That step, which the three took Tuesday, could eventually unravel the wobbly remains of the Obama-era agreement, though the Europeans are still actively seeking to salvage it. Trump pulled the United States out of the international pact in 2018, but the other signatories to the deal have tried to keep Iran committed to its tenets.

"Extortion," said one European official of the U.S. effort to coerce European foreign policy through tariffs.

That official and others spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive diplomacy on the record.

The U.S. allies had already planned to initiate the dispute mechanism, said U.S. and European officials, but the threat forced them to re-evaluate their plans for fear of being viewed as bowing to Washington pressure.

"We wanted to do this, but Trump's threat nearly derailed the plans because of how sensitive we are to being perceived as Washington's lap dog," said a European official.

Ultimately, Britain, France and Germany agreed to stay the course and keep the threat a secret. The Washington Post first reported on the administration's backroom dealings, causing embarrassment on both sides of the Atlantic.

"This case demonstrated that the Trump administration has lost the art of diplomacy with allies," said Jeremy Shapiro, director of research at the European Council on Foreign Relations. "The entire nature of a close ally is that you work together to find ways to be in sync without resorting to threats."

The incident also revealed a possible lack of internal coordination on the part of the administration, that is also not uncommon during Trump's presidency. The U.S. ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, denied the accuracy of The Post article on Twitter and said he didn't think a tariff threat was ever issued. But David Hale, the undersecretary for political affairs at the State Department, communicated the warning to his European counterparts on Jan. 8, according to European officials familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to address the private discussions.

German defense minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer also confirmed the U.S. threat during a news conference in London last week.

"This expression, or threat, as you will, does exist," she said.

Trump will also be in Davos as the Senate begins debating impeachment charges tied to his actions involving Ukraine. House Democrats allege that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

Trump insists he did nothing wrong and that his concern was with corruption broadly in Ukraine rather than to force investigations that could benefit him in his re-election campaign this year.

And as part of Trump's defense, administration officials have tried to couch his handling of Ukraine policy, which even concerned some Republicans while the aid was withheld over the summer, as fitting perfectly within his strong-arm foreign policy approach as they deny any corrupt intent on Trump's part.

"Elections do have consequences and they should," acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney said during an October news conference. "And your foreign policy is going to change. (President Barack) Obama did it in one way; we're doing it a different way. And there's no problem with that."

In the broader debate over Trump's foreign policy, there have been repeated clashes over both the short- and long-term implications for the United States. While proponents of Trump's coercive style say it has produced results, critics contend that it has hurt American leadership in the world and cost the United States some trust and goodwill among friends.

Trump rankled allies last year when he attempted to extract billions of dollars from them through a formula he coined "cost plus 50 percent," meaning that countries should pay the cost of stationing American troops on their territory plus 50 percent more.

The formula alarmed European officials, most acutely in Germany, where the Pentagon has more than 33,000 troops. After the backlash, defense officials said the formula only pertained to U.S. allies in Asia. Japan and South Korea have not met the cost either, though Seoul has paid more to Washington than it did in the past.

Last year, South Korea agreed to pay $925 million for hosting 28,500 American troops. That was an 8.2 percent increase from the previous year's payment and about half the total costs. South Korean officials preferred a five-year agreement, but the deal covered only one.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper wrote a joint column in the Wall Street Journal proclaiming that "Seoul can and should contribute more to its own national defense."

The article caused unease in Seoul because of its direct implication that South Korea was acting more like a "dependent" than an "ally" - conversations that typically happen behind closed doors rather than in a national newspaper.

Veteran diplomats and analysts argue that Trump shows a dangerous lack of understanding about why U.S. troops are in allied countries - noting the main point is to protect American interests and project power.

"President Trump fails to understand why America has allies in the first place," said Harry Kazianis, an Asia specialist at the Center for the National Interest. "He treats allies more like mafia partners in crime who need to kiss up to America for protection."

Trump says he is using the skills of a real estate magnate to get better deals for Americans whose global generosity he says has been abused. He points to a long-delayed remake of the North American Free Trade Agreement and an interim trade deal with China, both finalized last week, as evidence that tariffs and other punitive tactics are effective.

His supporters also argue that Mexico tightened its immigration enforcement last year because of Trump's threat to impose crushing economic tariffs.

Pompeo said in June that the immigration agreement with Mexico "reflects diplomacy at its finest," while being "a significant win for the American people" and fulfillment of a core Trump promise to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

But Trump's critics said there is little to no long-term strategic thought to his approach.

"Every day we learn more about the tactics this administration uses to further its goals, and every day we see that they are no more sophisticated than the tactics of gangsters," said Dana Shell Smith, a former ambassador to Qatar who quit in protest of Trump policies.

Fred P. Hochberg, who headed the Export-Import Bank under Obama, said Trump is "always itching for a fight" and prioritizes short-term payoffs to the detriment of the country.

"The United States has prospered by working with others and taking a longer-term view; good relations yield better and more sustainable results for the American people," said Hochberg, author of the new book "Trade is Not a Four Letter Word." "It appears the current thinking is, 'Get what you can now, and don't worry about longer-term consequences,' " Hochberg said.

Some foreign diplomats said that although Trump's style may be more brazen, it isn't unique.

An ambassador from a major U.S. ally described the president's approach as an outgrowth of the New York business world Trump inhabited before becoming a politician.

"Yes, he always wants something out of it," said the diplomat, who requested anonymity to speak freely about interactions with Trump and his aides.

The tactics are unpleasant at times, but by now are not unexpected, the diplomat said. They sometimes work, and with the exception of the potential personal political gain at issue in the Ukraine matter, maybe not all that different from past administrations, the envoy said.

"Washington is extortion writ large," the ambassador said. "I've never seen a more transactional city, and I've been all over the world. Every meeting, somebody wants something from you. Trump always wants something from you, but so does everybody else."

- - -

The Washington Post's Souad Mekhennet contributed to this report.
Many Nigerians have called on the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, to sack Bisi Olaleye, a lecturer enmeshed in fresh sex-for-mark scandal.

PREMIUM TIMES exclusively reported how Motunrayo Afolayan, a 400-level student of the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Administration, accused Mr Olaleye of sexually harassing her with audio recording.

The seven minutes audio recording is part of the evidence presented by Ms Afolayan before the panel set to probe the allegations.

A male student of the department identified as Sikiru, was heard in the audio recording assuring Ms Afolayan of good results if she agreed to Mr Olaleyes overture.

This newspaper also reported how other victims have narrated their shocking experiences with the same lecturer.

For instance, one of them, identified simply as Chisom, shared in a WhatsApp group the screenshots of messages exchanged between her and Mr Olaleye, where the lecturer asked her to send her nude pictures, and how much horny he feels whenever he sees the students picture.

Another student, who expressed regret that she allowed Mr Olaleye to sleep with her, shared her message with the lecturer, saying the sexual relationship they were into was against her faith. But Mr Olaleye allegedly continued to pester her to send him pictures of her private part, even when the student said she was menstruating.

Having established a prima facie case against him, the management of the university said it had halved the lecturers salaries pending the outcome of the matter before the panel.

Call for sanction

Many Nigerians on social media have called for the lecturers removal and prosecution.

@iam_alfred said Within the past 72hrs, more persons have testified to the randiness of Dr. Bisi- past and current students. OAU has every evidences necessary to make him a deterrent since he refused to learn from Prof. Akindeles ordeal.

READ ALSO:

The most honourable deed is; #OAUTakeBisiOut!

https://twitter.com/iam_alfred1/status/1218575082639044610

Im pained not because he boastfully takes advantage of the students but cos some of his colleagues are aware of this and have kept mute. HOD and other officials in the dept. cannot deny knowledge of Bisis randy acts.

Theres a criminal conspiracy in the system!

#OAUTakeBisiOut

I'm pained not because he boastfully takes advantage of the students but cos some of his colleagues are aware of this and have kept mute. HOD and other officials in the dept. cannot deny knowledge of Bisi's randy acts. There's a criminal conspiracy in the system!#OAUTakeBisiOut pic.twitter.com/hgVLOzFjuC  Alfred Olufemi (@iam_alfred1) January 18, 2020

@officialakisaac: If this can be said by a lecturer who is supposed to be a mentor, then he should be sent to JAIL and learn more in PRISON.

NO MERCY!!!

@OgbeniDipo @segalink @insideOAU @OAUtrends @instablog9ja @OoniAdimulaIfe

@ProfOsinbajo

#OAUTakeBisiOut

#OAUTakeBisiOut

#OAUTakeBisiOut

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@shinorauomi Further evidence against OAU sex for grade lecturer Mr Bisi Olaleye after his newly released audio tape. School management are trying to sweep it under the carpet. We seek justice! #OAUTakeBisiOut

@uchejombo @abikedabiri @kikimordi @HenshawKate

Further evidence against OAU sex for grade lecturer Mr Bisi Olaleye after his newly released audio tape. School management are trying to sweep it under the carpet. We seek justice! #OAUTakeBisiOut @uchejombo @abikedabiri @kikimordi @HenshawKate pic.twitter.com/osBva7w1xC  Shina-Ayomi (@shinor_ayomi) January 17, 2020

Kehinde Babajide Sexual Predators do not live long. Taking advantage of people under you in order to satisfy yourself is uncalled for and disheartening. Anyone caught in such acts should be hanged.

#OAUTakeBisiOut

@lady-karimah: Were not ready to keep shut untill we get our justice. For more than 7 months, Motunrayo has been a roller coaster of emotions. Barely able to read properly for her final year exam because of a beast. Beacause of Olabisi Olaleye. #OAUTakeBisiOut

And justice we seek,

Were not ready to keep shut untill we get our justice. For more than 7 months, Motunrayo has been a roller coaster of emotions. Barely able to read properly for her final year exam because of a beast. Beacause of Olabisi Olaleye. #OAUTakeBisiOut

And justice we seek, pic.twitter.com/7FL8O5jJIP  Karimot Odebode (@Lady_karimah) January 18, 2020

I heard theres an OAU lecturer in the department of international relations, faculty of admin, who has been terrorizing female students, forcing them into having sex in exchange for grades

I believe the voice of the students and its time for action. #OAUTakeBisiOut

@the_brezzident: #OAUTakeBisiOut

#OAUTakeBisiOut

This man needs to be taken out of the system. Our younger colleagues cannot face This!!!!!!!!!

Please anytime this comes up on your tl. Kindly retweet!.

God bless us!!

https://twitter.com/THE_BREZZIDENT/status/1218428673088479232

@kikimordi: Im proud of everyone strongly doing what they can to amplify the #OAUTakeBisiOut hasthtag.

So I stand with every student of OAU to DEMAND that the school swings into action given evidence one of her lectures engages in #SexForGrades

#SexForGrades IS RAPE!

OAU needs to know that we wont let this one be swept under the carpet and we will continue to demand the institutions accountability. Not just the lecturers.

Tell us if you lack the capacity to protect your students from sexual abuse or if you have your students back. Silence is an answer too.

#OAUTakeBisiOut

@Mosopefoluwa: It is Bisi Olaleye of the Dept of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife I was talking about here. He missed his TV spot then but his time is now. I hope everyone gets to know the creep.

#OAUTakeBisiOut

It is Bisi Olaleye of the Dept of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife I was talking about here. He missed his TV spot then but his time is now. I hope everyone gets to know the creep.#OAUTakeBisiOut https://t.co/Y0ydmhvpDv pic.twitter.com/bSBSFgvoVI  Mosopefoluwa (@Mosopefoluwa_) January 18, 2020

@themy_thorpe: I have friends that this man has victimized and also heard what he does to other girls and how he always insists that they come and check results in his office when Eportal is there. Half salary is not punitive enough, he deserves to face the law! #OAUTakeBisiOut

https://twitter.com/themy_thorpe/status/1218501724194951168

@heydemilade: An open letter from the final year students of the department of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University! Please Retweet! Let the world know that we have a RAPIST as a lecturer and we want him GONE! SEX FOR GRADES IS RAPE! #OAUTAKEBISIOUT! RT! RT! RT! RT! RT!

An open letter from the final year students of the department of International Relations at Obafemi Awolowo University! Please Retweet! Let the world know that we have a RAPIST as a lecturer and we want him GONE! SEX FOR GRADES IS RAPE! #OAUTAKEBISIOUT! RT! RT! RT! RT! RT! pic.twitter.com/dI7j78EBY3  demi(lade) phillips. (@heydemilade) January 18, 2020
" " Lady Gaga stunned in this blue Valentino gown at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 6, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The popularity of award-show fashion has practically eclipsed the award shows themselves. For the 2017 Oscars, the E! Network devoted an entire broadcast day to the red carpet, starting with a morning "pre-pre-show" called "Countdown to the Red Carpet" followed by the hours-long "Live from the Red Carpet" with Ryan Seacrest.

For designers, the red carpet is one of the most visible and buzzed-about ways to promote their brands. In fact, some top designers will pay A-list actresses and musicians big bucks to wear their dress or jewelry  between $100,000 and $250,000 depending on the star power of the celebrity.

Advertisement

" " Nicole Kidman arrives at the 2011 Oscars in a dress by John Galliano. Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images

Other celebrities are allowed to "borrow" a designer dress, handbag or diamond-studded necklace for the night  for free of course  in order to get the designer's name in the highly clickable red carpet photo slideshows.

But what happens to that very expensive dress when the red carpet is rolled up and the TV cameras move on to the next event? Is the gown stuffed into a closet never to be worn again, or does the designer take it down to the dry cleaner and try to sell it on Craigslist?

We reached out to Ariana Weisner, a Hollywood stylist, for some answers. Weisner, who dresses celebrities for award shows, press tours and magazine spreads, says that 100 percent of the dresses loaned out for award shows go right back to the designer. OK, 99.99 percent.

" " Jennifer Lopez attends the 2000 Grammy Awards in her iconic green Versace dress, accompanied by Sean 'Puffy' Combs. Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images

"On rare occasions, the designer will gift the celebrity the gown," says Weisner, the most famous example being the plunging green Versace dress that Jennifer Lopez wore to the 2000 Grammys. "Versace gifted her the dress, because it was such an iconic moment." According to Glamour magazine, the barely there dress is still in JLo's closet.

The really big design houses like Dior, Louis Vuitton and Chanel will take back a red-carpet dress and keep it in their archives, says Weisner. You won't see a "statement" gown from the Oscars resold to the public, dry-cleaned or not. But that's not the case for lower-tier designers.

Weisner cites the rise of fashion rental companies in Los Angeles and New York for this trend. Less conspicuous red-carpet dresses from "whatever designers" (Weisner's term) could very well end up on the racks of shops like Armarium or Rent the Runway a few years after a big event.

Sample sales are another place where you might stumble upon a dress that a celebrity wore for one big night. When a designer's warehouse becomes overstuffed with leftovers from last year's line, and sample-sized dresses that were tried on repeatedly in the store, they hold a sample sale.

"Sometimes you can get a dress from a sample sale that a celebrity has worn in the past," says Weisner. "They're usually pretty cheap, too, because it's already been used."

Even if you can't get the very same dress that a celeb wore on the red carpet, you might be able to buy an exact replica. Every once in a while, says Weisner, a dress that really pops at an award show is picked up for mass production. One example is a silver stunner that Kate Hudson wore to the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscars post-party. The designer sells the same dress online for "only" $3,325.

" " Actress Kate Hudson arrives at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The dress's designer made a version of it for sale to the public. John Shearer/Getty Images

Really luxurious dresses not only grab the attention of E! viewers, but also thieves. At the 2015 Oscars, actress Lupita Nyong'o wore a white gown by Calvin Klein studded with 6,000 pearls worth an estimated $150,000. The gown was reported stolen from Nyong'o's Los Angeles hotel the day after the Oscars, but was then mysteriously "returned" by the thief.

According to TMZ, after the dress burglar snatched the gown, he removed two pearls and took them down to the garment district. They were fakes! The thief dumped the "worthless" dress in a bathroom back at Nyong'o's hotel and tipped off TMZ to its location.

Now That's Wild According to a blog post by Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Jennifer Lopez's revealing Grammy dress was the direct inspiration for creating Google Image search.
A 54-year-old man from Lunyinya Village in Malava Constituency, Kakamega County, Kenya has committed suicide, with family claiming their kin, Saul Anenje, ended his life after his estranged wife declined to meet him despite sending her bus-fare on three separate occasions.

The body of Anenje was on Friday night found hanging from a manila mosquito net tied to the roof of a corridor in his house.

Besides wasting bus-fare sent to her, Anenjes wife, Beatrice Nanyama, is also alleged to have squandered money meant for their childrens school fees.



The deceaseds family says their daughter-in-law, 42, fled her matrimonial home in November last year following unending marital conflict.

The mother of five children, the eldest being a Form One student and the youngest being a Class Two pupil, is said to have sneaked back to her matrimonial home in December and took the children with her to her parents home in Chimoi, Malava Constituency.

The Late Anenjes family said that early Friday, their kin called his wife on phone, and asked her to reunite with him, but she said she wasnt interested in rescuing the marriage.

My brothers wife told him that she was done with him, and wanted the marriage annulled, Anenjes brother, Joshua Anenje, told K24 Digital.

Yesterday, he complained that Nanyama had made the heartbreaking decision, yet  in the recent past  she had been receiving money from him under the pretense that she would use it to travel and meet him, added Joshua.

On the planned travel dates, Nanyama often gave my brother all manner of excuses.

Joshua said Anenje had sent to Nanyama a total of Ksh10, 200 with the bulk of the money to be used in enrolling their first-born child, a daughter aged 17, to Form One.

She, however, squandered the money, and the child is yet to join Form One at Bulupi Secondary School in Malava, said Joshua.

When my brother asked her why she was yet to take the girl to school, she hurled all manner of insults at him, added Joshua.

The incident has been confirmed by Shianda Location Chief in Kabras South ward, George Maina, who said Nanyama carried with her every house item when she left her matrimonial home in November last year.

Anenjes body was taken to Kakamega County Referral Hospital morgue.

Anenje leaves behind his five children (three girls and two boys).

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
NASA astronauts Bob Behknen (left) and Doug Hurley will be the first to fly on SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft during the Demo-2 mission. It could launch in Spring 2020.

The first piloted flight of SpaceX's Crew Dragon astronaut taxi is likely just a few months away, now that a critical safety test is in the rearview mirror.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule aced an in-flight abort test Sunday morning (Jan. 19), successfully jetting away from its Falcon 9 rocket less than 90 seconds after liftoff and ultimately splashing down softly under parachutes in the Atlantic Ocean, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) off the Florida coast.

The uncrewed test demonstrated the spacecraft's ability to keep astronauts safe in the event of a launch emergency, marking a big step on the path toward crewed flight.

Video: Watch SpaceX destroy a Falcon 9 in Crew Dragon abort

Related: How SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule works (infographic)

"Congratulations to SpaceX and the entire NASA team on this final major flight milestone that we needed to accomplish," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during a postlaunch news conference on Sunday.

There's still some work to do before SpaceX can be cleared to launch Demo-2, a crewed flight test that will ferry NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to and from the International Space Station (ISS), Bridenstine and others stressed.

For example, data from the in-flight abort (IFA) still need to be analyzed in detail. And NASA wants to see two more successful system-level tests of Crew Dragon's newly revamped parachutes (which appeared to perform flawlessly today), Kathy Lueders, manager of the space agency's Commercial Crew Program, said during today's news conference.

The Crew Dragon capsule and Falcon 9 rocket that will fly Demo-2 should be ready to go by the end of February, SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk said. The company will check and double-check all the necessary systems, and mapping out the schedule for an ISS mission will also take some time, he added.

Taking all this into consideration, Demo-2 is likely to get off the ground sometime this spring, Musk said, stressing that this is the consensus view of the NASA and SpaceX teams.

"We're highly confident that the hardware will be ready in Q1, most likely end of February but no later than March," Musk said, referring to 2020's first quarter (which consists of January, February and March). "And we think it appears probable that the first crewed launch would occur in the second quarter."

This target is a bit more cautious than one proffered late last week by Lueders, who told reporters that Demo-2 could conceivably lift off in early March.

The timing isn't the only thing about Demo-2 that remains uncertain. The original plan calls for the test flight to last just a week or two, but NASA is considering extending that duration, keeping Behnken and Hurley aboard the ISS for significantly longer to get more science work done, Bridenstine said.

The space agency expects to make a decision about Demo-2's length in the coming weeks, he added.

Behnken and Hurley were on hand for the IFA at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, by the way. And the two astronauts said they liked what they saw from Crew Dragon.

"It was a really exciting day for us, to see this really important milestone get accomplished by the SpaceX team and the NASA team," Behnken said in a video posted on Twitter by NASA's Commercial Crew Program. "Probably the most exciting part is to see how much of it kind of proceeded as expected."

Related: See the Evolution of SpaceX's Rockets in Pictures

Hear from NASA astronauts @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug on how they feel after @SpaceXs In-Flight Abort Test Theyll be the first to fly on the second #CrewDragon mission to the @Space_Station!  pic.twitter.com/jMGnvsvme9January 19, 2020 See more

When Demo-2 gets off the ground, it will be a big moment for spaceflight and for the United States, Bridenstine and Musk said. After all, the nation has lacked an orbital human spaceflight capability since July 2011, when NASA's space shuttle fleet was grounded. Since then, NASA astronauts have relied on Russian Soyuz spacecraft and rockets to get them to and from the ISS.

The agency is depending on private American spacecraft to change this situation  specifically, Crew Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule . In September 2014, the Commercial Crew Program awarded SpaceX and Boeing $2.6 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively, to finish work on Crew Dragon and Starliner and to fly six operational, crewed missions to the ISS.

SpaceX now has two big Crew Dragon flight tests under its belt  Sunday's IFA and Demo-1 , a weeklong uncrewed test flight to the ISS that the company successfully completed last March. Boeing flew its version of Demo-1, called Orbital Flight Test (OFT), last month. But Starliner didn't rendezvous with the station as planned; the capsule got stranded in the wrong orbit and ended up circling Earth for two days before landing successfully in New Mexico. It's unclear whether NASA will require the company to refly OFT before moving on to a crewed demonstration mission; a decision on that front is expected soon , Bridenstine said recently.

"I think the United States is very much a nation of explorers, a distillation of the human spirit of exploration," Musk said during Sunday's news conference.

"Anyone who has an adventurous bone in their body is going to be very excited about this," he added, referring to the return of orbital human spaceflight to American soil. "And I think it will help reinvigorate interest in space."

Bridenstine also confirmed Sunday that NASA plans to buy another seat aboard the Soyuz this year, to keep the agency's options open and make sure American astronauts will be able to get to and from the orbiting lab.
Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein delivers remarks during his farewell ceremony at the Robert F. Kennedy Main Justice Building in Washington on May 09, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former Deputy AG Rosenstein Authorized Release of PageStrzok Texts

Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein authorized the Justice Department (DOJ) to release text messages between former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, according to a sworn statement by Rosenstein in a Jan. 17 court filing.

Rosenstein made the revelation in a declaration filed with the governments latest arguments (pdf) in a lawsuit brought by Strzok. The former FBI deputy assistant director is suing the DOJ, claiming he was wrongfully fired and had his Privacy Act rights violated by the release of the texts. Page has filed a separate lawsuit against the DOJ that alleges Privacy Act violations.

The Privacy Act protects information that the government holds on private individuals.

The release of the text messages in December 2017 sparked a political firestorm over the origins of the Russia investigation. Using their FBI phones, Strzok and Page, who were having an extramarital affair, aired their disdain for then-candidate Donald Trump, spoke of stopping him from being elected, discussed an an insurance policy in the unlikely event he won, and mulled impeachment around the time they joined special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation.

Rosenstein said that he chose to release the text messages after learning that the DOJ Office of Inspector General had cleared the messages to be disclosed to Congress. Facing questioning by lawmakers on Dec. 13, 2017, he decided to disclose the messages to the media to prevent the intermittent release of the messages before, during, and after the hearing, fearing the reporting would damage the public confidence in the FBI and exacerbate the bad publicity for the DOJ, Page, and Strzok.

The disclosure obviously would adversely affect public confidence in the FBI, but providing the most egregious messages in one package would avoid the additional harm of prolonged selective disclosures and minimize the appearance of the Department concealing information that was embarrassing to the FBI, Rosenstein wrote.

Rosensteins declaration addresses Privacy Act concerns raised in both lawsuits. Prior to releasing the messages, Rosenstein consulted with the departments chief privacy and civil liberties officer, who informed him that the release of the messages would be legal because Page and Strzok sent the messages using their FBI phones, fully aware that the content is subject to review by the bureau.

Rosensteins declaration is likely to make it more difficult for Page and Strzok to substantiate their Privacy Act claims, which require a government official to knowingly disclose information on a private citizen in violation of the law.

In response to the news of Rosensteins involvement, Page wrote on Twitter, All I can say is this: I very much look forward to Rods deposition.

Strzoks attorney did not return a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Pages attorney declined to comment.

The pair played key roles in the FBIs counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign and the bureaus probe of Hillary Clintons use of a private, unauthorized email server to conduct government work. The origins and conduct of the Trump probe are currently under investigation by U.S. Attorney John Durham. The Clinton email investigation is under ongoing scrutiny by Congress and nongovernment watchdogs, including Judicial Watch.

In his role as deputy attorney general, Rosenstein made decisions that would shape the Trump presidency for years. He backed the firing of FBI Director James Comey, and, in response to the firing, appointed Mueller as special counsel to investigate allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Rosenstein oversaw the Russia probe for most of its duration until Trump appointed Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general.

Mueller concluded his investigation in April 2019, finding no evidence to substantiate allegations of collusion.
China creating system of persecution for the future, Open Doors warns

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WASHINGTON  China is creating a blueprint system of persecution for the future that could be sold to persecute people across the globe, head of the prominent Christian persecution watchdog agency Open Doors USA has warned.

Open Doors CEO David Curry, joined by pastors from China, issued the dire warning about how China could be shaping the future of international religious minority oppression through its use of surveillance technologies to monitor Christians and other religious adherents.

Open Doors, which operates in 60 countries, released its influential annual World Watch List data report Wednesday at an event attended by representatives of the Trump administration, Congress and human rights activists. The annual report ranks the top 50 countries where Christians are most persecuted.

During a briefing, Curry warned that the greatest threat, in his opinion, to human rights worldwide is China, which rose in the rankings from No. 27 to No. 23 in the 2020 report.

Although the communist nation is not ranked as highly as other violators on the list, Curry stressed that the implications lie in Chinas development of surveillance to control its people.

Its implications are not just for Christians within China but for every country and for religious freedom generally, Curry said. Let me put it together. It is like a puzzle. The pieces are there but it is not until you put it together that you see it clearly. When you see it clearly, it is frightening.

The pieces of this puzzle, Curry said, involve Chinas use of a social score system that grades its citizens based on their actions and the governments creation of a network of surveillance cameras that have been put on street corners and in churches.

Imagine a system where citizens are given 2,000 points and every time you do something they government disagrees with, you are marked down for it, Curry detailed. Eventually, your travel is restricted, your children wont get into the best schools. You lose points for taking your children to Sunday School. That is what the experience is like for many Christians in China.

Curry traveled to China just a few weeks ago.

I saw with my own eyes the surveillance on the street but also in the churches, watching their congregation, he said. Facial scans when you come in and then tracking you and generating reports [with] assumptions built into their artificial intelligence system that is tracking Christian behavior.

Curry said that the more often a person is seen going to church, the more often they are to be labeled a radical.

They are shutting down house churches at a massive rate  5,596 churches shut down, many because they refuse to put surveillance cameras up to watch their congregation.

Pastor Jian Zhu, who was raised in China but now is the director of the China Institute at Lincoln Christian University in Illinois, told those in attendance that Chinas persecution against house churches is now the worst he has seen since 1979.

The Chinese government now has placed severe restrictions and policies on the house churches, asking neighbors to spy on one another, pressures school teachers and college professors to betray and sign a statement to denounce their faith as well as to do the same to the students, Zhu said.

Zhu explained that many churches are asked to take down crosses inside and outside their buildings and put up pictures of President Xi Jinping at the center of their worship stages. Underground churches are also accused of illegally fundraising because they collect offerings from congregants.

Zhu said he has heard of cases where some cities have shut down all house churches.

Now, they are trying to eliminate Christianity from public life, he said. Cameras are all over to watch church and Christians go to Sunday service. Families are threatened to not go to church or they will be punished or their relatives could be in trouble.

One Christian from China who attended the Open Doors event told The Christian Post that he and his family fled from China after the house church he attended was shut down.

Curry stressed that the data seems to point to the fact that China seems to be resurrecting the god-as-government state.

We are all threatened by this: atheists, Jews, Muslims, everyone, Curry said.

They are using this artificial intelligence and surveillance to a whole new level, he added. All indications show that in 2020  and this is why we are highlighting this  they are bringing these two systems together. They are merging the social scoring system and surveillance and artificial intelligence to give them the tools and the power to oppress the people.

Curry said that the indications are not just fear or unfounded.

It is already happening in a very grave way: not to Christians but to Uighur Muslims, he said, noting that hundreds of thousands if not millions of Uighur Muslims have been sent to re-education centers in Western China.

Muslims are forced to give up their faith and their culture. Its only a matter of time before the world is going to jump on this technology because China is selling it to Iran, theyre looking to sell it to Egypt and other countries as well.

When asked why China was not ranked lower on the World Watch List, Curry told CP that the World Watch List scores across measurements of private life, national life, violence, and others.

So while China is No. 23, we are highlighting it because of what I think is this blueprint, Curry contended. They are creating a system of persecution for the future and we have to call it out now. Otherwise, it will be too late. Otherwise, they will sell it to Iran and others to oppress their religious minorities. That is why it needs to be really highlighted. Within five years, it would be almost too late to stop them.

Curry said that Open Doors has asked the White House and others to support proposed legislation that he says would provide steps to control the use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition around the world.

What assumptions are being built into this that we need to know? Curry asked. Does going to church make you a terrorist in China? These are things we need to know.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/19/2020



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So are Robert and Anny still together? Did the couple actually get married?

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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 making preparations for their wedding on Season 7 of the TLC reality series, but did they split up or actually go through with getting married -- and if so, are they still together?Robert, a 41-year-old from Winter Park, FL, and Anny, a 30-year-old from Santiago, Dominican Republic, are currently starring on 's seventh season, which has been airing for over two months now.Robert and Anny got to know each other by video chatting and talking on the phone, but they only spent one day together in person before Robert popped the question.Robert and Anny spent a day together in the Dominican Republic, which happened to be one of the stops on a cruise Robert had taken for a vacation.After accepting Robert's sudden and unexpected marriage proposal, Anny traveled to the United States so the couple could begin a life together.Anny and Robert therefore had 90 days in which they could get married, or else Anny would have to return to her native country.Robert and Anny began getting to know each other better during her 90-day stay in the United States, but they seemingly bickered more than they got along -- at least at first.Robert was looking for a responsible and classy woman to become his wife and help him raise his son Bryson, but Anny's behavior left Robert with a lot of questions and doubts about her character and the future of their romance.Anny's main problem seemed to be the limited amount of money Robert was willing to spend on her.Anny's first shopping experience in America, for example, 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 went on to ask very personal questions, such as whether Anny was on birth control, which really upset Anny and made her angry.Stephanie, who insisted she was just trying to be cordial and spark conversation, quickly realized that Anny didn't like or approve of her -- and Anny would probably never come around.Anny called Stephanie "rude" and "bad.""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 finally 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, which threw a red flag for Robert, who wasn't sure whether Anny was actually attracted to other women.Robert therefore flat out asked Anny whether she had ever been a stripper or "ever been with a woman before." Anny insisted she had never stripped but suggested they could have a threesome with another woman for his upcoming birthday.Instead of getting excited, Robert was turned off by Anny's comment since he didn't want that type of behavior in his house or around his young son."I feel disrespected because you think it's a joke and obviously this relationship to you is a joke," Robert told Anny."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 and caring woman who could set a great example for his son, but Anny said she just had fantasies she'd like to explore with her man."If he loves me, he has to accept me for who I am," Anny told the cameras, adding that Robert was no fun.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 fifty 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!
Prof Ha Huy Khoai, a famous mathematician and educator, believes that students should learn with e-textbooks because of the open access to many people.

One year ago, Khoai revealed at a workshop that he was presiding over the compilation of a set of textbooks in mathematics for students from first to twelfth grade.





Asked if he shared the same viewpoint that the mathematics curriculum for general school students is overly heavy, Khoai said the problem lies in mathematics exercises. The exercises are too difficult which require tips to solve.

With the current way of learning, students can obtain tips to solve math questions, but they dont have deep knowledge about the nature of problems to apply them in life.



Some textbook compilers try to give difficult problems and tips in solving math problems. But I dont think this is good because the problems are too difficult for students, he said.

With the current way of learning, students can obtain tips to solve math questions, but they dont have deep knowledge about the nature of problems to apply them in life.

Commenting about the current mathematics curriculums, Do Duc Thai, Mathematics and Information Technology Dean of the Hanoi University of Education, Chief Editor of the new mathematics curriculum for general education, said they are so difficult that only professors with relatively good qualifications can understand.



Since the curriculum is too heavy, mathematics proves is a nightmare for many students, Thai commented. They are not happy when learning mathematics."



Wanti g to introduce the learning methods with higher accessibility which help students like to study math, in Ket noi tri thuc voi cuoc song (connecting knowledge and real life), Khoai and his co-workers try to compile textbooks in a simple way which comprises the most basic issues.



Easing the workload on students is what the compilers strive for when writing Ket noi tri thuc voi cuoc song. Easing the workload doesnt mean providing less knowledge to students, but making it easier for students to receive knowledge and understand lessons easily, Khoai said.



The expert agrees with the view that it is necessary to put the lessons about probability and statistics into the curriculum for primary education.



Asked to whom the textbooks are targeted, Khoai said the textbooks target students in both cities and rural areas. The lessons are designed in a way so that they are understandable to students in mountainous areas as well.



Some people have asked to publicize electronic versions of textbooks for public scrutiny. Commenting about this, Khoai said it would be better if e-textbooks are available because the knowledge can be accessed by more students.

Chi Mai

The battle among textbook publishers begins The launch of Canh Dieu (Kites), the first set of textbooks designed in accordance with the new general education last week, has kicked off a fierce battle among textbook publishing houses.
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Shabbir Kayyumi

Continuing its gaining spree, the benchmark index Nifty50 added 100 points in the last week and scaled a fresh record high of 12,389.

Guppy Multiple Moving Average (GMMA) is continuously giving buy signal and as long as fast averages are above all slow-moving averages, prices will continue to trade higher. MACD buy signal also provides support to the continuation of bullish price movement.

Once Nifty surpasses 12,400 resistance zone, it can march towards 12,500 and subsequently towards 12,600 levels which are near the Fibonacci extension line. Near term, supports are placed near 12,225 where 20 DMA and five-week DMA is placed and any daily close below these levels will lead to weakness in the benchmark index.

Bank Nifty gave a correction last week and closed lower suggesting selling pressure around 32,000 levels. Critical support for Bank Nifty is placed at 30,000 levels.

Here are three stocks which could give more than 10% return in short term:

GAIL (India): Buy | Buy Around: Rs 123 | Target: Rs 138 | Stop Loss: Rs 114 | Upside: 12 percent

The stock has witnessed decent erosion from a peak of Rs 190 to currently bottom out at around Rs 110 levels. The appearance of a Hammer candle near support levels along with bullish crossover infers the immediate floor near Rs 110-114 zone.

As of now, the formation of Inverted Head and Shoulder (H&S) on a shorter time frame suggests a move on the upside. Indicators and oscillators are looking conducive for the price pattern. Looking at all these technical factors, we suggest buying in the scrip around Rs 123 with stop loss below Rs 114 on closing basis for the target of Rs 138 levels.

Tata Motors: Buy | Buy Around: Rs 192 | Target: Rs 217 | Stop Loss: Rs 178 | Upside: 13 percent

Stock price has decisively broken out from its Pole & Flag pattern and currently it is sustaining above the same showing further strength. On the daily and weekly chart, the stock has witnessed a shift of trend to the upward forming base with congestion.

The weekly strength indicator and the momentum indicator, stochastic both are in positive territory which supports upside momentum to continue in the near term. Stock price is sustaining well above 20 & 50 SMA which supports bullish sentiment ahead. We suggest buying Tata Motors around Rs 192 with a stop loss of Rs 178 and target Rs 217.

Ramco Cements: Buy | Buy Around: Rs 800 | Target: Rs 900 | Stop Loss: Rs 750 | Upside: 12.5 percent

The stock was undergoing a Cup & Handle consolidation for the last nine months, and has recently given a breakout. The momentum oscillator RSI is in positive territory and is entering into a trending phase.

It is currently trading at a ten-week high indicating buying interest in the stock. The weekly structure too looks bullish and poised for a strong run. We recommend buying Ramco Cements around Rs 800 with a stop loss of Rs 750 and a target of Rs 900.

(The author is Head of Technical Research at Narnolia Financial Advisors.)

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Jan. 22 marks the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that legalized abortion nationwide. Those on both sides of the furious debate say this could be the year when everything changes.

In March, the Supreme Court will hear its first abortion case since Justice Brett Kavanaugh replaced Anthony Kennedy, who had been the swing vote on abortion cases. A decision is expected by summer.

The case, June Medical Services v. Gee, challenges a Louisiana law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. It's a reprise of a case decided in 2016, when a five-vote majority (including Kennedy's) struck down a substantially similar Texas law in Whole Women's Health v. Hellerstedt.

On Jan. 2, more than 200 Republican members of the House and Senate filed a brief in the Gee case urging the justices to use it to overturn Roe once and for all. "Forty-six years after Roe was decided, it remains a radically unsettled precedent," the brief said. And the 1992 case that reiterated a curtailed right to abortion, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, did not help, the members argued. "Casey clearly did not settle the abortion issue, and it is time for the Court to take it up again."

The court is far more likely to rule narrowly in the case than to use it to overturn Roe and/or Casey because that's what the Supreme Court tends to do.

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Even if the court does not overturn Roe, it might do something that could hasten Roe's demise: uphold the Louisiana law by ruling that abortion providers cannot sue on behalf of their patients, something the state of Louisiana is urging it to do. That would make it much more difficult to challenge state abortion restrictions because only women seeking abortions would be able to challenge those laws in court. Many pregnant women seeking abortions don't want to go to the additional trouble of becoming part of a lawsuit that could take years.

"That would be a bigger deal" than finding some legal justification to uphold Louisiana's law, said Mary Ziegler, a law professor at Florida State University who has written several books on abortion and abortion law.

It's part and parcel of an anti-abortion strategy: make abortion more difficult to obtain even where it is technically legal. "A right is certainly important, but if you cannot access abortion care, that right is meaningless," said Elisabeth Smith of the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion-rights law firm.

Since 2004, that center has periodically looked at what would happen to abortion laws in the states if the Supreme Court were to reverse its conclusion that abortion, at least in some cases, is a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. In its original report, titled "What If Roe Fell," and again in 2007 and 2017, the center assessed the likely legal status of abortion in the states, because in the absence of Roe, abortion's legality would be determined by state lawmakers or state constitutions.

But in its 2019 version of "What If Roe Fell," the group took a slightly different tack. This latest iteration looks at likely legality, but also at the relative availability of the procedure. The report concludes that if the Supreme Court eliminates federal protections for abortion, the procedure is likely to be immediately prohibited in 24 states, and remain legal and generally available in 21. The five other states and the District of Columbia have not established a right to abortion.

Smith said that, even with Roe still standing, some states, such as Mississippi and Missouri, are already abortion "deserts," where the procedure is all but unavailable. But "the situation would be much worse if the federal right is limited or overturned," she said. In fact, some states are "havens" that have made abortions easier to obtain. For now, "abortion is still legal. Every state has at least one abortion clinic," Smith added.

This is far from the first time it appeared Roe was teetering on the brink. In 1992, after Justice Clarence Thomas replaced Thurgood Marshall, one of the original seven justices in the majority in Roe, the country braced for an overturn. It did not happen. In 2005, when abortion swing vote Justice Sandra Day O'Connor retired and was replaced by Justice Samuel Alito, the alarms were raised again. And again, it did not happen. Then in 2018, when O'Connor's successor as the abortion swing vote, Kennedy, retired and was replaced by Kavanaugh, the bells rang once more.

The Louisiana case is the first chance for what would appear to be a clear five-vote anti-abortion majority to rule.

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Ziegler, the Florida State law professor, warns that overturning Roe would not end the fight. "If this goes back to the states, it's going to continue indefinitely," she said. "The endpoint for people who oppose abortion is not just allowing states to decide."

In other words, if you think the abortion issue is inflammatory now, just wait until Roe is gone.

___

(Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

___

(c)2020 Kaiser Health News

Visit Kaiser Health News at www.khn.org

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
European industrial policy chief Thierry Breton is set to dismiss claims that relying on European companies to build a 5G network would delay its rollout, weighing in on an increasingly tense debate in Germany over the risk posed by Chinas Huawei, Trend reports citing Reuters.

In a speech at the DLD conference in Munich later on Sunday, Breton, a former French finance minister, will warn policy-makers in Germany and elsewhere that the new 5G technology will require more stringent security rules than previous generations.

Setting up strict security conditions will not create delays in the roll out of 5G in Europe, Breton will say, according to a copy of the speech obtained by Reuters.

Europe, including Germany of course, is on track. We are not, and wont be, late in Europe on the deployment of 5G, Breton will say.

The warning by Breton contrasts with comments by German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer who said earlier this week that if Chinese companies were excluded, the construction of the 5G network would be postponed for at least five to ten years.

German Chancellor Angela Merkels conservatives are divided over whether to support a proposal by their Social Democrat junior coalition partners that, if approved, would effectively shut out the Chinese technology giant from the network.

Merkels right-left government, like all of Europe, is under pressure from the United States to bar Huawei, whose gear Washington says contains back doors that would enable China to spy on other countries.

Breton, who heads the vast Single Market portfolio in the new European Commission which includes industrial policy, has said Europe should preserve its technological sovereignty by ensuring it has domestic alternatives in strategic areas.
U.S. President Donald Trump waits with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during an event at the White House in Washington, U.S., Dec.13, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap



By Do Je-hae



The Korea-U.S. negotiations for determining Seoul's share of the cost of maintaining American troops here has emerged as a highly contentious issue. As seen by the series of protests in front of the U.S. Embassy in central Seoul, emotions are running high regarding Washington's mounting pressure for Seoul to pay more.

In a rare move, the U.S. Embassy recently posted the Korean translation of a joint op-ed by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. The timing and content of the op-ed in the Wall Street Journal was actually very interesting.

It provided a well-structured case from the U.S. point of view on why Korea, as a global economic powerhouse, is in a position to pay more for the upkeep of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

As the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) negotiations are still ongoing, such an eloquent statement from key officials in the Trump administration is timely in communicating the American and global audiences the U.S. position in requesting allies to "pay more for their own defense."

But from the Korean perspective, the op-ed does contain some problems. A foreign media outlet said that Trump's administration had "scolded" Korea in the WSJ. The title "South Korea Is an Ally, Not a Dependent" could be seen to suggest that within the current framework of cost-sharing, Seoul relegates itself to the position of a "dependent." Such a connotation is intolerable from the point of view of many Koreans who believe that Korea is already paying more than enough for the USFK. The U.S. also underlined its role in the prosperity and democracy that Korea enjoys today.

"America's longstanding commitment and presence have enabled South Korea to develop a vibrant democracy and the world's 12th-largest economy." A major problem with the op-ed is that it does not do justice to the amount that Korea is already paying for the troops, which is not by any means a small sum.



"As a global economic powerhouse and an equal partner in the preservation of peace on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea can and should contribute more to its defense. Today South Korea bears no more than one-third of the costs most directly associated with the stationing of U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula.



As these costs rise, Korea's share is shrinking. Moreover, these narrowly defined costs are only one part of the picture." However, it must be noted that even when compared with larger economies such as Germany or Japan, Korea is making a substantial contribution for the maintenance of U.S. troops.





U.S. Embassy website carries the Korean translation of a WSJ oped by Pompeo and Esper. Captured from US Embassy website



The fact that the U.S. Embassy translated this op-ed and posted it on its website in Korean is seen to indicate its determination to convince the Korean public that it is really time for Koreans to pay more. That's fine. The U.S. Embassy is mostly doing its job.

But what many Koreans don't understand is what the Korean government is doing to make its case. Would it be too much to imagine a joint statement by the Korean ministers to submit an op-ed as a rebuttal in English, preferably in a global media outlet?

President Moon Jae-in has stressed the need to agree on an "equitable share" that can be approved of by the people and the National Assembly.

Even with Kang Kyung-wha, a former U.N. diplomat and one of the most internationally recognized foreign ministers in Korea's modern history, the Moon administration continues to lag behind in the media wars regarding some key diplomatic disputes.

This happened during the duel with Japan at the height of the bilateral row over wartime forced labor and trade restrictions last summer, and it is happening again.

Seoul needs a smarter media strategy regarding diplomatic issues, but neither Cheong Wa Dae nor the relevant ministries seem up to the task at this point.
Countries embroiled in Libyas complex civil war agreed on Sunday to respect a much-violated arms embargo and hold off on military support, the German chancellor Angela Merkel has said, amid reports foreign troops and weapons had been deployed to both sides.

Speaking from a landmark summit in Berlin, Ms Merkel heralded the meetings as a success, and added that participants had committed to push the warring parties to reach a ceasefire.

However, she admitted that Libyas rival leaders Fayez al-Sarraj, who leads the recognised government in Tripoli, and eastern commander Khalifa Haftar did not meet face to face because the differences between them are so great.

Libyan media had earlier reported that in Berlin Mr Sarraj refused to see General Haftar, chief of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), which launched an offensive on Tripoli in April and over the weekend seized several large oil export terminals.

World leaders from 11 countries flew to the German capital on Sunday to try to hammer out a solution to the bitter conflict that reached a crescendo this year amid foreign military meddling.

Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Show all 12 1 /12 Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya A woman brandishing a rifle takes part in a demonstration held by Libyans and Syrians in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to protest against Turkey's prospective military intervention AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Turkish members of parliament vote to send Turkish troops to Libya. They passed a bill approving a military deployment to Libya aimed at shoring up the UN-backed government in Tripoli, at a time of intensifying international tensions over the conflict. The beleaguered Tripoli government has been under sustained attack since April by military strongman General Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Turkey's regional rivals - Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters

Among those who attended were the Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French president Emmanuel Macron, Italian premier Giuseppe Conte, British prime minister Boris Johnson and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo.

We have embarked on a very arduous road. We agreed on a comprehensive plan forward, Chancellor Merkel said after four hours of talks.

We all agree that we should respect the arms embargo and that the arms embargo should be controlled more strongly than it has been in the past.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres reiterated Ms Merkels words and warned that the proxy war in Libya was escalating to dangerous levels threatening the security of the entire region.

I cannot stress enough the summits conclusion that there is no military solution to the conflict in Libya, he told reporters in Berlin.

I hope the commitments made today will contribute to a lasting solution to the Libya crisis. We need to have a ceasefire.

We cannot monitor something that doesnt exist.

Recommended Western leaders should have held peace talks on Libya years ago

Germany hopes to implore foreign players to stem the flow of weapons and troops to rival factions in Libya, as well as to agree and enforce a ceasefire as a way of ending the bitter conflict.

The conference comes a week after Russia hosted emergency peace talks in Moscow in a separate but similar attempt to end the bloody conflict.

Libya has been ripped apart by an increasingly complicated civil war since the 2011 ousting and killing of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

The country is now roughly divided into two rival administrations, each backed by different nations.

Mr Sarraj, chief of the UN-backed Government of National Accord in Tripoli, is supported by Qatar and Italy but recently turned to Turkey for troops and weapons.

As many as 2,000 Ankara-backed Syrian rebels are thought to have flown to the Libyan capital in recent days to bolster local forces against General Haftars LNA.

Footage released on social media this week showed what appeared to be a new contingent of rebels on board a Libyan plane to Tripoli.

General Haftars forces, meanwhile, are backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

This is despite the fact the LNA launched an offensive on Tripoli in April, laying siege to the capital in an effort to capture it.

On Sunday, Libyas National Oil Corporation said that guards under the command of General Haftars forces shut down two key oil fields in the countrys southwestern desert, following the earlier closure of all eastern export terminals. Only offshore fields and one smaller facility remain operational, the corporation said.

Chancellor Merkel also said that despite not meeting, Libyas rival factions had agreed to name members of a military committee that will represent them at talks about a more permanent ceasefire.

Mr Guterres said that the committee would be convened in Geneva in the coming days.

The German foreign minister Heiko Maas said that we know that todays signatures arent enough.

Boris Johnson stressed the need to bring an end to the fighting and for all parties to support peace talks to determine a way forward for the Libyan people.

Pope Francis offered his encouragement from the Vatican on Sunday.

I strongly hope that this summit, so important, is the start of a path towards the cessation of violence and a negotiated solution that leads to peace and much-desired stability, Pope Francis said in St Peters Square.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is asking legislators this session to approve a plan to offer free college to eligible New Mexicans.

Under her proposal, the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship would cover the tuition gap left after a student receives financial aid, grants and scholarships, including the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship.

And it would be available to students regardless of family income.

Lets make it free, Lujan Grisham said when she announced the proposal. Heres the moonshot for higher education.

Students would be able to use the scholarship to pay their tuition and fees at any public higher education institution in the state. The administration is seeking $35 million in funding to pay for it.

Its a cheaper program than it would be in most states because we have significant financial aid infrastructure already built into the state budget with the Lottery (Scholarship) and the high Pell (Grant) usage, said state Higher Education Deputy Secretary Carmen Lopez-Wilson. And then the factor that our tuition across the board is really low in this state.

For traditional students, the Opportunity Scholarship could be used during a students first semester of college before the Lottery Scholarship starts paying for their education, Lopez-Wilson said. The scholarship would also cover tuition and fees at two-year community colleges for adults who want to return to college, she said.

There would be strings attached. Any college or university that accepts Opportunity Scholarship dollars would have to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the state Higher Education Department, a move aimed at creating additional oversight of how the institutions are spending state funding and if the students are having success at the institutions.

The initiative would put New Mexico and Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, at the front of a popular issue for progressive candidates nationwide. Many of the Democratic candidates for president have unveiled various proposals for tuition- or debt-free college. New Mexico would join New York as the only states to offer tuition-free college, according to the Governors Office.

The requirements of the Opportunity Scholarship would mostly mirror those in the Lottery Scholarship. Students attending a four-year university would have to take a full course load, start college within 16 months after graduating from a New Mexico high school or earning the equivalency, and maintain a 2.5 grade-point average, Lopez-Wilson said.

Lujan Grisham said she hopes the scholarship will be in effect next fall.

State Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he will want to know how the state plans to pay for the scholarship in years when oil and gas revenue declines. An oil boom is allowing the state to increase spending now, but there are concerns over how long it will last.

All in all, Smith said, its a wonderful idea, but the devil is in the details. And my committee wants to know how do we pay for this on a sustained basis.
From consulting firms to tech and detergent companies, brands are busy swatting away online crusaders. In the fraught times we live in, it is not just religion that stokes the fires of controversy.

In such instances, it may be best to take the trolls head on.

It has been a rocky start to the year.

With protests raging all around and tempers on a short fuse, within weeks of sending out New Year greetings and messages of hope and peace, social media timelines for many brands are reeling under abuse and threats of boycott.

It all started out with two technology companies at the centre of a storm because two of their representatives were believed to be attending an event organised by the RSS.

Their mistake: mixing religion with business, which is always tricky in this country, said experts.

But religion is not the only crossed item on the 2020 list.

Detergent brand Nirma that has largely steered clear of any such controversies, is in the thick of one.

Its portrayal of Maratha warriors has hurt the communitys pride, leading to an outpouring of outrage online.

And Deepika Padukone is being pilloried for her support for the students of JNU.

Her recent movie is being boycotted and Medlife, a brand she endorses and one that has also associated with her movie, is fielding abusive rants on its timeline.

Rage and fulmination are the norm and brands are vulnerable as they define their online identities, said several experts.

Everything on brand perception is formed on social media.

"Even brands that do not have an online presence, market themselves online, said a senior image management consultant who did not want to be named.

She believes that the tech companies must be prepared to deal with the mud being flung at their brands; he added, It won't hold ground to say the two individuals could have their own political or religious views, they represent the brand as senior executives, and in social media parlance, their views represent the views of the brand.

What must brands do to stay out of the fire?

Typically in good and bad times, sensitive and non-sensitive ones, my advice is to keep a complete distance from two things, politics and religion.

"A brand is treading on thin ice otherwise, said Harish Bijoor, founder, Harish Bijoor Consults.

What makes religion such a sensitive subject?

A 2018 paper titled Does Religion Sell? A brief journey in religion and advertising, (marginalie.hypotheses.org) may have an answer.

The author says the people want controversy in their advertising, but only in moderate doses.

They want religion to stoke their desires just as they want some amount of sexual undertones, but they want all this in small safe doses and brands must know the line.

Brands must also know that nothing is sacred for trolls - within hours of the poster about the RSS event being tweeted, Accentures old projects in India were dug out, its global CEO tagged in tweets asking about the companys stand on such issues.

Ditto for Zoho.

In the fraught times we live in, it is not just religion that stokes the fires of controversy.

In such instances, it may be best to take the trolls head on.

As the chief marketing officer of Medlife.com has done in a LinkedIn post.

She explains the brands current plight and compares it with something she faced in her earlier job at Big Basket.

At the time Sharukh Khan, the brand ambassador of the online retailer was hounded for his comments about safety and tolerance in the country and many had deleted the app.

Without offering any comment, nor playing victim to the trolls abusive rants, she has managed to protect the brand said many.
Heavy clashes broke out here on Saturday between protesters and the riot police, causing at least 100 injuries, local media reported.

The clashes broke out following the attempts by protesters to break barbed barriers set up by security forces at the entrance of the roads leading to the parliament's headquarters.

Protesters threw stones and tree branches at security forces, while riot police responded by using water cannons and tear gas.

Security forces issued a statement calling on peaceful protesters to move away as the riot police was being attacked at the entrance of the parliament.

Lebanon has been witnessing nationwide protests since October last year against the ruling political class.

Protesters have been demanding a technocrat government of independent ministers capable of implementing reforms and fighting against corruption.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, one of seven impeachment managers who will present the case against President Donald Trump in the Senate trial, did not mince words when he was asked about the White Houses response to the articles of impeachment against the president. During an interview on CBS Face the Nation, Nadler said the White House claims amounted to errant nonsense.

.@RepJerryNadler calls White House rebuttal to last nights trial brief errant nonsense pic.twitter.com/dLCFx2hX4y  Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 19, 2020

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There is ample evidence, overwhelming evidence. Any jury would convict in three minutes flat that the president betrayed his country by breaking the law, Nadler said. The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee note that the Government Accountability Office said the White House Office of Management and Budget violated federal law by withholding military aid to Ukraine. The reason he did that was in order to extort a foreign government to smear his political opponent for his personal benefit and to help try to rig the 2020 election as he worked with the Russians to try to rig the 2016 election. Same pattern, Nadler said. Theres no question that working with a foreign power, trying to extort a foreign power to interfere in our election, is about as bad as you can imagine.

Alan Dershowitz, who recently joined Trumps legal team, distanced himself from the document submitted Saturday night, saying he did not sign onto it and did not see it until it was publicly released. I didnt sign that brief, Dershowitz told ABCs This Week. I didnt even see the brief until after it was filed. Thats not part of my mandate. My mandate is to determine what is a constitutionally authorized criteria for impeachment.
The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has recovered Rs 36 lakh in cash and 100 grammes of gold from the residence of a Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) corporator during a raid on Saturday night.

The search and seizure operation took place following the arrest of the PMC contractor and another person who were held in a bribe-related complaint lodged by a coconut vendor with the ACB office.

The contractor, identified as Sunil Ramprakash Sharma (55), a resident of Wadgaon sheri and his associate identified as Gopi Macchindra Ubale (32), a labourer from Wadgaon sheri were arrested on Saturday for allegedly demanding Rs 1,000 from a coconut vendor, for not taking action against him.

According to Srihari Patil, deputy superintendent of police, Sharma is attached to Ahmednagar road regional ward. Sharma and Ubale were produced in a holiday court of special judge SR Navandar on Sunday, who remanded them in police custody till January 22.

The ACB officials during the night-long search at Sharmas residence had recovered gold and cash stashed which were stashed in his cupboard.

The items seized were listed and details of the seizure were furnished before the court during the hearing, ACB officials said. The ACB has appealed to the people to approach them if any government employee demands bribe from them.
Fuel Price: The rates came down by up to 20 paise across major cities of the country. (Photo Credit: File Photo)

New Delhi:

Petrol and diesel prices saw a downward trend on Sunday, January 19. The rates came down by up to 20 paise across major cities of the country. According to the Indian Oil website, the petrol rates are Rs 75.09 per litre in Delhi, Rs 80.68 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 77.69 per litre in Kolkata, and Rs 78.01 per litre in Chennai, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai remained at Rs 68.45, Rs 71.77, Rs 70.81, and Rs 72.33 per litre, respectively.

In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 76.32 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 68.72 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 74.52 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 67.37 a litre.

India is 84 per cent dependant on imports to meet its oil needs and any spike in global prices has a direct bearing on its economy. Not just imports but even domestic crude oilwhich forms the raw material for making petrol, diesel and other petroleum productsis priced according to international benchmarks. Middle East accounts for more than two-thirds of the countrys oil imports, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia being the top suppliers.

Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Change Every Day?

The fuel prices are in India are revised daily. Petrol and diesel prices are revised every day at 06:00 am to sync it with the variation in global oil prices. Oil marketing companies (OMC) review the global fuel prices and decide petrol and diesel daily. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum release the new rates at 6 am every morning. Generally, when international crude oil prices gain, prices in India move higher. Other factors also impact the price of fuel like rupee to US dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil, global cues, demand for fuel, and so on.

Why Fuel Prices Differ In Every City?

The price of fuel includes excise duty, value-added tax (VAT), and dealer commission. As VAT varies from state to state, the price of fuel is different in every city.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
By PTI

JAMMU: Describing Jammu and Kashmir as a "jewel" of the country, Union minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said the Centre would come out with an industrial package for the Union Territory soon and expressed hope that it would attract large amounts of investment to the valley.

The Minister for Railways and Commerce also announced that Kashmir would be linked with the rest of the country by train by December next year.

He asserted that development work has gathered pace in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after June 18, 2018 when the erstwhile state came under Governor's rule.

"I am very happy at the progress (of development) that I have seen on the ground and I am sure that in the days and months to come this process will continue relentlessly.

We will soon come out with an industrial package and we hope to see large amounts of investment coming to Kashmir," he told reporters at the Jammu airport before returning to Delhi.

Goyal was in Jammu as part a week-long public outreach programme initiated by the Centre to apprise people of the potential benefits of the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status after nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution.

He was part of the second batch of seven Union ministers who reached Jammu and addressed a series of public meetings and inaugurated various projects in different districts.

Besides Goyal, other Union ministers who visited different parts of Jammu as part of the week-long outreach programme included Smriti Irani, Mahendra Nath Pandey, Arjun Ram Meghwal, V Muraleedharan, Anurag Thakur, Jitendra Singh, R K Singh and Ashwini Kumar Choubey.

"What we have heard since our childhood that it is paradise on earth. It was paradise on earth and it will remain so as well. It is a jewel of the country and truly a paradise on earth and I am proud of Jammu and Kashmir," Goyal said.

Article 370 was nullified in August 5, 2019 and the state was bifurcated into Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh -- that came into effect on October 31.

Goyal inaugurated a flood protection project, an indoor stadium and various roads completed under Prime Minister's Grameen Sadak Yojna, besides addressing a public gathering in Akhnoor on the outskirts of Jammu.

"Jammu and Kashmir people have become the monitors of development and with their participation, it is reaching to the grass-roots level. The work on railway bridge over Chenab river, which was facing slow progress over the years, has gathered speed and for the first time the allocation of funds was utilised fully," he said.

The minister said the prime minister gave his nod when more funds were demanded to speed up the work of the railway bridge which will link Katra and Banihal towns in Jammu and complete the railway track from Baramulla in north Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

"After the completion of the railway line, the whole country will get connected. Anyone travelling from Kanyakumari to Kashmir can feel proud. The bridge is an engineering marvel and our engineers and workers are doing a great job by building the world largest bridge," he said, adding "we will continue the pace of work next year and are hopeful of connecting this vital 111-km railway track by December 2021".

He said the union ministers get encouraged when they visit this "sacred land".

Expressing his desire to visit Kashmir to enjoy the beauty of the winter, Goyal said, "I request (Farooq) Khan sahib (advisor to Lt Governor G C Murmu who was sitting near him) to invite me to Kashmir. I am going to visit Kashmir."

After Jammu and Kashmir came under Governor's rule in June 2018, the development work gained speed and with the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into UTs, many central laws which were not applicable and depriving the people of their rights came into force.

Referring to various development projects that were completed after the fall of the erstwhile PDP-BJP government, he said many development projects which were left incomplete over the past many decades witnessed fast-paced work under the administration of Lt Governor.

"I understand that people want improved services, impartiality in development works and high speed development, accountable government and information about the work being done," he said.

He said the situation in the valley is normal and said "as many as 99 per cent students took part in their exams without any problem, while tourism, shops and business is functioning normally. (Prepaid) Mobile phones also started functioning yesterday."

Asked about the opposition charge that the public outreach programme of the Centre is a "propaganda tour" and a move to divert attention of the people of the country from real issues, he said, "If there is any shortcoming in my statement, then it is a propaganda but if we are putting forward the reality before the nation, where the question of propaganda arises."

Expressing displeasure over the accusation by opposition leaders, he said does the opposition mean to suggest that Kashmir did not deserve the attention that it is getting.

"Is the opposition unhappy that we have taken the development to every remote corner of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh? This is exactly the point that we were always harping that some sections of the political establishment did not want development to reach the remotest corners of Jammu and Kashmir, just like it did not want to reach in the Northeast.

"In the last five years, we had the ability, each one of us would go to the northeast and the very presence of all of us helped generate so much enthusiasm that the entire landscape in the Northeast is now transformed and we would wish to see the same transformation journey and progress and development in Kashmir," he said.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Kashmiri Pandits plan to descend on the anti-CAA protest site in Shaheen Bagh here on Sunday afternoon to highlight their own plight for the last 30 years after forcible ouster from the Valley, as well as seek support for their cause.

The move comes after protestors announced 'Jashn-e-Shaheen' -- an evening of poetry and songs -- on January 19 to celebrate the spirit of the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

A section of Twitterati and the Kashmiri Pandits equated the event as a "celebration of the genocide of the Kashmiri Hindus".

Satish Mahaldar, a Kashmiri activist, said: "The protestors at Shaheen Bagh announced to celebrate Jash-e-Shaheen, on a day when the Kashmiri Pandits faced exodus from the Valley. We will make sure that does not happen. We will visit the protest site at 5 p.m. to observe the exodus day." The community will urge the protestors to also raise their voice for the welfare of the Kashmiri Pandits and support them.

Shaheen Bagh has become a hub of anti-CAA protest for over a month now, with protestors demanding repeal of the CAA for its alleged discrimination against a particular community.

Kashmiri Pandits stress that before voicing support for a community that is in majority in most of the countries covered under the CAA, the Shaheen Bagh protestors must voice support for a community within India that has faced trouble for so long but lacked voices of support.

Mahaldar, a part of the Reconciliation, Return and Rehabilitation team for Kashmiri Pandits, said: "Let us observe the exodus day at Shaheen Bagh today (Sunday), because if the protestors can raise their voice for a community left out under the CAA, they must also support our voices and for our return to our native places." The Twitter handle of Shaheen Bagh protesters later clarified that the January 19 event had nothing do with the exodus of Kashmiri Hindus from the Valley.

"False information is being spread to create discord and attack the spirit of fraternity that anti-CAA protests stand for," the handle tweeted.
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Police and other emergency vehicles respond on the scene of a fatal bus accident at Fifth Avenue and DeSoto Street in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland. Read more

A 2017 graduate of Downingtown High School East was fatally struck by a bus early Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh, authorities said.

Barbara Como, of Chester Springs, was a senior anthropology student at the University of Pittsburgh and a research assistant with the Learning Research and Development Center, according to university officials.

The Pitt community is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Barbara Como. ... As the Pitt community mourns the loss of one of our students, we send our heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends, the university said in a statement.

The Pittsburgh Port Authority released a statement reporting that one of its buses struck a female pedestrian at DeSoto Street and Fifth Avenue shortly after noon. Pittsburgh police put the time at 12:25 p.m. She was taken to nearby UPMC Presbyterian, where she was pronounced dead by 2 p.m.

Port Authority police and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Collision Investigations Unit are investigating. Pitt Police are assisting.

The driver is shaken up, said Port Authority spokesperson Adam Brandolph. He declined to release any other information about the driver. The university was offering counseling services Saturday evening on campus.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also condemned the suggestion made by senior lawyer Indira Jaising to pardon the Nirbhaya convicts.

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led government of trying to save the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape case instead of ensuring justice to her family, as it trained guns at the AAP over delay in their hanging.

At a press conference held at the party headquarters, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also condemned the suggestion made by senior lawyer Indira Jaising to pardon the Nirbhaya convicts, and questioned her links with the Arvind Kejriwal government.

Mr Tiwari also referred to Ms Jaisings representations of the Kejriwal government in the past as he sought to put the AAP dispensation in the dock over her remarks. The Tihar prison comes under the Delhi government, and the convicts, who should have been informed about the 2017 verdict soon after, were informed two years later in 2019, Mr Tiwari claimed.

It shows that first the AAP-led government delayed the hanging and now trying to save the four convicts, he alleged. And, then deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia holds a press conference to say, police is delaying the proceedings, he said.

No political party in the country has done something like this, as the AAP in stalling the justice for which Nirbhayas family has been waiting for eight years, Mr Tiwari said.

BJP national general secretary Saroj Pandey and party leader Shazia Ilmi were also present during the press conference. Ms Pandey also sought to link suggestion made by Ms Jaising to the AAP government and said, This is the worst form of politics.

Jaising herself is a woman, she should have thought a thousand times before making that suggestion. And, people very well know her link with the AAP... We condemn this, she said.

Ms Ilmi also linked the senior lawyers remarks and her prior association with the Kejriwal-led party. I also want to ask the DCW (Delhi Commission for Women) chief why is she not agitating after the comments made by Indira Jaising, she said.

She alleged that the Kejriwal government had changed the Tihar Jail Manual and a notice was given to the convicts when their appeals were rejected by a court in 2017, upholding the sentence awarded earlier.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 26F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 26F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Truly local shopping isnt just a nice thing to do to show local spirit. Truly local shopping in the future may well be the difference between whether your community grows economically or withers on the economic vine.

To be clear, Truly local isnt the same as just shopping local  all local shopping isnt created equal. Truly local is described as locally owned and operated. This, on occasion, includes national chains that are locally owned.

With the increase of big boxes, national chains, Wall Street or out-of-town owners and online shopping opportunities, many local community governments are finding it increasingly difficult to make their budgets stretch to cover their basic needs. In fact, many already are in severe financial straits.

The term unintended consequences could well have been coined to convey the situation in which many communities find themselves today or will in the near future.

The courtship of big boxes and chains might be viewed as a necessary evil that communities must attract to appear viable. By bringing these big boxes and chains to the community, it can indeed create new jobs, increase the quality of life for residents and provide a greater variety of goods and services that we all enjoy.

While the benefits can be great, we must realize this also comes with high risk. The greater the saturation of big boxes and chains, the greater long-term economic risk to our communities. One might ask, how can this be?

Very simply, the more money each of us spends with these big box, chain and out-of-town owners, the bigger the drain on our local budgets as a greater percentage of those dollars we are spending leave our community, never again to return. Studies show that dollars spent at locally owned businesses are three to seven times more valuable because they are re-circulated multiple times throughout the community in lieu of being sent to some far-off corporate headquarters.

It is those same dollars leaving our community that otherwise would fund our police, fire departments, city government, water department, road department, parks and recreation and so forth. Bottom line: Fewer dollars equate to fewer or less-than-desirable services.

How can communities balance sending their dollars to Wall Street in lieu of growing their own main streets?

As is the case with most things in life, it is all about balance. Having these big boxes, chains, Wall Street and out-of-town-owned businesses initially can be beneficial to the overall growth of a community. The bigger issue arises when communities, in their haste to vigorously court these big boxes, chains and Wall Street organizations, do so at the expense of organically growing their local business base from within. We must not forget that small businesses, mostly locally owned, employ the majority of all workers across the country. We must tend to that base, as well.

Communities must find the resolve to expend equal attention and resources on their local business, innovation and entrepreneur base. Nurturing their start-ups ultimately will create the balance to weather the pending economic storm clouds of retail, along with the rapidly shifting shopping habits that are changing right before our eyes.

With those rapidly shifting retail and consumer habits, it is imperative that communities have these critical conversations. It also is critical that they find ways to stimulate local entrepreneurship and innovation. It is imperative that they find ways to keep a greater percentage of their consumer spending local. The younger generations are leading us rapidly toward an experiential economy in which it isnt about sameness, but about making dining and shopping an experience.

This spells local in every way.

These arent just nice discussions to have; the economic and vital future of every community with a population under 100,000 people is in danger of slowly being dismantled by the winds of economic change. We are sure of one thing: Wall Street cares little about our communities except, of course, how those communities can turn over more local dollars to boost their bottom lines.

The future of our communities is certainly in our hands, and our hands only. Whether we win or lose, tomorrow will be determined by the hard decisions we make today. Hopefully our communities will make those decisions based on long-term growth and not just short-term satisfaction.

John A. Newby is a consultant who helps media companies create synergies with communities. His email is john@360MediaAlliance.net.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognized as the nation's rightful president by the United States and nearly 60 other countries, defied a travel ban Sunday to make a surprise appearance in neighboring Colombia, the start of a global mission to shore up support for his movement.

The 36-year-old opposition leader is to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Monday in Bogota, according to people familiar with his plans. From Colombia, they say, he'll continue on to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he will urge European officials to increase pressure on the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro.

President Donald Trump is also expected to attend Davos this week. Senior figures in the Venezuelan opposition hope the two will meet in what could be a pivotal encounter for the movement.

Guaido's audacious dash out of Venezuela - he's been prohibited by the socialist government from leaving the country - appeared aimed at breathing life into his crusade to oust Maduro. In an interview with The Washington Post published Saturday, Maduro suggested he now had the upper hand in the U.S.-backed effort to force him from office, and it was time for direct talks with Washington.

Guaido's popularity, meanwhile, has flagged at home, where his backers have grown weary and frustrated. Critics say he underestimated the authoritarian Maduro, and overpromised the speed of a political transition they say is needed to alleviate the brutal economic crisis that has forced millions of Venezuelans to flee poverty and hunger.

Maduro interview: Venezuela's embattled president says he's still in control, ready for direct talks with the United States

Guaido's trip is his first outside Venezuela since last February, when he tried to push humanitarian aid into the country against a blockade ordered by Maduro. That confrontation ended with aid trucks on fire and skirmishes between opposition supporters and the Venezuelan military.

"Already in #Colombia, grateful to President @IvanDuque for his support of the struggle of the Venezuelan people," Guaido tweeted Sunday morning. "We will generate the conditions that will lead us to Freedom. And I assure you that the return to our country will be full of good news. Go Venezuela!"

Duque called Guaido "president" and said hey would meet later Sunday.

"We welcome Venezuelan President Juan Guaido to Colombia," Duque tweeted. "This evening we will hold a working meeting. President @jguaido will also participate, this Monday, in the Hemispheric Summit for the Fight against Terrorism."

Guaido's trip, people close to him say, is meant to force the hand of Maduro, whose government has prohibited him from leaving the country. People close to Guaido, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss planning, say he will certainly return - setting up what they see as a potentially pivotal showdown with the socialist government in Caracas.

Should Maduro's government arrest Gauido, it could trigger new international sanctions, further isolating it internationally. Should it allow him to return without taking action, as it did last February, it could show weakness.

"There are two scenarios," said one person involved in the opposition strategy. "One is that he comes back and maintains his freedom of mobility. Or he comes back and gets imprisoned. But he will return, and the regime will be in a dilemma."

Venezuelan government officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hyperinflation, joblessness and shortages of food, water and medicine have reduced life for many in this South American nation of 30 million to a daily struggle to survive. But Caracas, at least, is showing modest new signs of economic life: Government moves to ease controls on prices, currency and imports have put more food on store shelves, for those who can afford it. And this month, Guaido has faced a new challenge, as pro-government forces have sought to oust him from his perch as head of the National Assembly, the opposition-controlled body widely seen as the nation's last democratic institution.

Guaido's tour - particularly his meeting with Pompeo, and potentially in Europe with Trump - could revitalize his image at home as a leader capable of bringing change.

Caracas-based political analyst Dimitris Pantoulas called the move "bold."

"Guiado intends to show the world - and also Maduro - that he still has powerful allies," he said.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Venezuela, including an oil embargo and individual restrictions on dozens of government figures. But the Europeans have treaded more lightly. Both the United States and the Venezuelan opposition are encouraging European nations to take a harder line on Maduro.Guaido is traveling at a sensitive moment in Venezuela's political crisis. The socialist government is accused of bribing opposition lawmakers in a scheme to rob Guaido of his legal authority as president of the National Assembly.

On Jan 5, government security forces blocked Guaido and his supporters from entering the legislative palace while Luis Parra, a lawmaker whom the opposition claims was bribed, was abruptly sworn in to lead the body.

The United States and other nations say Guaido is still president of the assembly. That title serves as the basis of his claim to be the country's true leader. The assembly declared Maduro a usurper after he claimed victory in 2018 elections widely viewed as fraudulent, a move the opposition said makes Guaido interim president until free and fair elections can be held.

Maduro told The Post that Guaido had "failed" as the head of a disorganized and bickering opposition and Parra had won control of the assembly.

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.

Maduro cast himself as the survivor of a year-long effort by the opposition and its supporters in Washington to force him out, and called for direct talks with the United States to resolve the political standoff that has crippled the socialist state of some 30 million.

He took aim at current and past U.S. officials, saying Trump had been ill-advised on Venezuela. He said he would forge ahead with new National Assembly elections this year, a move his adversaries view as an attempt to further consolidate control of the legislature.

Venezuela's last democratic institution falls as Maduro attempts de facto takeover of National Assembly

Elliott Abrams, Trump's special representative Abrams, said Saturday that Maduro "cannot be trusted to preside over new National Assembly elections this year," particularly after the events of Jan. 5.

But he backed further talks between the opposition and Maduro.

"The United States favors negotiations between the Maduro regime and the democratic opposition under Juan Guaido to arrange new presidential and national assembly elections that are free and fair," Abrams said. "Previous efforts have all failed because the regime never took them seriously and instead used them to try to gain time and divide the opposition. When the regime is ready, and engages in serious negotiations with the opposition, the United States will do everything it can do to help those negotiations succeed."

At least one former Trump adviser was less diplomatic.

"Maduro tells The Washington Post he wants negotiations with the United States?" John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, tweeted on Sunday. "The only negotiations we should have with Maduro are what he wants for lunch on the plane that will take him to permanent exile in Cuba or Russia. Viva Venezuela libre."

- - -

The Washington Post's Mariana Zuniga in Caracas contributed to this report.
Culinerdy Kitchen | Photo: Shabrin L./Yelp

Visiting Alkali Flat, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Sacramento neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a tattoo shop to an American eatery.

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Alkali Flat, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.

1. American Graffiti Tattoo & Piercing

photo: lindsay a./yelp

Topping the list is tattoo and piercing spot American Graffiti Tattoo & Piercing. Located at 608 12th St., it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 94 reviews on Yelp.

American Graffiti Tattoo and Piercing offers custom tattoos and piercings by appointment. Be prepared: The shop only accepts cash.

2. AlphaBENT

Photo: guido g./Yelp

Next up is bike shop AlphaBENT, situated at 1114 C St. With 4.5 stars out of 10 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.

AlphaBENT is known for its selection of recumbent trikes, including models by Greenspeed, Hase and Azub. Customers may also test-ride any of the trike models at the shop.

3. Culinerdy Kitchen

photo: naomi t./yelp

Vegetarian spot Culinerdy Kitchen, which offers burgers and more, is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 524 12th St., 4.5 stars out of 166 reviews.

The restaurant specializes in using ingredients that are "sustainable, responsibly-resourced and local," according to its website, with items like gourmet mac and cheese, brussels sprouts and french fries, as well as a variety of plant-based burgers.

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.
She has had quite a dramatic year after winning Love Island, splitting up with partner Greg O'Shea and becoming a millionaire.

But Amber Gill looked totally worry-free as she sizzled on her luxury getaway at Surin Beach in Phuket on Saturday.

The reality star, 22, gave a huge smile after swapping the Mallorcan villa for sun-soaked Thailand.

Sun soaked: Amber Gill looked worry-free as she sizzled on her luxury getaway at Surin Beach in Phuket on Saturday

Amber wore a black bikini and some hot denim shorts for a snap next to the clear waters of the Andaman Sea.

She played with a pair of shades while showing off her toned physique.

The Newcastle native later enjoyed a speed boat ride and a night at CircoLoco with fellow Islanders Francesca Allen and Anna Vakili.

She posted the racy snaps on social media, captioning one: 'Im following the sun this year'.

Life changing: She has had quite a dramatic year after winning Love Island, splitting up with partner Greg O'Shea and becoming a millionaire

Getaway: The reality star, 22, gave a huge smile after swapping the Mallorcan villa for sun-soaked Thailand

Adventure: The Newcastle native later enjoyed a speed boat ride and a night at CircoLoco with fellow Islanders Francesca Allen and Anna Vakili

The former Islander recently weighed in on claims the show is embroiled in a 'race row,' claiming fans are just 'looking for things to just out.'

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline after releasing her newest edit with MissPap, the reality star also revealed that despite rumours of a romance with co-star Ovie Soko her love life is 'non-existent,' and she's happily enjoying being single.

Amber also praised Laura Whitmore's debut as Love Island's host after she stepped in for Caroline Flack, saying she's the right 'friendly, comforting' presence to support the Islanders.

Gorgeous: Amber recently weighed in on claims the show is embroiled in a 'race row,' as she launched her new edit with MissPap

Amber offered her take on claims that Love Island is in the midst of a race row, following outcry from fans that Leanne Amaning, 22, was the final girl to be coupled up in the launch show.

Throwing her support behind her blossoming romance with Mike Boateng, 24, the Newcastle beauty said: 'I think with Love Island people look for things to point out, a lot of people in my year didn't have to vote.

'You don't really know what you're doing so that situation is too hard for anyone who hasn't been in that situation to comment on.

Gorgeous: The reality star spoke exclusively to MailOnline following the launch, and also chatted about her 'non-existent' love life and Laura Whitmore's debut as host

Supportive: Amber threw her support behind Mike Boateng and Leanne Amaning from the new series, and said she's already tipped them to win

'It's a weird nerve-racking situation to put yourself into, ''should you pick this guy, should you pick the next guy.'' I like them as a match anyway so I don't even care.'

Amber also said she's tipping Mike and Leanne to win less than a week into the new Winter Series, the first since she was crowned champion in July.

The former beautician added: 'I love Mike and Leanne! I want them to win the whole thing and if they don't, I'm gonna be mad. knew that Mike wants somebody else and then he went back so I'm happy now. I'm gonna put a bet on for them to win!

Views: On the 'race row' she said: 'I think with Love Island people look for things to point out, a lot of people in my year didn't have to vote'

'Then again you don't know what madness is going to go on in Casa Amor do you?'

Amber also praised the show's stand-in host Laura Whitmore, who stepped in to present the series after Caroline announced she would be stepping down following her arrest for assault.

She told MailOnline: 'She's good. I feel experiencing it myself they need somebody who's friendly who's comforting, you don't really know what you're getting yourself into, so I feel it's somebody who's friendly and makes you feel comfortable, so yeah I like her.'
A Connecticut State Police trooper held his gun steady late Wednesday afternoon as he fired seven times into a vehicle with a 19-year-old New Haven teen in the drivers seat, body and dashboard camera footage of the deadly incident showed.

Trooper Brian North, a four-and-a-half-year member of the state police force, had been one of the officers who pursued Mubarak Soulemane on Interstate 95 from the Bridgeport area into West Haven.

Body camera footage of the fatal police-involved shooting shows what happened in the moments before, during and after the deadly incident  but still leaves unanswered questions.

State police released the 1 hour, 33 minutes and 50 seconds of footage late Friday night. In Connecticut, dashboard and body camera footage must be released no more than 96 hours after a fatal police-involved shooting.

But while the footage does give some insight into what happened, family members and community leaders are still searching for more answers.

The Rev. Boise Kimber of Calvary Baptist in New Haven, who joined family members of Soulemane on Friday for a press conference about the incident, said he watched the footage with some members of the family after it was released.

I do not have adequate words to explain what took place and what I saw, he said Saturday night. What I did see was the officers blocking this young man in, making demands that he get out of the car. Well, he could not get out of the car because the state trooper car was against the side of the drivers door.

Dashboard camera footage for North and troopers Joshua Jackson and Ross Dalling showed the law enforcement officers racing behind a white Hyundai Sonata  reaching speeds up to 100 mph at times  across all lanes of travel and the left and right breakdown lanes on I-95 northbound for roughly 10 minutes.

Soulemane, in the Hyundai Sonata, weaved in and out of traffic, narrowly avoiding other vehicles on the highway. The troopers followed him, a distance away.

But once Soulemane took the off-ramp for Exit 43 onto Campbell Avenue, he crashed into a civilian car under an overpass. Troopers then boxed him in.

Body and dash camera footage shows the three troopers  as well as other unidentified officers  surrounding the vehicle with the teen still in the drivers seat. North and Jackson had their guns drawn.

Get out of the car, Jackson shouted twice as he approached Soulemane in the vehicle, with his gun drawn.

Jackson then walked around to the right side of the vehicle, with his body camera capturing significant damage to the front end of the teens vehicle.

North then approached the drivers-side window, his gun also drawn.

Jackson reaches for the front passenger door handle. Its locked.

Another officer can be seen using his right fist to try to break the front passenger window before he grabs a baton and hits the window several times, shattering it.

Jacksons body camera footage appears to show Soulemane moving in the car, seen through the broken window. Soulemane appears to have something in his hand, but the item is difficult to see.

The troopers had been warned earlier to use caution, since Norwalk police indicated that Soulemane had been armed with a knife.

Taser, then gunfire

Jackson, North shouted to his fellow trooper, Taser.

Jackson grabbed his Taser and fired it through the broken window. Its unclear if the Taser hit Soulemane or just landed in the vehicle.

Then, Norths body camera footage shows he fired his gun seven times, shattering the drivers window. Its unclear what exactly prompted him to fire his gun.

Shots fired, North then relayed on the radio.

After he fired the shots, North shouted, Hes got a knife to the other officers. Then, he shouted to Soulemane, Drop the knife. Drop the knife.

Several seconds pass, and through one of the bullet holes in the window, Soulemane can be seen moving slightly.

North indicated to the other officers that the knife was not in his hands. Its on his lap.

He then uses his gun to make a bigger hole in the glass that he shot through. North then reaches into the car.

I got the knife, he told the other officers as he can be seen on the body camera footage pulling it out of the window with his left hand. Its on the hood. Pull him out.

Critical views

What led to the pursuit and deadly shooting began earlier in the afternoon in Norwalk, where city police say Soulemane made threats at an AT&T store while wielding a knife before he carjacked a rideshare driver.

The teen got into the white Hyundai Sonata, registered to a Bridgeport resident, and fled the area. Norwalk officers soon spotted the vehicle and briefly pursued Soulemane, before city police supervisors called it off.

Acting Chief State's Attorney John J. Russotto announced in a statement Saturday that inspectors from the Division of Criminal Justice will take over the investigation into the deadly shooting.

The Division of Criminal Justice, and, in particular the state's attorneys, are well aware of the concerns that have arisen concerning the investigation of the use of deadly force by a Connecticut State Police trooper, Russotto said. In fact, the state's attorneys in recent months had already initiated discussions on the best practices for conducting such an investigation.

The immediate concern has now brought this issue to the forefront and we are now implementing what was in the discussion stages in response to the immediate need to respond to this tragic incident in West Haven, Russotto added.

Inspectors regularly work with the states attorneys to prepare cases for prosecution in instances of homicides and other serious criminal offenses. Inspectors also have experience with investigative work in specialized units.

Kimber said he was concerned about how quickly the officer opted to pull the trigger.

They did not try to de-escalate this situation, Kimber said. They did not try to talk to this individual. The officer never said that he saw a knife until he shot the individual. What that means to me is that he was trying to justify the shooting. Its a terrible incident.

Kimber said the footage left family wondering why the video ended when it did.

State police previously said that after the shooting, West Haven and state police rendered medical aid to Soulemane until medics took over and transported him to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

Where is the rest of the video after the shooting? Kimber questioned. I think its important to show what happened after.

Kimber said friends and family attended funeral services in the Bronx, N.Y. for Soulemane, a Notre Dame-Fairfield graduate who had family ties to Norwalk. The reverend said Soulemanes mother flew from Ghana, Africa  where Soulemanes family is from  after the shooting.

What do you tell a family who lost a 19-year-old by a police officer? Kimber asked Saturday.

Tahir Mohammed, Soulemanes uncle, said during the Friday press conference that his nephew battled schizophrenia. He said Soulemane was known to police in West Haven, New Haven and Norwalk.

The ACLU of Connecticut condemned state police for the pursuit in a statement Thursday, calling high-speed chases a dangerous and deadly pandemic.

Melvin Medina, public policy and advocacy director of the organization, questioned why state police opted to pursue the vehicle after Norwalk police had deemed it unsafe.

When police choose to chase someone in a car, they are escalating a situation and endangering the lives of police, pedestrians and all motorists on that road, Medina said.

State police pointed to the vital information that Norwalk provided about Soulemane being armed as the reason they pursued the vehicle.

The agency said its pursuit policy, adopted in September 2019, prevents troopers from normally chasing stolen vehicles unless the person has committed, is trying to commit or will imminently commit a crime of violence  actual or threatened.

The policy also allows troopers to pursue a vehicle if there is a need to take the person into custody in a timely manner because of the potential for harm to the public if they arent apprehended, state police said.

State police ask anyone with information on the shooting to call 860-706-5656.
By Babak Dehghanpisheh DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday it was sending to Ukraine the black boxes from a Ukrainian passenger plane that the Iranian military shot down this month, an accident that sparked unrest at home and added to pressure on Tehran from abroad. Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported the authorities were prepared for experts from France, Canada and the United States to examine information from the data and voice recorders of the Ukraine International Airlines plane that came down on Jan.

By Babak Dehghanpisheh

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday it was sending to Ukraine the black boxes from a Ukrainian passenger plane that the Iranian military shot down this month, an accident that sparked unrest at home and added to pressure on Tehran from abroad.

Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported the authorities were prepared for experts from France, Canada and the United States to examine information from the data and voice recorders of the Ukraine International Airlines plane that came down on Jan. 8.

The plane disaster, in which all 176 aboard were killed, has added to international pressure on Iran as it grapples with a long running row with the United States over its nuclear programme that briefly erupted into open conflict this month.

The plane was shot down in error at a time when Iran was on high alert for a U.S. attack. But the military took days to admit they had brought it down, a delay that sparked protests.

Hassan Rezaifar, a director in charge of accident investigations at Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, said the aim was to read the information on the recorders "with the use of the expertise of the countries of France, Canada and America".

"If this effort is unsuccessful then the black box will be sent to France," he said, according to Tasnim, adding that black boxes were being sent to Kiev at the request of Ukrainian experts in Tehran and that they would not be inspected in Iran.

The U.S.-built Boeing 737-800 was en route from Tehran to the Ukrainian capital. Most of those on board were Iranians or dual nationals. Canada had 57 citizens on board.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been pressing for a full investigation into the plane downing, said on Friday Iran should send the black boxes to France.

CALL FOR COMPENSATION

France was one of the few countries with the ability to read the flight and cockpit data recorders from the jet, he told a news conference, adding they were badly damaged.

Canada's Foreign Ministry and the prime minister's office had no immediate comment on the move to send the black boxes to Ukraine. The French Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment and a spokesman for the Frances air accident agency, BEA, said it was awaiting an official request for assistance.

Ukraine has previously said it expected Iran to hand over the black boxes to Ukraine. The foreign minister also expects Iranian representatives to travel to Kiev next week.

Canada, alongside Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and Britain, which also had citizens on the flight, have called for a thorough investigation and compensation for the families.

The plane was brought down in the tense hours after Iran launched missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq in response to the U.S. killing of an Iranian commander in a drone strike on Jan. 3 in Baghdad.

Iran's foreign ministry urged those involved in the crash to avoid making it an "excuse for political gestures".

Addressing the crisis, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told worshippers chanting "Death to America" at prayers on Friday that the disaster was a "bitter tragedy that burned through our heart".

But he said "some tried to use it as an excuse to overshadow the martyrdom of our great commander" Qassem Soleimani, Iran's most powerful general who was killed in the U.S. strike.

The death of Soleimani, portrayed as a national hero at home but viewed as a dangerous enemy in the West, prompted huge mourning ceremonies in Iran. Those were followed by street protests against the clerical system after the plane disaster.

Tension between Tehran and Washington has ratcheted higher since 2018, when the United States withdrew from Iran's nuclear pact with world powers and reimposed sanctions, and erupted into the tit-for-tat military strikes this month.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh in Dubai, Gus Trompiz in Paris, Steven Scherer in Ottawa and Matthias Williams in Kiev; Writing by Frances Kerry and Edmund Blair; Editing by Nick Macfie)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Feb. 11, 1938  Jan. 14, 2020

GLENS FALLS  Loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, Joy Lamos, 81, went to be with her Lord on Jan. 14, 2020 at the Wesley Healthcare Center.

Joy was born in her familys home on Everts Avenue in Glens Falls, on Feb. 11th, 1938 to Dorothy Barrows Smith and Ralph Smith. She graduated from Glens Falls High School and Albany Medical Nursing School and worked as a nurse at Albany Medical Hospital where her favorite role was caring for the babies in the nursery. She was a member of the Wesleyan Church from her youth. It was at the Ridge Road Wesleyan Church, where she met a widower with six children, Leon Lamos, who she later married and with whom she had two children of her own.

She worked as a nurse at the former Glens Falls Home on Warren Street and then, after Leons passing, was a nurse at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, Maryland. Later in life, she again married a widower, Douglas Lamos and loved to recount all the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren combined from each of their previous marriages. In spite of the size of her blended family with her own children, 10 stepchildren she always treated as her own, and countless grandchildren, she never forgot a birthday, which frequently meant receiving a couple dozen of your favorite home-made cookies, and never failed to pray for them all each day.

She continued to be active in the Brooksville Wesleyan Church in Brooksville, Florida when she and Doug became snowbirds, Durkeetown Baptist Church in Fort Edward, and the Womens Auxiliary of the Gideons. She would always have a New Testament handy to give out to anyone who would accept one.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husbands, and her brother, Paul Smith. She is survived by sisters Marjorie Ladd of Granville, and Jewel (Rob Roy) MacGregor of Ailey, Georgia, daughter Linda (Kevin) Flanagan of Albany, and their daughters Emily, Cassandra and Hannah Flanagan, son Brian (Michele) Lamos of Queensbury, and his stepson Richard Wilkins, and loving stepchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Regan Denny Stafford Funeral Home, 53 Quaker Road, Queensbury, with a brief memorial service at 6:30 p.m.

A spring interment in Long Lake, will be scheduled for a future time.

Memorial donations can be made to the Gideons International.

To leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.sbfuneralhome.com.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will likely commit Labor to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 later this year, before the party debates its contentious 2030 targets closer to the next federal election.

The federal Labor leader on Sunday labelled Bill Shorten's decision to take a 45 per cent target by 2030 to last year's election a "mistake", but said he would have a very strong policy that aimed to be as ambitious as possible.

Anthony Albanese says Labor's emissions reduction target is no longer feasible. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Labor will now look to set a 2050 target in line with net zero goals set by every state government and promised by Mr Shorten when he was leader, according to senior party sources.

A target for 2030 or 2035 is then expected to be debated and adopted by caucus later next year, which will be based on the level Australia's emissions are at the time.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : The Congress has criticised Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and objected to his statements against the state's stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"Repeated statements by the Home Minister and the BJP-appointed Governors to force the states to implement the CAA and are preposterous and against the very concept of constitutional federalism," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement here on Sunday.

"The BJP government and its Governors should not forget that India is a Union of states. As per the established parliamentary practice, states can disagree with the Union and challenge the same by the way of their Constitutional right under Article 131," it said.

The Congress also defended the Kerala government's decision to move the Supreme Court over the CAA.

"In the past, many states, like Karnataka, Bihar and Rajasthan, approached the Supreme Court under Article 131 to resolve disputes with the Union on a range of issues. Until the issue is resolved on a petition moved under Article 131, states can't be forced to implement an unconstitutional law, like the CAA," it said.
High school has long been a culture shock for students; they move from the cocoon of primary school, where one teacher covers everything and knows them intimately, to a baffling array of classrooms and subjects.

But from this year, Sir Joseph Banks High School will make its year seven experience more like year six, both to ease the transition and to bring some valuable elements of primary teaching into secondary school.

Year six students visit Sir Joseph Banks High School for orientation day. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Students in their first year at the popular Revesby school will spend almost half their time with a single teacher working on projects that bring together different elements of the curriculum, as they did in year six.

In other periods, they will move between subjects and specialist teachers under a more traditional high-school timetable, an approach based on a teaching model pioneered by Kurri Kurri High School in the Hunter Valley.
She shares two adorable sons, Evander, five, and Ennio, two, with rapper husband Elliot 'Example' Gleave.

And speaking to The Daily Telegraph's Confidential on Monday, Erin McNaught admitted she struggles juggling her modelling career with motherhood.

'The guilt I feel when I have to go away never gets any more bearable, but you learn to deal with it,' the 37-year-old confessed.

'The guilt I feel never gets any more bearable': On Monday, Erin McNaught, 37, told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential she struggles juggling her modelling career with raising her two young sons. Pictured: Evander, five, and Ennio, two

'I'm definitely still negotiating the juggle; I don't think it ever gets any easier,' she added.

Erin went on to reveal communication with her husband was key in making their schedules align.

Since her stint on Miss Universe in 2006, Erin landed modelling contracts, TV roles and radio gigs.

Balancing act: 'I'm definitely still negotiating the juggle; I don't think it ever gets any easier,' she added

The Canberra-born star met her now-husband Example, 37, in 2011 when she interviewed him as a radio host for MTV and Today FM. They wed in 2013.

They were based in London for six years, prior to relocating to Brisbane in February last year.

Erin and Elliot's $2.8million Queensland home boasts five bedrooms, four bathrooms, six-metre high ceilings, a rooftop terrace, swimming pool and sauna.

Husband and wife: Erin met her now-husband Elliot 'Example' Gleave (pictured), 37, in 2011 when she interviewed him as a radio host for MTV and Today FM. They wed in 2013

Back in June 2018, Brisbane-raised Erin told Daily Mail Australia about her plans to leave London.

'London is an amazing city and I do love it, but once you've had kids you realise just how amazing Australia is,' she said.

'The whole reason to move back would be to be closer to family,' Erin added.
London, Jan 20 : Britain and France have reaffirmed their commitment to the Iran nuclear deal while acknowledging the need to define a long-term framework to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, said a Downing Street spokesperson.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday made the remarks during a meeting on the sidelines of the Berlin conference on Libya, Xinhua reported.

"They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and of working with international partners to find a diplomatic way through the current tensions," the spokesperson said.

France, Britain and Germany said Tuesday that they have triggered the dispute mechanism set up in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the hope to preserve the nuclear deal and bring Iran back into full compliance with its commitments.

Iran, however, said its withdrawal from practical commitments under the JCPOA is a reaction to the US exit from the deal in May 2018 and the subsequent sanctions, and also a response to Europe's sluggishness in facilitating Iran's banking transactions and its oil exports.

"Britain, France and Germany, three parties to the Iranian deal, claim that Europe has kept its obligations under JCPOA, however, in reality, they have not imported Iran's oil and have not facilitated Iran's international banking actions," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted on Thursday.

Meanwhile on Libya, the spokesperson said Johnson and Macron also discussed the ongoing conflict in the war-torn country.

Johnson stressed the need to bring an end to the fighting and for all parties to support peace talks to determine a way forward for the Libyan people, said the spokesperson.

Gathering envoys from the US, Russia, Britain, France and China, among others, the Berlin conference on Libya was called after warring sides in Libya -- the UN-backed Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army -- failed to reach a deal in Moscow.
US Secretary of State Pompeo expressed the US desire to intensify coordination with Egypt over Libya due to Egypt's political weight in the region and experience with the Libyan issue

A comprehensive political reconciliation is the only solution to Libya's conflict, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said during a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ahead of the awaited Berlin conference on Libya, a statement by the presidency read.

According to the statement, El-Sisi affirmed that a "comprehensive solution that addresses all aspects of the issue through clear and specific political, security, and economic courses of action" is the only means of solving the Libyan crisis.

The solution should include a clearly "formulated mechanism that is met with consensus to implement the clauses for these courses of action."

The statement quoted Pompeo as expressing the US desire to intensify coordination with Egypt over Libya due to Egypt's political weight in the region and experience with the Libyan issue.

Pompeo and El-Sisi agreed on the urgent need for a lasting ceasfire and a return to a UN-facilitated political process," US State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

Pompeo also "emphasised the destabilising impact of foreign interference in Libya."

The meeting also saw discussions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), where El-Sisi expressed appreciation for the US efforts in sponsoring tripartite talks on the dam with Ethiopia and Sudan, and the continuation of Washington's role towards evolving a comprehensive agreement that preserves Egypt's historical rights to Nile water.

The US Secretary of State affirmed his country's interest and keenness on the success of the negotiations with positive and fair outcomes that secure Egypt's rights as well as those of Ethiopia and Sudan.

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A man who gunned down seven people, most of whom are members of his ex-wifes family, in the northern Vietnamese province of Lang Son this week is being wanted nationally by the provincial police.

Criminal proceedings have been launched against Ly Van San, 50, who is now on the national wanted list for murder after killing two and injuring five others on Monday, Lang Son police said on Saturday.

Investigation documents show San and his second wife Hoang Thi Toan were divorced in 2015 after Toan had made a case against the ex-husband for domestic violence.

San has wanted to get back with Toan on multiple occasions since then but his intention has been consistently rejected by Toan and her family.

At around 9:00 pm on Monday, San carried an AK-47 assault rifle to the house of Toans sister Hoang Thi Hoai, 37, in Lang Son and opened fire on members of Hoais family who were having dinner at the back of the house.

Hoais 12-year-old son Pham Thanh Phong was killed on the spot after being hit by a bullet to his head.

San then walked to a nearby auto shop owned by Toan and Hoais older brother Hoang Quoc Huong, 43, and opened fire, killing Huong instantly.

Five people, including Hoai, Toan, Hoais sister-in-law Chu Thi Hong, and two mechanics - Vu Xuan Huong, 38, and Nguyen Van Tuyen, 19 - who work at Huongs auto shop, were injured in the mass shooting.

Hundreds of police officers and border guards are on the hunt for San, who has been at large since the killing.

Authorities in China have also been asked to help capture San in case the gunman manages to flee into the neighboring country.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
With less than 100 days until the Jersey City Board of Education must submit its budget for the 2020-2021 school year, plans to fill a shortfall that some predict will be as high as $150 million seem scarce.

Board President Lorenzo Richardson says they will be releasing information at a future board meeting, but next years budget, which is expected to face a $48 million reduction in state aid, is still underway in terms of work.

The state slashed Jersey Citys aid by $27 million year, and plans to phase out $175 million in aid over seven years. The Jersey City Board of Education has filed a lawsuit, calling the cuts unconstitutional.

On Friday, a judge in Mercer County rejected the states motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

Richardson said the district, which educates more than 30,000 students, wont know officially the amount of adjusted aid until its notified by the state. Richardson said the city should prepare to provide at least $72 million to make up for the reduced state aid.

The mayor, City Council, several members of the BOE, and parent groups have been meeting regularly to brainstorm on budget solutions, city spokesperson Kim Wallace-Scalcione said.

The mayor and council are fully supportive of providing more (funding) to the schools, but they would also like to see the Board of Education implement the basic recommendations from their own forensic audits to remove fat and waste, Wallace-Scalcione said.

It is important that any tax increases from the Board of Education to Jersey City residents benefit students in the classroom and dont just go toward a bloated system filled with waste.

Last year taxpayers were hit with a 10% hike in school taxes, from $124 million to $136.5 million. The final school budget was $638 million, with state and federal aid providing lions share.

The audit, released by former school board President Sudhan Thomas, recommended the district cut 71 employees across nine departments, including 20 members of the special education program. It also noted that $22.7 million could be saved if the district switches its health care to a self-insured plan.

The report also stated that the district is potentially losing $16.3 million per year because of inaccurate billing on tax-abated properties. The 42-page audit identified over $116 million in past financial events and proposed future financial actions targeted at the overall fiscal health of the JCBOE.

The city payroll tax, a 1 percent levy on businesses intended to offset cuts to state education aid, is tracking to raise between $65 and $75 million annually, Wallace-Scalcione said.

In 2017, the Fulop signed an executive order to divert 10% of tax abatements to the school district and last March the city council voted to give 24% of future tax abatements to the district.

As of right now, two options are raising the school tax levy again or layoffs. The school taxes are one of three components of a homeowners property tax bill. The others are municipal tax and county taxes.

Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday vetoed a bill, S-4289, that would have allowed dozens of New Jersey school districts to raise more from property taxes to compensate for state funding cuts. Jersey Citys school district was not affected by the veto.

The dispute between the district and the state centers on local fair share and adequacy budget.

The local fair share is the amount the state believes local taxpayers should kick in for the school budget. The adequacy budget is the amount the state says is necessary to provide a thorough and efficient education to every pupil.

The local fair share for Jersey City is $474 million, three times more than the current tax levy.

Jersey City Together, an advocacy group made up of religious institutions and non-profits, plans on presenting the board with steps it can take to address the funding crisis. Jyl Josephson, a member of Jersey City Togethers Strategy Team, did not disclose what those steps may be.

We cant afford updated curricula and needed professional development, Josephson said. ... We have to do better  which, at the very least, means allocating more than 24% of our property tax bills to our schools.
Lucknow: Delhi's Tihar Jail has requested the services of hangman Pawan for the execution of the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder convicts, who are slated to hang on February 1, Uttar Pradesh's Director-General of Prison Anand Kumar said.

His services have been sought for January 31 and February 1, Mr Kumar said.

Pawan, a hangman from Meerut, had earlier said that he was ready to hang the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case.

"It will really give a great sigh of relief to me, to Nirbhaya's parents and to everyone else in the country when these convicts are hanged. These kinds of people should be hanged," he said.

A Delhi court had last week issued a fresh death warrant against the four death-row convicts in a Nirbhaya rape case who will now be executed on February 1 at 6 am.

Four convicts  Vinay, Akshay, Pawan, and Mukesh  were convicted and sentenced to death for raping a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in Delhi on the intervening night of December 16-17, 2012.
Over the next three weeks, some of you will have the privilege of being lied to by actual candidates. People with familiar smiles will ring your doorbell. They'll aim to light up your day with deceptive slogans and dishonest talking points.

More of you, though, will be lied to by party hacks. These are the enthusiastic wretches who knock on your door and offer you leaflets written by the professional liars employed at great expense by the big parties.

But, the great bulk of you will depend on the media to transmit the lies these people have so carefully prepared over the past couple of years.

Of course, not all of the candidates will lie. And, of those who lie, not everything they say will be a falsehood.

Many of the party hacks are honest people, true believers, who themselves have swallowed the propaganda they've been instructed to peddle.

And, the media - well, the odd headbanger aside, on the whole we're as honest as the average teacher, farmer or factory worker.

It's our job to present, in as balanced a way as possible, the arguments put forward by the competing political forces.

And, we try - really, we do.

We describe the battlegrounds, the claims, the denials, the gaffes, the manifestos and the campaigns. We work hard and enjoy it. This is my twelfth general election - leaving aside the EU campaigns, the referendums, the presidential fun and the by-elections.

And, apart from the first couple of times, in 1981/2, when self-delusion did its dirty work, there hasn't been one campaign that didn't end with me thinking - well, we blew it again.

Too often, we get lost in the entertaining detail, and miss the big picture.

The political parties and their professionals spend months, years, concocting strategies - and often the election is over before we see what they were up to.

They do detailed surveys on what voters want, the language we'd like to hear. Then, they road test this with "focus groups", who respond to probing on what works and why.

Meanwhile, political reporters carefully cultivate party "sources". The relationship is trusting, frank, ribald. At election time the sources feed you material - sometimes the "inside story" on their own side's problems. "I probably shouldn't say this, but..."

This guy's not your source - he's your handler.

We're trying to get the shape of what the party's up to, while running to catch up with what they're doing each day - while working to a deadline. We are played, regularly, fed little rows and momentary tit-bits, while the carefully researched strategy is played out.

Apart from false promises and lies, the emphasis is on framing the election in a particular way.

In this election, the pitches are this:

The Fine Gael pitch: we're trustworthy, FF screwed the economy in 2008, brought in the IMF. Don't bring FF back to do it again.

And every word of that is true.

The Fianna Fail pitch: this crowd are all image and spin, they're criminally incompetent. Look around at the hospitals, the homelessness, failure after failure. Just look at how they've ballsed up the new children's hospital.

And every word of that is true.

The bigger picture is that the sparring between the civil war parties is designed to exclude the next biggest party, Sinn Fein. And any other political viewpoint.

The big picture is the effort to ensure that nothing interferes with the understanding FF/FG have had virtually since the founding of the State.

That understanding meant that in the run-up to 2008 FG didn't take serious issue with any FF policies. They just said they'd do the same, but they'd do more of it, and they'd do it better.

And when the banks collapsed, FG backed FF in bailing out the likes of Anglo Irish, the dead bank.

They were as one in agreeing to pay billions to bondholder gamblers who privately expressed astonishment that they were coming out winners after they'd made loser investments in bad banks.

And when FF imposed austerity, to ensure the survival of the structural inequalities that led to the crash, FG and Labour expressed outrage. They then won the 2011 election, and imposed similar austerity.

Then, after the 2016 election, when the numbers didn't add up, the unspoken collaboration between the civil war parties wasn't enough. FF and FG had to join in a formal cartel-like partnership.

All going well, they'll be able to cobble together a similar arrangement this time.

Meanwhile, they seek to best one another. Fine Gael has been miles ahead in the lying. No doubt FF will catch up.

The central lie being peddled by the FG/FF cartel is that they alone are capable of government.

The lie behind this is in the figures. In the bad old days of 1981, FF/FG won 81pc of the vote.

In 2011, when the reckoning came, FF/FG got 53pc of the vote. In 2016 they got 50pc.

The electorate has clearly been looking for an alternative to the twin civil war parties.

Meanwhile, the sparring goes on.

The FG strategy is to declare FF "reckless", and to point out how dignified Mr Varadkar looked when standing in proximity to Michel Barnier when important decisions were being made.

They accuse FF of being "in favour of disorderly Brexit".

This led them to release a photo of Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher. They Photoshopped it to put a Union Jack pin on Kelleher's lapel.

Crudely dishonest, yes - but I bet there are lots of people who saw that photo and are quietly puzzled. Wondering why FF is backing Boris Johnson.

Fianna Fail seems largely intent on winning back the tribal faithful who were driven away by the 2008 collapse. While Fine Gael is deep, body and soul, into the creation of a carefully fashioned image that will sway the voter.

As the bodies pile up on the streets, FG insists, "We're the law and order party".

We're expected to forget their role in the Sergeant Maurice McCabe scandal, when the credibility of the force was tested. We're expected to forget that the austerity years without question created social conditions that - in the jargon - have created new challenges for the police.

Now, together, FG/FF concentrate on isolating Sinn Fein, and other dissenting voices.

Hardly had the election date been announced when the broadcast media set forth precisely the plans that fit the FG/FF strategy.

They'll pitch Varadkar versus Martin. Leaders of two colluding parties, with similar policies, ensuring a lack of politics and a concentration on personality.

Then, Claire Byrne and Pat Kenny will chair "debates". These will have audiences, so they'll be entertaining shouting matches. They'll be live, so lies can go unchecked.

Sinn Fein, meanwhile, has concentrated on making it easy for the big two.

I'd trust Pearse Doherty to sort out the insurance scandal, which threatens services and businesses. I'd trust Eoin O Broin to improve housing - he could hardly do worse than the hapless, ideology-bound Eoghan Murphy.

On the other hand, I wouldn't put Paddy Holohan in charge of scratching his own arse.

Did no one from Sinn Fein sit down with the man and have a chat about politics? Did anyone look past his mini-celeb status?

Week two coming up. On the surface, the dance will continue, with manifestos and launches of policy documents. Meanwhile, the professionals are nodding - things are going pretty much as they predicted.
The Selfie Factory Mosseri is a close confidant of Facebook's chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, and he knows that his installment at Instagram was met with widespread skepticism among its staff, seen as evidence that the blue, squaresville platform had officially swallowed the chic rainbow-coloured one. For years, Instagram had tried to maintain at least the appearance of independence from Facebook, which acquired it for US $1 billion ($1.45 billion) in 2012. Then Instagram's founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, clashed with Zuckerberg and departed. Instagram's founders clashed with Mark Zuckerberg and departed. Credit:AP Dozens of employees also left. Two separately functioning teams of engineers and product managers were combined. Instagram had even changed its name to "Instagram from Facebook" appalling many of the influencers who wouldn't be caught dead on Facebook, which for them had become the realm of cantankerous uncles venting about politics and random high school friends posting reunion photos.

When Mosseri was introduced as Instagram's new leader at a question-and-answer session with employees, someone asked, in effect, "Why are you making the head of Instagram someone who failed at Facebook's News Feed?" according to a person who attended the meeting. "It was a huge, emotional event when Kevin and Mike left. So there was definitely skepticism about me stepping into the role," Mosseri told me. Concerns spread beyond Instagram's corporate walls to its most obsessive users. Would the relationship with Facebook taint the app that had transformed the way we take pictures and turned an entire generation into selfie-taking machines? This past fall, Zuckerberg, two days after he was grilled by Congress about Facebook's handling of user data, political advertising, disinformation and child pornography, stopped by Instagram's offices. Mosseri posted a selfie with his arm around him. "Mark stopped by Instagram!" Instagram users weighed in: "Instagram has lost its way" and "Instagram is dead" and "Make Instagram great again." But while Zuckerberg has been cast by critics as defensive and closed off to criticism and the news media, Mosseri, 36, projects the opposite. He's affable and easygoing, exuding the laid-back intensity of a Bay Area tech executive who was born in the East Village.

He is accessible to news media and unafraid of the occasional Twitter war with acerbic tech columnist Kara Swisher (a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times). He posts an endless stream of relatable photos of his young sons (#DadLife). And he does regular "ask me anything" sessions. This charm offensive, combined with Mosseri's efforts to stop bullying, remove photos of self-harm and implement other safety and integrity measures that Facebook may have been late to, has won him respect. But it has not quieted the larger concerns about the mother ship. I've asked myself so many times, if I could go back to 2015 or 2016 and give myself a bunch of advice, what advice would I give myself? Adam Mosseri "There's more anxiety now just about, 'What is our place within the broader company? How do we relate to Facebook? How do we relate to WhatsApp?' It's less anxiety around me," Mosseri said. Then he added, "But I just want to be careful about blind spots here, because if there was a lot of anxiety about me, maybe they wouldn't tell me." Instagram has revolutionized shopping, dealt a near-death blow to women's magazines, taken celebrities from TV and movie screens to our fingertips and made Shih Tzus and personal trainers household names (at least in some households.) To discuss the photo-sharing app's future, Mosseri and I sat, among other places, in the sunny food court in its New York headquarters, in a building that once housed a Wanamaker's department store and also includes the Facebook offices.

Loading Designed to share everything, the company makes certain that visitors to its base of operations don't share anything, asking most members of the news media who are granted access to sign nondisclosure agreements. (Mine was waived.) The white loftlike space is a sort of Willy Wonka chocolate factory of social media, with selfie-ready backdrops at every turn. There is an iridescent beehivelike installation, a complimentary gelato and biscotti bar and a rotating wall of posts from @shop, Instagram's latest effort to bring in small businesses. Instagram's worldwide staff totals more than 1,000, and even as Mosseri tried to convince them that he is not just a "Facebook guy," he must also convince Zuckerberg and Facebook that his decisions will benefit the parent company. The way Facebook executives see it, Instagram would not have become so ubiquitous and beloved if it had not siphoned users and support from Facebook. Now, with Mosseri leading the charge, it is time for Instagram, the company's fastest-growing asset, to give back. "There is this misperception about the journey that Instagram has been on since Facebook acquired it," said Justin Osofsky, a longtime senior Facebook executive who is now chief operating officer of Instagram. "There was this narrative that it was a team of 13 people and the startup journey led to an inevitable outcome for Instagram, when I believe Facebook played an incredibly important role in its growth."

In an email, Zuckerberg said Instagram's founders had "created something special, and the team has taken that and helped build it into something that people around the world love." But, he added, "we still have a lot to do to make the experience even better and make sure we're living up to what people expect from us." Like many other early Facebook employees, Mosseri got close to Zuckerberg. They occupy similar social circles, they have children who are about the same age, and they occasionally go on morning runs together. Zuckerberg eventually entrusted Mosseri with overseeing the News Feed: the stream of links, photos and miscellaneous rants that Facebook's more than 2 billion users post in more than 100 languages. Revelations that Russian trolls had meddled to help elect President Donald Trump in 2016, and that the News Feed had been used to spread disinformation during the campaign, set off a series of congressional investigations into Facebook's practices. Social media, which had been designed to bring us together, had become the ultimate tool for tearing us apart. Publicly, the blowback landed on Zuckerberg, but internally it was Mosseri who had to provide many of the answers. He spent the months after the 2016 election fielding questions about how this happened and how he could make sure it would not happen again. "I was going around the world, talking to a lot of very harsh critics of us, trying to sift through all the noise and find the signal and figure out how to address these issues and help steer the ship," Mosseri said.

The Bully Filter Even as criticism of Facebook reverberated and younger users in the United States in particular abandoned it, Instagram maintained its image as a safe space to share photos of first birthdays and avocado toast. Facebook purchased Instagram in 2012, when it had 30 million users, and treated it largely as a side project, albeit a profitable one. But Instagram grew faster than anyone had expected. It shrewdly mimicked its rival, Snapchat, introducing the widely popular video-sharing Stories feature, whose private tallying of "watches" has informed Project Daisy. Users who may have felt their privacy was compromised on Facebook used Instagram to exchange direct messages and share personal moments. In 2018, Instagram's net advertising revenue in the United States reached nearly $6 billion, a 70 per cent increase from the previous year, according to eMarketer, a social media research company. No longer the quirky stepchild with bunny ear filters, Instagram has become the future of Facebook in the United States, according to industry analysts who estimate that it is Facebook's most lucrative asset and arguably one of the best acquisitions in tech history.

Loading "There is this role reversal in Instagram's metamorphosis from this tiny thing on the side to being the core platform," said Venky Ganesan, a managing director at Menlo Ventures, a venture capital firm. "The actual Facebook that we know and love  or know and no longer love  is becoming a relic of the past." Zuckerberg began looking at the overall picture of Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook, or what he calls the "family of apps." Facebook could seem like a jealous sibling: removing the Instagram logo from its bookmarks menu, for instance, and cutting the traffic that flowed from its platform to Instagram. Instagram users also had an option to cross-post Stories on Facebook, like sharing graham crackers. Months before Instagram's founders left, Jan Koum resigned from WhatsApp, the messaging app he co-founded, and from Facebook's board, amid debates about the amount of user data Facebook had collected from its users. Zuckerberg installed Mosseri as head of product at Instagram, a move that further convinced its founders, Systrom and Krieger, that the app they created was increasingly under Zuckerberg's control. Not long after, they announced they would depart, leaving tumult in their wake. "No one ever leaves a job because everything's awesome," Systrom told Recode.

Mosseri had to assemble an almost entirely new leadership team at Instagram, installing several Facebook executives in senior roles. He encouraged previously disparate teams that worked on well-being and integrity to collaborate more closely, overseeing, among other things, efforts to make sure harmful posts were promptly taken down. "We were doing too much on our own and not enough leveraging of all the work that comes from the much larger team at Facebook," Mosseri said. Although Instagram was largely insulated from criticism after the 2016 election, two reports, prepared by independent groups and released last year by the Senate Intelligence Committee, found that Instagram had since become a favoured tool of Russian internet trolls who sought to sow distrust in the U.S. political system. Their tactics included the creation of fake accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers that targeted African Americans, anti-immigration activists and gun-rights supporters, among others. The app could prove ripe for further interference before the 2020 election. "From my experiences on the Facebook side, I could try to mitigate some of those risks," Mosseri said. Always quick to break the tension, he jokes about the heated conversations he has had with his liberal East Coast relatives about Facebook's role in Trump's victory, but it's also cause for introspection. "I try to step back and look at things as effectively as we can and be honest about where we made mistakes," he said. "I've asked myself so many times, if I could go back to 2015 or 2016 and give myself a bunch of advice, what advice would I give myself?" He also echoed the wider thinking within Facebook that Trump had simply used the platform more effectively than the competition. "Trump used Facebook really well as an advertiser, so I am sure that helped," he said.
By Simon Lewis

CONCORD, N.H. (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders doubled down on criticism of former Vice President Joe Bidens record on Social Security on Sunday, as the two front-runners for the Democratic Partys nomination for president sparred just weeks before voting begins.

Biden on Saturday accused Sanders campaign of misleading voters by sending out a selective excerpt taken from a speech where Biden discussed the retirement and disability benefits program.

But Sanders' campaign has continued to call attention to what it says is Bidens decades-long record of pushing measures that would reduce funding to the program.

I think anyone who looks at the vice president's record understands that, time after time after time, Joe has talked about the need to cut Social Security, Sanders told reporters at a campaign stop in Concord, New Hampshire.

Responding to the suggestion his campaign had taken Bidens comments out of context, Sanders said Bidens record as a whole showed Biden believes it appropriate to cut Social Security, freeze cost-of-living adjustments that regularly raise benefits, or to raise the retirement age.

You can argue about one video, whether it was full context, but the real issue is Joe voted, if my memory is correct, for the balanced budget amendment," referring to a 1995 vote on a constitutional amendment that would have forced administrations to balance federal budgets, which Sanders suggested would entail cutting Social Security.

Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said the former vice president was a champion of Social Security and had argued for its expansion.

He's running on a plan to significantly grow its benefits, paid for with new taxes on the wealthiest Americans, said Bates.

Sanders criticism came as his campaigned this weekend in New Hampshire, the which holds its primary election on Feb. 8, and told voters he would not engage in fights with his Democratic rivals, after a spat with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren that drew attention away from the liberal proposals of both candidates.

Story continues

Joe is a friend of mine, I like him, but there is nothing wrong with talking about our record, said Sanders. His record on many issues on Iraq, trade, bankruptcy, Social Security is different than mine. And I don't think that it is wrong to be talking about those things."

Biden on Sunday sent an email to supporters urging them to donate to his campaign to defend against a barrage of negative attacks lying about and distorting my record from the Sanders camp.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Columbia, S.C.; Editing by Nick Zieminski)




By Carl Bildt



NEW DELHI  During the recent flare-up between the United States and Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that he was prepared to bomb "52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago)."



Some of these targets, he added, would be "important to  the Iranian culture," suggesting that he was willing to strike Iranian national heritage sites.



Trump's tweet suggests that his entire Iran policy is rooted deep in the past, as if actions taken today represent a belated response to wounds inflicted long ago. If so, his administration has something in common with the Iranian regime, which has long dwelled on the real and perceived wounds of bygone eras.



After all, Iranians (and many others) point out ad nauseam that the U.S. had a hand in the 1953 coup that deposed the democratically elected prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, and installed the regime of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, which itself was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.



Likewise, Iranians note repeatedly that the U.S. assisted Saddam Hussein during Iraq's ruthless war against Iran in the 1980s.



Listening to the litany of grievances on both sides, it is difficult to avoid the impression that both the U.S. and Iran are hostages of history. Obsessed with the real or imagined injustices of the past, each finds it impossible to move forward.



In Iran, the U.S. is still the "Great Satan," just as Iran remains the quintessential bete noire for many in the American foreign-policy establishment.



Although there are real issues of contention between the two countries, the U.S.-Iran conflict has long since broken the bounds of rationality. It persists because it serves domestic political interests in each country.



Iranian hardliners benefit enormously from having such a visible enemy against which to mobilize. As tensions have escalated in recent years, their position has been strengthened.



The regime has increasingly used the perceived U.S. threat as a pretext to repress its own people, and to foment chaos across the region. For every voice in the U.S. advocating regime change in Iran, there are Iranians seeking to defend the regime by any means necessary.



Similarly, listening to some of the U.S. pundit and political class, it sometimes sounds as if hostility toward Iran is a fundamental American value. Whether their goal is regime change or something else, most in the U.S. foreign-policy establishment claim to want Iran to become a "normal country."



But do Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, and other U.S. regional allies count as "normal countries"? And what about the U.S. itself? American exceptionalism dictates that it is anything but "normal."



A more rational, objective approach is still possible. It might not seem like it now, but there is ample room for bilateral cooperation. Iran's leaders have long insisted that the purpose of their country's nuclear program is peaceful.



But, given Iran's past behavior, there clearly needs to be an intrusive system of international inspections in place before the world can have confidence in that claim.



Picking up where the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action left off and negotiating such a system should not be seen as an impossible task.



Moreover, both countries have a profound interest in maintaining stability in Iraq and Afghanistan. The U.S. doesn't want these countries to become Iranian satellites, and the Iranians don't want them to serve as bases for aggression against Iran. These aims are not irreconcilable; in fact, proper diplomacy could achieve both sides' primary objectives.



The U.S. and Iran also have a joint interest in developing a more robust security structure for the broader Gulf region. In recent months, Gulf countries have been calling for strategic de-escalation vis-a-vis Iran, with even Saudi Arabia expressing a desire for dialogue.



There are some diplomatic initiatives already on the table, and negotiating a new regional agreement on ballistic missiles could serve as a good starting point for ongoing engagement.



More broadly, a gradual de-escalation of the conflict between the U.S., Iran, and their respective allies and proxies would allow for all parties to focus more on their own priorities for the future.



Iran, Saudi Arabia, and many other countries in the region clearly need to liberalize their respective economic and political systems, not least by introducing more protections for human rights. But this is unlikely to happen in a climate of confrontation. The longer the conflict continues, the less chance these countries will have to pursue constructive long-term reforms.



And as long as both the U.S. and Iran remain prisoners of their respective histories, regional stability will be at risk. The sooner they can look to the future instead of the past, the better it will be for everyone.



There is plenty of common ground for fruitful cooperation. Someone needs to step onto it and show that it isn't mined.





Carl Bildt is a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


Prince Harry is to follow in his mum Princess Diana's footsteps and be styled "Harry, Duke of Sussex" [Image: Getty]

Last night, it was revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be losing their royal highness titles under a new agreement with the Queen.

The Daily Mail report that the couple will now be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

This echoes the form of address given to Princess Diana when she divorced Prince Charles in 1996.

Her HRH title was taken away and she became known as Diana, Princess of Wales.

READ MORE: Full list of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's current patronages

Before her 1981 royal wedding, she was called Lady Diana Spencer - and sometimes, less formally, Lady Di.

When she officially parted ways with the Queens son - after a separation from 1992 - the Palace claimed that she had given up the title voluntarily.

According to the paper, there were discussions a year later in 1997 when she died suddenly about whether to restore HRH to her name posthumously.

However, the decision was made not to after her family insisted it would be against her wishes.

Prince Harry's mum was also stripped of her HRH title following divorce from Prince Charles [Image: Getty]

READ MORE: Meghan Markle quietly carried out a second Vancouver women's charity visit

At her funeral, her brother Earl Spencer said that she needed no royal title to continue to generate her particular brand of magic.

When Prince Andrewss ex-wife Sarah Ferguson divorced him in 1996, she also lost her HRH title and became known as Sarah, Duchess of York.

In a statement released yesterday, Buckingham Palace said: The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.

Harry, who has been styled an HRH since birth, will remain a prince and sixth-in-line to the throne.

READ MORE: How a royal is stripped of their title

Along with his wife, the 35-year-old will keep the Sussex title given to them by the Queen on the morning of their wedding.

Meghan, 38, became known as HRH after marrying into the royal family.

Their eight-month-old son Archie is not an HRH or prince and they declined for him to use the title Earl of Dumbarton and chose for their little boy to be styled Master rather than Lord.

Story continues

The changes come after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed on their Instagram last week that they planned to step back as senior members of the royal family.

READ MORE: The other royals who stepped back from duties: Here's what they did next

Under a new deal, they will also no longer receive public funds for their work and will repay 2.4m of taxpayers money spent renovating Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK home.

In a statement, the Queen said together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family.

Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.

The monarch continued: "I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.

"It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

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By PTI

DHARAMSHALA: The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), which represents nine trade unions, has given a call for a two-day strike beginning January 31.

The forum has also given a call for a three-day strike from March while threatening to go on indefinite strike from April 1 if their demands are not met.

The bank unions are planning to observe strike in three phases. According to the convener of UFBU, Sanjeev Kumar Bandlish, a letter in this regard has already been sent to the chairman of Indian Banks' Association, Secretary Department of Financial Services and Chief Labour Commissioner in the Ministry of Labour.

Speaking to PTI, Bandlish said the decision to go on strike was taken as our demands of wage revision settlement at 20 per cent on payslip, five-day banking, merger of special allowance with basic pay, scraping of new pension scheme etc have been lying pending since long. He said that there are 12 demands sent to the government.

The UFBU comprises unions like All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), All India Bank offices confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Confederation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), Indian National bank Officers Congress (INBOC), National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO).
Trump warns Iranian supreme leader to be 'very careful with his words'

Xinhua Photo

US President Donald Trump fired back Friday evening at Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who earlier had mocked him as a "clown" - then in a subsequent tweet Trump said Iran's leaders "should abandon terror and Make Iran Great Again!"

"The so-called 'Supreme Leader' of Iran, who has not been so Supreme lately, had some nasty things to say about the United States and Europe," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Their economy is crashing, and their people are suffering. He should be very careful with his words!"

Trump tweeted hours after Khamenei called him a "clown" in a rare public address.

In his first Friday prayers sermon for eight years, Khamenei threw his support behind the elite Revolutionary Guards after their belated admission that they had accidentally downed an airliner triggered days of street protests.

"The villainous US government repeatedly says that they are standing by the Iranian people. They lie," Khamenei said in a tweet on Friday. "If you are standing with the Iranian people, it is only to stab them in the heart with their venomous daggers."

In another Twitter post on Friday evening, Trump sent out a message to Iranian citizens, including a riff on his 2016 campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again."

"The noble people of Iran - who love America - deserve a government that's more interested in helping them achieve their dreams than killing them for demanding respect," he said. "Instead of leading Iran toward ruin, its leaders should abandon terror and Make Iran Great Again!"

'They don't want war'

Pakistan's foreign minister, who has shuttled between Washington and Tehran in the course of a week, voiced confidence on Friday that Iran was seeking to lower tensions.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi discussed Iran and Afghanistan's peace process on Friday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, five days after seeing Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

While stopping short of saying that he was transmitting any message, Qureshi said he understood that the Iranians "did not want to escalate things." "They don't want war, they don't want further bloodshed," Qureshi told reporters in Washington.

The Iranians "highlighted the issues, the differences, they have had with other important countries in the region," he said, adding "They said they are willing to engage at any level and in any format."
The state Legislatures 30-day session is rapidly approaching, and New Mexicans will soon have another opportunity to see Democratic leaders push a California-focused agenda aimed at destroying traditional New Mexican values.

As the leadership team of the House Republican Caucus, we are dedicated to making the lives of all New Mexicans safer and more prosperous. We recognize that every New Mexican should expect government to enact policies that will move New Mexico in a better direction while not undermining their values in the process:

 Ensure New Mexico is a safe place to raise a family.

 Provide good schools and a nurturing environment to educate our kids.

 Create a business climate that encourages economic opportunity.

 Responsibly appropriate money government takes from taxpayers.

Unfortunately, the current Democratic leadership in the Roundhouse has failed time and time again to deliver on these essential concepts to create a better New Mexico. Instead, our progressive governor and Legislature are pushing an agenda which doubles down on the failed policies of the past and keeps New Mexico ranked at the bottom nationally in every critical measure.

This agenda also implements California laws which will only limit opportunities for New Mexicans across the state. This Californication of New Mexico disregards our traditional values and ultimately moves us away from who we are. Their priorities are to increase taxes and spending; take guns from citizens who have not committed a crime; throw more money at a broken public education system without addressing educational performance; and ignore our crime problems while working to make it easier for felons to vote and implement a catch-and-release criminal justice system. This is not our New Mexico!

Last year, progressive Democrats and the governor passed one of the largest tax increases in our states history during a time of record budget surpluses. They also increased state spending by 12% using every penny from oil and gas revenues while arguing oil and gas production is the root of our problems.

In contrast to progressives wrongheaded approach, our proposals for the upcoming session will:

 Develop a budget which gives surplus money back to every New Mexican instead of making state government even larger.

 Create a Taxpayer Bill of Rights to protect our state from out-of-control tax-and-spend sprees, which taxpayers can no longer afford.

 Adopt public education reforms to improve at-risk students achievement and provide educational choice for students and their families who seek a better learning environment.

 Pass enhanced sentencing laws to keep violent offenders off our streets and out of our neighborhoods.

Its no secret the Democratic Party has controlled the Legislature and the Governors Office for the vast majority of our 108-year history, and what does New Mexico have to show for it? Rather than repeating the same failed policies of the past, its time to adopt a new direction for New Mexico. One that honors the traditional values that hard-working New Mexicans have held dear for generations.

We stand ready to fight for New Mexico, while the governor and her allies seem to be fighting for California.
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Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have signed up to a formal exit deal from the royal family, which will see them forsake their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles and will no longer receive UK taxpayers' funding for their duties.

The historic announcement from Buckingham Palace on Saturday follows more than a week of intense private talks aimed at managing the fallout of the globetrotting couple's shock resignation from front-line royal duties.

It means Queen Elizabeth II's grandson Harry and his American TV actress wife Meghan will stop using the titles "royal highness" -- the same fate that befell his late mother Princess Diana after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996.

"Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," the 93-year-old monarch said in a statement.

"I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life."

Her comments referred to battles with the media that prompted Harry and Meghan -- known until now as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex -- to sue several newspapers in October over intrusions into their private lives.

The Queen said she was "particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family" and wished the couple "a happy and peaceful new life".

A separate statement attributed to Buckingham Palace said "the Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family". HRH stands for His or Her Royal Highness.

"As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for royal duties," the statement said.

The settlement added that the two will also repay 2.4 million pounds (USD 3.1 million) of taxpayer's money spent on renovating their Frogmore Cottage home near Windsor Castle.

Much of the British media interpreted the ruling as the Queen's punishment for Harry and Meghan's wayward ways.

The Queen "brought down the iron fist", Sky News' royal commentator Alastair Bruce said.

"Make no mistake, Saturday night's statement represents the hardest Megxit possible," The Daily Telegraph newspaper said.

The Palace would not comment on who ends up paying for Harry and Meghan's security detail in Canada -- an issue of intense public debate.

It also failed to mention whether the couple would be allowed to benefit financially from future royalties and franchise fees.

The couple are seeking to register the "Sussex Royal" brand as a global trademark for their future enterprises.

They two are dedicated to environmental causes and are looking to develop their charitable foundation as part of a "progressive new role".

The queen's announcement is her second on the royal crisis since Harry and Meghan's effective resignation on March 8.

"We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," the couple said at the time.

"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America."

Meghan then jetted back to Canada and is now their with their son Archie.

Their announcement caught the royal family by surprise and created a media sensation in both Britain and the wider world.

Their treatment by London's hard-hitting tabloid press and their personal future -- as well as questions about longstanding royal traditions -- have turned into daily front-page news.

Media reports said Harry would probably join Meghan and Archie on the west coast of Canada this coming week.

The Queen's final ruling on her grandson's future drew immediate comparisons to King Edward VIII's abdication in 1936.

Edward married the American socialite Wallis Simpson the following year and spent much his remaining life abroad.

"Harry is not King (he is sixth in line) but tonight this feels like his and Meghan's own abdication," ITV television's royal editor Chris Ship wrote on Twitter.

"This isn't 1936. But it's still pretty big." The BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said Meghan must decide whether she intends to return and spend time in Britain in order to gain her UK citizenship.

The couple's future tax status also remains unclear.

"I think they are feeling their way into this as much as anyone else," Witchell said.

The couple will now formally be known as "Harry, The Duke of Sussex" and "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex".

The Palace statement said the new arrangement "will take effect in the Spring of 2020".
A sharp frost covered most of the UK as temperatures plummeted below zero and Northern Ireland faced its coldest night of winter so far.

Temperatures fell to -5.9C in Katesbridge, Northern Ireland, but dipped even further to -6.8C in Topcliffe, North Yorkshire.

Benson, Oxfordshire, experienced the second lowest temperature in England and Wales at a chily -6.2C.

A yellow weather warning for fog was put in place until 1pm on Sunday for Liverpool, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham and surrounding areas, but the Met Office said fog patches could persist throughout the day in the west.

Many places will have dry and sunny weather on the rest of Sunday, with the odd shower near southeastern English coasts.

The 15 best songs about the weather Show all 15 1 /15 The 15 best songs about the weather The 15 best songs about the weather 15. "Purple Rain"  Prince Matt Sayles/Invision/AP The 15 best songs about the weather 14. "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!"  Dean Martin Getty Images The 15 best songs about the weather 13. "Who'll Stop the Rain?"  Credence Clearwater Revival EPA The 15 best songs about the weather 12. "Ill Wind"  Frank Sinatra In 1958 Frank Sinatra described Holiday as the most important influence on American popular singing in the last 20 years Getty The 15 best songs about the weather 11. "It's Raining"  Irma Thomas Getty The 15 best songs about the weather 10. "Here Comes the Rain Again"  Eurythmics Annie Lennox Alamy Stock Photo The 15 best songs about the weather 9. "Sunny Afternoon"  The Kinks Dave Davies: 'Me and Ray used to bump heads because we always had so many ideas in The Kinks' The 15 best songs about the weather 8. "Umbrella"  Rihanna Getty Images The 15 best songs about the weather 7. "Ain't No Sunshine"  Bill Withers Rex The 15 best songs about the weather 6. "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"  Bob Dylan Getty The 15 best songs about the weather 5. "Stormy Weather"  Billie Holiday In a jam : Billie Holiday during a studio session Getty The 15 best songs about the weather 4. "The Wind Cries Mary"  Jimi Hendrix Hannu Lindroos / Lehtikuva The 15 best songs about the weather 3. "Here Comes the Sun"  The Beatles Paul McCartney, left, with John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, 1963 PA The 15 best songs about the weather 2. "Cloudbusting"  Kate Bush Kate Bush at her family home in East Wickham in 1978 - the year she released 'Wuthering Heights' Getty The 15 best songs about the weather 1. "Singin' in the Rain"  Gene Kelly

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill told The Independent cold nights will persist over the next few days thanks to a high pressure weather system.

Frost and fog is expected to form in southern areas under clear skies, but there will be some cloud and spells of rain in northwestern parts of the UK.

A cold weather alert issued by Public Health England on Friday will remain in place until 6pm on Tuesday, with the organisation urging people to prepare for cold weather conditions and look out for those most at-risk.

Nick Silkstone, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: It will be colder than of late with temperatures dropping below freezing overnight and a chance of widespread frost but with sunny spells throughout the day.

However, at the start of next week the chance of fog and cloud will increase across central and southern areas, which will mean that it will also feel colder by day.
Were going to get back to living life, even if it kills us
Utica, N.Y.  Eleven people were displaced following an early-morning fire on Waverly Avenue, according to Deputy Fire Chief Mark Ambrose.

The fire was reported shortly after 4:30 a.m. today. The two hydrants closest to the fire were frozen, so there was a delay in fighting the fire, Ambrose said. Extra crews were brought in, with longer hoses to fight the fire, he said.

No one was injured, Ambrose said.

The Mohawk Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross provided immediate emergency aid to the family, which includes six adults and five children. Two are 9, and the others are 13, 16 and 17, according to the Red Cross.

The fire burned the attic area of the multi-family house, Ambrose said. The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control is investigating the fire.
Elon Musks spacex completed a vital launch on Sunday in their mission to fly NASA astronauts to space, by successfully launching an emergency abort system test above Cape Canaveral and into the Atlantic Ocean.

A Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Kennedy Space Center at 10.30am at normal procedure, but just one minute into flight the Dragon Crew capsules engines ignited and sent it flying away from the booster.

Thrusters on the capsule propelled it out of harms way just before the rocket engines deliberately shut down and the booster was destroyed in a fiery explosion.

The capsule reached a promising 27 miles before parachuting into the ocean just offshore of the Florida Space Coast, marking the nine-minute test flight as triumphant.

Two mannequins were used as pseudo passengers for this launch, but next time two NASA astronauts are expected to climb aboard.

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 spacecraft around 10.30am at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday

The rocket engines deliberately shut down and the booster was destroyed in a fiery explosion

Flights controllers at SpaceXs California headquarters excitedly cheered at the accomplishment, as the test is sign of working safety protocols.

That's the main objective of this test, is to show that we can carry the astronauts safely away from the rocket in case anything's going wrong, said Benji Reed, SpaceXs director of crew mission management.

This test is very important to us...a huge practice session, he added.

Musk spoke out about Sundays launch, saying: Dragon high altitude, supersonic abort test is a risky mission, as its pushing the envelope in so many ways.

Sunday's launch was a test scheduled to monitor the space craft's emergency abort system ahead of a possible human spaceflight in March

Falcon 9 released the Dragon Crew capsule (pictured) into the atmosphere before the rocket engines deliberately shut down

This latest step is helping push the U.S. back to the front of human spaceflight.

NASA has been unable to fly astronauts since the Space Shuttle fleet was retired 2011, and has been forced to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets for rides to the International Space Station at $84million a seat.

NASA's commercial crew program manager said the launch abort test was our last open milestone before sending astronauts Doug Hurley and Robert Behnken to the International Space Station.

The Falcon 9's boosters were destroyed in a fiery explosion following the Dragon Crew capsule's separation

The Dragon Crew capsule fell from the atmosphere and landed in the Atlantic Ocean with help from connected parachutes

Flights controllers at SpaceXs California headquarters excitedly cheered at the accomplishment once the Dragon Crew capsule safely landed off the Florida Space Coast

Kathy Lueders said: We are purposely failing a launch vehicle to make sure that our abort system on the spacecraft, that will be flying for our crews, works.

She said the launch could happen as early as March.

Crew members excitement comes one day after SpaceX was forced to cancel the launch abort test due to strong winds and rough seas.

'Standing down from today's in-flight Crew Dragon launch escape test attempt due to sustained winds and rough seas in the recovery area. Now targeting Sunday, January 19, with a six-hour test window opening at 8:00 a.m. EST, 13:00 UTC,' SpaceX wrote on Twitter.

SpaceX was forced to cancel the launch test on Saturday after strong winds and choppy water hindered the scheduled flight

The Falcon 9's initial launch window was set from 8am to 12pm, with the company saying they would most likely launch an hour before the window would close, weather permitting.

Space X, NASA and Air Force officials were on hand throughout the launch, as curious individuals packed the visitor center and nearby beaches to watch.

Hurley and Behnken observed the test from the firing room. Two days earlier they participated in a dress rehearsal that involved suiting up and walking to the launch pad.

In 2014, NASA awarded contracts to Boeing and SpaceX to create a spacecraft capable of flying humans to the space station.

Robert Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) will be launched to the International Space Station as part of NASA, SpaceX and Boeing's contract

Under Elon Musk (pictured), SpaceX was awarded a contract from NASA to develop a spacecraft that could carry humans to the International Space Station

The following years were bogged down by funding issues and technical problems that halted progress.

A Dragon Capsule successfully flew to the space station last March without incident, but the capsule exploded a month later during a ground test.

Blame was placed on a faulty valve that caused a propellant leak and the thrusters had to be retooled.

Meanwhile, Boeing has had difficulty with its Starliner spacecraft, including arriving in the wrong orbit during a test flight and problems with deploying parachutes.

Its unclear when Boeing will need to send another Starliner to the space station without launching astronauts later this year

An investigation team is still looking into why the Starliner's automated timer was off by 11 hours during the December test flight.
D ame Barbara Windsor's husband has said her Alzheimer's symptoms have "deepened" in the last year.

Scott Mitchell, 56, said the ex-EastEnders and Carry On star, 82, often asks where he lives and does not know who he is.

He told the Sunday Mirror that the actress "still has the most wonderful sense of humour" and "we can still make each other laugh".

But he said: "I've definitely seen a progression in the last year. Barbara's symptoms have deepened, especially where her confusion is concerned.

"Constantly, she does not realise where we are, even in the house. She will ask me, 'When are we going home?"'

The former actress arrives at Downing Street with her husband / Getty Images

The star regularly thinks that her parents are still alive.

"Barbara will often say to me, 'Do you know how to get in touch with my mum? I'd like to have a chat with her. I haven't seen her for ages, I need to see her,"' Mitchell said.

"It's heartbreaking. They are very difficult situations to be faced with."

He said: "I have to remember she doesn't always realise it's me. Sometimes she will say, 'Where is Scott? Do you know where my husband Scott is?"'

Dame Barbara was diagnosed in 2014 and Mitchell has been campaigning to raise more awareness about Alzheimer's.
Honour guards carry the coffin of one of 11 victims at Borispil international airport outside Kyiv (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

The bodies of the 11 Ukrainians who died when an Iranian missile shot down a passenger plane have arrived in Ukraine for a farewell ceremony.

They were among the 176 people killed on January 8 when a Ukrainian Airlines plane heading to Kyiv was brought down shortly after takeoff from Tehran.

Iran acknowledged three days later that the plane was mistakenly hit by an anti-aircraft missile.

Expand Close The repatriation ceremony at Borispil international airport outside Kyiv (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

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On Sunday, the bodies were brought to Boryspil Airport in Kyiv aboard a Ukrainian air force plane.

An honour guard solemnly carried the coffins into the airport terminal, where they are to stand until the evening for mourners to pay their respects.

Nine of the Ukrainians who died were crew members on the Boeing 737-800.

Iran admitted to shooting down the plane only after officials in several Western countries said they had evidence a missile caused the catastrophe.

Irans initial claims that engine failure brought down the plane angered Ukrainians, who also say the country should pay compensation and should be more forthcoming about the circumstances.

Iran should not behave like an adolescent  it needs to answer for its irresponsible actions and the deaths of people, said Tatyana Krivonos, a mourner at the airport.

The crash occurred just hours after Iran fired missiles at a base in Iraq where US troops are stationed, in retaliation for American drones killing Irans most powerful general.

Iran has been widely criticised for not closing its airspace in the tense conditions.
TROY  A manager of the McDonalds restaurant in Troy, Kristy Cook, has won an accolade that recognizes the top-performing restaurant managers globally.

Cook was one of 365 McDonalds restaurant managers around the world, from 60 markets, representing the top one percent of restaurant managers, to receive the Ray Kroc Award. The award includes both a cash prize and a trophy.

Cook, who has been working for McDonalds for 20 years, will be awarded her prize on April 22, 2020, at the Ray Kroc Awards Gala in Orlando, Florida hosted by McDonalds President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Kempczinski, and McDonalds Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, David Fairhurst.

Being in the top one percent of one of the biggest restaurant chains in the world is crazy. Troy, Illinois is my hometown, so I was excited to be brought in to improve the store and fix the issues, Cook said. It feels good to now hear positive things about this store in the community.

Cook said she is proud of the stores turnaround.

I made it a point to get to sit down with each crew member and get to know them personally. My key to success is treating everyone like family, not just an employee. I am looking forward to continuing my growth with McDonalds. The possibilities are endless, she added.

McDonalds independent franchisees and regional management nominate restaurant managers for the Ray Kroc Awards to recognize their hard work, dedication, and commitment to McDonalds and its customers.

Area Supervisor for the Dave Embry organization, Tracy Timmons talked about the recognition.

We are incredibly proud that Kristy was recognized by McDonalds with the Ray Kroc Award as one of the top General Managers in the company, Timmons said. We have long considered Kristy to be an invaluable asset in our organization. She is committed to delivering great customer service and hospitality to our guests. Kristys team follows her lead and strives to make guests happy on each and every visit. We look forward to another year of remarkable results from Kristy and her team in Troy.
SISTER DUCHESSES WITH DIFFERENT STYLES: Kate Middleton accepted the self-sacrifice of life as a senior royal whereas Meghan Markle chose not to stay calm and carry on. Photo: PA

Within days of the Monday meeting of the major royals to hammer out Megxit, the women who matter went back to work. Neither of these women was at the Sandringham summit, but Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle will prove the real players, long-term.

Last Wednesday, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, headed to Bradford with her husband, to visit a community centre. She had a smile for everyone, danced with a cute toddler, and wore a Zara dress - reportedly discounted to 19 in the sales - which then sold out in a matter of hours.

She and William were full of praise for a royal-themed tier cake, surrounded by cupcakes, each decorated with photographs of the royal pair from childhood to the present day. The highlight was their amusement and amazement at the photograph of a young William, which they both initially thought was a snap of their daughter, Charlotte.

The previous day, last Tuesday, Meghan Markle was photographed boarding a seaplane in Canada, leaving her bolthole in Vancouver Island, we later discovered, to visit the offices of an at-risk women's centre.

The group posted pictures on Facebook after the visit, a line of women with arms around one another and Meghan in the middle of the line. She beamed in the photo, as she had seemed to beam in the photographs as she boarded the plane, in jeans and boots and a fur-lined parka.

"Look who we had tea with today!" said the women's centre in a Facebook post. "The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, visited us today to discuss issues affecting women in the community."

Still the Duchess, so, but no longer subject to the stuffy old duties that her sister-Duchess, Kate, is still up to.

Two women, both pressing the flesh and raising awareness and reaching out and endeavouring to make a difference with smiles on their faces. But two women worlds away from each other, one seemingly fascinated by her face on some buns, the other, well, suiting herself.

Because visiting organisations and charities she was interested in was always something that Meghan Markle did. She always wanted to be a force for change, she always espoused that as part of her public profile and, in many ways, that interest might have helped her believe she'd fit in to the royal way of life.

This week, however, "friends" claimed that once Megxit was done and she and Harry were free of his princely commitments, Meghan felt able to breathe again. She had been stifled, she had felt constrained and limited and now, at last, Meghan could do some real good without the royal restrictions.

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She also visited a Vancouver group called Justice for Girls last week, who later tweeted pictures - in black and white, a Harry and Meghan favourite - of Meghan at a bog-standard office break-out room table, a mug of a hot drink in her hand, having a laugh with a volunteer. All casual, unstructured and modern, and a clear signal of how things will be done, the new Sussex way.

However, although Meghan was always committed to doing community good, her profile before her marriage was that of a mid-range celebrity. Now, she's one of the most recognisable women in the world and not only that, but she's operating from a base of extreme wealth and luxury that is way beyond her previous life.

The royal experience, despite all the noise around the personal stress and distress of Harry and Meghan, has ultimately been good for her. We saw that last week when she was snapped around Vancouver. She not only looked happy, but she looked relaxed. Better, she looked relatable, in her flat boots and her posh-mom-on-the-school-run parka.

And, relatable just might trump royal in the modern long game, as most women look on Meghan and Kate in their endeavours last week and don't have to think hard about what they'd favour for themselves.

Coverage of Megxit has focused a lot on the duty upon which Harry and Meghan seem to have turned their backs, but that is possible of little interest to the younger audience to whom they hope to appeal and to watchers on the other side of the Atlantic. North Americans don't set much store in self-sacrifice and that's clearly where Meghan wants to make her mark.

Harry may have dutifully stayed in London for the week, hanging on for what might have been his last royal commitment, the launch of the 2021 Rugby League Cup in Buckingham Palace last Thursday, but at the same time, staff were being let go at their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage.

Meghan, it was reported, planned never again to live in the UK in a "meaningful way". In other words, Harry might want to come visit the olds and do the rounds from time to time, but Meghan has moved on.

Last Thursday, Meghan was photographed again in Vancouver, driving herself to the airport, security detail in tow, to pick up her friend and Pilates teacher, Heather Dorak.

There were reports that her designer friend, Misha Nonoo, whose super-rich Italian wedding Meghan and Harry attended last year and who reportedly introduced the couple, was also on her way to Canada, to help Meghan with her relaunch. Little things like this make you realise just why Meghan wasn't keen to do the British thing and make her role in the monarchy work.

That would have required a little stepping back, lying low and taking stock, letting all the fuss around them die down and then re-emerging, with a smile as wide as Kate Middleton's.

That would have required a degree of self-sacrifice that it's possible Meghan Markle wasn't willing to make. Which is not to say that this makes her a bad person or a bad influence on her husband, who has left behind, with his senior royal status, a lot more than she has.

It merely says that she wasn't willing to keep calm and carry on, probably because she saw no value in it.

Royal wives, all of them, put up with a lot. Camilla took a lot of abuse before she found the beloved status she enjoys today. Fergie and Diana had their day.

And Kate Middleton was dismissed as Waity Katy, the wallflower who hung on in there while William dithered about committing, before she became who she is now, the woman who will probably do most to restore royal confidence in the years to come.

Kate Middleton, who is due to visit Ireland in March with William, is, perhaps, the ultimate swan: serene above water, but doing god knows what paddling furious underwater. That's the choice and commitment she made. That's the choice and commitment Meghan Markle wasn't interested in, and, perhaps, Harry was an open door waiting to be pushed when it came to unhitching himself from his birthright.

One of the most interesting pieces written in the UK papers last week was by a journalist who spent more than a decade writing about Harry, and to whom he had confided a desire to quit his UK commitments and become a tour guide in Africa. In other words, to go away and live a low-key and quiet life.

He's going away, all right, but Meghan is there ahead of him, already laying the ground for their new life.

It's not one's faces on a tray of buns, and it's unlikely to be stuffy and constrained by duty, but it's no quiet life, you can be certain.
A Harris County judge has asked for more information before deciding whether a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil will be heard here or in Travis County, part of a battle between the state and county to go after violators.

On Aug. 1, the Harris County Attorneys Office filed a suit against Exxon Mobil after a chemical fire that injured 37 people in Baytown. It was the first time the office used an order approved by Commissioners Court in April that allows the office to file environmental suits without having to first get the county boards approval on a case-by-case basis.

But the Attorney Generals Office, which filed its own lawsuit against the company a few days later, says the county couldnt have sued Exxon using the commissioners preauthorization.

To the extent that Harris County implies the April 30 Order is necessary to respond to emergencies occurring between regular sessions of the Commissioners Court, the County is wrong, the state wrote in court documents. The Legislature has provided the County with the tools needed to address emergencies.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Why Harris County raced to the courthouse after Baytown chemical fire

The state is seeking for the countys lawsuit to be dismissed in favor of the state suit filed in Travis County.

The decision will have an impact beyond this lawsuit as county commissioners had supported the measure to allow the county attorneys office to sue as it deems necessary without having to wait for the next meeting to get approval.

Commissioners and county officials cited recent chemical fires as why the county attorney needed to file environmental lawsuits as soon as possible after an event to protect the public and the environment, to preserve evidence; and to prevent additional negative impacts to the community.

Who sues first dictates not only where the case will be heard, but also where the money will go if there are civil penalties. If Harris County leads with the state being a party to its lawsuit, the money is split between both parties. But if the state sues without the local governments involvement, it goes back to the states general revenue.

We strongly believe that the law is on our side  that the Harris County Attorney has the right to file the suit, Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan said in a written statement after the Friday hearing before Judge Beau Miller.

It is imperative that we keep issues like this in local courts for local juries to decide, he added.

According to a news release from the county attorneys office, Miller expressed concerns that decisions about Harris County were being made in Austin and questioned whether or not intervention on behalf of Harris County was possible in the cases in Travis County.

As chemical plant explosions and fires have disrupted lives and raised air-quality concerns in the Houston area this year, the state and its most populous county have been racing to the courthouse to take the lead in penalizing polluters.

But the states more active role has aroused suspicions among some local officials and environmentalists, who believe state leaders with pro-business records may be trying to take control to soften the blow of any court rulings against major corporations.

Miller is expected to decide on the case by Jan. 31.

perla.trevizo@chron.com
Controversial plans for students to share gender neutral toilets at Brisbane's newest high school have been scrapped following public backlash.

Fortitude Valley State Secondary College was set to become the first school in Queensland without specifically designed boys' and girls' separate bathrooms when it welcomed its first students within weeks.

The Department of Education confirmed last month that all toilets at the $80 million vertical high school would be be unisex, with the exception of two male and female toilets in change room facilities.

But Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk raised concerns that boys and girls should have their own toilet facilities and has since overturned the decision.

A bold move to implement unisex toilets at Fortitude Valley State Secondary College has been abandoned weeks before the new Brisbane school welcomed its first students

Education Minister Grace Grace said 'all necessary arrangements' had been made to coincide with the reversed decision.

'This includes a change to make separate, gender-specific toilets for boys and girls available. There are also specific toilets for students with a disability,' she told Daily Mail Australia in an emailed statement.

'Separate boys and girls change rooms with toilets had already been factored into the design of the school.'

The department previously told Daily Mail Australia that the new facilities met contemporary design standards in relation to accessibility, inclusivity, privacy and safety, when plans were confirmed in December.

The department said the move was in line with modern, state-of-the-art, vertical high schools in other states, including South Australia's Adelaide Botanic High School.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk overturned the decision following backlash

The original decision to only have unisex toilets sparked national outrage, with education expert and mum Michelle Mitchell describing the move 'ridiculous'.

'We already know some really bad things happen to kids in bathroom areas of schools  bullying, sexting, kids recording on mobiles, these things already go on when they're just within their own sex, and then you're adding in an extra element,' she told The Sunday Mail last month.

'Being a teenager is a really big time of change, for boys and for girls, and kids have a right to feel safe.'

Plans to have unisex toilets at Brisbane's newest school will not go ahead (stock image)

Opposition education spokesman Jarrod Bleijie feared the 'very bad' move could be a 'recipe for disaster'.

'I reckon boys and girls need and deserve their own privacy at school,' Mr Bleijie posted on Facebook at the time.

'How about instead of this PC rubbish the government spend more time helping our teachers with workload issues, air con our schools, declutter the curriculum, fix the school maintenance backlogs and better support our teachers in regional and remote Queensland. Labor have its priorities all wrong.'

The Facebook post sparked a divided response.

'These kids are at high school why do we have them sharing the same toilets when so many other aspects of their education needs to be improved. Also young ladies and men need their privacy,' one person commented.

But many others couldn't understand the fuss.

Fortitude Valley State Secondary College will now have separate boys and girls facilities

'Nearly every accessible facility for disabled people is a unisex facility, and, last time I looked, nearly every household, you know where these kids live, has unisex toilet facilities! There are bigger issues than this that deserve attention,' one person commented.

Schools in Western Australia were urged earlier this year to include 'gender-neutral toilet options' and in a bid to stop discrimination against transgender students.

The recommendation from Inclusive Education WA, a specialised resource for schools in the state, aims to create a 'more inclusive environment' for transgender and gender diverse students.

Fortitude Valley State Secondary College is the first inner-city state school to be built in Brisbane in over half a century.

The school will welcome its foundation Year 7 students on January 28.

The new school will also push back class times to avoid traffic chaos, with students urged to walk or cycle to school to ease congestion in the inner-city.
The roughly 300,000 marchers that filled the streets of downtown Los Angeles for the third annual Women's March received more than just an opportunity to hear from some of the state's high powered politicians, they were also part of a new experiment from local March organizers in bringing technology into the movement.

Using an organizational tool called SameSide, whose launch coincided with the Women's March and a joint effort with RockTheVote, Women's March organizers are hoping to transfer excitement about the march into broader political engagement with local and national women's issues in this Presidential election year.

At the same time, the March organizers were trying to find a way to incorporate art and artists into the event, while being respectful of public spaces. That's where a new, pre-launch application called Mark, came into the picture.

Mark, a joint venture between the Danish game development firm Sybo and the Chinese mobile game publisher iDreamSky, uses augmented reality to permanent installations of digital street art. The two year old company is still in beta, but decided to work with the Women's March as an initial test of its product.

The company agreed to donate up to $300,000 in total, and up to $100 per-person for new users who downloaded the application. Mark donated $1 per download and initial share by a user for an account created during the march. Subsequent donations will be made fo consecutive days in app and multiple shares of posts made using MARK, according to the company. Login for 60 straight days and share 20 Mark AR posts and the company agreed to donate $100 to The Women's March.

Image courtesy of Mark

"Any movement encompasses art," says Women's March Los Angeles Foundation executive director Emiliana Guereca. "Social justice art and technology and the movement really melded for us. Even though it's technology, it's organic."

Story continues

Using Google's<a href="https://9to5google.com/2019/09/12/google-ar-cloud-anchors/"> persistent cloud anchors in ARCore, Mark users are able to create permanent images that can be viewed and modified through the company's app. In Los Angeles, the company worked with American and international artists Amy Sol, Sam Kirk , Faith XLVII, Ledania, and Fatma Al-Remaihi to create pieces that would be available at specific sites throughout the march route.

Though the Women's March may serve as Mark's debut, the company intends to avoid picking political sides. "We want to be as politically neutral as possible," says Mark's chief executive Jeff Lyndon Ko. The former founder of the publicly traded Shenzhen-based gaming publisher iDreamSky, acknowledged that his new company couldn't work in China's tightly controlled social media market.

"This project will have a lot more legs outside of the Greater China reach," Ko said. As for the company's Chinese shareholders (iDreamSky is an investor in Mark), the politics of the women's movement in the U.S. were a foreign concept. "MyChina team was like, 'What is that?'" Ko said.

If the collaboration with Mark was designed to inspire, the work that The Women's March Foundation Los Angeles is doing with SameSide is intended to incite action.

A graduate of the politically focused accelerator, Higher Ground Labs, Sameside is the work of Nicole a'Beckett and her brother, a former Navy Seal. Together the two worked to create a social network that would combine political engagement and social activities to develop communities built around shared ideologies and purpose.

The company offers push notifications and reminders of important dates as well as a database of potentially engaged activists who could be organized around social events. It's kind of like a politically focused "Meetup" with the added ability to message members about important dates and include calls to action for future activity.

"The Women's March is the unofficial launch of SameSide, and is making the Women's March in Los Angeles a catalyst for action by providing a platform for people everywhere to set up affiliated events -- things like sign making parties, meet-up coffee parties the morning of the march, house parties for those who can't attend a march -- and delivering a voter registration action kit powered by Rock the Vote to everyone who RSVPs to any affiliated events or the Los Angeles Women's March," wrote a'Beckett in an email.

The Women's March Foundation Los Angeles organizers view political engagement as a crucial next step for march participants. "There is a 'to-do' list after marching," says Guereca. "The draw to Sameside is now people can plug in. How to continue the movement via your phone is critical."
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Washington

A few days after Sen. Susan Collins cast her votes to acquit President Bill Clinton, as she was greeted with icy stares at a Lincoln Day dinner in rural Maine, a fellow Republican approached her, irate.

"I can't believe you let him off the hook," he told Collins. "I am never, ever voting for you again."

Twenty-one years later, she faces another presidential impeachment vote with heavy consequences for the nation and her own political survival. Collins, one of a handful of moderate Republicans whose votes could alter the trajectory of the trial, said she does not regret her votes to acquit then.

She said she would use the same logic behind that decision when she weighs the impeachment charges against President Donald Trump in a Senate trial that begins next week.

"I, too, was furious at President Clinton and felt that he had lied under oath, but it didn't reach the constitutional test of high crimes and misdemeanors, and was not sufficient to overturn an election and throw him out of office," she said in an interview n her Capitol Hill office.

In the case of Trump, she said, she would be "applying that same standard."

Collins' position as a centrist gives her outsize influence over the shape of Trump's trial, including whether new witnesses and evidence will be heard, just as it has in some of the most important and impassioned debates during her four terms in the Senate. But that middle ground is shrinking in the Trump era, leaving her open to bitter attack from both political parties.

She was among three Republicans who sank Trump's attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and she helped lead an unsuccessful effort to prevent him from taking unallocated money for his border wall. But she also voted for a tax bill that was the centerpiece of the Republican agenda. And the move that overshadowed all was her deciding vote to confirm Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault.

Collins' health care vote in 2017 fueled hopes on the left and anger on the right over whether she might stray from party orthodoxy. But the Kavanaugh vote and the tax vote reinforced her lifelong party affiliation despite her aversion to parts of Trump's agenda.

That confirmation vote generated millions of dollars in donations to be used against her, and a lengthy period of harassment and intimidation by critics, including numerous death threats. There were so many hostile calls targeting her that a 25-year-old employee in one of her Maine offices quit. One day, her husband texted Collins a photo of himself in a hazmat suit; someone had sent a threatening letter to their Maine home  where protesters gathered eight Sundays in a row  that claimed to contain ricin.

In Washington, a man waited for Collins in the dark as she parked her car one evening in the pouring rain, then followed her several blocks to her townhouse. A neighbor lamented to her that he hated living next to "a rape apologist."

"It just made the whole time very unpleasant," said Collins, who faces a steep re-election challenge in November, when she will seek a fifth term. "But anyone who thinks that they can intimidate me doesn't know me."

Collins' history, and her competitive race to keep her seat, puts her at the top of the list of senators under scrutiny in the impeachment debate. Reporters on Capitol Hill toil to divine her intentions; as the articles of impeachment were read Thursday on the Senate floor, Collins, who was suffering a bad cold, coughed and dabbed at her eyes, causing several reporters to call her office to ask why she was crying.

Her vote at the conclusion of Trump's trial almost certainly will not determine whether he becomes the first president to be removed from office by the Senate  the 67 votes required, at this point, are not there. But Collins will be pivotal to resolving procedural questions, including a battle between Republicans and Democrats over calling witnesses and admitting new documents as part of the Senate trial. And Collins has signaled that she will buck her party and support both moves.

"I would anticipate that it is likely that I would vote to have more information brought forward, whether witnesses or documents or both," she said Thursday.

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

Collins convened several meetings in her office with Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee to cobble together a provision ensuring a vote on the matter after opening arguments by both sides and questions from senators. If the four hang together on the issue, their votes would be enough to demand more information come out in the trial.

And her eventual vote on whether to remove the president will be politically significant as well, both to Trump and to Collins. Since he was impeached last month, the president has leaned on his party's unified opposition to dismiss the whole effort as a partisan "hoax," and he has made it clear he looks forward to an exoneration by the Republican-led chamber. Even a single Republican vote in favor of removing him would undermine that.

In Maine, Collins' choice could prove even more consequential to voters. "There is no doubt that there are going to be Mainers unhappy with me no matter what conclusion I reach," said Collins.

To prepare for Trump's trial, she met with specialists from the legal division at the Congressional Research Service and had her staff put together a notebook about the 1999 trial procedures. She has read transcripts of the House hearings and reports on the Ukraine matter and Trump, she said.

"I felt that the process that we followed in 1999 worked really well and produced a fair outcome," she said, including the decision to call witnesses and examine additional evidence.

In voting for witnesses but rejecting one or both charges against Trump, Collins might anticipate she can satisfy both Maine Republicans, many loyal to the president, and the many Democrats and independents she has always relied on for her victories.

But that is far from clear. And she will be running for re-election against several opponents in November, including Sara Gideon, the Democratic speaker of Maine's House.

Polls show approval ratings for Collins dipping.

"Maine has a kind of model of what they want a political figure to look like, which has elements of being respected nationally, civility and a certain degree of bipartisanship and independence," said Amy Fried, chair of the department of political science at the University of Maine. "However in today's politics she has been pushed out of that."
House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) speaks at the open impeachment hearing in Washington on Nov. 13, 2019. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Schiff Says Intelligence Agency Is Withholding Ukraine Information From Congress

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has claimed the National Security Administration (NSA) and CIA are both withholding information about Ukraine from Congress and that the White House is pressuring the two intelligence agencies.

Schiff said during ABC News This Week, The intelligence community is beginning to withhold documents from Congress on the issue of Ukraine. They appear to be succumbing to pressure from the administration.

He added that the NSA, in particular, is withholding what are potentially relevant documents to our oversight responsibilities on Ukraine, but also withholding documents potentially relevant that the senators might want to see during the trial. That is deeply concerning, and there are signs that the CIA may be on the same tragic course. Schiff, however, didnt elaborate on those signs or didnt specify what they were.

We are counting on the intelligence community not only to speak truth to power, he added.

The NSA has not responded to a request for comment.

Amanda Schoch, the assistant director of National Intelligence for Strategic Communications, pushed back against his claims in a response to CNN.

The Intelligence Community is committed to providing Congress with the information and intelligence it needs to carry out its critical oversight role. The [Intelligence Community] is working in good faith with (House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence) to respond to requests on a broad range of topics and will continue to do so, she told the news outlet.

President Donald Trumps impeachment trial starts on Tuesday in earnest. Schiff was named by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as one of the House managers who will present the Democrats case in the Senate.

On Thursday, the impeachment trial ceremonially began with Supreme Court Justice John Roberts being sworn-in. Roberts placed his hand on the Bible and was sworn in by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R.-Iowa), the Senates president pro tempore. He then called on all 100 senators to stand to be sworn in.

The senators took an oath before the trial. Roberts asked them, Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of President Donald John Trump, president of United States, now pending, you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help you God?

After the swearing-in ceremony, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) elaborated on the next steps the upper chamber will take, saying the trial would resume on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Other than Schiff, Pelosi named Judiciary Chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), whose committee approved the impeachment articles. Other managers in the trial will include Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Val Demings (D-Fla.), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), and Jason Crow (D-Colo.) as managers.
While today we enjoy surplus production, a variety of local, national and international food in more than 200 restaurants across the city, and a move towards organic farming, it is worthwhile to go back in history to learn how our town and region suffered from severe famines during the British period in the late 19th century.

A significant chapter in the history of Gurgaon and Haryana is the First War of Independence of 1857. The British wrote off the entire region as a rebellion zone, which needed to be monitored, controlled and subjugated. As a result, they merged Haryana with Punjab, a region that remained loyal to the British. Haryana was further denied a number of initial advantages that the British government offered Punjab.

The British administration ruthlessly exploited Haryanas agricultural produce by implementing revenue settlements, which were predominantly based on village communities. The people were poor and indebted. They did not have any purchasing power and, therefore, suffered starvation. The first repercussion of this change came in 1860.

The year 1860 was marked by a terrible famine when the monsoons completely failed. Gurgaon was one of the most severely affected districts, apart from Rohtak, Hissar, Sirsa, Ambala, Karnal, Delhi and Panipat. In addition to districts under the British Government, native states, such as Dadri, Loharu, Jind and Mahendergarh, were also affected by the famine.

In the Gurgaon district, the misery of the people was said to be the most significant. The district remained disturbed during the mutiny due to its vicinity to Delhi and its complete occupation by the mutineer troops. The effects of the famine is recorded in the following words of Baird Smith: In Southern Delhi and Gurgaon, the country between Kutub Minar and Station of Gurgaon had been repeatedly marched over by me in all directions during the ordinary seasons, and the contrast was truly startling every fifteen or twenty miles of country, where I had been accustomed to see wide expenses of grain chiefly, but also of wheat and barley growing with excellent promise; there was not a blade of green produce to be seen(sic).

The total area under cultivation in the Gurgaon district was nearly 150,000 acres. The number of people who were dependent on the produce of this land was about 650,000. It was estimated that a large number of men and cattle died during this famine.

About eight years after the famine of 1860-61, another famine called Pachisa struck Gurgaon and its surrounding regions in 1868-70. However, this time, the districts of Gurgaon and Delhi were relatively less affected.

The next famine was recorded in 1877-78 that severely affected the districts of Ambala, Gurgaon, Karnal, Delhi, Hissar, Sirsa and Rohtak. Although cattle mortality records are available, no data on the deaths of the human population is recorded.

In the district of Gurgaon, the calamity was quite severe this time, although it was more confined to the Nuh and Punahana tehsils. The district suffered greatly from the scarcity of fodder. The deputy commissioner of Gurgaon noted, He visited portions of the Gurgaon and Rewari tahsils. In parts of the Hathin and Punahana Parganas, the people appeared to be badly off, and a good many Meos had left their homes in search of work. Fodder was very scarce, and the people had used up most of Kikar and Raungh.

It should be noted that the famine of 1896-97 was not so much due to any actual failure of the crops as it was due to the condition of grain markets all over India. For months together, the prices of food grains remained extremely high. This was the time when people even started using available wild products as food. Extensive British official reports are available on these famines, and it may be possible to find some archival images too upon further research. We need to be aware of the historical catastrophes of our region and ensure that our current agricultural practices and food habits are sustainable in nature.

(Shikha Jain is state convenor, INTACH Haryana Chapter and member of Heritage Committees under ministries of culture and HRD. She is co-editor of book Haryana: Cultural Heritage Guide; director, DRONAH (Development and Research Organisation.)
Goa Police have registered a case against the brother of a Goa minister and another person in connection with the alleged suicide of Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) leader Prakash Naik, an official said on Sunday.

Naik, who was in his late 50s, allegedly shot himself dead at his home in Merces village of North Goa district on Friday.

"After Naik's relatives lodged a complaint, an FIR has been registered against Wilson Godinho, the elder brother of state Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, and another person identified as Tahir," Superintendent of Police (North) Utkrisht Prasoon said.

According to the police, Naik blamed two men, including the Goa minister's brother, in his last WhatsApp message for his decision to end life.

In the message, Naik accused Wilson Godinho and Tahir of "blackmailing" and "harassing" him over a monetary dispute, they said.

"The police initially filed a case of unnatural death on Friday, but later Naik's family named both the men in their complaint following which a case of abetment to suicide was registered against them," Prasoon said.

The accused have been booked under Indian Penal Code Section 306 (abetment to suicide), police inspector Krishna P Sinari said.

A probe is underway and no arrest has been made so far, he added.

Naik unsuccessfully contested the 2017 Goa Assembly poll on MGP's ticket from St Cruz constituency in North Goa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For as long as Angela Pershouse can remember she had been getting ultrasounds on her breasts a couple of times a year, with sonographers commenting on how 'busy' the inside of them were.

What they meant was the 40-year-old from Brisbane had plenty of normal 'lumps' in her breast - called fibrocystic - so she didn't think twice about discovering a new bump in May 2018.

'Other than that lump, which didn't hurt or bother me at all, there were no other signs anything was wrong,' she told FEMAIL.

For as long as Angela Pershouse (pictured) can remember she'd been getting ultrasounds on her breasts a couple of times a year

Angela (right) visited her GP a few weeks after discovering it and they suggested waiting until her next period to see if there were any changes, then she could visit the breast health clinic

Angela visited her GP a few weeks after discovering it and they suggested waiting until her next period to see if there were any changes, then she could visit the breast health clinic.

'At that stage I was 38 and the government didn't and still doesn't offer free screening for women under the age of 40,' she said.

'I was always annoyed at the costs involved but had come to terms with that years earlier and there was no way I was going to take any risks no matter how much out of pocket it cost me.'

After her period came and went - with no change to the lump - Angela booked in for an ultrasound on June 20, 2018. For the first time in years she decided to go alone.

After her period came and went - with no change to the lump - Angela booked in for an ultrasound on June 20, 2018. For the first time in years she decided to go alone

Two hours, a mammogram and a core biopsy later and Angela was delivered the verdict on those inflamed lumps

The appointment started like all others had in the past.

She lay on the bed, made small talk with the sonographer and she made comments about her 'busy breasts'.

'Then with a look on her face that didn't look all that assuring she asked a question I hadn't been asked before,' Angela said.

"'Have you been unwell lately?" "No, why?" "Oh nothing, it's just your lymph nodes are a little inflamed. I'll just go and get the doctor and he can have a look."'

Two hours, a mammogram and a core biopsy later and Angela was delivered the verdict on those inflamed lumps.

'The doctor said I had breast cancer. I told him he had to be f***ing kidding me,' she said

The fit and typically healthy 40-year-old was diagnosed with stage three locally advanced breast cancer

'The doctor said I had breast cancer. I told him he had to be f***ing kidding me. My mum was just diagnosed with terminal cancer last week and given three to six months to live, my husband just signed our divorce papers two weeks ago and now this,' she said.

The fit and typically healthy 40-year-old was diagnosed with stage three locally advanced breast cancer.

This type of breast cancer feeds off hormones so she was immediately put into medically induced menopause. Overnight her chances of having children were gone.

Angela had 16 rounds of chemotherapy over five 'very long' months, followed by surgery and 30 sessions of daily radiation.

Angela had 16 rounds of chemotherapy over five 'very long' months, followed by surgery and 30 sessions of daily radiation

At the end of the grueling treatment she was told her body had a complete pathological response, meaning the combination of drugs and drips had worked

At the end of the grueling treatment she was told her body had a complete pathological response, meaning the combination of drugs and drips had worked.

Angela received the 'all clear' seven months ago and again in November 2019, but eight weeks ago started to feel as though something wasn't right with her stomach.

There was a hard lump at the top of her abdomen.

'I was immediately sent for an ultrasound and mammogram and was once again cleared,' she said.

Angela received the 'all clear' seven months ago and again in November 2019, but eight weeks ago started to feel as though something wasn't right with her stomach

What are Angela's words of advice? I don't have a child to pass on this new wisdom and the lessons I've learnt. It almost feels like some bad joke that I now have all this knowledge and I may not be able to do anything with it. Someone recently said that I needed to find a purpose in life, something to fight for that was bigger than myself. I didn't understand what this meant, wasn't I enough to fight for? A couple of weeks ago I realised that maybe sharing my story could be my purpose. This is why I decided to start my Instagram page, to share what I'm doing now and what I would have done differently had I known what I know now. If I could help just one person stay curious and to ask the questions I didn't, maybe just maybe it might change the outcome of someone else's life or at the very least help make their journey that little bit easier. Two pieces of advice I now give everyone are: 1. Stay curious and push your doctors to stay curious. We need to take more of an active role in our medical choices. Ask questions, do your own research, talk to others in the same situation and get second, third and fourth opinions if need be. 2. Listen to your instincts. Trust your gut, if something doesn't feel right or sit well with you then listen. Advertisement

'They said the lump was nothing to worry about and possibly some fatty tissue caused by the high doses of steroids I had been taking for the radiation pneumonitis (inflammation in the lungs) caused by the radiation.'

Three days after being reassured Angela visited a lung specialist she had been seeing for the pneumonitis and had a CT scan done.

By chance that scan caught the top of her liver and revealed spots that shouldn't be there.

'When you hear the words stage four terminal breast cancer and told there are no further treatment options available, shock and disbelief don't begin to describe how helpless I felt,' she said.

'To be told there was nothing I or anyone else could do to change the inevitable outcome, I just couldn't wrap my head around it.

'To be told there was nothing I or anyone else could do to change the inevitable outcome, I just couldn't wrap my head around it,' she said

'I had only just watched this same disease slowly, cruelly and painfully take my mum last year and to be told that this too was going to be my same fate was too much to process.'

Angela was told she had between six and 24 months left on the clock and should go home to start writing a bucket list.

'With my signed super in my hand I was sent home to die,' she said.

In her mind there were two options: She could spend whatever time left living her 'best life' or she could investigate what other medical treatments were available.

'I met up with a girlfriend on the Gold Coast who had been given a terminal diagnosis last year and also sent home to die,' she said.

Angela went to Mexico for three-weeks worth of alternative treatments

'She had great success healing herself with a lot of hard work along with the help of some local integrative doctors and a clinic in Mexico called Hope4Cancer.'

Angela decided to follow suit and four weeks later found herself in Cancun.

Treatment costs aren't cheap - with a $75,000 fee expected for a three week stay - but in her mind she didn't have a choice.

'I needed to know I was giving myself every opportunity to fight this. I'm not ready to die just yet,' she said.

It's not known yet whether the treatments have been a success but Angela is positive that doing something is better than doing nothing at all.

You can follow her journey and learn more on her Instagram page, Living Courageously Curious.

You can also donate to her GoFundMe page here.
Meghan Markle's close friend Misha Nonoo has teased a 'special collaboration' on her Instagram page days after revealing she is on her way to Canada, where the Duchess of Sussex is currently living.

The fashion designer, 33, asked fans to guess what the new project could be, after her label announced on Friday that it is heading off on a 'styling tour' to Toronto.

Meghan, 38, who knows Misha from her pre-royal days, is currently staying on Vancouver Island but has strong ties to Toronto, where she lived for seven years while filming US legal drama Suits.

Teasing the 'special collaboration', Nonoo said in a clip posted to her Instagram stories: 'Hi guys, we are working on a very special collaboration and we want to hear from you what you think it might be, so DM us and let us know.'

She followed up the video with a written post, asking: 'What do you think this special collab could be? DM us with your guesses!'

On Sunday her page also promoted 'The Husband Shirt', famously worn by Meghan at her first public appearance with Harry. Noonoo labelled the item 'iconic' in her post. She has previously describes the $185 blouse as 'the shirt that sealed the deal'.

Scroll down for video

Fashion designer Misha Nonoo looks set to reunite with her close friend the Duchess of Sussex as the royal's famously close group rally to show their support. Pictured, the Duchess on Friday

Teasing the 'special collaboration', Nonoo said in a clip posted to her Instagram stories: 'Hi guys, we are working on a very special collaboration and we want to hear from you what you think it might be, so DM us and let us know.' She followed up the video with a written post, asking: 'What do you think this special collab could be? DM us with your guesses!'

Meghan is said to have retained her Hollywood team of agents and publicists and is reportedly already in discussions about future showbusiness projects after stepping down from the Royal family.

Harry has signed a deal for a six-part series on Apple TV+ which he is producing with Oprah Winfrey and which focuses on mental health.

The couple joked that they attended the premiere of The Lion King in London to 'pitch' for work, new footage from the event reveals.

The Mail on Sunday last week unearthed video of Prince Harry touting his wife's voiceover skills to Disney boss Bob Iger at the event in July.

Now new footage has been found which shows the couple talking to the film's director Jon Favreau, star Beyonce and her rap star husband Jay-Z, and Harry, 35, again praising his wife's acting abilities.

The Misha Nonoo team will be in Toronto on January 24 to 26 and Washington DC from January 31, giving the designer a few days off in between each stop.

It is possible the Duchess could make the five-hour flight to see Misha in Toronto when she touches down next Friday, or that the designer could make the trip across Canada to see Meghan at her Vancouver Island mansion.

The women were last seen together at Misha's wedding to oil tycoon Mikey Hess in Rome in September last year. Misha has since announced that she is pregnant.

Meghan, 38, who knows Misha from her pre-royal days, is currently staying on Vancouver Island but has strong ties to Toronto. Pictured, the friends at an event in November 2015

On Sunday Nonoo's page also promoted 'The Husband Shirt', famously worn by Meghan at her first public appearance with Harry, pictured. Noonoo labelled the item 'iconic' in her post. She has previously describes the $185 blouse as 'the shirt that sealed the deal'

The Misha Nonoo team will be in Toronto on January 24-26 and Washington DC on January 31 to February 2 (as seen in this Instagram caption), giving the designer a few days off in between

Misha's eponymous label announced on Instagram Friday that its is heading off on a 'styling tour' (left) after closing its New York City pop-up - and Toronto is the first stop (right)

Misha and Meghan also worked together on the Smart Works charity clothing collection, which was unveiled by the Duchess in collaboration with John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Jigsaw and Misha Nonoo in September last year. Pictured, the friends embrace at the launch

Misha and Meghan also worked together on the Smart Works charity clothing collection, which was unveiled by the Duchess in collaboration with John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Jigsaw and Misha Nonoo in September last year.

Meghan is thought to be turning to her star-studded group of girlfriends for support in the wake of her and Prince Harry's announcement that they will step down as senior royals.

The Duchess was spotted collecting pilates instructor and close friend Heather Dorak from Victoria International Airport on Friday.

Meghan's girlfriends are rallying around the royal. Today pilates guru Heather Dorak arrived in Victoria International Airport, pictured, where she was met by Meghan

Meghan embraced her independence by driving herself to and from the $14million Vancouver Island mansion where she's stayed since before Christmas.

Ms Dorak, who hails from in San Antonio, Texas, became Meghan's pilates guru and attended the royal wedding in May 2018 with her husband Matt Cohen. She runs the Pilates Platinum brand, which the Duchess started attending in Los Angeles.

While Meghan welcomes friends to Canada, Prince Harry, 35, remains in the UK to take part in meetings about their future role. Their baby son Archie is in Canada with his mother.

Relaxed: Meghan appeared to be in high spirits as she chatted with a male companion in the front seat, believed to be a security officer. She was on hand to collect Heather Dorak
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sun, January 19, 2020 09:33 723 48be62e941b44f04afae568c322b60d3 1 News backpackers,travel,destination,Algeria Free

Algeria in North Africa was recently named this year's "best country to backpack" by the British Backpacker Society (BBS), an organization promoting travels to off-the-beaten-track areas of the world.

With its wide range of attractions and small number of tourists, BSS believes that Algeria packs the most thrills for a backpacking adventure, as reported by Lonely Planet.

"Lying just a short-haul flight away from the huge adventure travel communities living in Europe's capitals, Algeria's tourism industry is not only blessed by world-class desert scenery, delightfully hospitable people and spectacular ancient ruins, but it is also blessed by its geographical proximity to keen travelers, BSS announced on New Years Day.

With the Sahara covering up to four-fifths of the land, Algeria is home to marvelous mosques and markets, with a view of the Mediterranean coastline. It also has a mixture of Roman, Ottoman, Arab, and Byzantine heritage.

I have traveled to over 90 countries, and in all these travels, I have never seen a city quite like Constantine. With a deep gorge cutting straight through its city center, historic Constantine has one of the most dramatic cityscapes on earth, said BBS cofounder, Adam Sloper, in a statement.

Read also: Here are the top 10 best places in the world for backpackers

Described by French writer Albert Camus as being "inhabited by the gods", Tipaza, a little city made of roman ruins dating back 2000 years is one of the three Algerian cities on UNESCO's World Heritage List, the other being Timgad and Djemila.

Tlemcen, a city in the northern region of Algeria hosts a stunning mix of Berber and Arab-Andalusian culture and is home to the 11th century Grand Mosque.

Previous number ones on the BBSs "best country to backpack" list include Pakistan (2018) and Ethiopias Danakil Depression (2019).

The full list of best countries for backpacking in 2020 according to the BBS can be viewed below:

Algeria Saudi Arabia Pakistan Iran Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Bosnia and Herzegovina Russia Ethiopia Azerbaijan

Topics : backpackers travel destination Algeria
German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey

Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations

Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed

Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory

World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy

Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims

Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan

Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation

CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan

WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic

European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million

White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed

Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State

India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists

Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death

Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day

Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded

NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22

Austrian Chancellor confirms plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in February

Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan

Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China

20 pregnant women with COVID-19 die in Azerbaijan in year

Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States

Economy ministry: Organizing of accommodation and public catering increased by 61.1% in Armenia

Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death

Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded

Shoigu: CSTO peacekeepers deployed in Kazakhstan thanks to Syrian and Karabakh experience

Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps

UN offers two plans to help Afghans totaling $ 5 billion in 2022

Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit

Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death

Dollar drops in Armenia

Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building

Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021

Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis directed gun at Armenia residents car in which his wife, 3-year-old child were

ANCA urges President Biden and Congress to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for war crimes

Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19

Brothers, sisters of 2020 Artsakh war military casualties to get compensation in lieu of their deceased parents

Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties

Copper rises in price

Erdogan's spokesman, Biden's adviser discuss Armenian-Turkish relations

Armenia deputy defense minister: No one can rule out border tension at any moment

New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh

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
There are some things that are obviously First Amendment issues and there are others that just as obviously arent. Did you get arrested for criticizing the mayor of your town? Thats a First Amendment issue.

Did you get kicked out of your book club because you said Malcolm Gladwell was overrated? Thats harsh, but its not a violation of your constitutional rights.

The First Amendment prevents the government from censoring or punishing your speech, but it doesnt apply to private organizations.

Theres another category of issues technically outside the scope of the First Amendment, but have an outsized impact on what some might consider the purpose of the First Amendment  ensuring that citizens can access information about the world around them, hear different viewpoints and share their ideas. Call them First Amendment-ish issues.

Take the decisions that Facebook, YouTube and Twitter regularly make about what types of content to allow on their platforms. As private companies, theyre free to create their own policies, censor posts and ban users as they see fit (that is, in fact, their First Amendment right).

But, as the watchdog group OnlineCensorship.org puts it, We treat these platforms as a public sphere, using them to discuss issues both controversial and menial, to connect with friends far and near, and to engage in activism and debate.  We have seen before how powerful social media platforms can be in inspiring protests, fostering political movements and even influencing elections. Now that so many of our conversations take place online on these platforms, the companies behind them have the power to influence the public discourse in a way that our government can only dream of.

The First Amendment-ish implications become even thornier when you consider fake news and misleading content. Censoring a fake news item may run counter to the spirit of free speech, but allowing it to spread undermines the purpose of a free press.

Freedom of the press doesnt exist to protect journalists so much as to benefit the public at large. It exists because the framers of our Constitution thought the public had the right to know about what the government and other powerful institutions were doing. When theres so much confusion about what information you can trust and what you cant, that whole system is compromised.

As technology grows more sophisticated, the potential for this confusion will only increase. Some developments, like deep fake video technology, will make it harder to debunk misinformation. Others, like artificial intelligence-enabled chatbots, will make it harder to identify real political expression.

Todays fairly simplistic chatbots already have the ability to skew online discussions (its estimated that a fifth of all tweets about the 2016 presidential election were published by bots). Tomorrows bots will be able to take things to the next level.

According to The Atlantics Bruce Schneier, Soon, AI-driven personas will be able to write personalized letters to newspapers and elected officials, submit individual comments to public rule-making processes and intelligently debate political issues on social media. While this army of civically engaged bots might serve as a shining example to the rest of us, Schneier points out that their capacity to drown out any actual debate on the internet will pretty much obliterate the marketplace of ideas that a functioning democracy requires.

This is not a call to ban these technologies, so much as it is to keep the principles of free expression in mind as we develop regulations for them. As a society, we need to take a stand on clear-cut First Amendment matters, but should also keep a close watch on those First Amendment-ish issues  to ignore them is to ignore the reason we have a First Amendment in the first place.

Lata Nott is executive director of the First Amendment Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. Contact her via email at lnott@freedomforum.org, or follow her on Twitter at @LataNott.
From the files of when translating goes wrong: Facebook apologized on Saturday after its translation option erred in a very big way by repeatedly calling Chinese leader Xi Jinping Mr. Shole.

The vulgar typo was featured in several Facebook posts that were translated from Burmese to English, including a post on Burma/Myanmar state counselor Aung San Suu Kyis Facebook page, Reuters reported. Several mentions of Xi, who is the head of Chinas Communist government and has been visiting Burma in recent days, referred to him as Mr. Shole.

Facebook does not know what led to the error, but said it has been fixed.

Also Read: How Tech Giants Like Amazon and Facebook Became Wall Street Juggernauts in the Last Decade

In addition, a headline in the local news journal Irrawaddy was published as Dinner honors president shole.

This issue is not a reflection of the way our products should work and we sincerely apologize for the offense this has caused, Facebook said in a statement.

Facebook has been blocked in China for several years. The countrys internet is censored by the Great Firewall, as its facetiously been dubbed, which has stifled free speech online for years through a network of moderators, technical restraints and legislative regulations. The Chinese government blocks access to pornography and news stories that are overly critical of its Communist regime, as well as major sites like YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.

A parallel online universe exists in China, with popular social media platforms like WeChat and Weibo, a Twitter-esque communication app, filling the void of their blocked Western analogs.

You can read more about Chinas internet censorship here.

Read original story Facebook Translation Mistakenly Calls Chinese Leader Mr Shole At TheWrap
Hair: Fabio Nogueira. Make-up: Ruby Hammer. Styling: Holly Elgeti. Blouse, Lisou. Trousers, Roland Mouret. Jewellery, Alighieri

In my early 20s, I was the kind of person who would walk down the street and have strangers say things like Cheer up, love. It was always men, apart from one occasion when I was going through airport security and an officious woman informed me that I should lighten up because it might never happen. Not a word had been exchanged. She had simply looked at my face and decided I was a miserable git.

Afterwards, I came up with the perfect put-down for these strangers but by then it was too late. Its just my face, I would mutter. You dont know whats going on in my life. Maybe my pet has just died and Im in mourning; maybe I dont feel cheerful and thats OK.

Years later, I interviewed actress Kristen Stewart, a woman who has been accused of looking moody throughout her career. On red carpets, she would appear uncomfortable in front of the flashbulbs. As a result, she had been diagnosed as contracting that uniquely female condition  a resting bitch face. When I asked her about this, Kristen countered that she was being herself. She felt awkward on the red carpet and didnt pretend otherwise. Im really not introverted, she told me. Im just not acting all the time, which is what it would take to look how Im expected to.

I thought of this recently when I read that an increasing number of women are turning to Botox to rid themselves of resting bitch face, preferring what one male New York plastic surgeon described as a pleasant resting look.

What exactly does pleasant resting look like and who decides? Is it the plastic surgeon who has an idea in his head about what femininity should be? Is it the client who has been conditioned to believe that upturned lips and a vacant gaze is more socially acceptable? Or is it the weight of popular opinion, exemplified by those male strangers who used to tell me to cheer up because they wanted me to appear more becoming? Were they threatened by the fact I wasnt smiling at them? Did my failure to react make them fear their lack of power over me? I dont know. But I do know that there is no male equivalent. I have never heard of a man being accused of looking too serious. When men have resting bitch faces, they are deemed to be glowering. James Bond has had a resting bitch face since 1962, and no one is giving Daniel Craig Botox to fix his eyebrow wrinkle.

The point is that women are not cyborgs  we are multifaceted people who are not contractually obliged to smile on demand. Often Im thinking while I walk. Sometimes I might be working out a problem that has been bothering me. Or Im listening to a podcast and Im focused on what Im learning, not what a passer-by might feel about how I look.

We are allowed to be sad, contemplative or serious. When these fluctuating states of being show on our faces, it is a mark of our humanity. No one is in a constant state of blissful happiness. Besides, our face is not a reliable indicator of what were feeling: scientists are forever conducting experiments to show that were pretty terrible at judging emotions (one study found that participants were unable to tell whether faces in photos were showing pain or sexual pleasure).

Im no longer told to cheer up, love when Im walking down the street. Im older now, so those men probably feel Im less worthy of their attention. Or perhaps its because I look scarier. Either way, Im thrilled.

This week I'm...

@thegreatwomenartists, Ghost's Sydney silk velvet dress, Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow

Following @thegreatwomenartists on Instagram: fascinating posts uncovering female artists overlooked by history.

Wearing Ghosts Sydney silk velvet dress in dark red. Makes me feel like a Shakespearean heroine when I wear it. A non-tragic one.

Reading Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow. Gripping and humorous, it documents his investigations into the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
More voters than ever oppose capitalism. That fact has profound implications for the 2020 presidential election, but also for the future of the entire U.S. and global economy.

By the numbers: A Harris poll for "Axios on HBO" finds that socialism is gaining popularity: Four in 10 Americans  and 55% of women between 18 and 54  say they would prefer to live in a socialist country over a capitalist one.

Why it matters: When it comes to economic policy, both Republicans and Democrats have moved to the left. Just four years ago, Barack Obama was president and a neoliberal consensus prevailed that was terrified of the economic implications of a Trump victory.

Trump's win didn't cause the expected stock-market crash, but it did usher in an era of trade wars and declining global growth.

but it did usher in an era of trade wars and declining global growth. Trump rejects the core economic concept of comparative advantage, which says more trade causes broad welfare gains, even for countries that run trade deficits.

With the possible exception of Mike Bloomberg, none of the leading Democratic candidates  not even Joe Biden  would embrace the trade deals Obama was keen to adopt.

Its not that all 2020 Democrats are calling for socialism. Indeed, several shun that label. But theyre presenting differing views on a progressive iteration of democratic capitalism.

Talk of a Green New Deal reflects Democrats' combined concerns about income disparity and the environment.

What they mean: When Americans say they want to live in a socialist country, they don't mean they want to live in a Marxist command economy. Rather, they mean that they want universal health care, tuition-free education, and a decent day's wage for a decent day's work.

"Socialism" is best understood as a term that evinces a deep dissatisfaction with the way that capitalism has played out in America, more than as a clearly-defined ideology.

"Todays younger generations simply do not accept that companies should pursue profits at the expense of broader environmental and social well-being."

 Klaus Schwab, the founder of the most capitalist conference in the world, writing in Foreign Affairs

Capitalism has delivered mostly for the rich. A major new report, Life Experiences and Income Inequality in the United States, concludes that "adults in the top 1% highest income bracket have dramatically different life experiences than those with middle- and lower-incomes when it comes to financial problems, health care, life satisfaction, and problems with prescription drug costs."

The middle classes feel that capitalism has left them behind, reporting dissatisfaction with everything from employment to housing and educational attainment.

A recent GAO report found that "economic mobility in the United States is limited," and that as much as two-thirds of economic status is passed down from parents to children.

Inequality has become impossible to ignore both economically and politically, especially now that the U.S. is led by a billionaire president.

The 2019 Wealth-X billionaire census found the U.S. was the only major country to see an increase in the number of billionaires last year. It now has more than 700 billionaires  more than the next four countries (China, Germany, Russia, and the U.K.) combined.

Among the 2020 Democrats, Bernie Sanders is the only self-avowed Democratic socialist. But if he or Elizabeth Warren became president, the capitalist system could face significant overhaul. Under their visions:

Health care would be largely run by the government and private insurance eliminated.

The richest Americans would face higher taxes. Warren would impose a 2% tax on households with $50 million in net worth, and an additional 4% annual tax on amounts above $1 billion.

Sanders' plan has more tax brackets than Warren's proposal, ranging from a 1% tax on wealth over $32 million to an 8% tax on wealth over $10 billion.

They'd offer tuition-free college and cancel student loan debt. The big difference: Warren released a plan that would eliminate debt via executive action, so she could bypass Congress. Sanders introduced legislation in the Senate that would eliminate all of the student loan debt (about $1.6 trillion).

Biden and Pete Buttigieg are more likely to call for fixing the system rather than overhauling it and replacing it with a new one.

This WaPo report breaks down the spending disparity between the two camps.

The bottom line: Capitalism has failed most Americans in recent decades. Instead, it has created an economy which feels  and is  deeply unfair. Tapping into that wellspring of resentment will be a major source of political support for all successful candidates in 2020.
Mrs Mary Gallagher R.I.P. passed to her eternal reward in the loving care of her family in Maidstone, Kent on Dec 23.

A native of Cornohoe, Ballybay, Co Monaghan, Mary, nee Boylan, is deeply mourned by her beloved husband Pat, a native of Aughnasheelin, their four children Richard, Lyndsey, Nicola and Stephen, son-in -laws Paul and Michael, and daughter-in-laws Nicola and Naomi, six adored grandchildren, Declan, Lowan, Finlay, Niamh, Iris and Grace, her six siblings and brother-in-law Michael Gallagher.

Her funeral mass was celebrated in Aylesford Priory on Saturday, Jan 4 in the same chapel where she and Pat were married on July 22, 1972. Afterwards her committal took place at Aylesford Cemetery.

Mary came to Maidstone in her teens and trained as a nurse in the local hospital, where one year she received the honour of 'Nurse of the Year'. Having excelled in her vocation Mary eventually left nursing and brought her exceptional business talents to the support of Pat in his growing construction and quarrying business. The Gallagher family brand today is highly respected in the construction industry in Kent and greater London area, and is a huge part of Marys legacy.

Apart from her hard work in the family business Mary took a great interest in the lives of her family. She always had a keen interest in sport, especially Liverpool FC and horseracing, no surprise there! It is well known that Pats successful winning tips always came from Mary. A quiet and dignified lady Mary was well known for her charity work in the area she loved around Maidstone and Aylesford and indeed, further afield. But mostly she was admired and loved for her role as a wife, mother and grandmother, and a pillar of strength in business affairs.

Mary will be greatly missed by her family and the many people whose lives she touched.

May she rest in peace.

A mass to remember the life of Mary will be celebrated on Saturday. February 8 at 7pm in St Marys church Aughnasheelin.

Leitrim Assoc

At the recent meeting of the association Chairman Michael Curry held a minute's silence in recognition of the support that Mary and the Gallagher family have given the Leitrim Association over many years.
CAIRO  A man was found dead after a house fire on Saturday.

According to Columbia-Greene Media, the fire broke out at 853 Old Route 23. The cause of the fire, which town police said was fully involved by the time crews arrived, is still under investigation.

Greene County Sheriff Peter Kuminskey told reporters on the scene that the man's body was found as firefighters were going through the building. An autopsy was scheduled to determine the man's identity and cause of death.

State and county fire investigators, as well as State Police, are still investigating the fire.
Nuclear submarine INS Arihant's trials going 'very well', says Navy Chief

In Pics: Know all about INS Arihant, India's first indigenous nuclear submarine

India successfully test-fires K-4 ballistic missile from INS Arihant

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Vizag, Jan 19: India successfully test-fired 3,500 km strike range nuclear-capable submarine-launched K-4 ballistic missile off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, nearly 30 nautical miles off Visakhapatnam coast on Sunday.

The missile under development by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was equipped on indigenous INS Arihant-class nuclear-powered submarines of Navy.

Reportedly, this test assumed significant as the missile was been planned after several failed attempts in the last two years.

In November last year, the missile was finally ready for trial but the test had to be put off due to severe cyclonic storm Bulbul in the Bay of Bengal.

Ahead of the test India had issued notice to airmen (Notam) for regulating the movement of flights during test window and also alerted Seafarers accordingly and coastal patrolling were also intensified.

Ukraine passenger plane was struck by two missiles: Reports

Among six nations that have the capability of firing nuclear-tipped missiles from all three platforms - land, air and undersea, India is one including the other five nations- US, Russia, France, UK and China.
The University of Pennsylvanias Lia Thomas competes in a swim meet against Dartmouth and Yale on Saturday. (Kylie Cooper)

After undergoing hormone replacement therapy, Thomas has posted fast times for the University of Pennsylvania's women's team, sparking debates from the starting blocks to online message boards to cable news networks.
Coming into dock, the first cruise ship returned to bushfire-ravaged Kangaroo Island in Australia on Sunday (January 19).

Kangaroo Island is renowned for its wildlife, but the recent bushfires have burnt more than 200,000 hectares of land, putting several species at risk.

For passengers, supporting the local economy is a top priority.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUN PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER, KAREN HALL, SAYING:

"We just wanted to come ashore to spend some money and to try and help the locals."

Local business owner Tony Coppins says it's the perfect time to visit the South Australian landmark.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) OWNER OF KANGAROO ISLAND SAFARI AND KANGAROO ISLAND OCEAN SAFARI, TONY COPPINS, SAYING:

"...but the economy has been affected because people have stopped coming. They think the whole island is on fire and it's not, so we really need to send that message out that the island is still accessible. We've still got planes flying in, ferries coming every day. There's probably a better time than ever to come to Kangaroo Island because there's less people here at the moment."

The Australian government also said on Sunday (January 19) it will allocate more than $50 million to the country's lucrative tourism industry.

Trade, tourism and investment minister Simon Birmingham was among those visiting Kangaroo Island and said international visitors are critical for such destinations.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MINISTER FOR TRADE, TOURISM AND INVESTMENT SENATOR SIMON BIRMINGHAM, SAYING:

"And that's why we got to project the message, not only that we're open for business, but that the vast majority of our country is not impacted by the bushfires and can still offer exactly the same experiences as people had looked for before."

Tourism accounts for more than three percent of the country's annual economic output.
The conservancy is still raising money. It would like to spend an additional $1.4 million on the construction of trails and park areas, a stewardship and management fund for ongoing maintenance and other administrative costs.

Those trails would make the land accessible to the general public, especially residents of the Boston-Thurmond neighborhood, which is adjacent.

The conservancy hopes the trail can be finished over the next six to nine months, so that a public opening can take place later this year, Redding told the Journal. Wed like to be present at the ribbon-cutting.

Crossnore still owns the land and can use it generally as it sees fit. Right now its main beneficiaries, besides the children who live there, are some cows, goats, horses and a llama. It is really up to them (Crossnore) how they want to manage the property, Redding said. I dont anticipate any major changes. I anticipate them keeping the cows.

But the land wont be transformed into more urban blight; thats the main benefit. This is a far better outcome than more high-end apartments or a commercial development.
Jiovani Cunanan holds his daughter, Lucia, 8, at the office of their immigration attorney, Ricky Palladino, in Philadelphia earlier this month. Lucia and her family came to Philadelphia so she could be treated for a rare blood cancer. Read more

Jiovani Cunanan says there are two key reasons why his 8-year-old daughter, Lucia, is still alive and fighting after being stricken with a deadly blood cancer.

One is the skill of doctors at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, a leader in treating her specific illness, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

The other is his wife, Lizbeth, trained as a nurse in the familys native Philippines, who has devoted herself to their daughters care.

While Jiovani works to support the family, Lizbeth manages Lucias medications, physicians appointments, and delicate nutritional needs. She lives constantly on alert for signs of fever, which for Lucia can be a life-threatening emergency. When a bone-marrow transplant landed her in seven months quarantine, Lizbeth lived in quarantine, too.

The government had recognized the precarious state of Lucias health, granting deferments from deportation that allowed the family to remain in the United States for treatment.

But now the Trump administration says that while Lucia, her father, and her younger brother can stay, her mother must go.

That has thrust the parents into crisis, terrified that Lucias health will crash without her mothers constant attention. But returning as a family to the Philippines, with its limited access to cancer care and low survival rates, could be a death sentence for their daughter.

I am just trying to be strong, said Lizbeth, 43. I told myself, if I will get sick, who will take care of my daughter?

Asked why Lizbeth was denied a deferment, a spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the agency does not comment on individual cases.

Philadelphia immigration attorney Ricky Palladino, who represents the family, said he was absolutely shocked that Lizbeth alone was denied. His review found that she has never been arrested or accused of a crime.

He repeatedly asked USCIS for an explanation, he said, hoping for a chance to address any concerns the agency might have. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey also inquired, he said, but no answers were forthcoming.

It just doesnt make any sense, Palladino said. Our government, which allowed them to come to the United States to save their daughters life, is turning its back on her.

Consistent, quality care has kept Lucia in remission for five years, enabling her to go to school. But her health remains uncertain.

Complications from her 2014 bone-marrow transplant caused numerous hospitalizations, and continue to require attention and treatment, according to CHOP documents and other records shared by the family.

Last month, Lucia was seen three times at CHOP, including for a 104-degree fever that sent her to the emergency room. She undergoes blood and platelet transfusions, and continues to be examined by oncologists, endocrinologists, and dermatologists.

Palladino thinks the mothers denial could stem from the Trump administrations attempt to eliminate the deferral program last summer, wondering if USCIS created a tougher internal standard for relief.

In mid-August, with no public notice, USCIS stopped accepting applications for deferred action, ending a small humanitarian program that the government has run for decades. It allows undocumented families to live and work in this country while fighting serious illnesses including cancer, leukemia, and cystic fibrosis.

Families were told to leave or face deportation  sparking an uproar from medical professionals, elected officials, and advocates. Deporting desperately sick children to nations with mediocre health-care systems, they argued, amounted to signing their death warrants.

The government gets about 1,000 requests a year for deferred action, which grants no immigration status but shields families from removal.

After a months barrage of criticism, USCIS restored the program.

 READ MORE: In Pennsylvania's conservative heartland, a historic cloister examines the immigration struggle

In deferment cases, typically at least one family member crossed into the U.S. without proper authorization. Thats not true for the Cunanans. The family obeyed federal immigration regulations, never entering or staying in America without official permission. They declared up-front that they sought medical treatment for their child.

All I want is to have my daughter live her full life, said Jiovani Cunanan, 45, a nurse by profession who now works as a dialysis technician.

Lucia loves to draw and paint, and to spend time with her 6-year-old brother, John, at the familys Northeast Philadelphia apartment.

When a classroom assignment asked students to name something for which theyre grateful, Lucia wrote she was thankful for God, because he gave me a second chance to survive.

Surgeons had to remove Lucias spleen because it was damaged by cancer, and the loss of that blood-filtering organ increases her risk of infection. All her baby teeth were surgically extracted after the roots were wrecked by chemotherapy. Shell need to take antibiotics for the rest of her life. She also has a lifetime requirement to report to a hospital within an hour of developing a fever.

CHOP pays Lucias medical bills.

The saga began in 2006, when Jiovani was offered a nursing job in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. Lizbeth followed a year later, both of them drawn by the higher pay and benefits offered in a country thats short of nurses.

They stayed close to family in the Philippines, where Lucia was born in May 2011. After returning to Qatar, the couple realized their baby was sick.

At 9 months old, Lucia was diagnosed with leukemia.

She underwent two cycles of high-dose chemotherapy in Qatar. Doctors said she would soon need a bone-marrow transplant. But that procedure was not available in Qatar, nor for children in the Philippines.

In July 2012, the parents brought Lucia to the U.S. on legal visas, directed by a friend to the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Doctors immediately admitted Lucia to the intensive-care unit for sepsis, a dangerous condition caused by the bodys response to an infection.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia's Ukrainians on Trump impeachment: suddenly everybody knows about Ukraine

When physicians performed a marrow aspiration, taking a sample of the liquid portion of the soft tissue inside Lucias bones, they found no cancer cells. She was in remission.

The family returned to Qatar hoping Lucia was cured.

But the child relapsed in August 2013.

The National Bone Marrow Registry found three matching donors in the United States.

The couple handed off then-4-month-old John to Lucias mother, and came to America on visas in April 2014. At that point, Lucia was dying. CHOP performed the bone-marrow transplant in August.

Lucias recovery was tormenting. She had one tube in her nose, another in her stomach, and a central line in her chest. She was plagued by diarrhea, and vomited 20 times a day.

Still, her mother said, when doctors asked how she was feeling, Lucia would offer a resolute thumbs-up.

After a month in the hospital, she was discharged to quarantine at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, where the family was staying. Her compromised immune system could not risk exposure to the outside world.

The familys visas, valid for six months, were twice extended, and while still legally in the country, they were granted deferred action.

Their trouble began in February 2019, when USCIS unexpectedly denied a renewal for Lizbeth.

Palladino filed a detailed request for reconsideration in June, noting that Lucias life and well-being continue to critically depend on CHOP, and her mothers presence continues to be critical for Lucias daily care.

In August, USCIS again denied Lizbeth, saying it no longer processed deferments.

Once the agency reversed course and again began accepting applications, Palladino asked for a new assessment.

The answer was the same  a third denial in November.

The family has little legal recourse, because deferment is granted by an executive-branch agency, not by a court.

Theyve asked for help from Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey. A spokesperson said Toomey is working with the familys lawyer and USCIS to try to find a solution for all involved.

And theyve tried not to dwell on their fears for Lucia.

One time she saw Daddy crying, Lizbeth said. She will tell Daddy: Daddy, dont worry. Im OK. Just pray. Thats why we are not giving up on her, because she herself is so positive. Shes giving the strength and courage to us.
She's set to film the final episode of long-running sit-com Modern Family, where she's played the role of Alex Dunphy since the show's first series in 2009.

And Ariel Winter treated herself to some time away from her acting schedule as she took her pet dogs out for a walk in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon.

The screen star, 21, opted for a casual look as she sported a pair of tiny black shorts, putting her lean legs on full display.

Refreshing stroll: Ariel Winter treated herself to some time away from her acting schedule as she took her pet dogs out for a walk in Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon

Maintaining her low-key appearance, the actress kept cosy in a green hooded jumper and white canvas trainers.

The Mr. Peabody & Sherman voiceover artist wore her dark locks straight while showcasing her radiant complexion as she went make-up free.

The new year represents a significant departure for Ariel, with her hit show Modern Family expected to end its hugely successful 11-year run on April 8.

Cheeky: The screen star, 21, opted for a casual look as she sported a pair of tiny black shorts, putting her lean legs on full display

The entire cast made the sad announcement at the ABC 2020 Winter TCA conference earlier this month.

Taking to the stage at the Pasadena event, they spoke about their 21 time Emmy winning show, with Ariel opening up about growing up on TV in front of the world.

'I think, Rico, Nolan and I changed a lot over 11 years...I especially hated the year I had braces,' she told the audience.

Moving on: She's set to film the final episode of long-running sit-com Modern Family (pictured with Sarah Hyland in 2010)

'I do have to say, it was a really awkward year for me because I also went through puberty that summer...once we wrapped, I had other things.

'I definitely think it's really difficult to grow up in front of millions of people who have an opinion on everything you do and who are allowed to say it at any point.'

While the cast, which also includes Sarah Hyland and Sophie Vergara, have been given and end date, they are yet to film their final scenes.
Ohimai Amaize, a former AIT presenter who fled Nigeria last year, has been granted asylum in the United States, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

The journalist confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES in an e-mail Sunday. I have just received notice of my asylum approval, he said.

Mr Amaize, 35, departed Abuja in June 2019 following claims he was being trailed by Nigerian security agents with intention to arrest and charge him for treason and incitement. The alleged plots stemmed from a confrontation between the government and AIT and its flagship morning show, Kakaaki Social, a user-generated programme which Mr Amaize was anchoring at the time.

The Nigerian broadcast stations regulator, NBC, shut down the station for about 24 hours, alleging multiple infractions on federal guidelines for broadcasters. Although the station was reopened following a court order, its headquarters in Abuja was besieged by armed officers from the State Security Service, SSS.

Mr Amaize criticised the guidelines as arbitrary and repressive and subsequently fled to New York on June 11, citing threats to his safety by the SSS, police and other state agents and supporters. His wife, an Abuja-based fashion designer, also left Nigeria a few weeks later to join him.

American government grants asylum to individuals who have been able to substantiate claims of persecution in their home country, especially where such attacks are linked to their political opinion, religious beliefs and other fundamental rights.

My forced exit from Nigeria last year has been a very traumatising experience for me and my family, Mr Amaize told PREMIUM TIMES. I am very happy and I thank God for this development.

Before joining AIT in 2018, Mr Amaize was amongst top voices highly critical of the Buhari administration. Between 2011 and 2015, he served as special assistant on advocacy to the then Nigerian Minister of Youth Development, Bolaji Abdullahi.

He later got involved in partisan politics, joining the then ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in 2012. He disengaged from partisan politics in 2015, later focusing on media work at the AIT until he fled the country last year.

Although Mr Amaize was never arrested, he alleged regular threats to his life. He also frequently cited several other critics and journalists who were arrested and charged under repressive laws.

I can now live and carry on with my life without the fear of being persecuted by the Muhammadu Buhari regime for the opinions that I express or the work that I do as a journalist, Mr Amaize said. Of course, I miss Nigeria so much because there is no place like home.

Media rights advocates quickly saw Mr Amaizes asylum breakthrough as a positive development for press freedom.

This is a victory for press freedom, one that rekindles the hope of all defenders of civil liberties across the world, Martin Obono, an Abuja-based rights activist, told PREMIUM TIMES. We congratulate Mr Amaize and his family.

Mr Obono said the expeditious manner Mr Amaize received asylum from the U.S. should put the Nigerian government on the notice that America and other nations of the free world would not tolerate any acts that stifle freedom.

The Buhari administration has continued to deny allegations of repression, saying the countrys civic space has flourished since 2015. The government said only those guilty of subversive plots were arrested, a claim that failed to hold up against mounting evidence of attacks against citizens fundamental rights.

Asylum is usually a long and cumbersome process that could take years for an average seeker, Mr Obono said. That Mr Ohimai was able to receive it within a short period should evoke introspection of a government that is capable of reading signs from the international community.

While wishing Nigeria a prosperous future, Mr Amaize appreciated those who supported him, especially AIT, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights First and his American attorneys Davis Polk and Wardwell LLP.

I hope that in the not too distant future, Nigeria will return to a true democracy where a free press, freedom of expression and the rule of law are respected, he said.

EDITORS NOTE: This post has been updated following the correction of some factual inaccuracies contained in the former version.
Jodhi Meares and Dominic Purcell appear to have reconciled after splitting last year.

Despite calling it quits in September, the couple spent Christmas together in New York City.

Former model Jodhi, 48, and Prison Break star Dominic, 49, looked as happy as ever at a dinner party hosted by Hugh Jackman and his wife, Deborra-lee Furness.

Back together? Jodhi Meares (left) and Dominic Purcell (right) have seemingly rekindled their romance after splitting in September. They are pictured at a dinner party in NYC in December

Photos of the pair were published on Instagram by Arron Coote, who is the new husband of Dominic's ex-wife, Rebecca Williamson.

Arron captioned the snaps: 'And that's how to do a very relaxing Xmas Day in NYC with my wife's ex husband and his new girlfriend #modernfamily.'

In one of the pictures, Dominic and Jodhi can be seen standing next to each other in front of a large Christmas tree.

While they seem to be back together, the couple still haven't re-followed each other on social media since their rumoured initial split.

Pals: Photos of the pair were published on Instagram by Arron Coote (centre), who is the new husband of Dominic's ex-wife, Rebecca Williamson. Left: Dominic, and right: Hugh Jackman

Happy holidays: In one of the pictures, Dominic and Jodhi (far right) can be seen standing next to each other in front of a large Christmas tree

Going solo? Jodhi and Dominic had seemingly parted ways in September, less than three months after going public with their romance

Jodhi and Dominic had seemingly parted ways in September, less than three months after going public with their romance.

The PDA-loving stars sparked split rumours by deleting all evidence of their relationship from Instagram and unfollowing each other.

Tellingly, Dominic had also removed his post from July in which he first announced he was dating the fashion designer.

Over already? The PDA-loving stars sparked split rumours by deleting all evidence of their relationship from Instagram and unfollowing each other. Pictured in July

Dominic and Jodhi reportedly met through a mutual friend earlier in 2019.

Jodhi, who is the founder of activewear label The Upside, split from her second husband, Nick Tsindos, in March 2017, after 14 months of marriage.

She famously married her first husband, Australian billionaire James Packer, in 1999.
The passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has polarised Indian politics. While rallies, both in support and against the legislation, have dominated the public sphere, a key fault line has emerged between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre and states on one hand, and states governed by Opposition parties on the other. The Kerala and Punjab legislative assemblies have passed resolutions rejecting the CAA on the grounds that it is unconstitutional, and, therefore, they are not under obligation to implement it. This has come against the backdrop of several other states ruled by non-National Democratic Alliance parties rejecting the CAA, although their assemblies are yet to pass any resolutions to the effect. The Congress convened a meeting of the Opposition parties on the issue and declared they would staunchly oppose the Act. The Centre has argued that the Act conforms to all constitutional provisions, including the right to equality.

It is important to go back to first principles here. States have a right to challenge legislation and policies. If they believe that a certain Act is unconstitutional, they also have a right to go to the Supreme Court (SC)  and indeed, several petitioners, including the Kerala government, have challenged the CAA in the court. But at the same time, it is crucial to respect the division of powers as laid out in the Constitution.

The fact is that the CAA has been legitimately passed by Parliament. The BJP articulated it in its manifesto; it won a resounding mandate; it used its legislative strength to pass the legislation. The subject under consideration is citizenship  which falls squarely within the Union List, authorising the Centre to act on it. Unless the SC declares it constitutionally invalid, it is the law of the land. And states  even if they do not agree  have no choice but to implement it. Congress leaders such as Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid, both lawyers, and Jairam Ramesh, who has filed a petition in the SC against the Act, have also made the point that the position of states that they will not implement the law will not stand up to judicial scrutiny. This is not about the CAA; it is about the larger framework that governs Centre-State relations. State governments have made their political point. They must now step back and wait for the SCs order.
The domestic steel industry is seeking reduction in basic on key raw materials such as coking coal, pet coke, limestone and dolomite in the upcoming Budget.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for financial year 2020-21 on February 1.

"Anthracite coal, coking coal, coke, limestone, dolomite are vital inputs for the steel industry. The availability of these items in good quality is declining in the country and the industry has to depend on imports on regular basis," industry body said in its Budget recommendations for Indian

The basic customs import duty on anthracite coal is 2.5 per cent. Since ferro alloy industry plays a vital role in steel manufacturing, it is necessary to make available these reductants at international competitive price to make Indian steel mills more competitive, it said while recommending that on anthracite coal be reduced to zero from 2.5 per cent.

Met coke, another vital input for the industry, had always attracted lower and concessional rate of customs duty, it said.

However, the basic was enhanced from 2.5 per cent to 5 per cent with effect from March 1, 2015. Additionally, anti-dumping duty was also imposed on its imports with effect from November 25, 2016.

"As a result, the cost of this (met coke) vital input in steel manufacturing has gone up necessitating increase in price of steel which is acting as deterrence to the competitiveness of domestic products in international markets vis--vis similar products of other countries like China," it said.

"Moreover, high inputs costs have led to an inverted duty structure in the domestic industry and are acting as a deterrent to government's Make in India initiative, as domestic producers have less incentive to import met coke. Rather, imports of finished steel goods are preferred," it said and suggested that duty on metallurgical coke be reduced to zero.

The industry body said exemption available to was also removed by the government in 2014-15 Budget by bringing it at par with other types of coal and imposing 2.5 per cent basic customs duty.

This amendment has adversely affected steel manufacturers in India. is one of the principal raw materials used in steel manufacturing and predominantly used for making coke for use in steel making and thus forms a major part of the final price of the steel, it said.

"Levy of 2.5 per cent of duty on and simultaneously fixing the import duty of 5 per cent on coke has adversely affected the costing of steel. It is requested to restore the exemption of nil rate of duty allowed earlier to coking coal without any technical definition of coking coal," it said.

also recommended zero customs duty on steel grade limestone and dolomite as increase in steel production has led to rising demand for SMS (steel melting shop) and BF (blast furnace) grade limestone.

Limestone imports have been increasing consistently as the reserves of SMS and BF grade limestone within the country are scattered and there is a capacity limitation of the existing limestone mines in various states.

"In 2014-15 Budget, exemption was granted to Limestone (CTH 2521) and Dolomite (CTH 2518) for metallurgical use conforming to IS: 10345-2004 (Limestone) and IS: 10346-2004 (Dolomite). While there is no apparent issue in this regard but now all samples which were hitherto not being tested are now being sent to Bengaluru laboratories for testing due to which finalization of provisional assessments are getting unduly delayed," it said.

"This substantially increases transaction costs and litigation defeating the purpose of benefit of concessional duty. So, it is requested to reduce the customs duty on all grades of limestone and dolomite from 2.5 per cent to nil in line with similar imports from ASEAN countries, without any technical condition," it added.

Exemption of import duty on ferrous and stainless steel scrap, imposing 30 per cent export duty on graphite electrodes, increase in basic customs duty for certain steel products, reduction of import duty on moly oxide are some of the other recommendations made by to the Finance Ministry.
Vegan activists have stormed a Queensland restaurant as part of a protest against the meat industry.

Protesters held up signs and repeated the chant 'it's not food, it's violence' in the middle of the Black Hide Steakhouse in Brisbane at the weekend.

The protest was part of a global movement by activist group Direct Action Everywhere.

Protesters held up signs and repeated the chant- 'it's not food it's violence' in the middle of the Black Hide Steakhouse in Brisbane at the weekend

The group live-streamed the protest to Facebook, urging animal rights supporters to share the video and spread their message.

'We're at a steakhouse to disrupt normalised violence,' the woman filming the video said.

'We have around 25 dedicated animal rights activists standing in solidarity for animals that are needlessly slaughtered for food.

'We have the choice to end violence with our dollar and in 2020 there is no longer an excuse to pay for someone else's suffering.'

The diners appeared uncomfortable as the group stood in the middle of the restaurant chanting and holding their signs.

Others stood out the front of the steakhouse confronting those who entered the restaurant with their message against meat.

The group are well known for their activities in Western Australia, where they have held several marches and protested outside abattoirs and butchers shops near Perth.

Direct Action Everywhere spokesman Arcadiusz Swiebodinksi said the group planned more protests in Queensland.

Direct Action Everywhere spokesman Arcadiusz Swiebodinksi told 7news they're just getting started in Queensland

'We came here to Brisbane because its a very heavy animal agriculture state here in Queensland and animals need to be spoken for everywhere, he told 7 News.

'This is just the beginning.'

One diner said he was unhappy about having his dinner interrupted.

'Don't interrupt other people's life everyone has got a right to make a choice - they can make there's. Let the people here who like eating steak make theirs,' he said.

Others offered their support to the steakhouse on social media.

'Hi, sorry you had to put up with those vegan d**k heads last night. We love eating your steak,' one person wrote.

The protest lasted less than 20 minutes, and by the time police arrived the activists had already left.
(CNN) -- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will no longer use the titles His and Her Royal Highness after announcing they would step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family, Buckingham Palace announced Saturday.

Prince Harry and Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family and will repay the Sovereign Grant funds they recently spent to renovate their official residence, Frogmore Cottage -- 2.4 million (about $3 million) of British taxpayers' money -- the palace said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, the couple will be required to step back from their royal duties, including military appointments, and no longer represent the Queen, the statement from Buckingham Palace said.

Harry and Meghan will no longer receive funds for royal duties, it said. The arrangement will go into effect this spring.

"Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," Queen Elizabeth II said in a statement.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family," she said. "I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life."

"I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond," the Queen said, "and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family."

Harry will give up his three military patronages, a royal source said, and his position as Commonwealth youth ambassador. The couple will spend the majority of their time in North America, the royal source said.

The family has been discussing Harry and Meghan's future after the couple made a surprise announcement that they would step back from their roles as senior members of the family, split their time between the United Kingdom and North America and work toward becoming financially independent.

Saturday's news came after senior members of the family held a meeting at the Queen's Sandringham estate on Monday. Afterward, the Queen said she agreed to a "period of transition" while the final details of an agreement on the matter were ironed out.

Meghan, who was in Canada, did not call into the meeting, as expected, a source told CNN.

The couple has previously spoken about the toll that public scrutiny has taken on them, with Harry raising the possibility of living abroad during a TV documentary that aired in October.

Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, stopped using Her Royal Highness -- commonly referred to as HRH -- after her divorce from Prince Charles.
Bhumika Popli By

Time and again a number of books have proved to influence peoples lives. And literary references, quoted at many occasions, are one of the many instances where books have claimed a diligent seat.



Understanding this, in the New Year, The Sunday Standard spoke with six publishing houses, primarily located in Delhi, about their top upcoming books in 2020.

According to Renuka Chatterjee, VP (Publishing), Speaking Tiger, their books this year carry on the publishers tradition of combining honest, articulate commentary on issues that matter with the best of writing. In 2020, we have books that deal with the Ayodhya verdict, citizenship and exile, being Muslim in India, issues that are pertinent to our times. As well as fiction from veterans like Upamanyu Chatterjee, coming out with his eighth book, The Hapless Prince, to Angshu Dasgupta, who has just published his first, Fern Road.

Publisher Zubaan Books is developing on its list of nonfiction writing by established and emerging women writers from across India. Especially from Kashmir and the Northeastern states, says Urvashi Butalia, editor-in-chief, Zubaan Books. Our focus in fiction remains on translated work, including a lovely edition of Chandrabatis Ramayan, translated from the Bengali by the incredible, late Nabaneeta Dev Sen. Our academic books this year will continue to address topics significant for feminists and for conversations shaping the nation at large, with books on privacy, feminist work in the university/academy, and more.

According to Ritu Menon, founder, Women Unlimited, Vasant Kannabirans new book titled Taken at the Flood, reflects this publishing houses 35-year-old legacy of focusing on the womens movement. Kannabirans book is part of the series of whats happening in the country, narrated from a feminist standpoint. Women Unlimited has also brought Ismat Chugtais writings time and again. This time it is The Story of Karbala, by the acclaimed writer translated from the original by Urdu by Tahira Naqvi, called One Drop of Blood. Chughtai is a part of our very old translations programme of major Urdu writers. We just reissued Vintage Chughtai, a collection of the writers best short stories. We are doing a very interesting anthology of Kashmiri women edited volume by Athar Ziya and Nitasha Kaul, titled Can you hear Kashmiri Women Speak?

Niyogi Books is making a fresh turn in the illustrated books category. As per Trisha Niyogi, Outreach Officer, Niyogi Books, there will be a bundle of brilliantly illustrated books ranging from biographies to memoirs, from socio-cultural histories to travel diaries. But apart from the illustrated books there are several books on diverse themes by the publisher. Trisha says, This year too, we have nourished several unique ideas, to bring out exciting titles like Flower Shower: The Culture of Flowers in India, Coconut: How the Shy Fruit Shaped Our World, Article 370 explained for the Common Man, etc. We are also impregnating a few ideas like Lottery Commission, sharks, scenography and many others, and are planning beautiful books on these themes in varying formats and sizes.

The publisher is also working on translations of Hemendra Kumar Roys Calcutta Nights and Anita Agnihotris A Day in the Life of Mangal Taram. Their Hindi imprint Bahuvachan is also going strong with 20 more illustrated titles being readied, which includes biographies of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi. We are enthused about several other titles on history and travel as well. We are looking forward to an exciting new year, adds Trisha.

One of the most important books by Yoda Press is Unafraid: The Day Young Women Took the Battle by Farah Naqvi, Sarojini N and Deepa Venkatachalam. The book demonstrates the recent Jamia incidents. Also, look at Uncivil City: Ecology, Equity and the Commons in Delhi by Amita Baviskar, about the environmental politics in the capital city.

This year, children book publisher Pratham Books will address difficult emotions such as grief, loss and depression, including narratives on gender equity. Apart from that, well have a slew of STEM books, with a focus on natural sciences especially insects and marine life, and technology. And of course, lots of humour, including the return of beloved characters in Ammachis Incredible Investigation, Puchku Seeks a Song and Lalita Runs Away, says, Bijal Vachharajani, Senior Editor, Pratham Books.She adds, Were excited to publish Jerry Pinto and Kripa Bs The Art Gallery on Princess Street, Somak Ghoshal and Proiti Roys Pikus Little World, Shrujana Sridhars Chius Power and Shabnam Minwalla and Ruchi Bakshis Book of Bhoots, Kamla Bhasins Satrangi Lakdiyaan, among many others.
Pope Francis during his Sunday Angelus speaks of the crisis in Libya making particular mention of an important summit taking place in Berlin which aims to find a solution to the current situation.

The Pope expressed the hope that the conference would be the start of a path towards an end to violence and a negotiated solution leading to peace and much-desired stability in the country.



The UN estimates that the country's conflict has killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands more.

Germany is bringing together the key players in Libya's long-running civil war in a bid to determine the North African nation's future.

Also in attendence is Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the UK's Boris Johnson and the UN.

As talks continued on Sunday there was a call for all parties to refrain from hostilities against oil facilities.

Conflict has been rife in Libya since the 2011 uprising which ousted long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

A truce was announced earlier this month between Gen Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) and the rival and UN backed Government of National Accord (GNA), led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj. However, both sides have blamed eachother for breaches of the accord.
KAMPALA  While about 18 million Ugandans are now able to access services via the internet, only a fraction of the 18 million are able to bank, pay school fees or utility bills, order transport, search for location, learn, or perform a variety of other basic day-to-day needs; online. Why is that?

Among other hinderances, the answer lies in the capacity of different mobile platforms to connect with multiple service providers and allow transactions to take place.

Today the vast majority of the applications used in Uganda are still private and the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are only available to third parties at exorbitant costs. This not only makes the services expensive but also limits innovation by third party developers.

But what are these costly APIs? Just like we talk to each other to make things happen, so do software programs. Software programs need to communicate to perform the various tasks that we want them to perform. For that matter, the importance of an API as an enabler for an open digital payments ecosystem and an inclusive digital economy cannot be overstated. It is that connection that allows software programs to talk to one another, interpreting what information is being given and what actions the software wants the other to perform.

For instance, for a ride hailing service like safeboda or Uber to operate, it has to know the location of its rider and that of the customer. This is made possible by accessing and using a location API, say that of Google maps. Without having access to the location API, Safeboda or Uber as a business / service would not exist.

Similarly, for a business to sell its products and services online (without any direct contact with the buyer), they would need to find means of being paid online (digitally) too.

The most common payment option in Uganda today is mobile money. Therefore, for a business to be able to accept / request for a mobile money payment from a customer, it needs to access and use the mobile money API from the telecom.

In Uganda, the concept of open APIs is still in its nascent stage and only a handful of players in the industry appreciate its potential impact in accelerating the growth of the digital economy. It is of utmost importance for example, that digital financial services (DFS) providers such as banks, Telcos and FinTechs come on board to open their APIs to third parties, to enable digital payments that power the digital economy in which we operate.

UNCDF pushes industry players to open their APIs

During a workshop on OPEN APIs/ OPEN DATA in the Digital Economy held in Kampala last November, the United Nations Capital development Fund (UNCDF) stressed how fast tracking interoperability between companies will contribute to the growth of the digital economy in Uganda.

Convened by the UNCDF and facilitated by Aiaze Mitha, an international expert in DFS and open payments ecosystems, the workshop gathered over 70 participants from Fintech, Startups,Telecos and government institutions that are now reflecting on the benefits of open APIs.

Third party partnership programmes are the standard model for growth employed by large enterprises across all industries. Companies testify to the significant benefits including accelerated growth, higher brand awareness, increased revenue and presence in new markets, Mitha says.

In Uganda, only 28% (5.2million) of the adult population use formal financial services (defined as banks, Microfinance Deposit Taking Institutions and Savings and Creditworthiness Cooperative Organizations). On the other hand, according to Bank of Uganda, the number of registered mobile money subscribers by July 2017 was 22.9 million. These numbers demonstrate that increasingly, customers are looking for quicker and more convenient processes.

Unfortunately, traditional financial service providers are limited in their ability to innovate and deliver advanced customer experiences. According to Mitha, tomorrows financial services providers (FSPs) will need to be radically different to compete in the digital finance space. Opening their systems will allow for more willing and talented companies, particularly startups to innovate for the customers of these FSPs  thus improving the value proposition of the latter with new services.

What this means for customers

UNCDF is committed to working with public and private sector partners to build an Inclusive Digital Economy that leaves no Ugandan behind in this digital era, Chris Lukolyo, Digital Country Lead for UNCDF says.

From asking for and making social contributions, making utility payments, online shopping, to accessing critical services like education and the much-needed health care, digital technologies can and have improved the livelihoods of humanity. When it is easier and cheaper for developers to test new ideas, customers get a range of services to choose from and make payments from their bank or mobile money accounts in real time. By fueling innovation, open APIs therefore provide customers with a wider choice of innovative services and solutions to meet their various needs. This also comes with increased flexibility and transparency in how customers transact.

While DFS providers could invest more in innovation, usually low-income communities are not a priority. Yet, with access to affordable digital solutions, these communities represent a wide customer base that can accelerate the business growth of the sector. Open APIs for instance can provide access to precious data that would be otherwise daunting to find for communities without access to formal banking services. Often, these communities have no data on their income; no credit history; no history of payments. Technology is making it easy to digitize this information. When systems are able to speak to each other, this data can be available to financial services providers and eventually give currently underserved customers access to services like credit and insurance.

Next steps

UNCDF is holding one on one discussions with various insitutions in the industry particularly telecom companies, banks and Fintechs on how to work towards opening their APIs.

UNCDF has helped build the rails of the digital economy in Uganda with its programmes on financial inclusion since 2014. The agency is currently implementing a programme focused on building an inclusive digital economy in Uganda. HiPipo is already trying this though include their famous include everyone initiative.

To ensure that no one is left behind in the digital era, UNCDF is working with a selection of partners ready to address underserved markets in particular women, youth, refugees and smallholder farmers.

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Australia's east coast has been lashed by a 'once in every 100 years' storm causing flash flooding and leaving thousands of homes without power.

Southeast Queensland is bracing for more storms after torrential rain swamped the region, causing flash flooding that closed major roads and theme parks on Saturday.

The devastation hit the Gold Coast the hardest with 325mm of rain falling at Loders Creek and more than 200mm in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Rain is expected to continue lashing parts of Queensland and NSW as a super cell that caused bucketing rain and flash flooding moves south towards Sydney.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Kimba Wong said the severe storms have been a 'one-in-100-year event'.

Southeast Queensland (pictured) is bracing for more storms after torrential rain swamped the region causing flash flooding that closed roads and theme parks on Saturday

Bushland is seen burnt by fire as rain pools in large puddles at Bilpin, in the Blue Mountains, following torrential rain

'The highest total that we have recorded is 330 millimetres at Loder Creek on the Gold Coast, so some very heavy rainfall there,' she said.

Ms Wong told Daily Mail Australia that rain would be more isolated and not as widespread in the coming days.

'We're looking at more isolated showers over the next few days,' she said.

The Bureau said torrential rain was easing up but warned floods could still flare up.

'Water on the ground and can linger for a little bit especially if the ground is already saturated,' she said.

More moderate showers and storms are forecast for the region for Sunday with falls of up to 15mm predicted.

Residents have been warned to brace for more severe storms expected on Sunday night.

Rain is expected to continue lashing parts of drought-stricken NSW. Pictured: A stormwater drain overflows in North Sydney for the first time in months

Saturated fields on the Gold Coast on Saturday (pictured) are seen after heavy rain lashed down on the area, causing flash floods

In NSW, downpours over the last few days have provided relief for a state ravaged by bushfires, with the number of blazes dropping from 111 to 73 in six days.

The state's northeast and Northern Rivers regions are tipped to receive further showers on Sunday, as a system that has caused bucketing rain and flash flooding in Queensland moves south.

A New South Wales Bureau of Meteorology spokesman told Daily Mail Australia that storms were expected state-wide on Sunday.

'Thunderstorms might be gusty and will be the worst in the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands and the mid-north coast,' he said.

'Sydney is expecting some showers and possibility of thunderstorms but not as bad as up north.'

'We're seeing more localised rainfall.'

A torrential rain bomb hammered down on Queensland and NSW on Saturday, with the Gold Coast the worst affected (pictured)

A car is seen by submerged by flash-flooding on the Gold Coast (pictured) on Saturday, as heavy rain lashed down on Queensland and NSW

Flash floods cut the M1 Motorway at Helensvale for almost seven hours on Saturday as debris blocked the drains and emergency workers struggled to pump the water clear.

Thousands were trapped in traffic gridlock before the M1 finally reopened just after 1pm.

Gold Coast theme parks Movie World, Dreamworld and Whitewater World Theme Park were hoping to reopen on Sunday but remained underwater at 11am.

Shocking footage of the devastation showed Queensland residents escaping via boat and floating down flooded streets.

A Facebook user reported seeing a shark (pictured) floating past is flooded street in Burleigh Heads, a suburb of the Gold Coast

Theme parks MovieWorld and Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast were shut on Saturday due to the flooding (pictured)

On Saturday, huge deluges hammered the Gold Coast, while Clothiers Creek in NSW recorded recorded 78mm of rain in just one hour.

A resident of Burleigh Heads in Queensland even posted a picture showing what he claimed to be a shark floating down his flooded street.

The Facebook user wrote: 'Nothing like a shark swimming down the street.

'Ahhhh, Australia. Burning one minute. Sending killing machines to swim into your living room the next.'

While it's unclear if it is a shark, the area is known to have bull sharks in the nearby Burleigh Lake.
The homeless crisis won't go away with a new government, the founder of a Dublin-based charity has warned.

Yesterday a Dublin Regional Homeless Executive report

Read More:

However, Cllr Anthony Flynn, from the Inner City Helping Homeless group, says that figure only counts people registered with homeless services and doesn't include those who die while sleeping rough.

The homeless crisis will continue unless the incoming government adopts an urgent approach, he said.

"The fact is homeless services is in turmoil. It's a big, big agenda. It dominated the agenda for the first 48 hours of the General Election and it will continue to do so," Cllr Flynn said.

"Unless we have political will to change what's in place at the moment or change the system that's in place at the moment, we are going to continue to see the stories of old people and children that are on the streets.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: The Biaora town of Madhya Pradeshs Rajgarh district witnessed violent scenes on Sunday as a large number of Citizenship (Amendment) Act supporters clashed with the police and local administration on being stopped from taking out the pro-CAA procession sans any permission.

While the CAA supporters, including BJP leaders (among them ex-MLA Amar Yadav) and workers, accused the administration of using force and cane charge on the peaceful gathering, the Rajgarh district collector Nidhi Nivedita claimed that it was people from within those trying to carry out the procession, who actually assaulted two women deputy collectors Priya Verma and Shruti Agrawal and even on-duty cops.

Those present in the crowd pulled one of our woman administrative officers through hair and kicked her, besides trying to pull the clothes of both the women officers. Is this how they abide by the rule of law. They are supporting a newly passed law by violating prohibitory orders clamped u/s Section 144 of CrPc, banning all such rallies and processions in Rajgarh district, Rajgarh district collector Nidhi Nivedita said.

The BJP workers alleged that the police cane charged them, while one of the BJP workers was slapped by the district collector. Two men were injured in the cane charge by police.

Importantly, the CAA supporters had given a call for rally/march in support of the new law in Biaora town of Rajgarh district on Sunday, despite the district administration has already denied permission to them in view of prohibitory orders clamped in the district to ensure peaceful Republic Day celebrations.

But despite being denied permission around 50-100 persons took out the march. When they were stopped by police and administration, those present among the crowd actually started misbehaving with cops-administrative officials. When the two female deputy collectors stopped the procession, those forming part of the procession misbehaved with them. Were identifying all those who misbehaved with our two women officers. All those people will be booked in a separate case, while 121 persons have so far been booked u/s 188 of IPC for violating the prohibitory orders, the collector added.

Meanwhile, two men (both BJP workers) were injured when police cane charged the crowd which was protesting outside the police station in Biaora over the detention of those who had allegedly misbehaved with the two women administrative officers.

Around 10-12 men have so far been detained in connection with the developments. Meanwhile, the state BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Agrawal lashed out at the state government and the Rajgarh district administration and police for the cane charge on the CAA supporters.

In Madhya Pradesh, double standards are being followed when it comes to law and order maintenance per se CAA related protests/rallies. While, the Congress government has nothing against the anti-CAA protests and has instead taken action against those cops in Jabalpur and Indore, who were doing their duty to control the violent anti-CAA protestors when it comes to dealing with CAA supporters, the police and administration are violently dealing with them which was evident in Rajgarh district on Sunday, said Agrawal.

The state Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja, however, blamed BJP for the ugly incidents in Rajgarh district. Carrying out march-procession sans permission and then misbehaving with women officers exposes that BJP wants to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and has no respect for women, said Saluja.
Dileep V Kumar By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The outbreak of novel Coronavirus (nCoV) 2019 in Wuhan City in China has put the health wing of the state on high alert. The state health department which got an alert from the Union Health Ministry on Saturday has initiated steps to deal with any medical emergencies. Meanwhile, the department stated that it is yet to screen airline passengers at any of the four international airports in the state.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The outbreak was mainly concentrated in Wuhan. But some positive cases have also been reported from Japan and Thailand. The new cases are a result of the movement of people from affected areas. This is a matter of concern for the state, said an officer of the health department. According to the officer, as a significant number of students from Kerala are studying in various universities in China, the state health wing has to step up its vigilance.

Dr Amar Fettle, nodal officer, Public Health Emergency of International Concern, said: The state health wing has received an alert against 2019-nCoV from the Regional Office of Health and Family Welfare under the ministry. But the alert is to remain vigilant. Also, no screening of airline passengers has been suggested. The officer further added: The first procedure after receiving an alert is the identification of hospitals for dealing with any medical emergencies. Also, the district surveillance officers have been asked to look for any unusual events or health rumours in their respective districts. Meanwhile, Amar also added that so far the risk levels remain low.

After a review meeting the other day, Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, had stated that public health preparedness is being reviewed on a day-to-day basis and the core capacities to timely detect and manage transmission of the nCoV into the country are being strengthened further. She also added that the situation is being monitored in consultation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and keeping in view the limited human-to-human transmission, the risk at the global level is perceived to be low.According to WHO, the common signs of nCoV include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, it can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome and others. At the same time, the WHO also stated that there is no specific treatment for nCoV. So far two deaths have been reported from China due to the disease.
Gunn Memorial Library in Washington will present a Better Angels Debate on The Future of U.S. Immigration Policy Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.

A snow date of Jan. 30 is planned at the school.

The Gunnerys history chair, Bart McMann, will facilitate the program at the Wykeham Road library.

Participating in the discussion will be some of McManns class scholars.

Americas immigration policies continue to change over time.

Issues that frame such policy include the immigrants role in the labor force, rates of immigration to the US, and most recently, concerns about terrorism.

The main question to consider is the fairness of these policies in terms of their consideration of immigrants and benefits to the United States.

Better Angels is a national citizens movement to reduce political polarization in the United States by bringing liberals and conservatives together to understand each other beyond stereotypes, forming red/blue community alliances, teaching practical skills for communicating across political differences, and making a strong public argument for depolarization.

The goal of a Better Angels Debate is not to win the argument. Rather, it is a highly structured conversation in which a group of people listen carefully and meaningfully engage with each others ideas on a difficult issue.

For more information and RSVP, call 860-868-7586.
The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has urged Union power minister R K Singh to have a detailed discussion with power engineers on any proposal for privatisation of electricity supply before placing it in the forthcoming Budget session of Parliament.

The federation has warned that any unilateral move will meet with stiff opposition from the countrys power employees and engineers.

We have learnt that presentations done during the power ministers conference on January 9 clearly suggest the government is coming with a new scheme for segregation of carriage and content with multiple supply franchisee in electricity supply, AIPEF chairman Shailendra Dubey said in a written statement here on Sunday.

He claimed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had planned a new bailout scheme ADITYA in the next budget, aimed at privatising state-run power distribution companies (discoms) with multiple supply franchisees for power distribution in an area and a network franchisee.

He claimed that as per the scheme, discoms would be eligible for funding from the Power Finance Corporation and other Central government institutions against project milestones, if all the conditions have been met.

We have urged the Union power minister to shelve the plan of privatising power supply in view of the long list of failures of franchisees across the country, Dubey said.
Some doctors and health professionals took to the streets of Abuja last week to protest the increasing cases of violence meted on their members by patients and their families.

Also, on the international scene, WHO raised alarm over the slow development of new antibiotics to help fight drug-resistant diseases.

Here is a roundup of some of the health stories last week.

FCT doctors, health workers embark on protest

The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) and other health workers on Thursday embarked on a peaceful protest walk in Abuja to express their grievances over rising incidence of assault and violence on its members.

The protesters took a walk to the office of the FCT Minister over incessant violence meted on medical doctors and other health workers by relatives of patients.

The protesters also carried placards with several inscriptions indicating their displeasure.

Cancer: Governors wife calls for national screening policy

The wife of the Kebbi State governor, Zainab Bagudu, has called for a national screening policy to help in the early detection of cancer.

Mrs Bagudu, who is the founder of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), MedicAid Cancer Foundation, said this would tackle the challenges faced by states and the federal government in combating the disease.

We have to put in place the right hospitals and a national screening policy  that every year when an individual reaches a certain age, he or she has to go for screening, she said.

NHIS unveils health insurance under one roof

To reduce bottlenecks and fragmentation in service delivery, Nigerias Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has unveiled the Health Insurance Under One Roof.

The Executive Secretary of NHIS, Mohammed Sambo, shared the strategy with the leadership of the State Social Health Insurance Agencies at a recent meeting in Abuja, according to a statement by the schemes spokesperson, Ayo Osinlu.

The concept recommends the clear definition of scopes of health insurance in Nigeria, and the determination of who covers each of the segments between NHIS and the state agencies, the statement highlighted.

NAFDAC moves against manufacturers of unfortified milk, sugar

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said on Thursday, it would move against manufacturers of foods not fortified with vitamin A.

The agency expressed regret that some of the companies producing foods such as milk, sugar, salt and oil had not been adding vitamin A, which helps the eyes to function properly.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the agency would also go after all illegal importation of oil into the country.

Two health workers killed as bandits attack Zamfara community

Suspected armed bandits on Tuesday stormed Makosa community in Zurmi Local area of Zamfara State killing two health workers supervising a polio vaccination exercise, residents have said.

Witnesses said the suspected bandits, who stormed the community primary health care centre wielding sophisticated weapons, shot dead the health personnel after a verbal disagreement between them.

Residents identified the deceased as Lawali Suleiman and Aliyu Muhammad popularly known as (Ali Invitation). One other person sustained injuries from the attack.

UCTH to Perform First Open Heart Surgery in April

The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has announced that it will conduct its first open heart surgery in the second week of April this year.

The authorities of the hospital said the expected surgical operation will be done by the teaching hospital in partnership with a United States-based team, VOOM Foundation.

Responding to questions in an interview published in the official newsletter of the hospital released at the weekend, the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Ikpeme Ikpeme, said: the hospital will join the big leagues of hospitals who have performed heart surgeries and it will be a giant stride achieved, as far as medical practice is concerned.

Foreign scene

WHO releases guidelines on detection, treatment of novel coronavirus

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With the possibility of the spread of the new coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued guidance on how to detect and treat persons ill with the new virus.

This is following reports of confirmation of the novel coronavirus in a person in Thailand.

The person was a traveler from Wuhan, China, and was identified by Thai officials on January 8. He was hospitalised that day. The person is (was) recovering from the illness according to Thai officials.

As superbugs spread, WHO raises alarm over lack of new antibiotics

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Friday that a dire lack of new antibiotics was threatening efforts to curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria, which kill tens of thousands of people each year.

The United Nations health agency published two new reports revealing that there are few effective antibiotics in the pipeline, meaning that the world is running out of options for fighting so-called superbugs.

Never has the threat of antimicrobial resistance been more immediate and the need for solutions more urgent, said WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus.
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Parts of Britain suffered the coldest night of winter so far last night, with forecasters warning the frosty evenings are set to continue, while 'exceptionally high' pressure threatens TV and radio blackouts today.

Millions of homes could be affected by the pressure, which could be the highest since 1957, meaning viewers may miss out on shows like Dancing on Ice and Doctor Who.

The Met Office also warned that people might experience their ears popping more easily than usual because of the pressure, which is caused by an unusual warm layer of air above cold air at ground level.

However, the high pressure should also mean that the UK will experience more settled weather, with low winds and clear skies, though it will be bitterly cold overnight.

A Mackerel sky over St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay as freezing temperatures hit Britain, with some experiencing the coldest night of winter so far

High air pressure happens when a body of cold air descends, or when cold air gets trapped underneath a layer of warmer air. This disrupts TV as channel signals mix, causing pixelated or black screens

The high pressure, which could reach 1050 millibars, will bend and reflect TV signals leaving viewers with scrambled TV channels

Freeview, which provides TV channels to six in 10 UK homes and 40 million Brits, will be the worst hit while YouView's TV will also be affected, as will its broadcast partnerships to TV services from BT, TalkTalk and Plusnet.

Satellite broadcasters Sky and Freesat will not be affected as they use different frequencies and online streaming should also work as normal.

MeteoGroup forecaster Mario Cuellar said: 'The stronger the air pressure, the greater the impact on TV and radio waves. 'And the UK will be close to its 1053.6 millibars pressure record.

'High pressure will cause cold air at ground level and warm air above, which will act like a mirror reflecting and disrupting TV and radio waves.'

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said: 'High pressure could well affect Freeview, causing signals to weaken and interfere with one another, due to a temperature inversion.

'Incredible high pressure around 1050 millibars will be over us.'

A runner in a frost covered Windsor Great Park. The Met Office said Northern Ireland experienced its coldest night of the winter yesterday, while the temperature fell to -6.8C in North Yorkshire's Topcliffe, and hovered around -1C across London

Photographers wait to take picture of a stag in a frost-covered Richmond Park in south west London where overnight temperatures dipped to -3C

A walker in a frost covered Windsor Great Park. As well as the cold weather, millions of homes could be affected by 'exceptionally high' pressure, which could be the highest since 1957, meaning viewers may miss out on shows like Dancing on Ice and Doctor Who

Deer in a frost covered Windsor Great Park. Though temperature will rise as high as 46.4F (8C) throughout the day all over the UK, they are expected to plunge back down to -7C later tonight

A Freeview spokesperson said: 'High pressure can mean some viewers experience pixelated pictures or a temporary loss of certain channels.

'We'll closely monitor the weather and update our service status.'

YouView has said: 'High pressure can negatively affect signals, causing picture break-up.'

The Met Office said Northern Ireland experienced its coldest night of the winter yesterday, while the temperature fell to -6.8C in North Yorkshire's Topcliffe, and hovered around -1C across London.

Though temperature will rise as high as 46.4F (8C) throughout the day all over the UK, they are expected to plunge back down to -7C later tonight.

The agency's Alex Burkhill said a fog warning had been put in place over sections of the West Midlands and north-west England.

A man takes his dog for a walk as the sun rises behind the Allen Clarke Memorial Windmill in Blackpool, as the chilly weekend continued with the mercury dipping below zero and fog coating large parts of the country

Deer in a frost covered Windsor Great Park. A mid-range cold weather alert has been issued by Public Health England from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm on Tuesday

A cyclist rides through a frost-covered Richmond Park in south west London where overnight temperatures dipped to -3C. Temperatures will rise throughout Sunday before plummeting again tonight

'It's been a very frosty start but through the bulk of the day it's going to be largely fine and largely sunny,' the forecaster said.

It would still be 'quite chilly' with expected highs of 8C scattered across parts of England, Mr Burkhill said.

He added that there would be some rain for the Shetland Islands.

A mid-range cold weather alert has been issued by Public Health England from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm on Tuesday and the organisation is urging people to prepare for cold weather conditions and look out for those most at risk.

Dr Owen Landeg, principal environmental public health scientist at PHE, said: 'Below 18 degrees, changes to the body mean that the risk of strokes, heart attacks and chest infections increase so heating homes to this temperature is particularly important to stay well.'
Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

Hyundai and its affiliate Kia said on Sunday their sales in the U.S. have increased for the first time in three years largely thanks to strong SUV sales.

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The two carmakers sold about 1.325 million cars combined in the U.S. market last year, up 4.6 percent from 2018. Hyundai's sales rose 4.7 percent to 710,000 and Kia's 4.4 percent to 615,000.

This led their combined share there to increase from 7.3 percent to 7.7 percent over the same period.

The main reason was the expanded lineups of SUVs.

Hyundai added the large Palisade and the small Venue last year to its lineup in the U.S., which already included the best-selling Santa Fe and small Tucson, while Kia released the large Telluride and the hybrid Niro in addition to the mid-sized Sorrento and compact Sportage and Soul.

But an economic slowdown has taken a toll on the overall car industry in the world's largest economy.

According to U.S. weekly Automotive News, a total of 17.08 million cars were sold in the U.S. last year, down 1.1 percent on-year. Major carmakers including GM, Ford and Toyota suffered sales declines.
Evelyn Yang, who is married to presidential hopeful Andrew Yang, gave a personal speech about sexual assault at the 2020 Women's March, asking women to roar against sexual violence...and the culture of cover-up that so often follows.

Taking the stage at the fourth annual event on Saturday in New York City, Evelyn introduced herself as a professional marketer turned stay-at-home mom with two sons, one of whom is autistic, and as a true New Yorker. After explaining that Andrew is fighting for big structural change, Evelyn detailed sexual assault allegations against a former Columbia University OBGYN, which she also disclosed in a Friday interview with CNN

Evelyn alleges that in 2012, while pregnant with her and Andrews first son, she was sexually assaulted by her Dr. Robert Hadden after asking her inappropriate sexual questions.

"There was absolutely no premise for that line of questioning, and it seemed like he just wanted to hear about me talking about sex, Evelyn told CNN. What I kept sticking to was this: 'OK, so my doctor is pervy. I have a pervy doctor, but I'm going to focus on having a healthy baby,' and the idea of changing doctors was overwhelming for me."

Evelyn also claimed the doctor put her through unnecessary examinations, and that when she was seven months pregnant, he physically assaulted her. "I was in the exam room, and I was dressed and ready to go, she told CNN. Then, at the last minute, he kind of made up an excuse. He said something about, 'I think you might need a C-section,' and he proceeded to grab me over to him and undress me and examine me internally, ungloved.

Evelyn said she left his practice after the alleged incident and blamed herself, even keeping it a secret from Andrew. ....I thought, 'This happened to me. I can process this. I can deal with it. I can compartmentalize it,'" she told CNN.

CNN reported that Haddens attorney has denied Evelyns allegations and also declined to be interviewed by the outlet.

Story continues

On Saturday, Evelyn explained how receiving a letter from a female entrepreneur helped her go public. Now you might have heard that Im standing here today, also as a survivor of sexual assault, she told the people in the crowd. There are far too many of us.

Evelyn further said, ...I lived with shame and regret. I later discovered that he had assaulted dozens of women over a period of decades at a university hospital that enabled his abuse. And then, that university used all of their institutional influence and power to set up a plea bargain of the century.

There was no jail time, she said, as the crowd booed. Barely a registered sex offender. The victims in this case were thrown under the bus. We had no visibility as to the deal making. No real explanation and no justice.

What Evelyn Yang is doing is incredibly brave. I thank her for speaking out and sharing her heartbreaking story. We must do everything we can to eradicate sexual assault in this country and hold perpetrators accountable. https://t.co/ckojqaYaKA  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 17, 2020

According to CNN, 18 women, including Evelyn, accused Hadden of sexual assault and she testified against him before a grand jury. However, in 2016, Hadden reportedly struck a plea deal in which he pled guilty to only two charges: forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse. The doctor reportedly lost his medical license and registered as a low-level sexual offender. Yang and 32 other women are currently suing Columbia University saying it "actively concealed, conspired, and enabled" abuse.

At the march, Evelyn mentioned the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein saying, This is happening right now underneath our noses every day. It is the abuse of power and privilege. Counting on women to feel helpless and stay silent because if they speak up, who will listen? Who will believe them? And what will even change?

She added, ...the theme of this march is to rise and roar. Its very personal. As terrifying as it was to share my story on a national stage, I had to believe that coming forward would help me reclaim my voice and help others reclaim theirs, otherwise we would all just be another statistic in the shadows.

On Friday, Bernie Sanders called Evelyn incredibly brave on Twitter. I thank her for speaking out and sharing her heartbreaking story, he wrote. We must do everything we can to eradicate sexual assault in this country and hold perpetrators accountable.

And in response to his wifes CNN interview, Yang released a statement to the outlet: "I'm extraordinarily proud of Evelyn for telling her story, and my heart breaks every time I think of what she had to experience. She is my best friend and the bravest woman I know. No one deserves to be harmed and treated the way she and countless other women have been. When victims of abuse come forward, they deserve our belief, support, and protection. I hope that Evelyn's story gives strength to those who have suffered and sends a clear message that our institutions must do more to protect and respond to women."

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
OTTAWAThe airport and businesses remained closed in the capital of Newfoundland in Atlantic Canada on Saturday in the wake of a massive winter blizzard that buried cars in snowdrifts and caused an avalanche in one neighborhood.

The storm dumped as much as 75 cm (29 inches) of snow on the city of St. Johns and packed wind gusts as high as 130 km per hour (81 mph). Mayor Danny Breen said a state of emergency declared on Friday remained in effect.

All businesses are ordered to remain closed; shops closing regulations are suspended and all vehicles are prohibited from using city streets except emergency vehicles; police, fire, and ambulance, Breen said on Twitter.

Thousands remained without power and social media showed people had begun to literally dig out of their homes after snowdrifts blocked their doorways.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) confirmed a report of an avalanche slamming into a home in the Battery neighborhood, which sits at the entrance to the St. Johns harbor on the slopes of a steep hill.

A picture of the home on Twitter showed the living room filled with snow. The CBC also said a 26-year-old man has been reported missing after having set out to walk to a friends house on Friday during the blizzard.

Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday offered federal help to the city and province if needed.

Thinking of our friends & neighbors in NL who are dealing with the aftermath of yesterdays massive blizzard. Stay safe out there and listen to your local authorities. Were here for you and stand ready to help in any way we can, Trudeau tweeted on Saturday.

By Steve Scherer
Researchers have reported for the first time that the resting heart rate, and sleep data from wearable devices can be used for real-time prediction of infectious diseases like influenza, an advance that may lead to new ways of forecasting epidemic outbreaks.

According to the study, published in the journal The Lancet Digital Health, people's resting heart rate spikes up during infections, and this is captured by wearable devices like smartwatches, and fitness trackers like Fitbit.

The researchers, including those from Scripps Research Translational Institute in the US, de-identified data from 47,249 Fitbit users, and retrospectively identified weeks during which they had elevated resting heart rate, and changes to routine sleep.

They said tracking outbreaks of influenza -- which kills nearly 6,50,000 people every year globally -- had previously been attempted by analysing crowdsourced user search data in Google Flu Trends and Twitter.

However, the scientists said, in these methods it is impossible to separate out the activity of individuals with influenza from the heightened awareness people get from media during flu season.

In the current study, the researchers demonstrated the potential for metrics from wearable devices to enhance flu surveillance, and consequently improve public health responses.

Traditional surveillance, they said, usually takes 1-3 weeks to report the incidence of influenza outbreaks, which limits the ability to quickly roll out response measures like ensuring patients stay at home, wash hands, and deploying antivirals and vaccines.

But combined with the sensor data from smartwatches and fitness trackers, the scientists said real-time surveillance can be improved significantly at the state level.

"In the future, as these devices improve, and with access to 24/7 real-time data, it may be possible to identify rates of influenza on a daily instead of weekly basis," said Jennifer Radin, study co-author from Scripps Research Translational Institute.

As part of the study, the researchers assessed data from 2,00,000 users who wore a Fitbit wearable device that tracked their heart rate and sleep for at least 60 days during the study time from March 2016 to March 2018.

From these users, they found that 47,248 people from California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania wore a Fitbit device consistently during the study period, resulting in a total of 13,342,651 daily measurements.

According to the researchers, the average user was 43 years old, and 60 per cent were female.

The average resting heart rate and sleep duration of the users were calculated, along with deviations to these parameters to help identify when these measures were outside of an individual's typical range.

In a week, the researchers said, a user was identified as abnormal if their weekly average resting heart rate was above their overall average, and their weekly average sleep was not below their overall average.

The scientists then arranged the users based on the state they lived in, and the proportion of users above the threshold was calculated each week.

Comparing this estimate to the weekly assessment for influenza-like illness rates reported by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the researchers found that the influenza predictions at the state level were significantly improved.

The study noted that there was an improvement in real-time surveillance in all the five states from which the users stayed.

According to the scientists, it may be possible to apply the method to more geographically refined areas, such as county or city-level with greater volumes of user data.

However, the researchers cautioned that the study could not control for seasonal fitness differences, or more short-term activity changes.

Citing another limitation of the study, they said, the weekly resting heart rate averages may include days when an individual is both sick and not sick, and this may result in underestimation of illness by lowering the weekly averages.

Other factors like stress and other infections, may also increase the resting heart rate, the study said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A nine-month offensive by Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar to seize the capital from the UN-recognised government has left hundreds dead and dragged in regional and world powers.

As world powers push efforts for a ceasefire in the oil-rich country, with a peace conference in Berlin Sunday, here is an overview.

Advance on Tripoli

On April 4, 2019, Haftar orders his troops to advance on Tripoli, seat since 2016 of the Government of National Accord (GNA), which he claims is backed by "terrorist" groups.

The retired general supports a parallel administration based in the eastern city of Tobruk and his forces already control the country's main southern oil fields.

His Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) briefly seize Tripoli's defunct, battle-scarred international airport but are pushed back on April 5.

Unity government strikes back

GNA forces announce a counter-offensive called "Volcano of Anger" on April 7.

Haftar's aircraft strike Tripoli's only functioning airport, Mitiga, on April 8.

On April 19 the White House says President Donald Trump recognises Haftar's "significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources".

On June 26 GNA forces retake the town of Gharyan, the LAAF's main supply base southwest of the capital.

Migrant centre hit

On July 2, an air strike hits a migrant detention centre in a Tripoli suburb. Fifty-three people are killed and 130 wounded. The GNA blames Haftar's forces, which deny responsibility.

International involvement

On November 5, The New York Times reports that Russia has sent some 200 mercenaries to support Haftar. Moscow denies the claim.

On the 15th, the United States urges Haftar to end his offensive.

On November 27 Turkey and the GNA sign a military and maritime deal which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says could lead to joint exploration activities in a gas-rich area of the Mediterranean.

Other Mediterranean countries express alarm.

On December 10 a UN report accuses several countries of breaching a 2011 arms embargo by supplying the opposing camps.

While Turkey and Qatar support the GNA, Haftar is backed by Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates among others.

Turkish intervention

On January 6, 2020, Haftar's forces announce they have taken control of the strategic Mediterranean city of Sirte, about 450 kilometres (280 miles) east of Tripoli.

Two days later Erdogan says Turkey has sent 35 soldiers to Libya in a non-fighting capacity. He claims there are 2,500 Russian mercenaries supporting Haftar, which Moscow denies.

France, Greece, Egypt and Cyprus declare "null and void" agreements between Ankara and the GNA which give Turkey rights over a vast area of the eastern Mediterranean.

Uncertain ceasefire



Amid warnings that Libya could become a "second Syria", Turkey and Russia call for a ceasefire to start on January 12.

After a truce comes into effect, the two camps travel to Moscow for talks on January 13 on finalising the terms of a ceasefire agreement.

GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj signs the deal but Haftar asks for more time to consider the accord and then abruptly leaves.

Germany pushes Haftar to abide by the ceasefire announces days later that he and al-Sarraj will attend an international peace conference in Berlin on January 19.

Since the start of the offensive against Tripoli, more than 280 civilians and about 2,000 fighters have been killed and 146,000 Libyans displaced, according to the United Nations.

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Overview of major events since the launch of a military push by eastern-based forces to capture Libyas capital.

A months-long offensive by forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar to seize Libyas capital from the UN-recognised government has killed hundreds of people and drawn increasing foreign involvement.

According to the United Nations, more than 280 civilians and about 2,000 fighters have been killed and 146,000 Libyans displaced.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has slammed continued foreign interference in Libya as a scandal.

As world powers push efforts for a ceasefire, here is a timeline of major events since the launch of the Tripoli push in April.

2019

Offensive launched

On April 4, Haftar, the chief of the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), orders his troops to capture Tripoli from the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

Haftar supports a parallel administration based in the eastern city of Tobruk and his forces already control the countrys main southern oil fields.

He says the offensive is aimed at cleansing the western zone from terrorist groups.

UN: Concern over Tripoli battle

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meets Haftar on April 5 in Libyas eastern city of Benghazi and expresses deep concern over the Tripoli.

I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli, Guterres writes on Twitter after the meeting.

I leave Libya with a heavy heart and deeply concerned. I still hope it is possible to avoid a bloody confrontation in and around Tripoli. The UN is committed to facilitating a political solution and, whatever happens, the UN is committed to supporting the Libyan people.  Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 5, 2019

Strength and firmness

GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj says in a televised speech on April 6 that Haftar would meet firm resistance from the forces backing the Tripoli-based government.

We have extended our hands towards peace but after the aggression that has taken place on the part of forces belonging to Haftar and his declaration of war against our cities and our capital  he will find nothing but strength and firmness, al-Sarraj says, warning of a war without winners.





Counter-offensive

On April 7, GNA forces announce a counter-offensive against Haftars forces.

Colonel Mohamed Gnounou tells reporters in Tripoli that the operation, dubbed Volcano of Anger, is aimed at purging all Libyan cities of aggressor and illegitimate forces.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expresses Washingtons deep concern and urges talks to end the fighting.





Mitiga airport

LNA fighter jets attack Tripolis Mitiga airport on April 8, the citys only operational airport.

In a statement, Ghassan Salame, the UN envoy to Libya, condemns the LNAs air raid.

As such, this attack constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law which prohibits attacks against civilian infrastructure, he says.





UN evacuates refugees

On April 9,the UN evacuates 150 refugees from a detention centre in Tripoli, while the fierce fighting leads to the postponement of a planned peace conference.

The UN says the centre has been impacted by heavy clashes, adding that the refugees are now in a nearby safe zone.

Saudi gives Haftar millions of dollars: Report

Days before Haftar launched the offensive, Saudi Arabia offered tens of millions of dollars to help pay for the operation, The Wall Street Journal reports on April 12.

The offer came during a visit by Haftar to the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Citing senior advisers to the Saudi government, the Journal says the offer of funds, which was accepted by Haftar, was intended to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders, recruit and pay fighters, and for other military purposes.





Trump on Haftars role

US President Donald Trump recognises Haftars significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libyas oil resources, the White House says in statement on April 19.

The statements release prompts thousands of people to take to the streets in Tripoli.

People are very angry, Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Abdelwahed, reporting from the capital, says. Thousands of people have come out here on the main streets and squares especially in Tripoli and they are calling on the international community to stop the military aggression by Haftars forces.





WHO: Death toll reaches 264

The death toll from the ongoing fighting between Libyas warring sides has risen to 264, the WHO says on April 23.

Some 1,266 people have also been wounded since the beginning of the offensive, Tariq Jarasevic, WHO spokesperson, tells reporters.

UN envoy: Libya a textbook example of foreign intervention

On May 22, Ghassan Salame, the UN envoy to Libya, denounces the conflict raging in Libya, describing it as a suicide that was robbing its inhabitants of the lands vast oil riches.

The country has become a textbook example of foreign interference today in local conflicts, he tells the New York-based International Peace Institute.

[Between] six and 10 countries are permanently interfering in Libyas problem, funnelling arms, cash and military advice to the country, Salame says.

Haftar vows to fight until Tripoli militias defeated

Haftar says in an interview published on May 26 that he will continue fighting until militias in Tripoli laid down their arms.

Of course a political solution is the objective, Haftar tells the Journal du Dimanche newspaper in France.

But to return to politics, we need to finish with the militias. The problem in Tripoli is a security one.

GNA retakes Gharyan

On June 26, the GNA retakes control of Gharyan, a town south of Tripoli, once a base of Haftars forces.





Haftar bans flights, boats from Turkey

Haftar bans commercial flights to GNA supporter Turkey and orders his forces to attack Turkish ships and interests in the country, spokesperson Ahmed al-Mismari says on June 29.

Orders have been given to the air force to target Turkish ships and boats in Libyan territorial waters, al-Mismari says, adding that Turkish strategic sites, companies and projects belonging to the Turkish state (in Libya) are considered legitimate targets by the armed forces.

Ankara warns Haftar

Haftars LNA says on July 1 its air force destroyed a Turkish drone parked at Mitiga International Airport.

Turkeys foreign ministry accuses Haftars forces of seizing six of its citizens, warning that the LNA will become a legitimate target if the Turks are not released immediately.

The six citizens are released on the same day, according to the Turkish foreign ministry.

Dozens of people killed

At least 53 people are killed and 130 others injured on July 2 in the bombing of a refugee and migrant detention centre in Tripoli. The GNA blames Haftars forces, which deny responsibility.





WHO: More than 1,000 killed

The battle between rival groups for the Libyan capital has killed more than 1,000 people since it began in April, WHO says on July 9.

As the #Tripoli crisis enters its fourth month, the toll is 1048 dead, including 106 civilians, and 5558 injured, including 289 civilians. WHO continues to send doctors and medical supplies to help hospitals cope. Our teams have performed more than 1700 surgeries in 3 months.  World Health Organization in Libya (@WHOLIBYA) July 9, 2019

Temporary truce

Libyas warring rivals agree to a temporary truce on August 10 proposed by the UN during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

The UN mission in Libya (UNSMIL) will be responsible for monitoring any violations, the GNA says.

Violation of arms embargo

On November 11, Al Jazeera obtains a draft copy of UN report which reveals that member states  the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Turkey and Jordan  have violated the arms embargo in Libya.

US calls on Haftar to end Tripoli push

On November 15, the US calls on ;Haftar to stop the months-long offensive on Tripoli and says it would back the GNA against Russias attempts to exploit the conflict.

Haftar declares no-fly zone over Tripoli

Haftar declares a no-fly zone in the skies over the capital on November 23, drawing a warning from the GNA.

Mitiga, Tripolis only functioning airport, is exempt for humanitarian reasons.

In response to the LNAs declaration, the GNA-affiliated interior ministry says in a statement that any action threatening civil aviation and airports amounts to crimes punishable under national and international law.

Libya, Turkey sign deals

Turkey and Libya on November 27 sign two agreements on security and military cooperation and restriction of marine jurisdictions.

Other Mediterranean countries express alarm.

GNA cites evidence of Russian mercenaries in war

GNA officials say on December 5 that they plan to confront Moscow over the alleged deployment of Russian mercenaries to fight alongside their opponents.

The GNA says it has documented between 600 and 800 Russian mercenaries in Libya and is collecting their names on a list to present to the Russian government, according to Khaled al-Meshri, head of the GNAs Supreme Council of State.

New decisive battle

On December 12, Haftar announces the start of a new decisive battle to seize Tripoli.

Zero hour has come for the broad and total assault expected by every free and honest Libyan, Haftar says in a televised address.

Today, we announce the decisive battle and the advancement towards the heart of the capital to set it free  advance now our heroes.





Turkey will increase military support to GNA if needed

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says on December 22 that Turkey will increase its military support to the GNA if necessary.

We will evaluate all kinds of military support including ground, marine and air options if necessary, Erdogan says in the northwestern province of Kocaeli.

Arab League warns against foreign interference

On December 31, The Arab League calls for efforts to prevent foreign interference in Libya in the wake of the military and maritime agreements signed between Turkey and the GNA.

Permanent representatives of the pan-Arab organisation, in a meeting at its Cairo headquarters requested by Egypt, pass a resolution stressing the necessity to prevent interference that could contribute to facilitating the arrival of foreign extremists in Libya.





2020

Troops deployment

On January 2, Turkeys Parliament authorises a one-year deployment of troops to Libya to support the GNA.

Haftar issues call to arms

Haftar on January 4 calls on Libyans to take up arms in response to Turkeys military intervention in support of the GNA.

We accept the challenge and declare jihad and a call to arms, says Haftar in a televised address.

He urged all Libyans to bear arms, men and women, soldiers and civilians, to defend our land and our honour.

Turkey starts deployment

Erdogan on January 5 says Turkey has started deploying military troops to Libya.

There will be an operation centre [in Libya], there will be a Turkish lieutenant general leading and they will be managing the situation over there. [Turkish soldiers] are gradually moving there right now, Erdogan tells private broadcaster CNN Turk during an interview.

Haftars forces capture Sirte

Haftars forces capture the coastal city of Sirte on January 6 from a militia aligned with the rival GNA.

Khaled al-Mahjoub, LNA spokesman, says the fighters captured all the districts surrounding the city, including al-Qardabiya airbase, before moving towards the city centre.

GNA-aligned forces say they quit Sirte

The Sirte Protection Force, a GNA ally, says it has retreated from Sirte on January 7.

After studying the situation, our forces took a decision to withdraw outside Sirte, then await orders, the Sirte Protection Force says in a statement.

Our forces still retain their full capabilities and our withdrawal from Sirte is not the end.

Fragile ceasefire

Russia and Turkey call for a ceasefire in Libya to begin at 22:00 GMT on January 11. Both warring sides welcome it but accuse each other of violations.

Moscow talks

Libyas two rival leaders go to Moscow for talks on January 13 aimed at formalising the ceasefire.

Al-Sarraj signs the deal but the talks end in a stalemate as Haftar asks for more time to consider the accord and then abruptly leaves.





Peace conference in Berlin

On January 19, German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted a Libya peace conference in Berlin. It was attended by Turkey, Russia, the UAE and Egypt, and included representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Congo, Algeria, United Nations, and African Union.

Al-Sarraj and his rival Khalifa Haftar were briefed on the discussions but did not meet face to face or participate, Merkel said.

All participating parties signed a 55-point communique, in which they also pledged to respect a UN-imposed arms embargo. The Berlin summit conclusionshave been sent to the UN Security Council to approve and adopt.





Algeria hosts African foreign ministers on Libya conflict

The Algiers meeting of ministers from Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Chad, Mali and Niger on January 23 was aimed at shoring up a ceasefire.

We agreed on many principles, Sabri Boukadoum, the Algerian foreign minister told Al Jazeera. The only solution to the Libyan crisis is a peaceful solution, a political solution. The solution must be a Libyan solution with support from the international community.





Deadly clashes east of Misrata upset ceasefire

On January 26, heavy fighting broke out between Libyas rival governments, as Khalifa Haftars forces advanced 120km (75 miles) east of Misrata city and seized control of the town of Abu Grein.

At least 11 soldiers belonging to the GNA were killed and 100 others wounded in clashes with Haftars LNA forces. The GNA responded by taking back control of Abu Grein and advancing into LNA areas to seize the town of Zamzam.

There were still no reports on the number of casualties on Haftars side.

Libyan rivals hold UN-sponsored talks

On February 3, the 10-member Libya Joint Military Commission (also known as the 5+5 military commission) met in Geneva to begin UN-led talks.

Five senior officers appointed by the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) and five appointed by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar participated in the talks, the UN said in a statement. The joint military commission is the reuslt of the high-level meeting held in Berlin last month.

The first round of talks between the GNA and LNA in Geneva ended on Feburary 9 with no breakthrough, the UN said.

The talks, which were mediated by UN Special Envoy Ghassan Salame, did not include face-to-face meetings.

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya said it thanked the two parties for agreeing to come to Geneva as well as their high professional and positive spirit throughout the discussions.

African Union summit discuss Libya

On February 9, the 33rd African Union (AU) summit took place in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, and focused on ways to end regional violence in Libya as well as South Sudan.





On February 12, the United Nations Security Council passed on a resolution demanding the warring parties commit to a lasting ceasefirewithout pre-conditions as well as endorsing a 55-point plan for ending the war in Libya.

The British-drafted resolution insists on full compliance with a UN arms embargo that has been repeatedly broken, as called for in the plan approved by leaders of 12 world powers and other key countries that met on January 19 in Berlin.

Ceasefire talks resume in Geneva

On February 18, talks resumed in the latest attempt to forge a political deal between the GNA and Haftars forces, a few days after a woman was killed in Tripoli after forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar shelled parts of the Libyan capital.

Libyas GNA suspending ceasefire talks after Tripoli port attack

On February 19, Libyas internationally recognised government has said it is suspending its participation in ceasefire negotiations hosted by the United Nations in Geneva, hours after an attack by Khalifa Haftars forces on the capitals port.

Ghassan Salame, head of the UN Libya mission, called the port attack a big breach of the fragile  and repeatedly violated  ceasefire that was brokered by Russia and Turkey on January 12 as part of efforts to de-escalate the battle for the capital.
E lon Musk's SpaceX has destroyed one of its own rockets a day after bad weather forced the company to delay its final milestone test before flying Nasa astronauts from US soil.

High winds and choppy seas in the area where the spacecraft was expected to splash down on Saturday delayed the dramatic inflight test of the unmanned astronaut capsule.

The second attempt was made on Sunday at 10.30am (3.30pm GMT) from from Cape Canaveral in Florida with two mannequins on board.

A Falcon 9 rocket blasted off as normal, but just over a minute into its supersonic flight, the Dragon crew capsule catapulted off the top 12 miles above the Atlantic.

Powerful thrusters on the capsule propelled it up and out of harm's way, as the rocket engines deliberately shut down and the booster tumbled out of control in a fiery flash.

The capsule reached an altitude of about 27 miles before parachuting into the ocean just offshore to bring the nine-minute test flight to a close and pave the way for two Nasa astronauts to climb aboard next time.

SpaceX flight controllers at the company's California headquarters cheered every milestone - especially the splashdown. Everything appeared to go well despite the choppy seas.

Recycled from three previous launches, the SpaceX rocket was destroyed as it crashed into the sea in pieces. The company founded and led by Elon Musk normally recovers its boosters, landing them upright on a floating platform or back at the launch site.

"That's the main objective of this test, is to show that we can carry the astronauts safely away from the rocket in case anything's going wrong," said SpaceX's Benji Reed, director of crew mission management.

"This test is very important to us ... a huge practice session," Mr Reed added.

Nasa's commercial crew program manager, Kathy Lueders, said the launch abort test was "our last open milestone" before allowing SpaceX to launch Doug Hurley and Robert Behnken to the International Space Station.

She said that could happen as soon as March.

SpaceX unmanned spacecraft after it launched / NASA TV/AFP via Getty Images

"We are purposely failing a launch vehicle to make sure that our abort system on the spacecraft, that will be flying for our crews, works," Lueders said in advance of the demo.

Delayed a day by bad weather, Sunday's launch from Kennedy Space Centre brought together hundreds of SpaceX, Nasa and Air Force employees on land, at sea and in the air.

Tourists and locals packed the adjoining visitor complex and nearby beaches to see the dramatic fiery spectacle of an out-of-control rocket.

"Dragon high altitude, supersonic abort test is a risky mission, as it's pushing the envelope in so many ways," Musk tweeted minutes before liftoff.

NASA TV/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Hurley and Mr Behnken, the Nasa astronauts assigned to the first SpaceX crew, monitored the flight from the firing room, including the capsule recovery effort. They also took part in a dress rehearsal Friday, suiting up and heading to the launch pad.

Nasa astronauts have not launched from the US since 2011 when the space shuttle program ended.

Amazing NASA Space Images - In pictures 1 /80 Amazing NASA Space Images - In pictures Astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 NASA This 1969 photograph of the eclipse of the sun was taken with a 16mm motion picture camera from the Apollo 12 spacecraft during its trans-Earth journey home from the moon. The fascinating view was created when the Earth moved directly between the sun and the Apollo 12 spacecraft NASA Astronaut Bruce McCandless II photographed 320 ft from the Space Shuttle Challenger during the first untethered EVA, made possible by his nitrogen jet propelled backpack (Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU) in 1984 NASA The brilliant tapestry of young stars flaring to life resemble a glittering fireworks display in the 25th anniversary NASA Hubble Space Telescope image NASA Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida in 2011. This lift off is the last in the 30-year-old shuttle program Getty Images The first teklevision image of Earth from a weather satellite taken by the TIROS-1 satellite in 1960 NASA The Echo 2 satellite in 1960. Once the balloon was launched into orbit, a prerecorded message from President Dwight Eisenhower was transmitted from California and heard with clarity in New Jersey NASA The original seven Mercury astronauts and pioneers in human space exsploration pose in their silver spacesuits in 1961 NASA President John F. Kennedy calls for a moon landing in 1961 durning Congress NASA Astronaut John Glenn climbs into his Friendship 7 space capsule in the Atlas rocket in 1962. Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth NASA A close-up view of an astronaut's bootprint in the lunar soil, photographed with a 70mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the moon in 1969 NASA Man's first landing on the Moon. Lunar Module, "Eagle," touched down gently on the Sea of Tranquility on the east side of the Moon. Astronauts Edwin Aldrin and Neil Armstrong wre the first men to walk on the Moon in 1969 NASA After an 8 month voyage to Mars, Mariner 4 makes the first flyby of the Mars (the red planet) in 1965 and became the first spacecraft to take close-up photographs of another planet NASA Astronaut Edward H. White II, pilot on the Gemini-Titan 4 spaceflight, is shown during his egress from the spacecraft. His face is covered by a shaded visor to protect him from the unfiltered rays of the sun. White became the first American astronaut to walk in space. He remained outside the spacecraft for 21 minutes during the third revolution of the Gemini-4 mission in 1965 NASA The X-15 completed 199 flights to the edge of space from 1959-1968. Neil Armstrong was one of it's budding young pilots NASA Earthrise over the moon from Apollo 8 in 1968 NASA American astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Michael Collins lift off from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in the mammoth-sized Saturn V rocket on their way to the moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 Astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr. saluting the US flag on the surface of the Moon during the Apollo 11 lunar mission in 1969 NASA Home View of Moon limb with Earth on the horizon in 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission NASA Apollo XI astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin laugh with President Richard Nixon aboard the USS Hornet in 1969 Richard Nixon Foundation via Getty Images Lunar mission Astronaut John W. Young, commander of the Apollo 16 lunar landing mission, leaps from the lunar surface as he salutes the United States flag at the Descartes landing site during the first Apollo 16 extravehicular activity (EVA) in 1972 NASA First image of Viking 1's foot plantid on martian soil foot in 1976 NASA The first ever long distance image of the Earth and Moon together. The image photograph was taken by Voyager 1 in 1977 NASA A dramatic view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and its surroundings in 1979 NASA The first space shuttle launch Columbia lifts off in 1981 NASA Astronaut Sally Ride on the flight deck of the space shuttle Challenger in 1983. She became the first American woman in space NASA One of the most celebrated images taken by the Hubble called 'Pillars of Creation' NASA Space shuttle Challenger destructs after lift off in 1973 NASA NASA's Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope aboard ESA's SOHO spacecraft took this image of a huge, handle-shaped prominence in 1999. Prominences are huge clouds of relatively cool dense plasma suspended in the Sun's hot, thin corona NASA Trailing a column of flame and smoke that dwarfs it, Space Shuttle Endeavour leaps into the clear blue Florida sky on mission STS-99 in 2000 Space Shuttle Atlantis clears the tower as it roars into space on mission STS-106 after a perfect on-time launch in 2000 NASA 2004 The deepest view of 10,000 galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope called the Hubble Ultra Field Deep (2004) NASA 2005 A new view of the Eagle Nebula, one of the two largest and sharpest images Hubble Space Telescope has ever taken (2005) NASA International Space Station pictured by the crew of Atlantis in 2008 NASA The rim of Gale Crater is visible in the distance, through the dusty haze, in this view of NASA's Curiosity rover of a sloping hillside on Mount Sharp NASA Taken on June 03, 2008 and released by NASA on June 4, 2008 shows US space shuttle Discovery Mission Specialist Michael Fossum being photographed by US Mission Specialist Ronald Garan (reflected in Fossum's face shield) as they work outside The International Space Station during the first of three planned space walks. AFP/Getty Images In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, NASA's Great Observatories -- Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Chandra X-ray Observatory -- have produced a matched trio of images of the central region of our Milky Way NASA A striking black and white image showing the detail of the planet Saturn NASA This majestic false-color image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows 'mountains' where stars are born. These towering pillars of cool gas and dust are illuminated at their tips with light from warm embryonic stars NASA The space shuttle Atlantis is seen over the Bahamas in 2011 prior to a perfect docking with the International Space Station NASA Aurora Australis, seen from a point over the southeast Tasman Sea near southern New Zealand. in 2011 NASA NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Expedition 32 flight engineer, appears to touch the bright sun during the mission's third session of extravehicular activity (EVA). During the six-hour, 28-minute spacewalk in 2012 NASA Behold one of the more stunningly detailed images of the Earth yet created. This Blue Marble Earth montage, created from photographs taken by the VIIRS instrument in 2012 on board the Suomi NPP satellite, shows many stunning details of our home planet NASA Numerous recognizable features appear in this detailed view of London, photographed by an Expedition 10 crew member on the International Space Station (ISS). The most striking visual features are green open spaces such as Regent's Park, Hyde Park and St. James's Park east of Buckingham Palace NASA International Space Station image of London at night NASA This image of Tropical Storm Anna taken from the International Space Station in 2015 NASA Pluto's haze layer and its blue colour, taken by the New Horizons Ralph/Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera (MVIC) in 2015 NASA NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, dark, narrow streaks on the slopes of Hale Crater are inferred to be formed by seasonal flow of water on surface of present-day Mars. These dark features on the slopes are called "recurring slope lineae" or RSL NASA Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 49 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016 NASA The moon rises in low Earth orbit by NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik from the International Space Station in 2017 NASA Hurricane Harvey is pictured off the coast of Texas in 2017 NASA The International Space Station continues its orbit around the Earth as Expedition 50 astronauts captured this night image of sparkling cities and a sliver of daylight framing the northern hemisphere in 2017 This composite image made from a series of 2018 photos shows a self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover in the Gale Crater NASA US. National Parks From Space. Mt Saint Helen's looking spectacular from above NASA SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft as it lifts off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida in 2018 NASA NASA's Juno spacecraft captures Jupiter's southern hemisphere, as the spacecraft performed its 13th close flyby of Jupiter in 2018 NASA The stunning iamge was shared on social media by astronaut Paolo Nespoli NASA The Bailey's Beads effect is seen as the moon makes its final move over the sun during the total solar eclipse NASA The Moon is seen passing in front of the Sun during a solar eclipse from Ross Lake, Northern Cascades National Park, Washington NASA Swirling cloud belts and tumultuous vortices within Jupiter's northern hemisphere picture taken by NASA's Juno spacecraft as it performed it's 13th flypast. Juno was about 9,600 miles (15,500 kilometers) from the planet's cloud tops. NASA

Preferring to focus on the moon and Mars, Nasa hired SpaceX and Boeing for billions of dollars to transport astronauts to and from the space station.
A flower street is being assembled in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho with colorful flora sourced from the most famous flower-growing areas in the region.

The annual flower street will open to visitors on Vo Van Tan - Nguyen Thai Hoc Street in Can Tho from January 21 to 29 under the theme Spring of Hope to celebrate Lunar New Year 2020, which will fall on January 25.

The flower street will be divided into three sections, each with its own theme including Flowers of the Nation, Can Tho and the Year of the Rat, and Spring of Hope.

Accordingly, the flower decorations will guide visitors through iconic landscapes of Vietnam, achievements of Can Tho, and major events to take place in the city and the Southeast Asian country in 2020, according to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

This years flower street sources its 70,000 baskets of fresh flowers from the three famous flower-growing regions in Vietnam - Phu Tho Village in Can Tho, Sa Dec Village in the Mekong Delta city of Dong Thap, and Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, according to Nham Hung, who orchestrates the design and assembly of the flower street.

Around 100 workers have been working hard to put together the flowery art installations over the past month, Hung said.

A highlight of this years flower street is that most models on display are designed to have movable parts, which is expected to wow visitors.

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

A birds eye view of the under-construction 2020 Can Tho Flower Street in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

The 2020 Can Tho Flower Street is being assembled in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Photo: Chi Quoc / Tuoi Tre

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James Belcher, 31, (pictured) was getting his haircut at barbershop Hair by Tommy J, in Sydney's Redfern, when he told his barber to be careful of a pimple near his hairline

A young tradesman can thank his barber for saving his life after being urged to check a 'pimple' on his hairline which turned out to be malignant skin cancer.

James Belcher, 31, was getting his hair cut at barbershop Hair by Tommy J, in Sydney's Redfern, when his barber raised his concerns over the pimple near his hairline.

The red pimple had been there for a number of months and hurt to touch.

Mr Belcher, who works as a project manager for a building company, told Daily Mail Australia he had been 'somewhat' concerned about it, but hadn't thought it was serious.

'I thought it was a pimple. It was just one of those spots that was sore. Red and raw and just a spot that never went away, he said.

'My barber was telling me how he had a guy in previously who had the same thing and he told me to make sure to go and get it checked.'

The pimple (circled left) had been there for a number of months and was red and hurt to touch. it had to be cut out (pictured right: the scar)

After seeing a dermatologist it was revealed the pimple was in fact a malignant skin cancer - and it had to be cut out.

'It's not something you expect when you go and get your skin checked as a young guy,' he said.

He needed 20 stitches and still has a scar along the side of his face.

Mr Belcher is now urging others to be safe when in the sun and to get their skin checked if they have any concerns.

'I'd always been relatively sun conscious, but my background is in construction and I work outside all day every day wearing no shirt or wearing a hat sometimes but still getting burnt.

'Everyone is always on about you having to wear a hard hat, you have to wear safety glasses but it's just as possible for someone to get skin cancer it is to get hurt.'
The influence campaigns of Russian-linked Twitter accounts in South America are proxy elements to conquer the influence of the United States or the liberal democracies, said another expert, Javier Lesaca Esquiroz, a visiting scholar at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

At some point, we can say this is the continuation of the Cold War that never ended, Mr. Esquiroz said.

The analyses provided by the State Department did not prove that the Twitter accounts that stoked the South American protests were direct conduits of the Russian government. Instead, they were described as likely linked to the Russian state through computer-generated or other data mining analyses that support other government conclusions that tie them to Moscow.

A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Washington, Nikolay Lakhonin, declined to comment on Thursday, asking only for real evidence of a Russian-linked disinformation campaign in South America. On Monday, after this article was published, Mr. Lakhonin pointed to Russian officials past responses to questions about interference in protests, including from Foreign Minister Sergei V. Lavrov, who told reporters in November that we got used to the allegation that we are involved in everything that is going on on earth.

Recently weve been mentioned as the ones who meddle in the situation in Chile, Mr. Lavrov said then, with a touch of exasperation. And I was wondering why we are not mentioned in relation to the developments in Iraq, Lebanon and now in Bolivia.
Brad Pitt boasts many strings to his bow - and the actor, artist and business owner took to the stage on Saturday to accept an award for his production company, PlanB.

The Hollywood star, 56, proudly accepted the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures during the Producers Guild Awards (PGA) at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday.

Wearing a dapper black suit, the actor collected the award on behalf of his business partners Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner.

Proud moment: Brad Pitt, 56, proudly accepted the David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Theatrical Motion Pictures for his production company PlanB's work during the Producers Guild Awards (PGA) at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday

The company, founded by Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and the late Brad Grey in 2001, is responsible for some of the biggest films of the decade including Eat, Pray, Love and 12 Years A Slave.

Brad, who is now the sole owner of the company, bought out ex-wife Jennifer after their divorce in 2005.

The prestigious awards also honoured the latest movie Brad stared in, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which was nominated for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures.

Success in business: The company, founded by Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and the late Brad Grey in 2001, is responsible for some of the biggest films of the decade

Although the film was considered a front runner among nominees it missed out to 1917.

The awards ceremony aims to honor visionaries who produce and execute motion picture and television product.

Brad's business partner and good friend former CEO of Paramount Brad Grey died at 59 in 2017 from cancer, a blow that was revealed as 'crushing' for the actor.

Taking to the stage: Brad's business partner and good friend former CEO of Paramount Brad Grey died at 59 in 2017 from cancer, a blow that was revealed as 'crushing' for the star

Relaxed and suave: Brad Pitt looked chilled as he stood to receive yet another award, but this time not for his acting

He has continued to make the co-founded company a success after his friend's untimely death.

Speaking about his production company's role in 12 Years A Slave to the Hollywood reporter Brad said: As I get older, I am enjoying more the productorial side of things - not being so forefront in the camera - the creativity of putting the pieces together.'

The Fight Club star found himself at the centre of a media storm following last week's Golden Globes when he was spotted heading to the same after-party as ex-wife Jennifer Aniston.

Ex-drama: The Fight Club star found himself at the centre of a media storm following last week's Golden Globes when he was spotted heading to the same after-party as ex-wife Jennifer Aniston (pictured at the PGA)

Famous friends: Brad Pitt and Sam Mendes, 54, who won Best Film, attend the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards, Arrivals, Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, California

The pair were seen heading to the CAA after-party at the Sunset Tower Hotel following the 77th annual Golden Globes at The Beverly Hilton Hotel hours before.

During his appearance on the red carpet ahead of his victorious stint at the show where he won Best Actor in a supporting role in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Brad, 56, branded Jennifer, 50, a 'really good friend'.

Jennifer and Brad were married from 2000 to 2005, splitting after Brad fell for his Mr. & Mrs. Smith co-star Angelina.

Attending the Golden Globes no doubt brought back memories for the exes, who famously attended the ceremony as a married couple back in 2002.

Throwback: Attending the Golden Globes last week no doubt brought back memories for the exes, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, who had attended the ceremony as a married couple back in 2002 - three years before their split

Separate arrivals: Brad called ex-wife Jennifer his 'good friend' as he was asked about bumping into her on the red carpet at the Golden Globes last week (pictured at the Golden Globes at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California)
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Linkedin Se Young Lee and Hallie Gu (Reuters) Beijing  Sun, January 19, 2020 14:01 723 48be62e941b44f04afae568c322bc908 2 Health China,coronavirus,health,Chinese-New-Year Free

China reported four more cases of pneumonia believed to be caused by a new coronavirus strain, causing rising concern globally that a disease health officials do not yet fully understand could spread during a key holiday period.

The new virus, which was discovered in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, belongs in the same large family of coronaviruses that includes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which killed nearly 800 people globally during a 2002/03 outbreak that also started in China.

Though experts say the new virus does not appear to be as lethal as SARS, there is little known about its origins and how easily it can spread. Thailand and Japan have confirmed new cases of the virus earlier this week, stoking worries globally as many of the 1.4 billion Chinese people will travel abroad during the Lunar New Year holidays that begin next week.

Authorities around the world including in the United States, Thailand and South Korea have stepped up monitoring of travelers from Wuhan as part of their efforts to prevent the disease from spreading.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned that a wider outbreak is possible, though it has advised against any travel restrictions for China.

The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission (WMHC) said on Saturday the four new individuals diagnosed with the new virus are in stable condition, adding it has confirmed 45 cases in the city as of Thursday. A day earlier, the commission confirmed the death of a second patient.

Nearly 50 people are now known to have been infected globally, but all of them either live in Wuhan or have travelled to the city.

A report published by the London Imperial College's MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis said there are likely "substantially more cases" of the new coronavirus than currently announced by Wuhan authorities: its base scenario estimate is that there would be 1,723 cases showing onset of related symptoms by Jan. 12.

The WMHC referred Reuters queries about the report to the National Health Commission (NHC) and the Hubei provincial government, but the NHC and the Hubei government did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Wuhan is the capital of Hubei province.

Screening

US authorities have said they would start screening at three airports to detect travelers arriving via direct or connecting flights from Wuhan who may have symptoms of the new virus.

In Asia, authorities in Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand have stepped up monitoring of passengers from Wuhan at airports. Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines say they have strengthened screening at all points of entry in response to the outbreak, as well.

But Alexandra Phelan, global health legal expert at Georgetown University's Center for Global Health Science and Security, said such screening may be insufficient in preventing the virus from spreading as its symptoms, which include fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, are "quite general".

"There are likely to be many individuals with matching symptoms due to an illness that is not 2019-nCoV," Phelan said, referring to the new virus.
GRINNELL, Iowa - When Democrats here went to bed on the night of their first-in-the-nation caucuses four years ago, the bitterly fought contest between Hillary Clinton and the insurgent Sen. Bernie Sanders was too close to call. So an abrupt predawn notice from the state party declaring Clinton the winner sent some into a fury.

Shaky videos of coin tosses deciding delegates in Clinton's favor spread on Twitter. Stories multiplied of confused caucusgoers, untrained volunteers and mathematical inconsistencies, all amid a wave of suspicion that the party was manipulating the process for Clinton's benefit.

"I never got a satisfactory explanation for how they arrived at their number," said J. Pablo Silva, a historian at Grinnell College who wasn't alerted when the state party transferred a delegate from Sanders to Clinton in the precinct in this small college town where he was serving as a caucus secretary.

Now, as Iowa Democrats hurtle once again toward the opening faceoff of a hard-fought presidential primary cycle - with at least four candidates seemingly in contention to win Iowa's Feb. 3 contest - some in the party fear that reforms put in place to prevent the disarray of 2016 may create an entirely new set of problems in 2020.

It has long been the tradition here that voting plays out in school gyms and church basements, with multiple vote tabulations as supporters of candidates who do not reach a threshold on the initial vote scramble to make a second choice among the remaining contenders. This year, for the first time, the state party will release the initial raw vote totals as well as the final delegate allocation.

The change will mean more transparency, but it also will add to the workload of party officials and volunteer leaders - and it raises the possibility that multiple campaigns could claim a victory of sorts, with supporters of one candidate seeing another's triumph as illegitimate.

The changes have yielded a thick new rule book for caucus organizers, who have undergone months of training on matters including new reporting requirements, mathematical formulas for delegate allocation, and combating false rumors that may spread online and cast doubt on the results. Some who have participated in the training sessions say the new system feels even more daunting than the old one.

Adding to the anxiety is the closeness of the race, which once again features an ascendant Sanders, I-Vt., whose backers are on guard for any hint of irregularities, as well as the sense that any controversy over the results could hamper efforts to unify Democrats before the eventual nominee faces President Donald Trump in November.

"We were cognizant about wanting to make it less confusing," said Norm Sterzenbach, a longtime Democratic strategist in Iowa who was involved in planning for the caucuses until he signed on last year with former congressman Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, and then with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. "But making the process more rigorous of course adds new complexity."

In a way, the caucus process is insulated from cybersecurity threats and other concerns looming over more-traditional voting processes. There are no voting machines to hack. Instead, caucusgoers register their preferences in plain view of one another. In theory, any confusion could be ironed out through deliberation.

"In any election, even for school board or dogcatcher, there is rumor and innuendo," said Matt Paul, who ran Clinton's Iowa campaign in 2016. "The difference in Iowa is that it's all in the open. You have to stand up in front of your friends and neighbors and tell them who you're supporting and why."

But the 2016 experience revealed how easily confusion and chaos can take hold.

In the Grinnell precinct where the delegate was transferred, uncertainty had reigned for much of the night. The Sanders supporters were "incredibly disorganized," said Silva, and ended up having to count multiple times because the number they presented was implausible. Meanwhile, Iowans supporting Martin O'Malley, the former Maryland governor, grew frustrated and left. Andy McGuire, the state Democratic Party's chairwoman at the time, said the overnight delegate transfer was necessary to correct an input error.

Across Iowa, however, the videos of coin tosses stoked outrage, even though the practice is routine - being used to allocate leftover delegates depending on the breakdown - and favored Sanders in certain cases, as well. As doubt took hold about the razor-thin margins, calls for a recount intensified. But Iowa Democratic leaders said that was impossible. "People physically aligned in groups," the state party's communications director said at the time. "There are no paper ballots to recount."

Sanders called on the party to report a raw vote count. When the party leadership said it lacked the capacity to do so, Sanders' supporters took to Reddit in a quest to uncover the numbers. On the Republican side, supporters of then-candidate Donald Trump suggested on social media that Microsoft, whose software was used to tally votes, had tilted the contest against their candidate. Trump himself claimed without evidence that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who narrowly won in Iowa, "illegally stole" the caucuses.

The Des Moines Register called the caucuses a "debacle," singling out the Democrats for blame and finding, "Once again the world is laughing at Iowa."

"The Iowa Democratic Party really learned from 2016," said Steven Drahozal, the Democratic chairman in Dubuque County.

Part of the party's learning involved realizing, from the special counsel's investigation of Russian interference in the presidential campaign, how suspicion of the caucus process became a seed for the Kremlin's influence campaign. In August 2016, Russian operatives using social media sowed doubt about the integrity of Iowa's result, in an apparent effort to undermine Clinton's legitimacy as she prepared to face Trump. An ad promoted by Russian actors on Facebook alleged that "Hillary Clinton has already committed voter fraud during the Democrat Iowa Caucus," according to a federal indictment of multiple Russians filed in 2018.

For party officials here, the revelation underscored the need to arm staffers against not just cyberattacks but also against false narratives that are amplified on social media. Iowa Democrats say they are conscious of how quickly rumors about manipulation and backroom dealings can spread - particularly if amplified by Trump, who has shown keen interest in influencing the outcome of the Democratic primaries.

"Disinformation is something new we saw last election cycle, but people didn't know it was happening at the time," said Troy Price, the chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party. "Here, we know it's going on, and we've had time to prepare for it."

The state party, along with its Republican counterpart, partnered with the Defending Digital Democracy Project at Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The project's leaders conducted a simulation with the parties in November. They were joined by security experts as well as developers behind the websites and mobile apps used by the parties to publicize caucus details and report returns.

Details of a mishap would arrive via email, bringing news, for example, of an app malfunction or of specious tweets claiming that the caucuses actually would begin at 8 p.m., an hour later than the official 7 p.m. start time. A space was cordoned off for mock news conferences, where people pretending to be reporters clamored for updates.

Democrats used the simulation to develop possible plans for caucus night - including contingencies such as bringing in the Department of Homeland Security and contacting executives at Twitter.

Some of the more complex changes arising from the breakdown in 2016 involve the handling of results on caucus night.

The voting involves Iowans' assembling in groups to signal their support for one candidate or another. These groups are known in caucus parlance as "alignments." The relative sizes of the alignments are used to calculate delegate allocations. In most precincts, delegates are allocated only to candidates who receive at least 15 percent of the vote.

A candidate wins the caucuses by securing the most projected delegates to the state convention, which translates in turn to delegates to the party's national nominating convention. This year, for the first time, the party will release raw totals from the first as well as the second alignments - as different factions jostle for support and seek to win over undecided caucusgoers. The totals will be recorded by tallying "Presidential Preference Cards," which will also provide a paper trail should a problem arise with the mobile app used to report returns.

In another change from past cycles, only members of alignments that are not large enough to reach the 15 percent threshold will be allowed to shift to other groups, a procedure known as realignment. For groups above the threshold, the count will be locked in, and those caucusgoers will be able to go home. Further, national delegates will be allocated once caucus-night results come in, rather than over the course of county and district conventions.

The delegate selection plan spells out a process for candidates to request a review of caucus results, as well as a timeline for the state party to respond.

And, in yet another change, the state party approved nearly 100 satellite caucus locations, where Democrats who completed preregistration by Jan. 17 will be able to participate. The sites include three places abroad where expatriate Iowans took the initiative to apply to host caucus assemblies - Glasgow, Scotland; Paris; and Tbilisi, the capital of the former Soviet republic of Georgia. A 10-person review committee weighed applications on the basis of each location's accessibility, proximity to other precincts and demonstrated need for the site.

A plan to allow Iowans to participate by phone in a virtual caucus was scrapped last year when national party leaders said there wasn't technology that could be protected from hacking. The decision highlighted the premium placed on security, which won out over the desire for greater accessibility.

Still, the reforms amount to the "most significant changes to the Iowa Caucuses since 1972," the party says on its website.

The changes are also proving to be confusing, even to some old Iowa hands. Lyz Lenz, a columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, recently completed the online training prepared for caucus chairs and came away bewildered, confused especially by the calculation required to apportion delegates. "I can't say exactly, but I know you have to divide something by six," she said.

At town halls, candidates are fielding questions about the rules and "strategy" for securing delegates on caucus night.

Responding to one such query recently, the entrepreneur Andrew Yang said that "we have done the math, and here in Davenport, we believe we'll be well over the 15 percent threshold."

A record turnout, which is expected, could deepen the confusion, said McGuire, the former party chair who is running Klobuchar's Iowa campaign.

County chairs and other Democratic officials are in overdrive trying to prepare the volunteers who preside on caucus night. In a recent email to Democrats in Dubuque County, Drahozal urged caucus leaders to complete the training and take an accompanying test.

Rules and procedure aside, Drahozal said, party leaders can take steps to protect the integrity of the process. He is remaining "adamantly, adamantly neutral" until caucus night.

That sort of forbearance is a sign of the times, said Sterzenbach, whose extensive knowledge of Iowa's singular political tradition has earned him the nickname "Mr. Caucus."

The contest in "2016 was so close, and it showed how much distrust of the system there was," he said. "Much work went into addressing that."
Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria, 19th Jan 2020 -The Intl Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, a leading research and investigative rights and democracy group in Nigeria since 2008, has updated its special research report on Military Massacre in Eastern Nigeria, perpetrated between August 2015 and Sept 2017. The research report was released in Jan 2019 after three years of in-depth research and investigation conducted by Emeka Umeagbalasi and his research assistants. Umeagbalasi is a grassroots rights and democracy campaigner in Nigeria since 1995. He is also a criminologist and graduate of security studies and holds a Master of Science degree in peace studies and conflict resolution.

The special research investigation leading to the report was conducted and concluded without a dime from any intl grant institution; and launched following reported cases of mass killings and related state atrocities in Eastern Nigeria by the countrys security forces spearheaded by the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force. The state atrocities or grisly crimes against humanity (perpetrated under situation of no war or armed conflict) were perpetrated against unarmed and defenseless citizens of Eastern Nigeria, targeting members of the Judeo-Christian Igbo Ethnic Nationality and their neighbors. The massacre was remotely perpetrated following unhidden policy of structural, physical and cultural violence directly and indirectly promoted and executed by the Government of the day in Nigeria.

The Nigerian Military atrocities included industrial scale killing and maiming of street protesters and those in places of work, sleep or rest and leisure, church service, meeting, movement and residence, etc. There were also several reported cases of unlawful arrest and abduction or disappearances of unarmed and defenseless citizens both the dead and the living; sexual harassment, torture and other inhuman treatments or punishments as well as long detention without trial and trumped-up charges. The entire old Eastern Nigeria has also remained under military and police siege since August 2015.

Accompanying the military massacre was large-scale disruption and militarization of general economic activities in Eastern Nigeria particularly in the Southeast Region, leading to direct and indirect loss of about N901b or $2.9b since August 2015. The military massacre in Eastern Nigeria also promoted citizen militancy and gun culture; with high rise in street crimes, youth militancy, access to illicit arms and other social vices including street and roadway touting and violence.

The present central Government of Nigeria also acted wickedly and attempted to escape international damnation and justice responsibility by hurriedly tagging the main victim group (IPOB) a terrorist organization. Despite graphic details of the massacre and local and international outcries including several calls on the Government to act particularly in accordance with the Constitution and other laws of Nigeria and the intl law principle of complementarity and no impunity by fishing out the perpetrators and bringing them to justice; the Government refused to do so till date.

Service roadway and custody corruption also skyrocketed in Eastern Nigeria following the military massacre; with the two regions (old East) emerging as the countrys capital of police and military corruption. Officers of the Northern Muslim extraction and others including those of the Southwest also had a field day and turned the two regions into arenas for hate, religious, ethnic and corrupt policing and soldiering. In the end, no fewer than 480 defenseless citizens were massacred and over 500 shot and wounded with scores crippled for life. No single soldier was killed throughout the military massacre particularly during the street protests.

At the release of the special research report in Jan 2019, it was 95 pages and the 62-page victims album. After its recent update done this Jan 2020, the report increased to 122 pages following addition of the post massacre state atrocities and more names of the victims. Contents of the updated special report include: about Intersociety, short profiles of the Nigeria military and the police, research methodology, executive summary; international, regional and local (constitution and ors) legal frameworks, etc. The Legal Frameworks covered human rights and humanitarian laws including laws guiding armed conflict (war crimes) and non armed conflict (crimes against humanity) environments and policing techniques or handling styles used in policing peaceful and non peaceful assemblies under the UN System.

Contained in the special report, too, are graphic statistics exposing the killings and maiming including their patterns and trends; disappearances, unlawful arrests, torture and other inhuman treatments or punishments; sexual harassment, long detention without trial and trumped up charges; police and military roadway corruption, lopsided composition of key policing and military formations and their personnel and general disruption of economic activities, etc. The updated report also contained names and profiles of 38 perpetrators who directly or indirectly participated in the massacre and its aftermath as well as 26 recommendations for purpose of ensuring justice and deterrence.

Reactions Following The Special Report

The special research report is the most comprehensive indigenous human rights abuse report in Nigeria since 2015. It is also the most graphically detailed database of the state actor rights abuses or violations in Eastern Nigeria in recent decades and likened to the Massacre of Ndigbo in 1966: Report of the Justice G.C.M. Onyiuke Tribunal {Tollbrook Limited, Ikeja, Lagos) which found thatbetween 45,000 and 50,000 civilians of former Eastern Nigeria were killed in Northern Nigeria and other parts of Nigeria from 29th May 1966 to December 1967 and not less than 1,627,743 Easterners fled back to Eastern Nigeria as a result of the 1966 pogrom

The special research report had attracted a litany of local and international media publications and cited in numerous local and international academic works (including university graduation projects, masters and doctoral degree thesis) and the works of several research institutions. It had also attracted international commentaries from respected international human rights scholars and personalities and has formed the backbone of several submissions made by various non state actors and some friendly state actors at various UN and other international bodies and institutions.

The special research report had further provided a framework for civil litigations in US Courts and criminal lodgments before the ICC; all in matters of perpetration of crimes against humanity, etc. A number of defenseless Nigerians fleeing the States false and vindictive terror tag and persecution including those who lost their spouses and other relatives in the massacre, had cited the report in their asylum cases in overseas and won same.

Most importantly, the report has become a nightmare for some perpetrators, making their post service engagements overseas tantamount to climbing Kilimanjaro Mountain. With this special report, all the named perpetrators in the massacre have permanently met their post service dead end.

As a matter of law and criminology, when a crime is committed or perpetrated, but not investigated and documented, then no crime is committed or perpetrated. But when perpetrated and investigated and documented, the investigator has left a message of indelible and undeletable record for generations to come. Crime is also not statute bared; as a serving Chief of Army Staff since July 2015 will certainly one day become a former Chief of Army Staff

We hereby urge all citizens or nationals of good conscience and humanism in Nigeria and beyond to study and analyze the special report and make maximum use of same in their various ways particularly as it concerns justice for the citizen and the group victims, punishment for the perpetrators and deterrence against future occurrence as well as first and repeat-offenders. The attention of the Southeast and the South-south public office holders and policy makers is also drawn and urged to do the needful.

The Special Research Report is already up and running on our website: www.intersociety-ng.org . It is permanently and conspicuously located on the site and titled: the military massacre in Eastern Nigeria (August 2015-Sept 2017): updated in Jan 2020. With this update, the first version is stood down and replaced or substituted with the updated version. Our supporters, friends and others across the world are urged to take note. The updated copy is also attached below. Also see: http://www.intersociety-ng.org/phocadownload/2019/under%20buhari%20and%20osinbajo%20updated%20new.pdf

Signed:

Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair

Obianuju Igboeli, Esq., Head of Civil Liberties & Rule of Law

Ndidiamaka Bernard, Esq., Head of Intl Justice & Human Rights
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Mon, January 20 2020

Jari Sinkari and Helena Saren

Finland has set an ambitious goal to become carbon-neutral by 2035, 15 years earlier than the target the European Union has set for 2050. The Jakarta Posts Apriza Pinandita sat down with Jari Sinkari, the Finnish ambassador to Indonesia, and Helena Saren, the head of the smart energy program at state innovative funding agency Business Finland, to dig further into the countrys secret formula for environmental advocacy. Below are excerpts from the interview:

Question: What makes Finlands policies distinctive in terms of environmental issues? How does it manage to bring all the stakeholders together to work toward a common purpose?

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Beirut (AFP) - Clashes between police and Lebanese protesters wounded more than 220 people on both sides Saturday in the highest such tally in three months of anti-establishment demonstrations.

The sound of ambulance sirens rang out across Beirut as the Red Cross reported 80 wounded had been taken to hospital and 140 more were treated on site.

The protest movement rocking Lebanon since October 17 revived this week as a deepening economic crisis increases pressure to form a new government.

No progress appears to have been made towards finalising the cabinet, which protesters demand be comprised of independent experts and exclude all established political parties.

After several hours of clashes, the violence died down as demonstrators dispersed. Several were arrested, local media said.

The violence began after dozens of protesters -- some concealing their faces in scarves -- threw rocks and large plant pots at police guarding the road leading up to parliament.

Others charged police lines with traffic signs and metal barriers.

Security forces behind the barricades responded with water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

The violence continued after nightfall, with protesters throwing fire crackers at police in streets.

The National News Agency said demonstrators also vandalised bank facades in central Beirut, and television showed a fire of an unknown origin tearing through protest tents on the main square.

- 'Popular anger' -

"A direct and violent confrontation is taking place with anti-riot police at one of the entrances to parliament," the Internal Security Forces said earlier on Twitter.

"We ask peaceful protesters to keep away from the site of the rioting for their safety."

They published photos of several wounded policemen and a video showing pillars stripped of their tiles, reportedly to be thrown at security forces.

An AFP photographer saw young men uproot parking metres at the start of the clashes, then around 10 people faint from tear gas inhalation.

Story continues

A 23-year-old woman named Maya said she was protesting because politicians seemed to be ignoring demands for an overhaul of the old political class.

"I'm here because after more than 90 days in the streets, they're still squabbling over their shares in government... It's as if they didn't see our movement," she told AFP.

"Popular anger is the solution," she said.

- 'Infiltrators' -

Forming a cabinet is an often convoluted process in Lebanon, where a complex system seeks to maintain balance between the country's many political parties and religious confessions.

But protesters say they want to scrap the old system, and demand a new government of impartial technocrats to address mounting economic woes, including a severe liquidity crisis.

President Michel Aoun called on Twitter for the security forces to protect peaceful protesters, but prevent "vandalism".

Outgoing Prime Minister Saad Hariri meanwhile condemned what he called a "suspicious and crazy scene", blaming "infiltrators".

This week public anger has been directed at banks, with branches in the capital's Hamra district vandalised following widely unpopular limits on withdrawals and transfers.

Dozens were detained for several nights after clashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, before being released.

Human rights groups condemned the arrests and what they described as unacceptable violence against largely peaceful protesters.

Hariri and his government stepped down under pressure from the street on October 29, but they have remained in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.

Political factions that agreed on December 19 to appoint former education minister and professor Hassan Diab as the new premier are now disagreeing over proposed ministers.

The World Bank has warned that the poverty rate in Lebanon could rise from a third to half of the population if the political crisis is not solved soon.
(Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every day? Sign up for the Balance of Power newsletter, and follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and Facebook for more.

For only the third time in Americas history, a president is about to go on trial. Donald Trumps impeachment case  in which he faces charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress  got underway Thursday with a show of pageantry in the Senate.

It came a day after the U.S. and China signed a phase-one deal thats aimed at stemming the damage from their bruising trade war.

In Tehran, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gave his first Friday sermon in eight years, seeking to rally Iranians around an embattled establishment after a furious domestic backlash over the governments attempts to cover up the unintentional downing of a passenger jet.

Dig deeper into these and other topics and click here for Bloombergs most compelling political images from the past week.

Xis Wider Fight With U.S. Only Just Beginning After Trade DealIn a letter read out during Wednesdays trade deal signing at the White House, Chinese leader Xi Jinping asked Trump to take steps to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between us. But as Bloomberg News reports, that wont be easy.

With Iowa Looming, Bernie Sanders Is Poised for an UpsetThe cantankerous senators campaign appears to have taken off at just the right time, Joshua Green reports. But it will take more than just his hardcore supporters for Bernie Sanders to win the Democratic nomination.

The Tokyo Job: Inside Carlos Ghosns Escape to BeirutDespite being under intense surveillance, with a camera trained on his front door and undercover agents tailing him when he left his house, Ghosn somehow made it to Lebanon. Matthew Campbell reports on the elite extraction team that spirited the former CEO out of Japan.

Fury at Air Crash Cover-Up Puts Irans Leaders Back on DefensiveThe admission by authorities in Tehran that they accidentally shot down a passenger jet packed with Iranian students last week shattered a brief moment of unity, Marc Champion, Arsalan Shahla and Golnar Motevalli write.

Story continues

Strength in Weakness: Why Iran Fights the Way It DoesThe pinpoint accuracy of Irans response to the killing of commander Qassem Soleimani, striking two U.S. bases in Iraq while avoiding causing casualties, has signaled Tehrans capacity to harm American assets. As Marc Champion reports, its also shown the limitations on Irans freedom to openly do so.

Trump Bailout Means Farmers Emerge Optimistic From Trade WarDonald Trump is boasting that hes made farmers really happy. Hes not wrong, Mike Dorning reports, but its not just the trade deal thats left farmers optimistic for 2020.

The European Union Is Going to Miss the U.K. When Its GoneWith one foot inside and one foot out, the U.K. was never sure which way to turn  and the European Union never seemed to know how to make it more comfortable. Now, the overriding feeling among the EUs political elite remains one of regret, Ian Wishart writes.

How Putin Was Thrown Off Course by a Furious Libyan GeneralKhalifa Haftar was expecting the Kremlin red carpet. Instead he was cooped up in the Russian Foreign Ministry hoping for an audience with President Vladimir Putin, Samer Al-Atrush, Ilya Arkhipov and Selcan Hacaoglu write. In the end, the Libyan commander stormed out.

No Soul Searching for Xi After Taiwan Rebuffs China in ElectionIn a democracy, two resounding election defeats in a matter of months might prompt some soul searching in the losing camp. But as Samson Ellis and Peter Martin report, in China a snub at the polls in places it claims is more a minor setback rather than a sign of a flawed strategy.

Bloody Mutiny in Sudan Casts Shadow Over Drive for DemocracyWhen disgruntled Sudanese spies took up arms and gunfire rang out across Khartoum, even members of the most powerful pro-government militia were startled, Mohammed Alamin and Samuel Gebre report.

Drones Target Polluters in One of Europes Smoggiest PlacesKrakow was one of the most choked-up urban areas on the continent, James M Gomez and Dorota Bartyzel write. Then the Polish city became ruthless in its fight for clean air.

And finally ... Whenever somebody on Twitter takes issue with the networks policies, they almost always resort to the same strategy: They send a tweet to @jack. But while Dorsey is the companys public face, the taxing job of creating and enforcing Twitters rules dont actually land on the CEOs shoulders. Instead, that falls to Twitters top lawyer, Vijaya Gadde, Kurt Wagner writes.

--With assistance from Kathleen Hunter.

To contact the author of this story: Ruth Pollard in New Delhi at rpollard2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Karl Maier at kmaier2@bloomberg.net

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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Highlighting the slump in the economy, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said here on Sunday that government's "proposal to revamp the official statistics" is alarming as it will lead to a hurdle in intergenerational comparison of growth rates and of other parameters.

He said that the government is thinking of revisiting the official statistics and argued that unorganised sectors were not included.

He said that, government's proposed plan shows that the Centre did not have any clue to control the distress economy.

"Reports today and in recent reports in past, the government has said that revamp of official statistics is being done or thought of because they believe unorganised sector is not looked at. I request the government to not to do something that you cannot do an intergenerational comparison, please don't artificially boost your 4.9 per cent official growth rate, which your former Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) said is close to 2-2.5 per cent less than what is projected," said Singhvi while addressing press conference here on Sunday.

"Government does not have a clue how to control this runaway horse of distress economy," he said.

Citing Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data Singhvi said that 36 persons committed suicide per day due to unemployment. He said that figures for suicide due to unemployment are more than that of farmer's suicide.

Singhvi alleged that slow growth in the Industrial sector is covered up by "Jumla" of Make in India.

"In the Solar Power plant, one of the important components is the photovoltaic cell. In the PVC, 85 per cent of the material is imported from China, Vietnam and Malaysia. After 2014, Rs 90000 crore is the import bill which is more than direct FDI and import in other sectors. It is more than 6 times the budget of renewable energy from 2014-19," he said.

"The slow Industrial growth rate is covered by 'Jumlas' like 'Make in India'," said Singhvi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A West Australian man accused of slashing another man's throat with a knife has been charged with attempted murder.

Jarrad William Nash, 23, allegedly attacked his 39-year-old victim about 9pm on Friday after he was asked to leave the man's Beaconsfield home, south of Perth.

Police say he was visiting the home to speak to a woman known to him but became 'violent'.

Jarrad William Nash, 23, allegedly attacked his 39-year-old victim about 9pm on Friday after he was asked to leave the man's Beaconsfield home, south of Perth.

'He struck the male victim with a knife, causing a laceration injury to his throat,' a spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

The man then fled the scene before paramedics and police arrived.

The injured man was transported to Fiona Stanley Hospital where he remains in a stable condition following surgery.

His alleged attacker was arrested in bushland late on Saturday after detectives and the Tactical Response Group executed a search warrant at a home in the city's northern suburbs.

The man has also been charged with other offences unrelated to the Beaconsfield attack.

These include burglary and criminal damage following an incident in Spearwood, near Fremantle, on Thursday.

He was refused police bail and is expected to appear in the Perth Magistrates' Court on Sunday.
Photo Illustration by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast / Photos Getty

In the hours after the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3, U.S. officials in the White House, Pentagon, and State Department worked overtime on assembling a plan to handle the fallout, only to watch senior administration officials and the president himself scuttle their effort in real time on national television.

The ensuing days became a mad dash to reconcile the intense intra-administration tensions over what the intelligence actually said about Iranian plots, and how best to sell their case to the American public. At the very top was a president who stewed and complained to staff about how the killing hed just ordered might negatively affect his re-election prospects and ensnare him in a quagmire in the Middle East of his own creation.

The plan to take out Soleimani had been approved months earlier by President Donald Trump after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-National Security Adviser John Bolton pushed for more to be done to manage Irans aggression in the Middle East. But the president for years tried to avoid a direct military confrontation with Tehran, and hitting Soleimani was a move that could edge the two countries closer to war.

When an American contractor was killed in Iraq in late December, President Trumps national security team presented him with a slew of options on how to respond, and killing Soleimani was on the list. National security advisers reminded the president that he had publicly drawn a line in the sand, saying that if the regime killed Americans there would be severe consequences. Still, the strike was a departure from the regular Trump playbook and officials knew it would take a robust effort to explain not only the reasoning behind the attack but also the administrations goal on Iran.

There was this sudden nature about it all. Yeah, it had been in the works for some time. But it didnt feel like we were all thinking the same on how to move forward, said one U.S. official, referring to the strike on Soleimani. It was like, OK, now what?

Story continues

For more than a week, Trump, Pompeo, Vice President Mike Pence and officials from the national security community, including at the Pentagon, held twice-daily meetings and conference calls to make sure all government agencies were on the same page regarding messaging, according to two individuals familiar with those conversations.

Despite that effort, what resulted appeared to be an uncoordinated effort to justify an action by national security officials who were varied in their answers about the pre-strike intelligence and who struggled to define the administrations strategy on Iran post strike.

That internal confusion on how to re-frame the administrations approach to dealing with Iran led to weeks of what appeared to be frequent mixed messaging, critiques about the administration's apparent lack of strategy, calls from Congress for more robust intelligence briefingsand allegations that Trump and his lieutenants were actively misleading a nation into a sharp military escalation.

This article is based on interviews with 10 U.S. government officials and several former administration officials. The State Department and White House House did not comment on the record for this story.

Worry over the counterpunch

For several days following Soleimanis assassination, Pentagon officials warned Trump and his national security advisers that Iran had a variety of responses it could carry out to make the Americans pay. Among them, sources said, were Iranian attacks on senior U.S. military officers overseas, or violence targeting American outposts in countries like Iraq. Their bottom line was that Iran would hit back, and hit back hard.

The president worried aloud to his team about how the strike could impact the way voters viewed him in the upcoming election. After all, avoiding costly foreign wars in the Middle East had been one of the key promises and points of contrasthe made as a candidate in 2016.

One official told The Daily Beast that in meetings at the White House Trump was preoccupied with ensuring that his public statements on Irannotably that he would not drag the U.S. into a war with the countrywould hold following the assassination. Once Soleimani was gone, Trump was adamant that the administration get things back to normal with Iran, one official told The Daily Beast.

According to another U.S. official, senior administration officials, including President Trump, were framing the strike as a de-escalatory measure even before the attack was ordered. The idea was that if the U.S. didnt hit Soleimani, more people would die because Iran would continue to carry out attacks in the region.

Trumps insistence on returning to normal with Iran directly after he ordered the death of the Islamic republics top military leader underscores this presidents wild vacillations between diplomatic overtures and teasing violent retribution, where a call for peace one moment could be followed by a threat to destroy Iranian cultural sitesa tactic that is considered a war crime under international law.

The president inquired about this not long before greenlighting, then abruptly calling off, military strikes on Iran that he approved knowing the body count was estimated to be high.

And even as he publicly celebrated this massive escalation with Iran and aggressively campaigned on, and fundraised off of, his decision, Trump continued to lament privately to close allies that it would be crazy to plunge America into another invasion or full-blown war in the Middle East, according to two people who spoke to Trump in the days following the Soleimani hit.

He then pledged he would not let it happen on his watch.

Of course, none of the presidents stated reservations about starting a new war, or his stated desire to bring soldiers home, kept him and his administration from deploying thousands more American troops to the region as the U.S. and Iran walked up to the brink of all-out warfare early this month.

The Soleimani strike, though, forced the president to pause, even just briefly, to consider whether what he had ordered would have lasting, irreversible consequencesrepercussions hed never meant to bump up against.

You know, he's sincerely grappling with this, which is good. I mean, war should be hard and we should grapple with it. I just don't want any one person to say, okay, I've grappled with it we should do it, Sen. Tim Kaine told The Daily Beast in an interview about the escalating tension in Iran. Since the Soleimani strike, the Virginia Democrat has led a bipartisan push in the Senate to rein in Trumps authority to wage war in Iran without congressional approval.

If I were president I shouldn't have the ability to just on my own say, lets do this, Kaine added. It should be deliberative, because that's what the troops and their families deserve.

President Trumps concerns were fed, in part, by comments from lawmakers and other analysts that the strike on Soleimani could lead quickly to a major, sustained conflict.

We need to get ready for a major pushback. Our people in Iraq and the Middle East are going to be targeted. We need to be ready to defend our people in the Middle East, said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in an interview with The Daily Beast the night of the strike. I think we need to be ready for a big counterpunch.

Overselling the intel

In the first week after the Jan. 3 strike, officials appeared on television and radio shows in an attempt to frame the Soleimani strike as an act of de-escalation. Just hours after the strike, Brian Hook, the special representative for Iran, went on BBC World Service radio saying that killing Soleimani was designed to advance the cause of peace.

Officials at the State Department, in coordination with the White House, drafted talking points advising those who would appear in the media to underscore Soleimanis malign activities and his role in killing American troops over the years, according to two U.S. officials.

But the White House wanted to advance a different argumentone that wasnt about what Iran had already done, but what U.S. officials claimed Iran was about to do. They said the U.S. killed Soleimani because he was planning imminent attacks that would harm American interests.

That talking point in particular was emailed out to officials across the Pentagon, White House, and State Department, and even to several GOP lawmakers offices repeatedly the week of the strike, according to several officials who spoke to The Daily Beast. It became, for a time, the central rationale the administration offered for the assassination.

On the night of the hit, the Pentagon said only that Soleimani was actively developing plans for an unspecified attack. By Sunday Jan. 5, Pompeo said on several morning talk shows that there were actually constant threats from Iran, rather than a specific one the strike preempted. And officials told a varying story about how many Americans could be killed.

That next week, in briefings to Congress, the administration struggled to explain what exactly the alleged imminent attack was.

Senators left a closed-door briefing Wednesday, Jan. 8, unconvinced, angry, and warning that the intelligence put forward did not match how senior officials described it. And when the dissatisfied lawmakers pressed for a clearer picture, Graham ended the briefing even though several members had yet to ask their questions.

It was right when things were really starting to get heated and Graham just said something like, Hey dont you all have to get back to the White House?, the source said.

For Kaine, the problem wasnt the intel, it was some of the messengers.

I think the intel has been strong. But I think some of the political people have been overselling the intel, said Kaine. What I heard of the political folks doing seems to me to be significantly beyond what the intel says.

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), a member of the House intelligence committee who received a separate classified briefing on the Soleimani strike, said he saw nothing related to imminence.

To exaggerate your view of what intelligence means is dangerous, he told The Daily Beast. This was either a misrepresentation or a degree of incompetence in analyzing the intelligence.

Senators were also displeased with how the administrations briefers, including Pompeo, answered questions about Iraq and its parliament vote to oust American troops from the country after the Soleimani assassination. According to two people in the room, the briefers dismissed questions about the Baghdad vote, telling lawmakers dont worry about it, according to an individual who was in the room. One of them said thats just how the Iraqis talk. We will take care of it.

When you take strikes in Iraq over their objections, theres going to be consequences to that. And thats the kind of thing where you got to be thinking down the board. If they object to us using Iraq as a field of battle but were saying yeah, were doing it anyway. Well, what do you think is going to happen? Kaine told The Daily Beast in reference to the briefing. I certainly didn't get much sense that they had thought through, like, oh, they are probably going to kick us out of the country.

Trump on Jan. 9 told reporters that the intelligence actually showed that Iran was looking to blow up our embassy. The next day, he went bigger in a Fox News interview, saying that there probably wouldve been four embassies.

But two days after that, on Jan. 12, Trumps claim was put into question by his own defense secretary. In an interview on CNNs State of the Union, Mark Esper conceded that he had not in fact seen a piece of intelligence with regard to four embassies. But, in an apparent attempt to cover for Trump, Esper said the president believed that it probably and could have been attacks against additional embassies.

According to two officials who spoke to The Daily Beast, Trump was outwardly frustrated by critiques of his embassy claim, telling his close confidants that he was furious with Espers performance on CNN.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill called on the Trump administration to explain the presidents remarks, demanding briefings with Pompeo and other administration officialswhich were scheduled this week and then canceled without explanation. According to two senior U.S. officials, Trump and Pompeo spoke about the need to avoid answering more questions about the embassy threats.

This whole episode has been one of mixed messages. Mixed messages is a function of no real strategy, said Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT), a member of the House Intelligence Committee. When you dont have a strategy, you get all sorts of confusing events on top of each other.

Aggressive opinions

Officials who spoke to The Daily Beast said part of that confusion on messaging came as a result of abundant input by GOP lawmakers with aggressive opinions on how to handle Iran, as one official put it.

In the days after the assassination, Trump spoke with Republican leaders in the Senate and the House, picking their brains on how to redefine the administrations years-long policy of maximum pressurea campaign to wage economic warfare on Tehran.

Some of those same senators had publicly and behind closed doors denounced the administrations maximum pressure campaign. They argued that the campaign wasnt doing enough to change Irans behavior.

In the days leading up to the strike, Graham spoke with President Trump. I wont get into the details, Graham told The Daily Beast. But he told me Soleimani was a target and that they had caught him red-handed. Graham said he had advocated for the president to take a tougher military stance against Iran following the attacks on the Saudi oil refineries in September.

I didnt have any specific targets in mind, Graham said. I just thought we needed to be doing more.

Several national security officials who spoke to The Daily Beast said there was a push by GOP lawmakers, including Graham, in the days after the strike to fundamentally re-vamp the administrations maximum pressure campaign by adding a military component.

If there are any more threats against Americans or our interests then we should hit refineries and oil infrastructure inside Iran, Graham said. The military option should be on the table.

The campaign was not initially designed to include military power as a form of maximum pressure, according to two former Obama administration officials. Instead, its architects envisioned it as a means of economic strangulation, whereby Iran would be put under such crippling sanctions that it would opt to transform its foreign policy and take an unspecified grand bargain that the administration began offering after abandoning the nuclear deal in 2018.

Graham told The Daily Beast that he is working on an alternative to the Obama administration's 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

I'm not surprised the President has close relationships with these folks, Kaine told The Daily Beast, referring to GOP lawmakers. But it makes me nervous. Rather than senators pressuring the president, hey, go after Iran, let them make the case on the floor of the Senate.

After two weeks of shifting talking points on Iran, re-defining the administrations policy, Pompeo seemed to edge the closest to articulating a clear response on the administrations policy when he appeared for a speech at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University on Jan. 13.

President Trump and those of us on his national security team are re-establishing deterrence against Iran. The goal is twofold. First we want to deprive the regime of resources. And second we just want Iran to act like a normal nation, he said, sighing. Just be like Norway.

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New Delhi: The BJP is set to get a new national president in place of Amit Shah on Monday, with its working president J P Nadda expected to be elected to the post unopposed.

Top party leaders, including those from the states, are likely to arrive at BJP HQ here to file nominations in support of Nadda, who has long been seen as the choice of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for the job.

His decades-long experience in the organisation, starting from student politics, proximity to the RSS and clean image are seen as his strengths.

Senior BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, who is in charge of the party's organisational poll process, said nominations for the election will be filed on January 20, and a contest will take place the next day if required.

The BJP has the convention of electing its president on the basis of consensus and without any contest, and there is little possibility that it will be any other way this time.

The election of a new president will bring to an end Shah's tumultuous term of five and a half years during which the BJP expanded its footprint across the country like never before and enjoyed its best phase in electoral contests.

With Shah joining the Modi 2.0 government as home minister, the BJP began the exercise for electing his successor as the party has the convention of 'one person, one post'.

Nadda was appointed as the party's working president in July last year in an indication that the Himachali leader was the likely choice for the top organisational job.

In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he was in-charge of the BJP's election campaign in Uttar Pradesh, where the party faced a tough challenge from an alliance of the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party.

The party won 62 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from handling crucial states for the BJP in the general elections, Nadda was a Cabinet minister in the first tenure of the Modi government and has been a member of the parliamentary board, the BJP's top decision making body.
WhatsApp is down for users around the world due to a major outage.

Hundreds of people reported problems with the popular messaging app on Sunday morning, though WhatsApp is yet to publicly acknowledge the issue.

Website health tracker Down Detector recorded troubles with sending and receiving messages on WhatsApp.

Europe is the worst affected region, though parts of Asia and South America also face severe disruption.

It is the latest in a series of outages to hit the Facebook-owned app, with a major incident in March last year leaving users cut off for nearly an entire day.

12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Show all 12 1 /12 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Unsend messages You can unsend a message by tapping and holding it, hitting the Delete symbol and selecting Delete for Everyone. The feature works for all types of messages, but only if they were sent less than seven minutes ago. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Dodge the blue ticks WhatsApps blue ticks show when sent messages have been read, but you can disable them buy going to Settings > Account > Privacy > Read Receipts. However, bear in mind that, by doing so, youll lose the ability to see when your own sent messages have been read. Another, more fiddly way of reading your messages without triggering the blue ticks, is enabling Aeroplane Mode before opening your messages - just remember to close the app before switching Aeroplane Mode off again. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Hide your 'last seen' time Prevent your friends from finding out when you were last online by hiding your last seen time. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy > Last Seen. As is the case with disabling read receipts, hiding your last seen time will also stop you from seeing anybody elses. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Limit data usage You can control how much data you munch through on WhatsApp by limiting the types of media you automatically download on a mobile connection. Go to Settings > Data Usage and choose the best option for you. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Customise notifications If youre expecting an important WhatsApp message from someone, set a custom notification for them by opening the chat, tapping their name at the top and hitting Custom Notifications. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Format your messages To jazz up any of your messages, simply highlight it by tapping and holding it, hit the More Options key on the pop-up menu and tap the formatting option you want - bold, italic, strikethrough or monospace. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Type hands-free You can get Siri or Google Assistant to type your WhatsApp messages out for you by saying either Hey Siri or Okay Google, followed by the name of the person you want to message and the actual contents of the message. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Mark chats as unread When youve read a message but cant reply to it straight away, you can set a visual reminder by marking it as unread. On Android, long-press the conversation, and on iOS, swipe from left to right on a chat. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Email entire conversations You almost certainly wont do this on a regular basis, but its a handy option to have. You can export entire conversations - complete with emoji and media attachments - by hitting More inside a chat a selecting Email Chat. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Mass-message contacts You can send the same message to lots of your contacts without lumping them all into one group, much like the BCC option on email, by hitting the New Broadcast option on the apps main menu. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Pin conversations You pin up to three contacts and groups to the top of your WhatsApp conversation list by tapping and holding a chat, then hitting the pin icon. 12 useful WhatsApp features you didnt know existed Make things easier to find You can easily mark key messages with a star, allowing you to find them easily when you need to. Just tap and hold a message and hit the star icon to save it, and return to it later by selecting Starred Messages in WhatsApps main menu.

More than 500 million people use the app each day and many have taken out their frustrations across Twitter and Facebook.

A spokesperson for WhatsApp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Recommended WhatsApp is about to stop working on these phones

A report earlier this month revealed that WhatsApp is the worst-hit platform for internet shutdowns.

The app suffered 6,236 hours of deliberate disruption in 2019, largely as a result of authoritarian governments blocking access to it.

The app's secure encryption and vast user base make it popular among protesters who want to evade authorities during periods of civil unrest.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the international community to stand against the merchants of blood and chaos as he headed Sunday to a Berlin summit seeking to resolve the Libya conflict.

Erdogan supports the U.N.-backed administration in Tripoli led by Fayez Sarraj and sent troops to Libya earlier this month to help them in their battle with eastern-based forces led by Gen. Khalifa Hifter.

He will join leaders from Russia, the West and Arab countries, as well as the heads of the opposing Libyan factions, in the German capital in a bid to halt nine months of fighting around the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Erdogan said the world had failed to respond adequately to Hifter's reckless attacks.

He added: Hopes that flourish again with the cease-fire and the Berlin summit should not be sacrificed to the ambitions of the merchants of blood and chaos.

A truce sponsored by Turkey and Russia was imposed a week ago but sporadic fighting has continued.

On Friday, tribal groups loyal to Hifter seized several large oil export terminals along Libya's eastern coast as well as southern oil fields in another challenge to the Tripoli government, Germany is bringing together key players in Libya's long-running conflict in a bid to curb foreign military meddling, solidify the cease-fire and help relaunch a political process to determine Libya's future.

Serraj's government is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Italy while Hifter is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and France. Russian military contractors have been fighting alongside Hifter's forces, although Moscow retains links to both sides in the conflict.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Did you hear the joke about the con man who tried to sell a sucker the Brooklyn Bridge?

How about the one about the political operatives who stole the George Washington Bridge?

Thats the basis of crime for which former Christie administration officials Bill Baroni and Bridget Kelly were convicted in federal court. The two counts on which each was convicted were rooted in a contention that the pair had purloined the access lanes to the bridge for their own evil purposes.

Those purposes may indeed have been evil. I certainly would have thought so if Id been stuck in that traffic jam caused when two of the three toll lanes used by local traffic were cut off from Sept. 9 to Sept. 13, 2013.

But did that constitute a federal crime? Justices on both the liberal and conservative sides of U.S. Supreme Court dug in on that question during the oral arguments on the case on Tuesday.

The prosecution was represented by Justice Department lawyer Eric Feigin, who argued that the pair conspired to take over real property, physical lanes accessing the George Washington Bridge.

But Chief Justice John Roberts, who leans to the conservative side, said, The object of the scheme was not to commandeer lanes on the bridge. The object was to cause a traffic jam in Fort Lee.

Meanwhile Justice Elena Kagan, generally seen as a liberal, was also skeptical.

If I look at this, and Im an ordinary juror, Im thinking, you know, the object of this deception was not to obtain property, Kagan said. The object was to create a traffic jam. The object was to benefit people politically.

The majority opinion seemed to follow that old saying, Dont make a federal case out of it.

If they follow that line of argument and throw the case out, then the cause of justice will have been well served.

Thats because the admitted mastermind of the scheme, Chris Christies man at the Port Authority, David Wildstein, got off with probation after pleading guilty and turning states evidence. Meanwhile Baroni and Kelly chose to stand for trial and were each sentenced to more than a year in prison.

That doesnt seem right to me. And it didnt seem right to the Boston lawyer who is a leading critic of overreaching federal prosecutors.

Its a common tactic for prosecutors to seek more lenient sentences for those who plead guilty and aid in the persecution, said Harvey Silverglate (who co-authored with Alan Dershowitz the book "Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent.)

But he said the system is fundamentally wrong.

In an email, Silverglate said theres a sort of ballet in which the prosecutors hint at the precise testimony they need in order to prosecute and convince the lower-downs, and  lo and behold, to nobodys surprise  that is precisely the story told (concocted) by the newly-minted witness for the prosecution.

This case has a lot of similarities to the federal prosecution of actress Lori Loughlin, who was charged with fellow actress Felicity Huffman in that scheme to get their kids into college by spreading some money around.

Both cases represent examples of prosecutors looking for what author Tom Wolfe described as the great white defendant in his 1987 best-selling novel The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Prosecutors love to go after high-profile people instead of common criminals, and TV stars certainly qualify. But the problem with the Loughlin prosecution, he said, is that lots of parents pave the way to college with cash.

A good example is the case of presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner. He who grew up in Livingston, the same town as both Wildstein and Christie, and he helped Wildstein start the political website Politickernj.com.

In his 2007 book, The Price of Admission: How Americas Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges--and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates, Daniel Golden reported that Jareds father Charles Kushner contributed $2.5 million to Harvard, which accepted Kushner despite a less-than-stellar academic record.

The Boston-based Silverglate, who has taught at Harvard Law School, said that sort of thing is com.

The main difference is that Charles Kushner gave the money to the university, while the actresses gave at least much of the money to individual staff members at the universities, he wrote. The result in either case is that an unqualified kid gets admitted and takes up a seat that should go to a better student.

On the same day that Bridgegate case was before the Supremes, the government was filing a new 526-page brief in that case, which could drag on for a couple years.

Silverglate argues that if a similar case were prosecuted in state court the trial would be over within a day or two.

And when it comes to Bridgegate, all involved already got their comeuppance. All three miscreants lost their jobs. As for Christie, he lost whatever chance he had of becoming president.

Alls well that ends well.

And if this ends with Wildstein as the only one convicted in Bridgegate, then it will have ended quite well indeed.
The Transportation Security Administration apologized to a traveler at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, who used her social media platform to call out the "unacceptable behavior" she faced Monday from a TSA agent who mimicked using her braided hair as reins during a security pat-down.

Tara Houska is a Minnesota attorney and indigenous rights activist who opposes the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline project. She had flown from Washington, D.C., where she participated in the Fire Drill Friday climate protest.

On Twitter, Houska spoke about her treatment at the security checkpoint. "Going through @TSA at @mspairport, the agent said she needed to pat down my braids. She pulled them behind my shoulders, laughed & said "giddyup!" as she snapped my braids like reins," she wrote.

Houska described feeling hurt by the agent, who she said "humiliated" her. "When I informed the middle-aged blonde woman who had casually used her authority to dehumanize and disrespect me, she said 'Well it was just in fun, I'm sorry. Your hair is lovely.' <- that is NOT an apology and it is NOT okay," she added.

It has long been an issue that women of color face in going through TSA checkpoints, where hair worn in braided, twisted or natural styles leads to flags on scanners that prompt agents to pull them aside for more invasive screenings.

It was even addressed in an "Ask TSA" response about hair pat-downs in the case that the "hair area alarms for a potential explosive" or when someone's "hair looks like it could contain a prohibited item or is styled in a way an officer cannot visually clear it."

In a statement, the agency said: "TSA was made aware of allegations made by a traveler about her screening experience at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Monday morning. TSA officials investigated the incident and on Tuesday afternoon, TSA Federal Security Director for Minnesota Cliff Van Leuven spoke with the traveler. He apologized for actions and a comment that were insensitive and made by a TSA officer to the traveler during the screening experience."

"TSA holds its employees to the highest standards of professional conduct and any type of improper behavior is taken seriously," the statement continued.

In a letter to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (also known by code MSP) staff Tuesday, Van Leuven confirmed the incident took place. "Did it actually happen? Yes. Exactly as described? Yes." He described the agent's behavior as "insensitive" during the screening and said he spoke with and apologized to Houska directly for the treatment she endured.

Van Leuven said Houska wasn't seeking discipline for the agent involved but rather wanted the incident to be a learning opportunity for TSA to "educate staff about the many Native American Tribes/Bands in our state and region to better understand their culture."

Houska, who is Ojibwe, said she travels frequently for speaking engagements and shared with Van Leuven that she hasn't had any concerns with TSA in Minnesota respecting sacred items or Tribal IDs before, which added to her surprise during the incident Monday.

"We all make mistakes," Van Leuven said. "Treating the public we are sworn to serve and protect with dignity and respect is our calling - every passenger, every day. We'll learn from this."

Houska acknowledged the apology on Twitter and was emphatic that training be taken seriously.

"I really, really hope this doesn't happen to anyone else moving forward," she wrote.
We know that there are poverty struggles in this city, we know that there are race struggles, we know that there are injustice struggles in this city, Barrett said at a news conference. And we want to do everything we can to have more partners to address these issues. And so were not going to shy away from the challenges that we have in this city, and were going to embrace the advances weve made.
By Wayne Sandholtz

Donald Trump is a few steps from becoming a new kind of autocrat  an elected one.

The typical paths to autocracy used to be through revolution or military coup. No longer.

Todays strongmen  Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Viktor Orban of Hungary, Vladimir Putin of Russia, Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines and others  came to power through elections and then used the institutions of government to subvert democracy and expand their own powers. Trump regularly praises the current batch of autocrats and clearly longs to rule as they do.

How could an elected autocracy take hold in the United States? After all, we have three branches of government, with built-in checks and balances. But these days, it is not so clear that Americas constitutional framework could readily repel Donald Trumps autocratic impulses, especially when supported by the Republican Senate under Mitch McConnell.

Trump clearly admires foreign strongmen who have been able to dismantle democratic institutions and amass executive power. He praises them not because their policies are compatible with American interests and values, but because they repudiate those values with impunity.

Trump and his allies in Congress, and potentially the Supreme Court, are laying out a path that would make it possible for him to emulate the authoritarians.

The impeachment process has shown that Republicans in Congress have no interest in being a check on this president, whether in substance or process.

McConnell announced from the start that the Senate would not be impartial in any impeachment trial and that he would act in total coordination with Trumps counsel. Lindsey Graham, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has declared that he has already made up his mind and has no intention of being a fair juror.

Last week, McConnell announced that the impeachment trial would begin without a decision on witnesses. These positions mock the oath to render impartial justice that all senators will take at the impeachment trial.

As for the Supreme Court, a moment of truth is approaching. The court has agreed to hear Trumps appeal of the ruling of a three-judge panel of the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals holding that he must comply with subpoenas for his personal and corporate tax records.

During arguments at the appellate court, Trumps lawyer, William Consovoy, argued that Trump enjoyed absolute immunity from criminal prosecution or investigation as president, even if he shot someone.

With two Trump appointees  Neil M. Gorsuch and Brett M. Kavanaugh  now on the Supreme Court, it is possible that the courts conservative majority will vote to shield a conservative president and accept his far-reaching claims of executive immunity. Such an outcome would further diminish the ability of the judicial branch to check executive powers and conduct.

These developments and strategies mirror what authoritarian leaders abroad have used to enlarge and entrench their powers.

They almost invariably target the three key institutions that can hold them accountable as they move to consolidate power: independent courts, a free press and civil society organizations.

In the Philippines, prominent journalists have been arrested after publishing reports critical of Duterte. He has also referred to reporters as spies and warned that they are not exempt from assassination in a country where extrajudicial killings encouraged by Duterte have reached more than 7,000.

In Turkey, Erdogan has virtually eliminated independent news media. That country has jailed more journalists than any other in the world. Erdogan has also brought the judiciary firmly under his governments control.

In Hungary, Orban has eviscerated the nations Constitutional Court, brought the rest of the judiciary under his partys control, and put nearly all independent media outlets out of business. In Vladimir Putins Russia, journalists and opposition politicians have been jailed or assassinated and news media have been brought firmly within the Kremlins grip.

Each of these authoritarians got into office through elections and used the powers of the state to undermine democratic institutions and erode mechanisms of accountability.

According to global measures compiled by the Varieties of Democracy project and Freedom House, scores for the health of those three key accountability mechanisms have declined in America since Trumps election, with the greatest erosion occurring in political attacks on the judiciary and harassment of journalists.

The falling scores clearly reflect Trumps derision for judges and courts that have ruled against him and his relentless attacks on news organizations, undermining confidence in both the judiciary and the press.

In fact, the United States is among the 10 countries showing the most dramatic declines in relevant measures since 2016. The overall decrease places the United States in the company of notorious democratic backsliders like Nicaragua, Poland, and Hungary.

These indicators are not irreversible, but they offer alarming signs of where we may be headed. With the Republican Senate on a path of blind support for Trump and a Supreme Court that may accept his claim of absolute immunity from any kind of investigation, the legislative and judicial branches appear to be unable or unwilling to exercise their constitutional duty to check the presidency.

And now, after three years in office, Trump seems even less restrained by the norms of presidential conduct that were guard rails for previous occupants of the White House.

Trump and his enablers in Congress are clearing the path for autocracy in America. Will enough Americans awaken to the danger before it is too late?

Wayne Sandholtz is a professor of international relations and law at the University of Southern California.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Tecun Uman, Guatemala

More than 2,000 Central American migrants Saturday surged onto a bridge spanning the Suchiate River between southern Mexico and Guatemala as Mexican National Guardsmen attempted to impede their journey north.

Mexican authorities closed the bridge after the migrants tried to push their way across. The bridge was open the previous day to migrants who wanted to cross and request asylum in Mexico, or seek to regularize their status and find work.

As the crowd swelled, Mexican officials allowed several dozen migrants to enter the country via the bridge, while a voice over a loudspeaker warned migrants against trying to slip into Mexico without passing through immigration filters.

Nearby, hundreds of guardsmen lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely. The voice on the loudspeaker warned that those aiming to transit through the country may not be granted asylum in the U.S., even if they make it there.

Mexico's government has said migrants entering the country without registering will not be allowed to pass from its southern border area. But those seeking asylum or other protections will be allowed to apply and legalize their status in Mexico.

Guatemalan officials have counted roughly 3,000 migrants who registered at border crossings to enter that country in recent days, and estimated there were an additional 1,300 migrants who did not register.

Vicente Hernandez, head of the Mexican armed forces in the border area, told migrants on the Guatemalan side of the border that "there are opportunities for everyone" in Mexico.

Mexico's offer of legal status and potential employment for migrants carries a stipulation that would confine migrants to southern Mexico, where wages are lower and there are fewer jobs than elsewhere in the country.

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

Also, many of the migrants aim for a new life in the U.S.  not in Mexico.

Many of the migrants leaving Central America say they fear for their lives back home, while others say they are looking for better prospects.

As temperatures rose Saturday, migrants trickled back to Guatemala.

Meanwhile, Guatemala's human rights defender's office said there were more than 1,000 migrants gathering at another point on the Mexican border.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday attacked the Centre for branding those who show dissent as traitors and said the BJP has spawned a culture where religious zealots have labeled Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz anti-Indian for his iconic poem Hum Dekhenge.

In his weekly column Rokhthok in the Sena mouthpiece Saamana, said that those who oppose the government are being put behind bars like it once happened in Russia, Iraq, China and in Hitlers Germany.

Revolutionary literature has always been created in India. Veer Savarkars literature was confiscated by the British even before it was published. What happened in that era shouldnt happen today... Once upon a time in Russia, political opponents were tagged enemy of the revolution and put behind bars. Similar things happened in China. Nothing different happened in Iraq and Hitlers Germany. Today in our country those who speak against the government are branded traitors, Raut said in his column.

ALSO WATCH | hose opposing Savarkar should be put in Cellular jail for 2 days: Sanjay Raut

The Sena leader backed Pakistani poet Faiz and said that he has been made anti-India by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Faiz was an enemy of the Pakistan army. He has been made anti-India by the BJP now. Faiz opposed the Pakistan army till he was alive. India has witnessed literature of dissent many times, Raut said.

He said that a class within the country aims to curb the freedom of speech and expression and is sowing the seeds of Taliban civilization.

Last month, the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur (IIT-Kanpur) had set up a panel to investigate if Faizs iconic poem Hum Dekhenge is anti-Hindu after students chanted his poem during a protest.

Raut added that when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the external affairs minister in the first non-Congress Union government he had broken protocol to meet Faiz in Pakistan during his official visit. He added that restriction of religion and borders cant be put on poets like Faiz.

The Sena Member of Parliament also spoke about the backlash actor Deepika Padukone has faced for visiting Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to back the students protest. Many right wing trolls had called the boycott of her film Chhapaak for visiting JNU.

Therefore, Deepika was termed the enemy of the revolution on India. Hurdles will be put in her way. Her advertisements will be banned now, he said.
Actor Deepika Padukone is at the centre of a social media storm after she was slammed for a TikTok video, where she challenges an influencer to recreate her acid attack survivor 'look' from her latest film "Chhapaak".

The TikTok challenge thrown by the 34-year-old actor was called "insensitive", "crass" and the "worst kind of a promotion".

In a 39-second video that went viral on social media on Saturday, Deepika is seen asking make-up artiste Faby to recreate her "three favourite looks" from her films.

Faby recreates the actor's looks from her 2007 debut "Om Shanti Om" and 2015's "Piku".

However, her attempt at recreating the actor's 'look' from "Chhapaak", in which Deepika plays Malti, an acid attack survivor, was criticised on social media.

Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film is based on the life of acid attack survivor-activist Laxmi Agarwal and released on January 10.

Many called out the actor for trivialising the trauma of an acid attack survivor by categorising the part as a mere 'look' and even questioned her intention behind taking up the part.

"I'm appalled at Deepika Padukone's Tiktok challenge on the 'Chhapaak' acid survivor 'look'. It is like making a movie on the Holocaust and tattooing numbers on your hand as promotion," a user wrote on Twitter.

Another said, "This is really disrespectful to acid attack victims, @deepikapadukone. How disgustingly low are you going to stoop to promote yourself?"



A tweeple branded the video "gross".

"And just when we thought that @deepikapadukone couldn't mock Lakshmi anymore through her PR stunts in JNU she comes up with tick tok challenge on acid attack victims. Gross," another wrote on the microblogging site.

"So 'Acid Attacked Face' has now become challenge now. This is the worst kind of a promotion by @deepikapadukone. Shame on you."



Another user said that the actor, who has been vocal about mental health issues, should have been more careful.

"Deepika's Tiktok video is crass and insensitive. She is a victim of mental illness, expected better from her. I will never be able to admire and respect her again," the person said.

"I'd kept silent about 'motives' when Deepika showed up to JNU because it did help give the cause some publicity but the TikTok video shows what Bollywood stars really are. There is no moral compass or political ideology. They wait and respond to things in a very calculate way," a user wrote.

One person posted, "The problem with Deepika Padukone endorsing a makeup challenge on Chhapak is that she treated it as one of her 'looks' and dismissed the entire trauma behind it. She proved that it was merely makeup for her & she clearly doesn't understand the depth of what survivors go through. (sic)"



Another person said the video was a "big mistake" on the actor's part.

"Supporting students was a mistake or not, I don't know... but this TikTok video is a big mistake on Deepika's part. #Chaapak isn't just about a look of Malti..." read the post.

A user said, "So much I want to say about #Chapaak First off that atrocious video '3 looks of Deepika's from 3 of her movies. 'Acid attack victim' is not 'a look'."



"Anytime you're feeling bad about any dumb thing you did, just remember that Deepika Padukone created the 'acid burnt face' as a 'look' on TikTok to push her movie. It'll make you feel better," read a post.

Another Twitter user said, "OMG! I have no words, so end of the day it was all just a makeup for her. Disgusting and sad... beauty without brains. Can't help. These celebrities will never understand. Fake people."



However, not everyone was critical of Deepika and a user said the actor is trying to make acid attack survivors a part of the society.

"Deepika helping to normalise acid scars with Malti's look being recreated. Social inclusion for acid attack survivors is important and the TikTok videos are a great way," the user wrote.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Availing free health benefits in Chhattisgarh will be now a shade easier for all ration card holder families under Dr Khubchand Baghel Swasthya Sahayata Yojna. Now, a person will just have to present an identity proof along issued by the government along with ration card.

This move by the government  expected to help about 65 lakh families in the state  brings to an end the existing practice of mandatory smart cards and other cards issued for health benefits.

The new provision has come into force from January 17 this year in all the contracted hospitals.

The health minister has said that by taking this step, the government has decided to widen the pool of health beneficiaries and included those who do not have Ayushman card. The reach of Ayushman cards and other smart cards was less in the state, so we decided to use Ration cards instead. It has been made mandatory to bring any one government identification card along with the ration card. About 65 lakh families of the state will benefit from this scheme as opposed to 45 lakhs previously, health minister TS Singhdeo told Hindustan Times.

In order to prove their identity, the patients seeking admission in contracted hospitals need to present either Aadhaar Card or any other such government identity card along with their existing priority, Antyodaya or other Ration Cards, a statement released by the Chhattisgarhs health ministry read.

Discarding the previous method, the government has also decided to remove the software database of all smart card holders, a statement released by the government stated. It added that this has been done to ensure technical support for the new method of providing health benefits.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritesh Mishra State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years. ...view detail
KALAMAZOO, MI  A little snow and rain did not keep hundreds of participants from building power together at Kalamazoos womens march.

The Womens March Kalamazoo was hosted by the local YWCA and organized by a diverse committee of community members. The theme of Saturdays event was building power together, and began with a march starting in Bronson Park and ending at the nearby First Congregational Church on West Michigan Avenue for a rally.

A number of other women-led marches took place Saturday, Jan. 18, elsewhere in Michigan and across the country.

Participants gathered near the corner of West South Street and South Park Street in Bronson Park, carrying signs stating support for womens rights and some voicing political opinions. Chants of building power together circulated through the crowd as the half-mile march began.

Today has been going great, said Alisa Parker, chair of the events organizing committee. Its great to see all the different women and men out here for a cold and snowy day. Weve had a great turnout.

Parker said organizers estimated there were over 200 attendees.

Participants came with their friends and family, coworkers and classmates. Even some furry friends sported signs in honor of the event.

Its so important to get this message that women belong everywhere, participant Jen Richardson said. I have two small children, both girls, and its important to show them we need equality and we cant just sit home.

Richardson is among other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the congressional seat currently held by U.S Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. Another candidate for the seat, state Rep. Jon Hoadley, D-Kalamazoo, also attended Saturdays march. Also attending was state Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo.

After the walk, participants with wet coats and boots came inside the church for performances and a rally with speakers, including female politicians and community leaders. Shannon Cohen and state Rep. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, were both featured as guest speakers in addition to a number of presentations from the Womens Talk series.

Every seat in the room was filled and additional spectators stood in the aisles.

There are many ways women can lead and we really want to highlight that, Parker said of the rally.

This is the first year the YWCA has organized the march, and Parker said the committee was designed with a diverse group of women at the table of organizers.

Everybody on the committee is a woman of color and we wanted to show how we can really center this march around women that are marginalized," she said. When we lead with those voices, we can push forward and lead with equity and inclusion.

Also on MLive:

Where to find Michigan Womens March 2020 events this weekend

Womens March to promote inclusion, diversity in Kalamazoo community

Day of service events part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in Kalamazoo
Avalanches, heavy snow and poor visibility hampered the search Sunday for four South Koreans and three Nepalis caught in an avalanche in the popular Annapurna region of the Himalayas, officials said Relatives of the missing Koreans have arrived in Kathmandu alongside several officials sent by Seoul to help with the emergency rescue efforts, Ang Dorjee Sherpa of the Korean Alpine Federation told AFP. The missing group was near the Annapurna base camp around 3,230 metres (10,600 feet) above sea level when the avalanche struck after heavy snowfall on Friday. "Our team reached the area but could not proceed with their search because of more avalanches. We are exploring ways to move the operation forward," said Mira Acharya from Nepal's tourism department. Rescuers were working with Korean officials to deploy drones in the search on Monday, said Dilip Gurung of the tourism management committee in Chhomrong, which lies on the trekking route. "It is difficult for people to go. We will try to fly drones to help find something," Gurung said. Helicopters were sent out on Saturday to rescue about 200 people stranded around Annapurna and other nearby mountains after the incident. Guesthouses and the trekking route were blanketed in a thick layer of snow. "The snow was very deep and it took us more than double the time to dig through and walk," said Jeevan Dahal, a guide who was rescued by helicopter. "We saw the avalanche-hit area from the helicopter. Everything was white." Tek Gurung, a guesthouse owner aiding the search operation, said more than two metres of snow (6.6 feet) had fallen on the trekking trails and it was "extremely difficult" to search the snow-covered area on foot. Six of the missing were part of the same expedition, while one Nepali porter was escorting a different group. The four foreigners -- two men and two women -- were part of an 11-member team of South Korean nationals. Others have safely descended. Education officials in Seoul said they were part of a team of volunteer teachers working with children in Nepal. Two more South Koreans were due to arrive in Nepal on Sunday to help with the search, the country's foreign ministry said. Sherpa said it had snowed heavily around Annapurna in recent days, making the trek risky. "The weather and snow got worse and, feeling it was becoming dangerous and difficult, they decided to turn. As they were heading back the avalanche hit," Sherpa told AFP on Saturday. Annapurna is an avalanche-prone and technically difficult mountain range with a higher death rate than Everest, the world's highest peak. Thousands of trekkers visit the route every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas. A snowstorm killed about 40 people on the circuit in 2014, in one of the biggest trekking tragedies to hit Nepal.
When Haneef Chino Brockington went to his Elizabeth High School prom, his date quipped that he never sat down.

He wouldnt stop dancing, said his mom, Deborah Thomas.

A photo of the teen wearing a black suit and green bow tie for the occasion - when he was so full of life - was the same one the family used for his funeral program.

Brockington was shot multiple times on the night of Dec. 29 at the EZ Quick gas station in the 300 block of Morris Avenue in Elizabeth. His aunt said the teen told his grandmother, whom he was living with at the time, that he was going to buy a snack at the gas station convenience store about a block away.

He was 19.

No arrests have been made since he was killed. Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in the case. A spokesman for the Union County Prosecutors Office on Friday declined to give more information on the shooting or any possible leads or suspects since the case is still an active investigation.

"The hurtful part about this is that the killer is still out there, said his father, Tyrone Brockington.

The teens father said his son motivated him to clean up his act when he was younger, when he used to be involved in drugs.

When Haneef came, I couldnt leave him, the teens dad said, recalling his birth, as he choked back tears. Im a better man because of him, all because of him. I feel that he served his purpose, but it hurts so bad. I dont wish this pain on no parent.

Haneef Brockington stands with his dad, Tyrone Brockington, in a photo that his family shared with NJ Advance Media. Brockington was fatally gunned down in Elizabeth on Dec. 29, 2019.

His parents, aunt and five other relatives spoke to NJ Advance Media on Friday at the home of the teens grandmother. Brockingtons mom said he would often help take care of his grandmother, who was diagnosed with cancer.

Brockingtons friends and family called him Chino because his Cuban stepfather bestowed the nickname to him when he was younger, his aunt said.

The teens passion was rapping and his favorite hip-hop group was Migos, his family said.

He graduated from Halsey Academy in Elizabeth last year and worked at an Amazon warehouse in Cranbury. He was set to start a new job at Dollar General in Linden just days before he was gunned down.

He planned to eventually join the U.S. Navy, since the family has a long line of service members.

Brockington was not involved in any gang activity, his family said. And they dont know who would have wanted to kill him.

He was friends with [all of] Elizabeth, said his aunt, Sabina Hudson. "Even if you have one part of Elizabeth beefing with the other part, he didnt have that beef. He had friends in every neighborhood.

They said the teens funeral at Mount Teman AME Church on Madison Avenue drew hundreds of people, including friends and former teachers.

His parents joked that Brockington was stubborn because hed give them a hard time about doing chores when he wanted to play his favorite video games, like Call of Duty.

Brockington would always ask for money from his parents for things like food or paying off his new car. He knew he would get the money, his family joked, since he was one of the youngest in his family and everyone doted on him.

Those small characteristics that may have irked his parents at times were the same ones they missed the most. His father lovingly read one of the last texts his son sent him just before Christmas in which the teen once again asked for money.

He is well-loved and its a huge chunk out of the familys heart, Thomas said. "We want justice. We want someone to be apprehended.

Union County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Tips can be provided anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477) or online at www.uctip.org.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.

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Alluding to the delay by the erstwhile Left government in taking steps to repatriate Bru refugees in Tripura, former Mizoram Governor Swaraj Kaushal on Sunday said that they lacked perspective and could not see beyond 'red'.

Kaushal, who served as the Governor of Mizoram between 1990 and 1993, told ANI in an exclusive interview: "The problem with red is that they just see red or black. They do not go beyond red. If there is a cadre and voter, there is compassion. It requires a foresight. The state government, unfortunately, did not have a perspective."

The comments came in the backdrop of the signing of an agreement between the Central government and the governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives under which around 34,000 internally displaced people will be settled in Tripura.

The refugees would get all rights that normal residents of the states get and they would now be able to enjoy the benefits of social welfare schemes of Centre and state governments.

"These people are on the border and are the first line of defence. I am happy that the government has come forward. It has kept in view the security and kept human pain in mind. It is an agreement of compassion," Kaushal further said.

The Brus are spread across Tripura, Mizoram and parts of southern Assam and are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect. They had demanded an Autonomous District Council (ADC), under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in western Mizoram.

In 1997, following ethnic tensions, around 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru tribals were forced to flee Mizoram and seek shelter in Tripura. These people were housed in temporary camps at Kanchanpur in North Tripura.

Since 2010, the Central government has been making sustained efforts to permanently rehabilitate these refugees. The Centre has been assisting the two-state governments of Mizoram and Tripura for taking care of the refugees. Till 2014, 1,622 Bru families returned to Mizoram in different batches.

On July 3, 2018, an agreement was signed between the Central government, the two-state governments and representatives of Bru refugees, as a result of which the aid given to these families was increased substantially.

Subsequently, 328 families comprising 1,369 individuals returned to Mizoram under the agreement. There had been a sustained demand of most Bru families that they may be allowed to settle down in Tripura, considering their apprehensions about their security.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that there are no talks of bringing the NRC across the country is like a poll "jumla" (rhetoric) that people will get Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts, Jamia Millia Islamia student leader Asif Iqbal Tanha said here on Sunday.

Tanha, who was at the forefront of the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the JMI in Delhi last month, appealed to secular parties to also take a firm stand against the National Population Register (NPR).

Tanha was in Ahmedabad along with another student leader Ayesha Renna to take part in a anti-CAA protest organised by "Gujarat Alliance Against CAA NRC NPR (GAACNN)".

The demonstration was held despite the police denying permission to organisers.

"Today, the entire country is standing up against the CAA, an anti-Muslim Act which treats Muslims as the second class citizens. We are secular and peace-loving people. We oppose this Act," Tanha told reporters.

He said while secular parties are on the same page on the CAA and NCR, but they need to take a firm stand on the NPR "which is the first step towards NRC".

Referring to PM Modi's NRC statement at the December 22 rally in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan, Tanha said, "Has the Central government been able to satisfy the people of the country? Have the people received Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts? It (the statement on the NRC) is a 'jumla'. It's a lie".

He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah and PM Modi had made "contradictory" statements on the NRC.

"While Amit Shah says there will be a pan-India NRC, PM Modiji says there will be no such NRC. You have made mockery of this country. Your arguments are contradictory. We never seen such a liar prime minister," Tanha said.

He said students are demanding registration of an FIR against police by the JMI administration for the December 15 incident. "...Or else we will force the vice chancellor to resign," he added.

Meanwhile, Renna said she, Tanha and other students of the JMI have been visiting different parts of the country to mobilise the people to come out against the controversial CAA.

The students and members of civil society will visit different parts of Ahmedabad and address gatherings against CAA, NRC and NPR.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Moscow, Jan 19 : Russian President Vladimir Putin honoured the heroes and victims of the Leningrad siege, 77 years after the devastating events of the Second World War.

On Saturday, Putin laid flowers at the Nevsky Pyatachok monument, a small bridgehead on the left bank of the Neva River where nearly 60,000 Soviet soldiers died trying to break the siege of Leningrad, today St Petersburg, reports Efe news.

The Russian President's father, also called Vladimir, was one of the many who fought against German Nazi forces and received a severe injury on his leg.

From Nevski Piatachok, located some 50 km southeast of St Petersburg, Putin travelled to the Piskarevskoye Cemetery where the remains of 420,000 inhabitants of Leningrad killed during the blockade and more than 70,000 Soviet soldiers are buried.

In one of the mass graves of the memorial cemetery, Victor, Putin's elder brother who died at a young age during the German siege, is also buried.

The President placed a floral wreath before the Motherland monument, but before he stopped and left flowers next to the mass grave where Victor's remains lie.

Putin has said in the past that his brother was separated from his parents and taken to an orphanage by Soviet authorities to save him from the famine suffered by the inhabitants of Leningrad.

The head of the Kremlin, who was born in the post-war period (1952), admitted he did not discover where Victor's remains were until 2014.

The Nazi Army, which invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, closed the siege around Leningrad on September 8 of the same year and held it for 871 days and nights.

Soviet troops managed to break through on January 18, 1943 although they were unable to liberate the city in its entirety until 27 January, 1944.

During the Leningrad blockade, nearly 650,000 residents of St Petersburg died, almost entirely from hunger, and more than 300,000 Soviet soldiers.
S he's long held the title of one of the most instantly-recognisable monikers in the beauty business.

And now 62-year-old Bobbi Brown is turning her hand to the world of wellness.

Alongside the arsenal of multi-functional products she concocted during her tenure at her eponymous cosmetics line, Brown has also penned nine books, launched her editorial site, Just Bobbi, and re-designed The George, a boutique hotel in New Jersey.

Upon her departure from Bobbi Brown in 2016, it wasn't quite clear whether the cosmetics entrepreneur's hiatus would turn into a break of the more permanent type.

But after taking time away from the industry, the titan is unequivocally back to re-stamp her mark on the industry with her new line of wellness supplements, Evolution 18, which includes powdered collagen, beauty gummies and "beauty bubble" effervescent tablets.

We caught up with Brown to talk all things self-care and her unabating love of tequila on the rocks.

First thing every morning, I drink two glasses of warm water with lemon when I wake up. Right now I am intermittently fasting so I do not eat until midday, but I have a shot of Nespresso every morning.

I exercise every day and always do something different. My favourites are yoga, walking, weight training, and riding my Peloton bike.

I like to keep my morning skincare routine simple. I splash water on my face and moisturise with Augustinus Bader and an SPF. When my face is super dry, I apply apricot oil.

I am working on mentally preparing for the day, but I sit quietly with my new notebook and write down the many thoughts and to-do lists in my head.

For lunch I typically have a sandwich on paleo bread with protein and vegetables, or a salad with protein and vegetables. I try not to snack, but in the afternoon I like to make myself a drink with a scoop of EVOLUTION_18 Afternoon Chocolate. I carry my snacks and supplements in a handy and see-through pouch from Stow, one of my favourite accessory brands.

My office is a huge, open floor space with no personal desks. So when I need a break, I like to step in our soundproofed phone booth to make a phone call and take a deep breath.

Dinner is typically a piece of fish, cooked vegetables, with either bean pasta or sweet potatoes. And sometimes, I like to have a vodka or tequila on the rocks.

I like to drink in moderation, except during the holidays. My go-to is vodka or tequila on the rocks. I try not to drink during the week, but that is something I am working on.

At night, I like to put my robe on, put my hair in a ponytail, and take my makeup off with organic coconut oi with a wash cloth. It takes everything off. Then I brush my teeth and apply more Augustinus Bader moisturiser. I am also mastering the new The Light Salon LED Boost mask which is good for skin health and feels relaxing, I honesty use less foundation than I ever did. I am not sure if its the Augustine Bader or this!

I love a good bath with Epsom Salts once or twice a week. But normally I am in a rush so I shower.

In terms of supplements, I take weekly Vitamin D, fish oil, EVOLUTION_18 Beauty Gummy, collagen, and probiotic.

I notice a big difference when I religious use my infrared sauna in my backyard. And obviously a massage whenever I find the time.

I colour my hair monthly, and get a blowout either once or twice a week. My manicurist Roza comes to my office every two weeks. I also go to my chiropractor and kinesiologist weekly. I tried cryotherapy, which I found to be an intense and painful practice. I did not find it enjoyable and I did not see a big ROI.

I like the Laser treatments to help with my sun spots. I also tried ultherapy, but it takes 1-3 months to notice, so the verdict is out.

I look in the mirror and if I do not look good, I also do not feel good. It is time to hit the reset button and turn everything down a notch. It is the ultimate self-care.
Two reactionary scofflaws, Andrew Johnson and Donald Trump. Photo: The Print Collector/Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Its not every day that a sitting vice-president of the United States signs his name to an op-ed. But this Wall Street Journal essay by Mike Pence is fascinating, albeit not in the way he probably intended. Its basic thrust is to call on Senate Democrats to defect from the party line to vindicate the unfairly persecuted Donald Trump in his impeachment trial, the way Edmond Ross broke with his fellow Republicans in 1868 to cast the crucial vote to acquit the equally persecuted Andrew Johnson. Very likely, what led him to this argument is the fact that Ross got a chapter in then-Senator John F. Kennedys 1956 book Profiles in Courage, which gives Pences case a bipartisan veneer, however anachronistic. And so the veep tries to use this analogy to divert attention from the pressure on Republican senators today to break party ranks and allow a real impeachment trial:

Then as now, a political faction has forced a partisan impeachment through the House in the heat of an argument over a difference in policy. Then as now, this faction has cheapened the impeachment process, which the Founders believed should be reserved for only the most grave abuses of the public trust.

But despite the focus on what a handful of Republican senators may do, the true profile in courage, as Kennedy understood it, would be a Senate Democrat willing to stand up and reject a partisan impeachment passed by the Democrat-controlled House.

As it happens, I agree with Pence that Trump is a lot like Andrew Johnson, and the case for impeaching both men has striking similarities. But neither of these crude, self-centered leaders with racist tendencies should be understood as any kind of martyr, as I noted when impeachment proceedings against Trump began:

Johnson entered office as something of a figure of scandal, having delivered an inaugural address inside the Capitol in a very apparent state of inebriation (Do not let Johnson speak outside, Lincoln reportedly said before the public inaugural address that many consider his own greatest speech).

Johnson also anticipated Trump in the violent abusiveness of his rhetoric toward political enemies. That was ironic, in a way: He had first attracted the support of Republicans as Lincolns 1864 running mate thanks to his frequent and intense denunciations of his fellow Southern secessionists as traitors who deserved to be strung up, if not killed in combat (he famously said: Treason must be made odious, and the traitors must be punished and impoverished!). But once Johnson committed himself to the restoration of white supremacy in the South after the Civil War, he unloosed his tongue on his former allies 

Among other things, Johnson called for hanging his chief congressional Republican critic, Thaddeus Stevens, and abolitionist leader Wendell Phillips. According to prevailing standards of the day, Johnson held the functional equivalent of MAGA rallies.

The most important similarity, though, is that Johnson systematically sought to make America great again by undermining congressional efforts to vindicate the sacrifices of the Civil War by extending the franchise to ex-slaves. So total were Johnsons efforts to restore (to use the great Democratic slogan of that day) the Union as it was and the Constitution as it is that his erstwhile congressional colleagues struggled to find specific grounds to impeach a president engaged in the most dramatic counterrevolution in U.S. history, as The Atlantics Yoni Applebaum recently observed:

The question facing Congress, and the public, was this: What do you do with a president whose every utterance and act seems to undermine the Constitution he is sworn to uphold? At first, Republicans pursued the standard mix of legislative remedies  holding hearings and passing bills designed to strip the president of certain powers. Many members of Johnsons Cabinet worked with their congressional counterparts to constrain the president. Johnson began to see conspiracies around every corner. He moved to purge the bureaucracy of his opponents, denouncing the blood-suckers and cormorants who frustrated his desires.

It was the campaign of white-nationalist terror that raged through the spring and summer of 1866 that persuaded many Republicans they could not allow Johnson to remain in office.

In Pences account, Johnson was properly acquitted on contrived charges that he violated a statute subsequently deemed unconstitutional, the Tenure of Office Act. Thats only partially true at best. The 11th article of impeachment, the one against which Ross first voted in his profile in courage, also cited Johnsons defiance of congressional Reconstruction generally, and of properly enacted laws regarding the military chain of command in the South that Johnson circumvented. Beyond that, in the context of the time the Tenure of Office Act was an important restraint on Johnsons efforts to restore white supremacy in the former rebel states, as I noted early in the current impeachment saga:

Because it was triggered by his effort to get rid of Edward Stanton just as the Secretary of War was deploying military force to halt ex-Confederate terrorism, [the Tenure of Office Act reflected] Johnsons determination to fight for white supremacy. In that sense, it was similar to the apparent inclination of todays House Democrats to impeach Trump for doing something equally illustrative of his overall pattern of lawlessness: using presidential powers to encourage a foreign government to drop a hammer on a domestic political threat.

As Mother Jones Tim Murphy maintains, the real basis for removing Johnson from office was clear:

[T]here was only one true Johnson scandal, just as there is only one true Trump scandal, and though the particulars are very different  the formers class resentment was the inverse of the latters class entitlement  they share a common element: an open hostility to democratic ideals. That was Andrew Johnsons high crime, and there was nothing conspiratorial or nitpicky about it. He was doing it in plain sight. The rest was noise.

If Andrew Johnson was no persecuted defender of the Constitution, nor was Edmond Ross a courageous man of principle. As David Greenberg explained during the Clinton trial when people were touting Rosss example, he was far more interested in patronage graft than in resisting legislative abrogation of executive powers:

Ross vote wasnt the lone act of bravery it was later made out to be. At least four other senators were prepared to oppose conviction had their votes been needed  a fact that has been forgotten, maybe, because it doesnt square with the High Noon portrait of Ross as the man of principle facing down the mob.

Ross wasted no time exploiting Johnsons debt to him. On June 6, he wrote to Johnson to have him install one of his cronies as southern superintendent of Indian affairs, and Johnson agreed to oust his own friend in order to comply. Sensing opportunity, Ross kept upping the ante, like a Mafia henchman running a protection racket. (Nice little presidency ya got here  hate to see anything happen to it.) On June 23, he wrote to Johnson to secure a position for Perry Fuller, his 1867 election sponsor. On July 1, he asked Johnson to make his brother a federal mail agent. On July 10, he pressed the president for jobs for three more friends, invoking his impeachment vote, just in case Johnson had forgotten.

There is one aspect of Pences argument that rings true: He is advancing a view of Johnson and Ross, and of the Reconstruction issues underlying the impeachment effort, that was common in 1956, when Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage (or more accurately, co-wrote with his famous ghostwriter Ted Sorenson). Its the great myth that Johnson and white southerners were equally victims of a corrupt and extremist Radical Republican regime centered in Congress that sought to put carpetbaggers and ignorant ex-slaves in power over a supine region powerless to resist (though resist they did, through the enactment of violently discriminatory Black Codes and the white terror of the Ku Klux Klan). Its the myth  best expressed in the racist classic Birth of a Nation  that justified the eventual disenfranchisement of black voters and the imposition of Jim Crow.

Jim Crow, of course, was still in place in 1956 when JFK and Sorenson wrote their misguided tribute to Ross. Whole generations of historians have debunked the myth that Pence now embraces. He may yet regret drawing parallels between the 17th and 45th presidents, and not just because there were aspects of Johnsons defense that Team Trump wouldnt for a moment emulate, like agreements to hear 41 witnesses. Johnson deserved removal from office for one of the greatest high crimes and misdemeanors in U.S. history, the betrayal of ex-slaves and the cause of equality under the law embodied by the first great Civil Rights Act of 1866, which he vetoed on grounds that equality discriminated against white people.

There is in fact only one relevant difference between Johnson and Trump: The former was a spent force by the time he was acquitted, soon unsuccessfully seeking a second-term nomination by Democrats who met under the slogan, This is a white mans party; let a white man rule. Trumps renomination is assured. So far, few in his party have had the courage to speak out against him  and certainly not Mike Pence.
Two people were injured as Honda and Opel Astra collided in Yerevan early on Sunday morning, News.am reports citing Shamshyan.com.

Honda drifted into an opposite lane, crashed into an electric pole and collided with Nissan XTrail and later with the parked Opel Vectra.

The driver of Opel Astra was found in a trunk as after the crash he was thrown back from the driver's seat.

One of the injured in critical condition.
Sen. Bernie Sanders said on New Hampshire Public Radio Sunday that gender could be viewed as an "obstacle" for female politicians running for president, but that everyone has their "own set of problems"  such as his own age, for example  and that it's important to look at the "totality" of a candidate.

Why it matters: Sanders is continuing to deal with the fallout from Sen. Elizabeth Warren's claim that he told her in 2018 that a woman could not win the presidency. Sanders has denied saying this, stressing on Sunday that the country has come a long way over the past few decades and that anyone can become president.

What they're saying: "There are a lot of people who say I like Bernie, hes a nice guy, but hes 78 years of age," Sanders said. "And so we have to argue please look at the totality of who I am. If youre looking at Buttigieg, hes a young guy. People will say hes too young to be president."

He continued: "You look at Elizabeth, she is a woman. Everybody brings some negatives if youd like. I would just hope very much that the American people look at the totality of a candidate, not at their gender, not at their sexuality, not at their age but at everything. Nobody is perfect."

The big picture: Both Sanders and Warren, progressive candidates who have had a non-aggression pact throughout the campaign, have sought to downplay the rift as the Iowa caucuses near. Sanders said Sunday that the media has "blown this thing up" and that he doesn't want to discuss it further, while Warren declined to comment at a campaign event in Iowa.

Go deeper: Sanders-Warren battle upstaged by viral right-wing media
The Shirdi Saibaba is revered by Hindus and Muslims alike.

Shirdi: The shutdown observed in Shirdi over statements made by Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on the Saibaba's birthplace has been called off after Sunday midnight, according to Shiv Sena MP Sadashiv Lokhande.

The announcement was made by the Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi after a meeting with local people on Sunday evening.

He said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the issue with temple officials.

Representatives from Pathri and Shirdi, BJP MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Lokhade and Shirdi Temple Trust CEO will attend the meeting.

The pilgrimage town observed a shutdown Sunday to protest Thackeray's statement on the birthplace of the Saibaba, a spiritual figure of the 19th century who is revered by Hindus and Muslims.

However, the Saibaba temple remained open throughout the day while shops and eateries downed shutters and vehicles remained off the roads.

A former member of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) said residents of Shirdi provided food and water to devotees visiting the shrine.

The shutdown was observed in at least 25 villages around Shirdi.

The row erupted after Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of Sai janmasthan (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district, nearly 273 km away from Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

The issue of Saibaba's birthplace came into prominence in 2017, when President Ram Nath Kovind stated that Saibaba was born in Pathri.

There are many beliefs about the actual birthplace of the mystic saint, who enjoys a masssive following.

The residents of Pathri village often cite Saibaba's biography 'Sri Saisachharitra' to claim that he was born in their town.

Referring to the President's reference, Shiv Sena MP Lokhande said, "Some devotees say when President Ram Nath Kovind came here on October 1, 2017 for the inauguration of thecentenary of Saibaba's samadhi, he said Shirdi was baba's karmabhoomi and Pathri was his birthplace. I went to meet the President along with some Shirdi locals and explained to him about his comments regarding Pathri."

"The President said the information had been given to him by officials. He even expressed regret," he claimed.

Lokhande said he would meet Thackeray and try to resolve the controversy.
United States Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells is set to arrive here on Sunday for a four-day visit centred around talks on Afghanistan, Middle East tension and other bilateral issues.

Sources told Dawn News that during her visit, Wells is expected to meet various government representatives and military officials. The diplomat will complete her visit on January 22.

She will also speak at a think tank and engage with members of civil society on what the US State Department calls "issues of bilateral and regional concern".

Although Wells' visit comes immediately after Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's trip to Washington, her trip had been previously planned.

According to a diplomatic source, Wells is expected to follow up on Qureshi's discussions in Washington where he met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Adviser Robert O' Brien, and Under Secretary of Defence John Rood.

Qureshi has recently concluded a three-day trip to the United States -- the last leg of his mission to defuse tensions in the Middle East -- after having already visited Tehran and Riyadh as part of Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to ease tensions in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday hit back at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's over his "two children policy" demand, saying unemployment and not population is the real problem in India.

"Shame on you! I am having more than two children and several BJP leaders have more than two children. RSS has always maintained that the Muslim population has to be controlled. This country`s real problem is unemployment, not the population," the AIMIM chief said addressing a public meeting in Nizamabad.

Sharpening his attack on RSS chief Bhagwat, Owaisi asked the RSS chief about the number of youths who have been given jobs in the country since the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014. He also slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for failing to create employment opportunities and said, "36 youths committed suicide per day in 2018 over unemployment issues."

"Today the demographic dividend in India cannot be seen in any other country. You could not provide jobs to anyone in over five years of tenure. This is the reason why RSS is insisting to bring `two children` policy. 60 per cent of the population in India has people less than 40 years of age," he added.

Live TV

"Today`s report is that in 2018 per day 35 unemployed persons committed suicide and 36 employed people have committed suicides. What would you say on that?" asked Owaisi.

on Friday, RSS chief Bhagwat has pressed for a law for controlling the burgeoning population of the country, reigniting a debate that the lawmakers should bring a legislation in Parliament in this regard. "We feel this is the need of the hour though it is up to the government to take the final call on this. This law will not have any relation to any particular religion and will be applicable to all," he had said at a meeting of about 40 senior RSS functionaries.
Cebu City (CNN Philippines, January 18)  More than 40,000 devotees joined this year's sea procession in honor of the feast of the Santo Nino in Cebu early Saturday, the Coast Guard said. The event comes ahead of the anticipated Sinulog Festival on Sunday.

The Philippine Coast Guard in Central Visayas said around 42,800 devotees were in the crowd that rode the boats and watched from the piers during the parade. At least 170 boats participated in the procession, it added.

The procession kicked off at around 6 a.m. from the Naval Forces Central camp in Mactan Island and ended at the Pier 1 in Cebu City, a voyage that took an hour and 45 minutes.

A boat carrying the image of the Holy Child Jesus led the parade at the Mactan Channel to reenact its arrival from Spain to Cebu in 1521. The main vessel this year was landing craft tank Teofilo Camomot, named after the Cebuano bishop who is up for sainthood.

The boat went to the First Mactan Bridge and passed the piers in Mandaue City where throngs of devotees were awaiting to catch a glimpse of the Santo Nino image.

Philippine Coast Guard Central Visayas spokesperson Michael John Encina said no untoward incidents were reported from the sea procession.
Around 3,000 Sikh devotees will travel to Pakistan via Attari border on April 11 from the capital to celebrate Baisakhi at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal city.

President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjinder Singh Sirsa said here on Sunday that Sikh devotees will leave from New Delhi on April 11 to return on April 21.

Authorities have also asked the devotees, those who are interested in undertaking a pilgrimage on the occasion of Baisakhi to be celebrated on April 13, to deposit their passports with the DSGMC by February 15.

The pilgrims will celebrate Baisakhi at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on April 13 and 14, after which they will leave for Nanakana Sahib, the birthplace of Sikh Guru Nanak Dev, through a special train on April 15 to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, before returning to Amritsar on April 21.

Each pilgrim is required to pay visa processing fees of Rs 200 with four latest passport size photographs and valid identity proof and Indian Passport having one-year validity, said the DSGMC.

Sirsa added that the required documents will be deposited with the External Affairs Ministry by February 25, which will then be forwarded to the Pakistan High Commission. The pilgrims will be provided the visa after necessary scrutiny by Indian as well as Pakistan agencies, he said.

In the total quota of 3,000 pilgrims, the state of Punjab has been allocated maximum quota of 1,800 pilgrims, followed by Delhi with 555 pilgrims, and Haryana with 200 pilgrims.

West Bengal has been allocated the minimum of five pilgrims, Bihar 14 and Jammu and Kashmir 40 pilgrims.

The festival commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Idaho public officials from the Governors office on down to local city councils and county commissions were patting themselves on the back recently for approving the resettlement of more refugees in Idaho.

But the credit here goes to President Donald Trump, whose revamping of the resettlement program across America opened the door for common-sense sideboards and guidelines. He said he would make such changes, and he has.

A bit of history seems in order. Only a few year ago, in 2015 and 2016, the Magic Valley was torn with conflicting and angry perspectives on refugees. Pro-refugee supporters including the media, community liberals, some church congregations and partisan Democrats welcomed the influx of refugees from where ever, including volatile Africa and the Middle East, with minimal vetting and no local input.

Others had legitimate concerns as ISIS Muslim immigrants found ways into America by manipulating a porous process. Obama federal authorities were winking at this, while Americans from California to Michigan to Idaho experienced wave after wave of poorly-vetted newcomers, and in some cases, violence and murders. Not to worry, said the liberal excusers, the terrorists just need more time to assimilate.

In the Magic Valley, these concerns were dismissed by the newspaper as purely racist. An anti-refugee activist tried a petition campaign to close the CSI Refugee Center to stop the influx, but when that failed, he ran for a seat on the CSI Board. He didnt win, but in the anonymity of the voting booth, citizens gave him over 47 percent of the vote, a clear signal that many people wanted changes.

Then, individual decisions brought substantive adjustments. First, both the anti-refugee activist and the preachy, lefty editor left the state. That alone reduced the pot-boiling heat down to a low simmer.

Second, Trumps election in 2016 set the way for reduced overall refugee numbers, better vetting of applicants, and limits on refugees from war-torn countries. No more wink-and-admit policies of the Obama era. That the promise Trump ran on, won on and has pretty well delivered.

The Trump executive order in 2019 thus required states to affirmatively say they would not just accept, but actually affirmatively accept new refugees. (White House Executive Order, Sept. 26, 2019).

That was a reversal of the we-know-whats-best-for-you of the Obamas. The states, including Idaho, actually had to ask their local communities the same question: do you want a refugee program, yes or no? (Gov. Brad Littles letter, Dec. 23.) Some have given qualified approval; others, such as Texas, have not.

Even with those sideboards, refugee resettlement in Idaho isnt viewed favorably by everyone. Apart from a tiny list of rah-rah newspaper letters, local Facebook posts are decidedly more mixed. There are many Americans who legitimately ask if it is a good idea to bring people to this country from places where we are roundly hated and our values despised. New worldwide tensions and conflicts in 2020 surely wont diminish those concerns.

Recognizing the community division, neither the Twin Falls council nor the County Commission particularly wanted to be on record on this issue either, (Times-News, Dec.24 and Dec. 30), so they tossed the hot potato back and forth, with the commissioners quietly seeking and an additional, unreported cover-your-own-rear letter from local legislators for even more political vaccination, just in case its needed.

In due course, we then heard from the usual righteousness lefties who implicitly told the community how they had saved the city from local bigotry by encouraging diversity. These were widely quoted. Nonsense. They routinely whine about lack of local control, but chicken-hawk duck when theyre specifically charged to exercise it.

The issue was really a common-sense outcome by the Trump administration to require local governments to be in the inclusiveness game. The CSI Refugee Center will go forward, but with reduced numbers, as will Idahos general openness to immigration. But local citizens now have some assurance that it is working within the sensible Trump guidelines.

In this, Trump has done the states and communities an enormous favor. Idahoans are a generally tolerant people, despite the frequent snarky put-downs of us by liberals and the transitory, here-now-gone-tomorrow media reps.

Folks should read the executive order (#13888) at www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/ It really is an amazing document, coming after years of we-know-best decrees from the imperial federal Obamas.

In it, Trump says that the state and the localitys consent to the resettlement of refugees under the Program is taken into account to the maximum extent consistent with law. Wow! Maximum extent. Wow! A document which actually asserts a basic principle of participatory governance, the consent of the governed.

If refugees want to come here, they are welcome, if they avoid the woe-is-me, youre-all-racists philosophy of some and adopt the work ethic and American values of their host communities. Thats called real assimilation, leaving aside the whining of identity politics, ethnic silo-ing and tribalism.

On balance, that is what has happened with wave after wave of foreign immigration going back many decades. And it is what is happening now in a safer, more secure America, thanks to Trump.

Rather than refugee quotas being imposed from Washington, local concerns and input are now part of the process. It was Trumps policy changes and executive order which brought this change about, not the open-the-doors, let-em-all-in cries of diversity advocates. He wont get the credit, but thats the bottom line.

PS. Trump crushed Hillary Clinton by 3.5 to 1 in the 2016 election, 20,000 votes to 6,000 in Twin Falls County. That wasnt by coincidence. Hell do even better in 2020.

Stephen Hartgen, Twin Falls, is a retired five-term Republican member of the Idaho House of Representatives, where he served as chairman of the Commerce & Human Resources Committee. Previously, he was editor and publisher of The Times-News (1982-2005). He is the author of the new book Tradition & Progress: Southern Idahos Growth Since 1990. This column was first published in www.idahopoliticsweekly.com. He can be reached at Stephen_Hartgen@hotmail.com

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House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead impeachment manager, is slamming the argument by Donald Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz that abuse of power is not an impeachable offense as an absurdist position. The only reason the presidents legal team would even attempt to make that argument, he said, is if they know that the facts are so dead set against the commander in chief.

You had to go so far out of the mainstream to find someone to make that argument, Schiff said on ABCs This Week. You had to leave the realm of constitutional law scholars and go to criminal defense lawyers. Dershowitz argued that even if proven, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress do not add up to impeachable offenses. The logic of that absurdist position thats being now adopted by the president is he could give away the state of Alaska, he could withhold execution of sanctions on Russia for interfering in the last election, to induce or coerce Russia to interfere in the next one, Schiff said about the argument.

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.@GStephanopoulos: "Is it your position that President Trump should not be impeached even if all the evidence and arguments laid out by the House are accepted as fact?"



Alan Dershowitz: "That's right." https://t.co/cqiFPziHtO pic.twitter.com/r4HZwCF149  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 19, 2020

So far, the way Trumps legal team has responded to impeachment shows that the facts arent seriously contested, Schiff said. The only thing really new about the presidents defense is that theyre now arguing, I think, because they cant contest the facts, that the president cannot be impeached for abusing the power of his office.

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Rep. Adam Schiff: "The only thing really new about the president's defense is that they're now arguing  I think because they can't contest the facts  that the president cannot be impeached for abusing the power of his office." https://t.co/weB5AekBmw pic.twitter.com/Rpe6e1vBr2  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 19, 2020

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Dershowitz pushed back against Schiffs characterization, saying that the same argument was used in former President Andrew Johnsons impeachment trial. I am making an argument much like the argument made by the great Justice [Benjamin] Curtis, and to call them absurdist is to insult one of the greatest jurists in American history, he said. The argument is a strong one, the Senate should hear it. I am privileged to be able to make it, Dershowitz said on This Week. I have a limited role in the case. Im only as counsel on the constitutional criteria on impeachment.

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Dershowitz says "you can't charge a president with impeachable conduct" if it doesn't fit criteria in Constitution.



"I'm a liberal Democrat who voted against President Trump and who voted for Hillary Clinton. I'm here to present a constitutional argument" https://t.co/su65A8bcwG pic.twitter.com/srgJyOQ2qV  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) January 19, 2020

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In an interview with CNN, Dershowitz also said that if his legal arguments are successful, there will be no need to call witnesses during the Senate trial. If my argument succeeds, theres no need for witnesses. Indeed there is no need for even arguments, any further arguments, he added. If the House charges do not include impeachable offenses, thats really the end of the matter. Whether or not to call witnesses during the trial that begins this week has been a key point of disagreement between Republicans and Democrats.

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Eric Raheem, 36, has been charged with assault and criminal possession of a firearm

A woman has been caught on video firing a gun at an 18-year-old boy, moments after he argued with a man on a New York street.

Police have identified Eric Raheem, 36, as the man involved in verbal altercation with the teenager in Midtown Manhattan on Friday around 1pm.

It's reported the teenager was beaten up by Raheem before the woman came by with a silver handgun and fired in his direction.

In the clip, the suspect is seen strolling along with another person whose identity was shielded in video release by police on Sunday.

The woman appears to be concealing the weapon behind her back.

Then suddenly she begins shooting at a target off-camera, causing group of people nearby flee the area.

Police are look for this woman who is seen firing a gun at an 18-year-old boy on the streets of New York in a video released Sunday

The incident took place in broad daylight outside of a TD Bank in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.

The teen was not hit by the bullet or seriously injured.

It's unclear what sparked the disagreement captured on surveillance videos.

Police said Raheem had run away from the scene near 42nd Street and 9th Avenue after the altercation.

However cops caught the man, who resides in Queens, and he has been charged with assault and criminal possession of a firearm.

The shooting took place Friday in broad daylight outside of a TD Bank in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. The female suspect is pictured right

The woman appears to be concealing the weapon behind her back. Then suddenly she begins shooting at a target off-camera, causing group of people nearby flee the area

The scene near was near 42nd Street and 9th Avenuein Midtown Manhattan, New York City

Raheem's relationship to the woman is unclear.

Now the New York Police Department is asking anyone with information to contact them as they search for the unidentified woman.

The female suspect is described as being 5 feet 6 inches and weighing about 180 pounds with a dark complexion.

She was wearing a blue hooded winter jacket, blue jeans and boots.

Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). All calls are strictly confidential.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps attorneys and the House Democrats managing his impeachment trial filed their first formal briefs in the case on Saturday, pursuing familiar arguments aimed more at influencing the voters than the senators who will be his jurors.

In a 111-page trial brief, the seven Democratic impeachment managers say the presidents pattern of misconduct made him a threat to the nation and the rule of law. An initial six-page response from Trumps own lawyers takes aim at the House Democrats who investigated Trump, calling the impeachment probe a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the 2016 election.

The Senate will begin its first impeachment trial in 20 years on Tuesday, a process that will end with the lawmakers rendering judgment on whether Trumps presidency should be ended over his efforts to force Ukraines government to open investigations into one of his political rivals. The Republican-led Senate is exceedingly unlikely to convict Trump, but the House managers are also targeting undecided voters, with polls showing Americans leaning toward replacing the president in Novembers elections.

Democrats called on senators to conduct a fair trial as part of the oath they took this week to do impartial justice.

President Trump has demonstrated his continued willingness to corrupt free and fair elections, betray our national security, and subvert the constitutional separation of powersall for personal gain, the brief says. It is imperative that the Senate convict and remove him from office now, and permanently bar him from holding federal office.

The White House declined to participate in the Houses investigation, so their brief filing is the first time that Trumps counsel addressed the merits of the case against him, rather than simply criticizing the process.

Dangerous Attack

The presidents legal team, including Ken Starr, who served as independent counsel for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, wrote that the articles are unconstitutional and that Trump did nothing wrong.

Story continues

The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president, Trumps team said.

House Democrats dismissed Trumps response and said it demonstrates why he should be removed from office.

Rather than honestly address the evidence against him, the presidents latest filing makes the astounding claim that pressuring Ukraine to interfere in our election by announcing investigations that would damage a political opponent and advance his re-election is the presidents way of fighting corruption, the seven impeachment managers said in a joint statement Saturday night. It is not. Rather it is corruption itself, naked, unapologetic and insidious.

The White House is slated to file its more complete trial brief on Monday at noon, which will expand on the arguments in Saturdays six-page filing.

The presidents legal team will be led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and the Trumps private attorney, Jay Sekulow. Other members of the team expect to give discrete presentations on specific topics.

Democratic officials close to the House impeachment managers refuted the White Houses claims Saturday that Democrats are trying to undo his election, saying Trumps conduct is exactly what the framers of the Constitution had in mind when they set up the impeachment process. The officials also said that the House inquiry afforded Trump the same chances to defend himself as previous presidential impeachments.

The Houses prosecution team -- seven impeachment managers led by Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff -- will have the option to respond to Trumps initial legal arguments before the Senate reconvenes on Tuesday for the trial.

Pressure Campaign

Most of the evidence in Saturdays House filing came from weeks of closed door depositions and open hearings with witnesses who participated in the planning for -- and fallout from -- a pressure campaign from Trump associates to get Ukraine to announce an investigation of Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.

Trump and his allies frequently claim that Biden acted corruptly to protect Burisma, a Ukranian gas company where his son was a board member. The impeachment managers refute that claim in the filing.

The theory is baseless and there is no credible evidence to support the allegation that Biden acted improperly when he encouraged Ukraine to remove a prosecutor who was facing corruption accusations, the brief said. Biden was carrying out official U.S. policy, a view that was shared by European allies and the International Monetary Fund, according to the filing.

As leverage to demand an investigation of the Bidens, the White House blocked nearly $400 million in congressionally approved security aid for Ukraine, as well as a White House meeting sought by newly elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The brief includes evidence from witnesses making those connections as part of a quid pro quo.

The report also includes a finding released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office that Trumps withholding of military assistance for Ukraine violated federal law.

The managers quoted the nonpartisan congressional watchdogs statement that faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law.

Senate Democrats said last week the GAO report bolsters their push to subpoena documents and witnesses that are relevant to the withholding of military aid.

Ominous Pattern

The impeachment managers cite the administration directive for current and former officials to not participate in the House inquiry, as well as Trumps own statements, as evidence of obstruction. They point to the 12 Trump officials who declined to appear for requested testimony, nine of whom did so in defiance of duly authorized subpoenas.

The brief also accuses Trump of intimidation tactics against the witnesses who did appear, as well as sustained attacks on the intelligence community whistle-blower who filed a complaint about Trumps actions regarding Ukraine.

This is part of an ominous pattern of behavior for the president, the House prosecutors said in the brief, pointing to the way Trump responded to former Special Counsel Robert Muellers nearly two-year investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Allowing this pattern to continue without repercussion would send the clear message that President Trump is correct in his view that no governmental body can hold him accountable for wrongdoing, according to the brief. That view is erroneous and exceptionally dangerous.

Although the articles of impeachment dont rely on evidence from Muellers report, the House managers drew parallels between Trumps behavior in the two episodes. Both included Trump associates in contact with a foreign power regarding a U.S. election, as well the presidents refusal to engage with investigators probing those interactions.

Special Counsel Muellers investigation -- like the Houses impeachment inquiry -- sought to uncover whether President Trump coordinated with a foreign government in order to obtain an improper advantage during a Presidential election, the managers said.

Obstruction of Justice

Mueller said there was not enough evidence that the Trump campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Russia regarding the 2016 election. His report highlighted several episodes that could amount to obstruction of justice, but it left it up to Congress to weigh the severity of those offenses.

President Trump repeatedly used his powers of office to undermine and derail the Mueller investigation, particularly after learning that he was personally under investigation for obstruction of justice, the brief says.

The case that House prosecutors sent to the Senate references new evidence that wasnt part of the impeachment inquiry, including material from Lev Parnas, an associate of Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Parnas, who was arrested in October and indicted on campaign finance violations, this month provided House committees with documents to reinforce accusations that the president was personally involved in efforts to pressure Ukraine to conduct investigations that would benefit him politically.

At least four of the impeachment managers, including Schiff, are scheduled to appear Sunday on political talk shows. All of them will be back in Washington on Sunday, and theyll do a walk-through of the Senate chamber Monday on the eve of the trial, the officials said.

(Updates with impeachment managers response starting in ninth paragraph)

--With assistance from Laura Davison.

To contact the reporters on this story: Billy House in Washington at bhouse5@bloomberg.net;Justin Sink in Washington at jsink1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Kevin Whitelaw at kwhitelaw@bloomberg.net, Anna Edgerton

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

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At least 75 inmates, many of them members of a notorious Brazilian gang, escaped from a Paraguayan prison in a border town on Sunday, according to authorities who said they immediately fired the prison's director.

Officials said they discovered a tunnel and found cells filled with as many as 200 bags of earth.

"It's not possible that nobody saw anything in all this time," Justice Minister Cecilia Prez told the Telefuturo station.

"This isn't the work of one day or one night."



Interior Minister Euclides Acevedo said in a statement that the tunnel itself may have been a ruse to cover complicity by prison officials and that many of the inmates may have been allowed to walk out of the prison's main gate.

Acevedo said the majority of the escapees belong to the First Capital Command based in Brazil, which borders the city of Pedro Juan Caballero, where the prison is located.

He said national police had been mobilized to hunt for the escapees.

The prison's director and head of security were fired and Prez said the fight against organized crime isn't only against the Brazilian gang, "but also clearly against all the corruption within our system, which sadly is totally contaminated.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Take out a calendar. Circle the following dates: April 28 and Nov. 3.

On April 28 Pennsylvanians will go to the polls to select their respective party candidates for the state House of Representatives and Senate. Oh, and one other office. Maybe youve heard of it. Its the one at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Yes, Democrats will select a nominee to challenge incumbent Republican President Donald Trump, conceding the fact that he almost certainly will not be removed as a result of his impeachment trial in the Senate.

Seven months later, we will swarm the polls in one of the most contentious presidential elections in history. Buckle your seat belts, its going to be a bumpy 11 months.

But 2020 is notable for another reason as well, one that will have a profound effect on future elections.

With the dawn of a new decade, its time for that annual head count known as the U.S. Census.

Last week state officials kicked off a campaign to raise awareness of the census and encourage residents to respond. Gisele Fetterman, wife of Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, will help lead the campaign and is planning to tour the state over the next three months, including stops in Philadelphia, Lancaster, Erie and several other Pa. locales, urging public awareness of the census.

Why is this so important? Again, this has to do with elections.

Every 10 years the nation endeavors to count every person living in the United States and its five territories. The project is formally known as the Population and Housing Census.

Those numbers are then used to determine representation in Congress, specifically the House of Representatives. The constitution states each state must have at least one representative. Just how many representatives each state has is dependent on the census numbers. Since 1912, the number has been 435, except for the years 1960 to 1962, when a representative was added for both Alaska and Hawaii. After the 1960 census numbers were tabulated, the number reverted to 435. It has been there ever since.

Pennsylvania currently sends 18 members to the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.

But that number is adjusted after each census, with those states with the most population getting the most representation. Pennsylvania is widely expected to lose one seat in the House as a result of the 2020 Census.

In addition, you might recall the firestorm that erupted over the shape of those congressional elections in the 2018 election. Opponents of the way the districts were drawn up in 2011 went to court, claiming they were gerrymandered by Republicans to tilt toward GOP candidates. After a protracted legal battle, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed, ruling the old map violated the state constitution. Eventually the court redrew the districts and issued a new map, creating the new 5th District in Delaware County, as well as new borders for the 6th in Berks and Chester Counties and several in Montgomery County. Democrats swept all those seats.

But the courts ruling is only a short-term fix. The districts will be redrawn again, as they are every 10 years. Guess what numbers and data they will use to redraw the lines? Thats correct, the numbers gained from the U.S. Census.

The statutory authority to redraw Congressional districts lies with the Legislature, where Republicans currently control both chambers. Several efforts to get this crucial process out of the hands of politicians have failed. The bureau must release the counts to the states for redistricting purposes by April 1, 2021.

But the census does not affect just politics. Currently three million Pennsylvania residents rely on programs such as LIHEAP, for heating aid, as well as SNAP, CHIP and Medicaid for health care. The Department of Human Services uses census data to parse that funding.

Among those most at risk are those least likely to be accounted for  children and those who live in rural areas of the state. Pennsylvania has a rural population of 3.4 million, yet officials indicate only 75 percent have been accurately counted in the last two censuses.

Gov. Tom Wolf and Gisele Fetterman are aiming to change that.

Fetterman, who arrived in this country as an undocumented immigrant, said she never understood the big picture because I never felt a part of that big picture. I understand how the individuals at the greatest risk of not being counted are the same ones who would be disproportionately affected by an inaccurate count.

County officials are beating her to the punch.

Efforts are already underway to push the importance of an accurate count  and thus citizen participation  at the county level. Events have been held in Delaware, Montgomery and Berks counties to push the importance of taking part in the census. Montgomery County has set up the Montgomery County Complete Count Committee. Berks County has instituted a similar committee, saying as much as $350 million in federal aid hangs in the balance.

Gov. Tom Wolf said the state receives $26.8 billion annually for federally funded programs, based on the census numbers. That adds up to about $2,000 per state resident per year.

The lesson is simple. The census affects your vote and your pocketbook. Make sure you are counted. Spread the word to your neighbors and friends.
The Democrat governor of Illinois has proven to many of the citizens of Illinois that he is only concerned with pandering to those with cash, and couldnt care less about representing the people in Illinois and their welfare.

On June 12, the governor signed into law the most progressive abortion law in the country. Titled the Reproductive Health Act  clearly it has nothing to do with reproduction, but only the killing of the unborn  the law repealed the Illinois Abortion Law of 1975. It eliminated felony penalties for doctors that perform abortions, removed waiting periods, and removed the requirement that a married woman get consent from her husband.

The bill established the fundamental right of a woman to have an abortion and said that a fertilized egg, embryo or fetus does not have independent rights. The law also requires that the cost of an abortion be treated like any other medical procedure for insurance purposes, including Medicaid.

Simply stated, your tax dollars are being used to kill a human baby in the womb.

This sweeping new law also removed necessary regulations and licensing requirements and eliminated the rights of unborn children.

The new law changed the definition of the viability of a fetus and legalized abortions through all nine months of pregnancy.

Here are five shocking facts about the new abortion law:

 All licensing requirements for abortion clinics are abolished, and health and safety inspections ended, despite those inspections shutting down numerous dirty abortion clinics in recent years.

 Dismemberment abortions of premature babies  who feel pain  without anesthesia, are legalized.

 Every private health insurance policy, including those for small churches and religious nonprofits, must pay for elective chemical and surgical abortions.

 Every unborn child, up to and even during birth, now have no legal rights in Illinois.

 Abortion is labeled a fundamental right, protected to a greater degree than free speech and other First Amendment rights.

This law proves to me what should be clear to everyone  it is not about abortions being safe and rare, but only legal and paid for by our tax dollars.

The image of Gov. J.B. Pritzker signing this unconscionable bill into law was a sad commentary indeed on the leadership of this state. Women and men of all ages were cheering, clapping and smiling at the signing.

With this new law, Illinois will soon become the abortion-seeking haven of the U.S., a disgusting title for a once-great state known as the Land of Lincoln.

Jeanne Strubbe of Chapin is a member of Lutherans for Life.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that whatever the Supreme Court decides on the dispute between the Karnataka and Maharashtra over Belgaum would be acceptable to all.

"Marathi people in Belgaum (Karnataka) and adjacent areas have been fighting for 70 years, to be included in Maharashtra. The matter is before the Supreme Court but it has been sub-judice for 14 years. We will accept whatever the Supreme Court decides.," he said while speaking to ANI.

The statement from Raut came just days after Maharashtra minister of state for health Rajendra Patil-Yedravkar was allegedly detained in Belgaum, and was not allowed to speak at a meeting organised by the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti on Friday

The Shiv Sena leader also claimed that the Karnataka government is putting Marathis into jail and putting a ban on their work pertaining to Marathi culture.

"Some people have been imprisoned by people who are working for the Marathi language. The government has also put a ban on their work related to Marathi as a language. It is unconstitutional," he added.

"There is democracy. Talk to people with politeness. With dialogue only, you can resolve the issue."

"If the Home Ministry can resolve Kashmir issue and abrogate Art 370 then I think this border issue (Belgaum) can be resolved too if Amit Shah wants. The matter comes under Home Ministry, a strong Home Minister who abrogates Article 370...It is a long-pending issue. He should pay attention to this too," he added.

Belgaum, also officially known as Belagavi, is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka located in its northern part along the Western Ghats. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Belgaum division and Belgaum district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of a special session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly called to decide on a proposal to have three capitals, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday urged Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy not to shift the state capital from Amaravati, warning that about Rs 50,000 crore committed investment could be withdrawn and also make farmers suffer.

Denying any "irregularities" in the decision making for Amaravati as capital during his tenure, Naidu asserted he does not have any "vested interest" in Amaravati, saying his party is fighting to control further damage of the state.

Alleging that Andhra Pradesh is on "the path of destruction", Naidu said if the present government -- which is already in debt -- does not honour the agreements, it will dent the image of the state and investors will lose confidence for future investment.

The YSRCP government, which took over in May last year, has alleged irregularities by the previous Naidu government in awarding contracts and in allotting prime lands to those close to the then chief minister.

On January 20, the three-day special winter session of the Assembly is scheduled to begin to approve the report of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on "distributed capital functions". The chief minister wants to have executive capital at Visakhapatnam, legislative capital at Amaravati and judicial capital at Kurnool.

In an exclusive interview to PTI from Vijayawada, Naidu -- a former chief minister of new Andhra Pradesh and also the undivided state -- said there is "no logic" in having three capitals and called the government's proposed plan just a "witch hunt" against the Telugu Desam Party(TDP).

"Does it makes sense to shift the capital when the construction is almost at an advanced stage? An investment of nearly Rs 50,000 crore has been committed that has potential to generate 50,000 jobs in the state. About 130 institutes from hospitals to education hub were to come up. All this will not happen if the capital is shifted," Naidu said.

Already Rs 10,000 crore has been spent on developing Amaravati and many structures from the secretariat to assembly complexes, courts, Raj Bhavan and DGP office have come up. The construction of 5,000 quarters for ministers and senior officers is underway, he said, adding everything will be ready in Amaravati if the government spends another Rs 2,000-3,000 crore.

If shifted, there will be a problem of environmental degradation as the land cannot be used for agriculture, the TDP president said.

On top of it, farmers -- who are yet to get compensation for donating 33,000 acres of land under an unique 'land pooling scheme' for creation of the capital and who are agitating against the government's plan to shift the capital -- will be badly affected with the proposed move, he said and added the compensation amount is to the tune of Rs 1-4 lakh crore.

Denying any "irregularities" in making Amaravati as capital, he said it was created based on recommendations of the Sivaramakrishnan Committee constituted by the Centre in 2014 post-bifurcation.

Amaravati was chosen because it is a centrally located place and is planned and positioned very well in all aspects, he said adding the area for capital was already selected and that chapter is over now.

"If there were any irregularities, the government is free to act. Already eight months in power, why the government is not initiating any action. Instead of taking action, it is unnecessarily indulging in mudslinging," he said.

Except for interest of five crore people of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said he does not have "any vested interest" in Amaravati. "As a politician, I have only one interest, that is development and future of the state."



"I had prepared vision 2020 for combined Andhra Pradesh. Almost all has happened in Hyderabad. For new Andhra Pradesh, I prepared a vision 2029-2050. By 2029, Andhra should be number one state in the country in all aspects like per capita income and growth. Now, this man (Reddy) has damaged all hopes."



Alleging that the ruling YSRCP government is spreading lines rather than giving a convincing logic for shifting the capital, Naidu said the contention of the Reddy government is that Amaravati capital is being built on a submergeable area although Green Tribunal has made it clear it is not the case and even the Supreme Court had upheld its decision.

Another lie the state government said was that Amaravati was not suitable for the capital quoting a report of IIT Chennai. However, the IIT Chennai has denied having come out with any such report, the TDP president said.

Many countries have followed the concept of having all key offices at one place in the capital. Even the national capital New Delhi is bringing all offices at one place, he said, adding the same concept was followed at Amaravati where all departments will be housed in five towers for better governance.

Asked about his political strategy to stall the government's proposed three capitals plan, Naidu said: "We will work out a strategy. He (CM) is having a majority in the assembly, we are having majority in the council. We have to work it out how it is going to happen."



"It is 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh versus Jagan Mohan Reddy's government. In eight months, people have changed their mind. Everyone is annoyed with the government. People will have to protect the state," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JNU Students' Union president Aishe Ghosh during her address to media personnel after a meeting with HRD Secretrary Amit Khare, in New Delhi, Friday, Jan. 10, 2020. (Photo | PTI)

New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union on Sunday said it will approach the Delhi High Court on January 20 seeking a direction for quashing the new hostel manual which has provisions for fee hike

In a statement, the students body said they will be filing the plea on Monday against the Inter-Hall Administration manual which, it claimed, was passed illegally in October without taking the feedback of the Union.

The JNUSU, which has been on a strike on the issue for close to three months, urged the students to continue the boycott of registration and all academic activities.

Early this month, the university had witnessed tussle between student groups over the issue of registration. Amid the stir, masked men had gone on a rampage on January 5 in the campus assaulting students and teachers and storming hostels, drawing widespread outrage.

The students and the teachers of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) boycotted classes on January 13 amid a standoff with the administration over the fee hike issue.

The classes were supposed to begin that day but could not start due to the collective boycott.

Prashant Kumar, a PhD student at the varsity, said the masters and graduation students have decided to boycott classes.

The vice-chancellor has written to various centres to frame the timetable but there has been no development. The classes did not start today but might begin in a day or two, Kumar said.

A student from the universitys social science school, who did not wish to be named, said, We first want the issues to be sorted; only then can we focus on our studies. Just to start a fresh beginning, we cannot forget the past.

The students union had earlier said it would ensure registration by paying only the tuition fees and not the increased hostel charges but kept the decision on hold after it found that the administration had blocked the registration portal for many students.

The teachers association has also given a call for non-cooperation in academic matters over a range of issues, including that of fee hike and the 5 January violence.

Teachers and students have been demanding the sacking of Vice-Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar.
Virginia Governor Sets a Trap for

Lobby Day, 20 January, 2020

By Dean Weingarten. January 19, 2020

Article Source

Second Amendment supporters face a daunting challenge in Virginia for Lobby day, at the Virginia Capitol in Richmond, on 20 January, 2020 (Event Flier). Those who wish to disarm Virginians have created a trap to frame Second Amendment Supporters as violent white supremacists, going to Richmond to destroy duly elected government.

Do not take the bait.

Armed Virginians have been going to the State Capitol in Richmond to lobby to restore Second Amendment rights since 2002. The Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) has been very successful in these efforts. VCDL was instrumental in moving Virginia from a may issue to a shall issue state in 1995. It has made the shall issue law better and better by such things as eliminating many gun free zones and eliminating the requirement for fingerprints to obtain a permit to carry. It has kept improving the state preemption law, to prevent local governments from chipping away at Second Amendment rights. It has been one of the most effective of the state organizations working to restore Second Amendment rights.

In 2019, a combination of a lawsuit used to gerrymander Virginia voting districts in favor of Democrats, millions of dollars of money spent by billionaires aimed at destroying Second Amendment rights, the influx of immigrants to areas next to the District of Columbia, the successful get out to vote campaign by supporters of Communist China for new immigrants, and the restoration of voting rights, but not the right to arms, to convicted felons, has resulted in the Democrat takeover of the Virginia General Assembly and the Senate, by Democrats who have vowed to impose severe restrictions on the exercise of Second Amendment rights.

Virginians have seen Lobby Day as a place to focus their actions to show how much they oppose the restrictions and violations of their rights.

It seems the opposition, lead by Governor Northam, has seen it as an opportunity to paint Second Amendment supporters as violent white supremacists, against whom any action will be deemed moral and legitimate.

If we are to win the war to restore our rights, Second Amendment supporters must win the war to convince a majority, or at least, a majority of voters or judges, they have the moral high ground. The entire weight of the legacy media has been against Second Amendment supporters for 50 years, but Second Amendment supporters have been winning battles, gradually, for the last 30 years. We have organized, built networks, built alternate media, and educated much of the public over that time period.

The provocations by Governor Northam and the elected Democrats seem meant to destroy that progress and to portray Second Amendment supporters as lawless, violent white supremacists.

Matt Bracken has written an excellent essay on the potential for Lobby Day to be used to create a terrible media defeat for Second Amendment supporters. It is worth the read. Bracken lists several ways Lobby Day could be turned into another Charleston, or worse, to discredit Constitutionalists.

The opposition has the entire legacy media on their side. Northam and his allies control the ground at the Capitol. While many of the Capitol police are likely to be sympathetic to their oath and the Constitution, Northam and his allies will have control of the Capitol police. Northam and allies will control all the high ground.

It is known that agent provocateurs have been used by the Democrats to provoke violence, to discredit the Trump presidential campaign in 2016. It is plausible that similar tactics will be used to provoke Second Amendment supporters on January 20th in Richmond. Violence by leftists will be excused by the legacy media. Self Defense by Second Amendment supporters will be portrayed as criminal.

This is ground of the opposition's choosing, where they have most of the advantages. The only chance of winning is a moral victory, where the General Assembly and the outside world are shown an overwhelming presence of peaceful Second Amendment supporters lobbying for their rights. That can be a difficult goal to achieve, when agent provocateurs and false flags are serious possibilities. The majority of the anti-Second Amendment politicians, are unlikely to be moved. The legacy media will sensationalize any violence. They will downplay even massive majorities of Second Amendment supporters.

Those who want a disarmed population have been losing. President Trump has appointed 25% of federal judges. A third Supreme Court pick by President Trump could enable restoration of Constitutional government. The current governing elite is getting desperate. Desperate opponents do desperate things.

Second Amendment supporters who attend will need to be extremely vigilant. This is not a place where an open carry protest is likely to succeed. The law is not clear. A court has upheld Governor Northam's emergency order as lawful.

To those who say, you do not defend your rights by agreeing to allow them to be infringed: If simple disobedience of unconstitutional laws were enough to protect our rights, we would never have lost them. Many refused to obey. They were unorganized, marginalized, lied about, arrested, prosecuted, jailed, beaten, and killed.

To win, Second Amendment supporters have the be smart, pick their battles, and work hard.

This particular exercise of the rights to assembly and free speech has been turned into a media trap. All the usual suspects will be there, and they will be actively looking for any incident to smear Second Amendment activists. It is reasonable to believe some opponents will be working to create a violent event.

As a defense against the trap, everyone should be capable of recording incidents during the event. Every thing should be recorded from multiple perspectives, if only to assure accurate portrayals of the events and to have the ability to identify bad actors. The other side will be recording everything. Second Amendment supporters need to be able to prevent them from creating a singular, selective, and false portrayal of what happens.

Extreme measures should be employed to avoid any appearance for the national media to use to smear Second Amendment supporters. At this event, a Second Amendment supporter will serve his country better by taking recorded abuse than by defending themselves. Second Amendment supporters should use every opportunity to defuse any abusive or violent situation. The opposition will, very likely, be looking to goad a Second Amendment supporter into violent self defense. The action would almost certainly be mischaracterized by the media. They are desperate. They lie without compunction.

If you go, wearing an orange Guns Save Lives sticker will be far more effective than camouflage. Wearing camouflage aids the opposition at this event.

The more women, children, and minorities who are Second Amendment supporters at this event, the better.

There will be more opportunities for media events that favor Second Amendment activists. The Second Amendment sanctuary county and city movement has been very effective. That can, and should, be built upon.

Only 40% of Virginians voted in the last election. Virginians can win at the ballot box.

Those attending Lobby Day need to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Virginians need to show courage, exercise discipline, and be shrewd to avoid the trap this Lobby Day has become.

2020 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. Gun Watch

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Cotonou, Benin (PANA)  Two people have been killed and several others wounded in a demonstration and violence in Save, central Benin, about 250 km from Cotonou, according to a declaration made by the Abomey Courts Prosecutor
JERUSALEM - Israels military said it began construction of an underground defence system Sunday along its northern frontier with Lebanon to protect against cross-border tunnels.

The infrastructure project will identify underground acoustic and seismic activity indicating tunnel digging, accompanied other defensive measures, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman.

Israel destroyed a series of what it said were attack tunnels last year, dug under the border by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The group battled Israel to a stalemate in a monthlong war in 2006. Hezbollah is closely allied with Iran, Israels greatest regional foe, and has vowed to retaliate for Americas killing of a top Iranian general in a drone strike earlier this month.

Conricus said the construction would all be on the Israeli side of the border and that United Nations peacekeepers along the frontier had been notified.

What we are doing today is part of a larger plan, he said. We understand that our activity may be seen and will be heard on the other side and we want to explain what we are we doing and why we are doing it. It is a matter of precaution.

Israel recently warned that Hezbollah had beefed up its presence along the volatile frontier.

Israel and Hezbollahs 2006 war ended in a U.N.-brokered cease-fire. While direct fighting has been rare since then, there has been occasional violence. The most recent flare-up was in September, when Hezbollah fired a barrage of anti-tank missiles into Israel and Israel responded with artillery fire. There were no casualties on either side.

Israel also has acknowledged carrying out scores of airstrikes in neighbouring Syria, many of them believed to have been aimed at Iranian weapons shipments bound for its Hezbollah proxy.

Hezbollah has a battle-tested army that has been fighting alongside the forces of Syrian President Bashar Assad in Syrias civil war. Israel believes the group has an arsenal of some 130,000 missiles and rockets capable of striking virtually anywhere in Israel. More recently, it has accused the group of trying to import or develop guided missiles.
In a shocking case, a Class 11 student gave birth to a stillborn girl baby at her school hostel in Patarras of Dantewada on Saturday.

The incident took place in a school located in Patarras area of Dantewada district.

Deputy Collector said, "Child was stillborn. The girl says she was in a relationship with a boy of her village for 2 years."

Following the incident, the hostel superintendent has been suspended.

"She was later brought to the hospital. We'll question the medical staff too. Hostel Superintendent was immediately suspended, further action will be taken based on the investigation. School administration handed over the stillborn child to girl's parents who reached later," Collector told ANI.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking his country down a dangerous and divisive path with a new citizenship law that undermines its secular traditions and discriminates against Muslims.

For weeks now, demonstrations across India have underlined the extent of opposition to the new law. Its the biggest push-back Modi has faced since he won power in 2014, and for good reason.

The citizenship law, adopted by Indias parliament in December, sets out a fast-track to citizenship for people from neighbouring countries seeking refuge from religious persecution.

That sounds laudable, on its face. But what has aroused so much opposition is that it offers a path to citizenship for Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains forced out of three Muslim-majority countries  Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The law conspicuously does not offer so-called accelerated citizenship to Muslims, nor does it extend to non-Muslim countries bordering India such as Myanmar and China. It would not apply, for example, to Ahmadi Muslims who are persecuted in Pakistan or to Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar.

Modis government argues theres no issue here. The citizenship law, says the prime minister, will have no impact on Indias 200 million Muslims, who form 14 per cent of the countrys 1.3 billion people.

Strictly speaking, hes right. But Muslims, along with many other Indians, see the law as part of Modis ongoing campaign to promote whats known as Hindutva, or a concept of India that sees it as essentially a Hindu nation.

That runs counter to modern Indias tradition of secularism; even though its population is 80 per cent Hindu, its constitution treats all citizens on an equal basis regardless of religion. The new law, writes political scientist Pratap Bhanu Mehta of Ashoka University, redefines Indian national identity, moving the country emphatically in the direction of becoming an ethnocracy. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls it fundamentally discriminatory.

Alarm bells are also ringing because Modis government has taken other actions that have the effect of marginalizing Muslims, Indias biggest minority.

Last summer it imposed direct rule on the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir. It unilaterally revoked two articles in Indias constitution that gave the territory special status, which it had since it joined India in 1947, and sent thousands of troops to lock down the region.

The Modi government is also proposing to introduce a national program of citizenship tests. A similar measure in the northeastern state of Assam resulted in almost 2 million people finding themselves stateless, and many fear a national plan along the same lines would have the effect of depriving a disproportionate number of Muslims of the right to live in India.

Opponents of all this remember Modis political history, as well. As chief minister of Gujarat state almost 20 years ago, he was blamed for being complicit in anti-Muslim riots that resulted in thousands of deaths. And his BJP party has long promoted a vision of India as an essentially Hindu nation.

This is all incendiary stuff in a country like India, whose independence was marked by bloody violence between Hindus and Muslims, and where communal tensions are always near the surface.

For more than seven decades, India has managed to remain democratic and maintain a remarkable level of harmony among its many ethnic and religious groups by upholding the principle of secularism and guaranteeing equal rights for all.

Modis government risks upsetting that balance and inflaming religious feelings. If Indias Muslims become convinced their government is out to make them second-class citizens, that will only feed extremism and lead to more unrest.

It would be a tragedy if a country as important as India went down that path. A wiser course would be to uphold the secular tradition that has served it so well.

Read more about:
Nearly 3,000 Sikh devotees will be travelling to Pakistan from Delhi, through the Attari border on April 11 to celebrate Baisakhi at Panja Sahib shrine in Hasan Abdal city.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) President, Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Sunday, January 19, Sikh devotees will depart from New Delhi on April 11 to return on April 21.

DSGMC has also asked devotees who wish to undertake a pilgrimage to Gurdwara Panja Sahib on the occasion of Baisakhi, to deposit their passports with the authorities by February 15.

WATCH | Hindu Pilgrims Cross Over To Pakistan To Pay Obeisance At Katas Raj Temple

Gurdwara Panja Sahib visit

The pilgrims will celebrate Baisakhi at the Sikh shrine in Pakistan on April 13 and 14, after which they will be en route for Nanakana Sahib, the birthplace of Sikh Guru Nanak Dev, through a special train on April 15 to worship at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, before returning to Amritsar on April 21.

The DGMC has requested each pilgrim to pay visa processing fees of Rs 200 along with four latest passport size photographs and valid identity proof and Indian Passport with one-year validity.

Sirsa said that the submitted documents will be deposited with the External Affairs Ministry by February 25, which will then be forwarded to the Pakistan High Commission. The pilgrims will receive their visas after necessary inspection by Indian and Pakistan agencies, he added.

READ | 1,467 Pilgrims Visit Kartarpur  Highest Since Opening Of Corridor

Out of the total quota of 3,000 pilgrims to visit Panja Sahib, Punjab has been allocated a maximum quota of 1,800 pilgrims, followed by Delhi with 555 pilgrims, and Haryana with 200 pilgrims.

West Bengal has been allocated a minimum of five pilgrims, Bihar 14 and Jammu and Kashmir 40 pilgrims. The festival marks the formation of Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

READ | 133 Hindu Pilgrims From Pakistan Visit Jagannath Temple

Hindu pilgrims from Pak visit Jagannath Temple

A group of 133 Hindu pilgrims from Pakistan on January 4, visited the Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha. The pilgrims included 70 male, 50 female, and 13 children, who reached a night before. They visited the Shree Jagannath Temple and took the blessings of the Trinity Lords.

The delegation left for Varanasi the following day, one of the members said, adding that they had left Pakistan on December 27. They visited Mathura before reaching Odisha.

"It was a long-cherished desire to have darshan of Lord Jagannath. We got the visa with much difficulty. We thank the Indian government for facilitating our visit," said a devotee from Pakistan.

READ | Manjinder Sirsa Slams Pakistan For Its Treatment Of Minorities, Explains Why CAA Is Needed

(With inputs from ANI)
Mounting a strong defence of the Citizenship Amendment Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to prove that the new law would take away citizenship from Indian Muslims, as he advised him to read the act completely

Hubballi: Mounting a strong defence of the Citizenship Amendment Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to prove that the new law would take away citizenship from Indian Muslims, as he advised him to read the act completely.

Terming those against CAA as "anti-Dalits", the BJP national President, accused the Congress of dividing the country on the basis of religion and creating confusion among the minority community.

He attacked the Congress on its opposition to scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and said both Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan sought evidence on surgical strikes and are opposed to abrogation of Article 370 besides saying CAA should not be implemented.

The BJP national president also accused the Congress and other opposition parties of indulging in vote bank politics on CAA.

Addressing a public meeting here on the new Act as part of the BJP's nationwide 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan,' he said: "Rahul baba, I have come to challenge you from this stage- read the CAA completely.

If there is any clause that takes away citizenship of anyone, decide on the place and time our Pralhad Joshi (Parliamentary Affairs Minister) is ready to debate with you."

"They (Congress and others) are trying to spread lies..I want to tell Muslim brothers of the country that no one can take away your citizenship, no one wants to take away also.

You have the same rights on this country as much we have. Nothing will happen to you," he said, clarifying that there was no clause in the CAA to take away citizenship from any one, rather it provides citizenship.

Taking potshots at the Congress, he said: "Rahul baba, what do you think- that you will keep on spreading illusion and BJP workers will keep watching it?"

BJP has been organising 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan' across the country that included door-to-door visits by BJP workers to spread awareness about the Act, following the nationwide anti-CAA protests that had even turned violent in several places.

Shah alleged that an attempt was being made to bring people onto the streets with an intention to instigate riots, and the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and their allies were responsible for it.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi, he said "I had told a historic truth in the Parliament also, I want to tell it today also.

Rahul Gandhi listen with open ears-if there is any party that divided the country on the basis of religion it was done by the Congress party."

Highlighting religious persecution, murders, religious conversion and rapes against minority women, Shah said in 1950 Rahul Gandhi's great grandfather- Jawarharlal Nehru, had signed an agreement with Liaquat Ali of Pakistan that both sides will protect and give citizenship to minorities.

"What happened in 70 years? India has kept up its promise....but in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Hubli: I want to ask those opposing Citizenship Amendment Act, what will you gain by going against dalits who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan? Those who are opposing CAA are anti-dalits. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/Zvv9DoTAMA  ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2020

Hindus were 30 per cent in both east and west Pakistan after independence, it has reduced to 3 percent in Pakistan today, and in Bangladesh it is 7 per cent now.

Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought in the CAA to protect the human rights of those facing religious persecution, he wanted to know what was causing pain for the Congress, Communist party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, JDS, BSP and SP on the matter.

"What is their problem...they are indulging in vote bank politics on CAA. BJP never indulges in vote bank politics," he said.

Noting that Nehru, Sardar Patel, Rajendra Prasad, and Maulana Azad had promised citizenship to religious minorities from neighbouring countries, he said: "Rahul Baba all these people were from the Congress, they were great leaders."

"You did not keep up the promise despite being in power for 70 years, Narendra Modi is today trying to fulfil that promise by giving them citizenship," he said, pointing out that Mahatma Gandhi also had spoken about giving citizenship.

"If you don't listen to him (Gandhi), whom will you?"

Pointing out that more than 70 per cent of religious minorities in neighbouring countries, who have come as refugees to India, are Dalits, Shah said those opposing CAA are "anti-Dalits."

"What do you want to gain by opposing Dalits?.... Dalits will seek answers when you go to them asking for votes.."

Shah said the Congress was not just against CAA but on all nationalist issues like Article 370, Ram Mandir, surgical and airstrikes.

Attacking Rahul Gandhi on Article 370, he said prime minister Modi has rectified the mistake committed by Rahul's great grandfather (Nehru).

Alleging that during 10 years the UPA government remained silent on cross border terrorism, Shah described then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as "Mauni baba."

He highlighted the surgical and airstrikes inside Pakistan after Uri and Pulwama terror attacks under Modi rule.

Drawing comparison between Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on their opposition to scrapping article 370 and CAA, among others, Shah said: "I cannot understand what is the relationship between Congress leaders and Imran Khan.

Pakistan is using Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader's statements against India in the UN, Congress should be ashamed.."

Slamming Rahul for supporting the "tukde tukde gang" by citing freedom of speech as reason, Shah said, "you can criticise me and my party how much ever you want..but if anyone shouts slogans against Bharat Mata, their place is in jail, behind bars."

Ahead of Shah's visit to the city, a group of protesters raised "Go Back Amit Shah" slogans here and released black balloons in the air.

Shah, who landed in Bengaluru earlier in the day, attended an event organised by the Vedanta Bharati, inaugurated Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya's city office and paid respects to the Brindavana (final resting place) of Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar mutt.
Dubai Government Workshop (DGW) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Al-Futtaim Toyota for the maintenance of its fleet of Toyota vehicles.



The agreement illustrates the shared commitment of both parties to ensure the delivery of safe vehicles and provide leading services in the emirate, in line with Dubai Plan 2021, said a statement from the company.



Fahad Ahmed Al Raeesi, deputy CEO of Dubai Government Workshop, said: The MoU with Al-Futtaim Toyota is an integral part of our continued collaboration that has touched on various aspects of our core operations.



Our partnership has allowed us to exchange expertise and technical capabilities, provide the latest innovations and emerging technologies in the automotive world and develop services in line with our current and future requirements, he added.



Saud Abbasi, managing director of Al-Futtaim Toyota, said: This partnership emphasizes both our organisations' commitment to unwavering quality when it comes to servicing, maintenance and consequentially safety and satisfaction.



We are a leading automotive and servicing partner to several major government and non-government entities as Toyota has proven to be the most trusted mobility partner for the many values it offers including quality, durability and reliability. We thank the DGW for their continued trust in us and look forward to another successful year, he added.  TradeArabia News Service
The BJP is set to get its new president in place of on Monday, with its working president J P Nadda expected to be elected to the post unopposed.

Top party leaders, including those from states, are likely to arrive at the BJP headquarters to file nominations in support of Nadda, who has long been seen as the choice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah for the job.

His decades-long experience in the organisation, starting from student politics, proximity to the RSS and clean image are seen as his strengths.

Senior BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, who is in charge of the party's organisational poll process, said that nominations for the president's election will be filed on January 20, and a contest will take place the next day if required.

The BJP has the convention of electing its president with consensus and without any contest, and there is little possibility that it will be any other way this time.

The election of a new president will bring to end incumbent Shah's tenure of over five-and-a-half years during which the BJP expanded its footprints across the country like never before and enjoyed its best phase in electoral contests despite suffering a few setbacks in state polls.

With Shah joining the Modi 2.0 government as home minister, the BJP began the exercise for electing his successor as the party has the convention of 'one person, one post'.

Nadda was appointed as the party's working president in July last year in an indication that the Himachal Pradesh leader was the likely choice for the top organisational job.

In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he was in-charge of the BJP's election campaign in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, where the party faced a tough challenge from the grand alliance of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

The party won 62 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Apart from handling crucial states for the BJP in the general elections, Nadda was a Cabinet minister in the first tenure of the Modi government and has been a member of the parliamentary board, the BJP's top decision making body.
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
In a message sent to its Nigerian subscribers, MTN Nigeria said users should bear with the company as it worked to resolve the issue.

We apologize for the slow data speeds and difficulty with accessing the internet. Please bear with us as we work to resolve the issue, the message reads.

It was learnt that the network issue is beyond Nigeria, as internet users across sub-Saharan Africa are also experiencing the same issue. The slow service is due to damages of two undersea cables  WACS and SAT3/WASC cable systems  on the continents western coast.

The two undersea cables are near Libreville in Gabon and the other is in the vicinity of Luanda, Angola.

According to Openserve, a unit of South Africas biggest fixed-line telecommunications provider, Telkom SA SOC Ltd, the cables are in the Atlantic Ocean and connect South Africa and many other African countries to Europe.

It is currently unclear when that will happen due to the location of the cables. So, the slow internet will likely continue until network providers figure out alternatives. If the situation persists into the next months, it might affect the subscribers of telecoms who will likely port to another network in search of better internet access.

Currently, the battle for data market share among Telcos in Nigeria is led by MTN, as the network provider saw an increase in its subscribers base for the second month in a row, while Glo and 9mobile lost subscribers.

In some countries, consumers and businesses cant send emails or make cross-border phone calls. With parts of the cabling lying deep underwater, its unclear as to when full connectivity will be restored.
Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) pays our deepest respects to a former minister of agriculture, land and marine resources (1995-1999), Dr Reeza Mohammed.

Dr Mohammed goes down in history as the man who pioneered inclusion, stakeholder empowerment and public participation in government affairs and public administration.

Dr Mohammed was the only minister of agriculture who has ever embraced the principle of inclusiveness through his appointment of the Multi-stakeholder Monitoring and Advisory Committee (MAC), which led to the passage of the Fisheries (Control of Demersal Trawling) Regulations, in 2002, as well as a range of other sustainable development initiatives.
Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Police Affairs, says Operation Amotekun may become unconstitutional if it differs from the support rendered by the Federal government on security.

The police minister said this on Saturday, in an interview with newsmen in Sokoto, saying the southwest governors had good intentions in creating the outfit but the constitution bestowed the responsibility of national security on the Federal Government.

He said, The intentions of the Southwest governors are good. However, some people have expressed fears on the regional security force.

Read Also: Amotekun, Deliberate Plot Against Fulani: Miyetti Allah

Security is an exclusive responsibility of the Federal Government being supported at times by state governments and other organisations.

If Operation Amotekun differs from the support being rendered by state governments to the Federal Government on security matters, then it is unconstitutional, Dingyadi stated.

On minimising crimes, the Minister of Police Affairs said that Nigerians must reduce the desperation for money.

Dingyadi, It is beyond doubt that some children, couples and relatives are discovered to have participated in the kidnap of their associates.

All these occur in order to get money, and such magnitude of desperation is beyond ordinary crime.

Though we have cases of kidnappings and other crimes in our society, the dimension it is now taking is worrisome, Dingyadi said.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khans recent admission that his diplomatic howl against Indias reorganisation of Kashmir was going nowhere, as global capitals were more concerned about trade ties with prosperous Delhi, should prod him to revisit his Valley strategy. Except for China and a few Islamic nations like Malaysia, all others have accepted Indias position on Kashmir being an internal matter. The latest rebuff he got was at the UN Security Council where Chinas fresh attempt to discuss Kashmir on behalf of its client state was overwhelmingly rejected. Chinas ruse this time was the threat of war in the region, citing new Indian Army Chief Manoj Naravanes statement that he would be prepared to wrest PoK if the decision had Parliaments stamp of approval.

While the revoking of Article 35A and the hollowing out of Article 370 that gave special status to J&K were mostly ideological for the BJP government, it had global dynamics in mind while strategising to contain the fallout. For, the US-Taliban peace accord was around the corner and Pakistan was salivating at the possibility of power play in Afghanistan. Had the US clinched the peace deal when it came up for signing a few months ago, Pakistan might have started reducing jihadi infiltration on its eastern border while paying lip service to Kashmir, and directing the mercenaries to Afghanistan, where it has more scope for geostrategic gaming as it was doing before 9/11.

The delay in the US deal is one reason why the Centre is yet to restore full normalcy in J&K, as it wants to avoid a spike in violence thereafter. Which is why the forthcoming eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in India later this year, for which Imran will get an invite as Pakistan is a member, could offer both sides their first real chance at a bilateral rapprochement. But for that to happen, Imran has to stop personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which could itself create some room for dialogue. Modi and Imran have not been on talking terms for long; the ice can be broken if both try to think out of the box.
Shin Kyuk-ho founded Lotte Group as a chewing gum manufacturer and built it up into one of South Korea's biggest conglomerates AFP/YONHAP

Shin Kyuk-ho was the last of the South Korean entrepreneurs who founded the country's major chaebols, or family-run conglomerates, that now dominate Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Born in the southern city of Ulsan, Shin stowed away on a ship to Japan at the age of 18 to seek his fortune and established Lotte to manufacture chewing gum in Tokyo soon after World War II.

The business later grew to include dozens of subsidiaries in the food, retail and hotel industries.

He married a Japanese woman and they had two sons.

Shin's two sons made headlines in 2015 with a bitter public fight for control of the group, each accusing the other of mismanagement, personality flaws, and of manipulating their frail and aged father.

His younger son Dong-bin eventually took over the reins as chairman but both he and Shin were accused of causing US$72 million in damages to the group by renting out Lotte Cinema concessions at discounted rates to the founder's eldest daughter and mistress.

The daughter was jailed for two years, while the mistress - a former model and actress 39 years Shin's junior, who came to his attention after winning a beauty pageant - was given a suspended sentence.

He was sentenced to four years in prison but was allowed to stay out of jail on health grounds.

He had been suffering from dementia and other diseases of old age before his death, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

HOUSEHOLD NAME IN SOUTH KOREA

Lotte, which owns the country's tallest 123-story skyscraper, is a household name in South Korea, with the conglomerate's interests ranging from snacks and beverages to supermarkets, department stores, hotels, theme parks and cinemas. One of its flagship units is Lotte Chemical , which has a factory in the United States.

Due to its deep links to Japan, Lotte has sometimes faced a public backlash in South Korea, leading to a boycott of its products when ties between the two countries worsened.

In 2017, Lotte also became the biggest corporate casualty of South Korea's diplomatic row with China over Seoul's decision to deploy a US anti-missile system to counter North Korean threat.

Lotte, which offered land for the system, saw most of its supermarkets suspended by Chinese authorities, and eventually pulled out of the operations.
US President Donald Trump's legal team has asked the Senate to reject the two articles of impeachment passed and submitted by the House of Representatives, calling it a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their President.

The House of Representatives, controlled by the Democratic Party on Wednesday voted to send articles of impeachment against President Trump to the Senate, in a major development to remove him from office for his alleged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

In a 228-193 vote, which was mainly on party lines, the House appointed seven impeachment managers who will argue the Democrats' case for removing Trump from the office of the US President. The managers were named by House Speaker

Responding to the charges filed against Trump, the legal team of the White House said the two articles are a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the will of the people of the county.

"This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election-now just months away. The highly partisan and reckless obsession with impeaching the President began the day he was inaugurated and continues to this day, the legal team said.

The 435-member House, where Democrats enjoy a majority, on December 18 charged Trump with "high crimes and misdemeanors" and impeached him for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden, a potential Democratic rival for the current president in the 2020 elections.

The Senate, controlled by Trump's Republican Party, will decide whether to convict and remove him from office.

Trump on Friday appointed several nationally known lawyers to the team that will defend him in the proceedings, set to open Tuesday afternoon. The WH's legal team said that the articles of impeachment are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people.

"The articles of impeachment submitted by the House of Representatives are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their President," it said.

The House, in its 111-page brief, said that Trumps conduct is the Framers' worst nightmare.

"The Senate should do its constitutional duty to address the ongoing threat that the President poses to the nation by convicting and removing him from office," the brief mentions.

The House Managers, appointed by House Speaker Pelosi, are Congressmen Adam Schiff, Jerrold Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Hakeem Jeffries, Val Demings, Jason Crow and Sylvia Garcia.

"The case against the President of the US is simple, the facts are indisputable, and the evidence is overwhelming: President Trump abused the power of his office to solicit foreign interference in our elections for his own personal political gain, thereby jeopardising our national security, the integrity of our elections, and our democracy, they alleged.

The managers alleged that Trump attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing Congress's investigation into his misconduct.

And when the President got caught, he tried to cover it up by obstructing the House's investigation into his misconduct. Senators must accept and fulfill the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and the Oaths they have just taken to do impartial justice. They must conduct a fair trial fair to the President and fair to the American people, the House managers said in a joint statement.
Further avalanches on a popular trekking route in Nepal have forced rescuers to halt their search for four South Korean trekkers and three Nepali guides who were believed to have been swept away by a snowslide.

Some 200 climbers have been rescued from other parts of the trekking trail and flown to safety by helicopters over the weekend, the Department of Tourism said.

It said fresh smaller avalanches had made it dangerous for rescuers to approach the area where the missing trekkers were last seen.

A second search mission is being planned for the missing South Koreans and local guides but it would have to wait for snow and ice to stop falling before the operation resumes.

The Friday avalanche hit along the popular Mount Annapurna circuit trekking route following rains and snow earlier in the week.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the avalanche hit at an altitude of 3,230 meters (10,600 feet). It said five other South Korean members of the same team were safe and taking shelter in a lodge.

The missing trekkers  two women in their 30s and 50s and two men in their 50s  were teachers who were staying in Nepal for volunteer work, according to the Yonhap news agency.

The agency said South Korea has dispatched an emergency response team to Kathmandu to assist in the search operations.

The South Korean consul based in the Nepalese capital departed for the accident site to call for the continuation of the rescue operation, Yonhap reported.

South Korean president Moon Jae-in vowed the upmost efforts to find the missing trekkers in a Facebook message posted on Sunday.
3 1 of 3 Courtesy photo, Industrial Photographer / Todd R. McQueen Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Photo by Kelley Harris with Dazzling Diva Photography Show More Show Less 3 of 3





This Friday is the premiere of Arsenic and Old Lace at the Owen Theatre, and it will continue until Feb 8. A comical murder mystery originally released in 1944 with Cary Grant playing the role of Mortimer Brewster. Boris Karloff played Jonathon Brewster on the Broadway stage. As the story goes, Mortimer works for a NY newspaper and was announcing his engagement to his aunts when he discovered their tendency to poison old men. His maniac brother Jonathon returns home the night his aunts plot to kill their next victim. A murder with slapstick humor. Tickets available at OwenTheatre.com

Get ready for the 4th Annual Rising Stars and Legends of Texas March 12 through March 21 in various venues throughout Downtown Conroe hosted by the Greater Conroe Arts Alliance (GCAA). Two events will anchor the event from the beginning to the end March 12-21. Houston Black and White 4 x 5 Photographer, Gary Watson (www.g.watson4x5.com) will display an exhibit at 202 Main Street (new event venue) throughout the event and Conroe Art Leagues 5th Madeley National Art Show will exhibit 684 pieces of artwork at their gallery located at 127 Simonton Street. Carrie Fountain, 2019 Texas State Poet Laureate, starts out the evening Thursday hosted by the Montgomery County Literary Arts Society.
The comments, however, did not go down well with the Congress party, an alliance partner of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that those who oppose Bharat Ratna  the highest civilian honour in India  for Veer Savarkar should be sent for two days to Andaman's cellular jail, where Savarkar was lodged, to realise the Hindutva ideologues sacrifice and contribution.

Savarkars opponents should spend two days in the (erstwhile) Andaman Cellular Jail to understand the hardships he was put through by the British, Mr Raut said.

The comments, however, did not go down well with the Congress party, an alliance partner of the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena immediately went into damage control mode. The Shiv Sena leader and Cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray said that Mr Raut's remark was his personal opinion and not his partys stand.

Within hours of the statement, Congress' state spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted, Savarkar was different before 1911. The Congress is against his post-1923 ideology.

Reacting to Raut's comments, Mr Thackeray said there was no need to dig into the past. He said he was not aware in which capacity Raut made the statement. The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) speaks for the aspirations of the people. Despite having different ideologies, the two parties have come together in the interest of the country and the state. Democracy means different ideologies can work together in the interest of the country, the Cabinet minister said.

We must learn from history and keep history as history. We should move forward, he added.

Political observers said that Mr Raut could have made such a statement to divert the attention from his remarks on Shivaji Maharaj and late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The Congress is against offering the Bharat Ratna to Mr Savarkar, who is hailed by the right-wing parties  BJP and Shiv Sena. Savarkar has become a major political issue in Maharashtra ever since former Congress president Rahul Gandhi refused to apologise for his rape in India remark in December last year, stating, My name is Rahul Gandhi, not Rahul Savarkar.
New Delhi: The new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will look at border matters and border disputes with neighbouring countries including Pakistan and China. He will be incharge of deployment of forces at the borders and border intelligence.

The defence ministry has notified the division of responsibilities between the department of military affairs under CDS and department of defence (DoD).

The CDS has been tasked to look at administration of Siachen matters. He will also look at developments in Indian Ocean, Afghanistan, West Asia, Gulf countries and Southeast Asia and military diplomacy. The incidents violation of borders by neighbouring countries will also be looked into by the CDS.

He will look into overseas deployment of Indian Navy's ships, offshore security and anti-piracy operation on high seas.

The CDS will look at apprehended foreign defence personnel and ex gratia compensation for land mine casualties.

CDS has been given charge of counter insurgency operations, the size, shape and composition of the Army and promotion matters.

He will look at court martial and disciplinary cases for all Army officers/personnel. Human rights violations cases referred by NHRC pertaining to discipline will come under CDS. He will look at missing personnel of the Army from the 1965 and 1971 wars.

All matters relating to the National Defence Academy(NDA), Indian Military Academy, Officers Training Academy and the Defence Services Staff College will come under CDS.

He will also look after air defence including anti-aircraft protection.

In his first meeting as CDS, Gen Bipin Rawat had set out to create a common Air Defence Command to secure the country from aerial attacks.

Gen Rawat had directed that a proposal to create Air Defence Command be prepared by June 30, 2020. CDS will look at all issues relating to violation of the Indian Airspace by the foreign aircraft, including reporting of such violations to MEA.
MILWAUKEE - Several minutes into a community meeting at which a panel of 2020 Democratic National Convention organizers spoke to African-American voters, there was a sweeping realization that few in the audience, if anyone, would attend the exclusive four-day party happening in their city in July.

"None of us are really invited," said Nyesha Stone, a 23-year-old community journalist who led the discussion.

"You can be," said Jorge Neri, the national convention committee's director of public engagement. "You should get involved in your local party. You should run for delegate, because there need to be more folks like us in those slots."

Neri said some party discussions will be open to the public, and other organizers plugged the convention's paid internship program and volunteer opportunities, along with events happening throughout the city that week that are open to all.

"Don't undervalue what a watch party would be like that week," said Liz Gilbert, president of the Milwaukee 2020 Host Committee, the nonpolitical group tasked with organizing the convention. "There's going to be a lot of excitement on TV, and people want to come together as a community and watch that. And you might not be inside . . . but you're really close."

Organizers are hopeful the convention - especially its estimated $200 million economic impact on the region - will improve the Democratic Party's relationship with Wisconsin voters, not further strain it, and that many of the thousands of volunteers recruited to help with the four-day event can then be mobilized to help the nominee get elected.

In 2016, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., won 71 of 72 Wisconsin counties in the Democratic primary, and the nominee, Hillary Clinton, chose not to campaign in the state during the general election. Donald Trump won the state that November, flipping 22 mostly rural Wisconsin counties that had previously voted for President Barack Obama. The turnout rate for black voters, most of whom live in Milwaukee County, fell nearly 19 percentage points between the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections.

It was the first time since 1984 that Wisconsin sided with a Republican for president, shocking Clinton and forcing party leaders to refocus on the state, a path that ultimately led to the convention.

"When you look at the maps and the paths to victory, it goes right through Wisconsin," said Joe Solmonese, the chief executive of the convention. "The convention has the potential to both generate a great deal of goodwill but also to serve as a critically important organizing principle going into the fall - but neither of those will be the case if we don't do this work here in a respectful manner."

The last two elections have not gone well for Democrats in convention states. In 2016, after the Philadelphia convention, Pennsylvania went for Trump, the first time since 1988 it had been won by a Republican. In 2012, the convention was held in Charlotte; Democrats would lose North Carolina that year after winning it in 2008.

That year, Obama was supposed to give his acceptance speech at a stadium that could hold not just delegates and party officials but also convention volunteers and members of the public. A potential storm forced the speech indoors, and thousands were promptly disinvited - upsetting many and chilling enthusiasm.

Wisconsin Democrats say they see great potential for the convention but are well aware of the challenges. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., a host committee co-chair who represents Milwaukee, said she told DNC Chairman Tom Perez not to "even think about coming to Milwaukee" unless he had "a real strategy for engaging the entire community and availing yourself of the most diverse district in the entire state."

But how can organizers make a city of more than a half-million people feel included in a celebration that is designed to be exclusive? Host committee organizers have visited churches on Sundays, held information sessions for small business owners, volunteered at Milwaukee Public Schools and elsewhere in the city, organized community discussions about addressing economic disparities, and said "yes" to as many invitations as possible, including the one from Stone to speak at a community meeting.

"We wanted to . . . really make sure this convention is not just about four days next summer inside of an arena, but that it's a year-long experience that engages people in every neighborhood," Gilbert said.

The host committee staff is much larger than in years past. Most are women or nonwhite or both, and they are led by Gilbert, who at 30 is the youngest person ever to hold the position for a Democratic convention. Angela Lang, who organizes in predominantly black neighborhoods and has been skeptical that the convention will be inclusive, credits Gilbert for reaching out, arranging a private meeting and saying, I don't want to screw this up, so help me, tell me what to do.

"Tell us what we don't know" is a common refrain for Gilbert, who grew up in Florida, studied elementary education at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and has worked on two previous Democratic conventions. Another line she often uses when residents unleash their frustrations: "I hear you."

In addition to all of the things that make Milwaukee an appealing place for outsiders to visit, it is also a city that has long struggled with extreme economic inequality, poverty, segregation, underperforming public schools, police brutality and mass incarceration.

When Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat - the other host committee co-chair and a four-term mayor who is running for reelection in April - talks about the upcoming convention, he nearly always couples his boosterism of his city with an acknowledgment of its serious problems.

"We know that there are poverty struggles in this city, we know that there are race struggles, we know that there are injustice struggles in this city," Barrett said at a news conference. "And we want to do everything we can to have more partners to address these issues. And so we're not going to shy away from the challenges that we have in this city, and we're going to embrace the advances we've made."

To make the convention "intentionally inclusive," the host committee plans to reimburse some volunteers for lost wages, transportation and other expenses to expand the number who can afford to participate. Instead of having one staff member tasked with diversity and inclusion, as had been the norm, the Milwaukee host committee has nine.

The committee is also actively trying to connect with small business owners who might not think they would qualify as vendors. Lafayette Crump of the host committee said the formal events he organizes tend to attract business owners "who know that they should be networking, who know that they should be selling themselves."

"But it's really important to us that those aren't the only businesses that we're reaching," he said.

In the most impoverished parts of Milwaukee, residents have long been frustrated to see continual investment and development downtown and in the city's hip neighborhoods while their streets remain pockmarked with potholes.

At the community meeting, resident Donna Aabidah asked convention organizers if they plan to clean up the entire city - "not just the cute areas" - or if they just hope delegates won't venture down certain streets.

Neri answered that convention officials are "not here to solve all of Milwaukee's problems," but that they can flag them to city leaders.

"We want to make sure that when we leave, we leave Milwaukee better than we found it," Neri said. "We want to make sure that folks feel that they've been engaged, that they've been listened to, and that the Democratic Party is here for them."

It's the sort of answer that Aabidah says she often hears, and she has little faith that this time things will be different.

The sentiment is shared by Myron Edwards, who said he is frustrated that Democrats are not doing enough to combat mass incarceration, especially in the Milwaukee area.

"People in Milwaukee are tired, and we don't have any solutions coming from leaders," said Edwards, a local activist who once considered himself a Democrat but doesn't know where he now stands. "And to have these people come here who don't know about Milwaukee . . . I really pray to God that they talk about our situation here, because it's ridiculous."

Milwaukee has spent nearly $30 million on settlements related to police brutality since 1958. In August 2016, a Milwaukee police officer shot and killed 23-year-old Sylville Smith, prompting violent unrest in the Sherman Park neighborhood. In July, city police will help guard the convention - along with several other law enforcement agencies - providing a barrier between the city and the convention.

On a recent morning at Coffee Makes You Black, a popular restaurant and community gathering place, mentions of the convention prompted shrugs. Donald Scott, 66, said he doesn't believe the hype that the convention will dramatically impact the city in ways that continue long after the delegates have gone home.

"I don't think people realize how transient it is," said Scott, an Army veteran and semiretired garage door repairman and carpenter who describes himself as politically independent. "It's not like a big factory coming in, or some major capital investment."

Sitting nearby were two entrepreneurs who have attended events organized by the host committee. Hyacinth Nembhardt, 39, said organizers encouraged her to become registered as a diverse supplier, a step that will benefit her long after the convention ends.

"It really forced me to grow my business up a little bit and take that extra step to get registered," said Nembhardt, who owns Concoctions, a frozen blended drink company.

Sitting close to the door was Anthony Houston, a Democrat who said he has heard the convention will "put the city on the map," although he doesn't know what exactly it will mean for him. About two years ago, the foundry where he had worked for 17 years as a union member was bought out; he lost his job. Since then, he has been unable to find steady employment and makes ends meet by driving for Uber. He has thought about going back to school to learn a new trade.

The convention could bring him a short-term burst of business.

"It could be a lot of revenue," he said. "But it's only a week."
Portland Public Schools is in the early stages of figuring out what a massive construction bond slated for the November ballot might look like. More than two-thirds of the proposed $1.4 billion outlay could be earmarked for extensive renovations to three high schools: Cleveland, Jefferson and Wilson.

Portland Public Schools hired Mahlum Architects to develop plans for Cleveland High. Here are some of the findings about the Southeast Portland school:

The firm produced three potential approaches to modernize and expand Cleveland, which sits on one of the districts smallest parcels of land on busy Powell Boulevard.

The first schematic would maintain much of the schools current architecture. The building was constructed in 1929. It would also call for the construction of another building on top of the parking lot that sits across Southeast 26th Avenue from the Cleveland campus.

One of the potential blueprints for a new Cleveland High School would call for the construction of more classrooms in the parking lot across Southeast 26th Avenue with play fields on top of the building.Image courtesy of Mahlum Architects via Portland Public Schools

This is the only blueprint that would keep the current 1,300-seat auditorium.

The second schematic also keeps part of the schools original architecture but removes the schools 1,300-seat auditorium. Instead, the parking lot on Southeast 26th Avenue would be replaced with a performing arts center that includes a 500-seat theater.

You can read all of the Cleveland planning documents HERE

This blueprint would also include a larger courtyard in the center of the Cleveland campus. Students and focus group attendees told Mahlum employees the current buildings hallways and classrooms dont get enough natural light.

Another Cleveland rendering would reserve the new building across the street from the original edifice for performing arts programs.Image courtesy Mahlum Architects via Portland Public Schools

The third schematic would call for a complete demolition of the current building. In that scenario, Mahler architects propose a large entrance plaza on Southeast 26th Avenue between Franklin Street and Powell Boulevard.

The northwest corner of the campus, called the academic tower, would be six stories tall while the other portions of the building would be three stories tall. Performing arts would be located in the southwest section.

Focus group participants told the firm they thought the schools entrance needs to be more welcoming. They also said the building lacks flexible student spaces, natural light and outdoor open space. Safety from traffic on Southeast 26th Avenue and Powell Boulevard was also a concern.

In a third scenario, Mahlum proposed demolishing much of Cleveland High.Image courtesy Mahlum Architects via Portland Public Schools

Participants also said Cleveland High featured a cramped unwelcoming building footprint that does not encourage students to remain on campus.

Students and community members also developed a wish list of sorts for Cleveland, including having the district purchase the Burgerville that sits adjacent to the school parking lot, then razing it to construct a larger building and potentially petition the City of Portland to bar vehicular traffic on Southeast 26th Avenue.

Although the districts initial polling shows solid support for a new construction bond, which pollsters told survey-takers would not raise their tax rate, voters may show more concern about this effort than ones approved in 2012 and 2017. Thats because district leaders low-balled cost estimates for the 2017 projects and would use $236 million from the new bond just to cover cost overruns from the last one.

The board has tapped new member Andrew Scott to serve as its lead and public face in developing Novembers bond. He served as the City of Portlands chief budget officer for nearly a decade and is now deputy chief operating officer at Metro.

Scott has made the point that he wasnt on the board in 2017 and said during meetings hes making sure the district toes a tight financial line this time around.
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On lines of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, around 50 women along with children have been squatting near Clock Tower protesting against CAA, NRC

Lucknow: A group of women continued their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the Ghantaghar Park in Lucknow on Sunday with some of them alleging that police took away their blankets, a charge dismissed by the police.

On the lines of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, around 50 women along with children have been squatting near the Clock Tower in Lucknow's old quarters protesting the CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC). The women protesters alleged that blankets provided to them by some organisations were taken away by police.

Rubbishing the claims made by the women protesters, the Lucknow Police in a tweet said, "During the illegal protest going at Lucknow's Ghantaghar Park (Clock Tower), some people tried to make a 'gheraa' (cordon) using ropes and sticks, and also tried to put sheets. They were not allowed to do so. Some organisations were distributing blankets in park premises. As a result of which, people living in the vicinity, who are not a part of the protests, were coming to take the blankets."

"Police removed those persons and organisations distributing blankets there, and action is being initiated against them," the Lucknow Police said, and urged people not to spread rumours. Lucknow's Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey also dismissed the allegations levelled by the protestors.

A 27-second video clip emerged on social media which purportedly shows a policeman carrying blankets and sheets in a plastic bag. A woman could be seen in the video shouting at him and calling him "thief", but police personnel did not respond to it.

The indefinite protest by women at the national capital's Shaheen Bagh against the CAA and NRC has been going on for over a month now. The protest at Lucknow's Ghantaghar started Friday night.

Besides Delhi, protests have unfolded in several parts of the country over the law since it was passed on 11 December and has led to clashes at several places including Uttar Pradesh.

According to the amended law, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till 31 December, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.
The 46th edition of the annual festival, which is organised by the Cairo Film Society, will start on 25 January

The Film Society Festival will kick off its 46th edition on 25 January where eight Egyptian feature films will be screened at the Artistic Creativity Center of the Cairo Opera House competing for several prizes.

The one-week annual event by the Cairo Film Society has shortlisted eight films out of 33, and on 8 February the final awards will be revealed by the jury, which includes members of the association, critics and a number of specialists.

"The winners will be based on a number of artistic criteria, such as decor, direction, story, scenario, and dialogue," reads a statement by the festival, whose president is director of photography Mahmoud Abdel-Samie.

Many iconic names of Egyptian cinema will be honoured during the festival including actors Ali Al-Kassar and Tewfik El-Dekn, scriptwriter Abo El-Seoud El-Ebiary and director Mamdouh Shoukry, in addition to some contemporary filmmakers like director Daoud Abdel-Sayed, scriptwriter Wahid Hamed, musician Mounir Al-Wassimi, actor Lotfi Labib, art director Nihad Bahgat and critic Salah Hashim.

Legendary actress Samiha Ayoub will be the festival's guest of honour.

The 46th edition is dedicated to late critic Youssef Cherif Rizkallah for his "eternal imprint on the annals of cinematic history."

Founded in 1960, the event is one of the oldest festivals supported by the Egyptian Ministry of Culture.

The eight films shortlisted, most of which have gained great commercial success, are:

- "The Guest" directed by Hadi El-Bagoury

- "The Secret Mens Club" by Khaled El Halafawy

- "The Passage" by Sharif Arafa

- "Blue Elephant 2" by Marwan Hamed

- "The Treasure 2" by Sharif Arafa

- "Rizk's Sons 2" by Tarek Al Eryan

- "Scarecrow" by Khaled Meraai

- "When We're Born" by Tamer Azat

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Pratap Chandra Sarangi in Gujarat's Surat on Saturday said that 'those who do not accept chanting Vande Mataram have no right to live in India'. He also said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which give citizenship to non-Muslim minorities when entered India before December 31, 2014, was a way to 'atone for the sin of Partition' committed by the Congress and should have passed 70 years ago.

"CAA should have happened 70 years ago. CAA is a way to atone for the sin committed by our forefathers, a select few leaders. It is atonement for the sin of Partition. And we should congratulate PM Narendra Modi for this. The Congress committed the sin, and we are atoning," Sarangi said.

The union minister also said Partition of India in 1947 had taken place on a communal basis. "The Partition did not take place on any political, economical, geographical, or historical basis. It was done on a communal basis. We never said we cannot live with Muslims. We lived with them for thousands of years," he said.

Live TV

"But who compelled us enter into an agreement with the people who propounded the two-nation theory? Partition was not unavoidable. The country is nobody's paternal property. Nobody had the right to divide it," he said, adding that free water and electricity will not develop the nation.

Watch the video of the minister speaking during an event in Surat:

#WATCH Union Minister Pratap Sarangi in Surat, Gujarat: Those who do not accept Vande Mataram have no right to live in India. (18.01.2020) pic.twitter.com/zEr4R8Z7Op  ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2020

Sarangi accused the Congress of spreading disinformation about the CAA and causing unrest in the country. "Those who set the country on fire are not patriots. Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country. They should go wherever they can," he added.

Speaking on economy, the union minister said that the country is going through the darkest time before dawn and suggested that photo of Goddess Laxmi be used on Indian currency notes to improve the current condition.
Police has registered one more case against unidentified persons in connection with violence here during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on the complaint of a commandant of the Rapid Action Force.

With this, the number of cases filed against anti-CAA protesters has reached 50 here.

In the FIR lodged with the Civil Lines police station under IPC sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 147 (punishment for rioting), it is alleged that the protesting mob pelted stones at the RAF personnel.

Later, the protesters dispersed after the RAF started firing tear gas shells during the protests in Muzaffarnagar on December 21, the complaint stated.

The incident took place when a company of the RAF was posted at the Civil Lines police station area when violence broke out during protests.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Vladimir Putin has met with other world leaders for the first time since sweeping changes to the country's constitution that could keep him in power long after his presidential term ends were announced.

The Russian President announced, as part of his annual state address on Wednesday, changes that could pave the way for him to extend his leadership beyond 2024.

A day after the shock announcement, that saw his entire government - including Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev - resign, Putin said he believed the people supported these changes.

Today Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Berlin for a summit on war-ton Libya.

Germany brought together the key players in Libya's long-running civil war today, in a bid to curb foreign military interference, solidify a cease-fire and help relaunch a political process to stop the chaos in the North African nation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel invited leaders from 12 countries as well as the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League to the summit at the chancellery in Berlin.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sharing a joke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on their way to a family picture during a Peace summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and French President Emmanuel Macron warmly shake hands next to Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on their way to the family picture during the Peace summit

French President Emmanuel Macron (centre left) speaking with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (center right) during a group photo at a conference on Libya at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Boris Johnson (far left), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (third left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (second right) were also present

French President Emmanuel Macron greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel with a kiss as he arrives for an international summit on securing peace in Libya at the German federal Chancellery today

Germany's months-long diplomatic drive seeks to bolster efforts to stop the fighting in Libya by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame.

Also invited are Libya's two main rival leaders: Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who are both expected to attend.

On the streets of Moscow today more than a thousand opposition activists of various stripes marched in protest at Putin's proposed re-drafting the constitution, unleashing political upheaval.

Putin is thought to be planning to impose limits to presidential terms in Russia, but his other changes could still pave the way for him to extend his 20-year rule - albeit in a new capacity.

His proposals would weaken the presidency, while giving power to the parliament, the prime minister, and the state council.

World leaders were said to be looking to commit to ending all foreign meddling in Libya's war, but calls were growing for an international force to ensure that pledges are put into action.

A truce brokered earlier this month by Russia and Turkey marked the first break in fighting in months, but the cease-fire has seen repeated violations.

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before flying to the summit, Erdogan said the world had failed to respond adequately to Hifter's 'reckless attacks' on Sarraj's UN-recognised government.

'Hopes that flourish again with the cease-fire and the Berlin summit should not be sacrificed to the ambitions of the merchants of blood and chaos,' he said.

Libya has sunk further into chaos since the 2011 ouster and killing of Libya's longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

It is now divided into rival administrations, each backed by different nations: the UN-recognised government based in Tripoli, headed by Sarraj, and one based in the country's east, supported by Hifter's forces.

Hifter's forces have been on the offensive since April, laying siege to Tripoli in an effort to capture the capital.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (front second left) waiting for the arrival of leaders prior to a group photo at a conference on Libya at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, today

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres during the International Libya Conference in Berlin

Mike Pompeo (left) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands on their way to the family picture during the summit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso as he arrives for conference on Libya at the Chancellery in Berlin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel greeting French President Emmanuel Macron during arrivals for a conference on Libya at the chancellery in Berlin, Germany, today

Hifter's forces are backed by Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, while the Tripoli government has turned to Turkey for troops and weapons.

On Friday, tribal groups loyal to Hifter seized several large oil export terminals along Libya's eastern coast as well as southern oil fields in another challenge to the Tripoli government, which collects revenue from oil production.

The National Oil Corporation said the move threatens to throttle much of Libya's oil production.

Germany's priority is to try to get the outside players that have interests in the conflict on the same page, stem the flow of weapons to Libya and ensure that the cease-fire sticks -- creating space for UN-led efforts to re-establish a political process in Libya.

'At the Libya conference, we must see above all that the arms embargo is once again complied with - it has been agreed in principle at UN level but unfortunately not kept to', Merkel said.

Germany is also keen to prevent the fighting in Libya from further destabilizing the region, potentially setting off new waves of migrants seeking safety in Europe across the Mediterranean Sea.

Police stand guard on the roof of the chancellery ahead of a conference on Libya in Berlin, Germany today

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, welcomes President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso as he arrives for conference on Libya at the Chancellery in Berlin, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosts the one-day conference of world powers in Berlin to discuss efforts to broker peace in Libya. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

Media wait for participants at the entrance to the chancellery ahead of a conference on Libya in Berlin, Germany today

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who travelled to Libya to meet Hifter on Thursday, said the general pledged to respect the cease-fire even though he had left Moscow days before without signing a draft on the truce. Sarraj did sign the document.

UN envoy Salame has demanded an end to all foreign interference in Libya, saying that a military solution is impossible and governments and mercenaries helping rival forces are hindering a political solution.

Despite the arms embargo against Libya, he said, weapons are being sold and given to Libyans, and 'probably thousands' of mercenaries have been sent into the country, creating a 'bleak' situation for millions of civilians.

German officials have been careful to keep expectations in check.

'The conference is important, but it is a beginning, the start of a process,' spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer said.

Pope Francis offered his encouragement from the Vatican on Sunday.

'I strongly hope that this summit, so important, is the start of a path toward the cessation of violence and a negotiated solution that leads to peace and much desired stability', Francis told the public in St. Peter's Square.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the international community to stand against the merchants of blood and chaos, as he headed to a Berlin summit seeking to resolve the Libya conflict.

Mr Erdogan supports the UN-backed administration in Tripoli led by Fayez Sarraj and sent troops to Libya earlier this month to help them in their battle with eastern-based forces led by General Khalifa Hifter.

He will join leaders from Russia, the West and Arab countries, as well as the heads of the opposing Libyan factions, in the German capital in a bid to halt nine months of fighting around the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be among those attending.

General Khalifa Hifter leads eastern-based forces in Libya (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

Speaking at Istanbuls Ataturk Airport, Mr Erdogan said the world had failed to respond adequately to Gen Hifters reckless attacks.

He added: Hopes that flourish again with the ceasefire and the Berlin summit should not be sacrificed to the ambitions of the merchants of blood and chaos.

A truce sponsored by Turkey and Russia was imposed a week ago but sporadic fighting has continued.

On Friday, tribal groups loyal to Gen Hifter seized several large oil export terminals along Libyas eastern coast as well as southern oil fields in another challenge to the Tripoli government,

Germany is bringing together key players in Libyas long-running conflict in a bid to solidify the ceasefire and help relaunch a political process to determine Libyas future.

Mr Serrajs government is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Italy while Gen Hifter is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and France.

Russian military contractors have been fighting alongside Gen Hifters forces, although Moscow retains links to both sides in the conflict.
Deals are being finalized. Queens are being placated. Titles are being relinquished. And soon, Meghan and Harry will be just another couple of millennial house hunters trying to get the most bang for their buck, likely in Toronto or Vancouver.

But until then, Harry had one, final royal job to do in jolly old England: One more royal engagement before I jet off to beautiful Canada? Sure, I think I got one more in me! Here it is. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

Now, if youll excuse me, I have to go see if I can afford a house in Toronto on a millennials salary. I mean, its one house. What could it cost? Ten dollars? (Getty Images photos)

Sir Ian McKellen gets down on one knee to ask Sir Patrick Stewart if hell make him the happiest Gandalf in the galaxy. And Captain Picard was like Make it so. And then Magneto and Professor X kissed and lived happily ever after. Thanks, gents, for making my slashfic, a radical queer reinterpretation of the Western canon, come true IRL. (Getty Images)

Robert Pattinson and Cara Delevigne react as the new Batman costume is revealed to have a superfluous nipple. Robs not a fan, Cara is... intrigued. (Backgrid)

Elizabeth Bankss salad may be the bigger salad, but Hilary Duffs salad is definitely the more challenging salad. (Backgrid photos)

The great thing about Billy Gibbons and Slash performing on stage together is that you can just call the band ZZ Top Hat and be done with it. (Getty Images)

My favourite part of the Television Critics Association press tour is when they make actors try to explain their shows. Lets examine some, shall we?

Steve Buscemi on Miracle Workers: Its like what if God got tired of his job and made Harry Potter do it? (Getty Images)

Nicole Kidman on The Undoing: Um, well, its sort of like, what if Big Little Lies, but nobody watches it? (Getty Images)

Jason Bateman on HBOs The Outsider: So its based on a Stephen King book. And Im pretty sure its a decent one. I think. I mean, its no Under the Dome but what is, right? (Getty Images)

Reese Witherspoon on Little Fires Everywhere: Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! I know this one! Its about beating Nicole Kidman and her new show! (Getty Images)

Al Pacino on Amazons Hunters: Ive got nine Oscar nominations so I dont feel the need to explain my art to you. Hoo-ah! (Getty Images)

For more Stargazing, check out Sundays Star.

Read more:

Tabloids: Tired of Meghan and Harry yet? Too bad cuz the tabloids arent

Harry, Meghan to quit royal jobs, give up highness titles

Royal house hunters: These Canadian properties might suit Harry and Meghan

Tanis Fowler is a deputy editor based in Toronto. She is also a contributor to the Stars Entertainment section. Follow her on Twitter: @TanisFowler

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A dentist in Alaska who removed a woman's tooth while riding a hoverboard, has been found guilty on 46 counts after his reckless act led to a wider probe which revealed he'd defrauded Medicaid out of $1.9million.

Seth Lookhart was filmed operating on Veronica Wilhelm in July 2016 at Clear Creek Dental in Anchorage, using a tool to remove quickly remove her tooth, handing it to the dental assistant and throwing his hands up in a self-congratulatory victory as he zooms out of the room.

Lookhart, 34, texted the clip to at least eight friends, telling them it's a 'new standard of care'.

On Friday, he was convicted for felony medical assistance fraud, scheming to defraud, and misdemeanor counts of illegally practicing dentistry and reckless endangerment.

Dentist Seth Lookhart was filmed removing a patient's tooth while riding a hoverboard at Clear Creek Dental, in Anchorage, Alaska in July 2016

Pictured: Lookhart riding his hoverboard in Clear Creek Dental. Afterwards, he texted the video to several of his friends and the clip was used as evidence against him

The conviction followed a five-week bench trial before Anchorage Superior Court Judge Michael Wolverton, who said in a written finding that he found the state's evidence 'simply overwhelming'.

He also said Lookhart's own text conversations were persuasive. Friends had asked Lookhart how he got away with some of his practices.

'Dr. Lookhart responded, in effect, that unless someone was standing right next to him at the time, no one would ever know,' Wolverton wrote.

The judge also convicted Lookhart's corporation, Lookhart Dental LLC, which did business as Clear Creek Dental, of 40 criminal counts.

Lookhart's office manager, Shauna Cranford, previously pleaded guilty to medical assistance fraud as part of a plea agreement.

Lookhart in 2014 was a new dentist who took a job working for two established dentists. He was to be paid either $240,000 a year or 30% of the money he brought in, whichever was higher, assistant attorney general Eric Senta said.

Cranford persuaded Lookhart to offer intravenous sedation to Medicaid patients as an alternative to less costly anesthesia. The cost of IV sedation generally is not included in a patient's $1,150 annual limit for non-emergency dental procedures.

The practice became lucrative for Lookhart, prosecutors said, and his practice in 2016 accounted for 31% of all Medicaid payments for IV sedation out of 57 dentists in Alaska.

Lookhart also schemed to cut out his partners by billing Medicaid under a different provider identification and having payments sent directly to his home, prosecutors said.

Since Lookhart obtained an IV sedation license in 2015, prosecutors said, Medicaid paid him about $1.9 million for IV sedation services.

Patient, Veronica Wilhelm (right), was sedated at the time with no idea she was being filmed or Lookhart was on a hoverboard

Wilhelm was sedated and had no idea her dentist performed the procedure on a hoverboard.

Wilhelm told the courtroom that she had no idea she was being filmed during the incident and only found out after she was contacted by investigators.

She described being 'shocked, pretty livid  pissed off' after the revelation.

Prosecutor Joan Wilson previously asked: 'When did Dr. Lookhart get your approval to take out your tooth on a hoverboard?'

'He never did. I obviously wouldn't have approved that. That's dangerous,' Wilhelm replied.

'If you were awake and not sedated when Dr. Lookhart came into the operatory on a hoverboard, what would you have said to him?' Wilson continued.

Lockhart's (pictured) office manager previously pleaded guilty after persuading him to offer IV sedation to Medicaid patients as an alternative to less costly anesthesia

'I would've said 'hell no!',' Wilhelm said. 'No, that's unprofessional. It's crazy.'

She said: 'I think you have to be pretty narcissistic, you must be pretty full of yourself to think you can pull someone's tooth out on a hoverboard.'

During cross examination, defense attorney Paul Stockler apologized to Wilhelm for his client's actions.'

'I want you to know that as his lawyer, I apologize for what he did on that hoverboard,' he said.

'It's unacceptable and you can be assured that when I agreed to represent him, I got in his face and told him what I thought about him for doing this, which I think needed to be done,' Stockler continued.

'He knows he did that on the hoverboard, the question is what effect, if any, that should have on his dental license and whether that's a crime.'

Wilhelm's incident would help prove Lookhart unnecessarily sedated Medicaid patients to maximize Medicaid payments.

Lookhart fraudulently took $250,000 from his partners.

Word of Lookhart's Medicaid fraud reached investigators in 2016 when a former employee told the state that he was profiting by performing more IV sedation than needed.

Former employees alleged that Lookhart specifically pushed for the sedation procedure on Medicaid patients, while those with private insurance were given local anesthesia.

Medicaid paid him $1.9million for IV sedation services, a third of the total paid to 57 practices in the state, and he fraudulently took $250,000 from his partners

One person said that sedation was even used for deep cleanings.

IV sedation is generally the most costly form of anesthesia, and compared to the $57 flat rate of nitrous oxide, Medicaid pays $170.76 for 15 minutes of the procedure.

The state had said none of Lookhart's billings have proper justification, with him only citing 'comfort' and 'anxiety' as reasons.

Two patients took the stand to share instances of Lookhart's damaging dental procedures.

One man said he woke up from sedation to four missing teeth and dentures fitted so poorly that it made it difficult to talk, eat or breath.

The other patient said he awoke from sedation on different occasions to find a crown had been placed on the wrong tooth.

'I want you to know that as his lawyer, I apologize for what he did on that hoverboard,' his lawyer Paul Stockler said

Wilhem had previously said she didn't have a problem with the outcome of her procedure: 'I don't have anything bad to say about taking out my tooth, I appreciate that, but I just think that what you did was outrageous, narcissistic you know, and crazy.'

After Lookhart was charged, the Alaska Board of Dental Examiners suspended his license to practice dentistry and sedation last June.

Lookhart had planned to show the court that not all his Medicaid claims were false by going into the audit to determine who made edits on several claims.

He claims the Medicaid office entered the wrong dates on some claims, which made it seem they backdated in comparison to medical records kept in Lookhart's office.

The felony medical assistance fraud, theft in the first degree, and scheme to defraud charges carry a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $100,000 and restitution. The top counts for the business carry a potential fine of up to $2.5 million.

Cranford is scheduled to be sentenced February 3. Lookhart is scheduled to be sentenced April 30.
She's rarely seen apart from her two-year-old daughter Sunday.

And Ferne McCann was seen enjoying some mummy-daughter time on Sunday at the gala screening of Paw Patrol at Cineworld Leicester Square in London.

The former TOWIE star took to Instagram to admit that she was enjoying the children's event 'far too much', complete with face painting and a chance to meet the animated characters in real life.

Mummy and me: Ferne McCann was seen enjoying some mummy-daughter time with two-year-old daughter Sunday at the gala screening of Paw Patrol at Cineworld Leicester Square in London on Sunday morning

Keeping her look casual, the TV personality paired an oversized plaid shirt dress with a pair of knee-high heeled cowboy boots.

She dressed Sunday in a camel outfit complete with chunky trainers.

The family event saw many famous faces taking the opportunity to have a fun day out with the kids on an otherwise cold and rainy Sunday.

Fitness guru Joe Wicks, 33, turned up with his one-year-old daughter, Indie.

Paw Patrol is on a roll! The mother looked cheerful as she met one of Paw Patrol's biggest characters ahead of viewing the newest movie Ready, Race, Rescue

Mum on a mission: Keeping her look casual the model paired an oversized plaid shirt dress with a pair of knee-high heeled cowboy boots while she dressed Sunday in a monochrome camel outfit

Joe and partner Rosie Jones, 29, had their second child Marley just before Christmas.

Taking to Instagram, Joe shared that it was his first trip to the cinema with his young daughter.

Model and former Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, 37, brought along her two girls, Ariana Siena, six, and Siera Aleira, two.

The former Miss Wales wore a denim boiler suit along with white chunky trainers, while her daughters wore adorable matching pink outfits.

Styled by her mum: Ferne McCann dressed Sunday in a monochrome camel outfit and shared a video of her getting her face painted to Instagram

Laughing little one: Fitness guru Joe Wicks, 33, turned up with his one-year-old daughter, Indie - Joe and partner Rosie Jones, 29, had their second child Marley just before Christmas

First cinema trip: Taking to Instagram Joe shared that it was his first trip to the cinema with his one-year-old daughter Indie

Other celebs who attended the event included Strictly Come Dancing Judge Anton du Beke and wife Hannah with their twin children George and Henrietta, two.

The new Paw Patrol film, Ready, Race, Rescue will be released in the UK on January 24.

Parents across the country can prepare for a thrilling chase as the pups 'spring into action to help Marshall take the wheel against cheating rival, The Cheetah'.

Loose Women presenter and proud grandmother Linda Robson also attended the screening, after thanking her family for helping her through mental health struggles over Christmas.

Coordinated: Model and former Big Brother star Imogen Thomas, 37, brought along her two girls, Ariana Siena, six, and Siera Aleira, two. She wore a denim boiler suit along with white chunky trainers, while her daughters wore adorable matching pink outfits

Double the trouble: Strictly Come Dancing Judge Anton du Beke and wife Hannah with their twin children George and Henrietta, two

Happy family day out: Anton du Beke and wife Hannah looked thrilled to be attending the screening with their young ones

Proud grandmother: Loose Women presenter Linda Robson, 61, also attended the screening, after thanking her family for helping her through mental health struggles over Christmas
An FIR has been registered against actor Shabana Azmis driver after the car they were travelling in met with an accident on Mumbai-Pune expressway yesterday afternoon, police said.

Azmis driver has been identified as Amlesh Yogendra Kamat. According to ANI, the complaint has been registered by Rajesh Pandurang Shinde, the truck driver as his vehicle was hit from behind by the Azmis car. Due to rash driving by the cars driver, the car hit the moving truck on Pune-Mumbai Expressway which resulted in the accident, the FIR copy read.

Damaged car of veteran actress Shabana Azmi which collided with a truck in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, near Mumbai, Saturday. (PTI)

She is stable and under observation, said Dr Santosh Shetty, Executive Director and CEO of Ambani hospital in a statement late on Saturday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who expressed concern about the actor after the news came.

Also Watch | Shabana Azmi injured in car accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, wishes pour in

Azmi met with an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday afternoon when the car she was in, rear-ended into a truck. Both vehicles were moving on the Pune-bound lane. Azmi and her driver sustained injuries. Azmi is currently undergoing treatment at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital.

The accident took place near the Khalapur toll booth at 4pm, according to Maharashtra traffic police. Azmi was travelling in a Tata Safari while her husband, lyricist Javed Akhtar, was travelling in an Audi, said police.

The Safari was being driven by Azmis driver, followed by the Audi. The driver tried to overtake another vehicle and crashed into the moving truck from the rear, said inspector Vishwajeet Kaingade, Khalapur police station.

Within 15 minutes of the accident, the police team reached the spot, but first responders had already taken Azmi to MGM Hospital in Kamothe. Azmi, who was sitting in the passenger seat behind her driver Kamlesh Kamath, sustained injuries to her face. She was later declared out of danger and shifted to Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Andheri.

Both the truck driver and Kamath were at the site when the police arrived. The police said on Saturday they are in the process of registering a case under sections 279 (rash and negligent driving) and 337 (causing hurt by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Kamath.

Piyush Tewari, founder of SaveLife Foundation, which works towards road safety, said rear-ending is the most common type of accident on the expressway. It is imperative that drivers do not overtake in high speed from the left as that increases the possibility of a serious crash significantly. In 2019, nearly 50% of fatal crashes on the expressway were rear-ending collisions, he said.

Neither Akhtar nor Azmis manager could be reached for comment.
At least 70 soldiers have been killed in a missile attack launched by Shiite Houthi rebels in the central province of Marib on January 18, said reports. The Yemeni government had not revealed the number of fatalities and an earlier report claimed that around 25 soldiers lost their lives in the attack.

According to Yemens official news agency, Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi had ealier condemned the cowardly terror attack. Hadi said that the Houthi militia, through their disgraceful actions, has confirmed its unwillingness to achieve peace.

Read: Missile Attack On Military Base In Yemen Kills Dozens: Report

Conflict between Houthi rebels and coalition states

Yemen has been the worst hit due to the ongoing armed conflict between Houthi rebels and a coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in the conflict on request of former Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and the continued fighting has caused disproportionate suffering for the civilians.

Read: Yemen Separatists, Government Troops Pull Back From Key City

Amnesty International, a London-based human rights organisation, had said in a report that Yemens war has been characterized by unlawful bombings, displacement and a dearth of basic services, leaving many struggling to survive. The humanitarian response is overstretched, but people with disabilities  who are already among those most at risk in armed conflict  should not face even greater challenges in accessing essential aid, said Rawya Rageh, Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International.

Read: US Attempted Second Attack Targeting Iranian Military Official In Yemen: Report

Read: Aid Groups Halt Work In South Yemen After Targeted Bombings

(With inputs from agencies)
GODFREY  The Lewis and Clark Community College Board of Trustees discussed numerous topics at its monthly meeting Tuesday.

During information items, LCCC Interim President Lori Artis noted that 2020 is LCCCs 50th anniversary.

Well be focusing on celebrating our five decades of success over the next eighteen months, Artis said.

This includes creating a committee through the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation, dedicated to finding ways to celebrate the 50th anniversary throughout the entire year.

Our foundation has chose to use this 50th anniversary as a way to do some fundraising, Artis said.

The LCCC Foundations Debby Edelman, director of development, said a website is being made specifically to list celebratory events.

Weve already started talking with faculty and staff who plan events every year, such as arts event and music events, Edelman said. Theyre all on board with branding those events for the 50th anniversary.

The foundation supports the college and its primary goal is to increase student access and student success, she said. The 50th anniversary gives us a framework to work with, and the board of directors has launched a 50th anniversary capital endowment campaign.

The campaigns goal is to reach $5 million by the spring 2021. As of Tuesdays meeting, the foundation has raised almost $1.5 million. Since its creation, the foundation has fostered relationships between employers in the community and the college, which Edelman said is key to the foundations success.

The members of the board are business owners, business leaders, community leaders and a peer group, Edelman said. They bring their other peers into the community, to the mission of the college.

During discussion items, Jill Lane, LCCC dean of transfer programs, and Dennis Krieb, Reid Memorial Library director, spoke about the importance of role of the Student Success Team, not only with student success, but also persistence, retention, completion and enrollment. Lane explained that the original focus was about students who were not college ready who needed remedial courses.

We took a philosophical approach to student success, Lane said. We were all reading the research studies and the literature, and many of us were going to conferences, looking at how students best learn.

One project was putting students in a reading class, a writing class and a general psychology class. All instructors would communicate regularly and all reading and writing assignments were contextualized around psychology.

Our original goal was that these students would do better in reading and writing, which they did, Lane said. The other unexpected and unintended consequence is that they did better in general psychology, as well.

Krieb showed data regarding the colleges scores in retention and completion to the board of trustees and audience members. In both areas, LCCC beat competing schools, he said at the meeting. Both related statistics came from a compilation of campus students and transfer students.

LCCCs Kent Scheffel, vice president of enrollment, then talked about the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act. The Illinois General Assembly describes the acts intent as providing more mental health awareness on public college campuses, the board of trustees of each institution to designate an expert panel to develop and implement policies and procedures that advise students, faculty and staff on proper procedures to identify and address needs of students exhibiting poor mental health. The act goes into effect July 1.

Scheffel explained that this could potentially have a financial impact on the college. The fall credit enrollment for the college is 6,413, he said.

Based on this number, it would cost $126,000 to meet the requirements under the act, he said.

One of the big challenges right now is that the state hasnt defined how theyre determining enrollment.

Scheffel also discussed intersession enrollment, which uses four weeks to teach a typically 16-week course, which is offered completely online. Total intersession enrollment this year is 185 with a total of 555 credit hours, he said.

This is the fourth year weve done it, Scheffel said, and this is by far the best year from an enrollment standpoint and credit hour standpoint.

During action items:

 an agreement was tabled to establish a policy for public donations and further discussion requested,

 Rust was appointed to serve as a LCCC representative to the Illinois Community College Trustee Association,

 Artis and Associative Interim President Brett Reinert were assigned to prepare the 2021 fiscal year budget,

 Artis and Reinert approved a resolution providing for the issue of approximately $32 million in General Obligation Refunding Bonds of the district for the purpose of refunding certain outstanding bonds of the district, providing for the levy of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the principal and interest on said bonds, and authorizing the execution of a Bond Purchase Agreement with Stifel Nicolaus Inc., in connection with the sale of said bonds.

The meeting adjourned to closed session, with no action following.
Boris Johnson says he will raise the issue of the driving standards of US personnel with American officials, in the wake of the death of Harry Dunn.

Speaking ahead of a conference in Berlin, the prime minister said: "We're certainly raising all those issues - about the driving habits of US personnel at the base - and we're continuing to work for justice for Harry Dunn and for his family."

The teenager died in a head-on crash with a car on 27 August last year near to RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire.

The driver of the car, Anne Sacoolas, claimed diplomatic immunity and returned to the US, where she has been since Harry died.

Yesterday, police revealed that diplomatic cars were driven on the wrong side of the road in two separate incidents near the RAF base where the teenager was killed.

Mr Johnson has previously described the chances of the US handing over Anne Sacoolas as "very low".

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official, claimed diplomatic immunity and returned to the US, where she has been since Harry died.

She is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road.

Harry's mother, Charlotte Charles, and his father Tim Dunn have sought assurances that safety measures are in place to make sure there are no similar incidents.

Police say they have called for talks with the base commander at RAF Croughton to discuss driving standards on the roads around it.

Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger told Sky News he welcomed the prime minister's comments, but said the family are "disappointed it's taken this long to get to this level of interest in [Harry's death]".

"It's not going to be resolved at leadership level, it's going to be resolved here [on the roads around RAF Croughton]," he added.

"What we want to see is a complete safety review, with risk assessments involving road safety experts, the police, the people on the base and the residents and we all sit down and look at all issues.

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"It's not about the driving habits of American personnel on the base, that's just one small part of it, but there are lots of things that can be done to improve safety in the area and we need to sit down urgently."

Mr Seiger said it is down to "luck rather than judgement" that "no blood has been shed since Harry".

He said he has been informed of "dozens and dozens" of other incidents around the country of people "suffering harm or worse" at the hands of American drivers around these bases.

Mr Seiger said: "It's been a shock for me to learn about it, but it's all been swept under the carpet. Harry was not a one off."

He said while there is "lots of good discussion [around the case] at a diplomatic level", he is not holding out hope for any positive results coming from Mr Johnson's involvement.

Mr Seiger said it is essential Mrs Sacoolas returns to the UK in order to resolve the situation.

The British government has submitted an extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas, who has been formally charged over Harry's death with causing death by dangerous driving.

However, the US has called the request "highly inappropriate".
A variety of cheeses sit ready for purchase at Zingerman's Creamery on Jan. 19, 2020. The company makes 16 cheeses with a number of variations. (Mikayla Carter | MLive.com)

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ANN ARBOR, MI  A crowd of locals and out-of-towners took a tour of Zingermans Creamery on Jan. 19, 2020.

The Ann Arbor company known for its various eateries and broad line of food products offered an overview of its history and a look inside the facility where cheese is produced and processed in Pittsfield Township.

The creamery was established in 2001 because of a need for high-quality cream cheese for Zingerman's Bakehouse next door, said Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson. The creamery now crafts 16 different cheeses, along with 32 different variations of those cheeses, added Tessie.

Zingermans Creamery sources most of its ingredients from Michigan suppliers, with the exception of spices that come from all over the world.

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The inside of Zingerman's Creamery on Jan. 19, 2020. The creamery was established in 2001 to supply high-quality cream cheese to Zingerman's Bakehouse next door, said Retail Manager Tessie Ices-Wilson.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson shows the difference in texture and consistency of mozzarella cheese during a tour on the facility Jan. 19, 2020. The cheese is then stretched to create layers, which gives it the desired texture.

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Participants of the creamery observe mold starting to form on cheese as they listen to an explanation of the mold process during a Zingerman's Creamery tour Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

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Zingerman worker Amanda Mullins cuts cheese samples for guests while they wait for the tour to start on Jan. 19, 2020.

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A variety of cheeses sit ready for purchase in Zingerman's Creamery on Jan. 19, 2020. There are 16 cheeses made by the company with a number of variations.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson shows a holiday braid design for mozzarella cheese during a creamery tour Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson explains the process of making Mozzarella cheese during a tour Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. The creamery makes fresh mozzarella every day.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson explains cheese molding process during the Zingerman's Creamery tour Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

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Cheese sits in the aging room, better known as a cheese cave, to create a certain texture or consistency along with flavor at Zingerman's Creamery, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson explains the process of making Mozzarella cheese during the tour on Jan. 19, 2020. The creamery makes fresh mozzarella every day.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson reviews the history of Zingerman's during the tour Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson shows the difference in texture and consistency of Mozzarella cheese after setting it in hot water during the tour on Jan. 19, 2020.

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Ann Arbor residents Kayla and daughter Caroline Marcotte enjoy the tour of Zingerman's Creamery on Jan. 19, 2020.

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Cheese sits in the aging room, better known as a cheese cave, to give cheeses a certain texture or consistency along with flavor at Zingerman's Creamery on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

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Cleveland resident and Travel Blogger Amanda Williams takes a photo of the finished mozzarella cheese during the tour of Zingerman's Creamery on Jan. 19, 2020.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson demonstrates the difference in texture and consistency of Mozzarella cheese during the tour on Jan. 19, 2020. The cheese is then stretched to create layers, which gives it the proper texture.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson explains the process of making Mozzarella cheese during the tour on Jan. 19, 2020. The creamery makes fresh mozzarella every day.

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Participants enter the aging room during a tour of Zingerman's Creamery on Jan. 19, 2020.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson shows the difference in texture and consistency of Mozzarella cheese after having sat in hot water during the tour on Jan. 19, 2020.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson leads a tour and demonstration at the Ann Arbor brand's Pittsfield Township cheese-making facility Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.

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Zingerman's Creamery Retail Manager Tessie Ives-Wilson shows the difference in texture and consistency of Mozzarella cheese after having it sit in hot water during a tour on Jan. 19, 2020.

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At the end of the tour, participants were offered samples of cheeses that had been made at the creamery Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020.
The Lagos State police command has arrested a mum who has been pimping out her 12-year-old daughter for 3 years to a 26-year-old man in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

An IG user who shared the news alongside photos from the scene of the incident, disclosed that the girls mother was allegedly using a charm to get money from the man. The man allegedly started having sex with the child at the age of 9.

Read Also: Police Raise Alarm Over Incessant Cases Child Abuse, Rape In Sokoto

@Lekincoaal wrote; This young guy of 26 year old having an affair with this little girl of 12year old dual to what the little girl said that the guy have been having sex with her since over 3years back which the girl mother know abt and we finally find out that the mother of the girl have been using charm to collect money from the guy so my fellow Nigeria what can we call this is it rape or what many things is happening in this our country.
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: After Kerala and Punjab, Rajasthan is all set to become the third state to pass a resolution in the assembly against the CAA ( Citizen Amendment Act ). A special session of the assembly has been called on January 24 which will also mark the start of the Budget session. The Gehlot government is also likely to challenge the implementation of the Act in the Supreme court under Article 131 of the Constitution.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot has been strongly opposing the CAA and has announced that Rajasthan will not implement the act. He even led the biggest anti-CAA rally held in Jaipur on 22nd December called the 'Samvidhan Bachao rally'.

Demanding the repeal of CAA, Gehlot has claimed that it is against the constitution and an attempt to divide people in the name of religion. Members of different political parties including CPI, CPI(M), AAP, SP, RLD and JD(S), a large number of people from the minority communities and civil society, as well as intellectuals and youths, participated in this 'silent march' and attracted huge number of people.

One of the six MLAs who defected to ruling Congress from BSP last year, Wajib Ali had sent a letter to the CM asking him to bring a resolution against the CAA. Protests against the CAA are being held across the country. The amended act is against the spirit of the Constitution and it is causing social unrest,  he said.

ALSO READ | After Kerala, Punjab, now Maharashtra mulls resolution against CAA

While sources in the Congress are buzzing that opposing the CAA-NRC will be the top agenda of the party in the assembly, Mahesh Joshi, Congress MLA and chief whip in Rajasthan Assembly, is maintaining a diplomatic stance. At the moment, I dont have clear information whether a proposal will be brought in to oppose the CAA. But the assembly session will begin on January 24. Since this is the first session of the year, we will also have the Governors address. We have completed all preparations which will bring out the vision of the Government in detail, he said.

But highly placed sources in the power corridors reveal that the state government has made all preparations to reject the CAA in the Rajasthan assembly. The session is likely to see a political storm as the BJP in the opposition will support the centres initiative. Rajasthan CM, Ashok Gehlot and state assembly speaker Dr. CP Joshi met UDH and Parliamentary Affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal on Saturday and source say that the three veterans discussed the Congress Governments strategy over the issue. Gehlot also had a 45-minute meeting, with eh Governor of Rajasthan, Kalraj Mishra, reportedly about the upcoming session.

Amidst nationwide protests against the CAA and NRC, several State Governments have already refused to implement the same. On December 31, Kerala became the first state to pass a resolution seeking withdrawal of the CAA, which grants citizenship to minorities facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. On January 17, Punjab also passed a resolution against CAA and NRC and now Rajasthan will take the same route.

The opposition BJP has said the government's move to bring the resolution will be strongly opposed. Saffron party insists that refusing CAA-NRC is unethical and the whole session itself would be unconstitutional. Rajendra Rathore, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, asserts,  the Government is trying to go against the constitution and BJP will oppose this move. According to the rules, a 21-day notice should be given before calling a session.

The upcoming session in Rajasthan will also see an attempt to extend the reservation quota by another 10 years. Through an amendment Act in 2019, the Parliament has already passed this bill. The quotas for SC/ST reservations are scheduled to expire on January 25, 2020, but the Rajasthan Assembly is ready to ratify these quotas till January 25, 2030.
Chandigarh, Jan 19 : An independent legislator in Haryana, who has been booked for cheating, on Sunday gave an ultimatum to the BJP-led post-election alliance government on withdrawing his support.

Indirectly hitting out at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Meham legislator Balraj Kundu said he has extended support to the Chief Minister for his clean credentials and not to "a person who is supporting the corrupt".

Police on Friday booked Kundu and his brother Shivraj Kundu for allegedly cheating Rohtak resident Narender Dhankhar.

"If the CM (Chief Minister) is not taking action against his leader Manish Grover, I will be forced to withdraw my support to this government," Kundu told the media in Rohtak town.

"I am giving a month's time to the Chief Minister to act against Grover," he said, adding "I know that the withdrawal of my support will have no impact on the government stability as without me it has the support of 56 legislators, but my fight against the corrupt would continue".

Earlier, Kundu, along with the supporters, reached the police station and dared authorities to arrest him for the case registered against him. The police told him that the case was under investigation.

Kundu on Friday alleged irregularities in sugar mills in the state since the BJP came to power in the state in 2014. He sought a probe against former state cooperatives minister Manish Grover.

He said Grover had caused a huge loss to the state exchequer by showing sugar mills in losses during his tenure as cooperatives minister.

The Meham legislator, a BJP turncoat, had won polls as an independent after being denied a party nomination.

In October last year, the BJP won 40 seats and was six short of a majority in the 90-member Assembly.

Besides the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), seven independent MLAs have also extended support to the BJP, helping it reach a tally of 57 seats.

The Congress won 31 seats, improving its tally from 19 in 2014.
Hundreds of women hit the streets of Guwahati on Sunday protesting against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, even as public rallies were held across the state.



Artistes, journalists, writers and women from other fields joined in large numbers at Latasil playground and marched to Chandmari area of Guwahati and vowed to continue their agitation till the CAA is repealed.



"Women have been at the forefront in Assam protests.



Today also we have come out in large numbers for the state.



The government is trying to lure us through various means.



But they should withdraw the Act and then all the protests will end," film actress Barsha Rani Bishaya said.



The government is stating that five lakh people will benefit through CAA, but the people of Assam are not ready to accept a single Bangladeshi after 1971, she added.



Senior journalist Ratna Bharali Talukdar said: "We will not accept this Act at any cost. It will endanger the culture, identity and history of Assam as well as North East.



So, we all have to be united in our fight against this Act."



In Bengali Hindu dominated Hojai, a huge gathering took place during a protest rally, in which senior journalist Ajit Bhuyan urged people to continue their movement till the "anti-people" Act is withdrawn.



Thousands of people in Tezpur participated in an agitational programme organised by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP).



A large number of people participated in similar protest rallies in Simaluguri, Moran, Duliajan, Nagarbera, Doom Dooma, Rupai, Rangia and many other places.



The CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis entering India on or before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here.
More than 100 killed in Yemen missile, drone attack



Dubai, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2020



More than 100 people were killed and dozens wounded in a missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, officials said Sunday.

Saturday's strike follows months of relative calm in the war between the Iran-backed Huthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is supported by a Saudi-led military coalition.

The Huthis attacked a mosque in a military camp in the central province of Marib -- about 170 kilometres (105 miles) east of the capital Sanaa -- during evening prayers, military sources told AFP.

"We strongly condemn the terrorist attack on a mosque by the Huthi militias... which left more than 100 dead and dozens injured," the Yemeni foreign ministry said on Twitter.

An army spokesman said that the dead included soldiers and civilians, and that the Huthis would face a "ruthless" retaliation to the strike.

The victims were transported to a Marib city hospital, where a medical source earlier gave a toll of 83 dead and 148 injured.

Death tolls in Yemen's grinding conflict are often disputed, but the huge casualty list in Marib represents one of the bloodiest single attacks since the war erupted in 2014 when the rebels seized Sanaa.

The Huthis did not make any immediate claim of responsibility.

Saudi-owned Al-Hadath television broadcast a video that it said showed the gruesome aftermath of the attack.

Body parts can be seen on the floor among shredded debris. Blood is pooled on the carpet and spattered against the walls.

The drone and missile strike came a day after coalition-backed government forces launched a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa.

Fighting in Nihm was ongoing on Sunday, a military source said according to the official Saba news agency.

"Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured," the source added.



- 'Stop escalation now' -



Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi denounced the "cowardly and terrorist" attack on the mosque, Saba reported.

"The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," it quoted Hadi as saying.

United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths condemned the aerial attack and what he said was the escalation of military activities in three governorates "where airstrikes, missiles and ground attacks reportedly took place".

"I have said before that the hard-earned progress that Yemen has made on de-escalation is very fragile. Such actions can derail this progress," he said in a statement.

"I urge all parties to stop the escalation now and to direct their energy away from the military front and into the politics."

Just last week Griffiths had welcomed what he described as "one of the quietest periods of this conflict", in a briefing to the UN Security Council in which he warned the lull could not be sustained without political progress.

A year after Yemen's warring sides agreed to a UN-brokered truce for the key Red Sea port city of Hodeida and its surroundings, fighting in the province has subsided, but the slow implementation of the deal has quashed hopes for an end to the conflict.

The landmark agreement signed in Sweden in December 2018 had been hailed as Yemen's best chance so far to end the fighting that has pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war that has ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the conflict to back the government against the Huthis in March 2015, shortly after the rebels seized control of Sanaa.

A senior UN official warned Thursday that certain key factors that threatened to trigger a famine in Yemen last year were once again looming large, including a plunge in the value of the national currency.

"With a rapidly depreciating rial and disrupted salary payments, we are again seeing some of the key conditions that brought Yemen to the brink of famine a year ago," Ramesh Rajasingham, who coordinates humanitarian aid in Yemen, told the UN Security Council.

"We must not let that happen again," he said.
The Gow family at Belfast High Court: dad Peter, mum Agnes, sisters Kelly-Anne and Rebecca after Martin Nelson's appeal was thrown out of court. Credit: Colm O'Reilly

Lisa Gow was killed in 2018 by a car being chased by the PSNI.

The family of a young mum knocked down and killed by a man driving a stolen car say they can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing that he will stay behind bars.

Lisa Gow was just 32 when she was mown down by death driver Martin Alexander Nelson, who had hit speeds of up to 117mph in a stolen Audi while being pursued by police through Belfast.

On Friday, Nelson (40) - who had 242 convictions to his name - failed in his appeal against an 11-year jail sentence for killing the mum-of-two on Ballysillan Road in Belfast on April 19, 2018.

Lisa's family attended the hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice and said they were "so relieved" when his appeal was dismissed and the sentence imposed last July upheld.

Speaking after the hearing, Lisa's elder sister Kellyann Gow (37) said: "It only took the judges a couple of minutes to make the decision; and we all heaved a huge sigh of relief when they said they were dismissing the appeal.

Expand Close The Gow family at Belfast High Court: dad Peter, mum Agnes, sisters Kelly-Anne and Rebecca after Martin Nelson's appeal was thrown out of court. Credit: Colm O'Reilly / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Gow family at Belfast High Court: dad Peter, mum Agnes, sisters Kelly-Anne and Rebecca after Martin Nelson's appeal was thrown out of court. Credit: Colm O'Reilly

"Every time we have to see Nelson in court it's so hard. We're just happy that it's over now and we hopefully never have to see him again."

Sister Becca (32) said: "We know 11 years was a tough sentence, but he deserved to rot in jail forever for what he did to our family."

Kellyann added: "We have a bit more respect for the justice system now that his sentence has been upheld. We were terrified that he might be given a shorter jail term.

"When we got home from court (Lisa's daughter) Olivia was asking what he was like, what he looked like and how he acted. She's a smart kid and she's naturally curious about the man who did that to her mummy.

"We've never seen him show any remorse. On Friday he was just sitting in court staring at the ceiling. He deserves every minute of his sentence. It doesn't get much worse than killing a woman and splitting up a family."

Nelson, of Ardoyne Road, Belfast, had previously admitted a string of offences, including causing death by dangerous driving.

During his original sentencing at Belfast Crown Court, it was revealed that his 242 previous convictions included 55 for motoring offences and he had only just got out of prison when he killed Lisa.

Expand Close Martin Alexander Nelson admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Lisa Gow. Credit: Alan Lewis / Facebook

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Whatsapp Martin Alexander Nelson admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Lisa Gow. Credit: Alan Lewis

On that fateful day he'd broken into a house and stolen the keys to the Audi before racing through Belfast at speed, with a police helicopter hovering overhead.

He jumped traffic lights and drove on the wrong side of the road, flying through residential areas at over twice the speed limit.

Lisa lived just around the corner from Ballysillan Leisure Centre, and her family think she was on her way to the shop for a can of cola when Nelson sped towards her.

He was doing over 60mph when he smashed into a parked van, then ricocheted onto the pavement where Lisa stood.

"She never stood a chance," said her sister Becca.

Becca, Kellyann and their parents, Agnes (62) and Peter (64), have been left to bring up Lisa's 10-year-old daughter Olivia. Her son has gone to live with his father.

"Lisa absolutely lived for her kids," said Becca. "She and Olivia had always had a special bond.

"She was such a fun mummy, running round the park with them and crawling down the slides at our local soft play centre Funky Monkeys. She never cared what other people thought."

Lisa's whole family remember her as a funny, smiley, caring woman who was always the first to tell a joke or pull a silly face to make them laugh.

"She loved playing games as much as the kids did," said Becca. "She'd grab my legs to haul me off the sofa while we were watching telly, or send me Snapchats pulling funny faces."

The day before she died, Becca remembers going to visit her sister and finding her down in the dumps. She was doing her house up and had just had new carpets fitted.

But she was feeling overwhelmed by the project and, as the pair sat in the kitchen, she had a few tears.

"She was worried about how much there was to do," said Becca.

"Lisa rarely cried in front of the kids and I could see a worried Olivia peeking round the kitchen door. Twenty minutes later she came back with a handwritten letter in her hand.

"It was so touching, it said: 'Don't worry Mummy, we love you so much, please don't cry.'

"Lisa wiped her eyes and gave Olivia a cuddle. It was a lovely moment."

The following day, April 19, Lisa had Olivia's letter tucked in the back pocket of her jeans as she walked down the Ballysillan Road at around 11am.

Becca was busy at work when a news notification popped up on her phone to say there had been an accident near her sister's house.

"I texted Lisa, sending her the link, asking if she'd seen it," she said. "When she didn't reply I called my dad, but he said not to worry. He said Lisa had been up and down with the kids all night, and had probably gone back to bed for a nap.

"His next words will haunt me for ever. He said: 'Some poor family will be getting a knock at the door this afternoon.'"

Tragically, Peter was right. It was his door that police knocked at soon afterwards. The family went to the crash scene, where a white forensic tent had been put up.

"They told us it was very quick - she'd died instantly," said Becca. "They'd found Olivia's handwritten love note still tucked into Lisa's pocket.

"I'll never forget driving to Olivia's school to pick her up and telling her what had happened. When we told her that her Mummy had gone to be with the angels, she just screamed and screamed."

The family also wanted to reiterate their road safety message.

"Cars become weapons in the wrong hands," explained Becca.

"We want everyone to think before they get behind the wheel. Don't drink and drive, belt up, stick to the speed limit and stay safe.

"Don't rob any other family of their mother, sister or daughter."




Haiti - Security : From North to South, the PNH arrests bandits





Thursday, January 16, during a joint operation with the Haitian National Police (PNH) of the South Department, Les Cayes Police arrested 3 individuals identified as Anderson Juste, Henock Duverseau and Gemil Duverseau.



According to Jacques Joel Orival, the Departmental Director of the PNH of South, these 3 individuals are members of a gang that is spreading terror in the region, especially in the locality "La Savane". This Gang is led by a dangerous individual who calls himself "General kirikou", who is actively wanted by the police, and who managed to escape the cracks of the PNH on January 11.



The same day in the North Department, the PNH arrested 3 other thugs. The first, Grandjean Wilner (39 years old) aka "Ti Willy," was arrested in Grande-Riviere du Nord, on charges of criminal association, armed robbery, theft and rape of passengers aboard vehicles on the stretch of Grand-Pre and Barriere-Battant road.



The two other individuals identified as Mondesir Dieudonne (20 years old) aka "Komandan bredjenn" and Carlens Bien-loved (23 years old) aka "Zoto", were arrested in the Capoise lane for criminal association. They are suspected, among other things, of more than a dozen burglaries and armed robberies. Police say the two are believed to be part of a gang network operating in Bonnav Dugal, Carrefour la Mort and related areas, among others.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29671-haiti-security-the-pnh-multiplies-its-actions-against-criminals.html



TB/ HaitiLibre


















SEOUL, South Korea  Shin Kyuk-ho, who built a chewing-gum business into the hugely successful Lotte Group in South Korea and Japan, only to see his sons squabble over the corporate empire, died on Sunday in Seoul. He was 98.

The company, South Koreas fifth-largest business conglomerate, announced the death.

Mr. Shin was the last of the rags-to-riches founders of South Koreas major family-run conglomerates, or chaebol, and his death represented the end of an era for many South Koreans. Charismatic chaebol tycoons like Mr. Shin were credited with engineering the dramatic industrialization that transformed the country into one of Asias leading economies after the destruction of the Korean War in the 1950s.

Like other chaebol founders, Mr. Shins beginnings were humble.

He was born in a rural village in Ulsan, in the southeast of what is now South Korea, in 1921, when the country was still languishing under Japans colonial rule. He was the eldest son in a family with 10 children.

The young Mr. Shin had a literary bent, and yearned to become a novelist. He was raising pigs in his village after graduating from an agricultural high school when he decided to stow away in a ship to Japan in 1941 to pursue a literary career there.
A 500-tonne rocket travelling 1,000mph has exploded over the Atlantic Ocean as part of a SpaceX safety test.

The Falcon 9 rocket performed a rehearsal of a rapid, unscheduled disassembly shortly after taking off from the Complex 39A launch site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday.

The successful In-flight Abort Test was designed to demonstrate the private space firms ability to carry astronauts to safety in the event of a catastrophic failure during its ascent.

Follow live coverage of SpaceX launch

Shortly before the explosion, a Crew Dragon capsule safely detached from the rocket and parachuted into the ocean.

No crew were onboard, though the test now paves the way for the first astronauts to be taken to the International Space Station (ISS) using a SpaceX spacecraft.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded shortly after launch (SpaceX)

The explosion took place less than two minutes after the launch. Within 10 minutes, the Crew Dragon capsule splashed down around 32km off-shore.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk described it as a risky mission... pushing the envelope in so many ways.

He added: Im super fired up this is great. Im looking forward to the next steps.

The first crewed launch could be as soon as April, he said.

SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Show all 15 1 /15 SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Space X Dragon departs from the International Space Station and heads for earth AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Space X Dragon undocks from the International Space Station NASA SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX Crew Dragon is pictured about 20 meters (66 feet) away from the International Space Station Nasa/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifts off on March 2 2019 Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Astronauts aboard the Space Station preparing to open hatchet to the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying a instrumented dummy after it successfully docked with Space Station Nasa TV/EPA SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A dummy(L) named Ripley onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft onboard after the opening of the hatch during the Demo-1 missioN Nasa TV/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission The SpaceX team watches as the SpaceX Crew Dragon docks with the International Space Station Nasa/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket docked with the International Space Station during the Demo-1 mission Nasa/AFP/Getty SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Astronaut David Saint-Jacques taking a look inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying a instrumented dummy Nasa TV/EPA SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off on an uncrewed test flight Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifts off on an uncrewed test flight Reuters SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a demo Crew Dragon spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission SpaceX's new crew capsule approaches just before docking Nasa TV/AP SpaceX Dragon heads back to earth after ISS mission Astronaut Eric Boe, assistant to the chief of the astronaut office for commercial crew, left, and Norm Knight, deputy director of flight operations at Nasa's Johnson Space Center watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft Nasa/AP

SpaceX described its Crew Dragon spacecraft as one of the safest human spaceflight systems ever built and plans to take not only astronauts but also civilians into space over the next few years.

Mr Musk has previously stated that his eventual aim is to colonise Mars using SpaceX craft.
It's been more than a year since Huawei "princess" Meng Wanzhou stepped off a Cathay Pacific flight in Vancouver and into the waiting arms of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, detailed to arrest her on behalf of the United States.

In the 13 months since, China has punished Canada for Meng's detention, holding two Canadians on vague national security charges, resentencing a third to death and imposing restrictions on agricultural imports.

Canadian officials up to and including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have prevailed on the U.S. government for help, so far without results. China and the United States, meanwhile, have moved forward on a trade deal, signing "phase one" of their agreement last week.

On Monday, the battle begins over Meng's extradition to the United States on fraud charges - a hearing that will be closely watched in Beijing, Ottawa and Washington.

The U.S. Justice Department alleges that Meng, Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of company founder Ren Zhengfei, misled banks about the company's relationship with its subsidiary Skycom, effectively tricking them into violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. Meng has denied wrongdoing.

Trudeau, who entered office in 2015 hoping to deepen economic ties with China, faces growing calls to adopt a tougher approach against an increasingly assertive Beijing.

As a middle power, Canada has struggled to go toe-to-toe with China, its second-largest trading partner, particularly as its closest ally, the United States, is focused on trade and distracted by other crises at home and abroad.

"We are still caught in a very tough position," said Lynette Ong, a political scientist at the University of Toronto. "And it's very hard to see a way out in the very near future."

Relations between Canada and China have rarely been more strained.

When Canada arrested Meng at the behest of the United States in December 2018, China threatened "grave consequences." Nine days later, Chinese authorities arrested former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, charging them with stealing state secrets. A third Canadian, who had been sentenced to 15 years in a Chinese prison for drug smuggling, was retried and sentenced to death, and China imposed restrictions on Canadian imports including canola seed.

Meng has been out on bail - a monitor adorns her ankle - at the slightly larger of her two large homes in Vancouver, where she wrote in a public letter last month that she has been reading and "carefully" completing oil paintings. Kovrig and Spavor, whose cases have been passed on to prosecutors, have yet to see a lawyer, their families or the sun.

China has cast Meng's arrest as a U.S. plot designed to stunt the country's rise. President Donald Trump has said more than once that he might be willing to release Meng in exchange for concessions on trade - statements Meng's lawyers have cited to argue that the case against her is political.

Canada has said repeatedly that Meng's case is a routine law enforcement matter that will be settled by the courts without political influence. Officials have called securing the release of the two Michaels an "absolute priority" and have rallied allies, including the United States, to press China on their arrests.

Last month, though, Trudeau told the French-language TVA network that he had asked the United States to hold off on signing a "final and complete" trade agreement with China "that does not settle the questions of Meng Wanzhou and the two Canadians." China said that approach was "doomed to fail."

David Mulroney, who served as Canada's ambassador to China from 2009 to 2012 under the Conservative government of Stephen Harper, said Canada "doesn't have a lot of levers" in its conflict with China. He called Trudeau's statement "tremendously confusing" and "unhelpful" because he "seemed to be reintroducing the possibility that this was a political decision that could be waved away by the president."

A spokeswoman for Trudeau declined to provide clarification on his remarks. The White House referred questions to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the National Security Council. Neither responded to requests for comment.

Huawei, the world's largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment, has a growing presence in Canada. The country has been conducting a security review of the company and is considering whether to ban it from building its 5G networks.

"No country in its right mind would agree to put in place the technology of a country that is threatening it at the heart of its telecommunications infrastructure," Mulroney said. "The fact that we're still discussing Huawei suggests to me the extent to which we're afraid to speak honestly to China and about China."

In the face of one of Canada's thorniest-ever diplomatic challenges, the patience of some is wearing thin.

Parliament approved a motion brought forward by the opposition Conservatives last month to create a committee to examine Canada's relationship with China. Two senators have called on Trudeau to levy sanctions on Chinese officials directly implicated in the persecution of minority Muslims in western China and over Beijing's handling of the protests in Hong Kong.

Several well-known Canadians, including former prime minister Jean Chretien and former foreign minister John Manley, have suggested that Canada let Meng go or orchestrate a "prisoner exchange" with China.

Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, a former civil servant, warned that both suggestions would set a dangerous precedent.

"We don't want a situation where China gets the message that putting pressure on Canada by kidnapping its citizens actually works," said McCuaig-Johnston, now a senior fellow at the University of Alberta's China Institute.

Others say Canada should consider sanctions, tariffs and boycotts of Chinese products, expelling Chinese athletes training here for the Olympic Games or pulling funding from China's Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Meng's extradition hearing will have several parts.

The hearing on Monday will consider the issue of "double criminality" - whether the crimes of which Meng is accused in the United States are also crimes in Canada.

If the judge finds they aren't, Meng will be freed. If the judge rules they are, the hearing will advance to a second stage in June, focusing on whether her extradition is politically motivated and on alleged breaches of Meng's rights.

A third stage in November will consider whether there's enough evidence for extradition. Canadian judges approve close to 90 percent of extradition requests from the United States, government data shows.

If the court decides that Meng should be "committed" for extradition, the decision on whether to transfer her to the United States will fall to David Lametti, Canada's justice minister.

Both sides can appeal, so the process could take years.

In the meantime, not everyone believes that taking tougher measures against China will work.

Ong said the Trudeau government's messaging on China has at times been confusing. But she said its "hands are tied." The country is bound by its extradition treaty with the United States, and it's unlikely that pushing China would lead to the release of the two Canadians.

"If (Trudeau) had been tough on the Chinese as many Canadians have demanded," Ong said, "it's hard to see that we would have seen a better outcome."

Daniel Trefler, an economist at the University of Toronto, said Canada has little power to influence China unilaterally.

"It seems that some Canadians think we're living in the George Lucas world in which the empire can strike back, and that simply isn't the case," Trefler said. "There's nothing we can do that will catch China's attention."
Despite Marbellas reputation as a playground for the rich and wannabe famous, its still possible to bag a budget break.

Just a few miles east of the superyachts, designer boutiques and expensive restaurants of the citys marina, Puerto Banus, youll find history and culture aplenty in the charming, medieval Old Town.

Here, narrow, cobbled lanes with traditional whitewashed buildings decked with bougainvillea tumble on to ancient squares. Theres an array of tapas bars, restaurants and shops selling everything from olive oil to handmade chocolates...

Despite Marbellas reputation as a playground for the rich and wannabe famous, its still possible to bag a budget break

Where to stay

Hotel San Cristobal

This 96-room hotel is well situated in a central location facing Alameda Park  a peaceful space brimming with lush vegetation  and backing on to the Old Town. Book online for a free upgrade to a recently renovated premium room with king-size bed, modern bathroom and plenty of storage space. B&B doubles from 51, hotelsancristobal.com.

La Villa Marbella, Old Town

This small, Asian-inspired boutique hotel is in the heart of the Old Town. The 14 rooms are sleek, minimalist and modern, decorated in calming, neutral tones. From the terrace, guests can enjoy beautiful views of the Sierra Blanca mountains. B&B doubles from 76, lavillamarbella.com.

Marbella Inn

Within walking distance of the beautiful and bustling Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square), this modern, 56-room aparthotel offers recently refurbished double bedrooms, studios and apartments that all have terraces. Although its technically only a three-star hotel, it has a rooftop terrace, a pool and a coffee shop. B&B doubles from 72, studios from 79, apartments from 97, marbellainn.com.

Aparthotel Puerto Azul

Not only is this in a great beachfront location, close to bars and restaurants and just a short walk from the Old Town, the studios and apartments here are spacious, fresh and modern, and come with balconies and well-equipped kitchens. Studios from 52, apartments from 61, puertoazul.net.

What to see and do

People-watch in the plaza

Plaza de los Naranjos is the hub of the Old Town and an ideal place to soak up the atmosphere and people-watch

With its aromatic orange trees and open-air cafe bars and restaurants serving everything from traditional tapas and paella to fish and steak, Plaza de los Naranjos is the hub of the Old Town and an ideal place to soak up the atmosphere and people-watch  day or night.

Historic buildings

While youre in the Old Town, take a peek at the Town Hall, the Old Governors House and the church of Ermita de Santiago, which all date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Just a short walk away is the baroque Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation, which has a stunning rococo-style stone doorway.

Dont miss the sculpture of St Barnabas, patron saint of Marbella, and the impressive pipe organ inside. Nearby youll find the remains of The Alcazaba, once an impressive Moorish fortress, and its walls.

Escape the hustle and bustle

With its marble walkways, elegant 18th-century Virgen del Rocio fountain (above), tropical plants and shady pine trees, Alameda Park offers an oasis of calm

With its marble walkways, elegant 18th-century Virgen del Rocio fountain, tropical plants and shady pine trees, Alameda Park offers an oasis of calm. Take a seat on one of the quaint Andalusian-tiled benches.

Spot some surrealism

Cross the road from Alameda Park and head down the Avenida del Mar, where you can take in the ten quirky bronze statues created by surrealist artist Salvador Dali. Depicting everything from mythological figures to Don Quixote, theyre set against a backdrop of palm trees, colourful floral displays and low hedges.

To see more of Dalis work, visit the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings (mgec.es) housed in the old Hospital Bazan in the Old Town. Cast an eye over the works of Goya, Picasso and Miro while youre there.

Walk the Golden Mile

The Avenida del Mar joins the Paseo Maritimo (promenade), which takes you along the Golden Mile from Marbella to Puerto Banus. Its actually nearly five miles and takes about one-and-a-half hours to walk  or longer if you stop for refreshments at one of the many tapas bars by the beach. Catch a bus back (andalucia.com), or the Fly Blue Catamaran (8 one way, flyblue.com) and admire panoramic views of the spectacular coastline and Sierra Blanca mountains.

Where to eat

Churreria Ramon

Breakfast like the locals with some traditional churros  choux-type pastries fried in oil and served with a cup of warm chocolate sauce for dunking (stock image)

Breakfast like the locals with some traditional churros  choux-type pastries fried in oil and served with a cup of warm chocolate sauce for dunking. A large churro with a pot of chocolate sauce is enough for two to share and costs 11. Accompany this delicious sweet treat with a coffee or a freshly squeezed fruit juice or smoothie. Address: Calle Valdes 1, Plaza de los Naranjos.

La Bodega Del Mar

Situated on the seafront, you can sit back and enjoy the view as you tuck into tasty tapas, including Spanish omelette, pan con tomate (lightly toasted bread with tomatoes), manchego cheese, Iberian cured ham and plump, juicy olives, each dish costing 2 to 4. Enjoy with a glass of wine for 2.30, labodegadelmar.com.

Cortes Cafe

One of several cafe bars in the Old Town where you can enjoy six tapas dishes for 10 (around 8.50). Choose from plates such as warm spicy chorizo, sticky chicken wings, tasty meatballs, serrano ham and prawns with garlic and chilli. If you still have room, indulge in a slice of carrot cake or sachertorte for 3, cortescafe.com.

Soleo Marbella

Sample some sardine espetos (skewered fish cooked over a barbecue) for 7.70 and take in the wonderful sea views at this beach bar. Other options include salads and sharing platters with bread and cheeses or Iberian cured ham, soleomarbella.com.
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Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz got an unlikely ally in Shiv Sena when its mouthpiece Saamana's executive editor Sanjay Raut, on Sunday, slammed the BJP government for terming Faiz's poem anti-Hindu. Calling Faiz a 'one who challenged Pakistani government', Raut explained that poetry has always been a tool for the Indian revolution. Naming poets like Suresh Bhat, Veer Savarkar, he said poems were always used to question regimes in Russia, China, Iraq, Germany etc.

IIT Kanpur denies 'anti-Hindu' probe into Faiz's poem: 'Probe into social media posts'

Sena backs Faiz

The editorial also slammed the BJP for terming protestors raising slogans against it 'anti-national' citing the example of the backlash actor Deepika Padukone faced after she was spotted at a JNU protest. Moreover, Raut claimed that the religious zealots in the BJP had called the poem 'Hum Dekhenge' anti-Hindu, adding that Faiz extended beyond borders and languages. The editorial then explains every line of the poem in detail titling the editorial - 'Faiz, the name is enough!'

If CAA is passed, no state can say 'I won't implement', it's unconstitutional: Kapil Sibal

IIT-Kanpur students recite Faiz's 'Hum Dekhenge'

The controversy was started when the students of IIT-Kanpur held a march in solidarity with the Jamia Millia students on December 17. While protesting against the police action against the students, IIT-Kanpur students had read a poem titled 'Hum Dekhenge' by renowned Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz. 16 days later - on January 1, IIT-Kanpur authorities constituted a panel to probe after several complaints were registered- calling the poem 'anti-Hindu'.

Women, children sit near Clock Tower in Lucknow protesting against CAA, NRC

IIT-Kanpur teacher terms poem 'anti-Hindu'

The institute's Director Prof. Abhay Karandukar said that a high-level committee has been set up and action will be taken accordingly. However, Deputy Director Mahindra Agrawal said members of certain communities had mentioned that the protesting students had read out at a certain poem adding that the panel is not probing whether the above-mentioned poem was 'anti-Hindu' or not. CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, lyricist Javed Akhtar have called the probe absurd and shameful.

CAA is to 'atone for sin of Partition': Union minister Sarangi

Faiz's 'Hum Dekhenge' poem

Faiz penned the iconic 'Hum Dekhenge' poem in 1979. Subsequently, it gained popularity as the revolutionary song against Pakistan dictator Zia-ul-Haq's regime which had overthrown the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto government. In 1986, Pakistani singer Iqbal Bano had sung the poem in front of a 50,000-plus crowd while protesting against the martial law inspite of the ban imposed on Faiz's poems by the Zia government.
IMAGE: Muslim women with children stage a protest against CAA and NRC near Ghataghar in old Lucknow on Saturday. Photograph: Nand Kumar/PTI Photo

A group of women continued their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the Ghantaghar Park in Lucknow on Sunday with some of them alleging that police took away their blankets, a charge dismissed by the police.

On the lines of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, around 50 women along with children have been squatting near the Clock Tower in Lucknow's old quarters protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The women protesters alleged that blankets provided to them by some organisations were taken away by police.

Rubbishing the claims made by women protesters, the Lucknow Police in a tweet said, 'During the illegal protest going at Lucknow's Ghantaghar Park (Clock Tower), some people tried to make a 'gheraa' (cordon) using ropes and sticks, and also tried to put sheets.

'They were not allowed to do so. Some organisations were distributing blankets in park premises. As a result of which, people living in the vicinity, who are not a part of the protests, were coming to take the blankets.'

'Police removed those persons and organisations distributing blankets there, and action is being initiated against them,' the Lucknow Police said, and urged people not to spread rumours.

Lucknow's Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey also dismissed the allegations levelled by the protesters.

A 27-second video clip emerged on social media which purportedly shows a policeman carrying blankets and sheets in a plastic bag.

A woman could be seen in the video shouting at him and calling him 'thief', but police personnel did not respond to it.

The indefinite protest by women at the national capital's Shaheen Bagh against the CAA and NRC has been going on for over a month now.

The protest at Lucknow's Ghantaghar started Friday night.

Besides Delhi, protests have unfolded in several parts of the country over the contentious law since it was passed on December 11 and have led to clashes at several places including Uttar Pradesh.

According to the amended law, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

*****

One more case filed against anti-CAA protesters in Muzaffarnagar; tally up to 50

Police has registered one more case against unidentified persons in connection with violence here during protests against the CAA on the complaint of a commandant of the Rapid Action Force.

With this, the number of cases filed against anti-CAA protesters has reached 50 in Muzaffarnagar.

In the first information report lodged with the Civil Lines police station under Indian Penal Code sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon) and 147 (punishment for rioting), it is alleged that the protesting mob pelted stones at the RAF personnel.

Later, the protesters dispersed after the RAF started firing tear gas shells during the protests in Muzaffarnagar on December 21, the complaint stated.

The incident took place when a company of the RAF was posted at the Civil Lines police station area when violence broke out during protests.
EUGENE, Ore.-- A rally in support of President Donald Trump at the Ferry Street Bridge drew opponents Saturday afternoon.

Dozens of people attended the rally. According to police, there was some pushing, shoving and yelling initially, but tensions lessened as the rally continued.

Emma Mitchem organized the Oregonians for Trump rally. She said it was previously scheduled, and opponents organized in resistance when they learned of the event. Still, she believes the event accomplished what it was meant to.

"There's more of us than people like to portray. Oregon's waking up, and I just want people to know that we've got cheerleaders here and we want to be visible and be seen," Mitchem said.

Participants reported that there was some productive discussion between liberals and conservatives as the groups mingled. One opponent we spoke with hoped that her concerns were heard.

"I feel really worried about this country and where it's going. This isn' just a question of different attitudes, its a question of xenophobia and scapegoating people and building hatred into the country," said member of Showing Up for Racial Justice Nadia Telsey.

Eugene police asked drivers to avoid Coburg Road at Martin Luther King Boulevard. The traffic alert was called off just after 4:30 p.m.
Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

An non-commissioned officer in the Army has had gender reassignment surgery while on leave and returned to base as a woman.

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This is unheard-of in conservative Korea, and military authorities duly tried to discharge the soldier, but the soldier insists on continuing service as a woman. According to military officials on Thursday, the NCO had been serving as a tank driver at a military unit in northern Gyeonggi Province.

The military normally excludes from the mandatory draft for men who are considering changing their gender, but there is no precedent for a sex change during service. The soldier had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria at a military hospital and had undergone several psychiatric and hormone treatment sessions. The soldier then applied for a 19-day leave in November last year to have the adjustment surgery.

At that time, the army told the soldier it would be difficult to return to duty afterwards, but the soldier did not change his mind and flew to Thailand to have the operation.

The sex change became a headache for the Army because gender dysphoria is classified as a mental illness under Korean law and soldiers with handicaps would have to be discharged after a mandatory review to see if they are fit for combat.

A meeting at Army headquarters will make the final determination next week, focusing on the soldier's ability to continue carrying out service. But the soldier has recently sought court recognition of his new gender and asked the military to postpone the decision until legal proceedings are over.

Kim Hyun, a former head of the Korean Bar Association, said, "This case could serve as a new legal precedent", since it is illegal in Korea to fire someone for being transgender or another minority.

Yoon Hyung-ho at Kunyang University said, "According to military practices, the proper thing to do would have been to discharge the soldier before granting leave to undergo gender reassignment surgery. But some military insiders are critical. One officer said, "This case shows just how lax military discipline has become for a soldier undergo a sex-change operation while serving".

The issue is controversial in other countries as well. The U.S. in 2015 allowed transgender people to serve in the military, but it was reinstated in January 2019 by President Donald Trump.

Trump tweeted in July 2017 the state "cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail". The Supreme Court upheld Trump's administrative order, citing the costs of hormone therapy and potential rifts that could be caused in the military. However, transgender soldiers who joined the U.S. military before the order were not discharged.

In many European countries, including the Netherlands, U.K., Germany, France and Sweden, transgender people are allowed to serve in the military.


Vietnams government is seeking to expand the countrys economy by seven percent this year. The goal would be one of Vietnams highest growth rates yet and could be greater than Chinas expected economic expansion in 2020.

The Vietnam-based financial services company SSI Research reported the goal on January third. The Vietnamese central government set a target for its Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, to increase 6.8 to seven percent. GDP represents the value of all goods and services produced within a country during one year.

SSI Research said the growth is expected to be driven by investments in manufacturing, a lack of trade disputes involving Vietnam and a rising middle class. Manufacturing is predicted to be the leading area of growth, followed closely by the service industry, SSI Research said.

The Asian Development Bank keeps economic data of Asian countries. Its information shows that a seven percent expansion rate would place Vietnam among the 10 fastest-growing Asian economies this year. It also would put Vietnam ahead of China. The development bank has predicted a six percent rate for China in 2020.

Song Seng Wun is an economist with CIMB, a banking group in Singapore. He told VOA that much of Vietnams predicted growth in 2020 will come from money flowing into factories, offices and port operations.

Experts say foreign-supported manufacturing is expected to lead the countrys economy in 2020, just as it has for the past seven years. Song said a lot of foreign investors like, what he calls, government stability in Vietnam. Pay for factory workers in Vietnam can also be low. They can receive as little as $132 a month.

Most of the investors come from Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. The companies Vietnamese factories produce things like clothing, car parts and electronics.

In the first half of 2019, foreign investment projects were expected to reach $9.1 billion. That would be a nearly eight percent increase over the same period in 2018. That information comes from the website of the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Besides manufacturing, economic experts say tourism and improvements in higher education are also expected to increase growth.

Between 2010 and 2018, the number of foreign tourists in Vietnam increased from 5 million to more than 15 million. This growth was mainly fueled by an increase in Chinese visitors.

Economists say another driver of foreign investment in Vietnam is a rise in higher education enrollment. The percentage of Vietnamese receiving higher education has jumped from 10 to about 30 percent of the population since 2000.

Murray Hiebert is a Southeast Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He told VOA that education matters in Vietnam because investors want workers with stronger problem-solving skills. Such employees can work in technical positions or help lead local offices, Hiebert said.

The Boston Consulting Group predicts that more than one-third of Vietnams 97 million people will be in, what is considered, the middle class by next year. Middle-class growth is fueled mainly by jobs created by manufacturing for export. As a result, many Vietnamese now have more money to spend on things like electronics, transportation, travel and education, the group said.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

stability  n. the state of not being likely to change or move

tourism  n. the business of providing services for visitors to a place

enrollment  n. to become an official member of a college or university
By Express News Service

PATNA: Millions joined hands in Bihar on Sunday to set a world record of forming an 18,000-km long human chain in the state.

More than 5.16 crore people supporting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's ambitious project called "Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali" and drives against social evils like the dowry and child marriage formed the record human chain.

Nitish Kumar, accompanied by deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and other NDA colleagues, participated in the human chain at the Gandhi maidan and thanked the people of the state for their spontaneous turnout.

"The credit goes to the people of Bihar, who exceeded the target of 4.27 crore with 5.16 crore people forming 18043-km longest human chain", an elated Nitish Kumar said before the media.

Earlier, the human chain was estimated to be around 16,351-km long with the estimated participation of around 4.27 crores people.

People started coming out on the streets surcharged with festive cheers since 10 am and by 11.30 am almost all highways and roads of the state were seen flooded with a sea of humanity.

At the Gandhi maidan, thousands of people including school and college students enthusiastically formed the human chain resembling the state map with CM Nitish Kumar and others.

Students join hands during the human chain event in Bihar.

(Photo | EPS/Ranjit K Dey)

Almost all officials of government departments, non-government departments and organisations besides 20 lakh students were seen standing in queues keeping hands on each other and enjoying group photo sessions.

"It has become virtually a kind of meaningful day by forming a chain for causes and showing collective concerns towards issues like climate change and other social evils",said a senior IPS officer Dr Kamal Kishor.

A bevvy of 15 choppers took many sorties in the sky of Bihar and captured aerial views of human chain.

Besides choppers, 200 drones were also used for capturing the views of human chain.

According to a report, people residing in Nepal's areas sharing border with India also participated in it.

Official sources said that 13 lakh slogans were written for awareness of issues covered in the human chain.

A water activist Rajendra Kumar Singh handed over a pot filled with water at Gandhi maidan to honour Kumar's concerns on social and environmental issues.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties attacked the government for exploiting the state machinery for the human chain event.

RJD leader Tejashawi Yadav told the media that he would have appreciated if the CM had organised a job chain for youths instead of spending crores on a human chain.

He alleged that children of schools were used in the chilly weather and transported in tractors and other vehicles.

Prisoners form human chain in jails

Approximately 39,857 prisoners serving jail terms in Bihar's 59 jails also formed a 54-km long human chain inside the jails besides 3,588 prison employees and officials.

IG prison Mithilesh Mishra said that 300 officials of prison department at Hajipur formed a human chain on Gandhi Setu's parallel pontoon bridge also.
Preachers from a cult accused of kidnapping, torturing and killing members of a remote indigenous community near Panama's Caribbean coast were due to appear before a judge on Saturday.

Seven people were killed in a bizarre religious ritual in which residents were rounded up by about 10 lay preachers and tortured, beaten, burned and hacked with machetes to make them "repent their sins, authorities said.

Police freed 14 members of the Ngabe Bugle indigenous group who had been tied up and beaten with wooden cudgels and Bibles.

Local prosecutor Rafael Baloyes described a chilling scene found by investigators when they made their way through the jungle-clad hills to the remote Ngabe Bugle indigenous community on Tuesday.

Alerted by three villagers who escaped and made their way to a local hospital for treatment earlier, police were prepared for something bad, Baloyes said, but were still surprised by what they discovered at an improvised church at a ranch where a little-known religious sect known as The New Light of God" was operating.

About a mile (2 kilometres) away from the church building, authorities found a freshly dug grave with the corpses of six children and one adult.

Diomedes Blanco, a member of the community who helped police in the rescue, said that shortly before the killings, two people in the sect told him about what they were doing.

Another community member, Pacifico Blanco, said one of the church members told him about how "if (the victims) did not believe on God then we had to kill them and torture them."

The murdered woman's husband, farmer Josue Gonzalez, told the Associated Press he tried to rescue his wife and children, as well as a teenage neighbour, but was only able to retrieve a 5 year-old girl and a 7 year-old boy from the church.

One other son, 15, managed to escape on his own, despite being beaten by the fanatics.

Gonzalez's pregnant wife, five of their children, and their 17 year-old neighbour were found in the mass grave outside the hamlet.

While fanaticism sparked the tragedy, the area's isolation  and the poverty and lack of services for the indigenous Ngabe and Bugle peoples  had a role.

The remote hamlet, nestled in the jungle of the indigenous Ngabe Bugle enclave, is hours from the nearest clinic, or police force.

By the time authorities arrived by helicopter, it was too late for many.

Apparently, the sect is relatively new to the area, and had been operating locally only for about three months and there were few warning signs.
A lifeboat which was present at Dunkirk is set to sail there on the 80th anniversary of the mass evacuation after being painstakingly restored.

The Lady of Mann was lifeboat number eight on board the passenger ship RMS Lady of Mann, which brought 4,262 men back to England in May 1940.

It was also on the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel when it carried six landing craft, 55 officers and 435 troops to Juno Beach on D-Day in June 1944.

The Lady of Mann (pictured after the restoration) was lifeboat number eight on board the passenger ship RMS Lady of Mann, which brought 4,262 men back to England in May 1940

It had been languishing in a rotting, dilapidated state in an Essex boatyard (pictured) when IT manager Matt Cain paid 3,000 for it in 2009 after spotting it for sale online

After the ship was broken up in 1971, the 27ft lifeboat was sold off and converted into a fishing boat which operated out of Maldon, Essex.

It had been languishing in a rotting, dilapidated state in an Essex boatyard when IT manager Matt Cain paid 3,000 for it in 2009 after spotting it for sale online.

He feared another buyer would have kept its engine but scrapped the rest of the boat, destroying a historical relic.

Mr Cain, 44, a father-of-two, carried out a first restoration of the Lady of Mann the following year and sailed it in the 2012 Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

But disaster struck when it sank at its mooring in Windsor, during the floods of February 2014.

After the ship was broken up in 1971, the 27ft lifeboat was sold off and converted into a fishing boat which operated out of Maldon, Essex. Pictured: the ship getting ready for its rebuild

Disaster struck when it sank at its mooring in Windsor, during the floods of February 2014 (pictured)

After some soul-searching, Mr Cain decided to fund a second restoration, which he enlisted professional boat builders for as it was a far larger, more complex undertaking.

He has spent over 30,000 returning the Lady of Mann to her former glory, while also working on it himself in his spare time.

In the last few months, he has sorted its electrics and fitted its brass horn.

The mahogany boat still has its original markings on its stem post on the bow include serial numbers confirming its World War Two use.

The Lady of Mann has now been formally accepted by the Dunkirk Little Ships association after being inspected by their archivist.

Mr Cain hopes to take it back to Dunkirk in May for the 80th anniversary commemoration of the evacuation of over 330,000 British Expeditionary Force soldiers, which enabled the Allies crucial time to regroup in World War Two.

He said: 'I'm a fanatic about the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company and was scrolling the internet about it when I came across a page with this boat listed for sale.

'I went down to see it and it was in a dilapidated state in the boatyard but the original lines of the hull were unmistakable.

A postcard featuring the passenger ship RMS Lady of Mann

'There were also markings on the stem post and serial numbers so I could tell straight away its Dunkirk heritage.

'Since it had a recently installed 'new' engine there was the chance someone could have bought it for that alone then scrapped the boat, which I couldn't let happen, so I bought it for 3,000.

'It was heartbreaking when the boat sank in 2014 but after some soul-searching I felt it needed to be restored again.

The mahogany boat still has its original markings on its stem post on the bow include serial numbers confirming its World War Two use

'This is definitely not a project for financial gain, it's cost a fair bit since it needed to be worked on by professional boat builders who have done a fabulous job restoring it to a condition beyond our wildest imaginations.

'Now, the intention is to prepare it to return to Dunkirk for the first time in 80 years.

'Before the lifeboat was aboard its mother ship, so this will be the first time it sails itself.'

The voyage to Dunkirk will be particularly poignant for Mr Cain as his grandfather, dispatch rider Private George Cain, of the Royal Army Service Corps, was evacuated from its beaches.

He said: 'My grandfather was in a pub on the Isle of Man with his mates the night the war was announced and they got the first boat to Liverpool the next morning.

Mr Cain hopes to take it back to Dunkirk in May for the 80th anniversary commemoration of the evacuation of over 330,000 British Expeditionary Force soldiers, which enabled the Allies crucial time to regroup in World War Two

The Lady of Mann has now been formally accepted by the Dunkirk Little Ships association after being inspected by their archivist

The interior after the restoration project. In the last few months, Matt has sorted its electrics and fitted its brass horn

'However, when he told the recruiting officer he was a carpenter they said he couldn't join his friends as his skills were needed at home.

'He therefore got the boat back to the Isle of Man before getting on another boat to Fleetwood the following day.

Owner Matt Cain, 44, with his wife Rebecca

'This time he didn't reveal his profession, instead telling him he loved motorcycles, and was recruited as a dispatch motorcycle rider.

'He was commended after driving several lorries into a lake, bleeding their engines of oil and running them until they ceased so they could not be utilised by the Germans, before being evacuated in a Belgian fishing boat with several French soldiers.'

'I remember travelling to Dunkirk with him for the 50th anniversary of the evacuation not long before he died in 1990.'

Operation Dynamo got under way on May 27, 1940 and the beaches were ideal places to gather the men together.

However, the 20 miles of gently sloping sand and shallow waters were the worst possible place to try to get the men aboard ships.

To counteract this, 700 private boats sailed from Ramsgate in Kent to Dunkirk to rescue the soldiers.

The 'little ships' appeared off the beaches and long lines of men snaked into the sea as they waded out to meet the small craft, while in the distance destroyers and larger ships could be seen scurrying to and fro.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Amid social media posts of company uniforms, gowns, and other clothes being given to and worn by displaced residents, disaster response officials urge the public to donate usable and appropriate clothing to Taal evacuees

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) spokesperson Mark Timbal said donors should consider giving comfortable clothing suited to the conditions in evacuation centers.

Timbal added, donated garments should also help uplift evacuees self-confidence and dignity.

"Lets give clothing materials, clothes na magagamit po nitong mga kababayan natin habang sila ay nag-stay sa evacuation center at pag natapos na din po yung displacement nila. 'Wag po tayong magbigay ng mga pinaglumaan nating girl scout uniform, security guard uniforms, gowns... This is something that we need to give attention to. 'Wag tayong magbigay ng mga damit natin na parang kinain na ng daga or ambabaho na, dinidispatsa natin para mapilitang isuot ng mga kababayan natin," he said.

[Translation: Lets give clothing materials,clothes that can be used by our fellowmen while they are staying in evacuation centers and after their displacement. Let's not give old girl scout uniforms, security guard uniforms, and gowns. This is something that we need to give attention to. Let's not give clothes that have been eaten by rats, or smelly ones that we give away so people will be forced to wear them.]

According to the latest NDRRMC update, 50,599 families were displaced due to the Taal eruption. The total cost of agricultural damage has reached over P3 billion in Batangas, Cavite, and Laguna.

Batangas, Cavite, and Tagaytay City also remain under a state of calamity due to the eruption of Taal Volcano.

CNN Philippines correspondent Paolo Barcelon contributed to this report.
A surgeon who allegedly tricked a student into having s.e.x without a condom despite her insisting they used one is being tried for r.a.p.e.

A court was told how hospital consultant Mathew Sewell, 40, is facing two allegations of r3pe after he deceived a student he had met on Tinder into having s.e.x without a condom, reports Teeside Live.

He later contacted the woman, who was a student, to inform her she may have been exposed to chlamydia.

The woman claims that on two occasions in 2017, the consultant spinal surgeon did not wear protection, despite being fully aware of her want to use one.



She later informed her via WhatsApp that she could be at risk of catching chlamydia from him and urged her to seek medical attention.

Sewell who now lives in Twickenham, south west London, denies two charges of r.a.p.e and is currently on trial at Teeside Crown Court.

The court heard that the alleged victim later admitted to police that she had embellished part of her initial account.

The trial continues.

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An Odisha school student due for matriculation examination in two months time claims goons sent by some teachers of her school threatened her and burnt her books and notes since she has refused tuitions from them.

In a complaint filed at Chandili police on Sunday, the parents of Palak Prasad, a standard 10 student of Sacred Heart school of Rayagada district, alleged that three masked goons barged into their house and held their daughter hostage at knifepoint on Saturday afternoon.

They threatened to kill my daughter if she stayed in Odisha and appeared in the board exams. While one of them put a knife on her neck and belly, the other two went to her study room and set the notes and books afire while taunting her efforts to top the Indian School Certificate Exam in March this year. The miscreants did not touch any household items except her books and notes, alleged Palaks mother, Puspalata Chaurasia.

Puspalata claimed the attack was ordered by some teachers who wanted her daughter to take private tuitions from them. The girls father, a doctor, alleged that he had earlier brought such issues to the notice of the school authorities, but no action was taken.

The parents of the girl said they were not at home when the miscreants came.

The miscreants allegedly ransacked her trophies and other awards she had received and reportedly asked her to leave Odisha. The girls parents singled out a school teacher, who they said has been repeatedly harassing Palak and forcing her to take tuition.

However, the school authorities said Palak had never ever complained about any teacher harassing her for tuition. I have not heard about her complaint. I have also no knowledge that any teacher asked her to take tuition, said Father George Joseph, the principal of the school.

Rayagada SP Vivek Saravana said police were looking at every possibility. Its a curious case. The CCTV at the girls home stopped functioning an hour before the incident. We are verifying all angles, he said.
Monticello, IL (61856)

Today

Windy and partly cloudy this evening. Mostly cloudy with diminishing winds after midnight. Low 29F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Windy and partly cloudy this evening. Mostly cloudy with diminishing winds after midnight. Low 29F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Millions of Brits have already got all their holidays sorted for this year [Image: Getty]

Most people have only just managed to put away their Christmas tree and thought of a New Years resolution.

But millions of Brits have already found time to use up this years annual leave in its entirety - and book all their holidays for 2020.

According to a new survey of 2,000 adults, a third of the nation admitted to having planned their over the next 12 months trips before last year had even finished.

Reasons included beating colleagues to getting time off approved, and also having something to look forward to.

READ MORE: Mum and dad split parental leave and travel the world with their newborn

More baffling still, one in four have already got holidays for 2021 in motion.

Almost two-fifths of people booked getaways so far in advance because they liked to get organised.

Additionally, one in five noted that it helped lift their mood at the time of booking.

Another reason was that getting prepared could help spread the cost and help holidaymakers budget for their time away.

READ MORE: Man proposes after driving 40,000 miles from Malaysia to UK in old Toyota

Nigel Wolstenholme, head of consumer brand for Rentalcars.com, which commissioned the research, said: The excitement of planning a holiday lasts all the way from the moment you book to the day you travel, because theres lots to think about in between.

Booking early tends to be the best way to get a good deal  and it means youve got plenty of time to research and find the most suitable options for your trip.

Leaving things like hiring a car or booking excursions to the last minute means prices are likely to have gone up, and therell be fewer options left to choose between.

"Its better to build them into your itinerary from the start.

READ MORE: Cheapest holiday destinations for 2020 revealed

Whats more, the study also discovered that the average Brit already had ten days - or two weeks - of annual leave booked off for 2020 before last year was over.

Most UK adults are planning three separate trips for the year - while one in ten are keen to take six or more.

Story continues

Just over a fifth will enjoy staycations, with seven in ten are hoping for something more exotic.

As well as mainland Europe, one in seven will jet across the Atlantic to the United States this year.

READ MORE: Gwyneth Paltrow has announced a 5,000 Goop cruise

Thailand, Australia and the United Arab Emirates are also popular choices of destinations, with Oman, Panama and Sri Lanka even on the list of some travellers.

Two-thirds of Brits will travel abroad with a partner, and one in three will have kids with them.

And one in seven are set to enjoy a solo break.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
A 60-year old woman, Mrs. Nkechi Nwafor, has landed in trouble after she sold her younger brothers house including vehicles worth N18m, while her brother was in prison abroad with hope that the brother will not return back to Nigeria.

Her brother, Oliver Maduka, eventually returned after serving his prison term only to discover that his sister, Nkechi, had sold his property and spent the money.

Some of the properties sold included a house at Fabiyi Street, Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos, which she allegedly forged the documents to sell, a Nissan Pathfinder SUV, a Toyota Camry car and other properties kept in her care.



Police sources said that Maduka, while abroad, was sending money to his sister, Nkechi, in order to acquire those properties, which he entrusted to her.

However, Maduka eventually had problem; was arrested and jailed which led him spending several years of imprisonment abroad.

The sister, who is the defendant, started selling his properties in Nigeria probably having thought that Maduka will never come back.

Maduka was eventually released and deported. He came back and discovered that all his properties had been sold by Nkechi, who claimed that she fell sick and sold the properties in order to treat herself. She reportedly brought out N1m remaining from the sale of the properties and gave to Maduka.

Shocked by his sisters action, Maduka went to Area M Command and reported the matter.

Nkechi was arrested and taken to the Command for investigation.

After investigation, the Police found her culpable and charged her before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.

She pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Kenneth Asibor, asked the Court to fix a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the offence.

The Presiding Magistrates, Mr. T.O. Shomade, granted her bail in the sum of N18m with two sureties in like sum.

She was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail conditions. The matter was adjourned till 10th February, 2020.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Update 10.23pm: Civil Defence have sent out a text alert this evening to notify the public that the sirens sounding earlier were due to a fault and that there is no tsunami threat.

The text alert read: "There is no tsunami threat to the Bay of Plenty. Fire and Emergency NZ have reported a fault in their siren system."

Civil Defence sent out the text alert at 10.22pm.

The sirens went off along the coast from Waihi to Papamoa at 9.17pm. Many residents from Waihi Beach reportedly evacuated their properties due to fears that the sirens were warning of a tsunami.

Earlier, 10pm: Te Puke Fire Brigade have reported that station sirens have experienced a system fault this evening resulting in a false tsunami warning being activated.

"This evening our station siren along with neighbouring brigades all activated signalling everyone to a Tsunami Warning," says a Te Puke Fire Brigade spokesperson.

"We have just had confirmation that this was indeed a system fault."

The activation occurred at approxiimately 9.17pm.

"Fire & Emergency will be investigating this issue as to why this occurred.

"We apologise for the inconvenience please rest assured there is no need to panic."





Earlier, 9.30pm Sirens being heard along the Papamoa coast this evening are not due to any tsunami says Bay of Plenty Civil Defence.

Many people from Mount Maunganui to Papamoa have heard a loud siren going from about 9.30pm on Sunday evening.

Bay of Plenty Civil Defence have posted on their Facebook page "Good evening everyone. Just to let you know...we have not triggered any tsunami sirens. We have received reports of sirens across the Bay of Plenty but this has not been triggered by the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group."

This siren sound has now stopped.

SunLive will have an update on this as soon as more information becomes available.
By Amanda Becker

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Democrats vying for the party's 2020 presidential nomination courted Iowa's teachers on Saturday by promising to oust U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and appoint someone who has taught in public schools.

The pledges to remove DeVos, who has used her post in the Trump administration to advocate for school choice, vouchers and charter schools, drew the most enthusiastic applause at the Iowa State Education Association's (ISEA) legislative contest.

The ISEA, a member of the National Education Association, represents 34,000 teachers in Iowa, which on Feb. 3 will host the first state nominating contest to pick a Democratic candidate to take on President Donald Trump in November.

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren, former Vice President Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, each addressed the conference for about 10 minutes on Saturday morning.

Klobuchar, from the neighboring state of Minnesota, reminded the crowd that her mother was a longtime public school teacher and that she is a product of public schools.

"In my first 100 days I have 137 things that I found out you can do without Congress - a president can do herself - that are legal, but I will tell you this, in the first 100 seconds I will fire Betsy DeVos," Klobuchar said to cheers.

Klobuchar trails Biden, Warren and Buttigieg, along with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, in Iowa opinion polls as the candidates enter the final stretch ahead of the state's caucuses. She, like other senators, will largely be tethered to Washington in the coming days for Trump's impeachment trial.

The ISEA did not endorse in the 2016 presidential primaries. Klobuchar, Warren, Biden and Buttigieg have all received endorsements from individual ISEA members and past leaders. The National Education Association, which represents 3 million educators, backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 over Sanders but has yet to endorse in the 2020 race.

Story continues

Warren highlighted her plan for a wealth tax that would finance an additional $800 billion federal investment in public education.

"My secretary of education will be someone who has taught in public school, Betsy DeVos need not apply," Warren said.

DeVos is a former chair of Michigan's Republican Party, political fundraiser and she chaired the board of the Alliance for School Choice, the largest U.S. organization promoting increased school choice via vouchers, corporate tax credits and other measures. She is not a teacher.

Biden likewise told the crowd that "four years of Betsy DeVos is enough." (Reporting By Amanda Becker in Des Moines, Iowa; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
EXETER, N.H.Sen. Bernie Sanders had just finished addressing supporters here Saturday afternoon, reprising his stump speech standards about raising the minimum wage, addressing climate change and implementing universal health care when a voter raised her hand to ask about a topic he didnt mention but which had increasingly loomed over the race.

How do Democratic presidential candidates, the voter asked without directly mentioning Sanders clash with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, avoid infighting?

Sanders, of Vermont, briefly criticized the news media  which he said often wants and exaggerates conflict  before noting he had not targeted any of his rivals in his remarks.

The best thing for all the Democratic candidates, he said, was to focus on issues of the working families of America.

Yet after Sanders and Warren, of Massachusetts, angrily accused each other of lying about whether he had told her a woman could not defeat U.S. President Donald Trump, and with just over two weeks until the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses, supporters of the two progressives and erstwhile political allies remained upset.

I was really disappointed, said Jayne Cousins, an ardent Sanders supporter who attended his rally here. She predicted Warrens claim, which Sanders denies, would adversely impact Warren because, she said, it was so implausible.

But when Warren returned to Iowa for the first time since her confrontation with Sanders on the debate stage in Des Moines, it was not difficult to find voters who said the opposite: that Sanders would pay a price for what they saw as his insensitivity on one of the most fraught issues in the primary.

I have a lot of friends who said they wont vote for him, because of the incident, said David Jansen, who attended Warrens town-hall-style meeting in Newton, Iowa, on Friday.

The tensions between the two candidates began a week ago, after a report that Sanders campaign had told its field organizers to characterize Warrens base as affluent and elite, which caused the Massachusetts senator to say she was disappointed in Sanders.

The next step was more drastic: Warren said in a statement that during a private meeting in 2018 between the two senators, Sanders told her that a woman could not win the presidency. Sanders vehemently denied he had said that, which prompted Warren to confront him after the debate.

It is too soon to know the political fallout, but it comes as Sanders appears to be gaining strength and Warren is struggling to reignite her campaign. If those trajectories are accelerated or reversed, it may be traced back to the moment their long-standing non-aggression pact fell apart.

The candidates themselves are attempting to douse the flames.

Warren repeatedly declined to address the rift with Sanders when she spoke to reporters after her Iowa event Friday. And Sanders declined to answer a question from a reporter Saturday in New Hampshire before alluding only glancingly to the matter when the voter brought it up

Yet he is clearly taking steps to inoculate himself with female voters. Recognizing the risk the accusation poses, his campaign began airing an ad in Iowa and New Hampshire that highlights his support of womens rights.

Bernie Sanders is on our side, and he always has been, a female narrator says in the commercial, trumpeting the senators support for abortion rights, for family leave guarantees and for equal-pay legislation.

In New Hampshire, he added a stop at the Womens March in Portsmouth to his schedule and was introduced there by author Naomi Klein. In Exeter, Sanders saluted female leaders of the resistance to Trump and added a promise to his stump speech.

I want to thank the women of this country for leading the opposition to Trump at every level, he said. He then vowed: I will never nominate any individual to the Supreme Court or the federal courts who is not 100 per cent pro Roe v. Wade.

Warren did not add new remarks about gender in her trip to Iowa, but one of her campaign co-chairs, Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico, introduced her with a nod toward her history-making potential.

Elizabeth Warren runs through airports and runs through train stations  shes a woman on a mission, Haaland said. And if you havent heard, she added, shes a woman that will win the White House.

Warrens supporters in Iowa said the episode with Sanders, which had prompted his supporters to hurl attacks at her online and even refer to her with a snake emoji, was all too reminiscent of his treatment of Hillary Clinton in 2016.

At a Planned Parenthood event with Warren in Des Moines Saturday, two women mentioned the back and forth with Sanders and one said that she was getting flashbacks to the last presidential race. One woman asked Warren what her plans were for shutting him down and winning his supporters over. She said Warrens disagreement with Sanders gave her PTSD to Sanders feud with Clinton in 2016.

I believe you 100 per cent because I looked at you and I looked at him and I thought, He did that, the woman told Warren. I know Bernie Sanders did those things to you.

Warren demurred.

So let me start by saying, Bernie and I have been friends for a long time, she said. We fight for the same issues. Weve been allies in these panels long before I ever got into politics. Thats all I want to say about that topic.

At Warrens events, voters said that they felt she projected strength and could win over undecided caucus-goers or more moderate voters currently backing candidates like former vice president Joe Biden or former mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind.

Its personality more than the issues, said Susan Hawk, a retired teacher. She can work with others, and Bernie doesnt work with others.

Hawk and her husband, Ron, who are both leaning toward caucusing for Warren, even said they would rather vote for the moderate Biden than back Sanders.

I kind of blame him for Trump, Hawk said. He didnt have his followers to vote and talk about Hillary in a positive way.

Sanders supporters fervently deny that charge, pointing to all of the events he did on behalf of Clinton in 2016. But they are now more upset at what they see as the betrayal of Warren. They are quick to point out that she never endorsed Sanders when he ran for president four years ago.

Taking refuge from the -8 C cold in a Portsmouth coffee shop after the Womens March, Ashley Kerhig, a painter from Kittery, Maine, said it was clear that Warren was orchestrating a smear campaign against Sanders.

I dont trust Elizabeth Warren, Kerhig said, calling the back-and-forth a set up by the Massachusetts senator.

She didnt shake his hand, and it was right in front of the cameras, she said.

As for who is being honest, Sanders supporters overwhelmingly argued that Warren was distorting his remarks while those more inclined to Warren said they believed her.

Democrats still deciding between the two just seem to want the sniping to end.

I hope it blows over so it doesnt affect either of them, said Katherine Szuplat, a librarian in Dover, N.H., who also came to the Womens March in Portsmouth. She said she was worried the rift could hurt both of them and would help one of the moderate candidates in the race.

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A senior American diplomat began a four-day official visit to Pakistan on January 19 amid warming bilateral relations that have followed meetings last year between President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The principal deputy assistant secretary, Alice Wells, is scheduled to discuss with senior government officials in Islamabad issues related to bilateral and regional concerns. She will also hold meetings with civil society representatives during her stay in the country, according to a pre-trip U.S. announcement.

The visit is part of a ten-day regional tour that has already taken Wells to Sri Lanka and India. It comes a couple of days after Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood's trip to Washington where he held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor Robert OBrien.

"Enjoyed meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister @SMQureshiPTI today. We discussed countering Iranian aggression, the Afghan peace process, trade ties, and regional stability, Pompeo tweeted after his talks with Qureshi on January 17.

The warmth in long, close and turbulent U.S.-Pakistan relations stemmed mainly from Islamabads cooperation in facilitating Washingtons peace talks with Taliban insurgents aimed at bringing an end to the war in Afghanistan.

The Trump administration last month announced it would soon resume International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs for young Pakistani army officers. U.S. officials say they are also working together with counterparts in Islamabad to boost bilateral trade and commercial ties.

"We expect our bilateral relationship to continue to mature to one more focused on trade than aid, and we are continuing to target investments in ways that help improve the overall business climate, a State Department spokesperson told VOA in an email.

She noted there is much room to grow the current $6.6 billion annual bilateral trade relationship, adding Washington looks forward to working together with Islamabad on energy and agricultural exports in 2020. The Trump administration sees the U.S.-Pakistan relationship as one of potential, she added.

"We have made clear that fulfilling that potential requires progress on our joint efforts to bring stability to Afghanistan and on Pakistan taking sustained and irreversible action against the militant groups and terrorist groups that destabilize the region from its soil, the spokesperson stressed.

Pakistan Hails IMET

The IMET was a part of U.S. security assistance for Pakistan worth some $2 billion that Trump suspended in January 2018 to press Islamabad to crackdown on militant groups on its soil and help in Afghan peace-building efforts. The overall security assistance remains suspended, however.

U.S. officials maintain the resumption of IMET, administered by the State Department, was meant to boost military-to-military cooperation between the two countries to advance our shared priorities of regional security and stability through concrete actions.

U.S. decision to revive IMET is one more step in the right direction and reflective of our growing bilateral relationship, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aisha Farooqui noted in her official reaction.

Farooqui emphasized, however, the two countries needed to work for a broad-based and enduring relationship, based on mutual trust and mutual respect.

Washington credits Islamabad with helping to facilitate U.S. negotiations with the Afghan Taliban, mostly held in Qatar, to help bring an end to the 18-year-old conflict, Americas longest.

U.S. officials have long alleged the Taliban insurgency has organized itself militarily and logistically on Pakistani soil with covert support from the neighboring countrys military. Islamabad rejects the charges.

Latest round of meetings between U.S. and Taliban negotiators underway in the Qatari capital of Doha are said to have brought the two adversaries on the verge of signing a peace deal.

Khan 'Sort Of' Trump Of Pakistan

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, has also called for offering more economic incentives to Pakistan to encourage it to do more to bring stability to Afghanistan. Graham noted after his last months visit to Islamabad that Pakistani leadership wants an end to the Afghan war to promote national and regional peace.

Prime Minister Khan is a different kind of politician. In many ways he is sort of Trump of Pakistan. So, we got a magic moment here where we could persuade Pakistan to do things differently and give them an economic incentive they never had before to do things differently, Graham told reporters after his last months visit to Islamabad.

Senator Mushahid Hussain, who heads the foreign affairs committee of the upper house of Pakistani parliament, says Washingtons emphasizes on broadening bilateral ties beyond Afghanistan and security-related cooperation will go a long way in resetting relations between the two nations.

"We welcome this American initiative as it doesnt view Pakistan from the prism of geopolitics, rather, the focus is on people-centric development. This augurs well for future as it means 2020 will be promising for Pakistan-American relations, Hussain told VOA.

Michael Kugelman, the deputy director Asia program at the Wilson Center in Washington, expects the trajectory of bilateral relations will be tied to the trajectory of U.S.-led Afghan peace efforts, pointing to the turbulent history of the U.S.-Pakistan partnership.

Recent decades have seen a consistent pattern in U.S.-Pakistan relations: Washington frames its relationship with Islamabad through the lens of Afghanistan, while Islamabad seeks to get the U.S. to adjust that lens so that it looks at Pakistan through the lens of Pakistan alone, observed Kugelman.

But regardless of the fate of Afghan peace process, critics say, the U.S.-China trade and political tensions are likely to weigh heavy also on U.S.-Pakistan relations.

While Beijing has traditionally maintained close defense partnership with Islamabad, the two neighboring allied nations have in recent years deepened economic cooperation under Chinas trillion dollar global Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Roughly $30 billion in Chinese investment, including soft loans and grants, has built or building highways, power plants, special economic zones, Gwadar deep-water Arabian Sea port and an airport there. The investment has come under the bilateral collaboration, known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship of BRI.

U.S. officials are critical of both CPEC and the BRI. In a recent statement, Wells said that the infrastructure development projects are burdening struggling economies like Pakistan with expensive Chinese loans that ultimately will turn into debt trap for recipient nations.

Islamabad and Beijing reject the criticism as unfounded and politically motivated.
New Delhi [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Alluding to the delay by the erstwhile Left government in taking steps to repatriate Bru refugees in Tripura, former Mizoram Governor Swaraj Kaushal on Sunday said that they lacked national perspective and could not see beyond 'red'.



Kaushal, who served as the Governor of Mizoram between 1990 and 1993, told ANI in an exclusive interview: "The problem with red is that they just see red or black. They do not go beyond red. If there is a cadre and voter, there is compassion. It requires a foresight. The state government, unfortunately, did not have a national perspective."

The comments came in the backdrop of the signing of an agreement between the Central government and the governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives under which around 34,000 internally displaced people will be settled in Tripura.

The refugees would get all rights that normal residents of the states get and they would now be able to enjoy the benefits of social welfare schemes of Centre and state governments.

"These people are on the border and are the first line of defence. I am happy that the government has come forward. It has kept in view the national security and kept human pain in mind. It is an agreement of compassion," Kaushal further said.

The Brus are spread across Tripura, Mizoram and parts of southern Assam and are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect. They had demanded an Autonomous District Council (ADC), under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in western Mizoram.

In 1997, following ethnic tensions, around 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru tribals were forced to flee Mizoram and seek shelter in Tripura. These people were housed in temporary camps at Kanchanpur in North Tripura.

Since 2010, the Central government has been making sustained efforts to permanently rehabilitate these refugees. The Centre has been assisting the two-state governments of Mizoram and Tripura for taking care of the refugees. Till 2014, 1,622 Bru families returned to Mizoram in different batches.

On July 3, 2018, an agreement was signed between the Central government, the two-state governments and representatives of Bru refugees, as a result of which the aid given to these families was increased substantially.

Subsequently, 328 families comprising 1,369 individuals returned to Mizoram under the agreement. There had been a sustained demand of most Bru families that they may be allowed to settle down in Tripura, considering their apprehensions about their security. (ANI)


Fla. students hold first pro-life club meeting after school lifts ban on controversial group

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Students at a Florida high school will hold their first pro-life club meeting on Monday, six months after administrators initially banned the group, accusing it of being too "political" and "controversial."

Were grateful that Gulf Coast High School acknowledged our clients constitutionally protected rights, has chosen to recognize Sharks 4 Life as an official club, and affirms that students have the right to express their beliefs about the immense value of every human life, said ADF Legal Counsel Michael Ross in a statement to The Christian Post on Wednesday.

Ross said public schools cannot play favorites when approving student organizations or refuse to recognize a student organization for being too political or controversial.

Last November, the ADF sent a letter of concern to the Collier County Public School Board and Gulf Coast Assistant Principal Catherine Crawford-Brown on behalf of student Gabrielle Gabbard.

According to the letter, Gulf Coast High School had rejected Gabbards request to form Sharks 4 Life, which was going to be a local affiliate of the national Students for Life organization.

The reason for the rejection was that Crawford-Brown believed the student club was too political and controversial to be approved.

Collier County Public Schools, however, denied the allegation that the district had banned Sharks 4 Life, telling Breitbart News last year that the claim was simply wrong.

GCHS, like other district high schools, has a plethora of clubs on site that include faith-based clubs, non-faith based clubs, and so on that meet at lunch or after school with their respective faculty sponsors, said the school district spokesperson at the time.

The principal will be reaching out to students interested in forming the Sharks 4 Life Club ... and finding a sponsoring faculty member.

In response, Ross told Fox News that the school district only changed its position on the proposed student club after being contacted by ADF.

ADFs demand letter clearly recounts Gulf Coast High Schools repeated refusal to recognize Sharks 4 Life for over three months, Ross told the news outlet last year.

The facts leave no doubt that they were ill-treated and ignored because of their viewpoint. The only apparent attempt from GCHS to recognize Sharks 4 Life comes after a threat of legal action. Students shouldnt have to threaten legal action to have their voice heard.

Follow Michael Gryboski on Twitter or Facebook
Isuzu and Honda Sign an Agreement to Conduct Joint Research on Fuel Cell-powered Heavy-duty Trucks







TOKYO, Jan, 15 2020; Isuzu Motors Limited and Honda R&D Co., Ltd., a R&D subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd., today signed an agreement to undertake joint research on heavy-duty trucks, utilizing fuel cells (FC) as the powertrain.

Today, the automobile industry is facing a demand to reduce exhaust gas/carbon emissions from mobility products in order to address the on-going global challenge of reducing humanity's environmental footprint. Moreover, from the perspective of energy security, the industry is required to take initiatives to promote the utilization of renewable energy.

Under these circumstances, as a commercial vehicle manufacturer committed to supporting transportation, Isuzu has been striving to promote the utilization of low-carbon and sustainable energy. To that end, Isuzu has been researching and developing various powertrains including clean diesel engine, engines for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and electric vehicle (EV) powertrains, which accommodate a broad range of customer needs and how vehicles are used. In parallel, Honda has been working toward the realization of a carbon-free society and, to this end, in addition to hybrid and battery electric vehicles, Honda has been researching and developing fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), the ultimate environmental technology, for more than 30 years.

There are still some issues that need to be addressed to popularize the use of FC and hydrogen energy, including issues related to cost and infrastructure. These issues need to be tackled not only by individual companies but more expansively through industry-wide initiatives. Against this backdrop, Isuzu was striving to expand its lineup of next-generation powertrains for heavy-duty trucks, and Honda was striving to expand the application of its FC technologies beyond use for passenger vehicles, which will represent progress toward the realization of a hydrogen society. Sharing the same technological research goals, the two companies reached an agreement to conduct joint research on heavy-duty FC trucks.

Taking advantage of the respective strengths each company has amassed over a long period of time, that is, Isuzu's strengths in the development of heavy-duty trucks and Honda's strengths in the development of FC, the two companies will strive to establish the foundation for basic technologies such as FC powertrain and vehicle control technologies. Moreover, through this joint research, Isuzu and Honda will not only realize clean, low-noise, low-vibration heavy-duty trucks customers are waiting for, but also promote expansive discussions by the industry so that the use of FC trucks and hydrogen energy can contribute to the future prosperity of the logistics industry and all other industries in our society and to the early realization of hydrogen society.
A Maghera-born man home from Australia for Christmas was found to be more than four times the drink driving limit when police spotted him in a vehicle parked on a motorway hard shoulder at the start of the afternoon rush hour period.



Kevin O'Neill (39), with an address given as Grillagh Road near Maghera but who now lives in Melbourne, came to PSNI attention at the M22 near Antrim at 3.50pm on Wednesday January 8.



The defendant appeared in handcuffs in the dock at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday January 9 and pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol in his breath.



A prosecutor said when police spoke to the defendant, who was in a Nissan Qashqai, they detected a strong smell of intoxicating liquor.



The defendant failed a preliminary breath test and a subsequent evidential sample at Antrim Police Station gave a reading of 141 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath  the legal limit is 35mcgs.



The reading was four times the limit and prompted District Judge Nigel Broderick to say "my goodness...in the afternoon".

Defence solicitor Kevin MacAllister said the defendant is originally from here but had been living in Australia for several years and was home for Christmas.



The solicitor said it was the highest reading he had seen.



The lawyer said the defendant had been drinking and "fell out" with a family member and was driving to Belfast to check into a hotel but "thought better of it" and pulled onto the hard shoulder.



Judge Broderick said the defendant was "extremely lucky" the police had found him because to drive with that amount of alcohol was "highly dangerous and totally irresponsible" and he could have killed someone.



The defendant was given a three months jail sentence, suspended for a year, and banned from driving for two years.
A South African man is set to break the Guinness World Record for sitting in a barrel suspended 25 metres above the ground. Vernon Kruger has been sitting in the barrel for more than two months to break his own record set more than two decades ago. The 52-year old registered the Guinness World Record in 1997 for sitting in the barrel for 64 days. Kruger, who works as a diver, reportedly finds difficult to sleep in the barrel and he has to lie in a foetal position to curl up in the small space.

Kruger's temporary home is reportedly set up in Dullstroom town in Mpumalanga province of South Africa which is equipped with a drainage system. The South African is surviving on food hoisted up by his team and washes twice a week in a small basin.

Read: World's 'longest' Cake: Indian Bakers Create New Guinness World Record

During a vacation on an island, Kruger got a dare from his friends to break a record for sitting in a tree but discovered that someone has already broken that record by sitting for 28 days. He had to scrap that idea and then one of his friends suggested record for pole sitting which was held by a person by sitting for 54 days.

Kruger sat for 64 days on the pole and broke the record but decided to take up the challenge to break in own record 22 years later. He reportedly admitted that it does get a bit frustrating sitting in the barrel as he has to depend on others for almost everything.

Read: Hyderabad: Five-year-old Boy Achieves Guinness World Record In Taekwondo

Worlds shortest man dies

Another Guinness World Record holder, worlds shortest man, died at the age of 27 on January 17 in Nepal. Khagendra Thapa Magar was born on October 14, 1992, and was 67.08 cm (2 ft 2.41 in) tall when measured at Fewa City Hospital in Pohkara, Nepal, in 2010. He made his first appearance in the Guinness World Record 2011 book, alongside Jyoti Amge, the shortest teenager (female) living.

Read: 14-year-old Breaks Guinness World Record For Having The Largest Mouth

Read: This NFL Fan Has Set A Guinness World Record For Visiting Every Stadium In 84 Days

(With inputs from agencies)
Some politicians in Bauchi state ahead of the supreme court judgement of Monday are said to have begun prayer sessions in the mosque.

The Supreme Court will on Monday rule on the the appeal filed by Mohammed Abubakar of the All Progressives Congress (APC), challenging the victory of Bala Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 governorship election in the state.

Mohammeds election was upheld both at the tribunal and the appeal court.

According to NAN, there is anxiety among the politicians and residents of the state as regards Mondays ruling.

Read Also: PDP: Presidency Mounting Pressure On SCourt To Deliver Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa In APCs Favour

Uba Nana, APC chairman in the state, said his party had embarked on a prayer session ahead of the verdict.

We are reserving our comments until after the verdict on Monday; we have nothing much to say but I can tell you that we are very prayerful now, the party chairman said.

We are in prayers and hoping for a successful outcome at the Supreme Court on Monday.

AYayanuwa Zainabari, publicity secretary of the PDP in the state, said his party had absolute trust in the supreme court.

As it is now, the judiciary is the only hope of upholding the mandate given to Gov. Bala Mohammad by the people of Bauchi state, Zainabari said.

We have trust that the court would do justice in delivering its judgement; we have no fear at all and just as we won the election without rigging, by Gods grace, we will have course to celebrate.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff leave Incheon International Airport for Nepal, Sunday. /Yonhap



By Bahk Eun-ji



An additional emergency team has been sent to assist Nepalese government efforts to find four Korean teachers and two Nepalese missing in the Annapurna region after an avalanche, the government said Sunday.



According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Nepalese land and air search has failed to find anyone.



The missing people are believed to be buried under at least four meters of snow. The search has also been hampered by plunging temperatures and heavy snow, amid fears of another avalanche.






The Maharashtra government will set up a committee to suggest measures to increase tourist footfalls in forest areas of the state.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by state Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray here on Saturday.

The committee will have members from the state tourism and forest development corporations, Thackeray said.

"Our endeavour should be to promote forest conservation and also boost tourism in those areas," he said.

The forest and tourism departments should work together to boost tourism in national parks and forest reserves, Thackeray said.

The existing tourism centers should be strengthened by providing them better infrastructure facilities, the minister said, adding that he also wanted tourism promotion to be environment-friendly.

Bird sanctuaries and forests in different parts of the state should also be promoted as tourist destinations, he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Air Force's top military officer has sent Boeing Co.'s new CEO a blunt reminder that the ill-fated 737 Max passenger jet isn't the only troubled project he has to rescue.

There's also the company's failure to provide a combat-ready refueling tanker, nine years after Boeing won a competition for the $44 billion project.

"We require your attention and improved focus on the KC-46" tanker, General David Goldfein, the Air Force chief of staff, warned in a letter four days before Dave Calhoun took over as chief executive officer of the company. "The Air Force continues to accept deliveries of a tanker incapable of performing its primary operational mission."

Calhoun has been entrusted with turning around a company that is reeling from a pair of crashes of the Max that killed 346 people and resulted in the grounding of its best selling jet, sent its stock into a swoon and raised questions about its commitment to safety.

"As one of your largest military customers, we also rely on a relationship of trust and confidence in not only Boeing's products" but also the long-term sustainment effort needed for equipment that "our warfighters require," Goldfein said in the Jan. 9 letter made available to Bloomberg News.

Calhoun is leading a once-proud company whose reputation for engineering prowess is now in tatters. On top of the grounding of its best-selling plane, Boeing has suffered delays to its 777X jetliner and an embarrassing mishap that caused its new space capsule to miss a rendezvous with the International Space Station.

The letter got Calhoun's attention: He met with Goldfein on Wednesday, according to a Boeing official familiar with the issue. The same day at the White House signing ceremony for the initial trade agreement with China, President Donald Trump singled out Calhoun, quipping that "he's got a very easy company to run. He just took over Boeing." The president added, "Let me tell you, it's not your fault, you just got there."

Larry Chambers, a spokesman for Chicago-based Boeing, declined to comment on the meeting with Goldfein or the letter. "Boeing is fully committed to addressing the Air Force concerns with the KC-46 program and devoting resources required to make the KC-46 fully mission capable," he said.

Brigadier General Ed Thomas, a spokesman for Goldfein, said "at this point the chief intends for any communications with our industry partners to be between himself and them."

In the letter, Goldfein expressed concern about the tanker's crucial "Remote Vision System" and "additional unmet requirements." The plane has multiple cameras used by an airman sitting at a console behind the cockpit to guide a 59-foot-long extended boom to connect with a plane needing fuel and then to monitor the procedure.

Shadows or the glare of the sun can hamper the cameras' view on occasion, possibly resulting in scraping the plane being refueled or difficulty in performing the operation, according to the Air Force. Boeing officials have said they've deployed a software solution expected to overcome the main hurdle.

Despite agreement on a plan to repair the Remote Vision System, Goldfein said in the letter, "to date, progress has been unsatisfactory. More than a year has elapsed and Boeing has yet to provide" a design "that instills confidence in the way forward."

"None of the timelines" in the agreement "has been met," he said, "and Boeing's latest proposal slips delivery of the final fix to the warfighter by over two years," which he called unacceptable.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

The Air Force has taken delivery of 30 tankers to start aircrew and logistics training even as Boeing continues to work on fixes. The service last year started to withhold a percentage of final payment per aircraft that's now at about $800 million, according to Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek.

"If we elect to continue accepting aircraft deliveries at the current rate" the service will possess 70 "partially mission-capable" tankers by next year, Goldfein wrote.

The tanker also has started combat testing conducted by Pentagon evaluators and so far "over 500 deficiencies have been tracked to date and we've only just begun" that evaluation, Goldfein wrote. A Boeing official said none of the deficiencies are of the most serious category.

Goldfein told Calhoun he expects lawmakers to question during fiscal 2021 budget hearings why the Air Force continues to take delivery of an aircraft "not meeting multiple key performance parameters and a host of other requirements."

Without a change in course, Goldfein wrote, "we will not be able to answer positively and we will have to acknowledge our serious concerns in two areas - trust and safety."

- - -

Bloomberg's Alan Levin contributed to this report.
- Ugandan minister Henry Okello Oryem said the poor roads occasioned by bad weather were not the reason Uganda was receiving fewer tourists as compared to Kenya and Tanzania

- Oryem said tourists would be fascinated to have an experience pulling out a stuck car from a ditch since it would be their first time

- His remarks caused an uproar on social media, forcing the minister to clarify he made the statements on a lighter note

Uganda's foreign affairs minister Henry Okello Oryem has said poor roads in the country are part of the tourism experience since tourists from affluent nations would be enthralled to pull out a car from a ditch.

Oryem was appearing before Parliament's foreign affairs committee to respond to queries on whether or not poor roads occasioned by bad weather were the reason Uganda was receiving few tourists as compared to Kenya and Tanzania.

READ ALSO: 2022 politics: William Ruto invites Kalonzo Musyoka to work with him in 2022

Uganda's Minister Henry Oryem (l) said bad roads were part of the tourism experience. Photo: New Vision.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Adorable 3-year-old boy moves netizens after leading class in prayers

According to Uganda's New Vision, the minister argued the poor roads were not a cause of concern because they were part of a thrilling tourist experience.

"Though a bad road can be a source of complaining for us, people in affluent societies pushing a car from a ditch can be part of tourism experience," Oryem was quoted saying.

READ ALSO: BBI Kakamega: Waiguru na Kamanda wajipata peke yao

A picture of a poor road. The Minister said poor roads would make tourists visit the country. Photo: BBC.

Source: UGC

His remarks sparked an uproar on social media with a section of Ugandans questioning the logic behind the minister's argument.

The minister, however, later clarified that he made the remarks light-heartedly.

In a separate story, Ugandan officials nabbed a woman who was ferrying banned cosmetics in a fake baby.

The suspect had stacked the illegal products in baby's clothes and from the face value one could think the woman was carrying a baby.

The authorities, however, outsmarted her and arrested her at the DRC-Uganda border.

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
The head of Puerto Ricos emergency agency has been sacked following the discovery of a warehouse filled with supplies dating back to Hurricane Maria.

Governor Wanda Vazquez said the goods had sat unused since the September 2017 disaster, which killed an estimated 3,000 people.

She ordered an investigation and described the inaction of Carlos Acevedo, the director of the office of emergency management (NMEAD), as unacceptable.

There are thousands of people who have made sacrifices to help those in the south, and it is unforgivable that resources were kept in the warehouse, the governor said.

Ms Vazquez nominated Jose Reyes, who oversees the National Guard in Puerto Rico, as the new commissioner for the agency.

Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Show all 20 1 /20 Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Kenney shelters under the blade of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit preparing to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, Puerto Rico, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit takes off behind Crew Chief Alexander Blake and his fellow soldiers during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Morovis, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew member Bynum stands in tropical rain as a HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit prepares to take off during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot Chris Greenway receives a hug from a woman thanking him for water as he works with the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Verde de Comerio, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A man carries a case of water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Crew chief Alexander Blake from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit loads water into a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo Reuters Bringing aid to Puerto Rico An HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field to avoid lightning during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Manati, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents hold their hands aloft to signal that they need water as UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade fly past during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Tropical rain splashes on a runway as HH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit wait for weather to clear during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Pilot Eldwin Bocanegra Torres speaks with residents isolated by landslides in the mountains after unloading water and food from a helicopter during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents stand in front of wind-damaged trees as they wait for soldiers in UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade to deliver food and water during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico The contents of a home are seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Utuado, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Thomas looks out of the window of an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit, loaded with relief supplies, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in Isla Grande, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A message written on the rooftop is seen from the air during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Humacao, October 10, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico A HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit lands in a field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria in San Sebastian, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado, who is from Puerto Rico, looks for a landing spot for a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria near Ciales, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Boys carry water away from an HH-60 Blackhawk helicopter after soldiers working with the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit dropped off relief supplies during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Jayuya, October 5, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Sergeant First Class Eladio Tirado from the First Armored Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, who is from Puerto Rico, speaks with residents as he helps during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in San Lorenzo, October 7, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson Bringing aid to Puerto Rico Residents peek through a fence at helicopters from 101st Airborne Division's "Dustoff" unit that had parked in a locked field during recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, in Lares, October 6, 2017 Reuters/Lucas Jackson

A group of angry citizens broke into the warehouse in the southern coastal city of Ponce before the governor made the announcement.

Hours before his dismissal, Mr Acevedo had rejected claims that supplies were being wasted after a video showed thousands of bottles of water stacked in the warehouse.

Recommended One dead after second earthquake in two days hits Puerto Rico

The citizen who entered today to share the images on social networks, violated the security perimeter, which represented a risk for him, he said in a statement.

For this reason, our colleagues instructed him to leave the area.

The US territory is still recovering from 6.4 magnitude earthquake earlier this month which left one person dead and caused an estimated $200m (154m) in damage.

More than 7,000 people remain in shelters since the quake, which is said to have been the biggest to hit the island in a century.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
60-year-old woman, Mrs. Nkechi Nwafor has been dragged before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for allegedly selling off her younger brothers properties while he was in jail abroad.

Oliver Maduka, the younger brother of the woman was jailed abroad for an offense he committed and the sister sold of all his properties including houses and cars worth N18m.

She claim to have sold the properties thinking the brother wont be back to Nigerian anymore.

He was eventually deported back to Nigeria after serving his prison term only to discover that his sister, Nkechi, had sold his property and spent the money.

Some of the properties sold included a house at Fabiyi Street, Baruwa area of Ipaja, Lagos, which she allegedly forged the documents to sell, a Nissan Pathfinder SUV, a Toyota Camry car and other properties kept in her care.

Shocked by his sisters action, Maduka went to the police and reported the matter. Nkechi was arrested and interrogated. She claimed she fell sick and sold the properties in order to treat herself.

After her confession, the Police found her culpable and charged her before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.

The prosecutor, Supol Kenneth Asibor, asked the Court to fix a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the offence.

The Presiding Magistrates, Mr. T.O. Shomade, granted her bail in the sum of N18m with two sureties in like sum.

She was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail conditions. The matter was adjourned till 10th February, 2020.
Proper structures must be instituted to ...
A three-year-old boy has been killed in a suspicious caravan fire which left his older brother, four, and father fighting for their lives in hospital.

Emergency services rushed to the small village site in Ffair Rhos, Ceredigion, north Wales, after the residential caravan went up in flames at about 5.35am on Sunday while the father and his two sons were asleep.

However while the boy's father managed to escape the flames with his eldest child, the youngest was found dead inside the caravan.

The four-year-old is now in a critical but stable condition in hospital and the father is stable.

The three-year-old boy was found dead inside the caravan in the small village site in Ffair Rhos, Ceredigion, Wales. Pictured: General view of Ffair Rhos village

Following the fatal blaze, Dyfed-Powys Police promised they would do all they could to find answers for the family who had been 'torn apart' by the tragedy.

Locals said a car parked next to the caravan was also gutted in the blaze.

One local man, who didn't want to be named, said: 'The house has been cordoned off all day and there was a helicopter overhead.

'It's very tragic but even more so if it wasn't an accident.

'I know the family, they aren't from the area but they've lived her for a while.'

A major incident room has been set up at 15 miles away in Aberystwyth where police are asking for information about what they described as a 'highly traumatic incident'.

Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Cockwell said: 'We received a call at 5.35am today about a caravan on fire in the village of Ffair-Rhos.

'Inquiries so far lead us to believe that three people were inside the caravan at the time the fire broke out.

'These were a father and two children - a four-year-old, and a little boy who we believe to have been aged three.

'While the father and the eldest child were able to get out of the caravan, the younger of the siblings was tragically found deceased inside.

'Our thoughts are with his family at this extremely difficult and traumatic time, and specialist officers have been put in place to support them.

Emergency services rushed to the small village site after the residential caravan which went up in flames. Pictured: General view of Ffair Rhos village

'The father is currently in a stable condition in hospital, while the four-year-old is critical but stable. Both suffered burns.'

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed CID officers were called into the inquiry because of the nature of the fire.

Detective Chief Supt Cockwell added: 'This was a tragic incident, and we will be doing all we can to find answers for the family, whose world will have been torn apart by this morning's events.

'We are also working closely with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service who were in attendance when our officers arrived.

'We would like to thank our colleagues at the fire service for their professionalism in dealing with what turned out to be a highly traumatic incident.

Police are now investigating how the blaze started and a major incident room has been set up at Aberystwyth Police Station (pictured)

'We would like to speak to anyone who was in the Ffair Rhos area around the time of the fire, who might have information that could help our investigation.'

The village, a popular holiday destination in the summer, has attracted young families wanting an escape from city life.

Another villager said: 'It's very sad that a young boy has lost his life and everyone is hoping his brother and dad pull through.

'The police have cordoned the house and what remains of the caravan off and forensic officers have been there all day.

'There are a lot of rumours going around but no one really knows what's happened.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police Criminal Investigation Department on 101 using reference 39 of January 19.
YORK, Pa. (AP)  Prosecutors have dropped criminal homicide and conspiracy charges against one of two men arrested in a shooting death inside a Pennsylvania movie theater last month.

Jalen Bellaflores

Jalen Bellaflores, 19, remains charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and evidence-tampering, a spokesman for the York County district attorney's office said. Prosecutors said at a bail hearing Friday that the police investigation didn't support the homicide charge.

Anu-Malik Johnson

Anu-Malik Johnson, 21, remains charged with homicide along with aggravated assault and a weapons count in the Dec. 2 shooting of 22-year-old Andre White Jr. at Regal Cinemas 13 in West Manchester Township.

Bellaflores remains in York County prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. Defense attorney Heather Reiner unsuccessfully sought unsecured bail. She declined to comment on the plea her client would enter at his Feb. 21 arraignment or whether he could testify against Johnson, who was arrested Dec. 18 in Pennsville, New Jersey.

Witnesses have said White had briefly spoken with Johnson and Bellaflores as he headed to his seat. Authorities allege that White and Bellaflores then moved to different seats, and Bellaflores later headed toward the exit while Johnson approached the seated victim and shot him. Police say a female bystander was shot in the face as the gunmen fled.

Police Chief John Snyder said last month that Johnson and White knew each other and there there was some animosity between them.
The meek do not win in health care, echoes San Francisco clinical psychologist Tamara McClintock Greenberg. At the same time, It can be hard to know how much to push back when we dont feel like were getting the care we need, she writes in her book, When Someone You Love Has a Chronic Illness. This tends to matter most in the primary care setting where doctors are in shorter supply and can terminate difficult patients or refer them to another physician.
Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden celebrates his late winner against Chelsea AFP/Lindsey Parnaby

With Tottenham held by Watford earlier in the day and Manchester United facing runaway leaders Liverpool on Sunday, Chelsea would have cemented their grip on fourth place with a win on Tyneside.

But Chelsea were unable to muster the cutting edge required to break down stubborn Newcastle and fell to Hayden's header with just 20 seconds left in stoppage-time.

Chelsea's first defeat in four league matches leaves them five points clear of fifth-placed United.

After four league games without a victory, this was a much-needed success for Newcastle, but a wasted opportunity for Chelsea to open up a bigger gap in the race to qualify for the Champions League.

Newcastle are reportedly in talks over a loan deal for Inter Milan winger Valentino Lazaro and their two current wide men, their places in danger, combined to fashion the hosts' first chance.

Miguel Almiron opened up Chelsea down the right flank and Allan Saint-Maximin met the cross with a header that looped over.

Newcastle's lengthy injury list gained another casualty inside 12 minutes when Jetro Willems was stretchered off after taking a knock in a challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Chelsea were dominating possession but Newcastle striker Joelinton, his confidence lifted by an FA Cup goal against Rochdale in midweek, went close to his first league goal since August when his powerful header cannoned back off the bar.

Reece James signed a new contract with Chelsea this week as a reward for his impressive breakthrough campaign and the young right-back gave a glimpse of his potential when his pin-point pass found N'Golo Kante for a shot that Martin Dubravka saved with his leg at the near post.

Chelsea remained vulnerable at the back and Federico Fernandez headed wastefully over from a Jonjo Shelvey free-kick.

Willian squandered a good opportunity from a Chelsea counter early in the second half when the Brazilian dragged wide from the edge of the area.

Chances were at a premium and Cesar Azpilicueta's long-range effort lacked the power to beat Dubravka before Shelvey finally had Newcastle's first shot on target in the 59th minute.

Chelsea's frustration mounted when James limped off injured and moments later Tammy Abraham, teed up by Azpilicueta's header, saw his effort turned away by Dubravka's brave save.

Emerson fired just wide with an angled drive and in the fourth minute of stoppage-time Chelsea paid for their profligacy.

Saint-Maximin had space to whip in a teasing cross and Hayden got behind Antonio Rudiger for a close-range header that keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga could only push into the net.
Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

In a story posted on its website, DW said the trade agreement would be the most ambitious the EU has ever negotiated with a developing country, which abolishes 99 percent of customs duties, eliminates bureaucratic hurdles by aligning standards for goods like cars and medicine, and ensures easier market access for both European and Vietnamese companies.

On January 21, the EU Parliaments International Trade Committee (INTA) will present a draft resolution of the EVFTA. If the European Parliament accepts the resolution during its plenary session in February, the EVFTA will come into force one month later.

The trade deal is a positive step for the economies of both Vietnam and the EU, DW quoted Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Minh Vu as saying.

In the context of trade tensions and rising protectionism, the EVFTA provides a strong signal of support from both sides for globalisation and unwavering commitments to a free and rules-based trade system, he said.

The Vietnamese diplomat also believed that the pact will significantly deepen the strategic partnership between Vietnam and EU economically and politically.

Vietnams economy has grown by an average 6.5 percent in the last five years, and foreign direct investment has played a large part in this. The EVFTA is expected to serve as a boon for Vietnam to lure more foreign investment in the time ahead.

Currently, the EU is Vietnams 5th biggest foreign investors. It is reasonable to hope that the figure will increase significantly, Ambassador Vu said, adding 62 percent of investors from the EU have a positive opinion of doing business in the Southeast Asian country.

Meanwhile, Erwin Schweisshelm, former head of the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation in Vietnam said that the EVFTA is part of the EUs wider economic strategy in Southeast Asia. The EVFTA would be the EU's second free trade agreement with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a bloc with ten members and a population of 600 million people. In November 2019, the EU-Singapore free trade agreement entered into force.

In long term, there could be an ASEAN-EU agreement, he said.

The article also said that Vietnam has already ratified six of eight International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards, and commended the countrys adoption of revised Labour Code in November 2019 , allowing the creation of independent trade unions at the enterprise level that do not have to join the Vietnam trade union.
The Katy ISD board of trustees will meet in regular session on Monday with a public hearing on the Texas Academic Performance Report on the agenda.

The board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20, in the board room of the Katy ISD Education Support Complex at 6301 S. Stadium Lane in Katy. The open portion of the meeting is expected to start about 6:30 p.m.

The 2018-19 annual report comes after Katy ISD received an A for the 2017-18 school year from the Texas Education Agency.

Also on the agenda is board consideration for the naming of a principal at Creek Elementary School as well as discussion on the naming of Elementary School No. 43.

The board is also scheduled to talk the work for Junior High No. 17, including a plat and contract for construction.

For more information, go to www.katyisd.org.

State of the City Katy

The Area Katy Chamber of Commerce will host city officials on Thursday, Jan. 23, as they present the annual State of the City Katy.

City of Katy officials are expected to list 2019 accomplishments and plans for 2020.

The luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston West-Katy, 16435 Katy Freeway in Houston.

Tickets are $40 for members and $50 for prospective members.

For more information, visit www.katychamber.com, email info@katychamber.com or call 281-391-5289.

Networking Lunch

The Katy Business Association will host its first networking meeting of the year from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Falcon Point Country Club, 24503 Falcon Point Drive in Katy. The cost is $20 for members or $25 for non-members. Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m.

A ceremony will be held for the installation of the KBA 2020 board of directors, membership plaques presented to new members and 2020 year plates presented to current members.

To register go to https://tinyurl.com/t65ceft.

Ribbon cuttings

The Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will hold several ribbon cuttings this week as businesses join the business association.

First up is Members Choice Credit Union at 401 W. Grand Parkway South in Katy from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. Members Choice Credit Union is a full-service financial institution offering both personal and business solutions. For more information, go to www.mccu.com.

Friday will feature a trio of ceremonies, starting with Image Studios 360 at 21711 Spring Green Blvd., Suite 140 in Katy. The noon to 1 p.m. event includes a ribbon cutting at 12:30 p.m. For more information go to www.imagestudios360.com.

The second event on Friday is scheduled at Elevate Hair Salon, 4020 FM 1463 in Katy. The ribbon is scheduled to be cut at 2 p.m. with an open house slated for noon to 4 p.m. For more information go to www.elevatehairsalon.com.

The final event of the day is at Urban Air Adventure Park, 25307 Kingsland Blvd. in Katy. Chamber members will gather from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday and cut the ribbon at 3 p.m. For more information go to https://tinyurl.com/w2uc25r.

For more information about the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce go to www.katychamber.com.

Rope cuttings

The Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce will be kept busy this week, welcoming businesses to the organization with rope-cutting ceremonies.

Up first is Members Choice Credit Union at 401 W. Grand Parkway South in Katy. Chamber members are expected to be on site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. For more information, go to www.mccu.com.

Also on Thursday, Your CBD Store will be welcomed to the chamber from 4 to 6 p.m. Your CBD Store is located at 2020 S. Fry Road, Suite D in Katy.

On Friday, Jan. 24, Happy Chompers pediatric dentistry will be welcomed from noon to 1 p.m. Happy Chompers is located at 23302 W Fernhurst Drive, Suite 200 in Katy.

For more information on the Fulshear-Katy Area Chamber of Commerce go to www.fulshearkaty.com.

rkent@hcnonline.com
Beirut: Riot police used water cannons, tear-gas and rubber bullets to clear a large protest camp in the heart of the Lebanese capital on Saturday, sparking clashes with demonstrators that wounded scores of people and turned Beirut's commercial centre into a battle zone.

The violence, with tents set on fire and protesters targeting police with stones and fireworks, was the most intense since mass protests against corruption and mismanagement by the country's political elite erupted three months ago.

Despite continued demonstrations and worsening violence, Lebanon's politicians have proved unable to take meaningful steps to assuage the protesters' anger or stop the country's swift slide toward an economic crisis.

Riot police watch the flames rise from a tent city set up by protesters. The tents were set on fire by men who appeared to be civilians, however they were accused of being members of a private unit of the parliamentary guards. Credit:AP

Prime Minister Saad Hariri, facing the mass protests, resigned on October 29. His designated successor has failed to form a government while the Lebanese pound, which has been pegged to the US dollar for decades, has been rapidly losing value on the black market, fuelling the protesters' economic grievances.
Former White House chief economic advisor Gary Cohn said Sunday that President Donald Trump's tariffs hurt the U.S. economy and undermined the stimulative impact of the administration's massive tax cut passed in 2017.

Cohn, in an interview with CBS' Face The Nation, said Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs "collided" with his tax policy by undermining a provision that allowed companies to write off their capital expenditures.

"I think it's totally hurt the United States," Cohn said, referencing the tariffs. "[...]We're missing a big component. We're missing the capital expenditures from companies in the United States."



Companies buy steel and aluminum to build factories and equipment, but the metal tariffs increased input costs and diminished the benefits of writing off these capital expenditures under the tax law, Cohn said.



"So all of the sudden, the advantages that we were trying to give companies to help stimulate the economy, to build facilities, to go out and hire people, to drive wages, we took away that advantage by taxing the input that they needed to build," Cohn told CBS.

The former Goldman Sachs president played an instrumental role in formulating Trump's tax policy, but he clashed with protectionists in the administration on the issue of tariffs. He also criticized the White House over Trump's response to a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in which a civil rights activist was killed in 2017.



Cohn resigned from the administration in March of 2018.
By Ian Ransom

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic says he was saddened by the sight of players and ball kids struggling in smoky conditions during Australian Open qualifying and hoped the worst of the air pollution was behind them at the year's first Grand Slam.

Smoke from bushfires raging across the country blanketed Melbourne Park during the opening days of qualifying, forcing Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic to retire after she collapsed in a coughing fit and leaving other players battling for breath.

The threat of poor air disrupting the event has receded in recent days in the wake of a rainstorm, though forecasts for further wet weather could yet produce scheduling challenges when the tournament opens on Monday. [nL4N29N03M]

Djokovic said the smoggy conditions had made him concerned for players' safety.

"I think Melbourne at that time was the most polluted city in the world that day," he told reporters on Sunday.

"It was sad to see some players collapsing and ball kids collapsing on the court.

"(The) last three days have been really good, fresh air, like nothing happened.

"Whether that's going to stay or not, we don't know. We hope (so), for the sake of well-being and health of all the players.

"Also this tournament obviously would have lots of troubles if they have to cancel matches.

"Luckily they have three closed courts with the roof. But still there is so many matches, so many players. Let's hope that the worst is behind us."

Victoria's Environmental Protection Authority rated the air quality in Melbourne as "good" on Sunday and forecast conditions would remain that way for the opening three days of the tournament.

A number of leading players have been active in fundraising and pledged to open their wallets to help with relief efforts in Australia where 29 people have been killed and thousands made homeless by the devastation.

Djokovic, who participated in the "Rally4Relief" charity event at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, said athletes were blessed to be able to use their platforms to help with climate-related crises.

Story continues

"Everything that we say is kind of heard in different parts of the world. So we can, of course, talk about it, raise the awareness about it, be part of such events or fundraisers, and of course contribute financially ourselves," he said.

Djokovic, who plays unseeded German Jan-Lennard Struff in the opening round on Monday, is favourite to win a record-extending eighth Australian Open title and 17th Grand Slam trophy overall.

He and 'Big Three' rivals Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have shared the last 12 Grand Slam titles between them but Djokovic said their dominance was on borrowed time as younger talents like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Daniil Medvedev challenge.

"I don't think that's miles, miles away, maybe as it was some years ago. I think they are definitely hungry," he added.

"They're challenging. They're knocking on the door."

(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
An 81-year-old airport in Green Township where planes take off and land on a turf runway is shutting down on Sept. 1.

The townships governing committee has voted to close Trinca Airport, which the Sussex County municipality bought for $2.28 million 18 years ago, and continues to review possible future uses for the 121-acre site, officials said Friday.

Pilots who sought to save the airport are expressing dismay at the impending shutdown.

Its a little piece of history thats going to disappear, said Damian DelGaizo, owner of the nearby Andover Flight Academy.

The Green Township Committee began holding public discussions on the airports future in 2018, about a year after the pilot of an amateur-built aircraft was killed in a crash at the end of the runway. It voted 5-0 to close it, effective Sept. 1, at a meeting four months ago.

Green Mayor Margaret Phillips, who serves on the committee, said financial and safety considerations drove the decision.

We understand the history and nostalgia that goes along with that property. That doesnt help our tax base, Phillips told NJ Advance Media.

Phillips said Green Township receives zero revenues from Trinca Airport, which is one of 42 public-use airports in New Jersey and does not charge for flying in or out. Annual expenses are $15,000, including approximately $6,000 for a part-time airport manager and maintenance, such as cutting grass on the turf runway.

While tie-downs are available for any pilot wishing to store their plane - there used to be a hangar, but it was removed in 2009 - the airport does not offer fuel and it has been at least several years since anyone rented an anchor, Phillips said.

A bigger financial concern is the unknown future cost to taxpayers, Phillips said, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or Department of Homeland Security ordering improvements.

The expense to make-over the airport would be huge. Theres no water or septic. Theres nothing there, Phillips said, adding that the lone building services mostly as a storage shed.

However, the airport property is potentially lucrative to Green Township, though Phillips said municipal officials are not considering selling any of the three lots making up the 121 acres.

Asked about options, Phillips said one company has expressed interest in leasing land and installing solar panels, while others have proposed a medicinal marijuana facility.

There is nothing definitive about that property. The only thing that is definitive is, the town committee wanted to close the airport, Phillips said.

DelGaizo said the airport is used by flight schools, since learning how to land on a soft field is among the requirements in getting a pilots license.

It is also popular among pilots of antique planes, such as World War II-era Piper Cubs, that fare better on grass, he added.

A vintage Piper Cub airplane is seen taking off in Nov. 2011 from Trinca Airport in Green TownshipJerry McCrea / The Star-Ledger

He said that, even before the airport opened in 1939, it was used unofficially by air mail pilots.

It really is a shame, DelGaizo said of losing the airport.

Trinca Airport long has been a source of debate and discussion in Green Township, a rural municipality that is home to 3,400.

It was under private ownership in the 1990s when residents opposed a proposal to pave and expand the runway in order to attract corporate jets and even commercial aircraft.

After the N.J. Department of Transportation blocked the proposal, the owner sought to close the airport and build 225 houses, including 21 that would have been set aside for low-income families.

Green Township headed off that possibility by buying the airport in 2002, for $2.28 million.

The New Jersey Aviation Association, which supported the failed expansion in the 1990s and testified last year in opposition to closing the airport, expressed regret at the outcome Friday.

Green Township as the owner of this public-use airport has the right to close the airport. It is unfortunate though for general aviation that this basic and historic transport facility in New Jersey will close, said the associations executive director, Suzanne Solberg Nagle.

Nagle said that public-use airports in New Jersey declined from 82 in 1950, to 42 last year and that the remaining airports deserve additional funding from the states Transportation Trust Fund.

A public use airport is an airport available for use by the general public without a requirement for prior approval of the airport owner or operator, she explained.

Nagle said that the state DOT has authority over public-use airports and that the commissioner should exercise this authority when necessary to preserve airports and meet the needs of 21st century aviation.

A gate blocks the entrance to Trinca Airport in Green Township, Jan. 17, 2020.Rob Jennings / NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The runway at Trinca Airport is open from sunrise to sunset, seven days per week. It is among at least seven public-use airports in New Jersey with turf runways that remain in use, Nagle said.

When it is snowing, as was the case on Saturday, pilots typically use skis with their landing gear, the mayor said.

The airports entrance was gated around 1 p.m. Friday and no planes were in sight. The part-time airport manager was not in.

Asked about the decision to delay the airports closure until Sept. 1, Phillips said that was the earliest it could be shut down without requiring the township to repay a portion of the state grant it received in 2010 to study airport improvements.

Thats why we have delayed the closing, she said.

DelGaizo said he is looking forward to a final summer at the airport.

Ill use it right up until the day it closes, he said.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Instagram introduced the IGTV app back in June 2019. The company had also integrated the feature in the main app using an IGTV icon on the top right corner of the app.

Instagram, back in June 2019, had introduced the IGTV app for watching long-form and vertical videos. The company also integrated this feature in its main app using a TV icon on the app's top right corner. Now, less than a year later Instagram has decided to remove the button from the app.

Reason? Very few people were using the feature.

According to a report by TechCrunch, Instagram has decided to remove the IGTV icon from the main app as very few people from its user base of over 1 billion users were using it.

"...we've learned that most people are finding IGTV content through previews in Feed, the IGTV channel in Explore, creators' profiles and the stand-alone app. Very few are clicking into the IGTV icon in the top right corner of the home screen in the Instagram app...so we're removing this icon based on these learnings and feedback from our community," an Instagram spokesperson told the publication.

Notably, while the company has ditched the IGTV icon from the main app, the feature itself isn't going anywhere yet. Instagram users can still access the IGTV videos by tapping on the IGTV icon on the bottom left corner of a post in their Feeds. Alternatively, users can also visit their favourite creators' or friends' profile to watch IGTV videos by them.

Apart from the main app, users can also download Instagram's stand-alone IGTV app to watch long-form vertical videos by their friends and favourite creators.
Earlier, police gave this account: About 1 a.m., a thief took the dog and the keys to the car from a home in the 1200 block of 4th Street SE in the Navy Yard area, amid much shiny new construction and not far from center field in Nationals Park. It was not clear how the thief was able to take the keys and the dog.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot too has repeatedly said the state will not implement CAA and NRC in the state.

Jaipur: The Congress-ruled Rajasthan has decided to bring in a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the budget session of the state assembly beginning on 24 January.

Parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal said the Assembly session will begin on 24 January.

The session is beginning on 24 January because a bill to extend reservation to SC and ST candidates in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for another 10 years has to be ratified before 25 January, Dhariwal told reporters.

He also said the government is mulling to introduce a resolution against the CAA in the Assembly session.

The Congress is against the Citizenship Amendment Act and therefore a resolution is likely to be introduced in the Assembly, he said.

Official sources said that the resolution is likely to be introduced on the very first day of the session.

On Friday, MLA Wajib Ali, one of six MLAs who defected to ruling Congress from BSP last year, had forwarded a letter to the chief minister requesting him to bring a resolution against the CAA.

Protests against the CAA are being held across the country. The amended act is against the spirit of the Constitution and it is causing social unrest, Ali said.

The Opposition BJP alleged that the session was hurriedly convened and the government's move to bring the resolution will be strongly opposed.

The session is convened hurriedly and it is the violation of rules and procedures. The government and chief minister do not take the assembly seriously, Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said.

We will oppose any such move of the government. No one, be it the chief minister or government or any party, is above the law, BJP state president and MLA Satish Poonia said.

Kerala and Punjab have already passed the resolution to step up pressure on the Centre against the amended law, which sparked series of protests and violence in different parts of the country.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot too has repeatedly said the state will not implement CAA and NRC in the state.

He has been vociferous against the controversial law and held a massive and peaceful rally in Jaipur against the CAA last month.

On various occasions, the chief minister said his government will not implement CAA as well as NRC.

Citizenship Amendment Act cannot be implemented because it is not practical, Gehlot had said earlier.
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Amid ongoing nationwide protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that as many as 2838 people from Pakistan were given citizenship during the last six years.



"In the last six years, as many as 2838 Pakistani refugees, 914 Afghanistani refugees, 172 Bangladeshi refugees including Muslims have been given Indian citizenship. From 1964 to 2008, more than 4,00,000 Tamils (from Sri Lanka) have been given Indian citizenship," Sitharaman said at 'Programme on Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019' event here.

She added, "Till 2014, over 566 Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were given Indian citizenship. During 2016-18 under Modi government, around 1595 Pakistani migrants and 391 Afghanistani Muslims were given Indian citizenship."

The minister, further, said, "It was also during the same period in 2016, that Adnan Sami was given Indian citizenship, this is an example. Giving citizenship to Taslima Nasreen is another example."

Sitharaman added that people who came from East Pakistan have been settled at various camps in the country.

"They are still there and it's been 50-60 years now. If you visit these camps, your heart will cry. The situation is the same with Sri Lankan refugees who continue to live in camps. They're barred from getting basic facilities," she said.

Asserting that the government is not snatching away anyone's citizenship, the BJP leader said: "This Citizenship (Amendment) Act is an attempt to provide people with a better life. We are not snatching away anyone's citizenship, we are only providing them that."

"The National Population Register (NPR) will be updated every 10 years and is not involved with the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Some are involved in raising false allegations and triggering people unnecessarily without any base," she added. (ANI)


Last week, the Trump administration confounded European officials by threatening to impose the auto tariff if the governments of Britain, France and Germany didnt initiate a mechanism in the Iran nuclear accord that could reimpose an arms embargo and economic sanctions on Tehran. That step, which the three took Tuesday, could eventually unravel the wobbly remains of the Obama-era agreement, though the Europeans are still actively seeking to salvage it. Trump pulled the United States out of the international pact in 2018, but the other signatories to the deal have tried to keep Iran committed to its tenets.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas EPA / UPG

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas negatively perceives the US approach to Iran, believing that the policy of threats will not bring the desired result. The head of German diplomacy expressed his opinion on the "Iranian issue" in an interview with Bild am Sonntag, published on Sunday, January 19, Deutsche Welle reports.

"In any case, the threats and the aggravation of military conflicts also did not bring anything. We want to prevent a large-scale fire in the Middle East. The EU relies on diplomacy instead of escalation," Maas said.

He condemned Washington's actions for unilaterally withdrawing from a nuclear deal and using maximum pressure on Tehran.

The change of regime provoked from the outside will not improve the situation in Iran, the head of German diplomacy is convinced. As an argument, he cited the example of Iraq, where the implementation of such plans went awry.

The German Foreign Minister is convinced of the need to maintain a dialogue with Tehran, which, among other things, must be required to respect human rights in relation to its own citizens.

Relations between the United States and Iran began to deteriorate a year ago after the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA), known as the "nuclear deal." The United States returned sanctions against Iran, including those relating to the export of Iranian oil. Tehran, in turn, ceased compliance with part of the obligations under the JCPOA.

After the assassination of Iranian General Kassem Suleimani on January 3, 2020, the situation in the Middle East became tenser: US and Iranian policies towards each other turned into a format of threats. In addition, in January of this year, US military bases were repeatedly subjected to rocket attacks, to which Iran is believed to be involved.

As we reported, The US does not plan to withdraw its military contingent from Iraq, US Assistant Secretary of Defense Jonathan Hoffman stated this
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Jan, 2020) The Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced that nearly 28 members of the 2019 Young Future Energy Leaders, YFEL, outreach programme were honoured for successfully completing their year-long commitments sustainability and clean energy technologies.

Certificates of completion were presented to the YFEL members by Abdulaziz Abdulla Alhajri, Member of the Khalifa University board of Trustees, and Director, Refining and Petrochemicals Directorate, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, at a ceremony organised during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2020 at Khalifa University's main campus.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice-President, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, and Dr. Ahmed Al Shoaibi, Senior Vice President, Academic and Student Services, Khalifa University, attended the ceremony.

Representatives from sponsors, as well as dignitaries and guests, were also present.

The 2019 YFEL members represent eight countries, with 17 UAE nationals, two international and nine locally-based students. Also present were the nearly 50 2020 YFEL members for whom the evenings proceedings served as an orientation ceremony.

"These youth are now qualified and trained to handle core sustainability issues, and I am sure they will effectively contribute to the development of the sustainability industry.

Following the success of the graduating YFEL members, I am equally delighted to welcome the 10th group of YFEL members, who I believe will remain even more committed to sustainability and clean energy technologies," said Al Shoaibi.

The 2019 YFEL members worked on a number of projects during the year. Emirati YFEL 2019 member Ali Jassim Rajab worked at the University of Tokyo on solar cells and a machine-learning algorithm to create a model to classify the health of trees.

Sharing his perspectives, Arturo Hernandez Rodea of Mexico, another YFEL member, said, "Participating in the YFEL programme from January 2019 has expanded my horizons, so we can understand our future cities and interactions with energy."

Rodea started a students programme in sustainability at his university in Mexico which, in collaboration with Stanford University, later became part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Youth, and an official SDSN chapter in Mexico for both youth and seniors.

He has also worked with General Electric Power Services  Latin America on a project to simplify the weekly planning procedure from 10 hours to five minutes, resulting in substantial annual savings. Moreover, following a successful internship with the French group, INCO, he is now, as an ambassador, looking to create an ecosystem for INCO Mexico.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-18 22:42:43|Editor: huaxia

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Uganda is the first country in East Africa to have 5G technology thanks to a trial by China's ZTE and MTN Uganda.

KAMPALA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's ZTE and MTN Uganda on Friday started 5G technology trial here to be the first who brings the Standalone 5G network into reality in east Africa as the region awaits its commercial rollout.

Uganda's Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda(L) shakes hands with a robot that uses the 5G network during the 5G technology trial ceremony in Kampala, Capital of Uganda, Jan. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Gaiping)

Uganda's Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda, who was the chief guest at the launch, said the government supports the development of new technology provided it will solve people's challenges and make life easier and affordable.

He was optimistic that technologies like 5G will have an impact on the economic development of the country.

Godfrey Mutabazi, executive director of the Uganda Communication Commission, said that as a regulator of the communications sector, they are working to ensure that there is an appropriate infrastructure that supports 5G.

"If we accept this technology, this country will be the best in Africa," Mutabazi said, noting that Uganda is the first country in East Africa to have 5G technology and the third in Africa after South Africa and Nigeria.

Wim Vanhelleputte, chief executive officer MTN Uganda, said 5G technology will have increased speeds and capacity with exact wireless connections but similar to fiber optic cable experience.

Guests experience the VR glass with 5G network/enjoy the benefits of 5G +VR technology during a 5G experience week in Kampala, Capital of Uganda, Jan. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Joseph Kiggundu)

Vanhelleputte said this will enable easier wireless connections compared to running fiber optic cables to every facility or home.

"In the next 2-3 years, we will embark on massive commercial rollout of the technology," he said, noting that advancements like telemedicine will be easier when there is real-time connection.

Yi Yahua, ZTE corporation vice president for Southern Africa, said ZTE is fully supportive of MTN Uganda's strategy to tap into the potential of modern mobile technologies to serve this country better and move forward with 5G industrialization. 
Kate Karstens knew shed nailed the story when the Yale-bound son of a school board member confessed to skipping class more than two dozen times  without consequences.

It was 2016, near the end of her junior year, and Karstens had spent weeks reporting an article about chronic absenteeism at George Mason High School in Northern Virginia, tracing administrators failure to punish offenders. Now, Karstens raced from the interview to tell Peter Laub, faculty adviser for the student newspaper, the Lasso. After a few rounds of editing, they pressed publish.

Hours later, an email from the principal hit Laubs inbox: The story had to come down.

I actually remember having this physical response of rage, said Karstens, now a 20-year-old senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was this pain, right below my collarbone.

Its a scenario Virginia lawmakers hope to prevent through proposed legislation that would limit administrative censorship of student publications in public middle schools, high schools and colleges across the state. Last month, Del. Chris Hurst, D-Montgomery, and Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William  both former journalists  introduced the measure in the House, and Sen. David W. Marsden, D-Fairfax, filed a companion bill in the Senate.

The legislation affirms the free speech rights of student journalists at public schools and stipulates administrators can censor content only if it is libelous or slanderous, violates federal law, or is likely to spur dangerous or unlawful acts of violence. Roughly a dozen states have adopted similar laws since the late 1980s.

The bills in Virginia follow high-profile incidents in the state: Last year, administrators at Maury High School in Norfolk forced student reporters to delete a broadcast revealing the schools dilapidated condition. In September, a Radford University employee stole editions of the student-run Tartan from campus newsstands.

Students are being onerously and unfairly censored all the time, Hurst said. We have dozens of examples across the Commonwealth.

A 1988 Supreme Court ruling found student journalists are entitled to a lower level of First Amendment protections than professional journalists, opening the door to interference by school administrators, said Hillary Davis, an organizer with the Student Press Law Center. That case  Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier  centered on a principals decision to remove two student articles about divorce and teen pregnancy.

The justices wrote school officials can censor student publications with impunity so long as the censorship is reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns.

What that meant, Davis said, is if you are in the student press, suddenly you can be censored for virtually any reason whatsoever.

Nationally, she has witnessed censorship of all kinds  from administrators who deleted yearbook photos of students in Make America Great Again gear to officials who spiked an investigative story unearthing financial mismanagement.

Roem said she worries students inability to report the news will teach bad habits to future journalists  or worse, kill their enthusiasm for the profession. At a time when local news outlets are disappearing throughout the country, Roem said, its vital student outlets step up to cover their communities.

We cant have teenage reporters being treated like PR outlets by the administration,  Roem said. That helps exactly no one.

Last school year, two Lasso staffers, Colter Adams and Evan Jones, began to wonder whether administrative censorship damages the quality of student journalism.

After analyzing data gathered from 50 states, the students concluded public high schools in states with anti-censorship laws were more likely to win journalism awards than schools in states without those laws. Adams and Jones outlined their findings in a June article for the Lasso, This is what quality journalism looks like.

Clearly, having censorship means youre less likely to be prepared for actual journalism, said Adams, 18, the Lassoss managing editor and an aspiring politics reporter who sneak-reads longform investigations when he gets bored in class.

He and other Lasso staffers  along with Laub, the journalism adviser  said they will do everything they can to speed passage of the anti-censorship measure over the next several months. Theyve already published an editorial and are planning a letter-writing campaign to legislators.

Hurst introduced a version of the legislation last year, but it died in a 5-to-3 subcommittee vote. He attributes the failure to some lawmakers belief that young people are not sufficiently mature to make news judgments, an argument he finds ridiculous.

If we trust students to use a lathe in a wood shop, or a blowtorch in a technical education course, Hurst said, why are we so afraid of giving them a pen?

Hurst has been working to build support this time around and said he feels optimistic about the bills prospects. He is expecting to draw backers from both sides of the political aisle  as has been the case for similar legislation nationwide, Davis said.

Over the past five years, a spate of laws meant to protect student journalists First Amendment rights  known as New Voices laws  passed throughout the nation, often with bipartisan support, Davis said. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia already have New Voices laws on the books, and the Student Press Law Center estimates a dozen more, including Virginia, will consider similar bills this year.

The Hazelwood ruling does not prevent states from granting full First Amendment rights to student journalists, according to Davis.

Davis said the newfound enthusiasm for student journalism stems from a confluence of two broader trends. First, school-aged activists have convinced adults that students have something worthwhile to say  most prominently through movements combating gun violence and climate change.

Second, were having a larger conversation about press freedom generally, Davis said, pointing in part to the Trump administrations repeated attacks on journalists.

Karstens knows exactly what inspired her.

When Laub stuck up for Karstens and her reporting, administrators backed off. Her article went back online June 8, 2016, with a deletion  Karstens agreed to remove the exact number of absences the Yale-bound student had recorded, yielding to officials concerns about student privacy.

The incident spurred her to petition the Falls Church City school board to adopt an anti-censorship policy. That campaign failed, so Karstens spent her senior year as Lasso editor in chief holding George Masons principal, Matt Hills, to the letter of the law: She bucked custom and forced Hills to review every article the Lasso published. She was in his office almost every day.

I wont forget Kate hovering, said Hills, who assumed the principalship after the publication of the absenteeism article. (Tyrone Byrd, the former principal who ordered the story taken down, did not respond to requests for comment.)

At some point, Hills said, even with the door closed, I could almost sense her from afar.

Later, Karstens traveled to Richmond to testify in favor of Hursts first version of the bill. She was sad to hear of its failure.

Censorship still may be legal, but shes left her mark anyway.

Spray-painted on the wall of Laubs classroom, above the whiteboard, is a black and white clenched hand. Adjacent red block-letters scream: THE FIST OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

Signed  just below the wrist  KATE KARSTENS.
Worldwide IT spending is projected to total $3.9 trillion in 2020, an increase of 3.4 per cent from 2019, said research and advisory firm Gartner, noting that the spending is expected to cross into $4 trillion territory next year.



Although political uncertainties pushed the global economy closer to recession, it did not occur in 2019 and is still not the most likely scenario for 2020 and beyond, said John-David Lovelock, research vice president at Gartner. With the waning of global uncertainties, businesses are redoubling investments in IT as they anticipate revenue growth, but their spending patterns are continually shifting.



Software will be the fastest-growing major market this year, reaching double-digit growth at 10.5 per cent. Almost all of the market segments with enterprise software are being driven by the adoption of software as a service (SaaS), said Lovelock. We even expect spending on forms of software that are not cloud to continue to grow, albeit at a slower rate. SaaS is gaining more of the new spending, although licensed-based software will still be purchased and its use expanded through 2023.



Growth in enterprise IT spending for cloud-based offerings will be faster than growth in traditional (non-cloud) IT offerings through 2022.Organizations with a high percentage of IT spending dedicated to cloud adoption is indicative of where the next-generation, disruptive business models will emerge.



Last quarter, we introduced the and dilemma where enterprises are challenged with cutting costs and investing for growth simultaneously. Maturing cloud environments is an example of how this dilemma is alleviated: Organizations can expect a greater return on their cloud investments through cost savings, improved agility and innovation, and better security. This spending trend isnt going away anytime soon, said Lovelock.



The headwind coming from a strong US dollar has become a deterrent to IT spending on devices and data center equipment in effected countries. For example, mobile phone spending in Japan will decline this year due to local average selling prices going up as a result of the US dollar increasing. The UKs spending on PCs, printers, servers and even external storage systems is expected to decline by 3 per cent, too.



Despite last quarter showing the sharpest decline within the device market among all segments, it will return to overall growth in 2020 due to the adoption of new, less-expensive phone options from emerging countries. The almost $10 billion increase in device spending in Greater China and Emerging Asia/Pacific is more than enough to offset the expected declines in Western Europe and Latin America, said Lovelock.  TradeArabia News Service
Soldiers sing a military song at a ceremony welcoming new recruits into the armed forces, Jan. 8, Gwangju. / Courtesy of ROK Armed Forces



By Lee Suh-yoon



The military's recent decision to have the nation's first transgender soldier sent before a review panel that could recommend her discharge lacks sufficient legal grounds, human rights lawyers said Sunday.



Transgender people are banned from serving in the armed forces here but there are no specific regulations governing active-duty soldiers who undergo sexual reassignment surgery. So when military officials referred the soldier for a discharge evaluation, it was based on a legal argument that the soldier carried a "disability" following the sex change procedure.



Losing male genitalia is in fact included in the list of "physical and mental disabilities" specified by the Military Personnel Management Act. This classification, however, should not apply in transgender soldiers' cases, says human rights lawyer Park Han-hee.



"The cited physical disability is referring to male soldiers who are injured in the performance of their duty, not those who voluntarily have sex change operations," Park told The Korea Times.









Even if the panel recognizes the soldier's physical changes are not a disability, the chances of her being allowed to stay in the armed forces are slim. The soldier can be discharged on the basis of having a "mental disability," as the medical sector in Korea continues to classify transgenderism as a "gender identity disorder."



Park, however, says this argument is weak. Last May, the World Health Organization stopped classifying transgenderism as a "mental disorder," giving U.N. member states such as Korea until Jan. 1, 2022 to follow suit. The Military Personnel Management Act was also revised in 2013 to not explicitly mention "gender identity disorder" in its clauses.



The soldier, a sergeant at a camp in northern Gyeonggi Province, says she wants to continue serving as a female NCO once she fully recovers from the sex change operation. The military panel will deliver a decision Wednesday.



Sexual minorities have long been shunned or discriminated against in the Korean army. Sex between gay partners remains a crime under Article 92-6 of the Army Criminal Act.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says a summit in Berlin on the conflict in Libya has made progress toward a fully fledged cease-fire, and that he hopes the development will lead to the reopening of Libyan oil facilities that have been blocked by warring tribesmen.



Pompeo made the remarks after Germany brought together the leaders of 11 countries on January 19 for talks aimed at convincing outside powers to stop fueling Libya's civil war with troops, weapons, or financial support.

The Berlin summit also sought to secure a cease-fire between forces of Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli and Libya's Russian-backed rebel leader, General Khalifa Haftar, whose Libyan National Army (LNA) headquarters are in the city of Tobruk.



Ultimately, the summit was aimed at relaunching a political process and prevent what some fear could become another Syria-like flood of refugees from Libya.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters at the conclusion of the summit that the backers of the rival Libyan sides had agreed a truce reached in Tripoli over the past week should be turned into a permanent cease-fire to allow a political process to take place.



A special committee made up of five military men from each side will monitor the truce, Merkel said, adding that foreign powers active in Libya have committed themselves to uphold an existing UN arms embargo and to stop shipping weapons there.

Those attending the Berlin gathering included Pompeo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.



Also in attendance were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres along with senior representatives of the European Union, the African Union, and the Arab League.

'Downward Spiral'



Libya's UN-recognized Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj was also in Berlin for the January 19 gathering along with his main rival, General Haftar.



Merkel and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas met separately with both Sarraj and Haftar at the chancellery in Berlin before the summit began.



But neither Sarraj nor Haftar attended the summit's opening group photo and the two did not meet in Berlin, Merkel said.



"We know that we have not solved all of Libya's problems today but we were aiming for fresh momentum," she said at the end of the gathering.



Just hours before the meeting began, Sarraj raised doubts about Haftar's agenda, saying that "long experience makes us doubt the intentions, seriousness, and commitment of the other side, whom everyone know seeks powers at any price."



Guterres said at the start of the conference that world leaders "are here for an urgent and pressing reason: to stop Libya's downward spiral."



Macron told the gathering on January 19 that he was extremely concerned about the recent arrival in Tripoli of pro-Turkish Syrian fighters.



The French president said the deployment in Libya of fighters from Syria and other foreign forces must stop immediately.



Turkey and Russia have both been criticized by UN and Western officials who say their efforts to arm their allies have intensified violence.



Differences were apparent on January 19 with Erdogan declaring that the world has failed to respond adequately to Haftar's "reckless attacks" on Sarraj's UN-recognized government.



"Hopes that flourish again with the cease-fire and the Berlin summit should not be sacrificed to the ambitions of the merchants of blood and chaos," said Erdogan, who supports Sarraj's government and has been critical of Russia's support for Haftar.

Shaky Cease-Fire



Erdogan met Putin before the summit began, with Putin saying "we will sincerely strive for the conflict to be resolved."



Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State said during a meeting with Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on January 19 that Washington was also concerned about the presence of foreign fighters in Libya.



Erdogan announced earlier in January that he had dispatched Turkish military elements to Libya to ensure stability for the GNA.



Pompeo also held talks on the sidelines of the Berlin summit with Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates, another country involved in the Libyan conflict.



A draft communique circulating early on January 19 urged rival sides to refrain from hostilities against oil infrastructure, agencies reported as senior officials from countries backing the warring parties converged in the German capital.



The draft communique reportedly described Tripoli-based state oil company NOC as the only legitimate entity that can sell Libyan oil.



Tribesmen loyal to Haftar have reportedly blocked off all oil ports in eastern Libya.



A cease-fire between the rival Libyan forces had been scheduled to enter into force on January 12, but has been shaky at best.



Last week, Haftar left talks in Moscow without signing a cease-fire deal proposed by Moscow and Ankara.



Libya has been plagued with violence and unrest since a NATO-backed campaign ousted longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.



UN experts and diplomats say Russian military contractors in recent months have deployed alongside Haftar's LNA, which has also received air support from the U.A.E. and backing from Jordan and Egypt.



Moscow denies direct military involvement.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, dpa, and AFP
North 24 Pargana (West Bengal) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Days after he sparked a controversy by threatening to "shoot those who damaged public property" in the state, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday doubled down on his remark by stating that such people "will never be spared".



"Those who vandalize public property in the state should be shot dead. I had said it in a speech and they (opposition) created a lot of ruckus about it. I will repeat the same thing that those who vandalize public property should be shot dead," Ghosh said addressing a public gathering here.

He accused the Mamata Banerjee-led state government of "not doing anything" even when "public property worth Rs 500 crore was damaged".

"What should be done with these infiltrators who vandalize public property? Should they be given Prasad? Those who vandalized public property will be identified. First, they will be shot and then bombed. Nobody will be spared," Ghosh said.

The MP from Kharagpur was attending an event in support of the newly amended citizenship law here.

Ghosh had, last week, sparked controversy by threatening to shoot down those who damaged public property and accused Banerjee of not taking action as "they are her voters".

Several protests were held across West Bengal, many of which turned violent and caused damage to public property. (ANI)


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 17:02:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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TAIPEI, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The faculty of private colleges in Taiwan earn much less than their counterparts in public institutions due to their employers facing financial difficulties, according to the island's education department.

A large number of professors at private colleges only earn about half of their counterparts at public colleges earn, Sunday's United Daily News reported, quoting statistics from the education department.

The faculty of Ta Hwa University of Science and Technology, based in Hsinchu County of northern Taiwan, is paid the least. A professor at the college only earns about 52,000 new Taiwan dollars (about 1,733 U.S. dollars) a month, half of the average monthly salary of their counterparts in public universities.

Since August 2019, six private colleges have reduced their faculty's salaries, two of which have cut salaries by 40 percent.

A recent survey made by Taiwan's Union of Private School Educators on 54 private schools and colleges also found that 35 percent of the respondents could not afford to pay their faculty year-end bonus and 42.6 percent paid substandard bonuses.

Educators attributed their financial problems to the shrinking number of students due to the low birth rate in Taiwan but some also argued that irrational expansion of colleges worsened the situation.

The population of Taiwan increased slightly in 2019 by 0.06 per thousand, with a total of 176,296 deaths and 177,767 newborns. The number of people between the ages of 18 to 21 is estimated to drop from 1.18 million in 2018 to 500,000 in 2065, according to the island's authorities.
Amid the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in several parts of the country, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Bobde on Saturday said that citizenship was not just about people's rights, but also about their duties towards the society.

"You all have a responsibility to be an active citizen too and citizenship is not just about rights but it is equally about your duties towards society," said Bobde at the 107th convocation of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU).

Emphasising on the value of justice, he said, "I have always believed that donating justice is a sacred duty. It is a natural right for every person in the country to get justice. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar reiterated this fact not only from the Constitution but also from the 1956 revolution. The imagination of justice varies from person to person, time, and situation. It cannot be tied in any one frame."

"What is justified today may not be justified tomorrow. But it is okay to expect justice and use appropriate tools for it. Along with the imagination of justice, rights and duties are equally important. Some people think that they only have rights and no duties. According to me, along with rights, duty is equally important," he said.

The CJI added that "if we do not follow our duties then there will be an imbalance in the society."

Protests broke out in different parts of the country against and in support of CAA which 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.)
Nikki Osborne was the second campmate to be eliminated from I'm A Celebrity on Sunday night.

And in her exit interview with hosts Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris, the comedian and former model revealed who she believes will win the series.

'Rhonda [Burchmore], Rhonda for sure which is the biggest surprise because we got her out of her sequins,' the 38-year-old said without missing a beat.

Sent home: I'm A Celebrity's Nikki Osborne, 38, was eliminated from the show on Sunday night's episode

'She just doesn't give up and she is mad,' Nikki went on to say about the 59-year-old musical theatre veteran. 'You have got to be mad to survive in there.'

The blonde also reflected on her time in the South African jungle, and who she connected with the most.

'I connected with Ryan [Gallagher], but Charlotte [Crosby] stole him, and Erin [Barnett] is good value, but I did love the waterfall.'

Prediction: The former model and comedian predicted Rhonda Burchmore will win the series

Set to win? 'She just doesn't give up and she is mad,' Nikki said about the 59-year-old musical theatre veteran (pictured). 'You have got to be mad to survive in there'

Memorable: Last Sunday, Nikki revealed her 'Bond girl' figure as she frolicked near a waterfall in a racy white swimsuit that showed off her lithe arms, cleavage and trim pins

Last Sunday, Nikki revealed her 'Bond girl' figure in a skimpy white swimsuit, as she frolicked near a waterfall.

The racy one-piece drew attention to her lithe arms, cleavage and trim pins.

'I got to live out my full Bond girl fantasy,' Nikki said in a piece to camera.

And days prior, Nikki flaunted her sensational curves again as she performed a striptease for her campmates.

Quirky swimwear: And just days prior, Nikki pulled off a sack to reveal a one-piece, which had two green stripes coming up from the crotch and over her shoulders to resemble a 'mankini'

Standing on a platform in the middle of the camp, Nikki pulled off a sack that revealed her quirky choice of swimwear.

The mother-of-two showed off a pink swimming costume, which had two green stripes coming up from the crotch and over her shoulders to resemble a 'mankini'.

As Nikki twirled around, the green lines ran down her back and merged together, creating the impression of a G-string printed on the back of the swimsuit.

The 'mankini' was made famous by Sacha Baron Cohen in his 2006 film Borat, in which he wore a similar green design at the beach.

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues Monday at 7.30pm on Ten
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Communist Party of India (CPI) MP in the Rajya Sabha Binoy Viswam has requested Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar to extend deadline of inviting suggestions from the public on "Industrial Relations Code, 2019" and "Code on Social Security, 2019" for a month.

The legislator, who is the leader of CPI Parliamentary Party and Secretary (National Council), wrote a letter last Friday urging Gangwar to extend the deadline till February 15 to allow people to make representations before the Standing Committee on Labour.

"I write this letter in reference to the Press Communique dated January 1, 2020 that invites comments from the public on "The Industrial Relations Code, 2019" and "The Code on Social Security, 2019" as introduced in the Lok Sabha to the Standing Committee on Labour," Viswam's letter reads. It further went on informing that the press communique was released on January 1 and had an extremely short deadline of 15 days.

"Given the complexities and the seriousness of the two Codes, I urge you to extend this deadline by at least one month till February 15 to allow trade unions, workers and the public at large to make representations before the standing committee on this important issues. I look forward to your positive response on the same," the letter said.

Gangwar introduced the Industrial Relations Code, 2019 in the Lok Sabha during winter session to consolidate and amend the laws relating to trade unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishment or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Minister also introduced the Code on Social Security, 2019 in the Lok Sabha in the same session to reduce the number of legislations on employees' welfare and social security from 44 to just four.

While introducing the Bill, Gangwar had then said, "the Code is meant for streamlining a plethora of existing labour laws".
He was also photographed and fingerprinted at the administrative line between Crimea and the rest of Ukraine.

Russia's Border Guard Service, a branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB), has banned Ukrainian journalist Taras Ibrahimov from entering Russia and the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea until the middle of 2054.

Ibrahimov, who works with the Crimea Desk of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, told RFE/RL on January 18 that he had been handed the order in person without explanation.

Read alsoRFE/RL: Court in Russia-occupied Crimea expunges journalist Semena's criminal record

"I definitely believe this is connected with my journalism and my work for publications that actively cover the cases of Crimean Tatars in Crimea and in Russia," Ibrahimov said.

He said that he was also photographed and fingerprinted at the administrative line between Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014, and the rest of Ukraine.

In February 2019, photographer Alina Smutko, who also worked with the Crimea Desk of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, was banned from entering Crimea and Russia until 2028.

In November 2018, another Ukrainian journalist who also works with the Crimea Desk of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Alena Savchuk, was also banned from entering Crimea and Russia until 2028.

Rights groups and Western governments have denounced what they describe as a campaign of repression by the Russian-imposed authorities against Crimean Tatars and others who have spoken out against Moscow's military seizure and occupation of the peninsula.

In its annual global report on freedom of religion in 2019, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said that "Russian authorities continued to kidnap, torture, and imprison Crimean Tatar Muslims at will" in Russia-occupied Crimea.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Authorities confirm one person died in the fire that hit a residential area in Quezon City Sunday.

Quezon City Fire Department Deputy Fire Marshal CInsp Gilbert Valdez said 65-year-old Angelita Unite died after a fire broke out in Barangay Sto. Domingo.

Two other people  a 63-year-old and a 4-year-old  were injured in the blaze.

One hundred eighty families were left homeless by the fire, which started in the afternoon and reached fifth alarm at 6:13 p.m.; at 7:59 p.m. it was declared under control.

The Bureau of Fire Protection declared the fire out at 9:30 p.m.

Damage from the fire was is estimated at around 750,000.
Amazon has again claimed that US president Donald Trump "unfairly" intervened to prevent the company from getting a $10bn defence contract.

The tech giants founder owns The Washington Post, which has been very critical of Mr Trump.

"Its fairly obvious that it wasnt adjudicated fairly," said Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services.

"The conclusion is that there was a lot of political interference."

Amazon is currently suing the US government over having been wrongly excluded from consideration for the so-called Jedi cloud defence contract, which was awarded to Microsoft.

"You have a sitting president whos willing to share openly his disdain for a company," said Mr Jassy.

"It makes it really difficult for government agencies, including the DOD [Department of Defence] to make decisions without fear of reprisal. And I think its really risky for the country and for democracy.

"When we talk about national security of the country and modernising technology platforms, the foundation on which all of the applications that are used to defend our country, you have to ensure that those decisions are made truly objectively."

Mr Jassy was talking to journalists on the fringe of the companys annual Amazon Web Services Re:Invent conference, attended by 65,000 IT professionals.

Earlier, Amazon Web Services managing director for Europe, Andy Isherwood, told Independent.ie that he could not comment on the companys plans to expand its operation in Ireland, where it employs 2,500 people.

The web giant reportedly signed a lease on a new Dublin office, which could take its staff presence to 4,000 in the next three years.

However, Mr Isherwood said that the growth of the companys business made expansion foreseeable.

"As we continue to grow the business, our teams are growing too," he told Independent.ie.

"So by the very nature of growing, you're probably going to expand from a premises point of view."

Mr Isherwood said that there is no apparent slowdown in the companys business.

"The growth continues to be astonishing," he said.

"Theres an insatiable appetite from startups to big enterprises. But the percentage of the market that we're addressing is only maybe three percent."

Mr Isherwood also said that Amazons presence in Ireland was not affected to current international tension over tax reform.

"No," he said.

"We think long term about the company and about the business.

"We don't make short term decisions. If you think what we're doing around power and renewable energies, these are long term big investments and Ireland is a pretty good place to do that.

"When you think about it, you can imagine the sort of capital investment involved. We don't change these decisions overnight."




Haiti - Politic : Moise continues his tour in the Great North





Saturday, for the 2nd day of his tour in the great north https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29799-haiti-politic-president-moise-on-tour-in-the-north-of-the-country.html , President Jovenel Moise visited several institutions and infrastructures, notably in Cap-Haitien, Trou-du-Nord and Grand Bassin...



The Head of State first went to the Lycee national Philippe Guerrier in Cap-Haitien which had been badly damaged during the earthquake in January 2010. As part of his commitment to rebuild the national lycee Philippe Guerrier, Moise announced the arrival on January 21 of a mission from the National Laboratory of Public Works which will come to assess the state of the infrastructure. Adding that the implementation of various programs to support the 5,000 schoolchildren of this school was also in the plans of the Government.



Moise then went to the Bureau of the Electricity of Haiti (EDH) of Cap-Haitien, to inquire about the state of the electrical infrastructure before going to the construction site of the micro hydro dam on the Marion river, in the locality of Grand Bassin, in Terrier Rouge (North-East) whose works were inaugurated in 2018 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24264-haiti-politic-official-inauguration-of-dam-works-on-the-marion-river.html in order to follow the progress of this important infrastructure https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25959-icihaiti-terrier-rouge-follow-up-of-the-works-of-the-dam-and-the-reservoir-of-10-million-m3.html . Remember that this project is carried out as part of Cuban cooperation and that about fifteen Cuban experts work on the site alongside the Haitians. He took the opportunity to explain to the inhabitants of the commune of Grand-Bassin the meaning of development initiatives in this area, among others on drinking water, electricity, road infrastructure and irrigation...



President Moise's day ended with a visit to the Trou-du-Nord High School (North East), one of the 10 high schools he signed up for on January 13, to rebuild just like the High School national Philippe Guerrier, with the salaries of elected officials who left Parliament https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29762-haiti-politic-the-salary-of-parliamentarians-will-be-used-to-build-10-high-schools.html , followed by a meeting with local associations in the area.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29799-haiti-politic-president-moise-on-tour-in-the-north-of-the-country.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29762-haiti-politic-the-salary-of-parliamentarians-will-be-used-to-build-10-high-schools.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25959-icihaiti-terrier-rouge-follow-up-of-the-works-of-the-dam-and-the-reservoir-of-10-million-m3.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25743-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24264-haiti-politic-official-inauguration-of-dam-works-on-the-marion-river.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23797-haiti-politic-moise-visits-the-construction-site-of-the-dam-on-the-marion-river.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22357-haiti-politics-towards-a-cooperation-with-cuba-in-the-construction-of-dams.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Kanpur, Jan 19 : In a major development, the police in Kanpur have arrested the two absconding accused in the fatal attack on a rape victim's mother.

During a brief encounter, the two absconders, Parvez and Mohammed Abid, were shot by the police on their legs.

Parvez and Abid have been admitted to the Kanshi Ram hospital in Ramadevi area of the city.

The police said that both were named along with four others in the FIR lodged at Chakeri police station on January 9.

Earlier on Friday, the rape victim's mother, who was brutally attacked by two of the five accused, died after struggling for seven days in the hospital.

The men reportedly forced the woman and her daughter to take back the statements in the abuse case against them. When the woman refused, the accused brutally attacked her with sticks, stones on January 10, outside their Kanpur residence.

In 2018, five men had allegedly molested a 13-year old minor girl in Kanpur. While the police arrested them in 2018, all were reportedly given bail by a local court in 2019.

Since then, they had allegedly made several attempts to force the victim to take back her statements, but she refused to do so.

Talking about the incident on January 10, the husband of the deceased said: "My wife and daughter had gone to the dentist. That is when the accused attempted to launch a brutal attack on them. There is an ongoing case lodged against these men under the POCSO Act. My son and I were at the shop when the attack took place." The victim's brother added that the accused had been forcing her to take back their statements.

"There were at least 10 men who broke into our house and dragged my sister outside the apartment. These men brutally attacked them," he said, adding that the assailants had threatened to kill the mother-daughter if they did not withdraw their complaint.

Uttar Pradesh DGP O.P. Singh stated that the police would examine the matter.

"We are probing the matter and ensure strict punishment for the accused."
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it has intercepted 42 bags of foreign rice at Kankara axis of Katisna State.

The NIS Public Relations Officer, Sunday James, who disclosed this in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday in Abuja, said that it was concealed in a vehicle.

Mr James said that the officers were on routine patrol along the Kankara axis when they apprehended a vehicle carrying the contraband.

READ ALSO:

He said that the Command Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Katsina State command, Yakubu Umar, handed over the 42 bags of rice to the Nigeria Customs Service.

The Comptroller General, NIS, Muhammad Babandede congratulated the officers for a well-coordinated outing imploring them to be more dedicated to the national course and keep the border secured for a safe nation.

(NAN)
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Lesothos prime minister said he intends to step down, following increased calls for his resignation over the murder of his second wife, which police have linked to the woman he married a little over two months later.

Thomas Thabane, 80, was inaugurated as prime minister of the tiny African mountain kingdom two days after his second wife was shot in June 2017. He previously held the post from 2012 to 2015, but fled to South Africa in 2014 after an alleged coup attempt.

I have decided to retire from my position as the prime minister of Lesotho, and the time of my retirement will be officially announced when that time comes, Thabane said in the capital, Maseru, on Friday. His decision to resign had already been announced the previous day by Communications Minister Thesele Maseribane.

Earlier this month, court documents showed that the countrys police chief asked Thabane to clarify why his mobile phone number was linked to the crime scene, naming Thabanes current wife, Maesiah Thabane, as a suspect in the killing. Thabane had issued a notice to replace the police chief but withdrew it after the Lesotho High Court intervened.

Maesiah has been on the run since the police issued an arrest warrant last week. Neither she nor her husband have commented on the murder case.

The opposition on Wednesday said it would organize protests if Thabane doesnt resign within seven days, while a faction within his All Basotho Convention also urged him to step down.

Lesotho, which is surrounded by South Africa, has one of the highest murder rates on the continent.

(Updates with Thabanes statement in third paragraph)

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To contact the editors responsible for this story: Paul Richardson at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net, Pauline Bax, Antony Sguazzin

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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By PTI

KOLKATA: Senior TMC lawmaker Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar said on Sunday that she will boycott a study tour on the CAA-NRC-NPR issue to the Northeastern states to be conducted by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Dastidar, a three-time MP from the Barasat Lok Sabha constituency, has also written to Anand Sharma, chairman of the department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, registering her protest on the issue.

"I have decided to boycott the Northeast tour organised by the Union home ministry on the CAA-NPR-NRC issue," she said.

"On principle, we are against the CAA and have been protesting against it. So this tour is sort of aimed at opening a dialogue channel with the groups who are opposing the CAA. So I have decided to boycott it," she added.

The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress has been holding rallies and protest meets across the state against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed nationwide NRC for over a month.

The TMC government recently also stayed away from a meeting on the National Population Register (NPR) in New Delhi.
The primary responsibility of every union is representing its members on the issues and concerns specific to its work. Everything comes after that. The terms and conditions of employment - salary, benefits, shifts, training, personnel issues, rules & regulations - are the lifeblood of members and their unions. Lengthy, sometimes difficult, contract negotiations are always a priority.

While positions on social issues and broader politics also impacts membership, those shape the environment in which decisions about the work are made. These are tracks that often overlap, but are separate. Its the separate part that gets lost, captured by politics and culture wars and ideological point scoring.

Of course politics impacts unions, saying otherwise is absurd. But lately it seems that all we hear about is unions and campaign or partisan politics, not the actual work that unions do day in, day out.

Now would be a good time to remember that there is much more to the work unions do on behalf of their members than supporting and opposing public officials and hoping for a more favorable position on this or that. Is that a part of the work? Absolutely. Is it the only work? Absolutely not, but this less public facing work doesnt make headlines though it is vitally important. Union offices are staffed by professionals who manage benefits and pensions, provide legal services, retirement counseling, healthcare services - including mental health care, insurance, workplace mediation assistance, scholarship opportunities, and more.

When unions speak on issues, its based on expertise. That sometimes gets forgotten in the noise of media and politics. Teachers speak about education. Hospital workers about health care. Subway and bus operators about mass transit. Carpenters and industrial engineers and cement workers about development. And police know about public safety.

But with one party Democratic control of state government and the levers of power in New York City, union voices aren't being considered or treated equally. Hotel workers, hospital workers, and teachers are being received warmly while law enforcement and other first responder unions are now seen as inherently wrong.

"Elections have consequences" critics of police unions say, riffing off of traditional police support of Republicans now in a legislative minority. Perhaps, but were SEIU 1199 or the Hotel Trades Council derided by Republicans the way police unions now are by Democrats? Of course not. While the Democratic State Senate Majority, its plain for all to see, is navigating between its radical left wing and the suburban seats that secured their majority, all Democrats in Albany would be wise to remember the support police unions have and where they have it.

The politics of press releases and social media storms are washing away the importance of measured, deliberate discussions about policy. Police know about public safety because it's what we do. Agree or disagree with past practices or policies, its wrong to insist that police unions are somehow suspect for arguing in favor of, for example, personnel file privacy.

Just like other unions, we know what were talking about.

Ed Mullins is president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of the NYPD.
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces arrived in Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday evening after a blizzard hit the province Friday.

Video posted to Twitter by Joint Task Force Atlantic showed troops on the ground amid renewed snowfall. Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan said there would be between 150 and 200 people on the ground by the end of the day  a number which could swell to 300 by Monday.

Sajjan, speaking at a media conference in Winnipeg, could not comment on what exactly the service members would be doing, saying that decision will be made by experts in the community.

"[The response] will be needs driven on the ground," he said, adding that the military would not be seeking to recover costs for their services.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, speaking at the same news conference, said the federal government is working with the province on how to pay for other aspects of the cleanup.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball said an emergency operations centre will open to centralize requests for help from residents. Soldiers will be available for residents who need assistance with snow clearing and other support.

He said a "high volume of calls" is expected.

"We just want to help people now clean up and clear out ... so emergency workers can get to them," Ball told CBC's radio special on the storm Sunday afternoon.

Watch: For some, all that snow means fun

More snow to come

Newfoundlanders are facing a full day of shovelling after Friday's record-setting blizzard, and there is more nasty weather to come.

St. John's set a new one-day snowfall record on Friday of 76.2 cm, beating the previous record of 68.4 cm set back on April 5, 1999, according to Environment Canada. Meanwhile, 93 cm fell in Mount Pearl and 91 cm fell in Paradise.

Earlier Sunday the federal weather agency issued weather warnings and statements for much of the island, except for the west coast and northern peninsula.

4th Artillery Regiment, General Support, RCA/Facebook

Central Newfoundland is under snowfall warnings and there are winter storm warnings on the south coast. Upwards of 20 to 25 cm of snow is possible, according to CBC Newfoundland meteorologist Ashley Brauweiler.

Story continues

For eastern Newfoundland, 10 to 15 cm is likely, with some areas seeing upwards of 20 cm. In the early morning hours Monday, that should change to drizzle for the metro area, but southern areas on the Avalon will see between 5 and 15 mm of rain, she said.

Winds could whip up to between 80 and 90 km/h overnight in eastern Newfoundland.

"It's unbelievable when you think about it," Ball said of the coming second wave of snow.

States of emergency

Municipalities throughout the area have declared states of emergency, which restrict residents' movements to allow snow-clearing operations to carry on unimpeded.

Residents who are running low on supplies will have few options in St. John's, where a state of emergency will remain in effect on Monday.

The city said pharmacies are not permitted to open Monday, revising its statement from earlier on Sunday regarding the state of emergency "given the current weather conditions and the addition anticipated snowfall [Sunday] evening."

Snow-clearing contractors are permitted to carry out their work, and gas stations may open to provide emergency fuel needed for snow removal, the city said in a statement.

Garbage and recycling collection will not proceed Monday, the city said.

A spokesperson for the city of St. John's said the city expects businesses to honour the state of emergency amid reports some businesses not covered under the exceptions have been opening.

She said the city can charge anyone in violation of the state of emergency order, with a penalty of up to $5,000 if convicted.

Even with the easing of some restrictions, the city is still advising people to "stay in and off city streets."

Gavin Simms/CBC

John Haggie, the province's health minister, advised residents needing prescriptions to call their local pharmacy to make sure it's open and that a refill is available. He noted, however, that any pharmacy in the province is able to dispense a prescription no matter which pharmacy it was first brought to.

Haggie also advised residents who may be concerned they are having a medical issue to call the 811 health line to get advice before calling 911 or trying to venture to a hospital.

"The roads are not entirely safe," he cautioned.

The Town of Paradise, 20 kilometres west of St. John's, announced Sunday that it will temporarily lift its state of emergency between 6 a.m. and midnight daily, effective Monday.

Starting Monday, "and until further notice," all businesses must close by midnight daily and no vehicles are allowed on roads between midnight and 6 a.m. to allow for snow-clearing operations, a statement from the town said. Only town snow-clearing equipment, emergency vehicles, essential workers getting to work and private snow-clearing contractors are allowed to be on the roads overnight.

"We ask all residents to stay home unless absolutely necessary," the statement goes on.

The town of Conception Bay South, 36 kilometres west of St. John's, lifted its state of emergency at 4 p.m.

Watch as neighbours in CBS stay connected through a snow maze

Pharmacies in the town will be able to open immediately. A warming centre is also open at the Salvation Army church until 9 p.m.

Residents were allowed to travel to pharmacies and to the warming centre before 4 p.m.

Peter Gullage/CBC

The Town of Torbay also plans to lift its state of emergency between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. effective Monday.

Before then, several exceptions are in place, including allowing private snow-clearing operations, the delivery of oil to homes and the movement of essential workers, among other accommodations.

Town buildings and facilities will remain closed Monday.

Meanwhile, in Portugal Cove-St. Philips, a state of emergency will go back into effect at 9 p.m.

'Tremendous amount of snow'

St. John's Mayor Danny Breen said while crews have had a lot of success and worked through the night, there's still a lot to be done.

"There's a tremendous amount of snow on the ground," he told CBC News Network on Sunday morning.

Watch: Snow piles up in N.L.'s record storm

Breen said a series of storms has had snowplow operators working steadily since Christmas Eve and said they are getting help from Corner Brook as well as from other levels of government.

Most major thoroughfares have been widened, he said, with many streets at least having "one cut" through them.

But the goal remains clearing roads for emergency vehicles and allowing private snow-removal contractors to service their clients so businesses can eventually reopen.

"Right now, the streets, we don't feel that they're in a condition that's suitable enough to open up the city tomorrow," he told the CBC radio special on Sunday afternoon.

Asked about criticism that the city seemed under-prepared for the massive storm, Breen said there are three things to note: the high volume of snow, the rate at which the snow fell and the high winds, which at times reached up to 150 km/h.

"So this was a storm that would have been challenging for any operation," he said.

Schools, government offices closed

The province announced that all government offices in the St. John's metro area will be closed Monday.

The province's English school district has announced that all schools on the Avalon Peninsula will be closed Monday as well. Several schools on the Bonavista Peninsula will also be closed.

Watch: Retired sports host reports on N.L. weather emergency

Meanwhile, Memorial University has announced that its St. John's, Marine Institute and Signal Hill campuses will remain closed on Monday "to facilitate cleanup from Friday's blizzard." The closure includes all evening classes and activities, and the child-care centre.

The closure means access to university buildings is restricted, according to a statement from the university. "Please do not come to campus," the statement said.

Noreen Golfman, the university's vice president academic, has encouraged all instructors to be flexible with course work.

"This includes, but is not limited to, deadlines for submission of assignments, papers, etc., as well as attendance in classes and laboratories over the next couple of days," said a statement from the university.

College of the North Atlantic's Ridge Road campus will also be closed Monday.

Around 11:30 a.m., Newfoundland Power was reporting 2,499 customers without electricity. The utility later reported new power outages, mostly in Pleasantville to east end St. John's, Topsail, Kelligrews and Upper Gullies areas.

On Saturday, Newfoundland Power reported it had reconnected about 75 per cent of customers impacted by the storm.

The federal government has approved the province's request for assistance with the cleanup, including army mobilization.

In a tweet, St. John's Airport said its airfield is only available for air ambulance and military aircraft and that commercial flights will not start up until at least Monday at 8 p.m.

'Car is buried'

Chris Baird lives on the outskirts of St. John's, above the airport, and early Sunday morning was the first time a snow plow came by to clear his street.

His driveway still isn't plowed because the plow company he hired couldn't make the trek through the snow with a plow.

"The car is buried, totally," Baird told CBC's Weekend Mornings.

Baird has lived in the city all his life, but this type of snow is new to him.

"Never seen snow like this," he said.

Newfoundland Power

The St. John's state of emergency was called partially due to the difficulty of traveling around the city, something local firefighters are discovering as well.

The local firefighters union posted a photo on Twitter showing some of their members answering a call on foot saying they do "whatever it takes."

Some nurses are putting in extremely long hours as cleanup with this storm continues.

Registered Nurses' Union president Debbie Forward noted that some nurses at various facilities worked as many as 60 hours before they were relieved from their shifts.

"We can't leave until a replacement comes to relieve us," she told CBC's radio special.

Patients still need care, she said, and "babies don't stop coming."
Its the story everyone is talking about; countless lurid headlines and breathless opinion pieces, increasingly absurd conspiracy theories and wild speculation lighting up Whatsapp groups and Twitter threads. Yes, Im talking about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and their decision to step down as senior members of the Royal family.

What else? As someone who, on principle, disapproves of everything the monarchy stands for  it perpetuates an unjust class system, celebrating a rarefied few because of birthright rather than merit  I still havent been able to resist this story. Like Love Island, it seems like superficial nonsense on the surface but dig a little deeper, and you quickly find a rather damning indictment of how gender, race, and class intersect in our culture.

Regardless of your interest in the royals, or lack thereof, the introduction of a bi-racial American actress into the family has caused an impact unlike any seen since Diana. And, just like with Diana, they seem completely incapable of harnessing Meghans natural charisma and using it to their advantage, or at the very least, managing to present themselves as anyway forward-thinking, inclusive, and relevant.

The queen is said to be disappointed by the couples decision to step back, no doubt prioritising their own mental health after two years of non-stop abuse from the media, and one has to wonder why she wasnt disappointed by the racial undertones to much of the media commentary (the Straight Outta Compton and Niggling Worry headlines) or when their baby was compared to a monkey on social media? More to the point, why wasnt she disappointed when Prince Andrew, reportedly her favourite child, remained friends with a man who was a convicted sex offender and said he didnt regret said friendship?

There was more outrage over Markle wearing jeans to Wimbledon and eating avocadoes (actual headline  How Meghans favourite avocado snack is fuelling human rights abuses, drought, and murder) than the appalling accusations that Prince Andrew allegedly had sex with a trafficked teenager. Ultimately though, as much as we can legitimately criticise much of the media coverage of Meghan and Harry, we still know very little about the people at the centre of this uproar.

The royal family has become almost like a soap opera, we create a narrative in which there are villains and heroes, the good and the bad guys. We weave together a tale made up of half a dozen photos taken outside a church on Christmas day, a flinch as a husband touches a wifes shoulder, a soundbite from a two-minute interview. Like any celebrity gossip, the stories we tell say more about us  our beliefs, our prejudices, our values  than it does about the stars themselves.

And so too, we can discern a great deal from the manner in which the two most popular women in the royal family, Kate and Meghan, are depicted in the press and how the public reacts to those portrayals. We dont know either of these women but are all familiar with their images.

Kate; the future queen. Saintly, patient, long-suffering. The mother and the wife. Loyal, steadfast, and dutiful. Never complains; doesnt talk much at all, actually, not in public anyway. Shes quiet. The English Rose who smiles for the camera and wears sensible, inoffensive clothes. Thats her brand in a nutshell  inoffensive.

And then theres Meghan. If the papers are to believed, shes the reincarnation of Lady Macbeth. Scheming, manipulative, calculating. Shes a wife and mother too, but thats not her USP. Instead, shes seen as controlling, ruthless, cutthroat. Demanding and difficult, she is always causing offence (in the media, at least) because she doesnt seem to know her place. (A claim which is, in and of itself, also racially charged.)

Whats fascinating is how readily we accept these caricatures, even when we have no way of knowing the truth. Both women are undoubtedly multifaceted, complex people, with their individual strengths and weaknesses, the same as all of us. But as a culture, we seem incapable of allowing women to be real, to be fully fleshed out human beings. Instead, they are flattened into 2D shapes of good and bad. Its been disheartening to see how Kate and Meghan have been respectively rewarded and punished for their willingness to conform to societal expectations of how a woman should behave.

How Kate, through the medias lens, has been celebrated for remaining silent, and fulfilling her duty through siring heirs to the throne. Meghan, impressive and articulate, who has used her voice to speak out against injustice and to proclaim herself a feminist, has been thrown to the wolves for daring to see herself as an equal to the family she married into.

In 1868s Little Women, Amy says, ambitious girls have a hard time, and it feels depressingly antiquated to see that writ large across the world stage, to watch as the media attempts to browbeat a woman of colour into submission. They want to silence Meghan Markle as a lesson to all the other ambitious girls, especially the non-white girls; as if to say  see? See what we will do to you if you dont play by our rules?
The residents of Athar village here on Sunday made a human chain formation on boats in the Gandak river, in Bochaha tehsil of Muzaffarpur.

This comes after Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government had organised a human chain event in solidarity with efforts to combat climate change and social evils.

Kumar, along with Deputy CM Sushil Modi and other ministers had gathered at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna to participate in the human chain event today.

The human chain is being formed under the 'Jal, Jeevan, Hariyali' programme, which is a flagship programme launched by Nitish Kumar to fight climate change, among other objectives.

The Bihar government had earlier claimed that the human chain on January 19 will be the longest one ever attempted.

The Bihar government had organised such events in support of prohibition of liquor in 2017 and then against dowry and child marriage in 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Meghan Markle's estranged father, Thomas Markle, accused his daughter of "cheapening" the British royal family in part of an interview released a day after Buckingham Palace said Prince Harry and his wife would no longer be working members of the monarchy.

The palace announced on Saturday that the couple would no longer use their HRH titles and would pay their own way in life. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the whole country wished them "the very best" with the new arrangement.

"As I said before ... I was sure that the royal family, which has been around a very long time, will find a way forward," Johnson told Sky News in Germany, where he was attending a summit on Libya.

The monarchy was thrown into turmoil earlier this month when Harry and his American former actress wife announced that they wanted to reduce their official duties and spend more time in North America.

Saturday's announcement from the palace followed discussions in recent days between Queen Elizabeth, her family and officials over how this would work in practice for Harry (35), and Meghan (38).

Thomas Markle told Channel 5 news in a documentary that he believed Meghan was tossing away "every girl's dream".

"It's disappointing because she actually got every girl's dream. Every young girl wants to become a princess and she got that and now she's tossing that away, for, it looks like she's tossing that away for money," he said.

The interview was filmed after the couple's announcement that they would step back as senior members of the royal family. Channel 5 released part of the interview on Sunday and said the full documentary would air "in the coming weeks".

Thomas Markle described the royal family as "one of the greatest long-living institutions ever", saying that when Meghan married Harry in May 2018 they took an obligation "to be part of the royals and to represent the royals".

"This is like one of the greatest long-living institutions ever," he said. "They are destroying it, they are cheapening it, they're making it shabby ... They are turning it into a Walmart with a crown of it now. It is something that is ridiculous, they shouldn't be doing this."

Expand Close Thomas Markle and his daughter Meghan. Photo: Coleman-Rayner / Facebook

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Thomas Markle and his daughter have been estranged since her marriage to Harry.

Earlier this month, the Mail on Sunday newspaper submitted its defence to court action by Meghan over the publication of a private letter she sent to her father.

Thomas Markle said he did not expect Meghan to get in contact.

"I can't see her reaching out to me, especially now ... or Harry for that matter, but I think both of them are turning into lost souls at this point," he said.

"I don't know what they're looking for. I don't think they know what they are looking for."

Meanwhile, Netflix's chief content officer has said the streaming giant would be interested in working with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Expand Close (L-R) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/- WPA Pool/Getty Images) / Facebook

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Whatsapp (L-R) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds attend the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/- WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The statement last night means Harry and Meghan are free to strike lucrative contracts and experts have speculated they could soon follow in the footsteps of their friends Barack and Michelle Obama.

The Obamas agreed a production deal with Netflix to make TV and film projects and now Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer, has said he would be interested in working with the soon-to-be former royals.

Speaking at an event in Los Angeles, he told the PA news agency: "Who wouldn't be interested? Yes, sure."

Following the Sussexes' bombshell announcement that they would be standing back from royal duties, it was reported Meghan had already signed a voiceover deal with Disney in return for a donation to an elephant charity.

And last week video emerged of Harry highlighting his wife's talents to Disney chief executive Robert Iger during the European premiere of The Lion King in July.

He said: "You do know she does voiceovers?"

Iger replied: "I did not know that," and the duke went on to say: "You seem surprised. She's really interested."

Harry and Meghan are likely to be highly sought after in whichever field they enter.

Former Suits actress Meghan's combination of royalty and Hollywood glamour means she will not be short of offers should she choose to follow the Obamas or the Clintons in writing a memoir, or about topics she is passionate about such as women's empowerment.

For Harry, it has been predicted the lecture circuit would give him a chance to share his experience of travelling the world, while his time in the military means he is no stranger to leading others.
Agartala/Guwahati, Jan 19 : A parliamentary panel is on a three-day visit of the northeastern states to study the functioning of the 10 tribal autonomous district councils (TADC) in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura.

Under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitutions, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram have three TADCs each, while Tripura has one.

The purpose of the panel's visit is to elaborate upon the Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019 to empower these TADCs.

The panel, led-by Congress Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma, would also gather opinions of leaders of various parties, specially the tribal ones, elected representatives of the TADCs, officials and experts, an official of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) told IANS.

According to the official, the TADCs and the tribal parties have been demanding direct and more central funding and allocation of more departments for socio-economic development of tribals.

Earlier in December, the panel's visit was cancelled due to widespread violent protest across the region against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 6, 2019, is being studied of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs. The committee may submit its report during the second half of the Budget Session, beginning on January 31.

The Sixth Schedule provides for administration of the tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura to safeguard the rights and economic sovereignty of tribals.

The Bill also provides for increasing financial and executive powers of TADCs. The Bill proposes more powers to elected village councils under the TADCs to prepare plans for agriculture, land management, industries and social forestry development.

The Bill mandates the Finance Commission to recommend devolution of financial resources to autonomous bodies, currently dependent on central and state grants. It also proposes to reserve one-third of seats for women.

After violent protests, the Centre exempted the TADC-governed areas like the inner line permit-administered areas from the CAA purview.

The ILP, which has been in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram, on December was also 11 promulgated in Manipur. The Meghalaya Assembly on December 19 had in an unanimous resolution requested the Centre to promulgate the ILP.

The CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi people, who fled religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

In a significant move, the Tripura Assembly on Friday passed a resolution increasing the number of TTAADC seats from 30 to 50. The TTAADC has jurisdiction over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area, home to over 12,16,000 people, 90 per cent of whom are tribals.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: With an aim to transform Telangana into a hub for business establishments, Minister for IT and Industries KT Rama Rao on Saturday urged a group of delegates from Thailand, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, to set up their units at the proposed furniture park in the city. KTR said the State government could enter into an MoU with the Thailand government to set up the furniture park.

"Telangana is committed to providing housing to all the homeless, so I welcome the Department of Commerce, Thailand, to enter into an MoU with us. We are in the process of setting up the furniture park here. So the Thai furniture-makers can set up their base in Hyderabad and they can use this as a hub to cover the rest of India as well," he said.

Stating that the nearest seaport from Hyderabad was around 400 km, the IT Minister proposed providing subsidies and setting up inland depots for supporting the Thai industry in their business.He highlighted how Telangana has been excelling in different fields when compared to the other States.

He explained to the delegation that Telangana has quite a large number of IT companies, and is also a life sciences hub, while it is home to a number of other industries. KTR said, "Our priority is food processing. Water will be supplied to farmers in the next couple of years, following which food production will increase exponentially."

Around 30 Thai companies, including those that deal with parawood and rubberwood, tapioca and modified starch, rubber products, MDF and particle board, food and processed food, paper, and banking and logistics services, were present at the event.
A massive shakeup in Nigerias tax agency, FIRS, is underway with about 50 directors affected.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that about 50 directors, deputy directors, assistant directors and over 100 other staff of the FIRS have been transferred by the new Executive Chairman, Muhammad Namu.

Sources at the tax agency said the movements were means of shaping FIRS along the lines Mr Mani believes could fetch him the N8.5 trillion target for 2020.

While some of the directors were said to have moved up in relevance and ranking, one senior management staff got a tacit boot away from the agency. A new director also joined the service.

The movement, said a director who recently retired from the service, is also a means of placing Mr Namus own ministers at strategic positions so he could move very fast.

Among those affected was the erstwhile Coordinating Director, Compliance Enforcement Group, Cyriacus Ekechi, who became the Transition Lead Compliance Support Group: Aishiekh Maidugu, Director, Planning Reporting and Statistics, who is now Special Assistant Special Duties to the Executive Chairman; and Femi Oluwaniyi, Director Debt Management,

who is now Transition Lead, Domestic Taxes Group.

Others are Kudu Mohammed, Assistant Director, Project Management Office (e- Services), who is now Special Advisor to the Executive Chairman  a position said to have been occupied by the former Acting Chairman, Abiodun Aina, before he became Coordinating Director, Domestic Taxes Group and Abdullahi Ismaila, Special Assistant Service and Communication to the FIRS Chairman.

A circular signed by the Director Human Capital Management Department, Victor Ekundayo, dated December 31, 2019, said the five along with the executive chairman will constitute the Interim Management Team.

Others are Victor Ekundayo of Human Capital Department, who moved to the Career and Skills Development Department; Innocent Ohagwa of the Special Tax Audit Lagos, who replaced Mr Ekundayo; Gbolaga Oshiga formerly of Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, who moved to Revenue House Abuja as Director Tax Audit; Mohammed Abubakar, formerly Coordinating

Director, Tax Appeal Tribunal who is now Secretary, Joint Tax Board, JTB.

The former Secretary JTB, Oseni Elamah, a former Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service, and a key JTB figure in pre and post Tunde Fowler years got no alternative posting.

Sanni Dahiru, an Assistant Director at the State Coordinators Office, in Charge of Kogi, FCT and Nasarawa replaced Mohammed Abubakar. From Kano, Pam Davou, a Director, and State Coordinator in charge of Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States was asked to come in as Director, Collections at the Headquarters. Najim Ajila, the former Director, Audit replaced Mr Oluwaniyi in Debt Collection, while Joel Ogohi, a Deputy Director replaced Mr Oshiga as State Coordinator, Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu States.

Others moved include David Ogedemgbe, Head Large Tax Audit, who became State Coordinator, Lagos Island; Shetimma, Tamadi, a Deputy Director from the office of the State Coordinator, Benue Kaduna and Niger, became State Coordinator for the states; Lucky Obodoekeh Chukwu, Deputy Director, Head Oil and Gas ( Downstream) became

Head, Large Tax Audit; Umar Aminu Galadanchi of Large Tax Office, Kano became the State Coordinator Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States; Muazu Garba, Assistant Director, Training School, became State Coordinator, Oil and Gas (Downstream); Etsu Mohammmed Madami, State Coordinator, Kebbi Sokoto and Zamfara moved to Borno, Plateau, Bauchi and Yobe in the same position; Peter Alfred, Assistant Director, Large Tax Office in Lagos, is now Head Special Tax Audit Lagos; Yerima Silas, Assistant Director, Large Tax Office Lagos ( Non-Oil) moved to Kano to head the Large Tax Audit Office.

Four other managers were also moved.

Adebayo Kayode, Director Investigations, was moved to Special Investigations Department, while Idris Ndanusa, a fresh Director was hired and posted to INTERNAL Affairs Department, Chukwuemeka Obiagwu, formerly of Enforcement Department is now in the Enforcement Unit, Office of the Executive Chairman, Ozavize Winfrul, a Deputy

Director of the Compliance unit in the Chairmans office moves to Compliance Research, Simon Kato a Deputy Director and Special Assistant, Office of the Chairman moved to Domestic Taxes Group, Group, Odekunle John Oluwatoyin, an Assistant Director and former Chief of Staff to the former Executive Chairman was transferred to Enforcement Unit in the Office of the Transition Lead Enforcement and Compliance Group, Maupatin Olatundun, formerly the Special Adviser to the Executive Chairman was moved to Tax Audit

Department; Olufemi Akinfala, formerly Head, Research and Development Department was moved to Planning Research and Statistics Department; Oyebanji Matthew, Deputy Director Special Tax Audit, Lagos, became Tax Controller Oil and Gas, Lagos, while Muazu Garba, an Assistant Director, Tax Controller Oil and Gas (Downstream) was moved to Tax Investigation Department.

Orebanjo Adebola an Assistant Director at Relationship Management Unit, Lagos was moved to Large Tax Office, Non Oil, and Aniko Emmanuel was also moved to Large Tax Oil and Gas.

Two other Assistant Directors: Oluwa- Ameenat Badmus and Oluola Adedayo were moved from Relationship Management Unit to State Coordinators office, while most staff of the Relationship Management Unitsaid to be a creation of Tunde Fowler, were also transferred.

An Assistant Director confirmed that more transfers and movements will come as Mr Namu strengthens his hold on the FIRS.

These transfers are normal. When Fowler also came, he moved people on a continuous basis until he was comfortable to do the job. And let me tell you, in the FIRS that I know, anyone who has spent four years in an office could be transferred. Its in black and White. And staff know. The new chairman is eager for results. And as you can see, his focus is tax, tax, tax and anything that could assist him to realise the 2020 target, the official said asking not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to journalists.

When contacted, the FIRS spokesperson, Wahab Gbaddamosi, described the massive shake-up as normal internal staff transfers in FIRS.

He said it the usual movement of staff carried out by a new management.

The FIRS Human Resource policy, which says that any staff that has done four years in a position can be moved around approves such movements. In any case, any decision a new management feels can enhance revenue generation capacity towards realizing set targets is normal. There is nothing special about it, Mr Gbadamosi said.
In a shocking incident, Shabana Azmi was quite grievously injured in a road accident yesterday. It is said that her car driver was overtaking a vehicle, when the car hit the moving truck on Khalapur toll-plaza on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Following this, Shabana Azmi suffered injuries on neck and head. The driver also suffered injuries reportedly.

According to latest reports, the 69-year-old actress is not in danger and in a stable condition. Salim Khan also told Spotboye.com that she is doing okay.

"Javed told me that there is no internal damage. She is talking and very much in senses."



Goodtimes

Meanwhile, the truck driver who was also involved in the accident, has lodged an FIR against the actress' driver, who was identified as Amlesh Yogendra Kamat.

Rajesh Pandurang Shinde, the truck driver whose vehicle was hit from behind by Ms Azmi's car, has lodged the complaint, according to the police.



"Due to rash driving by the driver, the car hit the moving truck on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway which resulted in the accident," the FIR copy read.



From Narendra Modi and other politicians to members of film fraternity, everyone has been praying for Azmi's speedy recovery.

The news of @AzmiShabana Jis injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 18, 2020

Came to know abt Shabana Azmi jis accident. I pray to God for her fast recovery and good health.  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 18, 2020

Heard the news about the accident. Wishing @AzmiShabana Ji a speedy recovery  Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) January 18, 2020

Praying for fast recovery of Shabana Azmi who is seriously injured today in a road accident on Mumbai-Pune expressway.#ShabanaAzmi  Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) January 18, 2020

Heard about @AzmiShabana 's accident. Gowd So scary. Anyone has am update as to how she is doing now?  Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) January 18, 2020

Thank god we pray fr u shanana https://t.co/ULfIDu6SI6  Neena Gupta (@Neenagupta001) January 18, 2020

Shabana ji is a fighter!! Shes going to be up and about soooon! Sending you all my love and best wishes. @AzmiShabana get well soonest  pic.twitter.com/lstBg4swqa  Rohit Bose Roy (@rohitroy500) January 18, 2020

Deeply upset after hearing Shabanaji was hurt in a car accident. My prayers for a speedy recovery.  Lata Mangeshkar (@mangeshkarlata) January 18, 2020

The Mumbai-Pune expressway has always been dangerous and there is little or no monitoring to prevent rash driving. Have seen so many terrible accidents there. Hope #ShabanaAzmi is fine. Dear @OfficeofUT please improve safety on this route urgently. It is quite a death trap.  Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 18, 2020

On the other hand, what's even more shocking is that trolls are writing sickening comments on the tragedy. A lot of people thrashed the abusive and inhumane trolls.

RIP to nahi ho gaayi na   IamSingh (@swadeep_) January 18, 2020

Hope Shabana lives and this hate dies#ShabanaAzmi pic.twitter.com/noZ8RLSnVk  Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) January 18, 2020

#ShabanaAzmi will live.

This hate will die.

People of India will ensure that. pic.twitter.com/WtYz1BF37V  Sushovan Patra (@Psushovan) January 18, 2020

The amount of hate @AzmiShabana and @Javedakhtarjadu are getting is horrifying beyond words. I hope she gets better and I hope people wanting her dead find something worthy to do with their lives.



#ShabanaAzmi  bure din wapas dedo (@putaetu) January 18, 2020

Here Biggest Troll Army Cheering #ShabanaAzmi 's Accident ,Is This Civilised Society ? pic.twitter.com/oNHqwpVMpp  Sanwar Ali (@advsanwar) January 18, 2020





Shabana's brother Baba Azmi and husband Javed Akhtar soon rushed to the hospital.

Others including Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar and Anil Kapoor among others also visited her.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 06:09:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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KHARTOUM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The joint Sudanese-Libyan forces on Sunday sent back 107 illegal immigrants who were found in the desert areas of Sudan's Northern State bordering Libya, official SUNA news agency reported.

"The rescued illegal immigrants were found in a difficult condition during combined operations carried out by the Sudanese-Libyan joint forces in the desert of the border state," said Anwar Abdalla Nagodi, commander of the joint forces' Northern State sector.

He said that the rescued illegal immigrants were provided with shelter, medical services and food, and transported to Dongola, the capital city of Northern State.

He vowed that the joint Sudanese-Libyan forces would remain vigilant to fight illegal immigration and human trafficking.
If you want to understand why Gov. Phil Murphy killed the states economic incentive programs, over the squeals and protests from the Legislature, take a peek at the latest findings of his task force that has been knee-deep in the muck for a year.

The agency that agreed to hand out $11 billion in tax breaks went rogue. So far, the task force has found nearly $600 million in suspect awards, many of them handed out to political insiders based on flimsy claims that these firms might someday leave the state. And first among those insiders was George Norcross, the political boss from South Jersey, whose credibility takes another whopping hit in this report.

Before diving in, a word on the politics: The Legislature blew this by passing a sloppy bill in a last-minute showdown in 2013, a bill drafted with the help of lobbyists who stood to profit from it, a bill that many legislators hadnt even read. And once they launched this flawed program, they walked away from it, failing utterly to do the hard work of oversight.

Murphy was dead right to let this program die, rather than renew it in its current form, as the Legislature attempted to do. Hes offered constructive ideas on reforming it, including a reasonable cap on total awards to protect taxpayers.

The task force, chaired by Ron Chen, a respected Rutgers professor, issued its second report on Thursday. Chen says that the big takeaway is that the agency, the Economic Development Authority, didnt scrutinize the claims that companies made to win these enormous awards.

Its own budget was pegged directly to the number of grants it approved, Chen says. That creates an inherent conflict.

The core challenge managing targeted incentive programs like this one is to make sure companies are not bluffing, that they are telling the truth when they say they need generous tax breaks to make their investments profitable. The EDA barely checked, the task force found.

The overriding culture was to get to yes so we can grant this application, Chen says. It wasnt set up to verify intentions like that. It was the honor system, basically, and when youre talking about this amount of money, the state cant base its decisions on that.

For Norcross, the worst of it concerns the $40 million awarded to Cooper University Health Care, where Norcross serves as board chairman. Cooper submitted documents showing that it could save money by moving to Philadelphia, and the EDA board specifically cited that threat when it made the award.

But Norcross says the hospital never intended to move to Philadelphia, and notes that the original application specifically stated that. He claims it was the EDA staff that asked Cooper to include information on sites in Philadelphia, for reasons he cant explain. He also claims that Cooper had no reason to mislead, since that threat would not affect the size of Coopers award.

The task force basically demolished that defense. The EDA employee who worked on the Cooper case denies asking Cooper to present information on Philadelphia. E-mails circulated among Coopers executive team clearly state that the EDA believed Cooper might move. And the threat to move to Philadelphia increased the size of the award, from $7 million to $40 million, so Cooper did have incentive to mislead.

Chen says the $540 million in suspect awards have been referred to other agencies for review, so were likely to hear more. In the meantime, give the governor credit for killing this program and moving to build something better.

More: Tom Moran columns

Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Kathmandu, Nepal  Sun, January 19, 2020 10:05 723 48be62e941b44f04afae568c322b92e0 2 People Nepal,shortest-man,Guinness-World-Record,Khagendra-Thapa-Magar Free

The world's shortest man who could walk, as verified by Guinness World Records, died Friday at a hospital in Nepal, his family said.

Khagendra Thapa Magar, who measured 67.08 centimeters, died of pneumonia at a hospital in Pokhara, 200 kilometers from Kathmandu, where he lived with his parents.

"He has been in and out of hospital because of pneumonia. But this time his heart was also affected. He passed away today," Mahesh Thapa Magar, his brother, told AFP.

Magar was first declared the world's shortest man in 2010 after his 18th birthday, photographed holding a certificate only a bit smaller than him.

However he eventually lost the title after Nepal's Chandra Bahadur Dangi, who measured 54.6 centimeters, was discovered and named the world's shortest mobile man.

Magar regained the title after Dangi's death in 2015.

Read also: Japanese woman turns 117 years old, extends record as world's oldest person

"He was so tiny when he was born that he could fit in the palm of your hand, and it was very hard to bathe him because he was so small," said his father, Roop Bahadur, according to Guinness World Records.

As the world's shortest man the 27-year-old traveled to more than a dozen countries and made television appearances in Europe and the United States.

"We're terribly sad to hear the news from Nepal that Khagendra is no longer with us," said Craig Glenday, Guinness World Records editor-in-chief.

"Life can be challenging when you weigh just 6 kilograms and you don't fit into a world built for the average person. But Khagendra certainly didn't let his small size stop him from getting the most out of life" he said.

Magar became an official face of Nepal's tourism campaign, which featured him as the smallest man in a country that is home to the world's highest peak, Mount Everest.

During his stint he met other short people around the world, including the shortest woman, Jyoti Amge, from India.

In a video released by Guinness World Records, Magar is seen playing a guitar with his brother, riding a bike and sitting at his family's shop.

The world's shortest non-mobile man remains Junrey Balawing of the Philippines, who measures only 59.93 centimeters but is unable to walk or stand unaided, according to Guinness World Records.

The record for shortest living mobile man is now retained by Edward "Nino" Hernandez of Colombia, a reggaeton DJ who stands 70.21 centimeters tall, Guinness said.
Sweden: New rules for ham radio permit applications The SSA reports applications for amateur radio permits will now take 2-3 weeks longer due to National Security considerations



A translation of the SSA post reads:



PTS [communications regulator] will prepare permit cases with the Security Police and the Swedish Armed Forces from the turn of the year due to a change in the law aimed at strengthening Sweden's security. The authority invites all actors who need a radio permit to apply in good time.



From January 1, 2020, testing of permit applications to use radio transmitters will take at least 2-3 weeks longer than before. PTS then has an obligation to consider Sweden's security in connection with the authority examining applications for permits to use radio transmitters. The reason for this is amendments to the Electronic Communications Act that come into force at the turn of the year.



In order to be able to assess whether certain radio use can affect Sweden's security, PTS will prepare permit cases with the Security Police and the Swedish Armed Forces.



PTS encourages all players who wish to apply for a radio permit to apply in good time.



More information

Karoline Bostrom, Head of Unit, 073-644 56 20

PTS press service, 08-678 55 55



Background to the new rules

The security policy situation in our world has changed, which places increased demands on security considerations in a number of social sectors. Electronic communication is an area that is central to society's function and overall defense capability. From the turn of the year, amendments to the Electronic Communications Act will take place to protect Sweden's safety in the use of radio.



DL7 (SM7HZK)



Original text

https://www.ssa.se/info-fran-pts/ SSA in Google English

https://tinyurl.com/SwedenSSA
A 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student was killed when she was struck by a Port Authority bus on Saturday.

University officials confirmed Barbara Como, a senior, was killed in the crash in the citys Oakland section, WPXI is reporting.

Como was from Chester Springs and was an anthropology student and research assistant at Pitt, WTAE reports.

According to reports, the crash occurred at the intersection of DeSoto Street and Fifth Avenue around 12:15 p.m. Saturday.

Just what happened is still under investigation by the Port Authority police, Pitt police and the Pittsburgh Police Collision Investigations Unit.

As the Pitt community mourns the loss of one of our students, we send our heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends, university officials said in a statement released to the Pittsburgh stations.

REST IN PEACE: Police released this photo of the Pitt student who was hit and killed by a PAT bus in Oakland. https://t.co/NzK1Ep5bf6 pic.twitter.com/HNMPjgZg0J  WPXI (@WPXI) January 19, 2020

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India is currently experiencing unrest and violence enough to make the Mahatma toss even in heaven. Much of it seems to be the result of a transformation that India is experiencing from its secular  or pseudo-secular philosophy to the Hindutva or soft Hindutva version of cultural mutation.

The arguments for and against the philosophy driving the Constitution and its basic structure in the light of the CAA and NRC/NPR have only fuelled the fires. All this indicates that the cleavages within India, one that had perhaps so far only been concealed, are very real indeed.

There are schools of thought that argue in favour of these developments and believe that they will be a sort of second freedom movement that will give renewed independence to India; there are other schools of thought which believe that these developments mark the end of a secular and inclusive India with the CAA and NRC/NPR beginning to divide society in the name of religion, foreshadowing similar division by caste and creed and birthing vaidic Bharat which will be considerably more religious and spiritual.

It is important to note at this juncture that India is no stranger to this kind of revivalism. The objective of such movements in the past had been to renew interest in traditional religion and spiritualise politics.

Followers of Arya Samaj and the Congress faction, led by Tilak, sought the revival of Hindu traditions while building modern India. Following the death of Tilak in 1920, M K Gandhi was seen as its inheritor. When Gandhi publicly emerged as the Mahatma, he received widespread revivalist support. Indeed, many believed him to be one of them but they were soon disappointed.

Despite Gandhi having much in common with them, the more these revivalists learnt about Gandhis ideas the more they stood in his opposition. The revivalists were disturbed by Gandhis definition of the Indian nation as a brotherhood or confederation of communitiesa plural-secular India.

This was in direct opposition of the revivalist idea of a majoritarian Hindu society. Hindu-Muslim tensions promptly grew during this time (1921-1923) and dominated the national movement ultimately emboldening the hitherto dormant Hindu Mahasabha as a forum for a variety of Hindu interests (including cow protection, Hindi in the Devanagri script, caste reforms etc).

It was this fear psyche that consequently spread nationwide leading to the popular idea of Hinduism somehow being endangered. It legitimised the founding of yet another influential Hindu organisation  the RSS in 1925 by Hedgewar, a man who was deeply influenced by Tilaks ideas.

The RSS purports to defend Hinduism and its avowed objective is the unification of Hindus. It believes in the inculcation of a belligerent awareness among people that they share a common heritage and that such a destiny of unification for Hindus was merely the natural outcome of historic developments.

One of the most influential works in the development of the Hindu nationalist ideology was a treatise called Hindutva: Who is a Hindu? published by Veer Savarkar in 1923. Golwalkar, who succeeded Hedgewar, in an interesting speech at the Hindu Mahasabha attempted to list the cultural changes which Indian Muslims would have to undergo in order to become acceptable Indian (Bharat) nationals. This outlook was seen as parochial and introduced rifts in Indian society going so far as to break its tolerance.

In the South, Periyar was quick to react thinking that this new ideology of Indias elite was moving towards a vaidic Bharat and sought to defend the rights of the Dravidians against Aryan domination. In 1925, the same year the RSS was formed, he organised the Self Respect Movement designed foruplift of Dravidians.

This in turn gave rise to a Muslim revival recalling its attention to the 1820 ideas of Tajdid (renewal) and Islah (reform) proposed by Sayyid Barelwi, the Indian Muslim revivalist from Raebareli. Many developments supporting this came about in 1826 culminating in the growth of Political Islam as a modern phenomenon in the early 20th century.

Political Islam has since had many faces. Some Islamists took the radical militant route while others preferred a more secular, soft approach involving appeasement and societal adjustment. One earliest such group was the Jamaat-i Islami (the Islamic society) established by Mawlana Abul Ala Mawdudi (1903-79) in India. Setting up of the Indian Union Muslim League in 1906 as a political party was the first major step in the direction of the separatist movement among Indian Muslims writes Asghar Ali Engineer in Indian Muslims.

Democratic integration

The Khilafat movement, which was also part of the pan-Islamic movement, left lasting impression on the Muslim psyche and caused incalculable harm to the efforts of leaders like Gandhi who were fighting for a secular and democratic integration of Muslims into mainstream Indian society. This was the beginning of the disintegration of trust between Hindus and Muslims.

The conclusion to this series of events has to be more positive. Today, we seem to be frozen in the same situation and it has left those who believe in the existence of a middle path rudderless. The gloriously flawed answer to this appears often in binary must be fought back.

But it is time those in the middle make more attempts to close the rift and cement Indias identity and cultural heritage with the Hindu pride and bring everyone under the umbrella of a simple Bharat with Hindustan also as our pride, with our individuality intact, with things left in peace, and learning lessons from history.

It is time to shift the focus of our arguments judiciously and fairly. Just as we seek out the wrongs done to any religion or community, we must revisit our generational timeline and alter our ways of life within the broader cultural mosaic of Bharthiya ethos and bring peace. Instead, if we sit idly by and let things run their course, it will weaken India and allow a new breed of colonialists to take over our beloved Bharat again.

(The writer, a political analyst, teaches political science at Karnatak University, Dharwad)
While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. By way of learning-by-doing, we'll look at ROE to gain a better understanding of American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NYSE:AEP).

American Electric Power Company has a ROE of 11%, based on the last twelve months. Another way to think of that is that for every $1 worth of equity in the company, it was able to earn $0.11.

See our latest analysis for American Electric Power Company

How Do I Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for ROE is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for American Electric Power Company:

11% = US$2.1b  US$20b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

It's easy to understand the 'net profit' part of that equation, but 'shareholders' equity' requires further explanation. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company.

What Does ROE Signify?

ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the yearly profit. 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 American Electric Power Company Have A Good Return On Equity?

One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. However, this method is only useful as a rough check, because companies do differ quite a bit within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see American Electric Power Company has a similar ROE to the average in the Electric Utilities industry classification (9.0%).

Story continues

NYSE:AEP Past Revenue and Net Income, January 19th 2020

That isn't amazing, but it is respectable. ROE tells us about the quality of the business, but it does not give us much of an idea if the share price is cheap. I will like American Electric Power Company better if I see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of growing companies with considerable, recent, insider buying.

The Importance Of Debt To Return On Equity

Virtually all companies need money to invest in the business, to grow profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same.

Combining American Electric Power Company's Debt And Its 11% Return On Equity

American Electric Power Company clearly uses a significant amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.41. Its ROE is quite good but, it would have probably been lower without the use of debt. Debt increases risk and reduces options for the company in the future, so you generally want to see some good returns from using it.

But It's Just One Metric

Return on equity is a useful indicator of the ability of a business to generate profits and return them to shareholders. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. 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. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So I think it may be worth checking this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

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.
Imperial Valley News Center

Couple Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Indonesian Wildlife

Miami, Florida - A Florida couple pleaded guilty in federal court to violating the Lacey Act for their role in trafficking protected wildlife, announced Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Departments Environment and Natural Resources Division.

In a plea agreement with the government, Novita Indah, 49, and Larry Malugin, 52, admitted to illegally importing wildlife from Indonesia to their Port Richey home and reselling the wildlife across the country and internationally.

A grand jury indicted the defendants in June 2019 on charges of conspiracy, smuggling, and Lacey Act violations. The defendants admitted that from Oct. 4, 2011, through Jan. 12, 2017, they imported and resold Southeast Asian wildlife in the forms of taxidermy mounts, bones, skins, belts and wallets. The wildlife species included slow loris, babirusa (a rare Indonesian pig prized for its distinctive curving tusks), leopard cat, macaque, lutung, langur, spitting cobra, krait snake, monitor lizard, barn owl and reticulated python. The defendants did not sell any live animals.

Indah and Malugin sold approximately 3,100 wildlife items using eBay to buyers across the United States and the world valued at a total of $211,212. They began trafficking while living in Indonesia and continued to do so as they moved to Puerto Rico and ultimately Florida in 2013. They smuggled the items to purchasers in the United States in packages falsely labeled to conceal their contents.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) seized approximately 369 wildlife articles from the defendants home during a Jan. 12, 2017, search warrant. The agents recovered four spitting cobra mounts, one python mount, one krait snake mount, 156 assorted snakeskins, 99 monitor lizard skins, 87 snakeskin and lizard skin wallets, 20 belts with snake heads and a babirusa skull.

All of the wildlife was protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States, Indonesia, and approximately 181 other countries are signatories to CITES, which provides a mechanism for regulating international trade in species whose continued survival is threatened by trade. The Lacey Act is the nations oldest wildlife trafficking law and, among other things, prohibits selling wildlife that had been illegally brought into the country.

USFWS and U.S. Customs inspectors repeatedly seized packages shipped by Indah and Malugin, but they continued to sell wildlife using multiple eBay and PayPal accounts. This investigation was part of Operation Global Reach, a USFWS long-term taskforce into the flow of illegal wildlife from Indonesia to the United States.

Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The defendants agreed to forfeit the wildlife seized from their house.

The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in Redmond, Washington, led the investigation, with the aid of USFWS agents and inspectors in California and Florida and the support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations. Trial Attorneys Ryan Connors and Matthew Evans of the Environmental Crimes Section represent the government, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley Howard-Allen of the Middle District of Florida.
An obese Islamic State (IS) 'mufti', Shifa al-Nima, dubbed as 'Jabba the Jihadi' on social media was been captured by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of Iraqi forces on 16 January

An "obese" Islamic State (IS) 'mufti', Shifa al-Nima, dubbed as Jabba the Jihadi on social media, was captured by the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team of Iraqi forces on 16 January, reported News18.

This was scored as a "big" catch in the city of Mosul where they nabbed the ISIS cleric, described as "morbidly obese" by various publications, weighing a whopping 250 kg approximately. The Islamic State leader was loaded onto a flatbed pickup truck by the Iraqi SWAT team as he was too large to be accommodated inside the police car, reported New York Post.

According to an official statement by the Iraqi forces, the apprehended mufti al-Nima was known for "provocative speeches against the security forces" and was an important leader of "Islamic State gangs". The statement further added that Bari passed "fatwas" to order the killings of Islamic clerics who refused to pledge their loyalty to IS. The Jerusalem Post described the locals as having terrible memories of al-Nima.

London-based anti-Islamic extremism activist Maajid Nawaaz wrote a lengthy Facebook post ridiculing al-Nima and his misdeeds, along with images of the fanatic who can be seen immobilized due to his immense weight. "It is good that Syrians, Iraqis and others witness the debasement of this scum. That he is this obese, this immobile and this humiliated is yet another blow to IS imbeciles who thought God was with them."

ISIS mufti (their top religious authority for issuing religious rulings) Shifa al-Nima is arrested (yes, this is actually how large he was). He was so overweight, maybe from remaining sedantry in his hiding place, that he had to be taken by police in the back of a pick up truck pic.twitter.com/qbmQO1s5cr    (@MaajidNawaz) January 17, 2020

"Do not underestimate the psychological blow the image of this obese monster being arrested is to IS," he further added.

Do not underestimate the psychological blow the image of this obese monstor being arrested is to ISIS. Gluttony is frowned upon by jihadists. But also, ISIS branded themselves as fighters possessing rare courage & discipline... meanwhile this walrus was their top religious cleric    (@MaajidNawaz) January 17, 2020

However, Maajid cautioned towards the end that his post shouldn't be used to mock obesity, but instead, the hypocrisy of Islamic extremists.

Activists, use my above point not to mock obesity, but to mock the hypocrisy & debasement of a man who sanctioned enslavement, rape & murder. If ISIS were uniquely animalistic, then its befitting they were presided over by a uniquely beastial figure such as this. Almost poetic    (@MaajidNawaz) January 17, 2020

In another social media post, this time on Twitter, Bari was branded as "Jaba the Jihadi" by Macer Gifford from Britain, who earlier fought against ISIS alongside the Kurdish militia.

I'm delighted to say that the Islamic States very own Jabba the Hut has been captured in Mosul.

Responsible for the execution of men, women and children.

This animal raped and murdered. Good luck hanging him Iraq  pic.twitter.com/r1naWIXYMA  Macer Gifford (@macergifford) January 16, 2020

With inputs from ANI
By Express News Service

MYSURU: Meena Bazar JDS corporator Tasneem was elected mayor of Mysuru City Corporation on Saturday. With this, the two-time corporator has become the first Muslim woman mayor in the history of MCC. The election for the mayor, deputy mayor and four standing committees of the MCC was held at the Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar council hall at the corporation building on Saturday.

Tasneem defeated BJP candidate Geethashree Yoganand by 47 votes. C Sridhar, Congress corporator from Giribovi Palya, defeated BJP corporator Shanthamma Vadivelu for the deputy mayoral post.

As per a power-sharing deal, JDS and Congress had agreed that the mayoral seat will go to the former and the deputy mayor to the latter. Following the announcement of reservation matrix for the mayor and deputy mayor seats, hectic lobbying was taking place for the mayoral gaddi.

There were four aspirants in the JDS for the coveted seat, which was reserved for the Backward Classes (A) woman. The names of councillors Namratha Ramesh, K Nirmala, Reshma Banu and Tasneem were doing the rounds. However, as per the instruction from the JDS top brass, party leaders chose Tasneem.

On Saturday morning, Tasneem filed her nominations for the mayoral polls and was successful in winning the coveted post. Similarly, from the Congress, C Sridhar was chosen for the deputy mayor post. Krishna Byregowda, who was the KPCC observer for the election, held talks with Congress councillors and made sure that there was no indifference among party workers.

On the occasion, seven members each for the four standing committees of the corporation  taxes, finance and appeals; planning and improvement; accounts and public health, education and social justice were elected.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University administration on Saturday dismissed the allegations that it is discriminating against members of the JNU community belonging to the SC and ST category and said it has always stood for them. A delegation of JNU faculty members from the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities accused the university administration of discrimination against teachers and students from these underprivileged sections and requested Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan to take up the matter with the government.

The statement by the varsity came after the delegations meeting with Paswan. Administration strongly refutes some media reports that there is discrimination against members of JNU community belonging to the SC/ST category. Such allegations have no evidence and are clearly made to vilify an institution that has always stood for all marginalised sections of the society, the varsitys Registrar Pramod Kumar said. Jawaharlal Nehru Universitys admission policy and practice have successfully given every opportunity and relaxation to SC/ST students, while seeking to fill up the vacant seats, he said. All SC/ST candidates who qualify in the written examination in the entrance test are called for viva voce without shortlisting, Kumar said. In the hostel allotment every year, first step has invariably been to allot rooms to SC/ST students, he said. While all SC/ST posts have been filled up in the non-teaching staff category, full-speed efforts are being made by the administration to fill up the vacant teaching posts, Kumar said. The university also started a special drive to fulfil the backlogs in SC/ST teaching positions in the recent past, he added.

The teachers told Paswan that the recent hike in fee and reduction in seats has affected these underprivileged communities the most and that SC and ST teachers were not getting due promotions despite fulfilling the criteria.

Teaching posts reserved from these communities have been left vacant even though able candidates are available, Paswan said quoting them.

In its memorandum, the delegation of teachers said SC and ST members of teaching and non-teaching staff and students have been facing discrimination from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration, headed by Vice Chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is now monitoring public hospitals and clinics to curb thefts and ensure drugs are not diverted to the black market. This follows checks that were done at the countrys drug procurement and supply entity, the National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm).





The Government has been making strenuous efforts to supply medicines to public hospitals and clinics, but there were suspicions that some of the drugs were being diverted to the black market.





Through its Prevention and Corporate Governance Unit, ZACC is targeting Parirenyatwa, Chitungwiza and Sally Mugabe (formerly Harare Central) hospitals, among other public hospitals and clinics.





In a statement at the weekend, the commission said the operation was an extension of ongoing Natpharm compliance checks on drugs.





The objective of the operation is to ensure that there are no leakages and abuse in the distribution of drugs to hospitals, said ZACC.





The operation is meant to bring sanity to hospitals and improve service delivery and stamp out corruption that has seen patients in some parts of the country being made to pay huge amounts of money for drugs which are sourced by Government funds or donated by the Global Fund, WHO and other international partners.





The compliance unit is tracking the path of distribution of such drugs from the time they leave Natpharm until the drugs are administered to patients.





ZACC said it was testing the effectiveness and reliability of the distribution system to ensure that it was not open to abuse. Some health workers, it said, were being found selling essential drugs which were in short supply in formal channels.





Some doctors are prescribing alternative drugs which are not in stock and refer patients to their pharmacies where sometimes patients are forced to pay exorbitant prices in US dollars, said ZACC.





Other areas to be covered by the operation include disposal of expired drugs which are being sold on the streets.

ZACC is seeking to have the hospitals adopt electronic systems of drugs storage and administration to avoid the manipulation and abuse of the stock card system.





According to the Head of the Operation, Mrs Clara Nyakotyo, a similar operation has been conducted in provincial, district and mission hospitals in Mashonaland Central and Manicaland provinces.





There are Government plans to capacitate local pharmaceutical manufacturers, establish more manufacturing plants, including toll manufacturing and bonded warehouses, to improve availability and affordability of medicines and medical sundries in both the public and private sector.





Meanwhile, ZACC has warned senior executives in public institutions to stop victimising their subordinates for assisting it with information that can help to investigate possible cases of corruption.





Targeted subordinates were either being summarily dismissed or redeployed to other departments without following due process.





ZACC said it felt betrayed by the actions of such executives which amounted to unfair labour practice and abuse of office. A case in point is that of eight ZESA Holdings workers who were fired last year for unlawful job action, breaching of the Official Secrets Act and insubordination.





The workers were however, recently reinstated by the new management at the power utility after they were victimised for outing corruption tendencies that exposed some shoddy deals.





ZACC spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said last week that they were overwhelmed with reports of victimisation of workers in public institutions for assisting the anti-graft body.





The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is inundated with reports from the general public in which there is evidence of victimisation by authorities in the public sector, said Comm Makamure.





What is utter disturbing is a situation where an entity is visited by the Zacc, either for the purposes of conducting systems audit, investigations or both and later on, some of the employees are served with suspension letters or are advised that the department is in the process of redeploying them to other departments.





The procedure is riddled with a lot of questions as to whether or not the authorities are aware that there is a Labour Act Chapter 28.01, Statutory Instruments and various regulations, which legally guide any decision-making by them.





However, such decisions are promptly arrived at just to catch the targeted employees unawares, leave them confused for some time and pounce on the hapless individuals.





One would rush to think these are simple labour matters, when in essence it is corruption masked in what looks like labour issues.





If this sinister practice is allowed to persist, then going forward, nobody will be willing to assist either the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission or Zimbabwe Republic Police during investigations. The continued victimisation of innocent employees leaves nobody safe under the caprices of the vastly corrupt bosses.





Comm Makamure said the problem was being aided by human resources departments that allowed people to be reassigned without justification.





The second question is how on earth do the human resources departments, charged with the redeployment of employees, accept and redeploy staff without demanding reasons why the redeployments have to be done, he said.





One would have thought that the human resources departments should turn down such unscrupulous ways of subjecting employees to unprofessional movements to other departments. In any case, the employees are transferred without following any legal procedure as required in the Labour Act and supporting regulations.




Australias wildfires have revealed an ancient aquaculture system built by indigenous people which is thought to predate the time of the Pyramids of Egypt.

The Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is situated south-west of Victoria and features an elaborate series of stone-lined channels and pools set up by the Gunditjmara people to harvest eels. As of 2019, the site was added to the Unesco World Heritage List.

Some parts of the elaborate system also shows evidence of stone dwellings dating to around 6,600 years ago.

But after a bushfire which was sparked in December and only brought under control last week, extra sites were spotted that were previously hidden under vegetation. The sites are also believed to be part of the aquaculture system.

Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation project manager, Denis Rose, said he was unconcerned about how the fire when it first broke out would affect the system.

Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the state of New South Wales on 31 December 2019 AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billows from a huge bushfire that has torched over 200,000 acres of land in East Gipplsand, Victoria on 2 January EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Residents look on as flames tear through bushland in Lake Tabouriee, Australia on 4 January on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage behind Lake Conjola on 2 January Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter tackles a bushfire in East Gippsland, Victoria on 31 December EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter gives water to a parched koala in Cudlee Creek, South Australia AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters tackle a blaze as it tears through a farm in New South Wales on 21 December AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky is turned red over East Gippsland as fires continue to rage through Australian bushland on 4 January Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A kangaroo near bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures An aerial view of a bushfire near Bairnsdale State Government of Victoria/EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters work to tackle a blaze on the outskirts of Sydney on 31 December 2019 Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighting helicopter dumps water on a bushfire on the outskirts of the town of Bargo near Sydney Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Children play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A satellite image of the Batemans Bay showing smoke and fire from wild bushfires European Union, Copernicus Sentinel Data via REUTERS Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The afternoon sky glows red from bushfires in Nowra AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Burning embers cover the ground as firefighters battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria Jonty Smith via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The remains of burnt out buildings along a main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo AFP/Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters try to protect homes around Charmhaven, New South Wales NSW Rural Fire Service/AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale Glen Morey via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Business owners stand in front of their shop which was destroyed by a bushfire in Cobargo EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter dumping water on a fire in Victoria's East Gippsland region Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Think smoke from bushfires fills the air in eastern Gippsland Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures "Carmelised" snow caused by dust from Australian bushfires is seen near Franz Josef glacier in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park, New Zealand Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland, Victoria. More than 800,000 hectares have been burnt in East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke billowing from a fire burning at East Gippsland EPA/DELWP Gippsland Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures LIFES.A.BREEZE via Reuters Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Smoke and wildfire rage behind Lake Conjola Robert Oerlemans via AP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A house and van are seen destroyed after bushfires ravaged the town of Bilpin, west of Sydney AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A helicopter fighting a bushfire near Bairnsdale in Victoria's East Gippsland region State Government of Victoria/AFP Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Fire and Rescue personal run to move their truck as a bushfire burns next to a major road and homes on the outskirts of the town of Bilpin Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Amy, left, and Ben Spencer sit at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega where they are camping after being evacuated from nearby sites affected by bushfires AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures A firefighter sprays foam retardant on a back burn ahead of a fire front in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Two bushfires approach a home located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property damaged by the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield, Victoria EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Nowra AFP via Getty Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures Property under threat from the East Gippsland fires in Sarsfield EPA Devastating wildfires rage across Australia: In pictures The main street of the New South Wales town of Bombala is pictured shrouded in smoke from nearby bushfires AFP via Getty

Speaking to ABC, he added: There have certainly been many fires here in the thousands of years prior.

Our major concern was the effect after the fire, and weve still got some work to do there.

Photograph of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape and stone-lined channels and pools set up by the Gunditjmara people (Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation)

We were concerned about the trees, particularly those taller trees that are growing in and around some of those fish trap systems and also our associated stone house sites, of the trees being weakened and damaged, and potentially falling over and the roots upending some of these ancient stone structures.

A new survey will take place in light of the discovery with archaeologists working alongside indigenous rangers as well as aerial photography using specialised software.

Mr Rose said the find was positive but it was also fortunate that the fire was not as severe as other parts of the country.

Smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria (AP)

He added: We have been extremely fortunate here. Weve had relatively cool burns  certainly nothing like the damage and the devastation over in the eastern parts of Australia.

These fires have burnt the undergrowth rather than scorching the forest the whole way through.

Scientists say the Australian landscape is being permanently altered by the nations wildfire crisis as a warming climate brings profound changes to the island continent.

The Australian government said on Sunday it will provide financial aid to the countrys tourism sector that has been badly hit by long-lasting bushfires, as business owners fretted about cancellations stretching into the months ahead.

Although recent rains have brought some relief, damage to the industry from the fires has approached $1 billion (529bn), according to estimates from Australian tourism bodies.

A fire earlier this month scorched more than 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres) on the island, located off the coast of South Australia, in blazes described as hell on earth.

Rains have brought the number of fires burning across Australias east and south coast to under 100 for the first time in weeks, easing a disaster that has scorched an area roughly a third the size of Germany.

Twenty-nine people have been killed in the fires while millions of animals are also estimated to have perished.

In Melbourne, fears receded that smoke from the fires would disrupt the Australian Open which starts on Monday as the city and parts of the bushfire-ravaged state of Victoria braced for heavy rains.

Additional reporting by agencies
For many years Google maintained a clear division  it makes the OS, other companies make the phones. This all changed when the search giant acquired Motorolas phone and set-top box business in 2011 for $12.5 billion.





MotoMaker for the Moto X

The first phone to come out of this union was the Moto X, which was unveiled in August of 2013. To make it clear that this is a fresh start, the serious metal and Kevlar look of the Droid era was replaced with soft colorful materials. Motorola offered extensive user customization through the MotoMaker.



Motorola Moto X

The service was available in the US only as each phone had to be custom built. Users could choose between three colors for the metal frame and seven for the anodized metal accents. For the back, there were four natural wood options, along with several options for back panels made of anodized aluminum, woven fabrics and other materials with various surface finishes. In total, there were hundreds of possible combinations. Users could even customize the boot-screen text and the wallpaper before the phone was even made.

Just like the Nexus phones, the Moto X ran mostly stock Android with a few extra functions added (Motoblur from the Droid and Atrix phones was gone). The Android 4.2 Jelly Bean capabilities were enhanced with several Active features.

For example, Active Notifications leveraged the OLED screens powered efficiency to show white-on-black notifications. You have to remember that this was before Always On displays were common on Android.

Similarly, Active Display efficiently showed the time and any notifications after you pulled the phone out of your pocket. It was this kind of ambient intelligence that Google marketed as a key feature of the phone and is still very much the focus of the companys consumer products.

Google Now would learn your routine and warn you that you have to leave early because theres a traffic jam on the way to work, for example. It also kept an eye on your email inbox and pulled up your plane ticket when you arrived at the airport and kept track of any deliveries you were expecting.

Voice commands were fully supported too, you could send a message, make a call or ask Google Now questions. Voice commands and dictation worked offline and the phone impressed with how accurately it could recognize your words.

We might as well be describing a Pixel phone  the Google Assistant has changed since the Now days, but it still has one of the best voice recognition and it focuses on a hands-free control of the phone. And it does it all offline.

Just like the folks making the Pixels now, the Moto X design team focused on experience rather than hardware features. This divided opinions between those unhappy with the older hardware and those that loved the end product.

The Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset was already old in 2013 with its dual core CPU at a time when the competition boasted the first quad cores. The 16GB of base storage with no option to expand wasnt popular either.

The phone was also criticized for its 4.7 OLED screen, it was on the small side for the time, as well as the 720p resolution when 1080p was becoming standard. It has to be mentioned that the display had a full RGB stripe, though.

Plus, being small is exactly the reason many loved their Moto X. Even the dual-core CPU felt zippy as the phone avoided the heavy Android skins that were prevalent in 2013. And the storage was formatted with F2FS, a flash-friendly file system (many 2019 phones adopted it for the extra performance, yes, 2019 phones).

The Moto X brought innovation to the camera department with a 10MP ClearPixel sensor. Instead of the usual RGB Bayer filter, it had an RGBC filter (C is for clear). This, combined with the relatively large 1.4m pixels promised great improvements to low-light performance.

There was also a dedicated chip to handle image processing as the Qualcomm ISP was not optimized for RGBC sensors. In the end the camera was good but far from perfect. Still, Google must have learned a lot about designing cameras from this one.

Googles first generation of Motorolas (Moto X, C and E) won over many long time fans. Unfortunately, the companys long term goals didnt align with being a phone maker and it sold Moto to Lenovo in 2014 for $3 billion. Years later it would buy a large chunk of HTC to develop its Pixel phones, but thats of no help to Motorola, which has waned in popularity in recent years.
Jonathan Cheban attended the Casablanca Men Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Friday.

The TV star, who has officially changed his name to FoodGod, wore a baby blue suit with a speedboat on front.

Also this week the best friend of Kim Kardashian has been seen at the Louis Vuitton, Off-White, Y Project and Amiri Menswear shows proving he definitely has a passion for fashion.

He loves the shoes: Jonathan Cheban attended the Casablanca Men Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on Friday

Making waves: The TV star, who has officially changed his name to FoodGod, wore a baby blue suit with a speedboat on front

Scary: Kim was bound and left in a bathroom when robbers entered her Paris hotel in 2016 and took $10 million worth of jewelry, including a large diamond ring from Kanye. She has since worn very little jewelry

When Cheban went to the Amiri Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show on Thursday, he went with a more toned down look.

The Spin Crowd star had on a black pin stripe jacket over a white T-shirt and his diamond FoodGod necklace.

The pal of Khloe, Kourtney and Kendall also had on round sunglasses that looked like they were from the 1990s.

Basic: When Cheban went to the Amiri Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 show on Thursday, he went with a more toned down look

Louis time! Cheban is seen arriving at Louis Vuitton fashion show in Paris

The man and his muscle: Jonathan had a bodyguard behind him that looked to be 6ft5in

When hitting the Louis Vuitton show, he opted for all black.

Cheban had on his blazer with a black top and leather slacks with black boots.

And he was also seen in an Orchi hoodie with an evil eye on front.

The longtime friend of Kim and regular on Keeping Up With The Kardashians has hired extra security in Paris.

He wants to prevent a robbery like the one Kim went through in 2016, according to PageSix.

The 45-year-old New Jersey native - who has also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother - often wears diamond encrusted necklaces and watches worth a fortune.

Another crazy look: The New Jersey native had an evil eye on the front of his sweatshirt by Orchi and he added colorful sneakers; here he is seen arriving at Y Project fashion show; the woman behind him taking photos appeared to be a friend

'Its important for his peace of mind and well-being,' a source said of Foodgod.

Kim was bound and left in a bathroom when robbers entered her Paris hotel in 2016 and took $10 million worth of jewelry, including a large diamond ring from Kanye.

She has since worn very little jewelry and only pulls out her engagement ring for special occasions.

On Wednesday he was seen at the Off-White show on Wednesday with bodyguards.

Don't take my bling! The star has extra security in Paris; seen at the Off-White show on the 15th

He had on a thick diamond-encrusted chain necklace with matching bracelet when modeling a red jacket, black slacks and colorful sneakers.

He will also have muscle on hand when he goes to the shows for Louis Vuitton, Rick Owens and Balmain.

According to the site, he has plenty of bling.

The star owns a $60,000 hamburger necklace and a cotton candy-inspired necklace worth $98,000.

There is also his diamond encrusted Rolex watch and his diamond FoodGod necklace.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 23:39:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- As many as 2,400 Turkey-backed Syrian rebels have so far reached Libya to fight against the east-based army led by Khalifa Haftar, a war monitor reported Sunday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 1,700 fighters are preparing to fight while 24 fighters had been killed in the battles in Libya.

These fighters were sent there to join the forces led by the UN-backed government.

The Turkey-backed rebels opened four centers in the northern Syrian city of Afrin to recruit fighters to be sent to Libya, according to the observatory.

The first batch of Syrian rebels were sent to Libya by Turkey in December 2019.
The rental program allows new hunters to give hunting a try without having to make that commitment by going to a store and buying a blind for $200, Rahe said. You can try it here for a minimal cost and decide if thats something you want to invest in. This is kind of a start to give people the basics for turkey and waterfowl hunting.

Its an exciting development for Rahes own work with the National Wild Turkey Federation and R3 efforts. One of our goals at the Turkey Federation is to recruit 1.5 million new hunters, and so this is just a small part of that  getting people into the outdoors and helping them experience something for the first time, Rahe said.

Shes optimistic about the rental programs potential success. I think once the public knows about this, theyll jump on it, she said.

To pick up equipment, hunters must visit the Outdoor Adventure Center, 930 N. 14th St., in person. Reservations may be made over the phone for three-day or seven-day rentals.

The facility is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends. For more information or to make reservations, call the facility at 402-472-4777.

Renae Blum is a public information officer at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Contact her at renae.blum@nebraska.gov.

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KG Suresh By

The Hyderabad rape incident once again triggered a nationwide debate on factors including role of media in shaping societal attitudes towards women. While the focus has been on cinema, TV and social media, it is pertinent to discuss a recent research study on the portrayal of women in advertising, funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR). The study states that subordination of women, treating them as inferior to men, low in intellect and social hierarchy comes across in over 80 per cent of advertisements in five brand categories across three decades (1990s to present).

Of late, one can see a few brands attempting to present the modern and independent women, but a deeper look reveals that in most such cases, same old stereotypes are reinforced or new ones created. The study, Portrayal of Women: An Empirical Study of Advertising ContentIssues and Concerns for Policy Intervention, was undertaken by academicians at Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, a public-funded policy research Institute under the ICSSR. It included content analysis of advertisements across five product categories that encompassed FMCG (fast-moving consumer products), Lifestyle, BFSI (Banks, Financial sector and Insurance), Automobile, Travel, and Leisure, across 30 sub categories, 164 brands, and more than 1,160 campaigns from 1991 until 2019.

The analysis found that with the exception of some lifestyle and FMCG brands that encompass beauty products, deodorants, apparel, condoms, alcohol, and tobaccowhich are sexist and blatantly objectify the womans bodythe bigger issue in the narrative across brands is the stereotyping and subordination of women in a patriarchal narrative. Often in the BFSI and automobile sector advertisements, women are shown as dependent on men with no decision-making power. For stock markets, they hardly matter.



It further says that personnel in most advertisement agencies campaign teams had little knowledge of the prevalence of any law or code of ethics on the indecent representation of women in advertising. Another surprising finding was that in more than 300 universities and institutes of higher learning that impart education and training in journalism and mass communication in India, just about five per cent syllabi has some content on gender.

While the proposed amendments in the Indecent Representation of Women Act, 1986, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD), has expanded the definition of Indecent and now includes depiction of women as a sexual object, which appeals to the prurient interest, the study recommends that the amendment also include stereotyping of women in the advertisement narrative.

Inclusion of a compulsory paper on gender in mass communication syllabi, engagement with advertising industry and professional bodies to create a mechanism of self-regulation on gender sensitivity indicators, making top advertisers agree to make their brand campaigns gender-sensitive, orientation workshops on gender for the creative teams and rating of advertisements on gender sensitivity parameters by Advertising Standards Council of India are among other constructive suggestions. Its indeed a wake-up call for all stakeholders.

(KG Suresh is a Senior Journalist and former Director-General, Indian Institute of Mass Communication and can be contacted at kgsure@gmail.com)
An Artificial Intelligence expert has claimed that killer robots will become a greater threat to humans than the impending climate change. Referring to the teenage Swedish climate activist, Dr David Levy, in an interview with Daily Star Online, said that a Greta Thunberg of the robot world is needed to avert the global devastation.

Author of Love and Sex with Robots raised concerns about the rise of drones and said that there are several reasons for robots goings rogue. Dr Levy warned that people with malicious intentions and required skills can hack into the robots and control them. In a panel discussion at a recent Raspberry Dream Labs event in London, the AI expert said that there should be laws to deal with such situations but the whole process of developing laws is very slow.

Read: Sri Lanka Lifts Ban On Flying Drones Which Were Imposed After 2019 Easter Terror Attacks

Dr Levy fears that the speed and growth of AI can overtake the efforts of governments of bringing legislation to deal with futuristic robots. Something needs to be done, there needs to be a Greta Thunberg of the AI world," said the AI expert. Last year, a drone disrupted the air traffic at Garwick airport in London which forced the grounding of flights in the runway.

Dr Levy said that the drones that led to thousands of passengers missing their flight were just wandering in the airspace. He asked what if terrorists get hold of one such drone and fly it into the middle of Trafalgar Square with a little resin. Dr Levy opined that governments have been far too lax in the way they are addressing or not addressing these problems.

Read: Army Naik, Two Others Held; Two Drones, Rifle Magazine, Walkie-talkies Seized By Punjab Cops

Increased use of drones

In recent times, use of drones has rapidly increased across sectors, from the defence to surveillance to disaster management. New drone technology is set to replace expensive ships used for reading potential earthquakes in subduction zones, the region of the Earth's crust where tectonic plates meet. Security forces have started using drones for launching attacks as well as monitoring possible infiltration.

Read: Drone-sighting In US Still Remains Mystery For Federal, State Authorities

Read: 'No-drone-zone' Posters Displayed In Four Languages To Warn Tourists At Taj Mahal
SARAH VINE: I worry that, unplugged from his structured life, Harry will lose his way

This, in some respects, feels like the perfect fairytale ending: handsome Prince gives up his title and his home for the woman he adores, and in so doing discovers the true meaning of love.

Off they sail into the sunset, happy ever after. Or will it be?

That is the $64,000  or multi-million dollar, if projections about the earning potential of the new Suss(ex) Royal brand are anything to go by  question.

How will they  and perhaps more importantly their relationship  adapt to the new reality?

When I say reality, I dont, of course, mean the one that you and I live in.

Even without the trappings of royalty, Harry and Meghan will still enjoy a rarefied existence in the upper echelons of society, or certainly the stellar end of it.

This, in some respects, feels like the perfect fairytale ending: handsome Prince gives up his title and his home for the woman he adores, and in so doing discovers the true meaning of love

They will still have staff and security, and I doubt whether either of them will ever find themselves queuing for a bus or hanging out their own washing anytime soon.

But while their new freedom will finally liberate them from their apparently excruciating existence as working royals, it will also throw up challenges of its own.

The principal question, it seems to me, concerns Harry.

Because while it is undoubtedly the case that he has long wanted to escape the Royal limelight, the truth is that this life is all he has ever known.

For all that he may despair of the limitations and obligations it imposes on him, it has also afforded him a clear framework from which to operate.

That is not to be underestimated.

For Harry, damaged as a boy by the tragedy that befell his mother, is a man who needs stability and structure. That is why he thrived in the Army: that discipline allowed him to control his emotions, to channel his anger and trauma in a constructive manner.

It was, in many ways, the making of him. That is why it came as such a surprise  to me at least  that he would renounce even his beloved military obligations in the divorce settlement. The statement from the Queen was clear: As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments.

As much as Harry may want this new and more private life in North America, that surely will be a wrench.

Either way, being a working royal was in many ways a continuation of life in the military: scaffolded by protocol, his days were mapped out for him long in advance.

Whatever else he may have lacked, it was certainly never purpose.

Pictured: The statements from Buckingham Palace and the Queen announcing that Prince Harry and Meghan would be stepping down as royals

That is gone now. Unplugged from his role as an official royal, his existence as just another A-list celebrity will be totally unstructured.

At first that will seem like a great liberation, a source of excitement. Besides, things will be busy, frantic even, putting in place all the arrangements for his new life. But once the practicalities are all sorted and the dust settles there is a very real risk that Harry  who, while undoubtedly charming doesnt really have any qualifications other than his Royal status  will struggle to find a metier.

Its not just that he could end up bored or develop unhealthy habits; he needs to be very careful that he doesnt emerge from it all as little more than a bag-carrier for his glamorous wife.

Not only would that be soul-destroying for him, it would be seriously detrimental to their relationship. Because for their marriage to thrive  for any marriage to thrive, in fact  it is very important that one person, or one persons career, does not become too dominant.

Harry has already given up so much  indeed, his very identity  for Meghan. It is really important now that he does not allow her agenda to completely dominate every decision they make together.

Its one thing to respect the wishes of your beloved, and make sacrifices on her behalf; quite another to obliterate yourself in the process.

This is something Harry really needs to watch out for, not least because it seems to me there is a quite fundamental difference between what the two of them want out of life.

By his own admission Harry wants to lead a normal life and have less publicity. The same is not strictly true of Meghan. One of the principal reasons she was so unhappy as a Royal was because she found the constraints restrictive to her brand.

How will they  and perhaps more importantly their relationship  adapt to the new reality?

It wasnt so much that she disliked the attention, more that she resented not being able to have it on her terms.

That is why they set up their @sussexroyal Instagram account, and used it instead of official Palace channels to communicate with the public.

Witness also the trademarking of the Sussex name, not to mention the phalanx of agents and media advisers already on-board. Whatever it is Meghan has in mind for their next steps, its not the quiet life that Harry says he has always longed for.

The other potential problem for Harry is being cut off from his support network. Since he married, he has by all accounts changed his phone number not once but twice.

Not only has he drifted away from his brother William (some say the rift is deep indeed), he has lost touch with the close-knit circle of posh pals he grew up with, all of whom who revere the Royals and, perhaps more importantly, would never dream of talking to the Press.

In North America, by contrast, he will have few if any friends of his own, just Meghans. Cut off from his family and friends, he could end up very lonely. No old mates to have a pint with (as he did this weekend in West London) but plenty of celebrity groupies who will attempt to get close to him for their own ends.

The other potential problem for Harry is being cut off from his support network. Since he married, he has by all accounts changed his phone number not once but twice

And then theres the foreign press. This, perhaps, may turn out to be the ultimate irony for a man who claims he and his wife have been hounded out of this country by the media. Because if he thinks hes going to get a much easier ride abroad, I fear he may be sorely disappointed.

We all know how much Harry despises the British media, and some of us can even understand it; but for all our faults, we are at least, for the most part, supportive of the Royal family as a whole.

The American and Canadian press have no such qualms, nor will social media.

As the Prince in exile, Harry will be just as much of a story as he ever was, likely even more. Only now, stripped of his Royal status, he wont have the Queen to watch his back.

JAN MOIR: Without titles, investments in their charms may be met with ever dwindling returns

Roll up, roll up. The deal has been struck and so has the match that lit the torch that ignited the cannon that fired the rocket that blasted Harry and Meghan into the celebrity stratosphere they have long desired.

Ka-boom! Hollywood here they come.

From this moment onwards, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can begin building on their joint career as, well what?

Professional charity awareness raisers, do-gooders, shine-a-lighters, refuge visitors, ribbon cutters, banana sloganeers and red carpet hustlers.

What does the future really hold for these two crazy kids, whose collective professional career highlights to date involve appearing as a paralegal in an American television series and serving as a cavalry officer in the army?

Nothing mundane, that is for sure.

Harry once said that he longed to be a tour guide in Africa, but we must accept that theres as little chance of him ending up as a Canadian Mountie as there is of Meghan actually working in a womens refuge instead of just visiting the office of one for five minutes.

As the Mail reveals today, Netflix is among the global companies already eyeing up the Sussexes as the couple begin their exciting new life as stars in the glamour galaxy. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos is one of many keen to work with them. Who wouldnt be interested? Yes, sure, he said.

No doubt the Sussexes will be hoping to follow the lucrative post-presidential career path of the Obamas, who have scored a Netflix production deal.

But lets be honest, the two couples are not quite in the same league, are they?

The Obamas have a deep cultural and political hinterland in America, not to mention personal gravitas, intellectual rigour and buckets of charm. Oh, and eight years in the White House.

From this moment onwards, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can begin building on their joint career as, well what?

One wishes Harry and Meghan all the best, but once the novelty of their quasi-royalty and holistic babbling wears off, are Americans really going to tune in one more time to hear jet-set Harry chunter on about global warming, lesser spotted endangered species and other assorted issues?

Laudably, Harry and Oprah Winfrey are already working together on a multi-part mental health series for Apple TV.

Harry says he wants to share global stories of unparalleled human spirit fighting back from the darkest places in the programmes. Well, thats one way of describing the Sussexes painful extraction from the House of Windsor and putative rebirth stateside.

No doubt Harry and Meghans mutual favourite narrative of being victims in and of the Royal Family  and indeed an entire bullying, racist, horrible nation  will be cranked up to the max in America. Just like a tragic backstory related to gain sympathy and support by no-hope contestants on a television talent show called The Ex-Royal Factor.

The Queen has insisted that whatever happens in the future the couple must uphold the standards of the monarchy, but the cheeky chisellers have hardly made a good start, have they?

We have already seen Harry touting for business for his wife with Disney boss Bob Iger and Lion King director Jon Favreau on the red carpet at the films premiere in July. If anyone needs any extra voiceover work . . . he says before Meghan interrupts to joke Thats really why were here  its the pitch.

Some see it as the most embarrassing moment for the monarchy since the Abdication Crisis of 1936, but as any starlet will tell you, an opportunity is nothing unless it is an opportunity seized.

The couple are keen on voiceover work for the Duchess as clearly full screen appearances are deemed too vulgar at the moment. One wonders for how long.

However, its been rumoured for years that the original cast of Friends might be getting together for a remake of the eternally popular sitcom. Surely there is room for a guest appearance from our favourite couple here?

In an episode called The One With The Sussexes, Rachel and Phoebe could go to a yoga class with Meghan, while Joey tries to understand the complications of the multi-surnamed British royalty. Duh. So you are named after like a place, like a Baked Alaska?

Yes, Joey, exactly like that.

But there lies the central problem to any future success for Harry and Meghan. The Sussexes entire marketability and cachet rests on their royal-ness. It is the past that they desperately want to leave behind that will monetise their future.

Yet now that they are royal no more, surely any investment in their charms will be met with ever dwindling returns?

Certainly they are to be applauded for declaring their independence, cancelling their benefits and signing off the royal dole for ever. It is brave and daring, as for the first time in his life Harry faces the indignity of earning a living that is commensurate with his lifestyle.

The couple say they want to be progressive and self-sufficient, so why not go the whole way and give up their Sussex titles, too? Ill tell you why. Because they would be worth very little commercially without them. Harry and Meghan want to be ordinary, but not that ordinary.

But somewhere along the line havent they overlooked the fact that America and Britain are very different societies? Or that being a duke and duchess in North America in the year 2020 is just a little bit preposterous.

Indeed, the more you consider it, the more it seems undemocratic, unrealistic but, most of all, un-American.

While millions of North Americans are entertained by the aristocratic nonsense of, say, Downton Abbey, America and Canada see themselves as classless societies, where people are judged by accomplishment, rather than heritage.

Eventually it will dawn on everyone that a dukedom is not just a form of celebrity, it means that by accepting a hereditary title you are acknowledging that you are better than the rest of us, or at least entitled in a way others are not.

No doubt their high-profile friends will help them along this difficult bump in the road to Hollywood; the powerful people who will ease their passage in this exciting new world. They include George and Amal Clooney, Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, the Obamas and Beyonce  truly Harry and Meghan can literally thank their lucky stars.

So yes, Hollywood wants them, but for how long? Can you make a livelihood out of being worthy and ethical? Is a career built on sustainability really sustainable? Even Bono has to sing a song now and again and Greta Thunberg has to do her homework.

According to the deal theyve agreed Harry and Meghan are free to do as they please  so long as it still pleases the Queen. So expect a lot of modest good works in the beginning. Closely followed by big movie deals, chat show sofas, guest appearances. . . Am I being too unkind? As movie mogul Sam Goldwyn once said: Too caustic? To hell with the costs, well make the picture anyway.
IMAGE: Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal launches 'Kejriwal Ka Guarantee Card', consisting 10 promises if his government returns to power, ahead of the Delhi assembly polls, at the party office, on Sunday. Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday released a 'guarantee card' listing 10 promises, including free bus rides for students and deployment of 'mohalla marshals' for women's safety, that his Aam Aadmi Party will fulfil if it is re-elected in Delhi.

The card, '10 guarantees of Kejriwal', also promises to continue the scheme for free electricity up to 200 units, free health facilities, to plant two crore saplings, clean Yamuna river and reduce pollution in Delhi over the next five years.

"I am giving 10 guarantees to the people of Delhi. This is not a manifesto. We will launch a comprehensive manifesto in 7-10 days. The manifesto will have more things specifically for students, teachers, among others. This will be for everyone," Kejriwal said.

"The Opposition is saying that many of our schemes will only last till March 31, so this is our guarantee that these schemes will continue for the next five years. 24 hours electricity will continue and 200 units of free electricity will continue," he said.

The 'guarantee card' also promises more than 11,000 buses and to increase the length of the Delhi Metro network to over 500 km.

Kejriwal released the card by signing it.
CPM leader Yousuf Tarigami on Sunday questioned the government over the development in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and asked why Opposition leaders are not allowed to visit the Union Territory.

"Not allowing any political activity in J-K, and not allowing any Indian parliamentarians to visit J-K. If there is development then why are they preventing us from going there to see the ground situation? This exposes their hollow claim," Tarigami told ANI.

As part of the first phase of the Centre's special public outreach programme, Union Ministers, including Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh; MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal and MoS for Health Ashwini Choubey visited Jammu on Saturday.

Under the programme, the delegation will interact with the people during the visit to different districts and educate the people under various themes including rapid development after the President's Rule from June 2018 and now after the re-organisation of J-K in August.

Tarigami, a former MLA was also detained after the government stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status in August last year.

"Lives of the common man have become miserable. The Indian Constitution and the constituent Assembly made certain commitments to the people of Jammu and Kashmir... Article 370 provided more rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to shape their lives and future. Unfortunately, today's leadership being insensitive unilaterally and unconstitutionally scrapped Article 370. They abrogated virtually bond of relationship between Jammu and Kashmir and India," he said.

"Today's leadership initiated the process of eroding the very fundamentals of the Indian Constitution. Today the victim is Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow the process will continue," Tarigami added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is known to be an ardent speaker. He has delivered 1719 speeches during the past 31 years. However, he seems to be losing his skill.

Speeches are no longer the magic way of communicating with and influencing the masses. Many of those who follow Khamenei's comments have assessed his latest sermon on Friday January 17 as a poor speech full of repetitions that did not convince the audiences. The speech was also devoid of anything new in its form or content.

During the past three decades, speaking has been Khamenei's main method of reaching out to his supporters and the people. He has delivered an average of 55 speeches of varying quality every year.

This week, he was back to the Friday Prayers podium after 8 years and nearly everyone expected a hit, particularly because Iran had left behind a few major events including the killing of Khamenei's most important general, Qassem Soleimani, and the downing of a civilian airliner with IRGC missiles that claimed 176 lives. Everyone wanted to hear Khamenei's reaction to those events.

However, there was nothing new in his speech which was also devoid of the usual passion and full of repetitions. As usual, he praised the IRGC and Soleimani, attacked the U.S. and Europe, and tried to ignore and humiliate the protesters who have been lately calling for his resignation. He also made passing comments about the downed civilian aircraft.

He even did not meet the expectations of his supporters who wanted to see the same leader who would revolutionize them with his passionate words against the U.S. and Israel. But they saw a different man. The skinny 81-year old man was like any old man suffering weakness and ailments.

He did not seem confident enough about his ability to influence, so he repeated his points several times to make sure that at least listeners sitting within a distance of a few meters will take his points seriously. This was a man who used to have the final say on everything and his supporters want to see him as such.

This, however, does not mean that he will change his way of communicating with the people or that he is not going to deliver another speech in the future. But he is no longer likely to pass for a skillful and avid speaker.

Forty years ago, it was Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri who suggested that Khamenei should replace him as Tehran's prayer Imam. He described Khjamenei as "a good speaker." He gave speeches during 30 years of his career as the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader. But recently, the audiences already know what he is going to say. They mock him for repeating the word "enemy" and search for his previous comments on the Internet to highlight contradictions in his speech and behavior.

In the past, the people had to listen to him and take his word for wat he wanted to say. But with the emergence of social media, he is not the only one who speaks. Listeners, including U.S. President Donald Trump can challenge him and comment about what he said almost immediately. It is true some Iranians have less access to the Internet and social media than others, mainly because of the censorship imposed by Khamenei's men, but millions have a chance to respond.

Many can also find out what Khamenei and Trump said and decide for themselves about who is right and who is not.

The emergence of social media and its interactive nature has coincided with the declining influence of public speaking as a way of communicating with others. Khamenei has lost some of his advantages as people can attack him on platforms such as Twitter and challenge him or even ridicule him.

In the new age of communications, the state TV is no longer the only source of news for the people. Social media have challenged Khamenei and Iran's state TV at the same time.

Although undoubtedly Khamenei is still the most powerful and influential political figure in the Islamic Republic, the people no longer see what he says as important and continue to protest against him and his regime with a renewed vigor and demand his resignation in the streets loud and clear.
It is hard to read the history of modern Tigray without due reference to the man who brought the small-sized Ethiopian region into the fore in Ethiopias modern politics, namely late prime minister Meles Zenawi. Zenawi, a Tigrayan, was a visionary leader who built modern Ethiopia and introduced sweeping economic reforms that made the country one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Nothing surely comes without a cost because the late prime minister showed zero tolerance to dissent and silenced almost all political opponents, pushing them either into exile or to jail. The ethno-federal system he introduced, though preventing the disintegration of Ethiopia, has left the nation in a fix.

Under Zenawi, the Tigrayans swept all political, military, intelligence, media and economic structures of the country. It is a well-established fact, though, that the Tigrayan-led government did change once and for all that infamous image connected with Ethiopia that the latter was merely a land of abject poverty and famine.

Economically speaking, in 1995 the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray (EFFORT) was established to refurbish the economy of the region after the guerrilla warfare that terminated the reign of the Marxist government of Colonel Mengistu Hailemariam. Through the $3 billion fund, the Tigrayans boast economic independence as the fund, run by Zenawis powerful widow, Azeb Mesfin, has swept almost all structures of the Ethiopian economy, ranging from agriculture, banking, heavy industries and transportation into car assembly plants.

Tigray is not only independent economically, but also politically. When the incumbent Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent into oblivion the three-decade-long ruling EPRDF with the Prosperity Party as its heir, the Tigrayans rejected the merger, defending what they love to call the federal system. Since the rise of Ahmed to the office of the prime minister, he has embarked on a purge campaign that saw Tigrayans removed from public posts at the highest level of the political, economic, military, intelligence and media hierarchy. This has appealed to many categories in Ethiopia outraged at the Tigrayan-led EPRDF, but it has turned Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray region, into the most powerful hub for dissidents who brag of their deep understanding of the complexities inherent in the Ethiopian polity versus the fly-by-night approach of the Oromo-led cabinet.

At the end of last year, the TPLF held in Mekelle its first executive assembly since the burial of the EPRDF. The most notable outcome of that meeting, in which more than 2,000 Tigrayans participated, led by TPLF leader Debratsion Gebramichael, is that the people of Tigray fully support their leaders in their adamant refusal of Abiys new Prosperity Party. They also explicitly denounced the dissolution of the EPRDF and spilled vitriol against the federal government under Abiy for continued attempts to destabilise the region. The Tigrayans also said they would cooperate with all federalist forces ready to preserve the constitution.

Against all odds, the meeting sent a resounding message to Tigrays neighbouring Eritrea that the Tigrayans, who share lots in common with Eritreans, including speaking the same language, Tigrinya, are ready to normalise ties with their neighbours and further people-to-people relationships. After Abiy declared he would give back Badme, the town once disputed between Ethiopia and Eritrea after the border war from 1998-2000 and which the United Nations recognised as Eritrean, Tigray was rumoured to block the deal because the people of Tigray believe they sacrificed the most, given geographical proximity, during the war and that Badme was Tigrayan land that could not be ceded. In practise, many Eritreans live in Tigray and the number of Eritreans fleeing the repressive regime of Isaias Afwerki into the small-sized region is on the rise every day.

Right from the beginning, Abiy declined to embrace the once powerhouse of the country. On the contrary, he flew off the handle and called Tigrayan leaders, who rejected his political agenda, day-time hyenas, a term that was broadly circulated as a common curse against average Tigrayans. The Tigrayans have replied with a vehement criticism campaign and their media outlets have fired away at the incumbent prime minister, smearing almost everything he did, including the recent launch of the first Ethiopian satellite, portraying the move as propaganda. They even questioned the young leaders eligibility for winning of the Nobel Peace Prize, as he did, striking a deal with Eritrea to make peace while failing to make peace at home. The war of words between the two sides went beyond control to the extent of airing fake news on a state-run quasi-official news agency (Walta Information Centre) that the powerful leader of Tigray, Debratsion Gebramichael, died! The latter once held senior government positions, including as board chairman of the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation for the Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). But after Abiys rise to power, Gebramichael was demoted to just president of the TPLF.

Now, influential Tigrayan leaders and academics, including former cabinet ministers and generals, broadly speak of an independent state of Tigray. Some have also flirted with the idea of the regions merger with neighbouring Eritrea, inflaming the national passions of average Tigrayans and reminding them of the Kingdom of Axum that stretched from Tigray to nowadays Eritrea and formed one of the most powerful trading and naval centres for more than a thousand years. It is widely believed that Article 39, pertaining to the right of each nationality to secession, was enshrined in the 1995 Ethiopian Constitution so that it would be triggered if push comes to shove, particularly for small nationalities like the Tigrayans.

So far, the Tigrayans have not seriously embraced the secessionist calls and perhaps this is due to the fading light they see at the end of the tunnel that federalist forces would win the general elections this May, and the status quo would be maintained. But what if Abiys Prosperity Party gets a convincing win and reforms the government with popular support? What if he amends the constitution and alters Article 39? Above all, what if the federal government interferes to foist off Tigrayans on the new unionist party? Will Ethiopian voters of different ethnic backgrounds follow Abiys lead, or nip in the bud the young leaders dream of being the last emperor?

Ethiopia is on the brink of a major change that would usher in a new political reality with an impact not only on Ethiopians at home, but on the whole Horn of Africa region and the continent at large.

*The writer is a former press and information officer in Ethiopia and an expert on African affairs.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 16 January 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Midway through the spectacular dance documentary "Cunningham," the camera pans over a dark sky, past search lights, to a dancer in black on the rooftop edge of a New York sky rise. Another dancer, face covered and limbs bound inside his costume, struggles on his back, like a straightjacketed prisoner of war. Sirens and street noises sound, and the search light slices past more dancers, black stripes beneath their eyes, crouched or skittering or holding each other like planks. Then Merce Cunningham's ever-placid voice speaks.

"In 'Winterbranch,' the general idea was darkness; it was about violence," he says, as an interviewer expresses surprise that he would admit any interpretative intention. "This piece, by the combination of elements, produces this violent display, but the kind of violence it produces is special to each spectator," Cunningham clarifies. "[To] one [the subject] was race riots and one was the atomic bomb and one was concentration camps, and on and on."

These images and reflections, so ingeniously arranged by director Alla Kovgan, drive home the simultaneous truth of two seemingly opposed claims: these precise, controlled dances are never really "just steps," as one of Cunningham's founding dancers points out. And yet, what they "mean" is what you see: As Cunningham insists, "We present, we don't interpret."

In "Cunningham," the presentation is riveting.

Kovgan shoots the Cunningham dancers performing his works down subway tunnels and deep in German forests; they dance, exactingly, inside palaces and alongside enchanting bogs. In many ways, the extraordinary 3-D cinematography recalls another unforgettable recent dance film, "Pina," but whereas that Wim Wenders documentary interviewed Pina Bausch's dancers during and after her sudden death, in Kovgan's film the members of Cunningham's last company never speak. Instead, Kovgan honors Cunningham's Zen-influenced awareness of ephemerality in another way.

The film does not attempt to trudge through Merce Cunningham's whole life, either personal or creative. It skips over his childhood in Washington state, his youthful stardom in Martha Graham's company. It starts with Cunningham's first work, in 1944, and incorporates only the dances Cunningham made between then and 1972, when the last original member of his company stopped dancing for him. In other words, the film stops right where one moment for the company ended, and another began. The very timing of the film's release is perfectly attuned to Cunningham's radical acceptance of change. Cunningham died at age 90 in 2009. As he planned, a decade after his death, his company  the dancers who so exactingly dance his works for these cameras  has just dissolved.

To some viewers, including the French audiences who threw tomatoes and eggs on the Merce Cunningham Dance Company's first international tour, Cunningham's refusal of signification makes every Cunningham dance feel as frightening as "Winterbranch"; to others (and to the critical consensus of dance history), this makes the work stimulating beyond compare.

"You're looking for something linear, when we are bringing you into a field," Cunningham's musical collaborator and lifetime partner, John Cage, says to a frustrated audience member in another voiceover.

Kovgan, whose credits include a previous dance documentary on the Zimbabwean modern dancer Nora Chipaumire, does not go so far as to make her own film a "field," but she comes close. There is a tad more narrative shaping than a Cunningham dance would ever offer.

It starts with him teaching dance class  a single student, that first day  and then forming a company. We read excerpts from early love letters exchanged with Cage, and see him first use chance procedures, rolling dice to determine the length or sequence of a dance, divorcing it from music.

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It's especially thrilling to see Cunningham connect with visual artist Robert Rauschenberg  a wonderful archival-footage-spliced performance of his 1964 Rauschenberg collaboration, "Antic Meet" (the dance in which Cunningham strapped himself to a chair), is a joyful highlight. It's then devastating to hear his reaction to Rauschenberg's break from the company, and realize how badly Cunningham needed him. Fortunately, he found the fortitude to move on to new collaborators, like Andy Warhol and his floating Mylar balloons in "Rainforest."

In all the intellectual reflection "Cunningham" provokes about the lasting fascination of Merce Cunningham's ideas, we shouldn't forget the factor of Cunningham's beauty. Every archival clip here attests to it. It had less to do with his physique than with his dignity and thoughtfulness, qualities that passed to the dancers who perform so faithfully in this entrancing film.

As Cunningham admits early in the documentary, "Dance exercises over dancers an insidious attraction. It makes them work hours daily on perfecting an instrument which is really deteriorating from birth. To what end, this eternal daily struggle? Because inside of all that is an ecstasy. Brief, perhaps, not always released. But this can happen at any moment. And when it does for a dancer, he can smile without knowing it. There is no guarantee of this, but it does exist. We see it, and we know it."

Indeed, throughout "Cunningham," we see it, and we know it.
Got a ticket to the Trump rally at the Wildwoods Convention Center next Tuesday?

So do more than 100,000 other people  and tickets are still being requested for a venue that holds about 7,400.

This is going to be a little bit extreme because of how small the venue is, Darwin Cooper, 30, of Vineland, said of making the cut and getting inside.

A big fan of President Donald Trump, this will be Coopers eighth Trump rally. Most venues are at least twice as big as Wildwoods, he said.

The campaign recommends getting to the venue as early as possible because admission is first come, first serve, but there will be two screens outside for those who dont make it inside to watch the rally, according to a Trump campaign spokesperson.

Protest scheduled during Trump rally in Wildwood Cape May County Indivisible will host a protest rally Jan. 28 outside the Wildwoods Conventi

The campaign is still telling those interested in attending Jan. 28 to request tickets at donaldjtrump.com.

Some folks stay out overnight (waiting in line), and a majority of folks like myself get there 4:30 a.m. to 5 a.m., Cooper said when asked for advice on how to get in the doors.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-18 22:30:42|Editor: huaxia

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Young scientists from Myanmar became beneficiaries of agricultural study and research in Guangxi, the only region in China that boasts water and land gateways to ASEAN countries.

NANNING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Khin Cho Aye, still in her white lab coat at 9:00 p.m., stood beside a huge apparatus continuously humming rapid staccatos. Test results of heavy metal elements illuminated an attached screen, as the Myanmar woman took out another box of soil samples.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, many scientists and engineers at Bossco, an environmental solution provider based in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, are working against the clock.

EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES

For the past two years, hundreds of Myanmar students and scientists gained opportunities to study and do research in China under programs sponsored by the Chinese government and companies in a bid to promote people-to-people exchange in science and technology between the two countries. Many of them chose Guangxi, the only region in China that boasts water and land gateways to ASEAN countries, according to the regional government.

Khin Cho Aye had worked for Myanmar's education ministry as a senior researcher and lecturer in biotechnology and focused on remediation techniques for heavy-metal contaminated soil. "My grandparents are farmers. Since I was a kid, I have seen soil quality deteriorating," said Khin Cho Aye, noting that the issue was related to the overuse of chemical fertilizers.

Khin Cho Aye, a researcher from Myanmar, is working in a laboratory of Bossco, an environmental solution provider, in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhao Manjun)

In May 2019, she got an opportunity to participate in a one-year program launched by the regional government of Guangxi and joined the Bossco team. In Guangxi, she tested lab findings in an experimental plot and operated a set of cutting-edge apparatus, which will help her fulfill her dream to restore the soil quality of the cropland back in Myanmar, said Khin Cho Aye.

Such exchange experiences can help Chinese and Myanmar researchers understand each other's values, lifestyles and methodologies, facilitating better scientific and technological cooperation, said Zhu Hongxiang, technical director of Bossco and Ph.D. supervisor at Guangxi University.

EXPLORE NEW REALMS

In a laboratory of microbiology and plant resource utilization in the School of Marine and Biotechnology of Guangxi University for Nationalities, Myanmar researchers Thaw Thaw Han and Khaing Phyo Wai swiftly smear bacteria on Petri dishes.

"Back in Myanmar, inoculation is very time-consuming. We used a metal smear loop to plant bacteria on a dish, after which we burned the loop with a lab burner to sterilize it. The worst part is that before applying again, we need to wait until the loop cools down," said Khaing Phyo Wai.

"Chinese researchers inoculate much faster," she said, noting that each time the Chinese researchers use a sterilized bamboo stick instead of a loop. "After the experiment, they have dozens of contaminated sticks. They sterilize them in a bundle and store up for the next time. No burning, no waiting."

"We absolutely would recommend the technique to our colleagues once back home," she said, adding that now she has skillfully maneuvered this technique.

Khaing Phyo Wai (L1) and Thaw Thaw Han (R1) are checking samples at a test field in Guangxi University for Nationalities in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhao Manjun)

Thaw Thaw Han and Khaing Phyo Wai used to work for Myanmar's Education Ministry. In China, their research focuses on finding plant-growth promoting microbial strains and cultivating more effective bio-fertilizers to make green agriculture more affordable.

The two researchers are among the beneficiaries of the Talented Young Scientists Program launched by China's Ministry of Science and Technology in 2013. The program was under the framework of the BRI Action Plan for Science and Technology Innovation, promoting in-depth scientific and technological exchanges between China and developing countries.

Like China, Myanmar has booming agriculture and a pressing need to ensure healthy food for the people, they said. "I know a brand-new research area after studying here, such as extracting microbial strains from the ocean for bio-fertilizer development. Myanmar also has a long coastline, and I hope to delve deeper in this regard," Thaw Thaw Han added.

Soe Thet Naung, the Myanmar consul general to Nanning, said Guangxi's climate is similar to that of the Shan and Kachin states of Myanmar, an aspect that could help fructify and deepen bilateral exchanges in agricultural research.

He highly valued the bilateral cooperation in agricultural research between China and Myanmar, noting that the two sides have kicked off a series of projects, including the China (Guangxi)-Myanmar Crop Excellent Varieties Experimental Station in Naypyidaw, the Myanmar capital and China-Myanmar Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Base.

In 2020, we will mark the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations, said Soe Thet Naung.

"Myanmar has always supported the Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi personally led the active participation in the Belt and Road cooperation with China," he said. 
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.

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.

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.
Amid ongoing nationwide protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said that as many as 2838 people from Pakistan were given citizenship during the last six years.

"In the last six years, as many as 2838 Pakistani refugees, 914 Afghanistani refugees, 172 Bangladeshi refugees including Muslims have been given Indian citizenship. From 1964 to 2008, more than 4,00,000 Tamils (from Sri Lanka) have been given Indian citizenship," Sitharaman said at 'Programme on Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019' event here.

She added, "Till 2014, over 566 Muslims from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan were given Indian citizenship. During 2016-18 under Modi government, around 1595 Pakistani migrants and 391 Afghanistani Muslims were given Indian citizenship."

The minister, further, said, "It was also during the same period in 2016, that Adnan Sami was given Indian citizenship, this is an example. Giving citizenship to Taslima Nasreen is another example."

Sitharaman added that people who came from East Pakistan have been settled at various camps in the country.

"They are still there and it's been 50-60 years now. If you visit these camps, your heart will cry. The situation is the same with Sri Lankan refugees who continue to live in camps. They're barred from getting basic facilities," she said.

Asserting that the government is not snatching away anyone's citizenship, the BJP leader said: "This Citizenship (Amendment) Act is an attempt to provide people with a better life. We are not snatching away anyone's citizenship, we are only providing them that."

"The Population Register (NPR) will be updated every 10 years and is not involved with the Register of Citizens (NRC). Some are involved in raising false allegations and triggering people unnecessarily without any base," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dipping in icy waters to symbolize the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan.

Many Orthodox Christians around the world have been marking Epiphany, one of the faith's three biggest celebrations.

The event  on January 19 on the Orthodox calendar  is frequently marked with a dip in icy waters to symbolize the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) said.

Read alsoEpifaniy: About 600 parishes of Moscow-aligned church convert to new Ukrainian Orthodox church  RFE/RL

But in addition to washing away their sins, many worshipers also welcome the midwinter submersion as a test of hardiness and good health.

As UNIAN learned from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, over 3,000 rescuers and 590 pieces of equipment are on duty near the lakes and rivers during Epiphany events in Ukraine. The agency said that each region had established the places where citizens could come and plunge into the water.
The HSE made almost 12m from hospital parking charges last year.

The 11.7m figure is slightly down compared to 2017, when 12.8m was earned at 33 of the country's public hospitals.

According to the Sunday Independent, parking fees at Dublin hospitals were the highest, with the Mater charging 15 per day.

Cork University Hospital made the most, collecting 2.6m from visitors, followed by Galway University Hospital on 1.4m and University Hospital Waterford on 1.2m.

In 2018, Health Minister Simon Harris ordered a review of car parking fees at Irish hospitals.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 23:34:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Sunday declared a special crackdown on importers of illegal fishing gear saying the malpractice affected the fisheries industry in the east African nation.

"The government has reinforced inspection and control at all entry points to ensure that not a single illegal fishing gear is imported into the country," said Luhaga Mpina, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries.

"Importers of illegal fishing gear are warned against involvement in the malpractice. Those who are implicated in the malpractice will face the full force of the law," warned Mpina on a visit to Nyotaventure Fishnet, a fishing gear factory based in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Mpina said fishing gear that was produced locally were of high standard and urged manufacturers of the fishing gear to produce in bulk.

Recently Mpina visited fishermen in parts of Lakes Nyasa, Victoria and Tanganyika, and along coastal areas of the Indian Ocean where they complained to him that imported illegal fishing gear was posing a threat to the country's fishing industry.

The fishermen complained to the minister that illegal fishing gear was being sold openly across the country and no efforts were insight to control the situation.

In December 2019, Abdallah Ulega, the Deputy Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, said fish stocks in the country's water bodies were on the increase after the government had managed to control illegal fishing by 99 percent.

He said the fishing industry on mainland Tanzania provided 202,053 direct employments and 4.5 million indirect employments.
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Everywhere you go, as parents, you're told to take time for yourself; to be good to yourself because after all we cant run on empty, now can we?

Modern day life means its not easy to take time for yourself. Parenting in itself is a full time job but for many, theres another full time job on top of that to contend with.

Theres a mortgage to be paid. Theres food to be cooked. The house has to be cleaned. There are activities to ferry kids to and from. I could go on and on and on and on.

While it is difficult to make time for yourself, Im still a big advocate of it all the same. I might not have a full time job outside of the home at the moment but nonetheless Im busy. Very busy actually.

I could, if I wanted to spend from 9am to 2pm every weekday when the kids are at school doing endless amounts of housework.

As it is I do up to two hours every morning and it never feels like enough. Theres always something else to be done around the house but considering the kids undo all of my good work when they return, whats the point in breaking my back!?

Every week, without fail, I make sure to do something just for me though. I just feel its good for my head and I fear that if I dont my anxiety that I had will return even worse than it was before.

Im not an expert in the field of mental health but according to the website Psychology Today, taking time for yourself gives your brain a chance to reboot, improves concentration, increases productivity, helps you discover (or rediscover) your own voice, gives you a chance to think deeply, and helps you problem solve more effectively.

It also gives you a better sense of balance and self-awareness that can lead to a better understanding of yourself--what drives you, what inspires you, what excites you. This, in turn, can have a positive effect not only on the quality of your relationship with yourself, but also on the quality of your relationships with others.

Taking time for yourself doesnt have to mean anything elaborate; it simply means you do something without the kids; something you like to do.

So what is it I do? Well its rarely ever anything that exciting. Sometimes I just get in the car and drive into town for a browse around the shops.

Sometimes I ditch the housework during the week and arrange to meet a friend for a coffee and a scone.

Sometimes its as simple as leaving Daddy Chambers in the kitchen with the kids when I sit on my bed and have a cup of coffee.

The latter is probably one of my favourite things to do if Im honest. I love hearing the chaos going on down in the kitchen knowing that for 15 minutes I can ignore it and just enjoy the coffee.

Of course then there are times when big plans are made, maybe once a year or twice at most. Last November, a group of us, all mammies from the school the kids go to, treated ourselves to a night away.

We all left home early on the Saturday morning, travelled an hour and a half to our hotel, enjoyed lunch together and chilled for the afternoon.

We gathered together again for dinner and drinks that night and the following morning it was lovely to wake up naturally and not by a child begging for cereal at 6am. And thats even with a hangover!

Its important too to make time for just you and your other half if you have one.

For the past three years Daddy Chambers and I try to escape without the kids in early January. Last year we spent three blissful nights in Lisbon and recently we went to the UK with friends for two nights.

We hired a house in Devon and literally just chilled out, ate and enjoyed a drink or two for the weekend.

I even had a two hour bath one of the days, something that would just never happen at home.

I even think I might finally be getting sense. The night before we were due to go home I had two small glasses of wine and headed for bed before 9pm.

It meant I felt great on my return to the kids and I was ready to face back in to making lunches, doing the school run and all that housework.

Be kind to yourselves mammies and daddies! Until next week folks!
World leaders are close to reaching an agreement at the Libya conference in Berlin over a draft communique on the crisis, one summit participant told Reuters on Sunday.

Germany and the United Nations, as hosts of the conference, had been struggling to draw military commander Khalifa Haftar back into diplomacy after he quit talks and more than half of Libya's oil output was shut in areas he controls.

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs historic decision to give up their royal titles and duties has turned these two thirty-somethings into a lightning rod for some of societys most pressing concerns, including the generational divide.

Critics and advocates have weighed in with their champion causes for what went wrong. In fact, like most things in life, it has been a mix of reasons. Family and courtier rivalries fused themselves with childhood trauma and personal insecurities to strangle this modern couple with its modern needs.

Social media trolling and visceral, sometimes racist and misogynistic tabloid coverage undoubtedly contributed to their anxiety and sense of victimisation. But the main catalyst was the clash between their personal desire for 21st-century individual freedom and the familys need to seal, rather than resolve ongoing tensions within the demands of monarchical duty. Faced with these contradictory pressures, Harry and Meghan refused to stiffen their upper lips to a lifetime of silent commitment to the crown.

It can be a peculiarly British trait for members of an extended family to live in relative shallowness, sharing decades of conversations about the weather in order to paper over a variety of ills, from personal incompatibilities to PTSD. After all, love and intimacy can still grow around much that is unresolved.

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But few millennials do long-suffering, particularly when it gets in the way of fairness and self-fulfilment. Schools and public mental health campaigns  including one by Prince William and Harry themselves  encourage the importance of talking, self-revelation and reflection in order to understand ones own and each others differences. Not surprisingly, a majority of 19 to 37-year-olds backed the couples decision to leave for fresh pastures.

So, it was a national wish that the union of these two people with such different backgrounds would push the royal household into this centurys more life-affirming outlook. But, like any corporation that is adapting today to environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, success depends on changing the culture. And when American self-determination looked British self-sacrifice in the eye, modernity failed.

The Duchess of Cambridge, then Kate Middleton, also entered the royal fold as an outsider, in her case as a member of a lesser class. And, although the press was largely respectful, she has experienced some cruel ribbing. Her humility towards the institution, however, remained profound; knowing her place, she has subsumed herself into the greater entity of the crown. While she may one day become queen, it will be as the highly regarded consort.

In contrast, a professionally successful, egalitarian-minded American woman of 36 approached the royal relationship expecting evolution. It was Meghans efforts to graduate from the role of privileged servitude to the crown to one of independent thinker and potential trailblazer for womens empowerment on the world stage that turned the press and the in-laws against her. Her lifestyle choices and charitable efforts became seen as examples of vanity and self-advancement, even though they were often on behalf of the very same things for which her sister-in-law was admired and praised.

Ultimately, Harrys clumsy effort to promote Meghans voiceover skills to the Disney CEO at a recent reception, and the media picture of them as churlish figures simmering with resentment in a corner of royal life, made their position as high-profile and telegenic royals untenable. Particularly when the palace remains steadfast that there is room but for one leader or future leader, and that all other members, however well equipped, including with emotional intelligence, cannot be allowed to shine brighter.

What distinguished Meghan from other women at the firm was not her mixed-race heritage, but her ambition; naked, and uncomfortably self-serving in light of the royal familys bigger remit. What she had yet to discover was that, even in the age of thought leadership, the royal platform is not to be commandeered, and the rewards and attention of being a royal must be pooled into the family tips box.

Almost 23 years on, the two versions of Princess Diana that her sons chose in Kate and Meghan continue to be irreconcilable inside one family. The Duchess of Cambridges quiet grace and fortitude, beholden to the constraints of an institution in which she tacitly carves out her own demands by leveraging her role as devoted mother, stand in sharp contrast to Meghan. She is the post-Charles Diana, eyes burning a hole in the entombing stoicism of royal protocol with a voice that shouts out loud on behalf of victims of shared injustice, whose hearts beat with her own.

Though the global platform of working royal patronage is not to be for Meghan, her and Harrys unwillingness to put up with the ways of the past will save them from the financial and social fate of the self-exiled Edward VIII and Wallace Simpson.

Harry and Meghan start their new life as a formidable team of equals aspiring to build something of economic and personal validation. Regret, realism and heartfelt fondness among millions of Brits should help keep the family doors open to them. Harry, above all, must be given ways to engage with the country of his soul and help mitigate any hollowness or sorrow that may grow over time. Only in this does he resemble his great-great uncle; he is giving up a lot in the name of love.

Trisha De Borchgrave is a freelance writer and a senior associate for the Global Women Leaders Strategic Partnering and Philanthropy
By IANS

WASHINGTON: The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) has formally announced its endorsement of Democratic front-runner Joe Biden for the November presidential election, as he was hugely popular with the Indian-American community, it was reported.

Indian-American Shekar Narasimhan, co-founder of the AAPI Victory Fund, told the India-West newspaper that the organization had met several of the party candidates in the crowded race.

"We asked the community what their priorities were and determined the top two concerns were having a candidate who can beat (President Donald) Trump and one who would listen to our community," Narasimhan said, adding that Biden was hugely popular among Indian-Americans, who gave the former Vice President the bulk of their donations in the third quarter of 2019, which was about $246,000.

WATCH: Wearing heels, US prez hopeful Tulsi Gabbard defeats man in push-up challenge

He said that the AAPI had also preferred Andrew Yang, who is Asian American, but due to the escalating tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani in a drone attack on January 3, "we started asking ourselves 'who has the best interest of our country?'"

"Joe Biden can lead this country in a way in which we gain back our sanity and our stability in the world," stated Narasimhan.

The AAPI will now organise on-the-ground rallies and digital events, invest in in-language media buys, among other efforts, "to get Biden to the finish line", Narasimhan told India-West.

In a statement on Friday, the AAPI Victory Fund said: "We make this endorsement with enormous respect for the three AAPI candidates and others who entered the presidential race. There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done in the next ten months, and AAPIs are more engaged than ever."

"We are committed to continuing our work for 2020 victories and delivering one million new voters for Joe Biden to win the presidency and for Democrats to increase their House majority and to take back the Senate."

Launched in 2015, the AAPI Victory Fund aims to mobilize Indian-Americans and other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to participate in the electoral process.

'Biden For President' campaign manager Greg Schultz told India-West: "We are thrilled to have the AAPI Victory Fund as a partner in this monumental task of making Donald Trump a one-term President."
An autopsy has failed to determine the cause of death of a missing Indian-American woman whose body was later found in the trunk of her car in Chicago, authorities said.

Sureel Dabawala, a 34 year-old, young MBA from Loyola University in Chicago was reported missing on December 30, 2019.

After days of frenetic search, her body was found on January 13 wrapped in a blanket in the trunk of her own car on Monday in Chicagos West Garfield Park neighbourhood by private investigators hired by the family.

The autopsy didnt rule on the cause or manner of death, pending further investigation, the India-West newspaper reported on Friday citing the authorities as saying.

Police in Chicago have said theat there were no signs of trauma to the body, adding that they were uncertain of how the body got into the vehicle.

The police were now seeking the publics assistance for any leads on this case.

Sureel was the daughter of Schaumburg based Asharaf Dabawala, a respected physician in the area, hailing from Gujarat, according to The American Bazaar.

Indians living in the area describe the Dabawalas as the most loving and generous people.

In the days following Sureels disappearance, the Dabawala family had announced a $10,000 reward for anyone who could provide any information about the young woman.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-18 23:39:50|Editor: huaxia

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Palestinian children fill buckets with drinking water from China-funded water desalination plants in al-Naser village in the Gaza Strip's southern border town of Rafah, on Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Rizek Abdeljawad)

Two water desalination plants funded by the Chinese gov't opened this month in a poor Palestinian village in the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip, allowing the villagers instant access to free clean water. Gaza is facing a serious water crisis that could make it uninhabitable in a few years if aid is stopped.

GAZA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Abdul-Rahim Abu Gouda, a Palestinian living in a small village in the Gaza Strip's southern border town of Rafah, breathed a sigh of relief after two China-funded water desalination plants opened this month in his impoverished al-Naser village.

"This is a joyful day for my family and we can now get drinking water instantly and for free. We no longer need to wait for trucks selling filtered drinking water," said Abu Gouda, a father of 12, as he observed his kids filling a small water container from the new plant in front of his home.

The 50-year-old farmer said the residents of the village suffered for years from lack of access to clean water.

Mohammed al-Attar, 13, came with his playmate to the plant to fill their water tanks.

"We are happy to have potable water all the time, with no need to go too far to buy," he said, as he helped his playmate carry a heavy water tank.

Palestinian children fill buckets with drinking water from China-funded water desalination plants in al-Naser village in the Gaza Strip's southern border town of Rafah, on Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Rizek Abdeljawad)

"Every single day, it took us at least two shekels (0.58 U.S. dollars) to buy the filtered water," said al-Attar, whose family is believed to be the poorest one in the village.

"We depend on the aid provided by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and we do not have enough money to buy water," he added.

Before the plants were built, the residents had to pay a large amount of money to buy potable water every year, according to Abu Gouda.

"The people in this area are extremely poor and do not have enough money to buy potable water, so they were forced to use salty, unclean tap water provided by the municipality," he said.

In June last year, Give Palestine Association, a local nongovernmental organization, and the council of al-Naser village, signed an agreement to build two China-funded water desalination plants to alleviate the shortage of potable water there.

The Gaza Strip suffers from an acute lack of water for human and agricultural use. Currently, 90 percent of its main water supply is unfit for drinking and even agricultural use. Its coastal aquifer is extremely saline and is drying up because of overuse.

A Palestinian man works at a China-funded water desalination plant in al-Naser village in the Gaza Strip's southern border town of Rafah, on Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Rizek Abdeljawad)

The overpopulated coastal enclave needs up to 220 million cubic meters of water a year, and over 90 percent of the population rely on desalinated water.

"About 10,000 people, the majority of whom are unemployed and suffer from extreme poverty, have benefited from the two plants," said Emad al-Agha, secretary of Give Palestine Association.

The two plants "are among the generously funded projects by the Chinese government which hopes to implement sustainable development projects in a way that benefits people over many years," al-Agha added.

The NGO's official noted the Palestinian people need continuous Chinese support to build their institutions and achieve economic development.

"We are looking forward to implementing more China-funded sustainable projects that will benefit our people in the Gaza Strip," he said, as local people "need to have a real solution for the water and electricity shortages which have affected negatively their daily life in the Gaza Strip."

Mohammed Ashour, head of al-Naser village, told Xinhua that the two plants are very important because they are going to serve the residents in a marginalized area.

Palestinian man works at a China-funded water desalination plant in al-Naser village in the Gaza Strip's southern border town of Rafah, on Jan. 8, 2020. (Xinhua/Rizek Abdeljawad)

Ashour thanked China for providing support for the people in the Gaza Strip, saying the Chinese government funded many sustainable development projects involving power generation and water desalination.

The Gaza Strip is facing a worsening water crisis that could render it unsuitable for living within a few years if the aid projects are not implemented, according to a recent UN report.

Israel has been imposing a tight blockade on Gaza since 2007 when Hamas seized control of the coastal enclave from the Palestinian Authority led by President Mahmoud Abbas. 
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By PTI

MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Rajesh Tope on Sunday said that 6,500 'Health Wellness Centres' will be set up in the state by the end of March this year.

He said that all the sub-centers, primary health centers and public primary health centers will be converted into 'Health Wellness Centers' (Arogyavardhini Kendra) step by step for taking preventive and persuasive health services to the common people in the state.

"The Maharashtra government's emphasis is on strengthening the primary health facilities. As many as 6,500 health wellness centers will be established in the state by the end of March," the Health Minister told reporters.

Tope said that degree holders from Ayurveda, Unani and nursing streams will be appointed as community health officers at these centers.

Female health servants, multi-purpose health service providers and accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers will be deployed for strengthening the health services at the wellness centers.

He added that those selected as community health officers will undergo a training for six months.
Alyssa Heller, a graphic designer and coordinator at a non-profit, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with chef Jimmy Tsimikas at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Rhode Island, on Jan. 18, 2020. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times)

PROVIDENCE, Rhode IslandAnother realm, another world, a higher realitytales of heaven and supernatural beings permeate the worlds cultures and traditions and, Saturday night, they appeared on stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center where audience members delighted in seeing them, with one even saying shed be dreaming and thinking about it all night long.

It was beautiful. It was just so beautiful, Alyssa Heller said about Shen Yun Performing Arts on Jan. 18, 2020.

I probably wont sleep tonight, Ill be dreaming and thinking about it all night long. The color combinations, and the way the fabrics of the dresses flowed.  I felt the music through my body the whole time. I am feeling the music and Im seeing the beautiful colors, and it was like I was in another world. A better world, said Heller, a trained architect and graphic designer who now coordinates a local event for Rhode Island visitors and residents, Gallery Night in Providence.

I very much felt the spirituality in the show. Im Catholic. But, the words that the tenor was singing, it was like he was singing in my religion, too. It was very much what I believe, Heller said.

The tenor sang a piece entitled Clarity With Waking whose lyrics outline the difference between atheisms sinister intent and the Creators original intentions to save all of mankind from ruin.

Shen Yuns mission is to revive authentic Chinese culture and its deeply spiritual traditions. It employs highly-expressive art forms such as classical Chinese dance, bel canto singing, and live orchestration to tell stories of compassion, humor, and courage.

Overall impression, I loved it. This is the first time I have ever seen this show, and I loved all the vignettes. I learned a lot about each culture. It was beautiful, it was very beautiful, Heller said.

Shen Yun sends seven touring companies around the world each year with an all-new performance. Heller is grateful they came to Providence, and encouraged the artists to let everyone in the world see the highly-acclaimed stage show theyve created.

To Shen Yuns artists, Heller said, keep doing what youre doing. Its beautiful. Its a story that needs to be told. Your passion shows through. Your love of life in telling the story just shines through your eyes and through your body movements. And everybody around the world deserves to see this. So, keep doing it.

Shen Yun is based in New York and cannot perform in China today. The Chinese Communist Party has attempted to systematically destroy traditional Chinese culture since the days of the Cultural Revolution, seeing it as a threat to its own legitimacy. Communist party members even try to sabotage Shen Yun around the world, but as Hellers words demonstrate, the power of Shen Yun cannot be repressed.

I think its amazing, and I think that they really told the story well. I learned a lot that I didnt know about the Chinese culture, and I learned that what theyre telling is important because they cant even tell this story in their own country.

With reporting by 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.
Nghe An, Thanh Hoa police seize huge amount of trafficked drug (Source: VNA)

Through investigations, the force discovered a trans-national drug trafficking ring from Laos to Vietnam, with armed Lao traffickers as ringleaders.

On January 16 in Thanh Chuong district, the police, in cooperation with border guards at the Thanh Thuy border gate, busted the ring.

Thao Ho Vu, 26; and Chung Vang, 18, from Khamcot district, Bolikhamxay province of Laos, were arrested when they were trafficking the drugs from Laos to Vietnam.

A day earlier, police of Tinh Gia and Quang Xuong districts of the central province of Thanh Hoa also caught red handed two men trafficking 10 bricks of heroin and 4kg of methamphetamine in the two separated cases.

Further investigations into the cases are underway.
Cody Fern is known for pushing the boundaries when it comes to fashion.

And on Sunday, the 31-year-old did not disappoint his fans, as he appeared on The Sunday Project wearing a black rash vest.

Also known as a 'rashie' or a rash guard, the protective suit is usually used for surfing, snorkeling and other watersports to protect the wearer from the sun and cold, or from rashes caused by wetsuits against bare skin.

Pushing the envelope: Cody Fern (pictured) made a statement wearing a rash vest for his interview with The Project on Sunday night

The unusual choice left the show's hosts baffled, and they immediately questioned the reason for his outfit.

Even Cody seemed a tad confused about why he was wearing a rashie on live television.

'This is expression!' he said, adding less surely, 'It means fashion, I think? I am trying things out, we will see.'

Even Cody seemed a tad confused about why he was wearing a rashie on live television: 'This is expression!' he said, adding 'It means fashion, I think? I am trying things out, we will see'

Swim fan? Also known as a 'rashie' or a rash guard, the protective suit is usually used for surfing, snorkeling and other watersports

The American Horror Story actor, who hails from Western Australia, is well known for pushing the sartorial envelope.

Last year, he turned heads on the red carpet at the American Horror Story: Apocalypse launch in LA wearing a mesh, high-necked shirt under his jacket.

Cody made a splash at 2019's Met Gala, opting for blue mesh fabric on his face, cowlick curls, a sheer panel over his beige suite, and a pair of baby blue cowboy boots.

Looking good! The American Horror Story actor, who hails from Western Australia, is well known for pushing the sartorial envelope. Pictured at the Louis Vuitton show in Paris, 2019

Feeling blue: Cody made a splash at 2019's Met Gala, opting for blue mesh fabric on his face, tight cowlick curls, an abstract top over his beige suite, and a baby blue cowboy boots

Red-dy to cause a stir: The House of Cards actor turned even more heads at the MET Gala after party in a bright-red, embroidered boiler suit

The House of Cards actor turned even more heads at the MET Gala after party in a bright-red, embroidered boiler suit.

He's also had the chance to wear some outrageous outfits on American Horror Story - including a rubber suit.

The actor told Out Magazine: 'It takes about 20 minutes and a lot of lube [to get it on], and once youre in it youre in it, you cant take it off. So I was in that suit for 16 hours. I think I held the record for being in the suit the longest'.
BEIJING  Chinese authorities said Sunday that 17 more people had been infected with a mysterious new virus, raising questions about how it is being transmitted and adding to concerns about the spread of the illness before Chinas busiest travel season.

The announcement  by the health commission in Wuhan, a central Chinese city where the virus originated last month  comes amid growing worry among some experts that the outbreak of the illness, the pneumonialike coronavirus, could be more severe than Chinas government has described.

The virus has killed two people and sickened at least 62 in the country, according to official statistics. And with hundreds of millions of people in China expected to travel for the Lunar New Year holiday, which begins Friday, public health officials are working to stop a major outbreak.

Chinas central government sought Sunday to reassure the public that it had the situation under control. In Beijings most extensive remarks on the virus since the outbreak last month, the National Health Commission said that experts agreed that an epidemic was still preventable and controllable.

Still, the commission acknowledged that the source of the virus and its path of transmission were not fully understood.

The mutation of the virus still needs to be closely monitored, the statement said.

The virus already appears to have spread outside China. Officials in Thailand and Japan have confirmed three cases involving people who have traveled through Wuhan.

The health commission in Wuhan said in a statement Sunday that the 17 infected people had begun showing symptoms of the coronavirus as recently as last week. Three are in critical condition, the commission said.

Most people with the infection have contracted it through exposure to animals at a market in Wuhan that sells seafood and live animals, authorities said.

Health experts are studying whether the virus can spread from human to human on a broad scale.

The World Health Organization said Sunday that while its analysis indicated that limited transmission of the virus is possible, it remains unclear whether it can easily spread from one person to another. The group said it would continue to examine the issue.

We do not have enough evidence to evaluate the full extent of human-to-human transmission, its Manila office said on Twitter.

The health commission in Wuhan said Sunday that some people who had come down with the virus had no exposure to the market.

That acknowledgment raises the possibility that the virus could be present in other markets in Wuhan, experts said, adding to fears that more people might be at risk.

If you cannot find the source and control the source of the virus, you cannot extinguish the fire, said David Hui, director of the Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Hui said the risk of widespread human-to-human transmission appeared to be low, though he noted that the virus could mutate.

Some experts have suggested that there are probably far more cases of the illness than authorities have disclosed. In previous incidents, like the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, the Chinese government withheld critical information.

One estimate by researchers at Imperial College London suggested Friday that there could now be as many as 1,700 cases of the new virus.

The WHO said Sunday that China could potentially confirm more cases in the coming days and weeks as more people were screened for it.

The new virus has brought back memories of the SARS outbreak, which was also caused by a coronavirus. SARS, which is believed to have jumped to humans from animals at markets, originated in China and spread to other countries, infecting more than 8,000 people and killing more than 800.

While the new coronavirus appears to be less severe than SARS, public health officials around the world are exercising caution.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States announced that airports in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles would begin screening passengers from Wuhan for the virus.

W. Ian Lipkin, a Columbia University professor who assisted in the SARS outbreak, said it was too early to know how deadly the new virus might prove to be.

Until it becomes capable of human-to-human transmission, theres not a major threat of a pandemic, said Lipkin, who is also director of the Center for Infection and Immunity at the universitys Mailman School of Public Health.

We need to prepare for the possibility that this could be a larger outbreak, and it could become a pandemic, he said. But that doesnt mean that it will.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
MANCHESTER, N.H.  Michael Bennet is polling in 10th place. He hasnt made a debate stage since July and wont disclose how much money he raised last quarter.

And he can be awkward on the stump: In one 45-minute stretch at a recent town hall, Bennet swung his hands so wildly while making a point that he hit a woman in the leg, he tripped over a stool holding his water, and he nearly tangled himself in a microphone cord while trying to take off his sport coat.

Yet a small number of New Hampshires voters and political elites have found themselves drawn to his message, demeanor and experience, hoping almost despite themselves that Bennet could be the ultimate dark horse primary candidate.

Even his supporters admit theres no clear path to winning the nomination. But they still see his resume as a former superintendent of schools in Denver, ten years of experience in the Senate and his age  younger than Joe Biden but more experienced than Pete Buttigieg  as reasons to hope he could emulate Gary Hart, another senator from Colorado who shot from 5 percent in polls at this time in 1984 to a double-digit win in that years New Hampshire Democratic primary.

I'm very strongly Michael Bennet, said Bill Shaheen, a state party official, after attending one of Bennets town halls. There's a part of me that believes he's a person that America should choose. But I have to go with my head, not my heart.

As much as he may want to support Bennet, Shaheens first concern is electability. Thats what gives pause to potential Bennet supporters: Can he win?

I think if it didn't matter [who I picked]  if Trump wasn't such a disaster for this country  I would probably be with him right now, he said. But I think my responsibility is to find the person that can really win against Trump.

His wife, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, ran Harts New Hampshire campaign in 1984. She is staying neutral in the primary and declined to comment.

Story continues

What I think New Hampshire has revealed many times over, including in my ancient case, is that an awful lot of the voters do not make up their minds until the last seven to ten days, Hart, now 83 and supporting Bennet, said in an interview from his home in Kittredge, Colo. I wouldn't discount all the polls, the front runners and so forth. The polls do not reveal the undecideds the way they should, and that's what happened in our race.

Bennet is calm and monotone  he doesnt raise his voice or deliver the type of rah-rah rhetoric other candidates use. Last month, when Bennet went to speak to voters at a restaurant in a rural town of under 3,000, a group of locals who voted for President Donald Trump had been drinking at the bar in the same room as his event. They didnt know Bennet would be there or who he was. As they started to realize he was a Democrat running to unseat the president, they started loudly booing him.

You are totally entitled to your opinion, Bennet said diplomatically. Let me make my case.

They did.

In a campaign filled with stump speeches aimed at getting people fired up, Bennet is working to make government boring again. He has worked to position himself as the adult in the room. If he is elected, he wants people to not have to think about his administration for weeks at a time.

Thats endearing to some in New Hampshire, especially those who are more interested in getting Trump out of office than any one specific platform.

Bennet said hes frequently asked how he is going to be taken seriously on Election Day. His answer is that hes going to keep doing what hes doing  dozens of town halls throughout the state  hoping to pick up a few supporters at each one.

Sen. Gary Hart (left) and frontrunner Walter Mondale debate in New Hampshire in January 1984.

They want to feel like this state is still important and that the on the ground campaigning can still make a difference for a candidate like it did in the old days, Bennet said. Sometimes, he continued, candidates have risen in New Hampshire simply because New Hampshire decides we're not going to accept the conventional wisdom, and instead we're going to pick a candidate we think can actually do whatever the mission is.

The campaign is hoping to place at least fourth in the first-in-the-nation primary, scheduled for Feb. 11. Third place, to them, would be a huge victory that would propel Bennet through the other early voting states into Super Tuesday.

At a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshires largest city, Bennet drew a standing-room only crowd of more than 250, including some of the partys elite. In interviews, about a dozen voters in the room all agreed hes in their top two or three choices, along with Biden and Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

For lightning to strike, youve got to be standing in the right place, Bennet said. And I think I've been working really hard to be in the right places.

Former Bill Clinton strategist James Carville, who has endorsed Bennet, and Montana Sen. Jon Tester, who is supportive but has not endorsed, agree the path to the nomination is tough to see. Even so, Tester said politics isnt an exact science. Tester has busted his butt every day to win elections and sees Bennet doing the same.

If you talk to the (Cory) Booker's of the world or anybody else that's dropped out already, I think that there has to be a path to victory and you have to have the amount of money to be able to execute that path to victory, Tester said in an interview. If none of those are there, then it becomes pretty testing.

Carville sees Bennet as a soothing moderate who can not only beat Trump but also convince people wearing red Make America Great Again hats to take them off.

I don't just want to get rid of Trump, I want to get rid of Trumpism, he said. On election day, I want to see that army ragged, starving, freezing, retreating.

Carville admits Bennet is no Bill Clinton  he doesnt see any similarities in their campaign.

The fact that it's not working, I wouldn't be discouraged at all right now, Carville said. Because it can work and I think it will.

Look, if this horse ever got out of the pen, I mean, it would run wild, Carville continued. It's hard to get out the pen. But we'll see.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misstated where Bennet accidentally struck an attendee at an event while making a point. Bennet hit her in the leg.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The State government has put all the airports and ports on high alert, following the outbreak of a new strain of Coronavirus in China, which is reported to have claimed 41 lives. Officials said that all passengers and shipments coming from China, especially from places reporting outbreak of the disease, are being screened. The move comes a day after the Union Health Ministry issued a travel advisory in this regard.

The new strain of the virus, called the Novel Coronavirus (nCoV), falls in the same family as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Speaking to the media on Saturday, Health Minister C Vijayabaskar assured all guidelines are being implemented to keep the State safe. State Health Secretary Beela Rajesh affirmed that her department had received a communique from the Centre on the matter.

The State has been under surveillance for Influenza-like Illnesses (ILI) since long, says Director of Public Health K Kolandaisamy. Now, we have sensitised the doctors to look out for syndromes of nCoV as well.

Staying prepared

Port Health Officer S Senthilnathan says the Centres communique alerting health officials at ports and airports to begin the screening arrived Wednesday. We have been asked to be ready to isolate and transport sick passengers coming from Wuhan Province with cough, fever, and breathlessness, he said.

Not enough is known about Coronavirus, says WHO

Passengers with a history of fever and cough are being thoroughly scanned upon entering the State, he added. A top health official told Express in Chennai that the State is yes to issue any alert and is following a wait and watch approach to analyse the severity of the virus and infections in the country.Director of Public Health K Kolandaisamy told Express that the State is already under surveillance for Influenza Like Illnesses (ILI).

After the outbreak of the new strain of Coronavirus, we have sensitised the doctors to looking out for syndromes of the virus, which is in the same family as the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS). Doctors have been put on alert, he said.When Express contacted officials on whether any alert has been sounded on screening passengers for the virus in Tamil Nadu, a senior airport official in Chennai said they are yet to get any alert from airport health officials.

Following the outbreak of the virus in China, the World Health Organization issued an advisory.

It said, Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. This nCoV has not been previously identified in humans.

Much remains to be understood about the new coronavirus. Not enough is known about the 2019-nCoV to draw definitive conclusions about how it is transmitted, clinical features of disease and the extent to which it has spread. The source also remains unknown.

41lives perished in Wuhan city in China due to the respiratory illness recently. Minister C Vijayabaskar said, We will start screening passengers from China at airports.
Forget the myths the medias created about the White House. The truth is, these are not very bright guys. And things got out of hand ... Follow the money ... Just follow the money.

Thats Hal Holbrook as Deep Throat, speaking in All the Presidents Men. Theres an eternal perfection in the words. Theyre so easily transferable to myriad American political scandals, although  compared to some of the ding-dongs were dealing with right now  Hunt, Colson and Liddy were Brookings Institution scholars.

Ding-dong of the Week is  take a bow, Connecticut  Robert F. Hyde, a long-shot Republican candidate for Congress in the Fightin Fifth District. Hyde has already accomplished a remarkable feat. He has rendered himself so toxic and defective that the Connecticut Republican Party will not entertain the idea of him running for Congress.

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The party has great difficulty getting anybody to run in some of these races and has frequently subscribed to the Any Warm Body theory of populating the ballot line. Consider, if you will, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauros opponents since 2000. But nothing will top last cycles Second District race in which Dan Postemski, the Republican opponent of incumbent Joe Courtney, essentially dropped out of sight in the middle of the campaign.

Columnist David Collins of The Day in New London wrote a hilarious column about just trying to find Postemski. You know, get a phone number or something. He eventually called Republican state chair J.R. Romano who didnt know how to find Postemski either and told Collins that, with 300 candidates in the field, it was understandable that he might lose track of one. (Note to J.R.: your next career should not be in the day care field.)

Postemski eventually surfaced and said he only ran for Congress because no other Republican would, and then, because nobody from the party would help him, he quit trying.

I tell you this to illustrate how monumental it is that the entire Connecticut Republican establishment  including JR  has deemed Hyde unfit to run. They can live with Amber Alerts on their candidates, but Hyde is more of a BOLO guy.

If youve read this far, youre probably generally familiar with Hyde and the manner in which he was featured this week. The House Intelligence Committee released a tranche of documents relating to Rudy Giuliani confederate Lev Parnas. Among them was ... you might call it a WhatsApp Doc. (Sorry.) It was a series of March 2019 text exchanges between Parnas and Hyde on the encrypted WhatsApp service. Hyde appeared to be providing details about the whereabouts of Marie Yovanovitch, at the time our Ambassador to Ukraine.

And not just her whereabouts, but whether she was well-guarded and whether there were people in Ukraine who could be paid to do something about her.

Parnas, speaking to MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Wednesday night, said he shut the conversation down once it veered into crazyville. Maddow countered that the back-and-forth went on for a week as opposed to New phone. Who dis? the first time Hyde texted, Shes under heavy protection outside Kiev.

OK. Lets put on the table the most benign explanation, which I have assembled from remarks by Parnas and Hyde. Hyde is basically a nobody who got his foot in the door by hanging around Trump hotel property bars and through five-figure Republican campaign donations. To Maddow, Parnas painted him as a Mr. Hyde with no Dr. Jekyll side. I have never seen him not drunk.

So for six days in March, the two men were in different locations, neither of which was Kiev. They amused themselves by pretending they were going to do something bad to a fairly obscure (in those days) American diplomat. You know. The way people do.

Thats the benign explanation.

When it comes to malign explanations, the abyss is the limit. Yovanovitch, through her lawyer, has asked for an investigation. The chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee called the exchanges profoundly alarming.

You want alarming? Last June, after the U.S. Secret Service contacted Connecticut police about veiled threats from Hyde on social media, Simsbury police removed from Hydes home, with his cooperation, a bunch of rifles and shotguns.

This came fast on the heels of a prior incident in Miami at the Trump Doral, where Hyde was apparently behaving so oddly that (a) it stood out in Florida and (b) he was detained by the police, held and transported somewhere under the Baker Act, an absolutely indispensable Florida statute that provides for the detention of persons who may pose a threat to themselves or others. According to Mother Jones, Hyde later complained on Instagram of having been Baker Acted, perhaps the first use of the law as a verb. I smell a Hold Steady lyric in the future.

Tales of Hyde are now rampant. NBC News found neighbors who said he shined a stadium-level spotlight on their house every night for months. And a church in Simsbury whose website proclaims There is a place for you at First Church, called the cops because Hyde was hanging around in a way that freaked people out.

So its still unclear what kind of story this is, but lets go back to Holbrooks famous speech. Follow the money. Hyde has a see-saw pattern of appearing to have no money  hence, his eviction from his business property for failure to pay rent and complaints about his getting way behind on child support. Also a pattern of, well, having money: he lives in a nice house, suddenly cleaned up his child support problem, appears to have made at least $56,000 in campaign contributions since 2016 and, according to the New York Times, gave $25,000 to the Trump inaugural committee.

In fairness, my experience in covering campaigns tells me that, if you can write five-figure checks that dont bounce, political operatives Republican or Democratic will grant you all kinds of access even if you have DefCon 1 halitosis and claim you see dead people. Thats the state of politics in the modern age.

Back to Parnas. He and Igor Fruman were arraigned in federal court last year of charges of illegally funneling foreign money into U.S. elections. So its fair to ask where Hydes campaign bucks came from.

One last thing. Even though hes currently persona non grata, Hyde, with his big cigars and his Make Ammo Great Again T-shirt, wouldnt look all that out of place in a 2020 American Republican Party Diorama.

Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann, in their book Its Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism, describe a roughly 30-year tilt of the GOP to be more and more welcoming of the kind of people who used confine themselves to backwoods militias, agrarian compounds and apocalyptic Christian cults.

Its a party more tolerant of aggression than the one my parents belonged to. Hyde is the kind of person you meet on that road.

Colin McEnroes column appears every Sunday, his newsletter comes out every Thursday and you can hear his radio show every weekday on WNPR 90.5. Email him at colin@ctpublic.org. Sign up for his newsletter at http://bit.ly/colinmcenroe.
Jules Robinson is on a mission to 'reshape the world' for women with brand Figur.

And ahead of the release of her shapewear collection, the Married At First Sight star posed for a photoshoot with 10 brand ambassadors modelling her designs on Saturday in Sydney.

The 37-year-old handpicked the women of all different shapes and backgrounds for the body positivity campaign, after asking her Instagram fans to get involved.

'Reshaping the world': Married At First Sight's Jules Robinson (pictured) embraced body positivity as she posed with brand ambassadors ahead of her shapewear launch

At the photoshoot, Jules oozed confidence in a figure-hugging red dress.

Whereas she kept her shapewear hidden, she stood among her 10 brave models, who all happily posed for the photographer in a variety of her nude designs.

Each of the women stood with pride as they wore the compression garments.

Lady in red: At the photoshoot, Jules oozed confidence in a figure-hugging red dress

Brave: Whereas she kept her shapewear hidden, she stood among her 10 models, who all happily posed for the photographer in a variety of her nude designs

They later proved how seamless Jules' designs with brand Figur truly are.

As they each slipped into a variety dresses and looked sensational while flaunting their curves, there was no sign they wear wearing shapewear below.

Before the photoshoot, Jules admitted she struggled choosing her brand ambassadors.

Empowered: Each of the women stood with pride as they wore the compression garments

Choice: Before the photoshoot, Jules admitted she struggled choosing her brand ambassadors

On set: 'All the thousands of applications felt like one big book of inspiration, I had the hardest job in picking 10 woman from Australia and New Zealand,' said Jules

'All the thousands of applications felt like one big book of inspiration, I had the hardest job in picking 10 woman from Australia and New Zealand,' said Jules.

'I am inspired by the stories of women across the country sharing their vulnerabilities and triumphs as @figur_co women.

'At times, I'll share with you some of the stories in hope that you can connect and see your own story in some of these gorgeous, courageous women.'

Standing tall: 'I am inspired by the stories of women across the country sharing their vulnerabilities and triumphs as @figur_co women

Common bond: 'At times, I'll share with you some of the stories in hope that you can connect and see your own story in some of these gorgeous, courageous women.'

As well as embracing her curves with Figur, Jules is also a WW ambassador.

In December, the reality star said she had lost 8kg since August, admitting she had been on a 'health mission' before her wedding in November.

'I made it no secret that I was on a health mission before my wedding,' she began.

'I can honestly say I've always been comfortable and confident in my own skin, but now I feel all that and healthier and stronger.'
The Congress and the DMK have ironed out their differences that cropped up in the wake of a minor storm caused by comments from the local chief on how the national party had been shortchanged in the allocation of seats for the local body polls in Tamil Nadu. It was unthinkable that Congress-DMK ties, which have withstood the test of time in a decade and a half despite a major bout of friction over the jailing of prominent DMK leaders in the 2G scam, would be jeopardised by someone ranting over seats in local polls like panchayats and other civic bodies.

TNCC chief K.S. Azahgiri, reportedly a loyalist of P. Chidambaram, may have been flying kites on a non-existent theme of dissatisfaction in an ally. As discord ruled, there were even whispers of the Tamil Nadu Congress considering tying up with matinee hero Rajinikanths political party, though it is still in a nebulous state. The local chieftain has been put in his place by the high command, which knows well the value of the DMK in sustaining the Congress Partys anti-BJP coalition at the national level. In telling him to make up with DMK president Stalin, the Congress was in a clear survival mode, but pragmatically so.

The Congress, in power on its own steam in only four major states  Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh  needs its allies in states where the regional parties hold sway, much like the DMK in Tamil Nadu. And Stalin has been one of its staunchest allies, who incidentally was also the first among the partners to project Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate before the 2019 elections, something that Mamata Banerjee of Trinamul Congress was never likely to agree to. And if were not for the DMK helping its ally to win eight MP seats, the Congress may have ended with a far lesser tally in 2019 than its 2014 low.

The TNCC chief may have been exaggerating his own importance while jeopardising the alliance just over a year short of the 2021 summer polls to the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The State election scene, overwhelmingly in favour of DMK+ in Lok Sabha elections with a 38-1 margin, saw the AIADMK claw back with sufficient wins in crucial Assembly bypolls, including the two seats in the last of them held most recently that gave them a clear working majority.

The scenario of an uninterrupted Dravidian duopoly of 52 years could change drastically if the two actors, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth, who are promising to clean up the political scene, primarily with regard to corruption thought to be rampant in the rule of either Munnnetra Kazhagam (progressive party), join hands. Their united front, which could play a disruptive role, might make a significant difference to poll percentages. Even then, the Congress prospects would be rosy only in its existing arrangement with DMK.
By Zhang Hong

The tit-for-tat attacks between Iran and the US once pushed Iraq to the brink of proxy wars. Iraq quickly showed a clear attitude and demanded the US troops to leave. However, the US acted tough, even threatened Iraq, and refused to leave.

Why the US doesn't want to leave?

The US is unwilling to withdraw its troops from Iraq because it aims to keep its influence in Iraq and its surrounding areas, and prevent Iraq from leaving the strategic development track set by the US and becoming an agent of Iran," said Sun Degang, a researcher at the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, Shanghai.

It is also a matter of saving face. "As a hegemonic country, the US will not quit Iraq easily. It might be easier to invite it to come rather than to ask it to leave. Trump has always believed that the US lost money in the Iraq war, so he stated that the US air base in Iraq is expensive and cost billions of dollars. The US will never leave unless the Iraqi side reimburses related costs," said Yuan Zheng, a researcher at the Institute of American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Of course, more importantly, Iraq is in the center of the Middle East. For the US, it is necessary to keep military bases in Iraq to curb Iranian-led Shiite forces and combat terrorism," said Yuan.

Tensions slightly eased after tit-for-tat

"From the perspective of international response, the US's previous tough position did not work well. After all, as a sovereign country, Iraq demonstrated reasonable attitude. From the perspective of public opinions in Iraq, anti-US sentiment is rising and public opinion is backlashing. The US needs to appease the growing resentment," Yuan said, "Also, NATO allies have begun to withdraw from Iraqi bases. The US needs to relax its position out of security concerns. Faced with the fierce response from Iraq, the US may strategically reduce its presence in Iraq and transfer its troops to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc. However, the base will stay," according to Yuan.

Moreover, the US also has the confidence. "It will not be constrained by Iraq because US has an alternative base for military deployment in Iraq--Kuwait. The US can advance and retreat on Iraqi issue. If anti-Americanism in Iraq rises and US forces face increased security threats in Iraq, the US will deploy a flexible military presence such as military trainers, or security personnel in embassies and consulates. And at the same time, it will transfer military forces to Kuwait," said Sun.

Overall contraction with targeted advancement

The US maintains a strong presence in the Middle East. Sun said: "The US currently has more than 50,000 people deployed in the Middle East, and undertakes military intervention and deterrence functions in countries including Turkey, Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Syria and Israel. The US will focus on Iran to enhance military deployment in the Gulf region. It will also rely on high-tech and use drones to conduct reconnaissance and targeted strikes."

"The strategic importance of the Middle East has declined for the US. However, as a hegemonic country, whether it is the need to maintain regional security order or the expectations of its allies, the US will not withdraw from the Middle East," said Yuan, "Of course, its strategic contraction is obvious. On the one hand, the US will maintain its military presence in the Middle East while relying more on political influence for diplomatic mediation and economic assistance; on the other hand, the US will leverage Israel, Saudi Arabia and other allies to exert American influence. In addition, Trump also proposed to establish NATO-ME -- ME stands for the Middle East -- to expand NATO to the region so that the US-led alliance can play a greater role in the Middle East," said Yuan.

Sun further pointed out: "The US will pursue a policy of overall contraction with targeted advancement in the Middle East. It will use the Gulf region as the key point and achieve political goals through economic means and avoid involvement in large-scale ground wars. By using aerial military intervention, drone reconnaissance and strike and economic sanctions as main intervention methods, the US will maintain its influence in the region."

Disclaimer: This article is originally published on haiwainet.cn, which is the website of Overseas Edition of the People's Daily. The article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
At least 73 soldiers have been killed in a missile attack reportedly launched by Houthi rebels at a mosque in Yemen.

Dozens more were left wounded in the attack, which targeted a mosque in a military training camp in the city of Marib, two medical sources told Reuters.

The Iran-aligned Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturdays attack.

Yemens president told the military on Sunday it needed to be on high alert and ready for battle.

The attack confirms without doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said in a statement on Yemens state news agency Saba.

Brutal effects of Yemeni war Show all 12 1 /12 Brutal effects of Yemeni war Brutal effects of Yemeni war Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council shows a Yemeni woman holding a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Mohamed, 2, is treated for Malnutrition in Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province, Yemen Bel Trew Brutal effects of Yemeni war a trip in Yemen organised by the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a Yemeni woman holding a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war UAE's National Media Council (NMC) shows a Yemeni woman sitting next to a child diagnosed with malnutrition at a hospital in the southeastern port city of Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province. AFP/Getty Brutal effects of Yemeni war AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Mohamed, 2, is treated for Malnutrition in Mukalla, the capital Hadramawt province, Yemen Bel Trew Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition is weighed at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition awaits treatment at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni child suffering from malnutrition awaits treatment at a hospital in the northern district of Abs, in Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war Yemeni nurses weigh a malnourished child at a hospital in the northern district of Yemen's Hajjah province AFP/Getty Images Brutal effects of Yemeni war A Yemeni woman carries a malnourished child as she waits during food distribution in the province of Hodeida AFP/Getty Brutal effects of Yemeni war AFP/Getty Images

The attack came after several assaults by Saudi-backed government forces on rebel targets east of the capital Sanaa.

At least 22 people were killed on both sides in those attacks, officials said.

Yemen has been the site of a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia after Mr Hadis government was ousted in 2014.

The Saudi-led military coalition intervened to drive out the Houthis and restore Mr Hadis internationally recognised government.

The war has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced more than 3 million and brought the country to the brink of a major famine.
Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Sunday criticised Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkarfor opposing the proposed memorial of his grandfather and Dalit icon B R Ambedkar in Mumbai.

Prakash Ambedkar suggested on Saturday that theBombay High Courtask theMaharashtragovernment to utilise funds sanctioned for the proposed statue of B R Ambedkar for improvement of Wadia hospitals for women and children instead.

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi(MVA) government had on Wednesday approved a proposal to raise the height of the proposed statue of the Dalit icon by 100 feet and cleared the revised expenditure of Rs 1089.95 crore for the memorial project, which will come up on the premises of now-defunt Indu Mills in central Mumbai.

"Followers of B R Ambedkar want the Statue of Equality to come up at Indu Mills. What Prakash Ambedkar is saying is an insult of the Ambedkar followers. What kind of grandson is he (of B R Ambedkar)?" the minister asked.

He, however, said Wadia hospitals should be given funds.

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

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
A clock gifted to Hanoi by Swiss city of Bern back in 2010 has not been operating for years. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Quang

A giant clock worth $20,000 gifted to Hanoi as a millennium anniversary gift in 2010 has neither ticked nor tocked for years.

Hanoi received the clock, which has a diameter of 13 meters and a height of 1.8 meters, from the Swiss city of Bern on the occasion of its millennial anniversary celebration in 2010.

The anniversary marked the foundation of the capital, initially called Thang Long, by emperor Ly Thai To.

The clock was installed at a prime location in the capital city, the banks of the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake. An electricity supply post was erected about 20 meters away. However, the authorities failed to provide any information about the clock to the public and visitors. There are no signs informing people about who had gifted the clock, the occasion or how it functions.

Worse still, no one seems to remember the clock ticking. Again, there has been no information provided on when and why it stopped.

Cuong, a photographer who works in the Sword Lake ward, said he has not seen the clock ticking in years.

"I wonder who is in charge of operating this clock and why they left it like this.

"Many tourists to the lake even think that this is just some clock model," he said.

Cuong also thinks the clock has not been installed in an ideal place. There are certain places from where it is not clear what the object is, and others from where a good view of the lake is blocked, he said.

The clock seen from Hang Khay Street. Photo by VnExpress/Tran Quang

Associate Professor Ha Dinh Duc, an expert on Hanoi and Sword Lake in particular, said the clock "has not been running for quite a while."

He himself had suggested moving it to another location so that people could easily see it, but he has not received any feedback from the city authorities.

In 2017, the city had assigned Hoan Kiem District to work on a plan to relocate the clock, but nothing seems to have happened since.

Trinh Hoang Tung, a senior district official, said the plan to relocate the clock was part of a project to renovate the area around the lake. The new location being considered is at the junction of Le Thai To and Hang Trong streets, which would give it a wider space and give it greater visibility.

But the district will have to wait for approval from higher authorities to move the clock, Tung said.

He also said that the relocation "would not be easy because the district does not understand the technique of the clock." The Hanoi Department for Foreign Affairs will have to work with the Embassy of Switzerland in Hanoi and seek help from Swiss engineers, he added, without elaborating.
Jawed Bedar, a spokesman for Faryab provinces governor, said the Taliban killed six members of one family in Faryab Province, seen above (Google Maps)

Taliban Kill 6 Members of Same Family, Say Afghan Officials

Six members of the same family, including an infant girl, were executed by members of the Taliban terrorist group in a remote northern village, said officials in Afghanistan.

The Taliban has denied any involvement and said the killings on Saturday were motivated by a personal dispute, The Associated Press reported. Jawed Bedar, a spokesman for Faryab provinces governor, told the news agency that the family was accused by the Taliban, which has long been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the Department of State, of being involved in prostitution.

As a result, members of the group entered the familys home and opened fire, Bedar told AP.

Mohammad Hanif Rezaie, a spokesperson for the Afghan National Armys Shaheen 209 Military Corps, told local news website KabulNow that the terrorists allegedly carried out the killings on Saturday night in the Khanqa village of Andkhoy district in Faryab province. Other than the six who were slain, a woman and child were injured.

Rezaie said that none of the family members had served in the Afghan military, adding that the Taliban members arrived at the village in secrecy. The Taliban also told KabulNow its fighters were not involved in the killings.

The Taliban are in control of Andkhoy, which makes it difficult to confirm what had happened, Bedar told AP. Locals in the area said the family was not involved in prostitution and said a member of the family was formerly involved in the Taliban who had been involved recently in the peace process, Andkhoy district chief Sultan Mohammad Sanjer told the news outlet.

In the meantime, the Taliban have been carrying out attacks on Afghan and U.S. military assets as they are attempting to hold peace talks with the United States as the nearly 19-year-long conflict continues.

Earlier this month, two soldiers who had been stationed Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were killed by a roadside bomb, according to the Department of Defense.

Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin (L) and Pfc. Miguel A. Villalon. (U.S. Department of Defense)

The soldiers were conducting operations as part of NATOs Resolute Support Mission. The incident is under investigation, the Pentagon wrote in confirming their deaths. The soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Ian P. McLaughlin, 29, of Newport News, Virginia; and Pfc. Miguel A. Villalon, 21, of Joliet, Illinois. They were both assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division based in Fort Bragg.

The Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, CBS News and other news outlets reported. Qari Yusouf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, told the news outlet that it occurred in Kandahar province in the countrys south.
ANN ARBOR -- After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1944, Molly Dobson had plans to become an airline stewardess, but her father changed her mind.

Do you think thats doing enough for your country? her father told her.

Three days later, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy. She worked in communications during World War II before returning to Ann Arbor and has dedicated her life to giving ever since.

Dobson, 96, a longtime philanthropist and board member of local community organizations, is the United Way of Washtenaw Countys 2020 Woman of the Year, an award to be presented at Power of the Purse, a fundraising event March 3 at Kensington Hotel in Ann Arbor. Donated purses are sold at auction during the event, with proceeds going toward supporting financial stability for Washtenaw County women in need.

Im very content and I really think that people that dont get involved dont realize what theyre missing, said Dobson. My life would be very boring if I didnt have these ties to these wonderful younger people.

Dobson is known for her work supporting the University of Michigans Development Summer Internship Program. She said she saw the need to train women in leadership skills and the program expanded from there. She has donated to several scholarship funds that have supported the program.

Dobson has also been a board member and donor to the Washtenaw Community College Foundation.

Her interests have always involved improving the experiences of women and shes worked with the Center for the Education of Women, funding scholarships for that program and establishing long-lasting relationships with scholars.

Over her decades of service, she said shes enjoyed watching the growth of women stepping up serving on committees, making substantial gifts, caring about their part in improving the community.

At 96-years-old, Dobson said she makes sure to walk a mile a day to maintain her energy level. She also enjoys cooking with special recipes for cookies and soup.

She and her husband, William Dobson, had three children. She now has five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

She said shes been involved with United Way of Washtenaw County since the 1950s. The organization strives to support financial stability, health and education.

Tickets to attend the Power of the Purse event are available here.

Im flattered, said Dobson. Its nice to know that my contributions have made a difference.
Jerusalem, Jan 20 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the export of natural gas to Egypt started on January 15 has "turned Israel into an energy power".

During his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Netanyahu referred to the deal between Israel and Egypt as a "singular economic and diplomatic event" because Israel is "spreading itself to the Arab world and into Europe" through the gas pipeline.

Israel has no diplomatic relations with most of the Arab states, though it has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan, Xinhua reported.

On January 15, commercial gas started to be transported via a subsea pipeline from Israel's offshore Leviathan natural gas reservoir to Egypt.

Under the deal, Dolphinus Holdings, a private company in Egypt, will buy 85 billion cubic metres of gas at a cost of about $19.5 billion from Israel's Leviathan and Tamar over a period of 15 years.

According to a statement issued on January 15 by the Israeli and Egyptian energy ministries, the move "will also allow Israel to export some of its natural gas to Europe through Egypt's liquefied natural gas facilities and promote Egypt's status as a regional gas market".

Leviathan is a huge 622-billion-cubic metre gas reservoir that was found off Israel's Mediterranean coast in 2010.

Gas production in Tamar, a nearby smaller gas field, kicked off in March 2013.
TORONTO (AP)  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday his government will give Canadian $25,000 (US$19,122) to the families of each of the 57 citizens and 29 permanent residents of Canada who died in the downing of a Ukrainian jetliner in Iran last week.

Trudeau said he still expects Iran to compensate the families but added that they need help now for funerals, travel to Iran and bills. He said any money Iran provides at a later date will go straight to the families and will not be reimbursed to the Canadian government.

I want to be clear, we expect Iran to compensate these families," Trudeau said. But I have met them. They can't wait weeks. They need support now."

Asked if the U.S. bears any responsibility after President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Iran's top general, in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, Trudeau said Iran bears full responsibility for having shot down a civilian airline with 176 people aboard.

The prime minister also said the black boxes" have been significantly damaged and Iran does not have the expertise or equipment needed to look at them. He said France has a lab that can do it. He said there is a need to do it as quickly as possible.

The spokesman for the French accident investigating bureau, or BEA, said it has no information about eventually obtaining the demolished airplanes black boxes, the voice and data recorders, to decipher them. Sebastien Barthe added that it is up to Iran, which is in charge of the investigation, to decide the matter.

Trudeau said no remains of Canadian victims have returned to Canada yet but he expects that to start happening in the coming days.

Trudeau held the news conference in Ottawa after Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne met his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Muscat, Oman on Friday.

A statement from Champagne's office said the two discussed the need to provide consular services to assist in ensuring victim identification and the importance of a transparent investigation.

Story continues

The Ministers also discussed the need for a transparent analysis of the black box data, to which Iran agreed. In addition, they discussed the duty Iran has towards the families of the victims  including compensation," the statement reads.

Minister Zarif expressed his support for Iran continuing to work with Canada and all grieving nations in these respects."

Canada suspended diplomatic relations with Iran in 2012, but Trudeau and Canada's foreign minister have been in touch with their Iranian counterparts since the plane was shot down.

Iran downed the flight as it braced for possible American retaliation after firing ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S. forces. The missile attack, which caused no U.S. casualties, was a response to the killing of Iran's top general.

Trudeau has called the downing a Canadian tragedy because 138 of the passengers were headed for Canada. He confirmed for the first time that those included 29 permanent residents of Canada.

They included students, newlyweds, doctors and parents. The youngest was a 1-year-old girl.

Top diplomats from the countries who had victims met in London on Thursday to demand Tehran accept full responsibility and pay compensation to the victims families.

________

AP writer Elaine Ganley in Paris contributed to this report.
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a rising star in the Democratic Party's liberal wing and one of the most prominent women of color in Congress, is endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders for president, choosing him over Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the heels of an explosive confrontation over the question of whether a woman can defeat President Donald Trump.

In a telephone interview with The Washington Post on Sunday, Jayapal, D-Wash., said she decided to endorse Sanders because "he has a clarity on policy prescriptions that goes right to the heart of what working people need." She will unveil her endorsement Monday in Iowa.

Jayapal also told The Post she will be named national health policy chair for the Sanders campaign, as well as a Washington State chair.

The endorsementis a significant get for Sanders, I-Vt., and a blow to Warren, D-Mass., who has forged a friendship with Jayapal in recent years and is seeking to rally support from women as she makes her closing argument to voters before the first nominating contest in Iowa on Feb. 3.

The backing of Jayapal, who is Indian American and co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, reflects Sanders' growing strength on the left and his diversifying coalition. After building a following in 2016 that some saw as too male and too white, Sanders has secured endorsements this time around from barrier-breaking Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.; and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.

Sanders campaign officials are hoping to deploy Ocasio-Cortez in Iowa in the final stretch of the race there. They have built a busy schedule of events in the early states with a roster of surrogates as Sanders tends to his duties in the Senate as a juror in the Trump impeachment trial.

Jayapal's support comes days after Sanders secured an endorsement from Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., the other co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.The Progressive Caucus is the largest coalition of left-leaning members of Congress. It includes dozens of House members and one senator: Sanders.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a national co-chair of the Sanders campaign and a fellow member of the Progressive Caucus, played a leading role in securing the support for Jayapal and Pocan, approaching his colleagues persistently, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Khanna also helped secure the endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez.

The Vermont senator spent the weekend campaigning in New Hampshire, where he sought to appeal to women voters and move past his conflict with Warren. She said in last Tuesday's debate that in a private conversation in late 2018, Sanders disagreed with her assertion that a woman could beat Trump. Sanders forcefully denied saying that.

On a frigid Saturday afternoon in Portsmouth, Sanders spoke at a women's march, encouraging men to stand with women on issues affecting them. "We are in this together," he said. At a town hall in Exeter, he thanked women for "helping lead the opposition to Trump at every level."

When asked by a voter in Exeter what his strategy would be as the Democratic field narrows and becomes more prone to infighting, Sanders said he would focus on "issues of the working families of America," and he blamed the news media, which he said "often wants and exaggerates conflict."

Yet many Sanders supporters have embraced the chance to battle with Warren, fueling contentious exchanges on social media. Nearly a week after their feud first erupted, the conflict was still raw for supporters of both candidates.

"Up until recently, Elizabeth Warren was my second choice, but she is no longer that," said Forrest Rapier, a 30-year-old community organizer who felt that when it came to the rift with Sanders, Warren could have "nipped it in the bud." Rapier, who attended a Sanders rally in Manchester, said he would write Sanders's name in on his ballot in the general election if he is not the Democratic nominee.

As Sanders spoke at the women's march in Portsmouth, Susan Harden, a 56-year-old elementary school teacher from Pelham, New Hampshire, held up a sign urging voters to choose a woman as the nominee against Trump.

"I can understand Elizabeth's frustration," she said in an interview, "being called out on the national debate stage." Harden added, "I think there should be a lot of support for Elizabeth Warren going forward."

On Saturday, Warren won the endorsement of Janet Petersen, the Democratic leader in the Iowa state Senate. The support could give her a boost ahead of the all-important Feb. 3 Iowa Caucuses.

The disagreement between Sanders and Warren, which played out in Tuesday's debate, led to an even more heated confrontation afterward, which was captured by CNN microphones. During a brief exchange, Warren accused Sanders of calling her a liar and he replied with the same accusation against her.

In an interview with The Washington Post last summer, Jayapal spoke positively about both Warren and Sanders, recalling fond memories of her first meetings with both candidates. She remembered meeting Sanders in Seattle in the fall of 2015, during his first run for president. They both spoke at a rally to expand Medicare and Social Security, she said.

"I remember him coming off the stage and he gave me a big hug and said, 'You said everything I was going to say!'" said Jayapal. She said Sanders asked her to introduce him at his evening rally in Seattle. She responded she would, but told his staff she hadn't endorsed him yet because she wanted to learn more about his record on race, guns and gender.

The staff promptly set up a meeting, which she said was a positive conversation.

"That happened all in one day," Jayapal recalled.

She also spoke warmly of Warren, mentioning legislation they have worked on together and the many text messages they have exchanged.

When she ran for Congress in the 2016 cycle, Sanders endorsed Jayapal, which led to a massive fundraising increase, she said in the interview last year.

"A couple days later, I was sitting in the campaign office, and all of a sudden, I started hearing all these - ding, ding, ding - all these sounds," said Jayapal. "It turned out the staff had the sound on every time a contribution was made. And the computers were just going crazy." She said she raised $150,000 in 24 hours.

- - -

Stein reported from Syracuse, New York.
Burnham Library in Bridgewater will participate in the ninth annual Take Your Child to the Library Day Feb. 1.

Free events and activities for children and families will be offered at the 62 Main St. South library.
Summoning his female stars to his office, he would insist that they do a twirl for him, tottering and turning obediently on their sky-high heels in their tight-fitting dresses under his wolfish, greedy gaze.

Remember that television is a visual medium, he would tell them and he needed to assess them.

If he thought they could do with losing a bit of weight or that their looks were in need of pepping up, then this large, balding lump of a man would bluntly tell them so.

The 20-year reign of Roger Ailes ended in 2016 when presenter Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit alleging he sabotaged her career after she refused his sexual advances. Nicole Kidman stars as Gretchen Carlson in Bombshell, as seen above

They had to grit their teeth and bear it, for such was his power to make or break their career.

From the unluckier ones, he demanded considerably more than a twirl, offering career heaven or hell depending on whether they succumbed to his lecherous advances and perversions.

Several women described how he would insist they appear before him in their underwear  suspender belts and garters compulsory.

Another claimed he made her engage in sadomasochistic sex with another woman as he watched.

If she wanted to get ahead in her career, he reportedly told a young hopeful, she would have to occasionally give him  and his friends  sexual favours.

No, it wasnt Harvey Weinstein, nor even Bill Cosby, but thrice-married Roger Ailes, the all-powerful American TV mogul and head of Fox News  Donald Trumps favourite channel  whose name will soon be as well-known in the UK as it is here across the Pond.

Ailes is pictured with third wife Elizabeth in 2015. There are obvious parallels between Weinstein and Ailes  played in the film by John Lithgow

The weekend saw the British release of Bombshell, the Oscar-nominated film starring Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie, which has caused quite a stir in America  especially among female audiences who are flocking to see it.

It has earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Theron, 44, who plays Megyn Kelly, a news anchor at Fox News for more than a decade, and a Best Supporting Actress nomination for Robbie, 29, as a young and ambitious Fox journalist who falls victim to Ailes predatory instincts (her character, Kayla, is a composite of several of Ailes accusers).

Theron, along with Kidman, 52, as fellow Fox presenter Gretchen Carlson, play Ailes blonde nemeses, the women responsible for bringing down a monster.

At last the #MeToo Movement is having its on-screen moment.

It is too early, and possibly too sensitive, to dramatise the Harvey Weinstein scandal  the disgraced movie mogul has only just gone on trial, after all  so Hollywood has turned to the next best thing.

Ailes, who died aged 77 in 2017, was the bullying TV maestro who  with Rupert Murdochs money  turned Fox News into Americas most popular and most influential cable news network.

No institution, arguably, has wielded as much power in conservative politics, which was fitting as Ailes was, as a former Republican election adviser, dubbed the wiz behind the curtain.

He was instrumental in putting Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush into the White House, teaching them how to use TV to best effect.

(He was also informal counsel to Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and has been credited with first identifying and then mobilising the forgotten voters who, dismissed and despised by the liberal elite of Washington and the east and West coasts, delivered Trumps victory.)

Ailes devoted his later career and his undoubted TV genius to winning not elections, but the cable news ratings war.

In doing so he relied heavily on an army of identikit, women presenters whose chief asset was clearly not  in his view  their journalistic acumen.

Those allowed in front of camera were invariably blonde and skinny and caked in make-up.

He banned women wearing trousers on-screen and insisted they wear dresses that accentuated their legs  I like legs, Ailes would say  introducing glass desks so male viewers missed nothing.

Indeed he was so fixated with womens legs, he once angrily phoned the duty producer to complain about the cameras view of a newsreader.

Move that damn laptop, he ranted. I cant see her legs!

Fox News has repeatedly denied there was any network-wide anti-trousers edict during that era and points out that some female anchors wore them on a daily basis.

Megyn Kelly, who left Fox in 2017, had no involvement in the new film but had her say when she recently posted online a video in which she discussed it with fellow Ailes accusers. They agreed it was generally accurate, if a little too easy on the predator

There are obvious parallels between Weinstein and Ailes  played in the film by John Lithgow (Winston Churchill in The Crown).

Ailes was also a foul-mouthed, volcanic-tempered tyrant who used his physical bulk to intimidate. He got away with it for years because he was successful, powerful and feared.

He took the Fox viewership from 17 million in the mid-Nineties to 87 million households by 2015.

However, his 20-year reign ended in 2016 when presenter Gretchen Carlson filed a lawsuit alleging he sabotaged her career after she refused his sexual advances.

Two years earlier, a startling biography of Ailes by journalist Gabriel Sherman had unearthed various tawdry details about him.

It included a TV producer, Randi Harrison, who said Ailes, while in a previous job at rival network NBC, offered her an extra $100 (77) a week if you agree to have sex with me whenever I want. She left their meeting in tears.

Fox, which conducted a campaign to smear the unauthorised book before it came out, dismissed the charges as false and complained it never had the chance to fact-check it.

However, the revelations  which Ailes immediately denied  were shocking.

Such was Ailes importance to Fox News though, that the crisis blew over. A cohort of Fox News women presenters even united to back Ailes  donning Team Roger T-shirts.

But when Gretchen Carlson filed her lawsuit, Rupert Murdoch started to take note and launched an external investigation.

She had been a Fox star since 2005, and for eight years co-host of the flagship morning show, Fox & Friends.

The former Miss America for 1989 (It must not have been a good year, Ailes once remarked bitchily), was also an accomplished journalist, a graduate of prestigious Stanford University and a talented violinist.

Now she was claiming her boss Ailes treated her like a piece of meat after she rejected his sexual advances, and, as she grew older repeatedly marginalised her at Fox, shifting her to a less prestigious afternoon slot to present her hour-long news show and finally sacking her two days after her 50th birthday.

Carlson also asserted that when she had complained about sexist treatment from one of her male co-presenters, Ailes dismissed her as a man hater who needed to learn to get along with the boys.

Ailes would repeatedly make sexual remarks, ogling her, asking her to turn around so he could view her posterior and telling her he wished they were stranded on a desert island together.

Finally, in 2015, she said they had a meeting in which he told her: I think you and I should have had a sexual relationship a long time ago and then youd be good and better and Id be good and better.

Carlson conceded that she decided to sue only after realising her career at Fox was over. Ailes denied all her allegations and insisted shed been ousted over her shows low ratings.

That defence disintegrated after it emerged Carlson had spent a year secretly recording his remarks on her phone.

It was then that Rupert Murdoch told Ailes to resign or be sacked. Ailes was devastated, arrogantly assuming the man he had made billions of dollars for over two decades, would back him to the end, although he did get a $40 million (31 million) payoff  just $10 million (7.7 million) less than the total Fox would pay in settlements to his victims.

The weekend saw the British release of Bombshell, the Oscar-nominated film starring Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie, which has caused quite a stir in America  especially among female audiences who are flocking to see it. Margot Robbie, left, is pictured with Kate McKinnon in the film

Carlsons allegations had opened the floodgates and at least 23 women complained about Ailes sexual misconduct.

The first lady of Fox, Megyn Kelly, had stayed silent after allegations of sexual abuse and harassment first emerged in 2014. Kelly, who gave up the offer of a partnership at a top law firm to pursue a TV career, was fiercely ambitious and publicly hostile to feminism.

However, in 2016 when her bosses failed to defend her against Donald Trump  he made vile comments about her after she questioned him during a presidential TV debate  it may have prompted a change of mind.

Even his supporters recoiled when the future president said: You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.

She claimed Ailes had made unwanted sexual advances to her a decade earlier, and later said he had tried to grab her three times and I had to shove him off of me.

The most shocking case, though, was that of Laurie Luhn, Fox News former chief guest booker, who claimed Aisles psychologically tortured her for 20 years, leaving her mentally scarred.

Luhn, a former flight attendant, first met him in 1988. Ailes gave her money and helped her career in return for sex, usually in hotels.

It was always the on-my-knees routine, she recalled. There was no affair, no sex, no love.

It was Luhn who also claimed Ailes insisted she have sado-masochistic sex with another woman so he could watch.

He relied on her to find him new flesh, luring young female Fox staff to one-on-one encounters. Youre going to find me Rogers Angels. Youre going to find me whores, she recalled him regularly telling her.

Luhn claimed Ailes kept a compromising tape of her dancing in black garter and stockings to blackmail her with.

Of course, critics would counter that she could have said no but like all women targeted at Fox, she risked being frozen out of the TV industry by her vindictive boss and her career destroyed.

Charlize Theron is pictured in a scene in Bombshell. Theron, along with Kidman, 52, as fellow Fox presenter Gretchen Carlson, play Ailes blonde nemeses, the women responsible for bringing down a monster. At last the #MeToo Movement is having its on-screen moment

Former Fox reporter Rudi Bakhtiar said Ailes asked her to stand up so he could see her legs during her 2005 job interview and that management pressured her to wear miniskirts on air.

Kellie Boyle, a former Republican Party worker, claimed Ailes once told her: You know if you want to play with the big boys, you have to lay with the big boys.

When she pretended not to understand, he elaborated in more graphic terms.

Marsha Callahan, an ex-model, said Ailes asked her to audition for a show he was producing, insisting she wore a garter and suspender belt. He said hed hire her if she slept with him. I was a really shy girl, but I was a little cheeky, so I said, Oh yeah, you and who else? And he said, Only me and a few of my select friends. 

A former Fox employee claimed Ailes once asked if she was wearing underwear and if he was going to see anything good. She added: Its happened to me and lots of other women. Hes a disgusting pig whos been getting away with this s*** for 20 years.

Bombshell is the second time the Ailes saga has been turned into a Hollywood drama. Sky Atlantic launched The Loudest Voice, starring Russell Crowe as Ailes and Naomi Watts as Carlson.

Ailes is dead and so cannot sue, but clearly the opportunity to skewer a red-blooded conservative and his TV network has proved irresistible to the liberally-inclined folk who run Hollywood, which is yet to address left-wing sexual predators with such gusto.

Some believe the seeds of the ruthless, paranoid ogre Ailes became were sown in his traumatic childhood. Growing up in working class Ohio, he suffered from haemophilia and nearly bled to death several times.

His affliction meant he was often off school, spending his time developing his obsession with TV by watching Westerns.

His father, a factory foreman, regularly beat him with an electrical cord and, according to an oft-quoted Ailes anecdote (although disputed by his brother) once encouraged him to jump out of his top bunk bed into his arms.

The boy did so but his father stepped back and let him crash to the floor. Dont trust anybody, his father said.

He didnt need a second lesson. In politics, Ailes had two speeds: attack and destroy, said his Republican electioneering colleague, Lee Atwater.

Ailes married three times but didnt become a father until he was nearly 60 and had a son.

At Fox, he relished his thuggish reputation. The swaggering showman once got so angry he punched a hole in a partition wall, later boasting someone put a frame around the hole and wrote Dont Mess With Roger Ailes.

Megyn Kelly, who left Fox in 2017, had no involvement in the new film but had her say when she recently posted online a video in which she discussed it with fellow Ailes accusers. They agreed it was generally accurate, if a little too easy on the predator.

Some cried watching the scene in which Margot Robbies naive character  inveigled by Ailes female secretary who adored him  nervously takes the lift to his office for a deeply unpleasant encounter.

It took them back to when it happened to them, they said. Kelly tearfully admitted she wished shed done more to help fellow accusers. As for giving Ailes a twirl, Kelly said shed been asked to do so.

God help me, I did it, she sighed. If you dont get how demeaning that is, I cant help you.

Demeaning, but nothing compared to what Roger Ailes demanded of some of her ex-colleagues.
President Donald Trump is expected to discuss new US trade agreements with its North American neighbors and with China during an appearance Sunday at a convention of American farmers.

When Trump spoke to the American Farm Bureau Federation's convention last year, he urged farmers to continue supporting him even as they suffered financially in the fallout from his trade war with China and a partial shutdown of the federal government.

Trump's follow-up speech Sunday in Austin, Texas, will give him a chance to make the case to farmers that he kept two promises on trade that he made as a candidate - to improve trade with China and separately with Canada and Mexico - and that farmers stand to benefit from both pacts.

Trump signed a preliminary trade deal with China at the White House last Wednesday that commits Beijing to boosting its imports of U.S. manufacturing, energy and farm goods by $200 billion this year and next.

That includes larger purchases of soybeans and other farm goods expected to reach USD 40 billion a year, the US has said, though critics wonder if China can meet the targets.

Also last week, the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a successor to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.

The administration designed the new agreement to return some factory production to the United States, mostly automobiles.

NAFTA had triggered a surge in trade among the three countries, but Trump and other critics blamed it for U.S. job losses brought about when American factories moved production south of the border to take advantage of low-wage labor in Mexico.

The House passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal in December and Trump is expected to sign it soon.

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

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday said that one the saffron party government comes to power in the state, people damaging public property will be "identified and shot". Addressing a gathering in North 24 Parganas district, Ghosh said that people who damage public property get away easily under the Mamata Banerjee government but "nobody will be spared" once the BJP government is formed.

"Under Mamata Banerjee's government, even if one damages public property worth Rs 500 crores, that person escapes it. When we come to power then every such person will be identified and shot at. Nobody will be spared," Ghosh is heard saying in Bengali in a video shared by news agency ANI.

He further said that 50 lakh "Muslim infiltrators" will be chased out of the country. Their names will be removed from the voter list and the BJP will get 200 seats in West Bengal in the next Assembly elections.

The Bengal BJP chief had made similar remarks last week. He had said that such people will be shot in the same way they were shot in Uttar Pradesh. He was referring to the killings of anti-CAA protesters in Uttar Pradesh last year. "Mamata didi was not taking any step against the person who had destroyed public property as they were her voters," he said.

Also Read | People Damaging Public Property Were Shot Like Dogs In UP, Assam: BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh

He further said that the state governments such as Uttar Pradesh had not only booked such persons but also charged baton and shot them too. "The property that were being destroyed, does it belong to anyone's father? In Assam, UP, our governments have shot these people like dogs, he added.

After Ghoshs open threat to kill anti-CAA protesters, the BJP came on the backfoot and sought to distance itself from its the remarks of its own state unit chief. Union Minister and MP from Asansol Babul Supriyo said that what Dilip Ghosh said was imagination of his mind and the BJP governments in UP and Assam never resorted to shooting protesters.

Watch Video Below

#WATCH West Bengal BJP Chief Dilip Ghosh in North 24 Parganas: Under Mamata Banerjee's government, even if one damages public property worth Rs 500 crores, that person escapes it. When we come to power then every such person will be identified and shot at. Nobody will be spared. pic.twitter.com/ihU9LqtQcZ  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

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trade unions are likely to demand a at their second meeting with Minister of State for Civil Aviation in New Delhi on Monday.

The minister is set to meet over a dozen unions, including unrecognised ones, on Monday for the second time in a month over the airline's privatisation plans.

The government is planning to float Expression of Interest (EoI) for selling its entire 100 per cent stake in the loss-making flag carrier some time next week.

At the first meeting on January 2, the minister had made it clear that privatisation was the only option before the government to keep the airline afloat and sought employees cooperation in carrying out the disinvestment process.

Puri had also told the unions that he will call them again after the meeting of the ministerial panel on disinvestment.

"Initially, we were told that government would protect our jobs if airline gets privatised and therefore we did not think about voluntary retirement.

"But off late, our members have been approaching us and want us to discuss a voluntary retirement scheme package with the government as it is expected that our job will be protected only for one year post privatisation. We are going to raise this issue at the meeting with the minister on Monday," an airline source told PTI.

The source said that if the government agrees "in-principle" on their demand, the unions will work out the contours of the VRS package, including the service cut-off period and the quantum of monetary compensation.

Media reports suggest that the new investor may be allowed to retain Air India's some 11,000 employees only for one year after the carrier goes into private hands.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during its meeting on January 7 approved the plan to invite EoI and the sale-purchase agreement for the disinvestment of state-run carrier, an official had earlier said.

Air India's net loss in 2018-19 was around Rs 8,556 crore. Moreover, its per day losses are estimated to be in the range of Rs 20-26 crore, alongwith a debt of around Rs 80,000 crore.

In 2018, the government had proposed to offload 76 per cent stake in Air India while retaining the rest 24 per cent with it as well as transfer the management control to private players.

However, the offer failed to attract any bidder when the deadline for initial bids closed on May 31, 2018, forcing it to put the plans on hold and then resume the entire process all over again last year.
B oris Johnson will raise concerns over the driving of US diplomatic staff at a world leaders summit after footage emerged of a car driving on the wrong side of the road close to the airbase where Harry Dunn was killed.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Johnson said he will address with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the driving habits of US staff at RAF Croughton following the death of the teenager.

The Prime Minister is in Berlin with world leaders at the summit hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

He said: Were certainly raising all those issues, about the driving habits of US personnel at the base, and were continuing to work for justice for Harry Dunn and for his family.

Police Probing Footage Of Vehicle Near Harry Dunn Raf Base

Mr Johnsons statement comes after footage emerged of a suspected US government car having to brake sharply on a country road near the base.

The footage of the near-miss close to RAF Croughton was released as police revealed details of a separate incident in which a police vehicle was struck by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road in October.

The video, reported to Northamptonshire Police on Saturday, shows the blue BMW has what appears to be one of the registration numbers used on US government vehicles in the UK.

Harry Dunn was killed near the airbase / PA

In a statement, Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley said: I do not underestimate how much of a concerning incident this was and how much worse it could have been, especially considering the circumstances in which 19-year-old Harry Dunn tragically died.

RAF Croughton became the focus of an international controversy after Mr Dunn was killed in a head-on collision with a car on August 27 last year.

Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official, is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road and was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Anne Sacoolas pictured at the wheel of her car reversing out of a driveway before pulling away / ITV News

But she controversially claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision, fled to her home country and has refused to return to face justice despite pleas from Harrys family.

The US State Department has said the UK extradition request for Sacoolas is highly inappropriate and would be an abuse.

Boris Johnson has previously said that it was right to appeal for extradition but said the chances of Anne Sacoolas returning were very low.
China's post-90s generation have an open and rational attitude toward death, a topic that has long been taboo in the country.

People pay tribute to organ donors at a public cemetery in Shanghai. (Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily)

Savelife.org.cn, also known as Love and Hope, is the first domestic organ donor registration system. Its registered volunteers surpassed 1 million on July 2, 2019, and over 53 percent of them are from the post-90s generation.

Bai Yining, born in 1999, signed a body donation agreement last year, a decision that was supported by her parents. She and Liang Jiali, also a post-90s college student, became the second and third registered volunteers for body donation in northwest China's Gansu province. Bai was the youngest person to decide to donate her body in the province last year.

Yu Su, a senior student majoring in Clinical Medicine Science at the Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, began to change her attitude toward death after her mother died from acute myocarditis, which was a major blow to her.

Yu became a hospice care volunteer and established a similar voluntary association at the college to help patients.

According to a white paper released by the China Will Registration Center in 2019, the Chinese mainland has seen more young testators. By October 2019, 246 post-90s people wrote wills. The youngest among them is only 18 years old.

Chen Jin, director of the center's promotion department, said that writing a will is an act of responsibility toward one's family, adding that it reflected the post-90s generation's rational attitude to death, and that those young testators at the center made the decision after considering the matter in a mature manner.

Members of the post-90s generation are also buying health care and insurance products to prevent risks. A report revealed that 21.9 percent of the group have used health care products for a long time, while nearly 50 percent occasionally took health supplements. According to another report, people from the post-90s group held four insurance policies on average.
Murkowski Wants to Hear Impeachment Case Before Deciding on Witnesses

A key swing-vote senator said she wants to first hear from House impeachment managers and President Donald Trumps legal team before deciding on whether the Senate needs additional witnesses and documents.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told KTUU that she isnt ready to hear from potential witnesses such as former Vice President Joe Bidens son Hunter, former national security adviser John Bolton, or White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

I dont know what more we need until I have been given the base case, she said. We will have that opportunity to say yes or no  and if we say yes, the floor is open.

She came to that conclusion because she would like to really hear the case before making a determination as to, what more do we need, according to The Associated Press.

But I want to have that at a point where I know whether or not Im going to need it, she said. [My responsibility is] not to focus on the politics of where we are, but a recognition that we are in the midst of an infrequent and in many ways extraordinary process that the Constitution allows for, and Im going to take my constitutional obligations very, very seriously.

Last month, she told KTUU that she was disturbed by a statement made by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) about how he would coordinate with the White House during the trial. Since then, some have said she would possibly be a swing vote during the trial.

When asked about that label on Jan. 18, she told the same news outlet: This is not a role thats new to me, but I certainly dont relish it.

Murkowskis position is similar to that of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)also considered a swing vote Republicanwho said that the upcoming process should follow the precedent set during the impeachment trial of former President Bill Clinton in 1999.

That process [from 1999] provided for the opportunity for both sides to state their case and for Senators to ask questions through the Chief Justice, Collins wrote in a statement last week.

At the conclusion of that phase of the 1999 trial, the Senate voted on a motion to subpoena witnesses and admit additional materials after the case had been heard and the questions had been posed.

I voted in favor of that motion subpoenaing witnesses.

Collins added that senators from both parties should be allowed to ask questions during the trial, noting that additional information would be helpful in reaching a decision.

There has been a lot of mischaracterization and misunderstanding about my position on the process the Senate should follow for the impeachment trial, she said. Rather than have my position relayed through the interpretation of others, I wanted to state it directly.

The other senator from Alaska, Dan Collins, a Republican, told AP that he supports the precedent set during the 1999 Clinton trial.

I think this is going to be a stark contrast to what happened over in the House, where you literally witnessed the most rushed, most partisan, and unprepared impeachment proceedings in the House in U.S. history, Sullivan said.

On Jan. 16, House managers named by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) presented the two articles of impeachment against Trump. Democrats have alleged that Trump abused his power by holding up military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who held a lucrative board position on a Ukrainian gas company while his father was vice president. Joe Biden, in 2018, appeared to boast that he forced the firing of Ukraines top investigator, purportedly to thwart a probe of the company tied to his son, by withholding from Ukraine $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees.

Both Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have denied allegations of any quid pro quo. Top Republicans have said that House Democrats case is politically motivated.
The Indian strategic forces got a major boost on Sunday after the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested a 3,500-kilometre range submarine-launched K-4 ballistic missile off the Vizag coast, with the nuclear weapon meeting all its target objectives, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The three-metre-tall missile carries a nuclear warhead of over one tonne with a circular error probability (CEP) far lower than that of Chinese ballistic missiles. Only the US, Russia and China have submarine-launched ballistic missiles of 3,500-kilometre range. The INS Arihant is already equipped with a 700-kilometre range B-02 nuclear missile, with the second nuclear submarine INS Arighat on way to becoming operational.

Top government officials told Hindustan Times that with this test India has moved one more step towards the induction of this ballistic missile on the INS Arihant class of nuclear submarines. The missile was fired off a pontoon between 12 noon and 1pm off the Vizag coast in Andhra Pradesh and the delivery platform was tracked over 1,500 kilometres before it shifted to ship-based radars.

The full results of the missile test will be known in the days to come after the tracking ships return to base. It is only on that basis that we will decide whether to conduct more tests before making the missile operational. Even in the case of the Agni-5 ballistic missile, the nuclear weapon was made operational after conducting two tests, said a top official.

While the K-4 was to be tested last November, the test was delayed due to Cyclone Bulbul that made the weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal not conducive to the launch and tracking of the missile. DRDO missile scientists led by Satheesh Reddy were waiting for a window to open for the test.

DRDO scientists were happy with how the K-4 test went as the CEP of the Indian strategic missile is less than 100 metres as compared to the 1-2 kilometre range of the Chinese equivalent. The submarine-launched ballistic missile is the most important part of the air, land and sea nuclear triad and is at the front of Indias second-strike capability. With the K-4 and the Agni-5 missiles in its nuclear arsenal, Indian strategic forces now have a deterrent against all adversaries to the north and south, besides capability of protecting the Indo-Pacific.

While DRDO officials were tight-lipped about the details of the missile, the K-4 test met all classified mission objectives. With the DRDO having the capability to conduct laboratory missile tests, India has the ability to build nuclear delivery platforms with far more than officially stated ranges.

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Iran is sending the black boxes of the Ukrainian passenger plane that its military accidentally shot down this month - back to Ukraine.

According to Tasnim news agency, Iranian authorities are also prepared for experts from France, Canada and the U.S to examine the data from the boxes.

All 176 people aboard the Ukrainian International Airlines flight died when the plane was shot down on January 8 - shortly after take-off from Tehran, en route to Kiev.

Director in charge of accident investigations at Iran's Civil Aviation Organization told Tasnim that the flight data recorder would be sent to France if experts could not read it in Kiev.

57 of those who died were Canadian, and prime minister Justin Trudeau, who has been pressing for a full investigation into the plane downing, said Friday that Iran should send the black boxes to France for analysis - as it is one of the few countries with the ability to read the flight and cockpit data recorders from the jet, which he told a news conference, were badly damaged.

system.scripts.

Iran has faced a deepening crisis abroad and at home over the plane disaster, with authorities taking several days to announce that its military had accidentally shot the plane down.

The downing occurred as Iran was on high alert for possible retaliatory action following its strikes on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.

Those strikes were in revenge for the U.S. killing of top military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone attack in Baghdad on January 3.
Forces loyal to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar have shut off production at all Libyas major oil fields, an escalation that threatened to strangle the countrys finances and overshadowed an international peace summit in Berlin on Sunday, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Haftar, whose self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) is bearing down on the capital Tripoli with the backing of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russian mercenaries and African troops, attended the one-day summit in Berlin despite having abandoned talks over a truce last week.

Turkey has rushed troops to Tripoli to help an internationally recognized government resist Haftars assault. Up to 2,000 fighters from Syrias civil war have also joined the battle, a U.N. official said on Saturday.

Libya has had no stable central authority since dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by NATO-backed rebels in 2011. For more than five years it has had two rival governments in the east and the west, with streets controlled by armed groups.

Haftar, the easts most powerful figure, has won backing from a range of foreign allies for an assault to capture Tripoli in the west, while Turkish support for Tripolis effort to repel him has turned the conflict into a proxy war. More than 150,000 people have been displaced by fighting for the capital.

Haftar quit a Turkish-Russian summit a week ago and escalated the conflict on Friday when eastern oil ports were shut down. Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) said the shutdown was directly ordered by Haftars forces and would cut oil production by 800,000 barrels a day.

On Sunday, as international leaders were gathering in the German capital, the NOC said the major southwestern fields of El Sharara and El Feel were closing after forces loyal to Haftar shut a pipeline.

Any lasting closure could hit Tripoli hard since the government relies on oil revenues to fund its budget.

We call on all parties concerned to redouble their efforts for a sustained suspension of hostilities, de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire, said a draft of a communique to be discussed at the summit, reviewed in advance by Reuters.

Diplomats said a joint military commission would monitor the truce, but details were unclear. The draft did not say whether the LNA needed to pull back, stating only: We call for the redeployment of heavy weapons, artillery and aerial vehicles and their cantonment.

If the LNA did not pull back, then Haftar would book a huge territorial gain from his main power base in Benghazi, some 1,000 km away from Tripoli.

A call for a ceasefire from Russia and Turkey helped reduce fighting a week ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of a meeting with Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the conference.

We dont lose hope that dialogue will continue and the conflict will be solved, Putin said.
Ukraine and Hungary also agreed on priority joint steps to improve the quality of information exchange

Ukraine and Hungary agreed to join their forces and expand cooperation to strengthen regional collective security. Corresponding agreements were reached during negotiations between the head of the Defense Intelligence Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Vasyl Burba and the head of the Main Directorate of Military Information of Hungary, Janos Beres, the website reports.

"The cooperation between the military intelligence of Ukraine and Hungary will be organized in several directions and in different formats of partnership. In particular, the military intelligence officers of the two states will develop joint analytical assessments of new security threats in the region and develop collective countermeasures," it was reported.

Also at the meeting, priority joint steps of the Ukrainian and Hungarian military intelligence agencies were agreed, which will improve the quality of information exchange and the level of awareness of NATO security structures.

As we reported, National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), chaired by President Volodymyr Zelensky, held a meeting at which it considered the national security strategy of Ukraine.

The President invited the meeting participants to work out the draft strategy in detail and submit their proposals.
Vajpayee served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004 when the Congress came to power with Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.

For the last 50 years, Indias democracy has functioned as a split polity. Democracy rests on the consent of the governed and on a national consensus on the fundamentals of the polity. It is not enough that all political parties swear by the Constitution of India. It is imperative also that they share the ideology on which the state was founded. That has all but evaporated since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India in 2014.

India was long governed by what is called a Nehruvian Consensus till his daughter, imperious to the core, split the ruling Congress in 1969. The excluded Congress faction made common cause with the Opposition parties. In the 1971 general election, she won handsomely and ruled autocratically till she was defeated in 1977.

However, in the united front of Opposition parties which defeated her in 1977, the RSS political wing, the Jan Sangh, acquired an important role. The erstwhile pariah now became respectable. It left the united front, the Janata Party, to form the Jan Sanghs successor, the BJP, which is in power today  but with a difference. Having won only two seats in the 1984 elections, its second-in-command, Lal Krishna Advani, effectively sidelined the moderate Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Vajpayee served as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004 when the Congress came to power with Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister. He lost to the BJP in 2014 but with a huge difference. L.K. Advani was eliminated by his erstwhile protege Narendra Modi on whose watch, as chief minister of Gujarat, a pogrom of Muslims was staged in 2002. Advani foiled Vajpayees efforts to get Modi to resign as chief minister in 2003 only to be eliminated by Modi from the BJP leadership when he became Prime Minister in 2014.

Indias polity, which had been split on ideological lines, once the BJP began its campaign for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1989, now sharpened its ideological credo of Hindutva. Modi went one better. He openly became a staunch Hindutvaite and openly anti-Muslim.

The Congress Party is attacked as being pro-Muslim although its leaders Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul, ostentatiously visit Hindu temples. Modi and his cohorts attack critics as being pro-Pakistan and freely impugn their patriotism. That is the quality of political debate.

What Arthur Balfour sagaciously wrote so many years ago is being realised by people now Should anyone be inclined to regard this [his list of tests for a democracy] as an overstatement, let him seriously consider these last qualifications for Cabinet government; namely, if the divisions between parties are too numerous or too profound. Multiplicity of political parties is not the only vice that can impair democracy.

Let the political parties be reduced to two (admittedly the most convenient number for Cabinet government), but let the chasm dividing them be so profound that a change of administration would in fact be a revolution disguised under a constitutional procedure. That would be enough to wreck parliamentary democracy.

A silver lining has appeared on the horizon in recent weeks to tell us that Indias secularism is very much alive. It is the protests by students, cutting across the religious and political divide, against Modis communal law amending the Citizenship Act. Students of the Aligarh Muslim University and the Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi did not lag behind. Police outrages on them drew universal support. Modi is not invincible.

By arrangement with Dawn
Assam minister Jogen Mohan was shown black flags in Sivasagar district on Sunday by AASU activists protesting against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a day after he was sworn in.

The incident happened when the minister was going to his constituency - Mahmara.

The actvists also shouted slogans against him.

"Jogen Mohan go back", "We don't accept CAA" and "BJP go back" were some of the slogans the agitators shouted while waving black flags at the new minister.

Jogen Mohan on Saturday was sworn in as minister of state with independent charge was given the portfolios of revenue and disaster management, PWD (assisting the cabinet minister).

Dozens of members of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) showed black flags while Mohan's convoy passed through Gaurisagar area of Sivasagar district.

On January 15, the day of 'Bhogali Bihu', Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was shown black flags by AASU activists in Dibrugarh district while he was on his way to his hometown Chabua to celebrate Bihu with his family members.

Sonowal, on New Year's day was shown black flags by AASU and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad at several places between Nalbari and Barpeta when he was travelling to Barpeta district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Section 144 not a tool to oppress difference of opinion: SC verdict on J&K in 15 points

SC describes J&K as Tale of Two Cities: A paradise on earth where blood is shed everyday

All six terror funding cases against Hafiz Saeed to be clubbed

Behmai massacre: The curious case of a missing diary

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 19: The case diary of Behmai massacre, in which 20 people were killed allegedly by bandit Phoolan Devi's gang nearly four decades ago, was found missing on when a special court was to pronounce its verdict, prompting the judge to postpone the matter to January 24.

Special judge (UP dacoity-affected area) Sudhir Kumar pulled up the court official for the absence of the case diary at the time of delivering the verdict and asked him to place it before the court on January 24.

The court is likely to give its verdict on the role of the four surviving accused -- Posha, Bhikha, Vishwanath and Shyambabu. While Posha is still in jail, the rest are out on bail. Three other dacoits, including Man Singh, are absconding.

Phoolan Devi raped, murdered accused no more; verdict of 39 years old Behmai massacre today

The judge postponed pronouncement of the verdict after finding out that the original case diary was missing from court record, district government counsel (criminal) Rajeev Porwal told PTI.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

The court has now listed the case on January 24, asking its staff to trace the missing case diary and place it before it on the next date, Porwal said.

"The court decided to fix another date for pronouncing the judgement only after the original case diary is located," he said.

The court also issued a notice to the sessions clerk concerned for the case diary going missing, Porwal said, adding strict instructions have been issued to find it.

Though the disappearance of the case diary came to light only recently, Porwal denied any conspiracy behind it.

An advocate of the complainant later said that the Allahabad High Court will be moved in view of "undue delay in pronouncement of judgement" in the case and "mysterious disappearance" of the original case diary.

The special court for hearing dacoity-related cases was expected to deliver the verdict in the 1981 Behmai massacre case on January 6, but it allowed the defence counsel to submit written arguments by January 16, Porwal said.

Explained: What is the Behmai massacre

Defence counsel Girish Narain Dubey had appeared before the court on January 6, seeking more time to submit written arguments and was granted 10 more days, the government counsel said.

"Bandit Queen" Phoolan Devi, who later entered politics, along with her gang members were accused of killing the 20 people belonging to the Thakur community at Behmai village in Kanpur Dehat on February 14, 1981.

The non-descript Behmai village, that drew national attention after the killings, is 170 km from state capital Lucknow and over 400 km from national capital New Delhi.

Phoolan Devi had stormed into Behmai in what was described as an attack to avenge her alleged rape there by two other bandits -- Lala Ram and Sri Ram -- both Thakurs, a dominant caste in the village.

Two years after the incident, she had surrendered to the Madhya Pradesh police in 1983. She then went on to become a Lok Sabha member from Mirzapur for the first time in 1996 and then in 1999 on Samajwadi Party ticket.

Initially, 35 people, including Phoolan Devi, were named as accused in the case. Eight of them were reportedly killed by police in separate encounters. Three others were reportedly absconding.

The prosecution had produced as many as 15 witnesses and seven of them were material witnesses. The process of prosecution producing evidence was closed in 2014.

The Behmai killings had led to a political fallout, with then UP chief minister V P Singh, who later became the country's prime minister, resigning owning moral responsibility for the massacre.

As per the terms of her surrender under an amnesty scheme, then Madhya Pradesh chief minister Arjun Singh agreed to keep her in the Gwalior prison, rather than being sent to a prison in Uttar Pradesh as a result of which the summons and non-bailable warrants issued by a Kanpur court were returned unserved.

She spent 11 years in Gwalior and Jabalpur jails in Madhya Pradesh and was released in 1994 without facing trial as she kept fighting a legal battle against the UP police and the Kanpur court's orders.

Charges against the four surviving accused were framed only in 2012.

Phoolan Devi's release was facilitated by the withdrawal of 55 cases by then UP chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's government in "public interest".

Yadav's decision, however, was set aside by the Kanpur court, with the Allahabad High Court upholding the trial court's decision.

Even the Supreme Court had rejected her plea for dismissal of all cases against her in December 1996.

Phoolan Devi, however, evaded arrest and waged a legal battle against it in 2001.

The apex court directed her that if she wanted relief in the cases against her, she first needed to surrender to the trial court in Kanpur.

But, that was not to be as on July 25, 2001, she was killed outside her official residence in New Delhi.

Her story was told on the big screen by noted film director Shekhar Kapoor in his movie "Bandit Queen" based on the book "India's Bandit Queen: The True Story of Phoolan Devi" by author Mala Sen, starring Seema Biswas as the title character who won the National Film Award for Best Actress.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 10:04 [IST]
"young adult novel about an unassuming high schooler who finds himself inexplicably drawn to the free-spirited new girl, whose unconventional ways change how they see themselves... and their world."



This synopsis reads like a parody of every YA novel set in a high school ever.

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it really was. it read VERY young and cloying, more like middle grade than YA.

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it came out in 2000, so i feel like it almost kicked off that trend lmao

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This book also came out a long time ago, before all the other special snowflake novels lol. It was published in 2000.

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I read it growing up but I REALLY didn't like the Manic Pixie Dream Girl elements. Like at all. I didn't have the words/context for that at the time but I know it irritated me for a reason.

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I was trying to think, was this the first example of Manic Pixie Dream Girl? It was so relatively early on...

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Wondering that too! I remember reading this in elementary school so at the very least it was probably a lot of us who are under 30's first introduction to that trope. I can think of a few older ones but those would have all happened well before that term was even coined, I think.

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I think so tbh. It wasnt as common as a trope so it didnt even have the label as a trope back then, which I think shows the dating of the novel.

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I'd say it's a kick off of the recent obsession with it. Manic pixie dream girls have existed forever in film, just not so coined as this

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This trailer plays like a teen cancer romance film.

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it's giving me She's Imagined vibes and lmao I forget if she was or not in the book and kind of hope she is fake

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I am still emotionally scarred by Ringer! (And had a chance to tell the author so, lol).



Maniac McGee was also depressing, it was about the orphan who drifts from place to place.

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I remember Jason and Marceline because I read it over and over

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I remember really liking Manic Magee. I think about how he was good at untying knots every once in a while. Although, now that you mention it, Wringer really was messed up.

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Manic pixie dream girl

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I watched this trailer yesterday on youtube and I spent the first minute really confused because I thought this was DC's Stargirl.

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I did read it when I was young and was a fan. I learned about saguaro cactuses from it, lol. I was excited when I first heard they were adapting it like, 6 years ago. Not quite so enthused anymore.

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I cant believe they finally made this movie, I read the book SUCH a long time ago. Ill be watching this.

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[ Spoiler (click to open) ] Leo pressures Stargirl to change for him so he doesn't feel so embarrassed around her We read this with our students, and all the 8th grade boys hate it because its main character is a girl. The girls also get outraged when

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I love that you shared this tidbit of how your students reacted to the story!



From the trailer it comes off as if the boy is the main character and we're going on his journey. I wonder if this was done cos the Disney marketing team knows they'll lose half of their demo if boys think the main character is the girl? Or, are they both the main characters? I didn't read this book but the trailer for the film adaptation is giving me "the girl character is not even real" vibes, so even more leading me to think it's a tale about a boy's journey dealing with the pressures of social dynamics in school and how he copes by creating in his mind the person he wishes he could be again.





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[ Spoiler (click to open) ] Most of my female students describe Leo as boring and not worthy of Stargirls affections. They think hes two dimensional and a crappy boyfriend to her.



Halfway through the story, the entire school starts bullying Stargirl and he is embarrassed by the whole thing. Stargirl becomes Susan and turns into an ordinary girl for him, and you can guess how the story ends. This movie looks like its geared towards kids so its a little more upbeat, but the book is kind of sad.



We read it because of how the bullying affects her and Leo, and we also discuss how its not okay for a boy to try to change a girlfriend. The girls pretty much hate Leo by the end and think hes a terrible boyfriend.

I guess I should say that Leo is also a main character since hes the narrator, but I find that most of the story is revolving around her, not him. Hes describing her entrance to his school and how she changes everyone in a positive way (until theres some conflict obviously).

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I remember loving the part where she basically describes a meditative state from thinking nothing without trying, which then removes all your limitations and you can experience anything within your mind or??? Idk. She talked about being the rain. It blew my fuckin' mind. I was 9 or 10. And I remember loving how they ended up not being together because she was better when she was being herself, and she has to leave the people who teased her behind. What a fantasy.



Edited at 2020-01-19 04:21 am (UTC)

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lmao YES that's the biggest thing I remember about this book too. She lays down and imagines an eraser erasing her body piece by piece until her body has "disappeared" and it removes any limitations

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I love this book (the radical love and unselfconsciousness really sticks out to me) and appreciated the sequel, and I'm really nervous that Disney is going to excise the best parts (the speech competition, the slap, the fact that they don't have a typical happy ending).



And where are her prairie dresses?!? She's supposed to look absurd, not quirky and adorable.

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and where is cinnamon?!?

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RIGHT?! They took out all of the stuff that made her genuinely weird and off-putting.

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is cinnamon the rat? because i spent the time watching this trailer just looking for the rat and i am DISAPPOINTED.

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This was my favorite book in 8th grade, I'm seeing all the manic pixie dream girl comments but back then I had no idea what that was and I just enjoyed the story.

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Is this the girl from America's Got Talent who doesn't know her name?

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the ukulele girl? mte

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Manic Pixie Dream Girl but for teens!



Also anytime I walk past all the local high school students half of them are wearing weird clothes so I don't really find that trope that relevant in 2020

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that's why I disliked it, I think. it was well-written but I found it unbelievable and very much Written For a Guy to Feel Better. Stargirl never felt like a real person to me and I'd rather it have been dual POV at least so we got her perspective

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I read this book like in 4th or 5th grade, but literally, I have such vague memories of it that I must have not found it too good.



Other books I read at that age (like The Giver; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry) I remember more vividly.



I don't think I pictured her like this actress AT ALL (she's cute tho), but wasn't her fashion more ~off-beat/weird, not Instagram ~quirky? Like, Luna Lovegood but not?



And did she sing? Lol my memory of this book is shit.

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Have you read Feeling Sorry For Celia? It's from the POV of a girl who is best friends with a manic pixie dreamgirl. It's a hilarious and lovely book - the whole series by Jaclyn Moriarty is great. I wish I could be a librarian so that I could recommend it to pre/teen girls.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk to each other during their meeting on the sidelines of a conference on Libya in Berlin (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Berlin.

The two leaders met at an international conference discussing the situation in Libya.

Mr Johnson told the Russian leader there had been no change in the UKs stance towards Russia in the wake of the chemical incident in Salisbury in 2018.

A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister met President Putin in the margins of the Berlin conference on Libya.

The Prime Minister said there will be no normalisation of our bilateral relationship until Russia ends the destabilising activity that threatens the UK and our alliesDowning Street spokesman

He was clear there had been no change in the UKs position on Salisbury, which was a reckless use of chemical weapons and a brazen attempt to murder innocent people on UK soil.

He said that such an attack must not be repeated.

The Prime Minister said that they both had a responsibility to address issues of international security, including Libya, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

The Prime Minister said there will be no normalisation of our bilateral relationship until Russia ends the destabilising activity that threatens the UK and our allies and undermines the safety of our citizens and our collective security.
At least five crore people are participating in an event to form the largest-ever human chain at the historic Gandhi Maidan for an initiative spearheaded by Chief Nitish Kumar.

New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) The people of Bihar on Sunday launched a mega event by forming a human chain to create awareness about several developments in the state including 'Jal-Jivan-Hariyali' campaign.

This human chain claimed to be longest to be attempted, is being formed to promote the state government's pro-environment conservation campaign along with denouncing the practice of dowry, and child marriage and banning liquor.

"Today, 5,16,71,389 Bihari's have completed a historic 18,034 km stretch in favour of 'Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali' campaign, drug de-addiction and against child marriage and dowry system," the Chief Minister tweeted, adding that "This human chain will prove to be a milestone in spreading awareness about environmental protection and campaigns for climate change and other social reforms."

He also thanked the people of Bihar for their unprecedented support.

A user took to Twitter and said: "Environment can't be protected without informing and empowering people. Spread the message of #JalJeevanHariyali."

Another tweeted: "We are always stronger together! Let's send the message of #JalJeevanHariyali out loud to ensure a greener and healthier future for Bihar! #BiharHumanChain2020."

To bring any change, first of all we should try to change the mindset of people and this step may do the same... #biharhumanchain2020," wrote a user.

rsu/rs/
Consecutive front pages of the Albuquerque Journal last week offer both symmetry and insight into Mayor Tim Kellers formal request that the city be released from portions of its 5-year-old police oversight agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

One lays out a case for why its time to exit part of the agreement. The other for why its there in the first place and we should proceed with caution.

In a story featured on page one Sunday, Jan. 12, the mayor in his State of the City address presented his arguments for partially releasing the city from formal oversight. The city filed a motion on Jan. 10 in federal court asking the DOJ to move large swaths of the agreement into the sustained compliance category and suspend monitoring of others.

Kellers team told Journal reporters and editors the city would assume monitoring of those categories while still reporting the data to the federal monitor and court, not only saving valuable resources but gaining valuable experience for the day  when it comes  that the monitor is gone.

This is going to be the largest step forward the city has taken to address these challenges since it all started in 2014, Keller said. It is one giant step closer to freeing up additional officers and taxpayer funding to focus back on crime.

The federal monitor, who has been paid roughly $5.6 million, has taken no position. But the union that represents Albuquerque Police Department officers is supportive. Its president, Shaun Willoughby, says it will boost officer morale and free up resources for areas in which the city is not yet in compliance. He correctly points out the city is asking for nothing more than what theyve already earned.

Without question, APD has made substantial progress toward the goal of constitutional policing.

But Page 1 from Monday, Jan. 13, reminds us of the kinds of things that led to oversight in the first place.

It recounts how the city recently settled a lawsuit in one of the most egregious cases of police power abuse in memory  even though, thankfully, no one died.

Two older men were drinking in March 2009 and got into an argument. One of them called 911 claiming the other, Tony Nelson, threatened him with a rifle and a knife.

That drew a response of 47  yes, nearly four dozen  police personnel including 17 SWAT members and eight K-9 officers. Nelson ultimately followed police orders to walk out of the house and turn around. He dropped a knife and stopped about 20 feet away from officers. But when he turned to his left, police fired five bean bag rounds and a wooden-baton round at Nelson. They launched a flash bang grenade to disorient him and turned loose a police dog that bit him. They then shot him with a Taser, one officer shocking him six times in 37 seconds.

A jury found no excessive force, but then-Chief U.S. District Judge Bruce D. Black vacated the verdict, saying that allowing it to stand would have been a miscarriage of justice.

No reasonable person could believe that an inhibited, slow-moving 60-year-old individual who made no physical or verbal threats and wielded no weapon could constitute a threat to the safety of the 47 armed and shielded police officers who stood 20 feet away, the judge said.

Indeed, its hard to imagine  in the words of Nelsons attorney, Ryan Villa, that police would go that crazy for basically two old guys who got drunk and got into a fight with each other. But that was APD, back in the day.

Sadly, the city appealed Blacks ruling and the legal fight went on, until recent months. In addition to the $675,000 settlement, the city spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars on attorneys, expert witnesses and other expenses over nine years of litigation. Speaking of resources that could have been better used elsewhere.

The mayor is right when he argues it is time for APD to begin transitioning out from under federal oversight in areas of compliance. But with that comes an even greater responsibility for constitutional policing by APD. Officers have tough jobs, and when the city wont admit when they are clearly out of line  like the Nelson case  it undercuts officers who do things the right way when they have to make those life-and-death decisions on our behalf.

The initial DOJ investigation turned up serious abuses the agreement is designed to address. We agree that APD has turned the corner. But if we forget what got us here in the first place, we do so at our own peril.

This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 00:39:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ABU DHABI, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates on Sunday condemned a car bomb attack in the town of Afgoye, Somalia, which left dozens dead or wounded, the official news agency WAM reported.

The foreign ministry expressed in a statement its "utter denunciation of this criminal act and rejection of all forms of violence, which aim to undermine security and stability and completely contravene all religious and human values and principles".

The ministry also extended its condolences to the families of the victims while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.

Al-Shabab armed group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vazquez fired the director of the islands emergency management agency shortly after chaos broke out in a southern city when residents discovered a warehouse filled with unused aid. The aid that included water, cots, baby formula, and diapers, among others, is thought to be from when Hurricane Maria struck the island in 2017.

The warehouse was found by residents in the city of Ponce, which was one of the worst affected by the recent earthquake that hit the island. Video of residents breaking into the warehouse and distributing the aid quickly went viral on social media as the governor vowed an investigation. There are thousands of people who have made sacrifices to help those in the south, and it is unforgivable that resources were kept in the warehouse, the governor said. Puerto Rico has been struck by a series of earthquakes since December 28 that have forced thousands of people in the southern end of the island to leave their homes.

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Maria Melendez, the mayor of Ponce, said she had no idea that there was a warehouse filled with unused aid in the city. This is outrageous, she said. Everyone knows what us mayors went through after Hurricane Maria to try and get help to our cities and how weve worked these weeks to provide basic supplies to people affected by earthquakes. Those involved owe us an explanation. Carlos Acevedo, the director of Puerto Ricos Office of Emergency Management who was fired Saturday, denied any wrongdoing and said much of the aid had expired. Yet the unused aid raised the ire of Puerto Rico residents as it appeared to be the latest in a long line of examples of how the local government has botched the response to the recent disasters that have struck the island.

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Federal aid, meanwhile, has been slow to arrive as well. The Washington Post breaks down the numbers:
A LIMERICK businessman who is charged in connection with the seizure of a loaded semi-automatic pistol and a significant quantity of drugs during a garda operation targeting criminal activity is to stand trial before the circuit court.

Kieran Doyle, 30, who has an address at Coolcappa, Ardagh is charged with suspicious possession of a Baikal semi-automatic pistol and with possession of cannabis worth an estimated 12,000 for the purpose of sale or supply.

The five charges he faces relate to a seizure which was made during searches of a premises at Ballynamudagh, Coolcappa, Ardagh on March 7, 2019.

A file was prepared for the the Director of Public Prosecutions who has directed the case should proceed on indictment before Limerick Circuit Court.

At Limerick District Court, Detective Garda Barry Moylan gave evidence that he had served a copy of the book of evidence on the defendant and Sergeant Sean Murray asked that Mr Doyle be remanded on continuing bail to appear before the Circuit Court.

The defendant was refused bail when he appeared in court a number of days after the searches but was subsequently granted bail by the High Court.

There was no objection to the application for an adjournment from solicitor Colin Morrissey who confirmed that his client and the independent surety were agreeable to the transfer of the 5,000 cash bond which was previously lodged with the court.

Given the seriousness of the charges legal aid was extended by Judge Marian OLeary to include a junior counsel.

Mr Doyle must obey a number of conditions as a condition of bail. He must live at his home address and obey nightly curfew. He must sign at a local garda station daily and he must keep his phone turned on and charged at all times.

Previously, Limerick District Court was told it will be alleged the loaded pistol and a silencer were found by members of the divisional drugs unit 2during a search of a shed as part of a intelligence-led operation.

The firearm was allegedly wrapped in cling film and a white cloth while around 500g of cannabis was located in a Citroen Berlingo van which was parked at the property at the time.

It is the State case, the drugs were vacuum-packed in plastic when recovered by gardai.
I also disagree with Krugman on the need for and usefulness of a carbon tax. Again, many people are insufficiently informed about the wide-ranging benefits of a transparent, well-designed, revenue-neutral tax. They anticipate and fear sacrifice. Some are irrevocably opposed for ideological reasons or perceived self-interest and wont be swayed, but I think they are outnumbered. A growing number of economists believe a strong tax that returns most of the revenue to taxpayers is a necessary part of any climate strategy. It would sharply discourage the use of fossil fuels without regulations and government meddling.
Donald Trump has come under fire from the son of former Republican president Ronald Reagan: Getty

Donald Trump is a traitor and Ronald Reagan would be embarrassed and ashamed of what has become of the Republican Party, the former presidents son has claimed.

During an interview on Friday, Ron Reagan said his father would never support Mr Trump and blasted him as a traitorous president who is betraying his country.

He also criticised the current Republican Party which he described as entirely illegitimate and made up of a bunch of sycophantic traitors mouthing Kremlin propaganda to defend this squalid little man who is occupying the White House.

This is a dying party. They either have to remake themselves entirely or they will disappear eventually. Within a decade the Republican Party will be a minor fringe group if it continues going this way, Mr Reagan told The Daily Beast.

My father would have been ashamed of this Republican Party. He would have been embarrassed and ashamed that a president of the United States was as incompetent and traitorous as the man occupying the White House now. Hes a disgrace to the office of the presidency.

The former presidents son also likened the current political turmoil in the US to the run-up to the Civil War, predicting Mr Trump will attempt to unconstitutionally seek a third or fourth term.

He claimed Mr Trump wants to be president for life because it would keep him out of jail.

Mr Reagan continued: It is perhaps the most dangerous time for our republic in my lifetime, perhaps since the Civil War. If there is a second Trump administration, hes going to feel liberated to do whatever he wants to do.

Hell try and go for the third, fourth, however long he lasts. He wants to be president for life. It would keep him out of jail, for one thing.

Mr Reagan describes himself as an unabashed atheist who is not afraid of burning in hell. He also greatly differs from his father - a Republican of almost four decades standing - in terms of his political views. However, he still maintains his father held the office with a degree of dignity and class.

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When discussing Mr Trumps recent cosying-up to evangelical Christians, Mr Reagan dismissed the move as cynical and political.

He concluded: They support him, hell give them whatever they want. How funny he looks when he closes his eyes to pray, or just looks sullen when he doesnt want to sing hymns. Its entirely cynical. This is about his political future.

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Trump fails to say word tolerated during Iran speech
WINNIPEG - A small number of apparently passionate Manitobans has been giving Premier Brian Pallister an earful about having to change their clocks twice a year.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG - A small number of apparently passionate Manitobans has been giving Premier Brian Pallister an earful about having to change their clocks twice a year.

The premier received six emails, unprompted, from members of the public between September and December last year on the subject of daylight time.

One has an anatomical reference.

"There is no reason for us to be changing the time!" reads one of the emails, obtained by The Canadian Press under the province's freedom of information law.

The emailer asks Pallister, figuratively, to pull his head out of his posterior  although another word was used  "and actually do something that the people want!"

Another person emailed with a concern that touched on interprovincial rivalries on the Prairies.

"Please stop letting Saskatchewan be smarter than us," a reference to the fact that most areas of Saskatchewan remain on central standard time year-round.

Another emailer took a friendlier tone with the Progressive Conservative government, and suggested stopping clock changes could help the party.

"Whether it's urban or rural residents, I think the idea would get some good traction, even with (opposition) members across the aisle. Something to think about. Cheers and keep up the good work."

While Pallister has shown no interest in changing the current system that requires people to spring ahead in March and fall back to standard time in November, the debate over daylight time in Manitoba and elsewhere has been growing.

The NDP government in British Columbia has put forward legislation to adopt daylight time year-round, although Premier John Horgan has said he will wait to see whether Washington, Oregon and California do the same.

The Alberta government launched an online survey in November to let residents weigh in.

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In Manitoba, the Opposition New Democrats set up a web page last month to garner public input, and the provincial Liberals are pushing to have the idea put to a referendum in the 2023 provincial election.

Opinions in Manitoba are mixed, and that was reflected in the emails to the premier.

One email expressed worry that ending daylight time would put an end to the long summer evenings beloved by many.

"Do not change daylight savings. I don't want the sun up at 5 a.m. in the summer and I live (sic) the sun out until 10 p.m. in the summer."

The names and other identifying information about the people who wrote to the premier were not released, under a section of the freedom of information law that protects third-party privacy.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2020
Two persons, including a woman, were killed on Sunday when their vehicle was hit by a boulder rolling down a hillock overlooking the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district, police said.

Mohammad Ayoub Wani (48) of Pampore and his sister-in-law Khalida Begum of Budgam died on-the-spot in the incident which took place at Kellamore near an under construction four-lane tunnel, a police official said.

He said the duo was travelling in a Bolero from Jammu to Kashmir when their vehicle was hit by a boulder, forcing suspension of traffic on the highway for quite some time.

The traffic on the highway is restricted to one-way during the winter and plies alternatively from the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Libya's military strongman Khalifa Haftar must drop his "hostile attitude" so that the conflict in the war-torn nation can be resolved, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said ahead of crunch talks in Berlin on Sunday.

"For a political solution and the implementation of other phases of a solution, Haftar's hostile attitude should come to an end," Erdogan was quoted as saying by Turkey's state-run Anadolu agency.

The comments reportedly came during a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin shortly before the start of an international summit on Libya.

Turkey and Russia are on opposed sides in the deadly conflict, with Erdogan backing the UN-recognised government of Fayez al-Sarraj, while Putin supports rival Haftar's troops.

The Berlin summit, attended by a slew of world leaders including the two main rivals in the Libyan crisis, hopes to extract a pledge for a lasting ceasefire and an end to foreign interference.

Ankara and Moscow brokered a fragile Libyan ceasefire earlier this month but both warring sides have accused each other of repeated violations since then.

"But we have not lost hope that the dialogue will be continued and we sincerely aspire to the resolution of the conflict," Putin said in Berlin.

The Libyan conflict is of great concern to Europe especially, he added, because Libya's wide-open doors have seen "an influx of refugees from the Middle East and Africa to Europe".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 16:47:02|Editor: huaxia

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HANGZHOU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Instead of carrying heavy luggage back to their hometowns filled with boxes of gifts, more and more Chinese people are choosing to shop online in advance, sending their purchases home ahead of them and making their journeys for the Spring Festival holiday more convenient.

Before the departure of the K1245 train from Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, to the city of Zhaotong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, 28-year-old Li Mingzhuan arrived at the Hangzhou Railway Station very early.

He only carried with him a 24-inch suitcase and a small plastic bag of snacks for the 35-hour journey to reunite with his family in his hometown.

"I bought some local specialties online like green tea and several toys and school supplies for my children. All of these items will be delivered directly to my home instead of me carrying them all the way there," said Li. "It is really inconvenient to do security and ticket checks when all I have is my hand luggage."

Hu Zhiyun, a 45-year-old migrant worker from eastern Anhui Province, which sits to the northwest of Zhejiang Province, returned home with a backpack and a paint bucket.

"There are also many large shopping malls in my hometown with a wide range of goods," said Hu. "I will go shopping with my daughter and choose some stuff she likes."

Zhang Hong, who has been working at the railway station for 30 years, also saw the changes.

"In the past, the passageways in the waiting rooms were often occupied with suitcases and bags," he recalled. "It would take me a lot of time to keep things in order."

Nowadays, as passengers travel with less luggage, security and ticket check speeds have greatly improved," said Qiao Kezhen, a security check staff of the Hangzhou Railway Station. "Our work is getting easier."

Li and Hu are among the millions of passengers traveling home during the Spring Festival travel rush. Data showed that more than 3 billion trips are expected to be made for this year's Spring Festival holiday, which will run from Jan. 24-30.

According to Alibaba's Cainiao Logistics, the number of parcels delivered to villages and towns in the central and western regions increased rapidly in the past two years, especially during the period two weeks ahead of the Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 25.

"My journey back home is as long as over 2,000 km, but it is becoming easier and cozier," said Li.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 23:15:46|Editor: ZD

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PARIS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Strikes, protests, and disrupted traffic that began on Dec. 5, 2019 in France, are beginning to weigh on various sectors and reflect a deep crisis for the French political regime.

The social movements in France have been pushing back against the government's proposed retirement system reforms.

This unprecedented social conflict, the longest in France since the 1960s, by a strong union movement, brought together that day 806,000 protesters throughout the country. Since then, there has been no respite, especially among unions representing the public transport sector, which are on their 46th day of strike on Jan. 19.

MAJOR IMPASSES

The pivot age (the age at which a retiree can collect full benefits), the elimination of special retirement regimes, and a universal point system for retirement make up the major impasses in the negotiations between the French government and labor unions.

Many fear the costs of these blocks and denounce a "neo-liberal reform". Carole Alibert, a primary school teacher, told Xinhua on the fringes of a protest that she had come "to defend the retirement of teachers who risk to be really misdirected with this new point-based reform."

"I have to work until 67 years old because I started in National Education after a change of professions and even in working until 67, I will not manage to receive 2,000 euros (2,220 U.S. dollars) a month for my retirement. If I stop at 60 years old, I'll be at 1,100 euros," said Alibert.

"I am fighting for my children and for my pupils. I don't know if we'll manage to stay strong until the end, but it is absolutely necessary that we be heard. All the peoples of the world are waking up," said Alibert.

Also on the fringes of the protest, Jean-Marc Cambo, civil servant at the departmental council of Seine-Saint-Denis just north of Paris, told Xinhua that "with this reform, we do not have salary raises and no career perspectives -- the future seems blocked."

After more than a month of protests against its retirement reform proposals, the French government decided on Jan. 11 to scrap from the draft legislation a pivot age of 64 years old.

The French Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, reaffirmed the determination of his government, however, concerning the implementation of a universal retirement system as well as the elimination of special regimes.

This "compromise" is not calming the anger of the unions, nor is it making way for a truce in strike activity. After the pivot age was pulled, the CGT union continued to demand "the withdrawal" of the retirement reform. In a statement, the workers' union said it was "more determined than ever to obtain the withdrawal of the text."

MULTIPLE CONSEQUENCES

After several weeks of social unrest, the impact is starting to be felt in sectors as important as public transport, business or even tourism.

The SNCF (French national rail service) and the RATP (Paris public transport) have estimated losses of several million euros per day of strike. "We will soon reach over 700 million euros of revenues lost, declared the president of the SNCF Jean-Pierre Farandu. At the RATP, the impact of the strikes is estimated at "more than 150 million euros" including "60 to 90 million euros lost in ticketing."

In the sensitive sectors of commerce and hospitality, stakeholders have expressed their concerns since the first week of the conflict and have warned of the consequences of a potential prolongation of the movement.

In a survey conducted on Dec. 6-11 on the consequences of the social movement on very small and medium-sized businesses, the Confederation of small and medium businesses (CPME) said that 80 percent of the businesses are impacted either by losses in revenues, delays in deliveries, or by fuel shortages. The business sector is the most concerned by the recent events.

A 20-25 percent drop in revenues was also observed in Paris by the Union of hospitality professions and industries, starting from the first week of the social movement against retirement reform. "If the strikes continue, tourists will turn toward other destinations," had warned Jean-Marc Banquet, President of the Union of hospitality professions and industries.

On the political landscape, one of the stakes in the conflict is the struggle for public opinion. Despite the inconveniences (transport disruption, loss in business earnings, etc) linked to the strikes, public opinion continues to support the movement. According to the latest barometer conducted on Jan. 13 by Harris Interactive, 60 percent of French people say they support the movement in protest of the proposed retirement reforms.

The popularity of French President Emmanuel Macron has also taken a toll. In the latest YouGov poll held on Jan. 6-7, Macron's popularity dropped 4 points, with 25 percent favorable opinions, compared to 29 percent in December 2019.

According to analysts, public opinion could end up being reflected at the polls in municipal elections next March.

INSTITUTIONAL CRISIS

In the eyes of certain experts and analysts, this social conflict reveals the faultlines in a political system which cannot resolve impasses or reconcile a fragmented society.

"The strike can be considered as a microcosm which reveals the vulnerability of the French economy and the institutional crisis of the country," said Zhao Junjie, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Until now, the data on French economic growth seemed good, or at least better than the German data, but there remain many problems still, such as a relatively high unemployment rate, public debt, fragile budget balancing and a lack of innovation," indicated Zhao.

According to official figures, spending for retirement pensions in France has represented 14 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), above that of all other European countries. If the government does not take measures, the potential deficit from pensions should reach 17 billion euros by 2025.

Mu Gengyuan, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, told Xinhua that "the elevated spending for social security has provoked enormous budget deficits and represents financial unsustainability, which explains the absolute necessity for the retirement reforms."

She considers the coexistence of more than 40 types of retirement systems to be "too complex", which "does not favor mobility of labor power and negatively affects social justice."

In addition, Mu denounced a growing disequilibrium in French society at the basis of the "yellow vest" movement and the strikes. "Economic development has not benefited all citizens, while the gap between different social groups continues to deepen."

For French historian Maxime Tandonnet, cited by French daily Le Figaro, "this shock translates the growing defiance of the population toward a ruling class perceived as being all the more haughty and arrogant as it fails in resolving problems (unemployment, poverty, violence, deficits, migration crisis, etc.)."

According to Zhao Junjie, the protest and the strike reflect "an institutional crisis" and "a problem rooted in the capitalist system and in its political parties."

"France finds itself at a crucial stage in the reform. If the reform cannot advance, problems will only accumulate," concluded Zhao. (1 euro=1.11 U.S. dollars)
By Express News Service

ELURU : Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu called upon people to extend support to Amaravati and alleged that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wants to ruin the capital city.

Touring West Godavari district on Saturday, he collected donations from people to support Amaravati cause. Addressing roadside meetings at different places including ASRAM, Eluru, he stressed the need for a united struggle to retain Amaravati as the only capital of the State.

Coming down heavily on the Chief Minister for his three-capital concept, Naidu said that everyone should extend their might to protect capital city Amaravati from being disintegrated. The YSRC government began its ruling by demolishing the Praja Vedika and now targeting Amaravati.

"The government has been neglecting development works. The Polavaram project works have come to a halt. The MPs and MLAs of the district are not raising their voice on the governments unwise and senseless acts as they are scared of CM," he alleged. "Conduct inquiry into the alleged insider trading, but do not kill Amaravati," he appealed to the government

The TDP chief pointed out that the Central government had proposed to establish all government offices in one place for the convenience of people in Delhi, but Jagan Reddy wants to disband them here. He announced that the TDP would extend support to the BJP-Jana Sena alliance if they make efforts to prevent shifting of capital city from Amaravati.
India has pledged a $50 million security assistance to as Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on President Gotabaya and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including strengthening cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing and maritime security.

Doval arrived in Colombo on Saturday on a previously unannounced visit during which he also met several foreign diplomats and discussed important issues of mutual interest.

"A very cordial discussion was held with Security Advisor of India, Ajit Doval today. Strengthening of bilateral cooperation on security, intelligence sharing, maritime security & fostering of regional collaboration, were some of the key points of discussion," President tweeted on Saturday.

The President's office said Doval pledged that India will provide $50 million to to help the country purchase equipment for its security forces.

During the talks, India also pledged to provide assistance to with technology on intelligence gathering, The Sunday Times newspaper reported.

The President's office said President and Doval also discussed improving bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation between the armed forces and coastguard agencies of the two countries and maritime security.

Doval pointed out the importance of reviewing the intelligence related to the maritime zone between Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India. He said other regional countries should also be brought into this process as observers, the paper said, quoting the President's office.

Doval has become the second highest ranking Indian official to visit Colombo after Rajapaksa assumed office in mid November.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka soon after Rajapaksa's election victory, amid China's growing influence in the island nation.

Rajapaksa chose New Delhi for his first overseas visit after becoming the president.

India's pledge for enhancing defence cooperation comes days after Russia said it will assist Sri Lanka, which is seeking ways to consolidate its regional position through balanced diplomacy and attracting foreign investments, to improve its defence capacity.

"We have been providing Sri Lanka cooperation in defence and we will continue to do so," Russian Foreign Minister Serge Lavarov said here on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka has seen a flurry of visits from high ranking foreign officials this month, including from US' Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday expressed apprehension over the government's reported bid to revamp official statistics to account for the unorganised sector, saying no attempt should be made to "artificially boost" the rate of growth.

The government has suddenly expressed alarm and a "revamp of official statistics" is being proposed because it believes unorganised sector has not been looked at, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said at a press conference.

"We have no problem if it is a constructive exercise. Please don't do something where you cannot do inter-generational comparisons. Please, don't do something, where you artificially boost your 4.9 per cent official rate of growth, which your own CEA (Arvind Subramanian) believes, may be 2 to 2.5 per cent less than what is projected and stated," he said.

The government does not have a clue about how to control this "wild horse of a runaway economic distress", Singhvi claimed.

"This government is desperate to find quick-fix solutions, jumla solutions, misleading solutions, to find sleight of hand solutions, to avoid substance, to avoid the real meat of the matter and give a misleading new issue to digress and divert attention," he alleged.

The Congress leader also hit out at the government over the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data that an average 35 unemployed and 36 self-employed people ended their lives every day in 2018, with the two categories together accounting for 26,085 suicide deaths during the year.

"That figure is 10,349 more than the deaths caused by farm distress, which is an altogether different, also a very sad, but a different category," he said.

"What is the reality behind this? The reality is jumlas like 'Make in India' along with the clueless finance minister, prime minister, home minister. no idea what to do? An enemy a day, an issue a day, a potboiler a day, keeps all these issues away and will solve the economy is the approach of this government," he alleged.

"We need less of issues which are non-productive and irrelevant, like the NRC, CAA. We need lesser issues of pure political rhetoric," Singhvi said.
TAGAYTAY, Philippines - The Philippine government will no longer allow people to live on the crater-studded island thats home to the erupting Taal volcano, with officials warning that living there would be like having a gun pointed at you.

The simmering volcano has ejected smaller ash plumes for days after a gigantic eruption Jan. 12 sent ash drifting north over Manila, the capital, about 65 kilometres (40 miles) away. While a larger, explosive eruption is still possible and tens of thousands of evacuees remain in emergency shelters, officials have begun discussing post-eruption recovery.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano said officials in Batangas province, where the volcano is located, have been asked to look for a safer housing area, at least 3 hectares (7 acres) in size, for about 6,000 families that used to live in four villages and worked mostly as tourist guides, farmers and fish pen operators on Volcano Island. The new housing site should be at least 17 kilometres (10 miles) away from the restive volcano to be safe, he said.

The island was long ago designated a national park thats off-limits to permanent villages. The governments volcano-monitoring agency has separately declared the island a permanent danger zone, but still, impoverished villagers have lived and worked there for decades.

We have to enforce these regulations once and for all because their lives are at stake, Ano said Sunday, adding that closely regulated tourism work could eventually be allowed on the island without letting residents live there permanently.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a recommendation for the island to be turned into a no mans land, but he has yet to issue formal guidelines. After an initial visit last week, Duterte plans to return to hard-hit Batangas province on Monday to check conditions of displaced villagers, Ano said.

The 311-meter (1,020-foot) -high Taal is the second most-active of 24 restive Philippine volcanoes. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has placed Taal at alert level 4, the second-highest warning, indicating a more dangerous explosive eruption is possible within hours or days due to continuous earthquakes, emissions of volcanic gases, and other signs that magma is rising.

They lived on the volcano itself with 47 craters. Thats really dangerous. Its like having a gun pointed at you, Renato Solidum, the head of the volcanology institute, told The Associated Press.

Health officials say hundreds of people have been treated for ash-related breathing problems, but no deaths have been directly blamed on the eruption. Ash and volcanic debris have damaged homes near the crater, and the pressure of the magma underground has cracked roads and earth nearby.

Taal left more than 200 people dead in a powerful 1965 eruption, then again exploded in 1977. Government advisories about Taals renewed restiveness as early as March last year helped local officials prepare and evacuate thousands of villagers rapidly from Volcano Island hours before the volcano erupted thunderously.

Lucia Amen, a 45-year-old mother of six, said she started packing up clothes in bags in November after hearing from her children that their teachers were warning that the volcano was acting up again. When the volcano erupted, she said she was ready with her family and rapidly moved out of Laurel town, which lies near Volcano Island.

Amen wept quietly Sunday while attending Mass in an evacuation centre in Tagaytay city in Cavite province, saying she was worried about her children as the eruption dragged on.

A senator from Batangas, Ralph Recto, has recommended the creation of a commission to oversee the recovery of the volcano-devastated region. It would be similar to a government body that was established after Mount Pinatubos 1991 eruption north of Manila.

A long-dormant volcano, Pinatubo, blew its top in one of the biggest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century, killing hundreds of people and devastating the Philippines main rice-producing region.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a string of faults around the ocean basin where many of the worlds earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

___

Gomez reported from Manila. Associated Press journalist Joeal Calupitan in Tagaytay contributed to this report.
Domestic medical devices maker Trivitron Healthcare is looking to clock revenue of over Rs 1,000 crore in fiscal year 2022 as it expands the number of manufacturing facilities and also eyes inorganic growth, a top company official has said.

Trivitron Healthcare currently has nine manufacturing facilities across five locations -- Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Ankara and Helsinki -- and is in the process of constructing the tenth facility in Patalganga in Maharashtra.

The company is expecting to close the current fiscal year with a revenue of around Rs 700 crore.

"We are looking at a revenue of over Rs 1,000 crore for the fiscal year 2022. It will be achieved through organic and inorganic growth," Trivitron Healthcare Chairman and MD GSK Velu told PTI.

At present, 60 per cent of the company's revenue come from India and 40 per cent is international, he added.

"Going forward, Africa is going to be one of the biggest areas of growth for the company. We are also looking at both the US and China as key markets for growth this year and plan to have some kind of manufacturing presence in both the countries in the current calender year," he added.

Manufacturing presence in the US and China would strengthen company's presence in the two of the most important markets globally, Velu said.

Mostly, it would be through joint ventures with existing there, he said adding that the company already has a presence in these markets through trading infrastructure.

At present the company is mainly in-vitro diagnostics, imaging, intensive care, operation theatres and renal dialysis segments, he added.

"Out of these, in-vitro diagnostics and imaging contribute more than 85 per cent of our total revenues currently," Velu said.

But going forward, the company is focusing on the areas like radiation protection and newborn screening, he said and added that it is also investing in research and development in mass spectrometry and radiation shielding.

"The company is focusing on manufacturing and at present around 70 per cent of our revenues are coming from manufacturing," Velu said.

The company also has plans to list in FY23, but it would depend on many factors, he said.

On being asked about the state of medical devices sector in India, Velu said, as the sector is different from the pharma sector, it should have separate regulator and separate department of medical devices to promote the segment.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With E. coli, it was a wake-up call for an industry that wasnt paying attention to that pathogen. The industry is not asleep at the wheel with salmonella, said Mark Dopp, a vice president of the North American Meat Institute, a trade association. We are doing everything we can think of. Declaring something to be an adulterant isnt going to make us swim faster or harder. We are swimming as fast and hard as we can.
After providing security at the state Capitol building for 13 years, the Helena Police Department relinquished the role to the Montana Highway Patrol on Jan. 1.

Its beneficial to us in a couple of ways, Helena Police Chief Steve Hagen said.

Hagen said the state contract required the city to provide one uniformed officer year-round and three officers during each biennial legislative session, which put a strain on staffing every other year.

We dont hire two officers, he said. We pull two officers off the street.

Hagen also noted that the Capitol is mainly used as an office building, so the officers working there typically are not doing much enforcement work.

Its a boring job, he said. Youre basically a security guard walking around. You had to have the right person, otherwise the person would go nuts.

Montana Department of Administration spokeswoman Amber Conger said the change was a mutual agreement between the two agencies, and that HPD will continue to have original jurisdiction over any crimes committed on the Capitol complex.

DOA and HPD continue to have an excellent working relationship and will continue to collaborate on public safety issues affecting the Capitol, along with county, state and federal law enforcement partners, she said.

Hagen said the city received $93,613 to provide one officer year-round and an additional $60,495 to provide two additional officers during the four-month legislative session last year, for a total of $154,108. He said the loss of that income will be offset by new revenue from Helena Public Schools, which has agreed to pay for 25% of the cost of the school resource officer program up to a total of $80,000 per year.

Well lose a little bit, but not significantly, he said.

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THE PARENTS: Alexia (Lexi) Doumbouya, 37, and Moussa Doumbouya, 45, of Germantown

THE CHILDREN: Camille, 8; Mamady (MJ), born Oct. 18, 2019

THEIR FIRST OFFICIAL DATE: Breakfast at Silvermoon Pizzeria in Abington, a favorite of Moussa and his parents.

Lexi and Moussa believe in those moments when faith and fate join hands. So, looking back, it was really no surprise to learn  on the day Moussa showed up as a business consultant at the health-care company where Lexi worked  that theyd nearly crossed paths several years earlier.

Back then, Moussa had just left a job at an insurance company, and Lexi was hired to take his place. They missed one another by about a month. But she heard colleagues mention his name and talk about his work.

Three years later, in the fall of 2014, when he showed up to advise her new organization and introduced himself, she blurted, Youre Moussa!

He looked at me: Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Lexi recalls.

Both were in relationships at the time. For Lexi, their connection would be strictly business. But Moussa had other ideas. When I met her, she was very, very familiar. Almost like meeting a relative. I honestly felt I was going to marry her.

Connections kept happening: Lexi met Moussas mother at church, then ran into her a few months later at a Dollar Store. I wasnt even thinking about the possibility of a relationship right at that moment, but subconsciously, our spirits really did kind of connect, she says.

On Thanksgiving Day 2016, Lexi texted Moussa to ask about his holiday. The text didnt arrive until 3 a.m., and since he was awake, he texted back: It was great. How was yours? She tapped a response; he called, and they had an hour-long, predawn conversation.

Lexi was still wary. A previous marriage had ended in divorce. She was the single parent of a 5-year-old daughter. Id kind of lost hope in marriage. I said to Moussa, Dude, I just told you Im not interested in a relationship. He said, Youll realize what I already know. God told me you were going to be my wife. 

Camille, Lexis daughter, was a kind of litmus test: She was a reserved child who withdrew from adults she didnt trust, but she engaged readily with Moussa. On Valentines Day, he invited both Lexi and Camille on a date to TGIFridays. It was after that when the two began calling each other boyfriend and girlfriend.

There was a surprise birthday trip to Jamaica  Moussa did all the planning and didnt reveal their destination until a connecting flight in Florida  but thats not where they became engaged. It happened instead in Pittsburgh, in the rehab facility where Lexis mother was recovering from heart surgery.

I was in my mothers bed, falling asleep. My mom was in her wheelchair. Moussa gave Camille white gold hoop earrings. Then he turned to me, got down on one knee and proposed.

That was Easter weekend 2018. They planned to marry in the fall. But all spring and summer, both Lexis mother and Moussas father were in poor health. The two were constantly shuttling from one parent to the other. On Aug. 1, Lexis mother died. Early the following morning, they learned that Moussas father, too, had passed away.

Within 12 hours, we had lost my mom and his dad. After that, we decided that life is just too short. We picked Oct. 20 and got married. We put together a wedding in two months.

It was a bittersweet day: dreary rain in the morning, followed by a clear autumn sun. Camille, who had just begun calling Moussa Dad, was their flower girl; memories of their parents felt palpable and close. I thought: You never know where life is going to take you, Lexi recalls.

When they were dating, Moussa had made it clear that he wanted at least one more child. I was going to be 37 at the end of 2019. I said, If it happens within the year, fine,  Lexi recalls. They were pregnant by February.

She worried about what the next nine months would bring  with Camille, shed suffered anxiety and depression both during pregnancy and postpartum. This time, despite stress at work, high blood pressure, lingering grief, and the added risk of a geriatric pregnancy, the experience was more manageable.

Moussa was there so I didnt have to go through that alone, she says.

He was there, too  along with Lexis cousin and aunt  when she was induced at Holy Redeemer Hospital, when she dilated slowly over the course of a few hours, when she labored to push out a 7-pound, 15-ounce baby who was turned sideways.

I saw his hair and thought: Oh, my God, theres really a baby coming out, Moussa recalls. I remember seeing his little head and little face. It was surreal. The love I had amplified in that moment. I looked at him and I was amazed, but I was more amazed by her.

Parenthood feels different this time around, Lexi says. Because of her postpartum depression, There was a disconnect between Camille and I. It was more about keeping her alive. With MJ, I got a chance to look at this person. I could give myself to him a lot better. I was much better, emotionally.

For Moussa, infancy is a brand-new stage of parenting. By the time I met Camille, she was walking, talking, laughing, joking. With the baby, there are only vague clues: If his ears are this color, what does that mean? In the corporate world, Moussa has been a planner, a forecaster. But parenthood, he says, is teaching him to anchor in the moment.

Weve had a lot of life events in a very short period of time, Lexi says. We got engaged, lost people, got married, got pregnant, bought a house, had a baby. Her engagement ring, custom-designed with intersecting lines, is an emblem of all that: love and loss, endings and beginnings and intertwining paths, the idea that we knew each other before we knew each other.
MONTREAL - Swedish may not be the lingua franca of the aviation world, but ask any airline executive about the term "flygskam" and they'll likely know what it means.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, left, signs the Golden Book next to Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante during a ceremony in Montreal, Friday, Sept. 27, 2019. The "Greta effect" has stirred up a new sense of urgency over climate change, one fed largely by a freshly coined term: flight shame. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL - Swedish may not be the lingua franca of the aviation world, but ask any airline executive about the term "flygskam" and they'll likely know what it means.

Flygskam  Swedish for "flight shame"  is a growing environmental movement that highlights the flight sector's carbon footprint, putting pressure on Canadian carriers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while managing the cost of passenger guilt.

"It does seem like a switch has flipped," says airline expert Seth Kaplan.

"For a while, there was this very incremental recognition of the urgency (of climate change), and then over the past year or so all this has really gotten into the spotlight  aided by Greta Thunberg."

The Swedish teenage activist, who travelled by racing yacht to a climate summit in New York to avoid flying and its attendant emissions, has focused attention on aviations role in global warming, with consequences for travel companies.

The CEO of SAS, one of Scandinavia's largest carriers, has attributed declining passenger numbers in Sweden to flight shaming. Meanwhile the countrys main train operator, SJ, said it sold 1.5 million more tickets in 2018 than the previous year, thanks to what's been dubbed the "Greta effect."

Other European countries are experiencing the same phenomenon. Germany saw a similar decline in domestic flights in 2018, along with a corresponding increase in rail travel.

To combat this trend, airlines are turning to carbon offsets, where they invest in projects such as wind farms and tree planting to compensate for plane-produced carbon dioxide.

Such measures could cost airlines billions, Citigroup Inc. said in a research note last October. The banking conglomerate forecasts that carbon offsetting economy-class flights will cost US$3.8 billion per year within five years.

Carriers could absorb the expense or pass it along to consumers via a higher ticket price, but airlines will struggle in the long run if increased costs deter travellers from flying, Citi said.

If airlines foot the bill themselves, "the cost of carbon offsetting all leisure consumption could be as much as 27 per cent of airlines profits by 2025," wrote analyst Mark Manduca.

Offsetting corporate travel  which Citi defined as business-class seats  will cost another $2.4 billion, reducing airline profits by a further 17 per cent, the report said.

Commercial aviation accounts for about two per cent of global carbon emissions  a far smaller share than that of cars (estimates range between about 15 per cent and 20 per cent) or coal-generated power (30 per cent). "But it emits carbon in a very visible way," Kaplan said.

"You look up in the sky and you see airplanes flying."

In Europe, where the European Commission has called for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050, airlines have taken big steps in response.

EasyJet announced in November it would begin to offset emissions immediately, a move that they claim makes them the first major airline to operate net-zero carbon flights.

British Airways followed suit and began offsetting all flights within the United Kingdom as of Jan. 1

New York-based JetBlue unveiled plans to go carbon-neutral on all domestic flights starting in July, the first major U.S. carrier to do so.

Canadian airlines have also made efforts to reduce their carbon footprints, albeit less ambitious ones than their European counterparts.

"Using fuel-efficient aircraft is our best hedge against rising fuel costs and improves our carbon footprint," WestJet Airlines Ltd. spokeswoman Lauren Stewart said in an email. "We are proud to have one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient fleets in North America."

Air Canada has committed to carbon-neutral growth starting this year, meaning Canadas biggest airline plans to cap net emissions, regardless of expansion.

Other efforts by the airline include more fuel-efficient aircraft and biofuel investment, said spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick.

However, the proliferation of budget carriers and a robust tourism sector is resulting in more emissions even as aircraft become increasingly fuel efficient.

A recent study by the International Council on Clean Transportation found that airplane emissions areincreasing as much as 50 per cent faster than forecast by the United Nations, whose aviation body predicts aircraft fuel consumption will more than doubleby 2045.

Europes keen awareness and aggressive efforts around climate change may justify a little "tagskryt"  "train-boasting" in Swedish  but travellers on a densely populated continent have a built-in advantage.

"Theres no high-speed rail network here like there is in Europe. The cities are not as closely located as they are in Europe or in Japan. And if I have to go to meetings in Montreal or the West Coast of the United States, flying is my only option due to time and cost concerns," said Brandon Graver, the Washington D.C.-based airline researcher behind the clean transportation council study.

A lack of investment in high-speed rail by governments in North America is also to blame, experts say, with flights between Montreal and Toronto more appealing in the absence of bullet trains.

Even if Canadian airlines were to proclaim carbon neutrality, its effectiveness remains up in the air.

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"There's been a lot of talk lately that, 'Look, its nice to go and plant trees, but its not truly a one-for-one offset  that theres not enough tree-planting in the world you could do to truly offset the impact of emissions,'" airline expert Kaplan said.

Nor do carbon offsets address the issue of fossil fuel dependence, according to a recent paper by the David Suzuki Foundation and the Pembina Institute.

"It's not the silver bullet ... to reducing their emissions, but its one option of many  while others would call them modern-day indulgences where you're paying for your sins," Graver said.

"We're hopeful that industry and governments together can come together and come up with a climate goal, an actual action that is beyond just lip service."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:AC)
She let her hair down as she witnessed her pals Dasha Zhukova and Stavros Niarchos tie the knot for a second time on Friday.

But the fun was officially over for Karlie Kloss as she was pictured checking out of the five-star Kulm St. Moritz Hotel in Switzerland on Sunday morning following the wild festivities.

The model, 27, who joined her husband Joshua Kushner at the ceremony, looked radiant as she wrapped up against the chilly climes of the resort town in a cream shearling coat by Arje.

Heading off: The fun was officially over for Karlie Kloss as she was pictured checking out of the five-star Kulm St. Moritz Hotel in Switzerland on Sunday after her close friend's wedding

Nailing winter chic, the catwalk queen teamed her comfy outerwear with a brown patterned jumper and straight-leg jeans.

Karlie, who married businessman partner Joshua, 34, in October 2018, commanded attention as she boosted her 6'1'' figure in a pair of heeled ankle boots.

With her blonde locks styled into a half up half down 'do, she accentuated her natural beauty with light strokes of neutral-toned make-up.

The former Victoria's Secret Angel prepared to head back to the US as she loaded her luggage into a black car with industry friend Derek Blasberg.

So romantic: Dasha Zhukova and Stavros Niarchos tied the knot for a second time in a star-studded $6.5M ceremony on Friday evening (pictured on Friday)

Keeping warm: The model, 27, who joined her husband Joshua Kushner at the ceremony, wrapped up against the chilly climes of the resort town in a cream shearling coat by Arje

Standing tall: Karlie commanded attention as she boosted her 6'1'' figure in a pair of heeled ankle boots

Russian art collector Dasha, 38, and the 34-year-old billionaire pulled out all the stops for their wedding extravaganza.

Joining in the party were a string of A-list celebrities including Stella McCartney, Kate Hudson, Princess Beatrice and renowned art dealer Vito Schnabel.

The pair, who first tied the knot in a French registry office ceremony in October, have known each other for over a decade but became a couple in 2018.

The wedding ceremony took place in the St Moritz town hall building, before the couple celebrated the marriage at the five-star hotel, which is perched on the slopes and owned by the Niarchos family, in a glitzy party.

In good company: The former Victoria's Secret Angel flashed a wide grin during her casual outing

Radiant: With her blonde locks styled into a half up half down 'do, she accentuated her natural beauty with light strokes of neutral-toned make-up

Rooms cost a minimum of $780 a night and the whole weekend's festivities was estimated to cost between $6.5 million - $8 million.

Dasha was married to Chelsea owner Roman, 53, for nearly 10 years before ending their relationship with a multi-million pound divorce in 2017. They share son Aaron Alexander, 10, and daughter Leah Lou, six.

Stavros' most high-profile romance to date was with socialite Paris, 38, who he dated from late 2005 until March 2007.

The businessman, who is part of the Greek shipping Niarchos dynasty, was also in relationships with actresses Lindsay Lohan and Mary-Kate Olsen, and model Jessica Hart.

Home time: prepared to head back to the US as she loaded her luggage into a black car alongside industry friend Derek Blasberg

Heading off in style: The media personality carried her essentials in a white handbag by Prada

Smitten: The blonde married businessman partner Joshua, 34, in October 2018 (pictured in February 2019)

Stavros's father Stavros Jr and uncle Spyros are the largest private landowners in St. Moritz.

A source told MailOnline ahead of the wedding: 'The Niarchos family are hugely respected and valued in St Moritz.

'They could have held the wedding at any fabulous location in the world but have chosen St Moritz because it is of great importance to them to support the town and the groom's father is an honorary citizen.

'I expect the expenditure on this weekend to cost several million pounds and it will be a great boost for the resort too.'
Carolyn Bernota and Gon Valente enjoyed Shen Yun at George Mason University Center for the Arts in Fairfax, Virginia on Jan. 18, 2020. (Sophia Zheng/The Epoch Times)

FAIRFAX, VirginiaCarolyn Bernota and Gon Valente went to see Shen Yun Performing Arts at George Mason University Center for the Arts on Jan. 18, 2020, and left the theater uplifted.

Bernota finished watching the performance feeling hopeful and fortunate.

Its better than I expected, and it was a message through the screen, through the arts, there were several messages that I thought were pretty powerful, and just coming here you get that message, she said.

Bernota is an environmental scientist for the United States Environmental Protection Agency. She has lived overseas and worked in the military. In her time abroad, Bernota has visited several parts of Asia.

Gon Valente is a retired photographer and former military service member.

Digital Presentation

Shen Yun, which is based in New York, has brought stagecraft in theaters to a higher level of creativity with the original idea of digital projection.

According to the companys website, the performing arts companys patented use of digital projection immerses the audience into the world in which the dances take place.

Bernota was amazed by this facet of Shen Yuns performance.

She said, First of all, that digital presentation was spot on with modern technology and moving forward, so I thought that was beautiful brought together.

Together with the musicians in the orchestra pit and dancers in colorful costumes on stage, the effect is altogether something new.

Now you have the digital presentation which I thought was pretty impressive and brings it all together with modern technology, and how were moving forward, Bernota said.

For Valente, he found the virtual backdrop incredible.

I was looking at the background and seeing how the digital imagery, relating it to old fashion photography, it was just  composition and color and balance, it was just unbelievable, he said.

The Effect of Shen Yuns Music

Shen Yun Performing Arts features classical music in accompaniment with classical Chinese dance. In ancient China, it was said that music could have a positive impact on the human body.

It is common to hear from audience members the great feeling they have from listening to Shen Yuns orchestra.

Valente said he felt at ease and very relaxed. Bernota experienced a change in mindset from when she listened to the music.

I think it kind of gave a kind of a hope, a feeling of, you know, there is hope when you look at how it all brought togetherthe colors and soothing music and colors, and then the message at the end really I think brought a sense of hope to the audience, she said.

With reporting by Sophia Zheng and Don Tran.

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.
Prince Harry stepped out for his first public appearance nearly two weeks after he and wife Meghan Markle announced their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family.

On Sunday, Harry, 35, attended an event organized for his supporters of his Sentebale charity, which is aimed at supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children afflicted with HIV.

Harry delivered a speech at the event, during which he addressed the couples recent agreement with Queen Elizabeth about their exit from the royal family.

Before I begin, I must say that I can only imagine what you may have heard or perhaps read over the last few weeks. So, I want you to hear the truth from me, as much as I can share  not as a Prince, or a Duke, but as Harry, the same person that many of you have watched grow up over the last 35 years  but with a clearer perspective, he said.

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The U.K. is my home and a place that I love. That will never change. I have grown up feeling support from so many of you, and I watched as you welcomed Meghan with open arms as you saw me find the love and happiness that I had hoped for all my life. Finally, the second son of Diana got hitched, hurray! Harry shared.

I also know youve come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do. And she does, and shes the same woman I fell in love with. We both do everything we can to fly the flag and carry out our roles for this country with pride. Once Meghan and I were married, we were excited, we were hopeful, and we were here to serve, the father of one continued.

For those reasons, it brings me great sadness that it has come to this. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back, is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges, Harry said. And I know I havent always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option. What I want to make clear is were not walking away, and we certainly arent walking away from you.

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GORC/GC Images

Harry further emphasized his new family dynamic with the royal family.

Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasnt possible. Ive accepted this, knowing that it doesnt change who I am or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life, he said.

Harry also referenced his late mother Princess Diana, who was a strong advocate for those affected by HIV and AIDS.

I was born into this life, and it is a great honor to serve my country and the queen. When I lost my mum 23 years ago, you took me under your wing. Youve looked out for me for so long, but the media is a powerful force, and my hope is one day our collective support for each other can be more powerful because this is so much bigger than just us, he said. It has been our privilege to serve you, and we will continue to lead a life of service.

The prince added, I will always have the utmost respect for my grandmother, my commander in chief, and I am incredibly grateful to her and the rest of my family, for the support they have shown Meghan and I over the last few months. I will continue to be the same man who holds his country dear and dedicates his life to supporting the causes, charities and military communities that are so important to me. Together, you have given me an education about living. And this role has taught me more about what is right and just than I could have ever imagined. We are taking a leap of faith  thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step.

After Harry and Meghan, 38, announced on Jan. 8 that they would be stepping down from their royal duties and become financially independent, the former Suits actress flew back to Canada to be with 8-month-old baby Archie.

Harry, meanwhile, remained in London to discuss the big decision with his family. On Saturday, Harrys grandmother Queen Elizabeth said in a statement that she and her family had found a constructive and supportive way forward.

Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family, the Queens statement said. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

A separate statement from Buckingham Palace explained the details of Harry and Meghans next steps, and revealed that the new changes will take effect this spring.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments, the statement said, before revealing that Harry and Meghan will no longer receive public funds and will no longer be using their HRH titles.

Meghan and Harry | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/POOL/AFP via Getty

In Harry and Meghans original statement announcing they were stepping back as senior members of the royal family, the couple said that they planned to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America.

The pair have yet to reveal where theyll move to in North America. They could choose Vancouver Island in Canada, where they spent several weeks over the holiday season with baby Archie and Meghans mother, Doria Ragland.

There is also the possibility of Meghans hometown of Los Angeles or even Toronto, where she lived for several years while she filmed her hit show Suits.
Mexican prosecutors are investigating the discovery of a burned-out vehicle containing the charred bodies of 10 people in the southwestern state of Guerrero, authorities said, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Police made the grisly discovery on a country road in the municipality of Chilapa de Alvarez after locals saw the vehicle on fire and alerted authorities, state security spokesman Roberto Alvarez said in a statement published on Facebook.

It is not clear what caused the fire. According to media reports, the victims were men and youths from a musical group who were attacked by suspected gunmen from a local drug cartel.

The attorney generals office of Guerrero did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

One of Mexicos poorest states, Guerrero has long been one of the most violent regions of the country, which was on track to register a record number of homicides last year. Chilapa de Alvarez is a notoriously violent area of Guerrero.
New Delhi [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) said that it will file a legal case in Delhi High Court on Monday seeking to quash the "illegally passed" Inter Hostel Management (IHA) manual.



"The call for a boycott of registration still stands. The JNUSU would like to inform the student community in consonance with the resolutions of the Council Meeting the union is filing a legal case in Delhi High court tomorrow to quash the illegally passed IHA manual," the students' union said in a release on Sunday.

JNUSU also informed the students that the petition will also seek registration at old rates and without late fines.

"It is unequivocally evident that the new IHA manual clearly violates the JNU Act 1966, we hereby urge everyone to wait till the JNUSU expedites all legal measures against the illegally passed IHA manual and clarifies the progress by the beginning of next week," the release said.

It said that taking exams or classes will only create more chaos and ruckus and "lead to another bifurcation in the student community that has been resolutely and unitedly fighting tooth and nail against this draconian VC and his political masters".

"While urging the students to stand with the call for boycotting registration, the JNUSU also appeals the student community to boycott exams and classes until the VC's project of WhatsApp University and illegal modes of examination are nullified and a buffer time to complete the academic backlog, to complete the academic backlog of the Monsoon Semester 2019," the release said.

"Any academic schedule shall only be brought through discussions between teachers and students. The JNUSU rejects all arbitrary schedules released by the JNU Administration in order to portray false normalcy," it added.

The students of JNU have been protesting for over two months against the new hostel manual, which hikes hostel and service charges and imposes several restrictions. (ANI)


Since moving to Fremont 20 years ago, Frank Kment has served on multiple community boards and provided banking services for the city.

Now, Kment is taking a new position as vice president of lending at First State Bank and Trust Company.

Ive always had an interest in finance and helping people, he said. And one of the things I absolutely love the most is being able to help those customers from making their first car loan and checking account to, on the commercial side, helping their business outgrow their location and help them move into a new location and seeing their business grow.

Kment, who has over 20 years of banking experience, started in his position in late December. In his role, he will manage, develop and service commercial loan-related relationships.

Born and raised in Omaha, Kment is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and previously worked as branch manager for Bank of the West. He lives in Fremont with his wife, Shari, and their three children.

Kment has also had involvement in the community, having served two terms as chair of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is currently chair of the Chamber Leadership and Professional Development Council. He was also chair of the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

From his time on the council, Kment said hes constantly amazed by the way the community comes together when theres a need.

When you look at chamber members, anything from your small businesses to large businesses, they all work together for the good of Fremont, Kment said. Everybody that Ive worked with through my years at the chamber, being on the board, everybody seems to have a common goal, and thats to make Fremont a great place to live and work and play.

Kment is also involved with housing organizations, as he is currently vice chair of the Fremont Housing Agency Board of Commissioners, as well as the Fremont Assisted Housing Corporation.

Jon Rohlfs, senior vice president head of lending, said Kments position was empty for about two months before he was chosen. He cited his strong leadership skills and the contacts he had made with customers as reasons why he was picked for the position.

From what we have gathered from the references, those relationships were strong, Rohlfs said. And as a community bank, thats something that we definitely strive on, is the relationship that we build with our customers.

Rohlfs said he was also impressed by Kments community involvement, which he said made him a perfect fit for First State Bank and Trust.

Thats something that we all take very seriously and dear to our hearts, is giving back to our community, he said. Hes involved with several nonprofit organizations, and really, he basically emulates what we all say we like to do here.

With Kments new position, Rohlfs said he has hit the ground running with the rest of the company.

But for Kment, he said he just wants to see local businesses succeed in working with him at First State Bank and Trust.

I think every citizen of Fremont has invested interest in being active in the community and stepping up when theres needs, he said. Its a community effort, and everybody needs to step up and do what they can to make the community better.

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With Iran back in the spotlight, the Daily Beast reminds us that weand Bernie Sandershave been here before:

On April 1, 1979, the theocratic Islamic Republic of Iran was proclaimed. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who had returned to Iran from exile to assume command of the revolt, became Supreme Leader in December of that year. His rise was accelerated by the seizure on Nov. 4 of 52 American diplomats and citizens, and citizens of other countries, at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The hostage crisis became the means by which the Ayatollah crushed political opponents in Iran. Dealing with the hostage taking became the overwhelming political crisis for President Jimmy Carter. It lasted 444 days. Virtually all AmericansDemocrats, Republicans and independentsunited in support of the hostages and the international call for their freedom. One prominent political figure on the 2020 stage, then almost completely unknown, stood apart by joining a Marxist-Leninist party that not only pledged support for the Iranian theocracy, but also justified the hostage taking by insisting the hostages were all likely CIA agents. Who was that person? It was Bernie Sanders.

Sanders was a member of the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party. Not just any member, either; he was the SWPs presidential elector for Vermont, and he appeared with, and campaigned for, the SWPs presidential candidate.

When its presidential candidate, Andrew Pulley, came to speak at the University of Vermont in October 1980, Sanders chaired the meeting.

***

In his standard stump speech, Pulley condemned Carters war drive against the Iranian people, and said that the U.S. was on the brink of war with Iran, which would be fought to protect the oil and banking interests of the Rockefellers and other billionaires. Americans, he predicted, would soon pay on the battlefields with our very own lives. Their criticism of the Ayatollah was intended to get us ready for war. And, Pulley charged, the media who criticized those of us who were against American imperialism were declared insane. As for the hostages, Pulley said we can be sure that many of them are simply spies or people assigned to protect the spies. Pulleys words were a direct echo of what the Islamic Society of University Teachers and Students had declared on Nov. 4, 1979 : We defend the capture of this imperialist embassy, which is a center for espionage.

Not much has changed since 1980. Sanders is still a blame-America-first crank who had little or nothing to say about the Iranian-led attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. But he exploded in fury over the killing of arch-terrorist Qassem Soleimani and pledged to stop a war with Iran, just as in 1980 his Socialist Workers Party had no problem with the mullahs holding 52 Americans hostage for over a year, but hysterically warned that the Carter administration was leading us into war with Iran. Which would have been all our fault.

Sanders was a nasty piece of work then, and he is equally nasty now.
Fuel truck driver Ali Astal wouldnt dare cross this country brimming with guns and militias without a Kalashnikov or two stashed under the dashboard.

But when he reaches the Mukalla city limits, he gamely surrenders his weapons at a checkpoint.

This is for the citys security, he said as a soldier wrote out a receipt so he might collect the guns on his way out.

Mukalla, former Al Qaeda bastion of about 500,000 people, is one of the safest cities in a nation torn apart by a brutal civil war that has claimed at least 10,000 lives, displaced 2 million and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. It may be the only place in Yemen that doesnt allow civilians to carry firearms in public, a common sight elsewhere.

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But two years after troops from the United Arab Emirates and their local allies reclaimed the city, a port on the Arabian Sea, residents are growing restless. Though the relative security is a welcome relief from bombings and shootings that were once commonplace, lasting stability will depend on reconstruction and economic development, and there has been little progress on those fronts.

Mukalla, like many places nominally under the authority of President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadis government in exile, has largely been left to fend for itself.

Buildings destroyed by airstrikes still scar some neighborhoods. Power outages last up to eight hours a day. Raw sewage seeps from damaged pipelines. Jobs are hard to come by and usually dont pay well.

An armed Coast Guard boat patrols the port in Mukalla, Yemen, the main source of revenue for the city. (Sana Center for Strategic Studies)

Especially galling to many residents is that Mukalla, capital of the oil-rich province of Hadramawt, is beset by chronic fuel shortages. Long lines form at gas stations when deliveries arrive.

I remember once I parked my car in the line at 11 a.m. and waited until nighttime, then slept in my car holding my breath till morning and finally got some, said Lutfi Balateef, 23, as he waited to fill his tank one blistering afternoon.

Families fleeing fighting elsewhere in Yemen have poured into the city, adding to the pressure on hospitals, schools and other services. Mukalla is also contending with the loss of remittances from Yemenis who were living in Saudi Arabia for work but were pushed out by policies there intended to create jobs for Saudis.

And last month, the precipitous decline of Yemens currency sent hundreds of people into the streets to protest soaring prices.

In one startling sign of discontent, some of Mukallas cosmopolitan residents expressed nostalgia for the terrorist franchise known as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, widely regarded as the networks most dangerous affiliate.

The Hadrami Elite, a Yemeni military force set up by the United Arab Emirates, helped drive Al Qaeda from Mukalla in 2016. (Alexandra Zavis / Los Angeles Times)

The group swept into the city virtually unopposed in the spring of 2015 as a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and backed by the United States was focused on its main target: northern rebels known as Houthis, who months earlier took over the capital, Sana, sending the president fleeing south to the port city of Aden and then to Saudi Arabia.

Mukalla became the centerpiece of an Al Qaeda fiefdom that extended nearly 400 miles along the Yemeni coastline. The militants took over military bases and armories and  according to an investigation by Reuters news agency  looted as much as $100 million from a central bank branch, extorted $1.4 million from the national oil company and collected up to $2 million a day in taxes on goods coming into the port.

They ruled with brutal efficiency, inflicting harsh punishments on those who crossed them. Two men denounced for providing information that led to the death of Al Qaedas No. 2 leader, Nasir Abdel-Karim Wahishi, in a U.S. drone strike were shot and their bodies suspended for three days from an overpass, crucifixion-style. A woman accused of adultery was reportedly stoned to death.

A shipment of rice and sugar is unloaded at the port in Mukalla, Yemen. (Alexandra Zavis / Los Angeles Times)

But such extreme violence was rare; Al Qaeda found other ways to win acquiescence from the local population. It seized on long-standing feelings of marginalization by the north, putting some of its ill-gotten gains to work in heavily publicized development projects.

It said that it was trying to win hearts and minds by being gentle with the population, said Elisabeth Kendall, a Yemen scholar at the University of Oxfords Pembroke College who has visited the region.

The militants paved roads and repaired sewer lines, ordered loafing civil servants to put in a full days work and paid salaries on time  rare things even before the war. They also promised to defend the predominantly Sunni Muslim population from the Houthis, adherents of the minority Shiite Zaidi sect who are aligned with Saudi Arabias archenemy, Iran.

You want the truth? asked a father of five, who did not want to be identified for fear of running afoul of the citys current leaders. They were good. They imposed order. They imposed efficiency.  Anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar.

Al Qaeda withdrew in April 2016 in response to airstrikes by the United Arab Emirates, a coalition member, and a ground assault by a Yemeni military force the Emiratis set up  the Hadrami Elite.

In order to spare the city, religious leaders brokered a deal allowing the militants to take their looted cash and weapons with them, according to local sources, though the coalition denies that.

The militants retreated to their traditional strongholds in the provinces interior, a rugged region where they receive protection from local tribes.

Suspected Al Qaeda members are held at the refurbished central prison in Mukalla, Yemen. (Sana Center for Strategic Studies)

Few in Mukalla expect the peace to hold if authorities dont do more to improve living conditions.

Badr Basalmah, a former Yemeni transport minister who lives in the city, said he is especially worried about soaring unemployment among the biggest segment of the population: young people.

If we do not take care of these youths, there are other groups of people  Al Qaeda, ISIS, anyone, he said, using a common acronym for Islamic State. They are ready to pay money, and they are ready to recruit them. And after that, we will start to fight.

With some 30,000 members, the Hadrami Elite, which is commanded by the provincial governor, Maj. Gen. Faraj Bahsani, is a major employer. But the force cant take everyone who needs a job.

I have the files of 2,000 tribesmen who tried to get into the Hadrami Elite forces and couldnt, said Ali Omar Bamazeb, vice president of the Hadramawt tribal confederation.

He also complained about discrepancies in salaries between those paid by the coalition and those paid by local authorities  a situation that could sow discord within the ranks.

Kendall anticipated another problem: What happens when these people stop getting paid? At some point someone is going to say, Right, the war is over,  and youll have lots of trained people with guns who cant find work.

There are no easy solutions.

Government revenue from the port has proved insufficient, and though the province is rich in oil, the proceeds go mainly to the central government. Bahsani, the governor, recently threatened to block exports of crude if national authorities didnt offer some relief from rising prices.

Saudi Arabia announced last week that it would provide a $200-million cash infusion to the Yemeni central bank, though there were questions about whether that would be sufficient to halt the fall in the nations currency, the rial.

Bahsani said he is pinning his hopes on outsiders. Merchants in the Persian Gulf region, including members of an extensive Hadramawt diaspora, have expressed interest in making investments, he said.

But infrastructure, red tape and corruption are big obstacles.

The regional airport remains closed to commercial traffic because United Arab Emirate troops are using it as a base  and, at least until last year, according to human rights groups, a detention facility where inmates were tortured.

To use the port, importers must get permits from coalition officials in Saudi Arabia, which is concerned about illegal arms shipments destined for the rebels. Then ships can wait for days to unload due to a shortage of berths and demands for bribes, according to local business leaders.

One importer said that even though he had authorization from Saudi Arabia to receive a shipment of food at the port, he was forced to pay $1,000 at the Emirati base to pick it up.

Why should I pay this? he said angrily. It is all back to corruption.

Emirati officials in Mukalla declined to meet with a group of visiting journalists, including The Times, to answer questions about their activities.

Foreign donors and international aid groups, another potential source of development dollars, remain focused on the dire humanitarian needs in the Arab worlds poorest nation. War has pushed Yemen, a country of 28 million people, to the brink of famine and fueled a deadly cholera epidemic.

The United Arab Emirates is refurbishing hospitals and classrooms in Mukalla and continuing to arm, train and finance the Hadrami Elite, which is credited with maintaining security. But local leaders say that neither the coalition nor humanitarian groups are doing much to spur the economy.

They forget one very important thing: Humanitarian aid is not covering more than 10% of what the people need, said Basalmah, the former transport minister. The majority, 90%, is coming from the economic side  from trading, from business, from job-creating.

Even if the war is brought to an end, he predicted that Mukalla, along with the rest of Yemen, would remain unstable for years to come.

The United Arab Emirates has been refurbishing hospitals in Mukalla,Yemen. (Sana Center for Strategic Studies)

Twitter: @alexzavis

Zavis visited Mukalla on a trip organized by the Sana Center for Strategic Studies, an independent think tank based in Beirut. Areena Omar Basmael, who provided interpreting, contributed to this report.

Twitter: @alexzavis

Zavis visited Mukalla on a trip organized by the Sana Center for Strategic Studies, an independent think tank based in Beirut. Areena Omar Basmael, who provided interpreting, contributed to this report.
In Hungary, a reception hosted by the embassy and the Vietnamese Association in the country on January 15 was also to mark the 70th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (February 3).

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Tien Thuc recalled the development of the relations over the past 70 years, affirming that Hungary has been a close friend, traditional and important partner of Vietnam.

He voiced his hope that the bilateral relations will continue to thrive in the coming time, in line with the comprehensive partnership established in 2018. This year, the Embassy will organise various activities to bolster bilateral cooperation in all fields, including politics, economy and culture.

For his part, Hungarian Deputy State Secretary for Export Development at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Istvan Joo underlined that Vietnam is among the countries of priority in Hungarys foreign policy.

Hungary highly valued Vietnams achievements in the national development as well as its rising position in international arena, as the country is currently the ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Meanwhile, the Embassy in the Czech Republic organised a get-together on January 16 for the Vietnamese community in the country.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Ho Minh Tuan briefed the participants on the Vietnams developments last year. He spoke highly of the role and contributions of the Vietnamese community in the republic, which has close to 70,000 people, in promoting the countries relations.

The diplomat expressed his hope that the community will closely work with the embassy to organise events marking the 70th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in the year.

The same day, at a get-together held in Algeria, Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Vinh affirmed that overseas Vietnamese is an inseparable part of the country and spoke highly of their contributions to the homeland.

He said that the Vietnamese Government always creates optimal conditions for OVs to come home and do business in the country.
The long-term vision is you open this up once a month, advertise it so people can come down, they can see the history, he said. I mean, most people dont know that we had these sites here.
Anyone who has watched a Trump rally or followed Trumps Twitter feed knows that hes been open about his disdain for the Houses impeachment proceedings. However, now that the House formally delivered the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, Trumps lawyers can finally make known the Presidents official legal stand against the Democrats blatant political effort to overturn the 2016 election.

In five-and-a-half fiery pages, Jay Alan Sekulow and Pat A. Cipollone attack both the impeachment process and the legal and factual bases (or lack thereof) underlying the articles of impeachment. Sekulow and Cipollone understand that the real audience is the American people, so the document is written in ordinary English, not legalese.

Regarding the entire impeachment, the lawyers state that this warped process attacks the American people and free elections:

The Articles of Impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their President. This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election-now just months away. The highly partisan and reckless obsession with impeaching the President began the day he was inaugurated and continues to this day.

For the first Article of Impeachment, which alleges abuse of power, Sekulow and Cipollone explain that, contrary to the Constitutions demand for high Crimes and Misdemeanors, the first Article fails to state any legal violation. Not only does it fail to identify actual legal wrongdoing, the facts alleged also fail to show that Trump abused his powers:

At all times, the President has faithfully and effectively executed the duties of his Office on behalf of the American people. The President's actions on the July 25,2019, telephone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine (the "July 25 call"), as well as on the earlier April 21, 2019, telephone call (the "April 21 call"), and in all surrounding and related events, were constitutional, perfectly legal, completely appropriate, and taken in furtherance of our national interest.

The attorneys also note that the best evidence is the telephone call transcript, which Trump released immediately. Ukrainian officials, from President Zelenskyy on down, all support the transcript and the tenor of Trumps deals with Ukraine.

Additionally, Gordon Sondland, Ambassador to the European Union, testified that Trump disavowed any quid pro quo, as did Senator Ron Johnson. It was only a fundamentally flawed and illegitimate process that let the House Democrats turn undisputed facts and legitimate constitutional powers into an article that is constitutionally invalid, founded on falsehoods, and must be rejected.

Sekulow and Cipollone make equally short shrift of the Second Article for obstruction of Congress. Trump was within the purview of his constitutional powers and, indeed, acted with extraordinary and unprecedented transparency by declassifying and releasing the transcript of the July 25 call that is at the heart of this matter.

Instead, it was the House Democrats who abused their powers by issuing a series of unconstitutional subpoenas for documents and testimony, something they did without the necessary predicate of a congressional vote. In addition, although they dont use the word, the attorneys state facts describing the kangaroo court proceedings in which the House Democrats engaged.

What the House Democrats did, say the attorneys, was to violate the Constitution from root to branch by trying to disenfranchise American voters and take control of Executive powers:

In the first Article, the House attempts to seize the President's power under Article II of the Constitution to determine foreign policy. In the second Article, the House attempts to control and penalize the assertion of the Executive Branchs constitutional privileges, while simultaneously seeking to destroy the Framers system of checks and balances. By approving the Articles, the House violated our constitutional order, illegally abused its power of impeachment, and attempted to obstruct President Trump's ability to faithfully execute the duties of his Office. They sought to undermine his authority under Article II of the Constitution, which vests the entirety of [t]he executive Power in a President of the United States of America.

There is nothing more to add. Sekulow and Cipillone are correct in every respect.
By Bob Frye, Erie Times-News, Pa.

Over the past few years, Pennsylvania's wildlife managers devoted a lot of time to getting a handle on the state's burgeoning black bear population.

They plan to spend the next few getting a handle on that handle.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission estimated bear numbers going into this past fall at around 20,000. Agency leaders, with the support of their biologists, decided that was too many.

They based that on increasing bear-human conflicts.

So they expanded hunting opportunities, adding a muzzleloader bear season one year after expanding the archery bear season, among other things. The result was the most days of bear hunting in any given year since the 1930s.

Hunters did what they hoped and killed some of those animals. A record number, in fact.

The harvest this past season totaled 4,577. The record bear kill, set in 2011, had been 4,350.

Last year's take was way over 2018's, though. Then, hunters killed 3,153.

If that solved one problem, it perhaps revealed another.

Namely, the commission struggled monitoring the harvest.

Right now, by regulation, every hunter who kills a bear in the state is required to have it checked.

During the statewide firearms bear season, that means taking it to a check station manned by commission personnel. But outside of those four days  in the archery, muzzleloader and extended seasons  hunters must call the closest commission regional office and have the bear checked in the field by a game warden.

That worked fine in years gone by, said Matthew Schnupp, director of the commission's bureau of wildlife management. Indeed, it's why the agency's bear management program is highly regarded.

"That's a data-driven program, no doubt about it, one of the best in the nation, because we have the data that we have," Schnupp said. "All of the decisions, and all of the confidence with that, is based solely on the hard, fast data that we collect."

But this year, the commission struggled to keep up with checking bears.

Hunters took just 1,611  a little more than a third of the harvest  in the regular season, when check stations were open for business.

That left game wardens  some covering multiple districts across two counties  scrambling to check the rest while also handling their other duties.

Commission President Tim Layton, of Somerset County, said things didn't always work out. At best, hunters were sometimes left waiting a long time until someone could get to them. In one extreme case, he added, a hunter complained his bear spoiled while he waited.

Such problems aren't good for anyone, he said. So he wondered if a change might be in order.

"The question is this, I guess. Do we need to check every bear?" Layton asked. "And if we do, we've got to find a more efficient way to do it."

Schnupp agreed and said changes are indeed probably coming.

For starters, a new bear biologist is coming on board. Longtime biologist Mark Ternent took another position, as a regional biologist for the northcentral region.

The agency is also hiring, on a three-year, temporary basis, a biologist affiliated with the University of Wyoming. That person's job is to look at how the commission is monitoring bears and suggest where improvements might be made.

But how long it will take to put a new system into place remains uncertain.

Layton said he'd like that to happen by this coming fall.

Schnupp, though, said that's probably too aggressive a timetable.

The existing bear-check rule, though cumbersome this past year, still largely works, he said. He doesn't want to turn his back on that without something equally good at collecting data ready to go in its place.

The commission's slate of bear hunting seasons has some "buffer" built into it to account for potential overharvest, he said. But it's not as big as those for some other species.

And, he added, he doesn't want to test those limits just yet.

"I'm not comfortable making any changes with it until after I feel comfortable that, moving forward, I can sit at the table and say we've got the same degree of certainty that got us to where we are," he added.

But the commission can and will figure something out, he said. Even if it takes a bit of time.

I think we can get that, Schnupp said. I think we can change some things and make that work better for everybody.
President Donald Trump gestures during a signing ceremony with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He to sign a U.S.-China trade agreement, in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 15, 2020. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)

Trump Formally Responds to Articles of Impeachment: Result of a Lawless Process

President Donald Trump asked the Senate to reject the Articles of Impeachment in a six-page formal response on Saturday, as they are the result of a lawless process that violated basic due process and fundamental fairness.

The Articles of Impeachment now before the Senate are an affront to the Constitution of the United States, our democratic institutions, and the American people. The Articles themselvesand the rigged process that brought them hereare a transparently political act by House Democrats. They debase the grave power of impeachment and the solemn responsibility that power entails. They must be rejected, he said. The House process violated every precedent and every principle of fairness governing impeachment inquiries for more than 150 years.

The presidents response to Senate summons was filed by Trumps Counsel Pat A. Cipollone and Jay Alan Sekulow.

The House voted to approve two articles of impeachment, one for abuse of power and one for obstructing Congress, against Trump on Dec. 18, 2019, in a party-line vote and sent them to the Senate for trial on Jan. 15 after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) delayed the transmission for weeks.

Trump said that the first article should be rejected because it doesnt state an impeachable offense.

It alleges no crime at all, let alone high Crimes and Misdemeanors, as required by the Constitution, he said.

Trump insisted that he did nothing wrong because there was no quid pro quo or connection between security assistance to Ukraine and investigations into Hunter Biden. The security assistance was released without the Ukrainian government announcing any investigation.

For the second article regarding obstructing Congress, Trump said his decisions on the House subpoenas were based on legitimate Executive Branch confidentiality interests grounded in the separation of powers.

In order to preserve our constitutional structure of government, to reject the poisonous partisanship that the Framers warned against, to ensure one-party political impeachment vendettas do not become the new normal, and to vindicate the will of the American People, the Senate must reject both articles of Impeachment, he concluded.

The response from Trump came shortly after House Managers for the impeachment trial, including Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Congresswoman Val Demings (D-Fla.), Congressman Jason Crow (D-Colo.), and Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), filed a brief with the Senate Secretary on Saturday afternoon.

The House Managers stand by the two Articles of Impeachment alleging that Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain and attempted to cover up his scheme afterward by obstructing Congresss investigation into his misconduct, the brief said.

The case against the President of the United States is simple, the facts are indisputable, and the evidence is overwhelming, they stated. Senators must accept and fulfill the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and the Oaths they have just taken to do impartial justice.

Read President Trumps full response:
Jamie Lee Curtis had a busy day Saturday.

The 61-year-old was at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles as she was set to be honored with the Presidents Award at the Society Of Camera Operators Awards, after a busy day participating in the 2020 Women's March in the City of Angels.

Curtis, who's played Laurie Strode in the Halloween film series, wore a long-sleeved black dress with silver embroidery around the neckline.

Feted: Jamie Lee Curtis, 61, was at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles Saturday as she was set to be honored at the Society Of Camera Operators Awards

She rounded out her ensemble with black heels, carried a black clutch, and had her grey locks neatly styled at the function.

The organization's George Billinger III said members were 'honored to present this award to such an iconic, talented, and truly brilliant professional' as the actress, who's appeared in films such as True Lies, Trading Places and A Fish Called Wanda.

'Her work has inspired so many of us and we are appreciative for all of her extraordinary contributions  to the business and the creative community at large,' Billinger said, according to Deadline.

The Knives Out star has past worked with Dale Myrand, who's nominated for Camera Operator of the Year Awards in film and TV.

Stylish: She rounded out her ensemble with black heels, carried a black clutch, and had her grey locks neatly styled at the function

Elite company: Past recipients of the Presidents Award, according to the organization , include Meryl Streep and Harrison Ford

Past recipients of the Presidents Award, according to the organization, include Meryl Streep and Harrison Ford.

Earlier Saturday, the actress shared two snapshots from the downtown Los Angeles Women's March to her Instagram page, which featured the actress holding a reversible 'I'm With Her/#WhatSheSaid' sign.

Curtis donned an American Flag tee shirt paired with a slimming black blazer and black fitted trousers, as she made her way down the packed streets.

Standing up: Earlier Saturday, the actress shared two snapshots from the downtown Los Angeles Women's March to her Instagram page, which featured the actress holding a reversible 'I'm With Her/#WhatSheSaid' sign

Fashion statement: Jamie's daughter Annie wore a sweater that featured a rudimentary depiction of the female reproductive system

She was joined by her daughter Annie Guest, 33, who showed off a sweater that featured a rudimentary depiction of the female reproductive system.

'Women march! Women vote. Women care about health care, climate change, reproductive rights, gun violence, and the list goes on and on,' wrote Curtis.

In a second snapshot, Curtis could be seen holding onto a little girl's hand in solidarity as they marched. She continued: 'Women stand unified. Women fight like hell and then pass it on to their daughters who will vote you all OUT of office!'

The Halloween star then urged her more than 2 million followers to 'join' in on the movement to get more women into State leadership positions.

She tagged the political action committee, Fund Her, who works tirelessly to get women elected. Since their launch in 2018, the committee has gotten 15 female politicians into office.
Bike's fuel tank explodes in Punjab; rider injured, reason of the explosion yet to be ascertained

Shabana Azmi car accident: FIR against driver for rash driving

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Jan 19: An FIR has been filed against Shabana Azmi's driver Raigad Police station after the car they were travelling in met with an accident on Mumbai-Pune expressway yesterday afternoon. The actress and her driver were rushed to MGM hospital in Navi Mumbai after sustaining injuries and were later shifted to Kokilaben Ambani hospital in suburban Andheri.

The driver has been identified as Amlesh Yogendra Kamat.

According to ANI, the police said that a case has been registered under Sec 279 (Rash driving on public way) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life/personal safety of others) of IPC and sections of Motor Vehicles Act, in connection with her accident yesterday on Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi injured in car accident on Mumbai- Pune Expressway

The accident happened near the Khalapur toll booth at 4pm. Azmi was travelling in a Tata Safari while her husband, lyricist Javed Akhtar, was travelling in an Audi.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

Azmi recently celebrated the 75th birthday of her husband and veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar. The two were spotted in various parties hosted in honour of Javed's special day. Many pictures of eventful Thursday and Friday nights are doing the rounds on social media.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 11:33 [IST]
By Trend

Under the support of Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy and Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), Azerbaijani companies participate in the 85th traditional exhibition International Green Week that opened in Germanys Berlin city on January 17, Trend reports via Azerbaijans Ministry of Economy.

The Azerbaijani exposition is located on an area of 98 square meters. It presents 180 types of products of 11 participating companies.

Over 1,500 companies from more than 70 countries participate in the exhibition.

Minister of Economy Inam Karimov and the Azerbaijani Ambassador to Germany Ramin Hasanov attended at the opening of Azerbaijans exposition.

Within the framework of exhibition, the parties become familiar with the products of Azerbaijani companies, and held several meetings.

International Green Week is one of the largest agricultural exhibitions of the world that held in the famous Messe Frankfurt complex.

For the first time, the exhibition was held 94 years ago in 1926.

Azerbaijan is presented for the 12th time in the exhibition.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
An Ohio mother is sharing her life-saving message after her family was poisoned by carbon monoxide last month.

She said it happened because they didn't realize their car was damaged.

"The fact that they may not have made it was very, very scary," Cherrica Floyd said.

Floyd said her family now takes car maintenance seriously in an entirely different way.

She said her fiance and their 1-year-old and 4-year-old children were poisoned by carbon monoxide in their Chevrolet HHR on Dec. 18.

"There was no signs or anything," Floyd said.

Her fiance noticed the car had a flat tire and pulled off to a gas station to try to figure out a solution.

She said shortly after, their baby started crying and throwing up.

Floyd said she told her fiance to call 911 as the baby started going "lifeless" but he did not have a chance before he passed out.

She said she and her daughter arrived at the scene to find all three unresponsive.

Floyd called 911 in a panic.

"I think it's like a gas leak in my car and the kids and the baby daddy is here and they're not getting any air, whatsoever," she said to a dispatcher. "Right now, I have a 1-year-old, he's slumped over. I need somebody as soon as possible."

"They were, you know, just very lifeless and I couldn't do anything but, you know, just stand there. I mean, my daughter had to help me and she was the one who actually ended up pulling them out of the car," Floyd said.

Springfield Township police said the children were rushed to Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

They said her fiance was taken to University Hospital and then to Columbus for treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.

Floyd said they found their car had gotten damaged, somehow funneling carbon monoxide inside.

She said they're all OK now, but this could happen to anyone and it could have ended very differently.

"I'm very, very happy that I have all of my family," Floyd said.

She said her fiance is back to work and the children are OK, but she said they are all still traumatized.

Floyd also encourages people with exhaust system issues to get it checked out immediately.

She is not sure if the car hit a speed bump or something else underneath caused the damage to their exhaust system.
Boris Johnson today urged Russia and Turkey to use a crunch summit to stop the 'proxy war' in Libya.

Arriving for talks in Berlin, the PM said the chaos engulfing the north African state was a 'disgrace' and called for a UN-backed process.

He suggested the UK would be willing to join a peace-keeping operation if there was a genuine ceasefire.

But he warned that 'proxy conflicts' only come to an end when the external powers decide they should.

Asked if the UK could send peacekeepers to monitor any ceasefire, Mr Johnson told reporters: 'There is a case for us doing what we do very well, which is sending experts to monitor the ceasefire.'

German Chanellor Angela Merkel (pictured greeting Boris Johnson today) has brought together key players in Libya's long-running conflict

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Vladimir Putin have been backing different sides in the Libya conflict

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has brought together key players in Libya's long-running conflict - including French president Emmanuel Macron - in a bid to revive the political process. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is also attending.

Fayez Sarraj's UN-recognised government is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Italy, while eastern-based forces led by General Khalifa Hifter are supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and France.

Russian military contractors have been fighting alongside Gen Hifter's forces, although Moscow retains links to both sides in the conflict.

Earlier, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the international community to stand against the 'merchants of blood and chaos'.

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Mr Erdogan said the world had failed to respond adequately to Gen Hifter's 'reckless attacks'.

He added: 'Hopes that flourish again with the ceasefire and the Berlin summit should not be sacrificed to the ambitions of the merchants of blood and chaos.'

A truce sponsored by Turkey and Russia was imposed a week ago but sporadic fighting has continued.

On Friday, tribal groups loyal to Gen Hifter seized several large oil export terminals along Libya's eastern coast as well as southern oil fields in another challenge to the Tripoli government,
Chinas Embrace of ESG Is Threat to Real Sustainable Investing

Commentary

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing standardsalso called sustainable investing and socially responsible investinghave taken on greater importance in the investment community in recent years.

Such investing has also reached the shores of China.

With this, ESG investing reaches an inflection point. Will the standards have real bite, effecting change at companies, or will they become an irrelevant article for portfolio managers to simply check the box and move on?

ESG Standards

What factors do ESG investing usually consider? There isnt a uniform standard of ESG, but generally speaking it looks at a companys environmental impact and policies such as waste management, emissions impact, and environmental protection; social policies such as labor standards, employee relations, equal employment, and impact on local communities; and governance factors such as ownership/structural transparency, investor voting rights, independence of the board/oversight, business ethics, and executive compensation fairness.

Today, this trend has migrated from a niche investment product to the mainstream, whereby many portfolio managers consider ESG factor even when constructing non-ESG investment portfolios. And many companies, desperate to add new investors or keep existing ones, are voluntarily publishing reports on how they meet various ESG criteria.

Proponents say that ESG will finally compel companies to become better corporate citizens. And ESG allows investors to use their cash to force change at companies. Critics argue that ESG is another costly regulatory measure that creates another cottage industry, allowing cash-rich companies to rubber-stamp their ESG credentials and skate by, while smaller companies are crippled by the increased burden.

Regardless, one cannot escape ESG. When BlackRock CEO Larry Finkwho oversees the worlds biggest asset manager with $7 trillion in assetssays sustainability will bring a fundamental reshaping of finance in its annual open letter to CEOs, company executives will pay attention.

In the letter, Fink calls climate change a long-term crisis. And companies, investors, and governments must prepare for a significant reallocation of capital, he said.

Finks calls on companies to both increase disclosure and enact policies to support ESG factors. He warned that BlackRock will be increasingly disposed to vote against management and board directors when companies are not making sufficient progress on sustainability-related disclosures and the business practices and plans underlying them.

Keep in mind, BlackRock and its peers in the passive investing space are often one of the biggest single investors within S&P 500 companies and wield enormous influence in their voting power. So Finks letter isnt just an empty threat.

Investing in China

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime boss Xi Jinping made environmental protection one of the three biggest priorities in December 2017, and green finance has been a key policy initiative for Beijing. Green finance in this application means private capital to fund environmental improvement infrastructure projects. Technically, it is different from ESG, but it is nevertheless a component of the CCPs broader virtue-signaling efforts.

Beijing certainly doesnt want to jeopardize its foreign inflows. So Chinese authorities are increasingly beating the drum on ESG factors to attract more capital.

It seems absurd on the surface. But you have to respect Beijings boldness.

On Dec. 18, 2019, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX)where many successful mainland companies have listed their publicly traded sharespublished its ESG guidance to mandate improved ESG disclosures among companies listed on the bourse.

Hong Kongs new requirements govern fiscal years starting in July 2020. From that point forward, companies must produce a statement documenting the boards discussion of ESG risks as they relate to the company, how the board considers the importance of ESG factors, and how they impact the companys business.

Later this year, stock exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen are expected to follow suit.

One firms response to HKEXs May 2019 open consultation period regarding its ESG mandate said, we do not consider a mandatory disclosure of this statement will motivate companies to improve on ESG matters.

An individual investors response was more blunt: Please be reminded that wasting a listed companys money is [the] same as wasting investors money, and that the ESG disclosure is not more than a paper target for fulfilling the listing rules (no matter how silly and stupid and unrealistic it is, something that an issuer has to do).

Dennis Kwok, the Canadian-born member of Hong Kongs Legislative Council, believes the HKEX must do more to address human trafficking among its listed companies. While the criminal law and government policy in Hong Kong fall short of reflecting the severity of modern slavery the risks associated, however, are not sufficiently reflected in existing ESG reporting.

While one can understand the HKEXs intentions, most mainland-domiciled companies likely cannot meet globally recognized ESG criteria and the exchange runs the risk of devaluing the entire ESG effort. At best, Chinese companies will view this as a meaningless tick-the-box exercise and waste investor resources, and at worst, companies will lie on their disclosures and bribe ESG consultants.

Even for Western companies operating in a more established and tenured ESG environment, such disclosures are difficult to implement in earnest.

But for many Chinese companies, this is simply impossible to fulfill, at least not in the short term and without some fundamental changes in mainland China.

Lets examine each pillar of ESG with respect to Chinese companies. The environmental disclosure is probably the easiest to assesssince Beijing has made it such a prioritybut progress simply isnt fast enough. That means the initial disclosures by Chinese energy companies would likely look far from ideal.

China has around 1,000 gigawatts of national coal power capacity and another 121 gigawatts of new capacity under construction, a figure that is more than the rest of the world combined, according to Global Energy Monitor. The Wall Street Journal declared on Dec. 23, 2019, that the worlds biggest carbon emitter is putting economic growth and energy security above its ambitions to be a leader in combating climate change.

In China, national policy always trumps individual company policies. But at least on the environmental front, theres a path forward.

What about social issues? This requires some fundamental changes. Chinese technology companies are known for their 996 working hour culture, meaning workers work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Thats a total of 72 hours per work. Technology workers are sick of this and have increasingly taken to the internet to complain.

However, the long hours at Chinas technology giants must seem like a blessing to Chinas hoard of factory workers. China Labor Watch in 2016 documented workers in southern Chinas toy factories working in toxic and dangerous environments while earning minimum wages.

So social issues likely wont go away any time soon.

Lastly, governance is the aspect of ESG that Chinese companies will have the hardest time passing. It cuts to the heart of the CCP.

Many Chinese listed companies have an opaque and confusing ownership structure where investor voting rights have no actual weight. And thats not an accident or errorits by design. In addition, Chinese companies, even non-government owned ones, must implicitly answer to local CCP bosses and party cells. This is an overhang for each and every Chinese company no matter where its stock is tradedand a key reason why Huawei, a privately owned company, poses a national security risk to the United States.

Of course no company board would come out and admit these realities on their ESG report; it would be career and perhaps literal suicide. But to outside investors, this fact makes governance an almost impossible challenge to overcome.

And what about business ethics? Some firms could run afoul there too. Last October, the U.S. Commerce Department put 28 Chinese companies and organizations on a U.S. trade blacklist for their role in persecution of Uyghur Muslim minorities in Xinjiang. Hikvision, a Shenzhen-listed global leader in making surveillance equipment, is one of the barred companies.

This isnt to say companies elsewhere dont have degrees of ethical issues; many do, and it remains to be seen how they tackle this on their ESG reports. But these issues are more pervasive and harder to address for Chinese firms. Often, the boards of their publicly listed subsidiaries have no power to challenge the parent companies.

Without fundamental changes to Chinas broader political and economic system, mandating the implementation of ESG standards within this environment is fruitless.

But you can bet that most Chinese companies will pass their ESG exams with flying colors somehow. Theres no way that Beijing would allow ESG to go forward otherwise. So portfolio managers and exchange operators are faced with a conundrum. Can they be believed? And does it matter? How market participants deal with this would speak volumes about how seriously global investors are taking ESG.

And those who buy their claims at face value are likely either ignorant or willingly fooling themselves.

All of this risks cheapening the global ESG effort and reducing it to a triviality. The hope is that ESG will become more than a meaningless box-checking exercise for virtue-signaling investment managers to proceed with business as usual.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Weve tried to make sure that we cover all the checks in the inspection essential to keep your car performing at optimal levels.

LV Auto Services, a leading car care shop in Las Vegas, provides quality auto repair services at competitive prices. Currently, the company is offering free multi-point inspections to help keep Las Vegas-area cars running smoothly.

A company spokesperson said:

LV Auto Services has always believed in providing affordable and top notch auto repairs to customers. Our free multipoint inspection services reflect our shops policy and allow vehicle owners to benefit from a service that can keep their cars in good shape all year long. We offer multipoint inspections for different makes and models, including BMW, Audi, Lexus, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, and Volvo among others.

During their multi-point inspection appointment, customers can expect to receive a comprehensive vehicle diagnosis, performed by experienced and certified technicians. The shops service team maintains a checklist for the inspections, which covers key areas like fluids, battery, tires, steering, shocks, hoses, belts and more. All appointments are scheduled online or on phone.

The spokesperson continued:

Weve tried to make sure that we cover all the checks in the inspection essential to keep your car performing at optimal levels. Of course, there is room for improvement and further additions, which well keep working on in the future.

The LV Auto Services car repair shop is open 9.00 am  6.00 pm Monday through Friday, and 9.00 am  3.00 pm on Saturday. The company, however, maintains a 24/7 service operation for emergency and post shop hour repairs. Customers can request for this service by calling at a special helpline number.

All repairs performed by LV Auto Services come with a 100% workmanship warranty. The company uses OEM parts for the repairs when possible.

To learn more about LV Auto Services, visit the companys official website.

About LV Auto Services

LV Auto Services is a car repair shop in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company provides repairs for all foreign and domestic car makes and models. The company also provides 24/7 roadside assistance services to customers.

Contact Details

Service Location: 5701 W. Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89146

Telephone Number: (720) 886-8646

Email Address: lvautoservice1@gmail.com

Website: https://lvautoservices.com/
One of the high-profile lawyers hired by Donald Trump to defend him in the Senate trial starting this week says he will argue that abuse of power is not an impeachable offence.

Alan Dershowitz, who has previously represented clients including Jeffrey Epstein, Harvey Weinstein and OJ Simpson, said only "criminal-like" conduct should see a president impeached.

Mr Trump is accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Last year the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives concluded that he had abused his office by pressuring the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to announce investigations into political opponents including Joe Biden by withholding military aid and a White House meeting.

They said he also obstructed their investigation by stopping key staff from testifying and refusing to hand over documents.

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

The president insists he has done nothing wrong and that the case against him is a Democratic ploy to stop him winning re-election in November.

This week the Senate will begin a trial triggered by the impeachment. While in theory he could be removed from office, the Republican majority in the upper chamber is expected to acquit him.

Mr Dershowitz was named on Friday as one of several high-profile legal experts added to Mr Trump's defence team, along with Kenneth Starr, the special counsel who led the impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s.

He told CNN's State of the Union show: "I will be advocating against impeachment of this president based on the constitutional criteria."

Mr Dershowitz cited Justice Benjamin Curtis -- who defended President Andrew Johnson during his impeachment in 1868  in arguing that "criminal-like conduct" is required, an argument that he said prevailed in clearing the 17th president of the United States.

The Harvard Law emeritus professor told CNN: "I will be making that argument as a lawyer on behalf of the president's defence team against impeachment."

Speaking to ABC's This Week, he said Mr Trump should be cleared even if his behaviour was wrong. "If the allegations are not impeachable, then this trial should result in an acquittal, regardless of whether the conduct is regarded as OK by you or by me or by voters. That's an issue for the voters."

However, Adam Schiff, who is leading the case against Mr Trump for the Democrats, called the position "absurdist".

He told This Week: "You had to go so far out of the mainstream to find someone to make that argument. You had to leave the realm of constitutional law scholars and go to criminal defence lawyers.

"The logic of that absurdist position that's being now adopted by the president is he could give away the state of Alaska, he could withhold execution of sanctions on Russia for interfering in the last election, to induce or coerce Russia to interfere in the next one."
The death toll in the ballistic missile attack at a military training base in the northeastern province of Marib on Saturday has risen to at least 80, a Health Ministry official said on Sunday.

As many as 150 Yemini soldiers have sustained injuries in the attack, the official told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Yemen's Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi has blamed Houthi rebels for what he described as a "heinous" and "cowardly terrorist operation"

The attackers targetted a mosque at the al-Estikbal military base on Saturday evening. Most of the victims belong to the fourth presidential protection guard.

Yemen has been locked for years in an armed conflict between government forces led by President-in-exile Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the armed Houthi opposition faction. Despite a peace accord signed in Stockholm in 2018, tensions have reportedly been escalating in recent months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The driver of a school van was arrested and his two minor friends were detained for allegedly molesting some mentally-challenged girl students here, police said on Sunday.

Police took the action on Saturday after a video clip of the molestation, shot by the two minor accused, went viral on social media, police said.

The accused driver has been identified as Avinash Shejul (19), an official said.

"Shejul picks up and drops mentally-challenged girls to and from their school at Valadgaon area in Aurangabad. Last week, he picked up the girls from their school. While dropping them home, he came across his two minor friends on the way and asked them to get into the vehicle," inspector Vitthal Pote of Satara Police Station here said.

"However, the duo started molesting and harassing the girls inside the van. They also shot the video of their acts and shared the video clip on social media later. Shejul kept that video as his WhatsApp status," he added.

The incident came to light after two local residents came across the video clip and approached the school authorities to complain about it.

"On Saturday, parents of the girls registered a complaint against the trio. After going through the video clip, Shejul was arrested, while his two minor friends were detained," Pote added.

A case has been registered under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said, adding that further investigation is on.

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


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New Delhi, Jan 19 : Determined to reach back to their homeland, Kashmiri Pandits from across the city gathered at Jantar Mantar on Sunday to protest against the exudos of the community from Kashmir valley 30 years ago.

Hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits including children gathered for a silent sit-in at Jantar Mantar to commemorate the black day of the community's forceful eviction from the valley 30 years ago.

Led by Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM), Kashmir Samiti Delhi, Roots in Kashmir (RIK) and Panun Kashmir, the protesters demanded that their human rights be restored as they have faced discrimination over the years and are given step-motherly treatment.

"We have been made a forgotten community. Our entire culture is fading. Our existence is under threat," said Anoop Bhat, Coordinator, Roots in Kashmir.

The community has been organising similar protests for many years now, but recent developments in their home state have given a boost to the morale of the community which was evident in the slogans raised during the protest.

"Hum aa rahe hain" (We are coming back), "Aaenge wo bhi apni sharton par" (We will return and that too on our terms) Expalining the slogans, Vijay Tikko, who is Vice-Chairman of Panun Kashmir said, "Time has changed, no one would have thought the government will remove Article 370, but its done and soon we will also return. Wait for the right time to come." Sumeer Chrungoo, from Kashmir Samiti Delhi said "That dreaded night was possibly the longest night of our lives. Mobs from all over the valley had occupied every single road in Kashmir. They shouted slogans against Pandits asking us to join them or perish or leave the valley." Demanding a concrete effort by the government to rehabilitate the people and restore their dignity, Mona Pandita, a protester, said: "No single conviction has taken place against the people who have widely admitted that they were a part of the killings." The event ended with a silent protest and lighting of lamps in memory of all those who gave their lives to preserve the unity and integrity of India in Kashmir.
Two men arrested in connection with a shooting incident in Dublin on Friday have been released without charge.

At 11.30am on Friday morning, two men sitting in a parked vehicle at an industrial premises at Killeek Lane, St Margaret's, were approached by a lone gunman.
In a medical first in Quebec, Dr. Panagiotis (Peter) Glavas and his team at CHU Sainte-Justine and Universite de Montreal have managed to restore full ambulatory ability in a severely handicapped teenager who was left a double-amputee after getting flesh-eating disease in infancy.

Through a series of complex procedures unprecedented in pediatric orthopedic surgery in this province, and in collaboration with a company specializing in advanced orthopedic solutions, Dr. Glavas used a special 3D bone-cutting guide of his own design to facilitate the surgery.

The result of the operation on one of the boy's partly amputated legs in May 2019 was so encouraging  the patient was able to finally walk properly with a custom-fitted prosthesis  another is scheduled for Jan. 21 to fix his other leg.

A dramatic story

In January 2005, at 18 months, baby Charlie was attacked by flesh-eating bacteria. Despite the efforts of caregivers, he had to have both legs amputated at the middle of the shinbone, or tibia. Although Charlie's life was saved, the bacteria had time to infect other cells, in particular those essential to proper bone growth. Gradually, the bones of Charlie's amputated legs started growing at an abnormal angle, making it difficult and extremely painful to wear a prosthesis.

Over the years that followed and during his adolescence, Charlie underwent multiple surgeries to correct the malformed tibia bones, with limited success. As he grew, his deformity finally made it impossible to attach an effective prosthesis. The pain from wearing ones that were poorly adapted to his particular condition became so great that Charlie gave up trying to walk and wound up back in his wheelchair.

In late adolescence, when Charlie stopped growing, Dr. Glavas, in collaboration with the Quebec company Bodycad, looked for a way to straighten the boy's left tibia in order to fit him with a comfortable prosthesis. The surgery would take multiple saw strokes, and the challenge was to find the exact way to straighten the bone without weakening it. That's where the new 3D cutting guide came in.

After 200 hours of fine-tuning the device, in May 2019 Dr. Glavas positioned it on the boy's left tibia and began the operation, now satisfied his saw cuts would be extremely precise. Subsequently, to stabilize the tibia Charlie was fitted with a custom-made plate adapted to the specific anatomy of the remaining bone. Once the boy was walking again, further evaluations were made.

In August, after reviewing their tests assessing Charlie's gait, the medical team decided the results were encouraging enough to repeat the operation in January, this time on his right tibia.
WASHINGTON  Thousands gathered in cities across the country Saturday as part of the nationwide Womens March rallies focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity, reproductive rights and immigration.

Hundreds showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington, D.C. for the rallies, which aim to harness the political power of women, although crowds were noticeably smaller than in previous years. Marches were scheduled Saturday in more than 180 cities, including Vancouver. (Portland will have a 2020 Womxns March and Rally for Action on March 1.)

The first marches in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the country on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. That year's D.C. march drew close to 1 million people.

In Manhattan on Saturday, hundreds of people who gathered at separate events in Foley Square and Columbus Circle planned to converge at Times Square as part of a "Rise and Roar" rally.

"Today, we will be the change that is needed in this world! Today, we rise into our power!" activist Donna Hill told a cheering crowd in Foley Square.

In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of men, women and children filled several blocks as they made their way from a plaza to a park adjacent to City Hall, where a rally featured speeches by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Maxine Waters and others.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom credited women for mobilizing against gun violence, creating the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and discrimination, and taking back the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.

"In 2020, I have no doubt that it will be women who will lead again, rise up and move this country forward on a path toward justice," she said.

In Denver, organizers opted to skip the rally after the march and instead invited participants to meet with local organizations to learn more about issues such as reproductive rights, climate change, gun safety and voting.

Several thousand came out for the protest in Washington, far fewer than last year when about 100,000 people held a rally east of the White House. But as in previous years, many of the protesters made the trip to the nation's capital from cities across the country to express their opposition to Trump and his policies. From their gathering spot on Freedom Plaza, they had a clear view down Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol, where the impeachment trial gets underway in the Senate next week.

In Washington, three key issues seemed to galvanize most of the protesters: climate change, immigration and reproductive rights.

I teach a lot of immigrant students, and in political times like this I want to make sure Im using my voice to speak up for them, said Rochelle McGurn, 30, an elementary school teacher from Burlington, Vermont, who was in D.C. to march. They need to feel like they belong, because they do.

Peta Madry of New London, Connecticut, was celebrating her 70th birthday in D.C. by attending her fourth Women's March with her sister, Cynthia Barnard, of San Rafael, California. Both women were wearing handknitted pink hats that date from the first march. With pained expressions, they spoke about Trump's determination to reverse the policies of his predecessor Barack Obama and his treatment of women.

"Look what he's doing to Greta Thunberg," Madry said, referring to the teenage climate activist. "He's the biggest bully in the world."

Melissa McCullough of Georgetown, Indiana, said when she recently turned 50 she promised herself that she would get more involved politically. "I'm here to protest Trump, as a woman," she said.

Her daughter, 19-year-old University of Cincinnati student Elizabeth McCullough, chimed in to say that most women's issues are human issues, and they talked about the need to protect immigrants.

"You have to push to protect everyone or no one's safe," Melissa McCullough said.

The protesters planned to march around the White House, but Trump wasn't there. He is spending the holiday weekend at his resort in Florida.

Organizers of the Washington march faced criticism from some local African American activists for failing to focus on local issues and damaging the ability of local activists to organize.

"Local D.C. is a domestic colony and the actions of national organizers have to recognize that," Black Lives Matter D.C. wrote in a letter this week to Women's March organizers. "Here in D.C., these unstrategic mass mobilizations distract from local organizing, often overlook the black people who actually live here and even result in tougher laws against demonstration being passed locally."

-- The Associated Press
New research suggests Canada's largest national park is not drying out from upstream hydro dams or being contaminated by the oilsands.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An aerial view of Fort Chipewyan, Alta., on the border of Wood Buffalo National Park is shown on Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

New research suggests Canada's largest national park is not drying out from upstream hydro dams or being contaminated by the oilsands.

Recently published papers from scientists at the University of Waterloo question previous studies done for the federal government and the United Nations as well as long-held conclusions from Indigenous people.

"Our findings counter widespread perceptions," said Roland Hall, an aquatic ecologist who is one of the co-authors. "There's been lots of controversy and claims that weren't necessarily supported by data."

Others say the jury is still out.

"(The scientists) overstate their position, stretching the applicability of their limited dataset," said Melody Lepine of the Mikisew Cree First Nation. The band has long voiced concerns about its traditional land in northern Alberta's Peace-Athabasca Delta and Wood Buffalo National Park.

The park is one of the world's largest freshwater deltas and a World Heritage Site.

But its water levels have been dropping, which the Mikisew blame largely on B.C. Hydro's Bennett Dam. They also say contaminants have been flowing downstream from the oilsands.

In 2014, the Mikisew voiced concerns to UNESCO, which asked Canada to assess the park's 45,000 square kilometres of grasslands, wetlands and waterways.

That study found ecological health was declining from climate change, dams and industry. It also noted the proposed Teck Frontier oilsands mine, waiting for federal cabinet approval, is only 20 kilometres south of the park.

UNESCO is considering the park's status while Parks Canada considers a $27.5-million plan to rescue it.

But after analyzing 150 years worth of lake and delta sediment cores, Hall said dams and industry aren't the problem.

Parts of the delta are drying out and climate change may play a part, he said. But the biggest factor, Hall said, is the Embarras River, which redirected large volumes of water when it broke its banks in 1982.

"It's probably the biggest hydrological event of the century and you don't even find it mentioned," said Hall.

What's more, researchers found that the delta didn't start drying out until the 1980s. The Bennett Dam was built in 1968.

The cores, which were examined for six heavy metals associated with oilsands, revealed changes over time that predate development.

"We see flat lines, no rising trends," Hall said.

Joshua Kurek, an ecologist at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, was not involved in the study, but called the papers valuable.

"We have a scarcity of observations and their approach provides convincing evidence of fairly stable baselines," he said.

But Kurek pointed out that industry releases many more chemicals than those considered by the researchers. As well, Kurek noted, the cores were taken from a small area of the delta far from oilsands mines.

"It's definitely not the final answer."

Lepine said in an email that the research didn't test for contaminants other studies have found, including mercury, arsenic and many carcinogenic chemicals. And the paper doesn't look at the dam's impact on the Peace River, she added.

Hall, who has been working in the area for 20 years, said conflicting theories speak to how little data is available on the large, complex, remote region and how hard it is to study.

"It's not an easy place to figure stuff out."

He suggests others may have let assumptions influence them.

"Almost from Day 1, it was anticipated that (the dam) would cause negative changes," Hall said. "That idea has been in people's minds for so long that other possibilities are not being explored."

He stands by the conclusions in his papers.

"The extent to which industrial developments have altered the delta are not as bad as feared.

"It doesn't mean industry can't change things in the future. This system is still very much acting like a natural system, but there is a strong need for continued monitoring."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2020

 Follow Bob Weber on Twitter at @row1960
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BJP's West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh said on Sunday that the government is committed to implementing the proposed nationwide NRC and will send back 1 crore Bangladeshi Muslims living in the state illegally.

Addressing a rally in the North 24 Parganas district, Ghosh said that those opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are anti-Bengali and against the idea of India.

He said 1 crore illegal Muslims in the state are "thriving" on the government's Rs 2 per kg subsidised rice.

"We will send them back," he announced.

"These illegal Bangladeshi Muslims are involved in arsons across the state," Ghosh added



He said that he has no qualms in being branded communal for supporting the cause of Hindu refugees, who had to run for their life after being religiously persecuted.

"Those who are opposing the CAA are either anti-India or anti-Bengali. They are against the idea of India that is why they are opposing Hindu refugees getting citizenship," Ghosh said.

Continuing his tirade against eminent personalities, opposing the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC, he said their "hearts bleed for infiltrators".

"What about Hindu refugees? They don't have any answers. This is a double standard," Ghosh said, days after terming them "parasites".

Exuding confidence about forming the next government in West Bengal, the controversial BJP leader said Mamata Banerjee's party will be restricted to 50 seats in the 2021 state polls.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
South Korean automaker plans to keep rolling out new models at regular intervals in India as it aims to fully utilise its current installed production capacity of 3 lakh units by March 2022, a senior company official said.

The company, which has got to a flying start in the country with its first product Seltos, aims to bring in two more models this year.

It will drive in luxury multi purpose vehicle Carnival at Auto Expo, followed by a compact SUV later during the year.

Similarly, the company would also look at bringing in two more products next year as well.

"We have already stated that we will keep introducing a new model every six months. Our first goal right now is to fully exhaust the installed production capacity," India Head Marketing and Sales Manohar Bhat told PTI here.

It should take around 4-5 models from the company's stables to achieve the target in 2022, he added.

Kia Motors' manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh has an installed production capacity to roll out 3 lakh units per annum on a three shift basis.

The company is currently running two shifts at the plant.

Commenting on Carnival, which was showcased here, Bhat said the company would be creating a new segment with the model.

"Carnival is going to be our flagship model in India. There is no product like it in the country right now. It would meet the evolving needs of elite customers in the country," Bhatt said.

Carnival will be powered by a 2.2 litre diesel engine with a claimed fuel efficiency of 13.9 km per litre.

"We will redefine the market place with this product as well as we did with Seltos. It will have compliant engine right from the start," Bhat said.

When asked to comment on sales expectations from the model, he added that the company is not looking at it from volume point of view, but wants to showcase its prowess in terms of quality and luxury.

The compact SUV model, which would be showcased at the Auto Expo and launched later during the year, would be more of a volume cruncher for the company, he added.

On sales network expansion, Bhat said the company is already present in 165 locations across the country with 200 dealerships.

Kia is now trying to consolidate in regions where it currently lags in terms of presence, he added.
Democrats, too, have made up their minds, and that would be equally upsetting but for the mountain of actual evidence on which their judgment rests. You can erase all the testimony in the House by Gordon Sondland, David Holmes, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill and others. You can delete Mick Mulvaneys admission at a White House news conference of a quid pro quo. You can discount Lev Parnas ongoing aria of atonement. Still, you have the transcript (of sorts) of Trumps perfect phone call with the president of Ukraine, in which its clear to any sane reader with a semblance of common sense that hes trying to trade U.S. aid for the smearing of Joe Biden.
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Family Devastated After Woman Dies Following Lengthy ER Wait

The family of a Wisconsin woman is devastated after her unexpected death following a lengthy wait at a local emergency room earlier this month.

Tashonna Ward, 25, waited at Froedtert Hospitals ER in Milwaukee with her sister, Brianna, saying she had shortness of breath and chest pains, reported CBS News. She was given an X-ray but was not admitted before she was sent to continue waiting in the lobby, she told the network.

I really hope Im not in this emergency room all night, Ward said on Facebook in the hospitals lobby. Idk what they can do about the emergency system at freodert [sic] but they [expletive] sure need to do something, Ward said a few hours later. I been here since 4:30 something for shortness of breath, and chest pains for them to just say its a two to SIX hour wait to see a [doctor].

Her sister then picked her up to drive her to another hospital. Ward, however, lost consciousness. Her sister called 911 but the paramedics were not able to revive her, it was reported.

She didnt even have a band on her wrist (when I picked her up) so she was never even processed in, Brianna Ward told WDJT. All they did was take her to the back, do chest X-rays, send her back in the lobby. She was never even admitted.

The womans mother, Yolanda, said the family has questions about the lengthy ER wait.

I dont think they care, she told WDJT. Im sorry, but I really dont think they cared about my daughter. She should not have been waiting out there that long.

The Milwaukee County medical examiner revealed that Ward had waited for more than two hours and that she had an enlarged heart, the WDJT report said. The office added that Ward was taken back to Froedtert Hospital following a 911 call and was later pronounced dead.

A hospital spokesperson said that Wards family and their lawyer were slated to meet with Froedtert officials, but it never happened.

At the request of the family, no meeting has occurred. We respect their wishes and privacy during this difficult time, a hospital spokesperson told CBS News. They continue to be in our thoughts and have our deepest sympathy. Due to patient privacy laws, we cannot comment further at this time.

A memorial service for the woman was held last week, according to her family.

At the same time, a GoFundMe page was set up to cover medical and funeral expenses.

She was an amazing daughter, sister, cousin, niece and friend loved by all. Tashonna was always positive and she always put her family first. Her death was sudden and unexpected, the page read. Please consider helping out her loved ones through this difficult time as they navigate this tragedy and move forward in life without her. Donations will go directly to her mom, Yolanda Ward to help with funeral expenses and other expenses related to helping change laws, protocols, and legislation tied to long wait times in the ER for patients with shortness of breath and chest pain.
As living standards in Honduras deteriorate, more and more people are leaving the country in search of a better life.

Ayutla, Guatemala  Hondurans taking part in a caravan of more than 4,000 migrants and asylum-seekers hope to pass militarised Mexican border checkpoints on Saturday.

Paula Dolmo, a 30-year-old from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, stood near the bridge with her two sons as a group of more than 200 migrants and asylum-seekers attempted to negotiate their way into Mexico. She says she fled Honduras due to the lack of opportunity.

We want opportunity. As a single mother, [I think] we need to leave our country because we are subject to corruption, without education and healthcare, Dolmo told Al Jazeera.

The Guatemalan Migration Institute estimates that more than 4,000 migrants and asylum-seekers have entered the country since Wednesday, as part of the latest migrant caravan.

The truth is we do not want to be in this position, Dolmo said. But the situation in our country obliges us to go.

200116225129401

Small groups of the caravan began to arrive at the Tecun Uman border crossing in Ayutla, Guatemala, on Friday. Thousands more are expected to arrive at the border Saturday and Sunday.

Early on Saturday, Dolmo joined several hundred migrants and asylum-seekers as they attempted to enter Mexico.

The migrants and asylum-seekers displayed the Honduran flag and changed Out with JOH, a chant that emerged following the contested re-election of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez in 2017. They crossed the bridge over the Suchiate River and neared the border crossing into Mexico.

Mexico knows well what conditions we live under in our country, Dolmo said. We hope they will give us the opportunity to enter.

The caravan was met by Mexican military dressed in riot gear and immigration officials who blocked their progress. The military police and immigration officials closed the gate to impede the caravans progress after a brief confrontation.

Hondurans have seen a deteriorating standard of living in the last 10 years. Poverty and crime have gone up as opportunities have evaporated. Many in the caravan also point to the corruption within the Orlando Hernandez administration as being a contributing factor to their decision to leave.

A Honduran migrant looks through the fence at military police in riot gear along the Guatemala-Mexico border [Jeff Abbott/Al Jazeera]

Efforts to curb corruption in Honduras have been met with resistance from the government and, on Friday, President Orlando Hernandez announced he would not be renewing the Organization of American States-backed Mission to Support the Fight against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras.

While Hondurans have taken to collective exodus in recent years, the massive caravan that formed in October 2018 caught the worlds attention. Other caravans formed in the following months.

On Saturday, migrants and asylum-seekers waited under the hot midday sun along the bridge over the Suchiate River for Mexico to once again open the gate. They used bedsheets to fashion small shades to escape the heat.

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After several hours, the Mexican National Institute of Immigration began to permit small groups through for processing.

Many are hoping that this will permit them to receive work after Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Friday that his government was monitoring the situation along the border, and stated that there were 4,000 jobs along Mexicos border.

While many migrants and asylum-seekers aim to reach the United States, for Jose Zaldivar, a 34-year-old from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, the option presented by the Mexican government is ideal, as he hopes to go to find work in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

They are saying they will allow us in and that we will be offered work in Mexico, he told Al Jazeera as he grasped his paperwork in a manila folder. If we dont find anything, then we come back again.

The Trump administration has pressured Mexico to stop the number of migrants and asylum-seekers reaching Mexicos border with the United States. It has forced asylum seekers to remain in Mexico as they await their case, as well as signed asylum cooperation agreements with Guatemala and Honduras, which allows the deportation of asylum seekers to those Central American countries.
By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Jan 19, 2020 - 13:26 | World, All, Japan

Japan-based Rohingya advocacy groups have accused Japan of siding with Myanmar's military over an ambassador's recent remarks denying genocide against the minority group.

"Today Japan is not cooperating, not supporting the United Nations actions on Myanmar," said Zaw Min Htut, vice president of Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan.

He was referring to comments Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Ichiro Murayama made to local news outlet The Irrawaddy in December that "there is no genocide in Myanmar" and that he did not believe the military "committed genocide or (had the) intent of genocide."

Zaw Min Htut appealed to Japan not to "buy into the military's lies," and to support international efforts in bringing about justice for the crimes committed against his people.

"We rely on the international community because there are not many friends in Myanmar for the Rohingya people," he told the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo last week.

Related coverage:

Rohingya youths form football team in Japan, appeal for peace

J-rock star Miyavi on mission to change Japan's tune on refugees

U.N.-appointed independent investigators have said hundreds of thousands of ethnic Rohingya who remain in Myanmar may face a greater threat of genocide than ever amid government attempts to "erase their identity and remove them from the country," citing "killings, rapes and gang rapes, torture, forced displacement and other grave rights violations" by the Myanmar military.

More than 740,000 Rohingya have fled from Rakhine State, western Myanmar, to neighboring Bangladesh since August 2017 to escape a military crackdown on insurgents.

The Japanese government, meanwhile, said it is not in a position to judge on the matter.

"We are working to ensure that Myanmar will take the necessary measures based on the final report by the ICOE," a Foreign Ministry official said, referring to the Independent Commission of Enquiry in Myanmar.

The commission, which is mandated to investigate allegations of human rights violations and related issues in Rakhine State, is expected to complete its final report this month.

Zaw Min Htut also expressed his disappointment at Murayama for referring to the Rohingya as "Bengali," a term the envoy used in a recent interview with the BBC.

The term is often used as a slur by the Myanmar government which does not recognize the Rohingya as one of the country's many ethnic groups, but as illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the ambassador's choice of words, but told Kyodo News that it officially refers to the ethnic group as "Muslims in the Rakhine State."

Gambia, a small but predominantly Muslim African country, submitted a lawsuit last November against Buddhist-majority Myanmar to the International Court of Justice, with support from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

It argued that Myanmar had violated the 1948 Genocide Convention through the military's "genocidal acts" against the Rohingya minority, an allegation that the Myanmar government vehemently denies.
President Donald Trump's top Russia expert on the National Security Counsel is reportedly on leave pending a security investigation.

Andrew Peek, the NSCs senior director for European and Russian affairs, was escorted from the White House grounds on Friday, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

Peek had been in the NSC role for just two months, after most recently working as a deputy assistant secretary of state with responsibility for Iran and Iraq.

He replaced Tim Morrison, who left the position after testifying in the House impeachment inquiry.

Andrew Peek, the NSCs senior director for European and Russian affairs, was reportedly escorted from the White House grounds on Friday

Peek replaced Tim Morrison (right), who left the position after testifying in the House impeachment inquiry

Morrison testified that the U.S. Ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, had told him there was a quid pro quo in which U.S. aid to Ukraine was conditioned on the countrys government opening an investigation into Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

Morrison's predecessor in the role, Fiona Hill, also testified as part of the impeachment inquiry.

Peek had been expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland next week with Trump and other top aides.

However, he is currently on leave pending a security-related investigation, people familiar with the situation told Axios.

US President Donald Trump makes his way to board Air Force One at Andrews Airforce Base

Peek served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer who worked under General John Allen in Afghanistan

So far the NSC and White House have declined to comment on Peek's status.

Prior to joining the Trump administration, Peek served as a U.S. Army intelligence officer who worked under General John Allen in Afghanistan.

He was also a national security adviser to Senator Gordon Smith, an Oregon Republican, and Senator Mike Johanns, a Nebraska Republican.
Congress leader Hardik Patel was arrested on Saturday night from Viramgam taluka in Gujarats Ahmedabad district for failing to appear before a trial court here in a 2015 sedition case, hours after a warrant was issued against him.

Patels arrest was confirmed by DCP Rajdeepsinh Zala (cyber crime).

We have arrested Haridk Patel from near Viramgam after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. We will produce him before the court tomorrow, Zala said.

Patel had been previously arrested in connection with a sedition case filed by the local Crime Branch after violence broke out during a rally by the Patel community in Ahmedabad on August 25, 2015.

The quota leader was granted bail in July, 2016, and the court had, in November 2018, framed charges against him and other accused in the case.

On Saturday, Additional Sessions Judge B G Ganatra issued an arrest warrant against Patel, after accepting the governments plea against an exemption application moved by the Patidar leaders lawyer.

The prosecution told court the accused intended to delay the trial by seeking regular exemption from appearance.

The court also observed that Patel, who has to be cross-examined in the case, was flouting bail conditions by not remaining present regularly with the intention to delay trial.

Patel had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Cairo: Iran-aligned Houthis attacked a military training camp in the Yemeni city of Marib on Saturday, killing at least 60 military personnel and wounding dozens others, Saudi state television said on Saturday evening.

Al Ekhbariya television quoted sources as saying the attack was carried out with ballistic missiles and drones.

A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which the Houthis ousted from power in the capital Sanaa and is now

based in the southern port city of Aden.

The Houthis, who hold Sanaa and most of Yemen`s big urban centres, deny being puppets of Iran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

Houthis militants did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's attack.
Editors note: The Journal-Courier has been working with a group of business and community leaders to shine a light on the importance of the sometimes behind-the-scenes work taking place to improve the present and build for the future of our hometown.



This week, the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to celebrate the achievements of the past year, look forward to the coming year and honor local businesses for their achievements.

The theme of this years annual meeting is 2020 Vision  Whats Yours? The play on words, so common this year, really resonates with the chamber, not only for the chamber as an organization but for its 530-plus members. What do they hope to accomplish this year? How do they plan to do it? Who can assist?

The answer to that last question is what the chamber provides its members  assistance in meeting their goals and focusing on their vision. Through the numerous benefits offered with chamber membership, we hope to assist our members toward that visionary goal. Chamber benefits are organized into the categories of collaboration, networking, professional development, marketing, education and advocacy, and community support.

Collaboration is achieved through the seven chamber divisions that meet regularly to ensure a constant dialogue of thoughts and ideas to promote business and enhance quality of life. Participation in these divisions is available to all chamber member businesses and their employees. Each division has a plan of work that is explored and executed each year.

Networking is all about making connections and growing a network of professionals to help a business grow. Sharing the story and vision of a particular business with another allows the opportunity for professional and personal growth for our members. It also fosters good working relationships and business partnerships for the benefit of all involved. The chamber offers many networking opportunities and events throughout the year.

Professional development allows our members to learn what they can share with others on a professional or personal level. Strong participation by a number of professionals is important for the chambers growth and sustainability, as well. The work of all is stronger with participation, involvement and idea sharing.

Marketing is a huge part of the chambers daily work for its members. Promotion and advertising of a businesss products, services and events are offered through a variety of options. Only chamber members receive referrals when potential customers inquire about local products and services.

Education and advocacy efforts allow chamber members to stay abreast of marketplace changes, legal issues and legislative happenings. Seminar offerings give chamber member experts the chance to share the information they have with those who need to know.

Community support is paramount to the chambers mission, as well. A clear vision of what the community has to offer, where it is going and how to get there is achieved by working with other local entities. The chamber is fortunate to have a strong working relationship with the county, city and other civic organizations focused on growing the economy and enhancing the quality of life.

Do you have 2020 vision? Do you have a clear picture of what you hope to accomplish by 2021? Are you beginning to work on the plan that will get you there?

The chamber is here to assist area businesses and organizations in focusing on that vision and helping them reach the potential it brings. Our vision is to encourage businesses by building relationships to create a vibrant tomorrow. We look forward to a bright future for our members and community.

.

Lisa Musch is president of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce.
New Delhi :

Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi has accused the Congress of spreading disinformation about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA ) and said that those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, and Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country. "Those who set the country on fire are not patriots. Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country. They should go wherever they can," Sarangi said.

He also said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was a way to atone for the sin of Partition committed by the Congress. He asserted that amended Citizenship Act should have been passed 70 years ago. The act seeks to give citizenship to non-Muslim minorities when entered India before December 31, 2014 from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

CAA should have happened 70 years ago. CAA is a way to atone for sin committed by our forefathers, a select few leaders... It is atonement for the sin of Partition. And we should congratulate PM Narendra Modi for this. The Congress committed the sin, and we are atoning, Sarangi said.

Sarangi Questioned Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru

He also said Partition, which took place on a communal basis, was not unavoidable, and questioned then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for entering into an agreement with people who propounded the two-nation theory.

The Partition did not take place on any political, economical, geographical, or historical basis. It was done on a communal basis. We never said we cannot live with Muslims. We lived with them for thousands of years, Sarangi said.

But who compelled us enter into an agreement with the people who propounded the two-nation theory? Partition was not unavoidable. Who compelled Nehru? The country is nobodys paternal property. Nobody had the right to divide it, he added.

Sarangi said the religious division of the country caused crores of Hindus to stay back in Pakistan, and later in Bangladesh when Pakistan itself was broken up (in 1971), but the numbers of Hindus reduced due to massive religious conversion, rapes, murders, atrocities, and forcible expulsions.

Mahatma Gandhi had said it is the governments moral responsibility to provide citizenship and jobs to those who fled to India because of religious persecution. Our government passed CAA to give rights to minorities from those countries, he claimed.

With PTI Input

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
I was immensely proud when the New Mexico Legislature passed the Energy Transition Act and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed it into law last year. Through this new law, our state took a historic step toward leading the nation in addressing the climate crisis.

The Energy Transition Act will boost renewable energy production, create thousands of new careers, reduce carbon pollution, and diversify New Mexicos economy, while providing real support for the hard-working families who will be impacted by our transition away from coal-fired generating plants. The balanced approach of this new law has strong support from all across our state, including a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, as well as the Navajo Nation and business, environmental, labor and community groups.

The new law sets important benchmarks for reducing carbon emissions, ensuring that 80 percent of New Mexicos electricity is generated from renewable resources by 2040 and that the electricity grid is 100 percent carbon-free by 2045. These are much-needed targets, in line with what scientists say is required to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Through the Energy Transition Act, New Mexico will meet our responsibility to act on climate change and set a standard for other states and even Congress to follow.

We can no longer resist change in the electricity sector just for the sake of trying to hold on to the past. Consumers in New Mexico and across the nation are demanding that their utilities seek cheaper and cleaner power sources. Changes in the energy sector are going to keep moving forward regardless of how well and how quickly we position our state to thrive in this new landscape.

We must not forget that any delays to implementing the Energy Transition Act will also delay the laws funding that will pay for compensation and job retraining for workers in San Juan County and the Navajo Nation who will be impacted by the planned closure of the San Juan Generating Station. There is no perfect solution for the communities who have long depended on the jobs there. However, the Energy Transition Act takes a responsible and responsive approach. The new law will also invest tens of millions of dollars in new clean energy projects in the region that will help replace some of the lost economic impact of the coal plant.

The Public Regulation Commission should not stand in the way of the new laws crucial transition funds that are a critical first step in a long-term commitment from the state to invest in the success of a diversified Four Corners economy. The Navajo Nation and communities like Farmington deserve our full support throughout this energy transition.

New Mexico, with its abundant wind and solar resources, can and should be at the center of Americas growing clean energy economy. If we make the right decisions now, including moving forward with full implementation of the Energy Transition Act, we can bring thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars of investment to communities across our state and build a better and healthier future for our children.

Theres no question that we urgently need to take national and international actions that meet the full scale of the threats posed by climate change. This is truly an existential challenge. New Mexicans are already seeing the disruptive impacts of climate change in the form of increasingly severe drought, floods and wildfires. Through their representatives in the Roundhouse, New Mexicans made it crystal clear that they want and need our state to step up and become a leader in showing the way forward through concrete climate action.

The Energy Transition Act is a critical step toward a pollution-free future, and its the law of the land. Lets hope all New Mexico policy makers will work together to implement this law as quickly and predictably as possible.
[January 19, 2020] Beijing Summit of Global Sharing Economy Forum Held Successfully!

BEIJING, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 16, The "Great Sharing, New EconomyBeijing Summit of the Global Sharing Economy Forum" was held at the China National Convention Center. It was sponsored by China General Chamber of Commerce and China Association for the Promotion of Industrial Development, organized by ToJoy, and received strategic cooperation and support from the Global Alliance of Sharing Economy (GLASE) and the Institute of Industrial Economics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University, Renmin Business School, and the School of Management at Xi'an Jiaotong University, among others. The Summit not only received support from attendees including Zhenghua Jiang, Vice Chairman of the 10th NPC Standing Committee; Hengshan Fan, former Secretary General of the National Development and Reform Commission; Xinhong Zhang, Chief Information Officer of the National Information Center and Director of Sharing Economy Research Institute; Min Wang, Executive Vice Chair of the China General Chamber of Commerce; and Xiaojun Li, Vice President of China the Association for the Promotion of Industrial Development. Also attending were heavyweights including Junqing Lu, Executive Chairman of GLASE and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ToJoy; Jun Ge, Secretary General of GLASE and Executive Director and Global CEO of ToJoy; Boris Tadic, Executive Chairman of GLASE and former President of Serbia; Jose Maria Figueres, Executive Chairman of GLASE and former President of Costa Rica; Enrico Letta, Co-Chair of GLASE and former Prime Minister of Italy; Werner Faymann, Chairman of GLASE in West Europe and former Austrian Chancellor; and Yves Leterme, Senior Advisor of GLASE and former Prime Minister of Belgium. Kevin Rudd, Chairman of GLASE and former Prime Minister of Australia addressed the Summit through video. At the same time, experts and scholars including Zhanbin Zhang, head professor of the Marxist School of the Party School of the Central Committee of C.P.C. (National Academy of Governance); Xiaoqiu Wu, Vice President of Renmin University of China; Dezhi Lu, Chief of the Huamin Foundation; and Yuming Zhang, a professor of the School of Management, Shandong University; as well as guests from all circles, including foreign and domestic enterprise elites and media reporters were also invited to the Summit. The guests conducted discussions around two topics: "The Great Sharing Economy and the Development of Unicorn Enterprises" and "The Great Sharing Era and the Advanced Topics on Sharing Economy Theory". A Strategic Departure for 2030 According to numerous opinion polls in recent years, China is expected to go beyond the US in terms of GDP around 2030, becoming the world's largest economy. Meanwhile, China's response to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is that the "principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits" advocated in the Belt and Road Initiative would be an effective tool that advances this UN Agenda. Today, at the start of 2020, the Beijing Summit of The Global Sharing Economy Forum also esablished another historical waypoint for 2030.



At the Summit, Jun Ge, Secretary General of GLASE and Executive Director and Global CEO of ToJoy, together with many foreign and domestic experts, released an exciting mid- and long-term initiativethe strategic vision of "Dual Reduction". This means the reduction of global new resource consumption and labor time by 50% respectively, expected to be realizable by 2030. In addition to the huge breakthrough and milestone of the age of the Great Sharing Economy represented by this concept, this initiative was also lauded as one of the driving forces in the ascent of China's economy.

Behind the seemingly simple phrase "Dual Reduction" is a wealth of propositions as the sustainable development, the Belt and Road Initiative, forging a community of shared future for mankind, and the new era of global innovation. The Dual Reduction concept is a result of various policies working together. The "Dual Reduction" is a strategic vision first proposed on the basis of insights into the trends of human commercial civilization at the First Global Sharing Economy Forum held in Vienna on November 29, 2019. In the model of the Great Sharing Economy, global new resource consumption and labor time will be gradually reduced by up to 50% respectively by means of sharing and efficient utilization of global resources. Ge expressed his views, saying, "We are confident that the innovation economy driven by platform empowerment will significantly increase the utilization efficiency of global resources, and significantly save laborers' working hours. It can be said that the realization of Dual Reduction will be a goal to achieve over the next decade. This will also be an age for enterprises to release their innovative strength in a concentrated way." China is transforming from a traditional economy to an innovation-based economy. The national strategy of "China Sci-Tech Innovation 2030" will be a huge boost for accelerated realization of "Dual Reduction". In his keynote speech, Hengshan Fan, former Secretary General of the National Development and Reform Commission, was also confident in China's innovation potential. He believed that the Great Sharing Economy can accelerate the process of supply-side reform and help China's GDP transform from high rate to high quality. High quality is based on high innovation, which means China's innovation opportunities will come. In addition to the increasingly mature external environment, some experts and scholars at the Forum noted: "China's economy urgently needs to be aware of the environment, and Dual Reduction reinforces this. This should be an opportunity to boost the harmonious, sustainable development of all fields." To support the development of the Great Sharing Economy, and allow the whole world to enjoy the dividend of sustainable development brought by it. The "Global Alliance of Sharing Economy Award" ("GLASE Award") was announced on the day of the Summit. GLASE will evaluate candidates for three awards: the Best Theoretical Research Award for Sharing Economics, the Best Business Model Award for Sharing Economics, and the National Ranking Award for Sharing Economics. This is to encourage and support corporate development, project innovation, theoretical research, academic study, and model exploration, etc. in the field of sharing economy. More importantly, ToJoy invested 100 million yuan for sponsorship of the first GLASE Awards. In the sub-forum "The Great Sharing Economy and The Development of Unicorn Enterprises" directly related to the development of enterprises and new economy, Yong'an Sun, Co-President of ToJoy Aviation Service Consulting Group; Xuliang Hu, founder of 365 Internet of People; Weikai Jin, founder of www.ilvdo.com, and other guests shared their corporate innovation practices for the new economy. They used their own experiences as examples of best practices of "sharing economics" and "unicorn companies". In their opinions, the Great Sharing Economy is a decisive driver for the large-scale and explosive development of unicorn companies. In turn, the success of unicorns is a verification of the effectiveness of the Great Sharing Economy. Yves Leterme, Senior Advisor of GLASE and former Prime Minister of Belgium, also took part in the discussion, and gave high affirmation to the outcome of the forum. He said, "Those who master the sharing economy will master the essence of creating a unicorn. This is the best of times for every entrepreneur." Boris Tadic, Executive Chairman of GLASE and former President of Serbia, also agreed, saying, "Noone could have expected that the future of the sharing economy is now in the hands of China and Chinese enterprises. This will be an advantage that cannot be ignored." From theory to practice, from vision to model, from the past to the future, Beijing Summit of the Global Sharing Economy Forum generated a more detailed and concrete roadmap of the coming age. Undoubtedly, China will be a mainstay for the globalization of the Great Sharing Economy, and the Global Sharing Economy Forum will rely on the fruits and achievements of the Beijing Summit to go deeper around the world, and help all countries access borderless sharing. As an international metropolis, Beijing will lead the development direction of the Great Sharing Eocnomy, innovating at the top of the Internet, IoT, AI and other fields. China is in a new period of reform and opening up and will further draw on and accept the successful experiences of other countries while conducting open sharing of its own global resources. The Great Sharing Economy , supported by the resource and market from the super economy of China, will realize leapfrog development, and benefit the world soon. At last, as for the long-run realization of the vision of Dual Reduction, the exchange of needed goods between businesses, markets and continents will also help increase both resource efficiency and innovation effectiveness for humanity in the next decade. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078823/Foreign_and_domestic_elites.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078824/Speech_by_Jun_Ge.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078825/The_Chinese_Edition.jpg

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Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday called a clash that broke out between Rajgarh Police and BJP workers during a Tiranga rally in support of the CAA "a black day for democracy" and asserted that an FIR will be lodged against the Rajgarh District collector and her deputy for purportedly slapping people, who were chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and holding tricolor in their hands.

"It is a black day for democracy, the collector slapped people who were chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and holding tricolor in their hands, this is too much," Chouhan told ANI.

Stating that this attitude of the collector will "not be tolerated" at any cost, he asked, "Did Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath ordered collector to do this?"

Chouhan further said that the BJP will launch a massive people's movement against this act.

"This will prove to be the final nail in the coffin of Congress government, we will launch a massive people's movement against this. We will register FIR against the Collector, if FIR is not registered we will go to court," he said.

A clash broke out between police and BJP workers, who were carrying out a 'Tiranga rally' in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), in Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday.

During the protest, the collector had a heated argument with the BJP workers. In the meantime, the dispute grew and the police, as well as the collector, were seen struggling to control the BJP workers. As the situation worsened, the police resorted to lathi-charge in which two workers were injured.

In the video that went viral on the internet, collector Nidhi Nivedita was purportedly seen slapping a man who was a part of the crowd.According to police, permission was not granted for the rally due to the imposition of Section 144 in the region. However, the BJP workers and local leaders carried out the rally without permission.

Narrating the incident, Rajgarh District Collector Nidhi Nivedita told ANI, "Protestors tore the clothes and pulled the hair of officers deployed in the region. I was surprised at how little the law meant to them. They were kicking the sub-district magistrate (SDM) and assaulting the officials."The district collector, who had also visited the spot in a bid to control the situation, said that the entire incident was video graphed and action will be taken against the perpetrators after identification.

"We had asked the local businesses to close shop for the day. Those who are not a part of these protests also appear in the protest videos and are later named in the cases," Nivedita said.

One of the protestors with a head injury, who was seen bleeding, said that police assaulted him, following which many demonstrators raised slogans against the police administration.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
L aurence Fox has revealed he once broke up with a girlfriend for being too woke and said women like her are primed to be victims.

In a wide-ranging interview on The Delingpod podcast, the former Lewis actor, 41, also hit out at black and working class actors for complaining about the industry once they have five million quid in the bank.

Speaking on the podcast, presented by James Delingpole, the British actor explained he broke up with a girlfriend because of their opposing views on the 2019 Gillette advert that addressed toxic masculinity.

Question Time: Laurence Fox labels audience member 'racist' in Duchess of Sussex row

I dont know how we ended up together, Mr Fox said. It was a very short relationship. We were walking down the road and she was talking about how good the Gillette advert was. I just looked at her and went, Bye. Sorry, I cant do this with you.

He added that he and his ex also argued because she was a vocal supporter of Christine Blasey Ford, who in 2018 accused the then-US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in high school in 1982, allegations that Kavanaugh has denied.

The actor recalled being told at the time to believe the victim.

No, you dont believe the victim, he said. Thats not how it works. You listen to the victim. The victims evidence is examined and a jury of their peers makes that decision.

Elsewhere in the podcast, Mr Fox offered his thoughts on the #MeToo movement.

We want less sexual harassment, he said before addressing the small minority of horrible men who want to dominate women.

But dont make an enemy of men, he said. None of the real beautiful wonderful women out there really give a s*** about the length that [#MeToo] has gone to, and they are slightly ashamed of how far ... you know the ones that I respect. Its just gone too far.

He added: Not all men are racists. Ive got a lot of male friends and none of them have been jailed for rape or been accused of sexual harassment.

Mr Fox went on to hit out at actors who complained about racism in the industry.

Laurence Fox attends the press night after party for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Southwark Playhouse / Dave Benett

He said: The most annoying thing is the minute a black actor  its the same with working class actors  the minute theyve got five million quid in the bank, every interview they do is about how racism is rampant and rife in the industry.

And with working class actors, Theres not enough working class actors.

You werent saying that when you didnt have a f****** pot to piss in were you?

You werent standing up for the working class actors until youre now no longer materially working class.

He told the podcast that he no longer pays his licence fee and does not watch the BBC.

TV seems to have a bit of an agenda, a lot of it. Its trying to tell you something, the actor said.

I dont want to be told something. Id rather watch a story.

Theres just so much that turns you off when you turn on the TV now because you feel like youre being This is what youre meant to think.

He said diverse casting when it is not historically accurate, makes you conscious of race.

And Mr Fox, part of the famous acting dynasty, said: I havent watched the BBC in many a year now or listened to it.

Theyd never see me for anything, but then I dont tick the BBC boxes do I? Im not paying my licence fee anymore.
Let him go, dont probe him: A mysterious undertaking signed by Davinder Singh

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 19: More details are tumbling out as the investigation against Davinder Singh, DSP from Jammu and Kashmir progresses. Sources tell OneIndia that one of the terrorists who was arrested by the Delhi police in 2005 too had spoken about his link with Singh.

The Delhi police had arrested seven terrorists including Haji Ghulam Dar in 2005. He had spoken about his link with Singh. An undertaking was found on him which stated that he keeps pistols with him and it is requested that security forces must not stop him and he should be allowed to go without any probe. The undertaking was signed by Singh.

Davinder Singh to be questioned in Delhi: NIA sources

Meanwhile the National Investigation Agency will question DSP Davinder Singh at New Delhi.

He will be taken to Delhi for questioning, NIA sources say. The NIA had taken over the case against Singh and three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists.

The NIA re-registered the case originally filed by the Jammu and Kashmir police based on the instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Singh is alleged to have brought Naveed Babu, Mir Irfan and Rafi Rather from Shopian to Srinagar on Friday evening. On Saturday, they set out to Jammu, from where they were planning on going to New Delhi. However before he could leave, the police arrested him sources familiar with the developments confirmed to OneIndia.

Singh during his interrogation claimed that he was ferrying the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists to facilitate their surrender.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

Officials investigating him say that he had made this made claim during interrogation, but we are investigating the same further. Interrogators say that he has denied the charges against him. He says that he was facilitating a big catch, but there are several inconsistencies in his statements, the officer also said.

NIA takes over case against Davinder Singh, three Hizbul terrorists

However, sources also said that Singh was helping the terrorists cross the Banihal tunnel in lieu of money. The source also said that an amount of over Rs 10 lakh was agreed upon. Singh, however, denied the charge during interrogation. The source, however, added that Singh was not being truthful and he had no authorisation to organise a surrender.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 8:15 [IST]
Residents in the townships of Pastoria and Pipers Creek, near Kyneton, north of Melbourne have been told it is too late to leave as a large bushfire burns out of control.

An emergency warning was also issued for the nearby communities of Lancefield and Newham about 9.30pm on Sunday, but it was downgraded to an advice warning at 10.45pm.

Emergency services were first alerted to the fire, which started near the Cobaw Ranges, at 6.30pm. The out of control fire is currently burning at Baynton Road, Pastoria and travelling towards Pipers Creek.

"This fire is threatening homes and lives," the emergency warning states. "The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave."
EXECUTION OF SCOTT AND ROGAN.

Published in the Sydney Morning Herald on January 21, 1880

The condemned criminals Scott and Rogan were executed, in Darlinghurst gaol, at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. Those persons who were present numbered 30 or 40.

Andrew George Scott, alias Captain Moonlite, c.1879 Credit:Charles Nettleton

They were Mr. O'Connor, M.L.A.; Mr. Cameron, M.L.A.; Mr. John Stewart, M.L.C.; Mr. Chatfield, visiting justice of the gaol; Mr. E. Fosbery, Inspector-General of Police; Mr. Charles Cowper, Sheriff; Dr. Halket, Dr.Macnish, Dr. Jockel; Dr. Richards, of the steamship Bowen; Dr. O'Connor; Mr. Hay, J.P.; Mr. Carter, J.P.; Mr. Abbott, Police Magistrate of Gunnedah; Mr. Connell, Police Magistrate of Kiama; Mr. Read, governor of the gaol; and a number of police officers, including one or two from Victoria.

For the last two or three days Scott had been very irritable, but yesterday he became more calm on understanding that only a few persons would be admitted to witness the execution. Until a late hour last night he was occupied in writing a long statement with reference to the Egerton Bank robbery, a subject that for some days past had affected him very much. He desired to say something on the scaffold, but he was strongly advised by the Rev. Charles H. Rich, Church of England chaplain to the gaol, who attended him throughout the time he was lying under the sentence of death, to say nothing, and late last night he consented not to speak when brought out for execution.
Mike Bonte-Friedheim is not your typical eco-warrior. The former Goldman Sachs banker spent Christmas in St Lucia with his family (he offset his carbon emissions, he tells us), drives a BMW and has homes in both London and Majorca.

But his solar energy group, NextEnergy Capital, is one of Europe's biggest investors in solar projects, with $2.3billion (1.8billion) invested  and the City is finally starting to fall in line with his lucrative brand of climate change evangelism by switching investments from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

On the day we meet at Bonte-Friedheim's third-floor Mayfair office, which gave him a ringside view of Extinction Rebellion's latest London protests  'I was tempted to join in', he says  the world's biggest asset manager, BlackRock, said it will no longer actively invest in major coal producers.

Ahead of the curve: The sun is shining on Mike Bonte-Friedheim's energy company which is one of Europe's biggest investors in solar projects

BlackRock's co-founder and chief executive Larry Fink said his 5.7trillion giant will instead increase the money it invests in sustainable firms from 68billion to 760billion.

The billionaire's conversion followed Bank of England governor Mark Carney's warning to City chiefs last month that some of their assets would become 'worthless' unless they woke up to the climate change crisis.

'There will be trillions of dollars invested in solar over the next ten, 20 years,' predicts Bonte-Friedheim, who founded NextEnergy 13 years ago. It's a bold claim, but perhaps more believable after last week. The changing mood now sweeping City circles is clearly music to his ears.

He says the interventions were 'hugely significant'  and not just because a four-degree Centigrade rise in global temperatures would put the Caribbean hotel he stayed at over Christmas 'nine metres under water'.

'It is fundamental that high-profile market participants, such as Larry and Mark, put that message out very clearly. Because to rapidly effect change we need to deploy capital for renewable energy and other carbon reducing investment strategies,' Bonte-Friedheim says.

Scandinavian investors, such as Norwegian pension fund KLP, are 'really pushing' to invest in his group's 90 solar assets while funds in the UK, the US and Europe are 'well behind'.

'To make the climate change crisis clear to financial decision-makers, we need society to say, 'You're managing our pension money, do something',' he adds.

Whatever your views on climate change, the 53-year-old has clearly identified a major opportunity ahead of the curve and staked his career on it.

Mike Bonte-Friedheim, 53: Green rocker Family: Wife Odette, who runs health start-up BabyUp, and two children. Education: The American School in Rome and University of San Diego. Music: Heavy metal band AC/DC featuring Angus Young, below. Angus Young of the Australian band AC/DC Car: BMW X5 hybrid. Energy supplier: Ovo. Favourite film: Sci-fi classic Metropolis. Last holiday: A festive break with 21 family members in the Caribbean. Inspiration: His father Christian, 85, was No.2 at the United Nations food and agriculture division. 'I call him the world's second-biggest farmer,' he says. Charity: NextEnergy Foundation donates 5 per cent of the group's profits to green energy projects.

Bonte-Friedheim was born in Kenya before his family moved to Rome for his German father's job. After completing an MBA he worked on the energy advisory desks at Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. He launched Next-Energy using savings from his investment banking career.

He says he is now a committed environmentalist who partly powers his West London home by solar panels and Tesla battery storage that charges overnight from the National Grid (his favourite band, he confides, is the aptly-named Australian heavy metal group AC/DC).

'I'm living the strategy,' he beams. That strategy has been to invest in solar energy projects across the UK, Italy and, more recently, the US. The investments are held across three funds that are backed by pension funds and wealth managers, including Fink's very own BlackRock.

Investors in the flagship FTSE 250-listed NextEnergy Solar Fund receive dividends from profits made by selling the electricity generated by the solar assets to suppliers including Shell, EDF Energy and Centrica.

Over the six months to September 30 last year, NextEnergy Solar Fund generated enough electricity to power 134,000 homes, equivalent to Bradford and Bournemouth combined, producing a 6.7 per cent shareholder return.

The costs of building solar plants have reduced by 90% since NextEnergy launched in 2007

Its profits are boosted by taxpayer-funded subsidies. NextEnergy Solar Fund received 45.3million of incentives over the year to March 2019 through Feed-In-Tariffs and Renewable Obligation Certificates.

But the costs of building solar plants have reduced by 90 per cent since NextEnergy launched in 2007. Bonte-Friedheim says his firm's solar projects are now 'financially viable' without subsidies.

Last year, the group opened its first two subsidy-free solar plants, Hall Farm II in Leicestershire and Staughton in Bedfordshire, the UK's largest subsidy-free solar plant.

He says increasing numbers of Britons will lead sustainable lives through switching to renewable energy suppliers, driving electric and hybrid cars and installing electric boilers to heat their homes. 'I call it the electrification of GDP.'

Bonte-Friedheim hopes to double his group's assets under management to $4.6billion in three years, and says revenues will double too.

A recent study by Professor Christian Breyer of Finland's Lappeenranta University predicts solar will generate 69 per cent of global electricity supply by 2050  the Government's deadline for the UK achieving zero carbon emissions.

In the meantime, he wants the Government to 'not put sticks in our spokes' by hampering his firm with regulation.

He says: 'The way I often describe my policy requirements is I just need governments not to impede us  just get out of my way. 'Because economically I can make solar work. I don't need your help, I don't need cash from you. I just need you to make our life easy so we can build as much solar as possible.'
Larissa Dos Santos Lima has had a tumultuous past few years.

The 90 Day Fiance stars rocky marriage to Colt Johnson fell apart quickly amid several domestic violence-related arrests, public social media battles, and arguments with Larissas mother-in-law, Debbie Johson. Soon after, Larissa fought it out with her now ex-boyfriend Eric Nichols online as well.

The mother of two has also opened up about why her kids are being cared for by family members back in her native country of Brazil, as well as missing her children while trying to build a life for herself in the U.S. Finally, Larissa recently revealed that she was regularly harassed and cyberbullied by social media critics, all of which took a major toll on her mental health.

It looks like the 90 Day Fiance star is now taking steps to try to move towards better mental and emotional health. In a revealing Instagram post, Larissa shared that she had trouble sticking to her prescribed medication regimen due to her lifelong struggle with depression and anxiety.

Jen Harley and Larissa Dos Santos Lima | Bryan Steffy/WireImage

Colts ex-wife opened up about her lifelong struggle with mental health

In an Instagram story on Jan. 18, Larissa shared a deeply personal mental health confession about her recent silence on social media.

Hi guys! I know I have not been posting as often as I normally do, or interacting with some of you as I had before, the 90 Day Fiance star began. For this, I apologize and I would like to explain why.

Larissa revealed that she often struggled with her mental health. The 90 Day Fiance star said the problem had recently gotten more severe than usual.

As many of you know, I have depression and anxiety, which is often debilitating for me, Larissa wrote. Im currently battling bouts of depression and severe anxiety. This time it is different, because I recognize that I cannot stop taking my medication because I feel good.

The 90 Day Fiance star confessed that she often went on and off her prescribed medications and didnt stick to her treatment plan, which sent her mental health spiraling even further downward.

I have been questioned about why I go on and off meds when it has been a lifelong struggle, and that is a fair question, she wrote. The answer is that I have been wrong in believing I know what to do for myself in this regard.

Larissa concluded by explaining that she was back on the wagon in terms of her prescribed treatment and that she hoped to be feeling better soon, writing: I am again on a path of treatment and therapy. As of today, it will be approximately 6 weeks before I see the positive results.

90 Day Fiance fans praised Larissa for her honesty

When 90 Day Fiance blogger John Yates shared a screenshot of Larissas post on his Instagram, @johnyates327, fans reached out with support for the 32-year-old Brazilian reality star. Many fans shared their own stories of failing to stick to their planned treatment programs, much to their detriment.

Anxiety and depression is tough. Keeping @larissalimareal in my prayers, one 90 Day Fiance viewer wrote.

Another fan agreed, commenting: I am really proud of her for recognizing for her and many people, the medications that help are lifelongShe is growing and learning. Good for her.

Larissas castmate, Leida Margaretha, from an earlier season of 90 Day Fiance, even offered her support, writing: Sending love and support for my queen.

Larissa has been taking steps towards greater positivity in 2020

Since her divorce from Colt and her breakup from Nichols, Larissa seems to have been striving for a better life in 2020. After completing her court-ordered domestic violence courses, she shared that she had learned a lot about toxic relationships and wanted to use what she had learned to raise awareness about domestic violence in the future.

Larissa also shared in 2019 that she had made up with Nichols and that the two were trying to be more civil and mature as platonic friends. The 90 Day Fiance star even penned a kind Instagram post about her former mother-in-law, Debbie, in which she looked back on the positive times shed had with her during her short-lived marriage to Colt.
The 400-year-old city of Hoi An is on the list of 0 cheapest destinations for the British. (Photo: VNA)

Hoi An city in Quang Nam province and Bali in Indonesia were the only two Southeast Asian destinations to break into the top 10, with the latter ranking 8th, according to the annual Holiday Money report by the Post Office, the UKs leading currency exchange.

According to the report, the average cost in Hoi An is 77 USD per day, which is cheaper the famous resort island of Bali at 80 USD per day.

In Hoi An, visitors only need around 2.5 USD for a bottle of beer or 1.65 USD for a cup of coffee at a resort.

The city, which is much loved for its peaceful atmosphere and its centuries-old houses, pagodas and unique cuisine, has repeatedly been featured in best-value destination lists.
With help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, local officials tested the animal and said it was the same one that on Jan. 8 attacked the child near the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, biting the child on his head. The boy had been walking along a path in a park area near the museum when he came upon the coyote on a grassy hill, officials said. The boy may have startled the animal, which responded by biting the child. His nanny and several bystanders came to the boys aid.
Still, the commission acknowledged that the source of the virus and its path of transmission were not fully understood.

The mutation of the virus still needs to be closely monitored, the statement said.

Of the new patients found in Wuhan over the weekend, 66 were men and 70 women, and their ages ranged from 25 to 89, the health commission reported on Monday. It said that they mostly had symptoms such as fever, coughing and difficulty breathing.

Most people with the infection have contracted it through exposure to animals at a market in Wuhan that sells seafood and live animals, the authorities say. But the health commission in Wuhan said on Sunday that some people who had come down with the virus had no exposure to the market.

That acknowledgment raises the possibility that the virus could be present in other markets in Wuhan, experts said, adding to fears that more people might be at risk.

If you cannot find the source and control the source of the virus, you cannot extinguish the fire, said David Hui, the director of the Stanley Ho Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Hui said the risk of the virus spreading from human to human on a broad scale appeared to be low, though he noted that the virus could mutate.

The World Health Organization said on Sunday that while its analysis indicated that limited transmission of the virus is possible, it remained unclear whether it can easily spread from one person to another. The group said it would continue to examine the issue.
When Adrienne Plumley joins the picket line on Monday in Toronto  kick-starting a week of teacher strikes across the province not seen in more than two decades  shell do so believing in the power of collective action.

Its something she learned as a teenager in Grade 10 walking with her teachers in the 1997 strike, when Ontarios educators walked off the job for two weeks, making it the largest work stoppage in Canadian history.

I think 97 really showed for me how powerful collective action can be and that has really stayed with me, said the Toronto teacher, adding it made me more of an activist later on.

When that sort of organizing is happening and people are working together that can send a really strong message.

Now a union steward at Kapapamahchakwew-Wandering Spirit School, and a picket captain, Plumley hopes educators across Ontario send a strong message to Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government, which is currently embroiled in contract negotiations with all four teachers unions.

Teachers say theyre determined to protect all-day kindergarten, want fair compensation and are opposed to larger classes and mandatory e-courses for secondary students. But the province says salary is a critical issue, noting its offering a one per cent increase yearly  in keeping with recent legislation limiting wage increases for public sector workers  while unions want about two per cent.

Each of the four teachers unions  collectively representing public elementary, public secondary, French and English Catholic educators  has launched work-to-rule campaigns and three are planning one-day strikes this week.

Each day this week, public elementary school teachers will hold strikes in different school boards, impacting Toronto on Monday. And on Tuesday, all Catholic elementary and secondary teachers in Ontario, along with public high school teachers in some boards, including Toronto, will hit the picket line.

On Sunday, the elementary teachers union announced one-day strikes for Bluewater and Ontario North East school boards for this Friday.

To compensate parents for child-care costs, some will be eligible to receive up to $60 per day, per student, from the government.

This weeks labour disruption would make it the largest strike action by teachers since 1997.

Thats when 126,000 teachers walked out, despite not being in a legal strike position, to protest the education reforms of Bill 160, which included centralizing the decision-making and funding for schools. The bill, introduced by the Mike Harris Progressive Conservative government, was passed.

But the teacher demonstrations garnered much public support and some union members suggest that era helped sow the seeds for the activism seen by teachers today.

Plumleys own activism pre-dates 1997. Her mother, a postal worker, and her grandfather, who managed a credit union, were active in their unions and as a young girl, she accompanied them to union meetings and picket lines.

But it wasnt until she attended Jarvis Collegiate Institute and Bill 160 surfaced that she herself was compelled to take action. Many of her friends were upset with teachers because the strike meant missing out on trips, extracurricular activities and tournaments. But not her.

I had conversations with my mom and my grandpa about what it really meant for (teachers) to go on strike, and I started doing my own research and understanding what exactly they were fighting for and it started to make me angry  not with the teachers, but with the government.

Then 15, she channelled that anger by showing up on the on the picket line outside her high school during those two weeks, much to the surprise of teachers.

On some level, it just didnt occur to me not to (participate), she recalls. There were a lot of students that joined the line.

Plumley credits that experience with making her more attuned to ensuing labour disputes. As an adult, while working as an early childhood educator and then as a teacher for the Toronto District School Board, she got involved with her union  but in recent years has become much more active.

Nowadays, she feels like the entire future of our education system is at stake, which is why shes been busy preparing for Monday and stockpiling protest signs in her home.

Compared with 1997, she believes todays youth are even more involved, noting there are student-led social media accounts in support of teachers.

Plumley  she started the school year as a kindergarten teacher, but recently became an instructional leader for Indigenous education  worries Ontarios full-day kindergarten is at risk. Minister of Education Stephen Lecce said he wont change the program, but unions say the government refuses to put that in writing.

Also troubling for Plumley is the governments plan to increase class sizes, and she wants assurances that students with special needs get the resources they need.

Particularly worrisome for educators is the governments plan to increase high school class size averages to 25  its now 22.5  and to make it mandatory that those students take two online courses. Initially, the province wanted high school class size averages of 28, and four mandatory e-courses for secondary students.

Last week, Lecce reiterated to reporters that salary is a critical issue on the table, noting all four unions have launched court challenges of the public sector wage cap, which they argue violates their constitutional rights to unrestricted collective bargaining.

They have opted to fight us on the streets and protest us in the streets, said Lecce. They have protested and fought us in the courts. Clearly, this is an issue that matters not to one, but to all of the teachers union leaders.

Lecce says the province is prepared to return to the negotiating table, where talks have stalled with three unions.

In the meantime, Plumley hopes this weeks massive demonstrations send the province a very clear message.

Collectively, we have made the effort to come to the table and bargain in good faith and the government has not done that. Weve been left with no other choice, but to escalate to this level, she said. Were prepared to do what needs to be done in the best interests of our students and our staff.
World leaders agreed on a final communique at the Libya conference in Berlin, one summit participant told Reuters on Sunday, without giving details.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are expected to present details of the Libya agreement during a news conference.

Germany and the United Nations, as hosts of the conference, had been struggling to draw Commander of Libyan National Army Haftar Haftar back into diplomacy after he quit talks and more than half of Libya's oil output was shut in areas he controls.

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A Belgian fashion designer in Hoi An, located in central Vietnam, has been running a boutique specializing in the ethnic costumes worn by the local Co Tu people, adding a touch of modernity to elevate the traditional dresses thanks to help from local collaborators.

Hoi An plays home to hundreds of fashion and fabric stores, with a variety of products to meet the varying needs of locals and tourists alike, many of which draw inspiration from Vietnamese ethnic minority peoples fashion.

For Aldegonde van Alsenoy from Belgium, her interest lies in the unique costumes of the Co Tu  an ethnic people southwest of Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam.

Alsenoys store is located at 57 Le Loi Street in Hoi An and offers visitors the opportunity to browse outfits unique to the Co Tu people.

What sets her products apart from lookalikes is that her clothing is made using fabric manually woven by the Co Tu people themselves, as well as traditional Vietnamese silk.

The new settlement

Alsenoy, known to the locals as Ava, was lured to Hoi An by the blissful beauty of the ancient town during a trip to Vietnam in 2005.

The 48-year-old Belgian fashion designer could not resist the call of rustic roof tiles on the vintage golden cottages stretching along the citys streets.

Eventually, she married an Italian man and settled in the city.

As part of her job, Ava began seeking supplies of Vietnamese silk to cater to the surging number of tourists visiting the city.

In 2012, the International Labor Organization hosted a project to strengthen tourism in Quang Nam Province, a sector of which was devoted to fabric supplies from Co Tu artisans.

Ava realized this tough material, with its peculiar patterns, was the jewel she was looking for and began rushing to Co Tu textile villages in Dong Giang, Tay Giang and Nam Giang Districts in Quang Nam Province to source products which might otherwise never have been accessible to tourists visiting Hoi An.

The final product

It was not long before she decided to create modern costumes based on Co Tu fabrics.

She soon began bringing her designs to the Co Tu artisans.

The modern design from a European mindset blended with the fine skills of textile workers in the mountains and spearheaded the beginning of her magnificent fashion collections notable for their outstanding patterns and sophisticated mix of materials.

She now partners with hundreds of artisans from remote areas of Quang Nam, sending them her designs, which are then manufactured and sent back to Hoi An for refinement.

From a single store at 57 Lo Loi Street in Hoi An, Ava has expanded it to several boutiques in Da Nang City.

The Belgian designer says she is deeply indebted to Hoi An.

This urban village," as she calls it, has given her a little family and helped her pursue her true passion.

Both of our children have Vietnamese names. Every day I stroll along the streets and interact with potential customers. Then, Im off to the mountains to work with the Co Tu workers, she said.

Our lives are far from complicated since we are living our happiest moments.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
BEIRUT, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Lebanon's President Michel Aoun asked the army and security commanders to restore calm in central Beirut, where security forces clashed with protesters on Saturday night.

Aoun called on them "to protect the safety of peaceful protesters and of public and private property, and to restore calm to central Beirut," the president's office said. (Reporting by Ellen Francis; editing by Nick Macfie)
President Trump is expected to decide in the next several days whether to present the White House's Middle East peace plan before Israel's March 2 elections, Israeli and U.S. sources told me.

Why it matters: If the plan is presented before the Israeli elections, it could influence the campaign and possibly provide a boost to embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. If Trump decides to wait, it could become difficult to present the plan at a later stage because of the presidential campaign in the U.S.

Behind the scenes: There have been intense deliberations over the past several days among the Trump advisers tasked with dealing with this issue. Trump himself still hasnt had a discussion with his team on whether to present the plan before the Israeli elections.

Israeli and U.S. sources tell me Trumps decision will be influenced by several factors:

Developments in the impeachment process in Congress.

The meetings Trump and his senior adviser Jared Kushner will have with different leaders from the Middle East and Europe during the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, where the peace plan will be one of the topics raised.

Kushner is expected to travel from Davos to Jerusalem on Wednesday to participate in the Fifth World Holocaust Forum, where he is likely to meet Netanyahu and his political opponent Benny Gantz  the leader of the Blue and White party  and discuss the peace plan.

Between the lines: Netanyahu wants the White House to present the plan in order to shift the focus of his campaign away from his corruption cases. Gantz wants the White House to wait and has even argued that releasing the peace plan ahead of the elections would amount to electoral interference.

White House officials told me Trump still hasnt made a decision, but didn't deny that one could be coming soon.

Go deeper: Netanyahu faces new political headwinds ahead of election
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi delivered articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate Wednesday, four weeks after approving them on a party-line vote. Editorial cartoonists skewered Pelosis lack of urgency in conveying the articles. They also mocked Republicans unwillingness to examine evidence against Trump by depicting them wearing blindfolds.

Meanwhile, Democrats vying for their partys presidential nomination debated for the last time before the Iowa caucus, which kicks off primary season. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders sparred over whether Sanders said that a woman could not be elected president. The impeachment trial, opening Tuesday, will take them off the campaign trail, along with fellow presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota. That will be an advantage for former Vice President Joe Biden and the other candidates who are not members of the Senate.

Other topics ripe for comment by cartoonists include fallout from recent conflict with Iran; criticism of anti-vaccine activists in light of a deadly flu outbreak; congressional approval of an updated trade agreement among the United States, Canada and Mexico; drama in Buckingham Palace over the desire of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Harry and Meghan) to chart their own path; and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Cartoons were drawn by Bill Bramhall, Dan Wasserman, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and A.F. Branco, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.
Parliament has been sitting dark while Canada has been reeling from the air-crash tragedy in Iran. Has anyone missed it?

In the initial days after Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot out of the sky by an Iranian missile on Jan. 8, killing more than 80 Canadian citizens and permanent residents, some argued that Parliament should be immediately recalled. Both houses of Parliament are currently on an extended break until Jan. 27.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made an early recall demand on Twitter, saying that Canadians deserve answers and to be heard before the government makes any decisions and things escalate.

The Conservatives did not make a formal demand, but MP James Bezan said in a statement: As Conservatives, we support debating the issues of the day. It is Conservative practice to bring Canadian Armed Forces operations to a debate and vote in the House of Commons.

But Parliament has stayed shut and heres the cold reality  it hasnt really been all that necessary.

Rather than see partisan politics at work during these past 10 days, Canadians have seen government work  and not too badly either.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is getting praise for his measured handling of the incident, even from some people not generally disposed to him.

Those who have questions about how the government is dealing with the fallout of the crash are getting answers from Trudeau himself at frequent news conferences, which are proving to be far better than Question Period in terms of democratic accountability.

No shouting, no drama, no partisan sanctimony. Its been a pleasant relief.

Members of Parliament, who would otherwise be sitting in their Commons seats applauding their own party and taunting their rivals, are busy in their ridings attending to victims families or going to vigils.

The Stars Alex Ballingall wrote this week about how two Iranian-Canadian MPs from the GTA  Willowdales Ali Ehsassi and Richmond Hills Majid Jowhari  have been particularly and poignantly busy since the air crash. Once again, were seeing how some of the most valuable work done by MPs takes place far away from the Hill, at the constituency level, where real people live.

A general opinion has been developing around Ottawa about how this tragedy has seen the government get its act together on communication strategy. Trudeau is low-key, all business, and taking lots of advice from others. He appears at his news conferences flanked by fellow ministers and the occasional public servant, to demonstrate that this is a team effort across government.

The improvement in Trudeau communications does indeed speak to how bad things were last winter, when one crisis seemed to beget a dozen other communications crises and every utterance from the PMO seemed to make things worse, not better.

But whats also missing right now is Parliament and the daily spectacle of Question Period. The fact that things are going so much better for the government without them is an indication of just how dysfunctional they are in normal times.

Maybe that point needs to be sharpened. What is conspicuously  and happily  absent in the aftermath of this crash is crazily partisan politics. All parties seem to understand that a political spitting match right now would not help the families of the victims or get needed answers from Iran and others.

I asked around this week about what might have happened if Parliament had been sitting when this tragedy happened. Thoughtful people cited everything from possible committee inquiries to the symbolism of collective mourning in Canadas central democratic institution.

These things may still happen when the MPs return to Ottawa later this month, and its entirely possible that they will add to, not subtract from, Canadas response to the tragedy. Parliament can be especially good when it is dealing with tragedy, especially mass tragedy on this scale.

Conservatives are right too  its a wise practice for any government to consult across party lines when it comes to committing Canadian troops to further duties. Canadas military is intimately involved in the region where this crash took place, heading up NATO operations in Baghdad, so its sensible for Parliament to keep an eye on implications for Canada there.

Last year, Canada had an election whose results were interpreted as an indictment of politics as usual on Parliament Hill. Canadians wanted to see their government working, fewer games and talking points, more substance and co-operation.

The past 10 days have largely been a demonstration of those very traits; its a shame, to say the least, that it took such a disaster to see a more constructive picture of politicians at work in these early days of 2020.

But its something to remember when things start getting busy on the Hill in a week or so too and attention turns to more routine matters of running a country. A little less Parliament, a little more government seems to work better for everyone.

Susan Delacourt is the Stars Ottawa bureau chief and a columnist covering national politics. Reach her via email: sdelacourt@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @susandelacourt

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President Donald J. Trump is Safeguarding the Right to Religious Freedom for Students and Organizations

Washington, DC - "Our Founders understood that no right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous, and virtuous society than the right to follow ones religious convictions." ~ President Donald J. Trump

PROTECTING PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS: President Donald J. Trump remains committed to protecting every students constitutional right to pray in school.

The Trump Administration is taking action to further safeguard students constitutionally protected right to pray in school.

President Trump is updating Federal guidance regarding protected prayer and religious expression in public schools, which has not been issued since 2003. The update will help safeguard students rights by giving education providers and students the most current information concerning prayer in public schools.

To receive Federal funds, local educational agencies must confirm that their policies do not prevent or interfere with the constitutionally-protected rights outlined in the guidance.

The updated guidance will help improve individuals ability to file a complaint if they are denied the ability to participate in protected religious expression.

The new guidance makes clear that students can read religious texts or pray during recess and other non-instructional periods, organize prayer groups, and express their religious beliefs in their assignments.

PROMOTING EQUAL TREATMENT: The Administration is working to ensure that our Nations religious organizations are treated equally by the Federal government.

The Administration is issuing nine proposed rules to protect religious organizations from unfair and unequal treatment by the Federal government. The proposed rules would eliminate burdensome Obama-era requirements that unfairly imposed unique regulatory burdens only on religious organizations.

The Office of Management and Budget is also releasing a memo requiring Federal agencies to ensure that the grant-making practices of state recipients of Federal funding comply with the First Amendment.

The Trump Administration is committed to ensuring religious organizations can compete on a level playing field for funding, without discrimination.

CHAMPIONING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: These actions build on President Trumps longstanding commitment to safeguarding the fundamental right to religious freedom.
The eviction of the Moms 4 Housing protesters who took over an empty West Oakland house was initially scheduled for Monday night, but was called off after Mayor Libby Schaaf refused to allow Oakland police to assist with crowd control.

I denied the request, and I stand by my decision, Schaaf said when asked about a request from the Sheriffs Office for assistance.

Schaaf also questioned the Sheriffs Offices show of force after turning down its request for assistance.

I was pretty shocked to see the tactics that were used, Schaaf told the media after the eviction. It seemed heavy-handed to show up in military outfits with guns and use a battering ram.

After the eviction, Schaaf praised the moms for drawing attention to the housing crisis.

These are mothers, they are not criminals, she said. They have engaged in what I believe to be a courageous act of civil disobedience.

The house was slated to be renovated and resold by Wedgewood Properties, a Southern California firm that flips distressed homes for profit. The mothers occupation lasted about two months and was part of a well-planned protest with help from the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment, where one of the mothers works as a community organizer.

The protest was designed to highlight Oaklands chronic housing shortage and real estate speculators who are seen as contributing to the problem.

For his part, Alameda County Sheriff Gregory Ahern defended his departments tactics, which involved 36 deputies.

Ahern said a judge ordered the department to carry out the eviction and that his deputies were faced with an unpredictable situation that included protesters who appeared ready to block any eviction attempt.

As for the battering ram, Ahern said: We have a special crisis unit that is trained to handle barricades, and we had information that the doors were fortified. We also brought in teams to deal with crowd control.

Which brings up the issue of the Oakland Police Department being held back.

Early on, Oakland Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick asked Ahern to give her a heads up before his officers moved in. Ahern agreed to let the chief know.

In the same conversation, Ahern also told Kirkpatrick that the Sheriffs Office would handle the eviction and that he did not foresee any need for Oakland police to be involved.

I knew it was a sensitive issue, Ahern said.

On Monday night, deputies arrived at a nearby staging area to carry out the eviction. The captain in charge, however, became concerned with the size of the crowd that had gathered in front of the house to support Moms 4 Housing.

The captain called Oakland police and asked that four units be sent to help with crowd control and to manage traffic along the adjacent streets. The request went up the chain of command to Kirkpatrick, who called Schaaf.

Fifteen minutes later, Kirkpatrick called Ahern and told him the mayor had nixed any Oakland police involvement.

Out of caution, the deputies stood down, opting instead to return early the next morning before a crowd could gather. The eviction was carried out shortly after 5 a.m.  battering ram and all. The story made national news.

Four people were arrested, three in the house and one protester outside.

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 next day, Ahern, whose department routinely sends in deputies when Oakland needs assistance with demonstrations, called Schaaf.

It was a cordial conversation, Ahern said. I believe my people used the appropriate level of de-escalation.

Schaaf disagrees.

I have issues with the use of force and the open display of weapons, she said. Weapons should only be displayed when when absolutely necessary, adding the eviction would have been traumatic for the children who had been staying in the house.

The children had left the night before the eviction.

I had communicated from the beginning that my police are responsible for fighting crime, the mayor added. Its not their job to accommodate evictions.

The mothers have engaged in civil disobedience to shine a light on what many would agree is a broken system, and they are going to suffer the consequences as part of that protest, Schaaf said. If we had been called to help in a public safety emergency we would have responded, as we have over the years.

Nonetheless, Kirkpatrick apparently felt the need to reassure the police rank and file about the decision.

In an all-hands email after the eviction, Kirkpatrick said that while Oakland police hadnt assisted in the eviction, had this situation turned from a civil removal action to a criminal event that threatened any community member or law enforcement officers (including any outside agency in our city) Oakland police would not hesitate to respond.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier
The west London pub where Prince Harry was spotted enjoying 'a quiet drink like a normal customer' on Friday is owned by a former equerry to Prince Charles, who the Duke of Sussex sees as 'a second father'.

Harry, 35, was spotted dining with friends at the Brook House Pub in Fulham 'for several hours' on Friday night ahead of the bombshell announcement that he and Meghan Markle would drop their HRH titles.

The pub is owned by Mark Dyer, 53, who proved a huge comfort to Harry following the death of his mother in August 1997. It was today revealed that Mr Dyer is the godfather of baby Archie.

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The west London pub where Prince Harry was spotted enjoying 'a quiet drink like a normal customer' yesterday is owned by a former equerry to Prince Charles, Mark Dyer, left, who the Duke of Sussex sees as 'a second father'. (The pair are pictured together at the Sentebale Concert at Kensington Palace in central London on June 28, 2016)

Cheltenham College-educated Dyer, known as 'Marko' to friends, became a steadying big brother figure to the princes in the mid-nineties when he worked as an equerry to the Prince of Wales for 18 months. He bought Brook House pub in Fulham in 2019

Flame-haired, Cheltenham College-educated Dyer, known as 'Marko' to friends, became a steadying big brother figure to the princes in the mid-nineties when he worked as an equerry to the Prince of Wales for 18 months.

Yesterday, a drinker at Brook House, told the Sun they had spotted the Prince in the upmarket pub.

They said: 'He seemed very happy, relaxed. He was sat in the middle of seven guys and they spent a good few hours laughing and joking.

'He seems like he was just a normal guy enjoying a few beers and a meal with his pals.'

Prince Charles appointed Dyer as a male counterpart to former royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke (now Tiggy Pettifer) - with whom Dyer enjoyed a brief romance with.

Dyer's son Jasper, who is Prince Harry's godson, was chosen as a page boy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding in 2018.

Dyer (left with Meghan Markle watching Prince Harry play polo in 2017) had a brief romance with ex-royal nanny and godmother to Archie, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, and married Amanda Kline in 2010 (their wedding, right)

In 2009, the former Welsh Guard officer founded the management company MDM Bars and Pubs and ran pubs including the Rolling Stones' favourite The Cross Keys and The Sand's End, in Fulham, where Harry is said to have conducted his secret courtship with Meghan.

He sold the pubs in 2017 for more than 10million, and said he was going to 'relax' for a while, but last year bought the Fulham boozer with business partner Eamonn Manson.

Dyer had a brief romance with ex-royal nanny and godmother to Archie, Tiggy Legge-Bourke, and married Amanda Kline in 2010.

During the first school half-term after Diana's death, when the boys would have been with their mother, Prince Charles was already committed to a five-day visit to Africa.

He took Harry along and while the Prince carried out engagements, Harry went off on safari in Botswana, organised by Mark.

From then on he was a key guiding figure as Harry and William tried to come to terms with the loss of their mother. After his spell as an employee to the Prince ended he remained a mentor to Harry.

Mark was a key guiding figure as Harry and William tried to come to terms with the loss of their mother, he is pictured with the young princes in 1999

Dyer's son Jasper, who is Prince Harry's godson, was chosen as a page boy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding. He is pictured back right, next to Prince Harry and behind Prince George

The eatery, which sits over the road from Eel Brook Common in Fulham, offers main meals costing up to 25, with a typical dish including roast Cornish cod.

Harry has previously been seen out drinking down the road in The Cross Keys in Chelsea, as well as Bunga Bunga just over the Thames in Battersea.

Yesterday, it was announced that the couple will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring.

The couple will also repay 2.4million of taxpayers' money spent on renovating their Frogmore Cottage home and will known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

During the first half term after Diana's death, when the boys would have been with their mother, Prince Charles was committed to a five day visit to Africa. He took Harry along and while the Prince carried out engagements, Harry went off on safari in Botswana, organised by Mark. He is pictured here with the Princes attending air assault display at Wattisham RAF Base airbase military airforce in Suffolk in 1999

Prince Harry with minder Mark Dyer in 2004 (right) Dyer was a guiding figure as Harry and William tried to come to terms with the loss of their mother. Tiggy has also remained close to both the royals and attended Harry's wedding with her son Tom (right) who is also Harry's godson

The announcement marks the conclusion of talks after days of wrangling with senior royals and aides.

In a move which suggests Harry values those who rallied round him in tough times, Dyer and Legge-Bourke were named godfather and godmother, sources told The Sunday Times.

Harry and Meghan have never publicly revealed their choices, one of the many breaks with royal tradition exhibited by the couple who are quitting their official duties to uproot to Canada.

Their desire to relocate across the Atlantic means Archie will not have as much contact with Dyer and Pettifer as Harry did during his younger years.

It was claimed today that even the Queen has barely seen her eight-month-old great-grandson since his birth in May.
As China and the US signed the phase-1 trade deal to end their bitter two-year tariff war, expectations are high in Beijing on the release of a high-profile Huawei executive by a Canadian court, which will begin the hearing into her extradition to America on Monday.

Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of the Chinese telecom giant and daughter of its founder Ren Zhengfei, was detained in Vancouver on a US warrant in late 2018 for allegedly lying to banks about violating Iran sanctions and put under house arrest. She denies the allegations.

Her arrest put the 47-year-old at the centre of the US and China's battle over Huawei's growing global reach. The hearings into whether the Huawei executive can be extradited to the US will begin on Monday in Vancouver.

China has been asking Canada to release Meng, saying she has been falsely implicated in the case.

Her arrest stunned China considering the iconic status of Huawei in the country whose sales revenue has increased to USD 121 billion last year despite ban of its products and technology by the US.

Following Meng's arrest, China detained two Canadians, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and entrepreneur Michael Spavor, in what was widely seen as retaliation. They were accused of harming China's national security. China also stopped some key Canadian imports.

At stake of Monday's case are issues of sovereignty, the framework of international relations and Meng's freedom," Beijing-based current affairs commentator Einar Tangen said.

To extradite Meng, the US government must meet the terms of its extradition treaty with Canada, which requires, among other things, that any alleged crime must also be a crime in Canada. The government's problem is that the violations of US unilateral sanctions are not crimes in Canada and therefore the extradition case should be dismissed," he told PTI here.

Meng's case is important because it is a bellwether on what will become of sovereignty and the framework of international relations," he said.

Expectations are high in China that she could be released following the January 15 phase one deal with US under which China has agreed to increase its imports of US goods and services by at least USD 200 billion.

China has also agreed to undertake structural reforms to its economic and trade regime in respect of agriculture, currency and foreign exchange, financial services, intellectual property and technology transfer.

US President Donald Trump who kicked off the trade war in 2018 against China is demanding Beijing to reduce massive trade deficit.

His demands included an intrusive verification mechanism to supervise Beijing's promise to protect intellectual property rights (IPR) technology transfer and more access to American goods to Chinese markets.

Huawei's lawyers argue that her case is politically motivated aimed at securing the trade deal and slowdown the company's efforts to rollout 5G telecom technology.

It is not clear yet whether her case was part of the negotiations between the US and China in the run up to the phase one deal.

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

The January 20 tragedy was not just the tragedy experienced by the Azerbaijani people; this was a bloody crime, Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister, Deputy Chairman and Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Ali Ahmadov said.

Ahmadov made the statement in Baku at a memorial ceremony at the partys office dedicated to 30th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, Trend reports on Jan. 18.

The deputy prime minister said that the perpetrators of this crime were the then Soviet empire and those who ruled it.

In history, there are practically no references to the cases in which perpetrators of crimes remained unpunished, Ahmadov said. However, none of the perpetrators of this tragedy as well as none of those who ordered to commit the crime and those who committed it have been punished up till now.

The day after the tragedy, national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev decisively blamed real culprit of the tragedy, Mikhail Gorbachev, who was then the leader of the Soviet Union, demanding a political and legal assessment of those events, the deputy prime minister said.

I think that we must not consider the date of the tragedy committed 30 years ago only as a day of sorrow in the Azerbaijani history, Ahmadov said.

This is one of the glorious and bright pages of the fight of the Azerbaijani people for freedom, Ahmadov added. Thirty years have passed, and today Azerbaijan is an independent country. About a year after those events, the Soviet Union collapsed and Azerbaijan gained independence.

Today, we emphasize that on the way of Azerbaijans gaining independence, the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the January 20 tragic events played a crucial role in making our choice of the independent path of development. The Azerbaijani people do not forget and will never forget this tragedy and its victims, " the deputy prime minister said

While delivering speech at the event, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anar Aliyev stressed that the January 20 tragedy has been inscribed in the history of the Azerbaijani people as the bloody January tragedy.

The events of January 20, 1990, the sudden military aggression that the Soviet army committed against the Azerbaijani people are a heinous crime against humanity, Aliyev added.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
By AFP

She posted videos of her workouts and surfed in the frigid Atlantic on New Year's Day. Now Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard has proved her mettle and muscle by winning a townhall push-up contest against a supporter.

The four-term congresswoman from Hawaii and combat veteran who served in Iraq was answering questions at a campaign event Thursday in Manchester, New Hampshire when an attendee mentioned how frontrunner Joe Biden, the 77-year-old former vice president, recently challenged someone in his audience to push-ups.

"Do you think you could take him?" the supporter asked Tulsi.

Game on. Gabbard, 38 and wearing heels, dropped to the stage floor with the attendee. Video posted on Gabbard's Twitter feed Friday shows them going head to head for nine push-ups before the supporter rolls over in apparent defeat.

"The dude clearly had at least 20 more in him," one observer posted on Twitter.

"So did I," Gabbard responded.

I got challenged to a fun push-up contest at my town hall yesterday! pic.twitter.com/0QfdNB9sV7  Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) January 17, 2020

The staunch anti-war candidate, who does not hesitate to challenge rivals over foreign policy, has unquestioned physical fitness, but it has yet to translate into political muscle.

She polls better in New Hampshire than in most states, with 3.3 per cent average support, but still trails substantially in a crowded field.

Gabbard often posts videos of her workouts, sometimes recorded in an empty hotel gym where she steals breaks from the campaign trail.

On January 1 she donned a wetsuit and surfed the waves off New Hampshire in 42-degree (5.5 degrees Celsius) weather.
BURLEY  Three pesticide credits will be available for farmers who attend the 6th Annual Soil Health Workshop Thursday, Feb. 6 in Burley. The workshop will provide a large variety of topics and education levels from beginning soil health classes to discussion of microbes and quorum sensing in the soil microbiome.

Besides basic soil health, the workshop will offer instruction on using barn owls to manage voles, management of wireworms, cover crop ideas for Southern Idaho farmers, including dry farming ideas. Joel Packham, Cassia County Extension educator, will hold a panel discussion on grazing cover crops. Packham has been in extension since 1991 where his major emphasis is farm and ranch financial management. He has a masters degree in beef reproduction and farm financial management. For the past six years Packham has explored the value of cover crops and has been involved with several cover crop projects with expertise in grazing and cattle management.
Last week revealed that most of the Irish media still don't get why Sinn Fein is not a normal, acceptable coalition partner in the Republic.

Media millennials, who missed the IRA murders of 1,800 people, including 400 Roman Catholics, might have some small excuse for invincible ignorance.

But there is none for experienced reporters affecting to see no problem with the fact that the Provisional IRA still exists - according to the International Monitoring Commission, the PSNI and the Garda Commissioner.

Southern media has even less excuse for evading that truth following the revelation by the respected journalist, Sam McBride, in his best-selling book, Burned, that outsiders still influence Sinn Fein policy.

Last week, on Newstalk, Senator Michael McDowell, a former justice minister, told Ivan Yates that Sinn Fein decisions are not made in the Dail or Stormont, but by a small number of people, mostly in Belfast.

He said: "Sinn Fein TDs are told what to do. They are not a regular political party and are not fit for government."

Logically, if the Provo IRA still influences Sinn Fein policy in Northern Ireland, it would also influence Sinn Fein in government down here.

Last week, Brendan Howlin joined Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar in rejecting coalition with Sinn Fein, because of the danger of outside influences on Sinn Fein cabinet ministers.

"I think that there are other controlling forces that would cause problems to a party in government - that would cause me anxiety, to be honest with you."

Why don't these forces cause our gullible media the same anxiety? Why are reporters demanding FG, FF and Labour "justify" keeping Sinn Fein out of government - citing the same two facile reasons?

First, they say if Sinn Fein, in government, is good enough for Northern Ireland, it should be good enough for the Republic.

Second, they ask what's the problem with articulate deputies like Pearse Doherty and Eoin O Broin?

Let me begin with four major differences between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland.

First, the Irish Republic is an independent, sovereign State. Northern Ireland is not. It exists under the joint tutelage of London and Dublin, because of its dysfunctional past.

Second, NI is not a normal polity and cannot be used as a democratic yardstick for the Republic, because it was brought about under threat of force.

Third, NI is the only state in Europe - and possibly the world - where coalitions are compulsory. That is, in itself, evidence of the dysfunctional nature of NI's political culture.

Finally, SF ministers at Stormont can only do a limited amount of damage because the secretary of state retains the ultimate right to suspend the Stormont Executive.

That's the kind of safety net needed when dealing with a delinquent party like Sinn Fein - which is only in government because Tony Blair wanted to prevent more IRA London bombs.

But there is no such way to suspend the Irish Government if SF cabinet ministers started tampering with democratic norms to advance its dangerous premature pressure for a united Ireland.

Once SF is in power here, they cannot be moved on until the next election. But there are three bigger reasons to reject giving SF a grip on the Republic.

First Sinn Fein, influenced by the IRA, could not be included in an Irish Government without corrupting the moral life of the country, by giving retrospective sanctions to the IRA terrorist campaign it has never condemned.

Second, the gardai still have open files on several murders perpetrated by Provisional IRA members in this jurisdiction.

These murders include those of Private Patrick Kelly, Brian Stack, Joseph Rafferty, and that of Detective Sgt Jerry McCabe.

In the Jerry McCabe case, a number of fugitives are still at large. Sinn Fein has consistently declined to assist gardai with information on them.

How could Ann McCabe hope to get justice from an Irish Government that included Sinn Fein, a party with members and supporters still sheltering her husband's killers?

Finally, Sinn Fein cabinet members could not be trusted with security matters, especially as many of their former comrades are still active in criminality.

In sum, as soon as an IRA-influenced Sinn Fein enters a future cabinet, this State ceases to function as a proper democracy and becomes a rogue EU state.

Last Tuesday, these problems seemed remote from Sean O'Rourke's mind when he repeatedly pressed Micheal Martin on why he rejected SF in government.

"Ah, seriously, up to now it was because of the shadow of the gunmen. Martin Ferris, Gerry Adams and whether he was, or wasn't, in the IRA. OK, Dessie Ellis is probably still going to be there. But can you honestly say that people like Eoin O Broin, people like Pearse Doherty who has had a stellar performance in Opposition, particularly where he has highlighted the failings of the insurance industry - that they're unfit to be in Cabinet?"

Let me remind O'Rourke that both Eoin O Broin and Pearse Doherty find themselves ducking and dodging on IRA-related questions about the past.

In September 2017, when the Irish Independent pressed Eoin O Broin on whether the IRA murderers of Tom Oliver - a father of seven killed in Co Louth in 1991 - should be prosecuted, O Broin did his best to support Gerry Adams, who was against any prosecution.

After acknowledging the needs of victims "on all sides", Broin added, "But I don't think the peace process benefits from the prosecution of former combatants, be they loyalists, security forces or republicans."

Pearse Doherty also has problems with past loyalties. In November 2013, on The Last Word, he told Matt Cooper he had "no reason to disbelieve" Gerry Adams when the latter said he wasn't in the IRA.

More recently, in November 2018, Pearse Doherty - along with SF deputies Martin Ferris, Dessie Ellis and Sean Crowe - turned up to support John Downey appearing at the High Court in relation to the murder of two UDR soldiers.

But while Micheal Martin puts clear blue water between him and Sinn Fein, some FG ministers still seem to be making eyes at Sinn Fein deputies.

Last Wednesday, on The Tonight Show, Regina Doherty repeated praise for Pearse Doherty and Eoin O Broin she had made earlier on Sean O'Rourke's show.

Doherty said her problem was with SF "policies" rather than moral issues about their "past".

Lisa Chambers, on the panel, flatly said Fianna Fail's problem with Sinn Fein was moral first, policy second, and called out Doherty for trying to have it both ways on Sinn Fein.

"To be fair to Micheal Martin, he's not spouting messages of adoration on the one hand and then taking it away on the other."

Ivan Yates was even more dismissive: "The fact of the matter is that 3,500 Sinn Fein votes are going to decide the last seat in Meath East and you're making a play for transfers. It's as naked and transparent as that."
Cyprus accused on Sunday Turkey of turning into a "pirate state", attacking Ankara's exploratory oil and gas drilling off its coastal waters a day after the EU issued its own warning. "Turkey is turning into a pirate state in the eastern Mediterranean," said the statement from the Cypriot presidency. "Turkey insists on going down the path of international illegality it has chosen," it added. The statement came a day after the European Union called on Turkey to drop its plans to drill around Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean, arguing such exploration was "illegal". Earlier, EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said: "Concrete steps towards creating an environment conducive to dialogue in good faith are needed. "The intention by Turkey to launch further exploration and drilling activities in the wider region goes, regrettably, in the opposite direction," he said, in a statement released Saturday. But Turkey's foreign ministry said Sunday: "The Turkish Cypriots have rights on this field... as much as the Greek Cypriots. "The two sides will share the income if oil or natural gas are found there." Its ship Yavuz had arrived at the "G" licence field for its first round of drilling, the statement added. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Thursday that Turkey would start exploring for gas in the eastern Mediterranean "as soon as possible" this year, after signing a maritime deal with Libya. Ankara angered neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean with an agreement signed with the Tripoli government in November, which claimed extensive areas of the sea for Turkey. Greece says the deal fails to respect its maritime rights around the island of Crete. Turkey has already upset Cyprus by sending ships to search for oil and gas off the divided island. Saturday's statement from the EU said: "The international law of the sea, the principle of good neighbourly relations and the sovereignty and sovereign rights over the maritime zones of all Member States have to be respected." Sanctions could be discussed as early as Monday when the bloc's foreign ministers meet in Brussels, officials said. Erdogan, in Berlin Sunday for a Libya peace conference, has rejected what he has called the "ultimatums" issued by the EU. He reminded the bloc that some four million refugees, mostly Syrian, were currently in Turkey which, he has threatened, could start sending them to the EU.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  A senior Hamas leader told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that recent talks between the Hamas leadership and several mediating countries  which he did not name and which Hamas politburo head Ismail Haniyeh visited on his foreign tour that began Dec. 7  aimed to outline a new prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas acknowledged back in 2016 that it is holding four Israelis, including soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, whom Israel believes are dead. Israel says the soldiers were killed in the 2014 war on Gaza. Hamas, meanwhile, refuses to reveal their fate as well as that of the other two Israelis  citizens Avera Mengistu, an Ethiopian Jew, and Hisham al-Sayed, an Arab  who both willingly entered the Gaza Strip in 2014.

The source, who is also a member of Hamas politburo, added, The main provision of the deal is for Israel to release all 50 Palestinians who were re-arrested after their release as per the [2011] Gilad Shalit deal and to include the names of detainees that it previously refused to release as per the deal. These include Marwan Barghouti, member of Fatahs Central Committee and secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Ahmad Saadat.

However, the source said Israel turned down Hamas conditions, namely the inclusion of Barghouti in the next exchange deal, which pushed Hamas to suspend talks about the case. According to the source, the mediating countries vowed to pressure Israel into accepting those demands.

Moussa Dudin, a Hamas member in charge of the prisoners file, told the Palestinian Information Center Dec. 4 that Arab and Western countries, mainly Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Sweden and Germany, are mediating to draft a new prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel.

This comes amid increased talk about who will succeed President Mahmoud Abbas in heading the Palestinian Authority (PA) and about the nomination of candidates who will follow Abbas approach of supporting security coordination with Israel and monopolizing Palestinian decision-making. These candidates include head of Palestinian intelligence Majed Faraj and Fatah Secretary Jibril Rajoub. Meanwhile, Hamas insists on Barghoutis release and his return to the political arena in the West Bank.

The Hamas source said, Hamas insists on Barghoutis release because he is the closest person from Fatah to it and holds similar political views on forms of resistance against Israel and rejection of security coordination.

Barghouti is considered the most popular among Fatah leaders, as he received the largest number of votes (930 out of 1,400) during Fatah's seventh general congress held in December 2016 in Ramallah.

Barghouti has been serving five life sentences plus 40 years in an Israeli jail since April 15, 2002, after Israel accused him of standing behind armed operations that Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatahs military wing, carried out at the onset of the Palestinian intifada Sept. 28, 2000, which killed dozens of Israelis.

Member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council Hatem Abdul Qader told Al-Monitor, Barghouti is leaning toward running in the next presidential elections. His national and organizational position qualifies him.

Qader noted that the PA has not taken any action to pressure Israel to release Barghouti, saying, We are banking on a new prisoner exchange deal leading to Barghoutis release.

Writer and researcher at the Center of Regional Studies - Palestine in Gaza Ayman al-Rufati told Al-Monitor, Israel is not ready to engage in serious talks for a new prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, in the absence of a stable Israeli government and amid Israels preparations for a third round of elections.

He added, I think Israeli Prime Minister and leader of the Likud party Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to stir the affair, with the nearing third elections, to gain more points and outdo his rival Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White Party. Recent polls showed that Gantz is ahead of Netanyahu.

Rufati indicated that Israels refusal to release Barghouti reflects Israels desire to keep Abbas or somebody close to him as head of the PA without having a rival against the PA policies that ensure Israels security, like foiling Palestinian operations against Israeli targets in the West Bank.

Qader noted that prominent Fatah leaders have different opinions regarding Barghoutis candidacy for president. He refused to give more details.

In an interview with Noon Post website April 20, 2017, Fadwa Barghouti, Marwans wife, accused Fatah of plotting against her husband to expel him from the movement and not delegate any position to him, although he received the highest votes in the recent elections  referring to Fatahs seventh congress where voting for the movements deputy leader took place.

Professor of political sciences at the Islamic University in Gaza Walid al-Mudallal told Al-Monitor, Barghoutis return to political life within Fatah might kill the chances of several Fatah leaders close to Abbas who are trying to reach the top in the post-Abbas phase.

Mudallal added, I think some are trying to obfuscate Barghoutis role in Fatah, and perhaps Abbas meeting with Fadwa at the presidential residence in Ramallah Dec. 31, in the presence of Faraj and Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh, aimed at alleviating tensions between Barghouti and Fatah leaders who have their eyes on the leadership.
Gov. Noem lauds state economy, but big legislative fights are coming

Noems speech flowed between business and economic development, lifestyle issues and social issues that were united by their conservative themes.
After being mocked by AAP for his song 'Rinkiya Ke Papa', Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari on Sunday hit back at the ruling party through a video and questioned its claim on providing potable water to residents of the national capital.

The 1.21-minutes video, in which a girl named 'Rinkiya' complains to her father about dirty drinking water being supplied to residents, is the latest in a social media war between the parties ahead of the February 8 assembly election.

Sharing the video, Tiwari, a Bhojpuri star, wrote on Twitter "Rinkiya Ne Khol Di Pol".

In the video, a man, in conversation over phone with his daughter 'Rinkiya', asks why is she demanding money from her mother to purchase bottled water when they already receive tap water.

"We get free water, right? We don't have the capacity to spend on mineral water. Your father is an aam aadmi (common man). From where will he get expensive mineral water everyday?" the father tells the girl.

She responds, the tap water they get is extremely dirty.

"Papa, the drinking water in Delhi is the most polluted among 21 cities. But Kejriwal uncle still maintains that the water quality in Delhi is as good as the one in European countries. He has also put congratulatory messages on this across the city," the girl says.

To this, the father says he will not vote for Kejriwal.

Last year, according to a Bureau of Indian Standards report, drinking water in Delhi was found unsafe. This led to a war of words between Union Food and Civic Supplies Minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too raised concern over the quality of water in Delhi.

The AAP has refuted all charges related to unclean drinking water in the national capital.

As the battle to who will govern the national capital heats up, the Congress, the BJP and the ruling AAP are slugging it out on social media.

The AAP, particularly, has targeted Tiwari over his song 'Rinkiya ke Papa'.

Though the BJP is yet to declare any chief ministerial candidate, the AAP, through its social media supporters, has also tried to make it a battle between (Rinkiya ke Papa) Tiwari and Kejriwal.

Last week, AAP shared a video with the party's campaign song "Lage Raho Kejriwal" and Tiwari in the background. In response to the video, the Delhi BJP complained to the Election Commission and sent a defamation notice to AAP seeking Rs 500 crore in damages.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Absent historical context, extreme weather can be overhyped in ways that lead uninformed voters to conclude that acts of God such as severe droughts and floods never happened before humans began using fossil fuels.

In fact, extreme weather has occurred with monotonous regularity for millions of years. Below is an infinitesimal sampling of the endless multitude of catastrophic weather events in Earths past, many of which occurred long before the Industrial Revolution.

 The Great Hurricane of 1780 killed 30,000 people in the Caribbean.

 Epic dust storms in the 1930s caused catastrophic ecological damage to the Central Plains of the U.S. and Canada.

 Massive flooding that hit Tokyo, Japan, in 1910 destroyed more than 400,000 homes.

 Consecutive years of extreme weather took the lives of one-third of the population during the Russian Famine of 1601-1603.

 In 1927, weeks of heavy rains in Mississippi caused flooding that covered 27,000 square miles, leaving entire towns and surrounding countryside submerged up to a depth of 30 feet.

 A catastrophic hurricane that hit sparsely populated Sea Island, Georgia in 1893 killed 2,000 people.

 The Blizzard of 1888 was so extreme that snow and ice covered the entire northeastern U.S., from Maine to the Chesapeake Bay.

 On Sept. 8, 1900, a Cat-4 hurricane obliterated the island of Galveston, Texas, killing an estimated 10,000 residents.

 In 1889, heavy rains that lasted for days caused massive flooding in Jamestown, PA, killing 2,200.

 Caused by a protracted drought, the Bengal Famine of 1770 killed 10 million people in South Asia.

 And, for those who believe in the Bible, Genesis 7:12 reports that rain fell upon the earth for 40 days and 40 nights, an extreme weather event by any definition.

What youve just read is a tiny slice of Earths turbulent climate history that global warming doomsayers hope voters will never know. And, because theres an agenda behind climate hysteria that has nothing to do with saving the planet  I wrote about that agenda here -- theres not much they wont do to truck voters to believe that global warming is causing the environment to fall apart at the seams. They even changed the name of the alleged threat.

Switching gears: Why global warming came to be called climate change

When the accelerated warming trend that began in the 1980s ran out of steam in 1997, what would become an extended leveling-off period set in. Instead of acknowledging their dire predictions of unstoppable rising temperatures were embarrassingly wrong, climate doomsayers came up with a new tag for the alleged threat. What was once referred to almost exclusively as global warming was quietly given an alter ego: climate change. Since global temperatures were in a virtual flatline, claims of cataclysmic warming were no longer believable. Rather than admitting they were wrong and looking for another way to destroy capitalism, the doomsayers simply switched gears, and invented a clever new trick to frighten voters with terrifying scenarios of imminent environmental calamity. Since runaway warming wasnt happening, they concocted the specious narrative that extreme weather events, every one of them, are caused by, you guessed it: climate change. Almost overnight, climate change was made the scapegoat for every severe hurricane, drought, flood, heat wave and blizzard that appeared, as if such unpleasant things had never before occurred. Following is a prime example.

The California drought of 2011-15

Climate doomsayers would have you believe extreme weather events were as scarce as hens teeth before humans began burning fossil fuels. At no time has that centerpiece of environmental propaganda been more cynically exploited than during the California drought of 2011-15. With eager assistance from a politicized western media, Californians were led to believe the drought was the worst the state had ever seen, so bad that it might never end, turning California into an uninhabitable desert wasteland.

Worst drought the state had ever seen? Not by a long shot.

Heres an undeniable part of Californias drought history the doomsayers try to hide at all costs. Studies of tree rings, sediment and other natural evidence have documented multiple extreme droughts in what is now California over the last 1,000+ years, including several that lasted more than 20 years -- thats four times longer than the relatively puny 5-year drought of 2011-15. Twenty years is a long time, but some California droughts lasted even longer. Much longer.

One that began in 850 A.D. is thought by scientists to have droned on for a mind-numbing 240 years, and that megadrought occurred more than a millennium before the climate crisis industry invented itself out of whole cloth in the 1980s. The drought of 850 wasnt alone. Fifty years before it began, another mega-drought, one that lasted 180 years, was just winding down. Heres an inconvenient truth climate doomsayers will never share with voters: the place now called California has been visited by countless extreme droughts for millions of years, 100% of which eventually came to an end, including the one that petered out in 2016.

Mother Nature 1, Doomsayers 0

Why wont the doomsayers level with voters about Californias drought history? Because doing so would blow a hole bigger than Grand Canyon in another of their contrived claims about the climate: that extreme weather in recent years is worse than ever before.

During the five years of the 2011-15 drought, the peddlers of climate doom at The Los Angeles Times ran a relentless barrage of dire stories warning that unless the U.S. immediately enacted massive carbon energy taxes, the drought could go on forever. Act now!, voters were told, or vegetation in the state could be wiped out by a permanently parched environment.

Despite the never-ending drumbeat of man-made drought hysteria, no carbon taxes were enacted, and guess what? Much to the dismay of the doomsayers, the California drought met its Waterloo in early 2016, when plentiful rainfall returned to the state. After failing to sufficiently terrify voters, and realizing they could no longer hide the obvious, red-faced editors at the Los Angeles Times had no choice but to report the inconvenient news that California is flourishing again:

Its official: California is 100% drought-free. For the first time since 2011, the state shows no areas suffering from prolonged drought and illustrates almost entirely normal conditions, according to a map released Thursday by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

The article continued:

Reservoirs are full, lakes are full, the streams are flowing, theres tons of snow. The drought is all gone now.

Thanks to an ever-changing climate (a.k.a. climate change), droughts come and droughts go. After being duped to believe the states diverse vegetation faced almost certain extinction, Californians were treated to one of the most glorious wildflower super blooms ever seen. Take a deep breath before looking at the pictures linked to below, and dont forget to thank God for climate change, because without it, the most recent California drought would have lasted until the end of time.

Wildflower Super Bloom for the Ages

The next time a drought visits California, and one will, you can bet the farm that the peddlers of climate doom at the LA Times wont remind readers that the previous drought ended in a spectacular fashion that demonstrated the remarkable resilience of Mother Nature to withstand brutal conditions for 5 long years, and then stick it to the doomsayers by strutting her stuff with a wildflower super bloom for the ages.

Bottom line: Mother Nature 1, Doomsayers 0.

To the doomsayers, climate history is a most inconvenient truth, which is why they leave no stone unturned at trying to conceal it from voters.

An engineering graduate of Georgia Tech and now retired, John Eidson is a freelance writer in Atlanta.

Image credit: Monica Showalter
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and a crowd of some 10,000 protesters have marched in the Swiss city of Lausanne before many of them head to Davos to challenge political and business leaders.

The 17-year-old activist denounced a lack of government action to cut heat-trapping emissions before it is too late.

"So, we are now in a new year and we have entered a new decade and so far, during this decade, we have seen no sign whatsoever that real climate action is coming and that has to change," Thunberg said in a speech in Lausanne on Friday, AEST.

"To the world leaders and those in power, I would like to say that you have not seen anything yet. You have not seen the last of us, we can assure you that. And that is the message that we will bring to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos next week."

The Davos event, held annually in the Swiss ski resort town of the same name, sees business, industry and political elites descend on the town to discuss global economic issues.

According to Bloomberg, at least 119 billionaires are expected to be at Davos this coming week.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg at a demonstration in Laussane, Switzerland, on Thursday. Source: AAP

Wake up and smell the bushfires

During the Lausanne event, protesters held signs with messages including "Wake up and Smell the Bushfires" and "It is late but it is not too late".

Hundreds of campaigners took trains over the weekend and then marched to Klosters near Davos, which Thunberg is attending for the second year in a row and will take part in two panel events.

Climate change and environmental destruction top the risks highlighted by world decision-makers in a survey ahead of the 2020 gathering.

This year's event takes place against the backdrop of some of Australia's worst ever bushfires which will loom large over the gathering.

About 10,000 people marched calling for action on climate change. Source: AAP

Last year was the earth's second-hottest since records began, and the world should brace itself for more extreme weather events like the bushfires in Australia, the United Nations' World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Wednesday.

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"We are ... an alliance that is organising next week in 20 countries to say 'time is up' to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Time is up," Kenyan activist Njoki Njoroge Njehu told the crowd in Lausanne.

"It is time to abolish billionaires. It is time to abolish billionaires, because we cannot afford them, the planet cannot afford billionaires," he said.

Climate at top of risk list

This year's Davos has chosen sustainability as its main theme and comes as campaigners such as Thunberg ramp up pressure on businesses and governments to act on climate change and other environmental threats.

At the same time, leading economies are behind on pledges to cut carbon emissions made with the 2015 Paris Agreement and activists remain wary of empty promises, pointing to the huge subsidies and private funds still on offer for fossil fuel companies.

People show support for Thunberg at the rally. Source: Getty Images

US President Donald Trump is expected to attend, although some world leaders will skip this year's Davos.

New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told his ministers to avoid an event seen by many as elitist, a source in his office has reportedly said.

In a bid to preempt criticism that its jet-setting guests are part of the problem, the World Economic Forum said this year's event would use offsets to be fully carbon neutral, line up more electric vehicles and offer local food and non-meat protein options.

"The political landscape is polarised, sea levels are rising and climate fires are burning," Borge Brende, President of the forum said.

Environmental concerns have been rising up the list of its perceived long-term risks in recent years, a marked change from a decade ago when the West's biggest economies were thrown into recession by the financial crisis.

The biggest risk that year was seen as a fresh collapse in asset prices, while inequality was the top concern from 2012 to 2014. Immigration loomed large in the 2016 survey as hundreds of thousands of migrants arrived in Europe, fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the White House. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

Aside from the environment, the 2020 survey highlights concerns about shortfalls in governance of the technology sector, struggling health sectors and doggedly high inequality.

In its methodology for the survey, the WEF said a "global risk" was defined as one that could cause major harm to several countries or industries within the next 10 years.

Two-thirds of the respondees were male, with a majority from Europe and North America and most aged between 40 and 59. For the first time, the survey included results from 200 under-30s around the world identified as future leaders in various fields.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
Hopes of a bumper year for City deals have been given a lift after it emerged that a slice of one of Britain's biggest bailiffs is on the verge of being sold to a private equity firm.

City sources said Inflexion, the buyout firm that previously invested in fashion retailer Jack Wills, secretly agreed late last month to buy a shareholding of about 45 per cent in Marston Holdings from investment firm ICG.

It would value the 'enforcement agent' at between 600million and 700million  which would make it the largest deal to complete so far this year when it is finalised.

Marston employs about 1,200 people and works for magistrate courts, Revenue & Customs and local government to recover unpaid tax and motoring fines

The Mail on Sunday understands that Inflexion conducted the deal through a subsidiary fund called Partnership Capital, which specialises in buying minority shareholdings in private companies.

Marston employs about 1,200 people and works for magistrate courts, Revenue & Customs and local government to recover unpaid tax and motoring fines.

Recently Marston has expanded into car emission monitoring and parking tickets, which now account for more than 65 per cent of the company's revenues. One source described the business as a 'mini Capita'.

The debt recovery division processes 1.5million cases and recovers 500million a year, according to the company's website.

Inflexion previously owned the business before selling it to ICG in 2016. Inflexion also recently bought back another company it previously owned  Aspen Pumps  for about 250million from London-listed private equity investor 3i.

The Marston deal comes as the City of London grinds back into life following the General Election and the Christmas holidays.

Analysts said the Marston sale could signal the beginning of a fresh dealmaking boom following the election of a Conservative majority government.

Investors are also expecting a flurry of flotations as stock markets experience all-time highs amid low volatility.

Sources said Advent International  the private equity owner of defence group Cobham  is likely to push the button on a 2billion flotation of Rubix in the next few weeks with a view to making the formal listing announcement in the next couple of months.

Cheshire-based Rubix repairs machines and provides toolkits for multinational corporations, such as Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Cadbury owner Mondelez.

Rubix was formed from the combination of Brammer  which Advent bought in 2016  and France-based peer IPH.

It is believed that Rubix, which employs about 8,000 people, is likely to float with a valuation of between 1.5billion and 2.5billion, making it one of the biggest London stock market listings of the past 12 months.

Meanwhile, smart meter installer Calisen Group may be the first company to go public in 2020 after last week announcing its intention to list.

The company, backed by American buyout giant KKR, is looking to raise 300million from investors at a valuation of around 1.5billion.

Calisen Group installs and manages meters on behalf of energy suppliers, recouping the upfront costs through long-term rental agreements. It owns about 4.7million smart meters and 3.5million traditional meters.

Inflexion and Rubix declined to comment.
A gun-rights rally in Virginia is expected to draw a mix of militias, firearms advocates and white supremacists to Richmond on Monday as the state's capital remained on high alert Sunday.

Many residents in the city are said to fear a repeat of violence seen in nearby Charlottesville in 2017 after state officials and hate-monitoring groups warned about the potential for violence.

Citing credible threats, Gov. Ralph Northam declared a temporary state of emergency, banning all weapons, including guns, from Capitol Square.

Virginia's solicitor general last week also said law enforcement had identified 'credible evidence' armed out-of-state groups planned to come to Virginia with the possible intention of participating in a 'violent insurrection.'

Online, threats of violence have been 'rampant' among anti-government and far-right groups, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks white supremacists and other extremists. Conspiracy theories and other misinformation have also proliferated.

And organizers of an annual vigil at the Capitol for the victims of gun violence said Friday they have canceled their event this year because of fears of 'armed insurrectionists.'

Barriers are set up at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on Saturday. An unprecedented show of force by gun-rights activists is expected on Monday in Virginia. They are angry over the state's plans to enact a slew of gun restrictions

The Virginia state Capitol building is surrounded by fencing on Thursday. Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday announced a state of emergency and banned all weapons from the rally

But several militia leaders with large followings on social media, who attended the Charlottesville rally, said they were coming purely to show their support for those opposed to new, more restrictive gun laws in the state.

'If you think that we're a threat coming into your city, then you don't know who we are, you don't understand what we're about,' said Joshua Shoaff, who has over 542,000 Facebook followers and goes by the pseudonym Ace Baker. 'We're not anarchists - we believe in government.'

So who is expected to turn up to the rally on Monday?

Virginia Citizens Defense League

The rally, aimed at showing gun enthusiasts' disdain for swift moves the newly Democrat-controlled legislature is making to pass stiffer gun laws, has been organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

A pro-gun rights group that annually comes out in force to lobby Virginia's legislature to not pass any new gun laws, they are said to be working closely with police in an effort to pull off a smooth event.

But they have called for tens of thousands of armed citizens to come to the event, hiking tensions.

The VCDL, an influential grassroots gun-rights organization, has donated over $200,000 to state lawmakers since 2002, records show. The group has emphasized the rally is intended to be peaceful and urged members not to bring long guns, saying they would be a 'distraction.'

The Virginia Citizens Defense League, an influential grassroots gun-rights organization with a long record in the state, has been the leading force behind Monday's rally

White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' clash with counter-protesters during the 'Unite the Right' rally August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville

'The eyes of the nation and the world are on Virginia and VCDL right now and we must show them that gun owners are not the problem,'the group wrote in a recent email to its members.

The group's president, Philip Van Cleave, has been in the national spotlight before. In 2018, Van Cleave was duped into participating in Sacha Baron Cohen's ambush chat show, where he advocated for arming children.

Gun Owners of America

The influential pro-gun group Gun Owners of America describes itself as the only 'no-compromise' gun lobby in Washington and enjoys a loyal following.

Founded in 1975 by a California state lawmaker, Gun Owners of America joined the VCDL to seek an injunction against enforcement of Gov. Ralph Northam's executive order banning gun from the Capitol Square.

On its website, the group has urged its members to attend Monday's rally.

The influential pro-gun group Gun Owners of America describes itself as the only 'no-compromise' gun lobby in Washington and enjoys a loyal following

NRA

The National Rifle Association, the country's best known gun-rights organization, has distanced itself from Monday's rally and instead held a lobby day last week.

Hundreds of people attended the event, where the NRA handed out unloaded 30-round gun magazines. A spokeswoman for the group headquartered in northern Virginia said the magazines were meant as a 'morale booster' for the NRA members who showed up to urge lawmakers to reject the gun control measures proposed by Northam and Democratic lawmakers.

Oath Keepers

Former U.S. Army paratrooper Stewart Rhodes formed The Oath Keepers in 2009, and the group has become one of the nation's largest anti-government organizations, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In 2014, Oath Keeper members joined an armed standoff between federal officials and Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy over grazing rights on government land.

The group urged its members in a post on its website to attend Monday's rally

Later that year and in 2015, members patrolled the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, amid protests over the police killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown. They wore camouflage body armor and openly carried rifles.

The group urged its members in a post on its website to attend Monday's rally and said it was sending trainers to Virginia to organize and train 'armed posses and militia.'

'It is NOT just about one day at a rally. It's about organizing and training up Virginians in each town and county to make their Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties truly strong, united, and capable of actually defending their lives, liberty, and property,' the group's website says.

The Oath Keepers has become one of the nation's largest anti-government organizations

An Oath Keeper, brought on to provide security, stands guard during a pro-Donald Trump rally at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park in Berkeley, California on April 27, 2017

The Oath Keepers protest proposed local and federal gun control legislation in Minnesota

Three Percenter Movement

The Three Percenters are a loosely organized movement that formed in 2008, according to the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish civil rights organization that tracks extremist groups.

On its website, the right-wing group says it isn't an anti-government militia but 'we will defend ourselves when necessary.'

Members of the AAF III% militia at the Pro-Freedom rally at the Indiana Statehouse during the during the third day of the National Rifle Association convention being held nearby in April

A member of the AAF III% militia folds the American flag after the Pro-Freedom rally at the Indiana Statehouse during the during the third day of the National Rifle Association convention being held nearby in April last year

The Three Percenters derives its name from the belief that just 3% of the colonists rose up to fight the British. They have vowed to resist any government that infringes on the U.S. Constitution.

The Oregon Three Percenters joined an armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016. Dozens of people occupied the remote refuge for more than a month to protest federal control of Western lands. The group also took part in a violent right-wing rally in Portland last year.

White supremacists

J.J. MacNab, a fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said she didn't expect large numbers of white supremacists. But MacNab said she thinks those who do attend will try to capitalize on the large expected crowd for a moment in the limelight.

'It's going to be a big event  they want to be part of it. They're desperate to do Charlottesville 2.0,' she said, referring to the 2017 rally that descended into violence.

Earlier this week, authorities arrested six men they linked to a violent white supremacist group known as The Base. At least three of the men were planning to attend the rally in Richmond according to an official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an active investigation.

The Ku Klux Klan protests on July 8, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The KKK was protesting the planned removal of a statue of General Robert E. Lee, and calling for the protection of Southern Confederate monuments

Other leaders of well-known militias also vowed they were not seeking confrontations in Richmond. But police warned that among those they know to be attending are known neo-Nazis and other groups who may seek to hijack the gun-rights gathering.

The Virginia Senate late on Thursday passed bills to require background checks on all firearms sales, limit handgun purchases to one a month, and restore local governments' right to ban weapons from public buildings and other venues.

Both Virginia legislative houses are also expected to pass 'red flag' laws that would allow courts and local law enforcement to remove guns from people deemed a risk to communities, among other measures.

The FBI said it arrested three men linked to a violent white supremacist group Thursday who were planning to attend the rally in Richmond, according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an active investigation.

Luke Austin, left, Jacob Kaderli, center, and Michael Helterbrand have all been arrested . They have links to a violent white supremacist group, according to police

Barriers are set up at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on Saturday

'Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia,' Trump wrote in the post, adding: 'That's what happens when you vote for Democrats'

President Donald Trump backed the rally organizers in a Twitter post on Friday in which he said the U.S. Constitution was under attack by recent gun control measures in Virginia, a state that Hilary Clinton won in 2016 and where Democrats took full control of the state legislature for the first time in a generation in November.

'Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia,' Trump wrote in the post, referring to the amendment in the Bill of Rights that gives Americans the right to keep and bear firearms. 'That's what happens when you vote for Democrats, they will take your guns away.'

Todd Gilbert, the Republican leader in Virginia's House of Delegates, said in a statement on Saturday that violence was not welcome during Monday's rally.

'Any group that comes to Richmond to spread white supremacist garbage, or any other form of hate, violence, or civil unrest isn't welcome here,' he said. 'While we and our Democratic colleagues may have differences, we are all Virginians and we will stand united in opposition to any threats of violence or civil unrest from any quarter.'
A man accused of repeatedly raping a British sex slave during a month-long hostage ordeal is a convicted killer, it has been revealed.

Donald Fernandes, 35, is being held in an Algarve jail after being arrested on suspicion of abducting and forcing himself on two sex attack victims he allegedly kept prisoner.

Cops say the British woman raised the alarm by handing a Burger King worker an SOS note during an outing to a Faro shopping centre with her alleged captor.

Donald Fernandes, 35, was arrested in the Algarve on suspicion of abduction and forcing himself on his British and Brazilian sex slaves

Fernandes, whose other alleged victim was Brazilian, moved to the Algarve after serving a seven-year manslaughter sentence in a Canadian jail.

He acted as getaway driver for two accomplices who fled empty-handed after a retired engineer was shot dead in a bungled break-in at his home near Montreal.

Dual national Fernandes was re-arrested after escaping jail with an armed robber two years after he was sentenced to seven years jail in manslaughter in June 2004.

His defence lawyer Frank Pappas got him to surrender to armed police in October 2006 after six days on the run following a five-hour stand-off with Montreal police outside the hotel the fugitives had holed up in.

Local reports at the time said police closed off a main road because they believed the men might have been armed and dangerous, although they turned out to be unarmed and surrendered peacefully.

The pensioner killed during the September 2003 robbery he was convicted over, 66-year-old Jose Silveiro, had seven children and nine grandchildren.

He was shot in the face by one of Fernandes two accomplices after resisting attempts to steal legally-registered handguns he kept in his safe.

He was arrested after one of his prisoners passed a desperate SOS note to a Burger King worker at a Faro shopping centre (pictured)

David Langlais, who thought up the plot, was the stepchild of one of Silveiros daughters and knew about the handgun collection because the OAP had shown it to him during a Christmas visit.

He was also handed a seven-year prison sentence. Gunman Raphael Gopie, 19, at the time of the September 19 2003 killing, was jailed for 10 years after being charged with second degree murder.

Detectives found a replica gun during a dawn raid at Fernandes home in the Algarve holiday resort of Albufeira when they arrested him on January 7.

State prosecutors confirmed Fernandes had been remanded in custody pending an ongoing probe following a two-day court interrogation held behind closed doors.

A spokesman said: 'The Department of Investigation and Penal Action of the Faro Public Prosecution Service has ordered the detention of a 35-year-old Algarve resident on suspicion of the practice of two crimes of aggravated kidnap, six crimes of rape, two crimes of aggravated threats, two crimes of assault and two crimes of theft.

'The incidents occurred in April and May 2019. The suspect is believed to taken two women he met in bars against their will on two different occasions.

'The suspect allegedly repeatedly assaulted and threatened the victims, forcing them to have sex with him.

'The victims were deprived of their freedom in the suspects properties, for five days in one case and for more than a month in the other.'

Fernandes was held in a Canadian prison for seven years after he was convicted of manslaughter. A 66-year-old was killed during a bungled robbery where he acted as the getaway driver

Confirming the British womans scribbled SOS note, which is thought to have said in English Help me, Ive been abducted and was handed to a Burger King worker at Faros Forum Algarve shopping centre who alerted cops, the spokesman added: 'In this last case the victim only regained her freedom after the intervention of the PSP police force.

'The suspect has been remanded in custody following his court appearance.'

A spokesman for Portugals Policia Judiciaria police force said ahead of the court appearance, which ended with the jail remand pending an ongoing court probe expected to lead to trial: 'The PJ, through its Southern Directorate and as part of an investigation into different crimes of abduction, rape, kidnap, aggravated threats, assault and theft, has identified and arrested a 35-year-old man residing on the Algarve.

'The arrest occurred at the same time as a house search ordered by the court in Faro which was carried out early on January 7.

'Objects used in the commission of the alleged crimes were seized during the operation, including a replica 9mm caliber firearm.

'The incidents occurred last year in the Algarve region. The defendant already has a police and judicial record.'

His British victim raised the alarm by passing a note to Burger King staff at this Faro centre

Antonio Madureira, the new Faro-based regional PJ chief, made his first comments about the arrests as the suspect appeared in court.

He revealed the British womans family reported her missing before she was located.

He said: 'We understand the women accompanied the suspect voluntarily and they were subsequently retained against their will.

'One of the crimes he is suspected of committing is rape. And threats. The two cases were different situations. We linked the two afterwards.

'We were informed of the first case after the woman regained her freedom. The other involved a woman who was reported missing followed by an alert raised by a shopping centre worker who called police after the same woman told her she needed help.'

Asked if the women had always been kept in the same house, he said: 'They were probably in different places but the investigation is ongoing and its not something I can reveal at this moment in time.

'What we know is that they were always accompanied by this man.'

Explaining why the suspect had not been immediately arrested after the shopping centre alert, he said: 'He was identified but we had to investigate and gather evidence.

'During the initial police intervention he didnt stop the woman going her own way.'

Both women have now left Portugal after co-operating with the authorities. They are expected to be asked to return to the Algarve if as expected the case reaches trial.

The version of events Fernandes gave the court in the private hearing has not been made public.

He is thought to have told the authorities the women who filed complaints against him stayed with him of their own free will and sex was consensual.
An FIR was launched against more than 60 women in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday for protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR). The police said that the women had gathered even though Section 144 was enforced.

READ: Uttar Pradesh: AMU VC Meets Student Protesters In Aligarh

Arrested after protests

Anil Samania, Circle Officer (CO) of Aligarh Civil Lines said, "Some women tried to stage a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Population Register, which is a violation of Section 144. So, an FIR has been registered against 60-70 unknown women."

The Citizenship Amendment Act gives citizenship to illegal migrants who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and who entered India on or before 31 December 2014.

CAA was passed in the Parliament after a week of intense discussions and debates in both Houses. However, the government has faced a lot of protests for over a month now. There have been protests across the country in educational institutes as well as on the streets. The government has tried to reach out to the protestors to explain the same. In their outreach, the government has also initiated rallies and missed call campaigns, where people can register their support for the Act.

READ: 'Clerical Error', Claims Aligarh Police Confirming 1,000 Students Booked; Not 10,000

The opposition, led by the Congress had called for an opposition parties' meet to discuss the unrest in the country over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), and National Population Register (NPR). Sonia Gandhi had termed the CAA as a "discriminatory and divisive" law whose "sinister" purpose was to divide people into religious lines, and asserted that the NPR (National Population Register) in form and content was "disguised NRC (National Register of Citizens)".

READ: Maharashtra Follows Kerala And Punjab In Anti-CAA Row, Mulls Passing Resolution Against It

READ: JNU Violence: Delhi Police Questions A Suspect, Another Says Did Not Receive Summons
At least 75 inmates, including members of Brazils most powerful gang, escaped from a Paraguayan prison on Sunday after digging a tunnel in an operation that prison officials were believed to have been aware, the government said, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The director of the prison in the city of Pedro Juan Caballero, near the Brazilian border, was fired along with six other prison officials, Paraguays Minister of Justice Cecilia Perez told reporters.

The escaped prisoners included gang members from First Capital Command (PCC), Brazils most powerful and sophisticated organized crime group, the government said.

Its an operation that took days and it is impossible that the officials did not realize that they were leaving... obviously this was a paid plan, Perez told local radio station Monumental.
ARTHUR FRICK

WAVERLY -- Irrespective of the international treaty signed by the U.S., making it a war crime to destroy cultural monuments, Trump, a la tweet, has threatened to destroy Iran's monuments in the event of conflict. Thus, he would parallel the fanatical excesses of ISIS, bent upon the universal destruction of all cultures and monuments other than their own.

Although the significant works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Giotto, and Bernini belong to Italy and the Vatican, in spirit, they belong to the world. All of us! For they reflect upon our identities, lifting us above the common place up to the majestic, the magnificent, and the sublime: allowing us to contemplate greatness. So it is with the superb creations of the Muslims, the Persians, and the Medes.

During World War II, the U.S. Army made use of officers and men, schooled in the arts, to protect, preserve, and care for monuments and works of art, both those of allies and enemies.

By what legal or moral right can any powerful magistrate, culturally disadvantaged or otherwise, deprive us of our aesthetic and cultural heritages?

Simply put, in this instance, our president is unquestionably unAmerican, and most certainly anything but great.

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Boris Johnson was warned this weekend that axeing the controversial HS2 rail project would be 'calamitous' and cost 10,000 jobs.

In a strongly-worded letter, more than 40 rail and construction bosses warned the Prime Minister that dumping the 88 billion project would have a 'devastating impact' on their industries and torpedo the Government's aim of narrowing the North-South divide.

The future of HS2, a 250 mph rail line linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, hangs in the balance, with a Government decision on whether to proceed, scale back or cancel the scheme due to be announced next month.

In a strongly-worded letter, more than 40 rail and construction bosses warned the Prime Minister that dumping the 88 billion project would have a 'devastating impact' on their industries. Pictured: an artist's impression of an HS2 train on the Birmingham and Fazeley viaduct

The Mail on Sunday last week revealed how Andrew Gilligan, the PM's transport adviser, has been lobbying newly-elected Tory MPs to support the cancellation of the phase one Birmingham to London leg.

The letter voices 'deep alarm' at the prospect of HS2 being axed and highlights how the number of people working on it is due to grow from 10,000 to 15,000 by the end of this year, and eventually to 30,000.

The future of HS2, a 250 mph rail line linking London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds, hangs in the balance

'Were HS2 to be cancelled, job losses would be calamitous, as would the missed opportunity to train and upskill the next generation of young people who will deliver the future infrastructure and rolling stock projects that the Government is ambitious to complete,' the letter warns.

Scrapping a project so far advanced would be 'unprecedented in the history of British construction' and the cost of other big schemes would rise because firms would have to factor in the risk of them also being cancelled.

'To put it as clearly as possible, future infrastructure projects will cost the Government more, should HS2 be cancelled at this stage,' says the letter.

Signatories include Jim Brewin, UK head of Hitachi Rail; Matt Byrne, UK president of Bombardier Transportation; and Mike Haigh, executive chairman of engineering giant Mott MacDonald.
'You're stealing our water': Germans protest against Tesla gigafactory Demonstrators hold anti-Tesla posters during a protest against plans by U.S. electric vehicle pioneer Tesla to build its first European factory and design center near Berli

By Riham Alkousaa

BERLIN (Reuters) - Around 250 Germans on Saturday protested in the outskirts of Berlin where electric car startup Tesla is planning to build a gigafactory, saying its construction will endanger water supply and wildlife in the area.

The U.S. carmaker announced plans last November to build its first European car factory in Gruenheide, in the eastern state of Brandenburg.

Politicians, unions and industry groups have welcomed the move, saying it will bring jobs to the region, but environmental concerns drove hundreds of locals to the streets on Saturday.

"We are here, we are loud, because Tesla is stealing our water," protesters called.

Saturday's protest came after a Brandenburg water association on Thursday warned against "extensive and serious problems with the drinking water supply and wastewater disposal" for the proposed factory.

Anne Bach, a 27-year-old environmental activist, said Tesla's plans published earlier this month showed it would need more than 300 cubic meters of water per hour which would drain the area's declining reserves.

"I am not against Tesla ... But it's about the site; in a forest area that is a protected wildlife zone. Is this necessary?" Bach said.

"In such an ecological system like the one here and with the background that climate is changing, I cannot understand why another location was not selected from the beginning," said Frank Gersdorf, a member of "Citizens' Initiative Gruenheide against Gigafactory", a local group that organised Saturday's protest.

Environmentalist protests in Germany have previously halted and delayed major companies' plans such RWE's lignite mining at the Hambach forest, near Cologne, which has become a symbol of the anti-coal protests.

Saturday's protest, which Gersdorf and Bach said developed spontaneously from a 50-people forest walk demonstration, highlighted the deforestation of around 300 hectares to build the factory and its impact on wildlife, including birds, insects and bats.

Story continues

People were also protesting against an expected "enormous" increase in traffic on a nearby highway and through the villages.

Next to the protest, on the other side of the street, around 20 people carried banners welcoming Tesla in their village, with children chanting, "We are here, we are loud, because Tesla is building our future."

Bernd Kutz, a Gruenheide local, said Tesla would bring improvement to the area, create jobs and give chances to young people.

"I am here because I don't understand those demonstrators who shout and show us the finger," Kutz said. "Why has it always to be negative?"

(Reporting by Riham Alkousaa; editing by Christina Fincher)
The Iranian official leading the investigation into the Ukrainian jetliner that was accidentally shot down by the Revolutionary Guard has appeared to backtrack on plans to send the flight recorders abroad for analysis, a day after saying they would be sent to Kyiv.

Hassan Rezaeifar was quoted by the state-run Irna news agency as saying: The flight recorders from the Ukrainian Boeing are in Iranian hands and we have no plans to send them out.

He said Iran was working to recover the data and cabin recordings, and that it may send the flight recorders  commonly known as black boxes  to Ukraine or France. But as of yet, we have made no decision.

The same official was quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency on Saturday as saying the recorders would be sent to Ukraine, where French, American and Canadian experts would help analyse them. Iranian officials previously said the black boxes were damaged but usable.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, leads Friday prayers at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

The guards air defences shot the plane down shortly after it took off from Tehran on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.

Hours earlier, the guard had launched ballistic missiles at US troops in Iraq in response to the US air strike that killed Irans top general in Baghdad.

Officials say lower-level officers mistook the plane for a US cruise missile.

Iranian officials initially said the crash was caused by a technical problem and invited countries that lost citizens to help investigate. Three days later, Iran admitted responsibility after Western leaders said there was strong evidence the plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile.

The victims included 57 Canadian citizens as well as 11 Ukrainians, 17 people from Sweden, four Afghans and four British citizens. Most of those killed were Iranians.

The other five nations have demanded Iran accept full responsibility and pay compensation to the victims families.

The plane was a Boeing 737-800 that was designed and built in the US. The planes engine was designed by CFM International, a joint company between French group Safran and US group GE Aviation.

Investigators from both countries have been invited to take part in the probe.
If something is on the statute book, you have to obey law, else there are consequences, says former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, while responding to Kapil Sibal's statement that the state cannot say 'no' to a law passed by Parliament.

"If the SC doesn't interfere, it'll remain on the statute book. If something is on the statute book, you have to obey the law, else there are consequences," Khurshid told ANI on Saturday.

Khurshid added: "It is a matter where the state governments have a very serious difference of opinion with the Centre as far as this (CAA) law is concerned. So, we would wait for the final pronouncement made by the SC. Ultimately, the SC will decide and till then everything said, done, not done is provisional and tentative."

Participating in the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) at Kozhikode on Saturday, Sibal had said that no state could say that it will not implement the CAA, as doing so will be unconstitutional.

"When you come to politics, I think we all must stand together because this is legislation. So, we should not be scoring political points. You must know that if the CAA is passed, no state can say 'I will not implement it'. That is not possible. That is unconstitutional. You can oppose it. You can pass a resolution in the Assembly and ask the Central government to withdraw it (to say please withdraw it)," said Sibal.

"But constitutionally to say that I will not implement it is going to be problematic and it is going to create more difficulty. So, what we need to do is politically get together, fight this battle and let the Congress party nationally lead the charge," he added.

CAA grants citizenship to the non-Muslim 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.)
There are 38 names on the list of 737 inmates on death row sent by San Diego County. Some were convicted in the regions most notorious cases, including the serial killing deaths of six San Diego women in 1990. Cleophus Prince was convicted in that case.

The list includes Susan Eubanks, convicted of fatally shooting her four children in San Marcos in 1997, and Scott Erskine, convicted of killing two South County boys, ages 9 and 13 in 1993.

1 / 38 A defiant Eric Anderson admonished the jury that convicted him of murder on July 7, 2005.

Now 45, Anderson was a 30-year-old parolee in 2003, when authorities say he fatally shot Cajon Speedway owner Stephen Brucker during a botched robbery. 2 / 38 Hector Ayala as he was sentenced to death on November 30, 1989.

Ayala, 67, and brother Ronaldo Ayala, 68, were convicted in the 1985 execution-style murders of three men during an auto repair shop robbery. 3 / 38 February 9, 1989 file photo of Ronaldo Ayala at his sentencing. Ayala, 68, and brother Hector Ayala, 67, were convicted in the 1985 execution-style murders of three men during an auto repair shop robbery. (Barry Fitzsimmons ) 4 / 38 July 31, 1992 file photo of Steven Bell. At left is Bells attorney. Bell, 53, was convicted of stabbing to death his girlfriends 11-year-old son as the boy watched TV in 1992. Authorities said Bell wanted to steal the TV to sell to buy crack cocaine. (Gerald McClard ) 5 / 38 February 22, 1991 file photo of Christopher Box as he was sentenced to death for triple murder. Box, 50, was 21 in 1989 when authorities say he and a 17-year-old killed a mother, her 3-year-old son, and a houseguest in a Clairemont Mesa Boulevard home during a robbery. (Tom Kurtz ) 6 / 38 February 9, 2004 file photo of Manuel Bracamontes, 55, who was convicted of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing 9-year-old Laura Arroyo in San Ysidro in 1991. In 2003, DNA evidence led to his arrest. (John Gibbins) 7 / 38 February 7, 2006 file photo of Adrian Camacho, left, with lawyer William Stone, as they listen to Judge Joan Weber read the death sentence in a Vista courtroom. Camacho, 43, shot and killed Oceanside police Officer Tony Zeppetella during a traffic stop in June 2003. (Eduardo Contreras) 8 / 38 April 11, 1989 file photo of convicted killer David Carpenter talking with his attorney in a San Diego courtroom. Carpenter, 88, became known as the Trailside Killer after the early 1980s murders of seven hikers in Marin County. The trial was moved to San Diego County. (John Gibbins) 9 / 38 April 10, 1991 file photo of Dean Phillip Carter shown during opening statements in San Diego County courts phase in his death penalty trial. Carter, 63, was convicted of killing four women in the 1980s, including a 24-year-old woman who, in April 1984, was strangled and stuffed her a closet in her Pacific Beach home. (Howard Lipin) 10 / 38 July 7, 2008 file photo of Tecumseh Colbert, left, with his attorney, Brad Patton, as the judge pronounced the death sentence in San Diego Superior Court. Colbert, 35, was convicted of killing two men during robberies within two weeks in 2004. (Peggy Peattie ) 11 / 38 May 15, 1985 file photo of convicted murderer, Kevin Cooper, as he stands before the judge while being sentenced to death. Cooper, 61, was found guilty in 1985 for the 1983 slayings of a mother, father, their 10-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old friend of their son in the familys Chino Hills home. The trial was moved to San Diego. He has maintained his innocence. In December, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered new tests of physical evidence in the case. (Dave Siccardi ) 12 / 38 Kerry Lyn Dalton, now 66, who is one of few women on death row, convicted of murder with the special circumstances of torture and lying in wait for the 1988 slaying of Irene Melanie May at the Live Oak Springs trailer park in East County. (California Department of Corrections) 13 / 38 Scott Erskine, 56, was 31 when Charlie Keever, 13, and Jonathan Sellers, 9, were abducted, raped, tortured and killed by the Otay River in 1993. Eight years later, DNA lead investigators to identify Erskine as their suspect. (Jim Baird ) 14 / 38 July 17, 2008 file photo of Susan Eubanks as she was sentenced to death. Eubanks, 54, shot and killed her four sons  ages 4 to 14  and shot herself in her San Marcos home in 1997. (Charlie Neuman ) 15 / 38 Michael Flinner, 51, was an Alpine landscaper convicted of hiring one of his workers to kill his 18-year-old fiancee in order to collect insurance money in 2000. (Dan Trevan ) 16 / 38 Johnaton George, 61, was convicted of fatally shooting during a carjacking near 5th Avenue and G Street, after escaping from a sheriffs van in 1992. (Jerry Rife ) 17 / 38 Ivan Gonzales, 52, and wife Veronica Gonzalez, 49, were convicted of torture and murder of her 4-year-old niece, who had been scalded to death in a bathtub in 1995. (Gerald McClard ) 18 / 38 Veronica Gonzalez, 49, and husband, Ivan Gonzales, 52, were convicted of torture and murder of her 4-year-old niece, who had been scalded to death in a bathtub in 1995. (Gerald McClard ) 19 / 38 Jaime Hoyos, 60, was convicted of killing a marijuana distributor and his wife and injuring their 3-year-old son in their Jamul home in 1992. (James Skovmand ) 20 / 38 Bryan Jones, 56, was convicted of strangling two women, and trying to kill two others, who survived to testify against him. All the crimes occurred in 1985 and 1986. (California Department of Corrections) 21 / 38 Robert Jurado, 48, was one of three people convicted of killing a pregnant woman when she was strangled, beaten with a tire jack and left to die in Balboa Park in 1991. (California Department of Corrections) 22 / 38 David Lucas, 63, was convicted of three murders, including slashing the throats of a mother and her 3-year-old son in their Normal Heights home in 1979, and the death of university student who disappeared after her car ran out of gas in La Mesa in 1984. (Howard Lipin ) 23 / 38 Kurt Michaels, 52, was convicted in the 1988 throat-slashing murder of his girlfriends mother in Escondido. (Charlie Neuman ) 24 / 38 Calvin Parker, 49, was convicted of raping and killing his female roommate in their Morena District apartment in 2000, then covering it up by cutting off her fingers and placing her bloodless body in a trash can. (Peggy Peattie ) 25 / 38 Cleophus Prince, 52, was convicted of murdering six women who were stabbed to death in their homes in Clairemont, University City and East San Diego between January and September 1990. (Dave Siccardi ) 26 / 38 June 9, 2009 file photo of Jean Pierre Rices, who pleaded guilty to the 2006 execution style slaying of two people at an El Cajon Liquor store. (John Gibbins) 27 / 38 Ramon Rogers, 58, was convicted of killing two former girlfriends and a male friend in 1993. Rogers was arrested in 1996 after police discovered body parts in a storage area at his College Area apartment. (Tony Doubek ) 28 / 38 Rudolph Roybal, 62, was convicted of stabbing and slitting the throat of a 65-year-old woman in her Oceanside home in 1989. (Charlie Neuman ) 29 / 38 Richard Samayoa, 66, was convicted of fatally bludgeoning a South San Diego neighbor and her 2-year-old daughter in 1985. (Dave Siccardi ) 30 / 38 Brandon Taylor, 45, was convicted of raping and murdering an 80-year-old neighbor in her North Park home in 1995. (John R. McCutchen ) 31 / 38 Correll Thomas, 45, was convicted of beating a neighbor to death, then three weeks later using a submachine gun to kill a stranger who had smiled at his girlfriend in 1996. (John Gastaldo ) 32 / 38 Derlyn Threats, 37, was found guilty of killing a young mother after she interrupted a mid-morning robbery in her Vista home in 2005. (Charlie Neuman ) 33 / 38 Billy Ray Waldon, 67, was convicted of three 1985 murders and 21 other crimes, including rape, following a trial in he which acted as his own attorney. The slaying victims included a 42-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter. (Gerald McClard ) 34 / 38 Randall Wall, 50, was convicted of killing an elderly couple in their Clairemont home during a 1992 robbery. (James Skovmand) 35 / 38 Latwon Weaver, 50, was found guilty of killing a Vista jewelry store owner during a 1992 robbery. (Tony Doubek) 36 / 38 David Westerfield, 67, was convicted in one of the regions most notorious cases  the murder of Danielle van Dam, 7, a neighbor who went missing from her home in Sabre Springs in 2002. (Dan Trevan) 37 / 38 George Williams, 63, was found guilty in 2004 of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl from her Chula Vista home in April 1986, then raping and strangling her, and dumping her body in Barrio Logan. DNA led to his arrest. (Don Kohlbauer) 38 / 38 Jeffrey Young, 44, was convicted of killing two people during a botched 1999 robbery in a parking lot near Lindbergh Field. (U-T file)

Here are the inmates San Diego County has sent to death row:

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Eric Anderson, 45, was a 30-year-old parolee in 2003, when authorities say he fatally shot Cajon Speedway owner Stephen Brucker during a botched robbery.

Hector Ayala, 67, and brother Ronaldo Ayala, 68, were convicted in the 1985 execution-style murders of three men during an auto repair shop robbery.

Steven Bell, 53, was convicted of stabbing to death his girlfriends 11-year-old son as the boy watched TV in 1992. Authorities said Bell wanted to steal the TV to sell to buy crack cocaine.

Christopher Box, 50, was 21 in 1989 when authorities say he and a 17-year-old killed a mother, her 3-year-old son, and a houseguest in a Clairemont Mesa Boulevard home during a robbery.

Manuel Bracamontes, 55, was convicted of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing 9-year-old Laura Arroyo in San Ysidro in 1991. In 2003, DNA evidence led to his arrest.

Adrian Camacho, 43, shot and killed Oceanside police Officer Tony Zeppetella during a traffic stop in June 2003.

David Carpenter, 88, became known as the Trailside Killer after the early 1980s murders of seven hikers in Marin County. The trial was moved to San Diego County.

Dean Carter, 63, was convicted of killing four women in the 1980s, including a 24-year-old woman who, in April 1984, was strangled and stuffed her a closet in her Pacific Beach home.

Tecumseh Colbert, 35, was convicted of killing two men during robberies within two weeks in 2004.

Kevin Cooper, 61, was found guilty in 1985 for the 1983 slayings of a mother, father, their 10-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old friend of their son in the familys Chino Hills home. The trial was moved to San Diego. Cooper has maintained his innocence. In December, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered new tests of physical evidence in the case.

Kerry Dalton, 66, is one of few women on death row, convicted of murder with the special circumstances of torture and lying in wait for the 1988 slaying of an acquaintance.

Scott Erskine, 56, was 31 when Charlie Keever, 13, and Jonathan Sellers, 9, were abducted, raped, tortured and killed by the Otay River in 1993. Eight years later, DNA lead investigators to him identify their suspect as Erskine.

Susan Eubanks, 54, shot and killed her four sons  ages 4 to 14  and shot herself in her San Marcos home in 1997.

Michael Flinner, 51, was an Alpine landscaper convicted of hiring one of his workers to kill his 18-year-old fiancee in order to collect insurance money in 2000.

Johnaton George, 61, was convicted of fatally shooting during a carjacking near 5th Avenue and G Street, after escaping from a sheriffs van in 1992.

Ivan Gonzales, 52, and wife Veronica Gonzalez, 49, were convicted of torture and murder of her 4-year-old niece, who had been scalded to death in a bathtub in 1995.

Jaime Hoyos, 60, was convicted of killing a marijuana distributor and his wife and injuring their 3-year-old son in their Jamul home in 1992.

Bryan Jones, 56, was convicted of strangling two women, and trying to kill two others, who survived to testify against him. All the crimes occurred in 1985 and 1986.

Robert Jurado, 48, was one of three people convicted of killing a pregnant woman when she was strangled, beaten with a tire jack and left to die in Balboa Park in 1991.

David Lucas, 63, was convicted of three murders, including slashing the throats of a mother and her 3-year-old son in their Normal Heights home in 1979, and the death of university student who disappeared after her car ran out of gas in La Mesa in 1984.

Kurt Michaels, 52, was convicted in the 1988 throat-slashing murder of his girlfriends mother in Escondido.

Calvin Parker, 49, was convicted of raping and killing his female roommate in their Morena District apartment in 2000, then covering it up by cutting off her fingers and placing her bloodless body in a trash can.

Cleophus Prince, 52, was convicted of murdering six women who were stabbed to death in their homes in Clairemont, University City and East San Diego between January and September 1990.

Jean Pierre Rices, 37, pleaded guilty to killing two people at an El Cajon liquor store in 2006.

Ramon Rogers, 58, was convicted of killing two former girlfriends and a male friend in 1993. Rogers was arrested in 1996 after police discovered body parts in a storage area at his College Area apartment.

Rudolph Roybal, 62, was convicted of stabbing and slitting the throat of a 65-year-old woman in her Oceanside home in 1989.

Richard Samayoa, 66, was convicted of fatally bludgeoning a South San Diego neighbor and her 2-year-old daughter in 1985.

Brandon Taylor, 45, was convicted of raping and murdering an 80-year-old neighbor in her North Park home in 1995.

Correll Thomas, 45, was convicted of beating a neighbor to death, then three weeks later using a submachine gun to kill a stranger who had smiled at his girlfriend in 1996.

Derlyn Threats, 37, was found guilty of killing a young mother after she interrupted a mid-morning robbery in her Vista home in 2005.

Billy Ray Waldon, 67, was convicted of three 1985 murders and 21 other crimes, including rape, following a trial in he which acted as his own attorney. The slaying victims included a 42-year-old woman and her 13-year-old daughter.

Randall Wall, 50, was convicted of killing an elderly couple in their Clairemont home during a 1992 robbery.

Latwon Weaver, 50, was found guilty of killing a Vista jewelry store owner during a 1992 robbery.

David Westerfield, 67, was convicted in one of the regions most notorious cases  the murder of Danielle van Dam, 7, a neighbor who went missing from her home in Sabre Springs in 2002.

George Williams, 63, was found guilty in 2004 of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl from her Chula Vista home in April 1986, then raping and strangling her, and dumping her body in Barrio Logan. DNA led to his arrest.

Jeffrey Young, 44, was convicted of killing two people during a botched 1999 robbery in a parking lot near Lindbergh Field.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
A body found in a submerged car in the Salem River Thursday has been identified as Vanessa Smallwood, a Maple Shade woman reported missing in January 2014.

SALEM, N.J. a A body found in a submerged car here Thursday was a New Jersey woman reported missing almost six years ago.

Vanessa Smallwood, who was 46 at the time of her disappearance, was identified in a statement from New Jersey State Police.

Smallwood was a Maple Shade resident, according to the statement. But her disappearance also was reported in 2014 by Burlington Township police, and an FBI missing-persons notice asked people with information to contact the Burlington Township department.

Smallwood was last seen at a dry cleaner's store in Cherry Hill on Jan. 27, 2014, according to the FBI's notice. It said Smallwood was driving a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country van.

The woman's cellphone "recorded a ping" at about 10:20 a.m. in Clayton.

"Since that time there has been no activity from the victim, to include her credit/debit cards," the notice said.

A description of the Smallwood's belongings included a silver wedding band.

Burlington Township police posted an online appeal for the public's help in finding Smallwood on March 3, 2014.

That notice said Smallwood had been reported missing by family members on Feb. 6, 2014.

Smallwood's remains were found around noon Thursday by commercial divers removing debris from the Salem River about 40 miles south of Cherry Hill, state police said.

State police removed the car from the river. Smallwood's remains were taken to the Southern Regional Coroner's Office pending an autopsy.

"There is no additional information available at this time," police said Friday night.

Related Video: Crews Search Lake Mich. For Teen Swept From Pier

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Missing woman: After 6 years, body found in car submerged in NJ river
A recent online article by a physician discussed the rising rates of sexually transmitted infections or diseases.

You likely are saying to yourself, Thats not a topic that has been at the forefront of my thoughts.

Formerly called venereal diseases, STDs are prevalent, always have been and probably always will be, as long as we have our human instincts. The burden of STDs was and is among younger ages because they have more energy and hormones.

The articles author cited some recently published data by athenahealth, a medical insurance company, saying adults older than 60 represent the largest increase in in-office treatment of STDs.

Between 2014-2017, the percent in treatment rates went up 23% for people older than 60, and only 11% for the entire population over 13 years old. This article was addressed to primary care providers. It pointed out that attention to sexual health should be paid to seniors as well as young bucks and does.

The information was given as a quiz. The first question was: What percentage of seniors 75-85 years old is sexually active? According to a survey of 3,000 oldsters, 26% of people aged 75-85, 73% of those between 57-64 and 53% of folks 65-74 reported sexual activity. Individual habits were not analyzed.

Because male condoms are traditionally the first line of STD prevention, the next question was: How many men 70-79 years old reported using a condom during their last sexual encounter? The answer was zero, 24% for ages 50-59, 17% for 60-69, and 14% for 80+.

Among women, condom use (assuming on men) was 24% for 50-59, 28% for 60-69, and zero from 70 up. Another question was: Which of the following has been most likely contributed to the STD rate increase in seniors: Viagra type drugs, online dating, high mid-life divorce rates? The doctors answer was all of the above, plus waning immunity and inadequate sex education.

An analysis from a Harvard-affiliated doctor from February 2018, added that older adults dont discuss STD screening with their docs, or their docs with them. Seniors are not accustomed to thinking of themselves at high risk, probably because getting pregnant is no longer a concern. That was the biggest fear for youth.

The diseases considered in the survey were primarily gonorrhea, syphilis and Chlamydia, another bacterial infection.

But now there are also STDs that were not in the public consciousness when todays seniors were youth laughing at their old parents, like HIV, hepatitis, and genital warts and herpes.

The CDC estimates there are about 20 million new STD cases per year with only a fraction reported. One speculation about the rise for seniors is that more medical testing is being done. Another question was: What percent of Americans living with diagnosed HIV are older than 50 years old? From 2016 CDC data, more than 50% of those with HIV are over 50.

The last question was: For women, the risk of contracting an STD decreases with age, true or false? It actually increases with aging, possibly related to biological factors, such as waning immunity and thinning vaginal lining which permits more microbial penetration, along with decreased mucus that contains immune factors.

Prevention and awareness are the main medical tools to offer. But most oldsters think they are past being able to pick up such infections.

Au contraire, mon frere. One reference from a year ago points out our culture has a lot of taboos discussing bodies and sex, a big one being about older folks having sex. Many older adults do remain sexually active. As a Florida professor said in one article: We should never assume that because people are old, they arent having sex. In fact, you should assume the opposite. Sex is a very natural, human interaction that people enjoy. Even those who are the frailest and bedbound are still having sex. Its like Dominos (pizza). It can come to you, you dont have to go to it.

The medical lesson for today is not to assume older adults are free from contracting the same infections from the same sources as their younger counterparts, whether youre the doctor or the patient. As the old saying goes, there may be snow on the roof, but there can still be fire in the fireplace.

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Boeing Grapples With New Software Snag on 737 MAX

Boeing said it is fixing a new software snag found last weekend during a technical review of the proposed update to the grounded Boeing 737 MAX.

We are making necessary updates and working with the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) on submission of this change, and keeping our customers and suppliers informed, Boeing said in a statement. Our highest priority is ensuring the 737 MAX is safe and meets all regulatory requirements before it returns to service.

Company officials said the issue relates to a software power-up monitoring function that verifies some system monitors are operating correctly.

Boeing has halted production of the 737 MAX this month following the grounding in March of its best-selling plane after two fatal crashes in five months killed 346 people.

The company has been in turmoil after the disasters, including bottom-line impacts.

Recently, the firm announced its commercial airplane operations lost orders in 2019, marking the first time in decades that the planemaker has taken this type of hit to its business.

Boeing released figures on Jan. 14 that showed a net loss of 87 plane ordersmeaning that more orders were cancelled than were placed. The company also posted the lowest numbers for plane deliveries in 11 years, losing the top spot to European rival Airbus for the first time in eight years.

Still, Boeing ended 2019 with a commercial airplane backlog of 5,406 planes, representing years of future production.

Analysts estimate that Boeing has been losing around $1 billion a month because of the grounding and the company reported an almost $3 billion negative free cash flow in the third quarter.

The aeronautics giant is due to report fourth-quarter earnings on Jan. 29 and said earlier it is considering raising more debt.

Credit Rating Agency Moodys said it had placed Boeings A3 senior unsecured credit rating under review for a possible downgrade.

Industry-led 737 MAX Panel Defends Boeing

A Department of Transportation (DOT) panel reviewing the airworthiness certification process of the 737 Max in the wake of the deadly crashes found the procedures followed by the FAA and Boeing to be effective, but suggested areas for improvement.

An independent committee established by the Department of Transportation published a 68-page report on Jan. 16, in which it largely exonerated both the plane-maker and the agency responsible for designating aircraft as safe to fly.

What we saw was a thorough work by aviation professionals, said one of two co-chairs of the panel, former Air Line Pilots Association President Lee Moak, NPR reports. However, we saw where you could improve the system.

The panel, composed of transportation industry executives and former regulators, recommended the FAA expand its risk management protocols from airlines and airports to include design and manufacturing organizations.

Other recommendations include better data management and smoother cooperation with aviation authorities in other countries.

Challenging Time

As part of its ongoing crisis management efforts, Boeing last month replaced its CEO.

New Boeing chief Dave Calhoun was described by the companys board as the right leader to navigate Boeing through this challenging time in our 104-year legacy.

In an email sent to Boeing employees, Calhoun noted the painful lessons of the past 18 months, vowing greater transparency and holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards of safety and quality.

The incoming CEO said returning the Max to service would be his key objective.

This must be our primary focus, he wrote. This includes following the lead of our regulators and working with them to ensure theyre satisfied completely with the airplane and our work, so that we can continue to meet our customer commitments. Well get it done, and well get it done right.

Reuters and Associated Press contributed to this report.
Sarah Iannarone

Iannarone teaches at the Wayfinding Academy, a college in North Portland. She previously worked at Portland State University, hosting best-practices exchanges for delegations visiting Portland and serves on the budget advisory committee for the Portland Bureau of Transportation. A Portland resident, she is running for mayor.

The rising trifecta of climate chaos, social inequality and authoritarian nationalism is assailing cities around the world. Portlands response to these problems will determine our prosperity and sustainability for decades to come.

Despite the limited power granted the mayor in our commission form of government, the Portland mayor maintains significant legitimacy in the public discourse as the de facto urban policy leader of Oregon. In the 2016 mayoral election, then State Treasurer Ted Wheeler made the case to Portland voters that he was the progressive leader best situated to occupy that position at a critical time in our citys history, selling us on his elective experience, his leadership abilities and his commitment to reforms.

Portland voters were sold a false bill of goods.

Unlike their neoliberal counterparts, truly progressive leaders actively implement policies designed to move away from the status quo. They strive for justice while fighting to protect the environment on which we all depend. Ive taken heat from an Oregonian/OregonLive columnist (Suspect is down, Dec. 13) and an op-ed writer (Sworn to protect and serve a city that doesnt welcome it, Dec. 22) in recent weeks for publicly expressing my sincere and valid frustration with a critical and costly lack of bold leadership out of the Portland mayors office and the bureaus Wheeler oversees. I shared my frustration with the lack of accountability; frustration with the lack of community-based problem-solving; and frustration with the lack of strategic alliances and coalition building essential to the reforms we so desperately need.

The Portland mayors office is failing our city at a critical time and, yes, like my community, Im frustrated about it.

I feel frustrated when the city cuts the ribbon on a $9 million project to improve street safety and my 82-year-old neighbor gets killed in traffic at that location later that day.

I feel frustrated when a Street Roots vendor whos paid his fare on public transit, a lifeline for so many, is harassed and fined by officials for failing to tap his card against a reader.

I feel frustrated when the youth of our city march by the thousands to beg their elected officials to declare a climate emergency only to find themselves the victims of police brutality. Only to end without their desired emergency declaration or any substantial action. The youth want us to treat the climate crisis as just that  a crisis. Anything short of that is, of course, frustrating.

Indeed, I feel frustrated when an unhoused person in crisis ends up dead from police use of force 13 seconds after police officers arrive on scene. This despite our citys settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice agreeing to reduce this use of force and eliminate these preventable deaths.

I feel frustrated about these things and I know a lot of my neighbors feel frustrated, too.

Share your opinion Submit your essay of 500-700 words on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification.

Im no Pollyanna  I know we face serious challenges. I am asking Portlanders to vote for me for mayor in the May 19 primary because we need a leader who truly believes in the power of community and understands that Portlanders have everything we need to address our most pressing problems today if given the guidance of truly progressive leadership. In the face of rising inequality, we need leaders who will courageously stand up against injustice and human rights abuses. We need leaders who will boldly declare that white nationalism will have no home here. We need leaders who view the community as partners, not obstacles. When the United Nations reports that climate catastrophe is bearing down on frontline communities, we need leaders who get impatient about climate inaction. In dynamic, unpredictable times, we need leaders who quickly adapt and learn from the environments in which they find themselves. And in a transformative period rife with opportunity, we need leaders who are optimistic cross-pollinators, open to new insights and willing to co-create solutions.

The current administration has failed to make good on its progressive promises to Portlanders. As we head into a new decade, Portland needs a mayor less focused on shuffling spreadsheets and more focused on compassionate, community-centered leadership; a leader who can help us seize this critical moment in our citys history to deconstruct the oppressive institutions and deadly systems undermining the health of our people and the place that we all share. Progressive leadership can bring us together in community and with creativity to craft new systems-- systems that will allow us to replace greed with the greater good; exploitation and exclusion with liberty and opportunity; and despair and disenfranchisement with peace and purpose.
The House passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal in December and Trump is expected to sign it soon. (Photo Credit: File photo)

West Palm Beach:

President Donald Trump is expected to discuss new US trade agreements with its North American neighbors and with China during an appearance Sunday at a convention of American farmers. When Trump spoke to the American Farm Bureau Federations convention last year, he urged farmers to continue supporting him even as they suffered financially in the fallout from his trade war with China and a partial shutdown of the federal government.

Trumps follow-up speech Sunday in Austin, Texas, will give him a chance to make the case to farmers that he kept two promises on trade that he made as a candidate - to improve trade with China and separately with Canada and Mexico - and that farmers stand to benefit from both pacts.

Also Read: 'Impeachment Articles Dangerous Attack On Americans' Right To Choose President'

Trump signed a preliminary trade deal with China at the White House last Wednesday that commits Beijing to boosting its imports of U.S. manufacturing, energy and farm goods by $200 billion this year and next. That includes larger purchases of soybeans and other farm goods expected to reach USD 40 billion a year, the US has said, though critics wonder if China can meet the targets.

Also last week, the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a successor to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.

Also Read: Donald Trump Names Top Celebrity Lawyers To Defend Him In Impeachment Trial

The administration designed the new agreement to return some factory production to the United States, mostly automobiles.

NAFTA had triggered a surge in trade among the three countries, but Trump and other critics blamed it for U.S. job losses brought about when American factories moved production south of the border to take advantage of low-wage labor in Mexico.

The House passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada deal in December and Trump is expected to sign it soon.

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Photograph: Eric Thayer/Getty Images

If things had gone a little differently, Rudy Giuliani might have been elected president in 2008.

The former New York City mayor turned Donald Trump stooge led polling in the Republican primaries for almost a year, and was seen as someone who could defeat Hillary Clinton  then the presumptive Democratic nominee  in key metropolitan areas.

Giuliani, still riding a wave of good feeling from his handling of the 9/11 attacks, was raising serious amounts of cash, and was the best-known of the Republican candidates. He had a very real chance of succeeding George W Bush.

Related: Trump 'knew exactly what was going on' in Ukraine, says Giuliani associate

But Giulianis campaign collapsed in chaotic fashion, and he became a political irrelevance  until re-emerging a decade later as Donald Trumps lawyer, mouthpiece, bungling envoy to Ukraine and a central character in the third impeachment of an American president.

Its hard to imagine now, but at the end of 2006, Giuliani was the most popular politician in the country. In March 2007, after Giuliani formally announced his White House campaign, he was the early favorite to win the Republican primary contest, with 44% support nationwide. (John McCain, the eventual nominee, was second with 20%.) Giuliani maintained that lead throughout the year, and raised the most money.

Armed with a campaign slogan that read like the responses to a word-association examination  Tested. Ready. Now  Giuliani seemed destined to represent the Republican party in the November 2008 election.

When Rudy Giuliani entered the race he was seen as the frontrunner, said Capri Cafaro, a former minority leader of the Ohio senate and an adjunct professor at the American University school of public affairs. Oprah Winfrey had dubbed Giuliani Americas mayor following the 9/11 attacks  a moniker that stuck  while Time magazine went further, naming Giuliani its person of the year for 2001 and branding him mayor of the world.

Story continues

Cafaro said: His strength predominantly came from being seen as Americas mayor  in light of this being just a few years after 9/11. [He was] playing to his strengths: his strengths in national security and essentially being able to rise to the occasion as a leader.

Giuliani wasnt shy of leaning into that, which led to mockery as he launched his campaign.

When he decided to run for president he was being laughed at by the late-night comedians for answering every question by mentioning 9/11, said Robert Polner, who covered Giulianis mayoralty as a reporter for Newsday, and later edited a book on Giuliani: Americas Mayor, Americas President?

Giuliani with Bush and fire commissioner Thomas Van Essen just after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Photograph: Doug Mills/AP

It wasnt just late-night comics poking fun. Joe Biden, then running  for the second time  to be the Democratic nominee, mused of Giuliani: Theres only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun, a verb and 9/11. The Onion ran a piece with the headline: Giuliani to run for president of 9/11.

He was still trying to ride his fame and convert that into primary votes, Polner said. [But] he had no real plan as to what he would do if he was president.

Giuliani was still leading the polls in the summer of 2007, six months out from the first Republican vote in Iowa. But he hit an unexpected problem, in the form of a man dressed in a chicken suit  the Iowa Chicken  who tirelessly followed Giuliani around in protest at him skipping the Ames straw poll, a traditional barometer of the Republican primary race.

That wasnt the end of Giulianis Iowa troubles. He decided, essentially, to skip the first state to vote and did not place much stock in second-to-vote New Hampshire. Instead Giuliani pinned his hopes on Florida.

Many people saw this as a bad decision, including the Guardians then Washington correspondent, Ewen MacAskill.

History will show the unconventional, and ultimately catastrophic, strategy to be one of the biggest miscalculations in US campaign history, MacAskill wrote in 2008, as Giulianis campaign collapsed around him. One that has brought Giulianis ambitions to be the 44th US president to a humiliating end.

Giulianis Florida gameplan was based on the idea that for some Republicans elsewhere, he just wasnt conservative enough. Giuliani, by this point, was on his third marriage  he has since completed his third divorce  and as mayor of New York had embraced positions that were anathema to socially conservative Republican supporters. In Florida, at least, there was a diaspora of ex-New Yorkers, and some supportive centrist primary voters.

But his past might well have doomed him nationally.

Cafaro said: One of the reasons why he failed is not necessarily because he decided to focus on one or two major primaries, but because he was seen as being out of step with the values of the Republican primary voter.

He said: As someone who was pro-choice, and had been married three times, somebody who was from New York, somebody that was a little bit more lenient on some of the social issues, including civil unions for same-sex partnerships, so those things were not embraced in that primary. I think thats really what hurt him.

Also stacked against Giuliani: his lack of focus. When he lost the 1989 election for New York mayor, Giuliani spent the next four years, according to Polner, meeting with people, studying different aspects of the city, and preparing to become a politician. That period of reflection and strategizing worked  Giuliani defeated the Democrat David Dinkins in 1993  but he failed to apply it in 2008.

When he jumped in for president, it seemed more like impulse power, and he was just running on the fumes of being mayor on 9/11, Polner said.

In this picture from October 2003, Giuliani supports Arnold Schwarzenegger in his bid to become Californias governor. Photograph: Stephan Savoia/AP

He hadnt established a base or network of Republicans in key states, and he didnt have any well-developed positions on where he wanted to take the country or the party.

People noticed. In the Iowa caucuses, on 3 January 2008, Giuliani came sixth out of seven candidates. It was no cause to panic  after all, he had all but ignored Iowa. But then came New Hampshire. Giuliani came fourth.

The Florida primary, the key to Giulianis grand plan, was on 29 January. He came a distant third. It was over. Giuliani threw in the towel the next day, and endorsed McCain.

Giuliani has a history of kind of overestimating his political appeal, and also overreaching, Polner said. Hes a guy who really craves relevance and attention, and the media spotlight  and power really.

Giuliani had got attention and the media spotlight, for a while, yet being Americas mayor, being the mayor of the world, had counted for nought. His dream of being president had ended  but his presence at the top of US politics was far from over.
After a few failed attempts, Groupe PSA (Peugeot Citroen) is finally approaching its point of reentry into the Indian automobile market.

In 2017, the European auto major announced a JV with CK Birla Group for a new production facility near Chennai. Last year, the company showcased the Citroen C5 Aircross SUV in the country and announced that it will be launched in 2020 as a CKD.

Groupe PSA also announced that, from 2021, it will be launching at least one new car per year and most of it will stem from a new modular platform which will have India as its primary market. It looks like work on this front is already under way. Spy images are credit to automotive enthusiast Suchith.

A prototype wearing ill-fitting body panels of previous gen Peugeot 208 has been spotted doing rounds near Chennai, suggesting that it is testing locally-sourced components for the India-spec modular platform. As of now, PSA will be focusing on establishing its Citroen brand in India and hence, the presence of a Peugeot test mule appears to be a decoy. The company is planning to launch products in all key segments in India and that would mean compact crossovers rather than small cars.

So, we expect that this early prototype to eventually evolve into a Citroen mini SUV in the coming years. Further details are scarce as of now but the platform is expected to spawn its first product in 2021.

The manufacturing facility at Thiruvallur will have an annual production capacity of 1,00,000 units in its first phase. The India-specific modular platform will have more than 90% local content so as to achieve good profitability. The automaker has stated that it will prioritize good product positioning and profitable growth rather than going after volume or market share.

India has been kind to new automobile brands of late. Both MG Motor and Kia Motors started off very strongly, thanks to their premium crossovers. Citroen is also adopting a near-identical strategy with its C5 Aircross SUV. The French brand brings to table a fresh appeal in terms of design and positioning. It would be interesting to see how the SUV-loving Indian audience respond to the upcoming offering. Will the next fiscal be Citroens year in India?
Boris Johnson will raise concerns over the driving of US diplomatic staff at a world leaders summit after footage emerged of a near-miss close to the base where Harry Dunn was killed.

The Prime Minister is in Berlin with world leaders including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, at the summit hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Johnson said he will address with Mr Pompeo the driving habits of US staff at RAF Croughton following the death of the teenager.

He said: Were certainly raising all those issues, about the driving habits of US personnel at the base, and were continuing to work for justice for Harry Dunn and for his family.

RAF Croughton became the focus of an international controversy after Mr Dunn was killed in a head-on collision with a car on August 27 last year.

Anne Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official, is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road and was charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

But she controversially claimed diplomatic immunity after the collision, fled to her home country and has refused to return to face justice despite pleas from Harrys family.

The US State Department has said the UK extradition request for Sacoolas is highly inappropriate and would be an abuse.

Mr Johnsons statement comes after footage emerged of a suspected US government car having to brake sharply on a country road near the base.

Expand Close Harry Dunn was killed in August last year (Family handout/PA) PA Media / Facebook

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Whatsapp Harry Dunn was killed in August last year (Family handout/PA)

The footage of the near-miss close to RAF Croughton was released as police revealed details of a separate incident in which a police vehicle was struck by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road in October.

The video, reported to Northamptonshire Police on Saturday, shows the blue BMW has what appears to be one of the registration numbers used on US government vehicles in the UK.

In a statement, Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley said: I do not underestimate how much of a concerning incident this was and how much worse it could have been, especially considering the circumstances in which 19-year-old Harry Dunn tragically died.

The Prime Minister previously said that it was right to appeal for extradition but said the chances of Anne Sacoolas returning were very low.

Thats not what they do, Mr Johnson said, sparking criticism from Mr Dunns family who later said the Prime Minister had no intention to meet them.
Although, I have read about the victimization of journalists and the repressive attacks on press freedom, last week added to my first-hand experience of the travails of journalists, particularly some of us who have decided to ply the dreaded route of investigative journalism.

It was hectic journeying to two states just to respond to invitations from two judicial institutions. One was to continue proceedings at a magistrate court in Kwara State and another is the invitation from the zonal headquarters of the police in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, over reports written in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

Preamble

I had always expected these would come someday but I did not envisage that they would come this early. Kunle Ajibades life imprisonment sentence, Dapo Olorunyomis exile, the detention of Babafemi Ojudu without trial and many more are documented testimonials of the hazards that come with critical reporting.

I was about writing my final exams in Obafemi Awolowo University when I received my first summons by the police operatives in 2019. It was based on a critical report detailing how the smoking of Indian hemp was permitted in the premises of a rice factory, a subsidiary of HillCrest Agro-allied industry owned by Sarah Alade, a former CBN chief and an Economic Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari. The story was published on NewsDigest, a news platform I once wrote for as a student journalist, in 2018.

I responded to the summon after consulting Yushau Shuaib, the owner of Image Merchant Promotions, Idris Akinbajo, my editor at PREMIUM TIMES and some other distinguished colleagues. I was quizzed by the police and after I refused to disclose some vital sources, myself and Gidado Yushau, the young editor, were billed for arraignment the following week. I stood by the story as the author and Gidado Shuaib, NewsDigest editor, also vouched for the credibility of the story.

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We were accused of defamation of character which I vehemently denied during the first court appearance last year. Since the case is already in a competent court of law, I will not speak about the proceedings and some of my reservations.

Mondays Experience

However, the second appearance, which was on Monday, January 13, 2020, came with a twist. Since we were already undergoing criminal prosecution in the magistrate court, we had expected that the complainant would await the verdict of the court. But No! The company had filed another lawsuit at the Kwara State high court, requesting N500 million damages amongst other things.

Alfred Olufemi and Gidado Yishau, NewsDigests editor after the court session of Monday

Mr Gidado, who received the writ of summon as a co-defendant, adjusted his cap upon the sight of the demands of the company. Of course, it was mouth-gaping but I was not too surprised trusting some of our evidences and logical arguments. Meanwhile, on a lighter note, I do not think I can raise two hundred thousand naira from my personal savings at that moment let alone a million naira. I smiled moving to the dock with the mustered courage.

While facing the magistrate, thoughts of how I started writing in 2017 as a 200-level student in the university ran across my mind, I could recall the threats, impacts and accolades that some of my reports have earned me and the masses.

We are bringing our witnesses next sitting, the prosecutor said, informing the court after a failed attempt to provide the witnesses that Monday. Without much ado, the next date of adjournment was fixed but I could not help but glance through the writ of summon intermittently  the lengthy pages are enough to make any young journalist back out of the struggle. Alas! For me, not anytime soon.

With a good friend and colleague of mine, Adejumo Kabir, we laughed over some events in the courtroom and reflected on some national issues, essentially the Amotekun kerfuffle. It was in high spirit that we left the court premises after some discussions with our legal team ready to fire back with a detailed response to the writ of summon.

What next? Amala joint. The dose of amala was to prepare us for another journey to the zonal headquarters of the police the following day.

A Tuesday for the police

The appearance in the zonal headquarters of the police in Osogbo, Osun State capital, was sequel to a 2019 report exclusively published by PREMIUM TIMES. It was about one Abdulrahman Habeebulah who admitted to have slept with a 16-year-old girl. He claimed to have married the teenager but interviews and investigations by PREMIUM TIMES proved otherwise.

This paper also reported how the cleric apologised to the victims family and the controversies that led to a settlement out of court. None of the updates, from the beginning to the out-of-court settlement, went without being reported. In fact, when he was rearrested by police in November 2019, this paper updated the public.

Nonetheless, in December 2019, five months after the report, I got a call from one Sergeant Adisa, a police officer in the zonal headquarters. I initially doubted the credibility of the call because all he provided was there is a petition against you sir and we need you to appear in our office.. The caller could not answer the question of who wrote the petition and the content of the allegations.

I had written so many controversial reports that the aggrieved party may have loved to petition me. So, I needed a background information of the petition for me to know the right documents and materials to go along with. Sergeant Adisa promised to call back but did not.

The next I heard was on January 8. The family of the victim contacted me through the uncle of the victim, Muyideen Oloyede, that morning. I was told that the police had claimed that I did not respond to the calls and as such written the Vice Chancellor of my Alma Mata.

I requested that the phone was passed to an officer, identified as Mr Tanimola, and we fixed the next Tuesday for the meeting.

Premium Times journaists, Alfred Olufemi and Adejumo Kabir after signing out of the police station

It was around 1:00pm when I reached the premises of the police headquarters in the company of my colleague, Mr Adejumo. I wore the most civil and humble countenance following telephone calls from friends and colleagues who had advised that I thread softly. But in the real sense, have I committed any crime in reporting atrocities? Indeed, that shows how journalism has been criminalised in Nigeria.

After signing in at the station, we were welcomed by Sergeant Adisa and Mr Tanimola.

When given a copy of the petition, I could spot a lot of factual errors. That was after we schooled the police officers about the process of sending such summons. If not for my patriotism and PREMIUM TIMES commitment to transparency and accountability, I would not have honoured the invitation because of the flawed process.

It should be noted that the petition was against the uncle of the victim, Premium Times newspaper and myself. And guess who the complainant is? The embattled Islamic cleric. His major claim was that he never granted any interview with me. I laughed.

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After recording my statement and answering questions from the bullying sergeant Adisa, we proceeded to some senior officers offices. It was a confrontation with all parties- the family of the victim, Mr Abdulrahman and myself. This was the moment I was proud of ethical journalism. Mr Abdulrahman contradicted himself even in his narration.

He was disturbing me. I told him to stop calling me. I gave him some numbers to call these were the words of the cleric, who earlier claimed that his reaction was not sought in some of the reports. He tried to shift the focus of the police from the rape allegations by saying It has been settled out of court.

The senior police officer cut in. We cannot treat the smoke without treating the fire, He countered the cleric.

At a point, Sergeant Adisa shut my colleague up when trying to make some clarifications. We did not flinch. Not even for a second.

It was almost getting dark and it occurred to me that I could spend the night in police custody. But I dismissed the thoughts; because, except for Sergeant Adisa, every other cop was civil.

After minutes of heated arguments, we were transferred to the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). The officer who appears to be in his mid-fifties also sought every parties side of the story. He promised that the newspaper will be contacted officially as against the error of the police officer handling the issue initially. A final meeting was however fixed for January 30.

I will go through all the documents before me and all you have said, the DCP assured.

The time was around 6:30 p.m. and the night was really drawing closer but before we reached out to the door, the Officer-in-charge of the legal unit asked a question. How old is the girl in question? he asked. Mr Oloyede swiftly replied sixteen!

The legal officer, who listened to all the narrations with rapt attention, beamed a smile when the cleric alongside his lawyer countered Mr Oloyede saying the age of the girl is contentious. Perhaps, he was aware of the legal implication of sleeping with a 16-year-old.

If the invitation was to be a stage play, at that point, we drew the curtain. It took me less than five minutes to sign my bail documents and was released by the police officers. I was tired. Unarguably, it was really a hectic day. As we were about to leave the premises, I whispered to my beloved friend; The truth is bold. He could not agree less owing to our responses to the questions we were asked at the police headquarters.

We then left the police headquarters. There were more stories to report and more investigations to conduct.
CPI (M) leader Yousuf Tarigami seeks clarity on de-radicalisation camps

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19: CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami demanded that the Union government come clear on the de-radicalisation camps operating in India and alleged that they were "illegal and unconstitutional".

The central government should make it clear where these camps are operating, Tarigami, who is here in connection with the three-day CPI(M) central committee meet, told reporters.

He also said that "radicalisation should not be associated just with one religion and the fact is it is taking place in other religions also".

Need to confront ideology of radicalisation: Gen. Bipin Rawat

The Marxist leader was responding to the January 16 disclosure by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat that de-radicalisation camps were operating in the country as "it was necessary to isolate people who are completely radicalised".

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

The General had said girls and boys as young as 10 and 12 years are being radicalised in the Valley, which he described as a matter of concern.

"What the General said goes beyond his brief and the BJP government must clear its stand on the issue", Tarigami, a former MLA from Kulgam said, adding that it was shocking to hear such comments.

Operating such camps is "illegal and unconstitutional" and the Centre must answer where the 400 camps are operating, he said.

"There are already a lot of jails, camps and police stations in Kashmir. Why do you need more concentration camps? If at all there is radicalisation in Kashmir, it is because of disillusionment," Tarigami said.

He said the de-radicalisation camps were completely "un- Indian" and the assumption that they are needed for a "certain age group in one area of the country was clearly a fantasy".

"Whatever unilateral decisions were taken by the Centre on August 5 (2019) is bound to increase disillusionment.

Radicalisation in India, An Exploration: Where the author asks bold questions

Instead of taking confidence building measures, they are talking about taking boys as young as 10 and 12 years to these camps, which is unfortunate," he said.

Tarigami, who was the first politician to meet the press after the abrogation of Article 370, said the prevailing crisis in Kashmir needs a political response and not deradicalisation camps.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 10:29 [IST]
Braving cold weather, over five crore people joined hands at the call of chief minister Nitish Kumar to form human chain across Bihar to champion the cause of environment as part of the Jal Jeevan Hariyali campaign on Sunday. On the occasion, messages about de-addiction and against child marriage and dowry were also spread.

Kumar, during his address at historic Gandhi Maidan in Patna, said that the targeted length would certainly be achieved due to reports of enthusiastic participation from all the districts, but the exact figure would be announced later by chief secretary.

However, later in the evening, chief secretary Dipak Kumar told media persons after gathering information from all the districts that the event evoked greater participation than expected and turned out to 18034-km long involving 5.16 crore people. This way, Bihar has made history with the longest ever human chain in the world, he added.

Though Opposition parties mostly distance themselves from the event and criticized it as extravagance, all the BJP leaders, including state president Sanjay Jaiswal and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, the entire state cabinet, Bihar Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Legislative Council acting chairman Md Haroon Rashid and many others joined the human chain. Some MLAs of the RJD were also seen in the human chain, disregarding the party stand and indicating their likely shift in the election year.

Waterman and Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Rajendra Singh and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) country head Atul Bagai were also present along side the Bihar CM to lend their support to the environmental campaign. The Waterman said that the campaign was a novel initiative of Nitish Kumar, as the cycle of crops is directly related to cycle of rain. His organisation Tarun Bharat Sangh also honoured Kumar.

The chief minister said that it was the people of Bihar who deserved the honour for such a spirited participation. He said the challenges of climate change were manifesting in more ways than, viz. erratic rainfall, rising temperature, frequent lightning strikes and fast depleting underground water and forest cover in the state as well as other parts of the globe.

We have to make efforts together to face this challenge to secure a better future for coming generations. I am happy that I witnessed tremendous spirit among the people for the environment cause during my yatra. It has been named Jal Jeevan Hariyali, because life cannot be examined without water and greenery, the chief minister said at the main function, organised at the historic Gandhi Maidan, where school children, men and women assembled early morning. Choppers also hovered over Gandhi Maidan to take pictures and drones were put at different locations in the state capital and major towns to capture the attendance of people in the event.

Kumar said that while the government would work in mission mode, societal participation was more important to spread the message of spreading green cover and water conservation so that ecological balance could be maintained in the state and the message could reach across the globe. We started the campaigns on social issues in 2017 and it will only grow in the years to come. We have to encourage everyone to be part of it, the CM added.

Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said that the historic event was not just a human chain, but a combined resolve of the people to join hands for the issue of climate challenge. The government has earmarked Rs 24500 crore to realise the objectives of the Jal Jeevan Hariyali campaign, which will include plantation of nine crore saplings in the next three year. Bihar is the first state to make such a determined effort to tackle the environment challenge with peoples participation, he added.

BJP state president Sanjay Jaiswal said that there was no reason for the opposition to criticise a non-political campaign. This is for our children so that they also get the pristine environment that we had got in our childhood. If the opposition parties want to oppose everything, it is their wisdom, he added.

This was the third human chain since 2017, when it was formed for the first time to champion the cause of prohibition. The very next year, another one was formed against child marriage and dowry, which have high prevalence in the state.

Length of human chain

2017  Estimated 11000 kms

2018 - Estimated 13500 kms

2020  Expected 16351-kms

People involved: Estimated 4.27 cr

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Berlin: Germany is hosting a UN-led conference with world leaders in the hope of resolving Libya's years-long conflict, less than a week after similar talks in Moscow failed to yield significant progress.

The summit follows a flurry of diplomacy aimed at trying to get the leaders of Libya's warring factions - internationally recognised prime minister Fayez al-Serraj and rival commander Khalifa Haftar - to return to the table. It was not yet clear whether they would attend.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are among those who have confirmed their attendance.

Russia has expressed hopes that the Berlin talks will cement a ceasefire already negotiated last weekend for the war-torn North African country.
For the first time in the UK, a major monographic exhibition of the work of influential Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi, will open here in April. Image Source: IANS News

For the first time in the UK, a major monographic exhibition of the work of influential Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi, will open here in April. Image Source: IANS News

For the first time in the UK, a major monographic exhibition of the work of influential Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi, will open here in April. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 19 : For the first time in the UK, a major monographic exhibition of the work of influential Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi, will open here in April.

At a time when women artists were not easily accepted, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593-1654) was exceptional. Her career spanned more than 40 years and she gained fame and admiration across Europe, counting leading rulers among her patrons. She was the first woman to gain membership to the artists' academy in Florence.

Although Artemisia was greatly admired during her lifetime, she was essentially rediscovered in the 20th century. Certain elements of her biography - particularly her rape as a young woman and the torture she endured during the trial that followed - have sometimes overshadowed discussions about her artistic achievements, but today she is recognised as one of the most gifted painters of the Italian Baroque period. Her art and life continue to inspire novels, films, documentaries, musical and theatrical productions.

Presenting around 30 of her works from both public institutions and private collections around the world, the exhibition will feature an early signed work "Susannah and the Elders (1610) painted when she was just 17.

Her last-known painting, of the same subject, dating from 42 years later, will also be included in the exhibition.

The exhibition is arranged broadly chronologically, starting with Artemisia's training in Rome, where she learnt to paint under the guidance of her father Orazio.

It will include one of the undoubted highlights of the exhibition, the two versions of Artemisia's most famous and iconic composition of "Judith beheading Holofernes" (one about 1612-13 and the other about 1613-14). In this depiction of female determination over brute strength, Artemisia spares us none of the gore. Blood streams down the white bedsheets as the Assyrian general Holofernes writhes under the weight of Judith's maidservant. Blood spatters Judith's clothes as she grasps the sword with one hand and pulls his hair with the other, a look of determination on her face. The visceral violence of these paintings has frequently been interpreted as Artemisia taking revenge in paint, translating onto canvas her own experience of physical attack.

Artemisia had enormous gifts as a storyteller and she brought an unprecedented, female, perspective to traditional subjects, many of which are drawn from the Bible or ancient history. Her paintings treat well-known themes often featuring female heroines - Judith, Susannah, Cleopatra, Lucretia - and Artemisia was able to get under the skin of her protagonists with astonishing sensitivity and truthfulness," the National Gallery said.

The show's curator Letizia Treves said, "Artemisia is an inspirational figure of resilience and unbowed creativity in the face of exceptionally challenging odds. I hope that this exhibition will bring Artemisia's artistic achievements to the fore, so visitors can fully appreciate what a talented painter and extraordinary woman she really was".

The inspiration for the at the National Gallery exhibition is its recent acquisition of Artemisia Gentileschi's Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria (about 1615-17), the first painting by the artist to enter a UK public collection.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)
Four farmers were seen climbing a cell tower to protest against the issue of having three capitals in Andhra Pradesh. The idea has been heavily opposed, especially by the farmers, who have been holding protests and march rallies against the decision. The protesting farmers said that they donated thousands of acres of fertile land for Amaravati hoping that their future generations will reap benefits of the capital.
It seemed to be the perfect solution for vegans who want the taste of parmesan but without any dairy product.

But the cleverly named ParmeSans has incurred the wrath of Italian cheese-makers who jealously guard their trademark name.

And after the Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano threatened legal action, British artisan vegan cheese company I Am Nut OK has been forced to change the name.

UK firm I Am Nut OK' faced legal action after calling its grated Italian-style product Parmesans - despite not having any dairy products. The Consortium of Parmigiano Reggiano threatened legal action in an effort to protect the name Parmesan, which is guaranteed under EU protected designation of origin rules

The cheese has legal protection under European law, meaning only Parmigiano Reggiano PDO (protected designation of origin) cheese can be sold as parmesan in Europe. The same legislation applies to products from Melton Mowbray pork pies to champagne.

I Am Nut OKs product is now called Italian Grated Cheese Alternative and its label reads Oh, Grate! Alternative to a certain cheese we cannot mention.

On Twitter, the East London company said: Italian Consorzio for Parmigiano is trying to sue us for using the word ParmeSans. They want us to immediately stop selling our product, destroy all on shelves and pay them for the legal fees for sending us this letter. Now, are you for real?

Their cheese alternative is made from cashews, yeast, Himalayan salt, garlic and truffle oil.

A statement from the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium details how the counterfeit jars in question were discovered in Selfridges in the days preceding the Christmas holidays, adding that it intervened to eliminate the sale of an illegal product.

It argues that the use of ParmeSans  would tarnish the Parmigiano Reggiano name... as well as creating confusion for customers.

Established in 1901, the consortium carries out 2,000 inspections of parmesan products a year and operates in 27 countries. Its Parmigiano Reggiano cheese can be produced in only five places in northern Italy: Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Mantua.

The UK imported 6,940 tons of Parmigiano Reggiano in 2018.

Consortium president Nicola Bertinelli said: This shows us it is possible to fight and win against cases of illegitimate branding. The consortium monitors these cases on the field daily and will continue to do so.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has questioned the need for Indias new Citizenship Act that fast tracks citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from three countries and said people within India are facing many problems because of the law.

Hasinas comments, made in an interview with Gulf News newspaper, mark the first time the Bangladeshi premier has publicly spoken on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) that has created considerable disquiet in Bangladesh. Three Bangladeshi ministers have called off their visits to India after the CAA was passed by the Parliament.

We dont understand why [the Indian government] did it. It [CAA] was not necessary, Hasina said during the interview in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi.

ALSO WATCH: Impact of CAA-NRC on India-Bangladesh relations | WorldView

She said there has been no recorded reverse migration from India. No, there is no reverse migration from India. But within India, people are facing many problems, Hasina said.

There was no immediate response from Indian officials to Hasinas remarks.

The CAA speeds up the process for granting citizenship to members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian minorities who fled Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan because of persecution before December 2014.

Bangladeshi leaders have expressed annoyance at being clubbed along with Pakistan in the law. The external affairs ministry has clarified that persecution of minorities occurred in Bangladesh before Hasinas government came to power.

About 10.7% of Bangladeshs population of 161 million is Hindu. Bangladeshi politicians and experts have also expressed concerns that Indian Muslims unable to prove their citizenship could seek shelter in Bangladesh.

Hasina also acknowledged that the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) were Indias internal matters.

[Still], it is an internal affair, Hasina said. Bangladesh has always maintained that the CAA and NRC are internal matters of India. The government of India, on their part, has also repeatedly maintained that the NRC is an internal exercise of India and Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi has in person assured me of the same during my visit to New Delhi in October 2019.

The implementation of the NRC in Assam and repeated comments by a section of the BJP leadership that all illegal migrants would be deported had first hit bilateral relations last year. Hasina raised the issue of NRC during her meetings with Modi in New York in September and in New Delhi in October. The problems were exacerbated after the passage of the CAA.

However, Hasina contended the India-Bangladesh relationship is currently at its best, with cooperation in a wide spectrum of areas.

She highlighted concerns with Myanmar, from where 1.2 million Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh and are currently living in camps in southeastern Coxs Bazar.

The Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and the solution lies with them. But unfortunately, Myanmar is yet to take any meaningful step to address the core concerns of the Rohingya [for their] safe and dignified return. Two repatriation initiatives [so far have] failed as not a single Rohingya wants to go back voluntarily. It revealed that Myanmar did not succeed in creating an environment conducive for repatriation, she said.

Bangladesh cannot indefinitely shoulder the burden of providing for more than a million refugees, she said. If the problem persists, it may seriously affect the security and stability of the region. [This is why the] international community should remain [engaged] with the Rohingya issue until it reaches a sustainable solution, she added.
SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Time is the best healer, they say. Not for Shadi Lal, 58, an ayurvedic practitioner in Jammu.

Lal was among the first Kashmiri Pandits to flee the Valley 30 years back after waves of militant threat swept the frigid plains and mountains of Kashmir.

Originally from Tangwari Payeen village in Baramulla, Lal, 28 then, and his family boarded a hired a vehicle for the long journey to Jammu, where he still lives.

We left for Jammu in the early hours of January 18 and safely reached here in the evening, he said.

Lals family was told by officials supervising relief camps that they would have to stay in the camp for 15 days after which they would be shifted back to the Valley.

Days turned into months and months into 30 years and they continue to live in Jammu as displaced people.

We are on the verge of losing our identity and culture. We have been at the crossroads for three decades and our fate has not changed for the good, he said.

Ashok Pandit breaks down while remembering the past. | (Photo | EPS, Arun Kumar)

Ratan Pandit, another of those who fled the Kashmir Valley in the early days of the exodus, shares Lals pain. Living in Greater Noida, Ratan from Handwara said life changed overnight for him and his family.



We fled to Srinagar in a food supplies truck which had gone to deliver ration to the Army. There was coal in the truck. By time, we reached Srinagar, we could not recognise ourselves. From there, we went to Jammu. At that point, the only thought was we should remain alive. We fled with some gold, Rs 20,000 in cash and our documents, he recalled, his eyes welling up.

The exodus of Pandits in 1990 is an event nobody can forget. The day is etched in our memory, said Ratans brother, Ashok.

Ashok recounted the harmonious relationship he shared with his Muslim neighbours, how he farmed on the land adjoining his three-storeyed house and the variety of trees in Handwaras agriculture department.

Those were the days of abundance. After we fled to Jammu, my father refused to stay in the refugee camp. Every day was a struggle. We lost our land and with it our identity, he said.

As he is still enrolled as an employee with the agriculture department, he draws a salary but he has no office to go to.

On their eight-floor flat in Greater Noida, his wife, Sunita Raina Pandit, said life in their current home felt null and void, one without roots.

A house without a courtyard is not a home, she said. Lals voice quivered as he recalled the death threats from militants and the anti-India venom pouring out from loudspeakers. The fear finally sunk in when militants targeted innocent people.

The fears increased after our neighbours expressed their inability to protect us against the militants and advised us to leave.

I used to treat people free of cost but a rumour spread that I could identify the militants. On January 16 a vehicle full of militants came and my mother asked me to run. I spent the whole night on a tree. That is when we decided to leave the Valley forever, Lal said.

Our community will become extinct

Life for the migrants in Jammu has been tortuous.

We had no money and could not afford a rented accommodation, recalled Lal, who lives on Rs 13,000 in relief money, which the government provides to about 21,000 migrants in Jammu camps.

Our lot has been pitiable. My son suffered a paralytic attack. The death rate in camps is high while the birth rate has hit rock bottom. That Pandits have still managed to hang on to traditions is because they are resilient, he said, adding: If we dont return the community will become extinct in no time.

According to Lal, who is the president of the Jagti Tenant Association, many migrants have lost their mental balance as we were not used to the hot temperature in Jammu.

Surinder Bhat, 47, a contractor, fled Kupwara for Jammu after repeated threats.

We arrived in scorching heat in March 1990 and then moved to a tent in Purkhoo. My father and mother would yearn for a home, Bhat said.

Bhat supports the Centres initiative to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley and other places.

Our land and property have been encroached upon. Those who occupied them also sold portions of our property.

To reclaim it would be foolhardy and it would reopen old wounds, besides confrontation with locals. It would be better if the government provides us separate colonies in Srinagar, he said.

Shivering Valley



Cold wave conditions persisted in Kashmir and Ladakh on Saturday, with the two places witnessing sub-zero minimum temperatures that led to frost formation on roads and caused inconvenience to motorists. Gulmarg was the coldest place in Kashmir with a minimum temperature of -11 degrees Celsius.
We have seen real time effects of dumping plastic into the ocean on its aquatic life. Turtles and fishes trapped in polythenes, seals trapped in frisbees are but a few such examples. But not just dumping plastic but other human operations are also having a dangerous impact on sea life.

According to new research from the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Hawai'i Manoa, millions of sharks are suffering in pain as commercial fishhooks embedded in their skin without any means of getting them out on their own.

Sharks

According to the research the fishhooks embedded in a shark's skin or mouth can remain there for several years and lead to major health problems, including internal bleeding and necrosis.

This is a problem that likely affects millions of individual sharks across the world's ocean, Carl Meyer, an associate researcher at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, told Newsweek.

Reuters

He further said, "In most cases, the fishers do not want to catch sharksthe sharks are simply attracted to the same bait as target species, or to the hooked target species themselves. If hooked, sharks often break or bite the line, or are cut loose by fishers without them removing the hook. After these interactions, sharks may swim away with hooks embedded in their stomachs, throats, mouths or externally around the jawsor elsewhere on the bodyand may also be trailing line from those hooks.

Hooks can interfere with shark feeding, and fishing lines trailing from hooks can wrap around fins and cut off circulation to the fins themselves, causing necrosis, according to the reports.

New Atlas

Solution? Meyer recommends shifting from stainless steel hooks to carbon steel hooks, the latter is supposed to fall off sooner.

He said, Switching to the use of non-stainless hooks is not a panacea but will help to reduce impact by decreasing the time required for sharks and other animals to shed embedded hooks.
Two explosive eruptions in quick succession of volcanoes along the Pacific basin's "ring of fire" have captured global attention lately.



They were powerful reminders of the awesomely destructive and generative processes that have been shaping the Earth's surface for billions of years.



But for Russian scientist Ivan Koulakov, such eruptions also drive home the importance of his and other scientists' work monitoring events in one of the world's most active volcanic regions: the Kamchatka Peninsula on Russia's Pacific coast.



Squeezed between the Asian landmass and the Pacific basin, Kamchatka is home to bitter cold and ice as well as over 300 volcanoes, dozens of them still active.



Koulakov is a vice director of the Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics in the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as a geophysicist and seismic tomographer. He and his colleagues have been working for years to deploy monitoring stations in remote and perilous areas there, analyze data that might offer clues to future eruptions, and spread the word within the global community of volcanologists and officials responsible for public safety in volcano-prone places.



Just last year, they announced the "reawakening" of a long dormant stratovolcano -- the tall, steeply conical type with a crater on top -- on Kamchatka known as Bolshaya Udina. "We found an active magma chamber which may produce an eruption, and if there is an eruption it could be quite big, even catastrophic," Koulakov told RFE/RL on January 16.

He stressed that the probability of such an eruption at Bolshaya Udina was very low.



Such reawakenings can be particularly large, he said, and likened the potential fallout from a Bolshaya Udina eruption to Mount Vesuvius's destruction of Pompeii and other Roman cities in A.D. 79.



Bolshaya Udina is part of what's known as the Klyuchevskoy Volcano Group (KVG) comprising 13 volcanoes, a handful of them particularly active over the past decade or two.



The volcanoes of Kamchatka were listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

A major seismological project involving Russian, French, and German researchers in 2015-16 gathered detailed readings from 83 seismographs scattered across some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet on Kamchatka.



Then, in 2018, Koulakov and researchers from Egypt and Saudi Arabia installed four seismic-monitoring stations to closely watch Bolshaya Udina. It took Herculean efforts to even get the monitoring stations into place, with the help of a rich Russian and his helicopter, after bad weather and a shortage of funds threatened the project.



But the stations proved crucial to detecting increased seismic activity -- faster longitudinal waves and slower transverse waves -- that indicated a shared magma chamber with a volcano that had erupted decades earlier was feeding Udina.



"Not all seismic unrest causes eruptions, but all catastrophic eruptions were preceded by stronger seismic unrest or activity," Koulakov told RFE/RL. "Their probability of a catastrophic eruption is not very high, but we must be ready."



Other "ring of fire" volcanoes have been busy more recently.



The two major eruptions much farther south in the past six weeks -- in New Zealand and the Philippines -- drove home the importance of preparedness.



On December 9, a buildup of steam and volcanic gases burst through the rocky crust of Whakaari/White Island in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty, killing 20 people and spewing steam, ash, and cinder nearly four kilometers into the air.

A month later, on January 12, the volcano that sits inside Taal Lake on the Philippine island of Luzon erupted violently, with volcanic lightning going kilometers into the sky and sending ash as far away as the capital region.

Taal's last major eruption was on the same date in 1977, and fracturing, bulging, and other possible precursors to an eruption have sporadically raised alert levels at Taal since then.

Kamchatka similarly sits on a sort of "conveyor belt" of subduction that plays out over millions or hundreds of millions of years, Koulakov says.



But he dismisses the notion that volcanic activity along the "ring of fire" in, say, New Zealand, hints in any immediate way at looming activity 10,000 kilometers away on Kamchatka. They are too far apart to affect each other mechanically, he says.



Precursors to eruptions can vary significantly from site to site, but also from one eruption to the next. They can include quakes and underground rumblings, fissuring and other visible deformations, rises in thermal activity through geysers or fumaroles, increased underground heat flows, and the release of sulfuric and other noxious fumes, to name a few.

At least five Russian volcanoes have erupted in the past decade or so.



Klyuchevskoy, the highest peak on the Kamchatka Peninsula, has been active for over 300 years. It has erupted at least five times since 2007.

Others include Tolbachik, Shiveluch, and Kizimen.



Another Kamchatka stratovolcano, dubbed Bezymianny (Unnamed) in a nod to its obscurity over centuries of inactivity, was considered extinct until it awakened in 1955. It blew its peak in 1956, sending a 15-kilometer ash plume into the crisp, spring air and leaving a gaping caldera behind.



Bezymianny has erupted nearly every year since.



Koulakov was part of a project to mount monitoring equipment around Bezymianny in 2018 just before another eruption.



He said he hopes to publish some of the resulting data in the next few months.



The information could provide valuable insight to help predict future eruptions in Russia and elsewhere.



Kamchatka is one of Russia's least-populous regions, with about one inhabitant for every 16 square kilometers.

But people and volcanoes are a lot more crowded in some other hot spots, like Indonesia and the Philippines.



"If we confirm precursors of future eruptions [through monitoring in Kamchatka], that can help save lives if it is shared with our Indonesian and Filipino colleagues," Koulakov said.



"It's not very often that we can record in such extreme detail the signatures and precursors of eruptions, so we should share this [information]."



The region farther south -- in the disputed Kurile Islands -- includes more volcanoes that have spewed their tops in recent years.



Raikoke's basalt dome exploded in June, sending ash and fumes 13 kilometers into the stratosphere above the Pacific.
The session was convened to ratify a Bill to extend reservation to SC and ST candidates in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for another 10 year before January 25, Mr Dhariwal said.

Jaipur/New Delhi: The Congress-ruled Rajasthan has decided to bring in a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the budget session of the state assembly beginning on January 24.

Parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal said the Assembly session will begin on January 24.

The session was convened to ratify a Bill to extend reservation to SC and ST candidates in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for another 10 year before January 25, Mr Dhariwal said.

He also said the government is mulling to introduce a resolution against the CAA in the Assembly session.

The Congress is against the CAA and therefore a resolution is likely to be introduced in the Assembly, he said.

Official sources said that the resolution is likely to be introduced on the very first day of the session.

Kerala and Punjab have already passed the resolution to step up pressure on the Centre against the amended law.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Sunday said that the states ruled by his party would consider bringing in a resolution in the Assemblies against enforcement of the CAA.

Anti-CAA protests will continue: Cong

In an official reaction to Mr Sibals comments, the Congress on Sunday said that states have the right to challenge the Centre and cannot be forced to implement the unconstitutional law till the petition in the Supreme Court is decided.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a statement that the CAA is an attack on Indias Constitution and the peoples movement against the Act shall continue courageously and fearlessly.

The Congress assertion comes a day after senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said there is no way a state can deny the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when it is already passed by Parliament.

He, however, later asserted that every state Assembly has the Constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek the amended Citizenship Acts withdrawal, but if the law is declared Constitutional by the Supreme Court, then it will be problematic to oppose it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah have become living symbols of sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism using the instrument of state to attack Indias ethos and its Constitution, Mr Surjewala alleged.

Repeated statements being made by the home minister and Governors forcing the states to implement the CAA are itself preposterous and go against the very concept of constitutional federalism, Mr Surjewala said.

His remarks come at a time when a tussle is going on between the Kerala government and the state Governor Arif Mohammad Khan over the Left dispensation approaching the Supreme Court against the CAA.

Let the BJP government and its Governors not forget that India is a Union of states. As per the established parliamentary practice, states can disagree with the Union and challenge it by way of their constitutional right under Article 131, Mr Surjewala said.
Police in Boston rescued a man from a parking garage in Brighton Friday night as he threatened to jump from the top.

Officers were called to the parking garage at 5 Guest St. around 9:30 p.m. for a report of a person threatening to jump, police said.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located a man on the sixth floor of the garage. The man, who is in his 20s, was on the roof and jumped a fence. He then stood on the ledge.

When officers got closer, the man yelled that he was going to harm himself, Boston police said. Officers did their best to persuade and convince the man to come back over the fence, but when he began to move away from the ledge, officers immediately and instinctively moved in and grabbed him.

The three officers were able to hold on to the man and pulled him safely back over the fence.

The man was taken to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation.
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex step back from royal duties, they are free to choose how they fund their lives as Mr and Mrs Ordinary, an expert has said.

In a statement issued after royal family crisis talks concluded, Harry and Meghan announced they will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring.

The Sussexes had previously expressed a desire to remain as working royals while being financially independent, a dual role thought to be plagued with pitfalls by many commentators.

Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski told the PA news agency that by stepping back, the pair will be free to work without the trappings of the royal family.

They are now Mr and Mrs Ordinary, Mr Borkowski said. Its a significant statement with a significant gesture that they want to live their own lives under their own rules without the HRH title.

It shows they want the freedom to operate as individuals without the protocol, without the baggage of being in the royal family.

Questions have been raised about how they will be funding their lives when they no longer receive public funds, as they will not be representing the Queen.

Mr Borkowski said: Its still going to be difficult, but not having the royal mark they can be more free in terms of what they choose to fund them.

The negative side of that is that they dont have the British Royal Family sheen, but they are powerful A-listers in their own right so theyre going to attract a lot of attention.

Expand Close The Duchess of Sussex launches the Smart Works capsule collection at John Lewis (Mark Large/Daily Mail) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The Duchess of Sussex launches the Smart Works capsule collection at John Lewis (Mark Large/Daily Mail)

Harry and Meghan are unlikely to want to be constrained by a nine-to-five existence, and it is known the duchess sees herself as a business entrepreneur  alongside her other public roles as an actor and womens rights activist.

The PR expert noted that a return to acting was way beyond Meghans ambition and experience after becoming a royal.

With her combination of royalty and Hollywood glamour, Meghan would be highly-prized by any publisher wanting a tome about her time at the centre of the monarchy  or even her thoughts about topics close to her heart, such as gender politics and female empowerment.

The well-paid lecture circuit is also available and may better suit Harry, an accomplished speaker who, with his Army training in leading others and experience of appearing on stages across the world, could become an in-demand motivational speaker.

Expand Close Prince Harry was known as Captain Wales in the British Army (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prince Harry was known as Captain Wales in the British Army (John Stillwell/PA)

Mr Borkowski highlighted that part of Harry and Meghans daily expenses may include their security, which may present more problems than their previous charity fundraising.

I dont doubt that they can raise a lot of money for patronages, for charities and good causes, he added.

Although the pair will no longer receive public funds, The Prince of Wales will also continue to offer private financial support to the couple, expected to come from his 21 million a year Duchy of Cornwall income.

Mr Borkowski added that while the pair will not be constrained by the policies of the royal family, they are still likely to be funded by sources with a positive image.

Theyre going to be significant social and political figures in all sorts of areas related to areas they care about, he said.

Theyre not going to pick up any nasty oligarchs on the way because that would strip them of their credibility, and it will they have a lot of ambition to create good so by being associated with dirty money is going to be difficult.
Weibo post incites social media backlash against Palace Museum - Chinadaily.com.cn

The Palace Museum was driven into a maelstrom of negative public opinion due to a Weibo post on Friday showing a woman had parked a car inside the Forbidden City on a day when the site was closed.

On the afternoon of Jan 17, a Sina Weibo account nicknamed Lu Xiaobao posted four photos and the caption "Playing around in the Palace Museum on a closure day to avoid the flow of people." The four photos showed the Weibo blogger and a friend making different poses in front of a black Mercedes-Benz parked in the corner of the square in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony (Taihemen).

The post soon triggered outrage among netizens. Some netizens demanded further investigation into the incident and a detailed explanation of how people are allowed to drive cars into the Palace Museum, and others expressed disappointment for the failure to protect the site of the world cultural heritage.

The official Weibo account of the Palace Museum replied six hours after the post, confirming the car entered the Palace Museum on the museum's scheduled closure day, and apologized for the oversight.

The reply post received more than 3.7 million likes and the topic "Palace Museum replies to Mercedes-Benz entering" has been discussed 27,000 times and read 130 million times.

The hottest comment of the reply said staff members, as depicted in the documentary Masters in the Forbidden City, ride bikes to work to avoid damaging the route in the museum.

In 2013, the then-director of the Palace Museum Shan Jixiang banned driving in the open area of the Palace Museum to show respect for ancient Chinese culture. He explained driving was also forbidden at Buckingham Palace in the United Kingdom and Versailles in France.

According to Shan, on April 26, 2013, when then-French President Francois Hollande visited the Forbidden City with his girlfriend, their motorcade was stopped from entering. So he had to get off his car and got inside the museum on foot.

From then on, foreign guests have had to leave their cars outside the Meridian Gate and walk into the Palace Museum.

In 2015, Shan said at a forum in Tianjin the Palace Museum is planning to move out all the parking lots inside.

After the discussion on Weibo, Lu explained she was visiting the Palace Museum for an exhibition and was allowed to drive through the Western Flower Gate (Xihuamen).

According to her account on Weibo, she was an employee of Air China. The airline told Beijing News she was a flight attendant, but did not work there anymore.

The woman has since deleted all her Weibo posts.

According to the Beijing News, the owner of the Mercedes-Benz said the blogger was her friend and she was invited to an event at the Palace Museum.

A staff member of the Palace Museum told Beijing News: "We do not accept any tourists on Monday. But there might be some groups with which we have cooperative relationships coming for meetings on Monday, and that might involve some group visits."

They added only staff can drive through the Western Flower Gate, and can only park in areas off-limits to public visits. Parking in the square in front of the Gate of Supreme Harmony is strictly forbidden.

It was the third time the Palace Museum was on Weibo's top search list during the past week, after the offer of a "reunion dinner" during Spring Festival at the Corner Tower Restaurant with a cost of $970, and the subsequent cancellation of the dinner. There has been no further explanation of the issue by the museum.
Sharon Osbourne has had her say on Prince Harry and Meghan Markles decision to step back as senior royals.

The wife of legendary rocker Ozzy believes Markle just wants the celebrity lifestyle and predicts the pair will end up in Los Angeles.

Speaking on US chat show The Talk, Osbourne didnt hold back, but also said the couple should be able to do what they want to do.

Read more: Prince Harry, Meghan to give up 'royal highness' titles

Sharon Osbourne believes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will end up in Los Angeles. (Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images)

She said: "I bet you they end up in LA in no time.

"Meghan wants the celebrity life. Look at the people that were at her wedding. She wants it all.

"They will make a fortune. They have already.

"You knew what you were doing, you got what you wanted, and now you don't like it.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced they are to step back as senior royals. (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)

Harsh words, Mrs Osbourne.

She added: "But it is a new generation. They should be able to do what they want. Its 2020. However, his family are royal, for thousands of years.

"And to respect that family, you go to your family; you tell them how you feel; you say, lets sort this out.

"The Queen has said that within the next 18 months shes going to retire, which means that Harrys dad, Prince Charles will be king. So, you know what, you wait until the Queens retired."

Read more: No more HRH for Meghan and Harry  but what else still needs to be decided?

The 67-year-old also questioned Markles choice of going through life with just her mother around.

She said: And remember one thing, Meghan has chosen to go through life without her family, just her mum. Now, if you alienate your Royal Family, your child will grow up with just you and one grandma. And that is not a good idea for anyone.

Osbourne ended her comments with a further prediction: Shell end up doing something with Oprah and Michelle Obama.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris  Sun, January 19, 2020 16:09 723 48be62e941b44f04afae568c322bcf00 2 News louvre,Museum,travel,destination Free

The Louvre in Paris, the world's most visited museum, reopened on Saturday after being shut down by workers striking over government plans to overhaul France's pension system.

On Friday, hundreds of disappointed visitors had massed outside the Louvre, some hurling insults at strikers who had blocked the entrance.

It was the first time since the strike began on December 5 that the museum had shut completely although it was forced to close some galleries last month.

Union leaders are seeking to widen opposition to the pension reforms proposed by President Emmanuel Macron's government, which have triggered the longest transport strike in France in decades.

Read also: Louvre's record numbers fall as museum tries to limit visitors

The unions are looking for a second wind as the movement starts to flag, with the proportion of striking workers at national railway operator SNCF falling to less than five percent on on Friday.

The overhaul aims to forge a single pensions system from the country's 42 separate regimes, which offer early retirement and other benefits to public-sector workers as well as lawyers, physical therapists and even Paris Opera employees.

Critics say it will effectively force millions of people to work longer for a smaller pension.

The Louvre, which lies near the banks of the Seine, received 9.6 million visitors last year, most of them foreigners including Americans, Chinese and Europeans.

Topics : louvre Museum travel destination
She's no stranger to setting pulses racing. And Paris Jackson has done just that in her latest shoot for AGL shoes.

The 21-year-old beauty flashed her incredibly long and toned legs while wearing a tiny bodysuit.

'So honored to work with the dynamic business savvy sisters vera, sara, and marianna and the company they control thats been in their family for three generations,' Paris captioned the shoot.

Striking a pose: Paris Jackson has sent temperatures soaring in her latest campaign for AGL shoes

Paris opted for a black netted ensemble that allowed her many tattoos to be on show.

The daughter of the late Michael Jackson styled her hair out into voluminous curls for the shoot.

Her glam featured a soft complexion with a sultry cat-eye style shadow to complete the look.

Legs eleven! Another shot had Paris flaunt her long and lean legs in a pair of snakeskin printed peep-toe boots

Showing them off: Paris opted for a black netted ensemble that allowed her many tattoos to be on show

Close siblings: Paris and her brother Prince are the children of the late Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe (pictured 2018)

Another shot had Paris flaunt her long and lean legs in a pair of snakeskin printed peep-toe boots.

Over the holidays Paris was spotted enjoying some down time with her boyfriend, Gabriel, and brothers Prince Jackson, 22, and Prince Michael Jackson, A.K.A. Blanket A.K.A. Biggie, 17, in Rome.

Paris and Prince are the children of the late Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe.

Bigie's mother is unknown after Debbie has denied it's her.

The trio lost their father on June 25, 2009, after Michael suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles and died shortly thereafter.

The 50-year-old had been rehearsing for a planned concert residency at London's O2 Arena between 2009 and 2010.
Hundreds of terrorists have been freed from prison over the past decade, with many allowed to return to the communities where they were radicalised, it has been claimed.

A friend of London Bridge attacker Usman Khan called Mohammed Shahjahan, 34, is now living in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, where he said he wanted to plant bombs.

Kazi Islam, 25, a loyal follower of Anjem Choudary, was allowed to go and live next to his uncle Kazi Rahman, 43, who is also a convicted terrorist, in Manor Park, east London, reports the Sun on Sunday.

In December it was revealed that one in seven Islamist extremists have had their jail time reduced on appeal.

A friend of London Bridge attacker Usman Khan (right) called Mohammed Shahjahan, 34, (left) is now living in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, where he said he wanted to plant bombs

Khan, Shahjahan, Islam and Rahman are four of at least 350 convicted or suspected terrorists to be released from prison since 2012.

Campaigners have slammed the 'woolly liberal judges' who presided over the cases, claiming they are putting public safety at risk.

Shajahan was locked up alongside Khan, who killed two Cambridge graduates on London Bridge last year.

The pair both lived in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, where weekly rallies were held with the purpose of spouting extremist propaganda.

They talked about wanting to plant bombs in pubs in the area, but Shajahan is now free from prison and able to walk the same streets again.

Kazi Islam, 25, (left) a loyal follower of Anjem Choudary, (right) was allowed to go and live next to his uncle Kazi Rahman, 43, who is also a convicted terrorist, in Manor Park, east London

Islam was put behind bars for plotting to kill British soldiers, but he was freed after serving just half of his eight-year sentence.

He tried to groom a vulnerable teenager with learning difficulties and convince him to buy ingredients for a pipe bomb.

The 25-year-old is back in native east London, where he has moved in next to his uncle, also a convicted terrorist.

Plumber Kazi Rahman was jailed for a string of terror offences in 2005 but was later released.

Forty of the 264 fanatics convicted of Islamist-inspired terrorism between 1998 and 2015 managed to have their sentences reduced on appeal, according to the Henry Jackson Society.

Jubair Ahmed, Jalal Ahmed, Ziaur Rahman and Ibrahim Anderson, arrive at Luton Magistrates Court during

At least seven have been jailed again since their release or had to return to prison for breaking licence conditions, including some caught spreading hate online or trying to travel to join Islamic State.

Dr Rakib Ehsan of the Henry Jackson Society, a security think-tank, said in Deceber: 'Lord Justice Leveson's disastrous decision to slash London Bridge terrorist Usman Khan's sentence was far from an outlier.

'For too long, woolly liberal judges have failed to take robust enough action over Islamic extremism.'

Boris Johnson said it is 'repulsive' that someone as dangerous as Khan could be released after only eight years.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman told MailOnline: 'We recently reviewed and extended the tough supervision of terrorists on licence, and our new counter-terror bill will keep them in jail for longer while strengthening conditions if they are released.

'We use a range of deradicalisation programmes for extremists before and after release and work closely with the police and security services to monitor them in the community.'

The Government's new anti-terrorism bill will toughen sentences for 'most' jihadi offenders, with the most serious terrorists given a minimum of 14 years behind bars.

It will also remove the possibility of an early release for dangerous terrorist offenders who receive an Extended Determinate Sentence (EDS).
Patients will have the opportunity to choose family doctor and conclude declaration with the doctor online

Ukraine's presidential adviser Mykhailo Fedorov president.gov.ua

The Ukrainian government is actively preparing for the introduction of the second stage of medical reform in Ukraine; in particular, specialized medical care institutions will be connected to the eHealth system, electronic referrals and an electronic patient medical record will be launched by April 1. This was announced by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov on his Facebook page.

"The eHealth system began to work 2.5 years ago. One of the main complaints of all these years to the system was the lack of a clear and officially confirmed system for protecting patient data ... Today, this problem was resolved," - Fedorov said.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the eHealth system meets security standards, because it received a certificate of compliance with an integrated information security system.

"This is very important also because by April 1, we are actively preparing for the introduction of the second stage of medical reform, in particular, specialized medical care institutions will connect to eHealth, electronic referrals, and the patients electronic medical record will work," Fedorov said.

He also noted that in the future, this will allow to launch useful online services for citizens. For example, the opportunity to choose a family doctor and conclude a declaration with a doctor online, the official explained.

As we reported, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov announced the introduction of electronic passports for citizens.
It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference
Princess Stephanie of Monaco appeared in high spirits as she joined her three children, including eldest daughter Pauline Ducruet, for the 44th International Circus Festival in Monaco.

The royal, 54, oozed style and sophistication as she joined Pauline, 25, son Louis Ducruet, 27, and daughter Camille Gottlieb, 21, for the colourful event in Monte Carlo on January 19.

The mother-of-three, who is the youngest child of actress Grace Kelly and the sister of Albert II, donned a knee-length red coat layered over a pair of smart black trousers as she greeted acrobats and performers at the global circus extravaganza.

Princess Stephanie of Monaco (right) joined her eldest daughter Pauline Ducruet (left) for the 44th International Circus Festival in Monaco

The royal, 54, looked beautiful in a knee-length red coat layered over a pair of smart black trousers as she greeted performers at the event

The princess was joined by her daughter Pauline Ducruet (left), son Louis Ducruet (second from right) and daughter Camille Gottlieb (right)

Princess Stephanie, who is president of the international circus event, teamed her elegant ensemble with a pair of black shoes and a slick red handbag over her shoulder.

The royal, whose dark glossy were styled into a short bob, complemented her look with a pair silver earrings.

Meanwhile Pauline sported an oversized grey chequered blazer over a white T-shirt as she joined her mother and siblings for the celebration.

The young royal teamed her look with a pair of blue jeans and smart black shoes which featured a gold buckle at the top.

Letting her brown locks rest gently against her shoulders, Pauline accessorised her look with a pair of silver watches and silver dangling earrings.

Princess Stephanie donned an elegant red coat as she joined her children for the large circus celebration

The royal, whose dark locks were styled into a short bob, appeared in high spirits as she sat down to watch the show in Monaco

Daughter Pauline sported an oversized grey chequered blazer as she sat down for the event with her mother

The annual international circus festival, which is being held from January 16-26, sees the world's best performers come before an audience to demonstrate their craft.

This year, the festival celebrated the horse which has played a prominent role in circus performances for hundreds of years.

Among the performers at this year's annual festival was Clown Henry Ayala, Duo Vladimir, Clown Elastic and La Troupe Acrobatique de Shandong.

Princess Stephanie, whose father Prince Ranier III of Monaco created the the first festival in 1974, is a patron of the eye-catching show and also helps to oversee the acts that will perform and the choreography.

Pauline smiled at the crowds as she watched the performers take to the stage for the annual festival

The princess, who is president of the international circus event, waved to the crowds
Heidi Schreck's play, What the Constitution Means to Me, has been out and about for a year and a half.

It opened off-Broadway in the spring of 2019 to generally rave reviews. It opened in Los Angeles this week. Theater people, especially the critics, are reliably leftist and so revere any production that trashes America (as does the Los Angeles audience where I saw the play).

It's wretched. The play opens with the explanation that its author, when she was fifteen years old, earned her college tuition by entering contests sponsored by the American Legion. Contestants would give a speech on how the Constitution affected their own lives and then they had to speak extemporaneously on one of the Amendments. Fifteen -year-old Heidi loved the Constitution but as her own family's history of domestic violence is revealed, a great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother, at the hands of brutal men (though not her own father) she blames the Constitution for its lack of protections for victimized women.

Most Americans are willing to say that the U.S. Constitution is not "perfect," but it is more perfect than most others. Schreck contends that the constitutions of 179 other nations are better! She mentions none by name nor does she say whether or not they are enforced to any degree or at all. The middle bulk of the play is about how women, especially black and Native American women, were guaranteed no protections by our Constitution. There is of course some truth to this assertion. But she would have us believe that to this day, women are mere subjects of the state or objects of cruel men rather than fully acknowledged citizens. Clearly, her family's history of violence against women has deeply affected her perspective. Her own mother had to testify against a rapist step-father when she was fifteen because her mother would not.

The author does cite several Supreme Court decisions, including Dred Scott which was indeed a travesty contrary to every word of the Constitution. She also cites Castle Rock vs. Gonzales (1983) which does seem to have been wrongly decided, too. Jennifer Gonzales had a restraining order against her husband. When he kidnapped her three daughters, she went to the police who declined to search for him. The husband then shot and killed the three young girls. She sued the police department but lost in the Supreme Court, the decision ruled that the police were not required to enforce a restraining order! This surely does seem a case wrongly decided. Schreck blames Antonin Scalia. She plays a short recording of him and leftist Justice Stephen Breyer arguing over the meaning of the word "shall." For Schreck, this case indicts not only the Constitution but the SCOTUS. She fails to mention any of the hundreds of cases that have brought greater and greater protections for women, persons of all races, creeds and sexual orientation.

She addresses abortion, of course, and tells the story of her own at age 21. Then she veers into sexual assaults on women. Her statistics are frightening if true: "One in three American women is sexually assaulted during their lifetime. One in four American women is raped during her lifetime. Ten million American women live in violent households. Forty million adult Americans grew up with domestic violence." If these numbers are true, it is a cultural crisis, not a constitutional one. Schreck, like Obama, favors "positive rights," that dictate what the government must do as opposed to negative rights which lay out what the government cannot do. This is perhaps the principal difference between the political left and right in America: The left wants greater and greater power and control over the American people while the right embraces the individual, self-reliance and liberty! The left cares about identity groups, the right about the individual without regard for race, class, or gender.

The author recounts her own experience with a young man while in college with whom she has sex with after only knowing him a few hours because she did not feel safe! She admits she was not raped nor hurt in any way. It is abundantly clear that the family stories of abuse made her somewhat fearful of men. At this point the play seems headed for that tired trope about toxic masculinity. But then it veers off the rails to "Should the Constitution be abolished?" She lures her audience into the drama of her family's grim history, bares her soul and then cuts to the chase. The Constitution is an old, outdated document written by old white man and should be abolished! She presents the proposition as a debate question. Her debate opponent is a fifteen year-old African-American girl who of course supports abolition of our most sacred document. This lovely young actress is of course extraordinarily articulate but her character, like fully two generations of young people, has been carefully taught to hate her own country, to believe in the fantastical hoax of anthropogenic global warming, that this is still a racist, homophobic nation, etc., etc. Like the poll of Millennials the other day, they've been taught that nearly every other nation is better than the U.S. They have been taught that their health care should be free but not that they may have to wait three years for treatment they need. No one has told them that Canadians and Brits who need urgent care come here. They are so mis-educated they think socialism is a good thing. Show them Venezuela or Cuba and their eyes glaze over with ignorance.

At the end of the staged "debate," they select a "judge" from the audience to decide which debater won. Of course, the person they choose from the front row says: "Yes, the Constitution should be abolished!" A plant? Don't know. The Los Angeles crowd of course cheered wildly though there were a few boos. Very few. Throughout the play, there were several obvious hits at President Trump without mentioning his name but certainly not lost on the audience.

The saddest takeaway from this production is the astonishing lack of gratitude! This playwright, who seems to have led a fairly charmed life and has achieved theatrical success at a young age, is stuck; she is focused on everything she believes is wrong with America, especially in the distant past. This lack of gratitude is the single, most destructive aspect of these last two generations and the tenured radicals who have filled their heads with anger, fear (climate hoax), and ingratitude. What is to become of this grand experiment that is America if the academic and media indoctrination mills are not exposed for the malicious misinformation they promulgate in nearly every classroom and newsroom? Cal Thomas may just have the answer: America's Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers....and The Future of the United States.

*An earlier version of this piece misstated the author's name.
North Korea appointed new foreign minister to replace Ri Yong-ho who had served since 2016, News.am reports.

Ri Son-gwon will reportedly be appointed as North Korea's minister of foreign affairs.

Ri has been serving as chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, Yonhap agency reported.
India legalised Islamophobia with CAA in December 2019. Since then, citizens  especially Muslims  across India have organised for the rollback of this and the National Population Register and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens.

Debates about the assertion of identities are unsettling for people like me. When people from the persecuted and marginalised communities  especially women  speak up without alienating themselves from their identities, in this case, Muslims organising as Muslims against the Citizenship (Amend-ment) Act (CAA), they are often patronised or shut down. Our concerns, termed self-serving, elaborate rants, and our assertion of lived realities, ridiculed as identity politics.

The phrase identity politics is to remain in quotes as a reminder that it is often used to discredit marginalised groups reclaiming space in the political discourse; Whether it is dalits asserting against the brahminical hegemony and oppression  the Pasmanda movement, the Muslim anti-caste social justice movement, or now the Indian Muslims organising themselves against the Hindutva regime.

India legalised Islamophobia with CAA in December 2019. Since then, citizens  especially Muslims  across India have organised for the rollback of this and the National Population Register and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens. The three, together, are feared to be laying a legal foundation for pushing the largest religious minority of India towards second-class citizenship.

Much of the participation of Muslims in these protests has been dynamic. Further, like Shaheen Bagh in Delhi, most of these protests are not led by any of the Opposition parties. The unifying factor has been faith. It would be unethical to not acknowledge it.

Such a public assertion of faith has rattled many including MP Shashi Tharoor, who himself doesnt shy away from being vocal about his Hindu identity and has even written a book  Why I am a Hindu. The recent furore on social media over La Ilaha Illallah  the Muslim declaration of faith  where a section of political and academic elites came together to one-up Muslims is rooted in the same prejudice as the one perpetrated by the Sangh.

Much has been said about Tharoor-brand liberal solidarity giving a communal connotation to such chants. Yet, reiterations wont be a lost cause because those who believe in obfuscating identities for the larger good seldom face enough flak for their politics of convenience.

The political elites of all shades  but particularly the centrists, and the liberals  have unabashedly and repeatedly burdened the oppressed  Muslims in this case  with the responsibility of not breaking the solidarities brought together for a common cause. Tharoors prescription being  protest as Indians instead of Muslims against the current fascist regime in India. This suggestion was lauded by many again.

There is no reason for Muslims to shun faith while fighting against the CAA-NRC-NPR as it is inherently anti-Muslim. Let alone fascism, such subsuming of identities is a deeply amoral way to address any form of oppression or persecution inflicted upon those being born and/or choosing these identities.

Also, it conveniently erases all the physical violence that Indian Muslims have been put through: From lynching that has been lost on the memory to the most recent state-sponsored violence that killed at least 25, Muslim, protesters, since December.

The rhetoric and mansplaining of the cheerleaders of the common cause politics notwithstanding, Muslims  especially women like Irena Akbar  have tried explaining the same with an exemplary amount of tolerance and empathy. This, only to be met with responses swinging between patronising sympathy and discomfort for Indian Muslims and disdain for their faith. This also unleashed the worse forms of misogynistic online abuse and Islamophobia.

Such has been the consciousness among Muslims  including the Ulema  about the growing discomfort among the allies, that in the Million March in Hyderabad, people were stopped from raising Allahu Akbar as a slogan.

Promisingly so, some among the Hindus  mostly the disgruntled citizens again  are taking up the task of teaching the rest to sit back and listen  if not agree  as a basic courtesy when extending solidarities.

What the current debate also reflects is the lack of familiarity about Indian Muslims beyond biryani and haleem. While the Hindutva brigade reduced us to puncture-wallahs, even those from the allies found it apt to hold posters about biryani at the protests.

While pop culture indulged in reductive imagery of kurta-clad, topi-wearing, kohl-eyed Muslim men and the women draped in a burqa, a veil often fluttering over their faces; the liberal political elites peddled an idea of Muslim that even several among us fell prey to  the moderate Muslim. The other characterisations often floating around are atheist, cultural, progressive, practising or fundamentalist. The first three were welcome, the moderate Muslim being the ideal for the secular fabric of the country and the rest are to be bulldozed, lest it upsets the Hindu far-right majoritarian conscience.

At the risk of romanticisation, this is perhaps the first time in the past few decades that Muslims, sans polticial affiliation, have organised in such large numbers. As a Muslim, it instils hope that the fascist regime had deprived us of.

For hope, I also look up to music to seek a sense of comfort that academia fails to provide in such times. Nina Simones Mississippi Goddam, a civil-liberties anthem from the 1960s, recently hit too close to home: You dont have to live next to me. Just give me my equality. Everybody knows about Mississippi goddam. I have been humming my own version of it replacing Mississippi with India since December: And everybody knows about India goddamn.

Probably not everyone around knows yet, but as one can see, Muslims are in no mood to give up. Armed with the Indian Constitution written by Babasaheb, Muslims will fight: And, we will give up neither country nor faith.

Ayesha Minhaz is a graduate student at SOAS, University of London, and a freelance journalist based in Hyderabad
This is the unnerving moment an injured young man is repeatedly punched by a riot policeman in Paris.

Mobile phone footage caught the officer striking the man repeatedly as fellow officers hold back protesters outside the Gare de l'est station, north Paris. They can be heard shouting: 'Look - did you see what your colleague did? Disgusting!'

French prosecutors have confirmed a criminal enquiry has been opened into 'violence by a person in public authority' with specialist police leading the enquiry.

The victim and police officer are yet to be named.

The police officer was filmed repeatedly punching the injured young man, who was bleeding from the face, in Paris

Disturbing footage posted on Twitter shows the officer punch the man twice, who is bleeding from the face, before leaning onto his body to hold him down.

Protesters push the police and try to get to the individual to help them as other riot police officers hold them off.

In the clip, protesters can be heard shouting: 'Look - did you see what your colleague did? Disgusting - look what he did! It's disgusting!'

One protester said they thought the assault brought 'shame on France'.

There have been frequent claims of police brutality during more than six weeks of demonstrations and strikes against President Emmanuel Macron's government.

One protester said they thought the attack, captured on video, brought 'shame on France'

On Saturday, Mr Macron's favourite Paris restaurant was firebombed as crowds of anti-government protesters went on the rampage.

A Molotov cocktail was thrown through a window of the upmarket La Rotonde before dawn.

Fire quickly spread, causing extensive damage to the restaurant where Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte famously celebrated his 2017 presidential election triumph.

There were no immediate claims of responsibility, but within hours of the attack thousands of anti-Macron demonstrators were setting fire to other parts of Paris.

Yellow Vests - who are named after their distinctive fluorescent motoring jackets - took part in a march which also quickly descended into violence.

Prosecutors in Paris have said they are investigating a police officer and have opened a criminal case

The bloodied protester is pictured here on Twitter. Reportedly, this was shortly after the attack

There were at least 35 arrests, mainly for public order offences including vandalism and fighting.

It all added up to another horror weekend for President Macron, who is trying to reform France's pension regime in the face of increasingly violent protests.

On Friday night he was evacuated from a packed theatre by armed riot police after a mob tried to reach him.

The major security scare saw the Macrons leaving the Bouffes du Nord in the 10th arrondissement of Paris soon after 10pm.

Video posted on Twitter showed around 30 demonstrators storming the doors of the historic theatre, which is close to the Eurostar railway station in the city.

A presidential source confirmed the evacuation, saying the Macron later returned to the theatre to watch the play - a modernist drama called The Fly.

There have been six weeks of strikes and often violent protests in major cities across France including Paris.

Mr Macron's overall plan is to replace the current system of 42 different pension regimes with a single, points-based system that will be the same for everybody.
By Grace Dickinson, of The Philadelphia Inquirer

On Aug. 8, 1978, MOVE member Delbert Africa climbed out of his basement, and raised his arms to the sky in surrender. The image soon became one of the most iconic photographs in Philadelphia history, as seconds later, police officers were caught on film beating Africa with a helmet and rifle, then dragging him by his dreadlocks. The incident was part of the first armed battle between the Philadelphia Police Department and MOVE, a radical liberation group living at the time in a Powelton Village commune.

On Saturday morning, Africa, 73, was captured outstretching him arms once again, this time as a symbol of freedom. He was paroled from prison after more than four decades of incarceration.

Brad Thomson, part of Africas legal team, broke the news on Twitter. Delbert Africa of the #MOVE9 is free! the Chicago attorney wrote in a tweet. Thomson shared side-by-side images of Africa holding his Christ-like stance in 1978 and 42 years later, after his release from Pennsylvanias state correctional institution, Dallas.

Africa was one of nine MOVE members sent to prison on third-degree murder charges for the death of Philadelphia Police Officer James Ramp, shot during the 1978 standoff between MOVE and the late Mayor Frank Rizzos Police Department. The episode culminated a 15-month-long clash between city authorities and MOVE members, primarily involving health-code and weapon violations.

MOVE was created in 1972 by West Philadelphia native Vincent Lopez Leaphart, who later called himself John Africa and preached an ideology centered on black revolutionary ideas and back-to-nature philosophies. The dozens of members considered MOVE their religion, adopting anti-technology and anti-government beliefs, while taking on issues ranging from police brutality to animal rights.

Members would often stage protests and eventually began to use loudspeakers to broadcast tirades throughout their neighborhood.

In 1977, a federal grand jury indicted 11 MOVE members on bomb-plot charges, after an arsenal of weapons, including 49 pipe bombs and parts, were seized from the group. A year later, the city created an eviction order that ordered police to raid MOVEs Powelton Village home.

Firefighters flushed the house with fire hoses, and police violently removed people. In the end, one shot killed Ramp. Eighteen police officers and firefighters were hurt.

MOVE has always claimed that the bullet that killed Ramp was accidentally fired by police.

Im so happy to have my brother home," Janine Africa said by phone Saturday evening after Del Africas return to Philadelphia. "Its something that they told us would never happen, but I never lost faith that this day would come. The power of righteousness will never betray you.

Delbert Africa is the second to last of the nine incarcerated Move members to be released or to have died while in prison. Janine was released in May. Only Chuck Africa remains locked up.

The standoff was just the start of the contentious relationship that was brewing between MOVE and this city. By 1980, the group had relocated to the 6200 block of Osage Avenue. Neighbors began to complain to the city about trash, the loudspeaker rants, and concerns about child abuse and neglect in MOVEs house. After many contempt-of-court violations, Mayor Wilson Goode and Police Commissioner Gregore J. Sambor classified MOVE as a terrorist organization.

On May 13, 1985, the city flew a helicopter over the groups Osage Avenue home and dropped that bomb that left 11 people dead, including John Africa and Delbert Africas 13-year-old daughter. The entire neighborhood was in ruins, with 61 homes destroyed. City officials were found to have acted recklessly, but no charges were filed.

This photo is a full-frame version of px 15 showing the neighborhood where the compound of the radical group MOVE was located and which was destroyed by fire in Philadelphia on Tuesday, May 14, 1985. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)AP

In an interview with the Guardian, Delbert Africa explained how he responded to the news of his daughters death. I just cried. I wanted to strike out. I wanted to wreak as much havoc as I could until they put me down. That anger, it brought such a feeling of helplessness. Like, dang! What to do now? Dark times.

On Tuesday, Delbert Africa will speak out for the first time since leaving prison. A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Kingsessing Library (1201 S 51st St.). Delberts other daughter, Yvonne M Orr, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to help him re-acclimate and find housing.
Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday left for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020, slated to be held between January 20 to 24 in Switzerland.

Apart from Yediyurappa, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State for Shipping and Chemical and Fertilisers Mansukh L Mandaviya, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Finance Minister of Punjab and the IT Minister of Telangana will attend the WEF, according to an official statement.

Secretary Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Invest India are also a part of the delegation.

Goyal is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with ministers of Australia, South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, South Korea, and Singapore in Davos.

Besides engaging in bilateral talks with the CEOs of various companies, the minister will also attend WEF sessions and round tables on accelerating investments in Indian Railways and attracting global investments in India.

The WEF annual meeting in Davos engages the world's top leaders to shape global, regional and industry agendas at the beginning of the year. The theme of the 2020 meeting is "Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TV Special Forces star Ant Middleton's appointment as Chief Cadet of the Royal Marines' Volunteer Cadet Corps has been condemned by a female police officer he assaulted outside an Essex nightclub.

Friends of PC Katherine Alison told The Mail on Sunday that she remains traumatised by the incident in Chelmsford in 2013 that led to the ex-Special Boat Service trooper receiving a 14-month prison sentence, of which he served four months behind bars.

At the time, the constable thought Middleton had killed her patrol partner, PC Christopher Brooksbank when he body-slammed him on to a pavement. Fearing he would also beat her up, PC Alison sprayed Middleton with CS gas.

Friends of PC Katherine Alison (pictured) said that she remains traumatised by the incident in Chelmsford in 2013 that led to the ex-Special Boat Service trooper receiving a 14-month prison sentence, of which he served four months behind bars

The Mail on Sunday has learned how PC Alison suffered whiplash injuries as a result of the incident and was withdrawn from frontline police duties.

She also subsequently transferred away from Essex Police.

She now serves with the neighbouring Bedfordshire constabulary but still gets anxious patrolling at night in town centres, especially when confronted by drunken men. In a bid to achieve closure, she has asked to meet Middleton.

She told a friend: 'Even today, I'm anxious doing patrols at night. He's no role model. I wanted to meet him and talk it through but heard nothing back.'

Middleton, 39, announced his new position with the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps last week and pledged to pass on his 'knowledge, mindset and experience' to cadets aged nine to 17.

Middleton, 39, (pictured) announced his new position with the Royal Marines Volunteer Cadet Corps last week

The MoS has learned that while other adult cadet volunteers must undergo a strict vetting process, including declaring all criminal convictions, the Ministry of Defence spared Middleton these obligations.

Last night, a senior MoD official said it was not necessary to vet Middleton because he would not be training cadets.

In 2015, Middleton failed to declare he had been jailed while being vetted by TV producers for the hit reality show SAS: Who Dares Wins. Now in its fifth series, the show will be watched by millions of Channel 4 viewers tonight.

Middleton was 'uncontactable' last night, his spokesperson said. PC Alison declined to comment to The Mail on Sunday.
Following the continuation of popular protests mostly in southern provinces, Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi was compelled to resign. Now there is a competition between the Iraqi people who are fed-up from the status quo and Iran-linked parties and militias that pursue to serve the mullahs interests rather than Iraqs.

In this context, around a week ago, the organizer committee of demonstrations specified a deadline for the parliament to specify and appoint a new Prime Minister. The deadline is set for January 20. In this regard, the organizer committee called on people to resume the protests against the corrupt government. In tandem with the committees call, many youths flooded into streets. They blocked main roads and highways in Babel, Qadisiya, Dhi Qar, Meysan, Wasit, Muthanna, and Basra provinces.

Monday [January 20] is the end of the week that the protesters in Nasiriya had specified as a deadline for the implementation of the peoples demands. These demands havent been implemented by the corrupt government. Over the past 17 years, this government always left the demands of the noble Iraqi people unanswered. The people have suffered from tyranny and disasters like assassination, abduction, terrorism, and humiliation of the Iranian regimes allies.

It is worth emphasizing that Iraqi protesters wont back down from their struggle for achieving the rightful demands of the people and will continue the struggle in the squares of honor and dignity. The people demand the overthrow of the sectarian governing system with all its departments, the heads of three branches of power, the dissolution of the parliament and government, and the formation of a National Salvation government The people also demand to hold fair elections under the supervision of the United Nations. They called for ending the rule of Irans mercenary parties who led Iraq into corruption and plundered for the benefit of their masters in Qom and Tehran, the organizer committee announced in its statement on January 17.

Additionally, Iraqi protesters reported that security forces and Iran-backed militias fired tear gas and sonic grenades to disperse demonstrators. Security forces killed two protesters and injured at least 25 others. One of the protesters lost his life after being shot in the chest. Several youths were also wounded in clashes with security forces. Some of the protesters fell in the suffocate state due to breathing tear gas, an activist said.

Unofficial statistics indicate that since beginning Iraqi protests from October 1, more than 400 protesters have been killed and around 20,000 others injured so far. There are some reports about the assassination of organizers and advocates of protests by Iran-backed terror squads, in addition to targeting the outraged people during demonstrations by snipers and live ammunition. The latest assassination related to a 23-year-old female nurse Hoda Khodheir in Karbala. Omar al-Farhan, the director of the Center of War Crimes Registration in Iraq, announced Irans agents murdered Mrs. Khodheir some moments after exiting from the square of the strike in Karbala. This terror committed by militias of Asaeb Ahl-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah [two prominent Irans militias], Mr. al-Farhan added.

On January 18, in a statement, the organizer committee also exposed that militias related to Moqtada al-Sadr have threatened protesters with assassination, abduction, and torching their tents at al-Tahrir Square in Baghdad. Moqtada al-Sadrs militias announced that protesters should leave the square until January 24.

The organizer committee firmly reacted to threats and announced brave protesters wont succumb before the tyranny, corruption, and criminality. Protesters reaffirmed that they will continue their struggle to achieve their rightful purposes and take back their country from corrupt rulers.

Notably, today [January 19] protesters set fire on the portraits of the commander of the now-dead Revolutionary Guards Quds Force (IRGC-QF) Qassem Soleimani and the head of Iran-backed militias (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Both Soleimani and al-Muhandis were on the charge of committing excessive human rights violations against Iraqi protesters. They were killed during a precision drone airstrike on January 3 near the Baghdad international airport. The truth is the Iranian regime received an irreparable blow both in its malign behavior in the Middle East and oppressive apparatus inside the country after the elimination of the head of IRGC-QF. The event was interpreted by protesters in Iran and Iraq as a good sign.

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All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Assauddin Owaisi on Saturday announced that his party will contest from Nizamabad and Bodhan constituencies in the 2023 Assembly elections.

"In the next Assembly elections in 2023, the AIMIM will contest from Bodhan and Nizamabad and will definitely gain victory," said Owaisi in a public meeting in Bodhan.

Cornering ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Owaisi alleged that the ruling TRS party is responsible for BJP's win from Nizamabad in the 17th parliamentary elections.

"TRS is directly responsible for the victory of BJP as TRS candidate and daughter of the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Kalvakuntla Kavitha lost to BJP candidate Dharmapuri Aravind by not putting the required efforts. However, the TRS blamed others for the loss," he said.

"I am asking the TRS whose mistake is it? Who has not worked hard? Our party had worked very hard?" The AIMIM chief asked.

He said that his party is working very hard and giving its best "to maintain the stability of TRS in the state."

Taking a sly dig at TRS MLA Shakeel's picture taken with the BJP MP from Nizamabad a few months ago, Owaisi said, "The AIMIM candidates have no wish to become Minister."

The AIMIM played a major role in the victory of TRS candidates in the past Assembly elections. The alliance of AIMIM and Telangana Rashtra Samiti had almost dissolved the parties, which were contesting in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Bidvest Group of South Africa, which is waiting to sell its 13.5 per cent stake in Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) for a year, has written to the central government, saying prolonged and vexatious litigation by GVK Group has led to huge losses for the company and negatively impacted Indias image as a foreign direct investment destination. Not only has this prejudiced us, it also reflects badly on India as a jurisdiction that is conducive to foreign investment, Bidvest wrote in a letter to the government on January 17.

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The winding, crowded lanes of old Yarkand, an ancient Silk Road town, preserve patterns of life that go back centuries.

Smoke wafts from sputtering grills of lamb and ovens lined with baking flatbread. Clangs ring from a coppersmith shaping bowls with a hammer. Twangs from a dutar, a two-stringed lute, float from a store selling traditional musical instruments. In a dimly lit teahouse, old men in Muslim head caps murmur in conversation.

Sitting on the fringe of the Taklamakan Desert, Yarkand remains a cultural cradle for Uighurs, a mostly Muslim minority in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region. But their way of life is under intense pressure.

Uighurs have for three years endured a sweeping campaign to turn them into obedient followers of the Communist Party, to weaken their commitment to Islam and to shift them from farms to factories. Towns and cities across Xinjiang are surrounded by big police checkpoints that use facial recognition scanners to record people coming and going.

China destroying Uighur burial grounds Show all 6 1 /6 China destroying Uighur burial grounds China destroying Uighur burial grounds Teywizim cemetery in Hotan (before and after) China is destroying burial grounds where generations of Uighur families have been laid to rest, leaving behind human bones and broken tombs in what activists call an effort to eradicate the ethnic group's identity Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A graveyard in Aksu (before and after) An image of a graveyard in Aksu in 2015, where Uighur poet Lutpulla Mutellip was buried and the same view in 2018 and then again in 2019 showing a new park called "Happiness Park" Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds Sulanim cemetery in Hotan (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty

A million or more Uighurs have been sent to indoctrination camps since 2017. Yarkand was decimated by these detentions.

In 2018, this city of approximately 200,000 people was effectively closed off to foreign journalists, with police checkpoints blocking entry by car. Since last year, though, the authorities in Xinjiang have eased up enough that we are now allowed in.

Our visit reveals a town scarred by recent upheavals. Bulldozers encroach on houses in the old town, condemned as slums, to make way for new neighbourhoods. Yet the Uighurs there also appear resilient. They hold onto customs woven from their history as farmers, merchants and Muslims living on the edge of deserts.

Protesters march in support of Chinas Uighurs (Reuters)

We arrive in Yarkand by a morning train from Hotan, a small city 175 miles to the southeast. After some negotiations and hushed phone calls, a police officer and a propaganda official who has hurried to the station allow us to visit as long we agree to be on a train that night to Kashgar, the next city on our journey to see how the Xinjiang region is changing.

A brief taxi ride takes us to old Yarkand as stores and restaurants began to stir to life. We are watched constantly by plainclothes officers, and we limit conversations with residents to brief chats, for fear of bringing them trouble.

Yarkand still offers glimpses of its ancient splendours. The main lane in the old commercial area is dotted with the two-story homes of merchants, faded and cracked. Their wooden balustrades and plaster ceilings are decorated with swirling floral patterns, recalling Yarkands history as a stop on trade routes crisscrossing China, Central Asia and beyond.

Recommended I risked my life getting my parents out of a Uighur detention camp

Yarkand was the capital of an Islamic dynasty, the Yarkand Khanate, which lasted two centuries from 1514. Uighurs credit the Khanate with collecting and refining a revered set of musical performances, the Twelve Muqam. Tombs of the khans lie in a sprawling cemetery here.

On the chief shopping street, knots of women in bright dresses wander into shops selling childrens clothes or debate over sparkling trays of necklaces and rings at jewellery stalls. Portly stall holders lay out piles of dried dates and raisins, or sanzi, a snack of fried dough.

On this journey through southern Xinjiang, places we visited in the depths of the crackdown in 2017 and 2018 seem busier and more crowded now, suggesting that restrictions on residents have eased a bit.

Police checkpoints throughout towns and cities have become less stringent in the past year, and it is easier to move around. In the bazaars, more faces have the weather-hardened features of farmers, suggesting it is easier to travel from villages.

The reasons for these changes arent clear: officials will not offer explanations. The government may have felt more confident after detaining so many people. Or it may have felt it had to ease up a little because the restrictions were suffocating the local economy and tourism, and drawing international condemnation.

Even so, Yarkand remains girded by security. Protective metal grates encase many shops. Cooks cleavers are chained to benches, as police rules demand, to prevent potential stabbings.

The government hopes the security will bring back tourists, and Yarkand has converted a gracefully reconstructed palace of the khans into a gaudy attraction, which doubles as a film and television set.

Chinese culture, Chinese expression, says a sign at the entrance to the building. Inside, visitors are greeted by a billboard portrait of Xi Jinping, the Communist Party leader, waving against a background showing modern apartment buildings.

Some signs of change in Yarkand since the crackdown are subtle. In a dusty park, six barbers wield razors, scraping whiskers from mens faces, occasionally grunting to a customer to stay still or tilt his head.

Not long ago, barbers were in less demand. Beginning in the 1990s, southern Xinjiang experienced an Islamic resurgence. Younger men wore Muslim skull caps and grew beards, while more women took to wearing the heavy headdresses and long dresses common in the Middle East to display their Islamic piety.

The government blamed this resurgence of religion for growing ethnic resistance and violence, including a clash in Yarkand in 2014, when Uighurs with axes and knives attacked a government office and police station and killed 37 people, according to government reports.

Now displays of Islamic faith have virtually all disappeared from Yarkand, and across all Xinjiang, in the wake of the mass detentions and a wave of prohibitions. Most women wear modest headscarves or none at all; only a few old men have beards. Mosques appear closed or largely empty, even at prayer times. Observing Ramadan is officially discouraged. When we stop outside the Juma Mosque, a man scurries out and shoos us away.

Love the Party, Love the Country, the banner above the entrance says. That message is repeated outside other Xinjiang mosques.

The protests are taking place in Istanbul (Reuters)

Not all traditions have disappeared.

Amid the rubble of a demolished lot, residents buy sheep for Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, called Corban by Uighurs. They stare intensely over the local variety of sheep with their extravagantly fat rumps and pry open their jaws to check their mouths. The sheep will be killed and shared for days of feasting.

Restaurants in old Yarkand are a hubbub of multigenerational families who gather around servings of noodles, samsa  baked pastry pockets of mince  and mutton soup. Signs on the restaurant walls repeat the governments call for ethnic unity.

All ethnic groups must bind together as tightly as pomegranate seeds, says one sign seen in most stores.

In a basement-level cafe, Uighur women in their twenties in sunglasses, jeans and bright skirts chatter over sweet drinks. One woman sits beside a small, old man with a white beard, perhaps her grandfather, offering him spoonfuls of ice cream.

Members of Chinas Han majority are an uncommon sight. Yarkand is over 90 per cent Uighur, although Chinese culture and language are spreading. A young girl passes by on the back of an electric cycle, clutching a textbook for learning Chinese - the language at school for Uighur children now.

As we walk around, we wonder if passersby might be former detainees of indoctrination camps or prisons. We watch young men become absorbed in a streetside lucky draw game, shouting or grimacing at the results. We can only guess how many more men would have been around before the wave of detentions.

Government records from six villages in rural areas of Yarkand in 2018 showed nearly 16 per cent of 3,249 adults listed were held in indoctrination camps, prisons or criminal detention centres, Adrian Zenz, a German researcher who has closely studied Xinjiang, says in a recent report.

Near the train station in Yarkand, one indoctrination camp appears empty; the usual cordon of guards has gone. The government says the camps across Xinjiang are shrinking. But other, bigger ones we try to visit across southern Xinjiang are still under heavy guard, suggesting they are in operation.

Old Yarkand may not survive much longer.

Take reform all the way, says a slogan painted on gutted homes waiting to be pulled down.

 New York Times
Faithful to a far-right discourse pinning troubles on the Other, president of Spanish-occupied Ceuta, Juan Vivas of VOX party used the fear of migrants to diabolize Morocco.

Speaking from a city in northern Morocco though occupied by Spain, Vivas criticized the sovereign decisions taken by Morocco to manage the flow of goods on the borders between Ceuta and the rest of the North African kingdom.

Rabat took a series of measures to undermine two autonomous Spanish cities, he said in a total disregard for Moroccos sovereignty over control of its borders.

He afterwards moved to play on the favorite chord of far-right groups blaming troubles in the occupied city on migrants and what he called laxism by Moroccan authorities.

It is shameful to see Spain assign the task of curbing migratory flows to Morocco, he said.

Vivas requested intervention of the central government in Madrid saying the situation in Ceuta was untenable due to pressure by Sub-Saharan migrants including minors.

His statements reflect fear about the untenable occupation of the city which has become more of a liability to mainland Spain.

A tinder box

From smuggling to illegal immigration and extremism, Ceuta- which Moroccans call Sebta- has become a time bomb waiting to explode and often plaguing Moroccan-Spanish ties.

The gray economic activity, detrimental to Moroccan custom revenues and beneficial to Spanish businesses, has made queues a normal scene on the borders with thousands of women especially carrying smuggled goods everyday.

The daily humiliation of Moroccan women on the border who earn their living through smuggling goods on their fragile backs has for long been subject of outcry in Morocco.

The need for an economic alternative would necessarily go through stemming such grey activity and help women to switch from smuggling to decent jobs.

The women smugglers, also called mules, are estimated at some 3,500 who daily cross the border carrying goods ranging from blankets to foodstuff and cosmetics. Some 200 minors also cross daily the Bab Sebta border post, carrying heavy bales of goods and packages on their backs for merchants and retailers in Northern Morocco.

Stampedes by the past cost many lives as thousands line up in an unshaded alley.

Smuggling

Morocco has for long ignored the impact of such smuggling which seems low scale at first although the aggregated impact results in numerous job losses in Moroccan industrial fabric and revenue losses.

The Moroccan economy loses up to 12.5 billion dirhams annually to smuggling originating from the Spanish occupied cities of Ceuta and Melilla while Spain gains 700 million euros in profits.

Moroccan MPs have called recently for the setting up of a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in the northern town of Fnideq in a bid to combat the smuggling of goods and end the ordeal of the mule women, stressing the need to set up economic alternatives in the provinces of Tetouan and Mdiq-Fnideq.

The call came in a report released after a parliamentary fact-finding mission on the situation of mule women
Almost everyone wants to be in some of the most amazing places in the world for vacation or other reasons. There are several beautiful and amazing places around the world that one could visit to have a nice experience, but the problem is finding a perfect place because when one has to consider some important factors before choosing a perfect destination for one's vacation.Transportation and security system, various sightseeing locations present, and favorable weather condition are some of the key factors to consider before choosing a place.

Do you know that choosing the United States will allow you to explore some of the most amazing places around the world? The US has everything needed by every tourist to have fun in the country. There are standard hotels, good restaurants, and other sightseeing locations all around the US that attracts a lot of tourists from every part of the world every now and then.

Since the United States is a big country, one has to plan before leaving one's home country to make the trip easy. There are several cities and charming small towns that one could explore. Therefore, one should have a list of places to visit because one can't explore every part of America in a few days. Below are some of the amazing places to explore when you travel to the United States;

Disneyland Park - this is a popular theme park that is considered as one of the most amazing places in the United States. It is an amusement park with a lot of beautiful amenities and structures that attract a lot of visitors from every part of the world. Disneyland Park is a perfect place to be with your family because every member of the family will enjoy the location. Workers her are friendly and will always ready to help visitors no matter the situation. It is a perfect location to take good pictures as the layout is one of the best around. You will also see a lot of people from every part of the world; thus; do not hesitate to make new friends if possible. Disneyland park is located at 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States.

If you have a plan to visit some of the most amazing places in the United States, then you should plan before time because planning will go a long way in determining how amazing the trip will be. One of the few ways to plan is by getting the necessary documents needed to travel to the United States. ESTA for USA is one of the key documents you should have before traveling to the United States. Since the ESTA it is limited to Citizens of visa waiver program countries, it is your duty to check if your country is among these visa waiver program countries. For applicants who are not eligible for an esta, applying for a visa is the only solution. There are different types of the US visa but as a tourist visiting the US, you will have to apply for the tourist visa. Although it may be hard to secure a US visa, with good plans, it will be easy. Getting the necessary documents needed for a US visa will go a long way in getting a visa because having the right documents and the right story will grant you a US visa. Do not try to lie during your visa interview as this may go brutal because the interviewer will know that you are lying and may lead to a visa denial. Carry out the ESTA usa check before applying for a visa. This may reduce unnecessary spending because if you are lucky to be eligible for an esta, then you may not need the US visa. Apart from having the esta and visa, you should research other documents needed before you can gain access into the US. You should also have it at the back of your mind that you will need a valid international passport that will serve as a mode of identification.

Golden Gate Bridge - this is a suspension bridge in San Francisco, California that serves as a sight attraction. It is one of the top attractions that bring a lot of tourists to California and the United States as a whole. It is a perfect place to take pictures and of course a perfect place to meet other people from every part of the world.

There are several cities that one could explore in the US if one wants to be in some of the most amazing places in the world. There are big cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, with unique spots to be. Therefore, if you want to have fun in the US, then you should consider exploring some of the cities maximally.
WASHINGTON  In the first half of January, Americans saw President Donald Trump at his best.

Trump ordered a Jan. 3 drone strike that killed Iranian terror leader Qassem Soleimani in response to Iranian proxies who rushed the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and killed a U.S. contractor serving in Iraq. It was an appropriate response.

While some critics charged Trump acted impulsively, later news reports presented the image of a disciplined operation ordered only after Iran crossed Trumps unannounced red line by killing an American in Iraq.

Some Democrats have tried to paint Trump as a cowboy itching to rush the United States into war with Iran. They forget the commander-in-chief who, in June, halted a retaliatory strike against Iran for its downing of an unmanned U.S. drone because he didnt want to create as many as 150 Iranian casualties.

Trumps explanations for his decision on Soleimani came up short. Was Tehran preparing an imminent attack on one or more embassies? Doubtful.

But the medias obsession with Trumps often unreliable accounts of why he did what he did serves only to remind voters that the White House press corps puts too much stock in what Trump says and gives too little scrutiny to Irans butchery and Soleimanis role in the death of more than 600 U.S. troops.

In the second half of January, voters will get a look at the other Trumpthe president who allowed his image to be tainted by grifters and kiss-ups who you wouldnt trust to park your car.

In the Ukraine story, the fish rots from the head, as was revealed in the transcript of Trumps July 25 phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, which the president released in September. It was far from a perfect conversation, as Trump maintains.

The loose transcript established that Trump suggested that a vulnerable national security ally in need of military aid (which Trump held up) do opposition research on Vice President Joe Bidens son, Hunter, who was on the payroll of a Ukraine energy company as the then-veep was supposed to be checking corruption in the Eastern European nation.

You can read that sentence again. Its complicated. But you dont need a chart and list of characters to understand that Trump opened the door to people who didnt belong in the room.

Start with his 2016 campaign chairman Paul Manafort. After a trial that laid out how Manafort hid income to avoid paying taxes and faked income to qualify for loans, a jury found him guilty of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose foreign bank accounts.

At the time Trump promoted Manafort, two warning bells were ringing loudly. The first was Manaforts history of making money by representing, as The Guardian reported in 2016, a whos who of authoritarian leaders and scandal-plagued businessmen in Ukraine, Russia, the Philippines and more.

The other was Manaforts willingness to work for free  which signaled his plan to cash in on Trump in the future.

Trumps long-term personal attorney Michael Cohen was such a sleazy operative that he taped a phone conservation with Trump about paying off Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Trump, which he denies.

Cohen is in prison. In August 2018, he pleaded guilty to five counts of tax fraud, bank fraud and campaign finance violations involving hush money paid to McDougal and porn actress Stormy Daniels.

After Cohen turned on Trump the president, as his erstwhile aides have been known to do, the tweeter-in-chief took to calling Cohen a bad lawyer and fraudster.

Yes, Manafort, Cohen, McDougal and Daniels predate Trumps surprise 2016 victory  and reflect his days as a self-promoting real estate wheeler-dealer.

Then what is Trumps excuse for keeping fast-talking Rudy Giuliani as his attorney while Giuliani enlists lowlifes such as Lev Parnas to help him dig up dirt on the Bidens?

In October, the feds charged Parnas and three others with multiple efforts to illegally funnel money into 2018 campaigns. What interests Beltway media, however, is Parnas efforts to prod Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.

Among questionable claims, Parnas told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow Wednesday night, President Trump knew exactly what was going on.

Ukraine Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko told CNN that he doesnt trust a word Parnas is now saying.

Thursday morning White House counselor Kellyanne Conway chided the press corps for treating Parnas like a hero and giving him a platform. Shes right that Parnas is not exactly a credible witness, but that raises the issue: Why was this dubious figure in the Trump orbit?

If Parnas is not worthy to be on MSNBC, how did he rate so much time with Trumps trusted attorney?

January to date has been good to Trump. He took it to Tehran, he signed phase one of a trade deal with China, and the Senate approved the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement by a vote of 89-10. And he risks it all because he hangs around with the wrong people who hang around the wrong people. He didnt take the swamp out of Washington; he brought his own swamp with him.

Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal.com or 202-662-7391. Follow @DebraJSaunders on Twitter.

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A bandh was observed in Shirdi on Sunday against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's statement on the birthplace of Saibaba, a prominent spiritual figure of the 19th Century who has been equally revered by Hindus and Muslims.

However, the Saibaba temple remained open throughout the day with no report of devotees facing any inconvenience even as shops and eateries downed their shutters and vehicles remained off roads.

A former member of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) said residents of Shirdi provided food and water for the devotees visiting the shrine.

He said the bandh will continue until CM Thackeray withdraws his statement on the Saibaba birthplace.

However, Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi Sadashiv Lokhande said that the bandh will be called off after midnight.

Lokhande made the announcement after a meeting with locals on Sunday evening.

He said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the issue.

Representatives from Pathri and Shirdi, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Lokhade and Shirdi temple trust CEO will attend the meeting called by the CM.

The bandh was observed to protest against Thackeray's announcement of grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at 'Sai janmasthan' (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district, nearly 273 km away from Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

The shutdown was also observed in at least 25 villages around Shirdi.

"The bandh was near total. None of the devotees coming from outside faced any problems, as distribution of food, eatables, water was arranged by residents of Shirdi," Sachin Tambe, a former member of the SSST, told PTI over phone.

On Sunday morning, a rally was taken out by devotees of Saibaba and locals around the Shirdi temple.

"The rally started at the Dwarkamai temple. Several devotees hailing the name of Saibaba participated in the rally. he procession passed through Palkhi route around the Saibaba temple. It later concluded at the Dwarkamai temple, located on right side of Saibaba temple's entrance," Tambe, a BJP functionary, said.

The bandh began at midnight, but the devotees were allowed to offer prayers at the temple, officials of the temple trust and Ahmednagar district administration said.

The 'prasadalaya' and the temple kitchen were also open to ensure devotees were not inconvenienced, they said.

Long queues of devotees were seen in front of the 'prasadalaya', breakfast centre and 'laddoo' sale centres of the temple.

"Commercial establishments, shops, restaurants and local transport (autorickshaws and other private vehicles) are closed and a complete shutdown is being observed in the town as well as in 25 villages around Shirdi," Tambe said.

Devotees who made pre-bookings at hotels were allowed to stay and taxi services from the airport to the temple were also unaffected, the district administration official said.

Shiv Sena MP Lokhande had also extended his support to the bandh.

"I am a Sai devotee first and an MP later. I support this protest. Saibaba came to Shirdi when he was 16. He never revealed his caste or religion, so he should not be divided. I am going to speak to the chief minister about the issue," he said.

Tambe said locals of Shirdi didn't have any issue with the development of Pathri village.

"We have no issue with that, let the CM make Pathri of gold. Our objection is to calling Pathri the birthplace of Saibaba, who had never said that he was born there," he said.

Tambe said a meeting of Shirdi locals will be held on Sunday evening to decide on attending the meeting with the CM on Monday, for which he said no official message was received.

The issue of Saibaba's actual birthplace came into prominence in 2017, when President Ram Nath Kovind stated that Saibaba was born in Pathri.

There are many beliefs about the actual birth place of the mystique saint, who enjoys a massive following in India and among Indians abroad.

Residents of Pathri village often cite Saibaba's biography 'Sri Saisachharitra' to claim that he was born in their town.

Referring to the President's reference, Lokhande said, "Some devotees say when President Ram Nath Kovind came here on October 1, 2017 for the inauguration of centenary of Saibaba's samadhi, he said Shirdi was baba's karmabhoomi and Pathri was his birthplace. I went to meet the President along with some Shirdi locals and explained to him about his comments regarding Pathri."

"The President said he had spoken information given to him by officials. He even expressed regret," he claimed.

Lokhande said he would meet Thackeray and try to resolve the controversy over Saibaba's birthplace.

SSST CEO Deepak Muglikar said locals of Shirdi and Pathri, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Lokhande will attend the meeting.

He said the Shirdi Sansthan will show 'Sai Charitra', and other documents to the chief minister.

Pushing the argument that Saibaba was born in Pathri, member of Pathri's Sri Sai Janmasthan Temple trust, Sanjay Bhusari, claimed that ample evidence existed in this regard.

"(Saibaba's disciple) Das Ganu Maharaj had mentioned Pathri as the birthplace of Saibaba in his biography. Periodicals dating 1990s also mentioned the same. The Shirdi Sansthan itself had published documents mentioning Pathri as Saibaba's birthplace. We will show these proofs at appropriate time," he said.

Bhusari accused Vikhe Patil of doing politics over the issue.

"Why Vikhe Patil didn't oppose the file for development of Pathri when he was a minister in the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government?" he questioned.

He said devotees have been visiting Pathri to take darsan of Saibaba's birthplace.

"It was all routine in Pathri on Sunday as well," he said.
New Delhi [India], Jan 20 (ANI): The Supreme Court will on Monday hear the fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya's plea, seeking a stay on the confiscation of properties owned by him and his relatives.



In the petition filed last year, Mallya submitted that no properties other than those related to Kingfisher Airlines, which is facing cases of alleged irregularities, should be attached.

On January 1, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai which deals with offences related to money laundering allowed banks which had lent money to Mallya to utilise the seized assets, Enforcement Directorate (ED) sources had said.



According to sources, the seized assets mainly comprise of financial securities, such as shares.



On July 11, the Bombay High court had dismissed Mallya's petition seeking a stay on the procedure for the confiscation of his properties by a government agency.



A special PMLA court had on January 5 declared Mallya a fugitive economic offender and directed that the properties of the 63-year-old be confiscated. He had fled the country in March 2016 and has been living in the United Kingdom since then. (ANI)


She took classes at both Second City and iO but never felt she truly fit in at either ( I got in trouble at iO for using so much blood, she said). The Hideout always felt like the place where her style of comedy made sense. Its like if you dont fit in at those other places you come here and get to do your own thing or whatever you want to do, she said. I dont know if its because this is a music venue but its kind of punk. Ive seen the craziest stuff on this stage They let you do whatever you want.
Citing the Centres revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has said that Belgaum border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra can be resolved if Union home minister Amit Shah wants.

If Home Ministry can resolve Kashmir issue and abrogate Article 370 then I think this border issue (Belgaum) can be resolved too if Amit Shah wants. Matter comes under Home Ministry, a strong Home Minister who abrogates Article 370...Its a long-pending issue. He should pay attention to this too, Raut said in Belgaum on Sunday, according to ANI.

Belgaum which is currently a district of Karnataka on linguistic grounds is also claimed by Maharashtra as part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency.

Raut said the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka was not about a piece of land, but a fight to preserve Marathi culture and language.

Lakhs of Marathi people live here, theyll follow their language and culture. Id like to appeal to Karnataka CM, that set aside the border dispute, but dont get into language dispute. Ill also speak to CM Thackeray that both CMs should discuss urgent remedies in this matter.

In March 2006, the Maharashtra government had moved the Supreme Court staking claim over Belgaum. A verdict is still awaited.

Marathi people in Belgaum and adjacent areas have been fighting since 70 years, to be included in Maharashtra. Matter is before Supreme Court but it has been sub-judice since 14 years. We will accept whatever the Supreme Court decides, the Shiv Sena leader said.

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Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of China Datang Corporation Renewable Power Co., Limited (HKG:1798) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. I will be using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for China Datang Corporation Renewable Power

The calculation

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 Levered FCF (CN, Millions) -CN790.3m CN323.5m CN482.3m CN650.3m CN811.9m CN956.9m CN1.08b CN1.18b CN1.27b CN1.34b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x2 Est @ 49.09% Est @ 34.83% Est @ 24.85% Est @ 17.86% Est @ 12.96% Est @ 9.54% Est @ 7.14% Est @ 5.47% Present Value (CN, Millions) Discounted @ 14% -CN692.0 CN248 CN324 CN382 CN418 CN431 CN426 CN409 CN384 CN354

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CN2.7b

Story continues

The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 10-year government bond rate of 1.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 14%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2029  (1 + g)  (r  g) = CN1.3b (1 + 1.6%)  14% 1.6%) = CN11b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CN11b ( 1 + 14%)10= CN2.8b

The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is CN5.5b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of HK$0.8, the company appears about fair value at a 8.2% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

SEHK:1798 Intrinsic value, January 19th 2020

Important assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at China Datang Corporation Renewable Power as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 14%, which is based on a levered beta of 2.000. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Next Steps:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For China Datang Corporation Renewable Power, There are three fundamental aspects you should further examine:

Financial Health: Does 1798 have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does 1798's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Are there other high quality stocks you could be holding instead of 1798? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the SEHK every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

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.
Hyderabad: Virasam, the Revolutionary Writers Association, condemned the arrest of Osmania University assistant professor Chinthakindi Kashim on Saturday by the Gajwel police in a five year old case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), and demanded his unconditional release.

The draconian UAPA gives unbridled power to the government to brand any ordinary citizen or activist as a terrorist, said Professor G. Haragopal, convener of the Forum Against Repression, while speaking to the media.

Mr Kashims mother Veeram said, My son is just an assistant professor. He never committed any crime. I want to see my child. She broke down and did not speak further

Mr Kashim is a well-known poet, literary critic and analyst in Telugu literature. He edits and publishes a magazine named Nadusthuna Telangana, he has also published several books including an anthology of poems.

Speaking about Mr Kashims arrest, Virasam state president Arasavalli Krishna, We cannot undermine his 25 years of work which casts light on injustice. He has raised his voice against human rights violations of the poorest and most marginalised communities like Dalits and tribals. He has strongly opposed the undemocratic and autocratic rule of the TRS.

Mr Krishna said Mr Kashim is a first generation scholar and his works on Telugu literature were of great importance. Mr Kashim had recently released Academic Untouchability during the golden jubilee celebrations of Virasam.

He said Mr Kashims name was included in seven FIRs. Neither his voice nor his pen yielded to state terror, Mr Krishna said.

Ms E. Jaya, state vice-president of the Chaitanya Mahila Sangam said, As rights activists are questioning the corruption and human rights violations, the government they are trying to curb our voices by arresting us. As part of this, Varavara Rao, K. Jagan, Devender and two others from Chaitanya Mahila Sangham have been arrested.

Prof Haragopal raised grave concerns over the relentless crackdown on civil society and human rights defenders and the rise of fascism. The way in which Kashim was arrested causes more concern than the arrest itself. The police barged into his residence by breaking the doors. Kashim would have appeared before the police when he was issued a notice. He was arrested in a way to create fear.

Prof. Haragopal added that the police should not enter the university premises without prior permission from the Vice Chancellor, and pointed out that the Delhi police didnt enter the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus though students were being physically assaulted.

In this case, the police circumvented the university rules, he said. The questions asked by Kashim are, in a sense, radical or revolutionary questions. Again and again such questions will be asked by intellectuals coming from marginalised, he said.
Are journalists ethical and do they act in the publics best interest?

The vast majority of Republicans say no, which is an understandable but incomplete perception.

Nearly 80 percent of Republicans believe journalists have low or very low ethical standards and only 30 percent say they have at least a fair amount of confidence that journalists act in the publics best interest, according to a recent Pew Research Center report.

The statistics are flipped for Democrats: Larger percentages believe journalists have high or very high ethical standards (64 percent) and act in the publics best interest (76 percent).

Any objective observer knows organizational media bias exists, if only on the national level. We see it most clearly at Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC  the three leading cable news networks, whose profits have shot up since 2015, according to a Pew analysis of cable news data.

Polarizing media brands have realized it pays to focus on and preach to a large and loyal choir in a journalism marketplace rocked by the failure of digital ads, wrote veteran media critic and syndicated columnist Terry Mattingly in an analysis of factors contributing to news brand polarization.

But are individual reporters the problem?

Are they really conspiring to report fake news?

I dont think that there is a conspiracy to bias the news, said former Daily Caller columnist Matt Lewis, a conservative who now writes for The Daily Beast. But I do think that the kinds of people who go into journalism and where journalism outlets tend to be based has the inevitable outcome of slanting it not even just leftward but in a cosmopolitan, secular way.

Data does suggest that the journalism profession attracts those who tend to lean politically moderate or liberal much more than it attracts those who lean conservative, according to a Washington Post round-up of available information.

But that slant likely shows up less in the actual reporting of individual stories and more in the overall editorial direction of a news organization heavily populated with like-minded people, be they conservative or liberal.

A newsroom full of reporters sharing the same political, cultural and religious perspectives will understandably find one type of story more newsworthy than another, will surely find one type of angle within that story more compelling than another, and will likely find one subject in that story more heroic or villainous than the other.

Such strategic-level bias is hard to hear inside an echo-chamber, especially since the journalists actual stories about those topics may be well-reported, objective, accurate, and fair.

Which is why if you were to ask professional reporters if their individual articles are biased, most would sincerely insist they arent.

Thats because hard-news reporting is a learned skill -- like dentistry is a skill, like teaching is a skill -- with a code of ethics, professional standards, accepted formats, and best practices. It is very much possible for a reporter who may be politically biased to write an unbiased article, the same way dentists can perform great root canals on people they dont like.

And even in the 24-hour, fast-paced, modern news age where mistakes dont carry the same significance (and shame) they once did, reporters still hate to get the facts wrong.

The best reporters I know die a thousand deaths when they learn a story they wrote includes an error, wrote Christopher Scanlan in my journalism textbook from college that may be dated but still captures how good reporters think.

Still, it doesnt help that some reporters openly share their thoughts and feelings on social media -- undermining their credibility as an unbiased source.

Happily, the majority of Americans trust their local TV, newspaper, and radio news sources much more than national sources, according to 2019 Gallup polling, though Republicans are still more likely than Democrats and Independents to say local news is too liberal.

So what can we do?

It probably wouldnt hurt any of us to take a breather from play-by-play cable news coverage as the Trump impeachment proceedings unfold -- were likely justified in our general distrust of the national networks.

Read your local newspaper instead.

The cable news echo-chamber will still be shouting at itself whenever -- if ever -- you return.

Rachel Blackmon Bryars is a Huntsville-based columnist for AL.com, co-host of Belle Curve Podcast and managing partner of Bryars Communications, LLC. Keep up with her work on her Facebook page.
Both Sens. Martin Heinrich and Tom Udall voted in favor of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on Thursday. But the two Democrats felt the trade pact  which replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement  does not do enough to address climate change concerns.

I am disappointed that this deal missed an opportunity to secure binding environmental and climate commitments from all three countries, Heinrich said. Despite this, I remain committed to fighting for concrete actions from the United States and our international partners to curb carbon pollution and address the climate crisis.

Udall said that while the agreement includes improvements from Democrats that will enhance environmental enforcement, we must meaningfully address the existential threat of climate change  which is not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as well.

Heinrich said he wasnt enthusiastic about the USMCA, which passed the Senate by an 89-10 vote.

But it is far better than NAFTA, he said in explaining his vote.

I have not previously voted to support trade deals because they did not look out for the interests of working people, Heinrich said. A year ago, the initial USMCA deal put forward by the White House looked like more of the same, just a simple rebranding of NAFTA geared toward helping Wall Street and major corporations move jobs overseas and exploit workers.

But he said the measure approved last week clearly raises labor standards.

When corporations are required to pay their workers in Mexico better wages and treat them with the dignity they deserve, it helps American workers, too, the senator said. The enforceable labor provisions secured by Democrats that empower and protect workers set an important precedent that we need in every American trade agreement from here forward.

Udall said New Mexicos growing border economy was a bright spot for the state, and I believe that, on balance, this agreement will benefit both U.S. workers and our thriving trade relationship with our neighbor Mexico.

Democrats have also included important funding, $843 million for U.S.-Mexico border environmental improvements and enhancing port of entry infrastructure, he said.

I voted for this agreement in the hopes that it will move us past the chaos of the last three years on trade with Mexico, and I regret that the presidents reckless and slapdash trade policies and rhetoric toward Mexico have caused uncertainty for working families and businesses at the border and across New Mexico, and damaged bilateral relations, the senator added.

TORRES SMALL AMONG MOST ACCESSIBLE: The Town Hall Project released a report last week ranking Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M., among the top five most accessible freshman members of the House of Representatives and top 20 among both chambers of Congress for town halls and public events hosted.

Last year, Torres Small hosted at least 24 town hall-style events in the 2nd Congressional District, according to the Town Hall Projects calculations.

I came to Congress committed to working with anyone  Democrat, Republican, Independent  to deliver for New Mexico, she said. That work starts with listening to my constituents. Thats why I travel across New Mexico to hear directly from the people I represent and take action on the issues most important to them.

The Town Hall Project is in its third year of conducting nationwide research into town halls hosted by members of Congress. It documented 2,670 town halls held in 2019. The town halls hosted by Torres Small include general town halls and constituent coffee town halls also known as Congress on Your Corners.

She has two town halls scheduled this week: 6 p.m. Monday at Western New Mexico University in Silver City and 6 p.m. Tuesday at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Museum in Las Cruces.

Scott Turner: sturner@abqjournal.com
Helena's beleaguered Robert Allen Nissan dealership has been reborn as Kenny Simpson Nissan, fulfilling a lifelong dream for owners Kenny and Tenae Simpson.

Kenny started out in the car business at age 14, when he got a job washing cars at the Chevrolet dealership in his hometown of Pocatello, Idaho. He would ride his bike to work every day after school. After graduating high school, Kenny started selling cars for the competing Ford dealership. Over the years he worked for Pontiac, GMC, Nissan and more. His dream was to own his own dealership.

"When I was about 15 years old my manager pulled me into his office and asked me what I wanted to do with my life," Kenny said. "I shrugged and told him I'd probably buy a dealership one day."

It was something that was meant to be for Kenny. In a way, a life of cars chose him. He grew up with a father who was into drag racing, which is a passion he transferred to his son. To this day, Kenny is still a lover of the recreational side of automobiles. His hobbies include racing and restoring classic cars.

"I grew up in the garage with dad," Kenny said. "I used to have the biggest Matchbox collection you've ever seen in your life."

Kenny first moved to Montana in the early 1990s and lived in Missoula for a short time. He spent the next 20 or so years moving back and forth between Montana and Idaho before ultimately settling in Jefferson City. The couple own a small farm and Tenae said they love the peace and quiet of the area. She said they are "Google farmers," meaning they Google anything they don't know about running a farm.

When settling in Jefferson City, Kenny worked as a manager for Robert Allen Nissan, while Tenae continued working in the health-care field.

In November, a federal judge entered a judgment of more than $2.5 million against Robert Allen Nissan of Helena and its owner for allegedly defaulting on various loans from Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation. The judge allowed federal officials to repossess more than $2.8 million worth of vehicles from the dealership earlier in the year.

When Robert Allen eventually folded, Kenny saw an opportunity to reinvent Nissan in Helena. He said Kenny Simpson Nissan is in no way associated with Robert Allen or the troubles that dealership had. It's a new franchise with a fresh start and all new ideas, according to Kenny.

"It feels like a lifetime dream come true," Kenny said. "I'm just really excited to have the opportunity."

However, given that Kenny Simpson Nissan was a fresh start for Nissan in Helena, there was a lot of work to be done before the dealership could open. Though the sale was finalized on Dec. 3, the dealership still had much work to do and no cars to sell. Kenny said you can't just buy 200 cars overnight, so building an inventory was a top priority.

There was also a lot of work to do on the technical side of things. According to Kenny, the couple had to "transfer every single thing you could think of."

Fulfilling a dream is rarely easy, and the Simpsons knew that going in and Tenae was there to support Kenny through the ownership transition.

"I knew that it is what he has always wanted. I know how much effort he has put into the groundwork," Tenae said. "He has been in the trenches on every level. He was ready."

Kenny said his main goal is to help the community get great deals on cars. However, Kenny specified that he didn't want to just take care of customers when they buy a vehicle, but also when they come back for any servicing needs.

"I wouldn't be where I am right now if I didn't take care of my customers," Kenny said. "If you don't do that, then you have no future in this business."

Being locally owned, Kenny also wants the dealership to be a major part of the Helena community. He has already started working toward building relationships with the community by having a barbecue showing appreciation for local law enforcement.

"I want to do as much community stuff as we can," he said. "Those guys (law enforcement) do so much and don't get appreciated as much as they should."

Next up for the Simpsons is the Sweetheart Passion Plunge, an event that raises money for Special Olympics Montana. Kenny is also keeping his eyes open for other opportunities.

Tenae said the Simpsons couldn't do all of this alone and gave a lot of credit to the experienced and loyal staff they've gathered with many staying on from Robert Allen Nissan. According to Tenae, taking care of this staff is equally important to them as taking care of their customers.

"They are the greatest group of people we've ever worked with," Kenny said.

Though the dealership has gathered a sizable inventory and sorted out most of the business side, work for the Simpsons and their staff has only just begun. While they continue to tackle each challenge as it comes along, they are open for business and ready to sell you a new Nissan.

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From praising Prince Harry for doing the 'honourable' thing, to urging the Queen to 'abdicate', last night's statement that the Sussexes are to be stripped of their HRH titles has sparked a slew of snap analysis.

Every line has been pored over extensively in newspaper columns by well-trodden Palace observers.

Most commentators agree that this is a 'landmark' moment in royal history, but differ on what it means for the couple.

Below is a summary of what the royal pundits have dissected from the statement.

Camilla Tominey - Sunday Telegraph

Camilla Tominey on This Morning last week

'Make no mistake, Saturday night's statement represents the hardest Megxit possible for the Duke of Duchess of Sussex.

'While insisting Harry, Meghan and Archie 'will always be much loved members of my family', the 93-year-old monarch could not be clearer on their on-going role in the Firm: it's over.

'...It is no secret behind palace gates that she has been left devastated by their bombshell statement on January 8 - and by her own admission last Monday, she would have preferred her grandson and his wife to have remained full-time working members of the Royal Family.

'...That is not to say that the statement did not contain some surprises. To strip Harry, a former Army Captain who has undertaken two tours of Afghanistan of his military appointments as well as royal duties may strike some as overly punitive.'

Andrew Morton, Princess Diana's biographer - Sun on Sunday

Andrew Morton on Loose Women last year

'This is a huge step down the pecking order for Harry and Meghan.

'Make no mistake, dropping their HRH titles is a landmark move.

'The disappearance of those initials next to their names  although technically they still have them  might not mean much to you and I.

'But inside the Royal Family it is a huge deal.

'The writing was on the wall when the Queen in her statement referred to 'Harry and Meghan' rather than 'their royal highnesses'.

'The 'loss' of HRH greatly diminishes the couple's royal pulling power  as Wallis Simpson realised when King George VI refused to give her the title.'

Dickie Arbiter, ex-royal press secretary - Sun on Sunday

Dickie Arbiter on Good morning Britain in November

'No Royal has ever paid back money  as Harry and Meghan are doing with Frogmore Cottage. It is absolutely unprecedented.

'There was a furore about the amount spent, although money had to be spent as it was almost derelict. But not necessarily 2.4million. So Harry is doing the right and honourable thing.

'...Harry is not using his HRH because it would be a conflict of interest should he decide to embark on commercial enterprises.

'Harry knows full well that it is wrong to trade on your name. I don't think not using it will have an impact.

'It didn't affect Diana's global appeal one bit. And Fergie had less of a profile but still made money.'

Hugo Vickers - Mail on Sunday

'It is absolutely right that Harry and Meghan should not use their HRH titles as the danger of appearing to exploit them for commercial gain is all too real.

'And it is the right decision for them to pay back the 2.4 million it cost to renovate Frogmore Cottage. It has always seemed to be an exceptionally large amount.

'They cannot be seen to profiteer on the back of royalty and they do not wish to be seen as a burden on the British taxpayer. The decision to leave the Royal fold is regrettable, however, and I am saddened.

'True, this decisive break will at least make them less vulnerable to criticism  of which there has been a great deal.

'It also liberates them from what they perceive to be constraints on their existence.

'And in many ways it will encourage greater responsibility. They will be obliged to take care of their own financial arrangements. Yet there is a real risk here. All that glitters is not gold.

'But by surrendering his position, Prince Harry could lose his allure and appeal  and people could tire of them both.

'That is surely a very real danger in the fickle world of celebrity culture. In five years, will they simply be just another tarnished celebrity couple?

Patrick Jephson, ex-private secretary to Diana - Mail on Sunday

Patrick Jephson at The Independent Woodstock Literary festival in 2011

'Three little letters. H. R. H. Their absence as a prefix to Duke and Duchess will pass unnoticed in most of the world, not least the celebrityland that is now presumably Harry and Meghan's most likely destination.

'So too the small but significant detail that they can no longer represent the Queen abroad.

'But be in no doubt: within palace walls, in government departments, embassies and wherever anxious aides pore over the small print of protocol, both these demotions carry real significance.

'To Harry personally, they will sting, as  one assumes  is Her Majesty's intention.

'So too will the removal of his military appointments and affiliations.

'To Harry, former soldier and member of a family so steeped in military service and tradition, to whom wearing uniform (and wearing it properly in every meticulous detail) is second nature, this will be a particularly deep cut.'

Sean O'Grady - the Independent

'So that's them gone, then. It's not hard to see why  the media drove them out, more than any other single factor, and their role just wasn't worth the sacrifices.

'No one does understatement and euphemism like the Queen. In the Buckingham Palace statement, her meaning is clear: 'I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.'

'Intense scrutiny' means 'the press made their lives hell' and 'independent life' means they don't wish to put up with it any longer.'

Roya Nikkhah, royal correspondent - The Sunday Times

Roya Nikkhah on Lorraine last week

'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may be leaving these shores for North America, but there can be no mistaking the Queens intention in agreeing to let them go. This is a trial separation  at least for now  rather than a full blown divorce.

'...Her remarks were both poignant and astonishing, even if the way forward remains decidedly murky in several important respects.

'The Queen stressed that Harry and Meghan would always be "much loved members of my family"; yet there was no disguising the painful reality of what may turn into their prolonged departure from British public life.'

Sarah Baxter - The Sunday Times

Sarah Baxter, also on Lorraine, in 2013

'For years the Queen has tried to keep her distance from endless family squabbles, but Harry and Meghan's flounce-off and Prince Andrew's disgrace have been too momentous to ignore.

'Is it fair to expect the 93-year-old monarch to impose order on her unruly offspring? She is a great-grandmother several times over, God bless her.

'With respect, Ma'am, it is time to hand over power to Charles. Let it go!

'Either abdication or a regency would be fine. This bold move would be the clearest symbol that the rest of the bloated Firm is going to be slimmed down, as Charles has been promising for several years.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 22:24:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced on Sunday it will continue to take anti-dumping measures on solar-grade polysilicon imported from the United States and the Republic of Korea.

The anti-dumping measures will be effective from Monday and will last for five years.

China started to impose anti-dumping duties on such imports from January 2014, according to the MOC.

The latest decision came after an investigation launched in January 2019, which found the domestic industry would be harmed if anti-dumping duties were lifted.

Solar-grade polysilicon is a key material for making solar cells.
Isn't it an interesting phenomenon how leftwing political degenerates care little about spending until the proposed program offers a piece that doesn't fit their philosophical puzzle?

Take the huffing and puffing by opponents of encouraging individuals and businesses to donate to a modest program that would turn those dollars into scholarships for Kentucky parents who want to provide their children with a private education but are unable to afford tuition payments.

Suddenly, these antagonists are concerned about the program's cost, which would be a modest $25 million as contributors would receive a credit against their state tax liability.

Leftist political advocacy groups like the misleadingly named Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, which incessantly lobbies for swelling the size and scope of government -- and for the accompanying tax hikes required to fund its proposed economic nightmares -- are sending up smoke signals about how school-choice programs will decimate public education funding.

The group blathered in a blog post during last year's legislative debate over scholarship tax credits about how only kids already in private schools would be the primary beneficiaries and, as a result, "we'll have substantially less, rather than more, revenue available for our public schools."

Nowhere, no how and in no way does the group ever offer even the smallest dose of honest analysis by acknowledging that the proverbial education sky hasn't fallen in the 18 states already offering 23 such scholarship tax credit programs.

Well-known researcher Dr. Martin Lueken with the Thomas B. Fordham Institute and EdChoice analyzed 10 of those tax credit programs in seven of the states representing 90% of all such scholarships in the nation and found they produce huge long-term savings for schools and education systems.

Lueken reports that states after a couple of years of revenue loss see millions -- even hundreds of millions -- worth of long-term savings since the cost of educating children in private schools tends to be lower than what public schools spend.

When a child leaves a public school to enroll in private or parochial school, Lueken concludes it saves the public school he left a significant amount of funding.

Not only does the school the student leaves no longer have the cost of educating him, but it continues receiving the property tax dollars his parents must still fork over even though they're not utilizing the public education system.

A mother of three in Louisville explained she can send her young children to a private Catholic elementary school for a total of $14,000.

At the same time, the Jefferson County Public Schools spent in excess of $2,000 more per individual student than it costs her to educate all three of her children at a private parochial school.

A donor who contributes, say, $14,000 to the proposed scholarship program receives a 95% tax credit, meaning the state "loses" $13,300.

But does it really lose?

Schools no longer have to cough up the $48,132 cost of educating all three of her children, plus this mother must continue to pay property taxes to the schools even though her children don't utilize those dollars.

Bring up scholarship tax credits around conservative legislators in Frankfort and you're likely to hear some murmuring about how there must be money in the budget to fund the program before they'll support it.

Yet why didn't we have a similar line-in-the-sand type of commitment before politicians allowed the approval of $421 million worth of taxpayer-funded goodies for film producers two years ago -- spending that even the economically disjointed Kentucky Center for Economic Policy couldn't support?

It's disheartening to watch politicians support handing out millions in corporate pork to already-fattened Hollywood moguls while the neediest parents in Kentucky starve for crumbs of educational freedom and the school choice it provides.
The Queen made clear that she wanted Harry and Meghan to stay at Frogmore Cottage because she feared they could otherwise leave the UK  and her family  for good.

In the negotiations, the monarch was keen for her grandson to retain a comfortable home in this country so that he remains a part of the Royal Family.

As a result, the couple offered to pay back the 2.4million of taxpayers' money taken from the Sovereign Grant to fund the massive renovations at their home on the Windsor estate.

A source told the Mail: 'It is very telling that the Queen makes clear [in her statement] that she has given them a home on her favourite estate and that they are going to keep it. She wants them to have a family home in the UK.

The couple offered to pay back the 2.4million of taxpayers' money taken from the Sovereign Grant to fund the massive renovations at their home on the Windsor estate (pictured)

'But they were constantly being beaten up about the cost of the Frogmore renovations. So there was no hesitation in their mind of offering to pay the money back in order to be free of any public obligations.'

Other sources said the fact that the Queen made a point of saying that she wanted them to have a home in the UK suggested that she was concerned they would not come back often if they did not have a home here.

Harry and Meghan will also start to pay commercial rent on the property to allow them to use it as their base when they are in Britain, and will pay its running costs, whether they are in residence or not. No price has been put on how much that might be. Experts said the five-bedroom cottage in Windsor's Home Park could cost around 10,000 a month in rent on the open market.

The couple (pictured) moved into Frogmore just nine months ago after it was offered to them by the Queen

In addition to Frogmore, Harry and Meghan will face the cost of setting up a new home in Canada, where they have been staying in a borrowed house on Vancouver Island.

The couple faced anger when they announced that they wanted to spend most of their time abroad, just months after leaving the taxpayer with a massive bill to have their Windsor home rebuilt.

The Grade II-listed property was converted from five separate apartments into their official residence, which required significant structural work paid through the Sovereign Grant, which funds senior members of the Royal Family. Fixtures and fittings were paid for by Harry and Meghan, and Prince Charles also helped to finance the project.

It was reported last week that the Queen was 'privately unhappy' over the issue of the cost to the taxpayer.

The Grade II-listed property (pictured) was converted from five separate apartments into their official residence

The statement from Buckingham Palace said Harry and Meghan had 'shared their wish to repay' the public funds used in the refurbishment. It did not set out how or when the costs will be repaid.

The couple moved into Frogmore just nine months ago after it was offered to them by the Queen.

The two-storey, stucco-faced building is in the grounds of Frogmore House, a 17th century manor house that is part of the Crown Estate.

The couple previously lived in Nottingham Cottage, in the grounds of Kensington Palace, but said it 'could not accommodate their growing family'. Their decision to move out of Kensington Palace inevitably fuelled speculation over their rift with Prince William and wife Kate.
A motorcyclist died Saturday after crashing into a car in Northeast Portland, police said.

Update: Motorcyclist killed in NE Portland crash was passing in oncoming lanes, police say

Officers were sent to the collision at Northeast Sandy Boulevard and 65th Avenue at 4:58 p.m.

Medics from Portland Fire & Rescue and paramedics with the ambulance company American Medical Response treated the injured rider at the scene.

He was taken by ambulance to a city hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The driver of the car was not injured and cooperated with investigators.

Police Saturday did not identify the motorcyclist killed or provide any further details about the circumstances of the crash.

--The Oregonian/OregonLive

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Caracas: Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has traveled to Colombia to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, an opposition lawmaker said Sunday.

Guaido's move comes amid an overture by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for direct negotiations with the United States on an end to crippling US sanctions.

Opposition lawmaker Stalin Gonzalez told AFP that Guaido, who is recognised by the United States and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela's acting president, will meet in Bogota with Pompeo.

The US secretary of state is scheduled to arrive in the Colombian capital on Monday at the start of a Latin American tour.

Guaido has been barred from leaving Venezuela since proclaiming himself acting president a year ago after the National Assembly declared President Nicolas Maduro a "usurper."

He defied the travel ban once before, in February 2016, when he secretly traveled to Colombia and then visited several other countries to marshal regional support for his challenge to Maduro.

The United States has been Guaido's leading international supporter but the opposition bid to force Maduro's ouster has stalled.

Guaido has headed the National Assembly for the past year but faced a challenge early this month from Maduro supporters over his re-election.

In an interview with the Washington Post, Maduro said he was comfortably in control and ready for direct negotiations with the United States.

"If there's respect between governments, no matter how big the United States is, and if there's a dialogue, an exchange of truthful information, then be sure we can create a new type of relationship," Maduro told the Post.

The socialist leader said he was ready to hold talks with the US to negotiate an end to sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump intended to throttle the South American country's oil industry and force Maduro from power.

Maduro indicated that, if Trump were to lift sanctions, US oil companies could benefit immensely from Venezuela's oil.

"A relationship of respect and dialogue brings a win-win situation. A confrontational relationship brings a lose-lose situation. That's the formula," Maduro said.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have signed up to a formal exit deal from the royal family, which will see them forsake their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles and will no longer receive UK taxpayers' funding for their duties.

The deal, which comes into effect by spring in a few weeks' time, means the couple will no longer be representing the Queen in an official capacity.

"The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Saturday night.

Queen Elizabeth II said the agreement followed months of discussions and was a "constructive and supportive" way forward for her grandson and his family.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family," the 93-year-old monarch's personal statement read.

"I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life," she said, thanking the couple for their work for the UK and across the Commonwealth.

In a special message for 38-year-old Markle, she said, "I am... particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life".

The palace confirmed that the couple were required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments.

"While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty," the palace said.

It added that the pair would continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.

The couple intend to repay 2.4 million pounds of UK taxpayers' money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home as they split their time between Britain and Canada.

The palace has declined to comment on security arrangements and who would foot that bill for the couple in future, an issue that has been at the centre of much of the debate since Harry, 35, and Meghan made their bombshell announcement earlier this month that they intend to "step back" from being frontline royals and split their time between the UK and North America, and work towards becoming "financially independent".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Queen is believed to be 'very sad' she has barely seen baby Archie as she comes to terms with Harry and Meghan's future plans as 'non-senior Royals'.

With the Sussexes' plans to step out of the spotlight stretching back months, their eight-month-old son has had little opportunity to see his extended family.

The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and his children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are only believed to have met baby Sussex a handful of times.

His great-grandmother and the Duke of Edinburgh met him at just two-days-old at Windsor Castle, but could not attend his christening two months later because it clashed with a private weekend they hold at Sandringham every year.

A source told The Sunday Times: 'She will be very sad to have barely seen Archie and that he will miss out on growing up with his cousins and wider family.'

The Queen (pictured with Archie, Meghan, her mother Doria, Harry and Prince Philip on May 8 last year) is believed to be 'very sad' she has barely seen baby Archie

Archie, unlike his cousins, was born without a royal title, and will be known simply as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor

Archie was photographed in Meghan's arms at a polo match also attended by William, Kate and their children in Berkshire in July.

But they have not been seen as a group since then with Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, jetting off to Canada in November for their six-week Christmas holiday.

The eight-month-old has not visited the UK so far this year and is currently with his mother and his nanny in Canada.

Harry is due to be reunited with them in the coming weeks, but with no indication of when the trio will next be in the UK, the Queen, 93, will be left wondering when she will see her great-grandson again.

Prince Charles is reported to be very keen on his moniker of 'Grandpa Wales' and often spends family time with William, Kate, George, Charlotte and Louis.

They were all last together a matter of weeks ago when they enjoyed the traditional trip to the Queen's Norfolk estate for Christmas.

Archie was photographed in Meghan's arms at a polo match also attended by William, Kate and their children in Berkshire in July

Meghan is pictured cradling baby Archie while Prince Louis tries on a pair of sunglasses with his mother Kate at a polo match in Berkshire in July

The Queen and Prince Philip were unable to attend Archie's christening (pictured) due to a clash of schedules

But Charles, 71, is also thought to be upset about the lack of time spent with Archie.

A royal source added to The Sunday Times: 'Where will Archie's heritage and roots be? What about Diana's family, the Spencers? Harry and William know all too well how damaging an unsettled childhood can be.'

Archie, unlike his cousins, was born without a royal title, and will be known simply as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

He will remain seventh in line for the throne, as his father will remain sixth, having been born a Prince.

Yesterday his parents' plans for life as non-senior Royals were revealed.

Under the terms of the historic deal thrashed out at Sandringham, the pair, who will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will cease to be working members of the Royal Family from this spring and will not perform any official duties on behalf of the Queen  effectively leaving 'The Firm' completely.

As well as returning the 2.4 million spent on a lavish refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, they will pay a commercial rent  estimated at up to 360,000 a year  to retain it as their British home.

Prince Charles will continue to 'offer private financial support' and, crucially, the couple will have free rein to negotiate lucrative commercial deals that experts believe could net them hundreds of millions of pounds, although they have pledged 'to uphold the values of Her Majesty'.

MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong on Saturday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

China and Vietnam are socialist neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and are a community of a shared future with strategic significance, said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 70 years ago, Xi said, the traditional friendship forged and cultivated by older generations of leaders of both sides has blossomed and yielded fruits, and has achieved substantial growth under the principles of "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and all-round cooperation," and in the spirit of "good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner."

Xi said he and Trong have exchanged visits twice, which is unprecedented in the history of the two countries' interactions. During these visits, they have reached important consensuses on consolidating good neighborliness and friendliness and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation so as to jointly usher in a new era for the relationship between the two countries and between the CPC and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

Noting that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the Chinese president said China-Vietnam relations have also entered a critical period that builds on the past and prepares for the future.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of the China-Vietnam relationship, and is willing to work together with Trong to unswervingly steer the relationship in the right direction, carry forward the original aspiration of the traditional friendship between the two countries, and bear in mind shared visions and faith, as well as historical missions, so as to lift the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to new heights.

Trong, also general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, said in his message that in the past seven decades, the two parties, two countries and two peoples have joined efforts in contributing to the success of their respective national liberations and the cause of socialist construction.

It is a historical responsibility for both countries to consistently solidify and promote their good relations, which is also in line with the common aspirations of their peoples, he added.

Vietnam has always made it a top diplomatic priority to develop relations with China, he said, adding that he is confident that with the care and guidance of the leadership of both parties and countries, the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership will be lifted to new heights.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also exchanged congratulatory messages.

In Li's message, he said that under the new circumstances, the Chinese side is willing to work with the Vietnamese side, in a strategic approach to simultaneously promote maritime, land and financial cooperation, to deepen the synergy of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, as well as the collaboration in key areas such as industrial capacity and infrastructure construction.

Li also called on both sides to build a new win-win situation for mutual benefit and jointly write a new chapter of bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation.

Phuc expressed in his message the willingness to work with the Chinese side to implement the high-level consensuses between the two countries, steadily enhance the results of bilateral cooperation in various areas, and hold successful celebrations of the anniversary of bilateral ties, so as to boost a healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
We will do everything we need to do to evaluate whether there was something that took place there, he said in a radio interview

Open source

The US State Department will do everything necessary to find out whether there was a threat to the former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. This was reported by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to AP.

We will do everything we need to do to evaluate whether there was something that took place there, he said in a radio interview. I suspect that much of whats been reported will ultimately prove wrong, but our obligation, my obligation as secretary of state, is to make sure that we evaluate, investigate. Any time there is someone who posits that there may have been a risk to one of our officers, well obviously do that.

It is always the case at the Department of State that we do everything we can to ensure that our officers, not only our ambassadors but our entire team, have the security level thats appropriate, Pompeo said.

We do our best to make sure that no harm will come to anyone, whether that was what was going on in our embassy in Baghdad last week or the work that was going on in Kyiv up and through the spring of last year when Ambassador Yovanovitch was there, and in our embassy in Kyiv even today, he said.

House Democrats on Friday evening released a new batch of messages from Lev Parnas that added to the questions about the ambassadors security. In them, an unidentified individual with a Belgian country code appears to describe Yovanovitchs movements.

Nothing has changed she is still not moving checked today again, the individual wrote in one message, later adding, its confirmed we have a person inside. In another message the person wrote, She had visitors.

The ouster of Yovanovitch as ambassador is central to the impeachment inquiry into Trump, who faces a charge that he abused his presidential power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, using military aid to the country as leverage. Trump says the inquiry is a hoax.

At the time, Trumps allies were trying to have Yovanovitch, who was seen as a roadblock to a Biden investigation, removed from her post. She was recalled in late May ahead of the end of her tour.
Liza Koshy is one of YouTubes top creators and she also co-created and stars on their original series Liza on Demand. Koshy joins another YouTube original, Creators for Change with Michelle Obama. This series sends Koshy and creators Prajakta Koli and Thembe Mahlaba to Vietnam, India and Namibia to help girls pursue their education.

Liza Koshy | David Livingston/Getty Images

Yes, Michelle Obama appears in the show and yes, Liza Koshy got to meet her. Koshy spoke about the show on a Television Critics Association panel and then spoke with Showbiz Cheat Sheet exclusively after. Creators for Change with Michelle Obama premieres in March on YouTube.

Liza Koshy and Michelle Obama helped Vietnamese girls apply for college

Koshy goes to Vietnam with Room to Read, a childrens literacy and girls education charity, in her episode. Michelle Obama came in at the end.

I got to warm up with Mrs. Michelle Obama and got to sit at a roundtable with her at a school in Vietnam, an all-girl school, Koshy said on the panel. This was a full day at the girl school, maybe six hours, seven hours? It was a full school day.

Michelle Obama impressed Liza Koshy with this

Michelle Obama met a lot of girls in her trip to Vietnam, and that was just one day on one of her many trips. Liza Koshy noticed how the former First Lady gave every girl undivided attention.

(L-R) Liza Koshy, Thembe Mahlaba, Prajakta Koli and director Joanna Forscher | David Livingston/Getty Images

Shes absolutely amazing and the way that shes able to just be so present with every single person, Koshy told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Like she as a million other things to do, right? But she cares so much in that moment of just maintaining and being and loving that person. I was in her presence and Im a better person because of it.

Liza Koshy was also impressed by the First Ladys classroom skills

Liza Koshy said she met three Vietnamese girls in her trip and spent time with them. Michelle Obama came to the classroom on the last day of the trip, and even seeing her work a desk was impressive.

Liza Koshy | Leon Bennett/WireImage

Michelle joined at the very end of the trip, was actually at the school with us and was doing the hands-on work, Koshy told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. That was really dope just to see former FLOTUS just holding a pencil. I was like, You know what that is. Thats cool. She was very cool and very immersed.

Michelle Obama helped Vietnamese girls apply for college

The Vietnamese students were exploring options to apply for college. Michelle Obama had some expertise in that field, and Liza Koshy learned about the process too.

Michelle Obama | Scott Olson/Getty Images

She was in there with the girls, at the table, at the students desk, working with us together and looking through the cost breakdown of what it takes to go to college and where you can find the funds and the means to go, Koshy told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. She was suggesting ask your friends, ask your family.

Michelle Obama was there for younger girls too

Liza Koshy focused on girls 16-18 but Room to Read was helping Vietnamese students as young as 12. Koshy saw Michelle Obama adjust to the younger girls too.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 19:09:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan meets reporters at Atatuk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, before departing for Berlin to attend an international conference on Libya, Jan. 19, 2020. Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday blamed the international community for not showing immediate response against the ongoing civil war in Libya. (Ihlas News Agency/Handout via Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday blamed the international community for not showing immediate response against the ongoing civil war in Libya.

"The reckless actions of (Khalifa) Haftar and his supporters, which publicly violated the UN Security Council resolutions, have long been neglected," Erdogan told reporters at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, before departing for Berlin to attend an international conference on Libya.

Libya has been torn by a raging civil war between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army led by Haftar.

The Berlin conference will be joined by envoys from the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Republic of the Congo, Italy, Egypt and Algeria, as well as the representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League.

The participants will discuss the ways to end the civil war in Libya, with a hope to convince the warring parties of the need for a sustainable truce.

When asked about the exclusion of Greece from the peace talks in Berlin, Erdogan said Athens is in "serious discomfort" for not being invited.

On Friday, Haftar had talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias during his unexpected visit to Athens.

"Haftar's talks in Greece have no value," Erdogan remarked.

The previous cease-fire talks on Libya in Russia's capital Moscow failed to achieve a resolution after Haftar left without signing the deal.
 Flash

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declined a resignation offer by the country's Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported on Friday.

"I decided to give you and your government a second chance," said Zelensky on Friday evening during a meeting with Honcharuk.

On Friday, Honcharuk submitted his resignation following a leaked audio recording of him reportedly criticizing Zelensky's understanding of the economy.

"I took office to implement the president's program. I see him as a model of transparency and decency. However, to remove any doubts in our respect for and trust in the president, I have written a resignation letter and submitted it to the president with the right to hand it to the Parliament," Honcharuk wrote Friday morning on his official Facebook page.

On Wednesday evening an audiotape was uploaded to social media in which a voice sounding like Honcharuk was reportedly heard discussing the national budget with some other government ministers and senior officials from the national bank.

Honcharuk, 35, took the position of the prime minister of Ukraine on Aug. 29, 2019, following Zelensky's nomination.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  While Alert Level 4 remains raised over Taal Volcano, state volcanologists report that the number of volcanic quakes near the area reached 787 in the 24 hour period to 5 a.m. of Sunday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its 8 a.m. advisory on Sunday that the Taal Volcano Network tallied this number, including 15 low-frequency earthquakes which signify "continuous magmatic intrusion beneath the Taal edifice, which may lead to further eruptive activity."

Meanwhile, the Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) plotted 691 volcanic earthquakes since the volcano spewed ash and smoke on January 12. Of these tremors, 175 were registered between magnitudes 1.2 to 4.1 and were felt at intensities 1 to 5.

Phivolcs explains the Taal Volcano Network "can record small earthquakes undetectable by the PSN."

With Alert Level 4 still in effect, hazardous explosive eruption may still occur within hours or days, Phivolcs said, adding that it was conducting further assessment of the probability of all scenarios considering the volcano's behavior.

"We are looking at all of the scenarios and lagi po nating ina-assess hourly, daily 'yung monitoring ng data at applicability ng alert level. At kami na po ang magsasabi kung kailangan na tayong magbaba," Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division Chief Mariton Bornas told the media on Sunday's briefing.

[Translation: We are looking at all of the scenarios and we keep on assessing our monitoring data hourly, daily as well as the applicability of the alert level. We are the ones who will say when we will lower the alert level.]

"Nagkakaroon pa rin po tayo ng minor eruptions, walang sign na malakas as of the moment. Maaaring magkaroon pa rin ng phreatomagmatic eruptions, and then meron of course malakas na expulsion ng gas. Mapanganib 'yung mga 'to," Bornas added.

[Translation: We are still having minor eruptions, there are no signs of major eruptions as of the moment. But it is still possible for us to have phreatomagmatic eruptions, and then of course, the strong expulsion of gas. These are all dangerous.]

Phreatomagmatic eruptions are brought about by the interaction between magma and water, Phivolcs earlier noted.

Phivolcs tells public: don't relax just yet, keep off Taal danger zone

The agency added that it is also "bothered" by the increased number of volcanic earthquakes especially now that Taal's magmatic chamber has opened up, allowing space for movement of magma underneath.

With the entire Taal Volcano Island marked as a permanent danger zone, Phivolcs reiterated that it should be evacuated at all times.

"We stand firm on our recommendation na dapat totally evacuated, hindi po dapat pumapasok sa loob ng defined na danger zone," said Bornas.

[Translation: We stand firm on our recommendation that the whole island should be totally evacuated and people should not be entering the areas which were defined as danger zones.]

"Medyo nababagabag kami sa aming nakalap na monitoring data. Kapag nag-umpisa ulit [ang eruption], napakaliit ng lead time lalo na ngayong nabuklat na ang bulkan kasi nung una, closed system pa siya na hindi pumuputok...so mas lala na po ngyon na open na ang bulkan, mabilis na po ang pagsampa ng magma, wala nang pumipigil sa kanya na pressure," Bornas noted.

[Translation: We are a little bothered by the data that we have been monitoring. Because if it erupts once again, our lead time is so little especially now that the volcano has opened up, when it was a closed system that hasn't erupted before, what more now that it's open, it's easier for the magma to enter the chamber now because there is no pressure preventing it.]

Professor Carlo Arcilla of the University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences previously told CNN Philippines that anyone found within Taal's 14-kilometer danger zone will meet an instant death for inhaling the hot gases due to the magma's hot temperature which could be at least 600 degrees Celsius to 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Local government units have previously given a four-hour window period for residents to enter the danger zone around Taal from 6am to 10am.

Even in Tagaytay, which serves as an iconic tourist destination to many, businesses have been returning to normal operations, after Mayor Agnes Delgado-Tolentino approved a resolution granting the request of the city tourism council to allow its establishments to open.

After Taal's eruption which sent ash into parts of Metro Manila on Sunday, Phivolcs noted a quieter volcano with frequently continuing earthquakes since Thursday.

READ: Weak explosions, quakes signal Taal Volcano is still dangerous  Phivolcs

Residents of nearby areas, particularly the affected towns of Agoncillo, Talisay, Laurel, and San Nicolas in Batangas are still expected to follow the government's strict evacuation protocol until the alert level is lowered.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has so far recorded a total of 96,061 individuals who were affected by the eruption in Batangas, Laguna and Cavite. Of this number, 70, 413 are taking temporary shelter in evacuation centers.

CNN Philippines' Crissy Dimatulac contributed to this report.
New Delhi: In the latest developments on anti-Citizenship Act protests, the Uttar Pradesh Police confiscated food items and blankets from women protesting at the Ghanta Ghar area in Lucknow on Saturday (January 18) evening.

On the lines of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, hundreds of women and children were silently protesting near the Clock Tower in Lucknow's Ghanta Ghar on Saturday. According to ANI, women were protesting and singing the National Anthem while holding the tricolour flags in their hands. The protest at the Ghanta Ghar was so far peaceful until police reached the spot and started confiscating food items along with blankets from the protesters leading to chaos.

Condemning the police action, the women protesters present at the spot raised slogans against the police, calling the police 'thieves'. The women, most of them elderly, have claimed that the policemen snatched their blankets and poured water on the bonfire that they lit to keep themselves warm.

Rubia, 72, sitting with a blanket wrapped around her, said: "We are not causing any disturbance to either the Republic Day parade or the Defence Expo. We will not budge an inch from here till CAA and NRC is withdrawn. My parents and grandparents were born in India and they did not leave any papers for us to show to the government. We have assembled with our children and it is our fight for our rights."

Ishat Jahan, 75, said she was protesting to support her nephew and many others who had been arrested on December 19, 2019, after an anti-CAA protest here turned violent.

However, dismissing the allegations, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) Vikas Tripathi said that the police did not take away the belongings from the protesters and claimed that they only stopped them from setting up tents at the spot.

On Friday, the authorities imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in Lucknow in view of Republic Day and the Defence Expo. The move to impose the prohibitory orders was taken by Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey late Saturday night, who said that it had been done to maintain law and order in the coming weeks. Companies of RAF have also been deployed at the site.

The number of protesters at Clock Tower had been steadily swelling ever since the dharna began three days ago. The cops have been trying to dissuade protestors but to no avail. The protest, which essentially began with Muslim women and children, now has a sizeable presence of Hindu and Sikh women, said IANS. Young boys were entrusted the task of bringing them food, tea, quilts and warm clothes.
TOKYOIn a move heavy with symbolism for Japans workaholic fathers, Shinjiro Koizumi, a politician seen as a possible future prime minister, said Wednesday that he would step back from his duties to care for his newborn child after the birth later this month.

By the standards of other wealthy countries, Koizumi, Japans environment minister, will not be away from work for long. He will take a total of two weeks of paternity leave spread over three months, during which he will work flexibly from home or put in fewer hours.

But in Japan, where fathers who take time off after a birth are rare, word of Koizumis intentions swept social media and drew praise from supporters as setting a powerful example.

I hope my taking paternity leave will lead the way of working styles to one where everyone can easily take child care leave without hesitation in the environment ministry, Koizumi, 38, said in a meeting with his staff Wednesday.

In Japan, men are generally expected to demonstrate total loyalty to their employers, often at their families expense. The announcement from Koizumi, whose father, Junichiro Koizumi, was one of Japans most popular modern prime ministers, raised hopes that those expectations could begin to change.

Its a good precedent, and its about time that this kind of thing becomes more normal, said Koichi Nakano, a political scientist at Sophia University in Tokyo.

Nakano acknowledged that even with Koizumis leadership, other men might still face obstacles to taking time off for child care.

Someone as privileged as Koizumi still struggled to get this paternity leave, Nakano said, referring to a conservative backlash that arose as Koizumi publicly pondered the move. So how hard must it be for other people in other lines of professions? But it has to start somewhere.

On paper, Japan has exceptionally generous paternity leave laws. According to a ranking by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Japan and South Korea grant fathers more time off for child care than any of the worlds other wealthy countries, including the Scandinavian nations. Japanese fathers are entitled to take up to a year off after the birth of a child  the same right granted to mothers.

Yet very few men take advantage of these policies. According to government statistics, just over six per cent of eligible men working for private companies took parental leave in 2018, compared with more than 82 per cent of mothers.

Men who work in the government are more likely to do so: Among public employees, about 21 per cent of eligible men took parental leave last year, compared with nearly all mothers in government employment.

The role of fathers in Japanese families has been the focus of growing attention as the number of babies born in the country has fallen to the lowest level since the 19th century, with some analysts attributing the low birthrate in part to the burdens on working mothers. Overall, women in Japan still take on the vast majority of the responsibility for child care.

Yumiko Murakami, head of the Tokyo Centre of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, suggested that if more fathers followed Koizumis example, mothers might get some relief from the burdens of parenting and be willing to have more children.

If fathers take leave and help their wives with babies, maybe wives will have more support at home, and they might decide to go for No. 2 or No. 3, Murakami said. So lets hope this is a good sign that things are starting to change in Japan, slowly but surely.

In the private sector, those few fathers who do exercise their right to paternity leave take, on average, less than five days. Koizumis leave, at two weeks, will not amount to much more.

Some fathers who tried to take paternity leave have accused their employers of discrimination. Last year, two men who took time off after the birth of their children sued their employers, saying the companies demoted them or cut their pay to punish them after they returned.

One of them, Glen Wood, an American who sued his former employer, investment bank Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, applauded Koizumi, particularly given his lineage as a fourth-generation conservative politician. Koizumis father did not take paternity leave when his children were born.

I think it really points in the right direction for the country and for corporations, said Wood, who alleges that he was demoted and eventually fired because he took paternity leave.

Wood cautioned that the country loves window dressing, and they love symbolism. But, he added, knowing Japan and knowing its very long history and knowing how slowly things change, I still think that the movement that we started here regarding the focus on paternity leave really has legs.

Koizumi set off a media frenzy last summer when he announced that he had wed his pregnant girlfriend, Christel Takigawa, 42, a celebrity television presenter, and said he was considering taking paternity leave.

After criticism from some conservative lawmakers, Koizumi watered down his plans, saying that his work might prevent him from taking leave. And after his announcement Wednesday, some critics questioned his commitment to his job.

Koizumis an environment minister, right? A novice taking paternity leave, wrote a commenter on Twitter. Well, whatever, but does he really love his work?

Female lawmakers, who make up less than 14 per cent of Japans Parliament, have struggled to combine politics with child rearing.

After Megumi Kaneko, a lawmaker in the lower house, gave birth to a son in 2016, she took a brief maternity leave, then was criticized for using a government car to drop her son off at day care. (Her husband, also a lawmaker, said he planned to take paternity leave, but he resigned days after their son was born, after news leaked that he had had an extramarital affair.)

When Takako Suzuki, another member of the lower house, announced her pregnancy in 2017, critics said she was not acting like a responsible lawmaker.

But the example of a male cabinet minister might carry more weight in patriarchal Japan, supporters said.

We need an achievement like this, a male minister taking paternity leave, wrote one commenter on Twitter who described herself as the mother of three children. It means a lot just to be able to destroy an excuse like its not easy for men to take leave (because they tend to be in more important positions than women.)

On his blog, Koizumi discussed his initial hesitation to take leave because of his duties as environment minister. And he acknowledged that it would take more than one celebrity politician to change an entrenched culture.

There are men who are going through similar difficulties. They want to take the leave, but its hard, he wrote.

Child-care leave will not be prevalent, he added, unless we change not only the system, but the atmosphere as well.

Read more about:
An attack on a military training camp in western Yemen killed dozens of government soldiers and wounded at least 100 others.

Yemens president warned the military on Sunday it needs to be on high alert and ready for battle following the mass-casualty attack he blamed on the Houthi rebels in the city of Marib.

The attacks killed 73 people and left dozens wounded, two medical sources told Reuters News Agency, adding that a mosque in the camp was targeted as people gathered for prayer. News reports in Saudi put the death toll at 60.

Death tolls in Yemens grinding conflict are often disputed.

Saudi-owned Al Hadath television broadcast a video it said showed the gruesome aftermath of the attack. Body parts can be seen on the floor, among shredded debris  blood pooled on the carpet and spattered against the walls.

The attack confirms without [a] doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said in a statement on Yemens state news agency, Saba.

He denounced the Houthis as a cheap Iranian tool in the region.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturdays attack. They deny being puppets of Iran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

The oil-rich province of Marib lies about 115 kilometres (70 miles) east of the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. The city is a stronghold of the Saudi-led, US-backed coalition.

The missile attack was the bloodiest attack in Marib since the beginning of Yemens long-running civil war, marking a military escalation in a rare spot of relative stability.

The assault involved three missiles, said Al Jazeeras Mohammed Alattab, reporting from Sanaa.

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The death toll is expected to rise, Alattab said.

Al Ekhbariya television quoted sources as saying the assault was carried out with ballistic missiles and drones.

Rising death toll

The United Nations envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, condemned the attack as well as air strikes and ground assaults around the country.

The hardearned progress that Yemen has made on de-escalation is very fragile. Such actions can derail this progress, Griffiths said, urging parties to direct their energies into politics and away from the battlefield.

The attack on the military training camp followed a continuing barrage of assaults by Saudi-backed forces on Houthi targets east of Sanaa. Those attacks killed at least 22 people on both sides, according to officials.

Fighting in the Nihm region was also continuing on Sunday, a military source said according to Saba News Agency. Dozens from the [Houthi] militia were killed and injured, the source added.

Yemen has been torn by violence and chaos since 2014 when the Houthis overran much of the country, including Sanaa.

The crisis escalated in March 2015 when the Saudi-UAE-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi territorial gains and restoring Hadis government, which is now based in the southern port city of Aden.

The five-year war, which the United Nations says has caused the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, is estimated to have killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Both the Houthi rebels and Saudi-led coalition forces have been accused of war crimes and rampant human rights abuses in Yemen. Indiscriminate coalition air raids and rebel shelling have drawn widespread international criticism for killing civilians and hitting non-military targets.
In 1955 he was imprisoned on drug charges. He kicked his addiction in prison, and as leader of the penitentiarys big band he spent much of his time writing tunes and arrangements, as well as learning the flute.

He would sometimes smuggle out compositions and arrangements by giving them to his brother Tootie during family visits. The charts quickly made their way onto a few popular records, including Chet Baker and Art Peppers 1956 album Playboys, which included mostly Mr. Heaths tunes and was later reissued as Picture of Heath.

Mr. Heath returned to Philadelphia drug-free in 1959, but the terms of his probation prevented him from touring. He was forced to pass up a spot as Coltranes replacement in the Miles Davis sextet that recorded the celebrated album Kind of Blue.

So he made his own way, mostly in the studio. He released a string of well-received albums for Riverside Records, featuring compositions like Gingerbread Boy and For Minors Only that would become staples of the jazz repertoire. Even when he recorded with just a sextet, his crafty arrangements gave the sense of a chattering, wall-to-wall conversation among bandmates.

He also found freelance arranging work, writing charts for Ray Charles and others. Eventually he became a staff arranger at Riverside.

On the day he left prison, Mr. Heath met Mona Brown, a visual artist, whom he married the next year. She was white, and her parents refused to attend the couples wedding; after the marriage, they stopped speaking to her. Eventually she and Mr. Heath moved to an apartment in Corona, Queens, where they would live for more than 50 years. She survives him.

In addition to her and his grandson Fa Mtume, Mr. Heath is survived by their daughter, Roslyn Heath-Cammorto; a son from his first marriage, James Mtume, a percussionist, vocalist and songwriter with whom he occasionally collaborated; his brother Tootie; six other grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Another son, Jeffrey, died in 2010. Percy Heath died in 2005.
SANTA FE  For the second consecutive year, New Mexico lawmakers have a good challenge on their hands  how to divvy up an oil-fueled budgetary windfall that could allow state spending levels to once again hit an all-time high.

So far, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and leading lawmakers are expecting to find plenty of common ground as they work to craft a new state budget  the priority in this years 30-day session.

The governor and Legislative Finance Committee each released spending plans this month that call for establishing a new early childhood trust fund, raising teacher pay and boosting state funding for school districts that serve a disproportionate share of low-income students and English language learners.

Both proposals also call for maintaining state reserves equal to about 25% of state spending.

But the executive and legislative branches are starting with much different approaches on college scholarships and some early childhood programs.

Lujan Grisham has proposed $35 million for a new scholarship program aimed at providing tuition-free college to state residents. The initial legislative proposal doesnt provide funding for that program but instead proposes $35 million to bolster traditional financial aid, including for low-income students.

The governor is also seeking an extra $26 million to expand eligibility for a child care assistance program that helps parents who work or attend school. Legislators have proposed just $1 million in new state funding for child care subsidies.

Nonetheless, Lujan Grisham and legislators say they are starting with plenty of agreement.

Altogether, the governor is proposing abut $7.7 billion in sustained spending, an 8.4% increase over this year. The Legislative Finance Committee has proposed $7.5 billion, a 6.5% increase.

Our difference with the executive is not that far apart, said Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, a Gallup Democrat and vice chairwoman of the Legislative Finance Committee. I feel like this is a very responsible budget.

Finance and Administration Secretary Olivia Padilla-Jackson, the governors top budget official, said New Mexico is harnessing its revenue boom responsibly, striking a balance between addressing critical current needs and making investments for future years.

This is probably the largest investment in education as a whole that weve made in the state, Padilla-Jackson told reporters.

Neither budget proposal calls for spending all of the new revenue expected to be available.

Overall, New Mexicos recent spending growth comes after several cash-lean years and is being driven by the record-breaking oil production in the states southeastern corner. The oil boom has helped to generate an estimated $797 million in new money for the coming budget year.

While some lawmakers have urged spending restraint, theres also expected to be ample pressure to increase spending with the states coffers bulging.

Thats likely to be the case in education, as some advocates have argued the state has not gone far enough to address a landmark July 2018 ruling that New Mexico was not meeting its constitutional requirement to provide an adequate education to all students.

Some of the increased education spending is likely to go to teacher raises.

The governor has proposed 4% teacher raises, and the LFC has suggested 3%, with some targeted hikes on top of that for bilingual and special education teachers.

Teachers received 6% raises this year, in addition to an increased pay scale for beginning teachers.
Criticising the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said it is unfortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can only see the "white cap" and "hijab" (worn by Muslims) but not the national flag in the hands of lakhs of people.

He said the ongoing protests across the country against some decisions of the Centre were a way for people to vent out their "suffocation".

The politician-activist was addressing a rally in Bhiwandi town here on Saturday night to oppose CAA, the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, JD(S) national general secretary and Justice (retd) B G Kolse-Patil and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)student leader Umar Khalid also addressed the gathering.

"Modi can only see the white cap and 'hijab' and not not the tricolour in the hands of lakhs of people which is unfortunate. The suffocation in the country has come out through these agitations," Yadav said.

He also said that the agitation at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi has "proved the power of women".

The protesters, who are opposing the CAA and NRC, have been sitting on protest at Shaheen Bagh for over a month. The road is a key link between Noida and Delhi and has been closed by Noida Traffic Police in view of the ongoing protests.

Addressing people of the powerloom town of Bhiwandi, Yadav said if there is warp and weft (two basic components for weaving), then the produce will be a good cloth.

"People of Bhiwandi (weavers) recognise clothes and they will surely recognise the colour of Modi," he said.

On the occasion, JNU student leader Umar Khalid said Bharat is the country of people like Babasaheb Ambedkar and not of Modis.

"We survive and eat out of our efforts and not on the 'tukda' of Ambani," he said.

Khalid also said that Modi earlier wore the "mask" of a 'vikas purush', and has now put on the mask of being the brother of Muslim women.

The strings woven in Bhiwandi town keep members of both the Hindu and Muslim communities here united, he added.

Awhad said time has now come to show the Modi government its place, and asserted that CAA will not be implemented in the state, just like Punjab and Kerala.

"This is my word," the NCP leader said.

Several Hindus cannot identify where they performed the last rights of their father, but in case of Muslims they can identify the graves of their ancestors, he noted.

He also said that members of the state's Pardhi and Kolhati communities can never provide proof (of citizenship).

Kolse-Patil said this fight was against the "Brahminical thoughts".

"NRC and CAA are not anti-Muslim, but Muslim is only an excuse. Their (government) target is Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. If we come together and fight this war, we will surely win it," he said.

He also asked people to reach out to every village and locality and spread the message against CAA, NRC and NPR.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 21:24:31|Editor: ZX

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JUBA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese medical team in South Sudan provided free medical services to some 1,000 people during a four-day medical camp in northern South Sudan.

The Chinese medics said in a statement on Sunday that they visited Paloch, an oil-rich area in the northern Upper Nile region from Jan. 13-17 and conducted consultations and surgical treatment for diseases like hernia and appendicitis.

The doctors also donated medicines to the China-aided Paloch Friendship Hospital to cater to the medical needs of the community living in the oil-producing region.

Since 2013, the Chinese medical team has offered free medical services in South Sudan and also helped with the capacity building of health workers and medical students in the world's youngest nation.

The seventh batch, composed of 13 specialist doctors and two support staff are currently stationed at Juba Teaching and Referral Hospital, with routine outreach programs across the east African country.
By IANS

NEW DELHI: A commuter on Sunday filed a case against the anti-CAA protesters at Shaheeen Bagh, saying he had been threatened by them when he asked them to let him pass and sought removal of the "blockade", police said.

In his complaint, Ved Bhushan, who travels daily from Greater Noida to his Delhi workplace via Kalindi Kunj, rued that he, his relatives and other residents of his area "since 35 days had to take alternate routes causing immense inconvenience due to this illegal protest".

He said that he was returning home on Sunday through the area, and asked the protesters to remove the barricades to let him pass, but they became "agitated" and refused.

Ved Bhushan alleged that some threatened to kill him. Saying he can identify these people if they are brought before him, he demanded they be arrested and a case under the Indian Penal Code dealing with wrongful restraint and confinement as well as criminal intimidation be filed against them. He also sought removal of the blockade.

Shaheen Bagh SHO confirmed that a case has been registered on the complaint.
Prasanta Mazumdar By

GUWAHATI: Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that those applying for citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Law cannot prove if they have faced religious persecution but the central government will use its agencies to internally verify the claims.



Speaking to news channels in Delhi, Sarma said that beneficiaries of CAA would not be able to give evidence of religious persecution in Bangladesh as police stations there are unlikely to give documents of religious persecution.



ALSO READ | Will leave politics if a single person over five lakh is given citizenship in Assam: Sarma

There can be no proof of religious persecution... How can there be proof of religious persecution? People applying for citizenship under CAA will be required to submit documentary evidences that they came to India before December 31, 2014, and that they are Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Parsi or Jain; and that they were citizens of any of the three countries, Sarma said.



He, however, added that the Centre might use its agencies to internally verify claims of religious persecution.



ALSO READ | Is Himanta Biswa Sarma vying for Nobel Prize through his 'peace' rallies: AASU

The basic tenet of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is to give citizenship to non-Muslims refugees facing religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, going by what Sarma said any non-Muslim immigrant from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who entered India before December 31, 2014, will now be entitled to Indian citizenship.



Reacting sharply the All Assam Students Union said, We knew they were hoodwinking people by saying that religious persecution will be a basis for citizenship under CAA, AASUs Lurinjyoti Gogoi said.

Visva Bharati to seek CISF personnel



Visva Bharati University authorities will seek deployment of CISF personnel at the institutes campus after BJP MP Swapan Dasgupta was confined to a room during anti-CAA protests. The central university had earlier written to the Ministry of Human Resource seeking deployment of the central force.
By Trend

The letter addressed by Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the United Nations to the Secretary-General of the organization regarding the illegal arrest of Azerbaijani civilians Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev by Armenia has been circulated as a document of the UN General Assembly and Security Council, Trend reports.

The document underlines that "the illegality of the puppet regime has been repeatedly stated at the international level; it is under Armenias direction and control and is ultimately nothing other than the product of aggression, racial discrimination and ethnic cleansing". In its leading judgment of 16 June 2015 in the case of Chiragov and others v. Armenia, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights established that Armenia exercises effective control over the Nagorno-Karabakh region and other occupied territories of Azerbaijan, it says.

The document emphasizes that the international community has consistently reaffirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, which includes the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the surrounding areas occupied by Armenia; condemned the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan; and demanded the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian forces from those territories.

It also mentions that in July 2014, the Armenian armed forces brutally killed an Azerbaijani civilian, Hassan Hassanov, and captured Asgarov and Guliyev, while they were attempting to visit the graves of their parents and relatives in the occupied Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan. The Armenian side not only did not release those civilians but also fabricated charges against them and unlawfully sentenced Asgarov to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years in jail, while the body of Hassanov was returned to Azerbaijan, with the facilitation of the International Committee of the Red Cross, after almost three months, on 2 October 2014.

The document stresses that in his statement at the 26th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, held in Bratislava on 5 and 6 December 2019, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov specifically referred to the case of Asgarov and Guliyev and noted that Armenia stubbornly rejected releasing them, even on the basis of the all for all principle.

Asgarov and Guliyev were unlawfully arrested, detained, subjected to an ostensible trial and convicted to lengthy terms of imprisonment under fabricated charges by an illegal and incompetent organ of the puppet regime that Armenia has established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. They were not told of the reasons for their arrest or informed of the charges against them and were detained incommunicado for at least several days, the document says.

It notes that Asgarov and Shahbazov were not presumed innocent, as Armenian officials made public statements in which they were called hired criminals, saboteurs and murderers before and during the trial.

They were not informed of the charges against them in a language they understood and were not given adequate assistance through interpretation, according to the document. They are presently kept in complete isolation in prison, without contact with other inmates and without mail, news and  except for visits by the International Committee of the Red Cross  contact with the outside world.

The document also points out that Asgarov and Guliyev were subjected to discriminatory treatment because of their ethnicity and national origin, adding that the humiliating arrest and arbitrary detention of Asgarov and Guliyev and the sentence had no legal basis or legitimacy, and the violation of their rights is now the subject of a complaint before the European Court of Human Rights.

"The Republic of Azerbaijan expects that the United Nations, including its relevant human rights mechanisms and procedures, will not remain indifferent to the fate of Asgarov and Guliyev and will spare no efforts to ensure their immediate and unconditional release and reunification with their families, the document concludes.

The letter which was circulated as the document of the UN Security Council and General Assembly is available at https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N19/444/89/pdf/N1944489.pdf

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
F45 Training | Photo: Suzy C./Yelp

Interested in checking out the newest restaurant and retail additions to Long Beach? From a Cambodian restaurant to a fitness training spot, read on to see the newest destinations to arrive in this Long Beach neighborhood.

Udom Khmer

1223 E. Anaheim St.

Photo: Udom Khmer/Yelp

Udom Khmer is a Cambodian, Thai and Vietnamese spot.

This new business offers authentic Khmer cuisine. On the menu, look for tom yum soup, beef fried noodles or duck.

Udom Khmer currently holds four stars out of four reviews on Yelp, indicating good reviews.

Yelper Yi L., who reviewed Udom Khmer on Jan. 6, wrote, "The beef noodle is very good. The tom yum soup is great too."

Udom Khmer is open from 8 a.m.9 p.m. daily.

Bluestone Lane

333 E. Ocean Blvd.

Photo: Liezl E./Yelp

Bluestone Lane is a spot to score coffee, tea and more.

Bluestone Lane serves up Australian-style coffee and bites. On the menu, look for avocado and romesco toast, keto protein bowl with poached egg, flat white or matcha latte.

Bluestone Lane's current Yelp rating of five stars out of four reviews indicates positive attention from users.

Yelper Ticha B., who reviewed Bluestone Lane on Jan. 9, wrote, "...The coffee is freshly made and delicious. Loved their avocado toast as well."

Liezl E. noted, "...On the recommendation of the friendly staff, I got the prosciutto toast... With that small drizzle of honey, it didn't disappoint. It's a small but filling portion with balanced flavors. Great recommendation."

Bluestone Lane is open from 7 a.m.5 p.m. daily.

F45 Training

6499 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Suite E-11

Photo: sUZY c./Yelp

F45 Training is a boot camp, gym and personal training spot.

F45 Training specializes in 45-minute classes that combine circuit training and high-intensity interval training.

Yelp users are excited about F45 Training, which currently holds five stars out of five reviews on the site.

Yelper Jayme V., who reviewed F45 Training on Jan. 7, wrote, "...People from all levels of fitness do the classes. They are scalable and keep you moving. The trainers are so friendly and knowledgeable... They push you and make sure you have proper form."

Story continues

Yelper Jesse C. added, "...You're guaranteed a good sweat in just 45 minutes... The facility is immaculate and the amount of equipment they have makes it clear that the rotation of exercises will be ever changing. "

F45 Training is open from 5 a.m.7 p.m. on weekdays, 7:4510:30 a.m. on Saturday and 8:4510:30 a.m. on Sunday.

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.
The latest press hack to climb onto the Lev Parnas bandwagon is, no surprise, Washington Post #NeverTrump columnist Kathleen Parker.

Here she goes:

Thanks to Trump, we are living in a world of sleaze Its tough enough keeping count of the former Trump associates whove been indicted, convicted or imprisoned. With startling regularity, new names emerge on what seems a bottomless list of scoundrels and grifters. We began this presidential caper, after all, with revelations of a porn star paid off to keep silent about an alleged affair with Trump shortly after Melania Trump had given birth to their son. Never wonder why so many Americans are disgusted by this president. But what might finally bring Trump down are not alleged sins of the flesh but abuse of power and obstruction of Congress  the two charges laid out in articles of impeachment now before the U.S. Senate. Last week, following the slow tortures of the House impeachment process, a new character emerged in the nick of time to bestir the swamp. In a perverse deus ex machina, this time surfacing from the bowels of the stage, Lev Parnas was this weeks man of the moment.

Problem: It is the media that is elevating Parnas, just like they elevated the crook Michael Avenatti. But here she is blaming Trump as she and most of the media always do.

Most of the media would have you think that the Parnas introduction is the final magic bullet for Getting Trump.

It's their hypocrisy. They have never had any interest in all the scandals during the Obama/Biden years. They never gave a rat's patoot about the physical and mental abuse of women for decades by the Clintons, Harvey Weinstein or Jeffrey Epstein while the Clintons were running for office.

They never cared about the corruption at Justice and the intelligence agencies and misuse of taxpayer money as they targeted Trump.

They never cared that Hillary Clinton, President Obama and others continually violated the nation's security laws with that private server

They didn't care that the DNC and Hillary paid foreign sources over $10 million to create lies about Trump and the Obama administration used those lies as they lied to the FISA court as an excuse to lie.

Then they lied to the FEC that the money was for legal fees. They never cared that the DNC wouldn't let any government official see their computers but blamed the Russians without actual evidence for the hacking.

And not once did they care that the Clintons and Bidens greatly enriched themselves with foreign money.

And according to them Trump is the problem. It is sad how blatantly biased they are.

Is it any wonder how corrupt and dishonest politicians and other members of the swamp are when most of the media, especially those at the Washington Post spend all their time protecting those they like no matter what they say and do while attacking those who they disagree with by making up stuff with no evidence?

It is the corrupt media who are the greatest threat to the integrity of our elections, along with our freedom, prosperity, democracy and survival, not the Russians or any other foreign country.
Donald Trump's latest Russia expert has reportedly been escorted from the White House amid claims of a security-related investigation.

Andrew Peek has been placed on administrative leave pending the inquiry, Axios reported.

He is the third head of European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council to leave the post in the past year.

His two predecessors, Tim Morrison and Fiona Hill, both gave evidence at the impeachment hearings held by the House of Representatives last year.

It was not immediately clear what the reported security investigation involved.

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

Bloomberg reported that he had been escorted from the White House, quoting three sources speaking anonymously.

Mr Peek, who previously worked as an expert on Iran and Iraq and acted as a national security adviser to Republican senators Gordon Smith and Mike Johanns, took up the post in November.

Mr Trump has taken a dramatically different attitude towards Russia and Vladimir Putin than previous administrations.

He has publicly praised the Russian president, even declaring at a press conference in Helsinki that he took his word over that of US intelligence agencies that Russia did not try to interfere in the 2016 election.

During the campaign he called on Moscow to try to unearth emails deleted by his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, saying: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press."

Mr Trump has also held several private meetings with Mr Putin, at one point allegedly forcing an interpreter to tear up their notes of the conversation.

The links between his campaign and Russia led to the Mueller investigation, which concluded that there was no evidence of a concerted co-ordination but did point to efforts at obstruction of the inquiry.

 Kellyane Conway defends Trump saying he'll be acquitted in the Senate

During the impeachment hearings, Mr Morrison testified that there had been a quid pro quo offered by Mr Trump to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky  that the US would release military aid and arrange a White House meeting if Kiev announced investigations into Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

In her testimony, British-born Dr Hill called on politicians to stop peddling "fictional" narratives, favoured by Mr Trump and his supporters, that Ukraine rather than Russia had interfered in the 2016 election. She said that doing so played into the hands of the Russian secret services.

This week Mr Trumps impeachment trial will begin in the Senate where he is expected to be acquitted by the Republican majority.
Princess Anne has paid tribute to the five RNLI heroes who lost their lives in the Fraserburgh lifeboat disaster in Scotland 50 years ago.

The Princess Royal, 69, who was joined by her husband Tim Laurance, 64, greeted the crowds as she attended the memorial service for the men in Old Parish Church, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, on January 19.

The tragic lifeboat disaster claimed the lives of five volunteers after their boat, the Duchess of Kent lifeboat, was capsized by 30ft waves in gale-force conditions while assisting a Danish fishing vessel.

Princess Anne (right), 69, and her husband Tim Laurance (left), 64, attended the memorial service for the five men who died in the Fraserburgh lifeboat disaster in Scotland

The royal made her way to the memorial service in Old Parish Church, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, on January 19

Pictured: The moment the Duchess of Kent lifeboat was capsized by 30ft waves

The royal donned an elegant green coat, which featured a gold broach at the centre, and a pair of black boots as she made her way to the church that sits in the town centre and paid tribute to the volunteers.

The memorial also included a wreath laying ceremony at the statue in tribute to the men that stood outside Fraserburgh's lifeboat station.

The tragedy, which took place on January 21, 1970, occurred when five of the six men inside the Duchess of Kent boat were hit by large waves while trying to tow a Danish vessel.

Coxswain John Stephen and crew members William Hadden, James Buchan, James RS Buchan, and mechanic Frederick Kirkness died in the disaster while John Buchan survived.

Princess Anne greeted the crowds as she honoured the volunteers who died while at sea

The Princess said a few words during the memorial service in Old Parish Church, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire

Mark Hadden, who lost his grandfather in the tragedy and is now a crew member of the Fraserburgh lifeboat said the volunteers died at sea should be 'remembered for what they gave and sacrificed that day'.

He said: 'These men were local Fraserburgh men. They went out in the most appalling weather conditions regardless of what could happen and what the outcome would be.

'They went out to save the lives of others  and in doing so tragically, and selflessly, lost their own lives. Every one of those men should be remembered for what they gave and sacrificed that day.

'I know that I will always remember what they gave, and I hope that we will always take the time to remember their sacrifice.'

Princess Anne paid her respects to the five RNLI volunteers who died when their boat, the Duchess of Kent lifeboat, was capsized by 30ft waves in gale-force conditions

Princess Anne's sighting comes days after she received an honorary degree at the University of Aberdeen in recognition of her extensive charity work.

The royal, who was given the degree by her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall, who is chancellor of the university, appeared in high spirits as she accepted the achievement.

Princess Anne, who began undertaking public engagements at the age of 18, is patron of Save the Children and is also involved with another 300 charities, organisations and military regiments in the UK and overseas.
Christine Keeler's former friend Hanja Kochansky has revealed how the model spent the summer following her release from prison holidaying in the French Riveria where she slept with 'gorgeous young men'.

The former model found notoriety after her explosive affair with the then British secretary of state for war John Profumo during the early sixties, was exposed and ultimately helped to bring down Harold Macmillan's Tory government.

Her story is currently being retold in a six-part BBC series, the Trial of Christine Keeler, with Sophie Cookson playing the eponymous character.

Christine Keeler's former friend Hanja Kochansky has revealed how the model spent the summer following her release from prison holidaying in the French Riveria where she 'took a sexual interest in naughty young men'. Christine is pictured here in 1963

Keeler sold her story to the News of the World for 23,000 at the time and spent the money on a suite at the luxurious Hotel George V in Paris, before travelling to St Tropez in the South of France for a month.

Kochansky reveals that the socialite also took cannabis as well as 'uppers' such as speed but was happiest when she was 'picking up boys'.

Speaking to the Sunday Telegraph, Konchanksy said: 'During our stay in St Tropez, we slept a lot during the day and went out to parties at night. I noticed how, in a crowd, people's eyes would helplessly fall on her. You simply had to look at that face.

'She was happier in France when she was picking up boys. I don't remember her bringing them back to our holiday house  we shared a bedroom, so I probably would have noticed  but there were plenty of places to go and have sex. Gorgeous young men were her thing, the type who would inevitably take her money.'

Her story is currently being retold in a six-part BBC series, the Trial of Christine Keeler, with Sophie Cookson, pictured, playing the eponymous character

The former model found notoriety after her affair with the British secretary of state for war John Profumo during the early sixties, was exposed and ultimately helped to bring down Harold Macmillan's Tory government. She is pictured right in 1960 and left in Cannes in 1963

Kochansky (pictured in 2010 in London) revealed that the socialite also took cannabis as well as 'uppers' such as speed but was happiest when she was 'picking up boys'

'In 1964, Keeler served six months behind bars on a charge of perjury in a case separate form the Prufumo affair, after she was attacked on the street by her ex-lover, a violent Jamaican known as Lucky Gordon.

But it wasn't until after her release from prison that Kochansky met Keeler through a mutual friend in 1965, and the femme fatale would often spend time at her flat in Earls Court, west London.

In 1964, Keeler served six months behind bars on a charge of perjury in a separate case, after she was attacked on the street by her ex-lover, a violent Jamaican known as Lucky Gordon. She is pictured here in 1963 on a beach

In 1965, at the height of her fame, Keeler took her friend to a house in St Tropez she had rented for the summer. She is pictured relaxing on a beach in Spain

In 1965, at the height of her fame, Keeler took her friend to a house in St Tropez she had rented for the summer.

Kochansky added that Keeler 'paid for everything' including booze, speed and marijuana and stopped to sign autographs and tell people who she was throughout the trip.

The actress also revealed that the pair attended a lunch at the home of multimillionaire playboy Gunter Sachs, who later married Brigitte Bardot, but Christine was left unimpressed by the buffet.

Kochansky added that Keeler 'paid for everything' including booze, speed and marijuana and stopped to sign autographs and tell people who she was throughout the trip. Keeler is pictured arriving at the Old Bailey in 1963

Kochansky also said that Christine, who died in 2017 aged 75, would be pleased with the portrayal of her character in the BBC drama, as she 'always wanted to be famous'.

The Trial Of Christine Keeler has pulled in an average audience of 4.32million viewers across the first three episodes of the six-part series.

The debut, which aired on December 29, had an audience of 4.64million.

The Trial Of Christine Keeler continues tonight at 9pm on BBC One.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 10:21:33|Editor: huaxia

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Pakistani President Arif Alvi speaks in an interview with Chinese media in Islamabad, Pakistan on Jan. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

Pakistan has learnt three things from China, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said, "better health for its people, better education for its people and then equal opportunities to be provided to the people."

by Li Hao, Tang Binhui

ISLAMABAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China has successfully lifted more than 800 million people out of poverty, which is a great achievement without parallel in history, and Pakistan is learning from China's experience, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said.

"Pakistan has learnt three things (from China): better health for its people, better education for its people and then equal opportunities to be provided to the people," the president said here Friday in an interview with the Chinese media.

Photo taken on May 22, 2019 shows the building of Pakistan-China Friendship Center in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan. (Xinhua/Ahmad Kamal)

That whoever is sick should be taken care of is the basis of poverty alleviation while good education and equal opportunities of participation will accelerate social development toward prosperity, and Pakistan is learning from China in terms of meeting the basic life needs of people and providing vocational training for the youth, Alvi said.



Talking about the Pakistan-China friendship, Alvi said there is no limit to the development of the good relations, and besides the smooth cooperation between the Pakistani and Chinese governments, there is a friendship between the two peoples which is itself unique. "If you go out and talk to people in Pakistan on the streets, you will find China as the top ranking friend of Pakistan."

Both Pakistan and China attach great importance to "morality and justice" in their exchanges and the China-Pakistan friendship is such an example, he noted.

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative has given a roadmap for economic cooperation globally, said the president, adding that China invests in Pakistan with no strings attached, and relevant projects which have benefited Pakistan regarding infrastructure and energy, will bring a bigger change to the country in terms of socio-economic development.

Photo taken on Nov. 18, 2019 shows a view of the expressway section of the Karakorum Highway (KKH) project phase two in Pakistan. The expressway section of the KKH project phase two was inaugurated in Havelian in northwestern Pakistan on Nov. 18, 2019, marking another step forward to complete the early harvest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). (Xinhua/Liu Tian)

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aims at building trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond.

The implementation of the protocol of the second phase of the free trade agreement between Pakistan and China will increase the trade volume between the two countries, which means "there is more cooperation at every level" and Pakistan is also learning from China in the field of special economic zones, the president said.

The cooperation between Pakistan and China is without strings and is solely for the purpose of peace, economic growth and prosperity of the people, which the world can learn from, he added.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Elon Musk's SpaceX moved Sunday to within months of restoring NASA's ability to launch people into space, successfully completing a key test of the emergency abort system of the spacecraft it is developing to fly NASA's astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA has been unable to send humans to space since the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011, but with SpaceX's test, the agency said it could be sometime this spring when astronauts again would be lifting off from the same historic stretch of coastline here that sent Apollo astronauts to the moon.

Such an outcome would augur a new era of space exploration, one driven by private industry as well as NASA. Sunday's successful test marked the culmination of years of work by SpaceX, which Musk founded in 2002 with the goal of flying humans routinely out of the atmosphere.

In a news conference after the mission, Musk said he was "super fired up" and said the mission was a significant and "surreal" milestone.

"I can't believe we've gotten this far," he said. "It's just going to be wonderful to get astronauts back into orbit from American soil after almost a decade of not being able to do so. I think that's super exciting."

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine praised the company, and the progress it has made, but said the coming weeks and months would be crucial.

"Make no mistake there's a lot left to do," he said, noting there were significant parachute tests yet to come and that the teams still needed to review the data from Sunday's so-called in-flight abort test.

Sunday's test began shortly after a Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from a launch site here at 10:30 a.m. amid concerns that heavy winds and incoming clouds would scrub the mission. But nearly 90 seconds after the booster blasted off, the engines of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft ignited, shooting the capsule off like a champagne cork at more than twice the speed of sound, while the booster came apart midflight in a fiery spectacle miles above the Florida Space Coast.

The capsule landed softly in the Atlantic Ocean nine minutes after liftoff, floating down under a quartet of parachutes, completing a test designed to show that the astronauts would be flown to safety if there ever were a problem with the rocket.

"It looks like a great test," SpaceX's John Insprucker said during the live broadcast, as cheering broke out at SpaceX headquarters in California.

In 2014, NASA awarded contracts to SpaceX and Boeing to develop spacecraft capable of flying humans to the space station, a bold bet by the agency to outsource human spaceflight to the private sector. Since then, both companies' progress has been hampered by technical problems and funding issues that have delayed the first flights with crews by years. And the agency has been forced to continue to rely on Russia for rides to the space station at a cost of as much as $84 million a seat.

Last spring, a Dragon capsule exploded during a test of its abort engines. The company blamed a faulty valve that caused a propellant leak. It has also struggled with its parachutes, but SpaceX has moved to a new design that seemed to work well Sunday.

Kathy Lueders, NASA's Commercial Crew program manager, said the agency was "very, very happy with the flawless execution" of the parachutes.

Boeing also has had problems with its Starliner spacecraft. During a test of its abort system last year, one of its three main parachutes failed to deploy. And a test of its Starliner capsule in December was cut short when a software problem prevented the spacecraft from docking with the space station as intended.

Sunday's test was the last major hurdle SpaceX needed to pass before being allowed to fly NASA's astronauts in what's known as the Commercial Crew Program. The company hopes to fly its first mission with astronauts within a few months, but first it needs to analyze the data from the mission and go through safety checks.

Musk said the test was "picture perfect," with the spacecraft shooting about a mile away from the disabled booster "in a matter of seconds." But even with that extreme acceleration, he said, the vehicle experienced forces only about 3 1/2 times gravity, far less than the seven Gs that a Russian Soyuz spacecraft endured when it experienced a real abort in late 2018.

The test also represented another significant step by a growing commercial space industry that is trying to end governments' long-held monopoly on space activities. Bridenstine said he welcomed the new dynamic since it would help NASA in the future, and and even at one point made a pitch for private astronauts to sign up to fly with SpaceX.

"We're on the cusp of commercializing low-Earth orbit," he said. "I want to see large amount of activities involving humans in space."

It's unclear when Boeing might fly its first mission with crews. The company is still investigating what caused its onboard computer to be 11 hours off, a problem that prevented its engines from firing. NASA has said it is looking into whether it should force the company to fly another test mission without crews before allowing astronauts on board.

In a recent blog post, Bridenstine, the NASA administrator, said that even though docking with the space station is part of Boeing's contract, that requirement could be waived.

"Although docking was planned, it may not have to be accomplished prior to the crew demonstration," he wrote. "Boeing would need NASA's approval to proceed with a test with astronauts on board."

Lueders said during a briefing last week that SpaceX still has a few tests of its parachute system to complete. If they go well, she said, the company could conceivably launch its first mission with astronauts in March.

In the press briefing Sunday, Musk said that the first flight would actually be a little bit later, but sometime in the second quarter of this year.

"To be back in the saddle again, and to be launching frequently again is something that matters to America and to people worldwide," Musk said.

Veteran NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, who would be on SpaceX's first test mission with people, said they were pleased with the outcome of the test. Both are married to other astronauts and have children, and said the successful test gave them confidence that they'd be safe in case anything went wrong.

"Our families were certainly watching from back home," Hurley said. "Obviously they are keenly interested."

They added that their guest lists for their upcoming flight were due Friday
The temple town of Shirdi was shut down on Sunday after locals, led by a BJP legislator, called a bandh to protest against Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray calling Pathri area in Marathwada the birthplace of Saibaba  a claim contested by many in Shirdi where the 19th century saint spent a large part of his life.

Thackeray has called a meeting with representatives from both Shirdi and Pathri on Monday. I am confident that when both sides will meet the CM, the issue will be resolved amicably, said deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, too, said the state government would come up with a solution to peacefully resolve the issue.

Late in the evening, locals called off the bandh, saying they would wait for the outcome of the meeting with the CM. We have temporarily called off our bandh and private establishments will restart operating from tomorrow (Monday). This is to ensure that devotees are not inconvenienced in any way. If no desirable decision is taken in the meeting with the CM, locals will decide on the next course of action, said protest leader Kailash Tope, a former trustee of Shirdis famed Saibaba temple.

In Shirdi, while shops and eateries remained closed and vehicles stayed off the roads, the temple was open and devotees continued to offer their prayers, even though their numbers noticed a slight dip, said an official from the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, which manages the temple which is believed to house the remains of the saint.

The shutdown was also observed in at least 25 villages around Shirdi.

On an average, Shirdi, around 248 kilometres from state capital Mumbai, witnesses a footfall of more than 30,000 people on the weekends, said the official.

On January 13, Thackeray had announced a development fund of Rs 100 crore for Pathri, nearly 273 kms away from Shirdi in Maharashtras Ahmednagar district, while terming it the birthplace of Saibaba.

In response, the residents of Shirdi, led by legislator Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called a meeting on Saturday where they announced the shutdown and called for Thackeray to retract his statement.

They claimed that the birthplace of the famed saint was not known.

Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi, Sadashiv Lokhande, also extended his support to the bandh, saying he will speak to the CM. I am a Sai devotee first and an MP later. I support this protest.

Maharashtra cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who visited the Shirdi temple, said, Nobody should create controversy over an issue such as this. Even Saibaba would not have liked it.

In Pathri, locals gathered at the local Saibaba temple in large numbers and stressed that the town in Parbhani district was the birthplace of Saibaba and that the chief minister was right in allocating funds for its development.

Saibaba, a prominent spiritual figure, is equally revered by Hindus and Muslims.
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Most American adults own life insurance, yet the buying process can be perplexing and pose traps for the unwary  and cause financial problems years down the road. Around 57% of adults in the U.S. own a life insurance policy, according to a joint study by Limra, a trade group, and Life Happens, a nonprofit insurance advocate. But the sales standards governing how agents and brokers can recommend certain types of life insurance to consumers can be lax. And the complexity of many types of life insurance could mask potential abuse and make it difficult to know if you're getting good advice. While insurance companies say current rules ensure buyers get advice that's in their best interests, some financial advisors and consumer advocates argue that the rules are too loose. "It's almost unregulated in terms of the duty owed to the consumer," Larry Rybka, chairman and CEO of ValMark Financial Group, said of the life insurance market. "We sell thousands of financial products," Rybka said. "Life insurance is the most complex financial product with the most moving pieces of anything we sell."

Not all forms of life insurance are necessarily mind-boggling. Term insurance, for example, is fairly straightforward. It covers buyers for a certain period of time, say 10 or 20 years, for an annual fee that's locked in and the consumer knows at the time of sale. Some online portals, like Policygenius and SelectQuote, can help compare term-insurance rates among different companies. But permanent life insurance  also known as cash-value insurance  is more complicated. Consumers are meant to hold this type of insurance, such as whole life and universal life, until death instead of a set term. Such insurance comes with a side investment account that earns interest and dividends. The account is meant to cover annual premiums and other insurance costs, which typically increase each year with age. However, if an investment account underperforms expectations or insurance charges increase more than expected, a buyer may be forced to pay more money to cover a shortfall or risk losing the insurance altogether. In recent years, several insurance companies have been sued by policyholders faced with this exact lose-lose scenario. Transamerica, for example, settled its lawsuit for $195 million in 2018. A policy that may appear cheap now may not be so later in life.

A healthy 55-year-old, non-smoking male looking for a $1 million life insurance policy can expect to pay between roughly $3,100 and $4,000 annually for a 20-year term policy, according to a ValMark Financial Group analysis. The same buyer can expect annual premiums of between $20,000 and $37,000 for whole life insurance. Current life insurance rules, which are set by the states, often don't require insurance agents to fully disclose the risks to consumers. While insurers say they disclose the risks to buyers in the contracts consumers sign, the fine print can extend to more than 100 pages long. Individuals can easily be caught unaware. "I think consumers just don't understand how the contracts work," said Barry Flagg, president and founder of Veralytic, a life insurance research and ratings provider. "Agents present the absolute best case of how this will work out, without helping customers understand how things could change." Insurance agents are also generally allowed to recommend life insurance that will pay them a higher commission instead of a policy that may be just as good but pay the agent a smaller  or no  commission. This isn't to say all life insurance agents are misleading consumers. But the rules aren't in a buyer's favor, according to consumer advocates.

We sell thousands of financial products. Life insurance is the most complex financial product with the most moving pieces of anything we sell. Larry Rybka Chairman and CEO of ValMark Financial Group

Life insurers disagree their standards are lax. States regulate life insurance on several fronts  such as advertising, disclosure, unfair trade practices and educational materials  which amount to a "robust regulatory framework," said Bruce Ferguson, senior vice president of state relations at the American Council of Life Insurers, a trade group. Consumers also generally have 10 days from date of purchase to get a full refund. And there are relatively few life insurance complaints from consumers, Ferguson said. State insurance regulators confirmed more than 4,000 individual cases of wrongdoing by life insurers or insurance agents in 2019, according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. By comparison, Americans owned around 138 million life insurance policies as of year-end 2018, according to ACLI. "From A to Z this is one of the more heavily regulated products," Ferguson said. "And regulation continues to evolve." A New York law that takes effect in February, for example, requires agents to make life insurance recommendations in buyers' best interests and without an eye to financial incentives like commissions. Consumer advocates call it the most stringent insurance rule of any state.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 16:20:59|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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SANAA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of Yemeni soldiers killed in a ballistic missile attack by Houthi rebels in Yemen's northeastern province of Marib on Saturday has risen to at least 70, a government source said Sunday.

Dozens of soldiers were still suffering critical injuries from the attack, the source, who works in the Marib hospital, told Xinhua by phone.

The attack at Saturday's sunset hit the gathering of soldiers near a mosque in al-Estikbal military base.

The government officials blamed the Iran-allied Houthi rebels for the attack, but the Houthis have not claimed responsibility.

Hours after the Marib attack, the Saudi-led coalition, which backs the Yemeni government forces, launched a series of airstrikes on a Houthi-controlled military base in the southeast of the Houthi-held capital Sanaa, with no casualties reported, according to the residents.

The Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against the Houthis who stormed the capital Sanaa and controlled much of the country's north in late 2014.
Tore Bempasciuto (pictured), from Ferndale in Perth, is accused of punching Saiful Nurokhim at a taxi rank outside the LXXY Bar in Kuta at 4.15am on Tuesday last week

A taxi driver who was allegedly bashed by an Australian tradesman in Bali has demanded to meet him before signing a peace agreement.

Tore Bempasciuto, from Ferndale in Perth, has been locked in a cell in Kuta for six days as he waits for an agreement to be reached.

The 23-year-old mechanical fitter faces up to two years and eight months behind bars if he is found guilty of punching Saiful Nurokhim at a taxi rank outside the LXXY Bar in Kuta at 4.15am on Tuesday last week.

Bempasciuto's legal team offered the driver money to drop the case last week, but Mr Nurokhim has not accepted the deal.

He wants to meet with Bempasciuto first, to make sure 'he is really remorseful for his act'.

'As a human being, we should forgive each other,' Mr Nurokhim told 7news.

'I hope that I can meet him first and talk, to make sure that he is really remorseful for his act.'

Bempasciuto's lawyer Ali Sadikin said it was hoped the pair could meet on Monday before signing the agreement.

There have been a string of assault cases in Bali recently involving Australians, where the alleged attacker has been freed after paying compensation and signing a peace treaty.

Bempasciuto is hopeful the peace agreement will give him his freedom, however, Kuta police have not yet indicated whether that will be enough.

Bempasciuto, whose mother Patricia has flown to Bali to help him, may have a longer wait behind bars.

On the night of the alleged attack, Bempasciuto was partying at Bounty nightclub when he lost his iPhone 11, he told officers.

He apparently thought the taxi driver looked like someone who was following him.

According to a police report, he headbutted the taxi driver and snatched his Samsung phone.

Tore Bempasciuto allegedly punched Saiful Nurokhim (pictured) at a taxi rank outside the LXXY Bar in Kuta at 4.15am

The taxi driver gave chase before a scuffle allegedly broke out.

The police report, seen by 7News, says: 'The victim tried to chase the perpetrator who grabbed his mobile phone.

'However, the perpetrator doesn't give the mobile phone back.

'He suddenly, it is alleged, hit the victim's mouth and eye, causing the victim to fall down onto the pedestrian strip.'

Bempasciuto then allegedly ran away, fearing the taxi driver's friends would retaliate, before he was detained.

Mr Nurokhim was allegedly left with a bloody nose and mouth and pain at the back of his head from hitting the ground.
Betting companies have been given access to a huge database containing the personal details of 28 million children.

The educational index, the Learning Records Service, contains names, ages and addresses of children aged 14 and above in state schools, private schools and colleges in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Companies are thought to have used the breach to increase the number of young people who gamble online, despite privacy rules meaning the database should only be used for educational reasons.

According to a report, one gambling firm was able to increase the number of young people passing its identity checks by 15 per cent, just by using the database.

It is believed to be one of the biggest breaches of government data ever and the Department of Education, led by Gavin Williamson, has pledged to investigate and leave 'no stone unturned'.

The breach is believed to be one of the biggest breaches of government data ever and the Department of Education, led by Gavin Williamson, has pledged to leave 'no stone unturned' in its investigation

The government says it allowed an education and training provider to use the database.

This firm then 'broke the agreement' and gave access to another company, leading to the gambling firms being able to use it.

The shocking finds were revealed by the Sunday Times and, after being made aware of the breach, the DofE disabled the database.

An investigation found that GB group, one of the leading data companies in the UK, was given access to the Learning Records Service.

It was given access because of the age and identity verification services that it provides to its clients, which include 32Red, Betfair and other gambling companies.

The database gave these gambling firms a fast and cost effective way of verifying the ages of young online customers claiming to be 18 or over.

GB Group wrote on its website: 'The data is accessible in real time, refreshed nightly and updated in line with annual exam results and other key moments.'

According to a report, one gambling firm was able to increase the number of young people passing its identity checks by 15 per cent, just by using the database

The company also said that it could check dates of birth and addresses against the Learning Records Service, to determine if given identities were genuine.

The Learning Records Service gives a unique number to children and students aged 14 and above and is supposed to help them give proof of their achievements and qualifications.

GB Group is thought to have gained access to the database through Trustopia, a London-based 'education and training provider' used by the government.

Trustopia denies this, but a DfE statement said: '[The firm] wrongly provided access to this data and broke their agreement with us. This was completely unacceptable and we have immediately stopped the firm's access and ended our agreement with them. We will be taking the strongest possible action.'

A source close to Williamson said that he 'was very concerned' about the data breach.

GB Group said: 'We can confirm that we use the Learning Records Service dataset via a third party. We take claims of this nature very seriously and, depending on the results of our review, we will take appropriate action.'
Theres something magical coming to Disneys streaming service, and were not just talking about the next season of The Mandalorian. An original movie titled Stargirl premieres on the platform during March 2020, and the teaser trailer already has subscribers eager to learn more.

What is the Disney+ original movie Stargirl about? Who does Grace VanderWaal play in this film? Heres what we know about the upcoming original and its cast.

Grace VanderWaal of Disneys Stargirl | Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty Images

A new original movie is coming to Disney+ titled Stargirl

Disney+ isnt just for already released animated films by Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic. Similar to Netflix, Disney has a few original series and movies set to premiere exclusively on this streaming platform. Although some became available at this platforms launch date during November 2019, some content is set for its 2020 premiere.

One of those original movies is Stargirl, a feature film based on Jerry Spinellis 2000 novel of the same title. This movie features cast members Giancarlo Esposito of The Mandalorian, Darby Stanchfield of Scandal, and Maximiliano Hernandez of Avengers: Endgame. One of its most notable cast members is Americas Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal.

Stargirl features the ukulele-playing Grace VanderWaal, known for her song I Dont Know My Name

She may be known for her appearance in Americas Got Talent, where she performed an original song accompanied by her ukulele. Now, VanderWaal will appear in the Disney+ original movie, Stargirl, as the title character.

This will be VanderWaals first film credit, though she already has songs available on most streaming platforms. The teaser trailer, which premiered during January 2020 (on VanderWaals 16th birthday), tells the magical story of one young girl who loves music and her newfound friend, Leo Borlock.

According to Screenrant, Stargirl follows the experience of Leo Borlock (Graham Verchere), a student at Mica High School in Arizona. When the mysterious yet endearing Susan Stargirl Caraway (VanderWaal) shows up, Leo forms a crush and learns to become more comfortable in his own skin. The two outsiders share a special bond, and the perils of high school force them to confront some difficult truths about the present and future.

Is Stargirl only available on Disneys streaming platform, Disney+?

As a Disney+ original movie, Stargirl will presumably only be available on this streaming service. The movie could eventually end up on Disney Channel or another Disney-funded television network. However, according to Disneys Instagram, it will premiere exclusively on Disney+.

Disney funded other original movies and television shows exclusively for this streaming platform. That includes the live-action adaptation of Lady and the Tramp and the holiday movie starring Anna Kendrick, Noelle. Television series already available on this streaming platform include the Star Wars spin-off, The Mandalorian and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Presumably, more information regarding this film will be announced by Disney in the coming months. Subscribers can start streaming Stargirl on March 13, 2020. Until then, fans can listen to VanderWaals music on Spotify, Apple Music, and most major streaming platforms.
INDIANOLA, Iowa  Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Saturday accused Senator Bernie Sanderss presidential campaign of distorting his record on Social Security, claiming without evidence that Mr. Sanderss team was promoting a doctored video, a loaded word in an era of disinformation.

There is a little doctored video going around, Mr. Biden said, adding that it was put out by one of Bernies people.

The remarks, which Mr. Biden made in response to a question about his Social Security stance at a campaign event here Saturday afternoon, marked a departure from his typical oblique swipes at opponents when speaking before voters. The clash, over an issue of great significance to older Iowa voters, seemed to signal an escalation in tensions between the two contenders who are competing for an overlapping slice of blue-collar Iowans here in the leadoff caucus state.

The Sanders campaign has been increasingly critical of Mr. Bidens broader record on Social Security. At issue on Saturday: The campaign claimed recently that Mr. Biden had praised former House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, Mr. Bidens 2012 rival for the vice presidency, in support of making cuts to Social Security.
NORWAY  The Town of Norway is only considering teaming up with the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office to use their One Solution software for dispatch and officer management, including in-cruiser and smartphone features, that may improve their ability to do their jobs, but the town will definitely be making other changes in their police force.

The (One Solution) software is attractive and will be addressed to the entire council at the February's meeting, Mayor Tracie Clemons said at a special called council meeting.

Council will not be looking at any other new systems except for this one to consider.

We have no new alternatives in place, for we have not looked at other similar software. If not accepted, we will continue the system in place, Clemons said.

She said the town is going to be working on changes in the police force immediately this week as well.

We will begin interviewing (the week of Jan. 13) to hire an interim chief and hire the selected officer immediately. We have requested a reserve officer and/or deputy to the OCSO to provide coverage within a week or two, she said

Inspector Antonia Turkvant of the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office, who has 22 years of experience in law enforcement, gave the presentation on the One Solution software. Turkvant stated OCSO, the jail, EMS, etc. all implemented the One Solution software and that they built it to go ahead and be multi-agency, including some towns in the county that may want to be a part of it.

I wanted to show what (the usage of the software) means for the town of Norway and other towns, Turkvant said.

Norway has already been built into the system as well as North and Springfield, she said.

The software can be useful for an OCSO deputy coming into the area.

The software tells them if something is in the Town of Norways jurisdiction, Turkvant said.

She said that it also helps with redundancy with dispatch and prevents people having to talk to multiple people at the 911 center and having to answer the same questions multiple times.

Turkvant said that medical calls are prioritized by the system and that the officers get real-time information on the residences to which they are traveling. She demonstrated the system reading directions and information aloud in digital speech.

The system speaks to you. It has a digital voice. It tells the deputy where the call is coming from, she said.

The system will alert the officer if there is past history with a citizen  The software will mention if somebody is wanted, and alerts go throughout the system, she said. The software also provides officer accountability. If you say something that you should not, it is logged.

She stated the system has the ability for deputies to add notes, access photos, scan licenses for prior offenses, to look up information on guns, run license tags and more.

We can also communicate with Lexington County and Richland County etc. via the system. Our software now talks to other software, she said.

She said that this especially helps with stolen items that have been taken across county lines to be pawned elsewhere and that the system will even keep records on items that have been pawned.

Turkvant said that the One Solution software can be run on a laptop in a cruiser as well as on a smartphone and that every cruiser with the software becomes its own mobile hotspot with no dead areas in the county that they have experienced.

She said studies have been done to show that the system improves response time because the deputies do not get lost as often.

Turkvant said that the cost of fully implementing Norway in the system would depend on what Norway wants. She estimated that a start-up license for the town would be $1,200.

Attending the meeting along with Clemons and council were Mayor Julius Jones of North and Springfield and Salley council members as well as pastors and citizens. There were also presentations by Blue Ink Sign Inc., the One Orangeburg County initiative, Team Norway and CASA/Family Systems.

This story has been corrected.

Contact the writer: rbaxley37@gmail.com.

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Shirdi (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): The indefinite 'bandh' in the Shirdi called in protest over chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's reported statement on the birthplace of Sai Baba's birthplace has been called off for Monday.



A protest was staged in the town after the chief minister terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace.

"We have called off the indefinite bandh and Shirdi will be open as normal after 12 tonight. There is a meeting scheduled with Chief Minister tomorrow at 2 pm and we will request him to take back his statement about Saibaba's birthplace. We are not seeking an apology from the CM but all we want is that he should withdraw his statement," said Kailash Tope, Sai Baba Sansthan Trust.

"If there is no positive outcome of tomorrow's meeting locals of Shirdi will decide the future course of action," he said.

The 'bandh' was called by locals upset with Thackeray's recent announcement to allocate funds to develop Pathri town in Parbhani district for religious tourism, calling it the birthplace of the Baba, a 19th-century spiritual figure.

Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the indefinite shutdown.

Shirdi temple is one of the most popular religious destinations in the country. Over a lakh devotees visit it every year.

While the rest of the town remained shut, the temple remained open for darshan today. (ANI)


The Labour Party has called for the introduction of an electoral commission amid the fallout from a controversy over voter registration ahead of the coming general election.

Leader Brendan Howlin said that it is really worrying that because of the timing of this election, because of the date that Fine Gael picked, a lot of young people who should be on the next register which comes into effect on the 15th of February, will be disenfranchised.

The issue stems from the date of the election. Due to it being held on February 8, those who registered within the past eight months may not be included on the new register, which is refreshed once a year.

In order to be able to vote, they must enrol themselves on the supplementary register. However, the cutoff point for doing so is in three days time, January 22.

Speaking at the Communications Workers Union in North Dublin alongside party colleague Alan Kelly, Mr Howlin said he had spoken to many people in his home constituency of Wexford yesterday who had assumed they were on the register and would be getting their first vote, and they wont.

To people who are not sure I want to say check the register, he said.

Regarding the electoral commission, Mr Howlin said were all sick and tired of after every election having loads of anomalies. He called for one central register in order to take registration out of the hands of local authorities, put together by an independent commission, and said that people should have the ability to pre-register so that they are automatically qualified to vote when they turn 18.

But it must be much more powerful than that, he said, adding that any commission must have the ability to regulate elections, fix debates and participants, and to control who is spending money on the election.

That has come into sharp focus in the last couple of years with external funding online in particular of campaigns across the world, he said.

We need to not be naive to think that wont impact in Ireland too.

Regarding a poll overnight from Behaviour & Attitudes/ The Sunday Times which, along with showing Fine Gael having slipped 12 points behind Fianna Fail, also showed Labour down 2 points to 4%, Mr Howlin denied that it had affected his partys election aspiration to double its TD numbers to 14.

Im afraid this is a poll that we have bounced up and down in. We were at 4% before the local elections and actually got a national figure of 6%, he said.

In the most recent by elections our actual average vote was 14%.

In real elections where we have candidates and campaigns and traditional votes, we do far better than that. Im very confident that we will be in double digits, he added.

I think you have to be mindful of when this poll was taken, before the election, at the height of the debacle made of the Black and Tan issue, Mr Howlin said with regard to Fine Gaels precipitous slide in the poll.

Mr Kelly meanwhile said that the ongoing trolley crisis, and health in general, is quite obviously the number one issue across the country, particularly in relation to acute services.

In Tipperary we suffer at both ends of the constituency, with South Tipperary General at one end and UHL at the other, he said.

The real issue is this, Fine Gael have had enough time to have foresight to be able to deal with this. We have Slaintecare now to be implemented, and thats three years old.

He said that the two mentioned hospitals should have seven-day services, not five-day, and that diagnostics should be moved out into the community.

All of these issues can be dealt with, but the investment has to be put in. Despite a lot of talk, Fine Gael have had the portfolio a long time and it is not a portfolio that I believe they can move into the future.
By Paul Schaumburg, Graves County Schools Jan. 19, 2020 | 10:40 AM | MAYFIELD

across the country for all the daily sacrifices they make for their communities," according to the web site

https://nationaldaycalendar.com

. The arrival Jan. 9 of the 2020 edition of that same appreciation day served as a reminder that the Graves County School District employs two full-time school resource officers. In fact, Jonathan Grant and Shawn Maxie comprise the staff of the district's own independent police department, with the full legal authority of more traditional law enforcement agencies.

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day began in 2015 "to thank officers

Not long after Grant retired from his 20-year career with the Kentucky State Police, he accepted a position as an SRO with the Graves County Schools. "Law enforcement is something I believe you're called to do, like a pastor is called to that profession," Grant explained. "One reason I became an SRO is I like being around kids and the high school setting, in particular."

Grant continued, "Other than protection of our staff and students, I think one of the biggest values of our SRO's is relationship building and mentoring of youth. Those teenaged years are really tough. Sometimes, teenagers don't make the best decisions. This job offers an opportunity for them to hear an adult perspective from someone who has seen the worst that drugs and alcohol can do. So, it's really almost a ministry."

Maxie sees his service as an SRO "...as kind of a way of giving back," he said. "Yes, I get a paycheck for it, but giving back also is making a positive impact for law enforcement. I'm not always looking around for something bad happening. Instead, I'm giving students a pat on the back, a pep talk, or building them up when they're going through something tough. I also want to give a positive example of a black male. That's one reason I got into police work 20-plus years ago."

He added, "After I retired from the Paducah Police Department, I was a law enforcement instructor at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy in Richmond. I thought that would be my dream job. There weren't SRO's in those days. Now, this is my dream job. I'm trying to make a difference. Helping to lay that foundation for adult life is important. If I can be a role model or someone students can trust, who will listen, that's my goal."

Graves County Schools director of pupil personnel Christy Puckett works closely with both men. "To have, in my opinion, two of the finest SRO's in the state of Kentucky is rewarding," she said. "These are veteran police officers, who came to us from varied backgrounds and experience. The No. 1 thing I can say about them is that they relate well to kids and they are for kids first. The way they conduct business on an everyday basis is very proactive, to promote positive behaviors within the school and to promote growth in the culture of our school community, as a whole."

Puckett concluded, "Officer Grant primarily is assigned to the high school. Officer Maxie works out of the middle school. He also serves our elementary schools, especially through teaching DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). They make a fantastic team, work very well together and play off one another's strengths. I think that makes our department as a whole very sound."
New Delhi: Bihar became a part of history on Sunday (January 19) when it succeeded in forming a human chain which was more than 18,3400-kilometer long, covering the entire Gangetic belt from Buxar to Bhagalpur on the border with Jharkhand. The idea was to promote Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's pro-environment conservation slogan of Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali (water-life-greenery).

Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar in a press conference announced that they have succeeded in creating a new record, breaking their own previous record. He said that the human chain was 18.34 thousand kilometres long and as many as 4.27 crore people were estimated to have taken part in the event.

He said, "In the main city, more than three crores 45 lakhs people participated, while on the ward level more than one crore 13 lakh and 44 thousand people stood forming the human chain. At the school level, as many as 57 lakh and 76 thousand children, teachers and other staff members took part."

The state government used the services of four helicopters, three planes and more than 100 drones to capture the event. The estimated cost for the event was 15-16 crores, declared Kumar.

The event was also marred with the news of two deaths which occurred during the formation of the human chain. The government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the kin of the deceased.

Live TV

Meanwhile, the opposition criticised Nitish Kumar for the human chain event questioning the `Jal, Jeevan, Hariyali` program and urging the residents to `stay awake`. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav attacked CM Nitish Kumar saying that his government has cut trees and are now making school children stand in the cold for the human chain.

"So many trees were cut by Nitish Kumar for making highways and for the other so-called development works. Water is being wasted every day from the faulty taps in the government offices while the CM keeps talking about Jal, Jeevan and Hariyali. He is going to make the school children stand in this cold weather for the human chain, who will take responsibility if they fall sick?" Yadav told reporters on Saturday.

The Congress party put up posters accusing the JDU-BJP coalition government of failing to deliver on many promises. They alleged that there are problems such as dowry-related deaths, loot, corruption, rapes, brain drain, unemployment, among other crimes in Bihar.

The event saw participation by CM Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Sushil Modi, Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Vijay Chaudhary, Bihar Legislative Council Working President Haroon Rashid and several other top leaders of both the BJP and JD(U). Bihar government officials confirmed that the country head of UN Environment Programme Atul Bagai and environmentalist Rajendra Singh will also be a part of the human chain at Gandhi Maidan.

In 2018, the Nitish Kumar-led state government had organised a similar event in which the human chain was 14 thousand kms long with as many as 3.5 crore people standing against dowry and child marriage. In 2017, the chain was 11,292-km long with 2 crore people in support of the liquor ban.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

Linda's Music Center to close

Linda Brandon, owner of Linda's Music Center, is ready to retire.

Brandon has served local musicians for more than 52 years with Linda's Music Center. Manager Hugh Reeves, who has worked with Brandon for almost 30 years, is ready for semi-retirement himself, and doesn't want to buy the business and carry on. If someone else wants to buy it, Brandon said, Reeves has volunteered to stay on for a while to help a new owner get started. Otherwise, the plan is to close by the end of February or early March.

Brandon entered the music store business at a time when a woman in the music business was a rarity, she said. In 2017, she received a Milestone Award from the National Association of Music Merchants to celebrate 50 years in business.

MONDAY, JANUARY 13

Scissors part of city's history

Although the organization's staff has changed throughout the decades, one thing has remained constant in 87 years of ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new businesses and developments.

The Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce couldnt be more excited to be here and celebrate this ribbon-cutting ceremony, said chamber President Mirinda Rothrock during one such event. We are so proud to use the scissors for the ribbon-cutting that have been used since the 1930s. And we are so pleased to use them again.

Unlike other cities who use large, attention-grabbing scissors, the chamber continues to use the delicate shears because of the rich history they have. Throughout the years, the scissors have also been transported via an equally elaborate box.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

Group seeks help from the top

The battle to save the former A.E. Staley Mfg. Co pump house looks set to shift to London after Decatur-based managers for British-based Tate & Lyle, the current owners, said they plan to press full steam ahead with their demolition plans.

Leaders of the Save the Pump House group fighting to preserve the structure told a public meeting Monday night they have now written to Tate & Lyles Chief Executive, Nick Hampton, requesting a meeting.

And well meet him in London if they want, well meet him wherever, said Bret Robertson, the Save the Pump House chairman. Robertson warned that demolition of the pump house posed a public relations disaster for Tate & Lyle and said if local management isnt interested in talking, maybe the man at the top of the company would be.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

Donation creates leadership institute

When Howard Buffett told former Sheriff Jerry Dawson that he wanted to name a new Civic Leadership Institute after him, Dawson demurred at first.

He hung up on me, Buffett quipped while announcing the donation of a $2.3 million grant to support the The Jerry J. Dawson Civic Leadership Institute.

The goal of the institute is to provide Decatur Public Schools students a program to raise awareness and encourage careers in public service: law enforcement, nursing, paramedic, firefighting, government service, and the law.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

Mixing fun with a serious message

When BMX flatland stunt rider Matt Wilhelm competed in his first X Games, he didn't crash once, he told students at Holy Family School on Wednesday.

I crashed four times, he said, making the kids laugh, but also wince a little because most kids know what it's like to fall off a bicycle.

Wilhelm, a three-time X Games medalist, World Championship silver medalist, two-time United States National Champion, and Guinness World Record holder, gave an anti-bullying presentation to students interspersed with demonstrations of BMX trick riding and stories about his own childhood.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

Board creates administrative post

The Decatur Board of Education on Thursday created a new administrative role for research and data collection, a position that had not been in this years budget.

The title is director of research, data and accountability. The school board approved its description at a special meeting.

This person would be responsible for processing assessment data in a way that is better than what we are currently doing, Superintendent Paul Fregeau said.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping holds formal talks with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Myanmar, his first overseas trip this year, is another important practice for China to promote the building of a community with shared future for humanity in the region, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday.

The Chinese president arrived in Nay Pyi Taw earlier on Friday for a state visit to Myanmar. It is the first visit to the Asian neighbor by a Chinese president after an interval of 19 years.

During the visit, Xi attended 12 events and witnessed the signing of 29 cooperation documents in various fields, Wang said, adding that the two sides have also issued a joint statement.

The Myanmar side has for long highly expected Xi's state visit, Wang said, noting that the Chinese president was met with the highest courtesy and a grand reception by the Myanmar side.

BUILDING CHINA-MYANMAR COMMUNITY WITH SHARED FUTURE

Wang said that during Xi's visit, China and Myanmar have agreed to work together to build a community with shared future, opening a new era of bilateral ties.

This decision conforms to the trend of the times, meets expectations of the two peoples and injects new impetus and vitality into bilateral cooperation, Wang said.

All sectors of the Myanmar society have responded positively to the decision, with the Myanmar leadership expressing support to Xi's proposal of building a community with shared future for humanity, Wang said.

During the meetings, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi said that China has always been a good friend of Myanmar, and fate has bound the two sides closely, according to Wang.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, Wang said the two countries agree to hold the China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism, and to carry out over 70 activities, covering education, tourism, culture and other fields.

HIGH-QUALITY CO-CONSTRUCTION OF BRI

During the visit, President Xi and Myanmar leaders held in-depth discussions on promoting high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road and reached new important consensus, Wang said.

The two sides agreed to promote the construction of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, the New Yangon City, the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone, as well as roads, railways and power and energy infrastructures.

It marks the transition of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) from conceptual planning to substantive construction, Wang said.

China is willing to work with Myanmar to steadily advance the construction of key cooperation projects in the CMEC within the framework of jointly building the Belt and Road, bringing local people more benefits and giving them stronger sense of gain and happiness, Wang said.

For the Myanmar side, its leaders said that the construction of the economic corridor under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative is of great significance to Myanmar's national development, Wang said.

Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing also pledged that the Myanmar military will firmly support and promote the joint construction of the Belt and Road, Wang added.

SAFEGUARDING INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

Noting that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Wang said injustice and inequality remain prominent in international relations, and protectionism, unilateralism as well as bullying actions are rising against the trend.

Developing countries, including China and Myanmar, are facing new challenges in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and development interests, he said.

When meeting with Myanmar leaders, Xi stressed that all countries have the right to choose a development path suited to their national conditions.

The development path chosen by the Chinese people is successful, and the Chinese will continue to follow the path unswervingly, Xi said, adding that China is willing to share its experience in poverty alleviation with Myanmar.

Myanmar felt sincere happiness for China's success, Wang quoted Myanmar leaders as saying, adding that the Myanmar leaders expressed their hopes that China will share more experience in state governance with Myanmar and other developing countries.

China's successful experience will provide practical reference for Myanmar's economic development, improvement of people's well-being and poverty alleviation, the Myanmar leaders said.

Myanmar staunchly abides by the one-China principle, firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, and stands unshakably on the side of Chinese friends, they also said.

Xi, meanwhile, stressed that China is committed to peaceful development, will never seek hegemony or interfere in other countries' internal affairs, and will continue to speak out for justice for developing countries on the international stage.

China supports Myanmar in moving forward along the development path it has chosen and in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests and national dignity on the international stage, Xi said.

Leaders of the two countries also pledged to continue to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, work together to uphold the common interests of developing countries and uphold international fairness and justice, Wang said.
Kim Kardashian West has just dropped the trailer for her new prison reform doco, Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project.

The doco follows Kims work on criminal justice reform, hearing stories of current inmates to tackle what Kim descibes as a mass incarceration problem in the United States.
President of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group Doan Nguyen Duc decided to spend VND240 billion to buy back HAGL bonds, while the owner of Yeah 1 lost VND2.2 trillion in 2019.

1/ Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agrico (HNG) has announced the results of the buy back of bonds before maturity from the National Citizen Bank (NCB). The total amount of money Duc spent on the deal was VND240 billion, and the transaction completion date was January 31, 2019.

Doan Nguyen Duc, president of Hoang Anh Gia Lai





The bonds purchased by HAGL are not convertible, not accompanied by warrants, and guaranteed by HAG shares of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company.



The 2019 semi-annual financial report showed that HAGL Agrico had a single common bond debt worth VND270 billion. The institution arranging the bond issuance campaign was Euro Capital Securities (ECS), while the bondholder was NCB.

President of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group Doan Nguyen Duc decided to spend VND240 billion to buy back HAGL bonds, while the owner of Yeah 1 lost VND2.2 trillion in 2019.

The collateral is nearly 26.6 million HNG shares that Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company holds. Hoang Anh Gia Lai and HAGL Agrico are led by Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc (elected Duc) as chairman of the Board of Directors.



The collateral for the bonds was 26.6 million HNG shares held by Hoang Anh Gia Lai.



Duc is the president of both Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hoang Anh Gia Lai Agrico, a subsidiary.



2/ The businessman who lost the most money in the stock market in 2019 was Nguyen Anh Nhuong Tong, president of Yeah 1.



82 percent of Tongs stock assets vanished and his asset value dropped from VND2.663 trillion to VND478 billion.



Entering the bourse in June 2018 with the price at sky high level, YEG share of Yeah 1 saw the price tumbling from VND319,000 to VND37,000 because of the problem related to Youtube.



In March 2019, YouTube stopped cooperation with Yeah 1 because of the companys relation with SpringMe Pte Ltd (based in Thailand) which had operations not suitable to YouTubes policies.



Yeah 1 stated that this was just a small problem, but its business results in Q2 and Q3 2019 were seriously affected: it took a loss of VND117 billion in Q2 and VND126.4 billion in Q3, which was contrary to the presidents hope that the group would bounce back with growth rates of 50-60 percent six months after the problem.



3/ In Forbes latest updates, Nguyen Dang Quang, president of Masan Group, now owns assets worth $1 billion and ranks 1717th on the list of the worlds billionaires.

Quang was added to the list in March 2019 with assets worth $1.3 billion. However, he later lost his position on December 12.

As president of Masan Group, Quang only directly holds 15 Masan shares. His stock assets come from shares held through relevant legal entities and relatives.

Chi Mai

2019: eventful year for Vietnamese billionaires Thacos president spent big money to rescue Hoang Anh Gia Lai, while Vingroups president transferred the retail division to Masan to gather strength on automobiles and technology.
Pushing doctor assisted suicide to increase organ transplants is wrong, doctor says

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A Canadian newspaper recently touted that one of the benefits of physician-assisted suicide is the increasing number of organs that are made available for people who need a transplant to survive. But justifying the killing of one person to extend the life of another raises concerns for one bioethicist who says the practice disregards the value of the donor.

Amid increasing acceptance and legalization of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide  often euphemistically referred to as medical aid in dying (MAiD) or death with dignity  the Ottawa Citizen reported that Ontarians who choose to end their lives through such means are also saving or improving the lives of others by including tissue and organ donation in their final wishes.

"Every 'new' effort to increase organ supply seems to consider recipient need and not the dignity of the donor, said Dr. Greg Rutecki, an emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic Internal Medicine program and emeritus fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, told The Christian Post.

"Prior to this innovation, that is, using persons who have opted for death-hastening measures, the last attempt was utilizing persons declared dead by cardiac criteria, not brain death," Rutecki said, adding that it's crucial people understand that two human beings are involved in a transplant: the donor and the recipient.

A term used when the dying process is manipulated to get healthier organs for the recipient, possibly at the risk of the donors health and well-being, is called "titration of death.

"The initial period was comprised of how long after cessation of heart beat a person was dead and not dying. As things progressed, the organs from these donors were compromised by ischemia (decreased blood supply) and in many instances were not useable. But in this context, recipient need was considered a priority in contrast to donor dignity," Rutecki said.

"The ethical concern is that the dying process of the donor will be compromised in favor of a good organ, making the recipient more important than the donor. Rather than a dying experience with family and friends. The transition becomes a medical-technological spectacle, in essence focusing on a recipient and his/her organs rather than a human being who is dying."

The Ottawa Citizen described this practice as a "growing boon" in organ donation, reporting that "MAiD patients in the province accounted for 18 organ and 95 tissue donors, a 14 percent increase over 2018 and a 109 percent increase over 2017."

The article went on to explain that those who opt for MAiD are suffering from terminal diseases but are cognizant and able to make such decisions.

As an example, the publication cited the story of a woman who had been on dialysis for over 40 years and died in July 2019. The woman, Heather Janack, was quoted as recalling her "sense of elation" that her organs might be used to alleviate the suffering of someone on a transplant waiting list. Janack had worked for the Attorney General of Ontario whose office helped write the MAiD laws.

Medically-assisted death was decriminalized in Canada in 2016, but in September 2019 the Quebec Superior Court ruled that aspects of the MAiD regulations were unconstitutional.

Because dialysis patients suffer from conditions that compromise organ health, Rutecki does not believe the woman described in the Ottawa Citizen article would have healthy organs to donate to someone else. He said the article essentially set up a "straw man" as she was not a poster child for organ donation whatsoever.

While physician-assisted suicide used to be seen as unethical, "now people are trying to show that the victim of such a ghastly process can serve some good (donating an organ)," Rutecki said. "Those people do not need to donate an organ to be worthwhile. They were created in the image of God, and that alone is enough."

U.S. states that allow physician-assisted suicide include: Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Washington state, Oregon, California, and Hawaii, along with the District of Columbia. Montana does not have a state law on the books but the option is legal in the state following a state Supreme Court ruling.
The call for an indefinite bandh was given earlier in the day following a row over the purported birthplace of its revered saint. Late this evening the villagers met and resolved to withdraw the banh in view of the meeting with the Chief Minister.

Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Jan 19 (IANS) Ahead of a meeting convened by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, residents of Shirdi town, famous for its grand Saibaba Temple, called off their indefinite shutdown late on Sunday.

The town with a population of around 37,000, plus around two dozen villages, had clamped the 'bandh' to protest the claim of Pathri village in Parbhani that the 19th century saint was born there.

All shops and commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants, remained shut from midnight.

However, the Saibaba Samadhi Temple functioned as usual, with the poojas and aartis performed as per schedules, the prasadalaya serving food and prasad to the pilgrims who thronged there for the weekend darshan, besides the hospital, hostels, etc worked as normal, said a spokesperson for the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) Trust which manages the temple.

Sunday's shutdown was supported by local Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil and other local organisations.

The protesters had earlier spurned a call by Chief Minister Thackeray and other leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress to call off the bandh, and threatened to continue till their demand is met.

The matter snowballed after Thackeray, who last week visited Pathri, termed it as the 'birthplace' of Saibaba and announced a Rs 100-crore grant to develop the temple and surrounding areas on the lines of Shirdi, where Saibaba had spent his life of preaching and teaching till he took 'Samadhi' in October 1918.

BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil informed media persons that the people of Shirdi have no objections if funds are sanctioned for Pathri's development but had reservations to according it the status of "Saibaba birthplace".

Taking cognizance of the Shirdi citizens' strong sentiments, Thackeray has convened a meeting in Mumbai on Monday to resolve the sensitive subject.

Earlier, hundreds of Shirdi people took out a procession in the morning and evening carrying banner and placards with photos of Saibaba, raised slogans and staged protests at various locations, sang bhajans and religious songs extolling Saibaba.

Similar 'counter-protests' were also held in Pathri with prayers, singing bhajans and religious songs of Saibaba.

The Pathri gatherings demanded that all the available 29 evidences and symbols, official and religious records, proving Saibaba was born here should be submitted to the Shirdi's SSST authorities to resolve the issue amicably.

NCP Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who prayed at the Shirdi Temple on Sunday, said that the shutdown will not resolve the dispute, calling for negotiations without politicising the issue.

MLC and former MLA from Pathri, Durrani Khan said that there are enough historical evidences available to prove that Saibaba was born in Pathri, and his statement was echoed by NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde.

They urged the people of Shirdi to withdraw their indefinite bandh to avoid inconveniencing the thousands of devotees who visit the town daily.

Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale said that the protests and shutdown cannot solve the issue and the row must be hammered out with discussions.

qn/vd
He was left fuming as his partner Sophie Piper was stolen by new bombshell Connagh Howard.

And Connor Durman hits out at his rival for creating an 'awkward' atmosphere in the villa as he discusses the dramatic recoupling on Sunday's Love Island.

The coffee bean salesman, 25, suggests model Connagh, 27, should have coupled up with Siannise Fudge, also 25, instead of his love interest, but Sophie, 21, jumps to her new man's defence as she praises him for 'going with his gut'.

Not pleased: Connor Durman hits out at Connagh Howard for creating an 'awkward' atmosphere as he discusses the recoupling on Sunday's Love Island (pictured on Friday)

Brighton native Connor is left disappointed as he is forced to couple up with pal Siannise.

Reflecting on his new status on the show, he blames the Welsh contestant as he says in the Beach Hut: 'He should have gone about things a different way.

'He should have coupled up with Siannise, got to know her, he could have still gotten to know Sophie if he wanted to.

'Its hard not to be awkward now. Its going to be a bit hard, but hes brought that on himself.'

Unfortunate for Connor: The coffee bean salesman, 25, was left fuming as his partner Sophie Piper was stolen from his by the new bombshell, 27

He's got what he wants: Reflecting on his new status on the show, Connor blames the Welsh contestant (pictured) and insists he 'should have gone about things a different way'

Throwing his support behind his friend, Mike Boateng decides to share his opinions on the situation with Connagh, suggesting he should have tackled the matter differently.

However, medical PA Sophie steps into the conversation as she insists Connagh 'shouldn't be beaten up' for going 'with his gut'.

She tells ex-police officer Mike, 24: 'You cant even say that to him hes gone with his gut at the end of the day. I feel like you boys shouldnt be beating him up about it.'

Giving his twopence worth: Throwing his support behind his friend, Mike Boateng decides to share his opinions with Connagh, suggesting he should have tackled the matter differently

Putting her foot down: However, Sophie steps into the conversation as she insists Connagh 'shouldn't be beaten up' for going 'with his gut', before engaging in a cosy chat with Connor

The last couple of days has seen Sophie torn as the two hunks vied for her affections.

Earlier in the week, newbie Connagh emerged victorious as he had the chance to couple up with the Essex beauty first.

Since coupling up with Rochelle Humes' sister on day one, former naked butler Connor has made his feelings about Sophie very clear.

His behaviour towards her had even been slammed by fans of late as they branded him 'too protective'.

In his recoupling speech, Connagh said: 'The short time I've spent here, I've seen that she has the personality to go with her looks.

'I would like to continue to get to know this person. I don't want to leave this experience and regret taking any chances.'

Stuck in the middle: The last couple of days has seen medical PA Sophie torn as the two hunks vied for her affections

Following a dramatic pause, he continued: 'So the girl I want to couple up with is... Sophie.'

As the events unfolded, Connor was seen seething as a smiling Sophie was greeted with a kiss on the cheek by Connagh as she went to join him by the fire pit.

He was visibly angry as he sat with his arms folded, while the other islanders looked on in shock.

Later he let his feelings about the situation become apparent as he appeared to make a dig at the new couple.

Candid: Since coupling up with Rochelle Humes' sister on day one, former naked butler Connor has made his feelings about Sophie very clear

During his own recoupling speech, he said: 'I've found myself in a situation and I feel like I've been snaked out a little bit'

He then alluded to people being 'dishonest', before going on to recouple with Siannise - of whom he had shown no interest in before.

Meanwhile, Connor wasn't the only one with bad luck during the recoupling as Eve Gale became the first contestant to be dumped from the villa.

The student failed to be picked for a couple, resulting her being torn apart from twin sister Jess as she left the South African villa.

Second choice: An angry Connor alluded to people being 'dishonest', before going on to recouple with Siannise Fudge - of whom he had shown no interest in before
Vladimir Putin has been accused of trying to re-write history by playing down Russia's WWII pact with the Nazis and blaming Western powers for appeasing Hitler before the outbreak of war.

The Russian president has made repeated comments in recent weeks blaming Poland for having a role in sparking the conflict, which saw Nazi forces invade its border.

Putin has also tried to blame Western governments for appeasing Hitler, rather than the Soviet non-aggression pact with Adolf Hitler as paving the way for the start of the Second World War and a calve-up of Eastern Europe.

Other top Russian officials have also sought to stress Polish anti-Semitism as a trigger for the conflict.

Historians in the West say the Russian claims are baseless.

The debate flared last month when Putin rejected Western criticism of the 1939 Soviet pact with Nazi Germany, arguing that the Allied powers, not the Soviet Union, were responsible for trying to appease Hitler.

A Russian propaganda poster showing the Red Army destroying the Nazi monster, made by Russia circa 1943 to 1945. Poland considers the views expressed by Putin and other Russian leaders as amounting to 'Stalinist' and 'propaganda of a totalitarian state'

Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a guest book as he visits the State Museum of Defence and the Siege of Leningrad in Saint Petersburg, Russia, yesterday

Poland and Lithuania this week defended themselves against a Russian historical offensive that seeks to minimise Soviet responsibility for the outbreak of World War II, their foreign ministers said.

Linas Linkevicius of Lithuania and Jacek Czaputowicz of Poland described recent Russian statements that put part of the blame on Poland for start of World War II as disinformation that they perceive as a threat to their nations.

'We will not let the Kremlin manipulate history so easily and spread lies,' Linkevicius said after meeting Czaputowicz in Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital.

Last month Putin suggested that Poland shared responsibility for the war because it connived in Nazi German plans in 1938 to dismember Czechoslovakia.

The speaker of the Russian parliament has called for Poland to apologise for starting the war.

EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova in response told the European Parliament said it was the pact between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, signed by foreign ministers Joachim von Ribbentrop and Vyacheslav Molotov on August 23, 1939, that paved the way for war.

Poland's president said earlier this month that he will not attend a commemoration in Israel to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp because he was not asked to speak at the forum along with world leaders who include the presidents of Russia and Germany.

President Andrzej Duda was not among the foreign dignitaries named as speakers for the World Holocaust Forum in media releases sent out for the event at Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial on on January 23.

A propaganda poster by Boris Prorokov saying, 'The anti-fascist front will triumph', made in by USSR in 1938. Dual occupation of Poland by the Soviets and Nazis came days after the two totalitarian states signed a pact with a secret protocol to carve up Poland, the Baltic states and Finland

Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting a 3D panorama 'Memory speaks. The road through the war' in St. Petersburg, Russia, yesterday

Putin and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose countries invaded Poland at the start of World War II, are listed along with French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prince Charles.

Duda called Putin's comments a 'sort of post-Stalinist revisionism' that tries to shift blame to Poland.

Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also accused the Russian president of 'repeated lies' over the history of the conflict in a statement last month.

He wrote: 'President Putin has lied about Poland on numerous occasions, and he has always done it deliberately.

'It usually happens in a situation when the authorities in Moscow feel international pressure caused by its actions. And this pressure is not on the historical stage but on the modern geopolitical scene.'

As a result of the war of words, the Russian ambassador to Poland was summoned by the Polish Foreign Ministry to discuss Putin's comments.

Ambassador Sergey Andreev said Poland considers the views expressed by Putin and other Russian leaders as amounting to the 'Stalinist historical narrative' and 'propaganda of a totalitarian state'.

Polish President Andrzej Duda speaks during the New Year's meeting. He called President Putin's comments about the start of WWII a 'sort of post-Stalinist revisionism' that tries to shift blame to Poland

Duda said he will not attend a commemoration in Israel to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp (pictured) because he was not asked to speak at the forum along with world leaders who include the presidents of Russia and Germany

A similar meeting took place between the Polish ambassador to Moscow in November when a graphic was used by Polish state television included the words 'Achtung Russia!' with the Nazi 'SS' letters were used in the spelling of 'Russia', and Putin pictured as part of the Nazi death's head symbol.

World War II began in 1939 when Poland was invaded first by Nazi Germany, then by the Soviet Union two weeks later.

Right away, the Soviet troops arrested some 22,000 Polish officers who were executed the following year on the orders of Soviet leader Josef Stalin.

The dual occupation came days after the two totalitarian states signed a pact with a secret protocol to carve up Poland, the Baltic states and Finland.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a wreath laying commemoration ceremony for the 76th anniversary since the Leningrad siege being lifted

Fighting broke out days after Adolf Hitler and Soviet dictator Josef Stalin agreed to carve up Poland and the Baltic states based on a secret protocol in the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact they signed on August, 23, 1939.

Putin cited a 1938 agreement reached by Germany, Britain, France and Italy that allowed Hitler to annex Czechoslovakia as an example of Western leaders' alleged 'collusion' with Hitler.

The Russian president has been lashing out in recent days against a resolution adopted by the European Parliament that says that the Soviet Union bears responsibility for World War II. Putin has called that 'sheer nonsense'.

'They try to revive an image of Stalin as some sort of a good guy and also justify the Molotov- Ribbentrop pact,' Linkevicius said. 'We will not allow this to happen.'

Czaputowicz added: 'We have agreed that our experts would cooperate closely in the area of disinformation so that we can resist those threats together.'

Jourova also said she 'rejects any false claim' that paints Poland as a perpetrator instead of a victim of the 1939 to 1945 war and that she 'will not tolerate these attacks on Poland.'

In another disputed Russian claim, Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, said this week that Nazi Germany's location of many of its extermination camps in occupied Poland was 'facilitated' by pre-war anti-Semitism.

That is an old anti-Polish stereotype that was debunked by historians long ago.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused the Russian president of 'repeated lies' over the history of WWII. He is pictured with Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (left) and Czech Republic's Prime Minister Andrej Babis at an energy, transport and defence last Friday

While anti-Semitism was rampant in pre-war Poland among nationalists and those on the right, there were also Poles who opposed it.

Furthermore, historians say the reason that so many death camps were operated on occupied Polish soil is because that is where most European Jews - who were marked for destruction by Hitler's regime - were living. Half of the six million citizens that Poland lost in the war were Jewish.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau state museum, the custodian of the site of the most notorious German death camp, recommended that Volodin take its online lessons about Auschwitz's complicated history.

'Facts can help us to defend ourselves against & prevent shameful falsifying and distortion of history,' the museum said last Wednesday.

Warsaw considers both Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union to have been aggressors who unleashed suffering and death.

Russia focuses on the Soviet sacrifices that came after Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, which brought the Soviets into the war on the side of the Allies. Some 27 million Soviet citizens died in the fight to free Europe from Nazi terror.
Star Trek / Seinfeld Actor and Orca Talk on N. Oregon Coast

Published 01/18/2020 at 6:25 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Manzanita, Oregon)  Orcas and some engaging stage drama are on the menu for the north Oregon coast, with two distinctive and fascinating events coming up in Cannon Beach and in Manzanita. (Photo above courtesy Tiffany Boothe of Seaside Aquarium).

A north Oregon coast resident known for her professional work in TV is bringing a special play to Manzanita on a subject close to her heart. Liz Cole is famous for her appearances on two different Star Trek franchises and a hilarious returning character on Seinfeld, and now she hits the stage once again in this area with The Wisdom of WIT by Margeret Edson.

It happens at the Hoffman Center for the Arts on January 22. There are two shows: one at 3 p.m. and one at 7 p.m.. Admission is $10.

The play, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1999, tells the story of a brilliant professor who suddenly finds the tools of academia useless in her journey to come to terms with her diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Cole created the leading role in the first production of the play in 1995 at the South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA, where she won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Performance.

The Wisdom of WIT is Coles solo version of the play, a piece she has performed numerous times across the country. Like the play, this version is both heart-wrenching and humorous, and explores the beauty of simplicity and the puzzle of our irrevocable fate.

Cole, whose stage credits are often under the name Megan Cole, now brings this solo version to the Hoffman Center for the Arts in Manzanita.

Cole has had a long acting career on the professional stage, and has also made TV guest star appearances on ER, The Practice, Judging Amy, Las Vegas, and many others. On Seinfeld, she played Elaines germophobic coworker on several episodes, and she played a devious Romulan in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and another alien on Star Trek: the Next Generation in 1987.

She has performed locally for various benefit events for Lower Nehalem Land Trust, Food Roots, Rinehart Clinic and the Nehalem Valley Historical Society. She appeared in the original solo play Lost Pioneer, which she developed with Mark Beach and Portland playwright Ellen West. The play, presented seven times in Tillamook County, is based on the lives of three women who homesteaded in the county in the 1890s, and blends biographical data with historical imagination.

Hoffman Center for the Arts. 594 Laneda Ave. Manzanita, Oregon. Hotels in Manzanita, Wheeler - Where to eat - Manzanita, Wheeler Maps and Virtual Tours

On Wednesday February 12, the monthly lectures in Cannon Beach take on the subject of Orcas in the area. Expert Colleen Weiler will present Orcas of the Oregon Coast.

Killer whales, also known as Orcas, are perhaps the most widely recognized type of whale or dolphin in the world. With their distinctive black-and-white coloring, tall dorsal fins, and reputation as top predators, everyone knows what an orca is and how they live  or do we?

Orcas arent just the wolves of the sea, they live in incredibly close family groups, have lifespans similar to ours, and are one of the best examples of culture outside of human society. The critically endangered southern resident Orca community, a unique population living off the west coast of the U.S. and Canada, faces threats from fundamental changes to their ecosystem. How are these Orcas connected to Oregon, and what we can we do to help save them? Join us to learn more about Orcas of Oregon and saving one of the most endangered whale populations in the world.

Colleen Weiler is the Jessica Rekos Fellow for Orca Conservation at Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC). Her work concentrates on identifying effective conservation strategies and protective measures for orca populations around the world, primarily focused on orcas in the Eastern North Pacific, and especially the critically endangered Southern Resident orca community. She has lived and worked in Oregon for 12 years, after giving up on ever seeing a whale in the Great Lakes of her home state of Michigan.

The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Cannon Beach Library, and is part of the Friends of Haystack Rock lecture series. 131 N. Hemlock St, Cannon Beach, Oregon. Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours

Beachcomber Vacation Homes . Numerous vacation rentals in the Cannon Beach area, including Falcon Cove and Arch Cape. Depending on the home, you may find amenities and luxuries such as a barbecue, claw foot tub, a ship's ladder. 115 Sunset Blvd. Cannon Beach, Oregon. 855-219-4758. 503-436-4500. Website













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STAMFORD  About 5,500 miles separate Hawaii and Connecticut  but the Aloha State is within reach of a fast-growing number of visitors, according to one of the top online travel-search companies.

Hawaiis eponymous island ranks No.1 on the top trending list of Stamford-based Kayaks new 2020 U.S. Travel Hacker Guide.

The Big Island led the 100 most-searched destinations on Kayak  which handles more than 6 billion travel searches annually  as U.S. users flight searches for the island increased 84 percent in the past year. The jump reflected more flight routes, with a growing number of air carriers flying directly to Kona International Airport and increasingly affordable trips.

While you're there for the sun, Hawaiis thriving coffee culture will keep you going, Kayak officials wrote in the guide, as a tip for visitors. Start your day with a cup of the bold, strong roast  like a chocolatey Typica  at a waterside coffeeshop.

Median round-trip economy airfares this month to the Big Island are running at $570, according to Kayak.

Hawaii islands popularity aligned with neighboring island Maui making the trending list last year and 2018.

Next on the new trending list came Madrid; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Barcelona; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; Athens; Lisbon; St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Key West, Fla.; and London.

Theres a really good mix in the top 10, said Steve Sitra, regional director of North America for Kayak. You have Hawaii with its beach resorts, the same with St. Thomas and major cities such as Madrid, Lisbon and Barcelona. Its interesting to see users continue to explore the world, and thats one of our main goals at Kayak.

All of this years top trending places saw flight searches in 2019 increase at least 18 percent from 2018.

Portuguese capital Lisbon comprised the only city to make back-to-back appearances on the trending list. Its popularity likely pointed to the addition in the past year of nonstop flights from cities including Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Mexico City, the No. 1 trending destination of 2019, did not make this years list.

Kayak also ranked its top wallet-friendly destinations  a list led by Orlando, Fla. Median round-trip economy prices for flights taken this month to the central Florida city, the home of Disney World, are running at approximately $150.

The other top wallet-friendly cities were Las Vegas, Dallas, Denver, Salt Lake City, Tampa and Albuquerque and the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta.

While Mexico City did not make the trending list this year, the fact that San Jose del Cabo made the trending list and that Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta made the wallet-friendly list show Mexico is still a very desirable destination, Sitra said.

In addition, Kayak ranked its top 10 under-the-radar destinations. Port Elizabeth, on South Africas coast, ranked No. 1. The countrys fifth-largest city can be reached within approximately two hours by flying from Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Also placing in the under-the-radar standings were Tbilisi, Georgia; Santa Maria, Cape Verde; Cordoba, Argentina; La Serena, Chile; Jijoca de Jericoacoara, Brazil; Puerto Varas, Chile; Albufeira, Portugal; Essaouira, Morocco; and Hua Hin, Thailand.

Ushuaia, Argentina took the No. 1 spot among the top places for solo travelers.

At the southern tip of South America, Ushuaia acts as a gateway for most Antarctica cruises. Kayak officials recommend visiting the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego to see waterfalls, peat bogs and glaciers.

Medellin, Colombia; Bogota, Colombia; Nuuk, Greenland; Ibiza, Spain; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Fez, Morocco; Trinidad and Tobago; and Cartagena, Colombia comprised the other entries on the solo list.

Were really excited about our under-the-radar and solo travel destinations because theyre incredibly eclectic lists, Sitra said. We see South America dominating those lists, which is not surprising because it has beautiful coastlines, incredibly vibrant nightlife and a lot of affordable flights.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott
Peter Facinelli channeled his inner Neo in an action-packed Matrix inspired shoot for the cover of Mr. Warburton Magazine.

And the 46-year-old stepped out on Saturday evening to co-host the magazine's Pre-SAG Awards launch party alongside Riverdale's, Madchen Amick, at the Choo Choo Club in West Hollywood.

The Twilight star arrived to the event arm-in-arm with fiancee, Lily Anne Harrison, and his 22-year-old daughter, Luca.

Host: Peter Facinelli stepped out in a full tuxedo on Saturday evening to host the Mr. Warburton Magazine Pre-SAG Awards party in West Hollywood

Fiancee: Facinelli's fiancee, Lily Anne Harrison posed with her man before his cover of the magazine

Support: The 46-year-old was joined by his daughter, Luca, at the Saturday evening event

Facinelli donned his finest tuxedo for the star-studded West Hollywood event.

The Twilight star recently sat down with Mr. Warburton magazine for their January issue, where he reflected on 'his star making role in the Twilight series' and 'gushed over his new career as a writer and director.'

On Saturday, to celebrate Facinelli's cover and the upcoming SAG awards, the magazine rented out the popular Choo Choo Club in West Hollywood.

Lily Anne Harrison, who Facinelli proposed to earlier in the month during a trip to Mexico, stood by her man's side as they posed for shutterbugs.

The actress slipped her thin frame into a red velvet pantsuit with a deep-V neck line.

Love: The pair got engaged earlier in the month when Facinelli proposed to Harrison in Mexico

Leading ladies: Harrison stunned in a red velvet pantsuit that showed off her smooth decolletage, while Luca donned a figure flattering silk mini dress

Covergirl: The evening's event was co-hosted by the magazine's December covergirl Madchen Amick

Harrison accessorized with a matching velvet clutch, a simple emblem necklace, and some dainty earrings.

Her blonde tresses were swooped back into an effortless bun that showed off her cheekbones.

Luca, the eldest of Facinelli's children with ex-wife Jennie Garth, made jaws drop in a silky, green mini-dress.

The dress featured a unique ruffled neckline and narrow straps.

All together: Amick, Warburton, Harrison, and Facinelli sat around one of the club's many booths

Friendly: Facinelli posed with his co-host Madchen Amick and Mr. Warburton creator, Derek Warburton at the Choo Choo Club

Good times: The group erupted in laughter as camera flashes continued to go off

She kept accessories to a minimum and paired the look with chunky black booties and a black velvet handbag.

The evening's other host, Amick, showed off her stellar figure in a slimming all-black ensemble.

Her shoulder length blonde locks rocked effortless waves that framed her face.

She played up her hypnotic peepers with a brown smokey eye and applied a swipe of nude lip gloss to her pout.

Proud: Facinelli and Warburton pose proudly before the January issue

Daddy's girl: Luca is the eldest of Facinelli's three children with ex-wife Garth

The 49-year-old actress was featured on the magazine's December cover where she spoke about her time on Twin Peaks and her heavy involvement in the CW series Riverdale.

Both Facinelli and Amick took a few moments to chat and pose with none other than Mr. Warburton founder, Derek Warburton.

Actress Blanca Blanco was also in attendance at the launch party.

Riverdale: In the magazine's December issue, Amick discussed her experience on her CW show Riverdale where she plays the mother of main character Betty Cooper

Good friends: Blanca Blanco and Founder of Mr. Warburton Derek Warburton share a hug at the party

The Showgirls 2 star showed off her trim and toned physique in a newsprint inspired one piece that fit the the theme of the evening.

She tied up her enviably long tresses in a high-ponytail that showed off her chunky silver earrings.

Blanca tied her look together with a myriad of black accessories, from black alligator skin heels to her black waist cinching belt.

She came out in support of Derek, who is a well known industry stylist and jewelry designer.

Supportive: Blanca got silly with Warburton as they posed on navy blue couch covered in patterned pillows
British global forecaster Oxford Economics claims that the 5G ban on Huawei in Australia will mean that up to 3 million Australians  mostly in rural and regional areas  will miss out on access to 5G technology by 2023.

Its new report, Restricting Competition in 5G Network Equipment, Oxford said that a failure to deliver 5G nationwide by 2035 means critical rural and regional businesses such as farming and the resources sector will miss out on 5G technology and the Australian economy will lose on US$8.2 billion.

The organisation also said that the ban will increase local operators deployment by up to $300 million annually over the next 10 years with a near 30 per cent increase which will inevitably lead to higher prices for consumers.

Henry Worthingon, associate director at Oxford Economics said the arrival of 5G will unlock new revenue streams for businesses in all sectors of the economy and increase their productivity levels through enhanced capabilities including higher data speeds, lower latency and network slicing that will allow the development of critical applications.

However, it is broadly agreed that restricting such as a significant player from bidding for 5G contracts will lead to higher prices, rollout delays and hence a slower diffusion of associated technological innovation, Worthington said.

Huawei was banned from participating in the 5G mobile infrastructure rollout in Australia in August 2018.

Jeremy Mitchell, director of corporate affairs at Huawei Australia said that the report underlines what the Chinese networking equipment giant has been saying since the Turnbull government excluded it from the delivering 5G.

The decision will only end up hurting ordinary Australians, especially hitting hardest those in regional Australia.

He said Australian broadband consumers are already saddled with the huge costs of paying for the $151 billion national broadband network and the last thing they need are substantially higher costs on building out 5G.

These extra costs mean that operators simply wont be able to afford to deliver 5G services across rural and regional parts of Australia where the technology could be the most beneficial. For urban Australians, many of whom have fixed broadband, 5G will deliver Gigabit speeds that will help them stream 4K video and enjoy better online gaming  its the cherry on the cake.

But for rural and regional Australians, 5G enables the kind of next-generation connectivity that enables them to operate their farming and agricultural businesses more productively, he said.

Huawei last week hit back at suggestions by former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turbull that allowing Huawei to build Britains 5G network would hamper the ability of Five Eye nations to share intelligence.
Hillsong's Global Senior Pastor Bobbie Houston turned 63 on January 16th. Bobbie and her husband Brian founded Hillsong Church in 1983. They started with a tiny congregation of 40 worshippers in Sydney, Australia's north-western suburb. The church initially met at Baulkham Hills Public School hall and it was then known as Hills Christian Life Centre. The first service was held on Sunday 14 August 1983. Today, the church has over 100,000 worshippers a week and it has 80 affiliated churches located worldwide.

Husband Brian Houston gushes: "The greatest blessing in my life is that @bobbiehouston has been part of it since I was 19 years old - 43 years as my wife. She is the most genuine, loving, selfless person you will ever meet. The rock of our family. BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBIE. I LOVE YOU."

With nothing but gratitude and love, Hillsong's worship leader and songwriter Brooke Ligertwood praises: "A deeply amazing, better-than-you'd-believe, super fun, humble, profound and hilarious person and phenomenal leader and pastor.



"Thank you for being the heart of our beautiful church home @hillsong . For your language that has formed and shaped the most glorious and life-giving kingdom culture within it. For boldly warring in the unseen more than any of us can imagine. For loving our Jesus with every fibre of your being and being so contagiously in love with His Word.



Thank you for believing in, championing and calling out the potential and strength in those around you.  The past 16 years of living and flourishing under your leadership have been the most wonderful years of my life. Happy happy birthday."

Bobbie Houston is passionate about seeing all people find Jesus as their Saviour, gain a revelation of their value in Him and rise up to make a stand for justice on the earth. She is a beloved Pastor with a prophetic teaching gift, and she has redefined the face of 'women's ministry,' raising up a strong and capable company of women through a local Hillsong Sisterhood, global Colour Sisterhood and flourishing annual Colour Conferences that take place across four nations.

Tags : Hillsong hillsong church Hillsong's Global Senior Pastor Bobbie Houston turned 63 bobbie houston brooke ligertwood Brian Houston
Photo: Twenty Eight/Yelp

Looking for a yummy New American meal near you?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top spots specializing in that cuisine around 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 restaurants across the Irvine area, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a small business CRM software provider. The average amount spent per customer transaction at Irvine-area restaurants grew to $31 for the metro area in the winter of last year, 1% 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. Twenty Eight

Photo: twenty eight/Yelp

First on the list is Twenty Eight. Located at 19530 Jamboree Road in the Business District, the whiskey bar and venues/event space is also the highest-rated New American restaurant in Irvine, boasting four stars out of 460 reviews on Yelp.

2. Burnt Crumbs

Photo: ole n./Yelp

Next up is the Irvine Health and Science Complex's Burnt Crumbs, at 8549 Irvine Center Drive. With 4.5 stars out of 670 reviews on Yelp, the New American spot, which offers sandwiches and more, has proven to be a local favorite.

3. The Stand

Photo: the stand/Yelp

Oak Creek's member of The Stand chain, at 5633 Alton Parkway, Building 200, is another top choice. Yelpers give the New American spot, which offers burgers and more, 4.5 stars out of 662 reviews.

4. Veggie Grill

Photo: matthew e./Yelp

Last but not least is an outpost of the Veggie Grill chain. The vegetarian, vegan and New American spot in the Irvine Health and Science Complex is another high-traffic go-to, with four stars out of 1,074 Yelp reviews. Head over to 732 Spectrum Center 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.
At the Boryspil airport, they were met by top officials and hundreds of ordinary Ukrainians, including relatives of the victims.

As we reported, the Iranian side said it was ready to hand bodies of deceased Ukrainian citizens over to Ukraine. Ukraine's Interior Ministry informed about that on January 16.

"Today, experts of the Ministry that stay in Tehran received the DNA profiles of the remains of all eleven deceased citizens of Ukraine. Preparations for further passage to Ukraine are underway," reads the message.

Their remains are supposed to reach Ukraine by January 19.

On January 8, Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines, flight PS752 with 176 passengers aboard crashed in Tehran, not far from Imam Khomeini airport.

11 citizens of Ukraine died in the crash of Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines (PS 752 flight). President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the passenger plane crash in the Iranian capital left no survivors.
Wyoming Business Tips for Jan. 20-26

A weekly look at issues facing Wyoming business owners and entrepreneurs from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Audrey Jansen, market researcher, Wyoming SBDC Network

When you are running a business, it is incredibly hard to find the time for social media. The phone is constantly ringing, and your email inbox is rarely, if ever, empty. On top of that, determining the return on investment for your social media efforts can be challenging.

Heres the thing, though. Your social media content matters because your feed is often the first interaction a potential customer will have with your brand. Its also one of the primary ways that you maintain a relationship with current customers. So, lets walk through some important questions you need to ask to determine if you are doing social media right.

-- Is it easy to contact me? Your phone number, email and physical address should all be easy to find on your profiles.

-- Do I tell users why my business matters? In your bio or on your about page, there should be a clear, compelling statement about what you do and why users should care. This is known as your value proposition.

-- Are people following me? Only a small percentage of your followers see your posts organically. So, the larger your number of followers, the higher the chance that they will actually see your content.

-- Are my profile and cover photos high-quality representations of my brand? In most cases, your profile photo should be your logo or a picture of you. Your cover photo should reinforce your brand through a mission statement portrayed in your brand colors.

-- Am I posting consistently with a wide variety of relevant content? If you want your brand to be on the top of your followers minds, then you have to put yourself there. You should post consistently with a wide variety of relevant, high-quality content.

We would love to help you analyze your social media content. If you are interested in no-cost, confidential assistance, then you can contact your local Wyoming SBDC Network adviser by visiting www.wyomingsbdc.org.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers business expertise to help Wyoming residents think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their businesses. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY 82071-3922.
Trumps real affection is for authoritarianism. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Yesterday, in response to a detailed 111-page brief outlining the House of Representatives case for impeachment, President Trumps legal team filed a six-page response. It is notable primarily for advancing an audacious and highly dangerous constitutional claim: that a president cannot be impeached for any abuse of power.

This argument been been floating around Republican circles for weeks, and received the endorsements of such luminaries as Matt Whitaker and Alan Dershowitz. But two previous letters by Trump denouncing impeachment  while deranged, incoherent, and dripping with monarchial impunity  have not gone so far as to advance this novel argument.

According to its reasoning, a president can only be impeached for a literal criminal violation, the kind of crime for which you or I could be hauled off to the police station. He cannot be impeached for abusing his power. The first article of impeachment fails on its face to state an impeachable offense, his lawyers write. It alleges no crimes at all, let alone high Crimes and Misdemeanors, as required by the Constitution. In fact, it alleges no violation of law whatsoever. Trumps lawyers do deny the facts laid out in the indictment, but they argue that even if Trump was guilty of every action of which he was charged, he cannot be impeached for it.

The first problem with this argument is that it rests on incorrect facts. At the time President Trump was withholding military aid to Ukraine, officials inside his administration worried that he was breaking the law by refusing to allocate spending that had been passed by Congress. But the legality had not been officially settled at the time, which is what allowed Trumps supporters to insist that he had not broken any laws. But last Thursday, the Government Accountability Office formally ruled that withholding the aid did violate the law.

This ruling doesnt mean Trump is a criminal who needs to be impeached. But given the weight his supporters have placed on the lack of a formal legal violation, it is quite significant. When you rest your defense upon a technicality, youre in trouble when the technicality turns out to be technically wrong.

Second, as a historical matter, there is no evidence that impeachment was designed to deal solely with violations of federal law. The framers debated impeachment and the record suggests a broad range of concern, ultimately leaving the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors to Congress to decide. Alexander Hamilton defined it as the abuse or violation of some public trust. Historically, less than one-third of impeachments of federal officials have charged a criminal violation.

Finally, as a constitutional principle, the notion that a president cannot be removed for abusing his power, but can be removed for a criminal violation, however small, would turn impeachment into a ludicrously ill-fitting solution for the problem it was designed to solve. It implies Trump could not be impeached for promising to pardon anybody who murdered his political rivals, but could be impeached if he resold a mattress that was missing its tags.

Dershowitz has demonstrated the absurdity of the principle himself. In a 2018 book arguing against Trumps impeachment, he suggested that Trump couldnt be impeached even if he let Russia have Alaska. Assume [Russian President Vladimir] Putin decides to retake Alaska, the way he retook Crimea, argued the noted legal scholar. Assume further that a president allows him to do it, because he believed that Russia has a legitimate claim to its original territory, Dershowitz wrote. That would be terrible, but would it be impeachable? Not under the text of the Constitution.

Trumps lawyers are unlikely to emphasize this hypothetical scenario in their presentation to Congress. But it illustrates the size of the wormhole their theory would open up. The U.S. criminal code is designed primarily for ordinary citizens, not for presidents. It does not contemplate every way a corrupt, mentally unfit, or authoritarian chief executive could twist the powers at his disposal.

Trump believes profoundly that a president can use the government exactly as he sees fit. In his mind, abuse of power is an oxymoron. To charge him with with abusing the presidency makes no more sense than charging him with abusing the Trump Organization for personal gain. And now the authoritarian conviction that Trump believes as a matter of instinct has been sanctified as a formal legal theory, endorsed by presidential lawyers.
Latest News Sydney property prices might not drop yet, as planning problems persist NSW planning approvals have fallen off a cliff since October, showing that the supply crisis might yet continue

The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed The key trends for property investment in 2022 analysed, with rentvesting and borderless investing likely to surge

In the nine months since securing its full licence, Australias first SME-focused challenger bank has lent over $1bn to small and medium sized enterprises nationally  discrediting the myth perpetuated by the major banks.

Judo Bank co-CEO Joseph Healy explained, The big banks have claimed that their ability to lend to Australian SMEs has been hampered by tightening lending standards, arguing that there is a lack of demand for credit from small and medium sized businesses.

The fact that a challenger bank like Judo is able to lend over $1bn to SMEs within nine months of receiving a banking license debunks that particular claim.

Conversely, Healy believes Judos rapidly expanding loan book is further confirmation SMEs have been starved of credit by the big banks.

The truth is our major banks gave up on SMEs long ago, he said.

This is reflected in the growing finance gap uncovered by our own research, which found that unmet credit had ballooned from $83bn to $90bn in the 12 months to September 2019.

As Australias first dedicated SME Bank, were here to help SMEs access the funding they need, when they need it, and we will continue to rapidly expand our loan book to ensure Australian SMEs have access to vital funding.

Around 95% of the funds Judo has loaned to SMEs has come from term depositors at the neobank.

The SME loans written since receiving its full banking license have spanned a broad range of industries, from publicans in country NSW to beauticians in Melbournes city-centre.

In September 2019, LinkedIn named Judo Bank the Top Startup in Australia; companys were chosen based on their rapid growth, industry disruption, and impact on the way Australians work and live.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 23:37:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Philip Mangula, the Deputy Secretary General of Tanzania's ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) on Sunday warned members of the party against disclosing names of candidates selected to vie for various posts in the October 2020 general elections.

"Decisions on candidates that the party is nominating to contest in the forthcoming general elections should be kept secret until the time for making the names public," Mangula said at the party's women wing congress in the capital Dodoma.

He said leaking the party's decisions made in closed door meetings, including nomination of candidates for contesting various posts in the forthcoming general election, could weaken the party.

"Punitive measures will be taken against leaders or members of the party who are implicated in leaking its secrets," warned Mangula.

Mangula urged CCM's wings, including the women wing, to start getting prepared for the forthcoming elections which he said the party was expected to sweep a landslide victory.

Queen Mulozi, the Secretary General of the CCM's Women Wing, said the wing has well-prepared to ensure the party recoded a massive win.

On Saturday, CCM Secretary General Bashiru Ally predicted a landslide victory in the October 2020 general elections.

Ally said sound implementation of the party's manifesto by the current government was a sure ticket to winning the forthcoming general elections.
In a rare wedding ceremony held in a Mosque, a Hindu couple tied the nuptial knot and exchanged vows here on Sunday.

The marriage hosted by the Cheruvally Muslim Jamaat mosque near here, was held according to hindu rituals in front of a lighted traditional lamp with guests from both the communities participating.

The Bride Anju and the groom Sarath exchanged garlands and performed rituals in the presence of a priest at the mosque premises, which was decked up for the rare occasion signifying communal amity.

A vegetarian sadya was also held at the premises.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Facebook to congragulate the young couple and said the state has always upheld and showcased such beautiful examples of religious harmony.

The wedding was held at a time when a concerted attempt was being made to divide people in the name of religion, Vijayan said conveying his wishes to the couple, their families and the mosque committee.

"Kerala is one and we will stay united" he said and shared a photograph of the wedding ceremony.

Since the bride hailed from a poor economic background, Anju's mother had sought help from the mosque committee to conduct the wedding, which they readily agreed.

The Mosque committee also gifted ten sovereigns of gold and Rs two lakh to the bride as a wedding gift.

The marriage was held as per Hindu rituals.

Food for around 1,000 people was also arranged, Nujumudeen Alummoottil, secretary of Cheruvally Jamaat committee said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (Apicorp) has signed two agreements with sustainable energy company Yellow Door Energy (YDE) to install solar panels and energy-efficient retrofitting at its headquarters in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.



The agreements mark YDEs first project in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating the companys exponential growth in the region. Expected to be completed by end of 2020, the new fittings will cut Apicorps carbon emissions by 2,000 tonnes and generate up to 718 MWh of clean energy, as well as significantly reduce energy consumption by 35 per cent.



YDEs energy-efficiency solutions at Apicorp headquarters include retrofitting and optimising the air-conditioning and chiller systems, as well as installing over 3,500 LED light bulbs with smart control. YDE will also install a rooftop solar plant that spans 4,300 sq m, fitted with a customised mounting structure to accommodate the roofs unique wave design.



Dr Ahmed Ali Attiga, CEO of Apicorp, said: We are delighted to work with Yellow Door Energy, one of our investee companies, on this important initiative that demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and environmentally-friendly practices in all aspects of Apicorps operations. By investing in green initiatives, we hope to lead by example and contribute in a tangible and impactful way to making this planet a better place to live for future generations.



Jeremy Crane, CEO and co-founder of Yellow Door Energy, said: Yellow Door Energy is honoured to contribute to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias renewable energy target as part of Vision 2030. Our solar lease and shared energy savings contracts with Apicorp are our companys first of hopefully many projects in the Kingdom. We congratulate Apicorp on this forward-thinking initiative and sustainability leadership.



In 2019, Apicorp and a consortium of international and regional banks invested $65 million in Yellow Door Energy to scale up investments in solar energy and efficiency solutions in emerging markets. YDE currently has over 100 megawatts of solar assets in development in the UAE, Jordan, Pakistan and Egypt.



As per the Saudi Arabias Ministry of Energy, the country is pursuing an ambitious renewable power strategy that includes plans to add 60 gigawatts of clean energy capacity to the national grid by 2030. Of this, 40GW will come from solar photovoltaic plants, 16GW from wind turbines and 2.7GW from concentrated solar power.  TradeArabia News Service
With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

Davos may have the reputation of being a space where business and political leaders come together to sign deals, and perhaps forward their own short-term interests. However, there is no doubt that the decisions made today will affect our environment for centuries to come.

I wish to be a voice for future generations and young people, who will be the most impacted by these decisions. I seek to have empathetic and courageous conversations with those in power, and to advocate for a long-term, values-based lens in decision making.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

Davos also brings together phenomenal leaders across sectors, and I believe they have a genuine desire to improve the world. One could call it idealistic, but I very much resonate with Margaret Meads notion never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.

I look forward to exchanging ideas, and forging relationships with those also committed to restoring the health of our planet, and fostering the self transformation of individuals with the intention that this will support greater collective action and impact.

Wanjuhi Njoroge, Kenya

Founder of People Planet Africa

Image

With some of the mixed perceptions about Davos, what are your expectations of the conference?

The Davos 2020 meeting comes at the onset of a new, vital decade, and 2020 is also the year that countries are required to renew their commitments with even greater ambitions. I hope this meeting will coerce world leaders to take action, especially in reducing emissions by 7.6 percent in 2020 and every other year! I hope the world will look back at this meeting in 10 years as one among many that jolted world leaders to take action.

What do you hope to accomplish at Davos?

Deliberately leaving no one behind is the only way we will achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030. Over 70 percent of Africans still reside in rural areas and continue to be alienated from development.
Kashmiri students of the University of Hyderabad staged a protest on Saturday against the continued clampdown in Kashmir valley and state repression against Kashmiris even as the Centre launched its outreach programme with the first group of Union ministers visiting Jammu to highlight awareness about central schemes implemented after the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

The protest which went on for about two hours in the late afternoon, was organised by Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) in the name of Sada-e-Mazloom (Voice of the oppressed) outside the university campus.

It was meant for reflecting the plight of grieving widows and star-crossed orphans, of nameless graves and dark caves, JKSA president Hadif Nissar said.

He said the students who took part in the dharna expressed their protest against injustice being done to millions of Kashmiris, continued siege of the state, curbing the freedom of expression in the form of internet ban for more than five months and illegal detentions.

The protest was in the form of creative expressions, poetry reading and singing songs of revolution, he said.

Nissar said the protest was about many injustices that have been unleashed upon Kashmiris by successive Indian governments. The only difference is that the Congress was doing it quietly, while the BJP is very open about it, he said.

Aakriti Suresh, member of JKSA and a Kashmiri Pandit student at the university, also highlighted the problems faced by Kashmiri Pandit community. She said the role Indian government had played in communalizing the Kashmir issue cannot be ignored.

The way successive governments have pitched Kashmiri Pandits against Kashmiri Muslims really exposes the grand conspiracy they have hatched in turning and then keeping forever Kashmir into a warzone. They were never interested in bringing a political solution to Kashmir on to the table, she said.

She also cautioned that it is high time that Kashmiri Pandits realize that Hindutva forces will never help them get justice.

Arman Kazmi, Gen Secretary of JKSA, in his address said the fundamental question to discuss is if India really is a democracy. How can the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), disappearances, tortures, massacres and the idea of democracy exist simultaneously? he asked.

Maryam, another member of JKSA who hails from Rajori district highlighted the problems faced by students of her community because of the internet ban.

A representative from Ladakh, Sajjad Hussain, spoke about the aspirations of the people of Ladakh and said that they are worried about their land and job rights after Ladakh was turned into a UT.

The students held placards condemning the Central governments claim that everything was normal in the valley. People are not able to come out of their houses, children are not able to attend schools and businessmen not able to run their trade, a student said.

Earlier this month, The Supreme Court told the government to review orders suspending internet in Jammu and Kashmir and said such suspension can only be for a limited time period and is subject to judicial review. The Kashmir valley has been under communication restrictions for the last 170 days since the Centre scrapped Article 370 and bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories.

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The Indian market scaled new peaks in the week ended January 17 with Sensex climbing Mount 42k for the first time. Optimism over the upcoming Budget on February 1 and the ongoing Q3 earnings season helped bulls maintain their hold on the D-Street.

The rally finally seems to be getting broad-based as Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices managed to outperform the frontliners. Both indices logged 4 percent gains in the week gone by, compared to the BSE Sensex and Nifty50 which gained 0.8 percent each.

"Markets will witness higher volatility but in terms of price, they might just move higher before the Budget," said Jimeet Modi, Founder & CEO, SAMCO Securities & StockNote told Moneycontrol.

Experts are expecting the positive momentum to continue in the upcoming week, though some correction could be in the offing given the premium valuations. Stock-specific activity will guide the market as we get deeper into the earnings season, they added.

According to Santosh Meena, Senior Analyst at TradingBells, midcap and smallcap spaces are likely to continue their outperformance where a sector-specific move can be seen on pre-Budget news flows.

We have collated 15 data points to help you spot profitable trades:

Key support and resistance level for Nifty

According to the pivot charts, the key support level for Nifty is placed at 12,320.63, followed by 12,288.97. If the index moves up, key resistance levels to watch out for are 12,384.73 and 12,417.17.

Nifty Bank

The Nifty Bank ended 0.83 percent lower at 31,590.65. The important pivot level, which will act as crucial support for the index, is placed at 31,432.93 followed by 31,275.17. On the upside, key resistance levels are placed at 31,761.03 and 31,931.37.

Call options data

Maximum call open interest (OI) of 28.23 lakh contracts was seen at 12,500 strike price. It will act as a crucial resistance level in the January series.

This is followed by 12,400 strike price, which holds 18.36 lakh contracts in open interest, and 12,300, which has accumulated 15.13 lakh contracts in open interest.

Significant call writing was seen at the 12,700 strike price, which added 1.51 lakh contracts. Call unwinding was witnessed at 12,500 strike price, which shed 2.14 lakh contracts, followed by 12,600 strike, which shed 0.99 lakh contracts.

Put options data

Maximum put open interest of 37.13 lakh contracts was seen at 12,000 strike price, which will act as crucial support in the January series.

This is followed by 12,200 strike price, which holds 25.97 lakh contracts in open interest, and 12,300 strike price, which has accumulated 18.76 lakh contracts in open interest.

Put writing was seen at the 12,300 strike price, which added 2.15 lakh contracts, followed by 12,400 strike which added 1,52 lakh contracts. Put unwinding was seen at 12,000 strike price, which shed 4.94 lakh contracts, followed by 11,900 strike which shed 2.72 lakh contracts.

Stocks with a high delivery percentage

A high delivery percentage suggests that investors are showing interest in these stocks.

41 stocks saw long build-up

Based on open interest (OI) future percentage, here are the top 10 stocks in which long build-up was seen.

28 stocks saw long unwinding

39 stocks saw short build-up

39 stocks witnessed short-covering

Bulk deals

(For more bulk deals, click here)

Upcoming analyst or board meetings/briefings

Indian Bank: To consider and approve the financial results for the period ended December 31, 2019.

APL Apollo: To consider and approve the financial results for the period ended December 31, 2019.

ITI Limited: A meeting of the Board to be held on January 22, 2020, to consider and approve the price band for equity shares to be allotted.

Lloyds Steel: To consider and approve the financial results for the period ended December 31, 2019.

Stocks in news

Results: Kotak Mahindra Bank, Can Fin Homes, Just Dial, KEI Industries, Federal Bank, Monnet Ispat & Energy, Hindustan Zinc, HFCL, ICICI Securities, Bank of Maharashtra

Reliance Industries: The company reported the highest-ever quarterly consolidated net profit of Rs 11,640 crore for Q3FY20 against a CNBC-TV18 poll of Rs 11,333 crore. Its net profit jumped 13.5 percent year-on-year (YoY) against Rs 10,251 crore reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

HDFC Bank Q3: Profit jumped 33 percent, but asset quality weakened and provisions spiked. Profit during the quarter increased to Rs 7,416.5 crore, from Rs 5,585.85 crore in the same period last year. Net interest income grew by 12.7 percent to Rs 14,172.9 crore compared to year-ago.

TCS: Tata Consultancy Services reported tepid growth numbers for the December quarter. Its net profit was at Rs 8,118 crore, up 0.2 percent year-on-year (YoY) against Rs 8,105 crore reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

IndusInd Bank: Bank registered a 32 percent growth in Q3FY20 profit and 34.3 percent growth in net interest income compared to the same quarter last year. Asset quality was also stable with gross non-performing assets (NPA) in Q3 falling 1bps to 2.18 percent and net NPA declining 7bps to 1.05 percent QoQ.

Lupin: Lupin received five observations from the US health regulator after inspection of its Vizag facility in Andhra Pradesh. The inspection of company's Vizag API manufacturing facility by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has been completed, Lupin said in a filing to BSE.

Chennai Petro Q3 : Consolidated net profit at Rs 11.29 crore against loss of Rs 213.6 crore QoQ. Consolidated revenue went down 1 percent at Rs 9,146.7 crore against Rs 9,237.7 crore QoQ.

PNC Infra: The company bagged order worth Rs 639 crore from NHAI.

GMR Airports: The company won a contract for duty-free shops at Kannur international airport in Kerala.

Cyient: The company's third-quarter profit grew by 10.4 percent sequentially to Rs 107.6 crore on revenue of Rs 1,105.9 crore. Rupee revenue fell 4.6 percent compared to Rs 1,158.9 crore in the September quarter, while dollar revenue declined 5.5 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to $155.2 million in the quarter ended December 2019.

L&T Finance Holdings: The company reported a marginal 1.8 percent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 591.47 crore during the third quarter ended on December 31, 2019. Net profit in the year-ago period stood at Rs 580.96 crore.

PFC: Power Finance Corporation raised $750 million through the issuance of overseas bonds to fund business expansion plans.

Blue Dart Express: The company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 31.92 crore for the quarter ended December on 31, 2019.

L&T Technology: L&T Technology Services posted a 10 percent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 204 crore during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, mainly on account of business growth in North America.

ICICI Lombard: ICICI Lombard General Insurance posted a 23 percent year-on-year (YoY) rise in its December quarter net profit at Rs 294.11 crore.

HCL Technologies: HCL Technologies reported a 16 percent year-on-year (YoY) and 14.6 percent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) rise in its net income at Rs 3,037 crore for the quarter ended December 2019.

FII and DII data

Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought shares worth Rs 264.26 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) sold shares of worth Rs 500.17 crore in the Indian equity market on January 17, provisional data available on the NSE showed.

Fund flow

Stock under F&O ban on NSE

Yes Bank is under the F&O ban for January 20. Securities in the ban period under the F&O segment include companies in which the security has crossed 95 percent of the market-wide position limit.

: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Bengaluru, said that when Hindu dharma was in danger, it was Adi Shankaracharya who gave it a big push and revamped it. Many of his teachings are relevant even today, said the Home Minister, who stayed away from any political talk on the dias. Shah attended a mass chanting of Vivekadeepini by schoolchildren, written by Shankaracharya, on Saturday.

Speaking at the occasion, Shah, who has been seen spreading awareness on the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and other issues, was seen calm and composed as he spoke about Shankaracharyas work. In one lifetime, Shankaracharya did so much. He died early, but travelled across the country seven times by foot. He established Sharada Peeta at four different places to spread awareness one Hindu dharma. During that time, Hindu dharma was in danger, but because of one person, it stayed strong, he said.

Shah told children that whoever learns Vivekadeepini will not follow a bad path, that is the beauty of our culture. Through Kendra Sahitya Academi, the Union government is translating Vivekadeepini into 24 languages to reach more people, he said. After many years, we are in a proud state to tell the entire world look at us, we have so much to give you, he said. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flying our cultural flag across the globe.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, speaking at the occasion, said that the BJP government has already given a nod to schools to teach Vivekadeepini, and that many schools have already started teaching it from June 2019 onwards.
J apanese fashion house Comme Des Garcons has been accused of cultural appropriation for styling white male models in what look like cornrow wigs.

The brand showcased the runway look at Paris Fashion Week on Friday as part of its autumn/winter 2020 collection.

Critics hit out at the label for choosing white men to display an aesthetic strongly linked to black culture.

However, the hairstylist later defended his creation as a "homage" to ancient princes.

Models walk the runway for Comme Des Garcons / AFP via Getty Images

Three black models also took part in the show, with one sporting the plaited wig while the other two wore their hair naturally.

Social media users were quick to question the look, with fashion critic HauteLeMode tweeting: Comme des garcons put white models in cornrows and its not okay.

Writer Aja Barber commented: Too busy laughing to be offended. This is a mess." While supermodel Adwoa Aboah asked simply: Are we surprised?

But hair stylist Julien d'Ys, who designed the wigs for the show, insisted he hadnt intended to hurt or offend anyone.

Sharing a sketch on his Instagram page, he said he had been inspired by the hairstyles of ancient Pharaohs.

My inspiration for the comme des garcons show was Egyptian prince - a look i found truly beautiful and inspirational. A look that was an hommage, he wrote.

Never was it my intention to hurt or offend anyone, ever. If I did I deeply apologise.
It's been a luxurious time this first half of January for more drivers as sales of the three main German premium brands have had major increases over last year.

It might be the draw of the new 201 plate, a desire to splash the cash or deciding to buy a big diesel while they are still relatively acceptable.

Whatever, Mercedes-Benz sales were up nearly 70pc in the first 15 days of the year, BMW's were up 43pc and Audi's increased by 21pc.

This added up to 1,731 cars for these three brands sold compared with 1,108 during the same time last year, accounting for nearly 10.5pc of the overall market compared with less than 7pc in 2019.

In addition to those three marques, there were also big increases for Lexus, while Porsche delivered 26 cars in the first two weeks compared with just one last year.

Of course, sales of the big three German brands were still way under those of the leading car marque in the early days of the year.

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This was Toyota whose 2,289 sales were 700 up on last year, mainly because of the new Corolla hybrid which sold 887 units against only 55 last year.

The Corolla eventually became the country's most sold car last year. In the first two weeks of 2020, Hyundai's Tucson and Kona were the second and third placed cars, with respectively 787 and 596 sales. Hyundai's much-anticipated new i10 is just arriving in the showrooms and should be another huge success as it has consistently been the top city car in the country.

Ireland is the first European country to launch the new i10. At the moment, the Korean marque lies second in the overall sales table.

Not surprisingly, one of the biggest changes in the market has been the growth of hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, both of which went up nearly 90pc in the first two weeks of the year, going up respectively from 1,185 to 2,258 and 152 to 287.

While sales of fully electric vehicles were only marginally up at 381, this could be because of a chaotic system, which, according to one of the leading EV suppliers, has led to many customers unable to get their cars as they are waiting for grants to be processed.

The trend for SUV/crossovers shows no signs of abating this year, with 12 of the top cars being this style, with that dozen taking a combined 30.5pc of the market in the first two weeks.

*******

The success of the Toyota Corolla, last year and early this year, reinforces the view of Steve Tormey, CEO of Toyota Ireland, that hybrid is the best option for most Irish drivers looking for an electrified drive.

Toyota made the decision to invest in hybrid technology more than 20 years ago as a key principle of its contribution towards sustainable development.

Here the company was ahead of governments and consumers in foreseeing the decline in the conventional diesel and petrol cars in its move towards less polluting, more environmentally friendly options.

In Ireland, Toyota claims that its hybrids sold in 2019 will result in the reduction of 60,000 tonnes of CO2 from the environment over the course of their lifetime.

Tormey says that Toyota has advanced its hybrid technology so much over the past 20 years that the latest-generation hybrids drive in zero emissions mode 62pc of the time on average during daily commuting conditions.

"We are proud to say that Toyota is already delivering the lowest CO2 output of any car brand in Ireland. In fact, our average CO2 output across our range in Ireland was 17pc lower than the top 10 best-selling car brands," he added.

Meanwhile, Kia plans to transition to an EV-based business system ahead of competitors, leveraging its production capabilities in manufacturing internal combustion engine vehicles.

By prioritising future customer value, the company also plans to develop and release innovative EV models, offering a differentiated product appeal, such as an EV-specialised design, user experience and quality.

Starting with the launch of its maiden dedicated EV model in 2021, Kia will establish a full EV line-up of 11 models by 2025, adding new EV models to its line-up along the way, including passenger vehicles, SUVs and MPVs from 2022.

*******

The Green Party was pretty honest last week when it launched its campaign for the forthcoming General Election. Farmers and motorists might not have been too pleased by what was said, but the party acknowledged that there will be hard and unpopular choices that will have to be made in Ireland to tackle the climate emergency and hit environmental targets.

"It won't be easy because we're changing everything," party leader Eamon Ryan said. He added that the "entire transport system, the entire food system, the entire energy system for the better, it'll take a decade at least to even start properly so this election is about the decade ahead, not just the next four or five years".

Eamon believes that the "Irish people are ready to do it, what's happened in the last year has changed everything".

However, he did say that the millions spent on motorways - including the 200m Castlebar to Westport road, which he dubbed the "Michael Ring Road" - would be better spent on improved public transport systems.

That is all very well except rural communities deserve safer and better roads because the sparse population in some areas means they will be waiting a long time to get a worthwhile public transport system. It is fine that Belmullet was named a great tourist destination but if people can't get there without having to travel on a poor road, they won't be going at all.

I want to see a big Green vote as their influence is needed in government or else the climate change agenda will not be pushed through.

However, they are also guilty of mistakes. The massive change in the emissions-based road tax system in 2008 was a disaster and led to many people buying diesels who shouldn't have gone anywhere near one.

SUVs and luxury saloons were soon paying the same road tax as a small city car. The whole idea of killer NOx emissions fell under the radar.

That it was almost a Europe-wide policy was no excuse. We should expect more of our politicians than blind group-think.
The Yemeni Houthis pounded a military training base in the Yemeni city of Marib on Saturday with missiles, killing at least 30 servicemen, according to Saudi media.

According to a local military source, the attack killed 24 soldiers and injured 20 others.

"Twenty-four soldiers died, 20 were injured in a missile attack on the barracks for draftees in the al-Milah area in the northwest of the Marib province. The missile was presumably ballistic", the source said.

The Houthis have not claimed responsibility or confirmed the allegation.

Earlier this month, the Houthis reportedly launched a ballistic missile at a Saudi-led coalition military base located in the southern province of Dhalea, killing 10 soldiers.

The Saudi-led coalition has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis, at Hadi's request, since March 2015.

The conflict in Yemen, the poorest nation in the Middle East, has been described by the United Nations as the world's worst ongoing humanitarian crisis, with nearly 80 per cent of the population of 24-million currently in need of aid and protection.

Yemen has been locked for years in an armed conflict between government forces led by President-in-exile Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and the armed Houthi opposition faction. Despite a peace accord signed in Stockholm in 2018, tensions have reportedly been escalating in recent months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man who was given a life sentence for carrying out a paid "hit" on a doctor's wife has been released from prison. Former Governor Bill Haslam granted clemency to Jeremy Ingram just before leaving office.

Governor Haslam said Ingram had "undergone a transformation" while behind bars. His office said Ingram was 18 at the time and that he will be subject to additional supervision conditions.

The office said, "He has undergone a transformation during 25 years of incarceration, earning four higher education degrees and actively participating in rehabilitation and faith-based programs and earning the respect of numerous volunteers and prison officials."

Gina Sanjines held a press conference last January protesting against the release, and District Attorney Neal Pinkston called the governor's office.

Authorities said her estranged husband, Dr. Jorge Sanjines, hired Ingram to kill Ms. Sanjines. Dr. Sanjines was sentenced to life in prison plus 25 years.

Ingram had pleaded guilty to attempted murder of Ms. Sanjines and the murder of Virgil Schrag, who was with her at her Mountain Shadows home. She was shot in the head three times and she said she has endured terrible headaches and suffered partial blindness.


AAP manifesto 2020: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has launched the 'Kejriwal ka Guarantee Card'. In his guarantee card, Kejriwal has guaranteed free bus services for students and 24 hours drinking water supply. ,"In the coming 5 years we will ensure 24 hours drinking water supply to every household. Students will be given free bus services," said Kejriwal ahead of the Delhi assembly elections.

The Chief Minister also promised basic facilities for unauthorised colonies in the city and to reduce Delhi air pollution by three times. "We will plant more than two crore trees to make Delhi green," states the Kejriwal Guarantee Card.

The first 'guarantee' by Kejriwal mentioned in AAP's manifesto 2020 is uninterrupted power supply and free electricity to up to 200 units. The card also states that Delhi will be free of wires and electricity will reach households through underground cable.

Twenty-four hours of pure piped drinking water and continuation of provision of 20,000 litres of free water are also mentioned in the card. Chief Minister Kejriwal also promised world-class education facility for each child in Delhi. His fourth guarantee, mentioned in AAP manifesto 2020, was better health facilities.

Cheap transport facility featured as the fifth guarantee on his card. He said that bus travel for students will also be made free just like it was done for women. Air pollution was the next guarantee. He also promised to clean the Yamuna. He also said that Delhi will be made garbage-free in the next five years.

His eighth guarantee was safety of women. Kejriwal said that he will deploy 'Mohalla Marshals' to ensure women's safety. Road, water supply, sewer, CCTV and mohalla clinics for the unauthorised colonies were his ninth guarantee. His last and tenth promise is to give 'pucca' houses to people living in slums under the 'Jahan Jhuggi Wahin Makan' scheme.

Also read: Delhi Assembly polls: AAP announces list of all 70 candidates; Arvind Kejriwal to contest from New Delhi

Also read: Delhi Election 2020: BJP announces list of 57 candidates; Kejriwal's rival yet to be decided
The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK) shares fell 8.6% to US$46.18 in the week since its latest full-year results. Results overall were respectable, with statutory earnings of US$4.51 per share roughly in line with what analysts had forecast. Revenues of US$16b came in 4.2% ahead of analyst predictions. Analysts typically update their forecasts at each earnings report, and we can judge from their estimates whether their view of the company has changed or if there are any new concerns to be aware of. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

View our latest analysis for Bank of New York Mellon

NYSE:BK Past and Future Earnings, January 19th 2020

Taking into account the latest results, the twelve analysts covering Bank of New York Mellon provided consensus estimates of US$15.8b revenue in 2020, which would reflect a discernible 4.3% decline on its sales over the past 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to reduce 8.7% to US$4.15 in the same period. In the lead-up to this report, analysts had been modelling revenues of US$15.9b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$4.27 in 2020. So it looks like there's been a small decline in overall sentiment after the recent results - there's been no major change to revenue estimates, but analysts did make a minor downgrade to their earnings per share forecasts.

The consensus price target held steady at US$53.14, with analysts seemingly voting that their lower forecast earnings are not expected to lead to a lower stock price in the foreseeable future. The consensus price target just an average of individual analyst targets, so - considering that the price target changed, it would be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. There are some variant perceptions on Bank of New York Mellon, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$63.00 and the most bearish at US$47.00 per share. These price targets show that analysts do have some differing views on the business, but the estimates do not vary enough to suggest to us that some are betting on wild success or utter failure.

Story continues

Further, we can compare these estimates to past performance, and see how Bank of New York Mellon forecasts compare to the wider market's forecast performance. These estimates imply that sales are expected to slow, with a forecast revenue decline of 4.3% a significant reduction from annual growth of 1.1% over the last five years. Compare this with our data, which suggests that other companies in the same market are, in aggregate, expected to see their revenue grow 5.1% next year. So although its revenues are forecast to shrink, this cloud does not come with a silver lining - analysts also expect Bank of New York Mellon to grow slower than the wider market.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. On the plus side, there were no major changes to revenue estimates; although analyst forecasts imply revenues will perform worse than the wider market. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Bank of New York Mellon. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. At Simply Wall St, we have a full range of analyst estimates for Bank of New York Mellon going out to 2022, and you can see them free on our platform here..

Another thing to consider is whether management and directors have been buying or selling stock recently. We provide an overview of all open market stock trades for the last twelve months on our platform, here.

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.
Huawei launches new-generation 5G smartphone in Kuwait

( xinhuanet.com )

Updated: 2020-01-17

The Huawei booth is shown during the 2020 CES in Las Vegas, Nevada, US Jan 7, 2020. [Photo/Agencies]

KUWAIT CITY -- Chinese technology and smartphone giant Huawei on Thursday launched the HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro 5G, a new-generation 5G smartphone, in Kuwait.

A large crowd of consumers and fans attended the launching ceremony held at a Huawei store inside the Avenues Mall in the Farwaniya Governorate, the largest shopping mall in Kuwait.

At the ceremony, Muhammad Awais Sheikh, marketing director of Huawei Consumer Business Group in Kuwait, said that HUAWEI Mate30 Pro 5G is the first dual mode phone with a Kirin 990 5G chipset.

Moreover, consumers can experience videography like never before with the world's first 40MP super-sensing cine camera, he said, adding that the smartphone has a 4500 mAh battery that can last up to two days of usage.

The Kuwaitis were amazed by the performance of the new Huawei smartphone and the effectiveness of its camera.

Maha Al-Saeed, a well-known Kuwaiti blogger, described the phone as wonderful. "The specifications are excellent and the performance is great," she said.

Al-Saeed expressed admiration for the accuracy of the camera and the effectiveness of the battery.

"Huawei is also characterized by the efficiency of the charger and its speed," she added.

As for Rana Kafran, a local resident, the four cameras in the smartphone surprised her, in addition to the feature of artificial intelligence that enhances privacy.

"The colors are great, the camera is sharp clear, and I think Huawei is working to enhance its store, and this will stimulate the launch of applications compatible with it," she said.

HUAWEI Mate 30 Pro 5G will be available in Kuwait as of Jan 23.
North Korea is "building new missiles, new capabilities, new weapons as fast as anybody on the planet," and learning from its mistakes as it makes advances in its missile programs, the No. 2 general at the Pentagon said Friday.

Air Force Gen. John Hyten, the vice-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the comments as talks between Washington and Pyongyang over North Korea's nuclear program have stalled and Kim Jong Un has signaled he may be ready to test more missiles that could be capable of hitting the United States.

"If you want to go fast in the missile business you need to test fast, fly fast and learn fast. Look at Space X in this country. There were some pretty spectacular failures. Did they stop? No," Hyten said while speaking at the Center for Strategic & International Studies in Washington.

"That is what North Korea has been doing and North Korea has been building new missiles, new capabilities, new weapons as fast as anybody on the planet with the 115th most powerful economy in the world. Speed itself is efficiency," he added.

The Trump administration has reached out to North Korea to resume diplomatic negotiations after the two countries broke off talks in October, White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien told Axios over the weekend.

"We've reached out to the North Koreans and let them know that we would like to continue the negotiations in Stockholm that were last undertaken in early October," O'Brien told the news outlet.

He added, "We've been letting them know, through various channels, that we would like to get those (negotiations) back on track and to implement Chairman Kim's commitment" to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."

Those comments came after North Korea's leader, earlier this month, said that there "will never" be denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula if the US "persists in its hostile policy towards" the hermit nation, according to the country's state news agency.

At a meeting of ruling party officials, Kim also said his country's long term security will be guaranteed by staying on constant alert and relying on "the powerful nuclear deterrent capable of containing the nuclear threats from the US," according to the Korean Central News Agency.

KCNA released the report at the end of "The 5th Plenary Meeting of the 7th Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea." In the plenary, Kim said "the DPRK will steadily develop necessary and prerequisite strategic weapons for the security of the state until the US rolls back its hostile policy towards the DPRK and lasting and durable peace-keeping mechanism is built."

In an indication that North Korea could soon resume nuclear weapon testing, Kim said his country should no longer feel bound by its self-imposed halt on nuclear weapons and long-range missile testing. He also announced that "the world will witness a new strategic weapon" in the near future, KCNA reported.

Still, President Donald Trump has told reporters he remains optimistic about the future of diplomacy and touted his relationship with Kim.

"He likes me, I like him, we get along," he said. "He did sign an agreement talking about denuclearization. ... I think he's a man of his word, so we're going to find out," Trump said earlier this month.

Kim's latest threat came as American officials were closely monitoring North Korea following its promise in December to deliver a "Christmas gift" to the US.

The specific language -- North Korea referred to its first successful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch in 2017 as a "gift" -- sparked speculation that Pyongyang could do something equally provocative, though the holiday came and went without any weapons test.
Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

A man identified as Yoon arrives to file for a retrial at the Suwon District Court in Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 13, 2019. /Yonhap

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A court has ordered the retrial of a 53-year-old man who was wrongly convicted for a murder committed to which the infamous Hwaseong serial killer has now confessed.

The man, identified as Yoon, filed for a retrial in November of last year after serial killer Lee Chun-jae (57) admitted to the murder in Hwaseong south of Seoul in the 1980.

The Suwon District Court on Tuesday ruled that Yoon's case must be retried over serious flaws in the original trial in October 1989. The retrial is expected to start in March.

"Lee Chun-jae's testimony shows he was responsible for the crime and various evidence points to the credibility of his accounts", the court said.

Yoon had been convicted of raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl in her home in Hwaseong on Sept. 16, 1988. Police arrested him in July 1989 and he was sentenced to life in prison. He was released on parole in August 2009 after serving 20 years.

Lee was identified as the Hwaseong serial killer last year during a re-investigation of DNA samples and admitted to 14 murders, including 10 in the region. The confession led to suspicions that police had coerced Yoon into a false confession and police admitted it.

The story was adapted for the movie "Memories of Murder".
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Government does not favour laws that treat business houses with suspicion and was working towards decriminalizing the Companies Law.

We do not want a law which is going to treat every business house with suspicion. That is not the intent of this government at all, Sitharaman said in Chennai while delivering the Nani Palkhivala centenary celebration lecture on Roadmap to $5 Trillion Economy.

Her statement follows Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekharans similar suggestion that the industry needed supervision and not suspicion. In his Nani Palkhivala memorial lecture in Mumbai, he drew attention to micromanagement and persisting distrust of businesses besides the fact that all rules in the country were based on suspicion.

Allaying such apprehensions, Sitharaman made it clear that the government was working towards creating an environment where the government and the industry could work together to attain the $5 trillion economy target.

My first and earnest attempt, which continues till today is to decriminalize everything to do with the Companies Law or the related laws, the very point which the Prime Minister keeps talking about, she further added.

And I was impressed again in Nani Palkhivala lecture in Mumbai where the Tata Groups head had spoken that the government should trust its people and its own citizens, she said acknowledging the industrys concerns.

Sitharaman added that the government aims to ensure that no other statute, be it Income Tax or Prevention of Money Laundering Act, adversely impacted the business sentiment and environment. The $5 trillion economy target will become a lot easier with enhanced trust between the government and the businesses, she said.

The finance minister also brushed aside questions on the legitimacy of government data and said it was not right to cast aspersions.

Change of base year for (GDP) calculation is being done periodically and blaming the Modi government for this is unacceptable and unwarranted. This is being done by every government, she said, adding, that this was being used to incorrectly claim that the prime minister didnt respect institutions.

It had come to light in November that the ministry of statistics and programme implementation was working to bring in a new series of national accounts which would result in a change in the existing base year of 2011-12 for GDP calculation. Though the ministry is considering 2017-18 as the new base year, no decision has been taken as the committees of experts are awaiting some more data before finalising their opinion.

She said that the government had appointed a committee to look at the questions that arose over official figures but some members of the panel politicized it by staying away instead of scrutinizing the data for any errors.

It might be recalled, CP Chandrasekhar, who was with the Jawaharlal Nehru University has refused to join the Statistics Reform Committee, constituted by the government in December with the mandate to improve quality of data for employment, industry and service sector.

On the issue of NPAs in the banking sector, Sitharaman said the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code had facilitated clearance of a huge amount of bad loans affecting the industry.
Double Rainbow Over Downtown Sonora 9/21/13 View Photo

Wet weather will return to Northern California from late tonight into early Wednesday.

A Pacific storm will bring rain and mountain snow to Northern California late tonight and Tuesday. The rain will diminish in the Central Valley on Tuesday night, while mountain snow showers will linger into Wednesday.

The heaviest precipitation is expected on Tuesday.

According to the National Weather Service, a half inch to one inch of rain is expected in the Mother Lodes foothills. There will be little or no measurable precipitation across the northern San Joaquin Valley.

Snow fall amounts will range from two to six inches above the 4,000 to 5,000 foot elevation.

Motorists heading up into the mountains on Tuesday afternoon and evening should check the latest road conditions on mymotherlode.com. Click the traffic tab.
Gov. John Bel Edwards reelection last fall launched some fairly predictable chatter among those who live and breathe politics, centering not on the next four years but on what comes after. A Democrat who just beat a Republican in a state President Donald Trump won by 20 points, one theory goes, has cracked the electoral code. Beyond the Governors Mansion, he can write his own ticket.

The topic came up last week during Edwards' first monthly radio show since being sworn in for his second term, when host Jim Engster broached the subject of whether a national post could be in the stars.

I never say never, Edwards responded, but I will be very, very surprised if anything like that is in my future.

I would too, because in a sense, Edwards has already chosen his path.

Yes, hes progressive on some issues, middle-of-the-road on others, and conservative on topics such as gun rights, a stance thats unpopular with many Democrats but likely not a deal killer. But on the litmus test topic of abortion, Edwards is firmly, unapologetically and without exception opposed. That alone should guarantee he never winds up on a national ticket or in a high-level federal post that deals with the issue in a Democratic administration.

There are just too many members of the party around the country who feel differently, particularly women who make up a disproportionate share of the Democratic base. Someone who opposes abortion in all circumstances, even rape and incest, simply isnt going to make a Democratic ticket in the foreseeable future. Then-U. S. Rep. Lindy Boggs lost her chance at a vice-presidential nomination way back in 1984 over the issue, she believed, and that was well before it looked like the U.S. Supreme Court could reverse Roe v. Wade or approve such onerous restrictions as to make the procedure largely unavailable in certain states, Louisiana among them.

Nor is the governor likely to do the party-building legwork that often positions politicians for presidential appointments.

Edwards has shown little interest in boosting Democratic fortunes in Louisiana, where he was the only significant Democratic candidate last fall for any statewide office, and where Republicans increased their representation in the Legislature even as he won reelection.

He doesn't engage regularly with national politics. He backed Hillary Clinton in 2016 but, unlike former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond, he didnt step out as an advocate for the ticket. Hes unlikely to this year if the nominee is a moderate like Joe Biden, and certainly not if its Bernie Sanders. In fact, Edwards has made a point of working with Trump, and since the election the two have had mostly kind words for one another.

And hes not showing any particular interest in helping unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy when he runs for reelection this fall. When Engster asked about that race, the governor cited pending business before Congress such as increasing Louisianas share of offshore oil and gas royalties, and said that my goal is to make sure I have a good working relationship with Sen. Cassidy. From all appearances he already does.

That doesnt mean Edwards couldnt join a Democratic administration in some capacity  perhaps something pegged to his military background or disaster recovery experience. Or maybe hed be a candidate for a Republican administration. Presidents often look to add a member of the opposite party to their cabinets, and Edwards fits the profile of a politician willing to cross over.

But even a win that national Democrats are celebrating isnt going to transform him into one of them.

Edwards may be the last guy standing right now, but hes not the first Louisiana Democrat to turn national party heads. Previous politicians, even Kathleen Blanco before Hurricane Katrina, also drew interest because they showed they could win in a conservative state. The reason for their success is the rub: They focused on local and state matters while distancing themselves from ideologically divisive national debates.

Thats the approach that got Edwards where he is today. Its also what will likely define his options for the future.
Thirty years ago on this day, the land of Jammu and Kashmir saw the beginning of the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits following a genocidal campaign launched by the terrorists.

As the slogans of "Ralive, Tsalive ya Galive (convert to Islam, leave the place or perish)" reverberated from the mosques and streets, the Kashmir Pandits were forced to flee their homeland.

Some local newspapers also published advertisements by terrorist organisations warning Pandits to leave the Valley. Lakhs of Pandits left the Valley, after January 19, 1990, as they were targeted by extremists, virtually turning them into refugees in their own country.

January 19, is remembered as the 'Exodus Day' by the Kashmiri Pandits as it marks the exodus of the members of the community from Kashmir.

As columnist Sunanda Vashisht would recall during a US Congressional hearing on human rights that Kashmir has witnessed "ISIS level of horror and brutality", some 30 years before the West was even introduced to the "brutalities of radical Islamic terror."

She would further note how on the night of January 19, 1990, there were voice blaring from all mosques in Kashmir that they wanted Kashmir with Hindu women but without Hindu men.

"Where were they (advocates of human rights) on the night of January 19, 1990, when there were voices blaring from all mosques in Kashmir that they wanted Kashmir with Hindu women but without Hindu men? Where was the saviour of humanity when my feeble old grandfather stood with kitchen knives and an old rusted axe ready to kill my mother and I in order to save us from the much worse fate that awaited us?" she had asked.

Journalist Rahul Pandita's book - Our Moon has Blood Clots - mentions the killing of political activist, Tika Lal Taploo in September 1989 and several other such incidents.

In 2010, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir noted that 808 Pandit families, comprising 3,445 people, were still living in the Valley and that financial and other incentives put in place to encourage others to return there had been unsuccessful. According to a J-K government report, 219 members of the community had been killed in the region between 1989 and 2004 but none thereafter.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, members of the community took to social media to post videos of themselves by narrating the "Hum Aayenge Apne Watan" dialogue from an upcoming flick, 'Shikara', with the hope that they would return to their homeland one day.

In July last year, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said in the Rajya Sabha that the central government is committed to bringing Kashmiri Pandits and Sufis back to the Valley saying a time will come when they will offer prayers at the famous Kheer Bhawani temple.

The Mata Kheer Bhawani temple is one of the holiest shrines of Kashmiri Pandits, located about 14 kilometres east of Srinagar.

Last September, a delegation of the Kashmiri Pandit community met the Prime Minister in Houston and thanked him for the historic decision to abrogate Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the hardships endured by the community following their exodus from their ancestral homeland back in 1989-1990 due to militancy.

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

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday it was sending to Ukraine the black boxes from a Ukrainian passenger plane that the Iranian military shot down this month, an accident that sparked unrest at home and added to pressure on Tehran from abroad.

Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported the authorities were prepared for experts from France, Canada and the United States to examine information from the data and voice recorders of the Ukraine International Airlines plane that came down on Jan. 8.

It did not say when the black boxes would be sent to Ukraine.

The plane disaster, in which all 176 aboard were killed, has added to international pressure on Iran as it grapples with a long running row with the United States over its nuclear programme that briefly erupted into open conflict this month.

The plane was shot down in error at a time when Iran was on high alert for a U.S. attack. But the military took days to admit they had brought it down, a delay that sparked protests.

Hassan Rezaifar, a director in charge of accident investigations at Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, said the aim was to read the information on the recorders "with the use of the expertise of the countries of France, Canada and America".

"If this effort is unsuccessful then the black box will be sent to France," he said, according to Tasnim, adding that black boxes were being sent to Kiev at the request of Ukrainian experts in Tehran and that they would not be inspected in Iran.

The U.S.-built Boeing 737-800 was en route from Tehran to the Ukrainian capital. Most of those on board were Iranians or dual nationals. Canada had 57 citizens on board.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been pressing for a full investigation into the plane downing, said on Friday Iran should send the black boxes to France.

CALL FOR COMPENSATION

France was one of the few countries with the ability to read the flight and cockpit data recorders from the jet, he told a news conference, adding they were badly damaged.

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Canada's Foreign Ministry and the prime minister's office had no immediate comment on the move to send the black boxes to Ukraine. The French Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment and a spokesman for the Frances air accident agency, BEA, said it was awaiting an official request for assistance.

A spokesman for the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board also said it had no comment.

Ukraine has previously said it expected Iran to hand over the black boxes to Ukraine. The foreign minister also expects Iranian representatives to travel to Kiev next week.

Canada, alongside Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan and Britain, which also had citizens on the flight, have called for a thorough investigation and compensation for the families.

The plane was brought down in the tense hours after Iran launched missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq in response to the U.S. killing of an Iranian commander in a drone strike on Jan. 3 in Baghdad.

Iran's foreign ministry urged those involved in the crash to avoid making it an "excuse for political gestures".

Addressing the crisis, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told worshippers chanting "Death to America" at prayers on Friday that the disaster was a "bitter tragedy that burned through our heart".

But he said "some tried to use it as an excuse to overshadow the martyrdom of our great commander" Qassem Soleimani, Iran's most powerful general who was killed in the U.S. strike.

The death of Soleimani, portrayed as a national hero at home but viewed as a dangerous enemy in the West, prompted huge mourning ceremonies in Iran. Those were followed by street protests against the clerical system after the plane disaster.

Tension between Tehran and Washington has ratcheted higher since 2018, when the United States withdrew from Iran's nuclear pact with world powers and reimposed sanctions, and erupted into the tit-for-tat military strikes this month.

(Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh in Dubai, Gus Trompiz in Paris, Steven Scherer in Ottawa, David Brunnstrom in Washington and Matthias Williams in Kiev; Writing by Frances Kerry and Edmund Blair; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Los Angeles, Jan 19 : Actress Zoe Kravitz said yes to the role of Catwoman because of the character's "really strong femininity." It was revealed in 2019 that Kravitz would be starring opposite Robert Pattinson's Caped Crusader in "The Batman", set for a 2021 debut.

Speaking during the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour, Kravitz spoke about what attracted her to the role, which has previously been portrayed by stars like Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"I think Catwoman, Selina Kyle represents really strong femininity, and I'm excited to dive into that. I think femininity represents power, and I think it's a different kind of power than masculine power. That's something that's really interesting about Batman and Catwoman," Kravitz said, reported Variety.

She added: "I think Batman represents a very kind of masculine power, and Catwoman represents very feminine power - slightly more complicated, and softer, too. I like the idea that you can be soft, you can be gentle and still be very powerful and still be very dangerous." "The Batman", also starring Colin Farrell and Peter Sarsgaard, is scheduled to release on June 25, 2021
During the reception, PM Phuc said the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership has developed practically and effectively in all fields, noting that economic - trade - investment and education-training cooperation continue to be important motivations.

The Harvard University has maintained the Vietnam Executive Leadership Programme (VELP), which helps Vietnamese leaders to exchange views with professors and experts from the US university, policy makers and entrepreneurs from leading US businesses, contributing to the building of visions and ideas for senior policy makers of the Southeast Asian nation, he said.

The PM applauded the initial successes of the FUV, expressing his hope that the working visit to Vietnam will open a new chapter in education and training cooperation between the Harvard University and Vietnam.

PM Phuc suggested the Harvard University and Fulbright University continue organising the VELP programme and offer scholarships to Vietnamese students, thus helping to develop human resources for Vietnam.

For his part, Elmendorf expressed his delight at the flourishing development in bilateral relations after after 25 years of normalising relations between the two countries, including cooperation in education and training.

The school pledges to continue supporting and promoting projects and initiatives for education and training cooperation between the two nations in the near future, he stressed.

Elmendorf said the US and many countries had faced challenges similar to those facing Vietnam today, therefore majors taught at the university will help Vietnam in policy making, public management, and urbanization.

Meanwhile, Vallely said the ongoing visit aims to exchange views and propose cooperation programmes in the coming time.

Established in 2016 with its headquarter in Ho Chi Minh City, the FUV is an independent and non-profit higher education institution. It is the next step of the existing Fulbright Economics Teaching Programme, a public policy masters programme that the Ash Centre at the Harvard Kennedy School at the Harvard University, established in 1994 in cooperation with the HCM City-based University of Economics.
The charred bodies of 10 musicians were found in a burned-out vehicle in Mexico after being attacked by suspected drug cartel gunmen.

Prosecutors are investigating the grisly discovery in the south-western state of Guerrero, authorities said late on Friday.

Police found the bodies on a country road in the municipality of Chilapa de Alvarez after locals saw the vehicle on fire and alerted authorities, state security spokesman Roberto Alvarez said in a statement published on Facebook.

According to media reports, the victims were indigenous men and youths, one as young as 15, from a musical group who were attacked by suspected gunmen from a local drug cartel.

Charred bodies were found in a burned out vehicle in Chilapa de Alvarez in the south-western state of Guerrero

It is not clear what caused the fire but local media suggested the young musicians from the Guerrero Musical Sensation band were in two vans.

The suspects first set fire to the two vans where the musicians travelled and then killed them, according to Mexican news site Sopitas.

Local media identified some of the dead only by their first names as Jose Julio, 37, Crescenciano, 37, Israel, 24, Antonio of 24, Candido, 20, Lorenzo, 32, Juan Joaquin, 42, Marco, 36, as well as Regino and Israel aged 15.

The attorney general's office of Guerrero did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

One of Mexico's poorest states, Guerrero has long been one of the most violent regions of the country, which was on track to register a record number of homicides last year.

Chilapa de Alvarez is a notoriously violent area of Guerrero.

Local media reported that the 10 victims were members of a the Guerrero Musical Sensation band (part of the name of the group can be seen written of the vehicle door)

Last October nine suspected gang members were found dead in Zitlala in Guerrero state, southern Mexico, where two criminal organisations were fighting over territory for years.

The bullet-ridden bodies of the nine men were found on a road in the township.

Zitlala is near Chilapa, a township where the Rojos gang has been disputing control with a group known as the Ardillos.

Guerrero state prosecutors said the dead men appeared to belong to the Rojos gang.

Investigators found shell casings from assault rifles at the scene.
New Mexico is a phenomenal state with some of the best people in the nation. Unfortunately we have foundered for decades in how best to empower working families and make our state a desirable location for business operations. As we struggle to find the magic sauce, the New Mexico Business Coalition encourages elected officials to look outside our borders for successful policies and practices that are proven to work. At the same time, avoiding laws and policy that have been found harmful should be a no-brainer.

Some elected officials are looking to Colorado as an example of success for legalizing recreational marijuana. They are focused on new tax revenue as well as more freedom for marijuana users to not get caught in the legal system. Other officials are focused on the full societal costs, and the foundation for their opposition to recreational marijuana just got stronger.

The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (RMHIDTA) worked in concert with more than 30 organizations to evaluate the effects marijuana legalization has had on Colorado residents since 2013. A 2019 RMHIDTA report highlights the following:

Traffic Fatalities & Impaired Driving: Traffic deaths in which drivers tested positive for marijuana increased 109%. Since recreational marijuana was legalized, the percentage of all Colorado traffic deaths that were marijuana related increased 8%. This equates to one person killed every three days in 2018, which is double the rate before legalization.

Marijuana Use: Children 12 and older who say theyve used marijuana in the past month increased 58%, and their usage is 78% higher than the national average. Adult marijuana usage increased 94% and is 96% higher than the national average.

Public Health: The yearly number of emergency department visits related to marijuana increased 54%, and marijuana-related hospitalizations increased 101%. The percent of suicide incidents in which toxicology results were positive for marijuana increased 9%.

Black Market: Since legalization, the Colorado Drug Task Forces conducted 257 investigations of black market marijuana in Colorado resulting in 192 felony arrests and 6.08 tons of marijuana seized. Seizures of Colorado marijuana in the U.S. mail system going to 25 other states have increased 1,042%.

Societal Impact: Sixty-four percent of local jurisdictions in Colorado have banned medical and recreational marijuana businesses. The bill to be considered in N.M. will prohibit counties and cities from opting out of the statewide law.

Some legislators point to an overcrowded criminal system as a reason to legalize marijuana and reduce incarceration. Catch-and-release criminal justice reforms have resolved the overcrowding issue. More importantly, New Mexicans are not held in jail related to possession of personal-use marijuana. Medical marijuana has been legal since 2007, and New Mexico decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana for any purpose in 2019.

NMBC understands the need to diversify our economy and provide additional income, but the Colorado report shows that marijuana tax revenue represents less than 1% of Colorados 2018 budget.

New Mexico employers are already challenged to find drug-free workers for jobs that require a strict no-use policy for safety reasons. Given what happened in Colorado, one can clearly see that legalization of recreational marijuana would only increase the difficulty of hiring for those positions.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data shows New Mexico had the nations largest percentage increase in homelessness from 2018 to 2019 at 27%. HUDs report also shows homeless rates increased significantly after legalization of recreational marijuana in the state of Washington (18.9%) and Colorado (9.1%). Think about the impact of legalized recreational marijuana on homelessness in New Mexico.

New Mexico is confronted with a high homeless population, mental illness challenges that have not been adequately addressed, high addiction rates, poor performance of some students, and a challenging hiring environment. Legislators should focus on the societal costs weve seen in Colorado and not pursue a pipe dream of success that could easily just be a smoke screen for additional failure.

The New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC) focuses on improving the business environment for companies and the quality of life for all New Mexicans. Its nonpartisan educational efforts focus on providing New Mexicans the facts about issues impacting business opportunities and job creation in our state. nmbizcoalition.org
A Target employee who was harassed by a disgruntled customer arguing over the sale of a toothbrush has become a viral sensation after online supporters raised funds to send the sales assistant on a much-needed holiday.

David Leavitt made headlines when he reportedly called police because his local US Target store refused to sell him a new electric toothbrush retailing for $99.99 USD (A$145) for the same price as the display model, accidentally advertised on the shelf for $0.01 USD (A$0.15).

Mr Leavitt claimed that under local Massachusetts Item Pricing Law he was entitled to purchase the item for the price listed, despite the label clearly stating it was a Display price, although the law he quoted only applies to food and grocery items.

This @target manager Tori is not honoring the price of their items per massachusetts law pic.twitter.com/7IYMjCcutZ  David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) January 17, 2020

I just had to call the police because Target refused to sell me the toothbrush Mr Leavitt tweeted, he then went on to explain he would be taking Target to court over the matter.

Mr Leavitt, who describes himself on Twitter as an award winning multimedia journalist posted images of the store manager Tori, who refused to sell him the toothbrush for 1 cent.

Manager Tori looked defeated by the customers unreasonable request and his extreme actions of calling the police but reportedly stood firm and refused the one cent sale.

The images the disgusted customer posted of the manager Tori(left) and the toothbrush she refused to sell him for one cent (right). Source: Twitter

Social media reacts in perfect fashion

The twitter post on January 17 was shared over 1,600 times and attracted 28,000 comments, with most people questioning why he called the police over the matter.

You literally wasted the police time with that nonsense? one person responded.

Others took aim at Mr Leavitt for posting the photo of Tori online and supported her using the hashtag #targettori.

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You are one pathetic little man. A bully a liar, another said.

Manager, 'Target Tori' thanked the public for their support and generous donations. Source: GoFundMe

Online media quickly rallied around the store manager, now known as Target Tori and decided she needed a holiday after having to deal with Mr Leavitt.

Internet users started a GoFundme page to Send #TargetTori on a Vacation, writing Mr Leavitt harassed this Target employee over an electric toothbrush, and then blasted her on Twitter to his 215k followers. Lets send her on a vacation.

In just one day the page raised over $25,000 for the young woman and is still growing.

Tori thanked the public for their kindness and donations but has not yet decided where to holiday.

Yahoo News Australia contacted David Leavitt for comment.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
(Newser)  House Democrats say in a brief filed ahead of impeachment trial arguments that President Trump "abandoned his oath to faithfully execute the laws and betrayed his public trust." They also called his conduct the "worst nightmare" of the country's founding fathers, the AP reports. The brief Saturday came shortly after the White House sent the Senate a fiery response to its impeachment summons, outlining the defenses it expects to use in the upcoming trial. Meanwhile, Trump's legal team is sending the Senate a fiery response to its impeachment summons, outlining the defenses it expects to use in the upcoming trial. Trump's Saturday missive calls the two articles of impeachment passed by the House "a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president."

story continues below

The document offers a taste of the rhetoric expected to be deployed by the president's defenders in the Senate. "This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away," the filing states. Two people close to the president's legal team outlined the filing in advance on the condition of anonymity. Trump's legal team, led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds, claiming Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong. Trump's attorneys argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they don't allege a crime.

(Read more Trump impeachment stories.)
No doubt, State Police is an important component of Federalism since sovereignty is divided between the Central authority and federating State authorities. And, the beauty of the establishment of State police is that it is in line with the principle of federalism on which Nigeria fashions its constitution.

As a Federal State, the power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided between the central government called the Federal Government and the Federating units called the 36 States of the Federation. Law making function at the centre is the responsibility of the National Assembly while the State Houses of Assembly perform similar function subject to the limit permissible by the legislative list contained in Second Schedule of the Constitution; an extension of the principle of federalism to which our Federal and State Courts exist whereby States courts are allowed to exist alongside Federal courts with each jusrisdictions clearly spelt out.

By virtue of Section 5 subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the executive powers of the Federation are vested in the President while that of the States are vested in the Governors. Meanwhile, the exercise of these powers in both cases extend to the execution and maintenance of the Constitution and all laws made by either the National or State Assemblies.

However, a critical analysis of the above Constitutional provisions will clearly reveal that each of the States constituting Nigeria is meant to be a complete government on its own with powers to make laws, enforce them and punish offenders through the judicial arm. But, it is embarrassing that under the Nigeria legal system, the only institution saddled with the responsibility of enforcing law is the Nigeria Police Force; a Federal agency.

It need not be gainsaid that Nigeria is too large and complex for its Police Force to be over-centralised when considering the recent level of threat to public security across the country. If truly Nigeria is a Federation, the Constitutional provision which provides for a single Federal Police must be amended to pave way for State Police thereby decentralising the Police Force. In fact, in an ideal federal system, the issue of State Police should not be a contentious matter. At least, in the First Republic, there were Regional Police and Local Police existing side by side the Federal Police.

Despite the fact that almost all the States in the country are investing heavily in the Police Force, Section 215 subsection 4 of the Constitution provides that a State Commissioner of Police shall be at liberty to refer a directive given by a State Governor to the President before acting on them. The implication of this is that the Police Commissioner in a State will have to take orders directly from Abuja as regards security issues even in the face of the huge financial burden States Government carry on their State Police which in the first instance should be the responsibility of the Federal Government with the Governors becoming helpless with no control over the Police.

Crime detection needs a local knowledge because every crime is local in nature and policing is essentially a local matter. We must not continue on this current centralized police structure in the country as it will continue to limit the capacity of States to effectively address security issues.

Those raising arguments against the creation of Amotekun in terms of it being turned to an instrument of repression need be told that, even, the present centralised policing arrangement has, over the years, equally been subjected to limitless abuse by the central authority. The argument itself is sickening as it is premised on the wrong assumption that the federating States in Nigeria lacks the power to maintain a discipline force which is far from the truth. The Federal Police itself is not immune from corruption, indiscipline and oppression

Governors in the South Western should not bow to empty threats from Abuja. We are on the path to what Federalism is and the fear is real. Amotekun has been unleashed against those threatening our territorial integrity and they must not be recalled. Amotekun should be allowed to let loose of hell on the marauding enemies of we the Yorubas.

However, in doing this, proper legislations should be put in place to resist abuse and misuse of power.

Kazeem Olalekan Israel (GANI) is the PRO, NANS Zone D (South West) [email protected]
A 22-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing a woman in east Delhi in September last when she resisted a robbery attempt, police said on Sunday.

The accused Anjar was residing in a de-addiction centre in Ghaziabad by changing his identity. He was the resident of JJ Colony Bawana, they said.

On Thursday, two persons -- Mohammad Mazhar (27) and his brother-in-law Mohammad Kamrul (24), were arrested by the Outer North district police for their involvement in robbery and theft cases.

Mazhar was the main accused in the September incident.

"On Friday, the East District police received information from Narela Industrial Area police station regarding the involvement of Mazhar and Anjar in the murder of a woman in Madhu Vihar area around four months ago," a senior police officer said.

Mazhar was interrogated where he disclosed that his accomplice Anjar was residing in a de-addiction centre in Loni, Ghaziabad, by concealing his identity under false name of Rakesh, the officer said.

Thereafter, a search operation was launched and the accused as arrested, police said.

On September 21, a 58-year-old Usha Rani, a resident of Jagatpuri, was shot dead around 6 am outside a temple in East Delhi's Madhu Vihar by two two bike-borne accused when her husband had gone inside the premises for worship.

Rani, an assistant manager with a state-run insurance company, was going to a hospital with her husband for treatment when they stopped at the temple near Hassanpur depot.

She was attacked while waiting for her husband in a car.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After being passed by Parliament, motion to halt Israeli gas imports will be referred to cabinet to be made law.

The Parliament of Jordan has approved a draft law to ban imports of Israeli gas just days after they started under a multibillion-dollar deal struck in 2016 that is opposed by much of the population.

The motion was unanimously passed on Sunday by Jordans 130 legislators and will be referred to the cabinet to be made law, although legal hurdles may prevent it from coming into force.

The government previously said it was a deal between companies rather than a political matter.

The $10bn supply deal was originally struck between Jordans state-owned utility and a US-Israeli consortium led by Texas-based Noble Energy to provide gas to the countrys power plants for electricity generation.

It was not referred to Parliament for approval.

Although United States ally Jordan has a peace treaty with Israel, the deal  which supplies Jordan for 15 years  has faced much popular opposition, with legislators arguing it makes the kingdom dependent on its neighbour for energy.

Many Jordanians are also descendants of Palestinians who moved to the country after the creation of Israel in 1948, and view Israel as an erstwhile enemy that expelled their ancestors from their homes.

A source in the Israeli energy industry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: The gas agreement between Jordanian National Electric Power Company and American-based Noble Energy is being implemented from early January 2020, and no change is expected in that regard.

Gas of the enemy

On Friday, hundreds of Jordanians holding national flags and chanting slogans demonstrated in downtown Amman, calling on the government to cancel the agreement.

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The Jordanian government said after the deal was signed in 2016 that securing stable energy prices for the next decade could achieve annual savings of at least $500m and help reduce a chronic budget deficit.

But the import of Israeli gas has become a major focus in Jordan and sparked protests and calls for both the deal and the peace treaty to be scrapped.

The gas of the enemy is an occupation. Down with the gas deal, placards carried by protesters said.

We are here protesting against the gas deal which has been signed in 2016 without the knowledge of the parliament, and we want to send a message to the prime minister that it is enough with the humiliation and shame, protester Nadia al-Awad said.

How can we purchase our own [Palestinian] gas from them [Israelis] and pay with our own money? We send this message to them and we say enough with the humiliation, enough shame, enough selling our homelands.

Public opinion across Jordan has remained against the normalisation of ties with Israel, and on the government level, these relations have become under increasing strain since the gas deal was struck since Donald Trump replaced Barack Obama as US president.

Jordan and Egypt are the only two Arab countries that have a peace treaty with Israel. Last year, both Jordan and Israel marked the 25th anniversary of their landmark peace agreement with cool relations.

Jordans King Abdullah fears Israels rejection of a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank could lead to renewed violence and see a new generation of Palestinians relocating to Jordan.
Tourists arrive after a rescue operation from Mount Annapurna base camp, at the airport of Pokhara, some 200 km west of Kathmandu, on January 18, 2020. Four South Koreans and three Nepalis are missing and about 200 people have been rescued after an avalanche hit trekkers on Annapurna, one of the highest mountains in the Himalayas, officials said on January 18. (Photo by KRISHNA MANI BARAL / AFP)



Heavy snowfall is delaying Nepalese rescue workers' efforts to save four South Korean school teachers who went missing while trekking a circuit route of Annapurna in the Himalayas, officials here said Sunday.



The four South Koreans who went missing in an avalanche during a Annapurna Base Camp trek Friday morning remained unaccounted for as of Sunday even as South Korean and Nepalese authorities try to expand their search efforts.



Nepalese rescue workers have rampped up their ground and air searches, but heavy snowfall and the resulting five-meter-deep snow accumulated on the scene were posing major challenges to their search efforts, officials here said.



On Sunday, the Nepalese government is set to mobilize a team of up to 10 more experienced police officers for the search efforts, resuming the rescue efforts that were put on hold early Saturday afternoon due to the dire weather conditions.






Struggling shopping centre owner Intu Properties is planning to raise as much as 1billion in cash as early as next month to tackle its 4.7billion debt pile.

The firm, which owns Manchester's Trafford Centre and Lakeside in Essex among others, wants to kick off a huge rights issue alongside its annual results at the end of February or soon after.

In a rights issue, companies tap their existing investors for cash by offering them shares at a cheaper price, rather than looking for outside support.

Intu, which owns Manchester's Trafford Centre (pictured), plans to tap investors for cash

The amount Intu hopes to raise from shareholders remains unclear, although reports in the Sunday Times put the figure at up to 1 billion.

Intu shareholder and billionaire businessman John Whittaker, who has a 27 per cent stake, is said to be in favour of the plan, according to the newspaper.

Bosses had already warned that its 4.7 billion debt pile is too high and are in the process of selling off assets to pay it down.

Last month, Intu revealed it had sold Spain's largest shopping centre, the Intu Puerto Venecia in Zaragoza, for 405million.

Intu has told the City it is considering a number of 'self-help' measures in addition to selling off assets.

In a trading statement last year it said it was 'likely' to raise more cash to balance its books.

Intu's shares have fallen by around 80 per cent in the last year as the High Street crisis has intensified and rental income has plunged.

The company said: 'Intu properties continues to make progress in its strategy to fix the balance sheet.

'Consistent with previous announcements, this now includes targeting an equity raise alongside its full year results at the end of February.

'The company is currently engaged in constructive discussions with both shareholders and potential new investors on the proposed equity raise.'

An equity raise involves issuing new shares to raise extra cash - but this tends to push the current share price down, which could upset current investors.

Landlords have been hammered by a wave of insolvencies as tenants grapple with growing online sales and high business rates.

At its half-year results last July, Intu cut the value of its shopping centres by 1billion.

Matthew Roberts, Intu chief executive, said: 'We are making good progress with fixing the balance sheet, our number one priority, and are confident we have the right strategy in place to enable us to prosper as we see continued polarisation between the best destinations and the rest.'

He added that footfall to Intu's UK centres was flat during the Christmas period compared with a year earlier - which was ahead of falls across the market more broadly.

Around 95 per cent of space was occupied by tenants, with 97 per cent of rent collected for the first quarter of 2020, Intu said.

Commercial property owners, particularly in retail, have suffered in recent years as several big name brands either went into administration or pushed through an insolvency process known as a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to reduce rents.

In November last year, Intu already warned that rental income in 2019 is likely to fall by 9 per cent, with more than half the decline coming from Arcadia and Monsoon using CVAs.

Bosses said rent in 2020 is also expected to drop, but at a slower rate than 2019, and added that the political and economic uncertainty is putting off current tenants from signing up to new lettings.
Mama June seems to be feeling desperate about money these days.

On Saturday TMZ claimed that the former reality TV wonder sold her diamond ring at a pawn shop for $1,500. The site added the 40-year-old star of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo fame 'took the very first, seemingly low-ball, offer.'

The ring could have been from current beau Geno Doak or from her ex-husband Sugar Bear.

Sad spiral: Mama June seems to be feeling desperate about money these days. On Saturday TMZ claimed that the former reality TV wonder sold her diamond ring from boyfriend Geno Doak for $1,500

The site added the star of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo 'took the very first, seemingly low-ball, offer'

The star visited Cash America in Stockbridge, Georgia on Thursday morning.

She didn't haggle with the price offered and quickly took the check, leaving in a pickup truck, it was claimed.

Sources tell the site it looked like the ring could be a 'wedding or engagement ring.'

It could be the ring Doak,gave her during an episode of Mama June: From Not To Hot which aired in March 2019.

Or, it could be her engagement ring from Sugar Bear, who proposed in July 2013 during an episode of her first series Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

He said on the show that he purchased it for less than $400 with cash from 'selling a turkey fryer.'

Her big change: The Georgia resident lost 300lbs after surgery. On the left she is seen heavier in 2016. On the right the blonde was slimmer in 2017

They split in 2014.

Earlier this month Mama - whose real name is June Shannon - was kicked out of a Georgia hotel for failing to pay up.

The star and Geno, 44, had been staying at the Residence Inn Marriott in McDonough, Georgia since around Thanksgiving, according to a report by TMZ.

The former TLC star had rented rooms for herself, Geno and some friends and the tab started reaching the $2,000 mark.

Hotel staff notified Mama June that she had to pay her bill.

She couldn't pay in full and was a few hundred dollars short.

Sources told the site that hotel staffers informed Mama June they had to leave and they apparently announced they were headed to another hotel nearby.

Mama June and Geno reportedly 'trashed' a different hotel room in Georgia recently causing nearly $1,000 in damages.

Unpaid bill: Hotel staff notified Mama June, real name June Shannon, on Saturday that she had to pay her bill as it had reached the $2,000 mark, but she was a few hundred dollars short

TMZ reported last week that they engaged in a 'fiery argument' that left a mirror shattered with what appeared to be a blood-stained handprint.

Police were called to the scene at a FairBridge Inn & Suites located south of Atlanta where the couple stayed a few months back, but no report was filed and there were no arrests.

Mama June and Geno have been living in hotels since selling her Hampton, Georgia home in August 2019 for $100,000.

Bloody print: Mama June and Geno reportedly 'trashed' a hotel room in Georgia recently causing nearly $1,000 in damages after getting in a 'fiery argument'

She and Geno were both arrested last March in Alabama for investigation of felony drug possession.

Police investigating an apparent domestic dispute at a gas station searched their car and allegedly found crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

The Shannon family rose to fame on TLC in 2011 when Mama June's then five-year-old daughter Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson appeared on the series Toddlers & Tiaras.

Famous family: Alana Thompson, aka Honey Boo Boo, is shown with her mother and Geno in July 2018 in Los Angeles

They later gained their own reality show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo that featured Alana, 14, and her siblings Anna, 25, Jessica, 23, and 19-year-old Lauryn.

Mama June also has appeared on Mama June: From Not To Hot and Alana competed on Dancing With The Stars: Juniors.

Geno and Mama June started dating in 2017.

Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled by TLC after four seasons in October 2014 after Mama June was seen rekindling her romance with her ex-boyfriend and convicted sex offender Mark McDaniel.
Dame Barbara Windsor's husband has revealed the actress frequently asks for her mother and sometimes thinks she's at her parents' home, such is the cruel progression of her battle with Alzheimer's.

Television legend Barbara, 82, who is best known for her role as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders and for starring in nine Carry On films, first revealed she was suffering from the disease, for which there is currently no cure, in May 2018, after being diagnosed in 2014.

Her husband Scott Mitchell, 56, said her condition has worsened recently, and that the legendary actress often gets confused as to where she is.

Barbara, 82, who is best known for her role as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders and starring in nine Carry On films, revealed she was suffering from dementia in May 2018, after being diagnosed in 2014. Her husband Scott Mitchell, 56, said her condition has worsened recently, and that the legendary actress often gets confused as to where she is. (Pictured together on Christmas day)

He told the Sunday Mirror: 'Constantly, she does not realise where we are, even in the house. She will ask me, "When are we going home?"

'Sometimes she will ask me about people who have already passed away, as if they are still here. That is something she does regularly about her own parents. It is a very difficult one.

'Barbara will often say to me: "Do you know how to get in touch with my mum? I'd like to have a chat with her. I haven't seen her for ages, I need to see her."'

Scott said the situation was 'heartbreaking', adding that she forgets short-term things like if she's had dinner, but remembers things about her childhood and early career.

Scott revealed that Barbara, pictured here in April, often forgets where she is and asks to get in touch with her late mother

Over Christmas, Scott - who tied the knot with Barbara in 2000 - shared images of the Shoreditch-born star enjoying the classic Carry On films which made her name.

In one of his pictures Barbara put her hands up and smiled as she stood in front of the TV, which had been paused with her on the screen.

She was also seen posing with her hands on her hips and gesturing at the big screen in other snaps from Christmas Day.

Over Christmas, Scott - who tied the knot to Barbara in 2000 - shared images of the Shoreditch-born star enjoying the classic Carry On films which made her name.

The former EastEnders actress starred in nine Carry On Films, from 1964's Carry On Spying when she was aged 27 to 1977's That's Carry On!.

It comes after Barbara sent a special Christmas message to Good Morning Britain as she made a rare appearance amid her dementia battle.

She said: 'Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all the viewers and everyone at Good Morning Britain from us and everyone at The Alzheimer's Society.'

Updating on her health, Scott said: 'The lovely thing is, shes still got that lovely sense of fun within her. She still loves to sit there and giggle.

'I make her laugh, she makes me laugh. Obviously the confusion is very unsettling for her.'

When asked on the show if he feels guilt when he goes out without his wife, he said: 'I still struggle with that. I struggled with it when I first decided that wed have carers come in the house. I was worried about how shed be if I wasnt there.

Throwback: Barbara, pictured in Carry on Abroad which was released in 1972, starred in several Carry On films before joining the cast of EastEnders

Icon: The star is also known for her role as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders which she played from 1994-2016

'If I do catch myself joining in, laughing and joking, I do have those pangs of guilt.'

And back in March Scott revealed that Barbara has taken to calling the worst aspects of her Alzheimer's disease 'blackout periods'.

He told Loose Women: 'She'll call them her blackouts,' he explained. 'She'll hold her head and say "I've got one of those blackouts, where are we?" Any lover, my heart goes out to you, you are powerless.'

He also said that the worst moments are during the gradual transition from daytime to night time.

'It's every night from five o'clock onward,' he explained. 'It's called sun-downing. As it gets darker they become more confused and she's on this loop. It becomes a loop every day from that time.'
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing it of "repeatedly harassing" her party leader Hardik Patel.

Priyanka's remarks came a day after Patel was arrested from Viramgam taluka in Gujarat's Ahmedabad district for failing to appear before a trial court in a 2015 sedition case.

"The BJP is repeatedly harassing young Hardik Patel ji who has been fighting for the employment of youth and the rights of farmers. Hardik voiced the people of his society, sought jobs for them, sought scholarships. He led farmers' movement," Priyanka tweeted.

"BJP is calling it 'treason'," she further said.

Patel had been previously arrested in connection with a sedition case filed by the local Crime Branch after violence broke out during a rally by the Patel community in Ahmedabad on August 25, 2015.

The quota leader was granted bail in July 2016 and the court had, in November 2018, framed charges against him and other accused in the case.

Patel was arrested on Saturday, hours after Additional Session Judge B.G. Ganatra issued an arrest warrant against him. He had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Prepaid mobile phone services were restored across Jammu and Kashmir while 2G data services resumed on postpaid phones in the Union territorys Jammu division and two districts of the Kashmir Valley on Sunday in the latest in a series of steps taken to ease curbs imposed in the region ahead of the nullification of Constitutions Article 370 in August.

A communication blackout and a lockdown were imposed in the region ahead of the nullification of the provision that gave Jammu and Kashmir special status. Most of the curbs have since been eased but three former chief ministers, including Farooq Abdullah, detained along with hundreds of people ahead of the nullification and division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories remain under detention.

Residents HT spoke to said they were relieved that the prepaid services, which a bulk of the people use, have been restored. Common people are relieved with the start of prepaid services and many students and professionals can now access their emails and e-banking websites after 2G was restored on postpaid mobile services, said Aijaz Ahmad, a Bandipora resident.

Ahmad said his email is working on his mobile phone but social media remains blocked. The speed is very low. If the authorities have problems with the social media, let them at least restore the internet fully.

He said there was a rush at recharge counters after the restoration of prepaid phones. Though many people had switched to postpaid [connections] many still have stuck to their prepaid numbers, he said.

Muzaffar Ahmad, a Kupwara resident, said the restoration of the mobile internet is futile because of its slow speed. They banned social media and have now announced the restoration of [2G] internet. What is the motive when it is not serving the purpose? Till the time any so-called white listed website opens, it gets timed out, he said. Please upgrade the internet speed. Students have to submit different forms and upload certificates and photographs and how can they do these things with this dismal speed.

Yaqoob Ahmad, a student in Srinagar, said the government should restore the internet fully. All our economic and educational activities have halted due to internet gag. See how the world is progressing and we are being pushed back. How can we compete with the rest of the world with these dismal facilities.

The government has gradually restored phone lines, but broadband and high-speed mobile internet services remain suspended. While landlines were restored between mid-August and September, postpaid mobile services were back on October 14. Short messaging service on all mobile phones in Kashmir, and broadband internet services in government-run hospitals were restored from January 1.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced the restoration of voice calls on all prepaid and 2G data services on the postpaid mobiles in 10 districts of Jammu and two districts of Kashmir to access white listed websites. There is a possibility that 2G internet will be restored in more Kashmir districts after Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

On January 10, the Supreme Court called access to the internet a fundamental right by extension and pulled the government up for the telecommunications blackout. It directed the administration to review all internet suspension orders within a week.

After Supreme Court directions, the government on January 15 restored broadband facilities in government offices, banks and to facilitate tourism, tour and travel establishments. The internet is yet to be restored for media organisations and most journalists have been relying on a media centre established for them to access the internet.
A senior Air India pilot who was suspended in May last year after being accused of sexual harassment by a woman colleague was found guilty by an internal committee of the airline but has been reinstated recently, senior officials said.

The committee imposed a "major penalty" on Captain Sachin Gupta, who has now appealed to the next authority against the punishment, they said.

In response to specific queries on the matter, P S Negi, Regional Director (Northern Region), Air India, told PTI, "The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of Air India conducted the enquiry proceedings and found Captain Sachin Gupta guilty of the charges of misconduct."



The immediate competent disciplinary authority has imposed a "major penalty" as per the company's service regulation that is applicable to Captain Sachin Gupta, he said.

"In keeping with these service regulations, Captain Sachin Gupta has now appealed to the next higher authority/CMD (Chairman and Managing Director) against the punishment awarded. The said appeal on merit will be examined and considered by the competent appellate authority in due course of time," he added.

Another senior Air India official told PTI on condition of anonymity that Gupta has been "reinstated as instructor".

Air India had suspended Gupta last year over the sexual harassment allegations, telling him that "pending (an) enquiry... during the period of suspension, you (Gupta) will not enter the premises of Air India Limited without written permission".

According to a complaint filed by the woman pilot, the alleged incident took place on May 5 last year in Hyderabad, where she was being trained by Gupta.

In the complaint, she had alleged that Gupta suggested that the two should have dinner at a restaurant after the training session was over on that day.

"We went to (a) restaurant at around 8 pm and this is where my ordeal started.... He started with telling me how depressed and unhappy he was in his married life," the woman said in her complaint.

"He also asked me how I coped with my husband living away and whether I didn't need to have sex everyday. He asked me if I masturbated...," she alleged.

"At some point I told him I did not want to talk about all this and called a cab," she added.

The pilot alleged that the instructor's behaviour got worse during the half-hour wait for the cab.

"I was left shocked at this behaviour and felt extremely uncomfortable, scared and humiliated," she said.

The woman said she felt "morally obliged" to report this matter to the airline so that such behaviour is not repeated with anyone else in the future.

On May 16 last year, Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani had told employees that sexual harassment cases are "often" being witnessed at Air India and the airline needs to come down "very, very heavily" on such offenders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
But the recent involvement of Russia and Turkey on opposite sides of the prolonged civil war has created a new urgency for peace efforts. The conflict has turned into one of the Middle Easts most intractable proxy wars, with potentially cascading consequences for stability in Europes backyard.

Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt are backing General Hifter. Turkey is defending the internationally recognized government in the capital.

Even within the European Union, different member countries have tacitly backed different sides, with varying intensity. France has been on General Hifters side, while Italy has traditionally been closer to the official government in Tripoli.

I worry about the presence of Syrian and foreign fighters in the city of Tripoli, President Emmanuel Macron of France planned to tell fellow leaders in Berlin, according to a draft of his speech seen by The New York Times.

That has to stop, Mr. Macron said. No one must play a two-faced game.

Antonio Guterres, the United Nations general secretary, said: Today all participants committed to refrain from the armed conflict or internal affairs in Libya. These must be adhered to.

The Libyan conflict has become a test case for German and European ambitions to uphold a multilateral world order. Some saw the Berlin conference as an attempt to resurrect this sort of diplomacy in an era where multilateral agreements have been fast eroding, from the Paris climate accord to the Iran nuclear deal.

Whats at stake is whether, in the current climate with the United States absent as the worlds policeman, it is still possible to reach international agreements with diplomacy and implement multilateral solutions, said Daniel Gerlach, editor in chief of Zenith Magazine, a German publication specializing in the Middle East.
New Delhi:

The condition of veteran actor Shabana Azmi, who was injured in an accident on the Mumbai- Pune Expressway on Saturday afternoon, was "stable", the Mumbai hospital where she was admitted said.

Azmi was admitted at Kokilaben Ambani hospital in suburban Andheri after initial treatment at MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai. "She is stable and under observation," said Dr Santosh Shetty, Executive Director and CEO of Ambani Hospital in a statement late in the evening.

The incident took place around 3.30 pm on Saturday near Khalapur, over 60 km from Mumbai, when the car in which she was traveling rammed into a truck, said Raigad Superintendent of Police Anil Paraskar.

Her husband and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was also traveling with her, escaped unhurt. Their vehicle was hit by a truck while they were travelling from Pune to Mumbai.

The Raigad Police had issued an official statement regarding the accident. It read as "Shabana Azmi and her driver was injured in an accident near Khalapur on Pune-Mumbai Expressway. While they were driving from Pune to Mumbai their vehicle hit by a truck on the expressway. Javed Akhtar was also present in the car who is safe. Both the injured have been shifted to MGM Hospital."

The car driver was apparently trying to overtake another vehicle and rammed into the truck. The driver sustained minor injuries.

(With PTI Inputs)

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ASUNCION, Paraguay  At least 75 members of a powerful Brazilian drug cartel escaped from a prison in northern Paraguay through a tunnel on Sunday, pulling off an escape plan that officials had known about for more than a month but were unable to stop.

The breach is the latest and most serious sign that Brazilian cartels, which use Paraguay as a transit point to smuggle arms and drugs into Brazil, have penetrated the security agencies.

This is a prison break without precedent, Paraguays justice minister, Cecilia Perez, said on Sunday. This is the biggest prison break from our facilities.

Members of the cartel, the First Capital Command, had spent weeks digging the tunnel from their wing of the Pedro Juan Caballero prison, piling dozens of bags of dirt into a cell, according to officials in Paraguay.
Ahead of the municipal election, a person is seen cleaning one of the parks in SCB area.

Hyderabad: Whenever one takes a stroll at any locality in the jurisdiction of Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) and passes through an open space, the individual would find it difficult to identity whether it is a public park or a dump yard. So obnoxiously nauseating the parks have become that there seems to be no difference between the two.

Even as there is dearth of recreational space in SCB, the existing ones are left neglected, consequent to which they have become havens for anti-social elements. Most such parks have no fencing, lament residents.

Meanwhile, with municipal elections round the corner, some of the contestants are cleaning parks voluntarily after residents complained to them.

Not many parks are actually parks in the SCB limits. Rather than allowing our kids to venture into such open spaces, we are actually warning them against going anywhere near that park zone. We are worried because of the stray dogs and pigs that abound the vicinity because of the garbage dumps near parks and empty stretches, said Kamala N., a resident of Trimulgherry.

Playing equipment or whatever remains of them have rusted as they have been left unused and unrepaired for many years, pointed out Ms Sita Ratna Kumari, a resident of Brooke Bond Colony.

She added that the park has become an adda for anti-social activities, where people booze late into the nights, fight and create nuisance disturbing their sleep, almost regularly.

Another local said that residents from nearby colonies throw garbage opposite their colony park. This is spilling onto the streets and the stink emanating from there had become a major health-hazard.

Candidates who are contesting the ensuing polls are giving a patient hearing to the myriad complaints by the people staying the localities. It is the same tragic tale, all over the SCB limits.

Samula Sathireddy, a social worker, has cleaned the colony park with the help of his volunteers. P&T Colony Park was filled with bushes and shrubs rendering it unfit for children to play. Following requests by the residents, we took up the exercise, he said.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact SCB officials for their response, proved futile as none was unavailable.
The city of Birmingham will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Prayer Breakfast at the BJCC North Exhibition Hall. Doors will open at 6:30 a.m. The MLK Choir will perform from 7-7:30 a.m. The breakfast will start at 7:30 a.m. It is scheduled to end at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are available at the BJCC ticket office.

Parade through downtown and rally -- The Birmingham Metro chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference will host its annual MLK March from Birmingham City Hall to Kelly Ingram Park followed by a civil rights rally at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. The marchers will line up at 11 a.m. and begin marching at 11:30. The rally begins at noon with guest speaker the Rev. Michael Wesley of Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. At 2 p.m., the SCLC will also host its annual Love Feast: Feed The Homeless and Senior Citizens at 2 p.m. at Boutwell Auditorium.
Sarileru Neekevvaru, Mahesh Babus latest movie, heading towards a blockbuster, seems to be the actors career best. My most memorable Sankranti till date, says an ebullient Mahesh Babu about the success of the film. This time I experienced a new sense of euphoria. For four years I did serious films. For the first time I opened up and did this film, keeping my fans in mind and, looking at the results, I think it was the best decision.

Says Mahesh Babu, whose Sarileru Neekevvaru is doing great at the box-office. The actor discusses the movie, competition in the Telugu film industry, his next projects, his family, and other topics.

Did he expect this kind of numbers?

The openings are 10 times more than what we expected. Its magic... I am thrilled. When we do a big film, we want to create history and we want everybody to benefit, he says.

Asserting that he can sense how a film will turn out as he works on it, Mahesh Babu said, While shooting this film we were sure we were working on a blockbuster. The whole unit was all smiles during every scene and that gives an idea of how positive we were about its success.

Giving full credit to director Anil Ravipudi, the actor said, When he narrates the story or a scene, he acts it out and explains it, so I feel engaged.

Chiranjeevi and Venkatesh called the actor and congratulated him on its success.

A lesser known fact, Mahesh said though he sees his mother regularly, it is a tradition for him to meet her the day before the release of his films, and have the coffee she serves.

Mahesh says his next film is a commercial one.

On rivalry and competition

On the subject of competition, the actor is of the view that healthy competition is good. Referring to the recent differences over release dates of Sarileru and another film, Mahesh was categoric that the competition was healthy, and that reports on the contrary were only creations of the public. We, the actors, always maintain good relations. There are six to seven top actors and whenever we meet, we have a great time, talking and laughing with each other, the Maharshi actor said.

Asked whether anyone was out to deliberately kill his film, the actor said these were only rumours created by the media. Theres no negativity, he asserted.

Mahesh had taken the initiative to do multi-starrers a few years back. To a question whether he would continue to do such films, he said Yes, if a director comes with a good script and my character is good, then I am ready to do a multi-starrer with any actor.

The OTT platform has increased a lot. Does he think that it kills cinema?

No, it doesnt affect Telugu cinema. Watching a movie in a theatre is a cultural experience and people enjoy it. They cant experience the same in a house, was the actors take on the matter.

Asked when he would oblige his fans with a pan-Indian movie, Mahesh Babu said If a suitable script comes that works for other languages, too, then you can design it as a Pan-Indian film. You cant just make a pan-Indian film for the sake of making one.

Asked whether he would do a bi-lingual in the near future, he said Yes, my dream is to work with Shankar garu. He had already met Shankar a couple of times, he added. It may be recalled that Mahesh Babus bilingual film Spyder, which was also his debut in Tamil, hadnt performed up to expectations.

His children

On the subject of his children, he says his wife is the stricter parent. Namrata is the one who takes care of their studies, though he often attends his son Gauthams school functions. If they dont get the expected marks, he merely tells them to do better next time, says the indulgent father. Acknowledging that modern-day children like to follow their own paths, he says he will encourage his children in whatever they want to do. His daughter Sitara has started a YouTube channel, which is reportedly doing well. The actor is taking a three-month break. I like to travel a lot, he says.
An elderly man who was badly burnt when a firestorm ripped through south-east NSW on New Year's Eve has died in hospital, taking the death toll from the state's bushfire crisis to 21.

Police said emergency crews were called to a property at Cobargo in the Bega Valley Shire following reports the man, 84, had suffered burns from the fires in the early hours of December 31.

The man was taken to South East Regional Hospital before he was flown to Concord Hospital in Sydney.

He died about 3.30am on Saturday, police said. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Ahead of Republic Day, Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday busted a module of Jaish-e-Muhammad militant outfit arresting five of its members, who were allegedly involved in a grenade and other attacks in Srinagar city.

The police said that a huge batch of explosive material had been recovered from the arrested militants.

Addressing a press conference here, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Central Kashmir range, Vidhi Kumar Birdhi identified the arrested militants as Aijaz Ahmed Sheikh, Umar Hameed Sheikh, Imtiyaz Ahmed Chikla, Sahil Farooq Gojri and Naseer Ahmed Mir.

"All of them are residents of Hazratbal area of Srinagar. Two grenade blasts in the Hazratbal area were carried out by these militants," he said.

Flanked by SSP Srinagar Haseeb Mughal, the DIG said, On the basis of information provided by them, the explosive substance was recovered that include gelatin sticks, detonators, body vest, shrapnels, ball bearing with explosives, nitric acid and tape rolls and coils."

Initial probe revealed that they had lobbed the grenades to markets that were remaining open and carrying out normal business activities.

The DIG said that all the five persons were active cadre of Jaish outfit. Investigations reveal that their motives to enforce shutdown and paralyses normal life in Srinagar and further plans to execute sensational incidents like militants attack and IED explosions, Virdhi added.

Officials said they were also investigating the complicity of the arrested in other militancy related incidents.
The envoy, who was part of the delegation of 15 foreign envoys who had visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 also said that many Kashmiris are resigned to the revoking of Article 370 and realise that the clock cannot be turned back.

New Delhi: Kashmiris are desperately looking forward to an economic action plan of revival, and this is the only way to end uncertainty there, following the revoking of Article 370, a foreign envoy who recently visited the Kashmir valley told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.

The envoy, who was part of the delegation of 15 foreign envoys who had visited Jammu and Kashmir on January 9 and 10 also said that many Kashmiris are resigned to the revoking of Article 370 and realise that the clock cannot be turned back.

There is still uncertainty there because Kashmiris are yet to hear the details from the Indian Government on an economic action plan of revival. The Government should communicate the details of this to them as soon as possible. This is the only way to end uncertainty there, the envoy told this newspaper, adding.

Many people in Kashmir are resigned to the fact that the revoking of Article 370 is a done deal and cannot be reversed the envoy added. Earlier this month, envoys of 15 countriesUnited States, South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Fiji, Maldives, Norway, Philippines, Morocco, Argentina, Peru, Niger, Nigeria, Guyana and Togo  had been taken by the Indian Government on a two-day visit to the newly-created union territory of J&K where they had met security officials, members of civil society, political leaders and the local media there.

During the discussions with the members of civil society, the envoys had heard a range of views, with some also critical of the move to revoke Article 370, while there were others who felt that this would bring new opportunities to those sections of society who had felt marginalised earlier.

It may be recalled that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier said the envoys had been taken there to see the efforts being made by the Government to bring the situation to normal, adding that normalcy had been restored to a large extent in the valley India had last year defended its move in August to revoke Article 370, saying, The recent legislative measures taken by India within the framework of its Constitution will ensure that these progressive measures will (bring) an end to gender discrimination, including on property rights and local bodies representation.

It also said, There will be better protection of juvenile rights and laws against domestic violence. The rights to education, information and work will now be applicable. Long-standing discrimination against the refugees and the under privileged sections will end.
Seoul, Jan 19 : North Korea appears to have picked its point man for relations with Seoul as its new Foreign Minister, possibly heralding a shift in its policy toward the US and South Korea, informed sources said here on Sunday.

According to the sources, North Korea has notified foreign ambassadors based in Pyongyang of its recent appointment of Ri Son-gwon as the country's new top envoy, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The sources said the notification was made late last week, and his official appointment may be announced this week.

Ri Son-gwon, if confirmed, will replace Ri Yong-ho, probably signalling that Pyongyang might reshape its policy toward Washington and Seoul, although any drastic changes are unlikely at the moment.

Ri Son-gwon, a former army officer, has been serving as chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Country, which is equivalent to the South's Unification Ministry.

He has been North Korea's key official for relations with South Korea and was also the head of the North Korean delegation to recent high-level talks with Seoul, including the meeting in August 2018 that led to President Moon Jae-in's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in September the same year.

Besides his career dealing with the South, however, little has been known about his professional experience in the field of foreign affairs.

The dismissal of Ri Yong-ho, a career diplomat well versed in diplomacy towards the US, as the country's Foreign Minister came amid the communist country's repeated stance that it would not sit down with the US for denuclearization negotiations, said Yonhap News Agency.

Denuclearization talks between Washington and Pyongyang have been stalled since the second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi collapsed without a deal last February .

North Korea has said it would not return to dialogue until the US fully accepts its demands and withdraws what it calls a "hostile policy" against Pyongyang.
MOSCOW -- Russian security forces have detained at least 10 people who were taking part in a march in Moscow on January 19 to commemorate a human rights lawyer and a journalist who were killed by Russian neo-Nazis more than a decade ago.



The march has taken place each year in Moscow since lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova were killed in the Russian capital on January 19, 2009.



This year, however, some of the 1,500 marchers used the event to declare their opposition to constitutional changes proposed on January 15 by Russian President Vladimir Putin.



They were quickly pulled aside by authorities and taken to police vans.



One activist, Konstantin Fokin, arrived at the gathering point for the march carrying a poster with the slogan, "Putin, leave!"



He was detained by security forces before the march began.



The changes Putin proposed during his annual state-of-the-nation speech would redistribute power within the Russian government, giving more authority to positions that Putin himself could take over after his presidential term expires in 2024.



Participants at the head of the January 19 march carried copies of the Russian Constitution and a funeral wreath while protesting Putin's proposals. They also demonstrated against the persecution of political activists by Russian authorities.



Some organizers of the march told RFE/RL on January 19 that the main threat posed to anti-fascists in Russia used to be from neo-Nazis but is now coming from Russian government authorities.



The Markelov and Baburova killings sparked accusations that the Kremlin was not doing enough to hunt down the attackers of activists and journalists.



Two young neo-Nazis, Nikita Tikhonov and Yevgenia Khasis, were convicted of the dual killings in 2011. Tikhonov was sentenced to life in prison for murder and Khasis to 18 years for helping him.



Markelov had represented investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in 2006, as well as Chechen civilians abused by Russian troops.
O le Gunnar Solskjaer plans to sign a striker on loan after confirming Marcus Rashford has suffered a double-stress fracture of the back.

Manchester United have been rocked by the loss of their leading scorer for up to three months.

Solskjaer, who missed out on Erling Braut Haaland this month, now faces a desperate search for reinforcements at the same time as negotiations over top January target Bruno Fernandes have stalled.

The United manager said: Weve had many, many injuries this season, its an unfortunate situation.

The window is open so we might look at some short-term deals to get us through to the summer.

Solskjaer has made the acquisition of at least one forward a priority over the next two windows.

But he has had to go back to the drawing board after seeing Haaland head to Borussia Dortmund.

The Norwegian underlined his potential with a hat-trick on his debut for the Germans.

He also wants to bring in cover on the right, with Jadon Sancho a leading target  but he accepts he will not be able to land the names at the top of his wish list before the summer.

In Pictures | Manchester United January transfer targets 2020 1 /13 In Pictures | Manchester United January transfer targets 2020 Man Utd transfer targets Old Trafford officials have put together a shortlist for the January 2020 transfer window - here's who makes the cut... AFP via Getty Images Donny van de Beek Club: Ajax



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images Bruno Fernandes Club: Sporting Lisbon



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



AFP/Getty Images Emre Can Club: Juventus



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



REUTERS Hakim Ziyech Club: Ajax



Position: Attacking midfielder



Age: 26



Getty Images James Maddison Club: Leicester City



Position: Playmaker



Age: 22



REUTERS Sean Longstaff Club: Newcastle



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



Getty Images Jadon Sancho Club: Borussia Dortmund



Position: Winger



Age: 19



Bongarts/Getty Images Moussa Dembele Club: Lyon



Position: Striker



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images Jude Bellingham Club: Birmingham City



Position: Midfielder



Age: 16



Getty Images

Rashford is set for a period of rest to repair his back and will not be able to resume training for six weeks at the earliest.

His injury means United are desperately short of bodies, with Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba also sidelined for an extended period.

Solskjaer added: The players are giving absolutely everything. When you miss Scott, Paul, Marcus - any club and any team will notice that. So that might mean that we might look at some short-term deals to take us to the summer.

Getty Images

The permanent signings we are looking for, the targets are not going to change because weve got two or three players injured for the next few months. It still has to have a plan behind them.

But there might be some short-term deals that we have to do.

While he hopes to bring in cover, Solskjaer admits United will have to rely on 18-year-old Mason Greenwood in Rashfords absence.

Weve just got to (cope) for a while, he added. Hes been absolutely fantastic all season.

Manchester United via Getty Imag

"We had a similar spell with Anthony out for eight weeks and Mason had a few games and now hes got a few more games. Juan (Mata) is getting back to his best, so we will just have to deal with it.
Lucknow, Jan 19 : Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in Lucknow in view of Republic Day and the Defence Expo and most importantly, the ongoing protests against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The move to impose the prohibitory orders was taken by Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey late Saturday night, who said that it had been done to maintain law and order in the coming weeks.

The ongoing protest against the citizenship laws at the Clock Tower in Lucknow, on the lines of New Delhi's Shaheen Bagh protest, has gathered momentum and despite efforts by the police, the women have refused to budge from the site.

The women, most of them elderly, have claimed that the policemen snatched their blankets and poured water on the bonfire that they lit to keep themselves warm.

Rubia, 72, sitting with a blanket wrapped around her, said: "We are not causing any disturbance to either the Republic Day parade or the Defence Expo. We will not budge an inch from here till CAA and NRC is withdrawn. My parents and grandparents were born in India and they did not leave any papers for us to show to the government. We have assembled with our children and it is our fight for our rights." Ishat Jahan, 75, said she was protesting to support her nephew and many others who had been arrested on December 19, 2019 after an anti-CAA protest here turned violent.

The number of protesters at Clock Tower has been steadily swelling since it began three days ago.

The cops have been trying to dissuade protestors but to no avail.

"The cops puncture our vehicles, issue challans and shoo away vendors in order to break the protest but we are prepared to face all kinds of atrocities," said Shahab, a student whose mother and three sisters are on protest.

The protest, which essentially began with Muslim women and children, now has a sizeable presence of Hindu and Sikh women.

Holding posters of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr B.R. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh, the women raise slogans of "Inquilab Zindabad" and sing Ram Prasad Bismil's "Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna".

Young boys have been entrusted the task of bringing them food, tea, quilts and warm clothes.

"The police have tried all tricks to break our resolve. They have snapped electricity and public toilets were locked. They are stopping men and even young boys from joining the protest but nothing has worked," said Zaheer Khan, whose mother and aunt are among the protesters.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) Vikas Tripathi denied the allegations and said: "We did not take away any belongings from the protesters. We only stopped those who were setting up tents at the spot because it is not a designated dharna venue. Hence, such arrangements cannot be allowed." Companies of RAF have also been deployed at the site.
Britain will not automatically deport European Union citizens who have not applied for the right to remain in the country after Brexit, European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said on Friday

London: Britain will not automatically deport European Union citizens who have not applied for the right to remain in the country after Brexit, European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said on Friday.

Verhofstadt, who met with British ministers including Brexit minister Stephen Barclay on Thursday, said he had been reassured there would be a grace period for those who have not applied for Britains settled status scheme by the June 2021 deadline.

What will happen for those people even after the grace period? Well, there will be no automatic deportation, Verhofstadt told BBC Radio.

After the grace period, they will have a possibility to apply, giving the grounds why it was not possible to do it within the normal procedures.

Asked about Verhofstadts comments, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons spokesman confirmed there would be no automatic deportation.

Reuters reported in November that Britain was threatening to deport EU citizens if they failed to apply on time and would grant leniency only in exceptional circumstances.

As of the end of last year, more than 2.7 million of the estimated 3.5 million EU nationals living in Britain had applied. Earlier this week the EU expressed concerns over conflicting signals on what would happen to those who fail to do so in time.

Britain is set to leave the EU on 31 January after agreeing on a divorce deal late last year but will remain bound by all the blocs rules until the end of 2020 under an agreed transition phase aimed at smoothing its exit.

Verhofstadt also said EU citizens who are granted settled status want to be given a physical document so they can prove they have the right to remain. He said Britain had told him it was looking into the possibility of this.

Johnsons spokesman said he was not aware of any planned change.

The settlement scheme will grant people a secure digital status which future proofs their rights and links to their passport and ID card, he said.
Heir to his celebrity chef father's 200 million fortune, he has grown up living a life of luxury.

But The Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal that Jack Ramsay, eldest son of Michelin-starred chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay, 53, has abandoned his pampered lifestyle and joined the Royal Marines as an 18,000-a-year recruit.

Without fanfare or publicity, Jack, 20, began the corps' gruelling 32-week basic training course late last year and, if he shows the hunger to succeed, will earn a coveted green beret this autumn.

Jack Ramsay, eldest son of Michelin-starred chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay, 53, has abandoned his pampered lifestyle and joined the Royal Marines as an 18,000-a-year recruit. The pair are pictured together above

Remarkably, given his public school education and impressive A-level results, Jack has enlisted as a marine rather than a young officer.

It means he will learn military skills alongside recruits from tough working-class backgrounds, some of whom are aged 16 and have no academic qualifications.

Last night, a source at the Royal Marines' Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon, said Jack had made a great start and was popular.

He added: 'First and foremost, he is just another marine recruit to us, a 'bod'. There's no nepotism here and no favouritism.

Jack's sporting background has ensured he is well prepared for the physical rigours of marines training, which includes assault courses, endurance marches and gym tests. A Royal Marines Commando badge is seen above

'He's getting his head down and delivering the goods so far. He seems fit and is well liked. Not surprisingly, there's a lot of good-natured banter when Jack and his mates sit down to eat and when they're on a field exercise about who should prepare the rations.'

Proud Gordon gave his son a rare Rolex watch worth 10,000 for his 18th birthday and Jack's Instagram account, which has 282,000 followers, includes pictures of him lying on a gondola in Venice with Brooklyn Beckham and other envy-inducing images taken at idyllic locations around the world.

Yet the former Dulwich College schoolboy who went on to study at Exeter University has swapped his designer clothes for military fatigues and even shaved off his blond locks to carve a career in one of Britain's toughest military units.

Without fanfare or publicity, Jack, 20, began the corps' gruelling 32-week basic training course late last year and, if he shows the hunger to succeed, will earn a coveted green beret this autumn

Jack's sporting background has ensured he is well prepared for the physical rigours of marines training, which includes assault courses, endurance marches and gym tests.

He played rugby for his school and university and has also competed in judo, water polo and triathlon events.

It's a career move that may surprise some, but Jack has in the past expressed his desire to succeed for himself.

On the Channel 4 documentary Born Famous last year, he said: 'I have grown up in a bubble. I've never had to fight or do anything for myself. I don't know what I'm like without everything I've got.'

Last night, the Royal Marines declined to comment  as the corps does not discuss individual recruits.
Sam Mendes, the director of '1917', also filmed Skyfall

Los Angeles: Hollywoods producers handed 1917 their top annual prize Saturday, a reliable Oscars bellwether that puts the World War I thriller in the box seat for next months showpiece event.

The movie, which follows two British soldiers on a perilous mission across no mans land, has already scooped the Golden Globe for best drama, and has 10 Oscar nominations including for best picture.

Collecting the Producers Guild of America (PGA) film award at a celebrity-packed ceremony in Los Angeles, director Sam Mendes said making the film was humbling, joyful and by far the best experience of my professional life.

In a bold filmmaking experiment, 1917 travels through trenches and crater-filled battlefields in what appears to be almost one continuous shot stretching for two hours.

From the first day we actually shotwe did a six- or seven-minute takeI thought this is exciting, Mendes told AFP.

And I didnt feel we ever looked back. We had difficult days but I never doubted it.

He added: Its certainly unlike any movie Ive made.

The PGAs have predicted 21 of the past 30 winners of the Academy Award for best picture, including Mendess 1999 victor American Beauty.

Chosen by the 8,000-odd Hollywood movers and shakers of the PGA, the awards were attended by A-listers such as Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Nicole Kidman.

Netflix programming boss Ted Sarandos was given the guilds historic achievement award for overseeing the streaming giants rapid rise in Hollywood.

Its really hard to think that theres any bias against streaming, Sarandos told AFP, pointing to the firms 24 Oscar nominationsincluding two for best picture (The Irishman and Marriage Story.)

I think people are celebrating the films and the work, so itll be great if we get the big one too.

Pixar sequel Toy Story 4 won for animated film, while CNNs Apollo 11 topped both the documentary and TV movie categories.

Comedian Billy Eichner poked fun at the lack of diversity in the television comedy categorywon by Fleabagannouncing: The five white devils nominated are... .
Brendan OHara, The Bungalow, 57 Hyde Park, Dundalk, who has passed away, was a former member of the Army.

Aged 63, his death occurred unexpectedly at home on December 15, 2019.

Originally from Hyde Park, he was a son of the late Frank and Agnes OHara, and was also predeceased by his brothers, Vincent and Patrick (in infancy) and sisters, Kathleen, Charlotte and Anne.

Anne died just five months before Brendan.

After attending Dundalk CBS he worked in a variety of jobs throughout his career.

Brendan was a butcher with Quinns in town and was employed in the brewery.

He served as a member of the Defence Forces, stationed at Aiken Barracks, for 12 years and during that time did two tours of duty in Lebanon.

He worked in construction in London, and from 1995 until the time of his death was employed locally in National Pen.

Brendan kept himself fit and used to attend the gym three or four times a week. He also did Jiu Jitsu.

He looked forward to holidays twice a year with his partner, Ellie and until recently enjoyed going for walks.

Brendan had a great devotion to Our Lady.

After the weeks work, Saturdays were spent cleaning around the house, while on Sunday he often paid a visit to his sister.

Brendan is survived by his partner, Ellie, stepson, Matthew, brother, Gerry (Staffordshire), sister-in-law, Anne, brothers-in-law, Sean (Keady) and Mark (Philadelphia), nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

After reposing at home, his remains were removed to Saint Josephs Redemptorist Church where the funeral Mass was celebrated by Father Eamon Kavanagh, CSsR.

Readings were given by Francis and Trevor, and the prayers of the faithful led by Becky, Ryan, Aimee, Oran, Darragh and Jamie.

Frances and Fiona participated in the offertory procession.

Gifts symbolising Brendans life were brought to the altar, his Army beret by Matthew, a family photograph by Kathy, a statue of Our Lady by Becky and a National Pen service vase by Johnny,

Lisa read a reflection, My first Christmas in heaven, and Vera acted as Eucharistic minister.

Nicole sang solo The Prayer, while further singing and music was provided by Niall Caraher and organist Trevor Clarke.

After Mass cremation took place in Lakelands crematorium, Cavan.

The Months Mind Mass was on Sunday, January 12, 2020 in Saint Josephs Redemptorist Church.
"We will never negotiate a new deal," said Zarif on Friday during his visit to Mumbai to attend a meeting organised by All India Association of Industries, Xinhua reported on Saturday, citing Tehran Times.

Tehran, Jan 19 (IANS) Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has ruled out the possibility of any negotiation over a new nuclear deal, Tehran Times daily reported.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), Iran agreed to restrict its nuclear activities in exchange for the termination of Western and UN sanctions.

However, US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal in May 2018 and slapped full sanctions against Iran.

Trump has been urging a new deal with the aim of more limits on Iran's nuclear programme.

On Friday, Zarif called for the Indian government to persuade the US government to return to the deal.

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The allegations made by Evelyn Yang, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, and multiple other women against New York City doctor Robert Hadden raise troubling questions about how white-collar sexual assault defendants like him, Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein have appeared to receive favorable treatment at the expense of their victims from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance.

Vance's office had an overwhelming case against the ob/gyn doctor, after 18 of his patients came forward with remarkably similar stories of being sexually assaulted by Hadden under the pretense of his doing medical examinations. Yang testified in a grand jury and was assured by a prosecutor that the case was a strong one. Why then was the end result a plea bargain to a single felony count and no jail time?

NYC Women Are Getting Pervy Doctors Names Deleted From Birth Certificates

As a former sex crimes prosecutor, I often encountered an inherent bias among law enforcement and prosecutors that favored more lenient treatment of white-collar defendants charged with sex crimes. Sometimes, that was due to wealthier clients getting more attention because their high-priced lawyers demanded it from the prosecutors. Vances office already faced criticism for its initial reluctance to prosecute Harvey Weinsteineven conducting its own oppo research on one of his accusersand its attempt to seek a lower sex-offender registration status for Epstein (which Vance later said was a mistake by an unauthorized assistant district attorney).

Notably, in Weinsteins case his defense team included not only David Boies who had a history of donating to Vances campaignsbut also Linda Fairstein, the former head of the Sex Crimes section in Vances office. Similarly, Haddens defense lawyer, Isabelle Kirshner, made donations to Vances campaign, including one donation made on the same day that she filed a motion in Haddens case.

Often, as in Haddens case, defense lawyers make the argument that such alternatives as professional discipline should be considered punishment enough for defendants like medical doctors. That seems to be exactly what Vances office did here as Hadden was required to surrender his medical license as part of his plea bargain. But this amounts to a kind of alternative-dispute resolution that prosecutors need to stay away from because it arises from the attitude that professionally skilled defendants have more to lose than non-professionals. Thats the wrong focus.

Story continues

The focus needs to be on survivors, not defendants. To a survivor of sexual assault, it doesnt matter whether their attacker has a medical degree or not. The right focus should be on justice for the survivor and making sure the predator doesnt repeat his modus operandi with other victims.

The actions of the prosecutors in the Hadden case painfully illustrate the poor treatment of victims of crime. Despite some legislative efforts to ensure that crime victims get a voice in prosecution decisions, communication is often poor with them. Yangs recounting of her communication with the DAs office reflects how it failed to take into account her views even after she had the courage to come forward and testify in the grand jury. The excuses given by Vances office include claiming the punishment would have been the same no matter which counts Hadden was convicted of, and also apparently excluding victims from being heard at sentencing unless they were the victims of one of the counts to which Hadden had pled guilty. These are unconscionably wrong rationalizations.

The idea that the punishment remains the same no matter how many convictions occur is absurd. Prosecutors are free to ask for consecutive sentences from a judge and, although judges often favor concurrent sentences, a case such as Hadden or Bill Cosby frequently results in consecutive sentences.

Similarly, excluding victims from speaking at sentencing, whether through a written victim impact statement or directly addressing the court, simply because they were not the victims in the charged crime is also wrong. At sentencing, unlike at trial, judges have broad latitude over what evidence they consider. When I successfully prosecuted and secured the first life-without-parole sentence for a serial rapist in Washington, D.C., my trial partner and I introduced numerous statements from other victims which were critical to giving the judge the full picture of the danger the defendant posed to society if he were ever allowed to go free again.

The failings of Vances office in the prosecution of the doctor dont impact just his victims. They hurt the overall effectiveness of our criminal justice system and put unknown numbers of future potential victims of other predators at risk. After Yangs brave public criticisms, Vances office issued a statement that claimed they stood by their legal analysis. But legal analysis wasnt the problem. The legal analysis would have dictated that Hadden spend years in prison. The problem was the favoritism enjoyed by wealthy professionals accused of sex crimes.

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Following the US assassination of a top Iranian general earlier this month and Iranian airstrikes against US military bases in Iraq, Donald Trump once again imposed biting sanctions against the regime in Tehran. To Iranian Americans, many of whom have lived under sanctions in Iran or have family members there suffering through economic hardship, the fresh round of penalties is a painful reminder of the collateral consequences of escalating conflict.

Iranian Americans across the United States told the Guardian about their worries for their family members and friends affected by US sanctions. And they spoke of the ways the policies affect their own lives, work and communities in the US. I was raised under sanctions my entire life, said Nazanin Asadi, 34, who left Iran for California in 2014 and now works as a law clerk in Orange county. After moving to the US permanently, I cant believe the sanctions and these laws are still chasing me  I dont want my community to suffer.

Related: Iranian Americans on edge as tensions surge: 'The fear is palpable'

The threats of a full-blown war following Trumps 3 January order to kill Gen Qassem Suleimani caused anxiety among some Persian communities in the US, especially for Iranian families who have been torn apart by Trumps travel ban. Trump backed away from additional strikes, but his administration implemented a fresh wave of sanctions, targeting senior Iranian officials and the countrys textile, construction, manufacturing and other sectors.

The US has imposed sanctions for decades, targeting Irans energy sector and a range of exports of goods and services. Trump had already expanded sanctions against Iran in 2018 with his withdrawal from the nuclear deal signed under Barack Obama.

Under sanctions law, people are forced to apply for specific licenses when they seek to be exempted from prohibited transactions, and even for allowed activities, there are complicated reporting requirements. In practice that means hundreds of thousands of Iranian Americans with family and financial ties to Iran can face a complex set of burdens and hurdles in their lives, jobs and education.

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These sanctions are supposed to be targeting the government of Iran and certain individuals, but end up targeting the average person and your own citizens, said Mehrnoush Yazdanyar, a California attorney who helps Iranian Americans navigate sanctions. Youre sanctioning your own legal permanent residents, and in doing so, youre alienating them.

It is a daily stress

Yazdanyars law offices in southern California, a region home to the largest Iranian population outside of Iran, have assisted thousands of clients in sanctions-related matters over the years. Families often cant send money back and forth, creating significant hurdles for Iranian Americans who want to support their parents or families in Iran who want to help their loved ones pursue their education or other dreams in America.

Protesters gather in Los Angeles to oppose US military involvement in the Middle East. Southern California is home to the largest Iranian population outside Iran. Photograph: David Swanson/EPA

While the regulations are supposed to allow some financial transactions through third parties, many attempting to navigate the process can end up in legal trouble or with closed or frozen bank accounts, she said.

Asadi, who grew up in Iran, was accepted to the University of Southern California law school and moved here with dreams of becoming a judge. But with the sanctions blocking her parents from offering her financial support, she had to pay her own way through her education, working multiple jobs while studying.

I couldnt afford my life, I couldnt pay my expenses, she said. It was too much pressure emotionally and financially.

Related: Iranians braced for year of misery and unrest

She scraped by and managed to graduate, and she now works with Yazdanyar helping people dealing with sanctions. But when Asadi wants to help her own parents in Iran, who are disabled, she has no way to offer them funds, pay for their medications or even buy them gifts: We cannot support each other.

That feeling of guilt is even worse when theres a threat of war, Asadi added: Im paying taxes to the government who purchases military equipment to bomb my parents in Iran  If war happens, what should I do?

Pirouz Kavehpour, a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), engineering professor, who is also Iranian American, said he had repeatedly seen his Iranian students lose access to their bank accounts due to sanctions, derailing their research and education.

Its a daily stress  Were international. Were already on thin ice. If you dont perform well, you will be sent back, he said. Youre a kid here and you need to live off fast food  and then youre told by a random guy in a bank field office: Dont even think about getting the money.

With a large wave of Iranian Americans arriving in the US after the 1979 revolution, some are also now inheriting family businesses or properties back in Iran from relatives who have died, but it is often a nightmare process to attempt and recoup the assets, said Erich Ferrari, a Washington DC-based attorney who handles sanctions cases.

Even those who try to do everything right, reporting the transactions and getting proper licenses, can end up facing investigations by the US government, he said. Law enforcement monitors money transfers, and in some cases Iranian Americans have found the FBI at their doors asking questions: Theres always a threat looming.

Ferrari said he had seen family relationships fall apart in the process, adding: They are trying to do something that is beneficial to the US, and divest themselves from Iran and bring their money here.

Research and charity work thwarted: How does the US benefit?

In addition to the recent wave of Iranian students who have been denied visas at the last minute, under sanctions law, faculty members are also barred from traveling to Iran for research or other work without approval from the US treasury department.

Ive been invited many times to give a talk in Iran  but we are not allowed, said Kavehpour, the UCLA professor. He noted that Iran could benefit from working with UCLA experts on autism research, but that it would be impossible to set up any collaboration.

Aysan Rangchian, a 28-year-old Iranian PhD student at UCLA, said Iranian students often dont even apply for conferences anywhere outside of the US for fear of consequences. Iranian students can also struggle to get grants and funding: This is making the US less appealing for international students.

Last year, Iranian researchers faced criminal prosecution when they attempted to do stem-cell research in the US. As a result of that process, potentially groundbreaking science will not go forward here, said Yazdanyar: How did the United States benefit from this?

Yazdanyar has also represented a not-for-profit organization that helps orphaned children across the world, including in Iran. Even when the group received a specific license to send aid to Iran, financial institutions in third countries have declined to assist with the transfer due to concerns about sanctions. That means humanitarian aid has been delayed and blocked, she said.

During floods in Iran last year, it was painful that the sanctions blocked Iranian Americans from being able to offer basic donations, said Assal Rad, a research fellow with the National Iranian American Council, who lives in Orange county. She said that while the impact of sanctions on Iranian Americans paled in comparison with what Iranian citizens suffer, the rules added to this constant feeling that your identity is under attack.

Whether sanctions, the travel ban, or your loyalty being questioned  its really isolating, she said, adding of sanctions: Its an ineffective policy that is also harming Americans themselves.
Every Sunday for the last decade, Father Jim Gallagher has lit a candle at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Appomattox County.

Resting on the surface of the piano, in front of the honey-hued pews, the flame burns in honor of the eight people who were killed in a shooting in January 2010 in Appomattox County.

None of the victims were members of his congregation. But in a tight-knit community like Appomattox such tragedies pulled at every piece of fabric that makes up the community, still standing as one a decade later.

On Jan. 10, Our Lady of Peace was packed. Folding chairs set up along the far wall provided spillover seating for the almost 100 people crowded into the sanctuary. Residents were gathered for a prayer service to remember the victims and families of one of the largest mass shootings in Virginia, just days away from the 10-year anniversary.

Kim Scruggs "On January 19, 2010, life changed forever for our family. The evil that was committed that day took Bo's life with one bullet. The fragments of that bullet damaged the lives of his family and friends. Life will never be the same again." -Kim Scruggs

Fairy lights were strung along the outside the church, and small plastic tealights were handed out at the door. Family members of the eight killed filed into the front rows of benches, including Kim Scruggs, who lost her son, Bo, on Jan. 19, 2010.

This year, Bo Scruggs would have been 26.

But Kim Scruggs never saw him turn 17.

In January of 2010, Spout Spring resident Christoper Speight shot his relatives and their friends outside the house at 3030 Snapps Mill Rd., where he lived with his sister, her husband, and their young child.

After two years of investigations into the incident, officials said they believe Speight shot his sister Lauralee Sipe, 38; her husband, Shannon Sipe, 38; and their 4-year-old son, Joshua, on Jan. 17. Speight then is believed to have shot Morgan Dobyns, 15, Lauralee's daughter from another marriage; Karen Quarles, 43; Jonathan Quarles, 43, Emily Quarles, 15 and her boyfriend, Bo Scruggs, 16, on Jan. 19 before engaging law enforcement in an overnight standoff that ended with Speight surrendering the morning of Jan. 20.

Last Friday, for the first time in 10 years, Kim Scruggs publicly shared her memories of her son Bo, remembering his life rather than the tragedy that ended it.

Standing at a pulpit in front of the parish, she remembered him trudging through deep snow to his girlfriend's front door to deliver a hard-earned Christmas gift  an open heart necklace from Kay Jewelers. Remembered him helping others to their feet after a fall at the skate rink in town. Remembered him as fun-loving, intelligent and compassionate.

"The legacy stands stronger than any words I could ever convey to you tonight," Kim Scruggs said. "On January 19, 2010, life changed forever for our family. The evil that was committed that day took Bo's life with one bullet. The fragments of that bullet damaged the lives of his family and friends. Life will never be the same again."

Almost every year, on the anniversary of Bo's death, Kim Scruggs said family and friends come to their home and spend the day with them. Talking with Bo's childhood friends, now in their mid-twenties, is bittersweet. Kim Scruggs said she hears about the milestones, the engagements, the marriages, the children, and it's hard not to feel cheated.

"Because your son is gone," Kim Scruggs said. "And he's not experiencing the life milestones like others."

Mary Anne Freshwater "This community has always been incredible when it comes to families in need. In people's darkest times, the community helps to shine a light." - Mary Anne Freshwater Victim/witness coordinator for Appomattox County.

A group of Bo's friends, all of the pallbearers at his funeral, got tattoos to honor Bo. Like Alex Goin, who said his stretches across the whole of his back.

Though the expressions of grief were unanimous , so was the conviction that the community came together in the wake of the shooting, a testament to the strength of the small town.

"This community has always been incredible when it comes to families in need," said Mary Anne Freshwater, victim/witness coordinator for Appomattox County. "In people's darkest times, the community helps to shine a light."

Freshwater said that almost everyone in Appomattox remembers where they were when they heard the news.

She first saw the news of the shooting on the TV in the county lobby. As she heard the words reporting it as the biggest Virginia crime since the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007  in which a gunman killed 32 people and then himself on the Tech campus in Blacksburg  she stopped in her tracks.

Freshwater worked with the families of the victims in the days and years that followed, and said from across the region other victim/witness organizations rallied around them  supporting and aiding crime victims as they interacted with the criminal justice system, focusing on assistance and referrals to victims, their families and witnesses throughout the court process.

In her 22 years with the county said she has never seen another case of this magnitude.

Retired Appomattox County Deputy Todd Craft also remembered where he was when he got the call: at a barber shop, where he rushed from his chair as soon as he found out. He spoke before Our Lady of Peace at the prayer service earlier this month.

Craft said he received calls from the nearby counties of Amherst, Bedford and Campbell and the city of Lynchburg, as well as Virginia State Police. They all said the same thing: "What do you need?"

"They were there in solidarity with us, because they know we would have done the same for them," Craft said. I saw the solidarity then, and Im seeing it tonight."

Appomattox County Sheriff Donald Simpson, who was lead investigator of the case in 2010, also spoke at the prayer service. Simpson said the case changed his perspective on his career and life forever.

After the call came in on Jan. 19, Simpson worked 16-hour days. It was an active investigation and he treated it as such: head down, in work mode, with dozens of people to be interviewed, multiple searches in multiple locations and a mission to put together a "rock solid case" that could not be torn apart in court.

"This case was the leading story on national news," said Simpson. "All eyes were on our tiny community."

Simpson hardly had time to breathe until Jan. 24, when he said he sat down early in the morning with a week's worth of newspapers in front of him.

And there it was, on the front page of the The Lynchburg News & Advance, I saw their faces. The eight people that I had learned everything about the previous week, but I realized I had never met them," Simpson said. "I knew their names, I knew their date of birth, I knew their addresses, I knew their families, Id met their families. I knew their height, I knew their weight, I knew their Social Security numbers. But I did not know them."

Carol Canard "They're still here with us. Not constantly like they used to be, but they're still here." -Carol Canard

He saw pictures of their smiling faces. Saw life in their eyes. Saw the photograph of Bo, buried deep in the snow, trudging to his girlfriend's door.

"That Sunday morning as I sat in silence, I cried for the first time," Simpson said. "I cried for all the broken families, all the lives. Looking at the pictures, looking at the faces, I saw what was taken."

For Don Childs, it was a day like no other in his career. While piloting a helicopter to assist in the search for Speight on Jan. 19, 2010, then State Police Sgt. Childs was shot down by Speight, the seven bullets that struck the helicopter forcing an emergency landing.

"I had no caution lights, no warning lights, nothing seemed to be abnormal," Childs said in a phone interview with The News & Advance on Friday morning. But stuffing from the seat cushion floated in the air of the cockpit, and he could smell burnt metal, like an empty pan left too long on a stovetop burner.

He would learn later that the shots from Speight's high power rifle severed a fuel line in the fuel cell, while other bullets penetrated a skid tube and went through the rotor blade. If Childs had a passenger, which he nearly did, they would have been shot several times in the torso. He said no one knew why the helicopter didn't burst into flames.

Trajectory analysis of one of the bullets found that, by all intents and purposes, one should have gone up into his chest cavity.

This was a very unusual event, it has not happened before: anyone in a police helicopter getting literally shot down," Childs said. "For me to get seven bullets in a helicopter and survive, was really a miracle."

Though Childs flew for the army, and has been a pilot for 40 years, he said this was the most life-threatening situation he had been in. Ultimately, his flight helped draw Speight out, and he later found out that when the helicopter flew overhead, Speight had tactical team members in his rifle scope, preparing to shoot.

"It shook the community at its core," Childs said.

Linda Smith, mother of Dwayne Sipe, grandmother of Joshua and step-grandmother of Morgan, spoke with The News & Advance after the prayer service in January. With her mother, Virginia Emory, beside her, she told stories about them, remembering family vacations, walks in the woods and her almost daily phone calls with her son.

I can say that Im glad that Im 10 years out. Because if it was 10 years ago, I wouldnt be able to sit here and talk without the tears rolling," Smith said. "Ive told people it would have been easier to die then it was to walk through that, to live through that ... I thought, God, why couldnt I have been at the house. I would have sat right there on the steps with my Joshy, and we could have gone together."

Though she thinks about them everyday  and sometimes still sits in Sipe's car, just to run her hands around the steering wheel, the last place she saw him alive  she said by the power of God, she has made it through.

Carol Canard, mother of Karen Quarles, said it doesn't feel like 10 years. She is coming to grips with it, she said. Not moving on, but learning to deal with it as time slowly passes.

Stephen Canard "I could feel Karen walking into me and just stay there. It was the warmest sensation, it felt like forever." -Stephen Canard

She said she found an inner strength she didn't know she had. Living with her son Stephen Canard, and helping to raise his two teenage boys, working at a quilt shop on Old Forest Road, it helps to be around people, she said.

"They're still here with us," Carol Canard said. "Not constantly like they used to be, but they're still here."

She said the community has been wonderful and the prayer service was lovely and generous. Still, she misses her daughter's phone calls at 8:30 every morning, her son-in-law, Jonathan and 15-year-old Emily, who she said was the apple of everyone's eye.

Stephen Canard said the last ten years have had a lot of ups and downs. He thinks about what it would be like if they were still around, to see them grow and change.

Stephen Canard remembers talking to Simpson those 10 years ago, helping to identify the bodies of his sister and family, and receiving the last phone call, confirming what he already knew.

When he hung up, Canard said he stood at the front door facing everyone in the living room and he felt a presence, his sister, walking into him.

"I could feel Karen walking into me and just stay there. It was the warmest sensation, it felt like forever," Canard said. "And then she just walked out, walked out the back door, and she was gone."

At the end of the service, after scripture was read and the congregation prayed for healing, comfort and peace, the family members went up to the piano and lit candles one by one. A candle for every victim, something to remember their loved ones, and the 10 years now behind them.

Sarah Honosky covers Appomattox and Campbell counties at The News & Advance. Reach her at (434) 385-5556.

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Party workers of Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress clashed during the launch programme for a Hawkers' Corner in Bhopal on Sunday.

Workers from both the parties were seen throwing chairs at each other, while the police attempted to bring the situation under control.

Congress workers had allegedly objected to the inauguration in ward 28 by Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma of the BJP, stating that the state government belonged to Congress party, which should take up such initiatives.

Sharma, who was prevented from inaugurating the function managed to escape unhurt.

Further details are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bomb Iran's culture? What is President Donald Trump thinking he will accomplish by doing that? The downside is obvious.

He antagonizes western nations that would like Iran to be a responsible world actor rather than the spearhead for a revolution to make the world Shiite, beginning with the Middle East. He gives Iran no incentive to behave nicely. Rather, he simply helps focus their rage at the west, especially the United States, which now joins the Taliban in thinking that somehow you can make a nation more to your liking by blowing up Buddhist, Muslim or pagan treasures that are truly world class.
Open source

The Russian Foreign Ministry, evaluating the adoption of a law on secondary education in Ukraine, has noted that the Russian language is discriminated. The commentary of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated this.

"On January 16, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the law On General Secondary Education. We regret that, despite the recommendations of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe to ensure the necessary balance in the language sphere and the promises of the Kyiv authorities to fulfill them, nothing has actually changed - Russian the language in Ukraine continues to be subjected to double discrimination," Russian Foreign Ministry stated this.

Russian diplomats consider the norm to be unfair under which, after the 5th grade, Russian-speaking children will have to attend at least 80% of the education in the state language, while for minorities who speak the languages of the European Union, the time for teaching in Ukrainian will increase gradually - from 20% to 60% to grade 9.

The Russian Foreign Ministry notes that contrary to the conclusion of the Venice Commission, the Ukrainian authorities did not consult with representatives of nationalities living in Ukraine when preparing the law.

Russian diplomats called the language policy in the field of education "forced Ukrainianization."

As we reported, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently took a tough stance on protecting the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trumps legal team issued a fiery response Saturday ahead of opening arguments in his impeachment trial, while House Democrats laid out their case in forceful fashion, saying the president betrayed public trust with behavior that was the worst nightmare" of the founding fathers.

The dueling filings previewed arguments both sides intend to make once Trump's impeachment trial begins in earnest Tuesday in the Senate. Their challenge will be to make a case that appeals to the 100 senators who will render the verdict and for an American public bracing for a presidential election in 10 months.

President Donald J. Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain, the House prosecutors wrote, and then attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing Congresss investigation into his misconduct.

Trump's legal team, responding to the Senate's official summons for the trial, said the president categorically and unequivocally denies the charges of abuse and obstruction against him.

Karen Curtin gathers with others outside the office of Sen. Mitt Romney to call on him to push for a full and fair impeachment trial in the Senate with pertinent testimony and evidence during a rally Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)AP

This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away," the president's filing states.

Stripped of legalese and structured in plain English, the documents underscored the extent to which the impeachment proceedings are a political rather than conventional legal process.

They are the first of several filings expected in coming days as senators prepare to take their seats for the rare impeachment court.

Senators swore an oath to do impartial justice' as the chamber convenes to consider the two articles of impeachment approved by the House last month as Trump's presidency and legacy hangs in balance.

One Republican whose votes are closely watched, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, acknowledged Saturday the political pressure bearing on them.

I'm going to take my constitutional obligations very, very seriously, she told reporters from Anchorage on a call.

The House's 111-page brief outlined the prosecutors' narrative, starting from Trump's phone call with Ukraine and relying on the private and public testimony of a dozen witnesses -- ambassadors and national security officials at high levels of government -- who raised concerns about the president's actions.

The House managers wrote: "The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths."

The Trump team called the two articles of impeachment a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.

Trump's team encouraged lawmakers to reject poisonous partisanship and vindicate the will of the American people by rejecting both articles of impeachment approved by the House.

The Senate is still debating the ground rules of the trial, particularly the question of whether there will be new witnesses as fresh evidence emerges over Trump's Ukraine actions that led to impeachment.

New information from Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is being incorporated in the House case. At the same time, Senate Democrats want to call John Bolton, the former national security adviser, among other potential eyewitnesses, after the White House blocked officials from appearing in the House.

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2019 file photo, Attorney Alan Dershowitz leaves federal court, in New York. President Donald Trump's legal team will include former Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz and Ken Starr, the former independent counsel who led the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton, according to a person familiar with the matter. The team will also include Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general.(AP Photo/Richard Drew)AP

With Republicans controlling the Senate 53-47, they can set the trial rules  or any four Republicans could join with Democrats to change course.

Murkowski told reporters she wants to hear both sides of the case before deciding whether to call for new witnesses and testimony.

I don't know what more we need until I've been given the base case, Murkowski said.

The House's impeachment managers are working through the weekend and will be at the Capitol midday Sunday to prep the case.

Trump's answer to the summons was the first salvo in what will be several rounds of opening arguments. Trump will file a more detailed legal brief on Monday, and the House will be able to respond to the Trump filing on Tuesday.

Trump's team led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds, claiming Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong.

The filings came a day after Trump finalized his legal team, adding Ken Starr, the former independent counsel whose investigation into President Bill Clinton led to his impeachment, and Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard law professor emeritus who intends to make constitutional arguments.

White House attorneys and Trump's outside legal team have been debating just how political Monday's legal brief laying out the contours of Trump's defense should be.

Some in the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate's more staid traditions and leave some of the sharper rhetoric exhibited during the House proceedings to Twitter and cable news.

One Democratic aide said Saturday that Trump's initial filing read more like a Trump campaign fundraising email than a legal document.

People close to the Trump legal team said Cipollone would deliver the presidents opening argument before the Senate and that Sekulow would follow. Starr and Dershowitz would have discrete functions on the legal team, according to those close to the legal team, who were not authorized to discuss the strategy by name and spoke on condition of anonymity.

At issue in the impeachment case are allegations that Trump asked Ukraine to announce an investigation of Democratic political rival Joe Biden at the same time the White House withheld hundreds of nearly $400 million in aid from the former Soviet republic as it faces a hostile Russia at its border.

The Government Accountability Office said last week the administration violated federal law by withholding the funds to Ukraine. The money was later released after Congress complained.

The House brief said, President Trumps misconduct presents a danger to our democratic processes, our national security, and our commitment to the rule of law. He must be removed from office.

Trump's attorneys argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they don't allege a crime.

Under the Constitution impeachment is a political, not a criminal process, and the president can be removed from office if found guilty of whatever lawmakers consider high crimes and misdemeanors.
The issue of may come up for discussion in the next Reserve Bank board meeting as the government struggles to meet its ambitious fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent amid revenue shortfall, sources said.

Government finances have come under pressure due to moderation in and a slew of measures taken to lift growth from over six-year-low of 4.5 per cent in the second quarter of the current fiscal.

As per the government's estimate, the country's GDP growth is seen dipping to an 11-year low of 5 per cent in the current fiscal as compared to 6.8 per cent in 2018-19.

There would be at least one board meeting of RBI before this fiscal comes to an end, the issue of could be raised by government nominee directors in the meeting, sources said.

However, the board meeting would be preceded by Finance Minister customary address to the central board of RBI to explain vision of the Budget to be presented on February 1. This traditional exercise takes places a few days after the Budget presentation every year.

According to sources, it has been an exceptional year during which several extra-ordinary measures including slashing corporate tax rate outside Budget were announced putting government finances under stress.

If the RBI board agrees to based on their six-month performance, it would provide some financial relief to the government, sources added.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) follows July to June financial 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.

In the past, the government has taken the route of seeking interim dividend from the RBI to balance its account. Last fiscal, the RBI paid Rs 28,000 crore as interim dividend. During 2017-18, the government received Rs 10,000 crore as interim dividend from the central bank.

Last year in August, Governor Shaktikanta Das-led RBI central board gave its nod for transferring to the government a sum of Rs 1,76,051 crore, comprising Rs 1,23,414 crore of surplus for the year 2018-19 and Rs 52,637 crore of excess provisions identified as per the revised Economic Capital Framework (ECF).

Out of the net income of Rs 1,23,414 crore for the year 2018-19, the RBI had already transferred Rs 28,000 crore to the government as interim dividend in March 2019.

The government got a higher dividend of Rs 95,414 crore during the current fiscal as against the budgetary estimate of Rs 90,000 crore.

In the July Budget, Sitharaman lowered the fiscal deficit target to 3.3 per cent of the GDP for 2019-20 as compared to 3.4 per cent projected in the interim Budget in February.

The Budget 2019-20 pegged gross borrowing at Rs 7.10 lakh crore for the current fiscal, significantly higher than the Rs 5.35 lakh crore borrowing programme for financial year 2018-19.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday assured parents that as long as his "honest government" is in power in the national capital, no private school will be allowed to arbitrarily increase fees.

He said like the last five years, his government will continue to control the school fees in Delhi.

"As long as there is an honest government in Delhi, parents need not worry. No private school in Delhi will be allowed to arbitrarily decide its fees. Like the last five years, we will continue to control the fees," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi.

His comments came ahead of the February 8 Delhi Assembly polls.

In April 2018, the Delhi government had issued a circular prohibiting private unaided schools functioning on government land from hiking tuition fees without the approval of the Directorate of

Later in May that year, the government also directed 575 private schools to refund the excess fees charged -- between June 2016 to January 2018 -- with 9 per cent interest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Martin Luther King Jr. visited Washtenaw County once nearly six decades ago.

On Nov. 5, 1962, the civil rights leader spoke to thousands of students at the Hill Auditorium on the University of Michigan campus.

Fifty-eight years after his visit, educators, community and civil rights leaders, students and even musicians are gathering throughout the county to celebrate and spread Kings message of equality, justice and love.

Here is a roundup of some Ann Arbor area events honoring the slain civil rights leader on Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 20:

Angela Davis, author, educator and iconic civil rights activist, speaks during her visit to the University of Michigan-Flint, where she spoke at a question and answer gathering and separate auditorium lecture on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015 in Flint.Jake May | MLive.com

Civil rights activist Angela Davis to keynote University of Michigan MLK symposium

Political activist and author Angela Davis will provide the keynote lecture for the University of Michigans annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium.

Davis will speak at 10 a.m. Jan. 20, inside Hill Auditorium during the The (Mis)Education of US symposium. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit UMs website.

Students from Eastern Michigan University participate during the university's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative March. The march is part of EMU's annual week of activities honoring the legacy of MLK.Photo provided | Brielle Bashore, Eastern Michigan University

Little Rock Nine group member to give MLK keynote at EMU

Terrence J. Roberts, a member of the Little Rock Nine who challenged racial segregation in Little Rock, Arkansas public schools in the 1950s, is the keynote speaker at Eastern Michigan Universitys 34th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Presidents Luncheon.

Roberts will give brief comments during the 11:30 a.m. luncheon Jan. 20 in the EMU Student Center Grand Ballroom. His keynote address begins at 2 p.m. inside the student center auditorium.

While luncheon tickets are $15 for students and $30 for the general public, the keynote address is free.

EMU also hosted a week filled with activities, including a commemorative walk, a scholarship showcase and a day of service.

Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton.Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com

MLK Day program in Ann Arbor includes town hall with countys justice leaders

The Ministers Alliance of Ann Arbor, Ypsi and Vicinity marches and discusses criminal justice issues every year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The organizations Criminal Justice and Community Service event on Jan. 20 features Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton, Washtenaw County Prosecuting Attorney Brian Mackie, Ann Arbor Police Chief Michael Cox and Ypsilanti Police Chief Anthony DeGiusti.

It starts with a 9 a.m. march from the Washtenaw County Courthouse, 101 E. Huron St. in Ann Arbor, to New Hope Baptist Church, 218 Chapin St. Shuttle transportation is available. The forum begins at 9:45 a.m. For more information, call 734-829-7464.

(MLive File Photo)Brian Hayes | MLive.com

Discussion with ACLU speaker in Chelsea

The Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St., is hosting a 6:30 p.m. discussion with Jessica Ayoub, a speaker for the American Civil Liberties Union. The conversation will focus on how to engage communities through social activism.

There is a service fair after the discussion with Ayoub, where attendees can meet Chelsea area organizations that promote peace and justice. For more information contact: ChelseaOWOF@gmail.com.

The Ann Arbor Hands on Museum, 220 East Ann St. in Ann Arbor Tuesday, June 4 2019.Jacob Hamilton

MLK Day at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum

Adults and children can learn about the contributions of black scientists at the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum, 220 E. Ann St.

The museum is offering discounted tickets of $6 a person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 20 All ages are included in the discount. For more information, call 734-995-5439.

Google street view of Ann Arbor District Library.Google

A conversation with Veterans for Peace in Ann Arbor

The local Chapter of Veterans For Peace will discuss Kings anti-war and anti-militarism sentiments to show their relevance to todays geopolitical climate from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Ann Arbor Downtown District Library, 343 S. 5th Ave.

More information here.

Water flows over the Barton Dam Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 in Ann Arbor. (Ben Allan Smith | MLive.com)Photos by Ben Allan Smith

Stewardship workday at Barton Nature Area

The Natural Area Preservation of Ann Arbor is organizing a Day of Service from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 20 to improve the local wetlands and create habitats for turtles.

Participants will meet at the Barton Dam, 1010 W. Huron River Drive, and are advised to wear layers and shoes suitable for snow or wet ground. Tools, snacks, and guidance provided.

All participants must complete a release form, and all minors should be accompanied by a guardian. The Facebook page is here for additional information.

CloseUp Theatre Troupe performances in Ypsilanti

The CloseUp Theatre Troupe, an EMU student performance group, will present two shows called Revelations for MLK Day.

Both performances are at the Student Center Auditorium, 900 Oakwood St. in Ypsilanti. Doors open at 4 p.m. for the first show, which starts at 4:30 p.m. The second show starts at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is free. Some content may not be suitable for young children.

(MLIve File Photo)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Jazz concert, civil rights commentary in Ypsilanti

The Friends of the Ypsilanti District Library are hosting a civil rights music and commentary at the 5577 Whittaker Road location from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 20. All ages are welcome.

Local musician and educator Sean Dobbins and his quintet are providing the tunes.

(MLive File Photo)Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com

CampPAWS at Humane Society

The Humane Society of Huron Valley, 3100 Cherry Hill Road, is hosting a one-day childrens camp in honor of King, with a focus on showing compassion to animals, humans and the environment.

Activities include visiting adoptable animals, making toys and treats, humane education lessons and games. The program is designed for children ages 6-11.

Camp hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. After care is available until 5 p.m. for an additional fee. Parents must provide visiting campers with their own lunch.

(MLive File Photo)Nikos Frazier

Diversity Day at Jewish Community Center in Ann Arbor

The Jewish Family Service of Washtenaw County is providing families with elementary school-aged children a chance for free hands-on activities focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Events are 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Jan. 20 at the Jewish Community Center, 2935 Birch Hollow Drive. For more information, call 734-769-0209.

In addition to the Michigan Theater's free showing of "Selma," the Ann Arbor Art Center is hosting a free drop-in event for MLK Day 2020.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

Art-making event at the Ann Arbor Art Center

The Ann Arbor Art Center is hosting a collaborative window art display event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 20.

Come by for a fun day of art-making during our free family drop-in event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2020, the centers website states. The focus will be on collective making as we come together to create a unique piece of shared artwork inspired by this day.

All ages are welcome but children need to be accompanied by an adult.

The Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St. in Ann Arbor on Monday, Oct. 14, 2019.

Free showing of Selma at the Michigan Theater

The Michigan Theater is inviting the public to a free film about the civil rights movement.

The historic movie palace at 603 E. Liberty St. in downtown Ann Arbor is showing the historical drama Selma in its main auditorium at 7 p.m. Jan. 20.

Selma is the story of a movement, the theater website states. The film chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition.

From director Ava DuVernay and also starring Carmen Ejogo, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Wilkinson, Common, Tim Roth and more, the film is just over two hours long.
A sacked senator, Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) has filed an appeal against Fridays judgement of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Bwari that sacked him as a lawmaker.

He disclosed this to journalists on Saturday where he also said he has filed an injunction for Stay of Execution on the judgement pending the determination of his appeal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

A Stay of Execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order.

Justice Bello Rawu had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Mr Ubah and to issue a fresh certificate to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Obinna Uzoh, who came second in the election, as the senator-elect of the district.

Mr Ubah who described the judgement as a mere distraction, maintained that he is still a senator.

I have appealed against the judges refusal to set aside the judgement. I have also filed an injunction for stay of execution.

I have absolute confidence that the court of Appeal will do Justice and set aside the judgement, he told journalists.

He also faulted the judgement on multiple grounds.

For him, the FCT High Court lacked the territorial jusrisdiction to entertain a matter that arose from Anambra South senatorial election primaries.

The mischief of filing the case against him in Abuja and not in Anambra was to ensure that he and Chris Uba of the PDP were not aware of the proceedings, he said.

In fact, Chris Uba filed an application asking the court to be joined as he was the authentic candidate of the PDP as confirmed by INEC, he said.

Mr Ubah also complained that the FCT High Court lacked the jusrisdiction as the matter in question was a post-election matter already settled at the electoral tribunal and the Court of Appeal that gave him victory against Mr Uba.

He expressed shock that contrary to Section 285(13) of the 1999 Constitution, the court granted the wish of Obinna Uzoh who was not even a candidate in the February 23 election and did not go through the entire stages of the election as the winner of the election.

READ ALSO:

Mr Ubah said even more shocking was that he was not at any time served in any of the court processes thereby infringing on his right to fair hearing.

On the criminal allegation that his National Examination Council (NECO) certificate was forged, Mr Ubah said the court did not summon any staff of NECO, or any other appropriate authority confirming his NECO certificate as fake, hence there was no proof beyond reasonable doubt on the allegation of falsification of NECO certificate.

He said this kangaroo tactics adopted spells doom for the electoral process and justice system if allowed to stand.

Mr Ubah however called on his supporters not to be agitated but remain calm as he was confident of being vindicated.

Fridays court judgment reaffirms the pronouncement the court had given in 2019.

The order was given in the suit filed by Mr Uzoh challenging Mr Ubahs victory on the grounds that he (Mr Ubah) presented a forged NECO certificate to INEC.
Last week may go down in history as the one in which Donald Trump was impeached. Or it may be remembered as the week in which actress and hawker of New-Age wares Gwyneth Paltrow released a candle entitled 'This Smells Like My Vagina'.

In the first rough draft of history stakes, they currently appear neck and neck, Paltrow's burning bush possibly having the edge.

GP, as she likes to be referred to by her acolytes, also announced Goop at Sea (what next? Goop on Ice?), a cruising version of her sell-out wellness weekends, promising not only an audience with Paltrow herself, but "cutting-edge doctors, practitioners and thought leaders", plus sundry "goopy perks", as part of life on the ocean wave. And next Friday, her new Netflix series, The Goop Lab, premieres, billed as "a curiosity-driven exploration of boundary-pushing wellness topics". The advertisements for this show our heroine clad in plush pink, standing inside a series of labial shapes with the exhortation: "Reach new depths."

One might rather say, "sink to new lows", but this is precisely the reaction GP is cashing in on, and laughing all the way to the bank. The candle is already sold out - thus a collectors' item - although readers can avail themselves of a waiting list at shop.goop.com. Arome de Paltrow does not come cheap: on sale for $75 (68), plus postage and packaging, it promises "a funny, gorgeous, sexy and beautifully unexpected scent... made with geranium, citrusy bergamot and cedar absolutes juxtaposed with Damask rose and ambrette seed to put us in mind of fantasy, seduction and a sophisticated warmth".

It is said to have evolved out of a joke between Paltrow and perfumer Douglas Little. Quoth Goop, "the two were working on a fragrance, and [Paltrow] blurted out, 'Uhhh... this smells like a vagina'." And, lo, a legend was born.

Alas, I have not sampled said candle, but I know a woman who has. Cindy Gallop, founder and chief executive of video-sharing platform MakeLoveNotPorn, tells me: "I love, love, love that Gwyneth Paltrow did this - both because it displays a sense of humour, and because we cannot have too many women bringing our sexuality into the mainstream."

And the scent? "It smells like a bundle of roses wrapped in suede," notes Gallop, "the platonic ideal of Gwyneth Paltrow's vagina. To be honest, it doesn't smell like anyone's vagina would in the real world, which is why, obviously, it's not meant to be taken seriously. But I love the smell, I love the fact that Gwyneth did this, and I love that I get to display a candle saying: 'This smells like my vagina' in my bedroom, between the copulating figurines I bought in the Shanghai antiques market. I'll be using it when I have company there, and when I don't."

Paltrow, as ever, is on the money, zeitgeist-wise. Come February, Orion will be republishing Catherine Blackledge's 2003 bestseller, The Story of V, as Raising the Skirt: The Unsung Power of the Vagina, celebrating the beauty and power of the female genitalia, and reclaiming anasyrma, the age-old vagina-revealing gesture, as the ideal 21st-Century protest.

"Raising the skirt... is a global gesture of dissent that has been used individually and collectively for millennia by women to vanquish those attacking their home, family, sisters, community, or way of life," Blackledge notes. "Vaginas... are so powerful that if a woman lifts her skirt to reveal her genitalia, she can make a vast array of extraordinary actions happen.

"Women can scare away bears and lions, the devil, calm the seas, defeat armies, avert evil and confer fertility on the land and living creatures - all with a flash of their fearsome vulvas."

Paltrow's fearsome vulva also makes a vast array of extraordinary things happen, not least the money it earns her, whether in its latest fragrant incarnation, or when steamed (as she infamously recommended back in 2015), dressed in "fur oil" (54 for 75ml) or kept amused by a 24-carat-gold dildo (12,900+), and myriad other Goop-approved accessories. For GP isn't happy unless her body parts are making the news - and she, in turn, is making money out of it.

In 2018, Goop was fined $145,000 (131,000) under California's civil penalties laws for making "unsubstantiated" claims that jade vaginal eggs (59 a pop) could, once inserted, "cultivate sexual energy, clear chi pathways in the body, intensify femininity, and invigorate our life force". Neither would they balance hormones, prevent uterine prolapse and increase bladder control, much as this was a nice idea.

Gynaecologist Dr Jennifer Gunter became internet-famous by making it her mission to call Paltrow out on such matters, in an open letter declaring egg-gate "the biggest load of garbage I have read on your site since vaginal steaming... But, hey, you aren't one to let facts get in the way of profiting from snake oil."

And so this prediction came to pass. For Paltrow remained head of a near-$260m (235m) lifestyle brand, a site with 1.98 million total visits, and a podcast with more than 18 million listeners (figures which will only have improved since), while Gunter has profited from the controversy with global exposure and her own bestselling book, The Vagina Bible. (Nutrient) drinks all round!

When GP engages in intimate flashing, it is exhibitionism as clickbait. Although she prefers the description "cultural firestorm", as Taffy Brodesser-Akner's New York Times magazine profile revealed she told a Harvard business class. Such firestorms draw traffic to her site, Paltrow explained, at which point: "I can monetise those eyeballs." When her Harvard audience responded with stunned silence, she "cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, 'VAGINA! VAGINA! VAGINA!' as if she were yodelling", which seemed rather to undermine her point.

Having seen the sainted Gwyneth in action at the first British 'In Goop Health' summit last summer (with tickets up to 4,500, or 5,280), I can attest to how knowing all this saleable eccentricity feels. Think: self-satirising signposts promising a "Facial-cupping collective" and "Leaky-gut support group"; plus assertions that "community is the new vitamin C" and that we need to "build awareness around the positivity of negativity".

Much of the stuff Paltrow advocates is plain old common sense dressed up in fancier pants: be it "conscious uncoupling" (not being a d**k when divorcing), Living Apart Together (couples not necessarily cohabiting full time), or the fabled "self-care" (baths are unquestionably brilliant). But it's the woo-woo that brings in the wonga. She needs the vagina-brandishing to liven things up. Otherwise it's all just so many placebo powders. I've seen the first couple of episodes of The Goop Lab and they are ploddingly dull. Frankly, I could have done with more below-the-belt action.

Paltrow knows that her purported flakiness makes millions. The more we laugh at her, the richer she gets. She's not only in on the joke, the joke's on us. Think of it as her greatest acting role to date: credulous New-Age nutjob disguising bona fide commercial genius. Well might the woman have won an Oscar.

'The Goop Lab' launches on Netflix on Friday
Former cabinet minister Kevin Andrews is poised to become the first sitting federal Victorian Liberal in more than a decade to be challenged for his seat, amid warnings the move could trigger a fresh outbreak in factional fighting.

Melbourne barrister Keith Wolahan, a former member of Australia's special forces units, is expected to put his name forward for preselection in the seat of Menzies when nominations close at 5pm on Wednesday, January 29.

Kevin Andrews is expected to contest the seat. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The Victorian branch's decision to open nominations less than a year after winning a federal election caused fierce debate within the party, with federal MPs furious that it could distract from the Morrison government's agenda and fuel factional tensions.

Mr Wolahan  who completed two tours of Afghanistan in the 2nd Commando Regiment of the Australian Army and who has a degree from Cambridge  has long been touted as a potential rival to Mr Andrews.
FILE - In this March 26, 2014 file photo, BlackRock Chairman and CEO Laurence Fink is interviewed by Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business Network's "Opening Bell with Maria Bartiromo," in New York. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is making climate change central to its investment decisions going forward. Fink, who oversees the management of about $7 trillion in funds, said in his influential annual letter to CEOs Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, that he believes we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance because of a warming planet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File) Read more

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink last week threw down the gauntlet to Wall Street, pledging that the worlds largest asset manager will lead the way in shareholder activism and demand climate change and environmental risk analysis from corporate America.

How will its fiercest competitor, Vanguard, respond? By sticking to its current strategy.

Weve been very clear and transparent on climate issues and our approach, said Vanguard spokesperson Alyssa Thornton.

Vanguard has and will continue to address climate change risk and advocate for transparent disclosure on climate-related matters through our company engagements and industry advocacy efforts, said Thornton. She referred investors to the firms 2019 stewardship report, available on Vanguards website.

Vanguard currently manages $6 trillion in assets  $5.2 trillion excluding money market funds  just behind No. 1 BlackRock, best known for its iShares exchange-traded index funds, with $7 trillion under management. The No. 3 index fund manager, State Street Corp., manages $2.9 trillion. These three firms together hold about 80% of all indexed money, according to Bloomberg data. The combined Schwab-TD Ameritrade would have $5.1 trillion, assuming the merger goes through.

In the short term, Vanguard may offer more ESG  or environmental-social-governance  investment funds that appeal to investors with a climate-conscious bent.

This could push Vanguard to launch more ESG funds, though that trend is already in place, as three out of the last six new funds and exchange-traded funds at Vanguard were ESG-oriented, according to Jeffrey DeMaso, research director for the Independent Adviser for Vanguard Investors newsletter.

We have said in the past that an ESG bond fund would be the next possible offering, DeMaso said. That would pave the way for Vanguard to launch ESG versions of their Target Retirement Funds.

The driving force will be investor demand. For all the hype about the rise of ESG, investors have not poured money into these funds. Vanguards Social Index Fund had its best year for net inflows of $1.4 billion in 2019, but that still trails well behind the $12.5 billion that went to Vanguards Total Stock Market Index Fund.

Vanguards new ESG offerings took in a combined $1.2 billion in 2019, into Global ESG Select Stock, ESG U.S. Stock ETF, and ESG International Stock ETF. Overall, ESG-oriented funds only counted for 1.2% of Vanguards net inflows last year. Thats up from 0.4% of Vanguards flows in 2018, DeMaso estimated.

Big Three

BlackRocks pledge also shines a light on the massive concentration of ownership among index fund giants  in particular, the Big Three BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street.

The common ownership of the Big Three is an unintended consequence of the success of index funds. Its a hard one to unravel as index funds  really, low-cost funds  have been a clear benefit to shareholders. A lot of the concerns raised about common ownership are harder to see, prove, and solve, DeMaso said.

Their combined size has emerged as the chief concern about the Big Three firms BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street  that their control of passive index funds incentivizes voting with management.

Just before he died in January 2019, Vanguard founder John C. Bogle  the founder of index investing  warned that index funds were so successful that these could one day effectively control the U.S. stock market, as he wrote in the Wall Street Journal.

I do not believe that such concentration would serve the national interest, Bogle wrote in his op-ed.

The Big Three present a very serious problem because of the power they wield through their ownership, agreed Bruce Freed, president of the Center for Political Accountability, which focuses on corporate political disclosure.

Only now is BlackRock moving on climate change, but it remains to be seen what that really means, Freed said. It will put pressure on Vanguard, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab."

Schwab currently has $3.94 trillion in client assets, and once merged with TD Ameritrade, would hit $5.1 trillion. A Schwab spokesperson declined to comment on BlackRock, saying many clients want their investments to align with their values, and we know those values are unique to every individual. We believe its important for Schwab to provide investors with access to a broad range of ESG-oriented products, as well as the guidance and tools to use them appropriately.

We have found that companies undercut their position on issues like climate change through their political spending. BlackRock has not budged from its voting against shareholder resolutions demanding transparency on political donations, Freed noted.

Follow through

Do environmentalists believe BlackRock will act on CEO Finks pledge?

Voting against management and boards would be very significant  and Id say its very much up in the air whether BlackRock is actually going to start putting their votes where their mouth is on a meaningful basis, said Patrick McCully, climate and energy program director at the Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco.

BlackRock still needs to go much, much further on divestment to live up to its potential to push companies to aligning on Paris and 1.5 degrees, considered the danger line for warming, he said, for example, divesting from companies planning to expand fossil fuels and from companies planning new coal plants or tar sand mines or oil pipelines.

Hed like BlackRock to tell all fossil fuel companies that they will divest if they foot-drag on coming up with long-term zero-carbon plans. So there is plenty of room for others to announce these types of measures and so steal the mantle of greenest mega-money manager that [BlackRocks] Fink has given himself, McCully said.

In 2019 reports, both BlackRock and Vanguard highlighted the importance of disclosure in relation to climate risks.

However, BlackRock and Vanguard arent acting to ensure that those risks are disclosed, managed, and mitigated through strategy and planning that aligns with global carbon targets, according to Majority Actions 2019 Climate in the Boardroom report.

In its 2019 engagement report, Vanguard goes so far as to disavow direct intervention at companies in relation to the material risks caused by climate change. Vanguard asserts that instead of engaging directly on specific climate strategy and outcomes, it seeks to promote robust board oversight and meaningful company disclosure. This approach is belied by Vanguards voting record in 2019, when it voted against governance reforms at the full range of oil and gas and utility companies surveyed in this report, Majority Action alleges.

Too big?

Bogles worry about market concentration had been on his mind for a few years. In 2017 at the CFA Institutes convention in Philadelphia, he spelled out his thoughts on the increasing power of index funds since the great financial crisis.

Bogle noted that since 2007, equity index mutual funds enjoyed capital inflows of $1.8 trillion over the ensuing 10 years while their actively managed counterparts were hit with $800 billion of capital outflows.

Index fund management is heavily concentrated among three giant, trillion-dollar money managers that together hold some 20% of U.S. stocks. That concentration is concerning to me, he told the CFA crowd. Those three firms  Blackrock, Vanguard, and State Street  at that point owned about 21% of the indexing market.

By founding Vanguard, I didnt intend to create a colossus, Bogle continued, but he should have realized that investors would take advantage of a great deal.

Passive investing is here to stay. Will indexing ever get to 50% of the market? Maybe, but that could take 10 to 15 years. And well never get to 75%, he said.

Not every Wall Streeter thinks concentration is a problem among index fund firms. Moreover, BlackRock may simply be virtue-signaling and have no plans for concrete action.

Larry Finks climate change messages sound good to many investors. More important, however, is that Larry remains focused on his most important constituent, which is investors. What sounds good is not always good. Larry needs to continue being a good steward of shareholder capital in order to sustain his business," said New Constructs CEO David Trainer, a long-time Wall Street equity analyst.

In theory, addressing climate change could cost him and shareholders lots of money, and, therefore, undermine the viability of the business, in which case he could no longer address climate change, Trainer said. The primary responsibility of corporate managers is to maximize shareholder capital so that there are more profits to enrich the community.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Actress Ai-Ai delas Alas took to social media to address the issue of Jiro Manio's arrest after allegedly stabbing a man Saturday.

In an 11-minute video posted on her Instragram page, delas Alas recounted how she helped Manio after the former child actor was found wandering outside the Ninoy Aquino International Airport asking people for food.

She said she had Manio admitted to a rehabilitation facility in Quezon City in 2015 and spent a considerable amount of money to help him get better. Delas Alas also said she got a condo unit after Manio was released from rehab for him and his siblings to stay in.

The actress had Manio readmitted to another rehab facility, this time in Bataan, after several incidents which she said proved he was not well.

Delas Alas said she received word that Manio was smoking marijuana again while still admitted at the Bataan rehabilitation facility.

"Do'n yung time na sabi ko, wala na 'to. Parang yung pakiramdam ko, lahat ng binuhos kong effort, lahat ng binuhos kong tulong, pangaral, suporta sa pamilya parang natapon na lang ng ganon," she said.

[Translation: At that time I said, this was hopeless. I felt like all the effort I put in, all the help I gave, all the reminders, the support to his family was just wasted.]

Soon after, Manio said he was leaving rehab and delas Alas admitted to feeling tired about helping him and the two lost touch for about a year and a half.

Delas Alas said she has not heard anything from or about Manio until his arrest Saturday, and expressed sadness over what happened, adding things may have turned out better if Manio had listened to her or had received support from his family.

The actress is now asking for prayers for Manio, hoping he finds the strength to get through his challenges.
Air India trade unions are likely to demand a VRS package at their second meeting with Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi on Monday. The minister is set to meet over a dozen Air India unions, including unrecognised ones, on Monday for the second time in a month over the airline's privatisation plans.

The government is planning to float Expression of Interest (EoI) for selling its entire 100 per cent stake in the loss-making flag carrier some time next week.

At the first meeting on January 2, the minister had made it clear that privatisation was the only option before the government to keep the airline afloat and sought employees cooperation in carrying out the disinvestment process.

ALSO READ: Air India is finally going to a new owner, here's why

Puri had also told the unions that he will call them again after the meeting of the ministerial panel on Air India disinvestment.

"Initially, we were told that government would protect our jobs if airline gets privatised and therefore we did not think about voluntary retirement.

"But off late, our members have been approaching us and want us to discuss a voluntary retirement scheme package with the government as it is expected that our job will be protected only for one year post privatisation. We are going to raise this issue at the meeting with the minister on Monday," an airline source told .

The source said that if the government agrees "in-principle" on their demand, the unions will work out the contours of the VRS package, including the service cut-off period and the quantum of monetary compensation.

Media reports suggest that the new investor may be allowed to retain Air India's some 11,000 employees only for one year after the carrier goes into private hands.

ALSO READ: 'Will ensure Air India keeps operating uninterruptedly,' says Aviation Ministry

The Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during its meeting on January 7 approved the plan to invite EoI and the sale-purchase agreement for the disinvestment of state-run carrier, an official had earlier said.

Air India's net loss in 2018-19 was around Rs 8,556 crore. Moreover, its per day losses are estimated to be in the range of Rs 20-26 crore, alongwith a debt of around Rs 80,000 crore.

In 2018, the government had proposed to offload 76 per cent stake in Air India while retaining the rest 24 per cent with it as well as transfer the management control to private players.

However, the offer failed to attract any bidder when the deadline for initial bids closed on May 31, 2018, forcing it to put the plans on hold and then resume the entire process all over again last year.

ALSO READ: Govt considers specific excise duty on aviation turbine fuel
President of the Sustainable Energy Authority, Dr Abdulhussain Mirza has met with Moroccan Minister of Energy, Mining and Sustainable Development Aziz Rabbah, on the sidelines of Bahrains participation in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

They discussed bilateral co-operation in the renewable energy field to develop this vital sector.

Dr Mirza stressed Bahrains keenness on benefiting from clean energy and getting informed about the experiences of brotherly countries in this respect.

He also briefed the Moroccan minister about Bahrains experience in upgrading the renewable energy sector.

The Moroccan Minister lauded the interest accorded to this vital sector by the leaders of the two brotherly countries.

Both sides also voiced interest in taking more steps to boost bilateral cooperation in the sustainable energy field and intensify field visits of specialists to benefit from joint experiences.
.                ,  The Hill,  ,          ...
(UPDATE: Police ID man fatally shot at Flint-area trampoline park)

(UPDATE: Woman in custody in fatal Flint-area trampoline park shooting released)

(UPDATE: Fatal shooting at Flint-area trampoline parks prompts concern)

FLINT TWP, MI  A 43-year-old Flint man died and a 39-year-old woman is in custody after a shooting at the Planet 3 Extreme Air Park in Flint Township.

Officers with the Flint Township Police Department were dispatched shortly after 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18 to the business located at 3450 Miller Road for a report of shots inside the building.

The victim, whose name has not been released, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspect, a 39-year-old Flint woman, was taken into custody by police within one minute of the original call.

The Flint Township Police Department commends the employees of Planet 3 Extreme Air Park for their quick and courageous actions, helping officers make a quick apprehension of the suspect, reads a prepared department statement.

The suspect, whose name has not been released, is being held at the Genesee County Jail pending review of the incident by the Genesee County Prosecutors Office.

Investigators have learned the suspect and victim were known to each other.

Police are also seeking the publics help to try and identify the driver of a light-colored -- cream or white -- SUV that was backed into a parking space in the parking lot of the business.

There were several people inside the vehicle. The vehicle may have been damaged by the suspects blue Chevrolet Tahoe before the shooting took place.

Anyone with information about the driver or the shooting is asked to contact Flint Township Police Detective Phil McBride at 810-600-3250 or report a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Flint & Genesee County at 1-800-422-JAIL (5245), on the P3 Tips mobile app, or online at crimestoppersofflint.com or P3tips.com.

Videos, photos, and audio can be submitted through the Crime Stoppers app or website.

Opening date set for new Flint-area trampoline park

Take a tour through the new Flint-area trampoline park
Washington D.C. [US], Jan 20 (ANI): US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo on Sunday (local time) met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the margins of the Berlin Summit and expressed outrage over the "pointless and tragic death" of detained US citizen Moustafa Kassem in Egypt.



"Met with President Sisi today and addressed the pointless and tragic death of detained U.S. citizen Moustafa Kassem in Egypt. On #Libya, President Sisi and I agreed on the urgent need for a return to a @UN-facilitated political process and a ceasefire," Pompeo tweeted.

A state department spokesperson said Pompeo met today with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on the margins of the Berlin Summit.

"Secretary Pompeo expressed outrage over the pointless and tragic death of detained U.S. citizen Moustafa Kassem in Egypt," the spokesperson said in a statement.

Kassem (54), was detained in August 2013 in Cairo while visiting his family, and once begged for President Donald Trump's help, died Monday of heart failure during a hunger strike after more than six years in an Egyptian prison, according to a CNN report.

The statement informed that on Libya, the Secretary and President El-Sisi agreed on the urgent need for a lasting ceasefire and a return to a UN-facilitated political process.

"Secretary Pompeo emphasised the destabilising impact of foreign interference in Libya," the statement added.

The Berlin conference is the latest international effort to end the nine months of fighting between Haftar's forces based in the east of Libya and the UN-recognised government in Tripoli.

The talks in Berlin come as world powers step up efforts for a lasting ceasefire since Haftar's assault on Tripoli in April last year sparked fighting that has killed more than 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters, displacing thousands. (ANI)


Thousands of protesters pulled pink, knitted caps over their heads, clutched homemade signs calling for reproductive rights and for President Trumps ouster and marched through downtown San Francisco Saturday as part of the fourth Womens March.

Construction workers hung over railings on Market Street, pausing to watch the upbeat crowd of young and old alike make its way on the nearly 2-mile trek from Civic Center Plaza to the Embarcadero.

The Womens March movement was sparked by a sense of urgency some women felt on the heels of Trumps election in 2016. This year, the theme for San Franciscos march was, Together We Rise.

Malia Cohen, a former San Francisco supervisor who now is chairwoman of the state Board of Equalization, took the stage in front of City Hall and told the crowd to remember who the Womens March movement serves.

We are fighting for immigrant rights. We are fighting for civil rights. We are fighting for LGBTQIA rights. We are fighting for environmental justice, she said. This is 2020, ladies and gentleman. And we got some cleaning up to do. So as we are marching down Market Street, remember that in November ... march to the ballot.

The march came days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Zoe Lofgren of San Jose as one of the Houses impeachment managers in Trumps Senate trial, which begins Tuesday. It is the third presidential impeachment trial in the countrys history.

Cohen said the gathering also honored the legacy of civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., ahead of Mondays holiday celebrating his work.

Alexandra Castro, 20, drove 2 hours with two friends from California State University Stanislaus, Tahania Andrade, 19, and Monica Garcia, 19, to join the march. The threesome lifted handmade picket signs in the air, each calling for women to get in formation  a nod to Beyonces song Formation  and to fight for everyone in the womens movement.

Castro said Trumps statements about women, such as his mocking of womens physical appearances and comments made public from an Access Hollywood recording, incited people to be more open about their misogyny.

We have a president who influences people to be proud of being racist, xenophobic, misogynist and all of the above, Castro said. But when people band together like this, it shows that we have power.

More than 70 people dressed in black outfits gathered in the middle of Market Street ahead of the march, concealing their eyes with black linen and green handkerchiefs wrapped around their necks. They chanted the Chilean anti-rape protest anthem, Un Violador en Tu Camino or A Rapist in Your Path, in unison, stomping and bobbing back and forth to instrumental beats blaring from speakers.

Tania Figueroa, a community advocate from Chile who now works in the Bay Area, said the protest performance was created by Las Tesis, a Chilean womens rights collective. It aims to challenge the patriarchy of the system that women are forced to navigate in their lives, Figueroa said.

Its a social justice performance, but its also basically everything that we are against, Figueroa said. We speak loud against the patriarchy of the system, but its also about the cultural rape of women  at university, at their jobs.

Rabia Keeble, the founder of Qalbu Maryam Womens Mosque in Oakland, joined nearly every other speaker at the rally to call on women to vote in the upcoming election, encouraging them to vote these people out of office and vote women into office.

We have the power to move this nation forward, past this four years of madness, Keeble said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Jackie Penafort, 23, gathered with her three sisters and their mother on the grass of the plaza. The family attended the first Womens March in San Francisco after Trumps inauguration. This year, she said, she hopes the November presidential election will bring political and societal change to the country.

I hope that we see more equality, of course, and that is true through the lens of intersectionality and not just women and men  it is everyone underneath, Penafort said.

Other marches and gatherings were held across the Bay Area in communities that included San Jose, Alameda, Pacifica, Walnut Creek and Santa Rosa. In Alameda, about 140 people marched, according to Felicia Roche, a march organizer.

Crowds of protesters gathered in more than 100 communities in the U.S. and around the globe.

In downtown Los Angeles, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of Gov. Gavin Newsom, told the crowd of thousands that it was women who changed the face of the House of Representatives and who championed the #MeToo and anti-gun-violence movements.

In 2020, I have no doubt that it will be women who will lead again, rise up and move this country forward on a path toward justice, Siebel Newsom said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LaurenPorFavor
Little Women star Florence Pugh and The Farewell star Awkwafina both glammed up to receive Virtuosos Awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival inside the Arlington Theatre on Saturday.

The British 24-year-old flaunted significant side-boob cleavage in her peachy Valentino gown selected by stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray.

Florence accessorized her sexy spaghetti-strapped creation with Aquazzura heels and hot-pink Eera earrings.

Talented twosome: Little Women star Florence Pugh (L) and The Farewell star Awkwafina (R) both glammed up to receive Virtuosos Awards at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival inside the Arlington Theatre on Saturday

Hairstylist Peter Lux gave Pugh's wavy partial updo a boost with extensions and make-up artist Naoko Scintu applied her bold pink eye shadow.

The 5ft3in blonde revealed she'd love to play Blondie and Dusty Springfield and she only had 'five days' to prepare between her movies Midsommar and Little Women - according to IndieWire editor-at-large Anne Thompson.

Supporting Florence at the California awards show was her boyfriend of nine months - Alex, Inc. actor Zach Braff - who Insta-storied a snap of her with other honorees.

At 44, the Grammy winner is 20 years older than Pugh, whom he met while directing her in his 2019 short film, In the Time It Takes To Get There.

Ample assets: The British 24-year-old flaunted significant side-boob cleavage in her peachy Valentino gown selected by stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray

Chiffon dream: Florence accessorized her sexy spaghetti-strapped creation with Aquazzura heels and hot-pink Eera earrings

Taking the plunge! Hairstylist Peter Lux gave Pugh's wavy partial updo a boost with extensions and make-up artist Naoko Scintu applied her bold pink eye shadow

Smile! The It Girl took a moment to greet her Santa Barbara fans

Q&A: The 5ft3in blonde revealed she'd love to play Blondie and Dusty Springfield and she only had 'five days' to prepare between her movies Midsommar and Little Women

The Fighting with My Family stunner revealed on Friday that she's still not sure if she's bringing Zach or her mother or brother as her date for the 92nd Academy Awards.

'It has to be a family member,' Florence said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

'I feel like I'm going to let them battle and whichever one wins I'll take...I'm trying to get two tickets. That would be the best scenario.'

For her role as Amy March, Pugh scored her very first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress, and the highly-anticipated ceremony airs February 9 on ABC.

Leading man: Supporting Florence at the California awards show was her boyfriend of nine months - Alex, Inc. actor Zach Braff - who Insta-storied a snap of her with other honorees

May-December duo: At 44, the Grammy winner is 20 years older than Pugh, whom he met while directing her in his 2019 short film, In the Time It Takes To Get There

'I'm trying to get two tickets': The Fighting with My Family stunner told Jimmy Kimmel on Friday that she's still not sure if she's bringing Zach or her mother or brother as her date for the 92nd Academy Awards

The bratty sister: For her role as Amy March, Pugh scored her very first Oscar nomination for best supporting actress, and the highly-anticipated ceremony airs February 9 on ABC

Who will win? The Cannes Chopard champ competes against Richard Jewell's Kathy Bates, Marriage Story's Laura Dern, Jojo Rabbit's Scarlett Johansson, and Bombshell's Margot Robbie

The Cannes Chopard champ faces heavy competition against Richard Jewell's Kathy Bates, Marriage Story's Laura Dern, Jojo Rabbit's Scarlett Johansson, and Bombshell's Margot Robbie.

Meanwhile, Awkwafina (born Nora Lum) looked far more conservative in a b&w-floral long-sleeved gown selected by stylist Erica Cloud.

Hairstylist Marcus Francis blew out the 31-year-old rapper-turned-actress' raven locks and make-up artist Kirin Bhatty brought out her natural beauty.

The Jumanji: The Next Level funnywoman is still riding high on her historic Golden Globe Awards win for best actress in a motion picture comedy on January 5.

Modest: Awkwafina (born Nora Lum) looked far more conservative in a b&w-floral long-sleeved gown selected by stylist Erica Cloud.

Ready for her close-up! Hairstylist Marcus Francis blew out the 31-year-old rapper-turned-actress' raven locks and make-up artist Kirin Bhatty brought out her natural beauty

Yes! The Jumanji: The Next Level funnywoman is still riding high on her historic Golden Globe Awards win for best actress in a motion picture comedy on January 5

For the last week, Manhattan's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been playing funny recordings of Awkwafina rather than the usual conductor announcements on the No. 7 train.

'This is, Hudson Yards-34th Street. Hope you like weird architecture!' she chirped on one announcement.

It's all an effort to promote the Brooklyn-based New Yorker's semi-autobiographical 10-episode series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, which premieres Wednesday on Comedy Central.

Awkwafina first found fame in 2012 when her My Vag music video went viral on YouTube, but it also got her fired from a her job at an unnamed office company.

'Stop manspreading!' For the last week, Manhattan's Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been playing funny recordings of Awkwafina rather than the usual conductor announcements on the No. 7 train

Creator, writer, and star: It's all an effort to promote the Brooklyn-based New Yorker's semi-autobiographical 10-episode series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, which premieres Wednesday on Comedy Central

Harriet star Cynthia Erivo also showcased cleavage in a mint-floral Brock Collection high-low frock selected by stylist Jason Bolden.

The British-Nigerian 33-year-old - who's an Oscar away from EGOT status - accessorized her red carpet look with The Moonstoned jewelry and black Jimmy Choo heels.

Hairstylist Coree Moreno coiffed Cynthia's blonde buzzcut and make-up artist Terrell Mullin brought out her brown eyes to receive a Virtuosos Award.

Other recipients of a Virtuosos Award included Booksmart star Beanie Feldstein wearing a sheer white-patterned cocktail dress selected by stylist Erin Walsh.

Fan it out! Harriet star Cynthia Erivo also showcased cleavage in a mint-floral Brock Collection high-low frock selected by stylist Jason Bolden

Only an Oscar away from EGOT status: The British-Nigerian 33-year-old accessorized her red carpet look with The Moonstoned jewelry and black Jimmy Choo heels

Honoree: Hairstylist Coree Moreno coiffed Cynthia's blonde buzzcut and make-up artist Terrell Mullin brought out her brown eyes to receive a Virtuosos Award

Doc! Back to the Future alum Christopher Lloyd turned up for the film festivities

Two English gents being honored on Saturday included Rocketman star Taron Egerton and 1917 star George MacKay.

Clemency star Aldis Hodge looked dapper in a grey suit and black necktie as well as a fancy-looking timepiece.

Waves actress Taylor Russell also received a Virtuosos Award while clad in a black cropped sweater and patterned midi-skirt both by Chanel.

Jonah Hill's sister: Other recipients of a Virtuosos Award included Booksmart star Beanie Feldstein wearing a sheer white-patterned cocktail dress selected by stylist Erin Walsh

Suited and booted! Two English gents being honored on Saturday included Rocketman star Taron Egerton (L) and 1917 star George MacKay (R)

Swagger: Clemency star Aldis Hodge looked dapper in a grey suit and black necktie as well as a fancy-looking timepiece
Dmitry Medvedev, who earlier stepped down as the Russian prime minister and was appointed as deputy chairman of the Security Council, said he would retain the post of the United Russia partys leader, TASS reports.

"If we speak about a particular new job, this position does not run counter to being engaged in political activity, including in activity related to leading the party. I remain chairman of the United Russia party," Medvedev said in an interview with Channel One.

According to Medvedev, the United Russia is "a leading political force, a ruling party that has huge responsibility to the people and the country for its development." "Certainly, the party is solving exactly the same tasks that the entire country is facing. But now vital tasks are related to improving the well-being of people and solving those tasks based on national projects," he said.

The party seeks to provide assistance in implementing these tasks and also solves particular issues related to the development of certain regions and cities, Medvedev said.

The United Russia party will continue its preparations for the upcoming election to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in 2021, Medvedev noted.
Lawmakers, Groups Urge Peace Ahead of Virginia Gun Rights Rally

The top Republican in Virginias lower house said that any group planning to incite violence at a Jan. 20 gun-rights rally should stay home, adding that the thousands of law-abiding Virginians who are expected to assemble at the Capitol just want to have their voices heard.

The rally, on what is known as Lobby Day, is being organized by the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL), a nonprofit grassroots organization whose goal is to advance the rights of Virginians to keep and bear arms.

Lobby Day is a time for people to peacefully assemble and petition their government. It is not a place for hate or violence, Todd Gilbert, the Republican leader in Virginias House of Delegates, said in a Jan. 18 statement. Any group that comes to Richmond to spread white supremacist garbage, or any other form of hate, violence, or civil unrest isnt welcome here.

Gilbert said that House Republicans reject any attempt by any group to infuse any kind of twisted or extreme worldview into this fundamentally democratic exercise.

While we and our Democratic colleagues may have differences, we are all Virginians and we will stand united in opposition to any threats of violence or civil unrest from any quarter, he said.

Gun rights supporters and Second Amendment advocates are rallying for state lawmakers to drop their push for tighter gun control. Second Amendment advocates told The Epoch Times that the proposals backed by Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, infringe upon their constitutional rights.

The VCDL, which runs the rally each year, has stressed that its a peaceful demonstration about gun rights only.

There have been many rumors, videos, and articles flying around the internet. We cannot stress enough that this is a peaceful day to address our Legislature, the group said on its website. Yes, we hold a rally, but the point of the day is communication with our Representatives.

Tony Martin, the managing partner of a local gun store, told The Epoch Times that locals told him they estimate that about 50,000 people would attend the rally. Normally, the annual event draws far fewer people, he said.

Northam declared a temporary state of emergency on Jan. 15 that prohibits all weapons, including firearms, from Capitol grounds in advance of the rally. Northams office said the rally is expected to draw tens of thousands of advocates. The arms ban lasts from 5 p.m. Jan. 17 to 5 p.m. Jan. 21.

Every person attending the rally must enter through a security checkpoint, according to officials.

Law enforcement intelligence analysts, according to Northams office, had identified credible threats of violence surrounding the event, as well as what they claimed was white nationalist rhetoric and plans by out-of-state militia groups to attend.

The Justice Department announced Jan. 16 that three men were arrested by the FBI and charged with firearms and alien-related charges. They are alleged to be members of a racially motivated, violent extremist group known as The Base.

Democrats won control of both chambers of the state legislature in the November 2019 elections and have vowed to enact stronger gun control policies. They believe stricter legislation will help reduce shootings and deaths and break the cycle of gun violence.

The VCDL has donated more than $200,000 to state lawmakers since 2002, records show. Its an influential grassroots gun-rights organization with a long record in the state.

Gun rights advocacy organizations on Jan. 17 filed an emergency appeal of a judges ruling that upheld the Virginia governors ban on firearms at the rally. The Virginia Supreme Court later declined to hear the appeal, leaving the state of emergency ban in effect.

Earlier, the VCDL and Gun Owners of America had sought an injunction against the temporary ban, but Judge Joi Taylor ruled that Northam had the authority under state law to take action related to the safety and welfare of the state.

The Virginia Senate on Jan. 16 passed measures to require background checks on all firearms sales, limit handgun purchases to one per month, and restore local governments right to ban weapons from public buildings and other venues.

The legislation will now go to the House of Delegates for consideration; it will have to be approved by the House and be signed by Northam to become law.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
The pilgrim town of Shirdi in Maharashtra shut down Sunday after local residents called for a bandh over a controversy related to the birthplace of 19th century saint Saibaba.

The prominent temple in Shirdi that is believed to house the remains of the saint and attracts a number of pilgrims remained open. The institutions like the accommodation provided by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, that manages the temple, also remained unaffected.

A late night statement by Deepak Mugalikar, Chief executive officer of the Saibaba Trust, Shirdi, read, On behalf of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi, darshan at Shri Saibaba Samadhi Temple, all the aartis and all the religious traditions will continue on Sunday, January 19, 2020 and thereafter and all the facilities of the sansthan such as the Shri Sai Prasadalaya, the bhakt niwas, hospitals etc., will be functioning as always.

The controversy began after chief minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a development fund of 100 crore for Pathri area in Marathwada known to be the birthplace of Saibaba.

In response, the villagers of Shirdi, led by Shirdi legislator Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called for a meeting on Saturday. A bandh was announced after the meeting although Thackeray had announced that he would be holding talks to defuse the row.

The bandh is bound to affect the devotees as the private entities, which serve the massive number of devotees who come to Shirdi, will remain shut.

The CM has called for a meeting with Shirdi residents and stakeholders in the mantralaya on Monday. A separate meeting has also been called with representatives of Pathri by the CM.
More than one million students across Ontario face a day of cancelled school in the coming week because of teachers' strikes, but the government of Premier Doug Ford is not using legislation to stop the walkouts  at least not yet.

Legislating teachers back to work is "the last step," Ford said this week when he took questions from reporters at Queen's Park. "What we really want to do is get a deal."

How much labour disruption would it take for the government to legislate an end to the strikes? When I asked Education Minister Stephen Lecce, he said that's not his focus right now, and said negotiated agreements are the "best option for all the parties."

What neither Progressive Conservative politician mentioned: imposing back-to-work legislation now would not likely stand up in court.

To defend such legislation, the government must persuade a court that its actions have a "pressing and substantial purpose." That's the legal test established by the Supreme Court of Canada to justify violating the right to free collective bargaining enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Cole Burston/The Canadian Press

A day of school lost here and there to rotating strikes almost certainly doesn't meet that bar, according to legal experts.

"There's a difference between a pressing and substantial purpose and an inconvenience to the public," said Kevin Banks, director of Queen's University's Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace.

"If the government's reasons [for back-to-work legislation] have to do with inconvenience, then it may well be too early," Banks said in an interview. "If things get to the point where the school year is in jeopardy, I suspect that there's a good chance a court would say, 'Yes, that is a pressing and substantial purpose.'"

This is one of the key reasons why Ontario teachers unions are strategically choosing to hold one-day strikes. They fear a full-blown indefinite walkout would soon prompt the government to reach for the hammer of back-to-work legislation.

Story continues

The unions figure these short, rotating work stoppages are their best bet to dissuade the government from making such a move, or to win a legal battle if it comes to that.

Kate Bueckert/CBC

Most recently in post-secondary education, it took weeks of strikes rather than days before previous Ontario governments resorted to legislation.

The 2018 strike at York University lasted two months before Kathleen Wynne's Liberal government introduced a back-to-work bill. It died when Queen's Park was dissolved for the election campaign, then the new Ford government moved to end the strike with its first piece of legislation.

In 2017, a faculty strike closed the province's 24 colleges, cancelling courses for hundreds of thousands of students for five weeks before the Wynne government legislated an end to the dispute.

That back-to-work bill might not have withstood a legal challenge had the government brought it in sooner, Minister of Advanced Education Deb Matthews told reporters at the time.

"You have to have a very, very good rationale, that the academic year [must be] in jeopardy," Matthews said, explaining that the Supreme Court set a "very high bar."

CBC

In the 1990s in Ontario, it typically took about five weeks into an education strike before an arm's-length body called the Education Relations Commission ruled that a labour dispute was putting the school year in jeopardy, giving the government the political go-ahead for back-to-work legislation.

Mike Harris's Progressive Conservative government pre-empted that process in 1998, moving to legislate when some 200,000 students in eight boards had been out of class because of labour disputes for just two weeks at the beginning of the school year.

In 1997, the Harris government tried to use the courts to stop a province-wide strike just as it began. A judge declined to give the province the emergency injunction it sought. A two-week strike ensued, ending when teachers returned to work voluntarily.

If the Ford government eventually chooses back-to-work legislation, it faces another key strategic decision: how to determine the terms of the contract? Does the government impose a contract or send the dispute to binding arbitration?

An arbitrator might give the teachers a contract that exceeds what the government wants to spend, either in a wage increase or class size provisions, issues at the centre of the current round of stalled negotiations.

Francis Ferland/CBC

An imposed contract would itself undoubtedly face a legal challenge. The government would again have to prove it is meeting that legal test of a "pressing and substantial purpose" to justify violating the right to free collective bargaining.

Its likely argument: the province is in a serious fiscal imbalance and can't afford to give the teachers what they're asking for.

"I'm not entirely sure that that argument would fly, but it's at least a plausible argument," said Banks.

It's an argument that will be put to the test in an upcoming legal challenge against the government's three-year cap on public sector wage increases at one per cent annually.


Few people understand the issue of sexual violence at colleges and universities in the United States better than Faith Ferber.

Ferber began her studies at American University, or AU, in Washington, D.C, in the autumn of 2013. By the following spring, the school was facing a major problem.

Messages between members of an unapproved all-male student group were published online, and gained widespread public attention. The messages showed the members openly discussing their involvement in illegal activities, including rape.

Ferber soon took action. She formed a group called Students Against Sexual Violence and organized protests. She got thousands of students to sign a statement demanding that school officials take action.

AU later dismissed 18 students for their involvement in the unapproved group. But before that took place, Ferber became a victim herself. In February 2015, she was sexually assaulted at a party.

She told VOA that, at first, AU officials seemed supportive of her and her case against her attacker. But after the investigation was over and the school began deciding what action to take, things changed.

Ferber said AU officials asked her to sign an agreement saying she would not discuss the details of her case with anyone. Ferbers attacker admitted responsibility, but the school did not dismiss that student as she requested.

She then learned that AU had violated Department of Education rules governing how colleges and universities should deal with sexual assault. So she contacted the agency, which eventually led to an investigation into the school. That investigation is ongoing.

Ferber continues to fight sexual violence through her work with Know Your IX. The organization teaches college students how to hold their schools accountable. Ferber argues that colleges and universities in the U.S. cannot let fear of critical media attention prevent them from supporting abuse victims. And, she adds, conversations about sex and sexual violence in America need to change.

From a very young age we teach women that its their responsibility to not get raped or to not be attacked, said Ferber. That combined with a hesitancy to discuss sex and consent with young Americans, the result is that kids end up at college living  on their own for the first time, barely adults  with very, very little information, if not misinformation, on  healthy sexual relationships.

Some schools are trying to better understand the problem. In October, the Association of American Universities, or AAU, released the findings of its 2019 Campus Climate Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct.



This study questioned nearly 182,000 students at 33 public research universities across the country about their experiences with sexual wrongdoing. It also asked them what they knew about their schools policies and support systems in place for victims.

The study showed that there have been no notable changes in rates of sexual assaults at U.S. colleges and universities since 2015. That was the first year of the AAU survey.

There were some notable improvements. There has been a rise in the number of students saying they understood the meaning of consent, as well as what can be considered assault. And more students reported knowing how to report an incident to school officials.

However, this years AAU study found one major issue continues: many victims are still not reporting incidents. The number of victims who inform their schools or local police remains low, at around 15 percent.

Although weve made progress, there is much work to do, AAU President Mary Sue Coleman wrote in a statement. We now know that schools should continue to concentrate their educational efforts and resources on incoming first-year  students, since they are clearly more vulnerable ... than their older classmates.



Colby Bruno is the senior legal counsel with the Victim Rights Law Center, which offers legal support to people affected by sexual assault. She said the increased knowledge of consent is a promising sign. And the fact that schools are willing to take part in this kind of research shows they seem willing to take action.

But, Bruno says, the situation on college campuses will not improve unless students fully understand consent  and schools have strong policies they are willing to enforce.

If a school ignores or if there is a problem with rape and sexual assault on campus... then its not just a problem for the individuals who have been assaulted, she said. Its a larger problem for the whole student body, because there is a hostile environment that exists on that campus.

Bruno and Ferber agree that what schools also need is guidance from the government. In 2017, the U.S. Department of Education, under President Donald Trump, changed guidelines established by former President Barack Obama. Those guidelines advised institutions that receive federal financial aid on how to best deal with incidents of sexual assault.

Bruno and Ferber say the changes have weakened support for victims.

Im Dorothy Gundy.

And I'm Pete Musto.

Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

Quiz - Sexual Assault Remains Major Issue in US Higher Education Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz



_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

assault(ed)  v. to violently attack someone or something

accountable  adj. required to explain actions or decisions to someone

hesitancy  n. the condition of being slow to act or speak especially because you are nervous or unsure about what to do

consent  n. permission for something to happen or be done

survey  n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something

concentrate  v. to cause attention, efforts, or strength to be used or directed for a single purpose

vulnerable  adj. open to attack, harm, or damage

campus(es)  n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school

institution(s)  n. an established organization
The Views Meghan McCain took some shots at Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) on Friday after the lawmaker personally insulted a CNN reporter, pointing out that McSally didnt earn the Senate seat she was appointed to after McCains father died.

After CNN senior congressional correspondent Manu Raju attempted to ask McSally whether the Senate should consider new evidence in the impending impeachment trial, the Arizona senator snapped at Raju: Youre a liberal hackIm not talking to you. McSally, meanwhile, quickly seized upon the instantly viral moment to fundraise for her tight election race before predictably appearing on Fox News to do a victory lap.

Discussing the incident on Fridays broadcast of the ABC talk show, the View hosts noted that Rajus question was very reasonable and that the lawmaker also refused to answer it when asked by Fox News Laura Ingraham during a chummy Thursday night interview.

View co-host Ana Navarro speculated that McSally likely lashed out at Raju because shes on thin ice in her Senate race, prompting McCain to offer up even more background.

Shes actually appointed, the conservative host added. She didnt win that seat. I think thats important.

After losing her Senate bid to Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in 2018, McSally was appointed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey to permanently fill the seat that was vacated by Meghans father, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), after his death. (McSally succeeded retired Sen. Jon Kyl, who accepted a temporary assignment to the seat immediately following McCain's death.)

She didnt earn it in the traditional sense of votes, McCain added. Its an extremely tight race. Arizona could turn blue, which wouldpigs may start flying around the studio if that ends up happening, I never thought Id see the day.

McCain went on to say that she believes that McSally is playing her cards completely wrong by fundraising off of the confrontation, adding that it is also a thankless job being a Capitol Hill reporter.

Story continues

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Archie has been in Canada for the last two months - PA

When Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor was christened in a small, closed ceremony last year, his parents made it clear that they wanted to raise him as a private citizen.

He did not assume the title of Earl of Dumbarton and he is not a Prince. The seventh in line to the throne is simply Master Archie.

After the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs decision to quit The Firm and relocate to Canada, questions have been raised about the young childs future.

Already there is disquiet inside Buckingham Palace, with the Queen upset that Archie has not even been in the country for the last two months, missing out on his first Royal Christmas at Sandringham.

She will be very sad to have barely seen Archie, and that he will miss out on growing up with his cousins and wider family, a source told the Sunday Times.

Where will Archies heritage and roots be? said another.

The fact Archie isn't Earl of Dumbarton or styled HRH makes me wonder whether this wasn't already part of a wider masterplan, said Majesty magazines Managing Editor, Joe Little.

Archie made his first Royal trip in September, visiting Cape Town, South Africa Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA

In British Columbia there is a wealth of private schools and a strong British expat community.

There are a number of boarding schools that exist in the area that draw students from around the world, said Vancouver-based fundraising consultant Jeff Sodowsky.

"British Columbia and particularly the Lower Mainland is such an international population, definitely from around the world, but there's a history and culture of original British Columbia families that all invested as pioneers in making the city and the area better, he added.

If Archie is to be educated in Canada, it would break a long tradition of British Royals at British schools.

The Duke of Sussex spent his pre-prep years at the private Wetherby School in Notting Hill, followed by Ludgrove School and then Eton College, where he boarded between the ages of 13 and 18.

Archies grandfather, Prince Charles was educated at Cheam and Gordonstoun schools, which his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, had also attended as a child.

Story continues

Canada has 91 independent schools, including the 41,000-a-year Lakefield College School, where Prince Andrew studied in 1978.

Cheshire-based education expert and author Edward Williams told the Daily Mail that the idea of having Archie in two separate schools - one in the UK and one in Canada - is untenable.

Students of any age crave consistency, structure and discipline, he said.

It's necessary not just for their academic growth but their social and emotional health.

Canada is very well provided for in terms of education, but there are rather fundamental differences. Depending on where they settle, there can be issues regarding which age they start; in the UK it's four but in Canada it is five or six, meaning practically that when Archie started he would be persistently either a year ahead or behind his peers.
She has been living the single life ever since she announced she was separating from husband of 20-years, Joe Giudice, late last year.

And Teresa Giudice sure looked to be enjoying her new chapter, sharing a gorgeous swimsuit photo with her followers on Sunday.

The 47-year-old mother-of-four left very little to the imagination in her racy cut-out costume.

Scroll down for video

Sun's out!! Teresa Giudice struggled to wipe the smile off of her face in a new social post of her flaunting her physique in a swimsuit

Teresa stunned in a white one-piece with a criss-cross suit that had a very low cut out in the front and down each side.

She teamed the look with a cover-up that barely did the trick with its cut-outs and hem.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star accessorised with various bangles and a pair of shades over her eyes.

Barely covering up! Teresa stunned in a white one-piece with a criss-cross suit that had a very low cut out in the front and down each side

Over: Teresa's post comes following the split from her husband Joe (pictured with their daughters, Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11 in 2019)

Teresa's dark tresses were styled out effortlessly over her shoulders and she appeared to be wearing very little to no makeup.

Her post comes after her estranged husband, Joe, recently confessed that she had 'urged' him to change before their split.

'Dont fall in! Whatever happens in our future, remember we were friends to begin with,' he captioned a throwback photo with Teresa.

'We will always stay strong. Its not distance that breaks a couple its actions! Im growing and learning more from todays generation. egocentrism was thing in baby boomer and gen x era.'

Final straw: Joe, recently confessed that she had 'urged' him to change before their split

He continued his deep spiel with: 'Now, Millennials believe in joint effort not separating roles. Not, that I didnt love my era I see the ego thing got in my way like a trap. one bedroom is good Today, simplicity, girls and family first, and actions speak louder than a car or big things.#familyiseverything #awakening #kids #future.'

Joe and Teresa are parents to four daughters, Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11.

The pair confirmed their split in December.

'Teresa and Joe have separated, but have no plans to divorce yet, a source told Us Weekly at the time.

'Teresa and Joe talked about their future when she and the girls were in Italy and decided it was best for them to separate.'

20 years over: The pair confirmed their split in December

Joe has spent much of the past few years behind bars in connection to his 2014 guilty plea to mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud charges.

Teresa spent most of 2015 in custody in her 11-month sentence in her related conviction, while Joe in March of 2016 started serving his 41-month sentence.

Because Joe was not a U.S. citizen - the reality star was born in Saronno, Italy and brought to the United States when he was a year old, never applying for citizenship - federal authorities ordered him deported due to legal statutes related to 'a crime of moral turpitude' or 'aggravated felony.'

Joe concluded his sentence at Fort Dix, New Jersey's Federal Correctional Institution this past March, and was held in ICE custody until he was deported to Italy October 11 amid an appeal in the case.
An awful lot has been written about Megxit and just how much pressure - from media scrutiny to royal protocol - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had apparently been under in Britain, which resulted in their explosive decision to split from "The Firm" and quit merry old England.

Careful what you wish for Harry and Meghan.

The Queen is joined by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and at rear, from left, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during a reception at Buckingham Palace to mark the 50th anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales. Credit:AP

Few commentators have made the point that up to now, their "royalnesses" don't seem to have fully appreciated just how good they've had it.

Nor do they seem to realise just how problematic life outside the protective comforts of the royal bosom will be, regardless of whether they make their home in a leafy Canadian enclave, or as is more likely, a gated community in Los Angeles' swanky Bel Air or a glittering penthouse on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
Police responded to a total of 123 shootings in 2019, 106 of which involved a victim who survived and 17 that were self-inflicted, Cmdr. Jack Hamady said.

Of the 58 homicides, police think 12 were gang-related. The number of gang-related homicides was down about 50%, from 18 of the 40 slayings in 2018, Hamady said.

Domestic homicides rose by about 87%, from eight in 2018 to 15 in 2019. That number includes Sidne-Nichole Buchanan, 27, whose boyfriend was charged with killing her in Gary after a concert July 27 and dumping her body in a Cook County forest preserve.

In another domestic abuse case that claimed three members of the same family, Nefretiri Jones, 52, Yoasha Carter, 25, and Dwayne Jones, 33, all of Gary, were found shot to death after a fire at their home Oct. 25 in the 3500 block of West 20th Avenue. Yoasha Carters boyfriend, Reginald Carter, 31, pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one count of arson.

Seven homicides during the first quarter of 2019 are believed to be drug-related and involve a single person of interest, police said.

In all, 14 of the 58 homicides last year likely were drug-related, Hamady said. Police think four were motivated by robbery.
Amy Schumer welcomed her son Gene into the world in May of last year.

And the 38-year-old comedian revealed during an appearance on Oprah Winfreys 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus Tour Saturday that she and husband, Chris Fischer, 'had a beautiful experience having a baby.'

Schumer, who has been open about her recent IVF journey, also let slip that she's hoping for a daughter next round. 'I picture us all on the beach together. And teaching maybe a little girl how to play volleyball,' she gushed.

Moment with Oprah: Amy Schumer sat down with talk show legend, Oprah Winfrey, during Oprah's 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus Tour on Saturday in Charlotte, NC

Baby on the brain: The witty comedian spoke candidly about how motherhood has changed her life and her current experience undergoing IVF treatment

Amy shared the stage with the 65-year-old talk show host at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Oprah returned to her well recognized sit-down interview format for her chat with Schumer during the five hour event.

The I Feel Pretty star spoke candidly about her privileged approach to motherhood.

She even admitted on Instagram in October that she has 'it a lot easier than many people' given her net worth of approximately $16million.

Motherhood: Schumer shared this photo on Instagram in October and admitted she 'has it easier than most' when it comes to resources needed to raise a healthy baby

IVF: The comedian has been undergoing IVF treatment and has documented the less than glamorous process on her Instagram page, evening sharing an up close and personal image of her bruised body

'You know, its different for everybody. But I really have to recommend if youve got the resources to have a baby, have a baby.'

Having her son has 'been so life-changing' for her and that she 'really likes the guy,' even though she used to have zero desire for children.

'I never wanted to get married. I never wanted to have kids. I didnt even think about it,' she confessed.

Life changing: The 38-year-old admitted to Oprah that having a baby was 'life changing'

Lots of love: Oprah and Schumer posed backstage and shared a loving hug

But her perspective underwent a major overhaul upon meeting her husband of nearly two years, Chris.

'I met [Chris]. And I was, like, I want to partner up with you for life. And I do want to get the government involved. And I want you to sign. I want to make a vow. Everyone here heard you and now you are mine,' explained the comedian playfully.

Strong: Oprah asked Schumer what she learned during her pregnancy, to which Schumer replied that she learned that women 'are warriors'

The comedian has been openly undergoing IVF treatment and documenting the process on her Instagram.

On January 9th, Schumer shared a picture of her battle scars from the treatment.

'Im a week into IVF and feeling really run down and emotional. If anyone went through it and if you have any advice or wouldnt mind sharing your experience with me please do,' begged Schumer in the post's caption.

Amy's Family: Schumer shares her son Gene with husband Chris Fischer; the family were photographed in May

Fans flooded the comedian's inbox with advice, which prompted Schumer to inform them that she is 'staying positive' through the hard moments.

In her interview with Oprah, the Trainwreck actress marveled at the strength that women behold, particularly the strength held by mothers.

'We are warriors. All of us. I mean, for real. That is what I learned' she said.

She didn't just 'learn how strong she was' during her pregnancy, she learned that women as whole are incredibly tough.

Admission: The comedian admitted that for the longest time she never wanted a husband or children; Fischer pictured here with their son Gene in June

'And, you know, men are great, too. And, like, thats awesome and you guys can throw a touch down. But, like, can you make a baby?!' she joked.

Schumer and husband Fischer announced that they were expecting their first chil, Gene, just 8-months after they had tied the knot during a toned-down wedding reception on February 13th of 2018.

The couple were initially set up with one another in 2016 by Schumer's assistant Mary, who happened to be Chris' sister.
Omicron variant of COVID-19 identified in Antrim, Charlevoix counties

The omicron variant of COVID-19 has been identified in one Antrim County resident and one Charlevoix County resident.
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Bottles of Champagne are displayed at Dilettantes wine shop in Paris

By Leigh Thomas

PARIS (Reuters) - The United States risks a proliferation of national taxes on tech giants if President Donald Trump rejects new international rules for taxing digital companies at next week's World Economic Forum, the French government said on Friday.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire wants a U.S. commitment in Davos to the international tax reform and is also pressing Washington to lift a threat of tariffs on French champagne, cheese and luxury handbags made in retaliation against France's own digital tax.

Agreement was close on a universal tax proposal drawn up by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Le Maire said, but Washington needed to take the "last step" to reach a compromise.

"The proposal on the table is the right solution. We are not far from agreement," Le Maire told reporters after talks with OECD chief Angel Gurria. "We are asking our American friends to take the last step in the coming days."

Washington has threatened to impose duties of up to 100% on French products worth $2.4 billion after a U.S. government investigation found the French tax would harm American technology companies.

France last year applied a 3% levy on revenue from digital services earned in France by companies with revenues of more than 25 million euros ($27.78 million) in France and 750 million euros worldwide.

Trump says it unfairly targets U.S. companies, a charge Paris rejects.

His administration has said that an overhaul of decades-old international tax rules must have a clause making it optional for U.S. companies. Le Maire rejected that possibility, calling it a "non-starter", and urged Washington to back the OECD proposal as is.

Gurria echoed Le Maire and said the alternatives to a thorough rewriting of international tax rules were unworkable.

"A multiplication of tax regimes, a multiplication of systems, a multiplication of taxes, each with different rates and approaches, would really be unmanageable," Gurria said.

($1 = 0.9001 euros)

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon and Leigh Thomas; Writing by Richard Lough; editing by Kevin Liffey, Larry King)
Oregon immigrant advocacy groups have filed a friend of the court brief in support of a case Washington state brought in federal court last month, seeking to bar immigration enforcement agents from state courthouses.

In Oregon, Oregon Chief Justice Martha Walters issued an order in November, prohibiting civil immigration arrests inside state courthouses and within the vicinity of any state courthouse.

But the advocacy groups contend the order doesnt go far enough.

The order doesnt extend protections to people while theyre going to and from Oregon state courts, and doesnt bar immigration agents from using state court dockets to identify someones hearing date and then stake out courthouse property to target the person for arrest when seen approaching or leaving a courthouse, the amicus brief says.

ICE will continue to roam those spaces, exploiting Oregons justice system to find and target community members suspected of administrative immigration violations, the court brief says. Unless this Court enjoins ICEs conduct, the fear that exists across our respective states...will persist. Access to courts will continue to be threatened, and our justice system will continue to be irreparably harmed by ICEs unlawful policy.

Washington state sued President Donald Trumps administration last month seeking to stop its practice of arresting people at courthouses for immigration violations, saying it interferes with the states authority to run its judicial system and endangers public safety.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle says that when Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection agents patrol courthouse hallways and parking lots it deters crime victims and witnesses from testifying and interferes with criminal prosecutions.

The friend of the court brief was filed Thursday on behalf of a coalition of community advocacy, legal defense and other social service organizations represented by Innovation Law Lab, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon and the law firm Miller Nash Graham & Dunn.

They support Washingtons request for an immediate statewide injunction barring ICE arrests at and around all state courts. The ICE field office in Seattle oversees the arrest practices of immigration enforcement agents in both Washington and Oregon.

The groups represented in the friend of the court brief include Causa Oregon, Adelante Mujeres or Women Rise Up, Metropolitan Public Defender, Northwest Workers Justice Project, Immigration Counseling Service, Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice, Latino Network, VIVA Inclusive Migrant Network, Pueblo Unido, American Immigration Lawyers Association of Oregon, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Rural Organizing Project and Unite Oregon.

A similar lawsuit in Massachusetts has resulted in a preliminary court order blocking immigration agents from making civil arrests at courthouses there. The Trump administration has appealed that order.

In the Massachusetts case, U.S. Department of Justice attorney Francesca Genova argued on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that courthouse arrests may be necessary when local cities or towns decline to cooperate with ICE in transferring people who are in the country illegally or facing deportation orders to the agencies from prisons or jails. According to Genova, immigration enforcement actions taken inside courthouses "can reduce safety risks to the public, those targeted and ICE officers, and that ICE directs its offices to attempt to make enforcement actions within courthouses "orderly, safe, and nondisruptive.

In the pending federal case in Washington state, the immigrant advocacy organizations described their community members experiences of choosing not to go to state courts to file protective orders, seek marriage licenses, serve as witnesses, or protect their workplace rights due to fear of ICE activity.

On several occasions, volunteer legal observers have witnessed and captured video footage of ICE engaging in racial profiling and using physical force against individuals, their families, and bystanders, often in the middle of a pending case, according to the coalitions legal brief.

Nadia Dahab, Innovation Law Labs senior staff attorney, said in a statement, In Oregon, we have seen the impacts of this policy in communities statewide. We are optimistic that the federal district court in Washington, like our state supreme court, will put an end to it.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

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The annual meeting of District 7 (Pennsylvania) of the United States Trotting Association was held Saturday afternoon at the Bedford Springs Omni Resort in this southwest Pennsylvania city.

Sam Beegle, Chairman of District 7, presided over the meeting; also in attendance were District 7 Directors Barry Brown, Rich Gillock and Tom Leasure. It was announced that Mark Loewe would be taking Mr. Leasures place on the USTA national Board of Directors at the annual March meetings in Ohio.

Fred Strathmeyer, Deputy Secretary of the PA State Department of Agriculture, attended the meeting, as did Anthony Salerno, Bureau Director, Standardbred Racing, of the PA Horse Racing Commission. Kim Hankins and Mike Harant, the Executive Directors of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association and the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemens Association, respectively, were also present; those associations presidents are respectively Gillock and Beegle.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, the USTA rule change proposals were discussed among the 41 attendees, so that the Directors could represent their wishes at the upcoming national Board of Directors meeting. Below is how the District 7 members voted:

1. Eliminate heat racing  REJECTED

2. Extended pari-mutuel meet now defined as 6+ days  REJECTED

3. Prohibit gene doping  ACCEPTED

4. Pylon physical requirements  REJECTED

5. Standardized saddle pads  REJECTED

6. Define proper racetrack action maintenance at extended pari-mutuel tracks  REJECTED

7. Claiming price after horse claimed  REJECTED

8. Purse distribution after interference  REJECTED

9. Post position conditioned by money won  REJECTED

10. Starting pole at starting point  REJECTED

11. Adjusting date in qualifying rule  ACCEPTED

12. Location of fair start pole  REJECTED

13-14. Definition of amateur driver  TABLED

15. Requirements for training license  ACCEPTED

16. Require P drivers to register colors  ACCEPTED

17. Restructuring of whipping rule  REJECTED

18. Mandatory notification for new geldings/spayed mares  First moved to TABLE, but that motion failed for lack of a second; then REJECTED

19. Track measurement rule  REJECTED

20. Percentage of ownership to be noted  REJECTED

21. Allowing embryo transfer donor mares to register two foals per year  REJECTED

22. Clarification of term Standardbred  ACCEPTED

23. Clarification of term non-standard  ACCEPTED

It was determined that the meeting attendees were satisfied with the system by which Pennsylvania fair entries are being taken.

The matter of horses wearing / not wearing trotting hopples, and consistency of their usage, along with the responsibilities of various parties in ascertaining the situation, was also discussed.

(USTA District 7)
UPDATE: According to witnesses, emergency workers have removed the car from the home.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- City firefighters are responding to a report of a car crashed into a house on St. Pauls Avenue in Stapleton, an FDNY spokesman.

A call came into the FDNY at 5:18 p.m. about a report of a car colliding into a private home on the 400th block of St.Pauls Avenue.

ESU workers were called to remove a car from a house, according to emergency radio transmissions.

Witnesses said soon after the car crashed into the side of the home, there was a large emergency response to remove the vehicle.

This is the second accident called into FDNY in the last two hours as snow continues to blanket the ground across the borough.

FDNY also responded to an accident off the West Shore Expressway near the Arthur Kill Road Exit Saturday evening.

The call came in at 4:22 p.m. about a car allegedly crashed into a tree, according to an FDNY spokesman. at Arthur Kill Road.

No one has yet been transported to the hospital in either incident, according to the spokesman.

This is a breaking news story. Check back to SILIve for update.
The boys of Wexford just love being drama queens. An innocuous Walsh Cup final between two understrength sides on a winters afternoon seemed to be heading west, with Shane ONeill poised to collect his first silverware since taking charge of the Tribesmen.

Padraic Mannion, appointed the new Galway captain midweek, had his fingertips on the cup when Wexford decided to spice things up as only they can and they hit 1-2 without reply in the dying seconds to snatch the title at MW Hire OMoore Park in Portlaoise.

There were only 1,729 people there on Saturday but when Paudie Foley fired over the winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time from way out on the right, it seemed that 10,000 had suddenly sneaked in, such was the noise generated.

Im delighted to win it, said manager Davy Fitzgerald. Every bit of silverware is important, no matter how small it is. If you think about it, before we won in Clare in 2013 we had won only one bit of silverware in 15 years or something like that  Mike Mc (McNamara) won a Munster league in 2009 or something like that  that was the only thing we won in Clare.

I think it is important to keep winning, any silverware, and it keeps you there. Galway wanted to win that as well, no doubt about it.

There are guys Ive played in the past two weeks, I dont know if they will see top 26. They might and they mightnt. Ive played some amount of guys in the last two weeks and isnt it great they are playing in front of three or four thousand people? I like the competition as it gives me a chance to play fellas and that is important.

He will be back at the same venue next weekend for the start of the league against Laois but is adopting a wait and see policy over the availability of some key players for the opening games. But hes hopeful joint captains from last year, Lee Chin and Matthew OHanlon, will have recovered from knee injuries to play some part against Kilkenny in the third round next month, while Diarmuid OKeeffe is being re-integrated after returning from a spell abroad travelling.

Lee is three to four weeks away, Id say. I think he will miss the first two league games for definite. Hopefully he will be on the bench for the third one.

Matt has been out since the All-Ireland semi-final last year. He should have come off that day ... how he played on, I dont know. The extent of his injury was nuts and hes been out for six months. He was in a brace for two to three months afterwards.

David Dunne and Liam Og McGovern are 50-50 so we are likely to be down four or five for next weekend, added Fitzgerald.

The sides were level five times in the opening half as the free-takers, Tadhg Haran for Galway and Wexfords Jack OConnor battled it out, with the Tribesmen leading 0-10 to 0-8 at the break. They got the lead out to six points early in the second half and led by four with five minutes to go before Wexford, after springing a lot of experience off the bench, came with their late rally. A pointed free from Seamus Casey got the gap back to three points and then Cathal Dunbar levelled with a goal two minutes into stoppage time after Galway failed to clear their lines.

Wexford pushed on from there and Foley, after seeing a long-range free drop inches short, made no mistake with the winner which he landed from 60 yards on the right-wing and it proved enough as Thomas Monaghans late effort went narrowly wide.

It was a really good workout and both of these two weekends have been really good in allowing us to look at all the players in the squad, said Galway manager ONeill.

Were disappointed to lose it but it is a pre-season tournament which is there for a reason to allow us to try out players.

Scorers for Wexford: Jack OConnor 0-8 (8f), S Casey 0-2 (2f), C McDonald 1-0, A Rochford 0-2, D Reck 0-1, A Nolan 0-1, C Dunbar 0-1, P Foley 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: T Haran 0-12 (0-10f), S Linnane 0-1, S Loftus 0-1, J Mannion 0-1, A Tuohy 0-1, B Concannon 0-1, T Monaghan 0-1.

WEXFORD: J Lawlor; G Molloy, L Ryan, Joe OConnor; P Foley, R Donohoe, D Reck; A Rochford, K Foley; Jack OConnor, A Nolan, C McDonald; H Kehoe, A Shore, M Dwyer.

Subs: R OConnor for Shore (41), P Morris for Kehoe (41), S Murphy for D Reck (41), S Donohoe for R Donohoe (47), C Dunbar for Dwyer (49), S Casey for Jack OConnor (57).

GALWAY: D Fahy; TJ Brennan, P Killeen, J Grealish; P Mannion, G McInerney; A Tuohy; S Linnane, S Loftus; T Haran, C Walsh, B Concannon; J Mannion, J Flynn, E Niland.

Subs: A Harte for McInerney (half-time), D Glennon for Linnane (50), D Kilcommins for Concannon (50), T Monaghan for Walsh (52), R Burke for Brennan (55), N Burke for Flynn (57), Concannon for Loftus (67), Brennan for Haran (70).

Referee: M Murtagh (Westmeath).
While Michelle Jones has proved an intriguing twist on the typical MJ  with her quick wit, sleuth skills, and awkward teenage energy  it looks like Marvel Studios may be looking to bring the real MJ, Mary Jane Watson, into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Zendayas Michelle Jones pays homage to the original character and dons the same nickname, she was never intended to imitate the characters journey or narrative particulars. There is a reason she is not named Mary Jane. And, in Spider-Man 3, that reason may begin to come the surface.

Tom Holland attends the Spider-Man: Homecoming press conference | Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

According to We Got This Covered, Marvel Studios may introduce the real Mary Jane Watson in Spider-Man 3. The outlet  relying on the same sources who predicted the She-Hulk series and knew Marvel was eyeing Daniel Radcliffe for Moon Knight  reported that a traditional Mary Jane is present in a current draft for the script. So, if Mary Jane is coming to the MCU, whats next for Tom Hollands Parker, and what does this mean for Michelle Jones? Lets discuss the events bound to ensue when Mary Jane walks onto the scene (step-by-step).

1. The love triangle forms

It goes without saying that Mary Jane Watson will enter the picture, threatening the relationship between Michelle Jones and Peter Parker. If a traditional MJ is on the way, we can expect that the traditional associated narrative is also in the works. With Peters heart flocking towards the character he ends up with in the comics, his dynamic with Michelle may slowly dissipate.

2. Michelle Jones and Peter Parker break up

Why bring Mary Jane Watson into the picture and then provide the character with minimal purpose? The name, in and of itself, holds far too much weight for the character to exist as a one-film foil to the romantic subplot between Parker and Jones. If Mary Jane is coming, shes likely going to stick around. Meaning, Michelle Jones and Parkers relationship is coming to its end, and Marvel Studios is making way for the prototypical MJ Spidey cant live without.

3. Michelle Jones realizes, in Peters absence, that she can be the hero

If you look back on Michelle Jones in the MCU, you will notice that Marvel Studios has virtually been grooming the character to play Spider-Woman. A little space away from the title hero may be exactly what she needs to become one herself.

Michelle figured out Parker was Spidey by attending to his whereabouts in moments of crisis, she deduced Mysterios fraudulence, and shes got the sense of humor needed to carry a standalone installment (and the star power to boot) in the Marvel landscape. Seeing the character make a transition to Spider-Woman would not be all that surprising; however, one event is bound to occur between this epiphany and Jones gearing up in the necessary attire.

4. Mary Jane and Peter Parker couple up

While Michelle Jones may realize that she has the potential to become an Avenger, the time between this occurrence and her transition to Spider-Woman will likely be a bit lengthy. Thus, fans should expect to see Parker and Mary Jane couple up before Michelle tries Spider-Womans costume on for size.

The production of the third #SpiderMan movie will reportedly run from July to November and film in Atlanta, New York City, Los Angeles, and Iceland! https://t.co/Y1WCs79vVL pic.twitter.com/lkhAjsL4AX  MCU Direct (@MCU_Direct) January 16, 2020

5. Michelle Jones becomes Spider-Woman and joins the New Avengers to fight by Spider-Mans side

This plot development will likely occur across multiple phases  and such a prophecy is most likely post-Phase 5 (at the earliest). If Jones becomes Spider-Woman, she is bound to become a New or Young Avenger (whichever title Marvel Studios chooses); meaning, she will put her romantic history with Parker aside, and the two will fight side-by-side as partners  partners who trust and love each other like old friends.
The withdrawal of the erstwhile Soviet Union from Afghanistan in 1989 spelt doom for the Pandits in the Kashmir Valley, with pan-Islamic jihadists switching their focus from Kabul to Kashmir at the direction of their handlers in Pakistan.

Interestingly, 30 years after the tragic exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley, the jihadists have now given way to non-state actors, yet again out to grab Kabul. This time, it is the US which is walking away from a nation that is still in crisis, Afghanistan, by striking a deal with the Taliban, whose leadership prospers across the Durand Line. In a sense, it is all back to square one as the motherlode of jihad remains largely untouched in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The rise of jihad in the Valley was also due to the weak regimes of VP Singh and Chandrashekhar with fractured politics in Delhi ensuring that the Centre became a bystander in the Valley. This time, there is a strong Centre, but it is clear that things could take a turn for the worse even now.

The main threat to India comes from pan-Islamic jihadist groups based in Pakistan with its deep state treating them as strategic assets to hurt New Delhi. It is now an established fact that Rawalpindi GHQ provides financial, logistic and tactical support to global terror groups such as the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Al Badr in order to target India. Despite the Asia-Pacific chapter of FATF giving a scathing report on Pakistans action against terrorism, it is quite evident that Islamabad will continue to be in the Grey List with its all-weather ally China at the helm of FATF.

China has tried to raise Kashmir thrice in UNSC and tried to help Pakistan designate six Indian nationals as global terrorists. Apart from ultra conservative Sunni terror groups, Pakistan houses remnants of the Indian Mujahideen, a demon child of ISI using home grown jihadists, global terrorists such as Dawood Ibrahim and virtually the entire pro-Khalistani brigade. A Khalistani Zindabad Force (KZF) module headed by Germany-based operative Gurmeet Singh Bagga is now being used to send arms across the Radcliffe Line through drones.

All these groups are being funded through narcotics from Afghanistan with recent seizures of 750 kilogram of heroin (worth ~750 crore) along the coasts of Maldives and Sri Lanka being traced back to Pakistani operatives.

The worsening security situation in Afghanistan also impacts Indian security with Al Qaeda continuing to assist Taliban in its campaign against Afghan security forces. Add to this, the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISPK), operating around the Khyber pass area.

While Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina has taken strong action against terror groups, IS affiliated IS-BD also known as Neo Jamaatul Mujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) and Al Qaida affiliated Ansarullah Bangla Team have been active on Indias eastern front. These groups are radicalising young people to target minority communities in Bangladesh, just as Pakistani deep state is fishing within the Rohingya community using its sword arm Lashkar-e-Taiba . The JMB is not only active in Bangladesh but has spread roots to West Bengal and the North-east.

The April 2019 serial suicide bombings in Sri Lanka indicates the presence of highly radicalised IS followers in the Island nation. Intelligence inputs indicate that the growing radicalisation of Muslims, especially along the countrys northern and eastern provinces, may be exploited by Pakistan-based groups and foreign fighters.

In Maldives, radical groups such as Jamaiytul Salaf have spread their roots across several atolls. Nearly 200 Maldivians who travelled to the Syria-Iraq theatre are now back in the littoral state and will pose a security challenge.

While Communist Nepal has settled from the security perspective, it has become a playing ground for both Chinese and Pakistani intelligence. The Himalayan kingdom is used these days for pumping in fake currency to destabilise India at the behest of Pakistan.

It is clear that India has to be better prepared than it was 30 years ago.

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said the country is bearing the brunt of "differences" between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue of the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Speaking at a function here on Friday, the Congress leader alleged that the BJP was "misleading" the country, and asked people to remain alert.

"While Amit Shah says NRC will be implemented, Prime Minister contradicts his statement. Who is speaking the truth and who is lying? Who is right, the PM or the Home Minister?. It seems that there are some differences between the two and the entire country is bearing its brunt. You need to remain alert...," Baghel said.

He accused the BJP was "misleading" and "dividing" the country.

Hitting out at the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC, Baghel said, "There is no discussion in this government (at the Centre) over problems of price rise, economic crisis and unemployment being faced by the country, rather the focus is only on citizenship."



He said questioning people about their citizenship was an "insult to them.

"A huge chunk of Chhattisgarh's population is below poverty line. Neither they have land nor their parents were literate. Due to lack of certain documents, how they will prove their citizenship?" he asked.

During the previous five years of NDA government, Modi gave "nothing except pain" to people and now, since last seven to eight months, Amit Shah has been doing the same and has brought people out on the streets, he alleged.

Baghel also raised questions over the probe into the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack, saying startling revelations were coming out about a Jammu and Kashmir police officer in connection with the incident.

J&K Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh, who he had been posted in Pulwama as DSP at that time, was arrested last weekend with Hizbul terrorists in south Kashmir.

Baghel said the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 security personnel were killed, took place before last year's Lok Sabha polls.

"So far, no investigation has been conducted into the incident. Who was responsible for the ghastly attack?" the chief minister asked.

Without taking any name, he said, "One DSP was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir and it is being said he was posted there during the Pulwama attack. Startling revelations are coming up about the officer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Howard Staff, 66, was injured at his home in Wigston, Leicestershire, on January 13 during a suspected botched burglary and he died in hospital the following morning

A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a 66-year-old man in his home during a suspected botched burglary in broad daylight.

Howard Staff was injured at his home in Wigston, Leicestershire, on January 13 and he died in hospital the following morning.

Four men - two aged 20, one aged 21 and one aged 19 - were arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday but have been released under investigation.

Now a 19-year-old man has been arrested at an address in Leicester.

He remains in custody where he is being questioned by detectives.

Detective Inspector Jonathan Blockley, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), said: 'A man has been arrested this morning on suspicion of murder and burglary following the death of Howard Staff.

'Our investigation remains ongoing and we continue to appeal to anyone with information to come forward.

Four men - two aged 20, one aged 21 and one aged 19 - were arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday but have been released under investigation. Pictured: Gibson Close where Mr Staff was attacked. The average house price in the area is around 160,000

'If you have any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem we want to hear from you.

'A man has lost his life, a family is devastated and we owe it to them to find who was responsible.'

The independent charity Crimestoppers is now offering a reward of up to 10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Now a 19-year-old has been arrested. He remains in custody where he is being questioned by detectives. Pictured: Police at the scene
A man in his 30s is in hospital with what are being described as serious injuries after a road traffic collision involving a car and a pedestrian overnight.

Gardai in Cork are investigating the incident which occurred on the N71 in the Ballylangley area, Bandon at around 1.20am this morning.
Boris Johnson is drawing up plans to impose strict new restrictions on EU immigration by 2021, two years earlier than promised by Theresa May.

New proposals are understood to be in the works to implement restrictions on lower-skilled EU migrants on the first day after the Brexit transition period ends, removing a temporary extension of current rules to 2023 sought by business groups.

Priti Patel, the home secretary, is expected to present the blueprint to cabinet this week, which would give businesses and workers less than a year to prepare for a major overhaul of the immigration system.

We need to deliver change and businesses need to be prepared for uncontrolled migration of low-skilled workers to end this year, a No 10 source told The Sunday Telegraph.

Labour described the move as ill-informed and reactionary and warned that changes would wreak havoc with staffing in the NHS and public services, as well as key private sector industries.

It comes after Sajid Javid fired off a warning to manufacturers that there will be no alignment with EU rules after Brexit  and admitted that some firms would be hit by the UKs departure from the bloc.

Mr Johnson unveiled long-awaited details of his plans for an Australian-style points system days before his election victory.

Under the three-tier system, highly-skilled workers would be fast-tracked with a second tier for skilled workers who can enter the UK for a job offer. The third group of low-skilled workers would only be able to stay if there were staff shortages.

Business leaders sounded the alarm over restrictions to foreign workers who make up a critical part of the workforce in the NHS and social care, as well as in hospitality and on farms.

Ms Mays immigration white paper in 2018, proposed a time-limited route for temporary short-term workers to mitigate the challenges faced by employers who would find it difficult immediately to adapt to new immigration rules.

Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Show all 8 1 /8 Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Conservative party leader Boris Johnson drives a JCB through a fake wall POOL/AFP via Getty Images Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes REUTERS Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty

But a No 10 source told the paper: As we leave the EU in just over 10 days time, we have an unprecedented opportunity to change the way our immigration system works.

There is a clear drive for talented and skilled workers from around the world to come to the UK, but we also need to see a reduction in the number of unskilled workers and those without a job entering the UK and thats why this will be coming to an end when the transition period ends in December.

Mr Johnson will make a final decision once he has received recommendations from the governments Migration Advisory Committee, which are expected within weeks.

Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said: This is an ill-informed and reactionary policy that will damage us all, damaging to everything from the NHS to other public services and some of our key private sector industries.

Ministers talk about ending uncontrolled migration when they have been in office for 10 years. In reality this is just a new twist in the long Tory campaign against migrants, scapegoating them for the terrible effects of Tory policies.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine said the changes were utterly unworkable and impossible to implement in time.

Recommended Boris Johnson orders Trump trade talks to begin the day after Brexit

Decisions like this make it loud and clear that this Conservative government has no intention off ending the hostile environment, she said.

Its a national embarrassment. For business and our economy, such draconian changes to immigration rules is utterly unworkable. To think the Home Office could implement the changes in the time given is a joke.

Meanwhile, ministers have reportedly kick-started no-deal planning once more amid fears trade talks with Brussels could collapse.

Whitehalls EU Exit Operations committee, which is chaired by Michael Gove, met on Thursday to discuss preparations for a no deal at the end of the year, according to the Mail on Sunday.

The prime minister is facing a new Brexit cliff edge in December when the transition period ends  and the UK could crash out of the EU without a trade agreement.

Brussels has warned repeatedly that the timetable is too tight but Mr Johnson has enshrined the date in his Brexit legislation, which is expected to clear the House of Lords this week.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 19, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that explains who is considered a new driver by car insurance companies and how new drivers can gain better deals.

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. US insurance companies can only access domestic driving records. For this reason, foreigners that have good driving records in their home countries will be considered as new drivers in the US. Getting insurance without a US driver's license is quite hard. The easiest method to get insurance is to rent a car and use the rental car company's coverage. Foreigners who are planning to stay for a long period in the US should consider applying for a driving license. In some states like California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, or Maryland, even undocumented immigrants can get a license. Drivers with driving or coverage gaps. Drivers that don't have a driving history that can be checked will be treated as new drivers. Also, drivers without continuous coverage will be placed in the high-risk category. In both cases, shopping for cheaper insurance is hard. In most cases, drivers can find affordable coverage on the non-standard insurance market. Many small carriers are specialized in dealing with high-risk drivers.

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Peopleas Tribunal on State Action in UP: Citizenship, Democracy and Protest, 16th January 2020 | Indian Society of International Law, Delhi | 10:30 am - 6:30 pm

Introduction

As peaceful protests were organized around the country against the CAA, NRIC and the NPR, the state of Uttar Pradesh stands out for the intense harshness of the state action to crush the voices of dissent. There were many deeply troubling reports of the brutality and intensity of police action which followed, which led to the formation of this Peopleas Tribunal to investigate the truth of the matter.

The jury of this Peopleas Tribunal is deeply worried and dismayed by the testimonies placed before it. It is convinced that the entire state machinery, led from the top, acted with grave prejudice and perpetrated violence targeting one particular community, the stateas Muslim population, and the social activists leading the movement.

The jury heard the testimonies of field workers, lawyers, human rights defenders, civil society activists, doctors, eyewitness accounts, and also looked at the videos of victims.

The following were the main findings of the Tribunal.

Police Violence:

The Jury found and concluded that the UP police has been guilty of inflicting enormous violence targeting the Muslim community, peaceful protestors, and not even sparing those were not involved in the protest. The police brutality included:

a apart from violence inflicted on protestors,

a the arrest of and filing of false cases against innocent people,

a the destruction of vehicles and property by entering peopleas homes, as well as CCTV cameras

a the threats and intimidation of people picked up, against speaking the truth about what happened to any authority or to the media,

a the communalised abuses against victims,

a custodial violence even on minors and

a firing and killing people without following the law,

a preventing medical personnel from treating the injured, and threatening the injured against accessing medical care.

The complaints of the victims about police brutality, violence and destruction of property were either not filed or filed incorrectly. On the other hand, thousands of FIRS were filed against unnamed persons on accusation that protestors had become violent with the intention of continued harassment and intimidation.

Role Political Executive and State Administration

The jury found that political and administrative leadership has failed to control the widespread atrocities caused by the police. In several instances, the jury have observed that senior leadership such as the Chief Minister directed the Police to use the strongest force against protesting citizens by using words like badla or revenge.

The Jury concludes that the state administration, through arbitrary and extensive imposition of Section 144 CrPC in several districts, shutting down of internet services, violated the citizens rights and facilitated police violence.

Role of Medical Officers:

Several people testified that hospital authorities and medical officers denied emergency medical care to even seriously injured victims. It was suggested that this was done allegedly under pressure from the police and state administration. This has clearly been in violation of the Article 21 of the Constitution and the various decisions of the Supreme Court and international treaties to which India is signatory, finally the Hippocratic oath of medical professionals. Such denial does not take place even during war!

Impact on Survivors:

The Jury takes note of the looming anxiety within the families of those affected by this violence.

These instances of violence, abuse, and destruction of homes by the police have resulted in absolute fear and trauma in the community. It is important to understand that when the state is the perpetrator itself, there is no sense of security for those affected. It appears that there is no health care or legal help accessible to victims in these difficult and testing times leaving them at a state of acute depression and or anxiety. Chances are that there will be large scale Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in this population unless addressed.

The Jury further acknowledges the immediate need for adequate mental health support for those affected by this crisis.

Attacks on Human Rights Defenders

The Jury found several activists, journalists human rights defenders and lawyers who stood up to injustice were being persecuted, intimidated, harassed and tagged as aurban naxalsa, anti-nationals. The Jury condemns the arbitrary arrests of the human rights activists and defenders.

Issues around Juveniles and Minors

The Jury is of the opinion that the UP Police and State Administration have violated every principle enshrined in the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015. Every single agency and mechanism that could have come to the rescue of children failed to do its duty. It also reveals that even the best of laws cannot fulfill its purpose if the executive machinery does not wish to see it being implemented well and judiciously.

Recovery of costs by the state

The jury found that the police has been arbitrarily issueing notices to people for recovery of costs of damage to public property allegedly caused by them without specifying any details. Obviously, this cannot be done without establishing the culpability of the person in a court of law. These are intimidatory and illegal tactics being employed by the police. In fact, there is considerable evidence to show that the police itself indulged in destruction of private property of innocent people.

Concluding remark:

The state of affairs in UP shows a complete collapse of rule of law. In fact the very state administration that is charged with protecting the rule of law is perpetrating violence upon its own people.
Chinese President Xi Jinpings two-day visit to Myanmar was significant for several reasons. Not only was his visit the first by a Chinese President to Myanmar in 19 years but also, it saw the two sides clinch 33 deals, the largest number ever between the two countries. Thirteen of the deals have to do with infrastructure projects. In addition to extending loans worth millions of dollars, China will execute the infrastructure projects. Myanmar is under immense global pressure for its treatment of Rohingya Muslims and Chinas extension of financial and other support is timely and likely to be appreciated in Myanmar. In turn, Chinese investment in Myanmars infrastructure will boost its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During Xis visit the two sides agreed to push forward plans to develop the China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). They have signed a concession agreement and a shareholders agreement for development of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone. In addition to developing a deep seaport at Kyaukphyu, China has built gas and oil pipelines and improved overland transport linking it with its Yunnan Province. Oil, gas and other cargo from Africa and West Asia is already being transported through this route to China. The deals finalised during Xis visit will not only strengthen Chinas presence in the Bay of Bengal but also provide it with a shorter trade route through Kyaukphyu, one that reduces Beijings dependence on the crowded Malacca Straits.

No announcement was made on the $1.3 billion Myitsone project, which Myanmar suspended in 2011 following mass protests. It does seem that with general elections due in a few months, the National League for Democracy government is keen to avoid riling voters by reviving an unpopular project. Despite its deep dependence on China and Beijings capacity to create trouble for it by supporting various ethnic militias, Myanmar has not kow-towed to Chinese demands on Myitsone. It is holding its ground.

Still the string of deals signed during Xis visit signal a strong relationship. BRI projects in Myanmar will provide China with overland access to, and strategic presence in, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Will Myanmars heavy borrowings from China result in its walking into a debt trap and importantly, will that force a debt-ridden and desperate Myanmar to hand over strategic assets to the Chinese? Is Myanmar heading down the treacherous road that Sri Lanka has taken? These are questions that are being discussed and debated in India. Can India provide Myanmar with a better option? In addition to extending friendly loans and speeding up its implementation of projects in Myanmar, India must step up its people-centric engagement there.
WASHINGTON - When a Maine state senator introduced a bill last year to require all police officers to wear body cameras, she expected some discussion.

But the response that Democratic state Sen. Susan Deschambault got was stronger than she anticipated. Several groups, including police chiefs and municipal and county commissioners, opposed it, citing concerns about cost and questioning the necessity of requiring every officer to wear one. And the American Civil Liberties Union asked for the bill to be amended, saying that requiring the cameras without more study was premature.

The legislature delayed action and instead formed a working group to study the issue - and that was fine with Deschambault.

"If we're going to have it," she said in a recent interview, "let's do it right."

Maine's cautious approach reflects a growing awareness, backed by several new studies, that body cameras don't necessarily have a huge effect on police officers' behavior or how residents view the police.

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Daniel Lawrence, a researcher at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., who has studied the cameras, said more departments are realizing that just purchasing them isn't enough. "The way I see body-worn camera use being emphasized in the future is really having more of an emphasis on not just deploying and having officers wear body-worn cameras, but a closer examination of how they use those cameras," Lawrence said.

Among other factors, Lawrence said, the effectiveness of the cameras depends on when officers are required to turn them on, whether they must review the video before they write incident reports, and whether videos are released to people involved in an incident or to the public. A camera alone, he said, "isn't going to drastically change how police operate."

The push for police body cameras began about five years ago after several high-profile police shootings, including the 2014 death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. The rise of video sharing on social media added to the momentum, and in 2015 the Obama administration handed out more than $23 million in federal grants to help agencies of all sizes purchase them.

By 2016, nearly half of U.S. law enforcement agencies had body-worn cameras, according to a Bureau of Justice Statistics survey. In the same survey, about a third of sheriffs' offices and local police departments that didn't have cameras said they were likely to consider acquiring them within the year.

"We're at the point now where it's just expected. Community members expect that officers will have the cameras on them," Lawrence said.

In addition to Maine, lawmakers in Illinois, Mississippi and North Carolina last year considered making body cameras a requirement for most police, the most proposals in one year since 2015, according to a Stateline analysis.

But some recent studies question whether the devices are doing what they've been touted to do.

Although both officers and the public generally support body-worn cameras, or BWCs, the impacts may have been overestimated, according to a study published in March by George Mason University's Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy. The study, which looked at 70 other body-worn camera studies published through June 2018, found the cameras have not had statistically significant effects on most measures of officer and citizen behavior or citizens' views of police.

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The authors noted that studies have found mixed results on body cameras leading to reductions in use of force by police - one of the primary reasons supporters pushed for the cameras. Five studies and experiments showed that officers wearing cameras used force less often than officers not wearing cameras, but eight others showed no statistically significant difference in use of force.

The George Mason study also described an unanticipated result of the cameras: Officers increasingly value them as a tool for evidence collection and protection.

"Officers and citizens both seem to believe that BWCs can protect them from each other," the study said.

Another research article released last year came to similar conclusions.

The article, published in the South Dakota Law Review, said that although some studies have shown reductions in use of force and citizen complaints, it is unclear whether the results are worth the cost.

David Erickson, who co-authored the South Dakota Law Review study and is a retired police sergeant from Sioux Falls, S.D., said government officials are right to be concerned about cost but should be more concerned about setting good policies.

"If we can get that mindset changed," Erickson said of setting policies, "I think the cameras become more useful."

Lawrence shared some of his findings last year at a Washington, D.C., city council roundtable on the D.C. police department's body-worn camera program.

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The program began with 400 cameras in 2014 and grew to 2,800 cameras two years later. At the time, it was the largest deployment of body cameras in the country, said Charles Allen, the councilmember who chairs the public safety committee.

"Instead of engendering the type of transparency and trust that we would want this program to have, it has had the complete opposite effect," Allen said after four hours of hearing mostly criticisms of the program.

The main concern was the public's restricted access to video. A person in a video can view the footage at a police station. Others may file open records requests, but the department can withhold or redact video being used for an investigation.

Within a week of the hearing, the council made a change: an emergency resolution to allow close relatives of a person killed by police to access footage of the incident.

In addition to Maine, lawmakers in at least three other states (Louisiana, Maryland and Massachusetts) proposed task forces last year to study body cameras. An Indiana lawmaker started off the 2020 session with a proposal requiring police to set policies for cameras. Nineteen states and Washington, D.C., require law enforcement to have written policies to use or receive funding for body-worn cameras, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

South Dakota state Sen. Reynold Nesiba, a Democrat, plans to introduce a bill in the upcoming session to "start a conversation" about regulating cameras. While Nesiba doesn't anticipate the state funding a camera program, he sees the use of cameras growing and wants to get standards in place, he said in an interview.

The bill includes a requirement for all agencies using cameras to develop a policy on areas including training, discipline, reporting and maintenance.

"We have to figure out a balance between state-mandated rules and local jurisdictions," Nesiba said.

Applicants for federal body-camera grants must include policies with their applications, according to Justice Department spokeswoman Tannyr Watkins. The program awarded $73 million to more than 400 agencies from 2015 to 2019.

The National Institute of Justice and the FBI have published general guidelines on body-worn cameras. So has the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which supports body-worn cameras generally but takes the stance that each agency knows how to craft policy best for its community, according to Julie Parker, spokeswoman for the association.

In many places, the cost of body cameras remains the primary concern.

In Kansas, for example, a 2018 bill that would have made body cameras a requirement for most law enforcement officers died in a Senate committee.

State Sen. Rick Wilborn, the Republican chairman of the committee, said in an interview that, like most states, Kansas has a few larger cities but lots of small municipalities with small budgets. "We try to be understanding, especially with smaller counties," Wilborn said. "You can't mandate something that's onerous to the point of breaking a budget."

About 80% of large departments with 500 or more full-time officers had body cameras in 2016, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In comparison, only about 31% of small police departments with part-time officers did.

Among police agencies that did not have the cameras, the primary reason given was cost, including video storage/disposal, hardware costs and ongoing maintenance, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Cost was on the mind of a chief of a 20-person police department in Salem, Ill., last year when a city council member asked him to research body-worn cameras.

"We have a good public trust here. We don't have accusations of police misconduct," said Chief Sean Reynolds in an interview.

But he wanted his officers to be able to capture high-profile incidents. Reynolds sought quotes from a retailer, Viridian Weapon Technologies, which estimated that it would cost $5,000 to use and store data from one body camera for five years.

The company provided another option: gun-mounted cameras, which would automatically activate when the weapon was pulled and cost about $800 for five years.

Reynolds chose the second option.

"We wanted something that was cost effective and left no room for error," he said.

Last year Illinois state Rep. Justin Slaughter, a Democrat, introduced a bill to make body-worn cameras a requirement. The bill is still in committee, and Slaughter did not respond to requests for comment.

If the state mandated cameras, Reynolds said he would find a way to comply, but the cost would be difficult for small agencies like his.

Some states don't require cameras but have set aside money for departments that want to purchase them. New Jersey allocated $1 million for cameras in its 2019 budget. New Mexico included $3.1 million for cameras for state police in its 2019 budget, even after a study group led by the attorney general's office was reticent to recommend the program.

Only two states, Nevada and South Carolina, require all law enforcement agencies to use the cameras. Both states have faced challenges in reaching universal compliance.

In Nevada, former Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval signed measures to mandate body cameras for the state highway patrol in 2015 and all law enforcement agencies in 2017. To help cover the cost, the law allowed county governments to increase 911 surcharges on phone bills.

But Nevada's use of 911 fees was criticized in a December report from the Federal Communications Commission. The fees are supposed to be used for 911 related services, according to the commission.

Law enforcement agencies in Nevada were given a deadline of July 2018 to start using body-worn cameras, but some departments didn't get the equipment until nearly a year later. The law didn't include a penalty for not getting cameras, and it's possible that some departments still don't have them, according to a spokeswoman for the state's public safety department.

In South Carolina, then-Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, signed a law to make body cameras a requirement for police in 2015. But the devices aren't everywhere in the state yet.

The law had a caveat: The cameras would be required when the state fully funded the programs.

Since 2016, the state has divvied up $13.4 million to 164 law enforcement agencies, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety. There are 180 agencies in the state, according to Scott Slatton, a lobbyist for the South Carolina Municipal Association.

"We supported the idea of body-worn cameras and understood how important they were," Slatton said.

The association pushed for state funding as part of the law and is pushing for more state money to help departments buy body cameras and pay for data storage, he said.

One of the good outcomes of the law, he said, is that it requires agencies that apply for state money to set policies for using cameras.

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Martin O'Grady was left furious after the pub refused to refund his meal

A grieving diner has slammed a Michelin-starred pub dubbed the 'UK's best' for not giving him a refund after he couldn't make his 660 reservation because his father died.

Martin O'Grady handed over the money as a pre-payment for a birthday meal at the award-winning Fordwich Arms near Canterbury, Kent, which was last year named the UK's best pub at the GQ Magazine Food and Drink Awards.

But four days before the bash on New Year's Eve, his father had a serious accident abroad and a family member attempted to change the reservation, which was for a table of six.

However, the request was refused, as was a full refund, and on the day of the planned meal, Mr O'Grady's father died.

He took to Facebook to share his disappointment, saying: 'We are utterly disgusted by this experience, not to mention 660 worse off, and just feel compelled to share this horrifying story with anyone ever considering making a reservation at this establishment.

'There are no words.'

In response to the public post, Fordwich Arms head chef Dan Smith said he was 'sorry to hear of Mr O'Grady's loss'.

But he told how a pre-payment was taken because a lot of 'premium expensive ingredients' had been purchased specially for the night.

He also spoke of having to cover the wages of 16 staff members brought in to provide the 'best experience service', adding: 'This means that margins are very tight as always in restaurants.'

But the response has further angered Mr O'Grady.

He said: 'Obviously they are feeling the heat from all the negative attention this has drawn.

'They are ''sorry for my loss''? They didn't communicate that to me.

The award-winning Fordwich Arms near Canterbury, Kent, which was last year named the UK's best pub

'It seems that all the negative comments and criticism has pressurised them into commenting. Arrogance at best.

'Their rationale is just about economics. The human aspect of this seems entirely lost on these people.'

Mr O'Grady reiterated he had not sought a refund from the pub, and merely wanted to change the date of the booking given his father's accident and grave condition.

He said: 'We were simply requesting a goodwill gesture to allow us to change our reservation to a later date once I had a chance to return to the UK.

'When asked how management view such extenuating circumstances the manager and owners neither cared nor wanted to hear anything about it.

'Another recital of terms and conditions ensued.'

Mr Smith said Mr O'Grady was told tickets for the New Year's Eve dinner were non-refundable, but said they could be transferred to another person.

He explained: 'The first contact we had with this booking was a phone call on Saturday, December 28, in which we were informed that one of the party's relatives was unwell.

'Once we had heard the news our manager immediately phoned the two tables on the waiting list. However, at the late stage they had already made plans elsewhere.

'Unfortunately, due to the late stage we were unable to fill this particular table. The manager also phoned them on the Monday, which was his day off, to inform them we had not yet been able to sell the tickets and to see if they had any luck.

'We also informed them that we would be happy to refund the two tickets of the couple whose father was unwell or put it towards drinks had the other four wished to attend the booking.

'However, we were informed that none of the party of friends would be attending the booking.

'The reason we charge a pre-payment for these events is that all the food is bought in especially for the menus we offer, which allows us to purchase exactly what we are going to use in the evening.

'With it being New Year's Eve, this particular menu utilised a lot of premium expensive ingredients which were purchased specifically for the event and ensures that no food is wasted.

'On this evening we also had 16 members of staff to ensure we offered the best service we possibly could. Again the cost of the ticket price to cover the large staff costs for the evening.

'As a small independent restaurant in the current financial climate, it is vital we take steps like these to take pre-payments to protect our business.

'We have a high number of staff to ensure we provide the best experience possible. However this means that margins are very tight as always in restaurants.'
Ohioans who pack heat will be happy to know that commissioners in three counties (suburban Cincinnatis Clermont, Appalachias Meigs and Portsmouths Scioto) have declared them Second Amendment Sanctuaries. Mores the wonder the General Assembly hasnt declared the Statehouse a Second Amendment Sanctuary, too.

Actually, designating a county (or anyplace else in Ohio) a Second Amendment Sanctuary is redundant. Since 2006, the legislature, with state Supreme Court connivance, has forbidden local governments from regulating guns. So, to the legislature, everywhere in Ohio is a Second Amendment Sanctuary  with one startling exception.

The GOP-run General Assembly passed that 2006 law, House Bill 347, over the veto of then-Gov. Bob Taft, a Republican. Among General Assembly members who voted to override Tafts veto were Republicans Keith Faber (now Ohios auditor), and Jon Husted, now Ohios lieutenant governor; Kenny Yuko, a Richmond Heights Democrat whos now the state Senates minority leader; then-state Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a Dayton Republican who now is a lobbyist; then-state Sen. Jim Jordan, an Urbana Republican who is one of President Donald Trumps congressional fanboys; and Stark County GOP legislators Scott Oelslager and Kirk Schuring. Among the legislators who voted against the override  that is, who voted to uphold Tafts veto of the gun bill  were then-state Sens. Steve Stivers, a suburban Columbus Republican now in Congress; such Greater Cleveland Democrats as Eric Fingerhut, Dale Miller and Michael Skindell; and Greater Cleveland Republican Robert Spada.

Clermont County (seat: Batavia) is east of Cincinnati. Clermonts population is just over 200,000 people. The countys poverty rate, the Census reports, is 8.2 percent. (Ohios statewide rate is about 14 percent.) In 2016, Clermont cast 68 percent of its votes for Donald Trump. The last time Clermont voted for a Democrat for president was 1964 (Lyndon Johnson). In 1968, Clermont gave almost as much of its presidential vote to race-baiter George C. Wallace (24 percent) as to Democrat Hubert Humphrey (28 percent). Matter of fact, only one Ohio county gave a bigger share (25 percent) of its 1968 presidential vote to Wallace: Warren (Lebanon). Anyone surprised?

Meigs County (Pomeroy), south of Athens, has about 23,000 residents. Its poverty rate is about 18 percent. In 2016, Meigs cast 73 percent of its votes for Donald Trump. The last times Meigs voted for a Democrat for president were in 1996 and 1992 (Bill Clinton) and 1976 (Jimmy Carter).

Scioto County, along the Ohio River, with a population of about 75,000, has a poverty rate of more than 22 percent. In 2016, 65 percent of those voting in the presidential contest cast their votes for Trump. Scioto also last voted for a Democrat for president in 1996 and 1992, choosing Bill Clinton.

To borrow one of George Wallaces expressions, designating Clermont, Meigs and Scioto counties as Second Amendment Sanctuaries doesnt make a dimes worth of difference to anyone, any more than Cleveland Heights and Oberlins self-designation as nuclear-free zones stopped the international arms race. But designating a county a Second Amendment Sanctuary might win publicity for a few county commissioners. (And this is an election year.)

Still, an Ohio voter, no matter where she or he lives, may want to ask the local state representative or state senator why the Statehouse isnt a Second Amendment Sanctuary, too.

The Ohio Administrative Code says firearms or other weapons, concealed or otherwise, are prohibited within the capitol buildings without the express written permission of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, which manages the Statehouse  and which is a capitol building.

So far, no one has asked the Capitol Square board to bring a gun into the Statehouse. But why should anyone have to ask? Given the legislatures pro-gun frenzies, if anyplace in Ohio should be a Second Amendment Sanctuary, it should be the Statehouse. But its not. And the reason for that isnt the legislatures forgetfulness. Its the legislatures hypocrisy.

Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens.

To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474

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.
Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said it is impossible for an immigrant to provide proof of religious persecution.

Sarma, who is also convenor of the National Democratic Alliance's regional wing North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said that it is not possible for the person to go back to his country of origin and collect a copy of police report to show that he was subjected to religious persecution.

Assam has been witnessing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act with the people apprehending that it will hurt their interests.

"It is not possible for an applicant to prove that he had been subjected to religious persecution in his country of origin. Because if he has to prove it, then he has to go to Bangladesh to collect an FIR or police report," Sarma said after a party function on Saturday.

"You cannot prove fear of religious persecution or religious persecution itself. How can you prove it? Somebody will challenge it.

"That is what my assessment is. You will ask a person to go back to Bangladesh and ask him to collect video-graphic or photographic evidence of religious persecution?" he asked.

The Assam government has requested the Centre to include submission of evidence by an applicant that he was in the state prior to 2014 in the rules of the CAA, which are under preparation, the NEDA convenor said.

"Our firm view is that in order to prove that you have come to Assam before 2014, you have to prove it through documents like a bank account opened prior to 2014 or name in the electoral roll prior to 2014 or NRC application before 2014," the BJP leader said.

The Assam government wants a very short window period to establish citizenship under the CAA because rumours are being spread about the possible number of beneficiaries under the Act.

"Our firm view is that the applicants will be in the range of 3 lakh to 5 lakh. These are the people who are staying in Assam from 1972 or 1975.

"We want to end this confusion in Assam. So, we requested for a very short window period because our target people are already selected during the process of NRC.

"Everybody knows that my name is not in NRC, so there is no confusion. No confusion on the applicant's side, no confusion on the government's side. Just go and apply. It will hardly take 2-3 months. Somebody whose name is not in NRC, they can go and apply," the minister said.

The Act aims to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis entering India on or before December 31, 2014 from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre on a batch of 59 petitions challenging the validity of CAA.

The next date of hearing is January 22.
President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi will inaugurate the SCZone Economic Conference that will take place in Galala City on 7 March

The Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) will establish a subsidiary company to work as an investment and commercial arm to channel funds for projects along the Canal, said Yehia Zaki, chairman of the SCZone, last week.

We will study the mechanisms that can push investments in the zone forward amid current developments, Zaki added during a meeting in Cairo on Sunday organised by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) to discuss the SCZones five-year strategic plan.

Currently, the investment value of the industrial zones in the SCZone is estimated at $17 billion, with 14 industrial developers and 247 operational establishments on an area of 239 square km creating 70,000 job opportunities.

Zaki praised the governments support for the SCZone through building a strong infrastructure, including seven power stations and 13 power-distribution units, two desalination plants and two water-treatment plants, establishing tunnels and bridges to support the transportation network, and expanding the telecommunications and natural-gas networks.

There are four industrial zones and six ports in the SCZone, with the canal itself seeing 18,000 ships pass through each year, or approximately 10 per cent of global trade.

Zaki said that he expected negotiations over the Russian industrial zone east of Port Said, which will be established on an area of 5.25 square km with investments expected to total about $7 billion, to be finalised soon.

Meanwhile, the establishment of a Japanese industrial zone is still under consideration. The SCZone signed a contract with the Japanese Toyota Group last month to establish a roll-on, roll-off terminal in East Port Said at an investment cost of about $160 million.

An agreement with Dubai World on a deal to develop the port areas is also underway with a potential investment of $600 million.

Connectivity between East and West Port Said, as well as the north and south of the SCZone, is a top priority, according to Zaki. There are several projects to be announced soon that will aim to increase their connectivity, he said.

As part of its 2020-2025 plans, the SCZone will focus on improving the legal framework for investment in the zone over the next five years and will discuss with the government ways to offer new tax incentives and other facilitations for investors.

Investing in the zone has many competitive advantages, including financial and non-financial incentives, customs exemptions, and trade agreements that enable regional and international markets to be reached at competitive prices.

Additionally, Zaki stated that the SCZone will focus in the next five years on the engineering industries and petrochemicals sectors, and that it is planning to carry out several investment promotion tours to Asian, European and African companies.

President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi will inaugurate the SCZone Economic Conference that will take place in Galala City on 7 March. Zaki said the Conference would be a great opportunity to show off the latest developments and investment opportunities in the zone as a way of establishing it as a global logistics hub.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 16 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Seventeen more people in central China have been diagnosed with a new form of viral pneumonia that has killed two patients and placed other countries on alert as millions of Chinese travel for Lunar New Year holidays.

In total, 62 cases of the novel coronavirus have been identified in the central city of Wuhan, where the virus appears to have originated.

The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission reported the new cases in a statement Sunday.

Nineteen of those individuals have been discharged from the hospital, while two men in their 60s - one with severe preexisting conditions - have died from the illness.

Pedestrians wear protective masks as they walk through a shopping district in Tokyo on Thursday. Japan's government said Thursday a man treated for pneumonia after returning from China has tested positive for the new coronavirus identified as a possible cause of an outbreak in the Chinese city of Wuhan

A notice for passengers from Wuhan, China, is displayed near a quarantine station at Narita airport in Narita, Japan, on Thursday

JFK (above), LAX, and San Francisco were the first three US airports to begin screenings for the new coronavirus

Eight are in critical condition.

At least a half-dozen countries in Asia and three U.S. airports have started screening incoming airline passengers from central China.

The list includes Thailand and Japan, which have together reported three cases of the disease in people who had come from Wuhan.

In the most recently diagnosed group, ages ranged between 30 and 79, Wuhan's health commission said.

WHAT IS THE NEW CORONAVIRUS SPREADING FROM CHINA? An outbreak of pneumonia-like illnesses began in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019. Its symptoms are typically a fever, cough and trouble breathing, but some patients have developed pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the small air sacs in the lungs. Scientists in China recognized its similarity to two viruses that turned into global killers: SARS and MERS. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome is caused by the SARS coronavirus, known as SARS Co, and first emerged in China in 2002. By the end of the outbreak, the virus had spread to several other Asian countries as well as the UK and Canada, killing 774. MERS, or Middle East respirator syndrome originated in the region for which it's named, ultimately killed 787 people and belongs to the same family of coronaviruses as SARS. The new virus wasn't a match for either of those two, but it did belong to the same coronavirus family. Coronaviruses are a large family of pathogens, and most cause mild respiratory infections - i.e. the common cold. But because the SARS and MERS proved deadly, the emergence of another new coronavirus has health officials on edge around the world. Like its two dangerous cousins, the new coronavirus appears to have originated with animals - particularly seafood, chickens, bats, marmots - found at a Wuhan market that's been identified as the epicenter of the outbreak. The symptoms of SARS, which may be similar to those of the new coronavirus, include: a high temperature (fever)

extreme tiredness (fatigue)

headaches

chills

muscle pain

loss of appetite

diarrhoea After these symptoms, the infection will begin to affect your lungs and airways (respiratory system), leading to additional symptoms, such as: a dry cough

breathing difficulties

an increasing lack of oxygen in the blood, which can be fatal in the most severe cases So far, there isn't a treatment for the new virus or SARS, though the new virus has been sequenced, allowing for rapid diagnostics. Advertisement

Their initial symptoms were fever and a cough.

The health commission's statement did not say whether these patients had visited the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which has been suspended after many infected individuals reported having either worked at or visited the venue.

Li Gang, director and chief physician of the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, told state broadcaster CCTV that 'the infectivity of the new coronavirus is not strong.'

Infectivity refers to how rapidly the virus may spread between individuals.

Most patients are experiencing mild symptoms, Li said, and no related cases have been found in more than 700 people who came into close contact with infected patients.

This 'does not rule out the possibility of limited human-to-human transmission, but the risk of continuous human-to-human transmission is low,' Li said. 'With the implementation of our various prevention and control measures, the epidemic can be prevented and controlled.'

The Chinese government is keen to avoid a repeat of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, another coronavirus that started in southern China in late 2002 and spread to more than two dozen countries, killing nearly 800 people.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials have created questionnaires about symptoms of the newly identified virus to distribute to passengers.

Passengers with symptoms will then be questioned more thoroughly and examined for fevers and undergo a diagnostic test for the virus on-site before potentially being referred to off-site and unidentified quarantine and assessment facilities.

CDC officials say that the risk of exposure is currently considered low, but Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases said she thinks that it's 'more than likely that we'll see at least a case in the US' before the outbreak is over.

Dr Martin Cetron, director of the CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, said he estimates some 5,000 passengers will be screened in the US in the coming weeks.

So far, Wuhan has not been conducting exit screens, but he said they may begin doing so.

'The current risk from this virus to the general public is low,' said Dr Messonnier during a Friday call with reporters.

'For a family sitting around the dinner table tonight, it's not something they need to worry about.'

Nonetheless, she and the CDC are taking every precaution when it comes to protecting the US from the novel coronavirus that emerged at the end of last year in Wuhan.

'Any time there is a new virus or pathogen in a population that we've never seen before, it's concerning, because that population doesn't have existing immunity, treatment or vaccines,' said Dr Messonnier.

'We're especially concerned [by the new coronavirus] because we have the precedents of SARS and MERS and those were difficult outbreaks with many illnesses and deaths.
CIUDAD HIDALGO, Mexico  Mexican authorities closed a border entry point on Saturday after thousands of Central American migrants tried to push across a bridge spanning the Suchiate River between Mexico and Guatemala.

Honduran migrants waved their countrys flag and sang the national anthem as they approached the bridge. At the height of the confrontation, Guatemalan authorities estimated 2,500 migrants were on the bridge, or attempting to get on it.

Babies cried and tempers flared as the crowd swelled. Amid shoves, Mexican officials did allow a few migrants to enter the country in groups of 20, while a voice over a loudspeaker warned migrants against trying to slip into Mexico without passing through immigration filters.

Piecemeal, more than 150 migrants entered to apply for asylum or some other variation of permission to stay in Mexico as the day wore on. But many migrants prefer to pass through Mexico en route to the United States.

Mexico again finds itself in the role of immigration enforcer as Central Americans desperate for a better life try to make their way north, while Mexicos biggest trade partner  the United States insists that Mexico prevent those migrants from reaching the U.S. border.

Mexicos National Migration Institute said via Twitter on Saturday that it had reinforced multiple points along the countrys southern border to assure safe, orderly and regular immigration. It also said it was using drones to monitor the region.

Hundreds of National Guardsmen lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely.

As temperatures rose Saturday, migrants trickled back across the bridge to Guatemala. By late afternoon, fewer than a hundred remained on the bridge.

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.

Mexicos government has said those seeking asylum or other protections will be allowed to apply and legalize their status in Mexico. But the offer of legal status and potential employment for migrants carries a stipulation that would confine migrants to southern Mexico, where wages are lower and there are fewer jobs than elsewhere in the country.

Maria Verza is an Associated Press writer.
Forces loyal to Libyan military strongman Khalifa Haftar blocked oil exports from the war-ravaged countrys main ports Saturday, raising the stakes on the eve of an international summit aimed at bringing peace to the North African nation.

The move to cripple the countrys main income source was a protest against Turkeys decision to send troops to shore up Haftars rival, the head of Tripolis UN-recognised government Fayez al-Sarraj.

It comes ahead of Sundays conference in Berlin that will see the United Nations try to extract a pledge from world leaders to stop meddling in the Libyan conflict -- be it through supplying troops, weapons or financing.

All foreign interference can provide some aspirin effect in the short term, but Libya needs all foreign interference to stop, UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame told AFP in an interview.

But Sarraj issued a call for international protection troops if Haftar keeps up his offensive.

Such a protection force must operate under the auspices of the United Nations. Experts will have to advise who should participate, such as the EU or the African Union or the Arab League, he told the Die Welt newspaper on Sunday.

The presidents of Russia, Turkey and France as well as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are to join the Sunday talks, held under the auspices of the UN.

Haftar and Sarraj are also expected, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas confirmed Saturday, ahead of the first gathering of such scale on the conflict since 2018.

After months of combat, which has killed more than 2,000 people, a ceasefire took effect on January 12 backed by both Ankara and Moscow, which is accused of supporting Haftar.

But Saturdays blockade raised fears over the conflict.

The disruption to oil exports is expected to more than halve the countrys daily crude production, to 500,000 barrels from 1.3 million barrels, translating to losses of $55 million a day, warned Libyas National Oil Company.

Our line at the UN is clear. Dont play with petrol because its the livelihood of the Libyans, warned Salame just hours before the blockade.

Jalel Harchaoui, an expert at the Hague-based Institute Clingendael, said the petrol blockade was part of the logic of blackmail.

It can work, but theres also a risk that Washington will react badly he said. Washington was deeply opposed to any move that could drive up crude prices, he added.

The oil-rich North African country has been torn by fighting between rival armed factions since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi and toppled his regime.

More recently, Haftars forces launched an assault in April on Sarrajs troops in Tripoli.

Vicious cycle

Although Sarrajs government is recognised by the UN, some powerful players have broken away to stand behind Haftar -- turning a domestic conflict into what is essentially a proxy war with international powers jostling to secure their own interests.

Alarm grew internationally when Ankara ordered in troops early January to help shore up Sarraj. Russia has denied accusations it provided weapons, financing and mercenaries to Haftar.

We must end this vicious cycle of Libyans calling for the help of foreign powers. Their intervention deepens the divisions among the Libyans, said Salame.

The place of international players should be to help Libyans develop themselves, he added.

The UN envoy said Sundays meeting will also seek to consolidate the shaky ceasefire.

Today we only have a truce. We want to transform it into a real ceasefire with monitoring, separation (of rival camps), repositioning of heavy weapons outside urban zones, he said.

Although the UN has tried repeatedly to broker peace, talks have repeatedly collapsed.

Erdogan issues warning

On the eve of the Berlin talks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Europe to stand united behind Sarrajs government, as Tripolis fall could leave fertile ground for jihadist groups like IS or Al-Qaeda to get back on their feet.

Erdogan also played up Europes fears of a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis in his commentary for Politico news website, saying further unrest could prompt a new wave of migrants to head for the continent.

Accusing France in particular of siding with Haftar, Erdogan said leaving Libya to the commander would be a mistake of historic proportions.

France has denied it is backing Haftar.

The European Union is watching the escalating strife on its doorstep with growing alarm, as it counts on Libya as a gatekeeper deterring migrants from crossing the Mediterranean.

On Sunday Sarraj said the bloc had not been proactive enough on Libya.

Unfortunately the role of the EU so far has been very modest... even though some EU countries have a special relationship with Libya, we are neighbours and have many interests in common, he said.

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

A San Francisco man has been sentenced to four years in prison for possession of child pornography, United States Attorney David Anderson announced Thursday.

Mark Miner, 51, was sentenced to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty on July 17, 2019 to possession of more than 800 images and videos of child pornography that he stored online with an internet file-hosting service, prosecutors said.

Miner admitted to sending links to his online account via texts and other electronic communications in order to distribute the images and videos to others.

In addition to his prison sentence, Miner will serve a five-year period of supervised release.

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.
New Delhi: Ahead of the special session of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Monday which will rule on a proposal to have three capitals, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday worked the media, giving 'exclusive interviews', to mount pressure on chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and warning of a flight of committed investment if the state government abandoned the project.

If the present government does not honour the agreements made to build a grand new capital at Amaravati, investors would lose confidence for future projects, said the former chief minister.

The three-day special session of the Assembly has been called to approve the report of a High-Powered Committee (HPC) which recommended distributed capital functions for the state: the executive at Visakhapatnam, the legislature at Amaravati and the judiciary at Kurnool.

In his interview with PTI, Chandrababu Naidu said there is "no logic" to the three capitals idea and called it only a ruse to carry out a witchhunt against the former Telugu Desam Party government.

Does it makes sense to shift the capital when construction is at an advanced stage? An investment of nearly Rs 50,000 crore has been committed, which has the potential to generate 50,000 jobs. About 130 institutions are to come up. All that will not happen if the capital is shifted, Chandrababu Naidu warned.

Already several structures have come upSecretariat, Assembly, courts, Raj Bhavan and DGP's officeRs 10,000 crore has been spent on developing Amaravati. The construction of 5,000 quarters for ministers and senior officers is underway, and "everything" will be ready if the government spent another Rs 2,000-3,000 crore.

The former chief minister claimed that the decision to build the capital at Amaravati was based on the recommendations of the Sivaramakrishnan Committee constituted by the Centre before the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in 2014. He denied there were any irregularities in coming to that decision.

If there were any irregularities, the government is free to act. Already eight months in power, why the government is not initiating any action? Instead of taking action, it is unnecessarily indulging in mudslinging, he said.

Except for the interest of five crore people of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said he does not have any vested interest in Amaravati. As a politician, I have only one interest, that is development of the state.

(In 1996) I had prepared a Vision 2020 for combined Andhra Pradesh. Almost all of it has happened in Hyderabad. For new Andhra Pradesh, I prepared a Vision 2029-2050 envisaging Andhra as the number one state in the country by 2029 in all aspects like per capita income and growth. Now, this man (Jagan Reddy) has dashed all those hopes.

Naidu rubbished the Jagan Mohan Reddy government's contention that Amaravati is being built on an area prone to floods. However, the National Green Tribunal has ruled that that's not the case and even the Supreme Court upheld its decision. ""Another lie the state government is spreading is about an IIT Chennai report purportedly stating that Amaravati was not a suitable place for a capital city. However, IIT Chennai has denied coming up with any such report," the TDP president said.

Asked about his political strategy to stall the government''s three capitals plan, the TDP president said: We will work out a strategy. He (the CM) is having a majority in the Assembly, we are having a majority in the council. We have to work out how it is going to happen.
WASHINGTON - Freezing rain fell in cold, heavy drops as the Women's March began its trek toward the White House on Saturday to confront the president where he lives.

"I can't feel my toes anymore," one woman said as she jumped up and down.

"My fingers are numb," a college student told her friends, extending her hand toward them.

But they kept going - down the steps, into the street, past the Washington Monument and, eventually, into Lafayette Square across from the White House - along with thousands of others who gathered for the fourth annual Women's March on Washington.

Women across the country sent a final rebuke to President Donald Trump before the 2020 presidential election. Though organizers have for weeks tried to put three main issues at the center of the march - climate change, immigration and reproductive rights - Saturday's protest remained very much about the man in the White House.

But many women said this year's march took on a new tone. Instead of feeling angry, fearful or devastated by Trump's ascent to the presidency, demonstrators said they felt something new: hope.

"I remember being at the first Women's March and I started crying while we were chanting," said Emily Anderson, 24, a District of Columbia resident who brought her dog, Yogi. "But today feels really different. It's more hopeful. I think that tells you a lot about how far we've come."

The Women's March burst into the national consciousness in 2017, when it inspired millions to take to the streets in Washington and across the globe. On Saturday, the annual feminist demonstration drew thousands to the nation's capital, as well as to hundreds of cities around the country, including New York, Los Angeles and Denver in demonstrations that organizers said was the beginning of the group's 2020 efforts.

More than 70 buses from states such as Alabama, Nebraska and Pennsylvania brought activists to the rally, Women's March officials said. Many said the upcoming election compelled them to come to Washington this year by to the upcoming election.

"This is the last Women's March we're going to need because Trump is going to be gone by this time next year," said Joann Edmunds, 69, a Roanoke, Virginia, resident who attended the march with three friends. "Once he's out of office, there won't be the same need for it."

Despite organizers insisting Saturday's rally would feature neither speakers nor a stage, the march kicked off with both.

As flakes of snow began to fall and temperatures hovered near 30 degrees, Martin Luther King III took the stage to introduce his wife, humanitarian and activist Arndrea Waters King. She reminded the crowd that 2020 marks 100 years since women earned the right to vote. And this weekend is one that also honors the legacy of her late father-in-law and civil rights leader, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"Remembering is not enough," she said. "We must see this march as a time of rededication and renewal. . . . This can be the decade that ushers in new freedom."

Throngs carried signs that read "Ratify the ERA now" or "See you at the voting booth," while others held up images of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg.

The right to vote was top of mind for many in the crowd who honored the centennial anniversary of women's suffrage with signs, suffragist costumes and sashes.

"It's been 100 years and we're still fighting - we don't have equal rights," said Nancy Railey, 59, of Garrett County, Maryland, who dressed as a suffragist for the occasion and carried a sign that read "Another 100 years?"

A pair of sisters, Paula Beaty, 55, and Elizabeth Beaty, 61, of Arizona and North Carolina, respectively, said they spent two hours Friday standing in front of the White House in suffragist regalia as men shouted questions at them.

"They asked us why we were out there and said things like 'women here have it better than anywhere else in the world, be grateful,' " Elizabeth Beaty said. "It made me think how the women who fought for the right to vote stood out there for two years - we did it for two hours and that was tough."

Waves of women from Virginia cheered lawmakers' vote earlier in the week to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

"It's really cool to be able to come here and say, 'Look, we're making progress; we got this done,' " said Theresa Quitto-Dickerson, 37, who attended the march with her wife of 16 years, Gin-I Dickerson, 43. The couple, from Loudoun County (Virginia), helped to lobby for the ERA.

Other issues, including environmental protection, international conflict and transgender rights, were on display at rallies around the country.

In New York, pink hats dotted Columbus Circle as marchers carried signs with pro-woman and anti-Trump slogans.

The demonstrations, though smaller in some cities than in previous years, brought together longtime marchers and new demonstrators, including student activists who said the upcoming election inspired them to participate.

Linda Salzer, 56, of Cambridge, New York, traveled more than two hours to New York City to participate.

"The movement that started in 2017 got me riled up," she said, adding that she had since joined the League of Women Voters and other women's activist groups.

In Los Angeles, thousands of women demonstrated at Pershing Square and Grand Park. Organizers, who coined the theme "Women Rising," for years have sought to separate themselves from the national Women's March organization, but collaborated on Saturday.

Hundreds of participants carried wire hangers wrapped in pink paper with the #noban hashtag on one side and "Warning: this is a surgical instrument" on the other.

Graphic designer Robin McCarthy said she felt motivated to design the hangers after antiabortion "heartbeat bills" were passed around the country. She and two friends brought thousands to hand to demonstrators.

"They're an awful but visceral reminder," she said, "and that's what we want."

At rallies in the District and New York, small groups of antiabortion activists lined the march route and shouted at demonstrators. Protesters blocked them with their signs and chanted, "My body, my choice."

Activists said one of the march's most powerful moments came outside the White House, as Chilean feminist collective Las Tesis led a performance of "Un violador en tu camino" ("A rapist in your path"), a feminist protest anthem that excoriates patriarchal rule, rape culture and violence against women.

Chanting in English and Spanish, the women pumped their fists and tapped their feet as they moved to the beat of drums. Many wore blindfolds, a symbol used by feminist movements around the globe.

"I just yelled at the top of my lungs in front of the White House," shouted Yara Travieso, 33. "In Spanish!"

Trump, however, wasn't in Washington to hear the protesters. The president departed Friday for his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, where he spent the weekend.

Protesters marched past Freedom Plaza, their scheduled dispersal point, and toward the Trump International Hotel, where the group broke into another round of the feminist chant.

Though the group had thinned, an all-female drum line at the front of the march kept those present dancing through the street.

The decision to have drummers - instead of celebrities or board members - lead the march was one of several changes made to rebuild relationships with disaffected activists.

Some Jewish women remained weary of the organization because of delays in removing former board members accused of anti-Semitism. But others said they felt compelled to give the group another chance.

Outside the Trump International Hotel, marchers broke into song and dance, beating drums and clapping hands to the beat of the Chilean protest chant. The rain had lifted, and the snow had stopped.

As police cars blocked traffic, the group said in unison: "It's the cops, it's the judges, it's the system, it's the president."

The crowd bust into cheers, women pointing at Trump's gold-plated name as they shouted together, "The rapist is you."
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.
Fifteen years ago, George Teague captured Horse of the Year honours with the sensational Rainbow Blue. He looked to have another chance at a Horse of the Year connection this past year with the co-fastest Standardbred in harness racing history, Lather Up.

A finalist for 2019 Older Pacing Horse of the Year, Lather Up had his season cut short due to injury. Up until his final race, the 2019 Canadian Pacing Derby, Lather Up was the clear cut choice as the best older male pacer. With wins in the Graduate Final -- his 1:46 world record effort -- the W. R. Haughton, the Sam McKee Memorial and Dan Patch Invitational, the talk wasn't about beating Lather Up. It was all about history, and Lather Up making it in Lexington.

Racing will never know how fast Lather Up could have paced during the day in Lexington, but Teague feels there hasn't been a horse like him.

"When travelling in a straight line and on his game, he was unbeatable in his class," Teague told Trot Insider. "But that wasn't always the case."

It was the case more often than not for Lather Up's connections. A homebred of Gary & Barbara Iles who now share ownership with Teague and Taylor Made Stallions of Nicholasville, Ky., Lather Up (Im Gorgeous - Pocket Comb) won 23 of 37 lifetime starts in his career, with a 8-1-1 record from 12 starts as a four-year-old in 2019.

"Definitely one of the fastest horses Ive seen race, and it was fun to be a part of it," continued Teague, who's been connected with the aforementioned Rainbow Blue and Wiggle It Jiggleit over his illustrious career. He considers Lather Up's mile on in the 2019 Sam McKee Memorial on Hambletonian "one of the most impressive miles" he's ever seen. At the extended distance of 1-1/8 miles, Lather Up led from start to finish, reaching the mile point in 1:46.3 before going the extra eighth in :12.4. Thus, Lather Up is the only horse in harness racing history with two sub-1:47 miles.

Teague was quick to give credit to his team for the success with Lather Up, but also gave a ton of praise to Lather Up for being an exquisite animal.

"Clyde Francis and Montrell Teague, both of them did a great job. And Jody Jamieson did a great job filling in. But it all comes down to the horse."

Now, Lather Up has to prove himself in a different arena -- the stud barn. Originally slated for stallion duty in New York, the connections shifted Lather Up to Ohio for 2020. And Teague feels the competition off the track is just as fierce.

"Making a horse a successful stud is a big challenge these days with so many studs standing and so few broodmares. Like this year, a lot of popular stallions going to stud pretty...it's a flooded market right now so I hope he gets the mares. Thats going to be greatly important and equally as important I hope he gets a few good ones along the way."

Lather Up faces McWicked in the Older Pacing Horse category at the 2019 O'Brien Awards, and regardless of the outcome Teague spoke as highly of the awards gala as he did his retired O'Brien finalist.

"The OBrien Awards is definitely the most classy of all the awards Ive ever been to. They do it up in first class," stated Teague. "Ive been fortunate to receive a couple of OBrien Awards for horses over the years, and theres always a thrill to be one of the finalists."

The 2019 O'Brien Awards Black Tie Gala takes place on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale Hotel in Mississauga, Ontario. Tickets are still available for the OBrien Awards. To purchase OBrien tickets, contact:

 Kathy Wade Vlaar at [email protected] or 905-858-3060 (Ext. 207).

 Hailey Saunders at [email protected] or 905-858-3060 (Ext. 243).

Standardbred Canada has partnered with FitzRoy Dress Rental and Moores for discounts for OBrien Awards guests.

FitzRoy Dress Rental Discount  Women can rent their dresses from FitzRoy Dress Rentals online or in-store and receive a 15 per cent discount with the promo code OBRIEN15. For an additional fee you can request to have the dress dropped off and picked up at the Hilton Mississauga / Meadowvale Hotel. For complete information, click here.

Moores Tuxedo Discount  Click here for info and flyer.

Keep up to date on the OBrien Awards and follow the 2019 OBrien Awards Facebook Page.
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, we are living in the United States of Propaganda.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Another crisis is brewing in the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the 2023 presidential ambition of the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a group within the party has expressed disappointment over a statement credited to the national coordinator of the TNN (Tinubu-Not-Negotiable 2023) Muri Okunola.

The convener of the Southeast Integrity Group and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Chinedu Ogbuagu, on Saturday dismissed as ridiculous and absurd a reported claim by Okunola that APC will lose if the Igbos get 2023 presidential ticket.

Recall that Okunola while pushing for the candidature of Tinubu had stated that the only reason Nigeria is still together is power rotation, stressing that power rotation is sacrosanct for unity of Nigeria.

Responding, Dr. Ogbuagu said power rotation is intended to be between North and South. But is Tinubu not from the same Southern geo-political zone that produced president (Obasanjo) 1999 to 2007 and vice president (Osinbajo) 2015 to 2023.

He recalled that each time the South has produced the President, they did so with the massive support of the Southeast, despite the fact it was the only zone that had neither produced the president nor vice-president.

Ogbuagu while attributing Okunolas stance to greed and insensitivity said, every selfless and patriotic Nigerian knows that presidential power must not only rotate to the South in 2023, but should also be zoned to the Southeast geopolitical zone that has not produced a president, not even vice president since 1999.

Dr Ogbuagu dismissed as self-serving and distorted political and electoral calculations of groups like TNN 2023 and asserted that to the contrary, Southeast voters remain the largest, though latent voting block spread accross all states of the federation.

He opined that this latency will be brought to life with a presidential candidate of Southeast extraction.

Okunola and those who share his jaundiced narrative should take a cue from the historical swearing in of Governor Hope Uzodinma as an APC governor on 15th January 2020, exactly 50 years after the end of the Biafra War as an indication that the hand of God is in a southeasterner becoming the flagbearer and winning the presidency for our great party in 2023.
Australia's beloved platypus is now feared to be on the 'brink of extinction'.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales say the number of platypuses in the wild could fall by 66 per cent by 2070 because of climate change and other threats.

Researchers said soaring temperatures across the country, the intense drought and land clearing are all contributing to the species' decline.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales are fearing platypuses may decline by up to 66 per cent within just 50 years (file image)

Richard Kingsford, director for UNSW's Centre for Ecosystem Science said the future for the animal was 'grim'.

'This is impacting their ability to survive during these extended dry periods and increased demand for water,' Mr Kingsford said in the journal article, Biological Conservation, The Age reported.

'If we lost the platypus from Australian rivers, you would say, 'What sort of government policies or care allow that to happen?''

Gilad Bino, the study's lead author said the threat of climate change could affect the platypus's ability to repopulate, noting they could face 'extinction'.

'We are not monitoring what we assume to be a common species. And then we may wake up and realise it's too late,' Dr Bino said.

The platypus is listed as 'near-threatened' under the IUCN Red List of threatened species but Dr Bino says the government needs to assess how much the animal is at risk.

The study's researchers said in order to prevent total extinction the platypus' habitat would need to be managed.

The Victorian Environment Department said they were working with the federal government over whether the platypus' status needed to be changed to 'threatened'.

NSW said they recognised issues such as the drought could be placing the platypus 'at risk'.

Platypuses live in freshwater areas and are found along the east coast and southeast coast of Australia.
Iranian authorities have said on January 18 that it will be sending the black boxes of the downed Ukrainian aircraft to Kiev that Iranian military accidentally shot down this month. The incident was criticized by Iranian nationals and it faced international pressure from other countries, according to the reports. The Iranian news agency said that the officials were prepared for experts from France, Canada, and the United States to speculate the information from the data and voice recorders of the Ukraine International Airlines flight which was shot on January 8.

READ: Ukraine Officials Ask Iran To Hand Over Black Boxes Of Downed Plane

Officials ask for legal assistance

Ukrainian officials have asked for legal assistance linked to hand over the black boxes of the Ukrainian plane which crashed on January 8 killing all 176 people onboard. The office of the Ukrainian prosecutor said that the country had sent a request for legal assistance linked to the handover to the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies of the Ukrainian International Airlines Boeing 737 flight recorders, as reported by international media.

READ: Iran's Rouhani Promises To Punish Those Behind Plane's Downing: Ukraine

The officials further said that they would take all measures to properly decode the black boxes and preserve evidence of the investigation. On Saturday, the Ukrainian prosecutor's office had confirmed to international media that it was investigating the possible willful killing and destruction in its probe of the airliner. The Boeing 737 crashed into the ground shortly after its takeoff from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. On Tuesday, Iran had invited the UN for support in its probe of the plane crash. In a statement, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) said that the invitation from Iran was accepted. The statement further read,  The ICAO has appointed senior and expert technical staff, who will now serve as advisors and observers in the probe.

READ: Ukraine President Speaks To Iran Counterpart Rouhani About Downed Jet; Reads Him Riot Act

Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) flight PS752 crashed within minutes after takeoff from Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran on January 8 killing all 176 passengers and crew members aboard the plane. The reason for the crash involving a Boeing 737-800 is under investigation. Iran's civil aviation authority claimed that the flight's crash is due to technical issues but the crash took place just after Iran launched missiles at US bases in Iraq.

READ: Iran IRGC Commander Takes Full Responsibility For Shooting Down Ukraine Plane, Killing 176
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

In my slow perambulation through the biosphere, Ive looked at mangrove swamps. coral reefs, and estuaries. Today, Ill look at a lake. This lake:

Thats like Erie from the Canadian side. This and the next photo are a little too HDR for my taste, but Lake Erie is very beautiful. From the U.S. side, looking out over Toledo:

Unfortunately, heres a close-up of Lake Erie water in Toledo:

What that green gunk is, and how Toledo citizens are trying to protect their Great Lake, is the subject of this post. Ill look at lakes, Lake Erie, and Toledos efforts. (There will be a petitiion for you to sign, at the end. This post does meander a bit, so feel free to jump right to it.)

My Oxford English Dictionary defines lake as A large body of water entirely surrounded by land, which is obviously not right, since it leaves no room for rivers and streams flowing in or out. Here is what the USGS has to say:

A lake really is just another component of Earths surface water. A lake is where surface-water runoff (and maybe some groundwater seepage) have accumulated in a low spot, relative to the surrounding countryside. Its not that the water that forms lakes get trapped, but that the water entering a lake comes in faster than it can escape, either via outflow in a river, seepage into the ground, or by evaporation.

Somewhat more formally, from D.K. Branstrator, Encyclopedia of Inland Waters (via Science Direct):

Three elements are common to the origin of every lake: (1) an environmental force, (2) a body of terrain reshaped by that force into a closed depression (basin), and (3) a water supply. These three elements have met on the landscape with immense frequency during the Earths history and have given rise to an estimated 304 million natural lakes in existence today.

304 million natural lakes! Lake Erie is one of the five Great lakes, and the eleventh largest lake in the world by surface area. Its inflow is the Detroit River, from the upper lakes  Superior, Michigan and Huron and precipitation. Its outflow is via the Niagara Rive. Lake Eries basin and terrain:

It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. At its deepest point Lake Erie is 210 feet (64 metres) deep.

Branstrator also gives us insight in the the classification and life cycle of lakes, in Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences:

Lake basins originate through a wide variety of natural and anthropogenic processes. Some of these processes are gradual and usually imperceptible (tectonic movement, fluvial erosion), while others (meteorite impact) are quick and extraordinary. To the human observer, most lakes are permanent features of the landscape. On a geologic time scale, by contrast, most lakes are fleeting and all are ultimately ephemeral.

I am not used to thinking of lakes, except maybe artificial lakes, as ephemeral. More:

The first element in a lakes origin is an environmental force and is the facet of its natural history most commonly used by scientists to guide the general classification of lake basins. George Evelyn Hutchinson (19031991) provided one of the most extensive surveys available on the origins of lake basins in the first chapter of his four-volume series, A Treatise on Limnology (Hutchinson, 1957). There he describes the formation of numerous distinct types of lake basins resulting from 11 principal environmental forces, including glacial, tectonic, volcanic, fluvial, organism behavior, chemical, wind, landslide, shoreline, meteorite, and organic accumulation. In todays inventory of larger lakes (Kalff, 2002), those whose surface areas are greater than 0.01 km2 (1 ha), approximately 90% have basin origins that trace to glacial, tectonic, or fluvial forces. Of these, glacial force far outweighs the importance of all others. This contemporary bias owes to recent and widespread glaciation during the Pleistocene when ice sheets covered nearly 25% of the Earths continents.

Lake Erie is a glacial lake. Live Science:

Like all of the Great Lakes, Lake Erie is basically a divot formed from a moving glacier and is relatively young  less than 4,000 years old  in its current configuration.

(Lake Erie  fleeting, ephemeral  is only a little older than the Bible.) Because Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes, it is also the warmest, and the most biologically active. From Lake Erie Waterkeepers:

Lake Erie is home to one of the worlds largest freshwater commercial fisheries. Lake Eries fish populations are the most abundant of the Great Lakes, partially because of the lakes relatively mild temperatures and plentiful supply of plankton, which is the basic building block of the food chain. The lakes fish population accounts for an estimated 50% of all fish inhabiting the Great Lakes. The lake is loaded with superstars such as steelhead, walleye (American usage) or pickerel (Canadian usage),smallmouth bass, perch, as well as bass, trout, salmon, whitefesh, smelt, and many others.

Birds, as well, once again because of Lake Eries unique terrain:

The Lake Erie Marsh Region is recognized as globally important for migratory birds as millions of migratory songbirds, shorebirds, and waterfowl stop here to feed and rest every spring and fall during their long-distance migrations. Lake Erie shorelines and attendant inland natural areas are also home to a large number of permanent residents. Nearly 400 bird species have been documented in this region. Why is Lake Erie such an attractive and important place for birds? Lake Erie represents a barrier to most migrating passerines (perching birds) and raptors. Many birds are reluctant to cross open water when the opposite shoreline cannot be seen, which results in major concentrations along the southwestern shore of Lake Erie in the spring, unparalleled in the Midwest. The opposite phenomenon occurs on the north shore of Lake Erie in autumn, making public areas like Long Point, Point Pelee, Holiday Beach and every private piece of habitat in between extremely valuable for resting and feeding areas for birds in migration. With the exception of the Gulf coast, no other region of eastern North America can demonstrate concentrations of avian migrants like Lake Eries coastline. Important migratory pathways and habitat along Great Lakes shorelines have been identified at more than 60 sites; and 95% of the waterfowl counted on a recent Ohio Division of Wildlife aerial survey occurs in the Lake Erie marsh region. The landscape along Lake Erie has been dramatically altered from pre-settlement conditions yet the region remains important for birds to rest and feed so they can continue their migration in good physiological condition.

Truly a great lake! But Lake Erie has problems of human origin, to which we now turn, most prominent among them algae blooms. We saw that green gunk in Toledors water supply above; heres an aerial view of the green gunk (algal bloom) for the whole lake from last summer, a good year:

In fact, the algal bloom problem is so bad  and so normalized!  that NOAA puts out a regular report:

NOAA provides forecasts of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria blooms, in Lake Erie from July to October. Some cyanobacteria blooms can grow rapidly and produce toxins that cause harm to animal life and humans so scientists describe them as harmful algal blooms (HABs). Coastal communities can use NOAAs forecasts as a decision making tool.

(A decision making tool. This is what neoliberals call choice.) More:

NOAA bulletins provide analysis of the location of cyanobacteria blooms, as well as 3-day forecasts of transport, mixing, scum formation, and bloom decline. During the Lake Erie HAB season, which typically begins in July, bulletins are emailed to subscribers twice weekly during a bloom.

(Scum formation.) The Cleveland Plain Dealer describes last years bloom:

This years harmful algal bloom plaguing Lake Erie grew in August to 620 square miles Scientists expected the bloom to be a 7.5 on a scale of 1-10, slightly smaller than 2017, which was an 8. The forecast graph showed the bloom could be the worst since 2015, according to the forecast graph.. The blue-green toxic algae is an annual problem in Lake Erie, from Toledo to Sandusky. The algae turns fresh water into pea soup, with thick mats of scum that can close beaches, wreck tourism, endanger pets and contaminate drinking water, as it did in Toledo in 2014.

(Not only do they have regular reports, they have a scale.) The EPA lists the effects:

Harmful algal blooms can: Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals

Create dead zones in the water

Raise treatment costs for drinking water

Hurt industries that depend on clean water

The cause of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie is phosporus from agricultural runoff. The Cleveland Plain Dealer:

The causes are clear. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recognizes the main driver is phosphorus pollution, of which about 90 percent comes from agricultural runoff  excess fertilizer from crops, and manure from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). These CAFOs have thousands of hogs, chickens and cows producing tons of poop that is spread on fields and stored in lagoons, and then runs off into rivers that flow into Lake Erie. This agricultural runoff pollution causes toxic algal outbreaks in the summer heat.

(Its almost as if Lake Eries biological activity is being turned against itself, rather like a cancer.)

Now lets turn to the way that the citizens of Toledo mobilized to protext Lake Erie. From Vox, Lake Erie now has legal rights, just like you:

It started in a pub. A handful of people, hunched over beers in Toledo, Ohio, were talking about a water crisis that had plagued the city in 2014. The pollution of Lake Erie had gotten so bad that it had taken a serious toll on their lives. The government, they felt, wasnt doing enough to protect the lake. And so they wondered: What if the lake could protect itself? The idea they hatched that night ultimately resulted in a special election, which had the citizens of Toledo voting February 26 on a very unusual question: Should Lake Erie be granted the legal rights normally reserved for a person? The measure passed easily, which means citizens will be able to sue on behalf of the lake whenever its right to flourish is being contravened  that is, whenever its in danger of major environmental harm. Theres a lot of nervous energy, Tish ODell, who was at the pub that fateful night, told me while traveling between different polling places in Toledo on the morning of the vote. She was on tenterhooks as she waited for the election results. Its like torture.

As a sidebar: It is so very, very, very important for to understand and internalize that citizens can mobilize. They can organize, become subject matter experts, work the politicians, get quoted in the press, go on the radio, and do whatever it takes to achieve goals. (NGOs, IMNSHO, can help, but they generally dont know local conditions and are in the grant-writing business anyhow.) This is what I learned on our landfill efforts. I mean, personhood for Lake Erie is a big, big ask, is it not? Yet these citizens achieved it. Or at least won the first battle. End sidebar.

Heres how they did it, from MacLeans (on the other side of the lake):

[E]nvironmental groups turned to a new frontier of U.S. law: the rights of nature. Its an idea that has gained currency as local environmental crises mount, says Tish ODell, an organizer with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF). But it had never been applied to a body of water in America. I used to get comments like, Thats crazy, do you want the tree to have rights? Is a squirrel going to sit on the witness stand?  says ODell, whose group campaigned for the Erie bill. Now, peoples attitudes have changed dramatically. In Toledo, they didnt have water for three days. They dont think its so crazy. The issue was put to the people in February in a special election ballot. Many of those opposed were area farmers who feared they could face lawsuits due to phosphorous runoff from fertilizera major contributor of Lake Erie pollution. And an investigation by the Toledo Blade newspaper found the anti-bill campaign was largely funded by British Petroleum, which owns a refinery on Toledos waterfront. In the end, the proposal passed with 61 per cent in favourthough voter turnout was about nine per cent and the bill has no shortage of critics.

(I would bet that 9% is excellent turnout.) I wont go into the details of the immediate opposition; farmers immediately filed a lawsuit (Drewes Farm Partnership, and the State legislature (while funding run-off mitigation money for farmers), prompted by inflow from the Chamber of Commerce, added a line item to a Budget Bill that would seem to pre-empt what the people of Toledo did:

It all started with an email from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

I like the way this story begins with It all started, exactly as Voxs story above begins with with It started. Action, counter-reaction. But notice the speed of the elite reaction. Although surrounded and out-numbered, they have excellent interior lines of communication.)

The chambers director of energy and environmental policy, Zack Frymier, wrote to request a meeting with Hoops, the state House representative, on April 11, a few weeks before the vote. (Hoops is chair of the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development, and Natural Resources.) Im hoping to find some time (like everyone else) to run something by Chairman Hoops regarding the Lake Erie Bill of Rights that passed in Toledo in February, Frymier wrote. We have some language that wed request to be considered for the budget. Though obviously it would have to be submitted after tomorrows deadline wed still like to have a conversation. A legislative aide replied promptly, arranging a meeting with Hoops for 4:00 p.m. that day. Despite the short notice  it was already nearly 3:00 p.m.  Frymier quickly and enthusiastically responded that hed be there. A few weeks later, the aide got back to Frymier with draft text of the amendment, asking if the wording made sense to him. Frymier then asked for the addition of text that would more directly refute the Lake Erie Bill of Rights. Language in this amendment stating that [nature and ecosystems] do not have standing is essential to what were trying to accomplish, Frymier wrote on May 2. The amendments final text includes the additional statement Frymier asked for:  Nature or any ecosystem does not have standing to participate in or bring an action in any court of common pleas .

Well, I think giving ecosystems standing is an excellent idea, not least because the Chamber of Commerce hates it. If British Petroleum and Cargill have standing, why shouldnt Lake Erie?

All of which brings me to this petition from Toledoans for Safe Water to which alert reader Carla drew our attention: The Lake Erie Bill of Rights Deserves to Stand, Should be Enforced:

On January 28, 2020, the Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR) will be the subject of oral arguments between Drewes Farm Partnership LLC. and the City of Toledo. The State of Ohio has sided with corporate polluters. Please sign in support of LEBOR, the City of Toledo, Rights of Nature, and above all  a thriving, safe Lake Erie.

The Toledoans theory of the case:

On February 26, 2019, voters of Toledo, Ohio made history by passing the Lake Erie Bill of Rights (LEBOR). The law was the first in the United States to recognize the rights of a specific ecosystem, representing an exciting step forward for the global Rights of Nature movement.  Lake Erie, and the Lake Erie watershed, possess the right to exist, flourish, and naturally evolve , it reads. The people of the City of Toledo possess the right to a clean and healthy environment, which shall include the right to a clean and healthy Lake Erie and Lake Erie ecosystem. Toledo residents moved beyond conventional modes of change when it became clear no government agency was protecting them or taking proactive steps toward safeguarding the drinking water of millions of people and the continued health of the Lake Erie ecosystem. In 2014, residents were told an algal bloom had made the municipal water, which comes from Lake Erie, poisonous to the touch. The municipal charter amendment is not an empty declaration of values. Rather, it experiments with new forms of environmental protection and enforcement that transform municipal governments into venues of civic participation and the defenders of basic rights to water and life, for humans and the natural world. Further, LEBOR takes on the power structure.  Corporations , it reads,  that violate this law, or that seek to violate this law, shall not be deemed to be persons.  It envisions a structural power shift within the law.

Hoo boy. That last clause really puts the cat among the pigeons.

If you think declaring ecosystems persons, and giving them rights, will help save that lovely, fleeting, ephemeral thing, Lake Erie, then go sign the petition here (and leave a message of support). You might also pass along the link to your friends, either in real life or on social media. Thanks!
The new year means there are a lot of new things arriving. There are a lot of new and exciting cars that are rolling out to dealerships. Drivers in the San Luis Obispo area have likely been excited to find out when these new cars are arriving to their dealership.

Toyota San Luis Obispo has been readying their dealership for some of the new vehicles that are arriving. The 2020 Toyota Prius and the 2020 Toyota Highlander should be arriving at the dealership later this year. The Prius is an efficient sedan that has been reliable for its drivers. The focus on efficiency has helped the Prius stand out from the crowd. Drivers looking for something with attitude and style should look at the Highlander. It has been redesigned for 2020. This SUV has more power and durability than ever before.

Customers interested in any of these cars can and are encouraged to reach out to the salespeople at Toyota San Luis Obispo. The dealership can be reached via their website or over the phone at 8055437001. There is also a physical location for the dealership which is at 12350 Los Osos Valley Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405.
Animal welfare organisations fear that a lack of food airdrops to wildlife in Victoria is compounding the catastrophic loss of animals as a result of the bushfires.

But the state government say it's 'not as easy' as dropping food to animals in areas of East Gippsland and alpine areas.

There are particular concerns for threatened species, including the brush-tailed rock wallaby and the mountain pygmy-possum, given their restricted habitat in Victoria.

Thousands of kilograms of carrots and sweet potatoes have been delivered to animals in fire-affected areas in NSW

Animals Australia confirmed online that it had recently offered the Victorian Government $100,000 to assist in purchasing food for affected wildlife, but the funds have not yet been accepted.
In a first in India's maritime history, the Kolkata Port Trust is likely to showcase its tableau during the Republic Day parade, sources said, giving people, who were earlier sore over the rejection of the Bengal government's proposal for January 26, a reason to cheer.

Earlier in the month, the defence ministry had rejected West Bengal's tableau proposal, without citing any specific reason.

A statement by the ministry said the proposal was rejected after an expert committee examined it in two rounds of meeting.

The KoPT tableau, under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Shipping, will display the riverine port's rich history, its mechanized transformation and unique features, a source privy to the development said.

Additionally, the KoPT anthem, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had unveiled last week on the occasion of the port's sesquicentenary celebrations, will be played, when the tableau rolls down the Rajpath.

The prime minister, during his visit, had renamed the port, after Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

"As of now, trials are going on.... The final approval for the theme - 'Glorious Past Vibrant Future' - is likely to come by January 23," the sources said.

The Kolkata Port Trust, the oldest operating port in the country, was constructed by the British East India Company. The port has two distinct dock systems - one in Kolkata and the other at Haldia.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 10:49:12|Editor: zyl

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Protesters clash with the riot police in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 18, 2020. Heavy clashes broke out on Saturday in downtown Beirut between protesters and the riot police, causing at least 100 injuries, TV channel MTV reported. (Photo by Bilal Jawich/Xinhua)
Nineteen Indians, kidnapped by pirates from a commercial vessel from the high seas off the western coast of Africa last month, have been released while one died in their captivity, according to the Indian mission here.

Twenty Indian crew members were kidnapped from the vessel MT Duke in the high seas off the western coast of Africa on December 15.

The High Commission of India in Abuja on Sunday tweeted that 19 Indian nationals were released on Saturday while one died in the captivity of the pirates in "adverse conditions".

India thanked the Nigerian authorities for their assistance in the release of the abducted

"Indian Govt and Mission gave highest priority and worked with @NigeriaGov on release of 20 Indian seafarers kidnapped on 15 Dec from MV Duke. 19 were released yesterday. One sadly died in captivity in adverse conditions. Our deepest condolences. Mission assiting in speedy return," the Indian High Commission tweeted.

The Indian mission in Abuja had taken up the matter with the Nigerian authorities and also with the authorities of the neighbouring countries.
Mahatma Gandhi wanted to spend August 15, 1947, the first day of freedom, in breakaway Pakistan rather than in India, says a new book by former Union minister M J Akbar.

This was, however, neither tokenism nor a gesture of support for a country carved out of multifaith India in the name of one religion, Islam, the author writes in "Gandhi's Hinduism: The Struggle Against Jinnah's Islam".

"It was a promise of defiance. Gandhi simply did not believe in the partition of India, and the creation of new, 'unnatural' borders by an arbitrary scalpel in a fit of what he described as momentary madness," he says.

The book analyses both the ideology and the personality of those who shaped the fate of the region, and spells out the blunders, lapses and conscious chicanery that permeated the politics of seven explosive years between 1940 and 1947.

Gandhi, a devout Hindu, believed faith could nurture the civilisational harmony of India, a land where every religion had flourished, it says.

On the other hand, Jinnah was a political Muslim rather than a practicing believer and was determined to carve up a syncretic subcontinent in the name of Islam.

His confidence came from a wartime deal with Britain, embodied in the 'August Offer' of 1940. Gandhi's strength lay in ideological commitment which was, in the end, ravaged by the communal violence that engineered partition.

The price of this epic confrontation, paid by the people, has stretched into generations, the book says.

According to the author, Gandhi's immediate concern after independence was the fate of partition's principal victims, the minorities: Hindus in Pakistan and Muslims in India.

"He wanted to be in Noakhali, East Pakistan, where Hindus had suffered bitterly in the 1946 riots and prevent any recurrence. Gandhi was still struggling to build hope from the incendiary debris of communal violence," he writes in the book, published by Bloomsbury India.

The book says that on May 31, 1947, Gandhi told Pathan leader Abdul Ghaffar Khan, known as 'Frontier Gandhi', that he wanted to visit the North West Frontier and live in Pakistan after independence.

"... I don't believe in these divisions of the country. I am not going to ask anybody's permission. If they kill me for their defiance, I shall embrace death with a smiling face. That is, if Pakistan comes into existence, I intend to go there, tour it, live there and see what they do to me," the book quotes him as telling.

Akbar says Gandhi remained consistent through the long and turbulent roller-coaster ride of high-voltage events.

"For more than 50 years, he sang, literally, from the same hymn sheet. Religion, said his hymn, was a catechism of love, tolerance and unity. Whether in South Africa or India, for over half of a century till the end of his public career in 1948, he explained why he was proud to be a Hindu," he writes.

Gandhi's personal and political life, writes Akbar, were fused by a humanism which believed that the unity of India lay in acceptance of religious and cultural diversity, and its geography was a natural evolution of shared space between Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis or indeed any community that had made this vast subcontinent its home.

"Jinnah, in contrast, adopted a chameleon persona to suit his political objectives. For more than six decades, he was a nominal rather than practicing Muslim. After 1937, he became the standard-bearer of Islamic separatism, and suddenly acquired plumes of the devout Muslim that he had never been, and never was," he says.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Charles Maughan has a new job.

Maughan, the Corvallis councilor for Ward 2, has taken a position with the Oregon Housing and Community Services Agency.

Maughan previously worked as the community manager for the Hotel Julian, an affordable housing facility in Corvallis. So the move makes sense. It keeps Maughan in the housing business, which is a key issue in town, and his state work could help inform council initiatives and debates.

It also will keep Maughan out of town a lot. He told the Gazette-Times that he now commutes an hour each way to Salem. And thats just the drive. Because of the parking challenges in Oregons capital Maughan faces a 15-minute walk to and from his office on Summer Street in the Capitol Mall area.

And he also faces the daunting challenge of getting back to Corvallis for two 6 p.m. City Council meetings per month as well as two 4 p.m. work sessions, as well as liaison work on city boards and commissions as well as a high-profile slot on the executive committee of the new Housing Opportunities, Planning and Equity Advisory Board.

Welcome to life as a volunteer elected official. Maughan is by no means alone. Juggling work, family and council business can produce volumes of stress and can lead to councilors leaving office  and potential councilors from not picking up a petition in the first place.

A Corvallis committee consisting of four councilors has been discussing review of the city charter. Possible changes could include longer terms for councilors as well as discussions of mayoral and councilor compensation.

Corvallis Mayor Biff Traber, a retired software executive, receives $100 per month. Councilors are paid nothing. Possible charter tweaks might include upping the mayoral stipend, adding one for councilors or perhaps reimbursing councilors for child-care expenses.

City committee

The committee, which met six times, starting Nov. 15 and concluding Jan. 10 also has considered a wide range of other items. These include filling councilor vacancies, hiring the city manager and annexations. The possible changes were divided into a group that could be enacted immediately and those that might require a task force to vet (see list).

The committee is scheduled to deliver its report to the council at its 6 p.m. meeting Tuesday at the downtown fire station, 400 NW Harrison Blvd. The group, which consists of Jan Napack (Ward 1), Hyatt Lytle (Ward 3), Barbara Bull (Ward 4) and Andrew Struthers (Ward 9), is not making recommendations to the full council of nine. Instead, the charge is to bring forward charter elements that the council might want to consider.

This is how the group framed its 17-page report to the council:

The Committee asks the Council to provide direction on the next steps for the review and possible amendments to the Charter. Should the Council direct city staff to begin drafting Charter language around the possible immediate actions identified by the Committee? Should the Council direct staff to begin drafting Council Policy changes provided by the Committee? Should the Council direct the creation of one or more community task forces to begin review and recommendation of language for topics provided by the Committee?

Range of views

Opinions on the topic abound, with the Gazette-Times posing questions for Traber, the nine current councilors, plus former councilors and former Mayor Julie Manning, who worked full-time for Samaritan Health Service during her mayoral tenure. The Gazette-Times inquiry focused mainly on employment and family balance issues and how those challenges affect the current makeup of the council and the willingness of others to run for elected office.

Could a parent being able to pay for childcare, a student being able to pay tuition, or a full-time worker being able to work part-time, be the difference between them putting their hat in the ring or not? Id venture to guess yes, said Zach Baker, who served the 2015-16 term as councilor in Ward 3. Baker, who was a council leader on climate change and the environment during his term, now works on state and local climate policy in Salem at Climate Solutions.

It is challenging, said Hyatt Lytle, the current Ward 3 councilor who works virtually full time for Grijalva Distribution, which handles Daves Killer Bread. You have to have a strong work ethic and ability to balance the demand of council with other facets of your life. You could get away with doing a minimalist job as a councilor. However, you would not be supporting the rest of your councilors as a team player, and your constituents whether be it your ward or the community at large.

Nancy Wyse, who was elected in Ward 6 in 2016 and re-elected in 2018, has served as a stay-at-home mom and now works part-time as an administrative analyst because her two children are in school.

Being a city councilor is somewhat challenging, but I have developed some routines and strategies that make it easier, she said. For example, I use the Good Reader app on my iPad to 'read' the council packets out loud to me when I'm doing dishes or on a long drive. The most challenging part of being a city councilor with children is arranging child care for late afternoon meetings, like our (Thursday afternoon) work session meetings. Most of my city council work happens at night after they go to bed.

Wyse, like most individuals interviewed for this story, also noted that cooperation from your spouse is essential.

I couldnt do what I do without my husband, he said. We make a great team.

Paul Shaffer is new to the council after a special election in November put him on the group from Ward 7 (Bill Glassmire resigned bowed out for health reasons).

As a retiree, I have plenty of time to spend on council work, he said. In November, as I was getting up to speed with meetings and reading, it felt like a full-time job, but it has leveled off since then. I don't really have a good idea of how many hours I am spending on council work in a typical week. I'm trying not to think about it that way.

I frankly don't know how councilors with a full-time job and young children manage to balance their time and do an effective job with council but they do. I am impressed with their ability to balance three major commitments (work, family, council) and appreciate their efforts.

Current roster

The current council plus Mayor Traber has a fairly good balance of retirees and workers, with four individuals no longer working and six still on the job.

Roen Hogg, who served four terms in Ward 2, knows the drill from both sides of the fence. When he joined the council in 2011 he worked in Salem for the state of Oregon. He retired from that position at the end of February 2015. He continued to serve through 2018, when he lost a mayoral challenge to Traber.

For people who are working its harder, Hogg said in a 2015 interview. They have families to take care of and cant go to a five- to six-hour meeting. That makes it difficult to find people to serve. Time is your most precious thing. You can never get time back.

But Hogg also noted the importance of having people who are employed in the council mix.

People who work bring a different perspective, he said. They have insights on issues such as child care and saving to put kids through college. Its valuable to have all that experience.

One of the roles that Napack, who is retired, filled on the charter committee was to research what the statewide numbers show on elected city officials. Working with the League of Oregon Cities Napack found that:

 55% are over 60 years old.

 48% are retired

 56% are male and 44% are female

 95% are white (note this also includes Hispanics)

 The officials spend an average of 13 hours per week on city business.

Corvallis is close to fitting the mold.

Age-wise three (Lytle, Wyse and Struthers) are in the 30-45 range, four are in the 45-60 range (Junkins, Bull, Ward 5's Charlyn Ellis and Maughan) and three are older than 60 (Traber, Napack and Shaffer). And as noted above four of the 10 are retired.

Napack offered strong praise for the ability of her working colleagues to do the juggling act.

"Difficult," she said "if I was working and had kids at home? I spent many years burning the candle at both ends (5 acres, family with two kids, various animals, challenging career, volunteering, socializing, grocery shopping at 10:30 p.m. Sunday nights) and Im amazed at how impossible it all seems now. Being young has its good points ... not knowing your physical limits is one of them. I would never say that someone with kids and a career could not do this. Crazy perhaps!"

Diversity numbers

Where the city has made excellent progress in recent years is in diversity. The council and mayor elected in 2010 included Mayor Manning and Ward 7s Jeanne Raymond as the lone women. The current council has five women, with Lytle (council president) and Wyse (council vice-president) both serving in leadership roles.

When Mark Page was elected in Ward 8 in 2016 he became just the third African-American to serve on the council and the first since 1990. Page was succeeded by Ed Junkins, another African-American.

Junkins, an associate dean at COMP-Northwest in Lebanon, was upfront about backing a possible charter move from two-year terms to four-year terms, one of the key issues the charter committee has been looking at. The danger of two years lies with the fact that, although unlikely, the entire council could turn over in one election, with tons of institutional knowledge going out the window.

I agree with the moving the term to four years, said Junkins, who also has served on the Corvallis School Board, which has four-year terms. The thought of adding hours of campaigning on top of my current schedule is enough to make me rethink running again after two years.

Junkins also noted that in additional to council work he sits on five boards.

Physical therapist Frank Hann, who served the term before Page in Ward 8, also noted the challenge of commitments beyond the council meetings.

I enjoyed immensely my time on council and considered it a wonderful learning experience, Hann said, (but) there were weeks in which I attended six meetings of council and as liaison to a variety of advisory groups or associated organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce. Those weeks could require 20 hours of more of work outside of my normal family and business responsibilities.

I honestly wanted to run and serve for another term but when I looked ahead at the next year, I had a daughter's wedding (which turned into two daughters' weddings), a college graduation and anticipating my wife having knee replacements. Given all of that, I could not honestly determine that I would be able to give council the time and attention it deserves.

Compensation

Those interviewed were divided on the question of compensation for councilors or for increasing that of the mayor.

One could argue that having city councilors paid as if they were full-time councilors would make things easier for anyone holding the position, said Struthers, who works full time for Oregon State University in information technology. However, I would not advocate for this as I personally like the idea of volunteer councilors. It would be helpful at times to have a small stipend for things like child care or other minor expenses one may incur.

Shaffer agreed on the stipend model.

We all have at least some out-of-pocket expenses (mileage, child care in some cases, coffee while meeting with constituents, etc.), and offsetting those tangible costs is fair and reasonable, he said.

*I said in the first debate last fall that I was not in favor of paying city councilors, and I hold to that position. One of the arguments is that unless councilors are paid, only retirees have the time to be on council. The current make-up of the council, in terms of the age and careers of council members, refutes that argument.

Bull, who does not work, noted that there might be other ways of making councilors more effective besides paying them.

She cited committee testimony from former Ward 1 Councilor Penny York, whose community project on charter reform helped lead to the current committee work. York noted that when she was living and working in Pasadena, California, councilors were not paid, but they each had a 0.75 FTE assistant.

Bull added that issuing laptops to councilors instead of iPads, offering them office space and staff assistance on researching city documents and archives, helping with schedules, meeting agendas, project updates and drafting letters to constituents also could be helpful additions.

It is the 21st Century and if we want diversity in government of all ages, then looking at some type of stipend system is realistic," said Lytle, who noted that most of Oregon's largest cities "provide some type of compensation for their councilors. It does not need to be exorbitant, it just needs to be something to say your time matters, the time that you invest in this is important.

"It also speaks to being taken seriously. If we want the council to be more diverse then we need to look at a model that can accommodate those who cannot invest 20-plus hours a week to council demands without it affecting their livelihoods.

No challengers

One challenge that remains for the committee, the council and the city is to increase the sheer number of community members interested in running for office.

In the five council elections from 2010 to 2018, 23 council races featured unopposed candidates, with 2012 having six such races and 2014 and 2016 five apiece. Yes, there often can be political reasons for a one-person race; Hal Brauner, one of the most effective councilors in recent times, ran unopposed nine times. But a fuller ballot is hard to argue against.

Most recently, however, Shaffer and four other candidates competed in November to replace Glassmire in Ward 7 in the most full council ballot this century.

I have actually been impressed by the number of individuals who seek local elective office in our community, given the time and dedication it takes, former Mayor Manning said. I believe this interest reflects the high level of public engagement local residents have in how our government operates and serves the community.

"People care about what happens here, and they are willing to get involved. My experience in talking with other mayors is that Corvallis high level of public engagement fuels a more participatory style of government that requires a relatively large time commitment from elected officials and staff.

Contact reporter James Day at jim.day@gazettetimes.com or 541-812-6116. Follow at Twitter.com/jameshday or gazettetimes.com/blogs/jim-day.

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LOS ANGELES  A lawsuit was filed Friday against Delta Air Lines by four teachers at an elementary school drenched by jet fuel from an airliner preparing to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport.

The four say jet fuel rained down on them after it was jettisoned by the Boeing 777 that was returning to the airport shortly after takeoff .

They "could feel the fuel on their clothes, flesh, eyes and skin," the suit says. "Fuel penetrated their mouths and noses as well producing a lasting and severe irritation and a lasting and noxious taste and smell."

As a result, they became "sick, dizzy and nauseated." Though firefighters didn't transport any of the affected teachers or students from any of several schools that had been under the plane's flight path, one of the teachers said at a press conference said she sought medical help for recurring symptoms.

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, Delta Air Lines Flight 89 to Shanghai, China, dumped fuel over Southern California before returning to Los Angeles International Airport for an emergency landing.

A total of 60 children and adults were treated by firefighters at five elementary and one high school in Cudahy, South Gate and Los Angeles after coming into contact with the fuel, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. All four of the teachers named in the suit worked at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, which had about half of the reported injuries.

The jet fuel was dumped Tuesday by Delta Flight 89 bound for Shanghai after pilots reported engine trouble shortly after takeoff. They requested an immediate return to the airport, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Though the plane landed safely, the FAA said it was investigating why pilots dumped fuel at a lower altitude than needed for it to disperse and told controllers they didn't need to jettison fuel.

The FAA said Friday it expects its investigation to take several weeks.

In a separate action, the agency that governs air quality in southern California, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said it issued a violation notice to Delta concerning the fuel dump of 15,000 gallons.

Story continues

More: Ask the Captain: Why do planes have to dump fuel before making emergency landings?

SOURCE AP

Delta said it sent cleaning crews to the affected schools the evening after the incident. Communications between pilots and controllers posted online indicate the jetliner incurred what's known as a compressor stall, which was enough to trigger the request for an emergency landing. Pilots often jettison fuel in order to lighten the aircraft for landing.

The suit alleges negligence by Delta and does not specify the amount of damages being sought. Delta spokesman Adrian Gee said the airline had no comment on pending litigation.

Amateur video taken of the plane as it passed over southeast Los Angeles at low altitude shows fuel streaming from its wings as it lined up for landing at the airport.

More: Delta plane slides off taxiway amid winter storm; airlines issue travel advisories into weekend

At the press conference, the teachers said about 30 students were on the playground at the time of the fuel dump. They said they thought it was drizzling, though rain hadn't been predicted. One said she hadn't seen the plane and ran out and looked to the sky with her arms extended before realizing the droplets were jet fuel.

"They immediately rushed their students indoors and did their best to decontaminate the children who were screaming and crying," said attorney Gloria Allred, who filed the suit. "Even though the teachers were also contaminated and in pain from the toxic fumes and fuel, they assisted the children first and put their own safety last."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Delta fuel dump: Los Angeles teachers sue over fuel dropped on schools
The day-long boil water advisory for parts of St. Tammany Parish was called off late Sunday morning, according to a release from parish officials.

The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed around 11:30 a.m. that the water system was now safe to consume and use without having to boil it in the Cross Gates community near Slidell.

Cross Gates was put under the advisory just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday due to an electrical short at a well that caused low water pressure.

Residents were then urged to boil water for one minute if they needed it to drink, prepare food or brush their teeth with.
Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai recently hosted a special gathering to celebrate its 10th year anniversary, which was attended by top officials from its owning company R Hotels, executives from Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, and its key business partners.



During the celebration, the property also presented service loyalty awards to seven employees who have been with Ramada Downtown Dubai since it opened doors a decade ago.

Mark Fernando, general manager, addressed the guests during the reception: On behalf of Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai, I would like to express sincerest gratitude to our owners and partners for their steadfast support, and our loyal guests for the continued trust over the past 10 years. Most importantly, I want to thank and laud my team for all their dedication and hard work in spite of all the strains and challenges that come with working in hospitality.



A decade in this ever-evolving industry is not an easy feat. Our hotel opened alongside Burj Khalifa 10 years ago; since then, the emirate has seen remarkable developments and has established itself on the international stage as a top tourist destination. Our team looks forward to more successful years ahead and places full confidence on the growth and positive transformations in the travel and tourism sector. - TradeArabia News Service
Padma Lakshmi sure knows how to look incredible for her over 600K Instagram followers.

The Top Chef star showed off her very toned frame while in a skimpy black string bikini while while posing in a doorway of her hotel room.

The former supermodel turned cookbook author and reality TV star kept her caption simple: 'Feelin' fine at 49.'

Still a 10: Padma Lakshmi sure knows how to look incredible for her over 600K Instagram followers. The Top Chef star looked incredible in a skimpy black bikini while while posing in a doorway

The star - whose full name is Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan - had her arms up on the doors so fans could get a good look at her small waistline.

The briefs came down so low she was exposing her hip scar.

A serious car accident at age 14 left her with a fractured hip. She also has a long scar on her arm after she had surgery from shattering her bones in the wreck.

Beauty: The star - whose full name is Padma Parvati Lakshmi Vaidynathan - had her arms up so fans could get a good look at her small waistline

She had on flip flops that revealed a white pedicure, and the cover girl wore her raven locks up.

The Glitter actress also had on slightly tinted sunglasses as she seemed to be makeup free.

Padma said she was on vacation in the Dominican Republic.

Ouch: The briefs came down so low she was exposing her hip scar. A serious car accident at age 14 left her with a fractured hip. She also has a long scar on her arm after she had surgery from shattering her bones in the wreck

This comes days after she called out The New Yorker for confusing her with Priyanka Chopra.

The television personality took to her Instagram in late December to respond to the weekly publication's recent flub on social media.

She scared a screenshot of a since-deleted post by The New Yorker Instagram with her image but instead tagging Priyanka Chopra's account.

Ouch: Padma Lakshmi (left) has called out The New Yorker for confusing her with Priyanka Chopra

'I know we all look alike': The television personality took to her Instagram to respond to the weekly publication's recent flub on social media

Padma showcased her signature wit while trashing the publication as she wrote: 'Thank you to the illustrious @nydailynews for the shoutout [wink emoji]

'I know to some we all look alike, but [woman shrugging emoji]... #desilife #justindianthings'

Several fellow celebrities even commented on the flub as Natalie Portman responded with a simple: 'Oh no.'

Shade: Padma (seen in April) showcased her signature wit while trashing the publication as she wrote: 'Thank you to the illustrious @nydailynews for the shoutout [wink emoji]'

Padma shook off the bad vibes with an early morning workout with her nine-year-old daughter Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell.

The Top Chef host shared a video of the mother-daughter duo performing some stretches while laying on parallel mats together.

She captioned the video: 'When #littlehands wants to join the workout [laugh while crying emoji] #mondaymotivation.'

It takes two: Padma shook off the bad vibes with an early morning workout with her nine-year-old daughter Krishna Thea Lakshmi-Dell

Lakshmi welcomed Krishna in February 2010 with Adam Dell, 49, the brother of computer magnate Michael Dell.

The two had briefly dated in 2009 before she moved on with businessman Teddy Forstmann. They resumed dating in 2017.

The Indian-born beauty was previously married to author Salman Rushdie, 72, from 2004 to 2007.

In March, Padma finished hosting season 16 of Top Chef that Kelsey Barnard Clark won. She's been hosting the Bravo cooking show since season two in 2006.
The Chinese military will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and continue to deepen exchanges with foreign militaries this year, a national defense official said at the 2020 New Year Reception held in Beijing on Friday.

The reception was hosted by China's Ministry of National Defense to celebrate the approaching Chinese New Year, which will arrive next Saturday. Nearly 260 military attaches to China and their spouses from more than 80 countries attended the event.

Major General Ci Guowei, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation at the Central Military Commission, said the People's Liberation Army has advanced military reforms and innovation and delivered solid work in 2019.

In the past year, the PLA has been a builder of world peace, contributed to world development and maintained the international order to achieve common security. It has held high the banners of peace, development and cooperation to push forward the construction of a community of shared future for mankind, he said.

He added attaches to China have served as bridges and made active efforts in strengthening bilateral military ties in 2019.

Ci said in the new year the Chinese military will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and comprehensively promote international military cooperation.

"We will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with foreign militaries and actively respond to risks and challenges to maintain peaceful development," he said.
A day before the deadline expires, hundreds of angry young people descended on the main protest camp in Baghdad's Tahrir Square as well as nearby Tayaran Square

Iraqi youth angry at their government's glacial pace of reform ramped up their protests on Sunday, sealing streets with burning tyres and threatening further escalation unless their demands are met.

The rallies demanding an overhaul of the ruling system have rocked Shiite-majority parts of Iraq since October, but had thinned out in recent weeks amid rising Iran-US tensions.

Protesters had feared Iraq would be caught in the middle of the geopolitical storm and last Monday gave the government one week to make progress on reform pledges.

A day before the deadline expires, hundreds of angry young people descended on the main protest camp in Baghdad's Tahrir Square as well as nearby Tayaran Square.

They burned tyres to block highways and bridges, turning back cars and causing traffic jams across the city.

At least 10 people including police officers were wounded when security forces tried to clear the sit-ins with tear gas and protesters responded by throwing rocks, medical and security sources told AFP.

"This is only the first escalation," one protester with a scarf wrapped around his face told AFP, as smoke from the tyres turned the sky behind him a charcoal grey.

"We want to send a message to the government: Stop procrastinating! The people know what you're doing," he said, adding ominously: "Tomorrow the deadline ends, and then things could get totally of control."

Protesters are demanding early elections based on a reformed voting law, a new prime minister to replace current caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi and that officials deemed corrupt be held to account.

Abdel Mahdi resigned nearly two months ago, but political parties have thus far failed to agree on a successor and he has continued to run the government as a caretaker.

- 'Deadline ends tonight' -

Demonstrators have publicly rejected the names circulating as possible replacements and are furious that other sweeping reform measures have not been implemented.

"We began to escalate today because the government did not respond to our demands, notably forming an independent government that could save Iraq," said Haydar Kadhim, a demonstrator in the southern protest hotspot of Nasiriyah.

"Last Monday, we gave them a deadline of seven days. That deadline ends tonight," Kadhim told AFP.

A fellow protester, 20-year-old university student Mohammad Kareem, said more escalation could come.

"We gave the government a timeframe to implement our demands, but it looks like it doesn't care one bit," he said.

"We will keep up our movement and keep escalating to confront this government, which continues to procrastinate," Kareem told AFP.

Rallies also swelled in the cities of Kut, Diwaniyah and Amara, where most government offices, schools and universities have been shuttered for months.

In the holy city of Najaf, youth wrapped in checkered black-and-white scarves and carrying Iraqi flags lit tyres and began a sit-in on a main road leading to the capital.

Further the south in the oil-rich port city of Basra, students gathered in an ongoing strike in support of the rallies elsewhere.

- Rival rallies -

The protests are the largest and bloodiest grassroots movement in Iraq in decades, with nearly 460 people dead and over 25,000 wounded since they erupted on October 1.

While the violence at the protests themselves has dropped slightly, activists say they face an escalating campaign of intimidation, kidnapping and assassination attempts.

Young protesters are also apprehensive about a rival protest on January 24 organised by firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr in order to pressure US forces to leave.

Last week, Sadr urged Iraqis to hold "a million-strong, peaceful, unified demonstration to condemn the American presence and its violations".

Iraqi political figures have ramped up their calls for foreign forces -- including some 5,200 US troops -- to leave the country following a US drone strike that killed Iran's revered Quds Force chief Qasem Soleimani and top Iraqi military official Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Both were key brokers in Iraq's political scene, which has been left reeling by their absence.

Iraq's parliament voted on January 5 in favour of ousting foreign forces but the legal procedure for doing so remains murky.

Bases where US forces are stationed have been under a steady stream of rocket attacks for several months that have killed one American contractor and one Iraqi soldier.

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Israel's army said it would start drilling to install ground sensors along its border with Lebanon on Sunday, a year after an operation to destroy tunnels dug across the frontier.

"We are deploying a defensive system into the ground.. in various locations" along the border, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus told journalists.

Work would get underway Sunday at the Israeli kibbutz town of Misgav Am, he said, to deploy the new noise-detecting technology.

The move comes a year after Israel concluded a weeks-long operation to destroy tunnels it accused Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah of building.

At least six tunnels were discovered in the operation dubbed "Northern Shield" along the border where a United Nations peacekeeping force is deployed.

Conricus said the drilling is "not related to any new intelligence" and all military activity would take place on the Israeli side of the border.

Work at Misgav Am is expected to last a number of weeks before the sensors are installed along other sections of the border. "We understand that our activity might be seen, and most probably will be heard, on the Lebanese side," said Conricus.

Israel has notified the UNIFIL peacekeeping force which patrols the "blue line" drawn by the UN to mark Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000. Lebanon and Israel are still technically at war.

A month-long conflict in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan carried out ceasefire violation twice on Saturday by firing with heavy arms across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian Army said.

The Army said Pakistan resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation in Mendhar sector in Poonch district from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Pakistani troops again started firing across the Line of Control in Nowshera Sector in Rajouri district.



"Our troops retaliated befittingly," said the Indian Army.



The ceasefire violations by Pakistan across the Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir has almost doubled with around 3,200 instances reported so far compared to last year, Defence Ministry sources said on Saturday, adding in 2018, there were 1,629 such incidents.





Pakistani Army is continuously firing in Keran Valley, Poonch, Uri Sector, Krishna Ghati and Akhnoor sectors, said Defence Ministry sources.



In December 2019, around 340 incidents were reported, which are twice the count of last year's incidents with 175 cases. A senior Indian Army officer said though winter ceasefire violations are low, but this time, the number is at an all-time high.



Since abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan has increased ceasefire violations.



Compared to 2017 violations across the LoC, the violations have tripled over 2019. In 2017, 860 incidents were reported. The number of such violations was 228 in 2016.



The Pakistan Army has also intensified attacks on Indian posts, sending in their Border Action Team (BAT) commandos. The Pakistan Army through these violations, has been making desperate attempts to infiltrate terrorists, but the Indian Army has foiled many such attempts, sources added.




Haiti - World Bank : IFC on mission in Haiti to discuss projects and investments





Georgina Baker, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) member of the World Bank Group Regional Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia, started a visit to Haiti to meet with business leaders to discuss projects and private-sector investments that can help create more jobs, promote financial inclusion, and increase private sector participation in the delivery of much needed infrastructure services to the Haitian people.



"Haiti continues to face severe development challenges that require multilateral institutions like IFC to play an active role in finding innovative solutions to spur job creation and economic growth," said Baker. "Its important that Haiti maintains sound public policies and adheres to contractual obligations with investors so the private sector and foreign direct investment can be an engine of economic growth and sustainable development in the country. We are especially committed to working with Haiti to provide better infrastructure  including reliable and affordable energy that reaches people across the country."



Recall that among some of IFCs flagship projects in Haiti include financing power generation shortly after the countrys devastating 2010 earthquake. This investment in E-Power helped increase the electricity production capacity in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area by 35% the production capacity of electricity in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince.



More recent examples of IFC projects in Haiti include a $2.5 million risk-sharing facility with Societe Generale de Solidarite (Sogesol), a leading microfinance institution, to support SMEs and agribusiness in Haiti.



IFC also worked to help Haiti create the necessary conditions to develop the countrys leasing market, which can help small and medium-sized businesses obtain financing without in a more streamlined manner than typical commercial banks require to approve a loan. After helping to create the necessary conditions for a leasing market, IFC also approved a loan to Ayiti Leasing, the countrys first leasing company.



Another example of an IFC-supported project in Haiti is the Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC). Established in the 1970s, CBC employs 400 Haitians directly and provides jobs to hundreds of micro-retailers in its distribution network. IFCs $5 million loan is helping the company double its production capacity and widen its its distribution network.



Ayiti Leasing, CBC and Sogesol received co-financing from the International Development Associations Private Sector Window, a global facility of concessional funds to support high-impact private sector investments in lower-income countries.



IFCs operations in Haiti are focused on supporting projects that can bolster access to finance for SMEs and women, power generation, public-private partnerships in infrastructure, agribusiness and tourism in the country.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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Migrants charge on the Mexican National Guardsmen at the border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, on Jan. 18, 2020. (Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)

Mexico Blocks Hundreds of Migrants From Crossing Border Span

Mexican authorities closed a border entry point in southern Mexico on Saturday after thousands of Central American migrants tried to push their way across a bridge spanning the Suchiate River between Mexico and Guatemala.

Honduran migrants waved their countrys flag and sang the national anthem as they approached the bridge. At the height of the confrontation, Guatemalan authorities estimated 2,500 migrants were on the bridge, or attempting to get on it.

Mexican National Guardsmen slammed down a metal fence to block the path of the migrants.

Amid shoves, Mexican officials did allow a few migrants to enter the country in groups of 20, while a voice over a loudspeaker warned migrants against trying to slip into Mexico without passing through immigration filters.

Migrants charge on Mexican National Guardsmen at the border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, on Jan. 18, 2020. (Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)

Piecemeal, more than 150 migrants entered to apply for asylum or some other variation of permission to stay in Mexico as the day wore on. But many migrants prefer to pass through Mexico en route to the United States.

Mexicos National Migration Institute said via Twitter on Saturday that it had reinforced multiple points along the countrys southern border to assure safe, orderly and regular immigration. It also said it was using drones to monitor the region.

Hundreds of guardsmen lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely. The voice on the loudspeaker warned, over and over, that those aiming to transit through Mexico may not be granted asylum in the U.S., even if they make it there.

As temperatures rose Saturday, migrants trickled back across the bridge to Guatemala. By late afternoon, fewer than a hundred remained on the bridge.

Mexicos government has said migrants entering the country without registering will not be allowed to pass from its southern border area. But those seeking asylum or other protections will be allowed to apply and legalize their status in Mexico.

Guatemalan officials have counted roughly 3,000 migrants who registered at border crossings to enter that country in recent days, and estimated there were an additional 1,300 migrants who did not register. The Guatemalan government is offering to return migrants by bus to their countries of origin.

A migrant climbs the fence at the border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, on Jan. 18, 2020. (Marco Ugarte/AP Photo)

Guatemalas human rights defenders office said there were more than 1,000 migrants gathered at another point on the Mexican border far to the north in the Peten region. There were reports that Mexican forces were gathered on the other side of the border there.

Vicente Hernandez, head of the Mexican armed forces in the border area, told migrants on the Guatemalan side of the Suchiate on Saturday that there are opportunities for everyone in Mexico.

Here you just have to register, he added, saying that Mexican officials would then offer the migrants jobs.

Mexicos offer of legal status and potential employment for migrants carries a stipulation that would confine migrants to southern Mexico, where wages are lower and there are fewer jobs than elsewhere in the country.

El Salvadors consul general in Mexico, Antonio Azucar, told The Associated Press that Mexican authorities had reported that the migrants crossing into Mexican territory would be housed in Ciudad Hidalgo, the city on the banks of the Suchiate where the bridge standoff happened.

But a Mexican official, who refused to be quoted by name, said those who request asylum in Mexico would be taken to one of two migratory stations in the state of Chiapasone in Tapachula and the other in Tuxtla Gutierrez.

Once in custody, in theory, migrants may request temporary work permits to remain in Mexico. For months, however, non-profit groups have complained that the migrants are instead often returned to their countries of origin.

Many of the migrants leaving Central America say they fear for their lives back home, while others say they are looking for better economic prospects.

By Maria Verza
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 16:08:58|Editor: ZX

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TIANJIN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- On a white mask, Chit Ko Ko symmetrically brushed the eyes and cheeks with blue paint, and the forehead and chin with green, and finally dotted a red decorative pattern around the mask's eyes.

The 25-year-old student from Myanmar was learning to paint a Peking Opera mask, while adding some of his own personal touches, in northern China's Tianjin Municipality.

"Blue represents the Bay of Bengal nearby my hometown and red refers to friendly China, and green stands for environmental protection," Chit said in fluent Mandarin as he put the mask on.

For Chit, studying in China has been a journey that has taken root since childhood.

"When I was eight or nine years old, I loved to watch the Chinese TV series "Journey to the West" with Myanmar subtitles. The Monkey King with his great magic powers left a deep impression on me," Chit said, adding that he was quite interested in the pronunciation of Chinese.

Later, Chit became keen on watching Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan's Kung Fu movies, which made him more curious about Myanmar's neighbor China.

Chit's parents sell seafood in his hometown and his three elder brothers help with the family business. They envisioned the same path for Chit, but he charted his own course.

"No one had expected me to study in China, but I just want to experience this country myself," he said.

In 2015, Chit was admitted to Tianjin University. "I showed my family the offer and they were all excited and proud of me," he said.

In his first year in China, Chit devoted himself to learning Chinese by taking classes, communicating with local students, watching Chinese TV dramas and singing Chinese songs. Soon, his Chinese improved a lot.

Besides, Chit also attended many Chinese cultural classes, such as paper-cutting, Chinese painting, and Peking Opera mask designing.

"The culture is very diverse, and it's great fun creating beautiful things during these classes," he said.

A year later, Chit decided to choose civil engineering as his major after learning of the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline project in Myanmar, in the hope to participate in the project one day.

Taking professional courses in Chinese was hard, but teachers have been patient and classmates very friendly.

"My classmates and I often study in the library together, and it feels like we're a big family," Chit said.

During his stay in China, Chit has visited Beijing, Xi'an and Hunan, appreciated the charm of different local folk cultures and shared the experience with his family and friends.

"More of my friends want to come to China now, and some even asked me how to apply to study in the country," Chit said.

In 2018, a total of 492,200 international students from 196 countries and regions came to study in China. Among them, the number of students studying engineering, management, science, art and agronomy has increased significantly, up over 20 percent year on year, according to China's Ministry of Education.

Li Qiang, dean of the School of International Education at Tianjin University, said the university has received nearly 240 students from Myanmar in the past five years.

"As the year 2020 witnesses the 70th anniversary of China-Myanmar diplomatic relations, our school will promote more bilateral exchange projects for students from both sides," Li said.

For Chit, he hopes to continue his Chinese journey, pursuing a postgraduate degree. "I hope that I can serve as a bridge between the two countries in the future," he said.
New Delhi [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Around 3,000 Sikh devotees will travel to Pakistan via Attari border on April 11 from the national capital to celebrate Baisakhi at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal city.



President of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Manjinder Singh Sirsa said here on Sunday that Sikh devotees will leave from New Delhi on April 11 to return on April 21.

Authorities have also asked the devotees, those who are interested in undertaking a pilgrimage on the occasion of Baisakhi to be celebrated on April 13, to deposit their passports with the DSGMC by February 15.

The pilgrims will celebrate Baisakhi at Gurdwara Panja Sahib on April 13 and 14, after which they will leave for Nanakana Sahib, the birthplace of Sikh Guru Nanak Dev, through a special train on April 15 to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Gurdwara Sacha Sauda, and Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore, before returning to Amritsar on April 21.

Each pilgrim is required to pay visa processing fees of Rs 200 with four latest passport size photographs and valid identity proof and Indian Passport having one-year validity, said the DSGMC.

Sirsa added that the required documents will be deposited with the External Affairs Ministry by February 25, which will then be forwarded to the Pakistan High Commission. The pilgrims will be provided the visa after necessary scrutiny by Indian as well as Pakistan agencies, he said.

In the total quota of 3,000 pilgrims, the state of Punjab has been allocated maximum quota of 1,800 pilgrims, followed by Delhi with 555 pilgrims, and Haryana with 200 pilgrims.

West Bengal has been allocated the minimum of five pilgrims, Bihar 14 and Jammu and Kashmir 40 pilgrims.

The festival commemorates the formation of Khalsa Panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. (ANI)


Tullamores new community counselling centre Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT) would like to invite members of the general public to attend its Grand Opening on Monday, January 20 from 3pm  7pm.

ACT has been founded as a not-for-profit community-based counselling centre and will provide people in Tullamore and the greater Offaly area with accessible and affordable counselling and psychotherapy services.

The centre has been set up by local businessman and See Change ambassador James O'Connor along with his partner Lisa Guing. The couple who own fititout.ie are also behind the local Green Ribbon campaign Tullamore Goes Green which runs for the month of May and aims to reduce mental health stigma by encouraging people to talk. It was through the couple's work with the Tullamore Goes Green campaign that they saw the need for a sustainable model of community-based counselling services that will be accessible and affordable to all.

The past 18 months has been spent working with outside consultants and key stakeholders on governance, policies and procedures and all legal and regulatory requirements. This has been a laborious and time-consuming process but one that is essential to the success and longevity of the organisation.

The couple has brought together an experienced and dedicated Board of Trustees with the necessary skills and commitment required to oversee the running of the organisation and a team of qualified counsellors/psychotherapists who are dedicated to providing accessible counselling to all.

Seamus Sheedy is the centres clinical director. Seamus is a counsellor and supervisor and is the former President of the EAC - European Association of Counselling and former Chair of IACP  The Irish Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy.

Dympna Summerville has been appointed as the centres co-ordinator and will manage the day to day operation of the centre. Dympna has a wealth of experience in the education sector through her work as a maths teacher for many years and later as co-ordinator of VTOS. Dympna is also a qualified in counselling and psychotherapy.

"Mental health is something that affects us all throughout our lives. There are times when we may feel overwhelmed and may find ourselves in need of help addressing problems that are causing us emotional distress. At ACT our team of qualified, professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists will offer a supportive environment where clients can talk about their issues without fear of judgement.

"We believe our service will address a huge need in our community and will provide a safe space where a client will be enabled to explore their issues in a confidential setting. Our accessible and timely service will mean that our clients will have the best chance of getting back to a positive frame of mind sooner and with lasting results.

"We hope to positively impact the lives of those suffering with mental health issues, along with their families and the community as a whole

"Our Grand Opening will be an opportunity to explore our facilities here at ACT, to meet the team and enjoy

some light refreshments.

"The opening will take place at ACTs new purpose-built premises  First floor, Millennium House, Main Street, Tullamore on Monday, January 20 from 3pm  7pm with ribbon cutting ceremony at 6pm and all are welcome to attend.

For more information on ACT or to book an appointment phone Dympna on 083 3555951.
By PTI

MUMBAI: An FIR has been registered against the driver of veteran actor Shabana Azmi for rash and negligent driving, after her car met with an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.

Azmi (69), who was injured in the accident which took place on Saturday, is undergoing treatment at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in suburban Andheri and is "stable", the hospital's Executive Director and CEO Dr Santosh Shetty said.

Driver Kamlesh Kamath (38), who sustained minor injuries in the incident, was apparently trying to overtake another vehicle when Azmi's Tata Safari car rammed into a truck near Khalapur, about 60 km from here in neighbouring Raigad district, a local police official earlier said.



Azmi's husband, lyricist Javed Akhtar, was travelling in another car, Raigad Superintendent of Police Paraskar said on Sunday.

"We have booked driver Kamlesh Kamath under Indian Penal Code Sections 279 and 337 for rash and negligent driving and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. He is not yet arrested," Paraskar said.

The car will be sent for an inspection to RTO (regional transport office) to ascertain if there was any fault in the vehicle or if the mishap took place after the driver lost control, he said.

After the incident, Azmi was first rushed to MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai and later shifted to the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital here.

"We will collect Azmi's medical report from the MGM Hospital where she was initially taken. The driver's medical examination was also conducted and he was not found under the influence of alcohol," Paraskar said.

Meanwhile, Dr Shetty at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital said the actor's health condition is "stable".

"Azmi is recuperating. She is stable and under observation. No surgery, operation was performed during the night...she is undergoing medical treatment," he said.

Azmi is known for her path-breaking roles in films like "Arth", "Ankur", "Paar", "Masoom" and "Godmother".
The founder of South Korea's sprawling retail conglomerate Lotte Group has died at the age of 97, company officials said Sunday. Shin Kyuk-ho's reputation was tarnished in his final years when the wheelchair-bound tycoon was convicted of professional malpractice and embezzling from the firm to benefit his relatives in late 2017. He was sentenced to four years in prison but was allowed to stay out of jail on health grounds. Born in the southern city of Ulsan, Shin stowed away on a ship to Japan at the age of 18 to seek his fortune and established Lotte to manufacture chewing gum in Tokyo soon after World War II. The business later grew to include dozens of subsidiaries in the food, retail and hotel industries. Lotte is one of the biggest of the South Korean family-run "chaebol" conglomerates that powered the country's decades of runaway economic growth -- but which are sometimes accused of murky business practices and overly-close ties with politicians. Shin's two sons made headlines in 2015 with a bitter public fight for control of the group, each accusing the other of mismanagement, personality flaws, and of manipulating their frail and aged father. His younger son Dong-bin eventually took over the reins as chairman but both he and Shin were accused of causing $72 million in damages to the group by renting out Lotte Cinema concessions at discounted rates to the founder's eldest daughter and mistress. The daughter was jailed for two years, while the mistress -- a former model and actress 39 years Shin's junior, who came to his attention after winning a beauty pageant -- was given a suspended sentence. Shin was also found to have disposed of company assets in violation of his responsibilities as chairman by the presiding judge in his 2017 trial. He had been suffering from dementia and other diseases of old age before his death, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency.
President Donald Trump points to the crowd as he stands with his son Barron Trump, right, on the top of the steps of Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Flordia. AP photo

Washington: US President Donald Trump gave a minute-to-minute account of the US drone strikes that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in remarks to a Republican fund-raising dinner on Friday night, according to audio obtained by CNN.

With his typical dramatic flourish, Trump recounted the scene as he monitored the strikes from the White House Situation Room when Soleimani was killed.

The president spoke in a ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, at a Republican event that raised $10 million for Trump's 2020 re-election campaign and for the Republican National Committee.

Reporters were not allowed in for the event. CNN said it obtained an audio recording of Trump's remarks. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The January 3 killing of Soleimani at Baghdad airport prompted Iran to retaliate with missile strikes against US forces in Iraq days later and almost triggered a broad war between the two countries.

"They're together sir," Trump said military officials told him. "Sir, they have two minutes and 11 seconds. No emotion. 'Two minutes and 11 seconds to live, sir. They're in the car, they're in an armored vehicle. Sir, they have approximately one minute to live, sir. Thirty seconds. Ten, 9, 8 ...' "

"Then all of a sudden, boom," he said. "'They're gone, sir. Cutting off.'"

"I said, where is this guy?" Trump continued. "That was the last I heard from him."

It was the most detailed account that Trump has given of the drone strike, which has drawn criticism from some US lawmakers because neither the president nor his advisers have provided public information to back up their statements that Soleimani presented an "imminent" threat to Americans in the region.

CNN said that in the audio, Trump did not repeat that Soleimani was an imminent threat. Trump said Soleimani was "saying bad things about our country" before the strike, which led to his decision to authorise his killing.
A 33-year-old man was shot late Saturday night on Market Street in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, self-transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries at 11:23 p.m., the SFPD said. He told officers that the shooting occurred at the intersection of Market Street and Golden Gate Avenue.
Some political dilemmas come to down to: Whom should we trust more? In the case of Apple vs. the FBI, the question is: Whom should we distrust less?

Advantage: Cupertino.

As the proverb has it, Hard cases make bad law. But they sometimes make pretty good politics.

Notionally, the dispute here is about the case of Second Lieutenant Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani of the Royal Saudi Air Force, who shot eleven people, killing three, at Naval Air Station Pensacola, where he was undergoing training courtesy of the U.S. government, whose agents assure us that they are competent to vet would-be immigrants and visitors for jihadist sympathies.

The feds tend to be more effective after the fact. Twenty-one of the nearly 900 Saudi military trainees in the United States are being sent home after a federal investigation revealed them to be in possession of derogatory material ranging from anti-American literature to child pornography.

There will be no trial of Alshamrani, who was liberated from this vale of tears at the scene of his crime by the marksmanship of Escambia County sheriffs deputies. But there is an ongoing investigation. Alshamrani was the sole shooter, but he did not act alone: The evening before the massacre, he entertained Saudi friends at a dinner party at which they watched videos of mass shootings, and three of them took video of the incident while it was underway. The FBI rightly wants to understand this incident in the broader context of jihadist radicalization with an eye toward preventing future atrocities.

And so the FBI would like to have a look at Alshamranis iPhone. But they cannot access it, and they want assistance from Apple, which has declined to give the U.S. government what it really wants: a backdoor to defeat the encryption in Apple products, something it has been seeking for years and pressing for in similar cases such as that of the San Bernardino terrorists. As Ben Wizner of the ACLU argues in Wired, The Department of Justice is trying to identify the most politically advantageous case in which to press a longstanding desire, which is that companies reengineer their products to allow easy surveillance.

Story continues

In the San Bernardino case, a third party was able to provide access to the phones. The FBIs crime lab is hard at work on Alshamranis two iPhonesin a truly impressive feat, they apparently have managed to get the devices into operational condition in spite of the fact that Alshamrani shot them. But they are not confident that they can access them. Apple, for its part, has provided access to a great deal of cloud data but declines to provide the means for defeating its encryption on the grounds that there is no way for them to prevent hackers and other criminals from exploiting such a backdoor.

But bad actors outside the government are not the only concern here. There are plenty of bad actors inside our government as well. From the Obama administrations politicization of the IRS and other federal agencies with easily weaponized investigatory powers to the abuses of surveillance protocols in the investigation of the Trump campaign (antithetical to the heightened duty of candor in the sterile language of Rosemary Collyer, the presiding judge at the FISA court), the federal government has shown itself incapable of deploying its awesome powers in an honest and politically neutral fashion.

The ethical lapses of the federal government must be considered in the context of its general incompetence in the matter of deploying the powers it already has to prevent terrorist attacks such as the one in Pensacola. Return your minds for a moment to the fact that at least 21 of the Saudi military personnel brought here for training were in possession of anti-American propaganda, which should have raised counterterrorism concerns, and child pornography, which is a regular old workaday felony.

Performing background checks on military personnel, who are under certain obligations that supersede ordinary privacy expectations, is a relatively easy task. And we are not talking here about members of the Norwegian military but members of the military of Saudi Arabia, the government of which is not famous for its interest in the privacy of its subjects or their civil liberties.

No humility about its shortcomings stopped the U.S. government from providing these men training in the killing arts at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer. Nor did it stop the U.S. government from importing a terrorist who carried out a deadly attack on U.S. soil.

Mature judgment requires us to balance the likelihood that additional powers will be abused against the likelihood that some good will come of them, and in this calculation, Washington is found wanting.

Apple is right to look after the privacy interests of its customers, and to assist law enforcement where doing so is not detrimental to those interests. And the U.S. governments law-enforcement and intelligence operatives are right to do what they can to learn what can be learned from the communications of terrorists such as Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani. But they are the ones who have to do their jobit is not desirable that Apple should be deputized to do it for them, or that Apple should give them a master key to Americans private communicationsbecause the U.S. government already has shown on many occasions that it simply cannot be trusted with such power.

It is worth remembering that Senator Barack Obama was a civil libertarian who worried that the PATRIOT Act would undermine the privacy of American citizens, and that President Obama, only a few blinks of the eye later, decided that the so-called war on terror invested him with the unilateral authority to order the assassination of American citizens without so much as a legislative by-your-leave.

Political power is always growing and generally metastatic, and the case of Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani is not onlyor even mainlyabout Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani.

More from National Review
As the coffins of the 11 Ukrainians who were killed when Iran's military mistakenly shot down a passenger airliner in Tehran arrived in Kyiv on January 19, the lead Iranian investigator into the tragedy said Iran wouldn't send the flight recorders abroad for analysis.



Hassan Rezaifer was quoted by the state-run IRNA news agency as saying the flight recorders from the Ukrainian Boeing are in Iranian hands and we have no plans to send them out.



Meanwhile, Canada on January 19 made another request for Tehran to immediately transfer the black boxes to either France or Ukraine.



I repeated Canadas position that the black boxes be sent as quickly as possible either to Ukraine or France so it can be done somewhere [where] the expertise exists and it can be done in a transparent manner, Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said after he spoke with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.



However, Rezaifer said Iran is still working with the flight recorders and that they may be sent to Ukraine or France.



But as of yet, we have made no decision, he said.



In the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, and other senior Ukrainian officials participated in a solemn ceremony after the 11 flag-draped coffins arrived carrying the bodies of nine Ukraine International Airlines crew members and two passengers killed along with 165 other people when Flight PS752 went down on January 8.



Iranian officials have said that air defenses on high alert during heightened tensions after Iranian missile strikes made an error and fired antiaircraft missiles at the Boeing 737-800.



Ukrainians and officials from the four other countries that lost nationals in the disaster have demanded a "thorough, independent, and transparent" investigation.



Rezaifer had been quoted by the Tasnim news agency as saying on January 18 that French, American, and Canadian experts would work with the equipment after it was sent to Kyiv because Iranian authorities had been unable to read the black-box data.



"If this effort is unsuccessful, then the black box will be sent to France," he had added, according to Tasnim.



Senior Iranian officials called for punishment of those responsible after air-defense forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) shot down the plane.

Joint Statement

The foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Sweden, and Ukraine issued a joint statement after a meeting in London on January 17 to pressure Iran to give a full accounting.



Most of the victims on the flight were Iranians or dual citizens, many of them students returning to studies abroad or families returning home after visiting relatives in Iran.



The incident came shortly after Iran launched missiles at military bases in Iraq that hosted U.S. forces, in an attack that was a response to a January 3 U.S. air strike that killed top Iranian military commander Major General Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad's international airport.



After initially denying it shot down the plane, Tehran eventually admitted that its forces unintentionally struck the airliner with a missile after it said it veered toward a sensitive military site.



Thousands of Iranians took to the streets to protest their government's actions, prompting public calls for punishment of the individuals responsible for the mistake.



Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called for national unity and defended the country's armed forces in a rare sermon at Tehrans Mosalla Mosque on January 17.



He accused Iran's enemies of using the plane crash to question the Islamic republic, the armed forces, and the IRGC, which he said "maintained the security" of Iran.

Based on reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, AP, Reuters, and AFP
Yes, says Stacey Halls  one even shaped her entire destiny. Fate or free will? You decide

They can be highly specific and personal, they can be us making sense of what happened that day or they can be our minds trying to sort out bigger problems'

When I was in the last few weeks of university  in that frenzied, intense period cramming for final exams  I took a break from revision one evening to put on a DVD of the latest Twilight film. It was 2011 and everyone was obsessed with the story of Bella and Edward  an ordinary girl and her vampire lover. I was 21 and the future yawned emptily before me. Love was the last thing on my mind, so nobody was more surprised than me when I went to bed that night and woke up head over heels for someone I barely even knew.

Andy was a fellow student on my journalism course but we werent friends. We werent even acquaintances. Id probably spoken to him three times in three years. I actually thought he was a bit of a swot  he sat at the front of every lecture hall, practically dislocating his shoulder because of the speed with which he shot up his hand to answer questions. He was the last person Id expect to take the starring role in my own dream version of Twilight. There was a forest, there were long, lingering looks  I will insist here that it was not a sex dream  and I think there was even a wedding at one point.

My crush was formed but instead of fading away when I woke, it grew. Its amazing how the way you perceive someones features can change literally overnight  so ordinary one day, so divine the next. It would turn into the great love story of my life, but who would have thought that it could have begun while I was fast asleep in my bedroom at my parents house?

This was the era of instant messaging and while I was staring at Andys Facebook profile picture  when I should have been revising media law  he appeared online. I said hello and he replied, beginning a daily correspondence that he admits he was bewildered by at the time. I persisted, popping up with questions I knew the answer to (Remind me of the difference between defamation and slander?). Fast-forward to an awkward encounter at the student union, a house party, then a job offer each in London, and five weeks later we found ourselves moving in together. Six years later we got married.

Stacey and Andy on their wedding day in 2017

At some point in the first year of our relationship I dropped into conversation the story about my dream where wed got together  but Andy just laughed it off as a funny coincidence. I grew serious and tried to explain that the dream was the singular reason we were together but I think, like most men, he liked to think hed played a larger part in initiating the relationship, when the reality is I set my sights on him and he didnt have much choice in the matter. Was it fate or free will? Choice or chance? If I hadnt put Twilight in the DVD player that night, would I now have a mortgage and a marriage certificate? Id like to think wed have been drawn together regardless, but well never know.

Im not the only person whos had one of these prophetic experiences. When I tell people how we got together, it seems having a dream that came true is like a ghost story: everyones got one, or knows someone whos had one. A colleague said that when her mum was pregnant with her, she dreamed she called the baby Felice, so thats her name. A friends mum was astonished when a multi-storey car park collapsed, damaging several cars but injuring no one, as shed dreamt a few nights before that it happened. Another friend recalled being hysterical when, as a child, she dreamed her perfectly healthy grandmother died but was reassured by her parents that Grandma was fine. Her grandmother died that same day. And my literary agent, while in the middle of an auction for one of her clients manuscripts, dreamed that a certain publisher put a specific amount on the table for the novel, winning the auction. You can guess what happened next. A quick poll on my social media asking, Have you ever dreamed something that came true? returned a yes from 68 per cent of respondents. When I invited them to share their stories, most involved tragedy: childhood friends dying, car crashes; two separate people had nightmarish premonitions of the 7/7 bombings the night before they happened. Others were less dramatic  pregnancy announcements and pet fish being stolen.

Tetyana, 43, from London, met her husband at a dinner party. A month after their first date he told her hed had a dream that they were standing beside a white picket fence with a black church in the background. She thought nothing of it, until a few weeks later they were browsing a photography book when suddenly her husband gasped and pointed. The church from his dream and the white picket fence in front of it was a real place in Iceland. Ten months later they got married there.

Some dreams are life-changing. Daisy, 28, from Gloucestershire, didnt realise quitting the job she was so unhappy in was an option until she had an intensely realistic dream of walking down a beach in Southeast Asia and knew it was something she had to do, not just fantasise about on the commute to her job as a fashion stylist. I couldnt stop thinking about this place, she says. Id never been to Southeast Asia, but I knew instinctively thats where I was; it felt familiar yet strange.

I thought my travelling days were over but that week I handed in my notice then moved back in with my parents and spent all my savings on a four-month trip. I almost cant believe Ive done it but the dream just felt so certain  more like a memory than my imagination.

When Sarah, a writer from Melbourne, was 18, she had a vivid dream about walking hand in hand with a little girl. She never imagined shed have seen her daughter almost 15 years before she was born. Three years after having that dream I started dating my brothers friend who I remember thinking at the time looked familiar, says Sarah, now 40. When I was 33 we had our daughter. Shes seven now, and looks exactly like the girl from my dream. Her dad and I separated when she was five  the age the girl was in my dream. Its like she visited me from the future.

Dreams have inspired authors, musicians and even scientists. Paul McCartney famously heard the opening melody of Yesterday while asleep and stumbled straight from bed to his piano to work on the chords. Mary Shelley had a nightmare about a corpse brought back to life by a maniacal student, which became the 1818 horror classic Frankenstein. Einsteins formula for the speed of light came to him during an imagined sledge ride down a hill, and Otto Loewi won the Nobel Prize in 1936 after realising in a dream that the nervous system was chemical and not electric.

So whats the theory behind this nocturnal enlightenment? On a very basic level, dreams are products of the subconscious mind. From a Freudian perspective, our dreams are disguises for hidden desires, primitive needs and forbidden urges  things that are too unpleasant or difficult for us to give conscious thought to. But dreaming youre having an affair with the neighbour or that youre naked on the high street doesnt mean its going to happen.

Matthew Bowes, a psychotherapist who specialises in dream interpretation (matthewbowespsychotherapy.co.uk), says that dreams can be interpreted on many different levels: They can be highly specific and personal, they can be us making sense of what happened that day or they can be our minds trying to sort out bigger problems  for instance, struggles and conflicts with and inside ourselves. So the steamy goings-on with Steve next door could mean its time to spice up your sex life; perhaps the naked wanderings signify panic about an upcoming event or job interview, where you might feel exposed.

As for prophetic dreaming, Bowes says we mustnt underestimate the power of the subconscious. As humans, the way we emotionally process things anticipates future events and can give us an implied course of action. We also have to accept that there are memories and thoughts that we dont have access to in our conscious minds, and that our daily interactions are recorded by the subconscious. For example, when you have a conversation with someone your subconscious is picking up body language and tone of voice and will store that away.

So if you then dream about a colleague romantically or that a grandparent dies, this can be the subconsciouss way of dealing with the subtleties it has interpreted. The idea of a family member dying may not be something we want to entertain in our conscious minds but our dreams may invite us to confront such a possibility and arguably prepare us for that, says Bowes.

However, Bowes adds, we dont have a science-based explanation for everything. We live in a world thats very scientific and in Western culture we see time as linear with the future in front of us, but thats not necessarily how time works, he argues. Clients have come to me having dreamt about an event that was so specific that then happened  we must leave a little room for mysticism.

As humans, we are narrative-making beings who want to find meaning in everything. And for every dream that has been realised or helped us reach an important decision, there are a thousand more that mean nothing. Just as we dont act on every single thought we have, nor should we act on our dreams.

But to quote Disneys Cinderella: A dream is a wish your heart makes when youre fast asleep. And after eight happy years together, Im very glad mine came true.

Staceys latest novel The Foundling will be published on 6 February by Manilla Press, price 12.99* To order with a 20 per cent discount and free p&p until 9 February, call 01603 648155 or go to mailshop.co.uk

Seven common dreams decoded

By Theresa Cheung, author of The Dream Dictionary from A to Z

 LOSING TEETH Your teeth can be symbols of confidence, so losing them suggests a lack of self-esteem. It can also express a fear of ageing or anxiety about your appearance.

 FLYING This represents a new perspective  or the need for one - and the ability to see the bigger picture.

 TRAPPED Being locked in a room is a sign that something  a relationship, job or belief  is holding you back.

 CHASED Usually a response to stress, it can also mean that theres something unresolved from your past that you need to face up to.

 MEETING A CELEBRITY Usually they possess a quality that you lack. If the person is unpleasant, or even evil, it may mean you need more killer instinct.

 NAKED This is about feeling judged and vulnerable. Your naked self represents the real you. Are you afraid of showing your true self to the world?

 SEX Often less about the physical act, or object of your desire, and more about the need for adventure and excitement.

Bedtime reading

Five books that will give you a better insight into your dreams

The Dream Dictionary and Why We Dream

The Dream Dictionary from A to Z by Theresa Cheung* Look up the symbolism behind your dreams  however surreal.

Why We Dream by Alice Robb* Even sceptics will be fascinated by the latest research into the science of dreaming.

Learn To Lucid Dream by Kristen LaMarca

Learn To Lucid Dream by Kristen LaMarca This step-by-step plan claims to teach you how to manipulate what happens in your dreams.

The Dream Interpretation Handbook and Dreamers Journal

The Dream Interpretation Handbook by Karen Frazier Learn to decipher dream plotlines and how to use these insights to improve your life.

Dreamers Journal by Caitlin Keegan A lovely illustrated book to record your dreams in, with prompts to help you make sense of them.

*To order these books with a 20 per cent discount and free p&p until 9 February, call 01603 648155 or go to mailshop.co.uk
Rental property managers are struggling to claim insurance on income lost to cancellations as holidaymakers avoid fire-ravaged areas on the NSW South Coast.

Managers in Batemans Bay, Merimbula and Eden said nearly all their January bookings had been cancelled and guests were pulling out for February and March.

The Batemans Bay bridge with standstill traffic as holidaymakers evacuate. Credit:Karleen Minney

The financial predicament comes as the NSW Rural Fire Service and police on Sunday gave the all clear for businesses to re-open in the Southern Highlands.

Lisa Nimmo, owner of Eden Holiday Rentals, said: I just lost my shit at somebody whos going to cancel in February because its not going to look pretty."
It hadn't happened for eight years.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei making the main weekly sermon during Friday prayers in Tehran.

Addressing thousands inside a large prayer hall and many more outside, he said Iran's missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq showed it had divine support in delivering a "slap on the face" to a world power.

Iranians who'd gathered to watch his first sermon since 2012 chanted in sympathy "Death to America".

Khamenei described the retaliatory attacks - in response for America's killing of Iran's top military commander - as a "day of God".

In killing Qassem Soleimani, he told them the United States had showed its "terrorist nature".

And Khamenei warned that U.S. sanctions imposed in a row over its nuclear program would not make Iran yield.

The support shown here will surely have been met with some relief to Iran's clerical leaders.

At home and abroad, they have been under pressure after the military admitted to mistakenly shooting down a passenger airliner in Tehran earlier this month.

It happened in the tense aftermath of Iran's missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq, killing all 176 people on board.

Demonstrations against the downing of the airliner followed.

Footage posted online showed protesters being beaten and recorded gunshots, teargas and blood on the streets.

Iran's police denied firing at protesters.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 19:05:15|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a village of the Wa ethnic group to extend his Chinese New Year's greetings to the villagers in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 19, 2020. Xi visited Yunnan Province Sunday on an inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

KUNMING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited southwest China's Yunnan Province Sunday on an inspection tour ahead of Chinese New Year.

Xi went to a village of the Wa ethnic group in Qingshui Township of the city of Tengchong Sunday afternoon to learn about poverty alleviation efforts and extend his Chinese New Year's greetings to the villagers.

He also visited the old town of Heshun, a gateway on the ancient Southern Silk Road that linked China's Sichuan and Yunnan with Myanmar and India, to learn about exchanges, historical and cultural inheritance, as well as ecological and environmental protection along the trade route.
A Temple of Satan has promised to use the Religious Discrimination Bill to access 'all the privileges it guarantees' to preach about 'the dark lord' in schools.

The proposed law would make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their religion if passed in federal government.

In a submission on the second exposure drafts of the bill, the Noosa Temple of Satan on Queensland's Sunshine Coast said they would 'aggressively' take advantage of the law if it was passed.

The Temple of Satan vowed to use street evangelism, school programs, government grant programs and access to public facilities, claiming the list was endless'.

The Noosa Temple of Satan, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, has vowed to preach in schools

The 'Noosa Satanists' said they would use the proposed Religious Discrimination Bill (Pictured: Noosa)

'We shall use our local Federal Member, Commissioners and courts to defend our newfound rights under this proposed legislation,' their submission said.

'Satan has great plans for the future of Noosa and Australia and we intend to use every avenue available to us to reach our goals.'

'Hail Satan!'

The open letter received mixed feedback online after it was shared to Reddit.

'Well the Noosa Temple of Satan have definitely sent in the most honest submission on the Religious Discrimination Bill so far!' LGBTI Rights Australia wrote.

Others questioned whether the Noosa Temple of Satan was a legitimate religious organisation.

The Temple of Satan vows to use street evangelism, school programs, government grant programs and access to public facilities, claiming 'the list is endless' (pictured: Noosa)

On December 10 Prime Minister Scott Morrison released the proposed laws for a second round of public comment.

'This is a bill for all Australians,' the Prime Minister said,

'Australia is a country of respect and of tolerance.'

The draft legislation has been updated to ensure charities such as Vinnies, as well as religious hospitals and nursing homes, can hire staff based on their faith.

It also narrows conscientious objection provisions for health practitioners.

The protection will only apply to nurses, midwives, doctors, psychologists and pharmacists, where previously it applied to a much broader group of medical professionals.

It will not give health workers or aged care homes the right to discriminate against patients or residents based on gender or any other characteristic.

Comment on the bill is open until the end of January and the Government plans to introduce the legislation to Parliament early this year.

On December 10 Prime Minister Scott Morrison released the proposed laws for a second round of public comment and said the bill had been drafted for 'all Australians'
LOME  President Museveni has called for concerted efforts among African countries towards elimination of trafficking of substandard, falsified medicines and other medical products.

In a speech delivered in Lome, Togo at the signing of the Political Declaration of the Lome Initiative against drug trafficking at the weekend, Mr Museveni said counterfeit medical products pose a considerable threat to human health and well-being worldwide.

They may cause harm to patients and fail to treat the diseases for which they were intended. They may lead to loss of confidence in medicines, healthcare providers and health systems. Substandard and falsified medical products contribute to antimicrobial resistance and drug-resistant infections, the President said.

In addition to the human cost of counterfeit medicines, Mr Museveni said many countries have realized that there has been the involvement of transnational organized crime in this traffic and financing of terrorist activities.

Counterfeit medicines are smuggled onto the market using the same routes and techniques as drugs, weapons and human trafficking. Therefore, this problem cannot be solved by individual countries, he said.

Mr Museveni said formulation of stringent regulatory mechanism, information sharing and working together to combat the vice, which has been identified as one of the ways of tackling drug trafficking, must be supported and implemented by all of us.

The decisive call, goes to all leaders on the Continent to work together and form a system that is managed and regulated by ourselves. Additionally, we must invest in research and development of health-related technologies and promote innovation of new products, where possible. Scientists on the Continent must also collaborate on common health concerns, share expertise and be financially supported to build capacity for production of quality and standard medicines rather than, completely, depending on sourcing externally. In so doing, we will safeguard the population, create jobs for the youth and improve our economies and also lower the cost of the medicines because African labour is cheaper, the President added.

The Lome Initiative will comprise of Uganda, Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Togo, the Republic of the Congo and the Brazzaville Foundation.

It aims at stemming the traffic in counterfeit medicines by introducing legislation to criminalize this traffic, impose tougher criminal penalties and ensure vigorous enforcement of the legislation.

I call upon all African countries to join in the Initiative as we continue to push for shared socio-economic integration and transformation, Mr Museveni added.

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RED WING -- Three individuals elected to their local offices in their communities will be in Red Wing on Saturday, Jan. 25, to talk about their path and what it is like representing diverse communities.

The "New Voices, New Ideas" event will include a conversation with Helen J. M. Bassett, the co-founder of Minnesota African American Heritage School Board Members Group; Abdi Sabrie, Mankato School Boards first Somali-American member and a Bush Foundation fellow; and Becky Norton, a member of the Red Wing City Council.

Organizers said they hope that attendees will be inspired to run for office.

Norton told the Republican Eagle: "I feel strongly we need to intentionally recruit and support more voices at all tables, elected leaders being one of those tables. But leadership can be at many levels in many areas."

Norton went on to explain that she, like many people, didnt come from a civics-oriented household but she still found a place to serve.

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"I come from a very modest uneducated home, not from a background in politics. I started a bit behind many of my peers so had to work pretty hard to make up ground and have often felt like I'm behind. I am learning to recognize that I might have something to offer, flawed as I am, and that has been a very new realization for me. I am learning to accept myself while also engaging in self-reflection looking for growth opportunities," she said. "It's my hope that we grow stronger as a community through this event and events like it. That we recognize our strengths and our weaknesses and develop and grow and use them to strengthen our communities. I'm sure I will learn more from the other panelists and the attendees than I will give and that's exciting to be a community where we can gather to learn and support each other."

Heidi Jones is one of the organizers. A primary purpose, she wrote, is to start a new conversation in the region about diversity in local elected offices at every level so that underrepresented populations have a voice at the table.

The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters Red Wing, with support from the Duff Endowment, Red Wing Community Education and Goodhue County Education District.

Red Wing Honor Society students will provide child care during the event.

If you go:

Where: River Bluff, 395 Guernsey Lane

When: Saturday, Jan. 25, 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Cost: Free

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More info: Eventbrite : https://www.facebook.com/events/2237546349872128 /
Last week, the new Democratic majority in the Virginia Senate passed bills to limit handgun purchases to one per month, allow local governments to bar weapons from certain public places and require background checks on all firearms sales. The bills await action in the House, which is also controlled by Democrats for the first time in a generation. Passing those bills is a top priority for Democrats in both chambers and for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D).
The Royal Divorce  that is, Prince Harrys and Megan Markles breakup from the royal family -- is now final. After sparking a crisis in the House of Windsor, the young Sussexes (Harry, Megan, and wee Archie) are off to make it on their own.

On Saturday, Queen Elizabeth issued a short statement saying she will always love them, Meghan did a great job during her short stint as a royal, and there's an agreement for them to go away:

Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

Reading that, one can almost feel Queen Elizabeth having flashbacks to Edward VIIIs abdication in 1937 and, more recently, to the whole Diana disaster, especially 1992, when Charles and Diana publicly separated. It was that fiasco that led to the Queen referring to the entirety of 1992 as an annus horribilis, or horrible year. Because Queen Elizabeth has always comported herself with dignity, with respect for her office, and with love for her country and her people, its to be hoped that 2020 gets better from here on out.

As to the actual details, Buckingham Palace explained that Harry and Meghan would step back from all royal duties, no longer be called Royal Highnesses, lose public funding, and repay the 2.4 million they spent to remodel Frogmore Cottage when Meghan decided she could no longer live for free at Kensington Palace:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties. With The Queens blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty. The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.

Markle has already embarked on her new career, which appears to be wokeness. She began by insulting President Trump, promising (to many peoples great relief) that she will not return to America while hes in office. This is another good reason to reelect the President.

On January 15, word got out that she visited the Downtown Eastside Womens Centre in Vancouver to discuss issues affecting women. Except that more word leaked out two days later that she never stepped foot in the center. Instead, rather than meeting the actual at-risk women, she just met with staffers for moral support.

The true wokeness, though, came when Meghan visited Canadian girls to talk about the real issue affecting young women today: climate justice and indigenous peoples rights.

Yesterday, The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle visited to discuss climate justice for girls and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Was great to talk about the importance of a holistic approach to social justice, and the power of young womens leadership. #DuchessOfSussex pic.twitter.com/M9LaqEELl7  Justice For Girls (@JFG_Canada) January 16, 2020

If Meghan really is serious about avoiding America because of Trump, maybe its time for all of us to take seriously this humorous poster thats been making the rounds:
Assam Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said it is impossible for an immigrant to provide proof of religious persecution.

Sarma, who is also convenor of the NDA's regional wing North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), said that it is not possible for the person to go back to his country of origin and collect a copy of police report to show that he was subjected to religious persecution.

Assam has been witnessing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act with the people apprehending that it will hurt their interests.

"It is not possible for an applicant to prove that he had been subjected to religious persecution in his country of origin. Because if he has to prove it, then he has to go to Bangladesh to collect an FIR or police report," Sarma said after a party function on Saturday.

"You cannot prove fear of religious persecution or religious persecution itself. How can you prove it? Somebody will challenge it.

"That is what my assessment is. You will ask a person to go back to Bangladesh and ask him to collect videographic or photographic evidence of religious persecution?" he asked.

The Assam government has requested the Centre to include submission of evidence by an applicant that he was in the state prior to 2014 in the rules of the CAA, which are under preparation, the NEDA convenor said.

"Our firm view is that in order to prove that you have come to Assam before 2014, you have to prove it through documents like a bank account opened prior to 2014 or name in the electoral roll prior to 2014 or NRC application before 2014," the BJP leader said.

The Assam government wants a very short window period to establish citizenship under the CAA because rumours are being spread about the possible number of beneficiaries under the Act.

"Our firm view is that the applicants will be in the range of 3 lakh to 5 lakh. These are the people who are staying in Assam from 1972 or 1975.

"We want to end this confusion in Assam. So, we requested for a very short window period because our target people are already selected during the process of NRC.

"Everybody knows that my name is not in NRC, so there is no confusion. No confusion on the applicant's side, no confusion on the government's side. Just go and apply. It will hardly take 2-3 months. Somebody whose name is not in NRC, they can go and apply," the minister said.

The Act aims to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis entering India on or before December 31, 2014 from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here.

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre on a batch of 59 petitions challenging the validity of CAA. The next date of hearing is January 22.

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

Flight data recorders of the Ukrainian passenger plane, which was accidentally downed outside Tehran, will be sent to Kiev, Hassan Rezaifar, head of the accidents investigation commission at Irans Civil Aviation Organization, said on Saturday, Trend reports citing TASS.

"We have once more consulted with Ukrainian experts and [confirmed] that it is impossible to decode black boxes in Iran" he said quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

"At the request of the Ukrainian authorities, the black boxes of the Ukrainian downed jet will not be read in Iran, but instead will be transferred to Ukraine for analysis and reading," the official added.

Rezaifar noted that "with the use of the expertise of the countries of France, Canada and America we will try to read the [flight data recorders] in Kiev."

"If this effort is unsuccessful then the black box will be sent to France," he added.

On Friday, the office of Ukraines prosecutor general filed another request to Iran asking to hand Kiev the flight data recorders of the downed plane. Ukraine had submitted a previous request to Iran on January 15. On the same day, head of the Kiev Research Institute of Forensic Studies Alexander Ruvin said that an international team of experts would start reading the black boxes in Kiev on January 20.

On January 8, a Boeing-737 of the Ukrainian International Airlines bound for Kiev crashed minutes after takeoff from Tehrans Imam Khomeini Airport. The crash killed all 176 people on board - citizens of Afghanistan, Germany, Iran, Canada and Ukraine and also British and Swedish subjects. On January 11, Irans Armed Forces General Staff released a statement admitting the plane had been mistakenly shot down. According to Iranian Brigadier-General Amir-Ali Hajizadeh, the plane was misidentified as a cruise missile by the air defense force.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
ABC News

Former President Donald Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry and the estate of his late brother Robert Trump tried on Tuesday to convince a New York judge to dismiss a lawsuit by Mary Trump that accused her family of swindling her out of at least $10 million. Attorneys for the Trump siblings argued Mary Trump's claims are time-barred by a six-year statute of limitations and prohibited by legal releases she signed in 2001 when the family settled the estate of Fred Trump Sr., the former president's father. The Trumps also argued Mary Trump possessed "boxes and boxes of information" about the estate settlement that should have given rise to any claims at the time.
Just one in four of the British delegates heading to Davos this week are female, in what campaigners have called a 'pathetic' show of diversity from the business community.

Of the 269 British leaders who will travel to the World Economic Forum's four-day annual meeting of the global elite in the Swiss ski resort, 73 are women.

They include Fidelity International's boss Anne Richards, the chief executive of Glaxosmithkline Emma Walmsley, and the Confederation of British Industry's Carolyn Fairbairn.

Only 73 out of the 269 British leaders going to Davos are women

Overall, the ratio of women to men at this year's Davos summit  although low at 24 per cent  is much better than the FTSE 100. The government-backed Hampton-Alexander Review, published at the end of last year, found that just six Footsie firms had female chief executives.

And while representation of women in the boardrooms of FTSE 350 companies had improved  there were only two boards made entirely of men, and 43 which include just one woman  there was still some way to go to reach the 2020 goal of 33 per cent of leadership positions occupied by women.

This year's WEF meeting, which will focus on sustainability and climate change, is boasting a roster of female speakers such as environmentalist Greta Thunberg, president of the European Central bank Christine Lagarde, and German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Ann Cairns, co-chairman of the 30pc Club campaigning for more women in senior positions, and executive vice chairman of Mastercard, said: 'I believe companies would benefit hugely from including more senior women in their delegation.

'Especially when the big issues of the day include climate change and gender balance and when there's no doubt that women will be impacted by climate change in a disproportionate way all over the world.'

Glaxosmithkline's chief executive Emma Walmsley is one of the women going to Davos

Some sessions during the conference will specifically address gender diversity, including one on how empowering women can allow them to address poverty, one on how increasing access to trade could allow more women to contribute to labour markets, and one on ending sexual harassment in the workplace.

Denise Wilson, chief executive of the Hampton-Alexander Review, said: 'In this 50th anniversary year of Davos, it is a mark of progress that the number of prominent women speakers continues to increase. However, it is disappointing that the gender balance of attendees remains heavily skewed in favour of men.

'Companies need to examine their processes for selecting attendees and make sure senior women are offered an equal opportunity to join an important debate.'

WEF has pledged to at least double the number of women attending Davos over the next decade.

Oliver Cann, head of strategic communications at WEF, said: 'Davos is one of the most diverse summits in the world, however there is still much more to be done when it comes to closing the gender gap in leadership.
At least seven people remained missing on Sunday, January 19, following an avalanche in northwestern Nepal two days prior, local media reported.

The avalanche occurred near a base camp in the Annapurna Circuit after heavy snowfall on Friday.

Four missing Chinese tourists were found alive on Sunday, the Himalayan Times reported.

This footage was shared by Captain Ananda Thapa, a pilot with Simrik Air, one of the companies assisting the search and rescue efforts. Credit: Capt Ananda Thapa/Simrik Air via Storyful
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his government will continue to control the school fee like they did in the last five years, if re-elected.

In a tweet in Hindi, he said as long as there is an "honest government" in Delhi, the parents need not to worry about school fee.

"No private school in Delhi will be allowed to hike fee arbitrarily. Like the last five years, we will continue to control the fees," he said.

The Kejriwal government, after being elected in 2015, have not allowed the private schools to hike the fees arbitrarily and have even forced the school to return the fee, if the government found irregularities in fee hike.
'The news of @AzmiShabana Ji's injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery,' he said. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed concern at actor Shabana Azmi meeting with an accident and wished her speedy recovery.

Modi said in a tweet that the news of Shabana Azmi's injury was distressing.

"The news of @AzmiShabana Ji's injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery," he said.

"Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has been admitted at Kokilaben Ambani hospital. She is stable and under observation," Dr Santosh Shetty, Executive Director and CEO of the hospital said in statement.

The car in which the actor was travelling on Mumbai-Pune expressway on Saturday met with an accident involving a truck near Khalapur.

She was immediately rushed to MGM Hospital and later shifted to multi-speciality Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai.

According to doctors, she has suffered head injury and there was slight damage to backbone.

Her husband lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was travelling with her, escaped with a minor injury.

Catch the latest news, live coverage and in-depth analyses from India and World. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 17:26:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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MANILA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine troops have killed one of the alleged kidnappers of five Indonesian fishermen in the waters off Sabah in Malaysia, a military general said on Sunday.

Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commanding general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City, said the troops also found the speed boat allegedly used by the Abu Sayyaf group in a remote island in Parang, a town in Sulu Province in the southern Philippines.

He said troops clashed with suspected Abu Sayyaf militants at around 6:00 a.m. local time on Saturday on the remote Sulare island in Sulu Province in the southern Philippines, resulting in the killing of a suspect.

During the fighting, Sobejana said troops destroyed the gray twin engine speed boat used by the six kidnappers. "It was positively identified by the three Indonesian fishermen who were freed by the abductors," he said.

Troops also recovered an M16 assault rifle, a bandoleer, and a cellphone at the clash site, Sobejana added.

However, Sobejana said no kidnap victim was sighted, adding he suspected that the victims are being kept somewhere on Sulare island in Parang town. "We are focusing our rescue operation in the area," Sobejana said.

Suspected militants belonging to the Abu Sayyaf group initially snatched eight Indonesian fishermen in the Malaysian waters off eastern Sabah around 8:00 p.m. local time on Jan. 16.

Malaysian authorities said three of the eight fishermen were released and managed to return to Sabah the next day to report the incident.

The kidnapped Indonesians included the boat captain and four others.

The Abu Sayyaf group is considered the smallest but the most violent of the extremist groups in the southern Philippines. The group, which has estimated 400 fighters, is active in the impoverished island provinces of Sulu and Basilan.

The group is responsible for the series of kidnappings-for-ransom, deadly bombings, ambushes of security personnel, public beheadings, assassinations, and extortion in the Mindanao region.

The group, which has been terrorizing the Philippine southern region since the 1990s, preys on foreign tourists, businessmen and fishermen not only from the Philippines but also from Indonesia and Malaysia and hides them in Philippine jungles or remote islands.

In September, three Indonesian fishermen were abducted from their boat off Sabah's east coast near the border with the Philippines.

On Wednesday, Philippine military authorities said security forces rescued the third Indonesian fisherman weeks after authorities said he was recaptured by Abu Sayyaf militants while his two compatriots were rescued in southern Sulu Province.
Aviation consultancy firm has said it expects the second international airport in to be ready for operations in next three years.

The on Thursday cleared the decks for construction of an international airport by the GMR Group at Mopa in North by lifting suspension on (EC) granted for the project.

Immediately after SC's order, the GMR Group said it plans to start work soon for the new aerodrome.

The top court had early last year suspended the EC granted for the greenfield airport and had directed the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) to revisit the decision in light of its impact on the ecology there.

"Delays in critical infrastructure projects is costly for the economy and the consumer. It is good that GMR Group's Mopa project finally got clearance. We can look forward to new airport in next three years," South Asia Chief Executive Officer Kapil Kaul told PTI.

The state government had initially given September 2020 as the deadline for commissioning of the estimated Rs 3,000 crore airport project after GMR Group won bids for development and operations of the aerodrome in 2016, beating state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Essel Infra-Incheon.

However, Chief Minister said in the Assembly last year that he was expecting the airport to be completed by 2021.

Kaul also said that the the delay is likely to push up the project cost, but its impact could be minimised.

"There will be cost escalation but GMR has the ability to minimise the impact," he said.

GMR had last year said it was incurring a loss of Rs 50 lakh per day on account of suspension of work at the project.

The new airport, which under the concession agreement offers 232 acres of land for commercial city side development for a period of 60 years, would have a capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually once fully operational.

The existing airport at Dabolim, which was designed to handle 50 lakh passengers per year, has far exceeded its capacity and AAI has already embarked on an expansion plan to increase the capacity to 1.30 crore passengers per annum by 2022.

The concession period for the greenfield project will be 40 years with a possible extension of another 20 years through a bid process.

The airport will be built under the BOT (Build Operate Transfer) model.

The regulatory regime for the concession will be hybrid till with 30 per cent cross subsidy.

Under the hybrid till model, only up to 30 per cent of the non-aeronautical revenues, which include segments like retail, food and beverages and parking, would be used for cross-subsidisation of aeronautical charges.

Aeronautical charges include those related to route and terminal navigation services.
As if their No. 1 NatGeo WILD program, The Incredible Dr. Pol, werent enough, Dr. Pol has entered the prepared meal market for pets. And it makes perfect sense.

Dr. Jan Pol and his wife, Diane | Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Dr. Jan Pol has professionally raised animals and pets for decades and knows what animals  dogs, cats, farm animals, etc  need to live and flourish.

Find out more about the Pol familys endeavor and where you can buy Dr. Pols products for your pet!

Dr. Pol, his wife Diane, and how they set up their clinic

The Pols started their veterinary services practice in the 1980s, servicing the animals and domestic pets of local farmers and residents in their Michigan community. They have built their business on a philosophy of being of service and of offering excellent care at an affordable rate. Not an easy task for any veterinarian. Dr. Pol has a pet philosophy, as well, as it relates to raising compassionate human beings.

Dr. Pol spoke with dvm360 in 2016, saying What I like to see is kids growing up with animals. First of all, if they have a cat or a dog and mom or dad is scolding them, they can go over there and cry in their fur. Also, when theyre very young and crawling around on the ground with the animal, theyre less apt to have allergies later in life.

Third of all if they do something to hurt the animal  pull on the tail or whatever  that animal will tell them, Dont do this. It hurts. . . . I find that kids who grow up with animals make better adults. This is why I want to keep pet ownership affordable.

The Pols fame late in life

The Pols are a hard-working veterinary family. Even with their children  Diane, Charles, and Kathy  its been all hands on deck in helping out on farm calls to sick animals. But the 77-year-old vet could never have dreamed that part of the plan was for him to become a celebrity in the second part of his life. With his outgoing and sunny personality, hes eased into the role quite well.

In a 2018 conversation with The Chicago Tribune, his wife Diane talked about her husbands sudden fame, saying  . . . we . . . have [fans] who want to come and meet him.

Some have just showed up at the clinic. And they were surprised it was a real clinic, that its not a set. But theyll just stop in and we have to tell them, Dr. Pols not here, hes out doing farm calls or This is his day off, and theyll say, But we drove seven hours to see him!'

The Pols new pet food line

And now the Pols have introduced Dr. Pol Dog and Cat Food. Dr. Pol said on his Facebook page in December 2019, Were proud to introduce the first line of Dr. Pols Veterinarian Inspired Recipes. We hope your dogs love it as much as ours do!

Dr. Pol Pet Foods

The Facebook post launching his pet foods concluded by saying Dr. Pols products can be found on Hearty Pet and Amazon.

Dr. Pol said in his statement at the release of his pet food line, Im excited to incorporate the insights Ive learned in my many years of veterinary experience, collaborating with great companies to develop an affordable and practical line of animal products that are unique to the marketplace.

Read more: The Incredible Dr. Pol: The Real Reason Dr. Emily Left
Its been 12 years since Dubai World, parent company of Jafza International, said it was considering Orangeburg County for a $600-700 million logistics, manufacturing and distribution center.

While the company purchased land in the Santee area, the project never materialized as planned following the global economic recession which started in December 2007.

But county officials say there is movement once again at the 1,322-acre South Carolina Gateway Industrial Park, formerly JAFZA Magna Park.

"They are reengaging the project with various folks working on the engineering side of things," Orangeburg County Development Commission Executive Director Gregg Robinson said.

There is a new marketing schedule and unveiling. We are truly bringing the world to Orangeburg, South Carolina, he said.

DP World Americas, formerly Jafza USA, a subsidiary of Dubai World, is currently in the design phase of the project. It plans to construct two concrete pads at the site to prepare it for industrial development.

Orangeburg County Engineer John McLauchlin said the two pads will be about 5.5 acres and 2.7 acres in size. They have a targeted construction date in the second quarter of 2020.

The 5.5-acre pad will sit on a 24-acre site. The 2.7-acre pad will be built on a 22-acre site.

"As of now, there is a potential for both pad sites to have speculative buildings, built upon DPW approval," McLauchlin said. But the project's details and plans are subject to change and have been revised numerous times.

The Orangeburg County Development Commission is marketing the property heavily on its website.

According to an OCDC flyer, about 806 acres of the site are developable.

Land at the site is valued at $18,000 to $30,000 an acre, according to the OCDC flyer.

The site has power through Tri-County Electric Cooperative, natural gas from Dominion, water from the Lake Marion Regional Water System, sewer service from Orangeburg County/Santee, telecommunications through Verizon and Frontier and fire protection from the Santee Fire Service and Orangeburg County Fire Service.

The site also has access to CSX rail.

The property is also certified by the S.C. Department of Commerce, meaning that substantial wetlands, environmental, geotechnical and archaeological studies have been performed.

McLauchlin said the site has had some interest from manufacturing and warehousing/distribution companies in the automotive, wood products, agribusiness and distribution logistics sectors.

"The OCDC is actively showing the industrial park to prospective companies," he said, noting the county is very much still bullish about the property. "Through the years, the county has financially invested in this property in the way of roadway and water infrastructure and is currently planning and designing for an extension of wastewater infrastructure onto the site, he said.

The property received a boost in the spring of 2017 with the opening of the new Exit 97 and U.S. 301 Extension interchange from S.C. Highway 6 to Interstate 95.

The stretch of roadway is also known as the U.S. 301/S.C. Highway 6 Connector.

The $45 million dollar project formed the eastern anchor of South Carolinas Global Logistics Triangle. The Global Logistics Triangle is the name Orangeburg County uses to market the area bordered by I-26, I-95 and U.S. 301.

McLauchlin said the absence of a developed interchange and adequate roadway infrastructure on and off of I-95 and U.S. 301 was the most challenging aspect of attracting business to the site.

"This roadway infrastructure has been completed with the construction of the I-95 and U.S. 6 connector improvements," McLauchlin said. "On-site wastewater service is the second challenge that we are underway with now."

The property is also home to the $1.2 million, 16,000-square-foot Santee Enterprise Center completed in 2011.

The building has housed a number of small industries employing a few dozen at any given time.

Since the construction in 2011, the facility has been leased to an automotive training facility and most recently, a custom pipe fabrication company (Ameripipe Supply). Ameripipe's lease runs through 2021.

Contact the writer: gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5551. Check out Zaleski on Twitter at @ZaleskiTD.

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National Bank of Bahrains (NBB) offer to acquire up to 100 per cent of the issued and paid up ordinary shares of the Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) has been successful, the bank said.

Announcing the results of the offer, it said acceptances were received in respect of 529,424,282 ordinary shares of BisB which, on completion of settlement, will result in NBB owning a controlling stake of 78.8% of BisB, up from its 29.06 % pre-transaction stake. 93.55% of the acceptances were from institutional shareholders of BisB and the remaining 6.45% were from individual shareholders. 94.95% of all acceptances opted for the cash offer of BHD 0.117 per BisB share, while the remaining 5.05% opted to swap their BisB shares with newly issued shares of NBB at a share exchange ratio of 0.167 NBB shares per BisB share.

The offer, which initially opened on December 18, 2019, was launched by NBB as part of its efforts to develop further its Islamic banking activities and to offer to its client base a full range of banking services both conventional and Islamic.

The transaction is expected to strengthen both the NBB and BisB brands, which will continue to operate as two independent banks, in the local and regional markets. It is also expected to result in asset, revenue, cost, operational and other synergies that are expected to enhance returns.

Speaking of this transaction, Farouk Yousuf Khalil Almoayyed, Chairman of NBB, said: NBB has always been keen on diversifying its offering portfolio and developing its capabilities to capture business opportunities locally and regionally. This decision was a result of our strategic vision for the business and reinforcing our groups presence in the Islamic Banking market. BisB has played a pivotal role in the development of the Islamic Banking sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain and following continuous screening opportunities we chose what we believe would strengthen our position in the industry. Increasing our shareholding in BisB will allow us to become more effective in certain markets, especially where Sharia-compliant businesses play a vital role in.

Jean-Christophe Durand, CEO of NBB, said: We are very pleased with the success of our offer. It gives us significant control of BisB and will allow us to implement our strategic vision for a more integrated banking group. We expect the acquisition of BisB to generate significant synergies, improved efficiencies and contribute to profitability. While the two banks will remain independent, I look forward to working with the teams of both banks on the successful implementation of synergies in full respect of the culture of the two institutions.

Settlement of the offer is expected to take place on January 22. Participating BisB shareholders who opted for the cash offer shall be paid either by wire transfer to the account designated on their acceptance forms or by cheque which will be available for collection from January 22 from NBBs head office. Shareholders of BisB accepting the share exchange offer can collect their NBB share exchange allotment notices from the offices of Bahrain Clear from January 22, the statement said.

BisB will continue to operate under its normal course of business and maintain its operations as a subsidiary of NBB. BisB will continue to be listed on Bahrain Bourse subject to any compulsory acquisition and delisting regulations which may apply. BisB will recommence trading on January 23.

All BisB shareholders who did not participate in the offer will remain as shareholders of BisB with their shareholding unchanged as a result of the offer, it added.  TradeArabia News Service
Sesa Sen By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding the ongoing economic slowdown, Kalyan Jewellers, the countrys largest jewellery brand, has seen a robust growth in the third quarter of the fiscal. Besides, the company is also on an aggressive expansion spree to take its total store count to 145 by end of March.

Theres a rapid shift from the unorganised to the organised market, pushing up demand for gold among organised players like us, TS Kalyanaraman, chairman and managing director, Kalyan Jewellers, told this publication. As a result, the company has seen a healthy double-digit growth in the festive quarter despite a consumption slowdown, he added.

The Thrissur-based jewellery house has also opened two showrooms so far this year, in Chandigarh and Bengaluru. In the next week, it will be opening a new showroom in Kuwait in the Middle-East.

Expecting the domestic jewellery market to grow in tandem with the organised players, Kalyan has unveiled a new four-level assurance certification on gold jewellery.

The growth of organised players in the last few years has paved the way for rapid adoption of BIS certification. Assurance programmes too have been gaining ground and this is a special initiative to enhance the brands commitment towards offering the very best to its loyalists, Kalyanaraman said.

So far this year, the company has invested over Rs 300 crore. The company, which has a major presence in South India, plans to now penetrate deeper in non-south geographies with a major focus on tier 2 cities and beyond.

The next phase of growth will come from smaller towns as aspiration for gold jewellery in these regions is more than that in tier 1 cities, where the organised industry is already doing well, he said.

The company has also appointed regional celebrities in cities like Punjab, West Bengal and Haryana in a bid to become more hyper-local.
SPRINGFIELD - A spokesman for the citys police department said the parking ban imposed during Saturdays storm will be lifted at 4 p.m. today.

The storm brought about three inches of snow to most communities in Hampden County and made for slippery conditions last night and this morning -- though temperatures are expected to rise to the low 40s by this afternoon. There will be pockets of freezing rain in some areas of Massachusetts Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Police spokesman Ryan Walsh this morning announced the lift of the parking ban. Until 4 p.m., however, on-street parking remains prohibited on the odd-numbered sides of streets.
DETROITGraphic designer Carrie Doliber felt blessed on Jan. 18, 2020 because she and photographer Al Cooper were able to attend Shen Yun Performing Arts World Companys matinee performance at the Detroit Opera House.

It was beautiful. It was so inspirational. It excites us and we want more of it. We were very lucky because we live in the city so we didnt have to travel to see it. So were blessed for that, Doliber said.

New York-based Shen Yun uses music and dance to revive a 5,000-year culture that was once nearly lost.

It is so graceful, Mr. Cooper commented. The whole piece was nice, play after play or story after story. And it was so beautiful. The dancers are so eloquent and the outfits are so pretty. And the stories were so incredible.

Shen Yun has been touring the globe since 2006, ever embarking on its mission to revive traditional Chinese culture through story-based, classical Chinese dance.

Traditional Chinese culture is said to have been divinely inspired. Because of that, spirituality has had a prominent role in its corresponding fine arts and literature.

As Doliber watched Shen Yun, she saw some of this spirituality coming through in the dances. She commented, That was a beautiful message  your living the moment because spirituality is also helping you feel the moment. So that was an extra surprise, [a] blessing.

I dont know if everybody realizes all the different concepts raveled into it. You have the visual arts you have the martial arts, the dancing, the performance, you have a spiritual message inside for all cultures and then you get to learn also about the Chinese culture that we dont get to see in a textbook. So its so much to absorb and what very well done, Doliber added.

The Energy of a Shen Yun Performance

Doliber and Cooper both agreed that they could absolutely feel the energy coming from the stage.

Doliber further explained why she felt the energy was so intense.

You take for granted that that orchestras live, its flawless! You take for granted, the performers, you almost forget performers are acting in tune with this live orchestra, every once in a while you have to remind yourself its all livethe whole production. So it was thrilling in that aspect, she said.

All of Shen Yuns performers practice Falun Dafa, an ancient meditation practice that follows the guiding principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. And so, each performer endeavors to infuse the purity within their hearts into every dance, as the program explains.

Doliber commented she could feel this being passed to the audience.

It was very emotionally invoking on all the senses. Look at the visual. Its a feast. Its a feast for the eyes and the soulmind, body, soul, she said.

Several of the vignettes within the program feature solo vocalists and/or instrumentalists. Of the solo sopranos voice, Doliber said it was beautiful, no words  it kept getting better, she was fantastic.

Cooper was amazed with the sopranos projection.

That was very intense, beautiful. And with the idea of a room that big, you can hear the whole thing, he said.

Shen Yun means the beauty of divine beings dancing, a reference to the divinely inspired culture it is dedicated to reviving, and Doliber felt that divine presence.

It is a higher being that takes over all of the actors participating and you can tell there is a higher being acting through them, she said.

The graphic designer continued to explain, I think that the higher power is acting through them so that all of these members can work together in sync like that. Its like a timepiece, how theyre working together like gears of a watch. It doesnt happen by accident.

The Shen Yun website explains, For 5,000 years a divine culture flourished in the land of China. Humanitys treasure was nearly lost, but through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is bringing back this glorious culture.

Everything is so much in sync, like these musicians who are below the stage and the performers, everybody action is going in sync and the message is clear that theres passion for this culture. Theyre really embracing and showing the pride in it and it creates a new appreciation, a great new appreciation for opening cultures and bringing a show like this. Were blessed to have it brought to us, Doliber commented.

I feel like it was such a blessing to have them in such a historical beautiful venue in the city so it was very magical, spirituallyvery spiritual, Doliber said finally.

With reporting by Dongyu Teng and Andrew Darin.

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.
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong on Saturday to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

China and Vietnam are socialist neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, and are a community of a shared future with strategic significance, said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 70 years ago, Xi said, the traditional friendship forged and cultivated by older generations of leaders of both sides has blossomed and yielded fruits, and has achieved substantial growth under the principles of "long-term stability, future orientation, good-neighborly friendship and all-round cooperation," and in the spirit of "good neighbor, good friend, good comrade and good partner."

Xi said he and Trong have exchanged visits twice, which is unprecedented in the history of the two countries' interactions. During these visits, they have reached important consensuses on consolidating good neighborliness and friendliness and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation so as to jointly usher in a new era for the relationship between the two countries and between the CPC and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

Noting that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the Chinese president said China-Vietnam relations have also entered a critical period that builds on the past and prepares for the future.

Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of the China-Vietnam relationship, and is willing to work together with Trong to unswervingly steer the relationship in the right direction, carry forward the original aspiration of the traditional friendship between the two countries, and bear in mind shared visions and faith, as well as historical missions, so as to lift the China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era to new heights.

Trong, also general secretary of the CPV Central Committee, said in his message that in the past seven decades, the two parties, two countries and two peoples have joined efforts in contributing to the success of their respective national liberations and the cause of socialist construction.

It is a historical responsibility for both countries to consistently solidify and promote their good relations, which is also in line with the common aspirations of their peoples, he added.

Vietnam has always made it a top diplomatic priority to develop relations with China, he said, adding that he is confident that with the care and guidance of the leadership of both parties and countries, the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership will be lifted to new heights.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also exchanged congratulatory messages.

In Li's message, he said that under the new circumstances, the Chinese side is willing to work with the Vietnamese side, in a strategic approach to simultaneously promote maritime, land and financial cooperation, to deepen the synergy of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Vietnam's "Two Corridors and One Economic Circle" plan, as well as the collaboration in key areas such as industrial capacity and infrastructure construction.

Li also called on both sides to build a new win-win situation for mutual benefit and jointly write a new chapter of bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperation.

Phuc expressed in his message the willingness to work with the Chinese side to implement the high-level consensuses between the two countries, steadily enhance the results of bilateral cooperation in various areas, and hold successful celebrations of the anniversary of bilateral ties, so as to boost a healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
GDP growth in India and few other large emerging countries may gain some momentum this year after the global economy recorded its lowest growth of 2.3 per cent in 2019 due to prolonged trade disputes, a UN study said on Thursday while lowering its current and next fiscal forecasts for the Indian economy.

According to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020, a growth rate of 2.5 per cent is possible in 2020, but a flare-up of trade tensions, financial turmoil, or an escalation of geopolitical tensions could derail a recovery.

In a downside scenario, global growth would slow to just 1.8 per cent this year, it added.

It lowered its GDP growth estimate for India to 5.7 per cent in the current fiscal (from 7.6 per cent forecast in WESP 2019) and lowered its forecast for the next fiscal to 6.6 per cent (from 7.4 per cent earlier). It has also forecast a growth rate of 6.3 per cent for the fiscal beginning in 2021.

The report pegged India's GDP growth rate for the previous fiscal at 6.8 per cent.

According to the UN study, one in five countries will see per capita income stagnate or decline this year, but listed India among few countries where the per capita GDP growth rate could exceed 4 per cent level in 2020.

Prolonged weakness in global economic activity may cause significant setbacks for sustainable development, including the goals to eradicate poverty and create decent jobs for all. At the same time, pervasive inequalities and the deepening climate crisis are fuelling growing discontent in many parts of the world.

"These risks could inflict severe and long-lasting damage to development prospects. They also threaten to encourage a further rise in inward-looking policies, at a point when global cooperation is paramount," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned.

The GDP growth in the United States is forecast to slow from 2.2 per cent in 2019 to 1.7 per cent in 2020.

In the European Union, manufacturing will continue to be held back by global uncertainty, but this will be partially offset by steady growth in private consumption, allowing a modest rise in GDP growth from 1.4 per cent in 2019 to 1.6 per cent in 2020.

Despite significant headwinds, East Asia remains the world's fastest-growing region and the largest contributor to global growth, as per the report.

In China, GDP growth is projected to moderate gradually from 6.1 per cent in 2019 to 6.0 per cent in 2020 and 5.9 per cent in 2021, supported by more accommodative monetary and fiscal policies.

"Growth in other large emerging countries, including Brazil, India, Mexico, the Russian Federation and Turkey, is expected to gain some momentum in 2020," the UN report said.

As the global economic balance is shifting from the EU, the US and other developed countries towards China, India and other developing countries, global economic decision-making power is shifting as well, it noted.

"Global cooperation mechanisms will need to recognize this shifting balance while continuing to allow the under represented to be heard," it added.

The UN report also said that eradicating poverty will increasingly rely on tackling inequality going forward.

"The share of the population living in extreme poverty has declined steadily and significantly over the past few decades, largely owing to successful experiences in China and India," it noted.

Although progress has been achieved in global terms, the number of people living in extreme poverty has risen in several sub-Saharan African countries and in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean and Western Asia.

"Sustained progress towards poverty reduction will require both a significant boost to productivity growth and firm commitments to tackle high levels of inequality," the report said.

The WESP is an annual UN flagship publication on the state of the world economy, viewed through the lens of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

It is a joint product of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the five UN regional commissions.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), and the International Labour Organization (ILO) also contributed to the report.
The son of a dead California scientist, whose head was cryogenically preserved, has been accused of fraud by the company appointed to carry out and preserve the remains.

Scientist and cryonics enthusiast Laurence Pilgeram agreed to pay Alcor Life Extension Foundation $120,000 to cryogenically preserve his body at a temperature of -196 degrees, until such a time when technology would be able to bring him back to life.

But his son, Kurt, was said to be stunned in April 2015, a month after his father's death, when a package arrived at home said to be containing his father's ashes despite his father having asked for his entire body to be preserved.

Scientist and cryonics enthusiast Laurence Pilgeram (left) agreed to pay Alcor Life Extension Foundation $120,000 to cryogenically preserve his body. His son, Kurt Pilgeram (right), said the company ended up only freezing his fathers head and is suing Alcor for $1 million

In among the remnants was everything of Laurence's body from the shoulders down, but his head was not listed as part of the package.

Kurt was seeking $1 million in damages from Alcor, claiming extreme emotional distress. However, the company is now countersuing, accusing the son of fraud.

Alcor claim that in an attempt to pursue his father's fortune, Kurt deliberately hid documents containing his father's posthumous wishes and blocked the company from receiving a lump sum payment to help pay for his father's freezing.



The 90-page filing by Alcor attempts to quash the court's release of the elder Pilgeram's estate to his sons, including Kurt, potentially leaving him with only a single dollar of inheritance.

'He not only signed up for his remains to be preserved by Alcor, but he also signed a codicil to his will that said that if family member challenged his wish to be cryo-preserved, they would be disinherited and only receive a dollar,' Diane Cafferata, who represents Alcor, told The Daily Beast.

Alcor is now launching its own lawsuit against Kurt Pilgeram claiming he deliberately hid his father's will and blocked a payment of $80,000 that was due to be paid to the cryogenics firm

The company also claims the father's will mysteriously disappeared, and is accusing the son of hiding it.

'After Pilgeram died in 2015, his son hid this codicil and all his father's testamentary documents from the probate court and falsely claimed his father died intestate,' which saw Kurt and his brother receive about $16 million according to Cafferata.

'He also blocked Alcor's right to receive the $80,000 of life insurance money that Dr. Pilgeram had set aside to fund his preservation.'

Kurt has also accused Alcor of preserving a wax dummy instead of his father's actual head, however the company apparently sent him photographic evidence to counter such claims.

'Kurt's goal was to destroy us,' Cafferata said.

Alcor believes Kurt Pilgeram 'acted directly contrary' to his father's desires and is 'entitled to no more than a dollar,' according to the filing, which also alleges that Alcor has accrued millions of dollars of damages in defending itself from a 'frivolous and malicious lawsuit.'

WHAT IS CRYOGENICS? Cryogenics is the art of freezing bodies by preserving a dead body with liquid nitrogen. Currently, it can only legally happen when someone has just been declared dead. The freezing process must begin as soon as the patient dies in order to prevent brain damage, with facilities currently available in Russia and the US. In the procedure, the body is cooled in an ice bath to gradually reduce its temperature bit by bit. Experts then drain the blood and replace it with an anti freeze fluid to stop harmful ice crystals forming in the body. However, in November 2017 they launched a cryptocurrency offering to raise money for their new center, which people from around the world could come to just before they died. Advertisement

'We don't take a lot of things with us in death, but we have a pretty solid rule in California that you get to say what happens to your body,' said Cafferata. 'This is not a light-hearted thing that people do. They're very serious about it when it they sign up, and people need to believe that Alcor will fight for them.'

In the original lawsuit first filed by Kurt himself in 2018, he was suing Alcor for more than $1 million after claiming his father's head was actually removed from his body and placed in a vat of liquid nitrogen in Arizona  where Kurt says the rest of his father's body should be, still intact.

'They chopped his head off, burned his body, put it in a box and sent it to my house, Kurt told AZ Central. 'I want people to know what's going on,' he said last year.

He went on to say that he was both stunned and angry at the way his father's remains were carelessly handled and that the company was required to preserve all of his father's remains, no matter how damaged.

Kurt was reportedly left 'shocked, horrified and extremely distressed' over the lab's alleged wrongdoing.

'Kurt has suffered extreme emotional distress as a result of Alcor's accusations and has been injured as alleged in an amount in excess of $1million,' the complaint states.

'Alcor undertook such actions maliciously and oppressively, and with intent to cause injury.

'There is little, if any, hope of bringing his head 'back to life' under the circumstances here.'

Laurence Pilgeram was one of the early backers of the concept, entering an agreement with Alcor to venture into cryonic suspension after his death back in October 1990, when he was 67

The original lawsuit stated that British-born Dr. Max More was required to preserve all of Laurence's remains, 'no matter how damaged'

Kurt's father, Laurence, was 90 when he died from an apparent cardiac arrest outside his Goleta home on April 10, 2015.

The scientist, who also worked in cryogenics for several decades, became the Alcor's 135th patient after his death, according to their website.

'My Dad just didn't fit in,' Kurt said, speaking of his father's obsession with preservation and mummification. 'He was always a little different, thinking about other things that were more lofty you might say.'

Cryonics  Greek for icy cold  is an experimental procedure in which extreme sub-zero temperatures are used to perfectly preserve a recently deceased body.

Laurence, who also worked in cryogenics for several decades, became the Alcor's 135th patient after his death, according to their website

Kurt is seeking in excess of $1 million in damages from Alcor but the company say he deliberately interfered with his father's plans and blocked an $80,000 payment due to them

So far, as many as 164 people  122 men and 42 women  have been cryogenically preserved at Alcor, according to their website, where the company claims to be the largest organisation of its kind.

Laurence Pilgeram was one of the early backers of the concept, entering an agreement with Alcor to venture into cryonic suspension after his death back in October 1990, when he was 67.

Twenty-five years later, Laurence died from a heart-attack walking home from a restaurant. He became Alcor member A-125.

As required in the program, any member's body must be placed on ice as soon as possible to prevent damage and prepare the cadaver for cryopreservation.

In Laurence's instance, he died on a Friday night but wasn't released from a county morgue for another three days, where he had been kept at a temperature of 30 degrees.

Alcor's attorney says the firm relies on relatives to inform them of any member's death, to ensure to process is enacted as soon as possible.

'The process is entirely dependent upon relatives timely and promptly notifying Alcor of a death,' the company state. 'If that is not done properly, there is a big problem.'

As a result of the delay, Alcor conducted a 'straight freeze', where Laurence was taken to a mortuary and covered with dry ice.

They then conducted a 'neuro-separation' on Laurence, transporting his head to Arizona for continued cool-down, while cremating the rest of his remains.

Kurt insisted the 'neuro-separation' was actually a 'mutilation'.

Dr. Jerry Lemler, president and CEO of Alcor Life Extension Foundation, stands in the Patient Care Bay area where the heads and bodies of 49 individuals are being held in cold storage

He said he didn't learn that his father's head had been removed from his body until a day after he received the ashes, when he had them tested.

After viewing photos of Alcor's facility, Kurt says he was also left wondering if his father's head was even being stored in Arizona.

In court filings, Alcor say they invited Kurt and his brother to the facility to help answer any doubts the family had. Alcor say they declined.

Alcor says on its website that some people prefer preserving just the head.

A full body may not be necessary in the future, it notes, because it may be possible to regrow a young, healthy body around a functioning brain.

'Generally speaking, many people in cryonics may feel the brain is the most important thing to be preserved,' Alcor attorney, James Arrowood told AZ Central.

Kurt said he was 'shocked to say the least' on the morning his father's ashes arrived in the mail.

Inheriting a handsome estate from his father, Kurt says Laurence would want him to fight the case on his behalf, and is determined to continue use his resources to do so.

'A lot of people said I was just wasting my time, don't do it, you've got better things to do,' he said. 'But I felt that I couldn't let them get away with this.

'If I walk away, they are just going to keep doing this and it's wrong.'

Kurt says he's requesting his father's head  should Alcor still have it  be returned to the family so they can cremate it and scatter his full ashes on their family's ranch.

'I think he would probably want it that way, based on the series of events that have happened,' Kurt said,

So far, Kurt says he's spent $500,000 on the mounting the case against Alcor. Still in its researching stage, the dispute will go to trial in September.
The pound is sliding as souring economic data raises the prospect of an interest rate cut as soon as this month.

Deutsche Bank says that may just be the start of a longer easing cycle that piles extra pressure on the UK currency.

Not only does George Saravelos, the bank's London-based global head of currency research, see a decline in borrowing costs in January, he thinks policymakers may opt for a drop in March too, and then possibly begin quantitative easing.

"Even if you get some election bounce, we don't think it's going to be sustained and the risk is the Bank of England has to do Q-eternity," he told Bloomberg. In 2015, he was part of a team that forecast correctly that the pound would drop to its weakest level since 1985 in the following years.

Sterling extended its decline against the dollar to as much as 0.4pc after his comments, exacerbating a sell-off that was triggered by an unexpected plunge in UK retail sales. The data increased bets the BoE may lower borrowing costs this month, with money markets pricing in a more than 70pc chance of a cut on January 30, up from 62pc on Thursday.

Traders had been speculating that the central bank would ease rates at Mark Carney's last Monetary Policy Committee meeting as BoE governor after a flurry of dovish comments from policymakers and a series of disappointing economic data releases.

That, coupled with fears of a chaotic divorce from the European Union, has overshadowed euphoria from the Conservatives' election victory in December and weighed on the pound this year.

Mr Saravelos said the pound appears overpriced and should be trading closer to 87 or 88 pence per euro, compared with about 85 pence on Friday. He added that the bank was negative on sterling.

"The economy is in recession, the data so far is pointing in that direction," Mr Saravelos said.

Bloomberg
Ram, which is said to be a realistic thriller marks the second collaboration of Mohanlal, the complete actor, and filmmaker Jeethu Joseph after the huge success of Drishyam. The filming of the movie has been progressing at the various locations of Kochi. Recently, Mamangam fame actress Prachi Tehlan had revealed that she is being considered to play a key role in Ram.



As per the latest reports, Prachi has finally signed the dotted line. The sources suggest that the Mamangam actress will join the sets of the Mohanlal starrer very soon. Interestingly, Prachi Tehlan is playing the role of a police officer in the Jeethu Joseph directorial.

Even though she is not appearing as the female lead opposite Mohanlal in Ram, the young actress's role is said to be an important one. Prachi Tehlan, who is playing the character of a cop for the first time in her career, had recently revealed that Mohanlal suggested her for the role after watching her Malayalam debut project Mamangam.

According to director Jeethu Joseph, Ram depicts the story of an ordinary man and how his life changes upside down after an unforeseen incident. Mohanlal appears as the titular character Ram in the movie, which is scripted by director Jeethu Joseph. Trisha Krishnan, the popular actress appears as the female lead opposite Mohanlal.

Reportedly, Trisha is appearing in the role of Dr. Vineetha, a medical practitioner and the wife of Ram. The actress is said to be playing a performance-oriented role that holds great importance in the narrative, in the movie. Ram will also feature Indrajith Sukumaran, Bollywood actor Adil Hussain, Sai Kumar, Siddique, Kalabhavan Shahjohn, Liyona Lishoy, etc., in the other key roles.

The Mohanlal starrer will be widely shot at the various Indian and international locations, including Kochi, Delhi, Dhanushkodi, Chennai, Colombo, London, Istanbul, and Cairo. Ram, which is produced by Abhishek Films and Passion Studios has been slated to hit the theatres as an Onam 2020 release.
The potential division of the countrys second largest Protestant faith has stirred Missoulas Methodists, ministers and worshipers alike.

Leadership within the United Methodist Church announced a proposal in early January to split the church according to those who view gay ministers and same-sex marriage as incompatible with Christianity. The decision shook some church leaders in Montana, inspired others for the possibility of a wholly welcoming denomination in the future, and reminded some of an earlier time the church experienced a deep divide.

John Daniels, pastor for Missoula First United Methodist Church, said in particular, he and many other church leaders had not anticipated the church would instate a new a provision to punish ministers who marry gay couples, a precursor to the January proposal. The First United Methodist Church welcomes all, no matter their sexual orientation.

A lot of my colleagues and I were shocked by that as well, Daniels said. Unbeknownst to a lot of us, there was a lot of effort behind the scenes to work in the opposite votes.

Todd Scranton, who heads the Grace United Methodist Church, traced the divisions among Methodists in the United States to the 1840s, when a rift over slave ownership produced a split among worshipers that lasted until 1939. Scranton, along with Daniels, disagrees with the United Methodist Church's stance on LGBTQ worshipers and ministers.

One of things that scares me most about this is that the last time the Methodist church membership got itself at such an impasse that they felt they could only solve it by dividing, the entire country went to war 20 years later, Scranton said.

The January announcement had been nearly 40 years in the making.

The tension had been growing since 1972, when they put in the prohibition against ordaining people who are gay, Daniels said.

***

The higher authorities of the United Methodist Church began a reckoning with the freedom of sexual orientation that same year, 1972, when it issued its Statement on Social Principles. Although its Book of Discipline still sees homosexuality as irreconcilable with the teachings of Christ, the church took the official stance of seeing everyone as having sacred worth.

In 2016, the General Assembly of the UMC, a meeting of over 800 representatives from congregations around the world every four years, held a vote to again determine its official stance on gay, lesbian, trans and queer worshipers. The assembly affirmed that church doors would never close for anybody, but the wording of its Book of Discipline remained unchanged.

According to the Book of Discipline, The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore, self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church.

The recent decision from church leadership to put the future of its 13 million worshipers up to a vote followed a year of criticism toward the outcome of its 2019 General Conference. The United Methodist Church held a special conference to decide whether to maintain its stance barring LGBTQ clergy, and adopt a new provision punishing ministers for officiating same-sex marriages.

The Traditional Plan, although rejected by many conference delegates from the United States, went into effect at the start of 2020. Since Jan. 1, any minister who marries a gay couple can be suspended for a year. A second offense can lead to a complete loss of credentials.

With the Traditional Plan in place indefinitely, the United Methodist Church joins the United States largest denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the worlds largest, the Roman Catholic Church, in maintaining its prohibition on gay marriage.

The proposal offered by a team of church members shortly after the start of the new year, known as the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation, would allow conservative churches to form a separate denomination. In May, the denomination's global decision-making body will vote on that proposal.

Karen Oliveto, a Methodist bishop who oversees the Mountain Sky Conference, expressed both distress at the need for the upcoming vote, but "hesitant hope" for an amicable separation. The Mountain Sky Conference encompasses churches in Montana, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and a section of Idaho.

"This proposal allows the traditional church to separate, and frees the rest of us up to welcome all into the denomination," she said.

Oliveto, the denominations first openly gay bishop, said church leadership was clearly at a point in which we couldnt agree to disagree over same-sex relationships.

Im actually really sad that we couldnt build a bridge that could have provided a witness to the world of what unity amid diversity and disagreement could look like, she said earlier to the Missoulian. Oliveto was challenged by the denominations highest court, the Judicial Council, in 2017 when it declared that the bishops consecration was incompatible with church law, although she remains as the resident bishop for the conference.

"We've been here before, but the fact that so many people have shown enthusiasm for the proposal gives me hope that it will pass," she said.

***

In Missoula, church leaders are still grappling with the decisions that led to the potential split and hesitant to forecast an outcome for their congregations.

Daniels, who said the Methodist pastor at his church in Colorado came out as gay in the 1970s, said the 53% approval of the Traditional Plan rocked him. Although the church had deemed gay weddings and ministers as illegal, until 2019, it never instituted any punishments.

That effort came from the part of conservative organizations like the Wesleyan Covenant Association and international delegates.

It just felt tragic. I had the fear that we were going to implode. The Methodist church is one of the few fairly well-organized denominations, with Missionaries in Africa and Asia. Ive been to Angola and able to see what were able to do when we stand together, Daniels said.

With two thirds of the UMCs membership potentially splitting, Daniels said, were going to see a very impoverished church.

Scranton, who heads the Grace United Methodist Church, said the Methodisms divisions run along both an ideological and a geographical line. He also said the Methodist church is and always has been a reflection of the divided politics in the United States, from slavery, to Jim Crow, to LGBTQ rights.

Frankly, its almost a Union-Confederate divide, he said.

With a membership of nearly 100 people, Scranton said that although his congregation isnt of one mind, it will continue to operate as it has until May.

Regarding the Traditional Plan, Scranton said, Its traditional only in the sense that it subscribes to a particular vision of marriage that people have chosen to label as a traditional marriage  Among Methodists, its not very much in our tradition to conduct trials, inquisitions and automatic punishments for behavior.

Scranton said its no longer a question whether the church will separate, what remains is to decide whether that separation will be amicable. What the church will look like in the future remains unclear for both Scranton, and his colleague at First United Methodist Church.

After 2019, Im not predicting a thing, Daniels said.

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The Haryana Police has booked Independent legislator Balraj Kundu and his brother Shivraj Kundu for allegedly cheating a Rohtak resident.

A case was registered on Friday against Balraj and his brother Shivraj under various Indian Penal Code sections pertaining to cheating, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust on a complaint lodged by one Narender Dhankhar, a police spokesperson said on Sunday.

Dhankar had alleged that the brothers, who run a construction company, were not not paying money to him which they owed to him during business transactions, he said



Balraj, who represents the Meham constituency in the Haryana Assembly, alleged that he was being framed in the case due to political vendetta at the behest of a BJP leader from the state, who is a former minister.

"I have been raising my voice against corruption. Such false cases will not suppress my voice," he told reporters in Rohtak.

Balraj took out a march on foot in Rohtak along with hundreds of his supporters and reached the concerned police station asking policemen there to arrest him in the case if he had done anything wrong, but they told him that the matter was under investigation.

Talking to the reporters, the MLA said he had extended the support to the BJP-JJP government because of "clean credentials" of the chief minister. "But now if the CM does not act against his leader (from Rohtak region), then I will be forced to withdraw my support to this government."



A former BJP leader, Balraj had contested and won the October assembly election in 2019 as an Independent from the Meham seat in Rohtak after being denied a party nomination.

He is among the seven Independent MLAs in Haryana who have lent support to the BJP-JJP government.

The BJP, which ended up falling short of a simple majority, had formed the government with the support of Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and the seven Independents.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Speaking after encountering one of the gangs commonly known as MaShurugwi at a beerhall in his constituency, Mliswa said the menace was a creation of high-ranking officials in government. He did not give any names.
DK3ZL visiting southern Africa from 17 January to 18 March

Dr Charly Eichhorn, DK3ZL is visiting southern Africa from 17 January to 18 March.

In Namibia, he will operate as V51QO with activity on the QO-100 satellite and as V5/DK3ZL at other times using SSB and CW.

Charly, ZS1/DL3ZL will spend 5 days in Cape Town around the end of 29 February.

In March, Charly will pay a visit to Gary Immelman, ZS6YI and spend a night or two with Gary and his family. Charly will give a talk about QO-100 to the amateurs in the region. Listen out for ZS6/DL3ZL.

Charly has also applied for a call sign for Botswana for his visit from 7 to 11 February and for 4 days in the middle of March.

The QO-100 portable equipment used by Charly is an ADALM Pluto (with modifications by Sigi, DG9BFC) using a SDR-Radio.com console v3 by Simon Brown with a 20 W PA (by Sigi, DG9BFC) into a dual feed POTY (by Joerg, DJ4ZZ) into a 90 cm off-set dish fixed on a tripod.

More and updated information is available on the DL3ZL QRZ.COM page.

QSLs for V55QO is via LoTW, direct (SASE or SAE plus 2 US $) or via the bureau to DL3ZL.

At the end of the DXpedition, Charly will leave the two stations he brought with him, in Namibia and will be regularly active on QO-100.

In addition to the already active Derek, V51DM, Werner, V51JP, President of the NARL and Robert, V51RS will continue with the call V55QO, which DL3ZL initiated.

For all the QSOs made by these call signs via QO-100, DL3ZL is the QSL Manager.
Queen Elizabeth has been keeping busy in Sandringham.

The royal matriarch, 93, was spotted taking a drive around Sandringham on Saturday, as she provided a conclusion to Prince Harry and Meghan Markles unprecedented decision to step down as senior royals.

For the outing, the Queen wore a patterned headscarf wrapped around her head as well as a pair of dark glasses as she sat behind the wheel of her Land Rover.

Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family, the monarch said in a statement on Saturday.

Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family, the statement read. It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

RELATED: Queen Elizabeth Reveals Conclusion to Prince Harry & Meghan Markles Royal Exit for Peaceful New Life

Terry Harris/Bav Media

The new change will take effect in Spring 2020, according to a separate statement from Buckingham Palace.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments, the statement said.

They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties. With The Queens blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty, the statement continued.

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The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home. Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly- funded security, the statement concluded.

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/POOL/AFP via Getty

The announcement came after a 90-minute family summit on Jan. 13, when the Queen released an incredibly personal statement, in which she reluctantly agreed with their proposal, and hoped arrangements would be sorted out within days.

My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghans desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK, the Queens statement continued. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.

While Meghan and Archie are in Canada, Harry has remained in England to continue discussions with the palace about the big move.

In this weeks cover story, a family friend tells PEOPLE that the couple felt they had no choice but to manage things the way they did, even as they went against the familys never complain, never explain mantra.

This is not how they wanted to handle this, but Meghan and Harrys hand was forced, says the friend. There is so much bad blood in that family  its toxic.
A 40-year-old man has been charged with the murder of 25-year-old Nathan Gibson in Craigavon.

Mr Gibson (25) was discovered fatally wounded on a towpath near Lake Road in the town late on Thursday.

Lake Road was closed throughout Friday as police and forensics teams swept the area.

The Legahory estate home of Mr Gibson, his partner and their young child was also cordoned off and under a heavy police presence.

Speaking following the murder, Detective Inspector John Caldwell said police received a report late on Thursday night that Mr Gibson had been attacked.

Officers responded and found him fatally wounded on the towpath. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Caldwell also stated that police are investigating another incident in the Legahory Court area.

"Whilst we cannot get into specific details of this incident we are also appealing to anyone who witnessed anyone acting in a suspicious manner in this area late last night [Thursday] to contact police," he said.

"I would ask anyone who has information that could assist me with my enquiries to contact detectives from Serious Crime Branch at Lurgan PSNI Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1741 16/01/20."

The 40-year-old man charged with Mr Gibson's murder is expected to appear before Lisburn Magistrates' Court on Monday.

As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
Celadon Group plans to sell Hyndman Transport's Winnipeg terminal for C$4.25 million to a commercial real estate firm, but the deal likely faces resistance from a Canadian court over the company's failure to initiate timely bankruptcy proceedings in Canada.

The deal emerged in public filings in Celadon's U.S. Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings late Thursday. The presiding U.S. federal judge approved Celadon's request to sell the Winnipeg facility through an expedited process to Winnipeg-based Capital Commercial Real Estate Services.

But Celadon's prospects of a quick sale of the terminal as well as Hyndman's Ayr, Ontario, headquarters appear increasingly dim. An Ontario Superior Court judge on Wednesday moved to bar the sale of any of Hyndman's assets without his approval  a fact absent from the latest U.S. filings.

Justice Glenn Hainey's decision  a preliminary instruction called an endorsement  came in response to a petition by a lawyer representing former employees and contractors of Hyndman Transport who are seeking more than C$2 million in unpaid compensation.

Hainey expressed his preference for Celadon to ask to have its U.S. Chapter 11 case recognized in Canada, a common practice in cross-border bankruptcies, and said he stood prepared to place Hyndman Transport into receivership to oversee the liquidation of its assets.

Hainey also noted that he stood ready to impose the receiver in the event Celadon does not petition for the recognition.

Under Canadian bankruptcy law, employees receive preferential standing as creditors for a limited portion of any unpaid compensation such as vacation pay and severance. It marks a key difference from the United States.

Any forthcoming Canadian proceedings, along with a court-appointed receiver, will likely slow down any asset sales in the interest in ensuring funds can be dispersed in accordance with Canadian laws.

While developments are good news for former Hyndman employees, they will undoubtedly create delays for U.S. creditors hoping for a speedy payout from any Canadian assets.

Story continues

Hyndman Transport shut down on Dec. 9 after Celadon filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States.

While Hyndman and Celadon's Canadian holding company are part of those proceedings, Celadon kept its entities solvent in Canada  an unusual move for cross-border bankruptcies.

A federal labor investigation into the dismissals of an estimated 400 Hyndman personnel, most of them drivers, is ongoing.

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Yet the narrative is so swift, I dont think I could have stopped reading. I kept turning the pages, following Lydia and Luca, the mother and son, as they flee through Mexico, gathering a misfit band of other migrants. We learn that Lydia had been a bookstore owner, the wife of a journalist who infuriated the wrong people, and Luca a tiny prodigy of geography. They are hunted by Los Jardineros, the cartel that killed Lydias family. They are robbed by corrupt police officers. They learn how to ride La Bestia, the train on which hundreds of migrants die every year. They ultimately find themselves in Nogales, where they must cross the desert by foot at night with a coyote to arrive in the United States. Their painful and thirsty hours in the desert haunt me still.

I have been trained by my education, reading and practice of literary fiction to believe that good novels have some titration of key elements: obvious joy in language, some form of humor, characters who feel real because they have the strangenesses and stories and motivations of actual people, shifting layers of moral complexity and, ultimately, the subversion of a readers expectations or worldview. The world of American Dirt is too urgent for humor or for much character development beyond Lydias own. There is a single clear moral voice entirely on the side of the migrants, because the books purpose is fiercely polemical, which I would have understood even without the authors note in which Cummins writes that she intended to honor the hundreds of thousands of stories we may never get to hear, so that people who are not migrants can remember: These people are people. Polemical fiction is not made to subvert expectations or to question the invisible architecture of the world; polemical fiction is designed to make its readers act in a way that corresponds to the writers vision.

All of this is to say that American Dirt contains few of the aspects that I have long believed are necessary for successful literary fiction; yet if it did have them, this novel wouldnt be nearly as propulsive as it is. The books simple language immerses the reader immediately and breathlessly in the terror and difficulty of Lydia and Lucas flight. The uncomplicated moral universe allows us to read it as a thriller with real-life stakes. The novels polemical architecture gives a single very forceful and efficient drive to the narrative. And the greatest animating spirit of the novel is the love between Lydia and Luca: It shines its blazing light on all the desperate migrants and feels true and lived.

American Dirt seems deeply aware of the discrepancies in power between the desperate people it describes, and both the writer who created it and the reader intended to receive it; the book offers itself as testament to the fact Cummins has worked to decrease this power differential. The major objection to cultural appropriation has always been about the abuse of power: inadequate research, halfhearted imagination and a lack of respect, the privileged assumption of the right to speak on behalf of people who are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves. In her afterword, Cummins relates that she did tremendous research, traveling extensively, interviewing many people, sitting with her material in utter seriousness for four years. Still, writers like Myriam Gurba have brought up concerns with the novel, saying that it trucks in stereotypes of Mexico as a place of danger while the United States is always envisioned as a place of safety, that these stereotypes could inadvertently give fuel to the far right in their contempt for Mexicans. At the same time, other Mexican-American and Latina writers are speaking out in support of the book, people like Sandra Cisneros, Julia Alvarez and Erika Sanchez.

Its true that because this books aims are polemical, its intended audience is clearly not the migrants described in it, who  having already lived its harrowing experience  would have no need to relive it in fiction. American Dirt is written for people like me, those native to the United States who are worried about what is happening at our southern border but who have never felt the migrants fear and desperation in their own bodies. This novel is aimed at people who have loved a child and who would fight with everything they have to see that child be allowed a good future. Cumminss stated intention is not to speak for migrants but to speak while standing next to them, loudly enough to be heard by people who dont want to hear.
A police team was attacked by some villagers who had blocked a road in Rajasthan's Jhalawar district on Sunday, an official said.

A circle inspector and three constables of Manohar Thana police station sustained injuries when the group of over 100 villagers attacked the police team in the afternoon at Khatakhedi village, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Durgaram Choudhary.

The police personnel were trying to remove people from the road, he added.

The villagers had blocked the road after a fight between two groups over the result of the recently held election for the post of 'sarpanch'.

At least 36 people have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and 5 of them detained, the officer said.

During the attack, Circle Inspector Ajit Meghwanshi was hit by stones and sustained injuries on the face. He reportedly collapsed due to bleeding and is undergoing treatment at a hospital, the DSP said.

The injured constables -- Jitendra, Akshay and Surendra -- were discharged after treatment, the officer added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Suspected bandits on Saturday abducted five persons at Dogon Daji Sarkin-Noma community in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, the residents have said.

Witnesses said the kidnappers gave out their phone contacts and collected that of some residents.

They directed the residents to call them (kidnappers) to negotiate the ransom needed to release the victims.

Those that received the abductors phone numbers said the lines were not connecting till Sunday morning.

The police spokesperson in the state, Muhammad Shehu, did not answer multiple calls placed to him by PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday evening for comments on the latest abduction in the state known for a high crime rate and banditry.

Invasion

Residents said 20 armed men invaded the community on motorcycles and abducted the five after dispossessing others of their valuables.

The victims were identified as Hakimi Danjuma, Anas Isa, Buba Hakim, Lawalli Olu and a female, Yahanasu Jamilu.

The spokesperson for security outfit, Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara, Ayobami Oni-Orisan, said the incident was not reported.

He said he would contact other sources and call back. He was yet to do so at the time this report was filed.
Elliot Benchetrit has been caught red faced after he asked a ball-girl during an Australian Open qualifier to peel a banana for him.

The World No 229 was sat court side during a break in Melbourne when a ball-girl presents him with a banana.

The Frenchman then asks the young ball-girl to peel his banana for him, much to the disgust of the umpire John Blom.

Elliot Benchetrit got told off during an Australian Open qualifier by umpire John Blom

The World No 229 asked a ball-girl to peel a banana for him before handing it over

The ball-girl looked confused before they both turned to the umpire who intervened

So this is the moment where Elliot Benchetrit asks the ballkid to peel his banana. Im glad the umpire (John Blom) stepped in and told him off. pic.twitter.com/TK1GET68pG  Alex Theodoridis (@AlexTheodorid1s) January 19, 2020

Blom stepped in and told off Benchetrit as he struggled to open the fruit with his teeth.

The Frenchman went on to qualify for the first round and has been drawn against Japanese Yuichi Sugita, ranked 84th in the world.

The Australian Open is set to get underway on January 20 after the qualifying rounds have come to an end.

Women's player Coco Gauff is readying to begin her season positively after shocking the world last year defeating Venus Williams in the first round at Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, plenty of eyes will also be on Australian No 1 Nick Kyrgios who is hoping for a season with less drama and more victories.

Umpire Blom gave the Frenchman a telling off for asking the ball-girl to peel it for him
The bodies of the 11 Ukrainians who died when an Iranian missile shot down a passenger plane have arrived in Ukraine for a farewell ceremony.

They were among the 176 people killed on January 8 when a Ukrainian Airlines plane heading to Kyiv was brought down shortly after takeoff from Tehran.

Iran acknowledged three days later that the plane was mistakenly hit by an anti-aircraft missile.

The repatriation ceremony at Borispil international airport outside Kyiv (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

On Sunday, the bodies were brought to Boryspil Airport in Kyiv aboard a Ukrainian air force plane.

An honour guard solemnly carried the coffins into the airport terminal, where they are to stand until the evening for mourners to pay their respects.

Nine of the Ukrainians who died were crew members on the Boeing 737-800.

Iran admitted to shooting down the plane only after officials in several Western countries said they had evidence a missile caused the catastrophe.

Irans initial claims that engine failure brought down the plane angered Ukrainians, who also say the country should pay compensation and should be more forthcoming about the circumstances.

Iran should not behave like an adolescent  it needs to answer for its irresponsible actions and the deaths of people, said Tatyana Krivonos, a mourner at the airport.

The crash occurred just hours after Iran fired missiles at a base in Iraq where US troops are stationed, in retaliation for American drones killing Irans most powerful general.

Iran has been widely criticised for not closing its airspace in the tense conditions.
Tyler Perry says Netflix film 'A Fall From Grace' inspired by journey of faith, trials

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NEW YORK  Actor, director and producer Tyler Perry says his latest film, Netflixs A Fall from Grace, was birthed out of his own experience clinging to his faith and prayer in times of pain and uncertainty.

I just want people to know that no matter how dark, no matter how bad, no matter how dismal the scene or situation you're in, there's still hope, Perry told The Christian Post in sit-down interview in New York City. I say that even from my own life, realizing that I was in some of the darkest times in my life and didn't even know if I was going to make it. But as long as it held my faith and held on to hope and prayer and God and believing, it all came together.

"A Fall from Grace," released on Netflix Jan. 17, is not a family-friendly film. The dark thriller features brief nudity, sexual content, and some adult language that might turn off some of Perrys faith-based viewers.

It does, however, highlight the themes of hope, perseverance, and loyalty while showing the realities of what some single, aging women face.

The Netflix original film follows Grace Waters (Crystal R. Fox), a downtrodden woman who is restored by a new romance after being disillusioned and lonely since her ex-husband's affair. However, its not long before Grace learns secrets about her new husband that shatter her world in ways she never could have imagined. When Grace is convicted of murdering him, its down to her and her lawyer (Bresha Webb) to uncover the truth.

Phylicia Rashad, Mehcad Brooks, Cicely Tyson and Perry round out the cast, while Perry also directed and wrote the screenplay.

In the beginning, I was very much, I'm only going to do certain things, I'm only gonna tell certain stories, Perry recounted. And then I realized as a storyteller, there were so many more ways to tell stories and still reach people. So this was very important to me that while I was doing this, that I got an opportunity to really take this woman on her journey who was the woman of faith through all that she went through and just let people know that no matter how dark it gets, there's always hope.

An outspoken Christian, Fox added that while many people choose their work based on their faith, she adopts the mentality that where I am, God is.

I take Him with me. I never leave Him, she said.

Although it's not a faith-based film, religious symbolism and themes are sprinkled throughout A Fall from Grace. Grace talks about her faith, is seen attending church, and chooses her lawyer based on their shared beliefs.

I want people to know who she was and her background, Perry said. She couldn't kill a spider off a bed. She was just a really good, hardworking woman who had very tremendous faith in God and believed. And somewhere along the way, she lost the belief in herself, which I think happens a lot.

Webb, who stars as Graces heart-of-gold-yet-inexperienced lawyer, Jasmine, told CP she prays over every role she tackles. Jesus, she said, comes first when it comes to her acting career.

I want God to speak through me, to lead me to the instincts that lead me to unfold what He wants me to say in this character as well, she said.

Rashad, best known for her role as Clair Huxtable from "The Cosby Show," plays Graces close friend and confidante, Sarah. She encouraged women watching the film who struggle with loneliness and isolation to remember their worth in a culture that places little value on older adults.

Examine this feeling of loneliness and isolation and what is that really about, she said. There's something about a number of us as women who feel that we are incomplete without someone there next to us where we can touch. I know a number of women who live with someone right next to them that they can touch, and from my observation, they are very alone and lonely even with that, so that it's not really what loneliness is.

It has not so much to do, I don't think, with someone that you can't touch as it does with being in or out of touch with yourself, she added.

Fox added that part of the reason Grace experiences trials is because she lost sight of her identity and worth as a child of Christ. Her name, Grace, she explained, is another word for the Holy Spirit.

I read something recently in a daily word that said something about how grace needs to be acknowledged. When it is not, it cringes and withdraws within itself, Fox said. And for me, that's what happened to her when she stepped on her beliefs and did something maybe outside of herself. She lost herself. But if she remembered who she was, she would remember what was always over her as well. Her name is her gifting from God, its the love of God, its the covering of God. She is grace.

Still, A Fall from Grace offers redemption, Tyler said, adding: At the end of it, they ask, Is it over? and she says, Oh, it ain't over. She came to herself.

Fox said that at pre-screenings, both men and women approached her after watching the movie and revealed theyd endured similar trials.

I love that this story touches other races and genders as well, she said. I just want them to know ... remember to love yourself before you look for somebody else to love you. And if you lose your way, get back to that. Get back to that. It'll allow you to open yourself up for whatever comes your way, to be blessed by love or an opportunity, anything, but love yourself first.

And don't give up, she stressed. Don't forget your intuition. Follow your instinct. That discernment is there for a reason.
The protesters, chanting 'Azadi' and 'CAA-NCR Par Halla Bol', and other slogans also paraded a mock 'detention camp' portrayed with a cell on wheels inside of which sat little children of multiple faiths and changed slogans. (Photo Credit: Twitter/ANI)

New Delhi:

Delhis Shaheen Bagh, which has been the epicentre of the anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act protest, saw a massive rally on Sunday evening as hundreds of people, including women and children, took out a march from Jamia Millia Islamia University gate to the venue.

The march was high on symbolism as some locals dressed up as Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar, while three men assumed the identity of martyred revolutionaries Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, one of them in prison clothes and tied in chains.

The protesters, chanting 'Azadi' and 'CAA-NCR Par Halla Bol', and other slogans also paraded a mock 'detention camp' portrayed with a cell on wheels inside of which sat little children of multiple faiths and changed slogans.

Delhi: People take out a candle march protest against #CitizenshipAmendmentAct, NPR & NRC from outside Jamia Millia Islamia to Shaheen Bagh. pic.twitter.com/qYEmTwY0q3  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

People have been protesting at Shaheen Bagh, which has become an epicentre of the anti-CAA agitation in the national capital, for the last over 30 days.

Many of them held candles and others marched holding placards that said, 'We reject CAA, NRC and NPR', 'Hindu Muslim Sikh Isai, Aapas Mein Bhai Bhai'.

(With PTI inputs)
The shooting was likely the result of some sort of mistaken identity" linked to a long-standing gang conflict in the area, Cook County prosecutors said in December. Aguilar did not have any gang ties. Nineteen-year-old Armando Lopez, a reputed member of the Latin Kings, was identified by police as the driver in the drive-by shooting. Lopez was ordered held without bond.
Peter Adamson in TLS:

Nowadays, not many philosophers are prominent enough to get nicknames. In medieval times the practice was more popular. Every scholastic worth their salt had one: Bonaventure was the seraphic doctor, Aquinas the angelic doctor, Duns Scotus the subtle doctor, and so on. In the Islamic world, too, outstanding thinkers were honoured with such titles. Of these, none was more appropriate than al-shaykh al-rais, which one might loosely translate as the leading sage. It was bestowed on Abu Ali Ibn Sina (d.1037 AD), who was known to all those medieval scholastics by the Latinized name Avicenna. And not just known, but renowned. Avicenna is one of the few philosophers to have become a major influence on the development of a completely foreign philosophical culture. Once his works were translated into Latin he became second only to Aristotle as an inspiration for thirteenth-century medieval philosophy, and (thanks to his definitive medical summary the Canon, in Arabic Qanun) second only to Galen as a source for medical knowledge in Europe.

In the Islamic world, Avicennas influence was even greater. Here he effectively replaced Aristotle as the central authority for philosophy. Even the term Peripatetic, which originally meant Aristotelian, started to mean Avicennan instead. Critics and admirers of Avicenna agreed that his thought was all but equivalent to philosophy (falsafa) itself. To criticize the philosophers as did al-Ghazali in his famous Incoherence of the Philosophers (Tahafut al-falasifa), or as did al-Shahrastani in his much less famous but more entertainingly titled Wrestling Match with the Philosophers, was to enumerate the errors of Avicenna, not those of Plato or Aristotle.

More here.
PA Media: Video

Dark western The Power Of The Dog and HBOs Succession have triumphed at the 79th Golden Globes following a bizarrely muted online event with no celebrity guests. The film and the critically acclaimed series both earned three awards at the ceremony, which has faced heavy criticism over the past year for diversity issues within its organising body. The typically star-studded and joke-filled event was replaced by periodic updates from the Golden Globes website and official social media accounts.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, commented on the ongoing tussle in between Iran and USA and hailed PM Modi for his governance. He praised the Centre and said that PM Modi has taken India to the heights where the world can think that India is capable to mediate between the two countries. He also slammed Congress and Samajwadi Party for not understanding PM Modis contribution.

Yogi Adityanath on Iran and USA

Speaking about Iran and USA conflict, Adityanath said, You have been following the changes that took place in India after PM Modi-led government has come to power. The tensions between Iran and the USA have been escalating. Amid these tensions, there is one unanimous opinion that has emerged amongst the international community."

"The opinion is that India can mediate between the two countries. This is the new India. Under the leadership of Narendra Modi, this is the new and emerging India. The whole of India realises this but Congress and Samajwadi Party have failed to understand this, he added.

Read: Iran: Protesters seek answers for lost lives in Ukrainian plane crash

Iran-USA conflict

The longstanding tension between Iran and the US surfaced again as Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was killed by the US in an airstrike near Iraq's Baghdad International Airport, ordered by US President Donald Trump.

Post this, Iran had threatened "harsh retaliation" and subsequently, two airstrikes were reported near US Embassy in Baghdads Green Zone. As per recent reports, a third attack was also launched as three Katyusha rockets hit the Baghdads, Green Zone.

Read: No casualties, will impose sanctions: US President Trump cops out after Iran's missiles

Following the developments, Trump said that the US would strike 52 sites in the Islamic Republic if any Americans were harmed. After this, there has been a continuous war of words between the officials of the two countries.

In no time, the Al-Assad and Ebril airbases in Iraq that house the US and coalition forces were hit by multiple rockets. This incident was first reported by Iranian state TV, who described it as Tehrans revenge operation over the killing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Read: LIVE: Three Katyusha rockets hit Iraq's Green Zone

Read: ISIS welcomes Soleimani's death, says his death has pleased the hearts of believers
A new geopolitical dynamic is taking shape in South Asia, and Nepal is at the centre of it. China, with its aggressive Belt and Road Initiative, is expanding its engagement in the region, as seen in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. Nepal is no exception. The visit of President Xi Jinping to Kathmandu in October was symbolic of the new recalibration of relationship. With a new trade and treaty signed with China, Nepal does not remain India-locked anymore.

But China isnt the only player in town. The engagement of the United States (US) began in Nepal through aid in the 1950s. A Millennium Challenge Corporation grant of $500 million agreed upon few years ago is now in subject of political controversy, as a segment of Nepali political opinion is seeing it in tandem with the Indo-Pacific strategy.

India, of course, remains a key partner. While the uniqueness of the relationship stemming from historical, cultural and religious factors remains intact, a key trend, which has gone relatively unnoticed in Delhi, is that Nepalis have moved beyond India in their engagement with the world.

Nepalis who have worked in British Army now get British citizenship. There are thousands who get US citizenship through the diversity visa programme. Permanent migration to the US, Canada and Australia has increased. Nepali migration for short-term work in West Asia and Southeast Asia, along with medium-term work in different parts of the world, has grown dramatically. India was earlier the single-point of external contact, but now more and more Nepalis do not need to come to India for education, work, medical treatment or marital relationships like they did couple of decades ago. This change in social dynamics is coupled with a transformation in the State apparatus, with a new federal structure creating seven provinces and 763 local government units with 35,000 elected officials.

But India, immersed in its own story, has not been able to keep up with these developments in Nepal. Older links are breaking down. Today, younger Indians who would have a generation or two ago seen Nepal as an obvious tourist destination, decide to lap up other possibilities in the region and beyond. Nepal remains a pilgrimage destination, but overwhelmingly for older people. This is reflected in politics too, where younger politicians on both sides lack the organic links that marked the past.

The state of domain knowledge on Nepal in India remains dismal, with only a few  now rather archaic  experts dominating the narrative. To be sure, the state of in-depth knowledge on India and its ongoing transformation is limited in Nepal too. There, a negligible percentage of men, above the age of 65, dominate the discourse whereas the demographic data suggests 50% of Nepalis are under 25 and 70% under 35. In the usual seminars and events on India and Nepal, there is a dearth of younger voices with fresh perspectives, as it mostly remains dominated by retired officials.

The change in Nepals economy has gone unnoticed too. It has been one of the fastest growing economies in the past couple of years with a real GDP of $34 billion and a GDP under the Purchasing power parity method at $80 billion. With the highest tax to GDP ratio in South Asia, the Nepal government budget is over $8 billion a year, with a good part funded by government revenues.

The dependence on aid has plummeted. Ironically, Nepalis spend more on education in countries where aid originates. For instance, Nepalis last year spent $1.3 billion in Australia on education while Australian aid to Nepal is around $ 22.5 million. With a population of 30 million, Nepal is also consuming more as land prices is increasing rapidly and remittances soaring. All of this makes it important for India to view Nepal with new lenses. It needs to engage in a manner in which it sees how Nepal can fit in its Act East policy in new frameworks such as Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal Initiative and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

We need to recall that India-Nepal relationship flourished when Calcutta (now Kolkata) was the capital 100 years ago. For people in the bordering areas of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Sikkim, Nepal has a special place for work, business, trade and different forms of social engagements. It will be important to take this regional  and sub regional  view and see how some of the provinces of Nepal can have deeper and closer relationship with neighbouring states of India.

Finally, we need to revive more people-to -people relationship among the young through more visits and programmes, be it educational tour exchanges or short term fellowship exchange programs.

It is the youth of these two countries who will define the future of the bilateral relationship. An open moment exists for recalibrating the relationship between the two countries where so many things we have on both sides taken for granted. If people-to-people relationships prosper, societal and regional relationship will prosper and make better engagement at national levels between politicians and bureaucrats of both sides possible.

Sujeev Shakya is author of Unleashing The Vajra to be released in India this week. He is Founder CEO of beed management, an international consulting company based in Kathmandu.

The views expressed are personal
Prime Minister Boris Johnson held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the margins of a summit in Berlin addressing the situation in Libya.

A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister and president discussed the ongoing conflict in Libya.

The Prime Minister stressed the need to bring an end to the fighting and for all parties to support peace talks to determine a way forward for the Libyan people.

On Iran, the leaders reiterated their commitment to the JCPOA and also acknowledged the need to define a long-term framework to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weaponDowning Street spokesman

The leaders also confirmed their support for the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

A Downing Street spokesman said: On Iran, the leaders reiterated their commitment to the JCPOA and also acknowledged the need to define a long-term framework to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon.

They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and of working with international partners to find a diplomatic way through the current tensions.
Torontos libraries have increased program attendance by more than 30 percent in the past decade, but funding has not kept up  not at all. The libraries say they want to get going on a plan to stay open longer (especially on Sundays) and provide more programs. Will Toronto come through?  Toronto Star
, an online news outlet specializing in North Korea, reported the change on Saturday, citing multiple unnamed sources in the reclusive state.

North Korea reportedly has replaced foreign minister Ri Yong-ho in a major political reshuffle which, if true, would have a significant impact on the North's diplomatic stance.





The outlet said the change probably would be confirmed on or before Thursday, when an event for diplomats is scheduled in Pyongyang.







South Korea's unification ministry, which is in charge of North Korea affairs, did not confirm the development, saying any change in Ri's status should be assessed cautiously.







The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to

.







Ri Yong-ho  who was born in 1956 and has been the North's foreign minister since 2016  did not attend the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations in September. He had attended the high-level meeting in New York for three years from 2016 to 2018.







His absence from a group photo of top ruling party officials in January raised speculation that he might be replaced.







Meanwhile, Yonhap News Agency reported that North Korea's top envoys to China and the United Nations returned to Pyongyang on Saturday. It said this was fueling speculation that North Korea could review its nuclear negotiating strategy with the United States.







Ri Yong-ho is a fluent English speaker who studied at Pyongyang's prestigious University of Foreign Languages, He has for years held high-level posts dealing with the West.







From 2003 to 2007, he was North Korea's ambassador in London and served as vice foreign minister, representing North Korea at now-defunct six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program.


New York:

Volcanic activity in India's Deccan Traps, previously thought to have contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs, did not play a role in their die-off, according to a study which suggests meteorite impact alone led to the death of the ancient reptiles. While scientists had earlier focused on the role of volcanoes in causing the K-Pg mass extinction event which killed the dinosaurs, the current study, published in the journal Science, noted that volcanic gas release happened well before the space rock impact.

"Volcanoes can drive mass extinctions because they release lots of gases, like sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), that can alter the climate and acidify the world. But recent work has focused on the timing of lava eruption rather than gas release," said Pincelli Hull, lead author of the new study from Yale University. According to the study, the environmental impacts from massive volcanic eruptions in India's Deccan Traps happened well before the K-Pg event, 66 million years ago, and did not contribute to the dinosaur extinction.

To make this discovery, the scientists pinpointed the timing of volcanic gas emission by assessing global temperature change, and the levels of carbon atom variants in marine fossils from this time period. They compared these findings with models simulating the effect of CO2 release on the climate of this time. Based on their analysis, they said most of the gas release happened well before the asteroid impact -- and that the asteroid was the sole driver of extinction.

"Volcanic activity in the late Cretaceous caused a gradual global warming event of about two degrees, but not mass extinction. A number of species moved toward the North and South poles but moved back well before the asteroid impact," Michael Henehan, another co-author of the study. "A lot of people have speculated that volcanoes mattered to K-Pg, and we're saying, 'No, they didn't,'" Hull Added.

Also Read: NASAs Hubble Telescope Views Galaxy NGC 1803 From Famous Catalog

However, the researchers said the Deccan Traps volcanic eruptions may have played a role in reshaping the planet's ecosystems post the dinosaur extinction. "When combined with other lines of evidence, these models support an impact-driven extinction. However, volcanic gases may have played a role in shaping the rise of different species after the extinction event," they wrote in the study.

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
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South Carolina will be the fourth U.S. state to hold a presidential nominating contest in 2020 and the first in which African Americans constitute a major portion of the electorate. Statewide polls show former Vice President Joe Biden leading a crowded Democratic field
The 21-year-old Ritik Jotshi was among a group of Kashmiri Pandits who have joined a peaceful sit in outside Raj Bhavan here on Sunday to mark the completion of their 30 years in exile.

The protest was part of the 'holocaust day' which is being observed by the displaced community who were forced to flee from Kashmir to Jammu and other states in the early 90s soon after the outbreak of militancy.

Chanting high pitch slogans in support of the demand for their return and rehabilitation in the valley, Jotshi whose family migrated from their ancestral Brahman Mohalla village in Anantnag district of south Kashmir is hopeful of making it back to his village with dignity.

"This is for the first time that I am joining the protest here. We want the government to come out with a roadmap for our return and rehabilitation in the valley without further delay," he told PTI.

Jotshi said he had visited his ancestral village for a few days after his birth in Jammu but "the desire in my heart to live in my land remains alive."



"The government needs to look into the plight of Kashmiri Pandits on humanitarian grounds and ensure our return and rehabilitation," he said.

Joining him in highlighting the demand, Akash Pandit of Shopian and Amit Koul of Ashmuqam, who were also in their 20s, said the community wants justice as successive governments have only made promises and done nothing concrete to ensure their return to the land of their ancestors.

Sunandan Handoo, another youth, however, demanded a probe commission to look into the atrocities on the community leading to their exodus and strict punishment to those responsible.

The protest was organised by All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC), whose delegation led by its president Ravinder Raina later submitted a memorandum to the Lt Governor G C Murmu, highlighting various demands with special thrust for return and rehabilitation in their homeland.

Apart from the ASKPC, several other pandit organisations including the All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC), Panun Kashmir, All India Pandit Conference (AIPC) and All Displaced KP United Forum organised separate functions to commemorate the 'holocaust day'.

The day also marked a campaign #HumWapasAayenge on social media by the community, pledging to return home after 30 years of exile.

"We request Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Lt Governor to address all our issues related to social, economic and political rights. There is also a need to set a time frame for our return and rehabilitation in the valley," APMCC chairman Vinod Pandita said.

Raina said the community has entered into 31st year of exile and living as refugees in their own country. KPs have been "cheated by hollow promises" of return and rehabilitation by all successive governments.

"Government after taking into confidence the community leaders, should come out with a blueprint for resettlement of community at one place in Kashmir with political empowerment and economic rehabilitation, till then community be declared as internally displaced," he said.

Convenor, Panun Kashmir, Agnishekhar said this year the 'holocaust day was observed in the backdrop of historical and epochal decisions taken by the Union government with regards to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and amendment in Citizenship Act which have reestablished the faith of entire exiled Hindus of Kashmir.

"The pain and agony of forced displacement has left indelible marks on the psyche of Hindus of Kashmir and last 30 years have added to our festering wounds," he said.

He expressed hope that after abrogation of special status of J&K on August 5 last and amendments in Citizenship Act, the Centre would address the pain and agony suffered by Hindus of Kashmir for last 30 years.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hot brow alert! If youve been looking forward to ditching those extra five minutes on your eyebrow makeup, this list was made for you. A great alternative to fussing over eyebrow kits, mascaras and setting powders; eyebrow embroidery is the quickest way to get those brows looking sharp! Set some time aside and book with these top notch talents in Singapore that promise you brows that look done - but not overtly so.

Heres presenting the top salons in Singapore for microblading and eyebrow embroidery.

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Leaders in the art of eyebrow embroidery, Highbrow are our go-to for anything related to our brows. Bringing the latest products, tools and trends straight from Korea  the epicentre of eyebrow embroidery, theyve made quite a name for themselves as the leaders in this trade.

Their Brow Enliven 7D technique uses thin lines meaning theres room for a lot of eyebrow filling following the natural eyebrow growth direction. With the second layer of dye colour, each line can achieve a uniform colour - giving it a more natural and even look. Apart from technique, it is also equally important to use the right products and dyes, and this is why Highbrow work with organic dyes, no artificial chemicals and one-time tools only.

Need to fix a botched up eyebrow job? Known for their corrective brow works, Highbrow are definitely the ones to turn to for fixing what you dont like. Correcting a bad eyebrow embroidery without laser requires special skills and substantial brow hands-on experience, which Highbrow are known for. With a number of clients travelling from across the world (some as far as Peru!), to get their eyebrow fix, theres no wonder that Highbrow are the go-tos for this art. Multiple island-wide locations mean they are easier to get to as well.

Eyebrow embroidery thats safe and managed by the experts, this is indeed the way to super powerful brows!

Highbrow, The Star Vista, Capitol Piazza and Parkway Parade. Call (+65) 87988988

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Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

On a mission to help women wake up beautiful (and sleep in longer), Dreamlash are known for their gorgeous and natural-looking lash work in Singapore. What you dont know perhaps, is that they are experts at semi permanent makeup too.

Apart from designing a pair of brows that is suitable to your face contour, part of the skill in eyebrow embroidery also comes from choosing the right pigment. Dreamlash creates natural looking eyebrows using organic plant-based pigments that do not turn red, green or blue overtime. With a lasting power of 1.5 to 2 years (yes!), their eyebrow embroidery works can really deliver bang for your buck.

So whether its the famous powder mist or microblading brows you are after, the team at Dreamlash will ensure you get what suits you best. Should you need some extra help with makeup, they also offer eyeliner embroidery, a procedure that makes your eyes look brighter and more alert-looking. Add that to the mix, and you can easily sleep in for an extra 15 minutes in the morning. Now, who wouldnt love that!

Dreamlash, Citylink Mall and Compass One. Whatsapp (+65) 88098846

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Are you ready to become the most beautiful version of YOU? Located in the heart of Orchard Road, award-winning boutique, Jo Artysan offers professional and bespoke services that are tailored to be as unique as you.

If youre looking for a powdery misty gradient finish for a makeup-ready look, go for the Ombre Powder Brows ($450). For a super natural finish, try the Microblading Brows ($490) as this service uses hair-like strokes to mimic natural brow hairs.

Get the best of both worlds with Jo Artysans advanced technique and achieve the most natural and fuller defined brows with Microshading 9D Brows ($550). To achieve an ultra natural and defined brows, go for Artysan Signature Brows ($690) where brow artists create hyper realistic hair-like strokes that are carefully implanted, leaving a feathered outline enhancing your brows.

Specialising in crafting super natural brows that are set to last up to 2 years, Jo Artysans brow artists see only 3 to 4 brow clients who usually comes through referrals. Prioritising quality over profit, hundred of clients leave Jo Artysan feeling happy, beautiful and satisfied. With highly skilled brow artists, who are trained internationally, at your service be assured that your microblading process is pain free and comfortable!

Jo Artysan, Midpoint Orchard. Hotline (+65) 8889 2880, Whatsapp (+65) 8889 2880

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Ever since K-Beauty became popular in Singapore, Min Kim has been seeing people around her going for Korean eyebrow embroidery but with failed results. This spurred Min to open her own home-based salon, Brow Meister, specialising in Korean eyebrow embroidery. Having been trained and certified in Korea, Min wants to showcase what real Korean embroidery is to Singaporeans.

Brow Meister provides 6D embroidery and misty brows services and on top of that, also has services such as lash lift, eyeliner, hairline semi perm makeup, in which if you combine any two semi perm makeup, you will get to enjoy $100 off from the total price.

Swearing by looking natural and experiencing no downtime, you do not have to worry about having unnatural looking eyebrows as Min is here to help you achieve and sculpt the best natural-looking and envy-worthy eyebrows. If you are looking to pamper yourself during your birthday month, stop by Brow Meisters salon for an eyebrow embroidery session as you get to enjoy $88 off.

If youre a first time customer, enjoy 10% off if you follow Brow Meister on Instagram. You can make your appointment via WhatsApp at +65 9021 2357 or Instagram: @brow_meister.

Brow Meister, Bleu @ East Coast, 562 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 466581

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery





A renowned one-stop beauty concierge, Isabella Aesthetics offers beauty services that help you achieve what you desire.

The dexterous artists at Isabella Aesthetics will start off by discussing your eyebrow preferences and style before immaculately blending the colour while keeping your facial morphology into consideration. With highly trained technicians at your service, get ready for a flattering look once you walk out the door!

Once the arched shape is finalized, a topical cream is applied to your eyebrow area to prevent discomfort. The microblading procedure is then adhered to artistically draw the eyebrows that youve always desired. The fine strokes add realism and the vacant spots are carefully filled by adding hued shade to the skin, resulting in an impeccable, characteristic look.

If you are going for a natural subtle look, the Korean Suji Microdotting Eyebrow Embroidery is perfect for you. For a more defined look, you should try the Korean Spin Roller Eyebrow Embroidery.

Experience the power of beauty with Korean 9D Micro Hairline Eyebrow Embroidery, recognized for the creation of a fuller, balanced look for your brows that subtly enhance your natural features. Also, known as eyebrow weaving, this treatment is the most natural and hyper real in the cosmetic market space at present.

Enjoy a 50% discount for an eyebrow embroidery session at the Scotts Square outlet today.

Isabella Aesthetics, Jurong Point and Scotts Square. Whatsapp (+65) 8298 9291.

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Lash Regrowth first started in 2016 and as Singapores first and only salon in Singapore specialising in regrowth services for natural eyelashes, eyebrows and hair growth, Lash Regrowth takes pride in providing natural lash growth services which are comfortable and pain-free with no downtime.

Choose Natural Misty Brows which is suitable for those who prefer natural powdered brows similar to drawing eyebrows with an eyebrow pencil; or Microblading Brows which is suitable for those who have sparse brow hair. The Microblading technique creates define strokes which resemble real hair.

Lash Regrowth also offers Brow Regrowth Treatment, a treatment that stimulates hair follicles to promote the natural growth of your own eyebrow hairs. Using the latest technology and plant stem cells products from Germany, the stainless microchip machine and stem cell serum are used to remove dead cells, activate follicles so the serum can penetrate into the follicles effectively.

Try the Brow Regrowth Treatment before your eyebrow embroidery session as they complement each other, making your brows look more defined. Be assured that the treatments are reliable and effective, and are deemed safe even for expecting and breastfeeding mothers. With no pain, downtime and side effects, achieve thicker and denser eyebrows 6 weeks after one session.

Enjoy one eyebrow embroidery session at S$288 and a brow regrowth treatment at a trial price of S$68 (up to S$380) when you book an appointment at (+65) 8261 3088 today.

Lash Regrowth, Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #04-66, Singapore 059817

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Located in the Bugis Street precinct is Thuy Nail and Beauty Salon. Founded in August 2018, Thuy Nail and Beauty Salon is led by beauty director, Katy, a qualified multiple award-winning eyebrow embroiderist. Her top awards include 2018 Champion of ASEAN Health & Beauty Eyebrow Embroidery (Vietnam) and 2017 2nd Runner-up of the 14th K-Beauty Jeju World Festival.

Katy specialises in Microblading, with professional certificates and awards in Traditional, 3D, 6D, 6HD Feather touch, and 7D-9HD eyebrow embroidery. She is a renowned consultant who has a masters degree in correction and camouflaging permanent makeup, hence helming her forte in customising the design to suit different individuals' need is impeccable. Thuy has also attained an advanced micro and derma pigmentation award and will teach customers how to care for their new eyebrows after the procedure.

At Thuy Nail and Beauty Salon, it is very straightforward; what you ask for is what you get! Simply convey your needs to Katy, and she will propose a design to suit your facial features before initiating the eyebrow embroidery.

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, slots are filling up fast so be sure to book your appointment today. To enjoy their ongoing promotion, simply follow them on Facebook.

Quote Vanilla Luxury when booking via WhatsApp at (+65) 8458 8807 for a free consultation and 50% off all packages inclusive of 1 free top-up. Special Price for Vanilla Luxury readers (after discount) as followed: 3D-5D S$300; 6D-7D S$350; 7D-9HD S$500.

Thuy Nail and Beauty Salon, 3 New Bugis Street, #03-88, Singapore 188867

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Did you know that eyebrow embroidery can hugely transform your face? The experienced staff at leading Eyebrow Embroidery Salon, Browart Studio believe that brows are one of the most prominent features of our faces - and hence need that much extra care, expertise and detailed handling.

Browart Studio have provided Eyebrow Embroidery for Singapore for years and have a great reputation to match - theyve worked with actresses and celebrities on eyebrows, permanent eyeliner and lip embroidery too! Exceptional designing with natural looking brows, the staff at Browart Studio keep abreast with the latest beauty trends and techniques.

Aside from designing brows that match your face shape and enhance your features, the eyebrow embroidery at Browart Studio will ensure these last a long time using a high number of fine strokes providing an intricate and natural looking result. The process starts with the technician analysing the structure and condition of your current brows along with the expectations of the design. The technician will then suggest options of shapes to the client and draw out the shape to bring that visualisation to life.

For those sensitive to pain, youll get a numbing cream applied on your brows and after 15 minutes to let it kick in, the beautician will choose the best suitable colour for your hair and skin type and start the procedure. The actual process of embroidery takes place with a small scalpel and tiny needles, but unlike eyebrow tattoos only penetrate the upper most layer of your skin - so dont worry about long lasting injuries or scabs. The whole process takes 1 hour and with the help of the local anaesthetic there is no pain involved.

The best part? There is literally no downtime at all! Natural looking eyebrows that give immediate results without the need to hide from everyone for the initial few days. Thats Browart Studio for you!

Browart Studio, 290 Orchard Road, Paragon Medical Lobby F, #17-11. Singapore 238859. Call (+65) 6702 0768 / (+65) 9824 4400





Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery





Founded by Celebrity Eyebrow Professor Irene Teo, Bio Beauty Aromatic Spa is known for its Feng Shui Eyebrows and Men Power-Up Eyebrows. As a pioneer in the beauty industry, Irene specialises in Eyebrow Embroidery, Eyebrow Microblading, Eyeliner and Lips Tattoo Embroidery for the last 20 years in Toa Payoh.

Irenes key focus is her Feng Shui Eyebrow Embroidery where she gives a free consultation on how to improve your love, luck and career by making minor changes to the features on your face; such as the shape of your eyebrows.

Known for her Feng Shui Eyebrow Embroidery and Microblading, Irene has done the eyebrows of local celebrities including Singapore Social Netflix star Mae Tan, Zhang Yao Dong, Bong Qiu Qiu and more.

Irenes apprentice Jocelyn Wang has over 15 years of Eyebrow Embroidery and Jocelyn specialises in Eyebrow Embroidery for men by using strokes which are much more natural as compared to a womans eyebrow.

Prices start at $188 for Eyebrow Embroidery, $588 for Men Power-Up Eyebrows and $888 for Feng Shui Eyebrow Embroidery by Celebrity Eyebrow Professor Irene Teo at Bio Beauty Aromatic Spa.

Bio Beauty Aromatic Spa is located at 73 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh #01-597 Singapore 310073. Call (+65) 6258 9418 or Whatsapp (+65) 9841 1448 / (+65) 9185 5270.

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Celebrating its 8th anniversary, The Prestige Eyebrow & Lash Specialist has won many beauty awards including the "Top Eyebrow & Lash Bar in Asia" by The Aesthetics and Beauty Magazine to "Top Eyebrow Salon in Singapore" by Fave.

Helmed by Celebrity Eyebrow Professor Irene Teo, The Prestige Eyebrow & Lash Specialist has been featured in many magazines, newspapers and on Mediacorp Channels and Channel U. It is also frequented by many Singaporean Celebrities, Socialites such as Kim Lim and Frances Low, YouTubers and Influencers such as Sylvia Chan, Aiken Chia from Night Owl Cinematics.

The Prestige Eyebrow & Lash Specialist is the first eyebrow and lash bar in Singapore to focus on mens eyebrows and eyelashes. From services such as eyebrow embroidery for men, eyelash extensions for men, eyelash perm for men as well as face and eyebrow threading. It is common to see famous personalities such as actor Zhang Yao Dong, Lawrence Wong, socialite Benjamin Khoh and bodybuilding winner Jason Chee getting their eyebrows done.

Prices for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery are listed on The Prestige Eyebrow & Lash Specialist website and Facebook page. They have packages for Eyebrow Embroidery at $688 for 2 sessions, $888 for 3 sessions or $1288 for 5 sessions. Their popular Russian Eyelash Extension has a first time trial price of $88 and their popular Men Power-Up Eyebrow Embriodery is priced at $588.

If you would like your eyebrows to be personally done by Celebrity Eyebrow Professor Irene Teo and Eyebrow Director Jocelyn Wang, their charges are slightly higher. You will need to state your request when making your microblading or eyebrow embroidery appointment.

The Prestige Eyebrow & Lash Specialist is located at Suntec City Tower 2, #02-488, Singapore 038938. Call (+65) 6822 3395 or WhatsApp (+65) 8686 1681.

Top Salons in Singapore for Microblading and Eyebrow Embroidery

Need a professional studio that can design the most suitable eyebrow embroidery for your face shape? Lebellbrow Studio provides professional consultation and advice on enhancing the most important feature on your face - your eyebrows. As winners of the Best Eyebrow Tattoo Artist of Asia 2018 and K-beauty Olympic 2018 and 2019 for 6D Microblading and Microshading, Lebellbrow comes with the right expertise to manage brows across shape or skin type. You can also look forward to honest and affordable prices here, just read through the positive reviews for their studio and youll know this is the right place for eyebrow embroidery in Singapore.

If youve heard horror stories of pigment turning purple or all shades of red, know that Lebellbrow Studio uses only high-quality nano pigment for embroidery to ensure that it will not change to an unpleasant shade over time. Thanks to their specialised technique you are sure to have a pleasant and comfortable experience without pain or consequent swelling after the eyebrow embroidery. Theres also minimal downtime involved.

Aside from their popular eyebrow embroidery, Lebellbrow studio provides eyeliner, lips and hairline embroidery services as well as lash extension, BB Watershine and LED treatment. They are also known to run training courses for those looking to learn.

Lebellbrow Studio. 9 King Albert Park, #02-03, KAP Mall, Singapore 598332. WhatsApp (+65) 96916050, (+65) 90087833 or email info.lebell@gmail.com.
Emmett Flores has had a special affection for koalas since he was born.

Now the eight-year-old is raising money to help his favourite animal following the wildfires in Australia.

The Fredericton, N.B., boy was born in Australia and spent the first six weeks of his life there. It's where his love for koalas began.

His mother, Charlotte, said it all started with a stuffed toy koala that his father gave him when he was born.

"Even when he was very young he would pull it under his cheek when he would sleep, and he would take it everywhere with him," Charlotte said, noting Emmett is still attached to it today.

Gary Moore/CBC

When news broke that thousands of koalas are feared dead from the wildfires in Australia, Charlotte didn't know how she was going to tell her son.

"I knew that he would be devastated by it," Charlotte said.

She was right. Emmett didn't want to hear about what was happening in Australia.

"I was so sad for them. I was getting really emotional," Emmett said.

But it didn't take long for Emmett and his family to turn the sadness into something good  and find a way for an eight-year-old to help the koalas.

"Mom thought of an idea of shovelling and doing a bake sale," Emmett said.

Gary Moore/CBC

Last week, during a freezing rain storm in Fredericton, Emmett spent the afternoon digging out neighbours to start his fundraising efforts.

He didn't want to stop there, despite a successful day's work.

This weekend, Emmett and his parents are baking 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies to sell.

Emmett had an initial goal to raise $300 but he quickly surpassed that when word of his effort spread.

The family is overwhelmed with the support Emmett has received and expects to raise about a $1,000 after this weekend.

"I'm actually blown away," Charlotte said. "I was shocked that we raised $80 last weekend. I never expected any of this."

Emmett is pleased. "There's going to be more koalas now that are going to be saved," he said.

The money will go to the Port Macquarrie Koala Hospital.
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When Karen and Scott got married, Karen had nearly $50,000 of non-mortgage debt. Scott, who was a Chicago firefighter at the time, jokingly referred to it as "a reverse dowry."

Several years before meeting Scott, Karen had been through the breakup of a relationship she thought was headed toward marriage. "I decided that if I'm not getting married, at least I'm going to have a nice apartment. I can remember standing at the counter of a furniture store unrepentantly handing over my credit card. I thought, I deserve this couch; I'm going to get it. It didn't bother me one bit that I didn't have the money for it."

Making matters worse, Karen's freelance work made her income inconsistent.

Telling Scott the full extent of her financial problems marked the beginning of her turnaround. "He was incredibly supportive. He said, I'm not the guy who can rescue you, but I can walk through this with you.'"

Karen developed a personal budget, cut up her credit cards, accepted a full-time job with one of her clients, and started putting as much money as possible toward her debts.

Once Karen and Scott got married, they began tackling the debt together. Karen remembers, "I kept referring to it as my debt,' but Scott would correct me and say, It's our debt.'"

One other notable part of their story is that they gave away 10 percent of their income throughout their journey of getting out of debt. Their experience provides powerful lessons for anyone wondering how they can give generously while paying down debt.

Make a Commitment: Instead of letting their circumstances dictate their financial priorities, Karen and Scott followed their commitments. As important as getting out of debt was to them, they understood the biblical teaching on "firstfruits" generosity (Proverbs 3:9), so they arranged their budget to make that a higher priority.

Get Serious: They longed to buy a house, but they couldn't afford to do so while giving generously and paying off their debt. So they rented for nine long years, all the while watching friends buy with no money down and thinking they were missing out.

Karen and Scott's approach brings to mind Proverbs 3:27-28: "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, Come back later; I'll give it to you tomorrow'  when you now have it with you."

Karen and Scott had the ability to give generously while getting out of debt. It required something of them, to be sure, and it wasn't easy. But they knew their priorities, had "the power to act" on them, and did so.

If you're struggling with debt, what radical, uncomfortable step could you take to free up money so you could give generously while paying off debt? Sell your house? Take in a roommate? Go from a two-car household to a one-car household? Take on a part-time job? Cut the cable or Internet?

At the Very Least, Give a Choice Gift: In Genesis 4:3-5, the Bible tells the story of brothers Cain and Abel. When they were young adults they brought gifts to the Lord. Cain brought "some of the fruits of the soil," which scholars have explained means he gave a portion of his crops, but not the best portion. By contrast, Abel brought "fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock." In other words, he gave a choice gift.

Their gifts revealed much about their hearts, and the Bible says, "The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor."

If you've gotten truly serious about cutting expenses and still can't seem to give at the tithe level, at the very least give what for you constitutes a choice gift. For Karen and Scott, that meant tithing off their net income. Their mantra at the time was, "10 percent of net until we're out of debt." Then they moved up to 10 percent of gross income.

Look for God's Blessings, in His Perfect Timing: While the Bible never teaches a give-to-get approach to generosity (see Romans 11:35), a consistent message throughout Scripture is there are blessings that flow from living the generous lives we were designed to live.

It gave Karen hope that God was going to bless them in some special way. "I'd hear people's stories of unexpected blessings they felt came about because of their giving," Karen said. "I started wondering, where's my cool story?

But the Bible doesn't say God works according to our agenda or on our schedule. For Karen and Scott, there was no dramatic financial rescue. Just month after month of writing big checks to creditors, all the while being faithful to give generously.

"Once we were through it, though, I realized there were lessons I needed to learn. My attitude about money has changed in many, many ways. If it hadn't been that hard, I don't think I would have learned the lessons."

Six and a half years after getting married, Karen and Scott made their final debt payment. "That was an awesome day," Karen said with tears in her eyes. "It felt like a huge weight had been lifted. It was a hard road we had traveled, but we did it, and we did it in a God-honoring way."

A few years ago, Scott retired with a full pension at a much younger age than most people, having put in more than 20 years at the Chicago Fire Department.

He and Karen also finally bought a home  a beautiful Victorian, the style they had long dreamed of owning. Buying at a time when home prices were still battered by the recession, the home was priced well below what it would have sold for years earlier when Karen and Scott were diligently paying down debt while giving sacrificially.

Worth the wait

Looking back, Karen acknowledges that she didn't always want to tithe, especially as she thought about how much more quickly they could have been paying off their debt. However, she realizes now that had they been putting their tithe money toward their debts, they would have gotten out of debt right at the start of the recession. If they had bought a house then, they might owe more on it today than it's worth.

But the blessings didn't end there. Along with dreaming of one day owning a Victorian home, Karen hoped they could eventually buy a Victorian piano. On the day they closed on their home, they met a neighbor who had just such a piano for sale. However, instead of selling it to Karen and Scott, she insisted on giving it to them, even arranging to have it waiting for them inside their home on the day they moved in.

"We got our cool story, after all," Karen said, "and then some."
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Even as Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believes that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is India's "internal matter", she has described the law, which aims to grant citizenship to persecuted religious minorities of the three neighboring Muslim countries, "unnecessary".

Hasina said this in an interview to the Gulf News at Abu Dhabi, where she is on a visit to hold high-level bilateral meetings.

"We don't understand why (the Indian government) did it. It was not necessary," Hasina told Gulf News.

"Bangladesh has always maintained that the CAA and NRC are internal matters of India. The Government of India, on their part, has also repeatedly maintained that the NRC is an internal exercise of India and Prime Minister Modi has in person assured me of the same during my visit to New Delhi in October 2019," she added.

The CAA passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian refugees who fled from religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan before December 2014.

The law came into effect last month. The Opposition and some youth organizations in India have been protesting against the CAA. Some protests turned violent too.

Soon after the CAA was passed, Dhaka canceled its high-level visits and meetings in New Delhi. Hasina's description of the law now as "unnecessary" is in line with the concerns in Bangladesh establishment that the CAA might trigger reverse migration of Bangladesh illegal immigrants living in India.

However, Hasina in her interview said there was no reverse migration from India to Bangladesh yet.

Dhaka has also denied there has been any religious persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. "But within India, people are facing many problems," Hasina said vaguely to the Gulf News.

Officials in the Ministry of External Affairs, however, insisted that the CAA is an internal matter. "Necessary or unnecessary is a matter of perception. It has been passed by Parliament," said an official who did not want to be quoted.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
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1. Adnan Sami Hits Out At Raza Murad For Using Him To Condemn The Citizenship Amendment Act

Did you give citizenship to Adnan Sami or not? Is he a Muslim or not? He is a Muslim. He was a resident of Pakistan. His father was in the Pakistan Air Force and he dropped bombs on India in the 1965 war. I have no objection to Adnan Samis citizenship. I only object that you are keeping only one community apart and you are showing that they are different. The government should give citizenship to anyone irrespective of religion," he told India Today in an interview.



2. Shabana Azmi Gets Insensitively Trolled Post Horrific Accident, FIR Lodged Against Her Driver

According to latest reports, the 69-year-old actress is not in danger and in a stable condition. Salim Khan also told Spotboye.com that she is doing okay. "Javed told me that there is no internal damage. She is talking and very much in senses."



3. Family Freaks Out After 'Haunted' Elsa Doll Magically Returns After Being Thrown Out Twice

Madonia claims that she threw it in the trash, and later found the the doll inside of a bench in their living room.



4. Break-Ups, Frustrations & Love Triangles: Bigg Boss 13 Affects Life & Relationships Of Contestants

Contestants are not only finding it tough to manage relationships and life inside and outside of Bigg Boss house, but they are also hurting a lot of people including their family members.



5. Gal Gadot Chooses Sustainability Over Comfort, Says Won't Use Private Jets To Save The Planet

"I think that being a role model and actually doing the things and showing them how it should be done is a big thing because then it's being incorporated into their life," Gadot told People magazine, reports femalefirst.co.uk. "So we make sure we recycle and make sure not to use plastic bags, not to travel with (private) jets when we're doing press for movies, we make sure to give back as much as we can back to the world that we're living in," she added.






Every investor on earth makes bad calls sometimes. But you want to avoid the really big losses like the plague. So consider, for a moment, the misfortune of Centrepoint Alliance Limited (ASX:CAF) investors who have held the stock for three years as it declined a whopping 82%. That'd be enough to cause even the strongest minds some disquiet.

We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway.

Check out our latest analysis for Centrepoint Alliance

Centrepoint Alliance wasn't profitable in the last twelve months, it is unlikely we'll see a strong correlation between its share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Arguably revenue is our next best option. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit.

Over the last three years, Centrepoint Alliance's revenue dropped 0.4% per year. That is not a good result. The share price fall of 44% (per year, over three years) is a stern reminder that money-losing companies are expected to grow revenue. We're generally averse to companies with declining revenues, but we're not alone in that. Don't let a share price decline ruin your calm. You make better decisions when you're calm.

The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

ASX:CAF Income Statement, January 19th 2020

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Centrepoint Alliance's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

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We've already covered Centrepoint Alliance's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Dividends have been really beneficial for Centrepoint Alliance shareholders, and that cash payout explains why its total shareholder loss of 79%, over the last 3 years, isn't as bad as the share price return.

A Different Perspective

We're pleased to report that Centrepoint Alliance shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 33% over one year. Notably the five-year annualised TSR loss of 18% per year compares very unfavourably with the recent share price performance. We generally put more weight on the long term performance over the short term, but the recent improvement could hint at a (positive) inflection point within the business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Centrepoint Alliance better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Centrepoint Alliance (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about.

Centrepoint Alliance is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
A sparkling century by Rohit Sharma and inspired bowling helped India to a series-clinching seven-wicket win over Australia in the third one-day international on Sunday. Sharma made 119 and put on a key 137-run second-wicket stand with skipper Virat Kohli, who made 89, as India chased down their target of 287 in 47.3 overs in Bangalore. The hosts fought back in the series after a 10-wicket drubbing in the opening game to go past the Aaron Finch-led tourists 2-1. Paceman Mohammed Shami claimed four wickets to lead the bowling charge with the hosts restricting Australia to 286 for nine on a good batting pitch despite Steve Smith's 131. Sharma took the attack to the opposition with a steady flow of boundaries -- eight fours and six sixes in his 128-ball knock -- and completed his eighth century against the Aussies. He finally fell to Adam Zampa's leg spin as the senior batsman attempted a big hit but the ball top-edged off his bat to be caught by Mitchell Starc at long-on. Kohli kept the chase on track with an attacking Shreyas Iyer, unbeaten on 44, as the pair put on 68 runs before the captain was bowled by Josh Hazlewood. Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan did not bat after injuring his shoulder while fielding in the fifth over Australian innings. He went for an X-ray later and TV pictures showed the batsman's arm in a sling. India though did not feel his absence as Sharma and wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul put on 69 runs to set up the chase. Rahul was given not out by the on-field umpire after being trapped lbw off Ashton Agar for 19 but Australia successfully reviewed the decision in their favour. - Smith century - Earlier Smith followed up his 98 in the second match with his ninth ODI hundred and his first since January 2017 -- a period during which he served a one-year ban between March 2018 and 2019. Smith put on 127 runs for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne to lay the foundation for Australia's total after they elected to bat. Shami struck first to send David Warner trudging back to the pavilion for three after the left-handed opener edged to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Finch and Smith started to build, but their partnership was cut short by a big mix up between the two batsmen with the captain being run out for 19. Smith played the ball to short third man and Finch ran for a single only to get stuck with his partner at the striker's end, and fell well short of the crease while trying to make it back. Smith kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and twos and the occasional boundary with partner Labuschagne, who got a maiden ODI fifty after making his debut in the opening match of the series. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership with the wicket of Labuschagne for 54, and struck twice in his ninth over to pull Australia back. Smith played a lone hand before falling to Shami as the middle and lower order did not fire. Rohit Sharma made 119 to help India to victory against Australia in the third ODI and a series win
MIAMI - Venezuela opposition leader Juan Guaido has travelled to Colombia to participate alongside U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a regional counter-terrorism meeting  a new show of support by the Trump administration for the man it says is the countrys legitimate leader.

From Bogota, Guaido plans to travel to Europe and then possibly the U.S., two people close to the opposition leader said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss his travel plans.

While Guaidos itinerary in Europe is unknown, hell be travelling there as President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to attend Jan. 21-22 the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. That could set the stage for a first meeting between Guaido and Trump on the sidelines of the annual gathering of the worlds business and political elite.

Colombian President Ivan Duque welcomed Guaido in a tweet on Sunday and said he would hold a working meeting with him later.

Pompeo, meanwhile, told reporters en route back from a meeting in Berlin that he hoped Guaido would be at the summit, calling him the duly elected leader of Venezuela.

It wasnt clear how Guaido left Venezuela. But its only the second time that he has defied a travel ban imposed by Venezuelas pro-government supreme court and secretly moved across the border.

In his role as president of the National Assembly, Guaido is recognized as Venezuelas rightful leader by the U.S. and more than 50 nations that consider Nicolas Maduros reelection invalid.

Any trip abroad entails huge risks.

Last February, after a 10-day tour of Latin American capitals that included a meeting in Bogota with Vice-President Mike Pence, he risked arrest and returned home on a commercial flight with several foreign diplomats waiting for him at the Caracas international airport.

Since then, he has struggled to maintain the momentum of his campaign to oust socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. Street protests have mostly fizzled and his call for a military uprising in April failed to break Maduros hold on the armed forces. Meanwhile, Maduro has found ways to circumvent U.S. oil sanctions, limiting their impact by dollarizing wide swaths of the economy and quietly lifting longstanding currency and customs controls.

I think everyone understood the challenge, the challenge of restoring democracy to Venezuela was going to be difficult, Pompeo said Sunday.

But he said real progress had been made toward removing Maduro. He said the U.S. is working to convince Cuba not to continue supporting Maduro.

And if those around him from a security perspective will ultimately make the conclusion that Venezuelas better off with Maduro having departed, then I think we can get our objective, he added.

Guaidos visit to Colombia comes days after government loyalists attempted to engineer a takeover of the National Assembly.

In an interview Friday with the Washington Post, Maduro offered to negotiate directly with the Trump administration in a bid to end the countrys political stalemate and address a humanitarian crisis that has led millions of Venezuelans to migrate.

The gap between Guaidos legitimacy and international support and his lack of real power on the ground is growing larger,said Geoff Ramsey of the Washington Office on Latin America think-tank . The international community can play an important role, but ultimately any transition will have to be led by Venezuelans themselves.

The meeting Monday in Colombias capital of Bogota is to include Pompeo and foreign ministers from several Latin American nations to discuss ways of cutting off funding and activities of regional and global groups designated as terrorist organizations, like Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Theres also pressure by conservatives to add Cuba and the Maduro government to the list of state sponsors of terror for their alleged support for leftist Colombian guerrilla groups.



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By Tessa Vikander and Moira Warburton

VANCOUVER/TORONTO (Reuters) - Extraditing Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou to the United States based on American sanctions against Iran would set a dangerous precedent and could even undermine Canada's policy towards Iran, Meng's lawyers argued in court documents released on Friday.

Meng, 47, was arrested at the Vancouver International Airport on Dec. 1, 2018, at the request of the United States, where she is charged with bank fraud and accused of misleading the bank HSBC <HSBA.L> about Huawei Technologies' business in Iran. Meng has said she is innocent and is fighting extradition.

Canada's attorney general said in submissions released last week that Meng was being extradited because she fraudulently mislead HSBC, and that U.S. sanctions should be taken into account as contributing to the legal environment in which the fraud took place - not as a reason for the extradition.

Meng's team called the attorney general's argument "circular," arguing that because prosecutors relied on U.S. sanctions to establish a risk of economic deprivation in both countries, "American law becomes Canadian law. Double criminality becomes single criminality."

They wrote that allowing the attorney general to use U.S. sanctions as a reason to extradite set a dangerous precedent, because it would "interfere with the (Canadian) government's prerogative in foreign affairs ... In a democratic society, important public policy choices are best made in the elected legislative assembly rather than by judicial actors."

Meng appeared in court on Friday for the first time in several months, for a case management conference to schedule hearings addressing the Canadian attorney general's claims of privilege on releasing some documents requested by Meng's legal team.

Wearing dark slacks and sipping from a pink thermos, Meng appeared calm but serious, refraining from waving to journalists as she has while entering the courtroom on other occasions.

The first phase of the extradition hearing will begin on Monday in a federal court in Vancouver.

(Reporting by Moira Warburton in Toronto and Tessa Vikander in Vancouver; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
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Asserting that the amended citizenship law is not against any Indian, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday alleged that the "propaganda" against CAA is "ripping the country apart" and it is being done by keeping women at the forefront.

Addressing a gathering at MP Inter College ground here as part of a public awareness campaign being run by the BJP on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, he alleged that after Independence, the Left parties had lied a lot to mislead the people and now the Congress and the Samajwadi Party were doing the same thing.

"The Citizenship (Amendment) Act is not a law against any citizen of India. It is against those intruders who are responsible for terrorism, extremism and separatism. The country is being ripped apart due to propaganda against CAA, and this is being done by keeping women at the forefront," Adityanath said.

"We cannot remain silent. It is our constitutional obligation to reach out to people regarding the issue. Citizenship law was made during Nehru's time, but now the Congress is not ready to accept it. The conduct of the Congress and SP is condemnable and irresponsible. These parties have financed the miscreants for opposing the CAA," he said.

The way people of the country understood the lies of the Left and have buried them forever, on the same lines, these parties are also standing at the fag end of their political ladder, Adityanath said, adding the Congress was "unable to accept a new India".

"The citizenship law gave the Congress an opportunity to repent for its sin, but it missed this chance. In support of this law, we all should write a postcard and greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the chief minister said.

Newly elected UP BJP chief Swatantradev Singh also addressed the gathering.

He said, "Both SP and BSP are deeply immersed in corruption. After Yogi Adityanath became the chief minister of UP, goondaism promoted by these parties came to an end.

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

Memphis, Tennessee - After a four-day trial on civil rights and obstruction charges, a federal jury returned a verdict for Mark Bryant, formerly a Corporal at the Cheatham County Jail in Ashland City, Tennessee. Bryant was convicted of two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 242, for repeatedly tasing a restrained pretrial detainee.

The jury acquitted Bryant of two counts of obstruction of justice and one count of lying to the FBI.

Correctional officers who use unlawful force and cause bodily injury to detainees will be held accountable for their illegal actions, said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute matters that violate civil rights laws.

The defendants conduct in this case was detestable and offensive to every law enforcement officer who honors the badge, said U.S. Attorney Cochran. I want to thank the trial team and our law enforcement partners at the FBI for their outstanding efforts to ensure that this individual was brought to justice.

Citizens have a constitutional right to ethical treatment by employees of federal, state, and local government," said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the FBI. "This conviction should be a reminder that wearing a badge does not make one above the law. The FBI will always work to bring to justice those who violate the civil rights of others."

Evidence presented at trial established that, on Nov. 5, 2016, then-Corporal Bryant repeatedly tased  for a total of 50 seconds  an eighteen-year-old pretrial detainee in a restraint chair, and then returned more than an hour later to again tase the detainee, while the detainee was compliant and fully restrained. As a result of Corporal Bryants unjustified uses of force, the detainee suffered bodily injury.

Sentencing will take place at a later date before U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw at which time Bryant will face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each charge as well as three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, and the case was tried by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Beth Myers of the Middle District of Tennessees Nashville Office and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Michael J. Songer.
New laws are cracking down on binge-drinking in three tourist hotspots on Spain's Balearic Islands (Picture: REUTERS/Enrique Calvo)

The days of pub crawls and happy hours are over in some of the most popular tourist hotspots on Spains Balearic Islands as part of a crackdown on binge-drinking.

The islands regional government has passed a law banning the organisation or promotion of pub crawls as well as open bars and happy hours in what it claims is the first law of its kind in Europe.

The laws will cover Magaluf on Majorca, the so-called West End in Ibiza and a stretch of Majorcas capital Palma, for the next five years.

The popularity of the areas for alcohol-fuelled holidays by young tourists from across Europe has led to a backlash, with graffiti saying Tourists go home appearing in some areas.

The new laws ban pub crawls and happy hours, as well as trips on party boats (Picture: Clara Margais/Getty Images)

The new law bans balconing - jumping from hotel balconies into swimming pools - throughout the Mediterranean islands which has led to injuries and several deaths.

Those caught doing it now will have to leave their hotel and could face fines.

READ MORE

Body of missing British dad, 28, found floating in water in Ibiza

Irish teenager raped by two men in Magaluf after being kicked out of a brothel

The new laws also freeze licences for party boats - another popular pastime for tourists - and bans them from picking up or dropping off tourists in the three areas.

It also bans alcohol-selling machines and shops selling alcohol in the areas will have to close between 8.30pm and 7am.

The laws cover popular tourist areas in Magaluf, Ibiza and parts of Palma (Picture: Clara Margais/Getty Images)

Fines for those who break the new laws could range from 6,000 euros (5,100) to 600,000 euros (510,000).

Majorca and Ibiza are popular tourist destinations with young people from across Europe, particularly Britain, Germany and Ireland.

The party-fuelled atmosphere has often led to injury or incident, and understandably leaves some parents worried, including one mum whose list of rules for her 18-year-old sons Magaluf holiday went viral.

The regional government said the law is the first of its kind and is hoped to improve the quality of tourism on the islands and benefit both tourists and residents.
The Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) has announced the launch of a new regulatory sandbox containing specific guidelines for cryptocurrency and digital token issuance.

The news comes after the countrys regulator stated at the end of last year that the implementation of blockchain technology is a top priority for 2020.

Brazilian CVM regulatory sandbox

The CVMs regulatory sandbox acts as a testing environment for fintech and other companies to issue tokens or cryptocurrencies within a regulated environment.

According to the regulators website, the initiative is a response to the changes that are happening in the capital market that have driven the emergence of new business models with technologies such as DLT and blockchain.

In addition to the sandbox, the CVM also announced other initiatives such as the regulation of the Economic Freedom Act and the revision of instructions on distance voting.

CVM fostering blockchain adoption in Brazil

The CVM is looking to further the adoption of blockchain technology in Brazil, and the regulator claims it is already researching the potential implementation of what is being called an open broker.

Essentially, the CVM intends to test new technologies that will allow the sharing of customer data between all brokers registered with the federal agency.

The idea is similar to open banking, which should be launched in 2020 by the Central Bank of Brazil. This new framework will allow the sharing of data, functions, and resources offered by banks with fintech partners.

The proposal put forward by the CVM will help investors by creating blockchain accounts distributed by the participating peers. A single identity could therefore be shared among brokers and fintechs quickly and efficiently.

The CVM also wants to deploy better registration portability similar to telephone operators. Under the proposed system, users who do not wish to proceed with the services provided by a certain entity could migrate their registration to another operator.

Story continues

This means users will enjoy better privacy and enhanced security of data ownership.

With the adoption of better regulatory frameworks, we could see cryptocurrency and blockchain adoption taking off in Brazil in 2020.

The post Brazilian CVM to launch cryptocurrency regulatory sandbox appeared first on Coin Rivet.
Police arrive as people break into a warehouse filled with supplies in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 18, 2020. (Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images)

Puerto Rico Emergency Services Director Fired Over Wasted Disaster Aid

The governor of Puerto Rico fired the islands emergency manager after the discovery of a warehouse full of disaster aid supplies dating back to Hurricane Maria in 2017.

Gov. Wanda Vazquez Garced dismissed Carlos Acevedo, director of Puerto Ricos Office of Emergency Management, hours after the items were found on Jan. 18.

There are thousands of people who have made sacrifices to help those in the south, and it is unforgivable that resources were kept in the warehouse, the governor said in a statement.

The itemsfound when the building was inspected after an earthquake hit Puerto Rico last weekincluded water, food, diapers, baby formula, cots, and tarps, according to ABC News.

At an estimated cost of $90 billion, Hurricane Maria is the third costliest on record and, with over 2,900 casualties, was 2017s deadliest storm, according to NOAA.

Garced said in a statement that agents from the Special Investigations Bureau would look into the matter, adding that she expected the investigation to produce findings and recommendations within 48 hours.

Acevedo has denied allegations that the supplies were improperly handled, saying the agency has been actively distributing supplies, according to a statement.

It is important to emphasize that no citizen has been denied any of the items found at this place, he said, ABC reported.

Prior to the governor making the announcement, an angry group of citizens broke into the warehouse to access the supplies, The Independent reported.

Ponce Mayor Mayita Melendez wrote on Twitter that the city and its government had NO knowledge of the findings made in this warehouse near the Guancha de Ponce. Melendez said the warehouses werent under city management.

Our people suffered greatly bc of how Hurricane Maria was managed, she wrote. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.

Incompetent or Corrupt

In the wake of the scandal, the governor of Puerto Rico promised decisive steps to root out corruption among Puerto Rican authorities.

I will continue taking firm, affirmative action, always putting the welfare of the people first. Whoever is unable to meet the standards of transparency and diligenceyou will NOT have a place in the government, she said in a statement.

President Donald Trumps son Donald Trump Jr. shared news coverage of the apparently mishandled aid on Twitter: So Trump was right after all!!! As usual.

The comment is an apparent reference to statements made by Trump regarding misuse of aid by Puerto Rico authorities and, more generally, the widespread corruption in the country.

Trump on Jan. 16, 2020, called the island one of the most corrupt places on earth and denounced its leaders as either incompetent or corrupt, in the context of discussions around setting conditions for the provision of aid to the earthquake-stricken region.

On Jan. 15, the Trump administration imposed dozens of new conditions on the government of Puerto Rico to access $8.3 billion in delayed recovery funds for Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. A day later, Trump declared a major disaster on the island, boosting aid to Puerto Rico.

Trumps declaration of a major disaster in Puerto Rico makes federal funding available for repairs, temporary housing, and low-cost loans to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster, the White House said.

News of the apparently mishandled supplies upset many Puerto Ricans, who were already angry over the governments botched response to Hurricane Maria, with similar incidents of supplies going unused and being uncovered months later.

Ponce is one of several cities in the islands southern region hit by the recent 6.4 magnitude earthquake that killed one person and is estimated to have caused more than $200 million in damage. More than 7,000 people remain in shelters since the quake.

Associated Press contributed to this report.
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On Monday, Americans will commemorate the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For me, the memory of this great man conjures up a famous photograph taken in 1967, depicting a civil rights protest march in Montgomery, Ala. Dr. King is flanked by a Rabbi embracing a Torah scroll on one side and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, a key partner in the Civil Rights movement, on the other. No other image better underscores the bond between all Bible believers and the necessity to stand together for our common beliefs.

Duty-Bound to Join Together

Dr. King, of course, understood his natural connection with the Jewish community. In his 1963 address to the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Dr. King issued a clear challenge to all people of faith:

"We must affirm that every human life is a reflex of divinity, and every act of injustice mars and defaces the image of God in man. The undergirding philosophy of segregation is diametrically opposed to the undergirding philosophy of our Judeo-Christian heritage, and all the dialectics of the logicians cannot make them lie down together."

Dr. King was addressing Christians and Jews, who he saw as natural allies. United by "the undergirding philosophy of our Judeo-Christian heritage," members of both faiths were duty-bound to join together in the fight against the evil of racial segregation. The Jewish community answered Dr. King's call to action, making up a large part of his supporters and marching arm and arm with fellow activists.

Rabbi Heschel, a leading Jewish thinker of the 20th century as well as a personal inspiration to my father, electrified Jewish audiences, explaining that fighting racism was a Jewish responsibility. He declared that, "Racism is Satanism, unmitigated evil... You cannot worship God and at the same time look at man as if he were a horse."

Stand for Israel with All Our Might

For his part, Dr. King was a staunch supporter of the Jewish people and the state of Israel, proclaiming that, "Israel's right to exist is incontestable" and calling on others to "stand with all our might to protect her right to exist." Heschel and King became close friends and represented the bond between the Jewish and African-American communities.

In many ways, this partnership was a precursor to the friendship that exists between Christians and Jews today. For far too long, our faith communities focused on what divides us. But when my father began The Fellowship 36 years ago, he honed in on the same idea that Dr. King touched on in his address  the idea that as Bible believers who share a Judeo-Christian heritage, there is so much that we agree upon. Justice, kindness, equality, and freedom are all paramount values for both Christians and Jews. And when we focus on the ideas we share, we realize just how much we have in common and a beautiful friendship emerges.

Today, we enjoy the fruits of the labor of the men and women who came before us and changed our reality for the better. Still, there is more work to be done. As we celebrate the life and accomplishments of Dr. King, let us also remember that we are called to continue his work by standing together for justice and against discrimination wherever it occurs.
Eugene B. Holiday

Governor of Sint Maarten

January 18, 2020





Leonaris, Earlon, Najhilah, Church, Good morning,

We are here to today to remember and pay homage to a multifaceted, distinguished and strong woman, Mavis Brooks-Salmon. I am, as Governor, Chair of the Council of Advice and personally, most pleased to deliver formal reflections in appreciation of the life and legacy, of Mavis Brooks-Salmon, the Vice-Chair of the Council of Advice of Sint Maarten.

Preparing for these reflections it struck me that my first and last memory of Mavis is a memory of a strong woman handling and carrying her fight with cancer with grace and dignity. An attitude to life which she attributes to her faith in God.

My first and last will however not be my lasting memory. My lasting memory of Mavis, build up over the past 9 plus years is of a wise, hardworking woman of substance with a sharp intellect and a yearning for learning and sharing, a woman with a big heart, a woman of courage, a woman with a strong personality who knew what she wanted. She was passionate about her family, her friends, her work, and about politics. And she believed that her service could help contribute to a better Sint Maarten. And that she did.

During the past 9 plus years, I have had the privilege to meet with Mavis Brooks-Salmon on the last Thursday of each month. During the past days, I have heard several persons describe her as strict and as a disciplinarian. What I wish to add is that she was highly disciplined and punctual. She not only disciplined others, but she also held herself to that standard.

A few things interfered with our scheduled monthly meeting. In fact, throughout her treatment, we stayed in contact and spoke over the phone. And when she returned from the Netherlands, she called for our meeting. It would be our final formal meeting. On that December 5, 2019, I could only admire her courage, grace, strength, and willpower. Because of these formal meetings I can claim the pleasure of knowing Mavis Brooks-Salmon.

As I got to know Mavis, I would, at times, witness the caring mother in her as she doted about her children. At other times I would see the daughter or sister in her as she reminisced about her childhood growing up in Curacao. On other occasions, I would see the devoted wife as she spoke about her husband. And in her references to her friends, I saw a loyal friend.

Mavis Brooks-Salmon was a teacher, a jurist, a politician, a Knight in the Order of Oranje Nassau, a deputy minister plenipotentiary of the Netherlands Antilles and the Vice-Chair of the Council of Advice of Sint Maarten. Having said that I know that that summary does not do justice to the many capabilities of Mavis Brooks-Salman, the Champion for Sint Maarten.

As a teacher, she has impacted the lives of generations of Sint Maarten and through her career, she serves as an inspiration for many. This is evident from the statements made by many persons over the past few days. It is a legacy that I know gives her great pleasure.

While her career moved from teaching to Vice-Chair of the Council of Advice it was obvious from our conversations that she never lost her passion for teaching and mentoring others. This tells a lot about Mavis Brooks-Salmon the person, who did not become arrogant because of her achievements but instead stayed true to her convictions that our service can help create a better life for others.

As a jurist, it was her desire to serve on the Council of Advice to help shape the laws that govern our country Sint Maarten. And she would do just that. As the first Vice-Chair, or in fact Chair and Leader of the Council of Advice she applied her teaching skills and left no stone unturned, as she worked with her colleagues and mentored members of the secretariat to form and develop the Council of Advice from the ground up.

Mavis Brooks-Salmon led the Council through its formative years and established it as a respected, independent and objective advisor to Government and Parliament. In doing so she leaves behind a well-functioning High Council of State which is essential to the proper functioning of our democratic state. She in that regard leaves behind big shoes to fill, both literally and figuratively. I shall surely miss our many thought-provoking discussions and exchange of ideas on matters of importance to the development of our country. Matters such as religion, education, legislation, and health care.

Through her passing, the Council of Advice has lost its mother, its leader, it's champion.

With her passing Sint Maarten has suffered a great loss.

To her husband Leonaris, to her son Earlon, to her daughter Najhilah, to her sisters and brothers and to the rest of her family, I hereby on behalf of the Council of Advice, my wife Marie Louise and myself extend heartfelt sympathy for your loss.

May you find the strength to move forward with the confidence in knowing that hers was a life well-lived, one which made a difference in the lives of many and in the development of our country, Sint Maarten.

FAREWELL MAVIS AND

MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.
The protest by a group of women here against the amended Citizenship Act continued on Sunday, with protestors accusing policemen of taking away their blankets, a charge dismissed by the police.

On the lines of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, around 50 women along with children have been squatting near the Clock Tower in Lucknow's old quarters protesting the CAA and NRC.

The women protestors alleged that blankets provided to them by some organisations were taken away by police.

Rubbishing the claims made by women protestors, the Lucknow Police in a tweet said, "During the illegal protest going at Lucknow's Ghantaghar Park (Clock Tower), some people tried to make a 'gheraa' (cordon) using ropes and sticks, and also tried to put sheets. They were not allowed to do so. Some organisations were distributing blankets in park premises. As a result of which, people living in the vicinity, who are not a part of the protests, were coming to take the blankets."



"Police removed those persons and organisations distributing blankets there, and action is being initiated against them," the Lucknow Police said, and urged people not to spread rumours.

Lucknow's Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey also dismissed the allegations levelled by the protestors.

The indefinite protest by women at the national capital's Shaheen Bagh against the CAA and NRC has been going on for over a month now.

Besides Delhi, protests have unfolded in several parts of the country over the contentious law since it was passed on December 11 and have led to clashes at several places including Uttar Pradesh.

According to the amended law, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. The law excludes Muslims.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thirty-four years since the establishment of a national holiday in memory of Martin Luther King Jr., and 52 years after his death from an assassins bullet, the work for which he is remembered is as vital as ever, even as progress can seem tenuous.

As a leader of the Civil Rights movement, King sought opportunity for everyone, regardless of what they looked like or where they came from. And there are many measures by which society has improved in the half-century since he was murdered. But as recent events make clear, the work is far from over.

In recent days the state Supreme Court announced a settlement in the decades-old Sheff v. ONeill school desegregation case, which takes its name from the governor at the time the suit was filed. William ONeill left office in 1991, which says something about the slow pace of change.

The agreement announced this month will allow 600 Hartford students to enroll in better-funded magnet schools in that city in addition to providing $2.3 million more to the school system. Magnet schools themselves are a result of the Sheff suit, enacted as a way to reduce school segregation by bringing urban and suburban students together.

But at best they have only scratched the surface of the problem. Connecticut schools are and have been deeply segregated, with students of color more likely to attend underfunded city schools and affluent suburbs featuring far less diversity than their counterparts. If equality of opportunity is one of the central tenets of the Civil Rights movement, then it is impossible to say Connecticut has made the progress it needs to make in closing that gap over the past five decades.

A second school funding suit, Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v. Rell, led to a judge in 2016 calling the states funding system irrational and ordering widespread reforms of education policies. But in 2018, the state Supreme Court overturned that ruling, saying any reforms should be left to the political process. As followers of that political process know, this is a prescription to do nothing.

Its not just systemic issues that have seen a distressingly slow pace of change. Outright expressions of racism, which can seem to be less accepted than they were in previous generations, have not disappeared.

Two University of Connecticut students in October were filmed shouting a racial slur while walking through campus and subsequently disciplined by the university. They have now sued the school, saying their punishment was overly harsh.

It will be up to a court to decide the merits of their complaint, but its worth considering why their actions were considered so egregious. It has not been long in this nations history that people of color lived in constant fear of racist attacks, and those memories have not faded. Far from overreacting, as some critics charged, the school was right to try to ensure all its students can live without fear and intimidation, which the shouting of racial slurs necessarily threatens.
Beirut (AFP) - Lebanese anti-riot police dispersed stone-throwing protesters with tear gas in Lebanon's capital on Sunday, as heavy rain capped a weekend of rare violence that wounded hundreds.

Medics said 145 people were wounded in the latest clashes, taking the casualty toll to more than 530 in two days.

Thick clouds of white tear gas billowed in central Beirut, as police pushed protesters out of a flashpoint road near parliament after hours of clashes, before the downpour largely cleared the streets.

Unprecedented protests have rocked the country since October 17, with citizens from all religious backgrounds demanding the ouster of a political class viewed as inept, corrupt and responsible for an ever-deepening economic crisis.

For a second night in a row, dozens of people started lobbing stones at police behind a metal barricade blocking a road to parliament, crying "revolution, revolution".

Anti-riot forces responded with water canons, rubber bullets and then thick plumes of tear gas that pushed demonstrators back towards a main square, an AFP reporter said.

The Red Cross said more than 145 people were injured, including 45 who needed treatment in hospital.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said two journalists were hit by rubber bullets, one a cameraman from local television channel Al-Jadeed.

President Michel Aoun called for a "security meeting" on Monday with the interior and defence ministers to discuss the crisis, NNA reported.

But a 34-year-old protester called Mazen said he and others had lost hope in politicians.

"After three months of revolution, they have proven to us that they don't change, don't listen, and have nothing to give," he said.

- 'Excessive violence' -

On Saturday, at least 377 people were wounded -- both protesters and members of the security forces -- according to a toll compiled by AFP from figures provided by the Red Cross and Civil Defence.

Story continues

Lawyers said more than 40 protesters were arrested on Saturday before being released.

Most were subjected to "excessive violence", while some were wounded "especially to the head and face, and genitals", the Committee of Lawyers for the Defence of Protesters said on Facebook.

The lawyers also visited hospitals, from where they reported serious injuries including some caused by rubber bullets.

On Sunday, local television aired the testimonies of relatives of two young men they said were hit in the eyes by rubber bullets.

Security forces said they had opened a probe after a video shared online showed police beating up people believed to be protesters as they were brought to a Beirut police station.

Human Rights Watch condemned what it called "the brutal use of force unleashed by Lebanon's riot police against largely peaceful demonstrators".

It accused the riot police on Saturday of "launching tear gas canisters at protesters' heads, firing rubber bullets in their eyes and attacking people at hospitals and a mosque".

- 'Stop wasting time' -

Saturday's clashes began after dozens of protesters threw stones and plant pots at security forces, and tried to charge police lines near parliament with traffic signs.

The security forces responded with water cannon and thick tear gas.

Protesters had called for a week of "anger" over the political leadership's failure to form a new government even as the country sinks deeper into a financial crisis.

"Another day without a government, another night of violence and clashes," UN envoy to Lebanon Jan Kubis said on Twitter.

Outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri, who stepped down on October 29, urged political parties to "stop wasting time".

"Form a government and pave the way towards political and economic solutions," he said.

Political factions agreed on December 19 to appoint former education minister Hassan Diab as the new premier but have since squabbled over proposed ministers.

Protesters have demanded a new government be comprised solely of independent experts, and exclude all established political parties.

The World Bank has warned the poverty rate in Lebanon could rise from a third to half of the population if the political crisis is not resolved soon.
Three men have been arrested following a knife fight in Belfast city centre last night.

Police say the fight broke out in the Great Northern Mall on Great Victoria Street at around 7.15pm.
The commerce ministry has suggested, as part of its Budget recommendations to the finance ministry, that people be allowed to buy just one litre (or a bottle) of liquor at duty-free shops when they enter India, down from the current two litres. It also wants to bar the purchase of cigarettes at duty-free shops for people entering India. Both measures are ostensibly aimed at minimising the quantum of non-essential imports, and also adopting the prevailing rules in some other countries. The United States and Singapore, for instance, allow only one litre of liquor to be bought into the country, although the latter also allows a litre of beer and a litre of wine in addition. Singapore bars the purchase of cigarettes at duty-free shops by people entering the country, although the US allows the purchase of up to a carton.

But it isnt clear why the ministry has made the suggestion on limiting duty-free liquor purchases now; nor is it clear how much revenue the government foregoes because of the sale of liquor in duty-free shops. While applicable only to the minority of Indians that travels abroad, around 50 million by some estimates (and this probably includes some amount of duplication), the move is likely to be hugely unpopular. Unlike the 1990s and perhaps even the 2000s and part of the 2010s, it isnt as much about availability now as it is about prices. And for many Indians travelling abroad, especially on pleasure, the duty-free shopping bargain, especially for liquor, is definitely part of the whole experience.

Unfortunately, the suggestion  it is still that  reflects a focus on minutiae that does not help the governments image. There are more pressing problems that the commerce ministry needs to address, starting with ways to revive Indias export growth. Taxing that extra bottle can wait.
WASHINGTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Saturday it had imposed sanctions on a general of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who commanded units blamed for a massacre of protesters in November.

The U.S. State Department has said previously it had received videos of the Revolutionary Guards opening fire without warning on protesters in Mahshahr county in southwest Iran.

On Saturday, it cited "multiple" media reports and information submitted by the Iranians through its Rewards for Justice tipline that units under Brigadier General Hassan Shahvarpours command killed as many as 148 people when they used armored vehicles to encircle fleeing protesters, firing machine guns into the crowd and setting fire to the marsh in which protesters took cover.

The State Department said it was designating Shahvarpour, a commander in Khuzestan province where Mahshahr is located, under a U.S. law banning officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members for whom there was "credible information on their involvement in gross violations of human rights."

The announcement comes amid high tensions between Tehran and Washington after the United States killed Iran's most powerful military commander in a drone strike in Iraq and Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes at U.S. targets in Iraq.

U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 pulled the United States out of a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, arguing the agreement was too weak and that new sanctions would force Iran to accept more stringent terms.

The State Department, which has stepped up criticism of Iran over human rights, said the latest move demonstrated Washington's "continued commitment to the Iranian people to support their demands for accountability from Iranian officials who committed serious human rights abuses against protesters in November."

A Reuters special report last month found that about 1,500 people were killed during less than two weeks of unrest that started in Iran on Nov. 15. The figures, provided by three Iranian interior ministry officials, included at least 17 teenagers and about 400 women as well as some members of the security forces and police.

Irans authorities have disputed the U.S. account of what happened at Mahshahr. Iranian officials have said security forces confronted rioters who they described as a security threat to petrochemical complexes and to a key energy route that, if blocked, would have created a crisis in the country. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday night expressed his sympathies and that of the nation to the Emir of Pokiskum, Umaru Bubaram over a fatal attack on his convoy.

The presidents message was contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

The president, however, made no reference to the 30 people who were killed during the attack as well as the 100 who were kidnapped.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the attack which occurred along the Kaduna-Zaria Highway on Tuesday.

The police initially claimed six people including four of the emirs aides were killed in the attack and five injured.

The police, however, admitted many people were kidnapped by the armed bandits who carried out the attack.

In his statement on Saturday night, the president made no mention of those kidnapped nor of the dozens killed. His only acknowledgement of the casualty was of the four aides of the emir.

I feel greatly relieved that his Highness had survived this tragedy that resulted in the death of four of his aides during the attack, Mr Shehu quoted Mr Buhari as saying.

The Potiskum emir, Umaru Bauya, had earlier narrated how he survived the attack.

The attack is one of many by armed bandits in Kaduna and other North-west states and highlights the worsening security situation across the country.

The president on Friday held a security council meeting with military and security chiefs to review the situation.

After the meeting, the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, told journalists at the State House in Abuja that the air force had acquired two helicopter gunships as part of the equipment to tackle the criminals including armed bandits in the North-west.

Some of the equipment we are acquiring have started arriving. For the Nigerian Air Force, two helicopter gunships have arrived on the 15th of January and we are now in the process of putting them together which will add to whatever we have, he said.

READ ALSO:

In his message Saturday night, President Buhari said his administration remains firmly committed to the security of Nigerians and we will continue to fund and adequately motivate our security personnel in order to encourage them to respond vigorously to these challenges.

Read the full statement by Mr Shehu below.

Buhari symathises with Emir of Pokiskum Umaru Bubaram over bandits attack.

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his sympathies and that of the nation to the Emir of Pokiskum, Umaru Bubaram over his encounter with bandits during his journey between Kaduna and Zaria a few days ago.

The President said I feel greatly relieved that his Highness had survived this tragedy that resulted in the death of four of his aides during the attack.

President Buhari sympathetically told the monarch that I can relate with great empathy the kind of traumatic experience you had encountered at the hands of these evil elements in our society.

The President assured the Emir and his people that my administration would spare no efforts in tracking down these criminals who have become a nightmare in the lives of Nigeria, high or low.

According to the President, no criminal group would be allowed to hold the country to ransom and that the law would never surrender to mass murderers who engage in wanton destruction of lives and impoverishment of their victims.

He assured me that this administration remains firmly committed to the security of Nigerians and we will continue to fund and adequately motivate our security personnel in order to encourage them to respond vigorously to these challenges.

The President also appealed to Nigerian communities to desist from obstructing law enforcement agencies in hot pursuit of suspected criminals.

President Buhari said reports saying that residents of the community where the attack on the Emir happened resisted the house-to-house search for suspects were unhelpful and did not speak well of the members of community.

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President Donald Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell huddled privately in the Oval Office this month to discuss a judicial nominee. But the president, seething over the stain of impeachment, had something else on his mind: he wanted to know how the GOP could short-circuit his trial.

During the Jan. 8 session, Trump rejected the House charges against him - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, calling it a shoddy case that would never hold up in court. He urged McConnell, R-Ky., to use his power to end the trial before it began.

McConnell cautioned Trump, as he had many times before: Such a vote to dismiss the charges would fail in the Senate, he flatly told the president, prompting embarrassing headlines. In addition, it would split Senate Republicans at the outset of Trump's impeachment trial - which will probably be among the most challenging times of his presidency.

"Better to be unified than divided," McConnell said, according to two people with knowledge of the exchange who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly.

The warning underscores the advisory role McConnell has been playing to Trump as he seeks to protect his fragile Senate majority and his own reelection this year while ensuring a smooth acquittal of the president. Although the men are polar opposites - and initially had a rocky and somewhat awkward relationship - the president has come to view McConnell as an asset and reliable counselor, deferring to him on impeachment strategy, even at times against his own no-holds-barred instincts.

When the president last fall criticized Senate Republicans who chided his behavior toward Ukraine, it was McConnell who encouraged Trump to engage with those members to win their confidence, rather than striking back. When the president pushed to use his impeachment trial to target potential presidential rival Joe Biden, it was McConnell who persuaded him to embrace a no-witness strategy preferred by the majority leader and many rank-and-file senators.

"I think the president's learned over time to trust his advice," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a McConnell ally.

The next few weeks will test that relationship, particularly because the men have opposing views of what the trial should be. McConnell and his more moderate GOP senators facing difficult reelection bids want the trial to be serious - a markedly different tone than the reality-TV-star-turned-president who prefers a brawl. It remains to be seen whether Trump goes with his gut, as he likes to do, or listens to the advice of the longtime Republican leader.

The account of the interactions between Trump and McConnell is based on interviews with a dozen senators, Senate aides and White House officials close to McConnell or the president, some who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.

The first test may come soon after the trial begins in earnest Tuesday, when one of Trump's allies could push for a motion to dismiss the case despite McConnell's advice. Just five days after meeting with the majority leader, Trump took to Twitter to continue advocating for such a move, writing that "many believe that by the Senate giving credence to a trial . . . rather than an outright dismissal, it gives the partisan Democrat Witch Hunt credibility that it otherwise does not have."

Officials familiar with the White House strategy say no final decision has been made, warning that it will probably be a last-minute call.

Continued consideration of the move comes as McConnell warned last week that there is "little or no sentiment" in the GOP caucus to dismiss the charges, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday that such a motion is "dead for practical purposes." But Sen. David Perdue. R-Ga., said he "very well might" move to hold a vote to dismiss the charges, even at the outset, and even if it fails.

"That sends a message," Perdue said. "One . . . that this is an illegitimate process that's being handed to us, and if we accept it the way we're accepting it now, it's a bad historic precedent."

The political odd couple of Trump and McConnell has proved intriguing since the New Yorker captured the GOP presidential nomination in 2016. While the malleable Trump, a former Democrat, shoots from the hip and often overshares on social media, the lifelong conservative and guarded McConnell says little, calculating his moves and keeping his own leadership team guessing.

Trump is immensely popular with the GOP base, wielding his Twitter account like a megaphone that fires up Republican voters across the country. McConnell, by contrast, was booed at the 2016 Republican National Convention because of his longtime inside-the-Beltway status - though that was well before he helped Trump fulfill some of his campaign promises, endearing him to the president's allies.

McConnell's staff isn't sure whether the majority leader has ever tweeted, but people close to the president and the senator say their mutual respect was borne out of three years of success in remaking the federal courts and securing a tax overhaul in December 2017 - after Trump blamed McConnell for the failure of the GOP to repeal the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

McConnell, who blocked former President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court in 2016, has changed Senate rules to speed confirmation of 187 of Trump's judicial nominees, including two conservatives to the Supreme Court. In a November White House ceremony on judicial appointments, Trump praised McConnell: "Generations from now, Americans will know that Mitch McConnell helped save the constitutional rule of law in America. It's true. It's for a long time."

McConnell's stature in Trump's eyes only grew when McConnell refused to give up on one of those high court nominees, Brett Kavanaugh. In the middle of the confirmation process, California professor Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when the two were teenagers.

During the high-profile Senate hearing with Ford, the president phoned McConnell and asked whether he needed to withdraw the Kavanaugh nomination. McConnell encouraged him not to do it.

The Senate narrowly confirmed Kavanaugh to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court.

Those close with the president say he heeds McConnell's advice in part because he has learned lessons from ignoring him - at least twice. In the fall of 2017, McConnell told the president that the GOP needed him to ensure then-Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., defeated primary challenger Roy Moore in the special election to fill then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions' seat. But while Trump stumped for Strange, he tacitly allowed his former strategist Steve Bannon to work on Moore's behalf, undercutting McConnell's work - according to two people familiar with what occurred.

Moore won the Republican nomination but faced allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls in the 1970s. While McConnell and the Senate GOP apparatus immediately shunned Moore, Trump ended up supporting him by arguing that the Senate seat needed to stay in GOP hands - although Republicans ultimately lost to Democrat Doug Jones.

The lessons continued into 2018, when Trump threatened to shut down the government to secure money for his U.S.-Mexico border wall. McConnell warned the president that he would not be successful and would take a hit in the polls, but Trump sided with conservatives and shuttered the government before the holidays.

The president relented 35 days later without money for the wall he demanded - as McConnell predicted - and ultimately resorted to an emergency declaration to reroute federal funds for the border barrier that he had repeatedly promised Mexico would finance.

As the impeachment trial has neared, the men have been in more frequent contact, sometimes talking several times a day. And often times, Trump has listened to McConnell's counsel - at least so far.

McConnell, for example, was the one who told the White House in September that the president should release the transcript of his July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a conversation at the heart of the impeachment case.

And while Trump considered adding a slate of ardent House GOP defenders to his legal team for the Senate trial - including Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and John Ratcliffe of Texas - McConnell counseled against it. Trump's legal team announced Friday did not include the GOP lawmakers, although they may play a broader role in defending him publicly, away from the Senate chamber.

McConnell said last month he was working in "total coordination" with the White House on impeachment, drawing criticism from Democrats.

"I think it would be unrealistic to expect that there's not going to be communication between the president's party's representatives in the Senate and his White House," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. But "I think McConnell's level of coordination and his unapologetic advertising of it has been extraordinary and problematic."

But McConnell, who has given repeated floor speeches slamming the House impeachment process, remains unaffected by such criticism - and is intent on leading an impeachment trial that is as politically painless as possible for Trump and the Republicans.

"I think President Trump, who came with a great skepticism about anybody who had been here, has developed a real appreciation for Senator McConnell's political skills and inside-player skills in terms of what it takes to make the legislative process work," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo. "It's turned into a pretty good partnership."
For the first time in a few seasons, The Challenge Season 35 will be an individual game, tentatively titled Battle for Independence. Unlike any other season, they will live in an underground shelter and must use Port-o-Potties located outside in Prague, Czech Republic.

In another first, everyone who reaches the finals must have competed in at least one elimination. For this season, they called a few veterans back, such as Wes Bergmann and Aneesa Ferreira, as well as several rookies from Big Brother, including former winner Kaycee Clark and showmance Chris Swaggy C Williams and Bayleigh Dayton.

The Challenge XXX: Ultimate Fan Experience Q & A and Reception | Lars Niki

Melissa Reeves, a UK contestant who was disqualified for fighting in Final Reckoning, returns and did pretty well. However, a pregnancy might have stopped her from going as far as she could in Season 35.

Melissa Reeves returns to The Challenge for Season 35

After appearing on a few seasons of Ex on the Beach UK, former pageant queen and DJ Melissa Reeves debuted on The Challenge: Vendettas. They partnered her with Kayleigh Morris, an ex-friend who she had a falling out with after Morris hooked up with her love interest in EOTB.

The ladies were eliminated in the fifth episode. She returned for Final Reckoning but was disqualified after getting into a physical altercation with Kailah Casillas.

Kailah vs. Melissa last night on the Challenge. Kailah got rocked lol #TheChallenge32 #TheChallengeFinalReckoning pic.twitter.com/Q0Wsk6s1GD  Vindictive (@TheVindictive) July 11, 2018

After taking a few seasons off, Reeves came back for Season 35, alongside Casillas, to compete for the million-dollar prize once again. According to spoiler pages, Reeves made it to the finals, but left without a specified reason.

Melissa Reeves announced her pregnancy

On January 18, 2020, Reeves announced she was pregnant and expecting her child to arrive in the summer of 2020. Rookie Bayleigh Dayton almost immediately congratulated her on Twitter, writing, Yall have no idea how much I love this girl! I couldnt be happier that she finally decided to share!

Fans began assuming she became pregnant on The Challenge and started a rumor that fellow Season 35 competitor Kyle Christie fathered her child. However, Dayton shut them down quickly, tweeting, and for all you little messies, the baby is not Kyles. Yall tried it though, with laughing emojis.

Mini me coming summer 2020 pic.twitter.com/mt1StFFYQW  Melissa Reeves (@DJMelReeves) January 18, 2020

She followed it up with another tweet explaining she would never share anyones personal information without their permission, and its her job to defend her friends. Reeves hasnt publicly said anything else other than her initial pregnancy reveal.

Melissa Reeves found out she was pregnant during The Challenge

Fans assume Reeves realized she was pregnant right before the finals, and thats why she left. The other females in the finals were Bayleigh Dayton, Kaycee Clark, and Jenny West.

Out of those ladies, Dayton is the only one who congratulated her, and she implied she already knew about the pregnancy in one of her tweets. Therefore, many assume Dayton supported her as she received her results. Reeves left for The Challenge in October and allegedly found out she was pregnant in early December, right before the finals.

& for all you little messies the baby is NOT KYLEs Yall tried it though #dontplaymysis  Bayleigh Dayton (@BayleighDaily) January 18, 2020

If she didnt get pregnant in The Challenge house, then she began filming while only a few weeks along in her pregnancy. Season 35 premieres sometime in 2020.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Sunday sought an explanation from the Kerala government for challenging Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Supreme Court without his knowledge. The fresh salvo from Raj Bhavan came amidst the ongoing tussle between Governor and state government on CAA.

Khan had said that he would seek an explanation as the government went ahead with the petition without following the rules of business. He held Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan responsible for the lapse. "The state government is obliged to inform the governor on any decision pertaining to centre and the state." said the governor reading out the rules of business of the state government. He had reminded that the governor was the administrative head of the state.

However, the state government took a stand that it went as per the Constitution and there was no need to take the permission of the governor to approach the apex court against the Centre.

Law minister AK Balan on Saturday played down the incident and said that government would clear the governor's confusion after exploring its legal options.
Tunisia has turned down the invitation to participate in the Berlin Conference held this Sunday, January 19, because the invitation was late and because Tunis has not been involved in the preparatory meetings for the conference.

, the Foreign Affairs Department said in a statement Saturday while expressing its thanks and consideration for the invitation sent Friday by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to President Kais Saied.

Tunisia is unable to attend this conference because the invitation arrived late and because of its non-participation in the preparatory meetings for the conference that began last September, the Foreign Affairs Department said in a statement relayed Saturday by TAP news agency.

Tunisia has insisted that it should be at the forefront of countries supporting any international efforts, taking into account its interests and those of the Libyan people, the Foreign Ministry said, underlining Tunisias commitment to play an effective role as a force of proposal alongside other countries working for peace and security, within the framework of the international legitimacy.

It is in Tunisias interest to see peace and security prevail in Libya, not to mention its status as a non-permanent member of the Security Council and Chair of the current session of the League of Arab States, the statement said, adding that Tunisias decision not to attend the Berlin conference will not prevent it from continuing its sustained efforts to establish peace and bring the various Libyan parties closer.

Tunisia has been committed since the beginning of the Libyan crisis not to interfere in the internal affairs of this country and to push the Libyan parties for dialogue, the Foreign Ministry recalled.

Renewing Tunisias commitment to a political solution based on the free will of the Libyan people, away from any foreign intervention, the Foreign Ministry insisted that Libyas instability is a matter of national security for Tunisia () which could be led to take exceptional measures at its borders in order to secure them and defend its national security in the face of a possible escalation of the crisis in the neighboring country.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : To show solidarity with Kashmiri Pandits on the day, organised to mark their exodus from the Valley, anti-CAA activists, on protest for over a month, observed two-minute silence at Shaheen Bagh here on Sunday.

Four Pandits also joined the protest and demanded formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to ensure justice to those killed in Kashmir.

"We support the CAA, but the Prime Minister should first think about rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiris and then about others from outside Kashmir. Kashmiris are the most persecuted community," Satish Mahldhar told IANS.

"Initially we faced resistance from protestors. But later they allowed us to voice our concern about Kashmiri Pandits," said Malhdhar.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of displaced Pandits, including children, gathered for a silent sit-in at Jantar Mantar here, to mark the black day when the community was evicted from the Valley 30 years ago.

Led by the Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch (JKVM), the Kashmir Samiti Delhi, the Roots in Kashmir (RIK) and the Panun Kashmir, the protestors demanded immediate restoration of their human rights as they faced discrimination for years and were given step-motherly treatment.

The community has been organising similar protests for many years now. The recent developments in Jammu and Kashmir have boosted the community's morale.
Prince Harry and wife Meghan have agreed to give up their royal titles and repay several million in housing expenses, stirring up another sensation in Britain.

It wasn't so long ago that some in the United Kingdom were upset about the renovations of the residence in question: Frogmore Cottage.

On Saturday, Buckingham Palace announced the latest twist in what's become a fairly royal mess: As part of the couple's request to step back from their senior roles - and the constant scrutiny those entail - they will relinquish their salaries and "royal highness" titles.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex - they get to keep this one - said the plan includes them repaying $3 million in British taxpayer money spent on refurbishing Frogmore Cottage. The Windsor residence is about an hour's drive from London and will continue to serve as their U.K. base.

The couple moved into the cottage - really, more like luxury mansion - right before the birth of their son, Archie - nine months ago, following six months of renovations.

At the time, there was lots of competing fact and fiction about what their new home entailed. A yoga studio? No. A hefty price tag? Yes.

The couple decided to move to Frogmore for "various reasons," according to their new website, unveiled as part of their recent transition. The duke and duchess wrote that their earlier home - Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace - wasn't big enough for their growing family. Renovating a section of the palace, meanwhile, would have reportedly cost $5 million and taken until the end of 2020. So, the royals said they chose humble(ish) Frogmore Cottage instead.

The queen technically owns Frogmore, which was originally built as a royal retreat in 1801. Her Sovereign Grant - i.e. public money to support her duties - therefore paid for the renovations. That meant British taxpayers helped foot the bill for replacing the residence's heating, water, gas and electric systems, as well as other infrastructure like ceiling beams. The renovations also included turning five smaller properties into one mega-cottage that includes four bedrooms and a nursery, among other luxuries.

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 Duke and Duchess of Sussex in turn paid "expenses related to fixtures, furnishings, and fittings," according to their website.

Sir Michael Stevens, who as keeper of the Privy Purse is responsible for the monarchy's accounts, told the Daily Beast last year that the house couldn't have been lived in without such costly work. "The property had not been the subject of work for some years and had already been earmarked for renovation in line with our responsibility to maintain the condition of the occupied royal palaces estate," he said.

Many other Brits were not convinced that was how their country's money should be spent.

"A charity spent 2.4 million on a support center for Marines suffering PTSD," tweeted Graham Smith, with the anti-monarchy campaign group, Republic. "The taxpayers then spent the same amount on a luxury private home for Harry and Meghan."
Hifters forces swept across Libya and launched an offensive in Tripoli during the same week last year that the United Nations was holding a peace conference. His advance was met by silence from the international community, emboldening him, analysts said. Although Italy and other European powers backed the Tripoli government, known as the Government of National Accord, France backed Hifter, whom it views as Libyas best hope. Italy and France have dueling economic interests in Libya, centered on oil and gas resources.
In Babil province, demonstrators are demanding political changes amid an economic crisis.

Protesters in Iraqs south are also threatening to block main roads and cut off the region.

In Babil province, demonstrators are demanding political changes amid an economic crisis.

Al Jazeeras Imran Khan reports from Babylon.
By The Associated Press Jan. 18, 2020 | 06:46 PM | KENTUCKY





A jury earlier this month found 30-year-old Dallas Frazier, of Georgetown, guilty of misdemeanor assault for striking 61-year-old Michael Alter outside U.S. Bank Arena. A judge gave Frazier credit for six days in jail at sentencing Friday.







Frazier was accused of jumping out of his vehicle near a group of protesters and repeatedly punching Alter, who suffered a torn artery in his eye that required surgery. Frazier must pay Alter $900 for his medical expenses.

A Kentucky man has been sentenced to 120 days in jail for punching a protester outside an August rally for President Donald Trump in Cincinnati.
Its been seven years since the brutal Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case brought the nation on the streets and shaking our collective consciousness. Nirbhayas mother has since been leading the fight for justice, moving door to door. But then, the final date on which the convicts are going to be hanged continues to get delayed as the lawyers representing the convicts have resorted to delay tactics.



And the outrage hasnt put a full stop to rape cases or crimes against women either. More and more rape cases continue to surface while the road to justice remains painfully slow for victims.

Against this backdrop, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that a system needs to be developed to ensure that rape convicts are punished within six months.

His comments came after two men were held guilty of raping a 5-year-old in Delhi in 2013.

"Both accused in the Gudiya rape case were found guilty. It took seven years. We need to correct this system. If we want to ensure that no one misbehaves with our sisters and daughters, we need to develop a system which ensures that accused are punished within six months," Kejriwal said.

Gudiya, a five-year-old girl, was raped and brutalised barely four months after the Nirbhaya case that shocked and horrified the entire nation.

Meanwhile, Asha Devi, the mother of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim has hit out at senior lawyer Indira Jaising after she suggested that Devi should forgive her daughter's rapists.

"Who is Indira Jaising to give me such a suggestion? The whole country wants the convicts to be executed. Just because of people like her, justice is not done with rape victims," Asha Devi told news agency ANI.

"Cannot believe how Indira Jaising even dared to suggest this. I met her many times over the years in Supreme Court, not even once has she asked for my well being and today she is speaking for the convicts. Such people earn their livelihoods by supporting rapists, hence rape incidents do not stop," she added.

Asha Devi further accused Jaising of using "the garb of human rights" to make a living.

'People like her keep earning money under the garb of human rights. I do not need her suggestions... Just because of people who think like her incidents like rape keep happening, she is a disgrace to women," she said.

This comes at a time when the family of the 2012 gangrape victim has been running from one court to another for the speedy execution of the four death row convicts.




By McCracken County Commissioner Eddie Jones Jan. 18, 2020 | 10:09 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY

1. Kentucky counties are generally funded by an assortment of three (3) different revenue sources:





a. Property Tax





b. Occupational/Wage Tax (1% county cap on this tax)





c. Tax on Insurance Premiums





2. Most of the counties in Kentucky which compare closely to our population are funded by a portion of all three (3) of the above revenue sources. McCracken County has historically been able to avoid using all three (3) sources because the Uranium Enrichment Plant has always been a heavy employer located in the county and not in the City of Paducah. Obviously, that employment is reducing and will continue to decline for the next generations.





3. Kentucky cities are generally funded by the same three (3) revenue sources. However cities are not capped at the one percent (1%) occupational/wage tax. Consequently, there is a built in incentive for cities to annex areas of their county which generate employment. (Now you know why the City of Paducah has strange boundary lines). McCracken County and the City of Paducah have some revenue sharing agreements on the Information Age Park and the I-24 Park, but those agreements are set to expire in the next couple of years.





4. Since 2011, McCracken County has been deficit spending. The low month of McCracken Countys financial cycle is October. In other words, McCracken County will have the least amount of money in October of any calendar month.





a. In October of 2011, the McCracken County reserve fund had a balance of $5,479,927.00.





b. In October of 2018, the McCracken County reserve fund had a balance of $767,738.00.





c. In October of 2019, the McCracken County reserve fund had a balance of $1,182,133.00





The reserve balance went up approximately $400,000.00 between 2018 and 2019 because we just quit spending money. We deferred $300,000.00 in road maintenance. We did not write checks to some worthy non-profit organizations. In other words, the problem has not necessarily hit bottom; rather, we just quit writing checks.





5. Last month, McCracken Countys bond rating (i.e. credit score) was lowered because our reserve fund is inadequate as it compares to our operating budget.





6. So what has caused this situation?





a. Past Loans Without New Revenue





Between 2011 and 2013, McCracken County borrowed $16.5 million dollars for several projects such as the local Murray State Campus, Genova Project, TeleTech Project, and White Hall Project. Some of those projects have worked out great. Some of those projects need more time in the oven. Either way, the debt service payments went up, but the revenue was not adjusted.





b. Cost of the County Jail





Additionally, McCracken County continues to lose money in the operation of its jail. McCracken County operates a 600 bed regional detention center. Contrary to urban legend, the regional detention center does not make money for the county. Quite the opposite. Over the last ten (10) years, the operation of the jail has cost the county between two (2) million and three (3) million dollars every year. There are years in which the jail brings in revenue in the amount of five (5) million dollars. However, in the same year we may spend as much as eight (8) million dollars. It is my personal belief that the jail costs can be lowered with more communication and more illumination to the incarceration scenarios which can and cannot be passed on to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for reimbursement. However, that is a long-term culture adjustment we must make and will not solve an immediate problem.





c. Cost of the County Pensions





McCracken County is a designated organization of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has designated that our employees will participate in a state pension fund. For years, The Commonwealth of Kentucky failed to adequately fund the pension system. In response to the significant underfunded liability, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has insisted that counties pay additional amounts toward the retirement system. In 2011, McCracken Countys retirement costs were $1,798,367.78. In 2019, McCracken Countys retirement costs were $2,268,409.20. Since 2011, these costs have risen $470,041.42. These costs are projected to continue to go higher.





d. Cost of Health Insurance Benefits





In 2011, the cost of health insurance benefits for McCracken County employees was $1,782,320.73. In 2019, the cost of health insurance benefits for McCracken County employees was $2,401,283.02. Since 2011, these cost have risen $618,962.29.





e. A Very Low Property Tax





McCracken County has one of the lowest property tax rates in the state. In fact, prior to 2019, McCracken County had not raised its property tax rate since 1990 (three (3) decades ago.) Furthermore, the state managed Property Valuation Office (PVA) did not keep assessments current and, in some cases, omitted properties from the tax rolls.





f. The Absence of 9-1-1 User Free Funding





In the last three (3) decades, the sophistication and costs of an adequate 9-1-1 Emergency System has dramatically changed. No longer does our community need an Andy Griffith type telephone operator helping manage the location of Barney Fife but rather our community needs a Jack Bauer type emergency service coordinator. Many communities have moved 9-1-1 services to an independent organization with independent user fee type funding sources. Neither our City nor County have accomplished this task. We are still attempting to fund perhaps the most critical government service we provide through our general funds.





7. By law, property tax revenue can only be increased by four percent (4%) per year without public approval (an election.) An additional four percent (4%) in property tax for McCracken County only generates an additional $180,000.00 per year for the McCracken County Fiscal Court. Incidentally, most of your county tax bill does not go to McCracken County Fiscal Court for government operations, but rather goes to schools, the library, and special districts such as volunteer fire departments.

Conclusion for Today









Views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of West Kentucky Star.com, Bristol Broadcasting or any employee thereof. Bristol Broadcasting makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.



Bristol Broadcasting reserves the right to delete, edit, or alter in any manner it sees fit comments that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be obscene, offensive, defamatory, threatening, in violation of trademark, copyright or other laws, or is otherwise unacceptable.

I realize this collection of thoughts is a bit random but I want the citizens of McCracken County to have relevant information sooner than later on this matter. I am interested in your thoughts. The easy answer is to say spend less. I am certain there are additional adjustments we can and will make on spending. However we have been deficit spending at the rate of a million dollars a year.

For those of you who live in McCracken County, you probably know we are dealing with a bit of a financial situation. It is not yet a crisis, but it will be a crisis if there is no change in the numbers. I thought it might be helpful to some if I shared a few of my thoughts. As you read this, if you have any comments or suggestions, I am in listening mode.

On the Net:
New Delhi: A day after his comments suggesting a two-child policy as a population control measure, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat refuted his earlier statement but called for the government to draft a new control population policy. He also took a jibe at the opposition parties saying those who were predicting an end of the RSS as an organisation have themselves been destroyed.

Addressing an event titled 'Bhavishya Ka Bharat' in Bareilly, Bhagwat on his two-child policy statement clarified, "I had only said the population growth is a problem as well as a resource. So it is required that a new policy should be drafted. This new policy will decide how many kids one should have. I did not make any rule as such because that is not my job."

The government has made policies on this but we need more consideration on it. A law should be made with everyone's consent and should be applied to everyone.

The RSS chief said that there were many incidents in the history of the organisation when several people said that it would be their end but they have been disappointed. " We do not have to defeat anyone, we have no enemy. The people who wished for the end of the organisation have been destroyed. But there is no anger in our minds, those who go through all these propaganda tactics do it because of ignorance," he said.

Live TV

Meanwhile, Union Minister Santosh Gangwar who was present at the event said, "We will work on the suggestion given by Mohan Bhagwat on population control."

During his address at the Moradabad Institute of Technology (MIT) on Friday Bhagwat had said, "When RSS workers say that this country belongs to Hindus and 130 crore people are Hindu, it does not mean that we want to change anyone's religion, language or caste... We do not want any power centre other than the Constitution because we believe in it."

He stressed that the true meaning of Hindutva is to live together in unity.

"The Constitution says we should try to bring emotional integration. But what is the emotion? That emotion is -- this country belongs to us. We are descendants of our great ancestors and we have to live together despite our diversity. This is what we call Hindutva," he said.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Serengeti Resources Inc. (SIR: TSX-V) ("Serengeti" or "the Company") is pleased to report that the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Kwanika Copper Corporation (KCC) have approved a budget for exploration and project optimization to be completed at the Kwanika Project during 2020. Upon completion, Serengeti will own 67% of KCC as a result of sole funding the 2020 program.



The 2020 program will include:

Exploration and Resource Development 3,600 metres of diamond drilling to test for potential to expand resources near the Central Zone; and test related exploration targets including the Central Zone South and North targets, and the western margin of the South Zone resource. 16 line-kilometres of induced-polarization (IP) surveys north and south of the Central Zone resource to develop known targets, as well as at the Rottacker area located 20 kilometres south of Kwanika. Project Optimization Mineral sorting, staged evaluation to better understand the potential benefits of mineral sorting from an underground block-cave at Central Zone. Initial enterprise optimization studies designed to identify key aspects that impact project economics.

POSCO International Corp. has elected not to participate in the 2020 program, and as a result will dilute on a pro-rata basis to a 33% ownership of KCC.

David Moore, President and CEO of Serengeti, and President of KCC stated, Serengeti is pleased to turn the focus of this years program at Kwanika back to exploration. We see great potential to add value to the project through incremental resource expansion, drill testing key targets that have potential to represent new mineralized centres and pursuing several key engineering and optimization opportunities. Furthermore, sole funding the program this year will mean increasing Serengetis ownership in our flagship asset.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

David W. Moore, P. Geo.

President, CEO and Director

About Serengeti Resources Inc.

Serengeti is a mineral exploration company managed by an experienced team of professionals with a solid track record of exploration success. The Company is currently advancing its majority-owned, advanced Kwanika copper-gold project and exploring its extensive portfolio of properties in north-central British Columbia. A number of these other projects are available for option or joint venture and additional information can be found on the Companys website at www.serengetiresources.com .

Cautionary Statement

This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities regulations. All statements other than statements of historical fact herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding exploration plans and other future plans and objectives, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and future events and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations as well as a comprehensive list of risk factors are disclosed in the Companys documents filed from time to time via SEDAR with the Canadian regulatory agencies to whose policies we are bound. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should conditions or our estimates change, other than as required by law and readers are further advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
By PTI

ABUJA: Nineteen Indians, kidnapped by pirates from a commercial vessel from the high seas off the western coast of Africa last month, have been released while one died in their captivity, according to the Indian mission here.

Twenty Indian crew members were kidnapped from the vessel MT Duke in the high seas off the western coast of Africa on December 15.

The High Commission of India in Abuja on Sunday tweeted that 19 Indian nationals were released on Saturday while one died in the captivity of the pirates in "adverse conditions".

India thanked the Nigerian authorities for their assistance in the release of the abducted Indians.

"Indian Govt and Mission gave highest priority and worked with @NigeriaGov on release of 20 Indian seafarers kidnapped on 15 Dec from MV Duke. 19 were released yesterday. One sadly died in captivity in adverse conditions. Our deepest condolences. Mission assiting in speedy return," the Indian High Commission tweeted.

Indian Govt & Mission gave highest priority and worked with @NigeriaGov on release of 20 Indian seafarers kidnapped on 15 Dec from MV Duke. 19 were released yesterday. One sadly died in captivity in adverse conditions. Our deepest condolences.Mission assiting in speedy return.  India in Nigeria (@india_nigeria) January 19, 2020

The Indian mission in Abuja had taken up the matter with the Nigerian authorities and also with the authorities of the neighbouring countries.
RED WATER POND ROAD, N.M. - The village of Red Water Pond Road sits in the southeast corner of the Navajo Nation, a tiny speck in a dry valley surrounded by scrub-covered mesas. Many families have lived here for generations. The federal government wants to move them out.

In what might seem a cruel echo of history, officials are relocating residents to the city of Gallup, about a half-hour away, and surrounding areas. This echo is nuanced, however. The village sits amid a Superfund site loaded with uranium mine waste. Mitigation has been delayed for decades, along with remedies for hundreds of other abandoned uranium mines across the tribe's lands that boomed during the Cold War.

The Environmental Protection Agency aims to haul away thousands of truckloads of the radioactive waste over the next seven years. Residents do not want to stay during that work, but many fear losing their way of life if they are uprooted and unmoored from rural roots and traditions. They have countered the agency's plan with another solution: construction on a nearby mesa of an off-grid, solar-powered community designed by an architecture group at the University of New Mexico.

The EPA had rejected the idea but is facing new pressure from lawmakers and community members to reexamine it.

"I feel empowered with those people," resident Edith Hood says of the university's proposal. "I feel hope."

Red Water Pond Road has seen little reason to hope for a long time. Starting in the mid-1950s, mining companies extracted about 30 million tons of uranium from Navajo lands. It was just down the road on a July morning in 1979 that an embankment broke on a uranium tailings pond, releasing 1,000 tons of waste that traveled more than 80 miles downstream through arroyos, creeks and rivers. The Church Rock Spill remains the largest nuclear waste spill in U.S. history.

Even four decades later, only scattershot mitigation has occurred. Residents, activists and some nonprofit groups have cited a variety of health concerns, including cancer and risks to pregnancy and newborns, related to uranium contamination here. No comprehensive study on the health effects from uranium contamination on Navajo lands has been done.

The Superfund site includes two waste piles that were once owned by Kerr-McGee/Quivira, which later became part of Anadarko Petroleum, and United Nuclear Corp., now owned by General Electric. The most immediate cleanup plan focuses on the latter site, with the EPA intending to move the mine waste to tailings piles just under a mile away but over the Navajo border.

The agency says it has offered voluntary relocation to some 75 Red Water Pond Road residents. Of the residents who have accepted, nearly four dozen have moved or are preparing to do so. Many describe the process as a painful dissolution of their village - like a real estate developer clearing out a neighborhood by picking off families one by one.

"Government is supposed to have cultural sensitivity training," one woman said at a community meeting in September. "Where is that?"

In a lengthy letter in November to several New Mexico lawmakers, the EPA defended its actions to date as "consistent with all relevant laws, guidance and policies. We continue to seek collaborative solutions and appreciate the Community's efforts to bring additional resources and perspectives to bear on the challenges posed by both short and long-term disruptions."

The letter also explained that officials have tried to work with residents "in a manner that reflects our respect for the Navajo people, their cultural traditions and the entire Community's concerns."

Residents have twice proposed alternatives to the agency's plan. The first involved construction of temporary homes on the adjacent Standing Black Tree Mesa, a few hundred feet above the village. Federal officials cited cost and agency housing standards in saying no. They also pointed out that the EPA does not operate in a vacuum and must rely on local and federal partners; the tribal utility, for one, said providing power and water to the mesa and making other infrastructure improvements would not be feasible.

That is when Hood reached out to the Indigenous Design and Planning Institute at UNM's architecture school. The question was whether housing that met EPA's standards could be built off-grid on the mesa by employing technology like solar power.

If no utility connections are needed, concluded Hood, a fifth-generation village native who once labored 2,000 feet below ground in the mines, "the ball will be in our court."

Professor Catherine Page Harris, who teaches in the Landscape Architecture Department, has been heading the project ever since with graduate students and community members. The result draws inspiration from the Earthships in Taos, New Mexico - solar-powered houses made of recycled material - and incorporates Navajo Hogan structures in a nod to the tribe's traditional dwellings and ceremonial homes. Doorways are positioned to face the rising sun.

The design, supporters say, is both practical and symbolic. The community will not have to leave its ancestral home, and clean energy will power a village environmentally degraded by the mining industry.

"If you can cut off the IV drip, they don't have much on you anymore, do they?" UNM graduate student Paul Ross noted on a drive last spring to Red Water Pond Road. The university's involvement has continued; a class in the fall designed a community meeting center for the mesa.

Lawmakers have begun weighing in.

The community "is owed a culturally appropriate relocation plan that reflects the historical and familial connections to its ancestral homeland," Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who chairs the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said in a statement this month.

Though the university group showed its early designs to residents in 2017, with federal officials present, the EPA says it never formally received them until New Mexico's congressional delegation included them in a letter this fall. At a recent community meeting, according to Hood, an official softened the agency's previous opposition and suggested the mesa proposal was not off the table.

Still, the EPA remains skeptical, citing issues related to cost, water, roads, sewage and Navajo land-use policies. Yet Page Harris and other supporters say UNM's designs address such obstacles and meet agency standards. Her estimate runs about $3.7 million, including road improvements. Based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers calculations, the EPA's pegs its relocation plan at $4.2 million.

The New Mexico Environmental Law Center appealed on Red Water Pond Road's behalf to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, contending that EPA actions here are part of a pattern of disparate treatment of indigenous communities. The kind of relocation pushed in this case, it wrote, is an "untenable choice [that] often results in traditional family units and relationships being fractured."

Nothing is going to happen quickly. Major cleanup work on the United Nuclear site is still at least seven years away; action on the other location is in even earlier stages. At hearings the Nuclear Regulatory Commission held in 2019, discussions on what to examine as part of the first site's environmental review went for hours. Questions from residents devolved into an outpouring of heartache, betrayal and anger.

A few more residents have departed for Gallup, but the 68-year-old Hood is staying put - for now. As a leader of the local community association, she goes back and forth on how she feels the federal government has dealt with Red Water Pond Road. She sometimes has more complaints about interactions with the tribal utility and Navajo Nation leaders.

"We're not asking for mansions, a castle," Hood, still pushing the solar project, declared at one of the federal agency hearings. "I can just live in a one-frame house there, with a water barrel."
Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Four fishermen from Tamil Nadu's Pudukkottai were taken into custody by Sri Lankan navy after they were caught in rough sea condition on Sunday.



All the fisherman belonging to Jagathapattinam area of Pudukkottai town in Tamil Nadu arrested and were taken to Kankensanthurai Naval base.

Further investigation is being done. (ANI)


CHICO, Calif.- Thousands of people gathered for Women's March Rallies across the country, including Chico.

People of all ages attended the 4th annual Chico Women's March,which started at the Downtown Chico City Plaza.

Demonstrators flooded the downtown streets Saturday with their signs to march for a variety of issues.

March leader, Ali Meders-Knight, says "The theme of the march this year is "Women Rise." This is a big gathering to empower women in the community."

Cheryl King, from Chico, says she has been attending the event every year. "It's important to me because this is how we get change."

The march will take place again next January in downtown Chico.

Redding and Sacramento also held Women's Rallies Saturday.
Rain has brought parched ponds back to life in Sydney to the delight of local waterfowl.

Summer's searing heat sucked the life from the city's urban waterways, with Busbys Pond at Centennial Park and Domain Creek Pond at Parramatta drying up due to the lack of rainfall.

Rain has filled Busbys pond in Centennial Park. Credit:Edwina Pickles

But thanks to continued downpours over the past few days, the ponds have refilled.

Denise Ora, Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands executive director said the parkland relies on rainfall to keep the trees, plants and pond ecosystems thriving.
Two men were arrested in Ferozepur district on Sunday with 4kg heroin valued at Rs 20 crore and smuggled into Punjab from Pakistan, police said.

Satnam Singh and Gurpreet Singh, both residents of the district, were carrying the highly addictive drug in a car and were arrested near Mamdot area.

Satnam Singh has told police he was in touch with a Pakistani smuggler named Riaz Chacha.

On January 6-7 night, he received a consignment of 5kg heroin, thrown across the fence in a field near a border outpost, which belonged to Gurpreet Singh, police said.

Police said they had specific inputs the two were in touch with Pakistani smugglers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former dictator Yahya Jammeh would face immediate arrest if he returned home, Gambias justice minister warned Sunday, days after his supporters called for his return from exile.

After a year of hearings investigating abuses during his 22-year rule, it can no longer be ruled out that crimes against humanity have been committed in The Gambia, said Abubacarr Tambadou.

There will be accountability of the highest order for these crimes and I assure the victims that it is now only a question of when, and not if, he added.

Unless the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) ruled otherwise, if former President Yahya Jammeh, ever comes back to this country, he will face immediate arrest and charges of the most serious kind.

Tambadous speech, given to mark the opening of the judicial year, was quickly posted online by groups campaigning to have Jammeh brought to justice.

The former dictator ruled Gambia with an iron fist for 22 years, but fled in January 2017 after losing a presidential election to relative unknown Adama Barrow. He only relinquished power after popular protests and international pressure, moving to Equatorial Guinea.

On Thursday, thousands of the former presidents supporters demonstrated in the capital Banjul, calling for his return to the country and to active politics.

They argue he has a right to return under a joint statement from the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations, published at the time of his exile.

In an audio recording leaked last week, Jammeh could be heard saying he supported Thursdays protest.

On Monday, the TRRC will resume its work investigating the alleged abuses during Jammehs years in power. Last year, it heard 190 witnesses give testimony alleging torture, murder, rape and witch hunts under his regime.

Those in power at the time identified by the Commission will face certain prosecution in the most serious form, said Tambadou.
New Delhi: A Ranchi civil court issued summons to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after a complaint was filed in the court over his "Modi is thief" statement. The former Congress president has been asked to appear before the court on February 22. The court had earlier issued summons to him to appear on January 18.

Gandhi had made the purported remarks while campaigning for the Lok Sabha election on March 23, 2019. Rahul had stated, "Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi... how come they all have Modi as common surname? How come all thieves have Modi as common surname? We don't know how many more such Modis will come out."

A complaint was registered against Rahul for his 'Modi is thief' statement by one Pradeep Modi in a civil court in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal. "If you want to say such things, please say it to the person concerned. Talking about a community is objectionable. When I came to the court today, a few of my friends made fun of me. After getting hurt because of this, I have filed this defamation suit," the petitioner said.

The Congress had come out in support of Mr Gandhi and his remarks, claiming his remarks had been directed at allegations of corruption against businessmen Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi and were meant to highlight the failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring them to justice. "In a democracy, party in power should tolerate criticism of opposition. Rahulji had said Lalit Modi and Nirav Modi are thieves and Narendra Modi is a failure. BJP connected his statement to Modi community and insulted them," Shaktisinh Gohil, a Bihar Congress leader, had told ANI earlier.

The Congress party declared the case as a 'transparent attempt to silence the truth'.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan have also respectively exchanged greetings with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Chinese National Peoples Congress Li Zhanshu.

The Vietnamese leaders greetings highlighted the close ties between the two nations, as well as the great and valuable supports for each other, which contribute to the success of the national liberation and socialism building in each country.

The friendship developed and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and Chinese President Mao Zedong and generations of leaders of the two countries has become a valuable common asset, contributing to maintaining the stable development of the Vietnam-China traditional relations for the sake of the two peoples, the greetings said.

The leaders also affirmed the consistent and long-term policy of the Vietnamese Party and State of attaching great importance and giving top priority to developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with the Chinese Party, State and people.

Meanwhile, the messages from Chinese leaders spotlighted the fruitful development of the bilateral relations and cooperation across fields, saying that this bring practical benefits to their peoples.

China attaches great importance to promoting the China - Vietnam relations, and wishes to work more closely with Vietnam in order to lift the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and head of the Vietnam sub-committee of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation Pham Binh Minh also exchanged greetings with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also the China sub-committee of the steering committee.
Representative image

The Jharkhand BJP on Sunday said the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will protect the rights of minorities of the country which have been "taken away" by Bangladeshi infiltrators.

"...minorities living in the country will get their legitimate rights and NRC will protect their rights taken away by infiltrators from Bangladesh," state BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said in a statement here.

He asked the opposition parties not to "instill fears in the minds of minorities" over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and instead, tell them that CAA has "nothing against them".

"...CAA underlines that any person belonging to communities like Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, Christian and Sikh and has come to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh on or before December 1, 2014, will not be treated as an illegal infiltrator (immigrant)," Shahdeo said.

Section 6B (4) of the CAA states that the Act will not be effective in tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, besides the areas falling under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, he said.

The BJP leader also accused the opposition parties of indulging in appeasement politics as they were "unable to fathom" the developmental initiatives undertaken by the central government.

"The opposition parties feel shattered with the Narendra Modi government's developmental work, prompting them to indulge in appeasement politics," Shahdeo added.
Qantas will not be transporting certain breeds of dogs after two animals died while travelling with the carrier last month alone.

The airline announced on Friday a temporary suspension would be placed on carrying snub-nosed dog breeds including boxers, bull dogs and pugs, as it worked with the RSPCA to develop longer-term rules.

A bulldog named Frank died while travelling from Sydney to Melbourne in December, and a boxer dog named Duke died during a flight from Sydney to Brisbane.

As the airline works to lay out new regulations, owners hoping to travel interstate with a snub-nosed dog will need to fly with a different carrier.

Qantas will not be transporting snub-nosed dogs until is has developed new framework. Source: AAP

The airline revealed it was likely to enforce rules requiring snub-nosed dogs to be cleared to fly by a registered vet immediately prior to travel.

It also said customers would be recommended to use registered animal shipping companies, who have vets based at major capital city airports.

The airline was looking into providing further tarmac protection for vulnerable breeds in extreme weather, and reinforcing existing procedures designed to minimise the time animals are required to spend on the tarmac prior to being loaded.

Any changes would not apply to non snub-nosed breeds, and existing bookings would not be effected by the temporary suspension, the airline said.

Duke died on a Qantas flight in December. Source: Facebook/Kay Newman

As a further precaution, a temporary suspension will be placed on new freight bookings for snub-nosed dogs until these additional procedures are finalised. This is expected to take approximately two weeks, a statement read.

Qantas Freights Chief Customer Officer Nick McGlynn said the airline was in the process of designing a way to help reduce the risks that are inherent with these particular breeds.

These types of dogs are hugely popular but unfortunately they are high-risk flyers due to their respiratory system and breathing problems, Mr McGlynn said.

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The risk is even higher in hot conditions and this summer weve seen a tragic spike in deaths of snub-nose dogs in extreme weather.

RSPCA Australias Senior Scientific Officer Dr Sarah Zito supported Qantas in its move to address the risks associated with transporting brachycephalic dogs by air.

Anthony Balletta's bulldog Frank died during a Qantas flight. Source: Facebook/Anthony Balletta

Brachycephalic or flat-faced breeds face particularly high risks from air transport especially during summer months. Their extreme features mean they often struggle to breathe and regulate their body temperature effectively, even in mild conditions, let alone at the hottest times of the year or on a plane, Dr Zito said.

Were very pleased to see Qantas building upon their existing policies to acknowledge and work toward addressing these risks.

Qantas Freight already recommends snub-nosed breeds be transported at temperatures below 20 degrees, and the airline allows owners to rebook their dog in the event of extreme weather.

More than 40,000 pets are flown across Qantas domestic network every year, including some 2,000 snub nosed dogs.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 19:04:14|Editor: Xiaoxia

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KABUL, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least nine Taliban militants were killed after Afghan soldiers conducted raids in two provinces, the command of special forces said Sunday.

"Members of Special Operations Forces launched two raids against militants on southern Helmand and eastern Laghman province on Friday. The militants engaged with the security forces and the troops returned fire in self defense killing nine militants during the raids," Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps said in a statement.

The operations were launched on Friday, acting on "credible intelligence reports" that indicated militants' presence in the targeted locations, according to the statement.

The special force members also arrested six militants besides destroying a Taliban militants' weapons depot, 500 kg narcotic drugs, and three defense positions during the raids, the statement added.

One car bomb built by the militants were also found and destroyed by the security forces, the statement noted.

Fighting rages across Afghanistan as Taliban militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions during the winter in the mountainous country.

The militant group has not responded to the report so far.
The opposing sides in the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump laid out their cases on January 18, with Democratic managers saying Trump "abandoned" his oath of office, while the defense team fired back with claims of a "dangerous attack" on American democracy.



In a 111-page brief filed ahead of a 5 p.m. deadline, Democratic-led House of Representatives prosecutors -- or "managers" -- wrote that it was clear that the "evidence overwhelmingly establishes" that Trump was guilty of both articles of impeachment against him.



The historic trial officially began in the Senate on January 16 but was quickly adjourned until January 21, a day after the Martin Luther King holiday. It will take a two-thirds majority in the Senate to convict and remove Trump from office, an unlikely event given that his Republican party controls the chamber.



Still, the Democrats set out their case, saying the "Senate should convict and remove President Trump to avoid serious and long-term damage to our democratic values and the nation's security."



"The case against the president of the United States is simple, the facts are indisputable, and the evidence is overwhelming," they said.



Trump faces two articles of impeachment, one charging him with abuse of power and the other with obstruction of Congress.



He is specifically accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political foes, in particular, former Vice President Joe Biden, who is a potential opponent in this years presidential election.



Trump also allegedly withheld documents that the House requested during the fact-finding phase of the inquiry and prevented administration officials and agencies from providing testimony in the impeachment hearings.



Trump denies the charges and has called the impeachment proceedings a "sham," "hoax," and "witch hunt."



Trump's legal team on January 18 issued a fiery response to the Democrats ahead of opening arguments in the trial, calling the two articles passed by the House last month "a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president."



"This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away," the filing states.



Trump's legal team is led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow. Trump also named to his team Ken Starr, a prosecutor whose investigation some 20 years ago led to President Bill Clinton's impeachment; and Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz.



AP quoted two unnamed sources familiar with the White House strategy as saying Trump's lawyers had advised the president against including Dershowitz on his team.



It said they are concerned about the professor's association with Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who killed himself in a New York City jail last summer while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.



The legal team is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds.



It is expected to file a more-detailed legal brief on January 20, and House managers will have the opportunity to respond the following day before the formal trial begins.

With reporting by Reuters and AP




A couple who filmed themselves sexually assaulting young girls have been jailed for 26 years.

Peter Taylor and Keeli Burlingham, both 33, were called predatory by a detective assigned to the case after they were sentenced for abusing five girls at Manchesters Minshull Street Crown Court on Friday, local time, in the UK.

This pair subjected innocent children to sickening abuse. Prison is absolutely where they belong, Detective Chief Inspector Judith Holmes of Greater Manchester Polices Public Protection Unit told the court.

The court heard the couple used their phones to film and photograph their victims.

Keeli Burlingham (left) and Peter Taylor (right) have been jailed for abusing five young girls Source: Yahoo UK

Several phones and a computer were seized from Taylors address in Greater Manchester area on April 6, 2018, following intelligence received by the police he was involved in the downloading of indecent images.

Police found more videos on their phones and computer showing other assaults they had carried out.

Messages on the devices revealed he had encouraged Burlingham to sexually assault one of the young victims and send pictures to him.

Discussions between the two planning the sexual abuse found on their phones were some of the most appalling conversations I have seen in my career, Detective Holmes said.

No excuse

Taylor was sentenced to 15 years, plus three years extended sentence, while Burlingham was sentenced to 11 years, plus one year extended sentence.

Taylor and Burlingham knew how old their victims were. They have absolutely no excuse for their grossly inappropriate and predatory behaviour towards children, Detective Holmes said.

The pair were charged with facilitating a range of child sex offences, sexual assault to child under 13 and in possession and the creation of indecent photographs.

I hope todays result helps the victims and their families move on from what must have been an incredibly traumatic experience, Detective Holmes said.

- Yahoo UK

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The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has sent a notice to the station house officer (SHO) of Aminabad police station to remove the pucca post constructed at the Aminabad crossing. According to the notice, served on Friday, if the encroachment was not removed within 15 days, it would be demolished and the cost would be recovered from the police.

Now, mayor Sanyukta Bhatia has also sought a detailed report from the LMC in the matter. I will take this up with higher authorities, she told HT on Sunday.

Construction on the police post -- spread over 550 square-feet -- started towards the end of 2019. However, the LMC woke up only after one floor of the post became operational and started contributing to daily traffic jams due to vehicles being parked nearby and locals erecting still more stalls around it.

Mahesh Chandra Varma, engineer, Zone I, said, According to rules, no one can construct any structure in the middle of the road. They (Aminabad police) dont have any map of the building that has been passed by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA).

He further observed, When we have to remove encroachment, we take the help of the police. But if the police carry out illegal construction, then who will help remove that?

Another municipal corporation official explained: The notice was served as they (Aminabad police) came up with a permanent structure at the crossing. They have constructed a room, a toilet, a bathroom, a urinal outside, a staircase and a verandah. This sort of a planned construction at such a busy crossing is sending out wrong signals, which will only promote more encroachment in the city.

Notably, the Aminabad police had earlier said that the post was constructed with help from locals for their safety and for removing encroachment from the locality.

Before this construction came up, police used to maintain a wooden kiosk at the crossing. But despite the cops presence there, encroachment continued to increase with more stalls mushrooming in the area.

Such rampant encroachment has aggravated the already chaotic traffic situation in Aminabad, which is one of the most crowded localities of the state capital.

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Esmail Qaani is likely to pursue his predecessors policies with greater vigour and ruthlessness, say experts.

Within hours of the United States assassination of Qassem Soleimani, a top general in Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the countrys Supreme Leader named a successor to head the elite Quds Force he had commanded.

Ayatollah Ali Khameneis choice of Esmail Qaani, who served as Soleimanis deputy for more than a decade, was aimed at ensuring a smooth and swift transition in the strategic foreign units leadership at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, according to analysts.

Soleimanis assassination in a US air strike in Baghdad on January 3 pushed the US and Iran to the brink of war, but fears of an all-out conflict eased when retaliatory Iranian strikes against US targets in Iraq on January 8 concluded without any fatalities.

Khamenei has since called for the expulsion of US troops from the region.

Under Soleimani, dubbed Irans shadow commander by some media, the Quds Force helped boost Iranian influence across the Middle East by building up a vast network of proxies.

In Syria, the unit played a key role in shoring up support for embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after the country descended into war in 2011. It also armed and trained militias that helped defeat the ISIL (ISIS) armed group in both Syria and Iraq.

Loyal, committed

Khamenei, announcing Qaanis appointment on January 3, said the Quds Forces new chief was among the most prominent IRGC commanders during the 1980-1988 war between Iran and Iraq, adding that the unit under the veteran soldier will follow an identical strategy to that pursued by Soleimani.

At the slain commanders funeral days later, Qaani pledged to continue on his predecessors path with the same force, saying his assassination will be reciprocated in several steps by removing the US from the region.

Saeid Golkar, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee in the US, said for Khamenei, it was important that the new head of the Quds Force was loyal and committed to himself and the IRGC. Familiarly with the Quds Force and the ability to manage the forces and Irans proxies were important [traits], he added.

Qaani fit that bill.

Before his appointment, General Esmail Qaani was the second in command as the deputy head of the elite Quds Force [File: Iranian leader press office/Anadolu]

Born in the late 1950s in the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran, Qaani joined the IRGC in 1980, a few months before Iraqi forces invaded western Iran, triggering a bloody eight-year-war which killed about a million people.

It was in March 1982, on the wars front lines, that Qaani befriended Soleimani, according to Ali Alfoneh, an expert on IRGC and senior fellow at the US-based Arab Gulf States Institute.

Indeed, Qaani has described his camaraderie with Soleimani as one that was forged during war.

We are war comrades, and it was the war that made us friends, he was quoted as saying by the government-funded IRNA news agency in a 2015 interview. Those who become friends at times of hardship have deeper and more lasting relations than those who become friends just because they are neighborhood friends.

Alfoneh said that it was also during the war that Qaani met Khamenei, who was Irans president at the time. IRNA published a photo of Khamenei and Qaani, which the Iran Wire news website said dated to 1986.

Esmail Qaani was #QasimSoleimani's deputy in the Quds Force. Like Soleimani, he was a revolutioary guards commander during the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War. Qaani (second from right) in this picture from, circa 1986, with then president and now leader @khamenei_ir (with glasses) #Iran pic.twitter.com/c1Y1mlsrl9  IranWire (@IranWireEnglish) January 3, 2020

Soon after the war, Qaani was appointed as deputy chief of the IRGCs ground forces. According to Alfoneh, he likely played a lead role in the IRGCs operations against drug cartels in Afghanistan and in its support to the Northern Alliance, which fought to contain the Taliban in the 1990s.

Although it is unclear when Qaani joined the Quds Force, IRNA said he was appointed as the units deputy in 1997, the same year that Soleimani was named as its commander. But according to Maysam Behravesh, a Sweden-based political analyst at Persis Media, that appointment came years later, in 2007.

In the shadows

With a clear division of labour and maintaining geographically distinct spheres of influence, Soleimani and Qaani together played a strategic role in expanding Irans influence in neighbouring countries.

While Soleimani was a national icon and the charismatic leader mobilising the masses behind what he and the Islamic Republic perceive as a sacred cause, Qaani constantly attended to the organisational and administrative needs of the Quds Force in the shadows, Alfoneh said.

Soleimani also spent more time in western Iran, while Qaani spent most of his time in eastern Iran. As a consequence of this, Qaanis professional focus was on the Pakistani and Afghan Shia, but also [other] allies in Central Asia, he added.

In the few public statements Qaani has made, he has slammed the US and Israel, saying in one 2017 article that US President Donald Trumps threats against Iran will damage America.

We have buried many  like Trump and know how to fight against America.

Behravesh said Qaani would bring the Quds Force greater continuity rather than change.

The same policies are expected to continue, but perhaps with greater vigour and ruthlessness now that US maximum pressure on Iran seems to involve leadership decapitation, he said.

Furthermore, even though the Quds Forces operations are more widely associated with Irans direct neighbours in the Middle East and Asia, it may expand its activities beyond those regions under Qaani, said Behravesh.

Qaani reportedly has good relations with like-minded African Muslim groups, which suggests the Quds Force under his command might seek to have a more active presence there, he told Al Jazeera.

In 2012, the US sanctioned Qaani, citing his role in financial disbursements to Quds Forces elements in Africa and other terrorist groups.

Afshon Ostovar, assistant professor of national security affairs at the US-based Naval Postgraduate School, said the Quds Forces work in Afghanistan may also become more prominent.

Given Qaanis personal experience in Afghanistan, he could make that country more of a focus than it was, but any change will probably be strategically marginal.

But Qaanis aversion to publicity was unlikely to change, with Ostovar saying: Qaanis relative obscurity as a public persona is one of his defining characteristics  He doesnt seek the spotlight, and the IRGC has not sought the spotlight for him.

Behravesh agreed. Pointing out that in addition to intelligence leaks, Soleimanis celebrity status may have contributed to his assassination, Behravesh said Qaani is expected to be Irans real shadow commander.

The IRGC will do its best not to be bitten in the same spot again.

Follow Arwa Ibrahim on Twitter @arwaib
States are being asked whether or not they want to allow refugees to come and live here or not. While I can understand why some people would like to come to the U.S. and start a new and better life, there is also a very dark side to this as well.

What if this whole idea is a big Trojan Horse? What if these people are part of a well trained militia? If they were to get enough of their people settled in the U.S and get them strategically placed, they could take over the U.S. without firing a shot.

Sure my grandparents came to this country in the later 1800s from Germany to seek a new and better life. But that is no comparison to what is happening now. This is a whole different scenario in a whole different day and age.

This whole immigration thing, both legal and illegal are a cause for great concern. President Trump is right for wanting to build a wall between America and Mexico. Rather than allowing more immigrants in America, we need to export the illegal ones we already have.

America could go from being the greatest nation on earth to the laughing stock of the world. President Trump is having to clean up the mess created by President Obama and his fellow shortsighted Democrats.

While Trump may be the best president we ever had, I believe he may be too lenient as to what can be termed legal or illegal.

Instead of continually trying to figure out how to remove President Trump from office, the Democrats should be working with the president to secure our safety and maintain a safer and stronger nation that the rest of the world can look up to and learn from.

Ralph Muecke, Gladstone

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Is your accent holding you back? According to new research, many Americans are anxious about how they sound when traveling abroad.

Babbel, a language-learning app, teamed up with Dr. Alex Baratta, a lecturer in language, linguistics, and communications at the University of Manchester, to conduct a study that asked participants about their perceptions based on peoples accents.

A whopping 7,500 people in the U.S, U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Canada were interviewed on their opinions about foreign speakers attempting their native tongue, as well as their own anxieties about speaking in a foreign language.

The results showed that Americans are most worried when it comes to how their accent is perceived abroad. Fifty-four percent said they feel anxious about their accent when speaking in a foreign language, and 34 percent expressed a desire to get rid of their accent when communicating in a foreign dialect.

Abroad, American accents are most likely to be considered friendly, (34 percent of non-U.S. respondents), straight-forward (27 percent), and assertive (20 percent). Canadians are most likely to find the American accent assertive (23 percent of Canadian respondents), and Italians are most likely to find an American accent funny (25 percent of Italian respondents).

French accents are rated as the sexiest in the U.S. (40 percent of American respondents), while Italian is the most passionate (40 percent). Americans also think the Caribbean accent is most friendly (37 percent), and British accents are most sophisticated (44 percent).

Overall, a Spanish accent is considered most friendly (39 percent of all respondents), and German is the most straightforward and assertive (29 percent and 33 percent, respectively) as well as the most professional (26 percent). French and Italian tied for the most stylish (30 percent). French accents are also perceived as the most sophisticated, intriguing, and sexy (30 percent, 19 percent, and 37 percent). And Swedish accents are thought to be the most intelligent and trustworthy (24 percent and 15 percent, respectively).

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On the flip side, American accents are found to be the most uneducated (16 percent), Russian accents are regarded as the most unfriendly (18 percent), and German and Russian tied for being most harsh (38 percent).

The study also found that female (42 percent) and younger respondents (47 percent) are more likely to have anxiety than the global average (38 percent).

On the bright side, Americans and the British are most likely to overcome anxiety about speaking in a foreign language. Babbel even has a few tips for people wanting to tackle their fears and master their chosen foreign language.

More information about learning a foreign language can be found on the Babbel website or by downloading the Babbel app.
IT was a busy night in Limerick for the Fire and Rescue service, with several incidents taking place in the city.

Overnight crews attended an outdoor fire, a road traffic collision and an automatic fire alarm in the city centre, with support from the Shannon Fire Service.

The crash took place at the Courtfields Shopping Centre in Raheen, with two units of the Limerick Fire and Rescue Service dispatched to the scene a little after three oclock in the morning.

They returned approximately an hour later.

Meanwhile, two units of Limerick Fire and Rescue Service and one unit providing platform support from Shannon attended Penneys in OConnell Street after an automatic fire alarm was activated in the multi-storey building.

In simple terms, platform support allows the fire crews to access upper floors.

This incident took place at 3:25 in the morning.

And there was a dramatic bush fire at the Irish Estates in Corbally, with one unit being dispatched just after 10pm, returning a short time later.
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for deeper investment ties between Britain and Africa at a summit for leaders of 21 African countries on Monday that comes days before his country will leave the European Union.

After securing Britain's departure from the EU, the world's largest trading bloc, on Jan. 31, Johnson is keen to develop business ties with countries outside Europe.

At the summit in London, Johnson called for Britain to be the "investment partner of choice" for Africa.

The prime minister announced an end to British support for thermal coal mining or coal power plants overseas, saying it made no sense for Britain to cut its carbon emissions from power generation at home while supporting coal-fired projects abroad.

"Not another penny of UK tax payers money will be directly invested in digging up coal or burning it for electricity," he said.

Instead Britain would focus on helping countries extract and use oil and gas in the cleanest way possible and on encouraging investment in solar, wind and hydropower schemes, he said.

Johnson also highlighted deals worth billions of pounds with countries on the continent, underlining the roles British companies are playing in providing anything from smart street lighting in Nigeria to environmentally friendly breweries in Kenya.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; additional reporting by Karin Strohecker; Editing by Pravin Char and Kate Holton)
Visitors climb to one of the Windows arches at Arches National Park in Utah. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

MOAB, Utah  I turned sideways, then shimmied through the space between two towering red rocks, fingers crossed that I didnt get stuck.

A few minutes later, I was sliding across sandstone on my rear end, maneuvering down a large rock to the ground below.

This may not be the most challenging hike in southern Utah, but it has to be one of the most fun. No wonder its in such high demand.

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Hiking the Fiery Furnace area of Arches National Park in Utah. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

Access to the Fiery Furnace area of Arches National Park is by guided tour or permit only. Park officials want to make sure hikers here know what they're in for when they head into this confusing maze of red sandstone, and to minimize any risk of environmental damage.

Were going to be doing lots of rock scrambling, and pulling ourselves up onto rocks, said ranger Monica Larcom, who led our group in mid-September. About 15 minutes into the hike, she paused, and asked, Does anyone want to go back? This is the turnaround spot.

Nobody volunteered.

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Exploring the Fiery Furnace area of Arches National Park. Note: This tight squeeze through rocks was optional. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

The National Park Service runs guided hikes through the area several times daily, May through September. Morning hikes can be reserved up to six months in advance (see nps.gov/arch/planyourvisit/fiery-furnace-hike.htm); afternoon hikes must be signed up for in person, at the park visitor center, up to seven days in advance. Nearly every hike every day is full.

Its easy to understand why. The hike was among the highlights of this park, and my entire trek through Utah.

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The Double Arch trail at Arches National Park in Utah. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

There were other highlights here, of course. Among them:

Two easy, spectacular side-by-side strolls to Double Arch and Window Arches, a half-mile and 1-mile round-trip trails to stunning rock formations.

The 18-mile road that winds through Arches, with spectacular formations all along the way.

The town of Moab, 5 miles from the park, filled with great restaurants, shops and dozens of opportunities for outdoor adventure.

All this, and another spectacular national park, Canyonlands, a short drive away.

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The view from Grand View Point at Canyonlands National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

I spent about 48 hours exploring the area, and it wasnt enough. If I had the trip to do over again  which took me to Las Vegas and three national parks over nine days  I would add another day in southeast Utah. I wanted more time to explore Canyonlands and book a rafting trip on the Colorado River.

Arches and Canyonlands, about 20 miles apart, are both day-use parks, without overnight lodges and restaurants. No worries, because they're both a short drive from the fun, hospitable town of Moab, population 5,300 (and growing rapidly).

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The magnificent Double Arch at Arches National Park in Utah. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

We arrived just before sunset, after a five-hour scenic drive from Bryce Canyon National Park. We immediately hiked the half-mile Double Arch trail, a short, easy walk with a terrific payoff: Two grand arches at a 90-degree angle, sharing a common pillar. The trail passes under the larger of the two, the tallest in the park at 112 feet.

The next morning, we returned to do the nearby Windows Trail, another easy hike, with views of three magnificent arches  North and South Windows, plus Turret Arch.

The park claims the densest concentration of natural stone arches in the world  more than 2,000, ranging from small to immense, carved from eroded sandstone. Some are easily seen from the scenic drive, others require more effort.

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The Windows trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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Turret Arch is accessible via the Windows trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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North Window at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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Rock scrambling on the Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

After the Windows Trail, my husband and I dropped my mom at our Moab hotel and returned to the park to explore the Fiery Furnace area.

I was happy to discover that the name of the area refers to the color of the rock formations, not the sky-high temperatures that are often recorded in this park. Even in mid-September, we encountered signs with ominous warnings  HEAT KILLS!  imploring us to drink enough water.

It was actually relatively cool in the Fiery Furnace area, as the towering rock formations provide a decent amount of shade.

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A tight squeeze on the Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

We spent about three hours exploring the rocks, negotiating tight spaces, scrambling up stones, jumping over gaps. We saw a black widow, the shell of a scorpion and numerous ancient, twisty, drought-resistant juniper trees.

This hike wasnt strenuous in the traditional sense  no major altitude changes, no precipitous drops. It was tough on the joints, although most hikers in reasonably good shape shouldnt have much trouble.

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Rock scrambling on the Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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Exploring the Fiery Furnace at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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Skull Arch is accessed via the Fiery Furnace trail in Arches National Park. It's one of more than 2,000 arches in the park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

Toward the end of the hike, ranger Larcom asked us to stop talking as we walked. In silence, she led us into an interior, cavernous space, with a surprise above: Surprise Arch, spanning the blue sky overhead. Its neat to experience how quiet it can be, she said, my labored breathing the only sound marring the silence.

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Exploring the rock maze that is the Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

You dont have to do the Fiery Furnace hike on a guided tour, although going with a group guarantees you wont get lost; trail markers are hard to spot, and your phones GPS wont do you much good in here. Visitors can secure a permit to hike the area independently; permits are available in person only, at the visitors center, for $6 up to seven days in advance, and frequently sell out.

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Rock scrambling on the Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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The Fiery Furnace trail is mostly shaded, and not too hot. Still, hikers are advised to bring lots of water. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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The Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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The Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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The Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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The Fiery Furnace trail at Arches National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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The view from Shafer Canyon Overlook, near the Island in the Sky Visitor Center at Canyonlands National Park. That's the Shafer Trail Road winding through the canyon.

A quick trip through Canyonlands

On our final day here, we headed to Canyonlands for a too-brief tour.

Canyonlands is the largest of Utahs five national parks, but receives the fewest visitors. At 338,000 acres, its four times the size of Arches, and receives a quarter of the human traffic.

The park is made up of five distinct areas, each with a separate entrance, including areas accessible only to visitors in high-clearance four-wheel drive vehicles. The easiest-to-access area, and most heavily visited, is the Island in the Sky district, about 30 miles from downtown Moab. This is where we spent our time, traveling the 34-mile scenic drive, stopping for short but terrific hikes at Mesa Arch, on the edge of Buck Canyon, and Grand View Point, with spectacular canyon views.

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The Island in the Sky district at Canyonlands National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

The island in the sky, of course, isnt really an island, but a mesa, carved over millions of years from the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River, and one of its chief tributaries, the Green, wind through here, offering both terrific whitewater and calm-water paddling. The area is also a mecca for mountain bikers.

Unfortunately, we didn't have time for anything other than a couple of quick hikes, determined to make it to Zion National Park before sunset. We hopped on I-70, speeding west, promising to make it back here to explore some more.

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Grand View Point at Canyonlands National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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Grand View Point at Canyonlands National Park. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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Mesa Arch frames the canyon at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)

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If you go: Arches, Canyonlands and Moab, Utah

Where: Salt Lake City International Airport, about 235 miles north, is the closest major airport to Moab. We flew in and out of Las Vegas, which is closer to both Zion and Bryce national parks.

Entrance to the parks: $30 per vehicle for each park. There is also a Southeast Utah Parks Pass for $55, which offers admission to Arches, Canyonlands and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges national monuments.

Where to stay: We spent two nights at the Gonzo Inn in Moab, booking a suite with two bedrooms months in advance. Room rates start at about $100.

Where to eat: There are many good options in town, including Arches Thai (60 N 100W); Miguel's Baja Grill (51 N. Main St.); and Love Muffin Cafe (139 N. Main St.)

More information: nps.gov/arches, nps.gov/cany, discovermoab.com.

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Biking in the Navajo Rocks area near Moab, Utah. (Courtesy Michael Glaser)

Read more

Mountain biking in Moab gives Midwesterner a feeling of triumph

Traveling with Mom: Slowing down the pace in Las Vegas, Utah's national parks

24 hours in Las Vegas (and no gambling)

Hiking through Zion National Park's spectacular Narrows  and crowds

Hiking amid the hoodoos at Utah's magical Bryce Canyon National Park

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Arches National Park in Utah. (Susan Glaser, The Plain Dealer)
Television actor Kamya Punjabi is all set to tie the knot with boyfriend Shalabh Dang, and the wedding preparations are in full swing. Before the big day on February 10, she shared a sneak-peek of her wedding card with fans.

Kamya shared a boomerang video on Twitter, which shows a glimpse of her wedding card, and also revealed her wedding hashtag - #ShubhMangalKaSha. Congratulatory messages poured in from her fans and followers.

It has been a whirlwind romance for Kamya and Shalabh  just a month and a half into their relationship, he proposed to her. Recently, the actor penned a romantic note for her beau on Instagram and credited him for making her happy again.

Last year, this day i spoke to u for the first time n today i m preparing for my marriage with you... Last year this day i was broken, i was lonely.. u picked up the pieces n made me the happy person that i m today... i m so lucky to have someone like you in my life whos only motive is to make me smile n happy.. you are my life, you are my good karma, you are my Gannus best gift to me, she wrote.

Kamya was previously married to Bunty Negi and has a 10-year-old daughter Aara with him. After her divorce, she was sceptical about getting into a relationship again, but she is glad that she fell in love with Shalabh.

In an earlier interview with Hindustan Times, Kamya said, Im very happy with Shalabh. With him, life is different. Now I know what blushing and glowing in love means. Now I know what it feels like to be head over heels in love with someone. I know what emotional security means. She added that it was the first time in her life that she felt so happy and loved and could not wait to spend the rest of her life with him.

Kamya has acted in a number of television shows in her career spanning nearly two decades. She has been a part of popular serials like Astitva...Ek Prem Kahani, Banoo Main Teri Dulhann and Maryada: Lekin Kab Tak? She also participated in the popular reality show Bigg Boss 7.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
SCHOOL secretaries who have taken industrial action have the full support of the Sinn Fein party, Senator Paul Gavan has said

Speaking after visiting the picket line at Gaelscoil Castletroy in Limerick last week, the Sinn Fein Senator said: School secretaries are invaluable members of our schools and our communities, often working above and beyond their job requirements.

They work on the front line and are the first port of call for parents and students. Without them, our schools would simply not function. I want to put on record that they have the full support of myself and Sinn Fein.

Senator Gavan claims this dispute centres on the fact that the majority of school secretaries, over three thousand, earn as little as 13,000 a year with irregular, short-term contracts and no pay during summer holidays or school breaks.

This is compounded by the inequality that persists between them and the few hundred school secretaries who are paid directly by the Department of Education with starting salaries of 24,000, he said.

Secretaries have low pay, no holiday pay, no sick pay, no real job security, certainly no occupational pensions, and no access to public service salary scales. The public service should be a leader in providing fair pay and conditions for employees, but school secretaries have fallen through the cracks.

According to Senator Gavan the Department of Education has failed to seriously engage with school staff or their union representatives to resolve this issue.

Minister Joe McHugh was made aware of their job insecurity and this two-tier pay structure in May of last year and has dragged his heels in reaching an agreement.
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)

Iran Trying to Analyze Crashed Jets Black Box, Official Says

Earlier reports said the flight recorder was being sent to Ukraine

An Iranian official said Iran is trying to analyze the black box from a Ukrainian jet that was unintentionally shot down by authorities over Tehran, countering reports the device had been sent to Ukraine.

The official made the comments to state news agency IRNA on Jan. 19, Reuters reported, in a move that represents an apparent backtrack.

Hassan Rezaifar, a director in charge of accident investigations at Irans Civil Aviation Organization, said there were no immediate plans to send the black box abroad.

We are trying to read the black boxes here in Iran, he said. Otherwise, our options are Ukraine and France, but no decision has been taken so far to send them to another country.

Rezaifars comments come a day after IRNA and another news agency reported he said the black boxes had been dispatched abroad at the request of Ukrainian authorities.

Irans Tasnim news agency reported on Jan. 18 that Rezaifar said Iranian authorities cited trouble processing the flight-record data and sent them to Ukraine for analysis.

With the use of the expertise of the countries of France, Canada, and America, we will try to read the [flight data recorder] in Kyiv, Rezaifar was cited as saying by the news agency.

If this effort is unsuccessful, then the black box will be sent to France.

Iran Has a Path to Choose

Fifty-seven of the 176 killed in the downed plane were Canadian.

Canadas Transportation Safety Board (TSB) said two of its investigators left Tehran on Jan. 19, after a six-day visit during which they examined the wreckage.

TSB officials said in a statement that while their Iranian counterparts were cooperative and helpful, there were no firm plans for downloading the cockpit voice and flight data.

Canadian media reported the country was pressuring Iranian authorities to release the black boxes. Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne was cited by The Globe and Mail as urging Iran to act, saying that Iran has a path to choose.  When you say to the world that you take full responsibility, that comes with consequences.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been pressing for a full investigation into the incident, said Jan. 17 that Iran should send the flight recorder to France for analysis.

France is one of the few countries with the ability to read the flight and cockpit data recorders from the jet, which he said were badly damaged, Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa.

I Wish I Was Dead

After initial denials, Iranian officials admitted its military shot down the plane and blamed human error. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps airspace division, said that the missiles were launched from a military base in the area.

I wish I was dead, Hajizadeh said, CNN reported. I accept all responsibility for this incident.

The same night the plane was shot down, Tehran launched more than a dozen missiles at Iraqi military bases that house U.S. forces, in retaliation for the White House-approved airstrike to kill top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Iran has faced a deepening crisis abroad and at home over the plane disaster.

Reuters contributed to this report
Dateline What Will Xi Jinpings Visit Mean for Myanmars Future?

The Irrawaddy

Kyaw Kha: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, well discuss Chinese President Xi Jinpings visit to Myanmar. Im The Irrawaddy chief reporter Kyaw Kha and Im joined by the head of the Chinese desk at ISP Myanmar [Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar] Ma Khin Khin Kyaw Kyee and political analyst and writer U Than Soe Naing.

There are mixed opinions about the Chinese presidents visit to Myanmar. Ma Khin Khin Kyaw Kyee, what do you think of the Chinese presidents interest in Myanmar, and what is the intention behind his visit?

Khin Khin Kyaw Kyee: Roughly speaking, his visit is a goodwill visit to mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Myanmar and China. His visit is intended to cement the friendship between Myanmar and China. Whenever he visits [to foreign countries], he always pushes his One Belt One Road Initiative [OBOR]. There have been working group-level and ministerial-level discussions on the establishment of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor [CMEC]. Agreements will be signed during his visit to Myanmar. His visit is also intended to push the CMEC.

KK: So, are those agreements predetermined or not?

KKKK: The two sides agreed to establish the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor in 2017 and there have since been further discussions at different levels. Some MoUs [memoranda of understanding] on the economic corridor were signed in 2018 and there have been working-group level and ministerial-level discussions. The president has come to put the final touches on those discussions.

KK: Do you think the Chinese president will discuss the issue of the ethnic armed groups [EAOs] in northern Myanmar that have not signed truces with the government? The peace process is a major problem in the country.

Than Soe Naing: Yes, it is. But in my opinion, the two sides will discuss the issue but not reveal their discussions to the media. However, due to the importance of this issue, Mr. Sun Guoxiang [the Chinese Special Envoy for Asian Affairs] met all the members of the FPNCC [Federal Political Negotiation Consultative Committee] before the Chinese presidents visit. He asked them to ensure the security of the Chinese president during his visit. I heard that no members of the FPNCC have opposed the OBOR. The KIA [Kachin Independence Army] said that it would not disturb OBOR implementation in Kachin State, but it wants to levy tax on it. However, these issues are to be negotiated between them and the Myanmar government, but not with the Chinese government. I would guess that military tensions in northern Myanmar will ease to a certain extent after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. But I hope that if Sun Guoxiang can push the ethnic armed groups in northern Myanmar to sign bilateral ceasefire agreements, peace can be achieved in 2020, except probably not in Rakhine State.

KK: China has planned strategically regarding its projects in Myanmar. Does the Myanmar side think strategically in response? What is your assessment?

KKKK: We know well what China wants. For example, the purpose of the CMEC is for southwestern parts of China to gain access to the Indian Ocean via Myanmar. Thats why it has proposed establishing the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port and the Mandalay-Muse railroad. On the Myanmar side, studying the discussions [of Myanmar authorities], they say those projects will create jobs and improve infrastructure.

But we need to think about what types of job opportunities we want to create and if we have any vision about how to make use of the infrastructure. China views our country as a transit country. It has plans to export its products via Myanmar to the Indian Ocean. So, lets see if Myanmar has any strategic thinking beyond that. According to our [ISP Myanmars] study, Myanmar barely ever thinks strategically. Usually, Myanmar makes decisions ad hoc, only aiming to solve immediate problems.

KK: Do you think departments in the Myanmar government have capacity to effectively minimize environmental and social impacts of projects for the BRI [Belt and Road Initiative, the current name for OBOR]?

KKKK: Our country has regularly experienced difficulties and challenges, including land disputes and environmental impacts from handling mega projects. It is very likely that land disputes will arise in the confiscation of land for mega projects. Looking at the past, it wasnt possible to handle those issues effectively. [The government] may have had the will to handle them, but they lacked experience and there are many challenges and difficulties in practice. I think the government has to take extra caution in handling possible land disputes in BRI projects. Mistakes are inevitable in handling such mega projects, so rather than implementing all the projects at once, we should start one-by-one and improve each one based on the lessons and experiences from the previous one. It is the best option for us to go step-by-step, and conduct a review before doing each subsequent step. On the other hand, China wants to start the projects rapidly. Striking a balance between these two will be a major challenge for Myanmar.

KK: Some EAOs in northern Myanmar recently held talks with Sun Guoxiang. I saw reports that the Chinese envoy put pressure on them to establish ceasefires.

TSN: Sun Guoxiang will push for it. Ground surveys have basically been conducted for the Muse-Mandalay railroad project. If construction is to begin, it is important that there is stability in northern areas. Some EAOs like the KIA have said they will tax the parts in their area. However, I think those are not topics to be discussed with the Chinese government. They should discuss those with the Myanmar government. Those have nothing to do with the Chinese presidents visit. China is eager to implement the project, so the Chinese president will come and tangible work is set to start.

EAOs in northern Myanmar have to make peace and Sun Guoxiang will definitely push them. Previously, those groups operated on the border and impacted China. As a result, China drove them further into Myanmar. They rely on Sun Guoxiang to represent their interests. But personally, I dont like such thinking. Of course, we do need Chinas help but I want [the EAOs] to build mutual trust and understanding with the Myanmar government and military and work for peace rather than relying on China.

KK: Some suggest that the Chinese envoy met some EAOs based in northern Myanmar at Laiza, the headquarters of the KIO [Kachin Independence Organization, the political arm of the KIA] to ensure the security of the Chinese president during his visit. Wasnt this also because of BRI projects? What is your view?

KKKK: I noticed three things regarding his meeting with them. The first is, as you two have said, he might have asked them to behave themselves during the Chinese presidents visit. Also, Jan. 23 is Chinese New Year. China does want to see fighting at the border during its New Year, so he might have asked them for that. The third thing is about the BRI. China has a vested interest in Myanmars peace process partly due to its border stability and partly due to BRI projects. For China to successfully implement its BRI projects, there must be stability in ethnic areas on the border. Some projects are set to be signed off for implementation during the Chinese presidents visit. The Chinese envoy came and held discussions with the EAOs to make sure the conflicts in northern Myanmar do not affect Chinas fundamental interests.

KK: Do you think China has strategic considerations regarding EAOs in Myanmar? Some critics suggest that China is using the EAOs to push for a give-and-take with the Myanmar government: Chinese projects in Myanmar in exchange for peace. What is your view on this?

TSN: I dont assume China is using them strategically but they will be included in its plans. China doesnt usually take EAOs into consideration. For example, when we held talks with SPIC [State Power Investment Corporation of China], we asked whether the company could implement the hydropower project upstream from Myitsone because people in Myanmar have negative feelings about the construction of a dam at Myitsone. The company officials said they could, but the Myanmar government and military told them that they could not take responsibility for that because that area is under the control of the KIA. We asked them if the KIA would disturb their work and they said they dont know and that they dont traditionally hold direct talks with them [EAOs] on national-level projects. So, in the case of taxation proposed by EAOs, China would just raise the issue with the Myanmar government and not negotiate with the EAOs.

But tactically, China listens to their voices. Sun Guoxiang has met and talked with them before Xis visit. To us, peace is a big issue. But for China, it just negotiates with EAOs to protect its OBOR. It is just a tactic, but not a strategic step like you suggested. But then, things can slide into chaos around major political turning points. Chinese troops of various kinds entered Myanmar in 1968 under the influence of the Cultural Revolution. In that case, it will become a strategic issue. But for the time being, China has no strategic plans regarding the EAOs.

KK: The Myanmar government said it will assess the projects against the yardstick of the MSDP [Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan]. But the question is whether the MSDP is comprehensive enough. What is your view?

KKKK: The MSDP focuses on various sectors from peace and environment to welfare at the grass-roots. It is good to have a basic guideline for implementing projects. The MSDP will serve as a guideline for Myanmar to avoid repeating its past mistakes in implementing projects. The question is how much we will be able to put the guideline into practice. We will wait and see, but for the time being, there are weaknesses in applying this guideline. The MSDP is good, but I doubt we have the capacity to fully implement it.

Many point out the lack of transparency of projects. People are not well-informed about the projects. The MSDP requires public consultations [for implementing projects]. But there are still many restrictions that prevent meaningful consultations and meaningful public participation. There will be a lot of things that we have to learn as we go. I think we need to greatly enhance the capacity to be able to implement the MSDP.

KK: Some say that China attaches importance to Myanmar because of its outlet to the Indian Ocean. How important is it for China to gain access to the Indian Ocean in terms of establishing its regional influence?

TSN: I dont think China focuses on regional influence. It wants Myanmar for the transit, I think. It said it will establish industrial zones [on the Myanmar-China border]. But we dont know exactly what types of industrial zones will be built. Secondary industries from China or Myanmar that will try to produce value-added products for export from resources and raw materials? As Daw Khin Khin Kyaw Kyee said, I think the Myanmar side doesnt have specific plans. Again, as to the question of Chinas regional influence, Myanmar is just for transit, but transit is important strategically. It is transit that will link two oceans and it is very important for underdeveloped southwestern areas of China. Again, China will no longer use the Strait of Malacca, which it currently uses to import 80 percent of its oil from the Arabian Seait will only import oil through Myanmar. It is building a safe trade route. So, as to the question of its regional influence, we will have to wait and see later depending on its actions. But for the time being, it is trying to gain access to the Indian Ocean, export its products to West Asia and safely import oil from there. This is its major objective for now, I assume.

KKKK: We need to view this in connection with regional and global perspectives on China. Until the early 2000s, China focused mainly on resources in Myanmar. But around 2003, then-Chinese President Hu Jintao spoke of the Malacca Dilemma: China views the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Singapore as a vulnerable route and wants to reduce the countrys dependence on it, so it sought other possible routes and found that access to the Indian Ocean through Myanmar could be of help. Since then, access to the Indian Ocean through Myanmar has been a part of Chinas strategic thinking. It is intended for defensive purpose, to protect its interests.

But again, there has been increased rivalry between China and the US in the region, so it has become important for China to be able to effectively access the Indian Ocean and Myanmar has become important in its strategic thinking. My view is that Myanmar has become an important spot in the region due to its strategic importance to China. So Myanmar needs to manage the rivalry well. If not, there is a high possibility that we may suffer from the rivalry. In weighing Kyaukphyu [and its deep-sea port], Myanmar should not just think from an economic perspective, but also take the regional landscape into consideration. Only then will we be able to promote our national interests amid the rivalry between these big countries. If we cant manage it well, we will suffer.

KK: Do you think peace talks with EAOs in northern Myanmar will speed up if there are further agreements on BRI following the Chinese presidents visit?

TSN: I hope so. The Chinese president will sign agreements during his visit and projects will then start to be implemented. Because of this, it is important for China that all the EAOs in the area are engaged in the peace process. Again, except for the AA [Arakan Army], China can control the activities of all the members of the FPNCC. I hope that bilateral ceasefire agreements will be signed with the EAOs after the Chinese presidents visit. Then the peace process landscape in 2020 will be more pleasant and military tensions will deescalate in northern Myanmar.

KK: There are a lot of EAOs along the gas pipeline [that goes from Rakhine State to Chinas Yunnan Province], but not a single bullet has ever been shot at the pipeline itself. China has such tremendous influence. My last question, what strategies should Myanmar adopt in considering Chinese projects?

KKKK: The BRI is a global project and Myanmar cant walk away from this globalization process. But on the other hand, Myanmar should have a clearer vision of how it wants to participate in this project. Myanmar wants to see development, but the questions are which sector will it prioritize for development, which sector will we use as a base for improving our economy? If we are to boost our economy based on tourism, then we will need a specific type of infrastructure. Similarly, if we are to boost our economy based on manufacturing, then we will need a different type of infrastructure. So, first of all, we must have a clear vision about how we want to develop our country. Based on this, then we have to take the necessary actions, step-by-step.

KK: Thank you for your contributions!

You may also like these stories:

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Russia under President Putin has regained some of the global importance that it lost after the breakup of the Soviet Union. During the Cold War, Moscow had a significant presence in the Middle East where it supported proxies in its battle against the West. Russias recent advances in the region have been a reaction to the U.S.'s relative retreat.

Although Putin is accredited with excellent strategic insight, his accomplishments are primarily good decisions made at the right moment. The escalation of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran is another development that the Kremlin views favorably as they see opportunities to advance their position. The risks are severe, but so are the rewards. Moscow could make significant financial, strategic, and diplomatic advances at the expense of both Iran and the U.S.

Russia is already one of the biggest producers of oil in the world with a daily production average of 11.2 million barrels in 2019. A significant portion of the states budget is based on the export of oil and gas. Although conflict is usually bad for business, the rising oil prices due to the killing of General Soleimani increase Russias earnings in the short term.

Iranian oil is roughly the same quality as oil from Russian oil fields. Although Tehrans exports have already collapsed due to Trumps maximum pressure policy, Moscow still sees some room to increase market share at the expense of Iran. Every day that Tehrans national oil company is absent from the global markets, competitors solidify their position.

Also, the recent tensions increase the risk of supply disruptions in an already sensitive region. Approximately 21 percent of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. During the past two months, several ships have been attacked as a direct consequence of the rising tensions. Although Washington and Riyadh were quick with blaming Tehran, it is uncertain who was behind the attacks. What is certain though is that any supply disruption will have disastrous consequences for the world economy. Related: Iranian Cyberattack Hits Bahrain Oil Company

While customers of Middle Eastern oil are aware of the risks and try to mitigate its effects, Moscow sees opportunities. East Asias three largest economies, China, Japan, and South Korea, have a dependency of 44, 88, and 82 percent respectively on Gulf oil. These countries have a lot to lose if the U.S.-Iran conflict escalates. Therefore, the strategic importance of alternative producers such as Russia has increased.

Traditionally, the bulk of the countrys oil is produced in Western Siberia. In recent years, however, the country has invested significantly in the Arctic and Eastern Siberia. Russias relative proximity to Asian customers and the lack of bottlenecks make it an ideal supplier. Russia already dethroned Saudi Arabia in 2016 as the biggest supplier in China. With additional investments and the gradual shifting of production from the west towards regions near East Asia, Moscow expects to increase its exports even further.

Lastly, the tension between the U.S. and Iran improves Russias diplomatic standing. Moscow has achieved the impossible: maintaining good relations with all countries in the Middle East. The relative withdrawal of the U.S. from the region has created a power vacuum that Russia partly filled. Although Moscow does not have a military, economic, and diplomatic clout comparable to Washingtons, its flexible Middle Eastern strategy has made it one of the few power brokers of the region.

The value and importance of a mediator are only appreciated when there is a conflict to solve. Although Moscow's cooled relations with Washington rule out mediation, Tehran is keen on receiving support from the Kremlin in its conflict with Washington. The unprecedented economic and political pressure has left Irans leadership with few options. Moscow, however, is happy to help as long as the rewards are worth it.

By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Kirk Franklin shares powerful 2020 message as he battles depression, anxiety

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Gospel pioneer Kirk Franklin shared some advice he received for the new year while battling depression and anxiety amid a string of deaths among his friends.

"[In] 2019, I experienced a high amount of loss in my life. I went to more funerals in 2019 than I've ever been to in my life. I went to the funerals of friends, the funerals of people's parents and the funeral of people's kids and it was a lot, the performer took stated on Instagram Friday.

Franklin was a support to his pastor, Tony Evans, in the recent loss of his wife, Christian artist TobyMac, who buried his 21-year-old son, and others. The magnitude of loss surrounding Franklin took a toll on him and brought on anxiety.

"It just really brought a lot of anxiety. To me, I really struggle with a lot of anxiety and really got into a funk that I couldn't really get out of. [It was] this just really dark funk, that I was in, depression, battling it. Not only that, just the anx that death can bring to you also is this anxiety about the future. It's a fear of who's next, what's next? Franklin confessed.

The gospel music trailblazer decided to jump on a call with his godly therapist while in the Dominican Republic, where he currently went to decompress.

"I was just talking to him about being very anxious and very consumed with fear and worry and just the struggle with it all. He said, 'When I begin to live a life of gratitude, more gratitude then I will begin to be more selfless because fear is rooted in self, Franklin said.

Think about it, when you start a fearful conversation it's 'What about me? What's going to happen to me? How am I going to pay my bills? How am I going to make it? They're going to hurt me, I'm going to get sick, I'm going to lose this'... Everything starts with I, it's very self-focused. So if we can begin to live a life of gratitude, always giving thanks even when things are dark, they could be darker.



His trip to the Dominican Republic also helped him to realize how fortunate he is. Franklin said hes witnessed seven and eight and nine people sleep in one bedroom with no electricity, no windows. He also talked about the danger of sex trafficking in the country.

"I promise you. It can be worse. So living a life of gratitude, then you will begin to be more selfless, give God thanks for what He has already done, the Texas native continued.

Franklin shared one final piece of advice his therapist gave him.



"He said to me 'Kirk, you need to be more grateful.' I'm saying it to you this way. 'I am a miracle I am not acknowledging.' You need to say that to yourself; you need to look at yourself in the mirror and say, 'I am a miracle I am not acknowledging' because when we're so busy worrying and in fear or whatever, we forget that because it could be worse. Seeing another day is a miracle.

Franklin reflected, "The fact that we're still alive is another miracle, the fact that we still have the activities of our limbs, the fact that we made it this far, that we were not stillborn, that that we're here. We are a miracle we are not acknowledging. Hope that encourages you, it encouraged me ... Have a strong year.
Nitish Kumar, whose third consecutive tenure as the chief minister of Bihar would end in less than a year, organised the event to raise awareness about efforts such as the 'Jal- Jeevan-Hariyali' drive, campaigns against dowry and child marriage and ban on sale and consumption of alcohol

Patna: Millions of people came out on the streets in Bihar on Sunday to form human chains across the state in support of the Nitish Kumar government's environment conservation and social reform measures.

Bihar: Residents of Athar village make human chain formation on boats in Gandak river,in Bochaha Tehsil of Muzaffarpur.State govt has organised human chain formation across the state today,in support of 'Jal,Jeevan, Hariyali',CM'sflagship prog,to fight climate change&social evils pic.twitter.com/aN96CqDLki  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

The chief minister, flanked by his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and other dignitaries, stood holding hands at the Gandhi Maidan in the state capital, where the participants formed a pattern resembling the map of Bihar.

Kumar, whose third consecutive tenure as the chief minister would end in less than a year, organised the event to raise awareness about efforts such as the 'Jal- Jeevan-Hariyali' drive, campaigns against dowry and child marriage and ban on sale and consumption of alcohol. Speaking after the function - as part of which patriotic songs were played by musical bands - Kumar thanked the people of the state for making the event a success and said, "I hope the number of people who have participated exceeds what we had intended to achieve."

Official sources said efforts were made to include 40 million people, "more than the population of countries like Canada and Australia", in the drive and an exact figure would be available by evening. This is the third human chain organised at the instance of Kumar, the first being in 2017 followed by another a year later.

Opposition parties like the RJD, however, came out with stinging criticism of the event, dubbing it as a colossal wastage of public money and government resources.

Tejashwi Yadav, RJD leader in Patna: When there were floods,no helicopter was in sight but for video recording of human chain formations today,15-16 helicopters were used. So much money has been wasted over it. https://t.co/9ObP8hVUax  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav told reporters, "We would have appreciated, had the chief minister organized a rozgar shrinkhla - for providing jobs to unemployed youth - instead of the farcical manav shrinkhla (human chain)."

The party's national vice president Shivanand Tiwary said the event was a flop show and shared a number of pictures on social media in which the chain could be seen broken at a number of places and children aged no more than 10 years made to stand in the cold weather, despite official claims that only those of Class VI and above would be taking part.
B oris Johnson has told Vladimir Putin there is "no change" in the UK's stance towards Russia in the wake of the chemical incident in Salisbury.

The Prime Minister held talks with the Russian President in Berlin during a world leaders' summit hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two leaders met at the international conference to discuss the situation in Libya.

Mr Johnson told the Russian leader there would be no change in the UKs stance towards Russia until it ended the "destabilising activity" that threatens the UK.

Boris Johnson and Vladimir Putin talk to each other during their meeting on the sideline of a conference on Libya / AP

A Downing Street spokesman said: The Prime Minister met President Putin in the margins of the Berlin conference on Libya.

He was clear there had been no change in the UKs position on Salisbury, which was a reckless use of chemical weapons and a brazen attempt to murder innocent people on UK soil.

He said that such an attack must not be repeated.

The Prime Minister said that they both had a responsibility to address issues of international security, including Libya, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
Hi Neighbor,

Poor Bill de Blasio. The guy just cant catch a break.

Hes got major issues on his plate like a homeless crisis, a public housing/lead paint crisis, a developing criminal justice/cash bail crisis, a hate-crimes crisis. And he gets beat up regularly over every one of them.

But when he shows up at a feel-good event like Staten Islands Groundhog Day, hes supposed to bask in the fun of it all. Instead, the guy winds up accused of murdering the star of the show.

It so bad that the New York Post published a screaming headline last week, Feds blame Bill de Blasio for murder, sex assault of 92-year-old woman, because of his decision to keep New York a sanctuary city. One retired cop told a reporter that the victims blood is on Mayor de Blasios hands.

That, Neighbors, is beyond harsh.

But the mayor finds himself a target of abuse even over the mundane. He sleeps too late. He naps in the office. Hes late for every event hes scheduled to attend. Hes rarely in City Hall. He works out too much in a Park Slope gym. He travels too far to get there. He uses a gas-guzzling monster SUV on the way. He pays too little in property tax.

The latest mayoral brouhaha involves bagels. Bill likes them toasted. Frankly, Neighbors, so do I. Who knew it was a crime? The New York tabloids exploded. Seems your street cred as a New Yorker is toast if you toast your bagels.

Then there was Pizzagate. The first involved knives, forks and Staten Island Goodfellas.

The latest happened in Times Square this past New Years Eve. Pizza bigwigs at a Dominos  yes, pizza aficionados . . . they do call a Dominos pie pizza  anyway, those in charge at the establishment appear to be savvy in the world of supply-and-demand.

Hey, they must have thought. New Years Eve plus Times Square equals about a million people. No doubt a lot of them hungry. So Dominos took their large pie  normal cost about 16 bucks with three toppings  and carted a bunch to the throngs of revelers, with a $30 price tag.

After all, how often do you get the opportunity to sell a million slices? Thats a lot of abeetz!

Hizzoner, defender of the downtrodden and working guy, would have none of it and took to Twitter.

Jacking up your prices on people trying to celebrate the holidays? Classy, @dominos, the mayor tweeted. To the thousands who came to Times Square last night to ring in 2020, Im sorry this corporate chain exploited you  stick it to them by patronizing one of our fantastic LOCAL pizzerias.

A public relations no-brainer, I thought. Slam the greedy corporates and promote local business. Even I applauded the mayor, something he doesnt often hear from his outer-most borough. Luckily not too publicly, because he was excoriated for dumping on the pizza chain.

God help the poor florists if this dope ever hears about Valentines Day, wrote Kevin D. Williams in the New York Post, admittedly a publication that is no friend of de Blasio.

Ha!

Theres no point in debating the rightness or wrongness of what Dominos did. Price-gouging? Maybe.

The real point is Bill de Blasio has two more years governing our city and in the eyes of a lot of New Yorkers, he cant do anything right.

Really, for a lot of us he never could. Whether it be a serious issue or another involving pizza.

Eating a slice with a knife and fork? It happened five years ago in Goodfellas over on Hylan Boulevard in Dongan Hills. It was national news. Even the mighty New York Times weighed in, with de Blasio pal and Dongan Hills resident Charlie Greinsky  a solid Democrat if there ever was one -- weighing in with The Times.

Blasphemy, Charlie called the mayors cutlery attack. If you cant get Charlie Greinsky to back the knife-and-fork approach to a sloppy slice, you might as well toss in the paper napkin. Heck, Ive done it. Dont judge me. Did you ever try folding a smoldering slice loaded with oozing mutzi and smoking-hot red sauce?

Then there was the groundhog. I was dining with a leading Staten Island political guy from the mayors opposing party the other night when the subject of Hizzonors inability to connect with the people came up. He didnt drop the groundhog, the pol said. The thing wiggled out of his arms.

I wasnt there for that fiasco, but I was when Staten Island Chuck sliced Mike Bloombergs finger, through his leather glove. Thats a feisty little guy. (The groundhog. Not Mike Bloomberg. Well . . . maybe him, too.)

The point of all this? Its going to be a long two years before we see another mayor and frankly, whos on the horizon who will lead this city with the stature and leadership ability of a pre-Donald-Trump Rudy Giuliani or a Mike Bloomberg?

Bill de Blasio, the guy who was to bring a gentleness back to New York, has lost his ability to connect. Maybe even govern. Hes lambasted at every turn in the press, and by New Yorkers who no doubt didnt vote for him  or anyone.

City & State magazine took a look at the numbers after the last mayoral election.

In 2016, there were 8,537,673 people in New York City, and 5,053,842 voters -- 4.6 million of them active voters, City & State found. Just 1,097,846 voted in the mayoral election and only 726,361 for de Blasio, they reported. Thats 8.5 percent of New Yorkers.

A mandate? I dont think so.

We tell people that if you dont vote, dont complain. Well, yes. But the bigger question: Is a government chosen by such a small group of citizens really a democracy?

Bill de Blasio has done some good things for New York. Universal pre-K probably the most significant. But stack that against the city Housing Authority and lead paint mess, the billion dollars spent on his wifes Thrive NYC mental health program that doesnt seem to be doing much, the statue fiasco that led to the resignation of one of the best Cultural Affairs commissioners in recent memory, or all the innuendo about pay-for-play fund-raising. No, charges were never brought on that one but given the bigger picture, you have to wonder what the next two years will bring.

An up-and-coming Democrat wholl remain nameless for now has this theory. Trump wins in November. We elect a mayor the following year. Alexandria Ocasio Cortes (AOC to most) has shaken up Washington and is looking to make even more waves.

Whats the second toughest job in the country?

So she runs for Mayor of New York City. Given typical voter turnout here, what do you think happens?

Which leads to the inevitable question floated by Staten Island Councilman Joe Borelli:

Secession anyone?

Brian
Al Jazeera reports from a rural community in Afghanistan that is finding it difficult to cope with the heavy snowfalls.

Heavy snows in parts of Afghanistan has killed dozens of people in recent weeks.

This has exacerbated their already difficult existence, as medical facilities are now well out of reach, over snow-covered hills that they cannot navigate.

Al Jazeeras Zein Basravi went to Herat province, in western Afghanistan, where residents are appealing for help as the dire conditions continue.
After India's claims that 'PoK belongs to us', Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, on Thursday, claimed that his nation was willing to hold a referendum in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), in an interview with Deutsche Welle. He said that he was willing to let the people decide if they wanted to remain with Pakistan or wanted independence. He further claimed that PoK held free and fair elections and it elects its own government.

Pakistan ready to hold PoK referendum

Let the people of Kashmir decide what they want, he said adding, Pakistan is ready for a referendum or a plebiscite. Let them decide whether they want to remain with Pakistan or to be independent. We are all for it.

Pakistan claims 'discussed India's Hindutva agenda' with US, Pompeo only mentions Iran

In the course of the interview, Khan took a jibe at India saying,"Like any other administration, they have their problems. But as I said, let us invite observers from all over the world. I assure you that they can go to the Pakistan side of Kashmir but wont be allowed on the Indian side.

In phone call with Mike Pompeo amid Gulf crisis, S Jaishankar highlights India's stakes

Pak Army targets PoK civilians

Inspite of Khan's rhetoric of 'freeing PoK', his own army has time and again targetted PoK civilians - including school children. In a bid to push infiltrators into India, Pakistan has used PoK civilians as bait while firing at the Indian Army. Moreover, time and again PoK civilians have protested against these atrocities by the Pakistan Army.

EU invites Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to Brussels amid tensions with US

Imran Khan and Kashmir

Meanwhile, Imran Khan has repeatedly meddled into the Kashmir issue since the Indian Parliament abrogated article 370. He has repeatedly fearmongered and peddled fake news on Kashmir's ground situation. He has also faced defeat on an international scale after he called for global mediation into the bilateral issue.

SAS hero famous for rescuing 19 hostages in 1980 Iranian Embassy siege, dies aged 71

After facing defeat at the UNHRC, UN informal meeting, European Parliament, G7 Summit, Khan also dragged up Kashmir at the UN General Assembly meeting. India has all the while maintained its stance that the abrogation of article 370 is an internal matter while any other disputes regarding Kashmir will be solved bilaterally. His allies China and US too have maintained the same.
On Monday night, Perez Hilton is entering the South African jungle as he joins the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia as an intruder.

And the reformed gossip guru says that his aim on the show will be changing people's minds about him.

Speaking on The Sunday Project, the 41-year-old confessed: 'I would say the biggest misconception that people have about me is that I'm an awful human being, and I don't think I am.'

Changes: Perez Hilton (pictured) appeared on The Project on Sunday night and said he hopes to change the minds of Australians who 'hate him' as he joins the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia

The blogger went on to say that it's his 'dream' to alter those opinions on his character.

'[It] will be a straight-up fantasy, dream scenario, to enter the jungle knowing that probably a lot of Australians don't like me, but then leaving and getting out there to the response like, "You know what, you weren't as bad as we thought".'

The Hollywood-based star added: 'We kind of enjoyed you. You are a really nice guy.'

The 41-year-old confessed: 'I would say the biggest misconception that people have about me is that I'm an awful human being, and I don't think I am.' Pictured in 2007

He went on: '[It] will be a straight-up fantasy, dream scenario, to enter the jungle knowing that probably a lot of Australians don't like me, but then leaving and [the response being], "You know what, you weren't as bad as we thought".' Pictured 2008

Perez, whose young son appeared on screen during the interview, said he will miss his children while in the jungle - but says they are watching the show at home.

'They will be seeing me and hopefully I will be able to put smiles on my kids' faces and make them proud!' the TV personality said.

The controversial blogger has three kids, daughter Mia Lavandeira, four, son Mario Lavandeira, three, and Mayte Lavandeira, two, all born via surrogates.

Tuning in! Perez, whose young son appeared during the interview, said he will miss his children while in the jungle - but says they are watching the show at home. Pictured on the Project

Cute! 'They will be seeing me and hopefully I will be able to put smiles on my kids' faces and make them proud!' the TV personality said

Dinner time: The blogger has three kids, daughter Mia Lavandeira, four, son Mario Lavandeira, three, and Mayte Lavandeira, two, all born via surrogates. Pictured with his mother

Perez has also said he plans to stir the pot on the show, dishing his contentious opinions on the tryst between contestants Charlotte Crosby and Ryan Gallagher.

'I feel like Charlotte and Ryan have been sucking way too much of the oxygen in the room and stealing way too much on-air time,' he told Sunday Confidential.

The scandal-maker added: 'That is to the detriment to some of the other camp mates.'
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

LAS CRUCES  The colorful hand-woven textiles made by women hundreds of miles away in the highlands of Chiapas, Mexico, transformed a nondescript office that houses Weaving for Justice.

The nonprofit organization in Las Cruces sells items made by Mayan womens weaving cooperatives, and every third Saturday of the month the office is turned into a shop selling a range of handmade items  from traditional huipiles, or blouses, to woven pillow covers, purses and stuffed animals and dolls.

We try to educate people about these threats to their lives, and about how purchasing these items helps women stay on their lands and not migrate, said Christine Eber, co-founder of Weaving for Justice.

Eber, an anthropologist and author, got to know Mayan women in Chiapas as a graduate student doing field work in 1987. As she was returning to the U.S., Eber said she asked the woman she was staying with how she could repay her hospitality and was told, Please help us sell our weavings in the U.S.

Years later the strong bond between Eber and the woman, Flor de Margarita Perez, and the weaving cooperatives in the highlands have become Weaving for Justice, an all-volunteer organization run by a small group of women in Las Cruces.

All of the proceeds from sales, including items sold through the groups website weaving-for-justice.org, go directly to the weaving cooperatives in Chiapas. Weaving for Justice relies on memberships and donations to cover the cost of holding sales and events, printing literature, booth fees and a small monthly electric bill. The office space is donated by Las Cruces attorney Beatriz Ferriera.

By promoting fair trade markets for weaving cooperatives that sustain their traditions and native language, the goal is to foster empowerment and economic independence for the women and their families. The organization also helps raise money for scholarships to help children attend school beyond sixth grade.

Weaving for Justice also works to educate the U.S. public about the issues faced by women in Chiapas through a newsletter and their website. Eber taught anthropology at New Mexico State University and has also written three books featuring Mayan women in Chiapas.

Some of the Mayan symbols and designs on the goods date back centuries but the items are also practical for modern-day purposes, including the small woven bag that serves as a cellphone case.

Many of the shoppers at the sale this Saturday were women who not only appreciated the beautifully made unique items but the chance to make a difference.

We need to do things like this because we are human beings, hopefully moral human beings, so, yes, I support something like this, Paula Kology said.

She was interested in buying a white blouse with colorful flowers in a cool fabric for the summer. At a past sale, she bought one of the small woven bags with a shoulder strap.

Its perfect for when I go line dancing, 73-year-old Kology said. Im able to put my keys, my phone and a couple of bucks in it.

Rebecca Ramos attended the sale with her daughter and bought several items. This is a tortilla warmer. I like the artwork on it, she said. Tucked inside, as an added bonus, was a recipe to make tortillas from scratch.

I like that its fair trade, said Ramos, 64.

Her daughter Selena Valdez, 34, said it was also an opportunity to connect with their roots. It interests me because thats part of my heritage, she said.

The intricately woven and hand-stitched items including pillow covers caught her eye. Really, pretty. I like it a lot, very colorful. It speaks to me, said 34-year-old Valdez as she browsed.

The obvious admiration of the shoppers was bittersweet for Maria Gonzalez. Back in her hometown in Guatemala she said women cannot make a living wage weaving.

If you work in textiles, you get paid very, very little, a miserable wage, Gonzalez said.

Shes glad the hard work of women weavers is valued and promoted by Weaving for Justice in the U.S.

For me this work is very, very special, said Gonzalez, who is seeking asylum after fleeing with her teenage son when he faced threats and was attacked in Guatemala.

Gonzalez hopes to start weaving again as a volunteer for Weaving for Justice as she waits for her asylum case to be decided in U.S. immigration court.

I want to help with this effort to get a fair price for these items, Gonzalez said.
YEREVAN.  Acting director of National Security Service Eduard Martirosyan attended the memorial service for ex-chief of the same service Georgi Kutoyan.

He did not answer reporters questions: An investigation will be held.

The memorial service was attended by former police chief Vladimir Gasparyan, president of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan, former head of national security service Arthur Vanetsyan, representatives of the Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia parties.

Ex-director of Armenia's National Security Service Georgi Kutoyan was found dead with a gunshot wound in his apartment on January 17. His wife found the body. The investigators have opened a criminal case on charges of incitement to suicide.
Economic Turbulence

Aurora Cannabis (TSX:ACB)(NYSE:ACB) was once the hottest cannabis stock in the world. In 2016, shares tripled. In 2017, they quadrupled. In 2018, the stock hit a high of $14, when just a few years prior, it was valued at $0.50.

Last year, everything changed. The bear market of 2019 may ultimately go down as one of the most painful periods in cannabis history. Billion-dollar companies were forced to the brink of collapse. Even the best-financed competitors saw share price declines exceed 80%.

Aurora was unable to avoid destruction. After achieving a valuation of $15 billion in 2018, the companys market cap has been reduced to just $3 billion.

Such rapid downward moves are rare. What happened? More importantly, can you take advantage by buying battered shares? If the company ever regains its former glory, there would be at least 1,000% upside.

Heres what happened

During Auroras atmospheric rise, its difficult to tell just how special the company was. In 2017, for example, shares surged 400%, but stocks like Cronos Group, Canopy Growth, Hexo, and more posted similar gains. Any company even loosely related to cannabis saw its valuation skyrocket.

Its difficult to glean any lessons from this period. It was a classic hype cycle  a rising-tide-lifts-all-boats situation.

Actually, the best time to learn something was during the bear market of 2019. Similar to the rise of 2017, last year punished every company in the industry. It was an indiscriminate sell-off, yet the positioning of different companies has become clear. Weve also gotten a glimpse into what cannabis producers need to do to achieve long-term success.

For example, Tilray stock sank last summer after revealing its average realized price per gram dropped 28% to $4.61. Other producers later reported similar struggles.

I immediately thought of a report from The Guardian the year prior, which stated that Oregons glut of marijuana  over one million pounds of unsold pot  is in many ways the result of an industry still finding its feet. Canada is experiencing a similar evolution, with the deleterious effects of commoditization only beginning to be felt.

Story continues

State of affairs

Commoditization is the number one risk for the entire cannabis industry. Despite the feeling that marijuana is different, its, in many ways, no more difficult to grow than any other crop. As markets open and industry supply scales, it will be a race to the bottom for pricing. Take a look at any major dairy producer  some of which have already gone bankrupt this year  and youll understand how difficult it is to peddle in a pure commodity.

The future, then, will be predicated on brands. Oreos, Coke, and Heinz are all made from commoditized ingredients, yet command premium pricing due to consumer loyalty. The cannabis company that can copy this playbook for pot will win.

Lets look at the competition. Cronos Group is working with tobacco giant Altria Group, which owns world-renowned brands like Marlboro. Canopy Growth has partnered with Constellation Brands, which distributes popular brands like Corona and Modelo. Hexo, meanwhile, has already co-created a cannabis beverage with Molson Coors Canada. Tilray struck a deal with an Anheuser Busch InBev subsidiary.

Aurora has secured several partnerships, but none as large as its competitors. That means it will need to develop its brands from scratch. Its peers, meanwhile, can leverage existing brands that hundreds of millions of consumers already know and love.

If the future of cannabis is brand power, Aurora is at a clear disadvantage. Until it proves otherwise, shares will trade at a discount.

More reading

The Motley Fool recommends Anheuser-Busch InBev NV, Constellation Brands, HEXO., and HEXO. Fool contributor Ryan Vanzo has no position in any 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
They asked me to say that it wasnt a rape.

These words were spoken in court on by a 19-year-old British woman about the police detectives who interrogated her after she reported being gang-raped in a resort town in Cyprus in July of last year.

Soon after arriving at the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa, the teenager met an Israeli man and became romantically involved with him. During one of their nights together in his room, his friends entered and took turns assaulting her, according to her testimony.

I tried to cross my legs. I was trying to throw my arms about. I dont know how many of them raped me. I couldnt see, she said.

Fleeing the hotel, she went to a nearby medical clinic and the police were called. Twelve Israeli men and boys, aged 16 to 22, were taken into custody.

But two weeks after the incident, the young British woman was taken back to the police station and questioned for eight hours without a lawyer or translator present; the session was not recorded. She then signed a statement retracting her sexual assault claims and was immediately charged with mischief by the police for giving a false statement.

She was jailed for a month in Nicosia prison and only released after she handed over her passport to the local authorities.

Commenting on the arrest of the teenager, Nicoletta Charalambidou, a Cyprus-based lawyer, said: It was never clear when she ceased to be a victim of a crime and became a suspect of another crime.

Meanwhile, the Israeli men accused of raping her were released and allowed to travel home where they were greeted as heroes. At the airport, they were seen popping champagne bottles and chanting the Brit is a whore.

Despite testimony given by a pathologist saying the British teenager had 35 bruises over her body, which proved force was exerted on her, and a statement by a psychologist that the victim was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, on January 7 a Cypriot court found her guilty of the crime of public mischief, handing her a suspended four-month sentence.

Various legal experts have said that there were major irregularities in the investigation and court proceedings. Yet the local authorities have defended their actions and have even demanded an apology from the British teenager.

What happened in Cyprus is not unique to the country. In recent years, Europe has been shaken by a growing number of rape cases in which the victims have been disastrously failed by the system.

In 2012, in France, two women came forward with allegations that they had been gang-raped as teenagers on an almost daily basis for years by a group of young men.

One of the women testified in court that at least 25 youths were present during the rapes while she screamed for help. The case riveted the nation.

Yet, on October 11, 2012, a French jury handed down a combination of acquittals and light sentences to 14 men, accused of the rapes, some of whom were minors at the time of the incidents. Under French law, minors convicted of gang rape can receive terms as long as 10 years in prison  but none received sentences longer than a year. The problem in the case was supposed lack of material evidence.

In a statement, a French feminist organisation said: This verdict sends a catastrophic message to the whole of our society. To rape victims: bringing a complaint is useless. To rapists: youre allowed to rape!

In 2016, in Spain, five men were accused of raping an 18-year-old girl. The trial which was dubbed La Manada (Spanish for wolf pack) ended in 2019 with the five suspects handed lighter sentences for charges of sexual abuse. The judges presiding over the case justified their decision not to charge them with rape with the lack of resistance from the victim.

One of them even called for the acquittal of the accused perpetrators, claiming that this was just sexual acts in an atmosphere of merriment and rejoicing.

Across Europe, statistics are showing that rape reports are on the rise but convictions do not necessarily follow that trend. In France, it is estimated that in 2017, 65,000 French women were raped but only 14,000 police reports were filed and only 1,200 rape convictions were delivered. Between 2010 and 2017, the number of police reports filed with rape allegations increased by 52 percent; for the same period, the number of convictions decreased by 23 percent.

In England and Wales, in 2018, only 17 percent of rape victims filed complaints with the police. While the number of rape reports went up by 160 percent between 2012 and 2017 (from 16,000 to 41,500), the percentage of convictions in rape cases sent to court dropped from 52 to 43 for the same period.

One strategy that the Crown Prosecution Services has allegedly adopted to dodge criticism of low conviction rates has been to drop weak rape cases from the system.

Clearly, the central reason rapists walk free in Europe is that the justice system in European countries, like elsewhere, continues to be skewed in their favour.

One factor ties together sexual assault and its legal outcomes across widely disparate countries and societies: power.

Law enforcement, courts, business and governments continue to be run, overwhelmingly, by men. Men hold the power when it comes to critical decisions regarding womens lives.

British media have reported on the personal ties that some families of the accused Israelis in the Cyprus case have to powerful political figures  one to Jerusalems mayor, another to an Israeli government minister.

The governments of Israel and Cyprus share close strategic and business ties. On January 2, the two countries along with Greece signed a $6bn deal for a gas pipeline which would carry Israeli and Cypriot gas to the Greek island of Crete.

We can only speculate whether politics and business influenced the outcome of the Cyprus rape case or whether it was the gender bias of the Cypriot judicial system.

But its outcome reaffirms deeply embedded toxic ideas about what manhood means and what it is entitled to. This, like many other cases of judicial leniency, surely does not discourage men from committing sexual assault.

Not listening to and not believing women does more than threaten lives. It enables predatory young men to conclude that when it comes to committing sexual violence  they have nothing to fear.

While in the past two years the #MeToo and the #IBelieveHer movements have opened public debates about sexual violence and justice, it is clear we have a long way to go.

Patriarchal power structures, existing for millennia, will not go quietly. This is going to be a long struggle and one of the first steps in it should be pushing for an overhaul of judicial systems to remove gender bias from laws and courtrooms.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
This article was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

It was a Friday night five years ago, and in a basement bar below the officers club at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, two men were getting drunk.

One was the commanding officer, Capt. John R. Nettleton, a 49-year-old career Navy helicopter pilot who had risen to run the remote base on the southeast coast of Cuba, best known as the site of the prison and courtroom for detainees in the war on terror.

The other was Christopher M. Tur, a 42-year-old civilian and onetime enlisted Marine who had moved to Guantanamo with his wife and two daughters four years earlier for a job overseeing efforts to prevent shoplifting from the base commissary.

As the evening wore on, Tur watched with mounting fury from across the bar as his wife, Lara Tur, chatted cozily with Nettleton, who was touching her in a way that struck a witness as inappropriate. At one point, after Christopher Tur remarked that his wife was acting like a whore, the bases public affairs officer, a friend of the couples, told the bartender to stop serving so much to Captain Nettleton and Lara.

But things continued to spin out of control. Within hours, there would be allegations of adultery and a bloody fight. Christopher Tur would be found two days later drowned in the sea with potentially lethal amounts of Prozac and alcohol in his system, four broken ribs and a bruise on his forehead.

No one has been charged in his death, but Friday, Nettleton, his Navy career over, was convicted of obstruction of justice for covering up what happened that night.

A jury of 10 women and two men at the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Jacksonville found him guilty on six charges, which can be punishable by five to 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

The liquor-laced tale of sex, violence, jealousy and power that emerged gradually through testimony and interviews provides a rare, unfiltered view of life among the 6,000 residents of the 45-square-mile outpost behind a Cuban minefield.

Guantanamo Bay, about 500 miles from Miami, has been largely defined for nearly two decades as the site of the secretive detention center, currently holding 40 men as prisoners, and the military courtroom where six of them face death penalty trials.

Yet for people like Nettleton and the Turs, the base is also a small, insular town, with boozy backyard barbecues and a McDonalds. They bring their families, cars and fishing boats, and live in suburban-style neighborhoods.

Everybody seems to know everybody elses business, Kelly Wirfel, the bases public affairs officer at the time and the friend of the Turs, testified at Nettletons trial. You can never get away from it. Drinking and going out with friends is something that happens quite frequently there.

On January 9, 2015, the Turs and Wirfel were going together to a Hail and Farewell Party at the officers club to welcome the bases new second-in-charge, Cmdr. Alonza J. Ross, who now holds the rank of captain.

As they were getting ready, according to Lara Tur, the director of the bases social services center, she and Wirfel got on the phone from their homes and each did a shot to get the party started. They lived in the same neighborhood, Caribbean Circle, and socialized regularly.

Christopher Tur drove them to the club and bought a round of drinks. They then went down a narrow flight of stairs to the Hangar Bar for speeches and a gift exchange. Inside were 25 to 30 people, most of whom were already drinking.

Wirfel had brought a camera to document the evening but quickly abandoned the idea. There was so much drinking going on, she testified.

Across the bar, Nettleton and Lara Tur were close, touching and talking in a way that Wirfel found disrespectful to Christopher Tur, she testified. Christopher Tur noticed, too. Lara Tur testified that she and her husband later quarreled in an alley outside the bar. I told him that we were done, and get his hands off me, she said.

As the party was breaking up, word spread that Nettleton had invited everybody back to his house, up the street. Ross vetoed that idea, in part because Nettletons wife was away in Florida. Christopher Tur called Nettleton a son of a bitch or ass, Ross testified, and loudly, graphically accused Nettleton of having had sex with his wife, according to both Ross and Wirfel, who heard it.

Nettleton staggered off, Wirfel said, and a very intoxicated Lara Tur tried to walk with him until Wirfel stopped her. Ross told Christopher Tur to go home, and watched him walk in the opposite direction.

The details of what happened next are a matter of some dispute, but testimony and trial evidence have established these basic facts: Nettleton returned to his stately, 80-year-old official residence on a promontory above the bay. Christopher Tur showed up there soon after. There was a fight. Then Christopher Tur disappeared.

Nettletons daughter Julia, 15 at the time, was home and at 10:55 p.m. sent a text to a friend. They are getting into a fight downstairs, she wrote. It started with a man coming into my house screaming at my father. Julia Nettleton, now in college, testified that she heard a thumping and banging noise  it sounded like things hitting the wall to me, or hitting furniture.

She had looked down the staircase and saw her father  6 feet, 3 inches tall and 230 pounds  arguing with a man at the door, and was so scared that she locked herself in a bedroom.

Then it got quiet, so she crept downstairs and saw her father flat on the floor, face down, and a man standing over him using a phone.

Wirfel testified that Christopher Tur called her cellphone sometime after he left the officers club, while she and Lara Tur were waiting for a ride home. Christopher Tur, she testified, told her that he had knocked the skipper out. She said she dismissed his remark as a prank because she heard Nettleton say, Oh yeah, he just knocked me out.

Taking the stand in his own defense, Nettleton testified Tuesday that Christopher Tur must have come into his house uninvited because the first thing he remembered of the episode was regaining consciousness with someone shaking me and saying, Wake up, Marine.

It was Christopher Tur standing over him, he testified, alternately hostile and friendly, trying to coax Nettleton back to the bar.

Suddenly, he testified, Christopher Tur just gets this look of rage and began attacking him  pushing him against a wall, tearing his shirt and lunging at him. I just throw a quick punch and I hit him in the nose, Nettleton said, accounting for blood traces from the living room to the kitchen.

Nettleton said he last saw Christopher Tur at his kitchen table with ice and a paper towel to his nose. Nettleton went upstairs to talk to his daughter, and by the time he went down, Christopher Tur was gone.

Lara Tur described her husband as jealous, controlling and abusive, and said she was planning to divorce him. She had found work at the bases Fleet and Family Support Center, and had risen to become the director  a more senior job than her husbands.

In the month before he died, Lara Tur said, her husband demanded she be home at 5 pm each day to make dinner with a smile on my face, kiss him every time she came and went, and call him frequently.

Months earlier, she said, while they were attending a meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, she and Nettleton had had a sexual encounter. She called it a one-time mistake by two friends that crossed a line. There had been flirtation at Guantanamo, she said, and just kissing.

Nettleton testified that he chose not to report the fight because he considered himself the victim of an assault, and to report it would have cost Christopher Tur his job. Nettleton also said that he felt he had wronged Christopher Tur because I had slept with Lara in November  and he didnt know it, but I did.

By the next morning, it was clear that Christopher Tur was missing. It did not initially cause alarm because, Nettleton said, Lara Tur said there were instances of him not coming home at night, and later reappearing.

As the day progressed, Nettleton ordered a base-wide search. The sailors in charge mapped it out believing that Christopher Tur was last seen at the bar because Nettleton had not told them he had been to his home. After first dismissing Christopher Turs call to her the previous night claiming to have knocked out Nettleton, Wirfel told Ross about it.

As they oversaw the searches, Ross testified, he asked Nettleton if Christopher Tur had come to his house. Nettleton denied it at first, he said, then later said Christopher Tur had shown up at his door and that he had sent him away. To Ross, Nettleton looked uninjured and in charge.

One thing did strike Ross as strange, he testified: He looked into the possibility of bringing a Coast Guard helicopter to the search, a suggestion, he said, that Nettleton angrily rejected.

Nettleton testified that he considered the idea outlandish because the Coast Guard pilots would not know the no-fly zones in and around the base and could create a problem with the Cubans if they strayed into their territory.

Thirty-six hours after the fistfight, a Coast Guard patrol boat found Christopher Turs corpse floating off the coastline.

By then, agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, were questioning Lara Tur at their base office. She denied having an affair with Nettleton. At the trial, she testified that she was unaware at the time that her husband had fought with Nettleton, and that had she known about it, would have answered differently.

In the midst of the interview, she said, she was summoned to a room where Nettleton, wearing his blue dress uniform, notified her that her husband was dead and offered his condolences.

Ten days later, Nettleton was relieved of his command. Someone had made an anonymous complaint to a Navy inspector generals office. He was discovered not to have told his superiors and security officers about the fight, and he denied an affair with Lara Tur.

Had Nettleton told the truth from the start, those searching for Christopher Tur might have had a better idea of where to look for him, witnesses testified.

How Christopher Tur got into the water is not a mystery that will be solved in this courtroom, Todd Gee, a federal prosecutor, told jurors. The charges in the case revolve around Nettletons failure to report the fight even though he knew Mr. Tur was somewhere on Guantanamo Bay, drunk, injured and bleeding, Gee said, and Nettletons continuing lack of candor after Christopher Turs body was recovered.

It is unclear why Nettleton never faced Navy charges. He retired in March after wrapping up his career at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

Before the trial began, Judge Timothy J. Corrigan forbade prosecutors and defense lawyers from speculating on how or why Christopher Tur ended up in the water.

We dont want to turn it into a trial on how Mr. Tur died, he told the lawyers. Its not a murder case. Im going to hold you to it. Its not a case either about whether he committed suicide. And Im going to hold you to that.

Carol Rosenberg c.2020 The New York Times Company
Queen Elizabeth II has issued an official statement concerning the new arrangements for Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

"The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family", the statement from Buckingham Palace said.

According to the statement, the Sussexes will no longer receive public funds for royal duties.

"With The Queens blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty", the statement reads.

Prince Harry and Meghan will also step back from their royal duties, including official military appointments, according to the statement.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home", the statement added.

Harry, 35, and his American wife, former actress Meghan Markle, 38, stirred a crisis in the British monarchy on 8 January by proclaiming that they wanted to reduce their royal duties and spend more time in North America, while also becoming financially independent.
China's housekeeping staff have become more aware of the importance of learning skills, and are beginning to invest more time and money in improving their own professional skills.

A woman in a homemaking contest in Suichuan county, Jiangxi province. (Photo/sipaphoto.com)

Housekeeping staff's willingness to learn more professional skills has increased from the previous year, with 23 percent of them paying for skill improvement.

Moreover, compared with 2018, the proportion of workers salaries spent on daily expenses dropped by 12 percentage points, while the proportion spent on personal investment rose, according to the "2019 auntie yearbook" released by ayilaile.com, a homemaking platform.

Zhao Wenying, 47, has been working as a domestic housekeeper for 10 years. She receives training with more than 20 housekeeping staff during her day off. And after 10 days of studying early education and infant care, she was able to obtain the corresponding certificate after passing the exam.

"After more than 10 years of working in the field, I have accumulated some experience, but if I want to be more professional, I still have to keep learning," said Zhao, adding that "employers are becoming more demanding and often ask all kinds of questions. How can one be satisfied, how can one be at ease, if I keep asking questions?

Zhao paid a total of 2,480 yuan (about $361.6) for a 10-day early education course, and the company promises to give her a full refund after three years of service.

"It's good to learn something new. You should keep learning, otherwise you could become outdated," said Zhao.

Zhao also pointed out that her employer had expected her to come to work on the weekend and pay her overtime, but she preferred to take the day off. "On the one hand, I can relax, and more importantly, I can have time to study."

"If you want to make more money, make yourself valuable first," said Zeng Xiaomei, the deputy general manager of ayilaile.com.

Zeng added that those now working in the homemaking industry are mostly people born after the 1970s or 1980s, and have been lifted out of poverty. These staff are no longer working just to survive, but hope to make a better life for themselves.

From Zeng's point of view, homemaking staff are willing to pay for knowledge and take an examination for the corresponding certificates, which is no different from fresh graduates trying to pass English or computer exams when looking for a job.
An investigation into the murder is under way.

A 32-year-old Donbas war veteran was stabbed to death in Kyiv's Obolon district in the early hours of January 19, 2020.

"A man came to a cafe at 28a Mykola Yunkerova Street in the early hours of January 19 and asked for help. His clothes were bloodstained. The cafe staff called an ambulance, but unfortunately, the victim died before its arrival. Everything happened at around 03:00," the kiev.informator.ua reported.

Read alsoAnother sinkhole appears after pipe burst outside Kyiv's shopping mall  media (Photo, video)

As the portal learnt from sources in law enforcement agencies, the man approached the cafe's entrance and fell. He asked for help and said he had been attacked. However, he did not give any details.

Investigators who worked at the site examined the man's body. He had been stabbed in the neck with his carotid artery severed. A knife was found next to the body. The man's identity was established, he had a war veteran ID card on him.

An investigation into the murder is under way.

The strana.ua portal reported he was a resident of Odesa.
Cape May County Indivisible will host a protest rally Jan. 28 outside the Wildwoods Convention Center in response to a rally by President Donald Trump being held in the venue the same day.

When hate comes to our backyard, we have a moral obligation to take action and not look away, Shayla Woolfort, co-chairwoman of CMC Indivisible, which bills itself as a progressive, grassroots collective organizing for social, racial, reproductive and environmental justice. We stand in solidarity with the historically marginalized communities that this administration is hurting.

CMC Indivisible is co-hosting the event with more than two dozen other grassroots organizations, according to a news release. Speakers will include Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett, Will Cunningham and Amy Kennedy, all of whom are running as Democrats for a chance to unseat U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd.

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+3 Protests and pregames planned for Trump's Wildwood rally WILDWOOD  The stretch of Boardwalk in front of the Convention Center was eerily still and u

The goal is to act as a unified grassroots force, said Cassandra Gatelein, another CMC Indivisible co-chairwoman. Not everyone is going to like us protesting Trumps visit, and thats OK. But protest is patriotic  and its supposed to make people feel uncomfortable, because its bringing attention to what needs to be changed.
Director General of Prisons of Jammu and Kashmir V K Singh on Sunday visited Uttar Pradesh and interacted with 17 detenues from the Union Territory who are lodged in the Lucknow district jail, an official spokesman said here.

At present 220 detenues from Jammu and Kashmir are lodged in six jails of Uttar Pradesh and Singh would be taking up the matter regarding "e-mulaqat" with the Uttar Pradesh jail administration to enable Kashmir-based relatives to interact with the detenues lodged in UP jails over video-conference, the spokesman said.

He said the DG Prisons visited prison headquarters Lucknow where he was informed about the working of the headquarters which supervises 72 jails of Uttar Pradesh accommodating more than one lakh inmates.

Singh interacted with the 17 detenues from Jammu and Kashmir lodged in the Lucknow district jail and enquired about their health and other facilities being provided to them.

He was informed that the detenues are regularly allowed to meet their relatives and regular health check-ups are conducted, the spokesman said.

He said Singh appreciated the efforts of UP jail authorities.

The detenues were taken into custody after the Centre abrogated Jammu and Kashmir special status under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into Union territories in August last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Azeez Fashola popularly known as Naira Marley came into national consciousness in 2017 with his hit single Issa goal.

He got to the peak when he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2019 alongside another popular artiste, Zlatan Ibile for alleged cyber crime fraud. He was released after spending some time in the EFCC custody and went on to release soapy after his release from custody.

He has released more hit songs like Japa, Am I a yahoo boy?, Opoloyi, Mafo, Puta, Tesumole which has put him on the lips of most Nigerian youths. The most popular two however are Soapyand Tesumole.

He recently declared himself as the President of the Marlian movement. This movement is made up of renegades and outlaws who abhor societal convention in their bid to stand out from the pack. We hear such things as Marlians dont greet, Marlians dont graduate, Marlians sag their trousers etc.

The movement which is akin to a cult has found great acceptance by many Nigerian youths and the old alike as the numbers keep growing in leaps and bounds day by day. The likes of DJ Cuppy, Richard Mofe Damijo have proudly identified themselves as Marlians. A company in Lagos recently issued a memo saying that none of its employees should publicly identify as a Marlian or there will be dire consequences if they do so.

His biography shows that he graduated with a distinction in business from the Peckham academy and also went to Christ the King Sixth Form College where he completed a degree in business law.

If the crooner could place a high value on his education in a developed nation, one wonders why his followers prefer the creed of being a drop out without any identifiable plan to be useful to themselves and the society!

It is alarming that his music which passes no strong positive message is being accepted by all and sundry in the country. This is music which wont be relevant two years from now and it has got everyone talking about it as though it is the ninth wonder of the world.

When interviewed, he listed the evergreen Jamaican born Bob Marley as one of his musical icons. In fact he partially named himself after the legendary artiste. Marleys songs are still relevant despite the fact that he died about thirty-nine years ago. Why cant he be positively influenced to produce songs that will last for ages to come? Why all the lewd lyrics and gibberish which he sings with so much relish?

One of the scars that my generation has to live with is the destruction of the educational sector by the military when they were in power. The public intellectuals and public opinion moulders all fled into exile and we were left with Lilliputians in the Ivory Towers. The materialism that followed ensured that values of hardwork and integrity were thrown overboard like a plague.

The glorification of vices like internet fraud, dating scams, money making rituals and other numerous vices which many Nigerians gladly embraced is now heavily reflecting on the music that is being produced and sadly exported outside the shores of the country. No wonder former British Prime Minister David Cameron called us fantastically corrupt. Who knows if he listened to any of the songs that our artistes sang?

The moral decadence needs to be urgently addressed and musicians are great agents of change in the society who can be positive non state actors. This is the reason why many of them end up as brand ambassadors for big brands and some even serve in the government. It is tragic that the likes of Naira Marley chose to use his negatively.

Why is the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission rather hypocritical in its manner of approach? Femi Anikulapo-Kutis Bang, Bang, Bang was banned for lewd lyrics as well as that of Folarin Falana a.k.a Falzs This is Nigeria was also slammed by the sledge hammer of the NBC. Why the double standard?

Parents and sensible guardians should do all they can to shield their offspring from the negative influence from the likes of Naira Marley who will stop at nothing to merely trend.

It will be a monumental scandal for brands to make him an ambassador simply because of his mass appeal among the youths. Nigerians should respond by boycotting them as there is power in numbers.

We must collectively crush the marlian movement!

Tony Ademiluyi writes from Lagos and edits www.africanbard.com
Just like IRCTC which pays compensation for delays in its Tejas trains, railways' freight customers could soon be compensated for late arrival of their goods, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal indicated Saturday, demanding a commitment of timely delivery.

Speaking at the foundation day of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited, Goyal said that it should make a commitment to its customers with a timetable for its freight trains.

"Just like the Tejas trains have done in Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad, we should be willing to give a commitment of timely delivery, penalising ourselves if we are delayed and insist on incentives if we do a good job. Let's work on an incentive, penalty model even for our customers. I would urge the Railway Board to discuss this even on a more regular basis even with our existing freight traffic. Currently freight is getting a very step motherly treatment," said Goyal.

For the first time in railways, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has devised a plan whereby it pays a compensation of Rs 100 in case its Tejas train during its run, is delayed by more than an hour and Rs 250 in case of a delay of more than two hours to every passenger.

Also read: IRCTC share price hits Rs 1,000 mark for first time ahead of India's second private train launch

Also read: First time in 166 years, Indian Railways reports zero passenger deaths in FY20
Commerce City police have arrested a 21-year-old man and a teenager after more than 100 vehicles had their windows shot out.

Police say the suspects went on their shooting spree sometime overnight Friday into Saturday. Calls started pouring in around 7 a.m. Saturday as people got up and discovered their damaged vehicles.

Around 8 a.m., a citizen called police on a suspicious vehicle. When officers located the car, they found two people inside, along with a pellet gun and ammo.

Suspect Tomas Medina, 21, and the 15-year-old face a numerous counts of criminal mischief; Medina is also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The shootings occurred in an area bordered by East 66th Avenue, 60th Avenue, Glencoe Street and Quebec Street. Commerce City is northeast of Denver.
Patricia Marx and Roz Chasts latest, You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples (Celadon Books, 160 pp, $20), is not going to change your life. Rather, it is your life, if you are in a long-term relationship.

Chast, whose delightful cartoons have long graced the New Yorker, and Marx, a humorist who writes for that magazine and other publications, deliver a slight, yet spot-on book for anyone who has shared a bed and bathroom with someone for a while.

Falling in love is easy, they write in the introduction. Agreeing about how to load the dishwasher is hard. This is a book of guidelines, tips, and strategies for couples who wish to coexist in happiness. Or at least harmony. Or at least not be worse off than they were before reading these pages.

Its full of hilarious lines put to Chasts signature drawings, where people always look a little nervous. Among my favorites: Before setting out on a long road trip, agree on what to fight about in the car and Sexual favors in exchange for cleaning up the cat vomit is a good and fair trade.

Marx, who moved to New York in 1980 to write for Saturday Night Live, taught at Princeton. The author of many collaborations as an essayist and journalist, Marx chatted with New Jersey Authors about this book and her career. What follows is an edited version of that conversation.

A sweet and very funny book, which includes the advice: Never go to a couples counselor who says, How would you feel if I told you I was in love with your partner?'

How did this book come about?

We had done the one about my mother, and we were looking for a topic we could both write about. Also, I am extremely great friends with Roz and we do a lot of talking and complaining, and this is the kind of thing we talk about.

Theyre the topics girlfriends discuss and advise each other on to navigate relationships. Were these drawn from your lives?

It is for pretty much anyone who has lived with anyone. It does, on a level, turn into a domestic management system. In many ways, it is great to have somebody around. I have never had the luxury of living in a space so big that you almost werent living with someone. Still, there are things you both have to decide.

Whats your work process with Chast?

We come up with a topic and we have millions of things we would like to do later, and I maybe sometimes put it down as an idea. This is one I happened to remember and we had told the editor and it is kind of commercial, and so she liked it. I take a stab at writing the copy. In these books, they are kind of captions.

Then I show it to her, and I usually have a lot of ideas for illustrations she can use or not use. I have no feeling about it. She obviously has a feel for writing, and I am pretty visual. We dont have an ego about this. It works or doesnt work.

Where did you get your first library card?

I grew up in Abington, a northern suburb of Philadelphia. I just remember loving the library. We could walk there by ourselves. My father would take me to the library, and we would go and look at the microfiche. And we would go to the bookstore once a week and buy a book.

What were your other New Jersey connections in addition to teaching at Princeton?

To get from Philadelphia anywhere you have to drive through New Jersey, so one of my early memories is, Are we out of New Jersey yet? To somebody growing up in Philadelphia, it was as big as Texas. And Jersey continues to surprise by its largeness  considering the space it takes up on a map  and its variety.

My grandmother lived in Atlantic City. I sort of associate New Jersey with really good food. If you were 8 years old, saltwater taffy, string licorice and fudge are really good food. We would play Skee-Ball. My goal was to not get sunburned, but sun poisoning. I thought that looked cute.

My parents and all their friends met on the beach in Atlantic City. My father picked my mother up on the beach in Atlantic City. My father was an amateur everything and an amateur sailor. We had the dinkiest boat, and every weekend I would have to go with my father and sail off Long Beach Island. His second job was smoking  smoking under the guise of sailing.

With captions as brief as wine helps and longer ones, this book is more than funny, its true.

What was it like being the first female on the staff of Harvards National Lampoon?

Indirectly, it was the connection to SNL. In retrospect, it was a really interesting time. It seemed like the world then. Its not like I was the funniest girl ever. It was 1971, and like every place else, the Lampoon was obliged to have a girl. They had decided that two years [before], and I was the lucky customer who walked through the door and got the dishwasher set.

It was thrilling. I didnt open my mouth. I was intimidated. It was like a comedy school. It was like a clubhouse there. I was a freshman. I vowed I would never join a fraternity or sorority. Lo and behold, I was in a fraternity. They have a wonderful clubhouse called The Castle, and we were there night and day.

Was that when you realized you wanted to be a comedy writer?

I dont think I considered comedy writing as a profession. I remember my mother asking me if I knew So-and-so at college. And I said, Yeah, but hes not very funny. And she said, Funny isnt everything. Yes, it is!

I came to college pre-everything, pre-med, and then I eliminated everything. And I got a fellowship to go to college in England at Cambridge. I spent many years not doing my dissertation, and one summer, I came home.

Was SNL an extension of the Harvard Lampoon?

I heard through the Lampoon grapevine that they were taking applicants for SNL. A friend of mine, Jim Downey, had worked for SNL and made the introductions. I was there about a year and a half, and it was my first job and first time living in New York. I was so happy. Then (Dick) Ebersol came in, and then he fired everybody.

What did you write at SNL?

Nothing. My mother asked me, and I told her they only want smut. And she said it wouldnt hurt you to write a little smut.

None of your skits made it on air?

Some. I dont even remember them. They were in such bad taste. None of them were memorable. One with Bill Murray and he never graduated from kindergarten. One with Ellen Burstyn and she was the old lady you dont want to go to her house for Halloween. I wrote a lot of (Weekend) Update jokes and that was great fun. People complained all the time, and I complained all the time because I like to do whatever everyone else is doing.

What writers influenced you?

Evan Connell, Nicholson Baker, Woody Allen, James Thurber, Robert Benchley, Bruce Jay Friedman. Dr. Seuss is really the one. I really liked Dr. Seuss when I was little.
President Trump on Saturday took to Twitter to mock proposals to build barriers around Manhattan island in order to prevent flooding and storm surge caused by climate change.

A massive 200 Billion Dollar Sea Wall, built around New York to protect it from rare storms, is a costly, foolish & environmentally unfriendly idea that, when needed, probably wont work anyway, the president and New York native tweeted on Saturday.

It will also look terrible.

Sorry, youll just have to get your mops & buckets ready!

President Trump on Saturday took to Twitter to ridicule a proposal to build a 'sea wall around New York'

A massive 200 Billion Dollar Sea Wall, built around New York to protect it from rare storms, is a costly, foolish & environmentally unfriendly idea that, when needed, probably wont work anyway, the president and New York native tweeted on Saturday. It will also look terrible'

The president was likely reacting to a report about a proposal from the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps is studying plans designed to lessen the effects of climate change, including a man-made 'surge gate' that can close, preventing storm surge

The president was most likely reacting to a news report in Fridays New York Times about proposals to protect the coastlines of the metropolitan New York area from the effects of climate change.

The Times report details several proposals made by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which has studied ways to protect American coastlines from rising sea levels.

One of the proposals involves building a surge gate - a six-mile-long wall that stretches from the Rockaways in Queens to a strip of land in Sandy Hook, New Jersey.

The structure, which would be built on man-made islands with retractable gates, would shut during major storms on the scale of what the area experienced during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The gates would be designed to prevent storm surge from threatening the areas that sit along the coastlines of the five boroughs as well as the adjacent land on the edge of the Hudson and East Rivers.

Supporters of the proposal say it is a preferred solution over building barriers along the coastline.

They would rather these major engineering projects be built miles from New York Harbor so that the city is not cut off from its waterfront.

But others say that the proposal will actually cause further environmental damage by trapping sewage and toxins.

New York area residents are divided about the best way to protect the area from rising sea levels and more damaging storms that are expected due to climate change. The above file photo shows New York City

Opponents also say that the proposed barrier doesnt address two other climate-related threats - flooding from high tides and storm runoff.

Even if the barrier was built, critics say that the Army Corps of Engineers is underestimating future sea levels.

While the Corps anticipates that sea levels will rise 1.8ft by 2100, estimates by New York City suggest that the water could rise by 4.17ft. A worst-case scenario envisions that sea levels could possibly rise by 9ft.

There is also the enormous cost of the proposal - $119billion, and not, as Trump suggested, $200billion.

It would also take 25 years to build.

The Corps said it is just one of five proposals that it is studying.

The other plans involve combinations of smaller sea walls at the mouths of New York waterways as well as shore-based measures.

The plans being considered are similar to other proposals that have already been implemented in European cities that lie next to bodies of water.

In 2011, the Russian government completed construction of a dam to protect St. Petersburg from floodwaters.
Michelle O'Neill also questioned how much "new money" was going to Northern Ireland. Credit: BBC

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said raising tuition fees in Northern Ireland is "not the way to go" to plug any shortfall in funding from the UK Government.

Her comments come just days after First Minister Arlene Foster stated there will have to be a "positive debate" on the issue.

Currently, students pay up to 4,275 a year to study in Northern Ireland, compared to up to 9,250 in England.

Last week, the UK Government announced it was committing an extra 1billion to Northern Ireland as a result of the New Decade, New Approach deal. This is in addition to 1bn that would have always been going to the region under Barnett consequentials.

Read More

This news was greeted with anger from the Stormont parties, who insisted the figure was significantly less than what was promised during negotiations. Secretary of State Julian Smith responded by suggesting the Executive needs to raise revenue in order to cover some of the commitments made in the deal.

Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, Michelle O'Neill ruled out raising tuition fees.

"We shouldn't be trying to build up barriers to accessing education - we should be trying to break them down," she said.

"I think there are clearly financial challenges facing this Executive and we have to grapple with all of those things, but I don't think any conversation around raising tuition fees is a helpful conversation and it's not the right approach."

Ms O'Neill did, however, say that how universities in Northern Ireland are funded needs to be examined and government should work with them so they can be "creative and innovative" in attracting new funding streams.

"Those things will help grow our economy and help make education more affordable, that is something the new Executive should look at - but raising tuition fees is not the way to go," she said.

The Sinn Fein vice-president suggested raising taxation on the highest earners should be an option and said a commission would be set up by Finance Minister Conor Murphy to examine the tax powers of the Executive.

"We have big challenges ahead of us, the first step has to be the Treasury funding the deal the British government has put on the table," she said.

Ms O'Neill also claimed that, of the 2bn going to Northern Ireland, only around 750m over five years was "new money".

Last week, Julian Smith said Northern Ireland receives "20% more funding than any other part of the UK" and he was "disappointed" Northern Ireland parties had ruled out introducing water charges as a way of raising money.

"The Executive needs to look at its own revenue raising measures as well as coming to the UK Exchequer for cash," he added.

Finance Minister Conor Murphy hit back, releasing a briefing note that "sets out facts" of the proposed financial package. The note states the Executive's budget for 2019/20 is 530 million less than pre-austerity levels in 2010/11.

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Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt accused the Northern Ireland Office of being "disingenuous" during negotiation and claimed there had been discussions of the Executive receiving 6bn over three years as part of the deal.

Economist Esmond Birnie has suggested around 5bn is needed to get Northern Ireland back up and running.
K-4 ballistic missile is nuclear capable and can be launched from submarine. (Photo Credit: Representational Image/DRDO)

New Delhi:

India on Sunday successfully test-fired 3,500 km strike range nuclear capable submarine-launched K-4 ballistic missile off Andhra Pradesh coast. The missile under development by DRDO will be equipped on indigenous INS Arihant-class nuclear-powered submarines of Navy, news agency ANI quoted government sources.

K-4 is a nuclear capable intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile. It is being development by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and will be equipped on the Arihant-class submarines. The missile has a maximum range of about 3500 km.

Earlier in December last year, India had also successfully conducted a night trial of its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-2 missile as part of a user trial for the armed forces from a test range in Odisha coast.

The flight test of the surface-to-surface missile was carried out barely a fortnight after two back-to-back trials of the Prithvi-2 were conducted successfully at night from the same base on November 20.

Prithvi-2 is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilograms of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines. The state-of-the-art missile uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target, the source said.

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Queen stingless bees face a greater risk of being executed if they do not remain faithful to one male, new research has found.

Stingless bees are found in tropical climates such as Brazil and are closely related to honeybees and bumblebees.

But while a queen honeybee may mate with up to 20 males, queen stingless bees are usually loyal to one male.

Scientists said queens which mated with more than one worker were more likely to produce infertile offspring, otherwise known as diploid males.

Scientists said queen stingless bees (pictured) which mated with more than one worker were more likely to produce infertile offspring

The colony will then execute the queen because the offspring are defective and cannot reproduce.

And for every diploid male produced, it means there is one less worker bee in the hive.

The study, which was published in the American Naturalist, helped biologists to understand why some species mated with multiple males while other remained loyal to one, according to The Telegraph.

The University of Sussex and University of Sao Paulo compared the fate of queens in different hives in an experiment in Brazil.

Scientists found that the queen doubled her chance of being executed if she mated with two males.

While a queen honeybee may mate with up to 20 males, queen stingless bees are usually loyal to one male. Pictured: A drone bee copulating with a queen bee

According to Francis Ratnieks, Professor of Apiculture (beekeeping) at the University of Sussex, the reasons for this is 'fairly complex'.

Professor Ratnieks said: 'In short, it is due to the genetics of sex determination in bees and the risk of what is known as 'matched mating''.

Normal male bees are produced from an unfertilised egg and therefore only have one set of chromosomes from the mother, and therefore only one sex allele.

However if the egg is fertilised it will have two sets of chromosomes - one from the mother and one from the father.

If the two sex alleles are different, the bee is female, but if they are the same it will be a diploid male, known as 'matched mating'.
More than 1,100 exhibitors from 56 countries are participating at Intersec 2020, a leading global security, safety, and fire protection trade show, which opened today (January 19) in Dubai, UAE.



The show, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will run until January 21, at Dubai World Trade Centre. Intersec is supported by Dubai Police, Dubai Police Academy, Dubai Civil Defence, Sira and Dubai Municipality.



Intersec was officially inaugurated by Major General Expert Rashid Thani Al Matrooshi, director general of Dubai Civil Defence; Major General Abdullah Ali Al Ghaithi, director of the General Department of Organisations Protective Security & Emergency at Dubai Police, and Major General Khalifa Ibrahim Al Sulais, CEO of the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (Sira).



The delegation met top-level dignitaries and representatives from Dubai Police; Came, a leader in automated security solutions; Netherlands-based Nedap, a specialist in systems for long-range identification, smart parking and vehicle access control; Chinese technology giant Huawei, and Axis Communications, a Swedish manufacturer of network cameras for physical security and video surveillance industries.



As the regions premier show for commercial security, fire protection and safety, Intersec plays a crucial role in shaping the future of these industries, said HH Sheikh Mansoor. Protecting our people and assets is a principal responsibility for the UAE and with the Expo 2020 fast-approaching, the implementation of new best practices and technology will solidify the UAEs position as a leader in security.



Andreas Rex, show director at Messe Frankfurt Middle East, which organises Intersec, added: No sector is exempt from technological advancement. The emergence of automation, biometrics, artificial intelligence and machine learning is transforming the face of the security sector and helping to address growing concerns surrounding unmanned aerial, cyber and identity fraud risks.



As security risks become more complex, so too must the solutions designed to combat them, he added.



As Intersec 2020 welcomed the global security industry to Dubai, the bullish security sector growth forecast was issued by Business France, the French government organisation charged with fostering French exports and promoting inward investment into the country.



France, one of 15 international country pavilions at the three-day show at Dubai World Trade Centre, is debuting the most advanced technology emerging across seven broad product sectors: commercial security, smart home, cybersecurity, fire and rescue, safety and health, homeland security and policing, as well as perimeter and physical security.



The Middle East region represents a particularly attractive market for the safety and security sector, which is expected to grow around 10% per year to 2022, said Frederic Szabo, managing director, Business France Middle East, which is hosting 15 French companies at Intersec  11 of which specialise in fire and rescue.



Increasing the capabilities of infrastructure, securing power plants and oil complexes, protecting sites and people for major events to come are all excellent reasons for French experts to extend their presence in the region, added Szabo.



The Czech Republic pavilion is hosting a similar contingent of companies including COMINFO, a manufacturer of turnstiles, gates and access control systems, which is leveraging Intersec to launch EasyGate Superb  the worlds slimmest, fully-equipped speed gate for access control.



COMINFOs regional launch of EasyGate Superb is one in hundreds of major transformative technology breakthroughs at the fair, where the scale of next-generation security risks and the intelligent technology required to prevent and defend against security threats are being explored by local, regional and global industry leaders at Intersecs comprehensive conference programme.



The four-pronged programme, which includes the Intersec Arena, the Future Security Summit and Intersec Fire Conference, and the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (Sira) forum, has drawn experts from more than 50 countries to Dubai.



During a keynote address at the Intersec Arena on Sunday, Engineer Khalid Al Hammadi, chairman of the Security Professionals Association (SPA), the first association for security professionals in the Middle East, announced the launch of SPA for Sira, the Dubai agency tasked with ensuring the highest standards of security and safety in the emirate.



SPA is a platform that allows security professionals to share and enhance their knowledge of industry best practices.



The industry is advancing towards technologies such as AI and machine learning applications, which will be used as part of the security protocols of Expo 2020, said Engineer Al Hammadi.



This is sure to create an array of job opportunities for individuals within the security sector, and SPA for Sira will be there to act as a platform that bridges the gap between security professionals and regulators, as well as fostering a platform for knowledge exchange and development, he added.



Participating in Intersec enables our members to interact with a global network of security experts and learn about the latest security applications and trends within the industry. This event showcases the latest cutting-edge innovations and technologies in one of the most important years for the UAE, which will support the safe and secure logistics of Expo 2020 Dubai, noted Al Hammadi.



At the conference, representatives from 35 governments, trade associations and non-profit institutions spanning the hydrocarbon, banking and finance, municipality, police, customs and healthcare sectors in the Middle East, Europe and the US will map out the future security agenda over coming days.



Digital security challenges, AI implementation, biometric innovations security loopholes in business ecosystems and the integration of digital and physical security to address critical threats are all key topics under the microscope, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
Sanaa, Jan 19 : At least 70 soldiers were killed in a ballistic missile attack in Yemen's Marib province, a government source said on Sunday.

Dozens of soldiers were still suffering critical injuries from the attack that took place on Saturday night near a mosque in al-Estikbal military base, the source told Xinhua news agency.

Yemeni government officials have blamed the Iran-allied Houthi rebels for the attack, but the Houthis have not claimed responsibility.

Hours after the Marib attack, the Saudi-led coalition, which backs the Yemeni government forces, launched a series of airstrikes on a Houthi-controlled military base in the southeast of the group-held capital Sanaa, with no casualties reported, according to the residents.

The Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against the Houthis who stormed the capital Sanaa and controlled much of the country's north in late 2014.
A 16-year NASA mission that painted the universe in infrared light will come to an end this month, as the Spitzer Space Telescope takes its final observations on Jan. 29.

Spitzer launched in August 2003 as one of NASA's four Great Observatories, following in the footsteps of the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. NASA will hold a news conference celebrating Spitzer's legacy on Jan. 22 at 1 p.m. EST (1800 GMT). You can watch the event live here on Space.com or directly through NASA's YouTube page .

The telescope was tailored to study infrared light, which is often associated with heat. Spitzer was particularly good at peering through the dust that clouds the vision of many other instruments.

Related: Happy Birthday, Spitzer! NASA Telescope Marks 15 Years in Space

That talent has let scientists study the dusty reaches of the cosmos, where stars and planets are still forming. Spitzer has also offered insight into how stars die, how the universe formed and how supermassive black holes feed themselves.

Spitzer was designed to operate for 2.5 years. It ended up completing 5.5 years of observations while it could still cool itself; it spent another 10.5 years operating at warmer temperatures with a subset of its instruments.

NASA will turn off the Spitzer Space Telescope on Jan. 30.
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Spokesman of Iran-linked Kataib Hezbollah group says meeting took place with Iraqs Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr.

The leaders of major Shia armed groups in Iraq gathered in Irans city of Qom earlier this month to coordinate efforts to expel the United States troops in Iraq.

Mohammad Mohie, spokesman of the Iran-backed Shia paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah, told Al Jazeera on Sunday that the meeting held on January 13 aimed to coordinate future action among the armed groups.

That meeting was very important to coordinate our actions, activities and the resistance for the next step, Mohie said.

More:

The Americans may stay in Iraq and challenge us, so we are coordinating among ourselves, he said, adding that populist Shia leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, who leads the Sairoon bloc in parliament and lives in Qom, had called the meeting.

It also included Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Shia armed group led by Qais al-Khazali, who was blacklisted by the US over his alleged role in the killings of demonstrators in Iraq.

Beginning of new era

We responded to Muqtada al-Sadrs call  and one of the outcomes [of the meeting] is the protest which will take place in four to five days, said Mohie.

This is the beginning of the new era of coordination between Shia forces and resistance groups, he added.

The Iraqi Parliament responded to recent escalations between the US and Iran on Iraqi soil by voting on January 5 in favour of a resolution calling on the government to expel foreign troops from the country.

The resolution also called for cancelling Baghdads request for assistance from the US-led coalition which had been working with Baghdad to fight the ISIL (also known as ISIS).

Days after the Parliaments vote to expel foreign troops from Iraq, Sadr called on January 14 for a million-man march against the presence of US troops in Iraq.

The skies, land and sovereignty of Iraq are being violated every day by occupying forces, Sadr wrote on Twitter. The march is expected to take place on Friday.

US-Iran tensions

These developments date back to December 30 when the US carried out attacks on the Kataib Hezbollah positions in Iraq and Syria, killing at least 25 fighters of the armed group.

The US attack was in response to the killing of an American civilian contractor two days earlier.

Mohie rejected the US claims, saying that Kataib Hezbollah was not behind the attack on a base in Kirkuk which led to the US contractors death.

The US government came up with these allegations in order to attack Kataib Hezbollah. The attacks happened without any provocation against the US or even the coalition, he told Al Jazeera.

They want to push the PMF [Popular Mobilisation Forces] out of this area. What happened in Kirkuk was the Americans trying to create this allegation and they succeeded in attacking our forces fighting against ISIL.

Supporters and members of Kataib Hezbollah and other paramilitary groups within the Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Forces or PMF), an umbrella organisation of mostly Iran-backed Shia armed groups, responded by storming the US embassy in Baghdad.

On January 3, the US assassinated leader of Irans elite Quds Force, General Qassem Soleimani, and PMFs deputy head, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, near Baghdad airport in an air attack ordered by President Donald Trump.

Soleimanis assassination pushed the US and Iran to the brink of war, but fears of an all-out conflict eased when retaliatory Iranian raids aimed at US troops in Iraq on January 8 concluded without any fatalities.
MILAN, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Italy is ready to take a leading role in monitoring a ceasefire agreement in Libya, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Sunday following the conclusion of a peace conference in Berlin.

"We are absolutely available to be in the frontline as far as a commitment goes towards taking responsibility in this direction, for monitoring peace," he told reporters in comments carried on live television.

"Obviously we'll have to go through a United Nations Security Council and then we can define this commitment after that," he said. (Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Its likely that sometime this year, control of the $13-billion Trans Mountain pipeline, one of the biggest megaprojects in Canadian history, will be transferred to First Nations investors.

That transaction would be a historic turning point in relations between the First Nations and non-Indigenous peoples of Canada.

It would create one of the largest Indigenous-owned assets in the world.

An expanded heavy-oil Trans Mountain pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C., whose 1,150-km route traverses First Nations territory, is a logical candidate for Indigenous ownership.

In contrast with disputed treaties and land claims, an Indigenous-controlled Trans Mountain would represent indisputable ownership of a major business asset of critical importance to Canada, and to an Alberta economy in need of tidewater access for its landlocked oil resource.

Three Indigenous investor groups have prepared credible offers to buy control of the Trans Mountain from Ottawa.

Project Reconciliation, a coalition of First Nations and Metis communities in Western Canada, proposes to buy 51 per cent majority control of the Trans Mountain for $6.9 billion, to be financed with an issue of bonds backed by shipping contracts from oil producers.

Iron Coalition is a consortium of Alberta First Nations that hopes to recruit B.C. First Nations to join in its bid for Trans Mountain, backed by pension funds and other institutional investors.

And Western Indigenous Pipeline Group (WIPG) is B.C.-based, as most of the pipeline is. Michael LeBourdais, chief of the Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band near Kamloops, has been pushing for an equity stake in the Trans Mountain pipeline since 2012, when it was still in the proposal stage.

The motivation of each group is genuine economic sovereignty  income from a business asset in place of Indigenous reliance on government support  and the chance to demonstrate world-class environmental stewardship under Indigenous management.

The bids were inevitable. The likely prospect of a First Nations-owned Trans Mountain is only the most visible sign of the quiet revolution underway in Indigenous entrepreneurship.

Indigenous business activity already contributes more than $30 billion to Canadian GDP. And First Nations leaders have set a goal of more than tripling that number by mid-decade.

A $100-billion Indigenous economy in Canada by 2024 might be an ambitious proposition, but hardly unrealistic.

Canadas more than 50,000 Indigenous businesses are engaged in every sector of the economy, including resource extraction, construction, retailing, tourism, aquaculture and transportation.

Those businesses are growing nine times faster than the Canadian average, according to the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

And roughly one-quarter of Indigenous businesses are exporters, about twice the national average for small and medium-sized businesses. That number would be higher if Indigenous communities had better broadband access, since most Indigenous exporters rely on e-commerce to reach world markets.

Indigenous communities are divided on resource-development projects, of course.

The Wetsuweten Nations current civil-disobedience efforts to block construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline in northwestern B.C. has made headlines across the country.

But in 2016-2017, the latest period for which figures are available, 35 First Nations were pumping oil on their territories, and 51 operated natural-gas production facilities on their land.

In recent years, First Nations have raised their sights in taking ownership of big-ticket resource assets.

The Haisla Nation in B.C. has a large stake in the planned Pacific terminal for the $40-billion LNG Canada megaproject.

In 2017, the Fort McKay First Nation and Mikisew Cree First Nation paid $503 million to buy a 49 per cent stake in Suncor Energy Inc.s East Tank Farm oil-storage project in the Athabasca oilsands region.

Last year, the Indigenous-owned Steel River Group of Calgary won a bid to build a 65-km stretch of the 120-km Pioneer Gas pipeline co-owned by venerable Alberta utility TransAlta and Tidewater Midstream.

As to the 670-km Coastal GasLink pipeline, all 20 elected band councils along its route have signed benefit agreements with pipeline operator TC Energy Inc. (formerly TransCanada Corp.). And the Haisla Nation is in talks to buy an equity stake in the pipeline.

Our governance system has been managing poverty, Crystal Smith, chief counsellor of the Kitimat, B.C-based Haisla Nation, said last month.

The opportunities that are available for todays generation and future generations of First Nations people that participate in these projects are life changing. Theyre Nation changing.

An Indigenous role at the commanding heights of the economy is not a straightforward matter. That much is evident from the vociferous objections to the Coastal GasLink pipeline by hereditary clan chiefs in the affected region, who are at loggerheads with pro-pipeline elected chiefs on the pipeline route.

Indigenous ownership also carries risks.

The risks are most obvious with the Trans Mountain, given its enormous size. What if oil prices fail to sustain the viability of the pipeline in coming decades?

And what if the many First Nations and non-Indigenous environmentalists opposed to Ottawas near-tripling of Trans Mountains capacity succeed in preventing completion of the expanded pipeline by a planned mid-2022?

Then again, as early as 2016, Canadian banks and pension funds began approaching First Nations with offers of financing Indigenous investment in resource assets, notably the Trans Mountain pipeline.

And more recently, CEOs of Alberta oilpatch firms have expressed support for Indigenous ownership of energy assets  following the example of oilsands giant Suncor  in hopes that the new ownership model would expedite completion of controversial projects.

Ottawa has signalled its preference for an Indigenous buyer of Trans Mountain. But Finance Minister Bill Morneau, who will make the decision on selling the Crown asset, is known to prefer a combined bid by the Indigenous groups rather than alienating any of them.

Thats a sensible resolution. Having lined up a tremendous amount of financing, the three Indigenous bidders would free up a lot of that financing for other energy and infrastructure acquisitions if they made a joint bid for Trans Mountain.

Project Reconciliations bid resembles that model. It would direct 20 per cent of Trans Mountains estimated $180 million in annual cash flow to its First Nations investors, and commit the rest to a sovereign wealth fund (SWF). The fund would invest in clean-energy businesses.

SWFs are springing up in many Indigenous communities, with First Nations-owned commercial enterprises setting aside funds to invest in Indigenous business startups, as well as new housing, clinics and recreation facilities.

Sharleen Gale, chief of the Fort Nelson First Nation, anticipates an era when confrontation gives way to mutually beneficial business partnerships.

We dont want to be in the courts, Gale said last month. We want to take equity stakes and participate in the economy of our territories.

The current renaissance in Indigenous business resembles Quebecs Quiet Revolution of the 1960s, in which Quebec francophones gained ownership of the Quebecois economy.

A centrepiece of that revolution was the nationalization of Quebecs power utilities, and their consolidation into Hydro-Quebec. That giant utility nurtured generations of exceptional Quebecois business managers and entrepreneurs, much as Intel Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. created Silicon Valley.

It is not unreasonable to expect that an Indigenous-owned Trans Mountain pipeline could have a similar impact.
India's trade minister will not meet with his Malaysian counterpart in Davos next week because of his tight schedule, an Indian trade ministry official said on Sunday, as a spat simmers between the top buyer of palm oil and its biggest supplier. India has repeatedly objected to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaking out against a new citizenship law which critics say discriminate against Muslims. Malaysia is the second biggest producer and exporter of palm oil and India's restrictions on the refined variety of the commodity imposed last week have been seen as a ...
Unborn babies may be able to feel pain before reaching 24 weeks, say scientists  meaning they could suffer as they are being aborted.

Until now, the consensus of medical opinion has been that foetuses cannot feel pain before 24 weeks' gestation, after which abortion is illegal in Britain except in special cases.

But two medical researchers, including a 'pro-choice' British pain expert who used to think there was no chance foetuses could feel pain that early, say recent studies strongly suggest the assumption is incorrect.

The studies indicate unborn babies might be able to feel 'something like pain' as early as 13 weeks, they say.

Unborn babies may be able to feel pain before reaching 24 weeks, say scientists  meaning they could suffer as they are being aborted. Pictured: the human foetus at about 12 weeks

Women going for abortions who have reached this stage of pregnancy should be told the foetus could experience pain while being terminated, they argue. And medical staff should ask if the woman wants it to be given pain relief.

To carry on regardless of new evidence 'flirts with moral recklessness', they write in the influential Journal of Medical Ethics.

Last night, anti-abortionists said the scientists' claims should change attitudes towards abortion and the practice of it  suggestions that were swiftly rejected by the country's biggest abortion provider, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service.

The lead author of the controversial article is British professor Stuart Derbyshire, who has acted as a consultant to the Pro-Choice Forum in the UK and Planned Parenthood, a leading American pro-choice organisation.

In 2006, he wrote in the British Medical Journal that avoiding talking to women seeking abortions about foetal pain was 'sound policy based on good evidence that foetuses cannot experience pain'.

Until now, the consensus of medical opinion has been that foetuses cannot feel pain before 24 weeks' gestation, after which abortion is illegal in Britain except in special cases (file image)

But in the JME article, he and American medic John Bockmann say there is now 'good evidence' that the brain and nervous system are sufficiently wired up by 18 weeks for the foetus to feel pain.

Specifically, it has been thought that the cortex, the outer brain layer that deals with sensory information, is not developed enough for pain to register.

As a result, 'many medical bodies state that pain is not possible before 24 weeks' gestation'. However, recent studies clearly show 'that the consensus is no longer valid', they argue.

One study found an adult with an extensively damaged cortex could still feel pain.

The two medics say their own 'stark differences' on the morality of abortion 'should not interfere with discussion of whether foetal pain is possible'.

Given recent advances in understanding, 'acting as if we have certainty' that foetuses cannot feel pain before 24 weeks 'flirts with a moral recklessness that we are motivated to avoid'.

Their conclusions raise grave questions for the UK's abortion industry, which carried out 218,281 terminations in 2018  almost a quarter (23 per cent) of all pregnancies. About 6,000 abortions are carried out annually at 18 weeks or later.

Professor Derbyshire and Dr Bockmann advise: 'Given the evidence that the foetus might be able to experience something like pain during later abortions, it seems reasonable that the clinical team and the pregnant woman are encouraged to consider foetal analgesia [pain relief].'

But Clare Murphy, of BPAS, said: 'The most comprehensive review of this issue to date concluded a foetus cannot experience pain before 24 weeks.

'There is nothing in this paper which would lead to a change in practice.' Dr Anthony McCarthy, of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, said: 'A society that claims to take seriously animal pain should not shrink from confronting pain inflicted on young human beings in the name of 'choice'.

'Making death painless for the one killed does not, however, mean that taking life is thereby justified.'

Pro-life MP Fiona Bruce said: 'Given developing views and research on foetal pain, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' guidance on this issue in relation to abortion  which is now nearly ten years old  should be reviewed.'

Cross-bench peer Lord Alton, who is part of a parliamentary inquiry into foetal pain, said: 'This new evidence adds further pressure on Parliament to urgently review our current abortion time limit. We last had a proper debate on time limits in 2008.'

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists did not respond to a request for comment.
Donald Trump Jr. admitted Sunday morning that he knows Lev Parnas, an associate of attorney Rudy Giuliani who claims to have a relationship with Donald Trump.

'I met him at some fundraising events,' Trump Jr. told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures. 'He was a donor at a super-PAC, shows up to some of these things like anything else. Honestly, I think it's funny, I didn't realize he was Ukrainian. I thought he was Israeli.'

'That's the problem with how this world works, you take a couple pictures with someone, if someone's a donor, they get in line, they stood at a dinner with 50 people,' the eldest Trump son said.

Other moderate Republicans, like Susan Collins and Rand Paul, have also said they would likely vote for the ability to call witnesses following opening arguments.

Donald Trump Jr. admitted Sunday that he knows Lev Parnas, who has become a key figure in the impeachment proceedings

Parnas said he has a close relationship with the Trump family, despite the president claiming he doesn't know the associated of Rudy Giuliani, who also serves as Trump's personal attorney

Parnas handed over several photos to the House Judiciary Committee this month, proving his closeness with Trump and his family

Parnas became a center of the impeachment inquiry when he was arrested this fall at Dulles International Airport with a one way ticket out of the country. Parnas and Giuliani, the president's personal attorney, also have a lengthy relationship.

Donald Trump has repeatedly said he doesn't know Parnas even though multiple photos have emerged with the two together  and the businessman has said he will release a new photo of him and the president every time Trump denies knowing him.

Parnas could become a key figure in the Senate impeachment trial after emerging publicly in the last few weeks and handing over a dump of images to the House Judiciary Committee proving his closeness with Trump and his children, including Ivanka and Don Jr.

The images also show a card signed by the president and first lady, thanking Parnas for his 'friendship and dedication to our cause  but the card appears to be the type that is sent to campaign donors.

The new revelations came as House Democrats finally released the articles of impeachment from the lower chamber after a month of holding them.

On Wednesday evening they were transmitted to the Senate by the seven impeachment managers, which were announced earlier that morning by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi said she held the articles hostage from the Senate because she needed the time to prove to the American people that witnesses are needed in the upper chamber's trial.

Don Jr. also slammed moderate Republicans Sunday morning, claiming they 'don't deserve to be in office' because he says they want to allow Democrats to call witnesses in the impeachment trial, but might block the president from doing the same thing.

Parnas also provided pictures that showed his closeness with Trump's family  like Donald Trump Jr. (pictured here) and Ivanka Trump

Don Jr. also charged that more 'moderate' Republicans were 'weaker' and likely to allow Democrats to call witnesses in the Senate trial but now allow Trump's team to call the witnesses they want. Senators Mitt Romney (left) and Susan Collins (right) have said they would vote to call witnesses

'The, let's call it weaker Republicans,' Donald Trump's eldest son said on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, 'make a vote on it, if some of those guys don't want to hear from the witnesses we'd want to hear from but will hear from the others, I want to know about it, because they don't deserve to be in office.'

'Hearing from everyone is totally fair. That's not what we've heard so far while the Democrats have controlled the process,' he added.

Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican who has publicly sparred with Trump in the past, said he would vote to allow senators to call witnesses in the trial.

Other moderate Republicans, like Susan Collins and Rand Paul, have also said they would likely vote for the ability to call witnesses following opening arguments.

Democrats have demanded Republicans allow witnesses to be called in the Senate impeachment trial, including John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser.

But Republicans have warned that if witnesses are allowed in the trial, some could be called that Democrats oppose, including former Vice President Joe Biden, his son Hunter Biden and the anonymous whistle-blower whose report set of the events that led to the impeachment inquiry.

Parnas, despite his indictment for campaign finance violations, has been floated by Democrats as a potential witness given the new information regarding his relationship with Trump and potential insights into his dealings with Ukraine.
The Medical Centre Building in downtown Brandon could once again be filled with patients seeing doctors as efforts are underway to find a new tenant for its long-vacant clinic.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/1/2020 (724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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The Medical Centre Building in downtown Brandon could once again be filled with patients seeing doctors as efforts are underway to find a new tenant for its long-vacant clinic.

"As folks in Brandon would know, Western Medical Clinic was the tenant of that space for many years," said John Jackson, a community advocate who has been retained by the building's owners to fill that space. The job is unrelated to Jackson's role as executive director of Samaritan House Ministries.

"Ever since they left, it really has left something of a void, I would say, in downtown," Jackson said.

"We know folks who live downtown come from a mixture of socio-economic backgrounds, but we do know that there are a number of folks who are quite vulnerable and have high health and mental-health needs," he said. "And so, the less barriers that exist to them being able to find a family doctor the better, so I think it'll be really beneficial in that sense."

The Medical Centre Building on Sixth Street between Rosser and Princess avenues had been home to the clinic since the mid-1960s, until the clinic relocated to new space on Victoria Avenue in 2015.

Since then, the space on the downtown building's main floor has sat largely vacant with the exception of short-term tenants. A waiting area and offices are still in the space they are hoping to fill.

Super Thrifty Drugs Medical Centre Pharmacy is also located in the building, while Bright Side Dental and OMLC Vision Centre occupy the upper level.

Brandon Professional Building, the property owner, is seeking to not only fill the space but meet the needs of people in the downtown area, said Jackson, who is also a registered psychiatric nurse who has experience in recruiting and health-care human resources.

A spokesman for Brandon Professional Building could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

Jackson said he was retained earlier this month to find a new tenant, adding they are in the process of formulating and executing a strategy.

There are other medical clinics downtown, including Rosser Medical Clinic at 841 Rosser Ave., as well as other health-related services, Jackson noted, but it's still lacking in terms of general practice physicians.

"It's not like there's nobody else," he said, adding that doesn't discount the need for another clinic in the downtown.

"You know how we hear people talk about food deserts and how close people are to grocery stores and things like that. You can think the same from a public-health perspective about access to physicians," he said.

All of Western Medical Clinics 11 physicians moved into the 10,000-square-foot space on Victoria Avenue, along with two new doctors who joined the practice, the Sun reported in October 2015.

"I believe the new location will give us a new look and improve deficiencies, as well as an opportunity to expand our physician group," Sandra Levandoski, business manager with Western Medical Clinic Medical Corp., told the Sun in an interview at the time.

A spokesman for the adjacent Super Thrifty Drug pharmacy in the downtown building was not available to comment Saturday on what a reopened medical clinic would mean for them.

 brobertson@brandonsun.com, with file from Jillian Austin
General view of the debris of the Ukraine International Airlines, flight PS752, Boeing 737-800 plane that crashed after take-off from Iran's Imam Khomeini airport, on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran January 8, 2020 is seen in this screen grab obtained from a social media video via REUTERS

Reuters

An accident investigation director for the Iranian government told state media on Jan. 19 that the downed plane's black boxes will be examined domestically.

That refutes a statement he made to state media the previous day  that Iran was unable to investigate the black box alone and that Iran would send the black box to Ukraine, where investigators from France, Canada, and the US would assist in the inspection.

On Jan. 8, two missiles brought down Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752. All 176 passengers and crew on-board died, including 82 Iranians and 63 Canadians.

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Iran is flip-flopping on which country will investigate why Ukrainian Airlines Flight 752 crahsed on Jan. 8, killing all 176 people on-board.

On Jan. 18, a director in charge of accident investigations for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization told an Iranian media organization that he would send the plane's flight data recorder to Ukraine. The director said his agency had not been able to open or read the device, Reuters reported.

"With the use of the expertise of the countries of France, Canada and America we will try to read the (flight data recorder) in Kyiv," Hassan Rezaifar, the Civil Aviation Organization director, told Tasnim. "If this effort is unsuccessful then the black box will be sent to France."

But just a day later, Rezaifar back-tracked on that statement to a different domestic media organization. He told IRNA, which is Iran's official state news agency, that the black boxes will be investigated locally.

"We are trying to read the black boxes here in Iran. Otherwise, our options are Ukraine and France, but no decision has been taken so far to send them to another country," Rezaifar told IRNA.

FILE PHOTO: Flowers and candles are placed in front of the portraits of the flight crew members of the Ukraine International Airlines plane that was shot down by Iran, at a memorial at the Boryspil International airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 11, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Reuters

Often called a "black box", the flight data recorder helps investigators build a detailed portrait of a crashed plane's altitude, airspeed, and other crucial details. It also records several hours of audio in the cockpit.

Story continues

Two missiles from Iran's military struck the passenger jet by accident on Jan. 8, which it admitted days after the crash. Previously, officials blamed "human error."

The plane crash happened after weeks of increased tensions between Iran and the US.

US President Donald Trump ordered the killing of Iran's top military commander, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, in an airstrike earlier this month. Iran retaliated last week by firing more than a dozen ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq hosting US and Iraqi troops. The strikes did not cause any deaths or injuries, but it was only a few hours later when Iran, apparently fearing a US counterattack, shot down the civilian airliner.

Global leaders are doubtful Iran can decode the black box

Under global aviation rules, Iran has the right to lead the investigation on the flight's crash.

However, usually countries work together on such investigations. And Iran has made it clear that the country isn't intending to follow typical aviation procedures for investigating an international plane crash.

For one, the manufacturer of the plane is usually involved. Iran is refusing to hand over the black boxes to Boeing, a US manufacturer.

"We will not give the black box to the manufacturer and the Americans," Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation head Ali Abedzadeh told Mehr, an Iranian news agency.

A woman lays flowers at a memorial of the flight crew members of the Ukrainian 737-800 plane that crashed on the outskirts of Tehran, at Borispil international airport outside in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says that Iran must take further steps following its admission that one of its missiles shot down Ukrainian civilian airliner. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Associated Press

Not many countries have the ability to unlock the flight data recorder. And leaders like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have said that Iran is not one of them.

"Iran does not have the level of technical expertise and mostly the equipment necessary to be able to analyze these damaged black boxes quickly," Trudeau said at a recent news conference in Ottawa. Amid the 176 on the downed plane, 63 were Canadian nationals.

Trudeau is urging Iran to hand over the black box to France. Ukraine has also pressed Iran to turn over the device, and have said that Iran has violated how the crash site should be treated.

"Everything was done absolutely inappropriately," Oleksiy Danilov, the Ukrainian security official overseeing the crash inquiry, previously told The New York Times. He alleged that debris from the crash has been bulldozed.

So far, Abedzadeh said Iran will investigate the crash alone, "but the Ukrainians can also be present."

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Aldens strategy of acquiring struggling local newsrooms and stripping them of assets has built the personal wealth of the hedge funds investors. But Alden has imposed draconian staff cuts that decimated The Denver Post and other once-proud newspapers that have been vital to their communities and to American democracy. Those newsrooms, which put a spotlight on local political corruption, have served as forums for community voices and have driven the coverage of regional television, radio and online outlets.

In a signal of what may happen in Chicago, on Jan. 13, we and other newsroom staff members were offered buyouts. Now, we are bracing for the sight of colleagues with decades of experience walking out with cardboard boxes in their arms and tears streaming down their faces.

The Chicago Tribune was founded in 1847, and ever since it has played an outsize role in the national conversation. It supported the presidential candidacy of Abraham Lincoln, a subscriber. Even its pratfalls, like the Dewey Defeats Truman headline of 1948, are the stuff of legend.

The Tribune has won 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and the other newspapers in our chain have claimed 37 more.

Among those awards was a special citation last year to The Capital Gazette, where a gunman in 2018 killed four journalists and another employee  the most deaths in an attack on journalists in United States history. The Pulitzer Prize Board cited the newspaper staff for demonstrating unflagging commitment to covering the news and serving their community at a time of unspeakable grief.

The courage displayed by the Capital Gazette symbolizes the importance of regional and local newsrooms as part of a vital free press.
The contested lands now labeled as the Palestine question were once a part of Ottoman Syria.

For millennia, in early and middle ancient eras, Europe was defined as the land contiguous to the Mediterranean Region. It included North Africa. The rapid expansion of Islam across North Africa in the seventh and eighth centuries smothered Christianity and bisected this geographical expanse into civilisational halves with the Mediterranean Sea evolving into a civilisational barrier. Islam concurrently proliferated into the region through the invasion of Persia. It then arrived in southern Europe via the conquests by of between the 8th to 10th centuries thereby laying the field for a clash of civilizations that would play out across centuries.

During the Dark Ages, Ottoman Sultans presided over an Empire from Persia to Central Europe. They seized Byzantium-now Istanbul in 1453 terminating the Byzantine Empire. By 1680, the principal bulwark against the expansion of Islam was the Roman Catholic Hapsburg Empire with its capital in Vienna.

With the Hapsburgs making repeated forays into Ottoman controlled Hungary it gave the Ottomans the perfect opportunity to drive their legions into the heart of Europe and capture Vienna. Thus began the siege of Vienna that lasted from the 17th of July to the 12th of September, 1683. Eventually the Holy League defeated the Ottomans armies and the siege of Vienna was relieved. This conquest left an indelible scar on Western psyche. They internalised a lesson that for the security of the West- Middle East has to be perennially destabilised.

Three centuries later on the 19th of May, 1916, the opportunity presented itself. The high representatives of Great Britain and France surreptitiously arrived at an understanding branded as the Sykes-Picot agreement. The agreement mandated that Arab lands under the occupation of the are to be apportioned into British and French spheres of influence at the culmination of . Eventually the dismemberment of the Ottoman empire post the first world War extinguished the perennial threat of Islamic conquest that had hung over Europe since 1299. However it sowed the seeds of all modern day conflict since then.

The contested lands now labeled as the Palestine question were once a part of Ottoman Syria. The British got a dual mandate on Palestine on April 25, 1920. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 called for the establishment of national home for the Jewish people in Palestine became a part of the mandate. It paved the way to establish a nation for a persecuted people  the Israelis. Moreover, it established a permanent non-Islamic presence in the heart of the Islamic World.

Post the Second World War, the global power dynamic altered radically when Britain and France entered a phase of terminal decline The United States and the Soviet Union became superpowers turning the Middle East into a major Cold War arena. At the centre of it, were Israel and oil.

The historical memories of the siege of Vienna had by that time become internalised, both subliminally and consciously, into the design of Western strategic theology. Simply translated, it meant never to allow the Islamic Middle East to threaten the West again.

The rise of Arab nationalism in 1950s and 60s under Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser presented a challenge yet again. Fashioned by Marxist, Communist and socialist thinking, the Arab National movement emerged when the Soviet Union was on the ascendant. However, the defeat of Egypt, Jordan and Syria by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967 effectively spelled the end of the Arab nationalist movement. Though secular in character, for the arch-conservatives of the West it represented Islamic Consolidation by another nom de guerre. Israel in its war effort was aided by the West. Again in 1973, the Israelis were able to deliver a hard knock to the Arabs  read Muslims  in the October war. The impulse was to knock the Islamic World of its pedestal whenever the opportunity presented.

In 1979, an Islamic Revolution swept Iran deposing a longstanding US strategic asset in the region, Mohammad Raza Pahlavi. Almost simultaneously the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. It set the stage for a decade long Jihad that ended not only with the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan but the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the United States as the only global hyper-power. However, the Middle East had still to be tamed and the humiliation meted out by Iran during the hostage crisis had to be avenged.

The opportunity presented itself once again when Saddam Hussain foolishly invaded Kuwait. President Bush-41 launched Operation Desert Storm. Coalition forces swiftly drove Iraq from Kuwait, advancing into Iraq, and reaching a cease-fire within 100 hours. They however permitted Saddam Hussein to remain in power. He had to be crucified another day.

Then the European Union was established on the 1st of November, 1993. Turkey despite being a Euro-Asiatic power was not given admittance. Its demographics as a Muslim majority nation defined by its adversity across centuries to a Christen Europe juxtaposed with the fact that it was the seat of a former Sunni caliphate it possibly could not be admitted to a Anglo-Saxon Club. Twenty seven years later, Turkey still continues to be petitioner in halls of Brussels despite being a longstanding Nato member.

Even before Bush-43 was elected as President, the Project for a New American Century, a report authored by a bunch of neo-cons, had decreed that Iraq be invaded to reorder the Middle East once again post the Ottoman Empire rejig in the 1920s.

On a false pretext that Saddam Hussain had weapons of mass destruction, Iraq was invaded in 2003. The assault unleashed tectonic forces and opened deep schisms leaving the region mired in internecine struggle precisely what the West always wanted. With the Doha talks and the Taliban preparing the ground for American withdrawal from Afghanistan, what was left was the unfinished business of Iran.

The Persian civilisation had to be brought to heel. With no Iraq-style intervention possible in near future, General Qassem Soleimani became the perfect mark to deliver the coup de grace. For, Soleimani was the glue of the Resistance Axis that had fought ISIS successfully but in the process the Shia Crescent became the biggest beneficiary of the Iraqi intervention. With his assassination, the US wanted to send a message to the wider Islamic world, dehors its inter-Islam sectarian divisions, that the US, with its superior, technology could strike at will, notwithstanding its withdrawal from the region. The impulse  stemming from the Siege of Vienna  to keep the Middle East perennially off balance  is alive and kicking.
Out in numbers, police intervened quickly after the authorized rally turned into an impromptu, and unauthorized, march - firing volleys of tear gas and making arrests.

Demonstrators spilled onto the streets, building barricades and spray painting buildings.

The "Universal Siege Against Communism" demonstration was the latest in a relentless series of actions against the government since June, when Hong Kongers took to the streets to voice their anger over a now-withdrawn extradition bill.

The protests, which have since broadened to include demands for universal suffrage and an independent investigation into police handling of the demonstrations, have lost some of their intensity in recent weeks.
MINNEAPOLIS - The cost of prescriptions for multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs nearly tripled over seven years, and the introduction of a generic version of one of the most common drugs had little overall effect on prices, according to a study published in the January 15, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study examined costs for disease-modifying drugs for MS from 2011 to 2017 based on a database for Medicaid. Researchers found spending on 15 MS drugs within the Medicaid program increased from $453 million to $1.32 billion during this time.

"Increased spending was primarily driven by increases in prescription costs, which doubled during this time period," said study author Daniel Hartung, PharmD, MPH, of Oregon State University in Portland and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "Most of these drugs cost more than $70,000 per year on average and costs for these drugs are among the highest drug cost areas for private insurers as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Unfortunately for people with MS, the introduction of a generic drug had a minimal effect on prices overall."

After adjusting for average rebate amounts paid to the Medicaid program, spending was lower but still more than doubled from $278 million to $600 million per year. Although some of the increase was due to the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, spending still more than doubled from $2.00 per Medicaid enrollee to $4.06 per enrollee during the study, Hartung said.

A generic version of the drug glatiramer acetate was introduced in 2015. The study showed that when the generic version was introduced, the cost of the name brand drug immediately increased by $441 per prescription, followed by a slowing of the upward monthly trend.

"Before the introduction of the generic drug, the maker of the brand name drug worked to push its market share from the 20 mg dose to the 40 mg dose, which was not interchangeable with the new generic," Hartung said. "The low market share for the generic drug was also because the generic drug was only 15 percent less expensive than the brand name drug at 20 mg at approximately the same cost as the 40 mg dose when it launched. Of course, some doctors and patients may also be reluctant to switch to a generic drug for clinical reasons."

A second company introduced a generic version of glatiramer acetate in October of 2017, near the end of the study. Hartung said by the end of 2017, 36 percent of all glatiramer acetate was generic.

"After our study was complete, the company that introduced the second generic drug dropped its costs significantly, making it the lowest cost disease-modifying drug for MS on the market," Hartung said. "Despite this, there is an urgent need for more robust competition from generics within these MS drugs."

One limitation of the study is that it is based on the Medicaid program, which is for low-income people and people with disabilities, so it may not reflect the entire population of people with MS.

###

The study was supported by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Learn more about multiple sclerosis at BrainandLife.org, home of the American Academy of Neurology's free patient and caregiver magazine focused on the intersection of neurologic disease and brain health. Follow Brain & Life on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The American Academy of Neurology is the world's largest association of neurologists and neuroscience professionals, with over 36,000 members. The AAN is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, concussion, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit AAN.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
Hundreds of people in Chile have reportedly marched during the night of January 18 to protest against the police repression amid the three months of the worst social unrest since democracy replaced the country's military dictatorship in 1990. Over 1000 people, with the majority of them wearing black, rallied in silence from Plaza Italia to Alameda Avenue. Accoeding to reports, the silent rally was organised to get rid of the security forces using tear gas, water cannon, and birdshot, although the police were banned from using it in November as it caused many injuries. Ana Maria, who works as a social worker while talking to international media said, that they marched because of the human rights violations they have suffered.

READ: Clashes In Chile But Scale Of Protests Dwindles

Police use water cannons amid clashes as protests enter third month #Chile pic.twitter.com/NGuEJNn5CC  Ruptly (@Ruptly) January 18, 2020

The fresh wave of protests in Chile is seen as the most severe outbreak of social unrest that has gripped the nation and crippled the economy. The anti-government protesters are opposing President Sebastian Pinera's right-wing government since October and are demanding his resignation. Thousands of protesters clashed with police on Friday in Santiago in a fresh round of anti-government demonstrations that erupted more than two months ago in Chile. The protesters burnt down an independent movie theatre on December 27 in which police fired tear gas and fired water cannons at protesters in Santiago. The fire erupted at the Alameda Cultural Centre that started shortly after the clashes nearby and a fresh wave of protests continued that has rocked the city since October.

READ: Death Toll Rises To 29 In Chile Anti-government Protests

President signs decree

The anti-government protestors made way for the firefighters to fight the blazes at the building. Recently, Chile's human rights watchdog urged for an investigation into the death of a man during anti-government protests. The death happened during a rally in Plaza Italia, which is the epicenter of protest. Sebastian Pinera, President of Chile signed a decree on December 27 on holding a referendum regarding the proposed amendment of the country's constitution on April 26, 2020. He incorporated the agreement with the opposition amid ongoing anti-government protests.

READ: Death Toll In Chile Protests Since October Rises To 27

READ: Movie Theater Burns As Chile Police Clash With Protesters
Commissioners, law officers honor Bryant as a 'cop's cop'

Commander Benjamin 'Bengy' Bryant poses with his family and fellow law officers.

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners, other law officers and his family honored Sheriffs Commander Benjamin Bengy Bryant for 28 years of service recently, praising him as a cops cop with broad experience.

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Starting as a 911 dispatcher on July 16, 1990, under Sheriff Ab Jackson, Bryant went on to work on the warrant squad, as a courthouse security deputy and as a SWAT team commander. He was promoted to sergeant over civil process in 2005 and lieutenant over civil process and warrants in 2009. His last assignment prior to his district commander appointment was captain of the support services division, working with the Board of Commissioners and county administration on budgeting and other administrative tasks. He retired on Nov. 22.

I thank God for watching over me, Bryant said during a Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 6. In the time Ive been in law enforcement 4,992 officers have died, 152 of them in North Carolina and I was one of the fortunate ones. So its only matter of grace made it to where I am today.

Over his career with the agency, he served on the warrant squad, as a courthouse security deputy and as a SWAT team member and SWAT team commander. He was promoted to sergeant over civil process in 2005 and lieutenant over civil process and warrants in 2009. His last assignment prior to the district captain appointment last March was captain of the support services division.

A graduate of the Administrative Officers Management Certificate Program at North Carolina State University, Bryant also completed the Leadership Certificate Program through Blue Ridge Community College. He is married with three children.

Family in law enforcement is your biggest support group, he said. Without them I couldnt have done what Ive done. Addressing his wife and children, he said, I appreciate your understanding why I couldnt be at certain events or had to walk away from the dinner table.

He thanks to Albert, George, Eddie, Rick, Charlie and Lowell, sheriffs Jackson, Erwin, Watkins, Davis, McDonald and Griffin hes worked under. He thanked his brothers and sisters in law enforcement and the first responders he worked alongside him. I couldnt have done it without all these people supporting me, whether it was in training or calls for service. They all helped me in some way get to where I am today. We have an outstanding community in Henderson County. I love this place. Without their support we couldnt be as successful as we are today.

He didnt say what hes going to do in retirement but mentioned one thing he was required to do.

I think somebody contacted the clerk of court because within a week of retirement I received a notice that I have to report for jury duty next week, he said.

Commissioners adopted a resolution honoring Bryant and directing Sheriff Griffin to transfer his badge and sidearm to the retired captain.

You guys know how special he is, Commissioner Michael Edney, a lawyer, said to Bryants family members. Ive seen a lot of officers come and go but very very few of them are a cops cop who has the total respect of everybody they work with. Your daddy Bengy is one of them.
Boris Johnson has been accused of making absurd claims about the crucial climate change summit the UK will host this year, after apparently misunderstanding what it can achieve.

Green campaigners have reacted with bemusement and alarm after the prime minister pledged to pile pressure on the whole world to agree enforceable limits on carbon emissions.

They say there is no realistic prospect of setting legally-binding CO2 cuts in Glasgow in November, where leaders will instead be urged to beef-up existing voluntary reductions.

The key weakness of the 2015 Paris Agreement was that it put no mandatory limits on fossil fuel production  and high-polluting nations have been criticised for failing to deliver on even their voluntary pledges.

One green campaigner said of Mr Johnsons claim that the COP26 summit in Glasgow could deliver enforceable cuts: Its just not going to happen.

Greenpeace accused the prime minister of nothing but hot air, while Friends of the Earth criticised vague pledges without any substance.

The apparent gaffe comes amid criticism that Mr Johnson has failed to deliver yet on last years world-first legal commitment by the UK to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

He barely mentioned the climate crisis during the election campaign  boycotting the Channel 4 debate, when he was replaced by a melting ice sculpture  and was attacked for pursuing the pipe-dream of nuclear fusion.

Last week, the health secretary issued a carry on flying message, while a funding strategy for achieving net zero emissions will not emerge until the end of the year.

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No 10s independent advisers the committee on climate change, stepped in by demanding a climate change Budget in March to put the country on track for the Glasgow gathering.

Crucial measures to slash CO2  such as ending sales of petrol and diesel cars and removing gas boilers from buildings  should be brought forward within weeks, it pleaded.

The latest criticism comes after little-noticed comments during prime ministers questions, when Mr Johnson defended the Conservatives record as the world reels from catastrophic weather.

He told MPs: We will be leading the COP26 summit, where we will introduce enforceable limits not just for this country, but for the whole world.

But Muna Suleiman, a climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: The prime minister has made some big claims about the UKs role as a climate leader but without any substance or policy detail to prove it.

Instead of making vague pledges on international emission limits, the government focus needs to be on ending airport expansion, stopping support of fossil fuel extraction, and investing in clean affordable public transport networks.

While praising the ambition, Sam Chetan-Welsh, Greenpeace UKs political adviser, said: Without a formal commitment to get these enforceable limits over the line, and without the backing of other nations, these words are nothing but hot air.

And Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson said: We have a prime minister demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of what world leaders are trying to achieve at COP26. That is no better than climate change denial.

The Independent asked No 10 to clarify what ambition the prime minister was setting for the summit of almost 200 nations, but it was unable to do so.

COP26 will start on the back foot after the COP25 talks in Madrid last month failed to achieve a breakthrough  despite a 500,000-strong demonstration led by Greta Thunberg.

It is meant to deliver the Paris accord, which saw countries agree to keep global warming well under 2C and to strive to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C, to avoid catastrophic climate change.

But, with the world already at a 1.1C rise  after the hottest decade on record  they need to increase their commitments five-fold, starting this year.

Instead, few countries came up with new targets, with Brazil, Australia, the US and China among the major emitters accused of blocking progress.

Some are pushing for carbon trading with other nations as a way to offset their emissions, instead of making real cuts.
A girls school is now teaching its teenage students how to tell the time after staff found its senior pupils were lacking in the basic skill.

Kilgraston School in Perthshire, Scotland, has taken the drastic step after discovering that pupils as old as 13 were unable to read the time from analogue clocks.

The problem, which teachers believe has been increased with the rise of digital devices, has even left some pupils struggling to read the clock while sitting in an exam room.

Teachers at Kilgraston School (pictured) in Perthshire, Scotland, will teach its students how to tell the time

Pupils at the Scottish school are now being taught how to tell the time after staff found some lacked in the basic skill

Head of Kilgraston School Dorothy MacGinty told The Sunday Telegraph: 'Pupils sit in examination rooms with analogue clocks and we have found some who struggle to understand how much longer they have left for an exam because they cannot read the clock face.'

The independent boarding and day school for girls aged 518 has now launched lessons that will help pupils read the time the old-fashioned way.

Teachers have also banned the use of electronic devices, such as mobile phones, during the school hours in the hopes of encouraging more students to look at the clocks that are scattered around the school building.

Mrs MacGinty continued: 'Our head of maths, Mrs Stephanie Speed, mentioned to me that she was also becoming increasingly concerned as more and more senior girls who were joining the school lacked this basic skill.'

Teachers at the independent boarding and day school for girls aged 518 have also banned electronic devices

Teachers at the school have also asked parents to assist in their child's learning by buying a watch for their child.

Mrs MacGinty added: 'We are encouraging patents and guardians to buy watches for girls from aged five.'

As we continue to live in an evolving digital era, staff hope the move at the school will allow students to learn the basic skills that are too important to forget.

Kilgraston School was purchased by the Society of the Sacred Heart in 1930 and now prides itself on offering world-class education and the opportunity to allow girls to flourish and feel empowered.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Congress is eyeing to pass the bill that seeks to create the Department of Disaster Resilience in response to recent calamities faced by the country, including the typhoons that hit in December and Taal Volcano's eruption this month.

The measure is among the top priorities of the House of Representatives and the Senate as Congress returns from a four-week break for the holidays, with the lower chamber targeting its passage before Congress adjourns again on March 13.

"We need to create an agency that is quick-footed, scientific, focused and well-equipped. The creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience will ensure a more efficient, coordinated, and complete system of disaster management--from risk assessment to emergency response right down to reintegration assistance and rehabilitation," Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri said Sunday.

A measure seeking the creation of this new department cleared the House Committees on Government Reorganization and on Disaster Management last November 20 and its budget is scheduled to be approved on January 22, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said Sunday.

Meanwhile, bills that seek to create the new department are still pending in the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation.

The creation of a centralized body that oversees water facilities is also among the priorities of both chambers.

Zubiri said the Senate is set to move on the creation of a Philippine Water Commission, which is pending in its Public Services Committee, while Romualdez said the House eyes to pass a measure creating the Department of Water Resources (DWR) before Congress' next adjournment.

The House also eyes to pass bills that would create the Department of Filipinos Overseas (DFO) before March 13.

A bill seeking to create the DWR has passed two House panels in November, while the bill creating the DFO is being tackled in plenary.

Time to roll up our sleeves once again and work double time on vital legislative measures. The Speaker made a clear instruction to pass these bills, Romualdez said.

All bills that seek to create the DDR, the DWR and DFO are still pending in committees in the Senate.

Congress resumes session on Monday after a four-week break for the holidays. It will go on a break for Holy Week from March 14 to May 3.

President Rodrigo Duterte pushed Congress during his last State of the Nation Address to pass bills creating the three new departments.
I composed a respectful letter to her oldest son (who is in his late 70s), telling him what I have. I specifically apologized at the beginning of the letter if he thought this was an intrusion into their family's life, but on the other hand many people these days do genealogy research, and would love to know all about their family's history.
Hyderabad: The BJP will come to power in Telangana in the 2023 Assembly elections, and even if a lakh Owaisis try to stop it, they would not succeed in preventing a BJP candidate from becoming the next chief minister of the state, Union minister of state for home affairs G. Kishan Reddy said on Sunday.

Mr Reddy was campaigning for the local body elections in areas in Thukkuguda municipality, where he appealed to people to dethrone the Kalvakuntla and Owaisi families from power if they want the state to truly develop.

The Union minister said that whatever development people are witnessing now was done only by the BJP and the TD, during the Vajpayee regime between 1998 to 2004. He said that the people of Telangana were vexed with the six year regime of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti.

After the formation of Telangana, the Kalvaku-ntla family rule had only benefited Mr Rao, his son who became a minister, his daughter who had enjoyed a stint as an MP for a term, and his neph-ew became Rajya Sabha MP, but people were suffering from the autocratic rule, he said.

Kishan tells people to grill TRS leaders

He requested voters to challenge the pink party representatives, saying, when TRS leaders came to you to seek votes, ask them about the double-bedroom house, and other promises the TRS made during the previous elections.

Mr Reddy said that though the Centre was allocating funds for self-help groups, the state government was not extending these loans to eligible groups.

He alleged that the TRS was trying to win in the municipal elections luring voters with money and liquor. He appealed to the voters to vote for the BJP to maintain their self respect and teach a lesson to the Chief Minister.

Mr Reddy promised to have an ESI hospital established in Thukkuguda if BJP wins the municipality.
Egypt's Sisi also took pride in the armed forces' top-notch performance at Qader 2020 military drills conducted during the inauguration of "Bernice" naval air base in Red Sea region last week.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi sent a message of gratitude and appreciation for the Egyptian Armed Forces in recognition of their heroism in development and combat missions, a statement by the President's official Facebook page read.

"On behalf of me and every Egyptian citizens, I greatly appreciate the excellent performance of our valiant Armed Forces whose members have set the finest examples of sacrifice and heroism despite the exceedingly difficult circumstances the country has recently been through at the political, military, economic, social and moral levels", the presidents message read.

The president also took pride the armed forces' top-notch performance at Qader 2020 military drills conducted during the inauguration of "Bernice" naval air base in Red Sea region last week.

Moreover, El-Sisi praised the forces' permanent and advanced readiness to fulfill their duty to defend their country, urging them to remain diligent in their efforts to reach the maximum level readiness and preparedness for any missions assigned to them.

The Egyptian President's message come few days after he witnessed the conclusion of Qader 2020 military drill, which comes under Egypts progress in the fighting spirits of the armed forces formations and units and ability to execute missions.

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Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of repeatedly harassing party leader Hardik Patel. Her remarks came after Patel was arrested and sent to judicial custody for failing to appear before a court in a 2015 sedition case. Patel was arrested from Viramgam taluka in Gujarat's Ahmedabad district. The Congress general secretary said Patel has been fighting for the employment of youth and the rights of farmers.

"The BJP is repeatedly harassing young Hardik Patel ji who has been fighting for the employment of youth and the rights of farmers. Hardik voiced the people of his society, sought jobs for them, sought scholarships. He led farmers' movement," Priyanka tweeted.

"BJP is calling it 'treason'," she further said.

Patel had been previously arrested in connection with a sedition case filed by the local Crime Branch after violence broke out during a rally by the Patel community in Ahmedabad on August 25, 2015.

The quota leader was granted bail in July, 2016, and the court had, in November 2018, framed charges against him and other accused in the case.

On Saturday, Additional Sessions Judge BG Ganatra issued an arrest warrant against Patel, after accepting the governments plea against an exemption application moved by the Patidar leaders lawyer.

The prosecution told the court the accused intended to delay the trial by seeking regular exemption from appearance.

The court also observed that Patel, who has to be cross-examined in the case, was flouting bail conditions by not remaining present regularly with the intention to delay the trial.

Patel had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

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Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam has written to Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar, requesting him to extend the deadline of inviting comments from the public on 'Industrial Relations Code '2019' and 'Code on Social Security '2019'.

The MP has demanded to extend the deadline till February 15 to allow the people to make representations before the Standing Committee on Labour.

"The press communique was released on 1st January and had an extremely short deadline of 15 days. Given the complexities and the seriousness of the two codes, I urge you to extend this deadline by at least one month till 15th February 2020 to allow trade unions, workers and the public at large to make representations before the standing committee on this important issue," reads the letter, written on Sunday.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour, which is examining the Industrial Relations Code and Code on Social Security, had on January 15 invited suggestions and views of the people considering wide implications of the proposed Bills.

The Industrial Relations Code, 2019 was introduced by Gangwar in the Lok Sabha, which provides for fixed-term employment and amalgamates three labour laws -- Trade Union Act, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act and Industrial Disputes Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has sought a report from the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government for moving the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act without informing him.

The office of Raj Bhavan sought the report from the state Chief Secretary of the state.

"The Governor's office has sought a report from the Chief Secretary for not informing him about the state's move to approach the apex court against the CAA," a top source from Raj Bhavan told PTI on Sunday.

The Governor has been at loggerheads with the government ever since the state assembly passed a resolution last month, seeking to scrap the new law.

Khan had also publicly expressed his displeasure over the government not informing him moving moving the Supreme Court against the CAA.
American 'gossip guru' Perez Hilton is set to enter the I'm A Celebrity Australia jungle in South Africa as an intruder campmate during Monday night's episode.

And during his final hours of freedom, the blogger took a swipe at show bosses for dumping him from last year's line-up, when he was first approached to appear.

'I was in talks to do it last season. They asked if I was interested, and I said yes. Then they went cold,' began Perez, in a YouTube video urging fans to support him.

Intruder! American 'gossip guru' Perez Hilton (pictured) is set to enter the I'm A Celebrity Australia jungle in South Africa as an intruder campmate during Monday night's episode

Perez continued: 'Then when they booked this other guy [gossip reporter Richard Richard, who won] instead, I felt robbed. I felt like that was my spot.

'But I do believe that everything is meant to happen for a reason. And I was meant to be on this show, this country, this year.'

Earlier this year, Perez hit out at I'm A Celeb bosses again for booking rival gossip reporter Richard to appear on the 2019 season instead of himself.

'No dis to him but I am an international icon and that Richard whatever his name is, is not,' Perez told The Daily Telegraph in July.

'I was in talks to do it last season... then they went cold': Before entering the jungle, Perez took a swipe at bosses of the show for dumping him from last year's line-up

Outspoken: In a YouTube video blog, Perez said he 'felt robbed' when bosses booked rival gossip reporter, Richard Reid, to star on last year's season instead of himself

'I was on Skype with the executive producer and they ended up instead casting a D-List version of me,' added Perez, claiming he was approached to appear first.

In response, Richard told Daily Mail Australia at the time: 'I guess I owe a huge debt of thanks to Perez. I'm so grateful he was too busy and Ten went with me instead.'

Richard, who won the show last year, continued: 'Viewers really responded to how positive all the campmates were this year and how we all got along.

'It would have been a completely different show if Perez had been there instead.'

'I was on Skype with the producer and they cast a D-List version of me': In July, Perez hit out at I'm A Celeb bosses again for booking rival gossip reporter Richard (pictured) last year

During his YouTube video on Sunday, Perez refused to even speak Richard's name.

Believing that Richard's win has ruined his chances, Perez said: 'Last year, the winner also happened to be American, male, homosexual and a gossip reporter.

'So, statistically speaking, the odds [of me also winning] are not good.'
Fianna Fail is pledging to give first-time buyers 1 for every 3 they save for a mortgage as part of a radical new plan to make home ownership a reality for thousands of young families.

The new SSIA-style savings scheme would be capped at 10,000 per person and run in conjunction with the Help to Buy scheme which the party would expand to allow homeowners claim up to 25,000 from the State off the cost of a new house.

The Fianna Fail policy would mean a first-time buyer could potentially get up to 35,000 in State support when buying a new home if Micheal Martin's party was in Government after the General Election.

The first major policy announcement of the General Election comes after Fine Gael took down a political attack ad from Twitter in which they accused Fianna Fail of having no new policies.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael's election manifesto will include a commitment to increase the amount that can be claimed under the Help to Buy scheme, but the party said it had not decided how much they would increase it by.

Fianna Fail estimates its new SSIA saving schemes will cost around 250m a year and the party expects 25,000 will sign up to the initiative annually.

The party also plans to increase the income caps on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme which is capped at 50,000 for a single person and 75,000 for a couple.

They will also make a commitment to abolish dormitory-style emergency accommodation for the homeless and reduce the bureaucracy experienced by local authorities seeking to build social housing.

Fianna Fail's commitments on housing will be

made when the party launches its election manifesto this week.

Yesterday, Fianna Fail housing spokesperson Darragh O'Brien said home ownership has "absolutely plummeted" because Fine Gael prioritised investors over first-time buyers.

"We are well behind the European average for home ownership because Fine Gael are pushing people into a rip-off rental market that's there," Mr O'Brien told the Sunday Independent.

"Yes there is a place for investors in the market but Fine Gael has laid down the red carpet for them and prioritised them over first-time buyers and public housing," he added.

Mr O'Brien, who is running in Dublin Fingal, said Fianna Fail would immediately move to cut the red tap faced by local authorities seeking to build social housing by increasing the so-called discretionary cap from 2m to 6m.

This would allow local authorities to build more houses without going through a time-consuming Department of Housing approval process.

"If we're elected, we will bring that in straight away and that means schemes up to 6m or 50 homes would be built by local authorities without going through endless red tape and I want to expand that to 10m over time," Mr O'Brien said.

Almost 16,000 have received grants under the Help to Buy scheme since it was introduced in 2016.

This scheme allows first-time buyers to claim up to four years of their income tax back in order to get a portion of their deposit on homes costing up to 500,000.

The grant is a refund of PAYE and DIRT which applies to both for new builds and self-builds.

Claimants can get 5pc of the purchase price up to a maximum value of 20,000.

In October last year it was announced that the scheme was to be extended "in its current form" for another two years in a bid to provide "certainty" to people struggling to afford to buy homes across the country.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe revealed the decision in his Budget 2020 speech to the Dail, saying: "I am extending the scheme in its current form for two years until 2021."

Last week, Fine Gael said it would not change the scheme to include previously owned homes and would not allow people buying their second home apply for the grant. "We will include a commitment in the manifesto to increase the amount that can be claimed," a spokesperson said.

"This is in recognition of the challenges faced by renters in particular to put together a deposit."

He also noted that more than 20,000 new houses were built last year and said the Government expected this to reach 25,000 this year.
Stakeholders in the Niger Delta on Tuesday lamented that successive Coordinators of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) had neglected the development of the region which was a critical component of the amnesty initiative.

The stakeholders comprising elders, opinion leaders and professionals drawn from various states across the Niger Delta said previous coordinators of the Programme had mainly focused on amnesty and payment of stipends to ex-agitators, but were not concerned with developing the region.

Speaking in Abuja at the official opening of a four-day retreat for members of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Committee constituted recently by Coordinator of the PAP, Prof. Charles Dokubo, technical coordinator for the committee, Dr. Ferdinand Ikwang, however, expressed joy that the incumbent Amnesty boss has taken steps towards developing the Niger Delta region and gave the people hope.

Ikwang, who, on behalf of members of the committee, presented an overview of the Amnesty Programme since its inception in 2009, noted that Dokubo has demonstrated commitment to move the PAP forward.

Every other coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme focused on amnesty and forgot developing the Niger Delta region. This is the first time that a coordinator is focusing on development of the Niger Delta. When I told Gen. Abbe that Prof. Charles Dokubo has done what he would have done, he was very happy. Somebody has stepped out to say I am ready to move the Amnesty Programme forward. We all owe a duty to support him. I want Prof. Dokubo to be remembered for reintegration.

Earlier in opening remarks, Dokubo urged staff of the Amnesty Office to cooperate and support members of the committee towards charting a new course for the programme. He assured of full support to members of the committee, among whom he noted, were persons with deep knowledge of the Amnesty Programme.

Members of committee in a group picture with Prof Charles Dokubo, Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme,(C) and some of the Amnesty office principal staff at the venue after the official opening declaration of stakeholders monitoring and evaluation committee retreat , held in Abuja, on Tuesday 14th January 2020.

I have called these people to be members of this committee because I know that they have a good knowledge of this programme. They were there when it first started; they have been there, and they know how to direct the programme. I dont know for whatever reason, they were stopped from the programme because if I had met them, if they were still there, I would have used them but before I came, they were removed from the process and that was when I spoke with Hon T.K Ogoriba and he sat me down to tell me about the direction of the programme and what they have done in the past.

I am really delighted as well as humbled by the snippet of information that has just been released. It highlights the cardinal points of the programme. Most times, when we discuss about this programme, not everyone knows about the direction and the directive on the programme. I will support this committee because I think with the M and E in the office, we can always guide and redial history and make sure that those who do not understand will be better informed. And for those of us from the Niger Delta, if we dont do things to make use of this programme, posterity will question us as people. I am determined to ensure that the impact of the programme will directly affect the lives of our people in the local communities. And I hope that with the input of this committee to the programme, we will get a better roadmap to navigate this programme to its goals and objectives.

R-L- Mrs. Ubi Maureen Vincent, deputy director (admin) Prof Charles Dokubo, Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme, Elder Timi Kaiser Wilhelm Ogoriba leader of the committee and Chief Aroloyeteim Brown, Head of Reintegration during the official opening declaration of stakeholders monitoring and evaluation committee retreat , held in Abuja, on Tuesday 14th January 2020.

Leader of the 29-member committee, Elder Timi Ogoriba, described the task as daunting, but urged his colleagues to be committed so as toensure the success of the Amnesty Programme. The task ahead of us is daunting. So, all must be involved with total commitment. From the day of our inauguration, it was very clear that the Coordinator had charged us with the responsibility of rewriting the programme. Hence, what we the committee members will be doing is to research into the programme, review it and proffer a sustainable scheme.

The original policies of the Amnesty Programme are to disarm, demobilize or de-radicalize and reintegrate. These are to be achieved by involving experts with equipment and adequate funding. The combatants are to be provided with reinsertion assistance and information, counseling and referrals. These beneficiaries are reintegrated through learning of trades that would make them live useful lives as ex-combatants. Then, they return to their communities and engage in peaceful livelihoods that serve as a precursor to a secured environment, conditions and better economic situations. This is the hallmark of the Amnesty Programme.

Ogoriba, who commended Dokubo for constituting the committee, added, It is a thing of joy that we have this creme of people from the Niger Delta region under this roof for a noble course. You have proved your mettle hence you were carefully selected for this assignment. This is a call to duty. We thank you once again for reposing this magnitude of confidence in us and we vouch here and reiterate that we will deliver and stir the ship of implementing the Presidential Amnesty Programme in this reintegration phase to a safe harbor.

Members of the committee which was inaugurated on December 4, 2019, include, Selekaye Victor Ben, Marshall Kunoun, Sgt. Weri Noel Digifa, Binaebi Ambah, Kalsuo Doupere, Welman Warri, Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, Oyeinfie Jonjon, Rosabella Jackson, Richard Akinaka, and Bright Peregba.

Others are, Kennedy West, Chief Ani Esin,Barr. Golden Tamuno, Lolo Green Hailsham, Elfreda Olungwe, Prof. Monima Briggs, Ibiba Don Pedro, Cooler Hart, Chief Dan Ekpebide, Chief Kennedy Orubebe, Hendrix Opukeme, Chief Ari Ari, David Reje, Edgar Biu, Donyegha Ben, Arch. Piniki Azaiye, Dr Chris Ekiyor and Mrs. Tare Ugula.
Meng has been out on bail  a monitor adorns her ankle  at the slightly larger of her two large homes in Vancouver, where she wrote in a public letter last month that she has been reading and carefully completing oil paintings. Kovrig and Spavor, whose cases have been passed on to prosecutors, have yet to see a lawyer, their families or the sun.
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When I was a kid, I used to be fascinated with my grandmothers dentures.

Her nightly routine of removing and cleaning her teeth was a cant-miss event whenever she came to visit. She graciously allowed me to observe this routine, but she wouldnt let my friends watch if anyone was over for a sleepover. It disappointed me that I couldnt share this act of wonder with my little girlfriends, but thats life.

Now, I have my own dental magic trick to entertain friends and family courtesy of my Invisalign treatment. And now I understand why some tricks should be kept out of public view.

The Invisalign trays act like braces. These plastic trays hug my teeth and help move them into proper alignment. While these trays fit perfectly against my teeth, I have to remove them when Im eating, and its not a pretty sight.

If were following proper etiquette, you should never pick at your teeth, especially when in public, but these trays are incredibly secure. I have special grippers glued to my teeth so that the trays stay in place, and the only way to get them out of my mouth is to use my fingers to pop them off my back teeth.

And yes, you have to loosen the tray from the back of your mouth, so it looks like Im trying to stick my finger down my throat. And if that isnt gruesome enough, once the tray is extracted, it may come out with a trail of saliva for decoration.

Ive been using Invisalign for eight months and I cant seem to find a ladylike way to remove the trays. My friends and family dont seem to mind. Several of them were curious to see the entire process and inspect the trays to better understand what Id signed up for, but when I eat out, I always feel a little self-conscious. I dont care what they think of me, but I do worry that I could spoil someones appetite if they catch me in the act.

Ive tried obscuring my face with napkins and turning my head to the wall, but its not much use. I warn my friends about my impending magic trick so that they know to look away if they dont want to see it. I guess I could head off to the ladies room for some privacy, but that seems like a lot of work, and my nagging, worry-producing thoughts fear that I may drop a tray onto the floor, and that would be unforgivable.

Simple & Sassy: Pardon me while I overthink this I think an apology might be in order. I have silently cursed at the men in my life for years for their failure to point out the obvious when i

Shoving your fingers into your mouth isnt all that hygienic, but I use hand sanitizer before I got rooting around in there. So far, so good.

One of the fringe benefits of having to remove the trays to eat is that it prevents binge snacking and its easy to pass up treats and other shareable nibbles because taking the trays out just to eat a handful of chips isnt worth it. Im supposed to keep these babies in for at least 22 hours a day or else they cant do their job. The more I wear them, the sooner I can be done with them.

My orthodontist says Ill be done by mid-summer, but Im reluctant to believe her. When I had braces as a kid, the orthodontics staff told me I was getting my braces off, but it didnt happen for another year. I think this was the defining moment in my childhood when I realized adults were completely comfortable with lying.

So well see. Until then, I will open a new packet of Invisalign trays each week and wear them obediently. My table manners will just have to be spotty for the time being. But even so, even when the Invisalign treatment is over, Ill still probably be caught with my elbows on the table or talking with food in my mouth from time to time. Maybe table manners were never my strong suit to begin with.

Samie Hartley is the Napa Valley Register online editor. Simple & Sassy runs every other Sunday. She can be reached at shartley@napanews.com.

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If youre a writer, especially one connected with Alabama, theres no higher praise than to be compared to To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee.

Fittingly, the Alabama Writers Forums annual top prize for a distinguished writer from our home state is called the Harper Lee Award.

This year, the award goes to Patti Callahan Henry, a celebrated author of 15 books, most recently the critically acclaimed 2018 historical fiction best-seller, Becoming Mrs. Lewis. Henry, an Auburn University graduate, has called Mountain Brook home for nearly a decade.

I am overwhelmed, thrilled and honored to become part of this lasting legacy, said Henry. Alabama has shaped my life, and my familys life, in rich and powerful ways.

Shell receive the award March 6 at the Monroeville Literary Festival in Harper Lees hometown.

Henry grew up in Philadelphia and moved to south Florida at age 12, where she found the sanctuary of libraries and began her slow, but steady journey into understanding the power of the story to navigate confusing times of life, she noted in a news release about the award.

She went to Auburn for her undergraduate work and Georgia State University for her graduate degree, then lived in Atlanta for 25 years before moving to Mountain Brook with her husband, Pat, and three children in 2011.

Shes been prolific since moving to Alabama, producing six books here, including Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and her seventh novel, which is expected to publish in 2021.

Henry has also produced a seven-part podcast, "Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis, that pulls from the reams of material that didnt make it into the historical novel.

The book is about the fascinating relationship between Joy Davidman and acclaimed British author C.S. Lewis, best known for his Narnia series.

Davidman, a poet, writer and mother of two from New York, became improbable pen pals with Lewis in the 1950s. The letters blossomed into a full-blown love story and led to a 10-year marriage that saw Davidman become Lewis muse and even co-writer before she died from cancer in 1960.

Lewis, a former atheist, and Davidman, who had disavowed Judaism, not only found love, but together found a shared Christian faith.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is not only a New York Times best seller, but it earned Henry the 2019 Christy Award for Christian Fiction, which acknowledges the value and impact of the novel of faith in contemporary culture.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a New York Times best selling book about the relationship between Joy Davidman and Narnia author C.S. Lewis.

Henrys other novels include Losing the Moon; Where the River Runs; When Light Breaks; Between the Tides; The Art of Keeping Secrets; Driftwood Summer; The Perfect Love Song: A Holiday Story; Coming Up for Air; And Then I Found You; The Stories We Tell; The Idea of Love; The Bookshop at Waters End; and The Favorite Daughter.

Her historical novel based on the true story of the Steamship Pulaski wreck will be released in March 2021.

Want more? patticallahanhenry.com

Shelly Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud.
On Friday night, Love Island fans watched as an emotional Eve Gale was seen getting ousted from the villa in the first elimination of the series.

And during Sunday's upcoming episode, her twin sister Jess, 20, will be seen telling her fellow Islanders that she's struggling to adjust to life without her sibling.

Speaking in the Beach Hut, the blonde 20-year-old, who entered the show as a bombshell alongside her sister, said: 'Im so blessed that all the girls are really nice, all the guys are really nice, its just not going to be the same.'

Adjusting: Jess Gale has admitted that she's struggling to adjust to life without her twin sister Eve, after she was dumped from the villa in the first elimination of the series

Nas Majeed, who saved her from being ousted after being left with the unenviable task of choosing between her and Eve, told Jess: 'Were all here for you if you ever need to talk.'

Later, who speaking with her fellow contestants about Eve's departure, Jess said: 'Ill sleep on it, wake up, its a fresh day, got you girls.'

Echoing the sentiment of support shown by all of the Islanders, Shaughna Phillips replied: 'Were just like one big twin, now.'

Tears: The 20-year-old siblings were seen in floods of tears after they learned of the shock result during Friday night's dramatic recoupling

Saved: Jess was saved by Nas Majeed, who was tasked with choosing between her and Eve

Meanwhile, Eve has given her verdict on the new couplings, with the student speaking out against newbie Connagh Howard's decision to 'steal' Sophie Piper from Connor Durman.

Eve told of her 'shock' over Connagh's 'bold move' and revealed that it was 'not nice' that Sophie was separated from Connor.

The coffee bean salesman was left fuming during the recoupling as the Welsh hunk chose his partner Sophie, forcing him to recouple with Siannise Fudge instead.

Connor seethed that he was 'snaked out' and alluded to the fact that the model was 'dishonest'.

Moving on: The student is seen taking part in a challenge with fellow Islander Sophie Piper

Having her say: Meanwhile, Eve gave her verdict on the new couplings, with the 20-year-old student speaking out against newbie Connagh's decision to 'steal' Sophie from Connor

Revealing her thoughts on the showstopping moment, Eve said in her exit interview: 'It was a bold move Its not nice now that she cant be with Connor.'

The blonde beauty then went on to commend Connagh for daring to risk the wrath of Connor, as she continued: 'But hats off to Connagh, bold move, youve got to do what youve got to do but I was shocked.'

Speaking of the former pairing, she added: 'I do think Sophie and Connor were a good couple.

'I dont know whats going to happen now as obviously Sophies been picked by Connagh'.

Drama: Eve told of her 'shock' over Connagh's 'bold move' and revealed that it was 'not nice' that Sophie was separated from Connor

Aside from the drama between Connor, Connagh and Sophie, Eve faced the agonising moment of being separated from her sister Jess, who was chosen by Nas.

When asked about how she thinks Jess would cope without her, Eve responded: 'I think shes going to miss me. But, in a way, it will be a good thing because shell integrate more. Shes got all the support in there by all the other Islanders.

'Sometimes me and Jess would just go off on our own. Siannise and Leanne are our bestest girlfriends there, shell probably become closer with them.'

Ahead of her exit, Eve insisted that her sister should remain in the villa and not to try to leave with her.

Not impressed: The coffee bean salesman was left fuming during the recoupling as the Welsh hunk chose his partner Sophie, forcing him to recouple with Siannise instead

Fuming: Connor seethed that he was 'snaked out' and alluded to the fact that the model was 'dishonest'

Explaining how she would have felt if Jess decided to leave, Eve said: 'I wouldnt have wanted her to. I dont think Id have let her leave. I dont want me to hold her back.

'I do think its a good thing that she can be in there. Its important to have our independence It is quite irrational to think we cant do it alone - she can do it alone.'

But it remains to be seen how well she'll cope without her identical twin as she revealed that they've only ever spent 'five days' apart.

She said: 'I do Geography at uni. I went to Spain for a field trip, it was five days. Thats the longest weve been apart.

Reaction: Revealing her thoughts on the showstopping moment, Eve said in her exit interview: 'It was a bold move Its not nice now that she cant be with Connor'

Decision: 'But hats off to Connagh, bold move, youve got to do what youve got to do but I was shocked'

'We lived separately, but we would see each other every day because our unis are so close. Wed always see each other for lunch or something.'

Meanwhile, the dumped islander revealed what she thought about Jess being coupled up with Nas.

'I feel so happy shes in a couple with Nas,' she gushed. 'I really got along with Nas, hes such a positive, uplifting person. Theyve never completely shut off romance. I think he really gets us and we get him. Hes just the loveliest person ever.

'Me and Jess said on our first day out of all the boys, we can talk to Nas the best. If I was to choose to go on a night out, Id be like, "Nas come on!" He was my best boy friend there.

'We both said that he reminds us of the kind of people wed hang out with at home. Im so happy shes in a couple shes happy with.'

Love Island continues Sunday at 9pm on ITV2.

Separated: Aside from the drama between Connor, Connagh and Sophie, Eve faced the agonising moment of being separated from her sister Jess, who was chosen by Nas
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Sunday said the states ruled by his party would consider bringing in a resolution in the legislative assemblies against enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a Central law.

Patel's comments came a day after his party colleague Kapil Sibal said that states cannot decide against implementing a law passed by Parliament.

He said states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh could follow in the footsteps of Punjab which passed a resolution in the Assembly against the CAA.

Punjab on Friday moved a resolution in the Legislative Assembly demanding scrapping of the controversial CAA.

"After Punjab, we are seriously thinking of passing a resolution against Citizenship Amendment Act in (Congress- ruled) states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh," Patel said here.

It is known that the Congress shares power with the Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra.

"When so many state Assemblies pass resolutions with majority, it is a clear cut message to the Union government that you should seriously rethink this (CAA)," he said on the sidelines of an event in Bharuch, over 190 kms from here.

The Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan has decided to move a resolution in the state Assembly against CAA in the Budget session beginning from January 24.

Patel said widespread protests against the new citizenship law were people-driven and spontaneous, and not sponsored by any party.

"There is a general feeling (against the CAA). It is not that any political party is sponsoring it. (People) staying out for the entire night, coming out in several lakhs, is not being done by any party but by people themselves. So the government should rethink this considering sentiments of the people," he said.

Sibal had said on Saturday that "if the CAA is passed, no state can say 'I will not implement it'".

"It is not possible and is unconstitutional. You can oppose it, you can pass a resolution in the Assembly and ask the Central government to withdraw it. But constitutionally saying that I won't implement it is going to be problematic," Sibal had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: In remarks which indicate Dhakas concerns and will somewhat worry India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Indias Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was not necessary but termed it an internal matter of New Delhi.

We dont understand why (the Indian government) did it. It was not necessary, Sheikh Hasina was quoted by news agency reports from Dubai as telling Gulf News in an interview during her visit to the UAE.

No, there is no reverse migration from India. But within India, people are facing many problems, Sheikh Hasina said, adding, (Still), it is an internal affair.

Bangladesh has always maintained that the CAA and the NRC are internal matters of India, Sheikh Hasina said. She added, The government of India, on their part, has also repeatedly maintained that the NRC is an internal exercise of India and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has in person assured me of the same during my visit to New Delhi in October 2019.

She said the relationship between Bangladesh and India is currently at its best, with cooperation in a wide spectrum of areas.

India 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. Bangladesh is one of the three countries mentioned in the CAA.

The ministry of external affairs (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 as 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 last months cancellation 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.
Nicole Kidman made an angelic appearance at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday night at the Hollywood Palladium.

The 52-year-old flaunted her age-defying good looks as she hit the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder silk two piece, worth a staggering $6,300 AUD.

She highlighted her gym-honed physique in the quirky white designer creation from J. Mendels Pre-Fall 2020 collection.

White on! Nicole Kidman made an angelic appearance at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday night at the Hollywood Palladium

Nicoles daring look for the awards show comes with a price tag of $6,300.

She styled the designers off-the-shoulder silk top, with bouffant sleeves and a quirky bow detail across the front, with their pleated high-rise silk pants.

The beauty accessorised the runway look with a pair of black heels and Hanut Singh earrings.

Price tag: The 52-year-old flaunted her age-defying good looks as she hit the red carpet in an off-the-shoulder silk two piece, worth a staggering $6,300 AUD

Nicole opted for a subtle makeup palette for the occasion.

She wore her hair in a half updo, highlighting her flawless visage and careful not to distract from her spectacular outfit.

Speaking to Sunday Life this week, the Australian actress spoke candidly about her 14-year marriage to country superstar Keith Urban.

She said that Keith, 52, gives her a sense of feeling 'protected', and that she was more 'scared' before she met him.

The look: She styled the designers off-the-shoulder silk top, with bouffant sleeves and a quirky bow detail across the front, with their pleated high-rise silk pants

'What makes me feel most comfortable and secure is being with Keith. Having a partner by your side, someone with whom you can talk, who loves you and who you love, balances everything,' the star said.

'Before I met him, I was more scared. Now I feel protected thanks to this great friend and wonderful partner I have.'

Nicole is hot on the awards circuit for her new film Bombshell, which centres upon sexual harassment claims at FOX News.
Kano State Sharia Police known as Hisbah have invited an American Woman, Janine Sanchez and her Kano-based lover, Isah Sulaiman to a meeting at their Panshekara Office.

Janine met her lover on Instagram and decided to trace him to Nigeria all the way from America to marry him.

The meeting, which was held in a close door had Isahs father Sulaiman and his brother in attendance.

Although, the outcome of the meeting was not disclosed, however, the intending couple were sighted sitting comfortably while the Hisbah officers familiarise themselves with them.



Similarly, Alhaji Sulaiman while answering questions from newsmen at his residence in Panshekara, said he would accord his son all the necessary support he desires to ensure his smooth take off to the United States and successful wedding with the 46-year old American.

One of which is involving security agents like the Department of State Security, DSS, amongst others. Isah and Janine are planning on getting married in March after months of courtship on social media.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Republican Sen. Richard Shelby defended an argument from President Trumps legal team that soliciting foreign interference in an election is not an impeachable offense, saying, things happen.

When asked if Trumps months-long campaign to pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rival was improper, the Alabama senator told George Stephanopoulos on ABCs This Week, Well, I don't know that has been actually proven.

That's all in dispute, of what happened, whether the Russians were involved in it, whether Ukrainians involved in it, who was involved in it and to what extent, Shelby continued. But I've never seen anything where Trump actually was involved in.

Stephanopoulos pushed back on Shelby, pointing to Trump publicly calling for China and Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential frontrunner.

Well, those are just statements, political, Shelby responded. They make them all the time.

So it's OK? Stephanopoulos asked.

Sen. Richard Spencer, R-Ala., appears on ABC's "This Week" Sunday, January 19. 2020.

I didn't say it was OK, Shelby said. I said people make them  people do things. Things happen.

Well, this is the president of the United States, Stephanopoulos countered.

Well, still the president of the United States is human. And he's going to make mistakes of judgment and everything else. They have historically, both parties, both from the beginning of our republic, Shelby asserted.

Trump, who has held onto GOP support through his impeachment, lauded his party for its steadfastness days ahead of his Senate trial, tweeting on Sunday, I have never seen the Republican Party as Strong and as Unified as it is right now. Thank you!

Shelby, citing Alan Dershowitz, a Harvard professor and recent addition to Trumps defense team, said he didnt believe such mistakes rise to the standard of an impeachable offense.

Dershowitz, who also appeared on This Week Sunday to make the constitutional case against impeachment, argued that the president should not be impeached for even if evidence and arguments from the House impeachment managers prove Trump abused the powers of his office.

Story continues

When you have somebody who, for example, is indicted for a crime  let's assume you have a lot of evidence  but the grand jury simply indicts for something thats not a crime, and thats what happened here, Dershowitz said. You have a lot of evidence, disputed evidence, that could go both ways, but the vote was to impeach on abuse of power, which is not within the constitutional criteria for impeachment, and obstruction of Congress.

Stephanopoulos went on to ask Dershowitz, As a citizen, do you think it's OK for a president to solicit foreign interference in our election?

Dershowitz said, There's a big difference between what's OK  what's OK determines ... what you vote for, who you vote for.

Im a liberal Democrat whos been critical of many of the policies of the president, he continued. Im here as a constitutional lawyer, a lawyer whos taught for 50 years constitutional criminal procedure at Harvard, taught a course on impeachment, taught a course on constitutional litigation.

So you dont think its OK? Stephanopoulos pressed.

If the allegations are not impeachable, then this trial should result in an acquittal, regardless of whether the conduct is regarded as OK by you or by me or by voters, Dershowitz said. Thats an issue for the voters.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, the lead impeachment manager, called the argument against impeachment by Trumps legal team an absurdist position.

"You had to go so far out of the mainstream to find someone to make that argument," Schiff said, referring to Dershowitz who defended convicted wealthy sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. You had to leave the realm of constitutional law scholars and go to criminal defense lawyers.

Schiff continued: The logic of that absurdist position thats being now adopted by the president is he could give away the state of Alaska, he could withhold execution of sanctions on Russia for interfering in the last election, to induce or coerce Russia to interfere in the next one.

The mere idea of this would have appalled the founders, who were worried about exactly that kind of solicitation of foreign interference in an election for a personal benefit, the danger it poses to national security, he added. That goes to the very heart of what the framers intended to be impeachable.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
WASHINGTON  The newly created United States Space Force unveiled its planned uniform, which immediately raised eyebrows over its design: standard woodland camouflage.

The issue was quickly a trending subject on social media, and whoever manages the Twitter account of the Space Force had a busy day responding to the jibes.

In space, no one can hear you be ridiculous, Craig Mazin, the creator of the HBO show Chernobyl, posted on Twitter. Other users questioned whether the force planned to invade forests on other planets.

The force, reacting to the comments of ridicule on social media, posted on Twitter that it is utilizing current Army/Air Force uniforms, saving costs of designing/producing a new one.

It also stressed that Space Force will work on the ground and not actually outside Earth. The force even had to answer a riposte from George Takei, the Star Trek actor.

Our assigned members monitor and maneuver our space assets (GPS, SBIRS, AEHF, etc), track space debris and perform other duties from installations on Earth. They work closely with joint warfighters in the @usairforce and @USArmy hence similar uniforms, Space Force stressed.

The force only has one member so far, Jay Raymond, a general and commander of the newly created branch of the military. The image of the new uniform shows a four-star rank, indicating it would be his.

President Donald Trump championed the creation of the sixth branch of the military, and Congress appropriated funds for the force in its most recent budget.
Himalayan climbers have been pictured lining-up for helicopter rescues today after deadly avalanches led authorities to order an evacuation of the slopes.

More than 200 climbers have already been flown to safety from popular trekking routes in the Deurali and Mount Annapurna area, Nepal.

Four South Koreans - two women aged in their 30s and 50s and two men in their 50s - and three Nepali guides have gone missing following an avalanche near the Annapurna base camp at 10,600 feet.

Tourists are pictured queuing on Deurali, Nepal, before being airlifted to safety from the snow-covered slopes

Evacuations are being carried out following avalanches this weekend, which has made the slopes too dangerous. (Pictured: Tourists awaiting rescue in Deurali, Nepal)

Annapurna is an avalanche-prone and technically difficult mountain range with a higher death rate than Everest, the world's highest peak

Rescuers reached the area, but the mission was called off due to further avalanches, the Department of Tourism official Meera Acharya said.

Drones may be deployed on Monday to continue the desperate search, tourism manager for the Chhomrong trekking route, said.

The families of those missing, who were part of an 11-person volunteer teacher team, have arrived in the country's capital Kathmandu. Five others who were also part of the group have been rescued.

'The snow was very deep and it took us more than double the time to dig through and walk,' said Jeevan Dahal, a guide who was rescued by helicopter.

'We saw the avalanche-hit area from the helicopter. Everything was white.'

Helicopters were sent out on Saturday to rescue about 200 people stranded around Annapurna and other. Pictured above are Koreans after being rescued from the area

Four South Korean climbers - two women in their 30s and 50s and two men in their 50s - are missing along with three Nepali guides. Pictured above is the Deurali centre

Avalanches started on Friday following heavy rain and snow. Pictured are tourists awaiting rescue

Map showing the locations of Mount Annapurna and nearby Deurali in Nepal

Tek Gurung, a guesthouse owner aiding the search operation, said more than six feet of snow had fallen on the trekking trails and it was 'extremely difficult' to search the snow-covered area on foot.

Ang Dorjee Sherpa, from the Korean Alpine Federation, said the weather had turned when the group decided to try to head back.

'Feeling it was becoming dangerous and difficult, they decided to turn,' he said.

'As they were heading back the avalanche hit.'

South Korea is reported to have dispatched an emergency response team of two government workers and officials from an education body and tourism agency.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed the upmost efforts to find the missing trekkers in a Facebook message posted on Sunday.

Annapurna is an avalanche-prone and technically difficult mountain range with a higher death rate than Everest, the world's highest peak.

Thousands of trekkers visit the route every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas.

A snowstorm killed about 40 people on the circuit in 2014, in one of the biggest trekking tragedies to hit Nepal.
The year was 1988, and Santa Fe resident Susan Curtis was having a self-described midlife crisis. The former schoolteacher wanted to do something different and even consulted a career counselor about what her next move should be.

I had grown up on a ranch and for Plan B, I thought of horses, said Curtis.

But a cooking class she took on a trip to New Orleans brought Curtis her eureka moment: How about opening a regional cooking school in Santa Fe?

The rest is history. In late December, the Santa Fe School of Cooking officially celebrated its 30th birthday. A mainstay of the City Differents foodie scene, the school has become a family business, with Curtis daughters Nicole Curtis Ammerman and Kristen Krell playing key roles.

The familys participation doesnt stop there. Ammermans daughter, Haley, 16, answers the phone, while nephew Dylan Krell, 17, could be asked to shovel snow if hes around.

We all do everything, said Ammerman. Ill clean the bathroom if I have to. We all pitch in.

On a recent snowy day over the holidays, Curtis and Ammerman, who is the

schools director of operations, sat down with a reporter to reflect on three decades in business. Here are some lessons the family has learned:

1. Bring in experts. Curtis credits New Orleans business consultant Joe Kahn with helping to get the school started in its first headquarters in the Plaza Mercado, where it remained for 23 years before relocating to the corner of San Francisco and Guadalupe streets.

Santa Fe and New Orleans are alike in that we both have a strong regional cuisine and lots of tourists, said Ammerman. Joes New Orleans experience was invaluable in building our business.

2. Build a recognizable brand. The bright red lollipop sign for the Santa Fe School of Cooking is one of the City Differents most recognizable logos. Its only been around since 2012.

To some, not having a sign that screamed Southwest might have seemed like a mistake. But now that the schools mission has expanded beyond educating tourists  and it is mostly tourists  about Southwestern cuisine, having a logo not identified with one type of cooking seems smart.

In 2019, the school showcased East Indian cooking in conjunction with Paper Dosa restaurant on West Cordova Road for a fundraiser for the International Folk Art Market. This year, the cuisines of Cuba, Egypt and Oaxaca, Mexico, are on the menu for events to celebrate IFAMs Passport to Folk Art trips.

The classes, which cost $90 a person plus tax, will be demonstration style and include recipes and a full meal. One-fifth of all proceeds from the events go to IFAM.

3. Buy the building. In 2012, the Santa Fe School of Cooking acquired its current facility at 125 N. Guadalupe St. Owning, as opposed to renting, gives Ammerman and her family stability in boom-and-bust times. Many a longtime downtown merchant has been forced to close its doors after a landlord suddenly decided to jack up the rent.

Owning also gives the Curtis family the security of knowing the value they add through improvements is theirs to keep. It will not ever belong to the landlord, only the next owner of the building should the school decide to leave.

4. Never stop innovating. Locals often mistakenly assume that all the Santa Fe School of Cooking does is offer demonstration classes in Southwestern cuisine. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Fifteen years ago, the school created the City Differents original restaurant food tour, allowing foodie fans to sample offerings at local restaurants for a reasonable (by Santa Fe standards) price. For instance, one walking tour features stops at the Gruet Santa Fe Tasting Room, Julia in La Posada, the Anasazi Restaurant and Il Piatto, for $115.

Over the years, the school has added numerous specialty classes focused on single subjects such as Native American cooking, wine tastings and chocolate adventures.

The family-owned businesss newest addition is a jazz supper club called Daves Jazz Bistro. The venue was created in honor of David Ballantyne Curtis, a longtime Los Alamos National Laboratory physicist who was Susans husband and Nicole and Kristens dad. Kristen Krell is director of the bistro.

Curtis died in 2017, but his love of jazz lives on in the cooking schools bistro. Its first two pop-up jazz events in 2019 sold out, so more were scheduled for this year.

One of them, on Valentines Day, is an evening dedicated to a celebration of love featuring The Barbara Bentree and John Rangel Jazz Trio, at 6:30 p.m. The price is $95 a ticket.

5. Forge lasting relationships. Whether its arts organizations such as the Santa Fe Opera and the Georgia OKeeffe Museum or local nonprofits such as Cooking With Kids and Feeding Santa Fe, the Curtis family has formed strong ties with community partners that are mutually beneficial.

But the Santa Fe School of Cookings partnerships arent just with organizations; some are with people.

High-profile chefs and culinary personalities from Santa Fe that have been resident chef instructors at the school over the years include Cheryl Jamison, a James Beard award-winning cookbook author; Rocky Durham, now executive chef at Sunrise Springs Spa Resort; and James Campbell Caruso, chef/owner of La Boca.

Among the well-known guest chefs over the years have been Rick Bayless, Jose Andres, Stephen Pyles and John Sedlar.

But, according to Ammerman, the schools secret ingredient is Noe Cano, who has been the chef du cuisine for 25 years. He makes it happen, she said. We wouldnt be here without him.
Ministers will impose tough new restrictions on low-skilled immigrants from the EU immediately after the Brexit transition ends.

The government will not delay its overhaul of the rules beyond January 2021, despite previous indications from Theresa May that there could be a two-year standstill to avoid hitting businesses.

Home Secretary Priti Patel is due to present a paper on the shape of the new scheme to Cabinet this week.

Boris Johnson has put introducing an Australian-style points-based system at the heart of his Brexit policy.

He made clear during the election campaign that lower-skilled workers would be prevented from moving to the UK unless there is are 'specific shortages' of labour in their sector.

Home Secretary Priti Patel (pictured in London last week) is due to present a paper on the shape of the new immigration scheme to Cabinet this week

However, the immigration White Paper published in 2018, when Mrs May was PM and Sajid Javid was home secretary, suggested there could be a phased implementation.

It acknowledged the 'challenges faced' by some employers who would 'find it difficult immediately to adapt'.

However, No 10 source told the Sunday Telegraph: 'We need to deliver change and businesses need to be prepared for uncontrolled migration of low-skilled workers to end this year.'

The tough line was confirmed after Mr Javid, now Chancellor, warned businesses that the UK will not be a 'rule taker' and align with EU regulations.

He said manufacturers have had more than three years to prepare for Britain's transition and urged businesses to 'adjust'.

In an interview with the Financial Times last week, he said: 'There will not be alignment, we will not be a rule taker, we will not be in the single market and we will not be in the customs union - and we will do this by the end of the year.

'We're... talking about companies that have known since 2016 that we are leaving the EU.

'Admittedly they didn't know the exact terms.'

But the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) warned that no regulatory alignment with the EU after Brexit could lead to price rises.
A 45-year-old Indian school teacher in the Chinese city of Shenzhen is undergoing treatment for a Streptococcal infection which was initially suspected to be a case of mysterious SARS-like coronavirus prevalent in the country.

Preeti Maheshwari, a teacher at an international school in Shenzhen, is being treated for Streptococcal infection, her husband Ashuman Khowal told PTI from Shenzhen.

He said the doctors said she was being treated for the infection in the intensive care unit and is currently on a ventilator and other supporting systems.

Initially it was suspected that Maheshwari may have been suffering from a new type of coronavirus. Khowal, however, clarified that his wife case had been diagnosed as Streptococcal infection.

Chinese city of Wuhan is currently under the grip of a new mysterious viral pneumonia. According to the official media reports, tentative diagnosis of the pneumonia is caused by a coronavirus.

The virus has caused alarm because of its connection to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which killed nearly 650 people in China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

According to the reports from Wuhan, where the virus started surfacing few weeks ago, 17 new cases have been reported, taking the total number of cases to 62.

A total of 19 have been cured and discharged from the hospital, and the rest remain in isolation and are receiving treatment, state-run Xinhua agency reported on Sunday.

Two people in Shenzhen are currently in quarantine at the Third People's Hospital, which specialises in the treatment of infectious diseases, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

India on Friday issued an advisory to its nationals visiting China following a second death due to the outbreak of the new strain of pneumonia in the Chinese city of Wuhan where over 500 Indian medical students are studying.

"An infection with a novel coronavirus has been reported from China. As on 11th January, 2020, 41 confirmed cases have been reported so far," said the travel warning issued by India.

Travel-related cases have been reported one each in Thailand and Japan.

Over 500 Indian students study in the Wuhan city's medical colleges in universities. Most of them appear to have left for home for the Chinese New Year holidays.

The clinical signs and symptoms of coronavirus infection are mainly fever with a few patients having difficulty in breathing, the Indian travel warning said.

Mode of transmission is unclear as of now. However, so far there is little evidence of significant human- to-human transmission, it said.

The patients showed symptoms such as fever or cough, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said.

Epidemiological investigations into the 17 new cases are underway and close contacts are being traced, the authority said, adding that Wuhan will continue to expand the search area, identify suspected cases and conduct sampling tests.

Epidemiological analysis of previously published cases found that some cases had no exposure to Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which is believed to be related to most of the infected cases. It has been temporarily closed while disinfection is carried out, the Xinhua report said.

A total of 681 among 763 close contacts who were placed under medical observation have been released. No cases were found among the close contacts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Week 3 in review: Samsung Galaxy S20 family, Huawei P40 lineup closer than ever

Samsung and Huawei are expected to release their 2020 flagships in the next month or two, and the rumor mill is going wild. Interestingly enough, both the Galaxy S20 devices and the P40 family will have similar looks - a rectangular camera setup in the upper left corner, if we can trust the multiple leaked renders.

Other companies like OnePlus and Xiaomi are also working on their new devices - the Mi 10 should be one of the first smartphones with Snapdragon 865, while the OnePlus 8 Pro is going to have a 120 Hz QHD OLED display.

Samsung is bringing its second foldable display phone that will be a Razr-type clamshell and we learned its name - Galaxy Z Flip.

In other news Realme finally introduced its user interface, which is based on ColorOS 7, Xiaomi and nubia are working on 144 Hz refresh rate for their new phones and the Galaxy A51 and Galaxy A71 are rumored to have 5G versions for the US market.



Samsung Galaxy S20+ leaks in live images The phone will have an Infinity-O display like the Galaxy Note10 lineup, four shooters on the back in tow.





OnePlus 8 Pro goes through Geekbench as OnePlus 8 gets certified in India The OnePlus 8 Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 865, naturally. The 8 Lite is rumored to use a non-Qualcomm chipset.





New Huawei P40 renders show a triple rear and dual front cameras The new image is much more detailed than the dark renders we saw in December.





Realme UI officially detailed: simplified design, new features The user interface is based on ColorOS 7 and Android 10, but brings some new wallpapers and gestures.





Huawei launches P30 Lite New Edition Nothing new except new memory and storage configurations.





Huawei P40 Pro renders show quad camera with periscope zoom lens They also show that the P40 Pro will be available in five colors at launch. The Huawei P40 will come in the same colors.





Microsoft's new Edge browser based on Chromium is now ready to download It's been a long time coming, but the development process has finally produced the first stable version.





Samsung Galaxy S20 lineup won't support 120Hz above FHD resolution Samsung will limit the resolution if you choose to go with the 120Hz refresh rate mode.





Sony to announce new Xperia smartphones on February 24 We expect more than one Xperia phone to be announced during this year's MWC in Barcelona.





Xiaomi patents dual-sided smartphones with wraparound displays These mockup renders give us a nice look at the possible hardware, one with a horizontal wrap-around and the other wraps vertically.





All Samsung Galaxy S20 models will have 12GB of RAM We doubt we'll see a 16GB model. On the plus side, the base model will match the top model, unlike last year with S10e (6GB) and S10+ (12GB).





Camera sensor info for all three Samsung Galaxy S20 phones leaks It's a mix of Samsung and Sony sensors, some of which we've seen before and some are brand new.





Galaxy S20 phones' size compared against other phones thanks to dummies The Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20+, and Galaxy S20 Ultra will be slightly narrower and with a less curved screen than the Galaxy S10 phones.


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Migrants clashed with Mexican troops on a bridge at the Guatemalan border on Saturday, as hundreds of guards also lined the banks of the river to prevent further crossings there.

Thousands of Central American migrants tried to push their way across a bridge spanning the Suchiate River between Mexico and Guatemala.

Honduran migrants waved their country's flag and sang the national anthem as they approached the bridge. At the height of the confrontation, Guatemalan authorities estimated 2,500 migrants were on the bridge, or attempting to get on it.

Scuffles briefly broke out as a group of several hundred mostly Honduran migrants pressed forward to cross, only to be pushed back by security forces.

Scores of people who entered Guatemala from Honduras in recent days have been arriving at the Mexican border, with the bulk of them still advancing in a larger caravan, testing the resolve of Mexico to heed US demands to contain migrant flows.

Hundreds of guardsmen lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely. The voice on the loudspeaker warned, over and over, that those aiming to transit through Mexico may not be granted asylum in the U.S., even if they make it there.

Mexican security officials closed the border at the crossing between Tecun Uman, Guatemala and Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico

Scuffles broke out on the Guatemala-Mexico border on Saturday morning as a group of several hundred mostly Honduran migrants pressed forward to cross, only to be pushed back by Mexican security forces

More than a thousand Central American migrants surged onto a bridge spanning the Suchiate River that marks the border between both countries as Mexican security forces attempted to impede their journey north

Emotions were high as the crowd swelled. Mexico again finds itself in the role of immigration enforcer as Central Americans desperate for a better life try to make their way north, while Mexicos biggest trade partner  the United States insists that Mexico prevent those migrants from reaching the U.S. border

Amid shoves, Mexican officials did allow a few migrants to enter the country in groups of 20, while a voice over a loudspeaker warned migrants against trying to slip into Mexico without passing through immigration filters.

Mexico again finds itself in the role of immigration enforcer as Central Americans desperate for a better life try to make their way north, while Mexico's biggest trade partner - the United States -insists that Mexico prevent those migrants from reaching the U.S. border.

President Donald Trump has threatened to hurt Mexico and Central American countries economically if they allow large groups to reach the United States border, and the latest exodus from Honduras has been accompanied by US border agents.

On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from traveling on to the United States.

Guatemalan authorities say around 4,000 people have arrived in the country in the last few days, the biggest surge since Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador signed accords with the United States that increase pressure on them to deal with migrants.

After waiting on a bridge at the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman, some migrants began pushing and shoving before being driven back by Mexican security officials, who shut the border crossing and sought to calm the group.

Footage from Saturday morning showed a group of migrants jostling and clashing with members of Mexico's National Guard on the bridge separating Guatemala from Mexico. Women carrying small children could be seen at the front of the group on the bridge.

Members of the Mexican National Guard try to prevent Honduran migrants from entering to Mexico at a crossing point in Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas State, Mexico, on Saturday. Hundreds of guardsmen also lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely. The voice on the loudspeaker warned, over and over, that those aiming to transit through Mexico may not be granted asylum in the U.S., even if they make it there

Military police guard the border between Guatemala and Mexico on Saturday. Guatemalan authorities say around 4,000 people have arrived in the country in the last few days, the biggest surge since Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador signed accords with the United States that increase pressure on them to deal with migrants

After waiting on a bridge at the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman, some migrants began pushing and shoving before being driven back by Mexican security officials, who shut the border crossing and sought to calm the group

Television footage from the morning showed a group of migrants jostling and clashing with members of Mexico's National Guard on the bridge separating Guatemala from Mexico

A migrant climbs the fence at the border crossing between Guatemala and Mexico in Tecun Uman, Guatemala on Saturday

Mexican National Guardsmen arrive to the Suchiate River in Ciudad Hidalgo, on the Mexican border with Guatemala

Mexico's National Migration Institute said via Twitter on Saturday that it had reinforced multiple points along the country's southern border to assure 'safe, orderly and regular immigration.' It also said it was using drones to monitor the region.

A few migrants made it through the gate, local media said, but Mexican officials appeared to be controlling the situation more successfully than when a large caravan sought to force its way through at the same crossing in October 2018.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he is monitoring the approach of the migrants and has held out the prospect of jobs in southern Mexico for those who want to stay.

Interior Minister Olga Sanchez said earlier this week that the migrants would not be granted safe conduct passes.

About 400 of the migrants who entered Guatemala since Wednesday have been returned to their countries of origin, according to a statement issued by the Guatemalan government.

Mexico had beefed up its forces at the border crossing as it anticipated the arrival of a caravan of some 3,000 people mainly from Honduras and El Salvador. On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from traveling on to the United States
(Adds details)

DUBAI, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Iran is trying to analyse the

black boxes of a Ukrainian airliner that was shot down this

month, the state IRNA news agency reported on Sunday, denying a

report that a decision had been taken to send the plane's

recorders to Ukraine.

Canada, which had 57 citizens on the plane in which 176

people were killed, and other nations who lost nationals have

been calling on Iran for a thorough investigation and have said

the flight data and voice recorders should be analysed abroad.

Ottawa has said the recorders, or black boxes, should be

sent to France, after the military admitted shooting down

Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 in error in the tense

aftermath of tit-for-tat strikes by the United States and Iran.

"We are trying to read the black boxes here in Iran.

Otherwise, our options are Ukraine and France, but no decision

has been taken so far to send them to another country," Hassan

Rezaifar, a director in charge of accident investigations at

Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, told IRNA.

Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency had said on Saturday

the black boxes were being sent to Ukraine. It reported that

Iran would not seek to read them at home.

Ukraine has previously said it expected Iran to hand over

the black boxes to Ukraine.

(Reporting by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Edmund Blair)
The former Union home minister who arrived Kolkata on Friday night also joined the anti-CAA-NRC-NPR protest venue at Park Circus Maidan.

Kolkata: Congress veteran P. Chidambaram on Saturday compared the powers to the Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik to detain people under the National Security Act with the Rowlatt Act enforced by the British during its rule in India. He also termed the National Population Register (NPR) NRC in disguise.

It is a retrograde provision. It is like the British promulgating the Rowlatt Act. What is the need for this act to notify in Delhi now? So that the people can be thrown into prison without charges! Everyday the BJP government at the Centre resorts to such repressive measures. It is driving a wedge between the government and the people.. Mr Chidambaram said at the Bidhan Bhavan in the city.

It is also striking at democracy. This is completely unacceptable, unnecessary. The lieutenant-governor who promulgated this order presumably at the instance of the ministry of home affairs is completely wrong. It is an anti-people and anti-democratic measure. On the NPR, our position is that it is nothing but NRC. It is a disguised NRC, he noted.

There is no real difference between the NPR and the NRC because there was an widespread opposition to the NRC, the Congress Rajya Sabha MP added after addressing a leadership training camp on CAA-NPR-NRC for the West Bengal Congress workers. Mr Chidambaram also reached out to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for her support to a united fight against the CAA.

Desperate to bring the Trinamul Congress supremo into the Congress-led Opposition fold for the anti-CAA movement, he not only tried to keep her in good humour but also pinned hope on her to join the camp in future.

It does not imply that some parties, which did not attend the meet, support the CAA. They are also fighting against the CAA and NRC like us. I want all Opposition parties to realise the gravity of the issue at stake and come together on one platform. We are all fighting the same, sometimes together and sometimes differently. The important thing is that we all are fighting. All parties fighting against CAA, NRC and NPR must come together. I am confident they will, he observed.

The former Union home minister who arrived Kolkata on Friday night also joined the anti-CAA-NRC-NPR protest venue at Park Circus Maidan. I went there just to show solidarity. My presence was to demonstrate my solidarity with the protesting people. I was so proud to see so many women and children protesting at 11 pm, he noted.
Help India!

In the first week of August last year, the stage was set for Union government of India to remove the special status of the conflict-ridden Jammu and Kashmir. To ensure that everything be under their control, the government led by Narendra Modi detained thousands of people across the erstwhile state. The govt didnt even forgive the mainstream politicians who have acted as a bridge between the centre and the state for years. Dozens of such pro-Indian politicians and activists, including the former three Chief Ministers of the region, are still under detention.

News of detention of these politicians usually are those who are focused on but thousands of everyday Kashmiris who were detained on the pretext of threat to law and order and then shifted to outside valley are still behind bars. Although the government claims that everything is normal in Kashmir, there are many signs that it is not.

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TwoCircles.net will be doing a series of stories in which we will be highlighting the struggles of families whose kith and kin have been detained and shifted to different jails across the country.

In the first part of the story our correspondent from Kashmir Auqib Javeed meets 60-old women whose sole bread earner was detained on August 5 and shifted to Ambedkar Nagar jail, in Uttar Pradesh.

Srinagar: It has been over five months since Ateeqa Bano of Maisuma locality of Srinagar has heard her sons voice. She doesnt know the whereabouts of her son. Her only wish is if she could fly to the prison where her son has been kept.

Her son, Faisal Aslam Mir (30), who is a businessman and the lone bread earner of the family, was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) shortly after government of India abrogated Article 370 of the Indian constitution. Immediately after his arrest on August 5, Faisal was transferred to a prison in Uttar Pradesh, some 1200 km away from home  making it virtually impossible for his ailing mother to visit him.

Ateeqa lives alone with her son. Her husband died over a decade ago leaving Ateeqa and her young son destitute. She has known nothing but struggle in her life, she says, and mourns how life has been cruel to her.

Ateeqas other child, her daughter, is married and lives in another part of the city, but Ateeqa has felt more attached to her young son. Faisal has spent most of his time, recently, in jails, being subjected to constant detentions and arrests by the police.

She says he was detained near the Central Reserved Police forces (CRPF) camp barely few meters from his house and kept at Maisuma police station for three days.

I was not doing well and my son went outside to buy the medicines for me. As he stepped out, I pleaded him not to go as its curfew outside, but he said that he will be back within few minutes, Ateeqa says.

After few hours when Faisal didnt return, she started looking for him hear and their but little did she knew that he was detained.

When Faisal didnt return till late evening, my heart start beating fast, I could feel that something is wrong, Ateeqa says.

At late evening, around 6PM, Faisals friend came to inform Ateeqa that her son has been detained by the police. Ateeqa rushed the police station while beating her chest and pleated the concerned officials to let her son go. Living in a two-storied muddy house, Ateeqa waits anxiously, like hundreds of other women who wait for the family members to return home. Her eyes have dried-up now from past five months she hasnt heard anything about her son.

Faisal was kept in local police station for three days then he was shifted to Central Jail Srinagar, until 21 August, after which he was moved to a Ambadkar Nagar jail, in Uttar Pradesh.

When I went to meet him to Central Jail, I was told that my son has been under Public Safety act (PSA) shifted to Uttar Pradesh, Ateeqa says. Ateeqa has never traveled to outside valley; she doesnt know how to book air tickets and where to go.

My heart sinks in sorrow; it would have been okay if they would have kept him in any jail of the valley. I could have seen and met him easily but it has been over 170 days that I havent seen my son, Ateeqa says as her eyes welled up with tears.

Experts say that government deliberately shift many detainees to outside jails to break their will.

The detainees family cant afford to meet them, because this will drain out their economy plus its done to break the people, otherwise they could have kept them in the valley, says Advocate Parvaiz Imroze

Faisal used to do a small business in the Lal Chowk, the business hub of the Srinagar City. Whatever he used to earn he would spend that on home.

What I have go through these months only Allah knows because there was no one who could help me to run the house and it was impossible to meet my son with empty hands, Ateeqa says. Ateeqa got the sigh of relief on January 1, when the government announced that the families can talk to the detainees via video conferencing.

On the next day I rushed to the police station with the hope that I could finally see my son but was disappointed to know that the facilities are only for the people of whose kin have been detained in the Jammu region (some 300 km away from the Kashmir Valley), Ateeqa says.

Faisals council who represents him the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has filed a habeas corpus petition demanding quashing of his PSA.

I have filed the petition in the court and we are waiting for the reply from the Honourable court, said Advocate Zia.

Faisal was detained just 13 days after he came back of serving two years behind prison in the Kashmir. He was detained under the PSA and was released after two years in the month of July, 2019.

Ateeqas ordeal is not alone. Thousands of Kashmiri men are under detention in Kashmir and various jails outside the valley after government cracked down on mainstream and separatist leadership following its decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian constitution.

(In the 2nd part of the series TCN will explore another story of a family broken up through these detentions)
In collaboration with the British Council in Egypt, local NGOs aim to instill and develop new and green creative industries

Its the dream of every carpenter is to own a Fabrica and I thank you for that, and for all the ideas you gave us, stated Mokhtar, the young carpenter as he showcased his latest wood item. The shelves/side table are lego like, can be assembled differently and have no visible nails to show. 

Last week, the British Council in Cairo launched a very unique exhibition with a rather long title that sums it all up: Design, Brand, Craft Exhibition by CLUSTER and Peacock for Arts is one of the projects under the Developing Inclusive and Creative Economies (DICE) programme.

DICE supports the development of creative and social enterprises in the UK and five key emerging economies: Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, and South Africa.

Aiming to foster inclusive growth and progress on UN Sustainable Development Goals, Developing Inclusive and Creative Economies will take an innovative, cross-sectoral approach that draws on UK expertise in creative and social economies.

The workshop redefines creative industry, according to Omar Nagati, founding partner of CLUSTER, a grouping of architects and urban planners. In an opening speech he highlighted two such workshops implemented in Fayoum and Ard El-Lewa entailing collaboration between college students and experienced craftsmen and the aim to go green. FAODA Association in Fayoum and Hawamish in Ard El-Lewa (rural Cairo) helped coordinate aspects of the workshop programme.

The results were amazing. Among the chairs, desks and various modern home accessories, a crib stood out.

The crib, made from palm leaves rather than traditional bamboo, was the brain child of Shaimaa Ismail, interior designer and fresh graduate in 2019 from Sixth of October University in applied arts.

The workshop was held in Al-Agameein village in Fayoum governorate, where they used to make a whole chair without using a single nail. Such designs can be made without having to import anything.

"I love curved lines, because we are all curved in shape. You will never find a sharp angle in nature, so I used the idea that palm leaves are natural materials and will eventually curve up in time, and I created a crib, which is curved, and will be sustainable for exactly the time that the child will need it until the child outgrows it, Ismail told Ahram Online. 

Ismail added how much she learnt from her firsthand experience with craftsmen with whom she was able to find a language based on trust in their experience while following through with agreed upon new design. 

To Dalia Salem, founder of Peacock, which is an entity that introduces art in public places through partnership with artists and designers, the idea was clear. "I was very interested in the idea of creative industries with functionality. I read the call for proposals, and we partnered with the testing and marketing and design, so that we are sure that the final product is connected to the market." "CLUSTER have great experience in architecture, and urban planning, she said.

Fayoum is a culturally rich governorate close to Cairo. With CLUSTER, Peacock also implemented projects in Ard El-Lewa.

"They didnt know they can do more. So we introduced the workshop," Salem added.

A separate workshop in Ard El-Lewa was held on wood.

"Through Fabrica (a small wood factory located in Ard El-Lewa), we were able to introduce new wooden forms and units that you assemble." 

"We are currently thinking of taking it a step further by connecting with Concept stores, to see how the market can fit the needs of Egyptian consumers," Salem added.

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Kathmandu, January 19

The main opposition Nepali Congress on Sunday submitted a memorandum regarding the controversial Information Technology Bill and the Bill on Special Service to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from all districts of the country.

The opposition party cadres led a rally to respective district administration offices and submitted the memorandum to the chief district offers. In Kathmandu, the rally started at Maitighar Mandala before the leaders and cadres submitted the memorandum to the DAO.

The main opposition party has been claiming that the two bills, if endorsed as they are now as law, would restrict peoples right to privacy and freedom of expression. The IT Bill has restrictive provisions regarding the use of social media whereas the second law would allow investigating authorities to tap peoples phone conversation without the courts approval.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - A fire swept through a Czech asylum for the mentally ill on Sunday, killing eight male patients, officials said.

Prokop Volenik, spokesman for the regional rescue service, said the fire in the northwestern town of Vejprty broke out early Sunday before 5 a.m. (0400 GMT). The town is on the border with Germany.

Those killed were all patients, most of them by smoke inhalation, according to Vejprty Mayor Jitka Gadunova. In addition to the deaths, Volenik said 30 others were injured by the blaze and transported to nearby hospitals. One of them was in critical condition.

There were 35 patients and three staff members at the home at the time of the fire, officials said.

Firefighter spokesman Michal Zavoral said the blaze was contained and the cause was being investigated. German rescuers came to help their Czech colleagues, who were not able to use rescue helicopters due to bad weather.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis visited the site and offered his condolences to the families of those who died.

Its a huge tragedy, Babis said. Im here to find out how the government can help and what to do to prevent such a tragedy in the future.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) will ask the Chhattisgarh government to probe if the resettlement of Bangladeshi refugees has led to demographic changes in tribal areas, according to officials.

It will also ask the Chhattisgarh government to probe complaints of the refugees "displacing" a large number of tribals from their land in the Bastar region and "inflicting atrocities" on them, an NCST official told PTI.

A number of tribal representatives raised these issues during the commission's visit to the state last month, the official said.

"The government resettled a large number of Bengali refugees, who came to India from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after Partition, in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and the Northeast under the Dandakaranya project that started in 1958. Many more came after the 1971 India-Pakistan War," the official said.

In Chhattisgarh, the Bengali refugees were resettled in the Bastar region, especially Kanker district.

"During our visit to Chhattisgarh, tribal representatives claimed that the influx of refugees over the years has led to demographic changes in tribal areas," the official said.

The commission has also received complaints about the refugees "displacing a large number of tribals from their land and inflicting atrocities on them", he said.

NCST chairman Nand Kumar Sai said, "The matter pertains to the Bastar region. We have told the Chhattisgarh government that it is a serious issue and a thorough investigation is needed."



"Tribal areas are special areas as per the Constitution and a demographic change is a serious threat to the rights of the indigenous people," he said.

The commission will ask the state government to furnish the number of Bangladeshi refugees resettled in the state initially and their current population.

"The state government will be asked to find out if the number of refugees has exceeded the tribal population, and how many cases of Bangladeshi refugees displacing tribals from their land have been reported," the official said.

The commission has apprised Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey, who has also served as the vice-chairperson of the NCST in the past, of the issue, another official said.

When contacted, Chhattisgarh's Scheduled Tribes Department Secretary D D Singh said, "The commission has informed us that certain issues have surfaced during their visit to the state and that they are preparing a report. We are awaiting a formal communication from the NSCT.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed?

You voted:
A 31-year-old man was found dead early Sunday along Interstate 295 in Bristol, Bucks County, authorities said.

The incident unfolded about 2 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of the highway at mile marker 0.2. Pennsylvania State Police troopers found a victim, later identified as Joshua McRae of Trenton, dead in the roadway, according to Trooper Nathan Branosky, spokesman for the agencys Troop M.

Its unclear what led to the crime, but Branosky confirmed the deceased suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

A portion of the highway was shut down as the incident was being investigated; it re-opened by about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

The State Police in Bethlehem are asking for the publics help in the case. Those with information on the victims whereabouts prior to the incident are asked to call the criminal investigation unit at the Trevose barracks at 215-942-3900.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

In further signs of a thaw in Korea's ties with China, some 3,500 Chinese schoolkids will visit Korea until next month.

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The Korea Tourism Organization said Monday that the Chinese elementary and middle-school kids will visit Seoul, Incheon and Daegu during the winter festival. They set off from various parts of China and are arriving in seven batches until early February.

Their trip follows a massive 5,000-strong incentive trip for reps of a health company earlier this month and raises hopes here that Beijing's unofficial ban on package tours to Korea is coming to an end.

China imposed the ban in March 2017, in part under a boycott of Korea and in part because it wants to put an end to so-called zero-dollar tours where Chinese tourists travel practically for free but are then herder from one shopping outlet to another to recoup costs.

Some Chinese travel agencies have started advertising package tours to Seoul and Mt. Seorak in Gangwon Province, but so far they have proven less attractive than the zero-dollar tours.

The number of Chinese visitors to Korea dropped sharply from 8.06 million in 2016 to 4.16 million in 2017 but recovered to around 6 million last year.
New Delhi [India], Jan 19 (ANI): BJP national spokesperson Shazia Ilmi on Sunday hit out at AAP-led Delhi government and Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) for "keeping silence" on Indira Jaising's recent suggestion to Nirbhaya's mother to "forgive the convicts."



"Indira Jaising is AAP's in-house lawyer. She is being paid from the money of Delhi's taxpayers. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should answer why he is silent on Jaising's statement and how much he paid to her as fees for this?" Ilmi told ANI.

The BJP leader also questioned DCW chief for "not raising her voice" against the mercy plea by Nirbhaya's rapists and Indira Jaising.

Ilmi also alleged that Kejriwal was responsible for the delay in the verdict in the matter.

"Kejriwal can change the manual of Tihar jail's jurisdiction but can't inform the accused about the punishment. Delhi CM should give an explanation on this as well as on Indira Jaising," Ilmi said.

Asha Devi, the mother of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape and murder victim, had on Saturday slammed senior lawyer Indira Jaising for her suggestion that she should forgive her daughter's rapists.

"Who is Indira Jaising to give me such a suggestion? The whole country wants the convicts to be executed. Just because of people like her, justice is not done with rape victims," Asha Devi had said.

Jaising had said she fully identifies with the pain of Asha Devi but was against death penalty.

"While I fully identify with the pain of Asha Devi I urge her to follow the example of Sonia Gandhi who forgave Nalini and said she did not want the death penalty for her. We are with you but against the death penalty," she had said in the tweet. (ANI)


Adelaide Strikers secured a 10-run win over Hobart Hurricanes in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) here on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 187 runs, Hobart Hurricanes witnessed a poor start as Michael Neser took the wicket of Matthew Wade (5) in the very first over of the innings.

Caleb Jewell too failed as he only scored 10 runs before Wes Agar dismissed him. Jake Doran and David Miller then took the charge and added another 43 runs on the board but Agar ended the partnership by dismissing Doran (28).

Ben McDermott then took the field and joined Miller on the field. McDermott played a fast-paced knock of 31 runs from just 17 balls before Peter Siddle took his wicket.

Miller played some brilliant shots and completed his half-century. However, Miller failed to form a good partnership as his side kept losing wickets. Despite Miller's unbeaten knock of 90 runs, Hobart Hurricanes failed to chase the target.

After being asked to bat first, Adelaide Strikers had a decent start but opener Phil Salt only managed to score 13 runs before he was sent back to the pavilion by Scott Boland in the third over.

The other opener, Jake Weatherald (5), too failed to provide a steady start as he was caught and bowled by Boland in his next over. Travis Head and Jonathan Wells then took the charge and provided their side some momentum.

The duo took Adelaide Striker over the 100-run mark with Head completing his half-century. Both formed a 97-run partnership and Clive Rose handed Hobart Hurricanes with a breakthrough as he dismissed Head (79).

Harry Nielsen was the next batsman but got run-out after scoring five runs. Hobart Hurricanes did not let Adelaide Strikers form a good partnership and restricted them at 186/5.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tell me if view on Savarkar is yours or that of Shiv Sena: Chavan on Rauts comments

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 19: Maharashtra PWD minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Saturday sought to know whether Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's statement that those opposing the Bharat Ratna for V D Savarkar must spend two days in Andaman's infamous Cellular Jail, was the official stand of the Sena.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Raut had said "Savarkar's opponents should spend two days in the (erstwhile) Andaman Cellular Jail to understand the hardships he was put through by the British".

Within hours of the statement, the Congress hit back with its state spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeting "Savarkar was different before 1911. The Congress is against his post- 1923 ideology."

'Different views part of democracy: Aaditya on Rauts Savarkar remark

Speaking to reporters amid the row, Chavan said it needed to ascertained if Raut's statement was the official line of the Shiv Sena.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

"(Sena leader) Aaditya Thackeray has already reacted to Raut's remarks stating he was not aware in which capacity Raut had made the remarks that those who oppose Bharat Ratna to Savarkar be sent to Andaman jail," Chavan told reporters.

The former chief minister said the Congress stand on the issue is known, "but it is not known whether Raut's comments were Shiv Sena's stand".

"Somebody's personal comments cannot be the stand of the government. There is no need to give a reaction to somebody's personal comments," Chavan added.

He said Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, formed by Sena, NCP and Congress, works on a common minimum programme and all parties would continue to stick to it.

Queried on the nightlife policy espoused by state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, Chavan said it was a "test case", adding that Mumbai was an international city with global potential.

Thackeray on Saturday said shops, malls and eateries in non-residential areas of Mumbai will have the option of remaining open 24x7 from January 26, although it will not be made compulsory.

"This is a test case. Mumbai is an international city of global potential. We need to get more tourists and improve trade and commerce. This will be implemented on an experimental basis.

"If no new issues come up and the policy of shops, establishments and malls being open 24/7 is implemented well, there is no harm in continuing with it. Lets see the response. If things work out, it is good," Chavan said.

Asked about deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's opposition to the proposed Mumbai-Pune hyperloop project, Chavan said the state could do without experiments.

Those opposing Bharat Ratna to Savarkar should spend time in Andaman jail: Sanjay Raut

"We do not want experiments. Maharashtra does not have money to carry out experiments. We don't need a bullet train either. Our priority should be to efficiently run local trains," Chavan said.

Meanwhile, Chavan himself pulled down an illegal banner put up by a Congress worker in his home town Nanded.

The banner with Chavan's photograph was put up in violation of the orders of the local civic body.

"I will not allow illegal banners to come up in the city. Due to such illegal banners, the city's landscape is defaced," the former MP said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 8:23 [IST]
Aboriginal elders in a remote Western Australian community want to ban Christians from visiting their region.

The indigenous community said the religious organisation was attempting to convert them to Christianity and away from their traditional culture.

The group of elders asked WA's discrimination watchdog if they were allowed to forbid the Christian group - who wasn't identified - from their community.

Equal Opportunity Commissioner of WA John Byrne said the religious group most likely wouldn't be able to lodge a complaint if they were to be banished.

Aboriginal elders in a remote Western Australian community want to ban Christians from visiting their region to try and convert them to Christianity

Mr Byrne said the elders would succeed as the ground of religious conviction does not apply to places.

'Aboriginal communities should be able to say who comes on their land,' Mr Byrne told The Western Australian.

'They can say 'please do not come onto our land, we do not want you there'. That's not a ground (for discrimination) under the act.

'Basically controlling your community is important to preserve your culture against the various types of threats.'

Christian organisations are known to visit remote communities across the state, including Kingdom Aviation Ministries and Chariots of Fire Ministries.

Members of Kingdom Aviation Ministries fly to communities every week in the hope of expanding their outreach.

'Many areas within Western Australia are very remote and have no viable witness to Christ,' KAM's website reads.

'Since the progressive withdrawal of Christian missions there is a whole generation that has never heard the gospel.'

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Kingdom Aviation Ministries or Chariots of Fire Ministries are the groups the elders wish to ban.
Johnny Leavesley is a businessman and Chairman of the Midlands Industrial Council.

For most of last year, the business community treaded water, and tried to see where the political currents might take them. Short-term instability and indecision has now largely evaporated, and boardrooms in all sectors will be back to discussing expansion plans.

Business has demands of government, but what should be prioritised? First, which aspects of commercial life should the government listen to? The CBI is a big company organisation. It is important, but in recent years has been disappointingly pro-status quo, and an insufficient advocate of the merits of capitalism and trade.

Wealthy companies and industry associations can afford lobbyists to plead for them, so it is unsurprising when government listens, often granting disproportionate weight to their arguments. It is also tempting for Ministers to spend too much time pandering to high growth, new economy tech companies. A growing nursery of these start-ups is an essential for our future prosperity, but they are only part of the jigsaw.

The most important sector is one usually ignored. Small businesses constitute 99 per cent of all business in the country. There 5.6 million of them, employing 12.9 million people, and they do not speak or lobby cohesively. They are embedded in every community, everywhere and, if Boris Johnson wants to spread One Nation love into long- ignored raw towns and backwater regions, then policies advantageous to small commercial enterprises will be beneficial in manifold ways.

All business, always, will ask for lower taxes for obvious reasons, and there is great merit in this. However, the Prime Minister announced when campaigning that the planned reduction of Corporation Tax to 17 per cent would be cancelled to help hypothecate more spending on the NHS. Given that the current levy of 19 per cent is historically low anyway, he will be forgiven.

Yet corporate taxation is, perhaps surprisingly, not of overwhelming concern to small businesses. Regulation is. Whether a large or small business is concerned, much regulation and compliance are the same. This stifles growth, productivity and employment at the smaller company end, which in terms of macro-economic measurement can often be the most positively responsive.

In the autumn the Centre for Policy Studies proposed a Simple Consolidated Tax for businesses turning over less than 1 milliom, to take the place of the four main tax headaches  Corporation Tax, VAT, Employers National Insurance and business rates. Levied at an appropriate rate  probably 12.5 per cent of turnover  it would not be a tax cut but would be a huge boon in saving administrivia and would be a policy for growth. Whilst details and implementation would vary the effect, such bureaucratic simplification should be accepted and rolled out.

The single most overarching policy that would benefit all business is free trade. This should in theory be possible with the EU, although it seems likely that Remainer doomsters will gleefully emphasise any delay and departure from the current seamless arrangements. Still our largest trading market and neighbour, the EU is an internal Free Trade zone behind its protectionist barriers. We are climbing over the boundary, so whatever trade arrangements are settled will not be as cost free as they are now.

This is not a tragedy, however, given Brexits wider opportunities. The EUs own worldwide trade agreements are skewed in favour of its own economic bias, namely manufacturing (German) and agriculture / food (French, Italian and Spanish). The UK is an economy more heavily weighted by its services sector, and we will now have the freedom to strike our own trade deals across the world that better reflect our own needs.

Free Trade is the elimination or at least the severe culling of tariffs imposed by government on imported goods, as well as the removal of other restrictive regulations and barriers to trade. It means that industrial components cost less, and the domestic consumer pays less. Tariffs do raise revenue for government  casting a protective wall around vulnerable industries that would be adversely affected by competition.

In the medium to long term, however, the rising tide of greater prosperity vastly outweighs the pain felt by a rebalancing economy. To counterweigh any competitive exposure that may affect regions outside London and the prosperous south-east, Freeports and Enterprise Zones should be established. The former allows for the import and export of tariff free goods and become manufacturing assembly hubs. The latter are tools to stimulate new businesses in deprived areas though tax breaks. Both would attract direct foreign investment, further balancing regional disparities.

The Department for International Trade promotes Britain across the world, but could also do more to promote the concept of exporting within UK businesses. There is some help through UK Export Finance, but much more could be done to promote opportunities, linking up with Chambers of Commerce and with the Foreign Office, which should have the promotion of trade as one of its primary duties.

To create a new generation of capitalists from amongst left-leaning millennials, and to help lance the student loan boil, a scheme should be devised whereby part of that debt is surrendered if the graduate sets up a new business and creates jobs.

The ingredients that business needs for a structural framework: stability, property rights, low(ish) tax, better infrastructure and a skilled workforce  look to continue or be improved. If these other aspects are adopted, then the economy will deliver much stronger growth, and with it the ability for the government to afford its huge and ambitious expenditure responsibilities.
London: Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have agreed to give up their royal titles and stop receiving public funds as part of a settlement with the Queen that lets them spend more private time in Canada.

The announcement from Buckingham Palace on Saturday follows more than a week of intense private talks aimed at managing the fallout of the couple's shock decision to give up front-line royal duties.

"Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," Queen Elizabeth II said in a statement.

"I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life."

Her comments referred to battles with the media that prompted Harry and Meghan  known until now as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  to sue several newspapers over intrusions into their private lives.

A separate statement attributed to Buckingham Palace said "the Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family".

HRH is the acronym for Her Royal Highness.

"As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties," the statement said.

The settlement added that the two will also repay 2.4 million pounds $3.1 million) of taxpayer's money spent on renovating their Frogmore Cottage home near Windsor Castle.

The Palace added that it would not comment on who ends up paying for their security detail in Canada  an issue of intense public debate.

It also failed to mention whether the couple would be allowed to benefit financially from future royalties and franchise fees.

Harry and Meghan are seeking to register the "Sussex Royal" brand as a global trademark for their future enterprises.

The couple are dedicated to environmental causes and are looking to develop their charitable foundation as part of a "progressive" new role.

The queen's announcement is her second on the royal crisis  dubbed Megxit in honour of Britain's painful battle over Brexit  ahead of Harry and Meghan's effective resignation on March 8.

"We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution," the couple said at the time.

"We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America."

Meghan then jetted back to Canada and is now their with their son Archie.

Their announcement caught the royal family by surprise and created a media sensation in both Britain and the wider world.

Their treatment by London's hard-hitting tabloid press and their personal future  as well as questions about longstanding royal traditions  have turned into daily front-page news.

Media reports said Harry would probably join Meghan and Archie on the west coast of Canada this coming week.

The Queen's final ruling on her grandson's future drew immediate comparisons to King Edward VIII's abdication in 1936.

Edward married the American socialite Wallis Simpson the following year and spent much his remaining life abroad.

"Harry is not King (he is sixth in line) but tonight this feels like his and Meghan's own abdication," ITV television's royal editor Chris Ship wrote on Twitter.

"This isn't 1936. But it's still pretty big." The BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said Meghan must decide whether she intends to return and spend time in Britain in order to gain her UK citizenship.

The couple's future tax status also remains unclear.

"I think they are feeling their way into this as much as anyone else," Witchell said.

The couple will now formally be known as "Harry, The Duke of Sussex" and "Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex".

The Palace statement said the new arrangement "will take effect in the Spring of 2020".
Shraddha Kapoor couldn't curb her enthusiasm after the ultimate battle song 'Illegal Weapon 2.0' from her forthcoming movie 'Street Dancer 3D', crossed 75 million views on YouTube since its release.

The 32-year-old actor who is playing as the leader of a Pakistani dance team in the movie, hopped on to Instagram, on Sunday, to express her excitement and shared a snippet of the official music video.

Alongside the shared video, the star wrote, "The dance weapons are legally 75 million strong. Tune in now!#StreetDancer3D #IllegalWeapon2."

Apart from Shraddha, the official music video that was dropped two-weeks back featured Varun Dhawan, Nora Fatehi and other actors from the film, and portrays the street dance battle between two dance teams from India and Pakistan. The Indian team is led by Varun Dhawan in the song.

The power-packed track showcases the two arch-rivals challenging each other with their well-coordinated dance moves consisting of a mix of hip-hop and break-dance.

The song -- Illegal Weapon 2.0 -- is the revamped version of a Punjabi hit number with the same name and has been sung by Garry Sandhu and Jasmine Sandlas, who had also sung the original number.

Directed by choreographer Remo D'Souza, the film 'Street Dancer 3D' has been making a lot of the buzz owing to the success of his previous dance-dramas 'ABCD' and 'ABCD 2'.

The film is slated to hit the theatres on January 24 and has Prabhu Deva and Nora Fatehi in pivotal roles apart from the lead duo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As someone who has been very lucky in life, I often say my story would only have been possible in America  and I think thats true, he said to a crowd of hundreds who overflowed into a nearby room. But I also know that my story might have turned out very differently if I had been black, and that more black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth had they been white.
Declaring that residents will never be required to abandon their beachfront homes, Del Mar city officials agreed this week to submit a sea-level-rise plan to the California Coastal Commission that omits a state-mandated managed-retreat approach.

Instead of retreat, officials said they will rely on existing seawalls and future sand replenishment programs to protect the hundreds of vulnerable homes on or near the beach and the mouth of the San Dieguito River at the northern end of the small coastal city.

Managed retreat is not part of this plan, and its not something we are going to agree on, Amanda Lee, the citys senior planner, told the Del Mar City Council at its meeting Monday. The city was required to study managed retreat, which we did, and found it not workable for the city.

The decision puts the city at odds with the Coastal Commission, the state agency established by voters in 1972 to protect public access to the beach and regulate coastal development. Without an approved sea-level-rise plan, Del Mar could become ineligible for millions of dollars in federal grants for sand replenishment efforts and disaster relief or prevention efforts.

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Also, the Coastal Commission could deny permits requested by the city or private residents to build or replace seawalls and other development projects.

It appears to be a gamble Del Mar is willing to take. If they prevail, other cities may follow suit.

The Del Mar City Council agreed Monday, on a 3-1 vote with Councilman Dave Druker opposed and Councilman Terry Sinnott absent, to submit an amendment that includes a the sea-level-rise adaptation plan to the Coastal Commission for the citys Local Coastal Program.

A Local Coastal Program, certified by the state Coastal Commission, allows a city to approve development projects that otherwise would go to the state agency for approval. When Del Mar adopted its program in 1993, the commission did not require cities to include a plan for adapting to rising sea levels, but much about the issue has been learned since then.

Del Mar is more vulnerable to sea-level rise than most other San Diego County communities because it has hundreds of low-lying homes. Residents say managed retreat would never work there because coastal property values are so high, and theres nowhere else for the owners to go. The city has fewer than 4,400 residents and covers 1.7 square miles entirely west of Interstate 5.

The policy of managed retreat generally means removing coastal protection devices such as seawalls and rock revetments, along with homes, roads and other threatened structures, away from the advancing sea. In some cases, financial assistance could be available to property owners. Its among a number of policies the commission says coastal communities should consider for adapting to rising sea levels.

Many residents, and their attorneys, have argued vehemently during numerous public meetings over the past three years that the city should not include managed retreat in its sea-level-rise adaptation plan.

Some have said that to even consider the policy would cause the value of their multimillion-dollar homes to plummet.

Druker said the city should take more time to work on its amendment because so many residents are concerned about it. Others said enough time has been spent, and that the city needs to get the adaptation plan into its Local Coastal Program.

A Sept. 28 letter to the city from Coastal Commission program manager Gabriel Buhr commends the city for its work on the proposed plan and its emphasis on beach nourishment as an effective and appropriate short-term adaptation strategy.

We understand the reasons the city staff has chosen not to introduce managed retreat as an adaptation strategy at this time, Buhr states. We agree that future assessment of additional adaptation strategies will be warranted when new or amplified coastal hazards are realized.

In anticipation of these future changes, we do think the city should be establishing thresholds or triggers for when reassessment will occur, he states.

No date has been set for the Coastal Commission to consider Del Mars proposed amendment.

Some council members said the city should submit its amendment soon to get ahead of other cities working on updates.

We are not the only city that is going to be looking for grant funding to implement these strategies in our community, said Councilwoman Ellie Haviland.

We need the added protection of having the plan in the Local Coastal Program, she said.

Conservative estimates project that the average mean sea level in Del Mar will increase 5 inches by 2030, 12 inches by 2050 and 3.1 feet by 2100.

A study released Sept. 12 by the Coastal Commission takes a more dire view, stating that the rapidly melting glacial ice around the globe creates the possibility of oceans rising as much as 10 feet on the California coast by 2100. Also, most studies show sea-level rise is expected to accelerate as the years progress.

Some Del Mar residents disputed the studies used by the city and the Coastal Commission. New studies by NASA show sea-level rise to be much less, they said. Some also questioned the maps used by the city to outline the projected effects of sea-level rise and coastal flooding.

We have been told over and over  that we have good science, and were learning tonight that we dont, said Jerry Jacobs, a Del Mar homeowner for 20 years, urging the council to delay a decision. We have time, we dont need to rush this.

Jon Corn, an attorney for beachfront property owners, urged the city not to update its program, saying there is no legal requirement to do so immediately.

It will transfer power from the city to the state of California, Corn said. Once you do that, you can never get it back.

The state agency will never accept Del Mars adaptation plan until the city includes the policy of managed retreat, Corn said.

Mayor Dwight Worden said that the Coastal Commissions certification of Del Mars amendment and adaptation plan is the best way to lock in what the city wants.

They cannot put anything into our Local Coastal Program over our objection, Worden said, adding that the state can only suggest changes before certifying the amendment.

He backed up Havilands observation that without a plan, the city is less likely to get much-needed federal and state funding.

There is limited sand out there, and everybody wants it, Worden said. If we dont have our plan in there, we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

Managed retreat has been less of an issue for other San Diego County cities, where fewer homes are built near sea level. Most coastal homes in Solana Beach, Encinitas and Carlsbad are built atop 60-foot bluffs. Those structures eventually also could be affected as waves erode the bluffs.

Monterey is cited in Coastal Commission documents as a city that has successfully used managed retreat.

That city purchased a number of beachfront structures in an often-flooded area from willing sellers in the 1980s through the early 2000s to open up views of the ocean and create the Monterey Bay Park.

Funding from the county, state, Coastal Conservancy, a regional transportation agency and private donations were used to complete the project.

philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @phildiehl
According to local media, police officers responded to an assault call near Diamond Head, where they entered into a firefight with a male, who reportedly hid inside a house which was then abruptly engulfed by flames, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

The house in which the suspected gunman reportedly took refuge caught on fire and, according to multiple reports, quickly spread to neighboring homes

The Honolulu Fire Department is battling the blazes.

Although local media reported that police officers were killed, no official confirmation has been made.

The FBI said on Sunday that authorities are responding to an active shooter in Waikiki, Hawaii.

We are responding to an active shooter in Waikiki. That is what we are responding to. It is developing, FBI Honolulu Operational Support Technician Derek Hayes said, cited by CNN.

Netizens shared footage claimed to be from the site.

According to AP, citing local police, no arrests have been made.

Police closed several nearby streets, and urged the public to avoid the area.
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva said access to the financial services sector can help address income inequality AFP/JIM WATSON

"Trade truce is not the same as trade peace," she said.

US President Donald Trump signed a deal with China this week that ends the escalation but leaves in place tariffs on two thirds of the goods imported from the Asian economic power.

In a speech to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Georgieva called the accord an "important" step but cautioned that "much more work is ahead to heal the fractures between the world's two largest economies."

The IMF in its economic analysis has estimated the trade conflicts and tariffs have cut 0.8 percentage points off of global growth but she stressed that most of that is not due to the tariffs but to the uncertainty, which causes companies to put the brakes on investment.

"If I had to identify a theme at the outset of the new decade, it would be increasing uncertainty," she said.

With disputes still raging between the United States and Europe, she said "the global trading system is in need of a significant upgrade."

Georgieva said uncertainty affects not only businesses but individuals as well, especially given rising inequality within many countries.

In Britain, for example, "the top 10 percent now control nearly as much wealth as the bottom 50 percent," she said.

She warned that "excessive inequality hinders growth and ... can fuel populism and political upheaval."

While government spending to help those at the bottom is key, "too often we overlook the financial sector, which can also have a profound and long-lasting positive or negative effect on inequality."

In a new study presented Friday, the IMF highlighted how access to the financial sector in China and India in the 1990s "paved the way for enormous economic gains in the 2000s."

"This in turn helped in lifting a billion people out of poverty," she said.

But she cautioned against the excesses that led to the 2008 global financial crisis, and noted that for many, the crisis has never ended, with one in four young people in Europe at risk of falling into poverty.

"There is no substitute for high-quality regulation and supervision," Georgieva said.

"We are safer but not safe enough."
A spokesman for the fire department, Michael Yourishin, said that if a volunteer fire station is out of service, other stations will make sure there is coverage. It is not unusual for some volunteer stations to rotate in and out of service, he said, listing at least nine fire stations that responded to the blaze.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led Friday prayers at a mosque in Tehran on Friday for the first time since 2012, trying to rally support among intertwined crises facing his government. On the foreign front, punishing U.S. sanctions have harmed Iran's economy and the Trump administration's killing of Iran's top general brought the U.S. and Tehran to the brink of war. Domestically, Iranians already angry over a hike in fuel prices took to the streets this week to demand justice and accountability for the Revolutionary Guard's downing of a Ukrainian jetliner, killing 176 people, most of them Iranian.

In nationally broadcast comments from inside the Mosalla mosque, Khamenei, 80, said the missiles fired on the Ukrainian jet were a "bitter accident" and defended the Revolutionary Guard, which reports directly to him. "Our enemies were as happy about the plane crash as we were sad," he said. "Happy that they had found something to question the Guard and the armed forces." He called President Trump, who has been encouraging the antigovernment protests, a "clown" who is only pretending to support Iran's people and would just as soon "push a poisonous dagger" into their backs.

Khamenei also addressed the missile strikes on two Iraqi bases hosting U.S. forces, calling the a "slap on the face" to the U.S. "The fact that Iran has the power to give such a slap to a world power shows the hand of God," he said, but pushing the U.S. military out of the Middle East would be the "real punishment" for America's "cowardly" killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, highlighting Soleimani's efficacy in battling the Islamic State. He added that the killing showed America's "terrorist nature."

"Leading Friday prayers in the capital is a symbolically significant act usually reserved for times when Iran's highest authority wishes to deliver an important message," BBC News reports, citing Mehdi Khalaji at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

More stories from theweek.com

Trump just ran a two-year trade war experiment. It failed.

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5 scathingly funny cartoons about the Bernie Sanders-Elizabeth Warren feud


Goodbye, your royal highnesses. Hello, life as  almost  ordinary civilians.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, are quitting as working royals and will no longer use the titles "royal highness" or receive public funds for their work under a deal announced Saturday by Buckingham Palace.

The palace said Harry and Meghan will cease to be working members of the royal family when the new arrangements take effect within months, in the "spring of 2020.'' They will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.

The couple will no longer use the titles His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness, but they are not being stripped of them. Harry will remain a prince and sixth in line to the British throne.

The agreement also calls for Meghan and Harry to repay 2.4 million pounds ($3.1 million) in taxpayers' money that was spent renovating their home near Windsor Castle, Frogmore Cottage.

The couple's departure is a wrench for the royal family, but Queen Elizabeth II had warm words for them in a statement Saturday.

The queen said she was pleased that "together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.''

"I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life," Elizabeth said.

"It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life," she added.

The announcement came after days of talks among royal courtiers sparked by Meghan and Harry's announcement last week that they wanted to step down as senior royals and live part-time in Canada.

The details of the deal solidify the couple's dramatic break from life as working royals. Army veteran Harry will have to give up the military appointments he has as a senior royal.

While he and Meghan will no longer represent the queen, the palace said they would "continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty" while carrying out their private charitable work.

Buckingham Palace did not disclose who will pay for the couple's security going forward. It currently is taxpayer-funded.

"There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security," it said.


By Chang Se-moon



One of my all-time favorite movies is "Fiddler on the Roof" of 1971, which won the best motion picture and best actor awards from Golden Globe and best music and many more at the Oscars in 1972.



On Dec. 14, 2019, my lady friend, Anne Martin, took me to the National Theater in Washington, D.C., to see a live performance of the musical version of "Fiddler on the Roof," which was just as excellent as the movie.



The story is relatively simple, allowing me to follow rather easily.



Set in 1905, Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman, lives in a small Russian village with wife Golde and five daughters Tzeitel, Hodel, Chava, Shprintze and Bielke. In the beginning, the story is all about Tevye's losing efforts to preserve tradition, especially in selecting future husbands for their daughters.



Yente, the village matchmaker, comes to tell Golde that Lazar Wolf, the wealthy butcher, a widower older than Tevye, wants to marry Tzeitel, their eldest daughter. Parents agree to the marriage, but Tzeitel wants to, and eventually, marries her childhood friend, Motel the tailor, against the wishes of her parents.



Three of their elder daughters select their own matches against the wishes of their parents, thus breaking tradition. Well, we all break all kinds of tradition. The breaking of tradition is not the reason why I am writing this article.



One day, a Russian constable in uniform shows up and warns everyone in the Jewish village that they all have to leave. After a group of Russians in uniform disrupt the wedding of Tzeitel and Motel, they destroy the village where all the residents have long believed, mistakenly, "we don't bother them and they don't bother us."



A long line of cow-driven and overloaded wagons limp along, leaving behind the destroyed homes.



The real reason why I remember the movie so vividly many years after I first saw it and why I liked the latest musical at the National Theater so much is that every time there were scenes of uncertainty and sadness, the fiddler played his violin. He played violin on the roof in the 1971 movie, and on the stage in the 2019 musical. The sound was beautiful, but conveyed the sadness and helplessness of the characters.



Some say the fiddler demonstrates the strength of tradition, while others say the fiddler mourns the inevitable change that breaks tradition. Still others say that the fiddler is a metaphor for survival in a life of uncertainty.



To me, the violin playing was foreshadowing the sad ending of the peaceful Jewish villagers' lifestyle, forcing everyone in the village into an uncertain future for their survival.



My uneasy thought process led me to envision the uncertain future of Korea that might lead to struggles for survival, unless dramatic changes are made in policies impacting the two Koreas.



The government of South Korea had a good idea in the beginning and contacted North Korea with all good intentions, unfortunately to no avail. No concessions were made by North Korea.



Direct talks with the U.S. were not successful. Leaders in North Korea are doing what they had in mind all along: continuing to develop weapons of mass destruction, insult everyone in South Korea by ridiculing President Moon, and succeed in increasingly estranging the U.S. and South Korea.



There is a deadly lack of explanation, let alone earnest and open discussion, of the future direction of policies that can possibly ease public worries. This silence is coupled with numerous allegations of wrongdoings that suggest direct involvement of current and former officials of Cheong Wa Dae.



Worse yet, many members of the National Assembly constantly fight for their personal gains with no regard to the future prosperity and safety of the country. This is not a time to fight each other, but time to unite for collective wisdom.



After observing the current state of Korea, I now blame German people just as much as Hitler for the horrific rise of the Nazis in the early 1900s. Unless people, as well as leaders, in South Korea wake up, unite, and see what is unfolding toward them, thoughtful people many years from now may say the same: How could people in Korea be so naive and short-sighted to allow their once prosperous country to lose its freedom and wealth?



Millions of people lost their lives to protect freedom all over the world, and many lives are still being lost to fight for freedom to speak freely, freedom to think independently, and freedom to live as we want to live. Am I worrying too much about South Korea inching toward losing much of the freedom that was earned the hard way ever since the end of Japan's occupation in 1945?



I feel as if I am hearing the halting but unmistakable sound of a fiddler's violin in Korea.





Chang Se-moon (changsemoon@yahoo.com) is the director of the Gulf Coast Center for Impact Studies.


By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 17, 2020 | 05:56 PM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY





At the same time, it says arrests last year were up by 6 percent. Arrests increased from 3093 in 2018, to 3281 in 2019.



DUI arrests increased by 9 percent, from 234 in 2018 to 254 in 2019.



The Sheriff's Office says their data on automotive accidents shows a 3 percent decrease in the total number of collisions last year. Accidents fell from 1007 in 2018 to 976 in 2019. However, the number of fatalities increased, from 6 in 2018 to 9 in 2019.



The number of injury collisions decreased 41 percent from 290 in 2018 to 170 in 2019, while non-injury collisions increased 12 percent, from 711 in 2018 to 797 in 2019.

The sheriff's report says that overall, crime decreased by 1 percent in McCracken County last year.

The sheriff's office investigated and cleared one murder case in 2019. There was none in 2018.







The murder charge occurred on July 10, when deputies responded to Noble Road after a report of a woman that had been shot. Sixty-year-old Judy Stalcup had suffered from a gunshot wound, and was taken to an area hospital for treatment, but succumbed to her injuries. Detectives arrested her ex-husband, Anthony Stalcup.







Other statistics were released by the McCracken County Sheriff's Department:





 Rapes dropped 18 percent from 17 in 2018 to 14 in 2019.







 Robberies dropped 55 percent from 11 in 2018 to 5 in 2019.







 Felony assaults increased 17 percent from 24 in 2018 to 28 in 2019.







 Residential and commercial burglary dropped 5 percent from 136 in 2018 to 129 in 2019.







 Felony thefts dropped 8 percent from 335 in 2018 to 307 in 2019.







 Auto thefts dropped 25 percent from 61 in 2018 to 46 in 2019.







 Arsons dropped 60 percent from 5 in 2018 to 2 in 2019.







 Simple assaults dropped 15 percent from 331 in 2018 to 280 in 2019







 Forgery cases dropped 11 percent from 27 in 2018 to 24 in 2019







 Fraud cases: increased 3 percent from 93 in 2018 to 96 in 2019







 Criminal mischief- increased 8 percent from 134 in 2018 to 145 in 2019







 Embezzlement cases- increased 33 percent from 3 cases in 2018 and 4 cases in 2019







 Sex affenses (other than rape): increased 55 percent from 47 cases in 2018 to 73 cases in 2019







 Drug violations increased considerably by 59 percent from 1076 in 2018 to 1708 in 2019







 Offenses against families and children: decreased 3 percent from 77 cases in 2018 to 75 cases in 2019











Sheriff Carter said they are just a few days away from finalizing their first ever annual report, which will be available digitally and as a hard copy. Carter said the report is made at no cost to the tax payers, with costs being covered by money seized from drug investigations.







Carter says it is believed that the decrease in the various crime categories is largely due to their vigorous drug enforcement efforts made my deputies, reflected with a 59 percent increase in drug arrests compared to previous years. According to Carter, the increase would not have been possible without the relentless efforts, strong work ethic, and commitment to serve the citizens by each of their deputies.

McCracken County Sheriff Matt Carter released his office's statistical report on crime in 2019 compared to the previous year.
The remains of 11 Ukrainians killed when Iran's military mistakenly shot down a passenger airliner after takeoff from Tehran international airport arrived in Kyiv on January 19. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and other senior Ukrainian officials participated in a solemn ceremony after flag-draped coffins arrived in the Ukrainian capital carrying the bodies of nine Ukrainian International Airlines crew members and two passengers killed along with 165 other people when Flight PS752 went down on January 8.
A young policeman shot several rounds at his wife, killing her before shooting himself dead with his AK-47 rifle in north Bihar's Sitamarhi on Sunday, officials said.

Chandra Bhushan used to live with his wife Madhu close to the Police Lines and they got married six months back, they said.

The couple was found in a pool of blood by his colleagues in the Quick Response Team (QRT), said Anil Kumar, superintendent of police of Sitamarhi.

"The QRT jawans had gone to the house to fetch Chandra Bhushan, a native of Saharsa district, for turning up at their assigned places of duty. When nobody responded to their knocks, they forced open the door," he said.

"It appears that the incident took place between 3 am and 4 am. Altogether 16 fired cartridges have been recovered from the house while five bullets had hit the woman. The rifle, which was lying beside the jawan's body, has been seized," he said.

"Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem and forensic experts have been summoned from Patna for further investigations," Kumar added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

Jose Luis Magana/AP Images

Senator Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign looked into the legality of potentially appointing Senator Elizabeth Warren as both his vice president and treasury secretary

The two have similar ideologies on Wall Street, but their varying strategies could complement each other, The Intercept said.

Sanders and Warren have been aligned since Sanders supported Warren's proposal to create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The news, published Friday, comes amid recent tensions between the two campaigns.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and his presidential campaign reportedly looked into whether Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts could serve as both vice president and treasury secretary if he were elected president.

The report, published late Friday by The Intercept, says that Sanders had lawyers research whether or not an individual could serve two roles within the administration. Three people close to the Sanders campaign told The Intercept that the individual was his 2020 rival, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Per The Intercept, the sources, who said the campaign had not finalized any decisions for Sanders' potential cabinet, determined that there were no Constitutional barriers that would prevent a vice president from serving as treasury secretary.

The report comes amid the current ongoing public war of words between the Sanders and Warren campaigns over accusations Sanders told Warren at a closed-door meeting in 2018.

While sources, described by CNN as "two people Warren spoke with directly soon after the encounter, and two people familiar with the meeting," have said Sanders said a woman could not beat President Donald Trump at the polls, Sanders has denied the accusations. Sanders said he told Warren the president was "a sexist, a racist, and a liar who would weaponize whatever he could," but never said that a woman could not win.

Story continues

Per The Intercept, the Warren campaign has denied that it was behind leaking the story that has led to the controversy.

The two sparred over the accusation at the January 14 debate. As Insider reported, audio published by CNN showed a heated exchange between the two presidential hopefuls following the Tuesday night debate in Iowa. There have even been suggestions that Warren refused to shake Sanders' hand following the showdown.

"I think you called me a liar on national TV," Warren said after the debate had concluded, according to audio published by CNN.

"Let's not do it right now," Sanders told warren. "You want to have that discussion, we'll have that discussion."

"You called me a liar, you told me  all right let's not do it now," Sanders reiterated.

Despite their recent quibble, the pair has reportedly been friendly for years, with both candidates often viewed as the more progressive Democratic presidential candidates compared to the more moderate candidates, like former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, or former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

As The Intercept noted, Sanders and Warren have been largely aligned since around the time of the 2008 financial crisis when Sanders supported Warren's plan to create the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Sanders' potential desire to appoint Warren his treasury secretary isn't too far fetched, as the two have similar ideologies when it comes to Wall Street. Warren's focus on bankers, which is different than Sanders' focus, could complement each other, The Intercept said.

The Sanders and Warren campaigns did not immediately respond for comment.

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Huawei P Smart 2019 Starts Receiving Android 10-Based EMUI Firmware Update News oi-Sandeep Sarkar

Another Huawei smartphone has received the latest Android 10 update. Following the Huawei Y9 Prime 2019, the Chinese brand has released the update for the P Smart 2019. The update is based on EMUI 10 and brings all the goodies of the latest Android OS to the smartphone.

The Huawei P Smart 2019 Android update comes with EMUI 10.0.0.158 (C185E3R1P3) firmware build. Notably, the update is being rolled to the users in global markets as an OTA (Over-the-air). It weighs around 3.93GB in size and can also be downloaded manually.

The check for the latest Android version manually, you will need to head to the Software Update section which you can locate in the System & updates tab in the Settings menu. Also, the update is said to be rolling out in batches and it could take a while for the mass rollout to complete.

What's New In The Changelog?

The primary change which you will notice following the update is the new UI. The Android 10-based EMUI skin brings along some key features like a system-wide dark theme, new smart reply features, and Live caption. It also introduces new gesture-based navigation. Besides, it optimizes the overall system stability for improved user experience.

Huawei P Smart 2019 Hardware And Software Details

The Huawei P Smart 2019 is a mid-range offering using an in-house HiSilicon Kirin 710 chipset clubbed with Mali-G51 MP4 GPU, 3GB RAM and 64GB expandable storage. The photography department is taken care of by a 13MP primary RGB sensor with an f/2.2 aperture and a 2MP depth sensor.

The handset accommodates a 6.21-inch LCD display with 1080 x 2340 pixels FHD+ resolution. There is a waterdrop notch packing an 8MP selfie shooter. The handset runs on a 3,400 mAh battery with 10W fast charging support.

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The AASU on Sunday alleged that senior minister Himanta Biswa Sarma lied in the floor of the Assembly by claiming that the Assam Accord did not say anything about March 24, 1971 as the deadline to detect and deport illegal immigrants.

All Assam Students' Union Chief Adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya demanded that Sarma and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal apologise to the people for providing "wrong explanation" about the Accord at the one-day Special Session of the Assembly on January 13.

A six-year agitation demanding identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the AASU in 1979. It had culminated with the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, in the presence of the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

"Sarma lied in the House by saying that there is no mention of March 24, 1971 deadline to detect and deport illegal immigrants from Assam. However, it is clearly written in Clause 5. He gave a wrong explanation of the Accord.

"We demand that a special session of the Assembly be called and Sarbananda Sonowal, Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Assam government must apologise to the people of Assam," the AASU leader told reporters.

On January 13, Sarma had said in the Assembly that the amended Citizenship Act does not violate the Assam Accord, but is aimed to address the "unresolved" issues of the pact.

"The Assam Accord didn't speak about children of those coming before 1971, so it's inconclusive," he had added.

"The Assam Accord is not that bad. If we had read it properly, 1966 would have been the cut off year and 1967 voter list would have been the NRC. I regret that," he had claimed citing the Clause 5 of the pact.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
While stationed at Herington Army Air Field in Kansas in 1943, Louis decided he would visit the Schmidts in Topeka, about 100 miles northeast of his base, he said. With the familys phone number in his pocket courtesy of his godmother, he took a chance by getting on a train on Labor Day weekend and reached Lorraines father when he arrived.
English Swedish

Press release

Stockholm 17 January 2020

Management succession in Denmark and United Kingdom

Mark Luscombe, today country manager in UK, will in August return to Denmark, where he gradually will replace Peter Holtermand as country manager. Anders Engstrand, Head of Debt Capital Markets, will in August replace Mark Luscombe as country manager in UK. Both will in their roles as country managers be additional members of the Group Executive Committee.

With this long-term succession plan in place we feel confident that we, together with our clients, will continue to grow our business in both Denmark and UK, says Johan Torgeby, President and CEO of SEB.

Peter Holtermand has worked in SEB since the establishment of the Copenhagen branch in 1997 of which the last 18 years as the country manager. During these 23 years, SEB has developed into a leading corporate and investment bank in Denmark. Peter will as part of the new succession plan gradually hand over his management positions during a period up to SEBs 25th anniversary in 2022.

Mark Luscombe has been truly instrumental in the successful expansion of SEBs activities in London over the last five years and he knows the Danish business and clients well from his previous position as Head of Corporate Banking in SEB Denmark. He will from August initially be head of the Large Corporates & Financial Institutions division in Denmark to later fully shoulder the role of country manager.

Anders Engstrand, Head of Debt Capital Markets, will during the spring initiate his move to UK and will formally take over as country manager in August. Anders has extensive experience from the investment banking and capital markets area, which will be significant on SEBs continued journey in UK to become the leading financial advisor to our UK clients.
Noted San Francisco Tiki bar manager and bartender, Jeanie Grant of Pagan Idol, was hosted by Southtown's Hot Joy on Friday night for a night of salacious fun, delicious treats and drinks and some Drag Queen Karaoke.

Bounty Rum and Rhum J.M. spun the tunes for the group of drag performers who both entertained the crowd and got attendees up on stage to sing a song or two.
The exodus of Kashmiri Hindus is no secret. Since 1989-90, nothing much has changed for the displaced community. What has changed is their culture, tradition, language among others.

Meanwhile, different political parties came to power but couldn't create a conducive atmosphere for their return to the valley. Displaced Kashmiri Hindus are still longing to return to their homeland.

Every New Year brings new hopes to the world. Whereas, for Kashmiri Pandits, January brings back a three-decade-old nightmare. On January 19, 1990, Islamic jihadis wreaked havoc on the minority Kashmiri Hindus. They were left with only three options -- convert to Islam, leave the place or perish.

The terrorists murdered hundreds of Kashmiri Pandits. Women were allegedly gangraped and killed. Hindu temples were targeted. Kidnappings and incidents of stone pelting at Hindu homes were a common occurrence. Neither police nor administration came to their rescue. No human rights defenders enquired the whereabouts of Kashmiri Hindus. Even at the hospitals, Hindu patients were being marginalised.

From streets to schools, colleges and offices, the minorities were persecuted, threatened and tortured mentally as well as physically.

Had the then Governor Jagmohan not called the Army to the valley on January 19, 1990, Kashmiri Pandits would have been massacred. Slogans were being raised from the mosques' loudspeakers -- "Kaafiro ko maaro" (kill the outsiders), "Yahan Nizam-e-Mustafa chalega" (what we want in Kashmir, rule of Allah), "We want Kashmir with Pandit women, not Pandit men".

Lakhs of Kashmiri Muslims were present on the streets to slaughter the Hindus. At last, the Army had to come to their rescue.

Kashmiri Hindus were left with no other option but to migrate to other cities. Lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits moved to Jammu, New Delhi and other cities.

Even the then Central government couldn't do anything for Kashmiri Hindus.

According to Kashmiri Pandits, over 300 Hindus were killed between 1989-90. The massacre continued even after 1990. On January 26, 1998, 23 Kashmiri Pandits were killed in Wandhama area of Ganderbal district.

Even after 30 years of the Kashmiri Pandits' exodus, no action has been taken. Police didn't even register FIRs in several cases. After exodus, Kashmiri Pandits' homes were allegedly robbed. Many houses were set ablaze. No FIRs were registered.

Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo, telecom engineer Balkrishna Ganjoo, Doordarshan Director Lassa Kaul and political leader Tikalal Taploo, among others were brutally killed. Girija Ganjoo and Sarla Bhat were allegedly abducted, gangraped and then murdered. Justice has not yet been delivered in several such cases.

Kashmiri political leaders such as Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti or the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed never talked about atrocities against the Kashmiri Hindus. No leader made attempts to ensure return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.

When Kashmiri Pandits were attacked, Farooq Abdullah was Jammu and Kashmir's Chief Minister, while Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was the Union Home Minister.

It's unfortunate that no judicial inquiry commission or SIT was formed or an inquiry could be launched in such cases.

Kashmiri Pandits are still awaiting for justice. This year is the dawn of a new era. Even after three decades in exile, the community's return to their homeland still seems to be a distant dream.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians)
On January 21, Peter Schweizers newest book, Profiles in Corruption: Abuse of Power by Americas Progressive Elite, will be released. It should sell well given that pre-sales have already put it at #14 on the Amazon charts. As a preview of coming attractions, the New York Post published an extract from the book detailing How five members of Joe Bidens family got rich through his connections.

According to Schwiezer, Biden was fibbing when he announced last year, I never talked with my son or my brother or anyone else  even distant family  about their business interests. Period. The truth is that Bidens business conversations not only benefited Hunter, they also benefitted Bidens son-in-law Howard, his brothers James and Frank, and his sister Valerie. Loose lips enrich sibs.

James Biden was a welcome friend in the Obama White House. Sometimes, James White House visits dovetailed with his overseas business dealings, and his commercial opportunities flourished during his brothers tenure as vice president. For example, just three weeks after Bidens longtime friend Kevin Justice, president of HillStone International, a subsidiary of a huge construction management firm, visited the White House, HillStone announced that James Biden was its new Executive Vice President.

No one cared that Biden had no experience in construction management. What might have mattered was that, six months later, the firm got a contract to build 100,000 homes in Iraq, plus a $22 million U.S. federal government contract to manage a State Department project. An executive in the parent company later told investors it helped to have the vice presidents brother as a partner.

The book excerpt also tells how Hunter -- a man known for drugs, alcohol, taking up with his brothers widow, fathering a child on a stripper, dumping the stripper and his child, and marrying another woman made bank in Ukraine thanks to his fathers connections. Its a complicated, unsavory story, but the bottom line is the same as for James: Hunter got an immensely profitable job for which he was completely unqualified because Biden allowed Hunter to piggyback off of Bidens connections.

When it came to his kids, Biden didnt stop with Hunter. His daughter, Ashley, married a doctor, Howard Krein. Howard and his siblings open StartUp Health, an investment consultancy firm. In 2011, when the firm had just opened, two of the firms executives were invited to meet with Obama and Biden. The next day, this barely hatched entity hit the big time:

The following day the new company would be featured at a large health care tech conference being run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and StartUp Health executives became regular visitors to the White House, attending events in 2011, 2014 and 2015. How did StartUp Health gain access to the highest levels of power in Washington? There was nothing particularly unique about the company, but for this: The chief medical officer of StartUp Health, Howard Krein, is married to Joe Bidens youngest daughter, Ashley.

For years after, including his years in the White House, Biden made a point of promoting the company.

James also wasnt the only one of his siblings Biden helped. In March 2009, Biden went to Costa Rica. The last time a high-ranking American official went to Costa Rica was in 1997 when Bill Clinton traveled there. Bidens trip may not have been a coincidence:

Joe Bidens trip to Costa Rica came at a fortuitous time for his brother Frank, who was busy working deals in the country. Just months after Vice President Bidens visit, in August, Costa Rica News announced a new multilateral partnership to reform Real Estate in Latin America between Frank Biden, a developer named Craig Williamson, and the Guanacaste Country Club, a newly planned resort. [snip] As it happened, Joe Biden had been asked by President Obama to act as the Administrations point man in Latin America and the Caribbean. Franks vision for a country club in Costa Rica received support from the highest levels of the Costa Rican government despite his lack of experience in building such developments. He met with the Costa Rican ministers of education and energy and environment, as well as the president of the country.

The same amazing coincidences played out with Bidens sister Valerie, to whom his campaigns ended up paying $2.5 million in consulting fees in 2008 alone.

Considering that the New York Post article is merely a short excerpt from Peter Schweizers Profiles in Corruption, readers can expect to be exposed to a massive, but readable data dump, explaining how taxpayer funds and political connections have been funding the lifestyles of the rich and progressive.
A 23-year-old woman who lost 46 kilograms in eight months has revealed how watching her mother undergo gastric sleeve surgery inspired her to change her life.

Jessie Kirk, from Auckland, was called fat from the age of 10, and has been 'constantly reminded' of her size throughout her life.

'Over the years I have made many attempts at trying to lose weight. The most I was able to lose on my own before becoming unmotivated and giving up was 10 kilograms,' Mrs Kirk told Daily Mail Australia.

Jessie Kirk, from Auckland, was just 10 when she was first called fat and has been 'constantly reminded' of her size ever since. Mrs Kirk before her surgery pictured left, after her surgery pictured right

Mrs Kirk, pictured in November 2019, has lost 46 kilograms after she had gastric sleeve surgery in April 2019

Mrs Kirk said her mother Leanne, pictured together post weight-loss, inspired her to have the surgery after she had one of her own

'It finally got to the point that my weight really starting to impact my health.'

Mrs Kirk, who was 132.2 kilograms at her heaviest, said every time she worked out she was 'reduced to tears'.

She said the decision to do something about her weight and make the drastic decision to have surgery came after her mother Leanne had the surgery in September 2017.

'I honestly wouldn't have done it if it wasn't for my mum. I saw my mum become a new person,' she said, revealing her mother lost over 50 kilograms.

A year later - in November 2018 - Mrs Kirk decided she would have her gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico in April 2019.

She chose to go overseas for the procedure because in New Zealand it can cost up to NZD$23,000 - compared to NZD$11,500 in Mexico including the surgery, flights and accommodation.

Mrs Kirk used to cry whenever she worked out and now walks 45 minutes every day

Mrs Kirk's mother lost 50 kilograms since having her surgery in 2018 - inspiring Mrs Kirk to get her own

'It's important to know that I did a lot of research going into this,' she said, adding she consulted with the doctor and asked him extensive questions before choosing the clinic.

Mrs Kirk said she could write a novel about how her life has changed following the surgery - but there are three key differences.

The biggest change she's noticed is her every-day health.

'I was in constant pain prior to surgery, not being able to walk more than five minutes without feeling like my ankle was on fire. A month after the operation I was walking 45 minutes with no pain at all and to this day the pain hasn't come back,' she said.

Her confidence levels have also spiked and she 'loves the way she looks right now', even though she's still 18 kilograms from her goal weight.

Mrs Kirk said before her surgery she couldn't walk more than five minutes without feeling as though her ankle was on fire

Mrs Kirk weighed 132.2kg at her heaviest (pictured left) and now (pictured right) weighs less than 90 kilograms

DAY ON A PLATE POST SURGERY Breakfast: Chocolate or salted caramel protein shake with banana and milk Lunch: Chicken and vegetables Dinner: Hello Fresh meal - eating protein first, vegetables second and then - only if she can fit it - her carbs Exercise: Walking 45 minutes every day Advertisement

DAY ON A PLATE BEFORE SURGERY Breakfast: Bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on white bread with a 500mL can of blue V Lunch: Burger, chips and a drink Dinner: Nachos or sausages and mashed potatoes or takeaway Exercise: Almost never Advertisement

The 23-year-old, pictured in November, said before her surgery she would constantly hide away from the world

The final dramatic change has been her relationship with her family and friends.

'Prior to surgery, I got to the point where I wanted to hide,' Mrs Kirk said.

'I didn't want to attend family events, I dreaded going out cause I was fearful of running into someone I hadn't seen in a while, I even started to hide from my husband. This has all changed.

Mrs Kirk, pictured celebrating a 40-kilogram loss, said she 'feels sad about her previous self' because she was sad as a person

'My relationships are becoming stronger and I'm making new friends. I have honestly never been happier.'

Mrs Kirk said she 'feels sad about her previous self' because she was sad as a person.

'I hate that I felt that way and that I couldn't embrace my body even being bigger,' she said.

'I have met some incredible plus-size women on my journey who share body positivity and self-love and I really do envy them. I only wish I had the confidence that they do when I was bigger because who knows where it could have taken me.

Mrs Kirk said anyone who has decided the surgery is the right call for them shouldn't listen to others who try to dissuade them unless they are a medical professional

'Now, I feel a lot of pride. I feel like, finally, the person hiding on the inside all these years is finally glowing on the outside.'

Mrs Kirk said her shift to eating better foods after surgery felt like a natural transition, and she wished she had done the surgery sooner if she had known it would change her life so quickly.

She said her family and friends had been completely supportive of her journey.

Mrs Kirk said anyone who decides the surgery is the right call for them shouldn't listen to others who try to dissuade them - unless they are a medical professional.

'I know there will be people out there that won't agree with weight-loss surgery but I ask those people to think about the benefits that it can bring to someone's life and how it can ultimately save lives,' she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 03:19:05|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BERLIN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- World leaders attending the Libya Conference in Berlin on Sunday called for the end of foreign meddling in the Libyan conflict, pledging to set up a follow-up committee to oversee the outcomes of the conference, according to a draft communique.

Senior leaders of major world powers and other countries concerned got together in Berlin on Sunday to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Libya. Representatives from the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), African Union and the Arab League, and leaders of warring factions -- Khalifa Haftar, commander of the east-based Libyan National Army, and Fayez al-Sarraj, head of the UN-recognized government in Libya -- also attended the conference.

"We reaffirm our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya. Only a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process can end the conflict and bring lasting peace," stated the draft communique.

"We call on all actors to refrain from any activities exacerbating the conflict or inconsistent with the UNSC (UN Security Council) arms embargo or the ceasefire, including the financing of military capabilities or the recruitment of mercenaries," read the draft communique.

According to the draft communique, parties attending the conference called for credible, verifiable, sequenced and reciprocal steps, starting with a truce implemented by all parties concerned and leading to a comprehensive and lasting cessation of all hostilities including air operations over the territory of Libya.

"The cessation of hostilities shall furthermore include the redeployment of heavy weapons, artillery and aerial vehicles and their cantonment and the termination of all military movements by, or in direct support of, the conflict parties, in and over the entire territory of Libya, starting from the beginning of the ceasefire process," explained the draft communique.

"We herewith create an International Follow-Up Committee (IFC) to oversee the implementation of the Berlin conference outcomes, under the auspices of the United Nations and without prejudice to the mandate of the UN Security Council," the draft communique noted.
Faizan Mustafa By

In an unprecedented initiative, ministers in the Modi government are going house to house and claiming that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act does not harm already-existing citizens, that it merely seeks to provide citizenship to the refugees belonging to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. If this is so, the NRC should have preceded the CAA. The BJP is making a distinction between illegal migrant and refugees, with the former being termite to be deported and the latter being welcomed.

The language of persecution and refugees is borrowed from international legal frameworks for refugees. While the language used in the CAAs defence is borrowed from international law, there is little else that is borrowed from legal principles. Unlike the CAA, international law does not frame the question of persecution solely on religious terms. The UN Convention on Refugees, 1951 incorporates a comprehensive set of grounds, including race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, for a person to be recognised as a refugee.

Secondly, while the CAA presumes that any person belonging to a religious minority in these three countries is persecuted on the basis of religion, international standards point to a more complex understanding of how persecution operates. It would be incorrect to argue that these standards are not binding on India. Principles such as non-discrimination and non-arbitrary deprivation of citizenship are part of customary international law, and the international community must conduct themselves in accordance with these standards.

ALSO READ | No right to live in India if you can't accept Vande Mataram: Pratap Sarangi amid anti-CAA protests

Besides the guarantee of equal protection of laws under Article 14, the Constitution requires that procedures adopted by governments do not result in arbitrary treatment between people. Furthermore, Article 15 prohibits discrimination on specific grounds, including race and religion. Although restricted to citizens, it may be important to understand the import of a law that incorporates religion as the basis of gaining citizenship itself violates the fundamental principles of our republic. Citizenship is not just a territorial idea. It involves membership of a political community that has come into being with certain non-negotiable values.

The courts may uphold the CAA by examining its constitutionality from the narrower and legalistic prism of classification but any conferment of benefit or exclusion only on the basis of religion is not only contrary of citizenship debates but also incompatible with our Constitution. Most importantly, the CAA itself does not use the words religious persecution or refers to any procedure by which such a determination must be made. Instead, it provides a path to citizenship to the specified religious minorities who were previously exempted under the Passports Act and Foreigners Act.

It is in these similarly-worded exemption notifications that we see the borrowed language of religious persecution. For example, on September 7 2015, the MHA exempted Bangladeshis and Pakistanis belonging to the said religions, who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution The UN Convention on Refugees defines a refugee as someone who owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion is outside the country of his nationality

Except for the similarity in the keywords, there is little else borrowed from international safeguards. The UN Convention lists religious persecution as one of the grounds on the basis of which one may be considered as a refugee. Remember, a person may face persecution for more than one reason. The understanding of persecution is complex than categories of minority and majority. For example, the UNHCR Handbook for refugee status determination says: it will be necessary to take into account the personal and family background of the applicant, his membership of a particular racial, religious, national, social or political group [] in other words, everything that may serve to indicate that the predominant motive for his application is fear. In contrast, the CAA places no additional burden on the government to investigate properly and determine if there is a well-founded fear of persecution.

ALSO READ | After Kerala, Punjab, now Maharashtra mulls resolution against CAA

It makes another departure from international standards. While internationally the determination of persecution is more complex, the CAA merely equates the purported religious identity of a person to assume persecution. In contrast, the UNHCR Handbook is clear that mere membership of a particular religious community will normally not be enough to substantiate a claim to refugee status.

Therefore, even a factual determination on religious persecution requires one to demonstrate something more than just the fact that they belonged to a religious minority in a Muslim-majority country. Instead, religious persecution should necessarily include individuals who may have converted to another religion or because of their non-adherence to certain religious practices or their embrace of another sect. Moreover, the UNHCR recognises that identity is multifaceted. Frequently, religion and ethnic/racial identities of persecuted communities are blurred. For such instances, the UNHCR states that one may not even enquire into the bone fides of an applicants adherence or belief in a particular religion. The mere fact that an identity is attributed to a person may be sufficient.

What does the UNHCR guidance tell us? Firstly, that determination of persecution and compulsion is a question of fact, not of law. The fact whether one faces persecution depends on subjective and objective elements, a determination as to ones persecution cannot be based solely on the fact that they were minorities. The CAA framework does not require any of these determinations to be made by the government. In fact, it prevents authorities from distinguishing between genuine refugees who have faced persecution and those overstaying due to conducive rules.

The opposition to the CAA framework is not opposition to India hosting refugees. It is opposition to treating asylum-seekers unfairly and discriminatorily. It is incorrect to say that the CAA only excludes Muslims. It excludes Tamil Hindus, Bhutanese Christians, Rohingyas Muslims who fled from countries because they faced persecution on grounds other than religion. They, too, deserve a fair and objective determination as to their refugee status and a path to citizenship.

Faizan Mustafa, constitutional law expert. Aymen Mohammed, the second author, is Research Scholar, Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad.
Early morning mist over fields near Pewsey in Wiltshire as plunging temperatures are expected across the country this weekend with the mercury predicted to dip as low as -6C.

Forecasters have warned of disruption to TV networks as record high air pressure is set to cause havoc with radio signals.

High pressue can bend or break signals and is expected to cause outages for Freeview, BT, TalkTalk, YouView and Plusnet customers across the UK.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna told MailOnline: High pressure could well affect Freeview, causing signals to weaken and interfere with one another, due to a temperature inversion.

Incredible high pressure around 1050 millibars will be over us.

Photographers wait to take picture of a stag in a frost-covered Richmond Park in south west London where overnight temperatures dipped to -3C.

Forecasters predict pressure will reach as high as 1050 millibars, close to the all-time record of 1053 millibars which was set in 1902.

Freeview also warned its customers that

A spokesperson for the company said: said: High air pressure can bend or reflect TV and radio waves, which interferes with the signals being sent from transmitters to aerials.

This means that your aerial is not able to pick it up the same quality of signal that it normally would.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK:

As a result, some viewers may experience a pixelated picture, or in some cases a temporary loss of certain channels.

The chilly weekend continued on Sunday as the mercury dipped below zero and fog coated large parts of the country.

The Met Office said Northern Ireland experienced its coldest night of the winter, while the temperature fell to -6.8C (19.8F) in North Yorkshires Topcliffe, and hovered around -1C across the capital.

The agencys Alex Burkhill said a fog warning had been put in place over sections of the West Midlands and north-west England.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---

Its been a very frosty start but through the bulk of the day its going to be largely fine and largely sunny, the forecaster said.

Story continues

It would still be quite chilly with expected highs of 8C scattered across parts of England, Mr Burkhill said.

He added that there would be some rain for the Shetland Islands.

A mid-range cold weather alert has been issued by Public Health England from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm on Tuesday and the organisation is urging people to prepare for cold weather conditions and look out for those most at risk.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed US "outrage" in a meeting Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi over the death of an American national imprisoned in Egypt since 2013. Mustafa Kassem, a 54-year-old Egyptian-American who suffered from diabetes and heart problems, died January 13 after a hunger strike in which he ceased drinking fluids for four days before his death. Pompeo, who met with the Egyptian president in Berlin on the sidelines of an international conference on Libya, "expressed outrage over the pointless and tragic death of detained US citizen Mustafa Kassem in Egypt," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. Pompeo had raised Kassem's case with the Egyptian authorities before his death in custody, and the top US diplomat for the Middle East, David Schenker, has denounced it as "needless, tragic and avoidable." Kassem, who had emigrated to the United States and was a naturalized US citizen, was arrested in the summer of 2013 while in Cairo on a home visit. He had gone out to change money when soldiers asked for his papers only to beat and arrest him after he presented his US passport, according to lawyers representing his family. He was sentenced in 2018 to 15 years in prison for allegedly taking part in anti-government demonstrations, but his lawyers said no evidence was presented against him personally during a mass trial that also included 700 other accused. Washington had recently stepped up its remonstrations with the Egyptian government, despite the regular displays of friendship between President Donald Trump and his Egyptian counterpart. Pompeo expressed concern about freedom of the press and human rights in Egypt, in response to a series of arrests of journalists, intellectuals and activists following a rare outbreak of demonstrations against Sisi in September.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-18 17:53:14|Editor: ZX

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Uzbek students perform during a Chinese art festival in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Jan. 17, 2020. Tashkent hosted the Chinese art festival among Uzbek students studying Chinese language on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan on Friday. (Photo by Zafar Khalilov/Xinhua)

TASHKENT, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan's capital hosted a Chinese art festival among Uzbek students studying Chinese language on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan on Friday.

Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jiang Yan said in her opening remarks of the festival that over 28 years China-Uzbekistan relations have stood the test of time and have achieved fruitful results in all areas.

"These brilliant achievements would not have been possible without personal attention and stimulation of the leaders of the two countries," Jiang said.

She expressed her appreciation for people who are involved in strengthening bilateral friendship, including those who devote their lives to teaching and learning Chinese language in Uzbekistan.

"Learning Chinese opens a window into a completely different world and helps you become familiar with China," she noted.

Jiang said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has received "immediate and active support" of Uzbekistan, adding that "promoting the joint building of the BRI will certainly provide you with a broader field for the realization of your dreams."

Gulchekhra Rikhsieva, a rector at the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, said "today's festival is a great opportunity for young Uzbeks to learn Chinese."
Kat Von D has been in the public eye since she made a name for herself on Miami Ink  subsequently getting her own reality series, LA Ink. As a female tattoo artist, she had a lot to prove and she did.

Riding the wave of the success from her reality series, Von D launched her own makeup line in 2008 with the cosmetic brand, Sephora, and the rest has been a whirlwind.

Take an inside look at how Kat Von D became famous as well as her astounding net worth.

This is how Kat Von D became famous

Before she became a makeup mogul, Kat Von D got her start on the hit reality show, Miami Ink. She became an overnight sensation when her spin-off show L.A. Ink premiered on TLC in 2007.

That was just the beginning for the tattoo and makeup artist. Von D opened her own tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo in Hollywood, California and broke a Guinness World Record for the most tattoos given by one person.

She went on to write a book, and in 2008 she launched her makeup line, Kat Von D Beauty. Von Ds makeup line is both vegan and cruelty-free makeup line. The makeup artist has also been controversial in the past few years because of her advocacy against vaccinations. However, she has since adjusted her stance.

After doing a bunch of research, naturally I experienced some hesitancy, she said. If I would have known that I would have let so many people down with that I would have never ever shared where we were at with that at that time.

Kat Von D just stepped down from her company

After more than a decade at the helm of her beauty brand, Kat Von D has stepped down. The LA Ink alum made the announcement seemingly out of nowhere.

This past year has been one of great change for me, she wrote in an Instagram post. As many of you know, I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy, launched my vegan shoe line, and am now busy prepping to release my long-awaited album in the spring, followed by an international tour! As much as I wish I could balance all of this, on top of continuing my makeup line, it has become clear to me that I just cant do everything at the maximum capacity. Its hard to admit this, since Ive always said You can do everything and anything. But I dont think admitting ones limits is a bad thing. This was not an easy decision, but after careful consideration, I decided I wanted the makeup line to continue to thrive and grow, and Kendo is primed to do just that.

From here on out, Von D will not be involved in the line whatsoever as she has sold her shares to Kendo beauty conglomerate. Additionally, the line will be called, KVD Vegan Beauty.

Kat Von Ds net worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth  Von D is worth an astounding $14 million. From her reality television series to her books and certainly her beloved makeup line the beauty mogul has made quite the fortune for herself. Her net worth might increase even more with the sale of her makeup line.
A 48-year-old Afghan national was arrested for allegedly burgling a house here in south Delhi, police said on Sunday.

The accused has been identified as Jamshed, a resident of Malviya Nagar and a native of Kabul in Afghanistan, they said.

According to police, a person lodged a report on January 9 that his house had been burgled. The accused fled with Rs 1,90,000, gold and diamond jewellery and some other items.

Based on a CCTV footage, police identified Jamshed and arrested him on Saturday from near Press Enclave in Saket, a senior police officer said.

During interrogation, it was found that he came to India in 1996 and married to an Indian national in 2004. He was staying in the country illegally.

He was first arrested in 2009 in Hazrat Nizamuddin area for burgling a house.

Stolen items and house breaking tools were recovered from his possession, police added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Over the past decade, a version of The Biggest Loser has played out in the watch world. And the race to make ever-thinner pieces has involved two main competitors: Piaget and Bulgari. In the middle of the decade, Bulgari landed two haymakers when it developed two record holders: the thinnest watch with a tourbillon and the thinnest with a minute repeater. But Piaget, a brand that's prided itself on making tiny timepieces since the 1950s, and has put more thin models out into the world than the Hadid family, wasnt going to take this lying down. In 2017, the brand unveiled the Altiplano Ultimate and retook the worlds-thinnest belt, which is presumably laced with those holes you have to make yourself to accommodate weight loss. While promoting his new movie Just Mercy, Michael B. Jordan wore a version of this watchthe Altiplanoand a suit perfect for the occasion of the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Also this week, we find out which watches a legendary supermodel and Logan Roy wear.

"Just Mercy" UK Special Screening - VIP Access Dave J Hogan

Michael B Jordans Piaget Altiplano

Jordans watch isnt the thinnest in the world, but its pretty damn close. The difference between the Altiplano Ultimo (4.30 millimeters thick) and the Altiplanolets call it Regularo (6.36 mm) is barely more than the thickness of a nickel. In exchange, Jordan gets a bezel set with one carats worth of diamondsnot a bad trade off.

Amazon Studios 2020 Winter TCA Press Tour Kevin Mazur

Naomis Campbells Rolex Day Date

In writing this column, Ive learned that no matter what sort of celebrity you arechart-topping musician, first-billing actor, or superstar athleteodds are youre likely to wear a Rolex. That holds true, apparently, even for legendary supermodels. This week, Naomi Campbell wore Rolexs uber-classic Day Date. Campbell is a longtime Rolex wearer and the brands superfans have collected pictures of her wearing Daytonas and other Day Date models over the years. Ever since Lyndon Johnson wore the Day Date during his time in the Oval Office, the watch has been known as The President. The Supermodel might be fitting, too.

Story continues

25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards - Press Room Matt Winkelmeyer

Brett Gelmans Montblanc Star Legacy Automatic

Brett Gelman, in the midst of a wondrous-to-behold style renaissance, is also punching the throttle on his watch game. To the Critics Choice Awards Sunday, Gelman wore a watch from Montblanc, which also happens to be Denzel Washingtons timepiece brand of choice. The watch is a red-carpet anomaly: reasonably affordable at under $3,000, with looks that would never betray that fact. The dial features Montblancs star logo rippling across it.

25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards - Arrivals Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

Philppe Girard

Nicole Kidmans 1953 Omega

Rappers arent the only ones who wear iced-out watches. Nicole Kidman, too, can wear a timepiece thats less watch than fine jewelry. The actress reached all the way back in the time machine to 1953 for what would be known today as a bust-down Omega that is practically all glitz: the white-gold bracelet is linked together with 24 diamonds, the bezel is set with 32 more diamonds, and additional diamonds jut out from the watch in multiple places. Id like to see Drake top this.

John Cena Visits aExtraa Noel Vasquez

John Cenas Rolex Explorer II

First of all, congratulations to John Cena for winning Employee of the Month at a mid-sized paper supply companythis photo is adorable. Second thing: Cena is wearing the very underrated Rolex Explorer II. Rolex developed the original Explorer to endure the harshest of conditions, whether that meant sub-zero temperatures or clangs against a rock wall. The Explorer II was introduced in 1971 as the originals slightly beefier younger bro. The new version inherited its predecessors striking orange arrow-shaped hand, and added an option for the snowy white dial seen here on Cenas model. The design earned the watch the nickname the Polar Explorer, which should be Cenas new wrestling moniker.

25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards - Press Room Frazer Harrison

Brian Coxs Apple Watch

Brian Cox, who plays Logan Roy on Succession, doesnt need to subject himself to the typical baubles most people decorate themselves with for award shows. Instead, he wore an Apple Watcha practical wristwear option that can be programmed to buzz when the time finally comes to bless one of his horrible children with a kiss from daddy.

Originally Appeared on GQ
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former State Police Chief TP Senkumar has filed a counter-complaint against a journalist who approached the police alleging verbal abuse by the retired officer and physical assault by his supporters during a press meet the other day. Senkumar submitted the complaint to the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner late on Friday. Meanwhile, the Commissioners office said the complaint was yet to be forwarded to the Cantonment Police Station for further action.

A misunderstanding between the journalist and a few persons at a press conference at the Trivandrum Press Club escalated into an altercation on Thursday. But after the press conference, we had reconciled the differences. Later, I came to know that the journalist had filed a complaint with the Cantonment Police Station against me and the others who attended the press meet, said Senkumar, in his complaint.

He further added that the complaint itself was false. It is a result of the pressure tactics of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists. The union is now engaged in a false campaign against me, Senkumar said in his complaint. Senkumar, said a criminal conspiracy is in the works against him and urged the police to inquire into it. Earlier, the journalist had complained that Senkumar along with the others had verbally abused and physically assaulted him after he posed a question to the retired IPS officer.
Ten days after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their bombshell announcement that they would step back from Royal duties, and which was followed by various crisis talks regarding their futures, both Queen Elizabeth II and Buckingham Palace issued statements on January 18. The Queens personal statement was warm, though with tetchy undertones, and she stated that the family had found a constructive way forward for the Sussexes. She also stated that she was personally proud of Meghan, and Harry, Meghan, and Archie would always be a part of the family.

The statement by Buckingham Palace, however, was more business-like and clearer. Harry and Meghan would completely step back from their Royal duties, and they would no longer represent the Crown. Along with this, the couple will also relinquish some privileges they enjoyed while officially being a part of the Royal Family.

1. Has Harry Relinquished his claim to the Throne?

The Sussexes may have stepped down as Royals, but Harry still will keep his possible claim to the throne. Ones claim to the Royal throne is not just a matter of birth but also a part of UK legislation. If it has to be done, removing Harrys claim to the throne would also include passing an Act in the UK Parliament.

Currently, Harry is sixth in line to inherit the throne. As Prince William and Kates family expands, Harry his son Archie will slip further down the line of succession.

ALSO READ | Hope today's agreement allows Harry & Meghan to build a happy new life: Queen Elizabeth II

2. Have Harry and Meghan lost their Royal Titles?

The couple havent been stripped of their Royal titles like Princess Diana was after her divorce. However, they have both agreed not to use the titles His / Her Royal Highness (HRH) after theyve stepped down as they are no longer active Royals.

3. Will Harry retain his military rank?

Harry is also a former soldier who over the course of his military career has been awarded many honorary titles. As per the statement from Buckingham Palace, Harry has also stepped back from any and all active military appointments, as these also constituted as a part of his Royal duties.

Harry was the Captain General of the Royal Marines, which he inherited from his grandfather  the Duke of Edinburgh.

ALSO READ | Harry & Meghan will no longer use 'royal highness' titles: Buckingham Palace

4. Will they still be funded by the British taxpayer?

Harry and Meghan will no longer be funded by the British public taxpayer. However, they will continue to receive monetary support from the income generated by the Duchy belonging to Prince of Wales, Charles. This, by and large, makes up a significant portion of their income.

The couple have also expressed that they wish to repay all money spent to renovate Frogmore cottage which they want to continue to use as their home in the UK whenever they visit.

ALSO READ | Prince Harry, Meghan Markle to repay taxpayers money used on renovation of UK home

5. Will they be given security and who will fund it?

Payment for Harry and Meghans security has become an issue of contention for many British taxpayers. Local media recently revealed that the British Metropolitan Police spend approximately 600,000 pounds a year in order to protect the Sussex family.

Additionally, the couple has stated that they wish to divide their time equally between the UK and Canada. This has resulted in speculation that Canada could foot the bill for the couples security during their time there as Canada is a part of the Commonwealth countries that recognise the Queen as the Head of State.

Buckingham Palace has refused to elaborate on any details regarding the security of the former Royal couple. As per its official statement, There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security.

6. Will it affect either partys citizenship?

As per British media reports, Meghan Markles citizenship was not fast-tracked despite her marrying into British Royalty. Her application will be processed on par with normal applications.

There are no media reports on whether she holds a dual citizenship; moreover, Buckingham Palace has refused to comment.

As for a possible Canadian citizenship, both will have to apply as regular people. While Meghan lived in Canada for seven years while filming Suits, her citizenship or residency status for the country remains unknown.

ALSO READ | Netizens call Prince Harry, Meghan 'free' after they lose HRH titles
New Delhi:

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday slammed the Center over the amended Citizenship Act. Terming the act unconstitutional, Pinarayi Vijayan said that any act in the country should be constitutional, adding that Kerala will not implement any act that has RSS behind it. PM Modi gave lame excuse that NRC was not even discussed. But Home Minister Amit Shah had made clear that it'll be implemented across the country, Vijayan said.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, on the other hand, said the amended citizenship law was the subject of the central list and not a state subject and therefore it will have to be implemented. There is no way other than implementing the act. It will have to be implemented under (Article) 254, Khan told reporters in response to a question on some states refusing to implement the new law.

He said everyone should understand ones own jurisdiction. You may give your arguments by using your intellect, you have the right to challenge it in the Supreme Court but citizenship act is the subject of Union List and not a state subject, he said after addressing a programme at a private university in Jaipur.

Khan said people can be adamant about their opinion but cannot go beyond the boundary of law. The Kerala government earlier this week moved the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act, seeking to declare it violative of the principles of equality, freedom and secularism enshrined in the Constitution. On Friday, Khan criticised the Left government for approaching the apex court against the CAA without informing him and said he may seek a report from it about the move.

Also on Friday, the Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution seeking immediate repeal of the law and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said his government would approach the top court against it.

There have been protests against the amended law, and some of them turned violent last month. Some opposition parties too have opposed it, saying the law is discriminatory. The central government has said the law grants Indian citizenship to religious minorities escaping persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and does not take away anyones citizenship.

Weighing on the protests, the Kerala governor said it was not the first-time protests were happening in the country. A bigger protest happened in 1986 when a Supreme Court judgment was reversed, he said, without elaborating the verdict he was referring to.

In the programme based on Indian chronology the Ramayana and the Mahabharata eras, he said the Indian tradition has been a tradition of knowledge and wisdom which needs to be revived.

The Indian civilisation is a living and continuing civilisation, Khan said. The Indian tradition is a reflective tradition and not prescriptive. Indian civilisation is living and continuing. The continuity of other civilisations has finished, he said.

He said the word religion has a vast meaning and it is not limited to rituals and customs. Khan also cited references from the Ramayana and the Rigveda in his speech to describe Indian traditions. Talking about Brahmins, he said a Brahmin is one who enlightens himself so that he can see everyone with equality.

This is highly reflective tradition, which does not bind and rather gives opportunity to expand, he said, adding that India has been known for knowledge and wisdom, which was acknowledged by Arab world during the 10th century.
Mandi (Himachal Pradesh) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): An Indian Army soldier, who is stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, was unable to make it to his own wedding after being stuck in the valley due to heavy snowfall.



Soldier Sunil Kumar, a resident of Kheir village in Mandi district was set to get married on January 16. However, he could not reach his home on time to get married.

"Marriage of my brother was scheduled on January 16. However, due to bad weather and snow, he could not take his flight. He is serving in the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir. The procession was ready to leave but we had to cancel it after the groom failed to reach home on time," said Vikey Kumar, brother of the soldier.

The family has postponed the wedding to a later date.

"We had to postpone the marriage. Today, he called and told us that he will reach home by Tuesday. Now both the families are looking for another auspicious date for the marriage," Vikey Kumar said. (ANI)


This is Janette Hunts 20th year serving the community at the Batemans Bay post office. But this summer is the first time the postal manager has experienced anything on this scale of the uncertainty and devastation that tore through her town over the past five weeks.

Janette Hunt is the postal manager of Batemans Bay post office where, despite the tragedy the fires have wreaked, it's business as usual. Credit:James Brickwood

Its just been a rollercoaster, really, Ms Hunt said. Everything has just been very ... different, is probably a good word to describe it.

The post office has just sort of dug in and done what we need to do to help these people as much as possible.

Batemans Bay was on advice level warning from November 27 and on watch and act from Christmas, and was then hit by fires on New Years Eve. The post office has become a makeshift service centre for the town, with locals using it as an information and communication post and as a source of power, supplies (including battery-operated radios) and  for some staff and contractors  showers.
Bruce Springsteen brought back an Asbury Park tradition on Saturday night, taking the stage at the Paramount Theater for the big finale of Light of Days Winterfest. It had been five years since the real governor of New Jersey, as Springsteen was introduced, attended the annual event, a week-long musical celebration which raises money to fight Parkinsons Disease and other related illnesses. This 20th year milestone also doubled as a birthday celebration for the organization and its founder Bob Benjamin.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar should meet to resolve demands of Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum and nearby areas.

He also said that both the states should accept ruling of the Supreme Court, where a case over the issue is pending since many years.

Maharashtra claims Belgaum, part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency but currently a district of Karnataka, on linguistic grounds.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray last month appointed ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Shinde as co- ordinators to oversee his government's efforts to expedite the case related to the boundary dispute with Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday in Belgaum, located around 490 km from here, Raut said, "The three leaders need to meet to resolve demands of Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum and nearby areas (in Karnakata)."



He also said that the dispute was being heard by the Supreme Court for last 14 years, and both the states should accept the apex court's verdict.

On Friday, Maharashtra minister of state Rajendra Patil Yadravkar, who is the MLA from Shirol in Kolhapur, went to Belgaum to pay tributes to martyrs of the movement for the merger of Marathi-speaking villages there into Maharashtra.

A gathering is organised every year to honour those who died during the first 'Samyukta Maharashtra Andolan' on January 17, 1956.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With hands smaller than 1p coins, Isabella Evans was so tiny at birth she was shorter than a pack of baby wipes.

She had to be delivered prematurely by emergency caesarean after complications at 24 weeks, weighing just 12oz.

Doctors feared the worst and gave her only a five per cent chance of survival.

But now, after an epic battle and multiple operations, parents Ryan Evans and Kym Brown have welcomed little fighter Isabella home.

Small wonder: The tiny hand of Isabella shortly after premature birth at 24 weeks. Isabella was the smallest premature baby in Britain in 15 years at birth in June last year, weighing the same as a can of Coke

Miss Brown, 25, said: Realistically, she shouldnt be here. There were so many times we could have lost her. But she never stopped fighting.

Miss Brown became pregnant in December 2018 but discovered she had pre-eclampsia, a condition that can be fatal for both mother and baby.

A scan at 21 weeks showed Isabella had stopped growing and when her heart rate began dropping doctors carried out a caesarean.

Doctors feared the worst and gave her only a five per cent chance of survival. But now, after an epic battle and multiple operations, parents Ryan Evans and Kym Brown have welcomed little fighter Isabella home

Isabella was the smallest premature baby in Britain in 15 years at birth in June last year, weighing the same as a can of Coke.

She was put in bubble wrap to keep her warm and an incubator to help her breathe.

And her parents had to wait for a fortnight for her first cuddle. But at three weeks doctors discovered she had a hole in her bowel and needed two operations in three months as well as laser surgery on her eyes.

Miss Brown, a restaurant manager, said: We had prepared ourselves for the worst, so when we got the call to say the operation went well we were just in shock.

She wore her first vest at three months, and only then because it had shrunk in the wash at the hospital. It was smaller than my phone.

Isabella was eventually allowed home to Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire, a few days before Christmas.

But because she was so frail Miss Brown and 26-year-old Mr Evans, a chef, could not celebrate and just spent the time watching over her.

She now weighs 13lb 7oz  the size of a healthy baby.

Miss Brown said: She is crawling and starting to stand up, and has a great appetite. Her favourite is a cheese and avocado sandwich. Shes so happy, and has a smile for everyone she meets. Its incredible how far shes come.

Britains previous smallest baby was Aaliyah Hart, who weighed 12oz at birth in Birmingham in 2003.

She was put in bubble wrap to keep her warm and an incubator to help her breathe. And her parents had to wait for a fortnight for her first cuddle
Australia has conferred its highest civilian honour, the Order of Australia honour, on Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw for her contribution towards advancing the country's relationship with India.

Australia's High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu invested Mazumdar-Shaw as an Honorary Member within the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division at a ceremony in Bengaluru on Friday, the Australian High Commission said in a statement.

An alumnus of Federation University Australia, Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder of Biocon, one of India's largest bio-pharmaceutical companies.

She contributes immensely to promoting women in STEM through the joint research programmes developed between Biocon and Deakin University, Australia, as part of her deep and long-standing commitment to gender equality, the statement said.

Mazumdar-Shaw - an Australian Global Alumni Ambassador - is also recognised for her sustained and significant contribution to industry academia collaboration between Australia and India, it said.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Indian and Australian business, the diplomatic corps, and family, friends and peers of Mazumdar-Shaw, the statement said.

Speaking at the event, Sidhu said, "Dr Mazumdar-Shaw is a tireless champion of the commercial, educational, and people-to-people links between our two countries, and this award recognises her commitment to progressing the Australia-India partnership."

Honorary appointments in the Order of Australia are made to foreign nationals who have made an outstanding contribution to Australia or humanity at large.

Mazumdar-Shaw is the fourth Indian citizen to be awarded Australia's highest civilian honour.

This follows the conferment of superstar batsman Sachin Tendulkar in 2012, Former Attorney General of India Soli Jehangir Sorabjee in 2006, and Mother Teresa of Kolkata (Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu) in 1982.

Also read: HDFC Bank Q3 profit rises 33% to Rs 7,416 crore, bad loans grow

Also read: Centre agrees to take over Unitech, finish stalled projects
All-Ireland medal winner Aidan Fogarty has opened up for the first time about the calling off of his wedding only a month before he and his teenage sweetheart were due to walk down the aisle.

Speaking about what he called "a very lonely and heart-breaking time", he said the experience has made him stronger but has also made him see the pressure Irish society places on young people to meet life's traditional milestones.

Explaining how the pair dated for over a decade when the questions began, he said: "I think, looking back, we got engaged because of the pressure from society really."

He added: "I think society puts a lot of pressure on you to get married, have a kid and a house by the age of 30 or 32, and if you are not in that scenario you are nearly 'failing' at life, which is absolute rubbish," he said.

"I am talking now as if I am a guru," he said, "but I have had the experience."

The couple were living together when they called the wedding off.

"Everything was booked. We were at home in Johnstown and we had been very 'off' with each other and the two of us sat down and told each other we weren't happy. We had a big conversation and we came to the agreement that we had grown apart and made the decision to call it off."

Of the immediate aftermath he said: "I told my sister first... I am getting emotional," he continued, "... and she started crying because she was best friends with [my former fiancee] as well. She just couldn't believe it. The two of us just said nothing and cried."

On the reasons behind the decision, Fogarty said he and his ex-fiancee felt they were becoming more like friends.

Looking back now he says, society often expects people to tick off 'boxes' as life goes on. On the narrative they would hear broaching their 30s, he says "from a female perspective" it's "Mary is after getting engaged, Sheila is after getting engaged, there is Maura having a baby..." while he added "Even the lads [would joke] 'have you fallen over on one knee yet?'"

Video of the Day

To other young people feeling similar pressure to choose 'the one' he says: "The most important thing is to be happy in yourself, to have confidence in yourself and to know exactly what you want. If it takes 10, 20 or 30 years - it doesn't matter. I was very immature, I didn't know what I wanted - all I wanted to do was hurl and enjoy myself and I did enjoy myself and I would have no regrets. If I was back there again I would do the exact same thing but, what I would do differently, is that I would work on myself and develop myself a lot more."

After the break-up he was lonely. "I started going to coffee shops and doing a lot of things on my own and that was so difficult because I was in a relationship for 14 years and played hurling with 30 guys for years and everything was done with someone."

Now he has learned to find peace in his own company. "If you can sit down and be happy on your own then you are doing something right. Those kind of people are the strongest people out there because they are the ones who don't get into a relationship just for the sake of it."

He built his own confidence by chance after meeting a local priest, Brother Damien Brennan, with the view of improving as a hurler.

"I went to him thinking he was going to run me for 50 laps and give me 200 push ups a day - and it was that as well - but it turned out to be more of a psychological help and he became my mentor.

"He took me at face value, he didn't judge me, I could tell him anything and he accepted me for who I was and that was the best starting point for me because I was always looking over my shoulder- looking for approval."

On the day when his mentor died last September, Fogarty had the call to appear on Dancing With The Stars. "I am not a religious man but I feel it was no coincidence that they rang that day. He was always challenging me and telling me to take risks and to get myself out there."

Without Brother Brennan, he wouldn't have eight All-Ireland medals. "I wouldn't have retired in 2010, I wouldn't be on DWTS now, doing radio programmes or talking to you today. He was my best friend as well as my mentor - an incredibly powerful man."

'Dancing With The Stars' is on tonight at 6.30pm on RTE One
By PTI

BIHAR: A young policeman shot several rounds at his wife, killing her before shooting himself dead with his AK-47 rifle in north Bihar's Sitamarhi on Sunday, officials said.

Chandra Bhushan used to live with his wife Madhu close to the Police Lines and they got married six months back, they said.

The couple was found in a pool of blood by his colleagues in the Quick Response Team (QRT), said Anil Kumar, superintendent of police of Sitamarhi.

"The QRT jawans had gone to the house to fetch Chandra Bhushan, a native of Saharsa district, for turning up at their assigned places of duty. When nobody responded to their knocks, they forced open the door," he said.

"It appears that the incident took place between 3 am and 4 am. Altogether 16 fired cartridges have been recovered from the house while five bullets had hit the woman. The rifle, which was lying beside the jawan's body, has been seized," he said.

"Their bodies have been sent for post-mortem and forensic experts have been summoned from Patna for further investigations," Kumar added.
Police in Berkeley are warning residents of a recent uptick in catalytic converter thefts.

Since the start of the year, there have been more than two dozen such thefts, and most have occurred after dark, police said.

Police have arrested three suspects in connection with catalytic converter thefts over the past three weeks. On Sunday, Jan. 12, Luis Martinez, 31, was arrested in San Leandro in connection with a theft that occurred on Dec. 29, from a car in the Berkeley Bowl parking lot at 2020 Oregon St.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has since charged Martinez with felony grand theft.

Early Tuesday, Richard Harold Reynolds, 57, and Jeni Marie Wadsworth, 47, were arrested in connection with a catalytic converter theft on Euclid Avenue north of Marin Avenue. Both were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, and Reynolds was also arrested on suspicion of violating his parole and possession of burglary tools.

Police advise residents can protect their cars by parking inside a garage, if possible. Parking in well-lit or busy areas is also advised.

Parking near security cameras, if possible, is also helpful, police said.

One person was killed Saturday afternoon when a motorcycle struck a car on state Highway 9 at Heather Heights Road on the south edge of unincorporated Santa Clara County, the California Highway Patrol said.

The accident was reported at 4:14 p.m. at that intersection, about a quarter mile east of Skyline Boulevard (state Highway 35), the CHP said. A motorcycle with two people aboard ran into a Toyota; one of the people on the motorcycle, was killed, the CHP said.

A person was struck and killed Saturday night while on foot in the far left lane of southbound Interstate Highway 280 near the onramp from Cesar Chavez Boulevard, the California Highway Patrol said.

The accident was reported about 8 p.m. Saturday. A white Toyota Highlander appears to have struck the pedestrian on the freeway, said CHP Officer Bert Diaz. He could not immediately say whether the victim is a man or a woman.

It wasn't immediately apparent why the pedestrian was on the freeway, Diaz said. No one in the Highlander was injured.

All lanes of southbound I-280 at Cesar Chavez remained closed at 9 p.m. Saturday.

A fire in West Oakland Saturday night displaced three people living in tents but caused no injuries, the Oakland Fire Department said.

The fire was reported at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at 2756 Martin Luther King Way, near 28th Street. Battalion Chief Sean Laffan said 32 firefighters responded to the blaze, which is being investigated as a possible arson. Several tents and "miscellaneous other items" were destroyed in the fire, Laffan said.

Some social media posts referred to explosions, possibly as many as three of them, happening immediately before the fire. Laffan and fire department dispatchers said they had not gotten reports of any explosions there Saturday night.

The American Red Cross responded to the scene Saturday night to help those people displaced.

The Campbell City Council on Tuesday could decide whether to approve permits for construction of a Chick-fil-A drive-through restaurant at the corner of Bascom Avenue and Arroyo Seco Drive, where a Denny's Restaurant now operates.

The proposal for a 4,554-square-foot restaurant comes to the City Council after three Campbell residents filed an appeal of the Campbell Planning Commission's Nov. 12, 2019 approval of the permits needed for construction of the restaurant.

That approval was appealed by local residents Herb Weinman, Catherine Clock and Mary Broxon, who contend the drive-through will increase overall car trips in the area, and result in increased litter, noise pollution and carbon emissions from idling cars and trucks. Project critics also say Chick-fil-A is trying to get the project approved now ahead of an expected ban on new drive-through restaurants as part of an upcoming City of Campbell general plan update.

In a staff report, city planners say the predicted traffic increase is considered "less than significant," based on a traffic study.

A 16-year-old bicyclist suffered serious injuries Saturday afternoon when a car struck him, Brentwood police said.

Brentwood police and East Contra Costa Fire Protection District paramedics were called about 4:40 p.m. Saturday to Minnesota Avenue at Valley Green Drive, police said. The bicyclist was "alert and conscious" as first responders prepared him to be flown to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

The driver of the car stayed at the scene and was cooperating with investigators, police said. The accident remains under investigation.

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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump systematically fabricated his record before boisterous supporters and the eyes of the world this past week.

To a core question  did the U.S. killing of an Iranian general avoid an imminent attack on U.S. interests?  there is no definitive answer days after missiles flew. Trump and his officials said the U.S. attack achieved that result but have yet to prove it.

In other matters, Trump offered distortion across the breadth of public policy. He declared clean-air achievements when the air has become dirtier. He claimed to have come up with the great idea of letting veterans seek private care at public expense, when that was already law, accomplished by President Barack Obama.

He complained that he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize for peace in Ethiopia, when he had little to nothing to do with it.

He invented a dialogue with a Democrat in Congress and claimed he succeeded on two fronts where other presidents failed, each time for at least 44 years, a made-up number.

And as he done repeatedly, but this time in the midst of dangerous brinkmanship with Iran, he falsely accused Obama of opening the U.S. treasury to Tehran and handing over a fortune.

A sampling from the week:

PEACE PRIZE

TRUMP: I'm going to tell you about the Nobel Peace Prize, I will tell you about that. I made a deal, I saved the country and I just heard that the head of that country is now getting the Nobel Peace Prize for saving the country. I said, what, did I have something to do with it? Yeah but, you know, that is the way it is. " Toledo, Ohio, rally Thursday.

THE FACTS: Trump did not save Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the prize in October after he fully accepted a peace deal ending a 20-year border war with neighboring Eritrea that saw some 80,000 people killed. Trump had no known involvement in the peace deal.

The prize also recognized Abiy, Africa's youngest leader, for sweeping changes in Ethiopian society as he released tens of thousands of prisoners, welcomed home once-banned opposition groups, expanded freedom of expression and acknowledged his country's past abuses.

Story continues

Trump did agree to a request from Egypts president to mediate a dispute among Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan over a proposed dam on the Nile River. That mediation continues.

Trump is known to express pique when he is not recognized in the manner he thinks is deserved. He mocked teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg when Time magazine named her person of the year last month.

___

JOBS

TRUMP: America lost 60,000 factories under the previous administration, 60,000. You wouldn't believe that's possible but I know it's true. ... No, it's true. No, its true. ... It's 60,000 closed, gone. They are all coming back. They are all coming back.  Toledo rally.

THE FACTS: Its not true.

The U.S. has indeed lost roughly 60,000 factories but thats since 2001, the start of President George W. Bushs administration. It didnt happen under the previous administration. And theyre not all coming back.

Construction spending on factories has declined since a recent peak in 2015 during Obama's presidency. Factories cut 12,000 jobs in December, according to the jobs report Friday. Growth in manufacturing jobs decelerated sharply in 2019, to 46,000, down from 264,000 added jobs in 2018.

___

VETERANS

TRUMP on the Veterans Administration: For 44 years they try to get accountability. ... I said, you know ... I have an idea, such a great idea. You are going to go out private, you're going to pick up a doctor, you are going to get yourself fixed up, we're going to pay the bill, right? And you know what happened? And I said how  how brilliant is that? They say sir, we've been working on that for 48 years but we've never been able to get it approved. So I was very, very disillusioned but you know what I'm good at, getting things approved and we got it approved.  to cheers at Toledo rally.

THE FACTS: He did not think up the idea and get it approved. Obama got it approved. Obama signed into law the Choice program that lets veterans go to a private doctor at public expense under some circumstances. Trump routinely ignores that and says presidents have tried to get it done for 44 years. He only expanded the program.

As for accountability, Trump claims that his law means bad VA employees are swiftly fired. But a report released in October by the VA inspector general found significant deficiencies in the accountability office established by the law, such as poor leadership, shoddy training of investigators and a failure to push out underperforming senior leaders.

Also at the rally, Trump claimed that 44 years" of failure preceded his success in getting the right to try initiative into law. That initiative, aimed at giving terminally ill patients more access to unapproved drugs, only goes back five or so years.

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CANCER

TRUMP: U.S. Cancer Death Rate Lowest In Recorded History! A lot of good news coming out of this Administration.  tweet Thursday.

THE FACTS: The news came from the American Cancer Society, not the administration, and it does not reflect Trump's record.

The group said the death rate from cancer has declined nearly 30% since 1991 and took its sharpest one-year drop in 2017. But the data did not reflect cancer-research spending under the Trump administration.

Trump proposed cutting spending at the National Institutes of Health but Congress ignored the effort and raised spending in a bill the president signed. That is not reflected in the cancer society report.

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IRAN

TRUMP: Irans hostility substantially increased after the foolish Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2013. And they were given $150 billion, not to mention $1.8 billion in cash.  address Wednesday.

TRUMP: Iran now is not wealthy like it was when President Obama handed him $150 billion..  remarks Thursday.

TRUMP: They gave around $150 billion including $1.7 billion in the hard cold cash, can you imagine? No, no, can you imagine? $1.7 billion, $1.8 billion in cash.  Toledo rally.

THE FACTS: There was no $150 billion payout from the U.S. treasury or other countries. The U.S. made a separate payment of roughly $1.8 billion to cover a decades-old IOU.

When Iran signed the multinational deal to restrain its nuclear development in return for being freed from sanctions, it regained access to its own assets, which had been frozen abroad. Iran was allowed to get its money back. The deal actually was signed in 2015, after a 2013 preliminary agreement. Trump has taken the U.S. out of it.

As for the $1.8 billion: In the 1970s, Iran paid the U.S. $400 million for military equipment that was never delivered because the Iranian government was overthrown and diplomatic relations ruptured. After the nuclear deal, the U.S. and Iran announced they had settled the matter, with the U.S. agreeing to pay the $400 million principal along with about $1.3 billion in interest.

The $400 million was paid in cash and flown to Tehran on a cargo plane, which gave rise to Trump's previous dramatic accounts of money stuffed in barrels or boxes and delivered in the dead of night. The arrangement provided for the interest to be paid later, not crammed into containers.

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TRUMP: The foolish Iran nuclear deal financed Iranian aggression while allowing a quick path to nuclear breakout. That is what it did. And by the way it expires so soon. They can have nuclear weapons."  Toledo rally.

TRUMP: Its close to expiring. In other words, if I didnt terminate it, it expires in a very short period of time.  remarks at White House on Thursday.

THE FACTS: The 2015 agreement is not about to expire. It imposes limits on Iran's nuclear development for 15 years.

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TRUMP: The missiles fired last night at us and our allies were paid for with the funds made available by the last administration.  address Wednesday.

THE FACTS: That accusation comes without corroboration. The administration has offered no information supporting the contention that in regaining access to $150 billion of its assets that had been frozen abroad, Iran steered a chunk of that money to the missiles that hit the U.S. bases in Iraq.

I doubt anyone has the insight into Iran's budgetary mechanisms to say that this money was used for this purpose, said Gerald Feierstein, a career U.S. diplomat who retired in 2016 as the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs.

It's a funds-are-fungible kind of argument, he said. "I mean, if they have money, can you say that dollar went directly to buy a missile, as opposed to freeing up another dollar that went to buy a missile?"

Joseph Votel, who retired from the U.S. Army in March as the top military commander for the Middle East, said he was not aware of any specific intelligence on this question. I don't have anything that would particularly support that, he said. I'm not saying it did or it didn't, but I don't have details to demonstrate it one way or the other.

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ENVIRONMENT

TRUMP: We have some of the cleanest air and cleanest water on earth, and for our country the air is right now cleaner than it's been in 40 years.  remarks Thursday.

THE FACTS: No, air quality has worsened under the Trump administration. And it's a stretch to say the U.S. is among the countries with the cleanest air. Dozens of nations have less smoggy air. Trump made the remarks as he proposed the latest enforcement rollbacks for the bedrock environmental acts credited with beginning the clean-up of U.S. air and water a half-century ago.

As to water quality, one measure, Yale University's global Environmental Performance Index, finds the U.S. tied with nine other countries as having the cleanest drinking water.

But after decades of improvement, progress in air quality has stalled.

There were 15% more days with unhealthy air in America in 2017 and 2018 than there were on average from 2013 through 2016, the four years when the U.S had its fewest number of those days since at least 1980, according to an AP analysis of EPA data.

A recent study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that deadly air particle pollution increased 5.5% in the United States between 2016 and 2018 after declining by 24.2% from 2009 to 2016.

"The increase was associated with 9,700 premature deaths in 2018," the study by Karen Clay and Nicholas Muller said. "At conventional valuations, these deaths represent damages of $89 billion."

The Obama administration set records for the fewest air-polluted days.

Trumps proposal would greatly cut back on the National Environmental Policy Acts requirement that federal agencies consider whether a big construction project would hurt the environment before they approve the project. Other Trump proposals would roll back restrictions on major sources of air and water pollution, including coal-fired power plants and autos.

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ISLAMIC STATE GROUP

TRUMP: Three months ago, after destroying 100% of ISIS and its territorial caliphate ..."  address Wednesday on Iran's missile strike on two Iraqi bases.

THE FACTS: His claim of a 100% defeat is misleading as the Islamic State group still poses a threat.

IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017, then lost the last of its land holdings in Syria in March, marking the end of the extremists' self-declared caliphate. Still, extremist sleeper cells have continued to launch attacks in Iraq and Syria and are believed to be responsible for targeted killings against local officials and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

U.N. experts have warned that IS leaders are seeking a resurgence. This past week, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the fight against the group was continuing in Syria.

___

IMPEACHMENT

TRUMP, on the House Intelligence Committee chairman: He's a corrupt politician, Adam Schiff. He's corrupt. ... He gave a sentence that he made up. He made it up, and it was not  it was not what was said in the conversation. That's why I released the transcript, got approval from Ukraine."  remarks Thursday.

THE FACTS: Trump's timeline is wrong and he's exaggerating the episode and botching the timeline.

Schiff, D-Calif., delivered what he called a parody of Trump's remarks in the president's July 25 phone call with Ukraine's leader.

Schiff did so after the White House released a rough transcript of the call, not before, as Trump states. So people who read the official account knew Schiff was riffing from it, not quoting from it.

Though Trump took umbrage at having words put in his mouth by Schiff, the president routinely invents dialogue. It's a staple of his rhetoric when he mocks political rivals. He did it Thursday night at a rally, making up a conversation he pretended he had  with Schiff.

___

TRUMP: We released the exact transcript.  remarks Thursday.

THE FACTS: No, the White House memo describing Trump's phone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy isn't exact.

It was presented by the White House as a rough transcript. The public does not know precisely what each leader said.

Officials who were tasked to listen in to the call say the rough transcript is largely accurate in representing the material aspects of the conversation as they heard it.

One such witness testified that some quotations in the account were not exact, though he did not consider the variance to be consequential.

___

TRUMP, explaining why he initially held up military aid to Ukraine: Why is it that the United States pays? And it affects Europe far more than it affects the United States. So why isnt it that France, Germany, and all of those countries in Europe that are so strongly affected, why arent they paying?  remarks Tuesday with Greece's prime minister.

THE FACTS: Hes incorrect that European countries werent putting up aid for Ukraine.

European Union institutions have provided far more development assistance than the $204 million from Washington. Specific EU members, Japan and Canada also contribute significantly.

Since 2014, the EU and European financial institutions have mobilized more than $16 billion to help Ukraine's economy, counter corruption, build institutions and strengthen its sovereignty against further incursions by Russia after its annexation of Crimea.

The U.S. is a heavy source of military assistance. But NATO also contributes a variety of military-assistance programs and trust funds for Ukraine. In most such cases, the programs are modest and NATO countries other than the U.S. take the lead

___

ENERGY

TRUMP: We are independent, and we do not need Middle East oil.  address Wednesday.

THE FACTS: Trumps declaration of energy independence is premature. The U.S. still needs plenty of oil from the Mideast.

The volume of U.S. oil imports from the Persian Gulf alone  23 million barrels in October  would not be easy to make up elsewhere, at least not without major changes in U.S. demand or production.

Technological advances like fracking and horizontal drilling have allowed the U.S. to greatly increase production, but demand remains brisk and the country still imports millions of barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iraq and other countries. Moreover, much of what the U.S. produces is hard for domestic refiners to convert to practical use. So the U.S. exports that production and imports oil that is more suitable for American refineries to handle.

On energy more broadly, the U.S. is indeed close to parity on how much energy it produces and how much it consumes. In some months, it produces more than it consumes. But it has not achieved self-sufficiency. In the first nine months of last year, it imported about as much energy as it exported.

___

MILITARY

TRUMP: The American military has been completely rebuilt under my administration, at a cost of $2.5 trillion.  address Wednesday.

THE FACTS: Thats an exaggeration.

Its true that his administration has accelerated a sharp buildup in defense spending, including a respite from what the U.S. military considered to be crippling spending limits under budget sequestration.

But a number of new Pentagon weapons programs, such as the F-35 fighter jet, were started years before the Trump administration. And it will take years for freshly ordered tanks, planes and other weapons to be built, delivered and put to use.

The Air Forces Minuteman 3 missiles, a key part of the U.S. nuclear force, for instance, have been operating since the early 1970s and the modernization was begun under the Obama administration. They are due to be replaced with a new version, but not until later this decade.

___

Associated Press writers Christopher Rugaber, Ellen Knickmeyer, Matthew Lee, Michael Biesecker, Lolita C. Baldor, Matthew Daly and Robert Burns contributed to this report.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE  A look at the veracity of claims by political figures.

___

Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd

Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 20:25:24|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel will set up an industrial food tech center at a cost of 108 million new shekels (31 million U.S. dollars), Israeli Ministry of Economy announced Sunday.

The center, first of its kind in Israel, will be established in Kiryat Shmona, the northernmost city in Israel, in the Galilee Panhandle region.

The ministry said food tech has become the new "princess" of Israeli innovation with over 300 Israeli start-ups involved in the field, alongside research institutes and industrial companies.

Many Israeli food tech start-ups will be required to scale up their development to industrial and commercialized levels, through proof of concept to demonstrate the product's feasibility.

Accordingly, the ministry noted the new center aims to resolve these demands and become a global attraction for innovative food start-ups.

The new center will include a hub for start-ups and provide them with professional and legal consulting services, offices and shared facilities.
Get money I guess. Beyonce looks like a white woman in that gif .

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i thought it was Shakira

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They had a good run where they looked similar.

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I've always wondered what this gif is from lol

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And living her BEST lyfe!

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They shouldve had this deal in place right after the documentaries on Netflix and Hulu premiered. Still make that money, since he didnt make any from the festival. Lol.





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The doc was so serious and then this scen popped up. It was amazing, I actually gasped when he said that. I wish him the best tbh.

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Im surprised this collab didnt happen sooner tbh



Edited at 2020-01-19 01:21 am (UTC)

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Well....get money. Pay those people your boss robbed.

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mte

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white men continue to fail upwards

ugh

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Well, Evian spelled backwards is naive.



That is all.

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LMAOOOOOOOO

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Mte

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You betta come thru with the semordnilap, bitch!

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LMAO

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Reality Bites!

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One year too late. Even if its for the anniversary since this went viral.



Summer 2019 was your chance and you blew it.

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Also a portion of these Evian sales should go to the islanders who have yet to get paid for their work building for the festival.



Last I remember, they had a GoFundMe to pay the workers but IIRC some shady shit happened with whoever was managing the account. So I wonder if they ever reached their goal or got paid at all from that.

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Summer 2019 was your chance and you blew it.



The irony.

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I know a lot of people laughed but I was more disturbed by that part of the documentary.

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Coming from Mexico, its redic to me when people in Europe buy all this stupid branded water when tap water is perfectly fine there!





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Actually, you can't drink tap water from all the states in Mexico. It's possible in my state, but you can't do it in Mexico City.

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pretty sure they mean in europe, as in is dumb to spend money on branded water when you can drink tap water in europe

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My mom refuses to drink tap water, and ONLY buys bottle waters, and I fucking hate it, because we live in CANADA, like we have the best water in the world.....

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idk anyone who buys bottled water tbh

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Uhhh not all of Europe? In my country that shit will kill you, along with certain parts of South Italy

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In Scotland the tap water is great but if you keep going south to England their tap water is disgusting

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I know. But Im living in Mexico City now and I really should invest in a nice filter because I have to spend a lot on bottled water and garrafones, and after watching that episode of rotten I just cant anymore

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Depends on the country tbh. A lot of my friends from the Balkans are weird about tap water, but then my friends from Austria prided themselves on their tap water because it's so good.

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I live in alabama and one day I put my glass under the tap and out poured brown water.i bought me a filter to go on it after that.

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but anything to look

lol and i'm pretty sure tap water is more regulated than bottled waterbut anything to look #notpoor with your cubed fiji bottle, i guess

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For a long time people were advised against drinking tap water in polish cities bc there were no filters and the water wasn't good. Now the water is ok to dirnk and a lot of people drink it.

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They should give the profits to the vendors who lost all that money

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very poorly hydrated lately

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Turkey slams Haftars visit to Greece

In a statement, Turkey's Foreign Minister said that Athens' efforts to derail push for peace in Libya are in vain.

Libyan General Khalifa Haftar visited Greece and met with top Greek officials on Friday, ahead of Sundays conference on Libya in Berlin.

Haftar also had a one-to-one meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, who said afterwards that Haftar agreed the treaties signed between Turkey and Libya's UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) need to be cancelled.

"GREECES FUTILE EFFORTS ARE IN VAIN"

Inviting Libyan warlord to Greece and stressing the Greek agenda in the Mediterranean are both futile efforts to derail the push for peace in Libya, said Turkeys foreign minister on Saturday.

The Greek-Greek Cypriot duo extorts the rights of neighboring countries with their maximalist claims in the Eastern Mediterranean, said a statement by Mevlut Cavusoglu. Trying to legitimize these claims by taking advantage of the EU harms peace and stability in the region, he added.

The two pacts Turkey signed with the legitimate government in Libya have alarmed Greece. Instead of dialogue, they severed diplomatic relations with the legitimate government. Unfortunately, they act with the understanding that The enemy of my enemy is my friend, he wrote.
Donald Trump's London envoy left onlookers stunned after a heated row about Huawei spilled out into the lobby of 10 Downing Street.

Shocked visitors arriving through the famous black door saw billionaire US ambassador Woody Johnson locked in a passionate and highly charged discussion with British officials.

Boris Johnsons team have been left furious after a White House delegation flew to London to warn Britain not to let the controversial Chinese tech giant supply high-speed 5G internet infrastructure amid espionage fears.

US Ambassador Woody Johnson, pictured, was involved with a heated discussion with Whitehall officials at Downing Street over British government plans to outsource much of the country's planned 5G mobile phone network to Chinese technology firm Huawei

Chinese technology firm Huawei is the front runner to receive the contract to build Britain's high speed 5G mobile phone network despite fears over the firm's links to the Beijing government

Mr Trump has warned Britain that intelligence sharing would be put at risk if Mr Johnson gave the green light for Huawei at a crunch meeting of his National Security Council this month.

But Mr Johnson has also been told that his manifesto commitment for superfast broadband for all by 2025 will be in tatters without Huawei, because no other commercial company has its technical advantage. A Whitehall source said: Its Huawei or the highway before 2025.

Yesterday Government officials hit back at the US pressure, saying we are very unimpressed by what they have been doing.

A senior Government source accused the US of repeatedly telling us what not to do but have no US solution to offer from Silicon Valley or anywhere else. Weve asked on multiple occasions and all thats come back is silence or shake of the head.

The Mail on Sunday understands that the US Government is poised to suggest an alternative Western technological solution to avoid allies having to rely on Huawei, but the plan would take many years to become operational.

The Chinese firm last night issued a stark challenge to Mr Johnson, warning that he risks missing his manifesto commitment without its help. Vice-president Victor Zhang said: British experts, including two parliamentary committees and the head of MI5, have looked at the evidence and concluded there is no justification for banning Huawei on cyber-security grounds.

We hope the Government agrees  so that our customers can keep the UKs 5G roll-out on track and meet the Prime Ministers promise of gigabit connectivity for all.

It comes as it emerged millions of Britons in 70 towns and cities could lose internet access on their phones if the Government bans Huawei from the 5G network.

EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three have rolled out 5G using tens of thousands of Huawei masts.

The same masts are also being used for 4G connections, which means that if they have to be replaced, millions of smartphone users will lose their 4G internet for months or even years, the operators warned.
Kildare County Council says there will be major disruptions at certain times in Clane later this year because Irish Water is undertaking a major pipe laying process. It is working hard to minimise the effect on road users and others.

At a recent meeting of the Clane-Maynooth Municipal District, area engineer, Shane Aylward, outlined plans to members.

He said Irish Water is laying pipes and the work will be done by Coffey Construction.

Work will take place to replace sewer lines in the Kilcock/Ballinagappa side of the town.

Mr Aylward said they are trying to get the work done in phases with the Kilcock/Ballinagappa section done at Easter. They hope the company will work 24/7 for 16 days from the Saturday school finishes.

They hope to do the Prosperous road end when the school finishes and that night work will help the situation. They will try to limit the road closures to school holiday and summer time on the Prosperous road, in particular.

Chairman, Brendan Weld, councillors will come under huge pressure and asked for a designated person to answer questions from the public.
For a moment, imagine a scenario where a potential juror is asked to preside at a trial where the case is built behind closed doors, where the defendant couldn't call witnesses, where the presiding officer whose integrity is dubious tells witnesses they don't have to answer questions, where the only fact witness is unable to attest to any crime and the supposed pressured co-conspirator says there was no pressure. Senator Daines is doing his job or trying to in an environment propagated by those Democrats who seem more concerned with impeachment than the business and welfare of our country. The senator should stand up against what is a purely partisan maneuver designed to nullify the 2016 election and prevent the re-election of the president.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 22:22:37|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping began his pre-Chinese New Year domestic inspection tour Sunday, visiting southwest China's Yunnan Province.

He headed for a village of the Wa ethnic group to learn about poverty alleviation efforts and extend his festival greetings to the villagers.

The Chinese New Year, which falls on Jan. 25 this year, is the most important festival for Chinese people, who beat all odds to return home to be with their families and friends.

Before previous Chinese New Year festivals, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, would always visit the homes of ordinary people.

Many of the families Xi visited were the disadvantaged and poor who live in tough environments and in remote areas. It is these people Xi cares deeply about, with the battle against poverty being his top priority.

During the visits, he would sit down with them, listen to their concerns and join them for festival preparations ranging from making sticky rice cakes to frying dough and pasting red paper cuttings.

In 2019, he walked into traditional courtyard homes in Beijing.

In 2018, he trekked mountains to visit ethnic minority villages in Sichuan Province.

In 2017, he went to the snowy countryside in Hebei Province.

In 2016, he traveled to the "cradle of the Chinese revolution" in Jiangxi Province.

In 2015, he returned to the village of Liangjiahe in Shaanxi Province, where he spent seven years in his youth living and working alongside peasants.

In 2014, he braved the ice and snow to visit families living on pastures and forest farms in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

In 2013, he visited poor villages in remote and barren mountains of Gansu Province.

DIFFERENT FAMILIES, SAME GOAL

Jihaoyeqiu's house was perched on a hill in mountainous Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, one of China's last pockets of deep poverty.

In 2018, Xi visited Jihaoyeqiu's ramshackle home. He checked the family's living conditions and asked whether they had enough to eat and wear. In a later conversation, one of Jihaoyeqiu's fellow ethnic Yi villagers said she used to believe that she was haunted by ghosts as she often fell sick.

Xi said in the past there were "ghosts" of poverty and backwardness. But as people gain more knowledge, attend to personal hygiene and live higher-quality lives, these "ghosts" are being banished.

"Our socialism aims to create good lives for the people," Xi said.

He is determined to eradicate absolute poverty which has haunted the nation for thousands of years. In 2013, he put forward "targeted poverty alleviation," and a goal was later set to eliminate extreme poverty by 2020.

Over 10 million Chinese people shook off poverty every year since 2013. Jihaoyeqiu is one of them as his family moved into a 100-sq-meter four-bedroom home in a new relocation village out of the inhospitable area.

Fate also changed for Xu Haicheng. In 2017, Xi sat down with him in his rural home in Zhangbei County and helped sort out Xu's family budget.

Xu told Xi that his family of four earned over 43,000 yuan (6,269 U.S. dollars) a year growing potatoes, beets and oats but had to shell out more than 35,000 yuan for his wife's medical bills and his daughter's college expenses. After spending on daily necessities, Xu had little money left for the extras.

Xi consoled him, pledging continuous support for families like Xu's and called on cadres to help by designing more effective targeted poverty relief measures and fostering more sustainable industries.

Eliminating poverty, improving livelihoods and achieving common prosperity are the goals the Party has always been committed to, Xi said.

Jinggangshan was a base for the Party in its early revolutionary days. But the "cradle of the Chinese revolution" was also facing a tough fight against poverty when Xi visited in 2016.

Xi went to the home of Zuo Xiufa, a Red Army martyr descendant, learned that the family planned to earn extra income by making bamboo tubes and wished them good fortune.

Out on the streets, he joined locals in making sticky rice cakes. In the home of Zhang Chengde, Zhang's wife commended Xi for governing the country well so that ordinary people have a sense of fulfillment.

"The people are the masters of the country," Xi responded. "The job of all officials, myself included, is to serve the people."

Observers said though Xi visited families of various backgrounds, he stuck to one task: leading the people to strive for better lives.

In 2019, a campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission" was launched to ensure the Party remains true to its original aspiration and keeps its founding mission firmly in mind.

"All the hard work, struggles and sacrifices the Party has made since its founding are for the happiness of the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi said at a meeting to summarize the campaign earlier this month.
By 10.45 am on December 9, 1946, the Constitution Hall in New Delhis Rafi Marg was filled with towering political figures from across the country.

Wearing overcoats and shawls, they sat in neat rows and applauded when Sachchidananda Sinha  one of the oldest parliamentarians at the time  took the chair to inaugurate the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. Thunderous applause followed after Sinha, quoting Urdu poet Iqbal, exhorted all to be guided by wisdom, toleration, justice and fairness to all. Then, all of them shuffled into lines to sign the register against their names: 192 men and 15 women.

The demand for a body to form the Constitution was an old one but it was only in 1934 that the Indian National Congress adopted a resolution to create a Constituent Assembly that would be representative of all sections of the Indian people, to frame an acceptable Constitution.But the absence of universal adult suffrage meant that the representation of marginalised groups, especially women, was low.

Most of the 15 women who made it to the CA were upper caste, upper class and literate  only one was Muslim and another Dalit. The then United Provinces sent the highest number  four  followed by Madras state with three. Together, they contributed around 2% of the total volume of debate in the CA, according to an analysis by the PRS Legislative Research, with G Durgabai (Madras), Begum Aizaz Rasul (United Provinces) and Renuka Ray (West Bengal) speaking the most.

To measure their contribution by these statistics, however, would be a mistake.

What was striking about the women are their diverse histories , which point to the rich history and trajectories of womens leadership and activities in pre- independence era their interventions were about varied freedoms, non- discrimination, equality, liberty, core principles underlying the Constitution and about citizenship in a new nation, said Meera Velayudhan, president of the Indian Association for Womens Studies and daughter of Dakshayani Velayudhan, the only Dalit woman member.

At 34, Dakshayani was one of the youngest and most remarkable members of the CA.

Hailing from the oppressed Pulaya caste in Kerala, Dakshayani was the first in her community to attend school and college  she was Indias first Dalit woman graduate -- and to wear an upper cloth. Her family had organised one of the first public challenges to state-sanctioned caste oppression by organising a meeting on boats tied with rope off the coast  after all, the sea had no caste -- in defiance of a royal diktat that forbade such a meeting on land.

A close associate of MK Gandhi, she married her husband Velayudhan  also a CA member -- in Wardhas Sevagram Ashram. But her inspiration also lay in the writings of Bhimrao Ambedkar, and she edited an Ambedkarite publication in Madras.

In the assembly, she argued against separate electorates, appointment of governors and said the final draft of the Constitution should be adopted following a ratification through a general election. Ten days after the assembly met for the first time, Dakshayani stood before it and delivered her first speech.

I submit that a Constituent Assembly not only frames a Constitution but also gives the people a new framework for lifewhat we want is not all kinds of safeguards. It is the moral safeguards that give real protection to the underdogs of this country, she said.

Her most powerful intervention came on the abolition of untouchability in November 1948. The working of the Constitution will depend upon how the people will conduct themselves in the future, not on the actual execution of the law. So, I hope that in course of time there will not be such a community known as Untouchables, she said.

Another remarkable woman member was Rasul, born to a branch of the ruling family of Malerkotla who became one of the few women to win in the 1937 election, only to relinquish the Muslim League and join the Congress after Independence. Rasul was key in developing a consensus among the Muslim members to give up the demand for a separate electorate, and her first intervention in July 1947 was to demand autonomy for ministers from party affiliations.

If that principle that the majority should not discriminate against any minority is accepted, I can assure you that we (Muslims) will not ask for any reservation of seats, she said in November 1948.

The debates provide a glimpse of the concerns of the time. Constitutional scholar Madhav Khosla points out that the issue of representation was one that the Assembly debated a great deal about. While reservation on the basis of religion was rejected, reservation on the basis of caste was adopted.

On the issue of reservation for women in elected bodies, the sentiment seemed to be unanimously opposed.

Hansa Mehta, a member from Bombay, categorically rejected reserved seats, quotas or separate electorates. We have never asked for privileges. What we have asked for is social justice, political justice and economic justice, she said in December 1946.

Renuka Ray, from Bengal, pointed out, Ever since the start of the womens movement in this country, women have been fundamentally opposed to special privileges and reservations. Purnima Banerji, from the United Provinces, argued against separate electorates for women, but was of the opinion that a seat vacated by a woman should be filled by a woman alone.

Its important to remember that most of the women who formed part of the Constituent Assembly came from privileged backgrounds and were thus exposed to enough opportunities to be able to make such arguments against reservation, said Priya Ravichandran, a Bengaluru-based writer who worked on a web-based resource titled Women Architects of the Indian Constitution.

Niraja Gopal Jayal, a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, pointed out that while the section on fundamental rights was meant to be gender neutral, matters pertaining to social rights of women were placed in the chapter of Directive Principles  which is not enforceable in courts.

The visibility of women is therefore greater in this chapter of the Constitution, with many articles explicitly mentioning women  e.g. the right to equal pay for equal work, the right to an adequate livelihood, just and humane conditions of work, and maternity relief, and of course, the contentious uniform civil code  being located here, in the only non justiciable section of the Indian Constitution, she wrote in her 2013 book, Citizenship and its Discontents.

Indeed, many of the women, including Ray, Mehta and Rajkumari Amrit Kaur (Central Provinces) were in favour of a Uniform Civil Code, which nevertheless did not get passed. The issue of a civil law that overrides personal laws in favour of a common set of rules remains a contentious one, even today.

Two women -- Malati Chaudhury from Orissa, and Leela Roy, a close associate of Subhas Chandra Bose from Bengal -- resigned from the assembly soon after the December 9 meeting. Chaudhury left to join Gandhi in Noakhali, where communal tension between Hindus and Muslims had sparked bloody riots, and Roy was made in-charge of Forward Bloc after Bose left the country.

Many of the women members went on to have illustrious political careers after Independence. Rasul became the social welfare minister in Uttar Pradesh and was also elected to the Rajya Sabha. Durgabai was elected to Parliament and later became a member of the Planning Commission. Ray served as a member of both the West Bengal assembly and the Lok Sabha.

Sucheta Kriplani went on to become the countrys first woman chief minister, when she succeeded Chandra Bhanu Gupta in the 1960s in Uttar Pradesh. Other well known members included Sarojini Naidu (the first woman to be appointed as the governor of a state), Kaur (who founded the All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, (who was elected as president of the United Nations General Assembly in 1953). Dakshayani concentrated on social work, organising a conference of Dalit women in 1977 and working among sweepers in Delhi.

What united these exceptional women was an abiding faith in the Constitution and great hope in its power to vanquish centuries-old bias and discrimination.

As Rasul put it in November 1948, As a woman, I have very great satisfaction in the fact that no discrimination will be made on account of sexI am sure women can look forward to equality of opportunity under the new Constitution. Seven decades later, their conviction is both visionary and a challenge for todays leaders.
When it comes to revolutionary filmmaking, theyre the ultimate power couple.

So, when Little Women director Greta Gerwig and her Marriage Story director beau hit the red carpet at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, all eyes were on them.

The award ceremony, held at the Hollywood Palladium this year, aims to honor visionaries who produce and execute motion picture and television product.

Back to black: When Little Women director Greta Gerwig and her Marriage Story director beau hit the red carpet at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday, all eyes were on them

The couple, who have been together since 2011, braved the events hoard of shutterbugs as they posed for photographs.

Gerwig showed off her curvaceous frame in a perfectly tailored, black pantsuit.

The sleek suit featured black satin lapels and a waist cinching design.

Her signature blonde locks were styled into an effortless half-up, half-down style that allowed the 36-year-old to show off her immaculate bone structure.

A good look: Gerwig showed off her curvaceous frame in a perfectly tailored, black pantsuit

Gerwig opted for a minimal makeup look that was punched up by a strategic swipe of red lipstick.

She accessorized conservatively, which brought all the attention to her dazzling dangling silver earrings.

On the Lady Bird directors feet were a pair of pointed high heels that featured black lace detailing against its nude base.

Baumbach, knowing his lady would steal the show, opted for a standard style tuxedo for the evenings star-studded event.

Low maintenance: Her signature blonde locks were styled into an effortless half-up, half-down style that allowed the 36-year-old to show off her immaculate bone structure

The 50-year-old stepped aside for a moment to let Gerwig pose with her Little Women producer, Amy Pascal, before heading inside.

Baumbachs Marriage Story will be going head-to-head with his Gerwigs Little Women in the Best Picture category.

Also in the running for the evenings highest honor is Martin Scorseses The Irishman, Sam Mendes 1917, Todd Phillips Joker, Taika Waititis Jojo Rabbit, James Mangolds Ford v. Ferrari, Quentin Tarrantinos Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Rian Johnsons Knives Out and Bong Joon Hos Parasite.
A motorcade of hearses carrying the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster moves along a road before a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Relatives of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster and crew members arrive for a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Hearses which carried the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster for a memorial ceremony are seen in front of Ukrainian International Airlines planes at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

Crew members of the Ukraine International Airlines arrive for a memorial ceremony for the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster, at the Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Relatives of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster arrive for a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

A motorcade of hearses carrying the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster arrives for a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

A motorcade of hearses carrying the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster arrives for a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport, outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

A motorcade of hearses carrying the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster moves along a road before a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

A motorcade of hearses carrying the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster moves along a road before a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

The bodies of the 11 Ukrainians who died when an Iranian missile shot down a passenger plane have been repatriated ahead of a memorial ceremony.

They were among 176 people killed in the January 8 incident, when a Ukrainian Airlines plane heading to Kyiv was brought down shortly after takeoff from Tehran.

Iran acknowledged three days later that the plane was mistakenly hit by an anti-aircraft missile.

On Sunday, the bodies were brought to Kyiv's Boryspil Airport aboard a Ukrainian air force plane.

Expand Close A motorcade of hearses carrying the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster moves along a road before a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko / Facebook

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Whatsapp A motorcade of hearses carrying the bodies of the eleven Ukrainian victims of the Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 plane disaster moves along a road before a memorial ceremony at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kiev, Ukraine January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko

An honour guard carried the coffins into the airport terminal, where a farewell observance is to last until the evening.
MERRILLVILLE  The annual Martin Luther King Jr. memorial brunch Saturday at Merrillville High School provided a showcase for some talented and dedicated MHS students and their families.

From music to dance to recitals, the brunch paid tribute to the civil rights leader slain well before those MHS students were born.

Sponsored by the MHS diversity group STAND (Socially Together and Naturally Diverse), the program, said Superintendent Nick Brown, highlighted the talent, skills, and dedication of students and their sponsors.

Sonnet Smith, 17, an MHS junior and STAND member, said the morning program celebrates the life of Martin Luther King and its about excellence in our community. This is a chance to come together and celebrate Dr. King, who did so much for us by believing in unity and treating everyone equally.

Smith added, This would be his dream to see us all together.

Fellow STAND member Kiara Armstrong, 15, an MHS sophomore, said the King holiday and the high school program just shows everyone we should be treated equally. We should all feel important. We should know when things get rough, people will know they can depend on us.
- Little Yorme did not hesitate to respond to the questions of Vice Ganda and Jhong Hilario

- While answering, he suddenly aired an intriguing yet hilarious statement on national television

- The Unkabogable Star immediately reacted after realizing that he also did a mistake

- The two hosts of Its Showtime apologized to the public and explained that the child was too innocent

PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed

Little Yorme once again made many people laugh because of his intriguing statement on the noontime program entitled Its Showtime.

KAMI learned that the said internet sensation was tapped to serve as a guest co-host on the show, particularly on the new segment entitled Mini Miss U.

The funny moment began when Vice Ganda and Jhong Hilario asked a charming contestant if she will still eat food that dropped on the floor for how many seconds.

The question was then thrown to the viral kid and he was also jokingly told that he just ate a dirty food inside the dressing room of the comedian.

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On national television, little Yorme suddenly responded that he will just defecate in case he feels something bad inside his stomach.

The hosts of the show laughed out loud after hearing the intriguing yet hilarious statement of the charming guest co-host.

Vice and the Ang Probinsyano antagonist just apologized to the viewers, explaining that they were expecting other answers from the viral child.

Ikaw kasi, pinilit mo pa. Pinilit mo pa, okay na nga yung sagot eh Pasensya na po! Jhong quipped.

Ang ine-expect kong sasabihin niya, sasabihin niya kay mommy niya tapos bibili sila ng gamot o pupunta sila ng ospital Paumanhin po sa mga kumakain. Bata po ito Susunod wag ka na lang mag-guest dito! Vice jokingly added.

Watch the video below:

In a previous article by , little Yorme suddenly asked Vhong Navarro about the skin whitener that he uses for his skin.

Little Yorme is one of the newest internet sensations in the Philippines. He became viral for mimicking how politicians talk regarding their policies and programs.

Please like and share our Facebook posts to support KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinion about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts!

Source: KAMI.com.gh
It would be one thing if Republicans said what they apparently believe: that its not governments responsibility to ensure people with diabetes, cancer or other chronic conditions are able to access medical care without going bankrupt. But theyre not saying that  apparently because they know how unacceptable most Americans would find it. So their strategy instead is to say up is down and hope people believe it.

That was Hawleys strategy when, as Missouris attorney general, he joined a federal lawsuit aimed at killing the Affordable Care Act. When he was rightly attacked for this attempt to eliminate protection of preexisting-condition coverage, Hawley portrayed himself, ludicrously, as the champion of such coverage. He drew national scorn from people who knew better  while winning a Senate seat from Missouri voters who didnt.

No wonder Trump thinks he can successfully claim credit for the protection that Democrats have provided and Republicans have spent the past decade trying to remove.
The first meeting of 2020 started innocently enough for the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education: the pledge of allegiance, the singing of the national anthem and the swearing-in of three new board members  Jeffery Morgan, Amanda Galbraith and Noreen Scott.

Then, the upheaval began.

The traditional reorganization of officers started, with board member Wynne Coleman motioning for member Catherine Cullen to be the board president, the title Cullen has held.

Not so fast: Scott nominated Galbraith for president and Morgan seconded it. Although Coleman and Cullen lobbied hard for Cullen to remain in her role, it was not to be, in light of the 60 percent turnover of the board.

I agree that you have done an awesome job, Scott said, but our dream (when RRPS began) was to have graduates of our schools come back and have leadership roles.

Galbraith graduated from Rio Rancho High School in 2000. Ryan Parra, who Scott defeated in the November election, is a 2007 RRHS graduate.

After Galbraith was elected 3-2, Scott nominated Morgan for vice president, and Cullen nominated Coleman for VP. Galbraith seconded Morgans nomination, saying, Jeffery brings a new energy to this group, and Scott added that he has openness and honestness (sic) that will be a lot of fun to work with.

With the same breakdown from the election for president, 3-2, Morgan became the boards new VP.

I saw it coming, Cullen said later.

When it was time to elect a secretary, the role Coleman had held, she was nominated but quickly declined, and soon Scott became the board secretary.

Although Cullen said she didnt want to be the RRPS representative for the state school board association, Coleman accepted that role. Scott and Morgan were selected to be on the audit committee.

With Galbraith then running the meeting, the board got down to business and heard:

 A presentation on the upcoming city bond issues, and what passage would mean for residents, from Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, who gave a Readers Digest version of his State of the City report;

 A report on the recent audit and recommendations for improvements, mostly in the way activity funds are dispensed and soon to be tracked by the district office, rather than individual schools;

 A mental health behavioral preventative report from Tonna Burgos, executive director of student services. The report included information that although the district has 46 counselors and 29 social workers, those professionals are seeing huge caseloads of students, including 293 potential cases of self-harm;

 A report from Paul Romero, executive director of instructional technology, who told the board 100 percent of classrooms have access to technology; that the district actually spends only 22 cents of every dollar expended on IT, thanks to federal programs; and in a hacking challenge to an IT company, They couldnt get in; and

 A report from Arlene Manzanares, executive director of finance, who reiterated the importance of managing activity accounts properly. It was learned in her report that RRPS pays an average $5.3 million of salaries and benefits every two weeks for its average of 2,300 employees.

Following a short break, the board dealt with a contract for security equipment and installation services and gave approval for an agreement with Rio Rancho Police Department for a school resource officer.

The board decided to table the mandatory first reading of the 300 policy (Community Relations) series until its next meeting, slated for Jan. 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the board room of the district offices, 500 Laser Road.
HCM City has emerged as medical tourism destination due to its fast-growing health services and medical technologies, according to local authorities.

HCM City medical tourism guide released A foreign patient talks to a Vietnamese doctor at the HCM City University Medical Centre, a popular destination for foreign medical tourists. Photo courtesy of the hospital

The number of overseas Vietnamese and foreigners visiting Vietnam for medical tourism has increased steadily over the past few years, according to the citys Department of Tourism.

Treatments span the full range of medical services, with the most common choices of services including dental care, cosmetic surgery, cardiology intervention and fertility treatment.

Last year, more than 357,000 foreign patients visited hospitals in Vietnam for medical check-ups and treatment, with in-patients accounting for 57,000, generating revenue worth US$2 billion.

HCM City accounted for 40 per cent of the number of foreign patients. The HCM City University Medical Centre, a popular destination for foreign tourists, receives an average of 40-50 foreign patients a day.

Au Thanh Tung, head of the hospitals general planning department, said: Foreign patients from nearly 80 countries have visited the hospital for medical treatment, with Laos and Cambodia accounting for 80 per cent.

The main drivers of medical tourism development are highly competent doctors, modern infrastructure and advanced technology as well as better-quality care.

Dentistry costs in Vietnam are three to ten times lower than in other Asian countries, according to the Health Ministrys Medical Services Administration.

Despite high quality care and lower cost, the number of dental tourists is still modest compared to the total number of foreign visitors to the country.

An average of 100,000 foreign patients have received dental care with annual revenue of VND3.5 billion ($151,200) in recent years.

Solutions

Experts said that long-term strategic plans and concerted efforts were needed for growth of medical tourism.

The citys Peoples Committee's plan on medical tourism development for the 2019-25 period calls for expanded emergency medical services for tourists.

The committee also ordered the health sector to focus on developing a medical tourism network that meets international standards.

Tang Chi Thuong, deputy director of the citys Department of Health, said that the number of foreign tourists and expatriates in the city had steadily increased, resulting in high demand for emergency and health services.

In recent years, his department has implemented marketing and promotion activities for medical tourism.

In 2018, the citys Department of Health in coordination with the Department of Tourism released the first guidebook on medical tourism in the city.

A total of 10,000 books were delivered to hospitals, hotels and travel agents.

As part of the coordinated efforts, a new website to introduce the citys medical tourism network to foreign tourists is scheduled to be launched in the first quarter of this year.  VNS
Ministers are doing battle over whether to go ahead with a 2billion tunnel under the historic Stonehenge site.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is believed to be committed to the scheme, which aims to remove a notorious bottleneck on the A303 from London to the south-west.

However, the Treasury is thought to be concerned that the project is not good value for money. There are already alternative routes to the west country on the M4 and M5.

The government has launched a review of strategic roads.

Ministers are doing battle over whether to go ahead with a 2billion tunnel under the historic Stonehenge site

One minister told the Financial Times: 'They (the Treasury) aren't very keen. It's genuinely hard to say how this is going to go.'

In an interview with the FT last week, Chancellor Sajid Javid refused to comment on 'rumours' about the tunnel.

'Wait until my national infrastructure strategy, which will be published alongside the Budget,' he said.

Boris Johnson hinted last week that he might be taking Mr Shapps' side in the apparent spat.

'We will do extraordinary things with infrastructure  the A303, you name it  to improve road and rail transport to Cornwall,' he said at PMQs.

Mr Javid has yet to allocate 80bn in infrastructure investment spread over five years.

The two-mile Stonehenge tunnel project was originally going to be funded via the private finance initiative.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps (right) is believed to be committed to the Stonehenge scheme, which aims to remove a notorious bottleneck on the A303 from London to the south-west. Chancellor Sajid Javid (left) has refused to comment on 'rumours' about the project

However, then-chancellor Philip Hammond halted the PFI funding in his 2018 Budget.

The tunnel aims to restore the tranquil setting of the famous stone circle, by removing sight and sound of the road.

If it receives the required funding, it will feature a grass covered canopy at one end to help it blend into the landscape

Time Team presenter Tony Robinson has previously labelled the tunnel - which was first mooted more than twenty years ago - the most brutal intrusion into the Stone Age landscape ever.

Opponents of the project have said any tunnel shorter than 2.7-miles would do irreparable damage to the landscape, and local archaeological sites.

But leading heritage groups including the National Trust said they believed the plans overall would enhance and protect the Stonehenge landscape.
Washington: President Donald Trump's legal defence team forcefully denied on Saturday that he abused his power by pressuring a foreign government to investigate his political rivals, calling the two impeachment charges against him a "brazen and unlawful" attempt to hurt his chances of reelection.

The defiant rejection of the accusations came in response to an official summons issued in the past week by the Senate, notifying Trump that he faces removal from office if he is convicted. In a six-page letter, Trump's first formal response to the charges against him, his lawyers denounced the impeachment case brought by House Democrats as constitutionally and legally invalid, and driven by malice toward him.

"The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president," the document says. "This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away."

Donald Trump's defence ahead of the Senate impeachment trial does not seek to deny he withheld funds from Ukraine or asked the country's president to investigate his political rival. Credit:AP

The president's lawyers did not deny any of the core facts underlying Democrats' charges, conceding what ample evidence has shown, that he withheld $391 million in aid from Ukraine and asked the country's president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. But they said Trump broke no laws and was acting entirely appropriately and within his powers when he did so, echoing the president's repeated protestations of his own innocence. They argued that Trump was not seeking political advantage but working to root out corruption in Ukraine.
A Nigerian Army officer was hospitalised after coming under attack from a group of bandits last week, PREMIUM TIMES learnt from military sources.

The attack on RU Mairiga occurred while he was travelling along Kaduna-Zaria Highway at about 11:00 p.m. on January 14, sources said. The bandits bullets hit him on the right hand and by the right ribs.

The lieutenant-colonel is the commanding officer of the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Centre Record Office in Jaji. His office is responsible for proposing the posting and appointment of all Infantry personnel for confirmation by the military secretarys office.

He was hospitalised at a medical centre run by the Nigerian Army 1 Division in Kaduna, where he has reportedly been recovering tremendously, sources said.

Mr Mairigas attackers appeared to be the same set of bandits who opened fire on the convoy of the Emir of Potiskum, killing at least 30 people and wounding many. About 100 were feared kidnapped in the attack, according to security report. Umar Bubaram, the emir, survived the attack, but lost four of his drivers.

Official police report said six people were killed and five wounded when the bandits attacked the emirs convoy and other commuters around Maraban Jos interchange along Kaduna Zaria Highway. The attack near the massive military camp in Jaji was close to where gunmen opened fire on Mr Mairiga, military sources said.

PREMIUM TIMES could not immediately confirm whether or not the officer had been discharged from the hospital. An army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, declined repeated calls and text messages seeking comments. Kaduna police spokesperson, Sabo Abubakar, said he was not aware of the attack on the commanding officer.

In recent years, the highway has been the scene of deadly armed bandit attacks against travellers and villagers living on its fringes, ranking it amongst a growing list of notorious spots across the country. The violence inflicted on the army chief and a prominent emir underscored how Nigerians of all classes are vulnerable to the countrys perennial insecurity.

The past year has seen the abduction of top government officials or their families, top academics, traditional rulers, judges, alongside thousands of ordinary citizens who fell victim to kidnap-for-ransom syndicates. Some abductees were killed before they could be rescued.
Bihar police have arrested 13 minors and identified them as 'adults' over anti-Citizenship Amenment Act protests on 21 December 2019 in town of Aurangabad turned violent. All arrested are Muslim youths. Firstpost had earlier reported that Bihar Police had altered the age of two minor boys and identified them as adults in the FIR.

Bihar police have arrested 13 minors and identified them as "adults" over anti-Citizenship Amenment Act protests on 21 December 2019 in town of Aurangabad turned violent. All arrested are Muslim youths.

Firstpost had earlier reported that Bihar Police had altered the age of two minor boys and passed them off as adults in the First Information Report (FIR). The next hearing is on 28 January when the Juvenile Justice Board will decide on their age.

Lawyer for the minors Meraj Khan said after the board's decision he would move for their bail plea. Most of the minors are aged between 14 and 17, Khan said and added that while one is 13, another one is as young as 12.

The 12 minors have been lodged in adult prison for the past one month with hardened criminals, Khan said. Only one was sent to a juvenile home after he sustained serious injuries in both his hands during the police lathicharge. "It is a straightforward case. We have their birth certificates, documents and we have presented them before the Juvenile Justice Board on 16 January. On 28, the board will declare them juveniles."

Speaking about police incorrectly identifying all 13 as adults in the FIR, Khan said, "It has been done intentionally. There is no juvenile home in Aurangabad. It is under construction. The closest one is about 60 kilometres from here in Gaya. If the police had written their accurate ages, they would have had to hire a separate vehicle, and travel to Gaya. The police did this to avoid that extra effort."

When contacted, Aurangabad SP Dipak Baranwal said that the case is an "old one now" and he "does not remember the details". "Speak to the SHO, he will give you all the details," he told this reporter. SHO Ravi Bhushan refused to speak and hung up.

On 21 December 2019, the town of Aurangabad had observed a protest at Ramesh Chowk, where most of the gatherings and speeches are usually held. Rashtriya Janata Dal and its allies had called for a bandh to rally against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). But the peaceful protests turned violent near the end.

The police in Aurangabad had arrested 46 people the same day, and named more than 80 in its FIR. The FIR blames local councillor Sikandar Hayat for the violence. The bandh called by the RJD ended around 12.15 pm, the document noted, when suddenly a mob of 200, led by Hayat, emerged at the scene. "The mob started beating up shopkeepers, asking them to shut shop," the FIR read. "When police tried to intervene, the mob chanted slogans against them and started throwing bricks and stones. A brick landed on a policemans head, and he got seriously injured. Hayat was egging the protesters on," the FIR further added.

But according to an eyewitness a fight broke out between those trying to enforce the bandh and two men close to the BJP who were trying to defy it which escalated and triggered the unrest.

However, when police started combing the areas to locate miscreants, they only targetted Muslim localities. The police were even caught on camera picking up a minor, and vandalising public property.

Among those picked up by the police were four of Mohammad Enamul Rab's relatives, who were taken from their homes, which included his younger brother Hassan (name changed to protect identity), his uncle Mukhtar, brother-in-law Rizwan, and another brother Imran.

The police raided our home, and accused them of hiding here, said Rab, 27, who runs an internet cafe in Islam Toli. Ab ghar ka aadmi ghar pe nahi rahega toh kaha rahega? My brother-in-law had come to visit with my sister. There was no lady constable, yet the men in uniform dragged my mother and sister up to the road.

Rab said it was a targeted attack. The police said they are following orders, and asked us to shut up, while they continued to vandalise our home, he said. One of Rabs brothers, Hassan, is 12, as is recorded in his school certificate, which Firstpost examined. In the FIR, his age is noted to be 19, and he is accused of launching a life threatening attack on the police.

Rab is worried that Hassan has spent a month in prison with hardened criminals. When police is patrolling the areas, parents tell their kids to get inside the homes, he said. Now we dont even feel safe in our own homes. They are supposed to protect us. And people are fearful of them. I hope my brother comes out unscathed but the administration should understand that a 12-year old should not be kept with criminals.

Khan said the probation officer, in the meantime, is preparing the Social Investigation Report of the kids. It includes their details, the families they come from, and whether they have had a criminal past, he said. "That would be considered when we argue for their bail. I hope the report is ready in time for the hearing, and they understand the gravity of minors being in adult prisons."




After the annexation of Crimea, the return of Crimea to our country, sanctions followed. Naturally, this also hit the economy quite painfully, and we had to not only set up work amid very difficult sanctions, and even crisis conditions ... the government had to tackle the most important topic that it had never dealt with before - I mean import substitution. Because a number of goods were cut off from our country," Medvedev said.

Ex-Prime Minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev in an interview with the Channel One said that the global sanctions against Russia following the annexation of Crimea "hit the economy painfully." This was reported by Interfax. After the annexation of Crimea, the return of Crimea to our country, sanctions followed. Naturally, this also hit the economy quite painfully, and we had to not only set up work amid very difficult sanctions, and even crisis conditions ... the government had to tackle the most important topic that it had never dealt with before - I mean import substitution. Because a number of goods were cut off from our country," Medvedev said.

We recall, on January 15, the Russian government resigned.



Vladimir Putin has proposed changes to Russias constitution that would limit the power of a potential successor if he steps down in 2024, indicating he may occupy a beefed-up role as Russias prime minister or in the governments state council.

In a televised speech before senior officials, Putin suggested amending Russias constitution to limit a future president to two terms in office  he has served four  tightening residency requirements for presidential candidates, and letting parliament choose candidates for the prime minister and the cabinet, in effect weakening the presidency.

Shortly after the speech, Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev said that Russias government would resign in full, allowing Putin to appoint new ministers as he embarks on a sweeping reshuffle of Russias leadership. Medvedev, who also announced his intention to step down, would be appointed to a new position as the deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, which is headed by Putin.

That would allow Putin to appoint a new prime minister, potentially signaling whom he favors as a potential successor. It is not clear when the new prime minister will be named, and Putin has asked the current government to stay on until new ministers have been chosen.

Putin presented his amendments to the constitution as a significant change to Russias governing document and called for the first nationwide referendum since 1993 to confirm them. An election official said within an hour of Putins speech that a referendum could be prepared as soon as the proposals to amend the constitution were formalized.
The Queen gave Prince Harry and Meghan Markle her blessing on Saturday, releasing them from official royal duties. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Its been a productive weekend for the Windsors, as you may have gleaned from the zillion headlines pinging around the internet today. Less than a week after she summoned the top family members to a Sandringham Showdown to hash out the particulars, Queen Elizabeth II delivered her verdict on Prince Harry and Meghan Markles future on Saturday. The pair has been absolved of their royal duties and given the green light to live as relatively normal people  as soon as this spring. Thats basically in line with the couples stated desire to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and to carve out a progressive new role within [the] institution, as they explained it earlier this month. A big moment, to be sure, and also an unprecedented one. What does it all mean?

What are the terms of the agreement?

Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday that, going forward, Meghan and Harry will no longer use their HRH (His or Her Royal Highness) titles, and will now go by Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Their technical last name, should they choose to adopt it, would be Mountbatten-Windsor.

Because they will no longer represent the Queen and have given up their roles as working members of the royal family, they wont receive public funds, and will have to pay back the 2.4 million (roughly $3.1 million) in taxpayer money they spent renovating Frogmore Cottage. That will remain their U.K. residence, because the Queen gave it to them as a wedding gift: Effectively, theyre now paying rent on the home.

Harry will also relinquish his military appointments, although the couple may continue to maintain their private patronages and associations, per the Palaces statement. All of this starting Spring 2020, although the arrangement will be reviewed after a year.

What did the agreement leave out?

Over the past few weeks, taxpayers  in the U.K. and in Canada, where Harry and Meghan might settle  have wondered who will foot the bill for the couples security detail. In the statement, the Palace said it does not comment on the details of security arrangements, because there are well-established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security. So, TBD on that one, although some polls suggest that the majority of Canadians are none too jazzed about paying this particular fee.

How does the Queen feel about all this?

Seemingly pretty okay? I mean, no one knows what goes on inside her head, but in a statement, she gave Harry and Meghan her blessing, going so far as to say she was pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for [her] grandson and his family. She continued:

Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognize the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

The Queen was business-as-usual on Sunday morning, greeting members of the public gathered outside her church in Norfolk. Also in attendance: The Queens (purportedly) favorite son, Prince Andrew, whom she recently fired over his ties to alleged child sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. Or, thats what inside sources say; Prince Andrew maintains he stepped down from his royal duties voluntarily, realizing that his association with Epstein proved a major disruption to [his] familys work.

Anyway, the Queen was reportedly all smiles at church. Make of that what you will.

So how will the Sussexes repay all that money?

A good question! And one we cannot definitively answer at this time, although given their reported net worth of $45 million, it shouldnt be too hard. In any case, the pair did declare their intention to work when they announced their plans to step back. What, exactly, their working lives will look like remains unclear, although Ted Sarandos  chief content officer at Netflix  told the Guardian that the streaming service would definitely be interested in a collaboration, potentially something along the lines of its production deal with the Obamas. (Whose Netflix documentary, it bears noting, just earned an Oscar nomination.) Who wouldnt be interested?, Sarandos said of a Sussex deal. Yes, sure.

In giving up their HRH titles, however, the pair might also have to give up Sussex Royal, the brand they have built over the past few years and the name of their forthcoming charitable foundation. Their website, SussexRoyal.com, simply says: In line with the statement by Her Majesty The Queen, information on the roles and work of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be updated on this website in due course.

As the Daily Beast points out, though, the Palace statement also notes that Harry and Meghan agreed that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty. Such an agreement would likely rule out any tell-all interviews or books detailing the inner workings of royal life, which the family has reportedly worried would expose sexism, racism, and classist sentiments within their ranks.

In any case, most of the couples professional pursuits appear philanthropic: Meghan, for example, recently signed a voiceover deal with Disney, the proceeds from which will go to Elephants Without Borders.

Speaking of Meghan, whats she up to?

Meghan flew back to Vancouver to be with Baby Archie  whom the couple left in the care of a nanny after the holidays  shortly after her and Harrys big announcement; she has since been sighted in her probable new home country, enjoying the freedom of the open road and being a good friend. Unfortunately, she still has those lawsuits against U.K. tabloids to deal with, plus her father, who  in addition to potentially testifying against his own daughter at trial  is still out there sharing disparaging opinions about the Sussexes.

This is like one of the greatest long-living institutions ever, Thomas Markle Sr. reportedly says in a new documentary, Thomas Markle: My Story. They are destroying it, they are cheapening it, theyre making it shabby. They are turning it into a Walmart with a crown on it now. It is something that is ridiculous, they shouldnt be doing this. Which is a bit pot-kettle-black from a man who has made every apparent effort to leverage his estranged daughters relationship into material gain, but okay!

And Harry, where is he?

Having spent the past few weeks hashing out an agreement with the rest of his family, Harry remains in the U.K., where he reportedly has appointments through this upcoming week. When Meghan flew back in early January, however, it was reported that Harry would like rejoin her within a fortnight. So, it seems reasonable to expect hell return to Canada fairly soon.

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Controversial group ADOS divides black Americans in fight for economic equality originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Reparations and the lingering racial wealth gap have been conversations largely within the black American community. Both issues have received wider attention of late, particularly among the current crop of Democratic presidential candidates.

All the Democratic presidential candidates, except for former Vice President Joe Biden, said they support legislation to at least study the issue of reparations. Only Marianne Williamson, who recently ended her presidential campaign, said she fully supports reparations, in the amount of $200 billion to $500 billion. Biden has not endorsed any reparations legislation.

And reparations and black economics have been addressed at some of the recent Democratic debates.

"I didnt anticipate that, today, we would be having the most active national conversation about reparations since the Reconstruction Era," said William A. "Sandy" Darity, Jr., Ph.D., an economist and professor of public policy at Duke Universitys Sanford School of Public Policy.

The national spotlight on economic injustice is also giving rise to a new wave of online voices looking to disrupt the conversation on race and wealth in America.

These voices are leveraging anger over a racial wealth gap that has persisted over the decades. Average white wealth is seven times that of average black wealth -- a gap that hasn't narrowed since 1962, according to a 2019 study by economists Dionissi Aliprantis and Daniel R. Carroll.

These disruptors are creating conversations online using the hashtag #ADOS -- ADOS stands for "American Descendants of Slavery" -- a movement which some critics fear could drive a wedge between voters in the black community just months ahead of the 2020 election.

The movement, which has gained traction on social media in recent months, has attracted the attention of some academics like Cornel West and politicians like Williamson, who spoke at an event for the group in the fall, though many are loathe to associate themselves with it -- either for or against.

Story continues

ADOS advocates are adding a whole new layer to the conversation on reparations and economic justice by advocating only for black descendants of slaves and not the black community as a whole.

Their advocacy leaves an entire group of people, American-born descendants of immigrants, some of whose families have been in the U.S. for generations -- many whose families may have survived decades if not centuries of institutional racism -- in limbo in the conversation. And the focus has pitted ADOS adherents against people like journalist Roland Martin, who is descended from Haitian immigrants. It also appears not to address the American descendants of slaves from other countries, including for example Haiti, and whether they should be entitled to reparations.

Disparities exist between the two populations. A 2015 Pew Research report showed that U.S.-born black people were less likely to have a bachelors degree than black immigrants -- 19% versus 26%.

The same report also showed that foreign-born black people have a $10,000 higher median income than U.S.-born -- at $33,500.

There are myriad theories and studies on why these gaps exist but the fact that many black immigrants are outpacing black Americans economically and educationally, compounded with the vast racial wealth gap between black and white America, adds fuel to the ADOS movement.

ADOS' singular focus on black descendants of slavery, and its supporters often combative approach, has sparked controversy and comparisons to a long line of nativist thinking that has gained traction from time to time throughout U.S. history.

There are also concerns from some critical of ADOS that the hashtag is linked to posts spreading disinformation and political division ahead of the presidential election. However, ABC News found no concrete evidence that the ADOS movement is part of the disinformation campaigns that plagued the 2016 election.

Pushback

Critics, many of them other black people, have accused ADOS advocates of spewing hateful, xenophobic rhetoric and of online harassment. High-profile black politicians, influencers and journalists, including Kamala Harris, Joy Reid, Jonathan Capehart and others, have been attacked by ADOS accounts for having non-American lineage -- Reid, for instance, has immigrant parents -- or because they have questioned the authenticity of ADOS social media profiles, accusing them of being trolls.

Some have even accused ADOS Twitter accounts of deliberately pushing a far-right narrative under the guise of reparations support.

U.S. intelligence and counterterrorism expert Malcolm Nance, referred to Twitter accounts using #ADOS as trolls and posted that they are a mix of [African American] proTrump racists [and] nuts.

NOTE: Trolls who use this #ADOS  are a mix of Afr-Amer proTrump racists & nuts who spout off Right Wing vote suppression, anti-immigrant & DACA dreck. Their leader is a black MAGA who says dont vote for any blacks not fm US slaves. Now death threats? Report. ADOSisMAGA https://t.co/6qvsRBfNRO  Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) March 21, 2019

Yvette Carnell and Antonio Moore are the two most-followed ADOS activists on social media. They have both engaged in heated and controversial exchanges on Twitter and what some might call targeted harassment.

PHOTO: Yvette Carnell is shown speaking at the Inagural ADOS Conference at St. Stephen Church, in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 4, 2019. (ADOS Philadelphia Chapter)

Kamala Harris, the former presidential candidate, is of Indian and Jamaican descent. Carnell has tweeted that she has issues surrounding Harris' solidarity with black people descended from slaves.

What Indian caste is Kamalas mother from? Did you even bother to ask? Her grandad was a diplomat, so we can assume its elite. And Kamalas mother raised her, so Im really struggling to find a foundation for solidarity with #AmericanDOS.  BreakingBrown (Yvette Carnell) (@BreakingBrown) January 25, 2019

When Harris dropped out of the race on Dec. 3, Carnell and other ADOS accounts expressed their satisfaction moments after Harris team made the announcement.

Rapper and activist Talib Kweli is an outspoken ADOS critic. While he is also an activist for black economic empowerment and is pro-reparations, he disagrees with ADOS rhetoric.

I dont think [Carnell and Moore] are being disingenuous about wanting reparations. What I think they are being disingenuous about is the fact that they are clearly anti-black immigrant  and aligning with the GOP on immigration.

Kweli said he is also bothered by Carnells association with Progressives for Immigration Reform. PFIR is a group with its own critics and has been linked to anti-immigration advocates, some of whom have been accused of xenophobia -- accusations that Kevin Lynn, PFIR's executive director calls "unfounded." Lynn did confirm to ABC News that Carnell was a PFIR board member until 2019.

Carnell denies his accusations.

I voted for Clinton, she told ABC News. I voted for Obama, 2008. The idea that somehow I changed my psyche, became an ultra-conservative figure doesnt make sense.

Alvin Bernard Tillery, Jr., Ph.D, is an associate professor of political science at Northwestern University. He has written about the issue of reparations and the sources of racial inequality. Tillery began to take notice of ADOS web activism over the last two years or so, he said.

While Tillery said that ADOS is not really advocating any new ideas, theyve attracted pushback because they have the radical thesis that if there's going to be reparations for slavery, that it should really only be targeted to persons who are the descendants or legacies of actual American slaves, said Tillery.

The reason that we're having this debate around ADOS  is because I think this notion that we have as black people is that skin color is tantamount to unity and belonging, he said.

Darity agrees. "Black American descendants of slavery have a distinctive ethnic identity because of our distinctive origins in the community that was enslaved in the United States," he said. That distinctive identity, he said, is a central premise of ADOS.

Despite the controversy, conversations involving ADOS are happening frequently online. A social listening tool by Brand24, shows that in one recent week, there were over 25,000 conversations across social media including the term "ADOS" with an engagement reach of over 56,000. In addition, Moore said that 2,000 people showed up to attend the ADOS event that he put together with Carnell in Kentucky this past October.

Carnell and Moore said the event was funded by "small donations" from ADOS adherents, help from a local black church, a historically black college, as well as their own funds. It did not have sponsorship, Moore said.

PHOTO: Yvette Carnell, Cornel West and Antonio Moore are shown at the Inagural ADOS Conference at St. Stephen Church, in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 4, 2019. (ADOS Philadelphia Chapter)

One attendee, Rashaun Phillip Sourles, 36, describes himself as an "ADOS mobilizer."

Sourles is a full-time Uber driver in the Bay Area. He told ABC News he has been struggling financially, and even found himself homeless after a foreclosure on his home. He said the ADOS message of black economic empowerment really resonated with him as he works to upright himself economically and that he will never forget the first time he watched Carnell on YouTube.

"I had been homeless more than a year living 100% out of the same Uber SUV, he said. I was driving millionaires and billionaires around the Bay Area all day and night."

PHOTO: Rashaun Sourles is shown in this undated selfie. (Rashaun Sourles)

He said that Carnell forced a brutally honest reality check about my own Bay Area black life.

For Gods sakes, Im  an educated man with an impeccable CV, and yet here I am, sleeping in the back of an Uber SUV somebody else owns, he said.

ADOS' insertion in the 2020 elections

ADOS is also intent on sending a controversial message during the 2020 elections, which it pushed during the October conference -- proposing a strategy of voting down-ballot Democrat unless the Democratic nominee advances what Moore calls a "black agenda" -- a tactic that at least one Pew Research study suggests helped affect the outcome in 2016, and the election of Republican President Donald Trump.

And its a move that runs counter to Democrat-led efforts to protect voters rights, particularly of historically disenfranchised groups like Black Americans. House Democrats recently passed legislation that would shore up voting rights and reduce gerrymandering. The bill is not expected to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.

In addition to reparations, ADOS proponents want one designation on the Census with ADOS and another for Black immigrants and ADOS hiring and employment data to be gathered for all businesses receiving tax credits, incentives, and governmental support, along with other demands, according to the website ADOS101.com run by Carnell and Moore.

ADOS is of course, not the first to address reparations or black economic empowerment. For 30 years, the late Detroit Congressman John Conyers repeatedly introduced the HR 40 bill for lawmakers to set up a commission to study the issue of reparations. The legislation has yet to pass, and the mantle for getting reparation law passed has been picked up by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who dropped out of the Democratic primary race this month.

Moore and other ADOS advocates have refused to support these bills because they say the proposals aren't enough. "It is being used as cover to avoid a discussion of real reparations for ADOS," Moore told ABC News and offers "no commitment to funding," he added.

Determining who is entitled to what

Moore also insists that ADOS' vision of a black economic agenda will benefit all black people, not just ADOS.

"Many of the black agenda items will benefit black people that arent ADOS; [those] at [historically black colleges and universities] or living in black communities. But still, as to reparations, we use the criteria  you must suffer both the cost of slavery and Jim Crow through your black lineage to receive reparations," he said.

He said it would be "relatively easy" to determine who is ADOS and who isn't. "Few if any voluntary black immigrants outside of students were in the United States prior to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965," he said. Reparations would "exclude black immigrant populations that voluntarily migrated to America."

Ultimately, the question of who is entitled to what and the issue of "black American politics of unity," and some of the issues ADOS is highlighting, are ones that black people will have to ask themselves, said Tillery.

These are in fact, issues that all Americans will need to think about as talk of reparations and narrowing the racial wealth gap become even more mainstream in American political conversation and into the 2020 elections.

Editor's note: Updated to clarify ADOS' proposed voting strategy.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Facebook has apologised for the mistranslation of Chinese Premier Xi Jingping's name as 'Mr Shithole' when translated from some Burmese langauge posts into English.

According to a report in The New York Times on Saturday, the name goof up happened as Xi visited Myanmar and signed dozens of deals with state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.

The historic moment, however, was marred when the automatic translation feature on Myanmar's Facebook rendered Xi's name from Burmese into English as "Mr Shithole".

The translation error notably appeared on the official Facebook page of Suu Kyi.

"Mr Shithole, President of China arrives at 4 p.m.," said a translated announcement.

"President of China, Mr. Shithole, signed a guest record of the house of representatives," it continued.

A Facebook spokesperson later said the social networking giant has fixed the issue that happened due to technical error.

"We fixed a technical issue that caused incorrect translations from Burmese to English on Facebook. We sincerely apologize for the offense this has caused," the spokesperson said.

The Google translation feature, however, did not show such goof up.

Xi and Suu Kyi inked 33 agreements, protocols and memoranda of understanding that underlined China's backing of the Myanmar government.

The deals include plans to accelerate the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, a project which involves billions of dollars in infrastructure spending that would provide Beijing with a direct link to the Indian Ocean through railways.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to visit Ireland in March, with preparations being put in place for a trip to Dublin.

The visit will not coincide with St Patrick's Day, but the royals are expected to leave the capital for another Irish destination. Sources told the Sunday Independent that talks between Irish officials and Buckingham Palace are ongoing but Cork is likely to feature as part of the visit.

Officials here usually get advance notice of royal visits and itineraries prior to trips for security arrangements to be put in place. However, these are currently at an early stage, said a source who added the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will "certainly" visit Dublin during their stay.

"Negotiations are ongoing and they will be in Dublin and one other destination outside of the capital," a source said.

Cork has been the focus of talks about a second Irish city to be taken in as part of the trip. Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip famously visited Cork's English Market in 2011 during a State visit, the first by a reigning monarch for 100 years. This paved the way for follow-up visits by various members of the royal family, including a mini-moon for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after they married in 2018. They visited Dublin on their first trip to Ireland as a royal couple just weeks after Prince Charles and Camilla travelled to Cork retracing the Queen's visit to the English Market.

A source, with knowledge of the plans for William and Kate to travel to Ireland, said Cork has been high on the royals' list since the Queen's State visit. "It is likely William and Kate will go somewhere else too [outside Dublin].

"Cork has been mentioned and that seems to be somewhere they like. Charles and Camilla were keen to go there after his mother went to Cork."

A source said the royal visit will not coincide with the St Patrick's Day celebrations, as the Government will be abroad attending trade missions and parades.
by Aaron Hudson | Jazz Correspondent | Sun, Jan 19th 2:38pm EST

Rudy Gay (illness) is listed as out for Sundays afternoon game against Miami.
All the six death warrants issued in 2019 by various courts across the country were eventually stayed or quashed by the Supreme Court or high courts, said an annual statistics report published on Friday by Project 39A at National Law University, Delhi.

A death warrant sets a date for the hanging of a death row convict and is one of the final steps in the execution of a convict. It is usually issued after a convict has exhausted all legal remedies.

Of the six death warrants issued in 2019, one was quashed by the Supreme Court on the grounds that all remedies available to the convict under the law had not been exhausted, the report said. Three other death warrants were stayed by the top court on the same grounds.

Of the remaining two death warrants, one was quashed by the Bombay high court on the grounds that it was issued ex-parte. The Bombay high court also went on to commute the death sentence of both the convicts to life imprisonment.

One death warrant was stayed by the Madras high court on the grounds that the death warrant was not served on the petitioner and that the right of the petitioner to file a mercy petition before the governor was still pending.

The report came at a time when a death warrant issued against the 2012 Delhi gang-rape convicts has come under the scanner over purported violation of the law laid down by the Supreme Court and the Delhi prison manual, thereby casting a shadow on the efficacy of the process of sending a person to the gallows.

A Delhi court on January 7 issued a death warrant against the four convicts in the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case, Mukesh, Akshay, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta, and set January 22 as the date of their hanging. This warrant was issued despite the fact that two of the convicts, Akshay and Pawan, had not yet filed their curative petitions before the Supreme Court. Further, three of them have also not availed the right to file mercy petitions before the President.

On January 17, the court issued a fresh death warrant resetting the date of hanging as February 1.

Legal experts questioned the correctness of the death warrant, which they said cannot be issued before a convict exhausts all his legal remedies.

The convicts can file mercy pleas before the President, which again must be decided before the death warrant can be executed, said senior advocate Rebecca John.

This death warrant is in blatant violation of the Delhi prison manual which is explicit that the sessions court cannot issue a death warrant until the mercy plea is rejected. This also disregards the Supreme Court decisions in Shabnam vs Union of India and Shatrughan Chauhan vs Union of India, said Dr Anup Surendranath, assistant professor at National Law University, Delhi and executive director at Project 39A.

The report by Project 39A also throws light on other aspects concerning death sentences. The proportion of cases involving sexual offences in which death sentence was imposed in 2019 was the highest in the last four years.

Trial courts in the country imposed 102 death sentences in 2019. Of these, the proportion of cases involving sexual offences stood at 52.94% (54/102), the highest since 2016 when the university first started tracking death penalty cases.

The report states the proportion of death sentences for sexual offences by sessions courts has been steadily increasing since 2016. It was 18% in 2016, 39.81% in 2017 and 41.35% in 2018.

High courts in 2019 confirmed the highest number of death penalty cases (26 persons and 15 cases) in four years, with 65.38% of these cases involving sexual offences.

The Supreme Court in 2019 pronounced the highest number of decisions (27) in death penalty cases since 2001, which the report says can be attributed to the listing priority given by former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to death penalty cases. The 27 cases in the Supreme Court involved six confirmations, 17 commutations, three acquittals and two being remanded for fresh trial.

Ten people were acquitted of all charges in the three acquittals, where the Supreme Court highlighted the lackadaisical nature of investigation and mala fide prosecution. They had served a maximum of 13 years on death row.

Of the 17 commutations, eight were eligible for remission after 14 years, three were sentenced to a fixed term of 25 years, two others for 30 years fixed term and four persons for imprisonment for natural life with no possible release.

The report also pointed out a case in which the top court ordered a fresh trial on the grounds that a fast-track trial within 13 days meant that the accused had not received a fair trial.

In two cases from 2012 and 2015, the Supreme Court invoked the policy considerations underlying the 2019 POCSO amendments to confirm the death sentence.

There were 378 prisoners on death row in India as of December 31.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - President Donald Trump has quickly turned the U.S. drone killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani into a boast for the campaign trail, regaling supporters with tales of his role in the operation as he seeks to burnish his commander-in-chief credentials in an election year.

At a campaign rally in Milwaukee last week and in a private event with Republican donors at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, this weekend, Trump has cast Maj. Gen. Soleimani's death this month as overdue justice for a man who denigrated the United States and used roadside explosives to kill and maim.

In doing so, Trump has not bothered to vigorously defend the legal justification for the drone strike he ordered - the administration has said Soleimani was planning "imminent" attacks on U.S. assets but has failed to put forward detailed evidence. Trump also seems to have abandoned his unfounded claim that up to four U.S. embassies were threatened after Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other top officials acknowledged they were not aware of such a threat.

Rather, Trump has focused on placing himself at the center of the action. In leaked audio from the GOP fundraiser, Trump described listening in the White House Situation Room to live updates from a U.S. official who counted down the seconds until the strike on Soleimani was carried out.

"Then, all of a sudden, boom," the president said.

Other presidents have made the demise of high-profile national security threats a feature of their talking points for the campaign trail, including former president Barack Obama, who used the killing of al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden to push back against Republicans who had called him feckless during his run for re-election in 2012.

But Trump's focus on Soleimani, as well as the killing of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a U.S. miliary raid in Syria this past fall, comes at a particularly fraught moment for a president who faces an impeachment trial in the Senate and has faced consistent criticism from Democrats, and some Republicans, for lacking the temperament to lead the country.

Last month, former vice president Joseph Biden, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, unveiled a campaign ad featuring a viral video of foreign leaders laughing while privately talking about Trump at a NATO gathering. A group of prominent GOP political strategists launched a major fundraising effort to help defeat him in crucial swing states in 2020. And a new book - "A Very Stable Genius," written by two Washington Post reporters - has offered alarming details of Trump dressing down U.S. military leaders and his own national security aides as "a bunch of dopes and babies" during a private briefing at the Pentagon in 2017.

By talking tough about the deaths of Soleimani and Baghdadi, Trump appeals "to an electorate who likes to hear those sorts of things," said Bryan McGrath, a retired naval officer who helped organize one of two "Never Trump" letters signed by Republican national security experts in 2016. "Most importantly, he's putting himself out there as a man of action, and I think that is appealing to his base."

McGrath said he retains deep misgivings about Trump's leadership, but, he added: "I like that Soleimani was taken out. I'm not exactly sure about all the planning that went into it. But I won't hold that one against him."

Since announcing Soleimani's death, Trump has touted the operation as a measure of his resolve, criticizing Obama and his former president George W. Bush for having passed up chances to kill the Iranian general. Both of them reportedly were concerned that such an act would lead to a war.

At his rally in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Trump spent much of the opening portion of his remarks boasting of his "bold and decisive action to defend American lives and deliver American justice" against "the world's No. 1 terrorist."

Soleimani "was the king of the roadside bombs," Trump said. "Great percentages of people don't have legs right now and arms because of this son of a bitch, OK?" He hammered Democrats who questioned the rationale for the strike and his overall Iran strategy, saying his political rivals "should be outraged by Soleimani's evil crimes, not the decision to end his wretched life."

As he did in his remarks at the private GOP fundraiser, Trump at the rally re-created a purported conversation he had with another unnamed official - this one on the night that Iran responded to Soleimani's killing by launching a dozen ballistic missiles at Iraqi military bases that house U.S. troops.

"I said, 'How many killed?' 'Nobody, sir.' I said, 'How many hurt?' They said, 'Nobody, sir.' And I said, 'They just saved themselves $1 trillion and a lot of lives,' " Trump said, suggesting he would have escalated the conflict with additional sanctions and military strikes if U.S. personnel had been injured.

Despite Trump's public statements that no Americans were wounded, at least eight U.S. troops suffered signs of concussions in the attack, officials said.

Robert Spalding, a retired Air Force general who served on Trump's National Security Council, said the president's use of Soleimani's death as a political cudgel is "consistent with what's been done in the past."

"I don't see it as something outside the realm of what other people have done," he said. "Does talking about things like that burnish his credentials as a military leader? Well, I think that's up to whoever is listening to it."

Polls suggest Trump has not won over the public on his Iran strategy. According to an ABC News/Ipsos poll, 56 percent of the public disapprove of Trump's approach on Iran, compared to 43 percent who approve. And 52 percent feel less safe after the strike on Soleimani vs. 25 percent who feel safer, the poll found. A Reuters poll taken before Iran's missile attack found that 71 percent of the public believe war with Iran is very or somewhat likely over the next few years. Just 51 percent held that view in May.

Trump supporters have pointed to Iran's public statements that it does not seek to further escalate the crisis as evidence that the president scored a tactical victory in taking out Tehran's top military strategist with minimal costs to U.S. personnel.

But critics have noted that the confrontation led Iraq's government to temporarily suspend counterterrorist operations against the Islamic State and vote to expel U.S. troops from the country, a demand Trump opposed this month.

Last week, Douglas London, a retired CIA officer, wrote in Just Security, a national security journal, that he feared Trump was focusing on big-name "celebrity" targets instead of more strategic operations. Along with Soleimani, London cited bin Laden's son Hamza, who was killed this past summer in an operation in which the United States played a role.

"I am of the mind, knowing what a bad guy Soleimani was and the intelligence collection the U.S. is capable, that it was quite probable that we had the intelligence case to justify this kind of operation" on Soleimani, said Ned Price, a former CIA officer who served as a spokesman for the National Security Council under Obama. "What worries me is the prospect that President Trump undertook an operation with an eye more to the politics than to the strategic context. This, to me, sounds like a president who wants to look and act tough as he enters the election cycle."
Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was a way to atone for the sin of Partition committed by the Congress.

He said the Act, which seeks to give citizenship to non-Muslim minorities when entered India before December 31, 2014 from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, should have been passed 70 years ago.

CAA should have happened 70 years ago. CAA is a way to atone for sin committed by our forefathers, a select few leaders... It is atonement for the sin of Partition. And we should congratulate PM Narendra Modi for this. The Congress committed the sin, and we are atoning, Sarangi said.

He also said Partition, which took place on a communal basis, was not unavoidable, and questioned then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for entering into an agreement with people who propounded the two-nation theory.

The Partition did not take place on any political, economical, geographical, or historical basis. It was done on a communal basis. We never said we cannot live with Muslims.

We lived with them for thousands of years, Sarangi said.

But who compelled us enter into an agreement with the people who propounded the two-nation theory? Partition was not unavoidable. Who compelled Nehru? The country is nobodys paternal property. Nobody had the right to divide it, he added.

Sarangi said the religious division of the country caused crores of Hindus to stay back in Pakistan, and later in Bangladesh when Pakistan itself was broken up (in 1971), but the numbers of Hindus reduced due to massive religious conversion, rapes, murders, atrocities, and forcible expulsions.

Mahatma Gandhi had said it is the governments moral responsibility to provide citizenship and jobs to those who fled to India because of religious persecution. Our government passed CAA to give rights to minorities from those countries, he claimed.

Sarangi accused the Congress of spreading disinformation about the CAA and causing unrest in the country.

Those who set the country on fire are not patriots.

Those who do not accept Indias freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country. They should go wherever they can, he added.

Speaking on the economic downturn, Sarangi said the country was going through the darkest time before dawn.

Dawn is not far away. New developments are being initiated across the country. From MSME, animal husbandry to agriculture, new life has been infused in all departments.

Even on the world level, there is infinite possibility of growth in trade and commerce, and this is going to happen. Our products are being marketed across the world, he claimed.

Sarangi said the global slowdown has impacted India but despite that, our basic structure has not been destroyed and we will move ahead and achieve this on our own might.
Fans have eagerly been awaiting Downton Abbey screenwriter Julian Fellowes' next big project, Belgravia.

And actresses Tamsin Grieg and Alice Eve took to the stage to discuss their roles in the upcoming period drama during the 2020 Winter TCA at The Langham in Pasadena on Saturday.

The on-screen mother and daughter duo were joined by the rest of the cast and creative directors for the press conference about the new series, which take place on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo.

Star: Tamsin Grieg took to the stage to discuss her role in upcoming period drama Belgravia during the 2020 Winter TCA at The Langham in Pasadena on Saturday

Co-star: Alice Eve wowed in a sleek white high neck cut-out dress in a crepe material

Tamsin, 53, wore a striped jumpsuit under a cream jacket, rolling up her sleeves during her animated conversation with the event's host.

Alice, 37, wowed in a sleek white high neck cut-out dress in a crepe material, which she paired with matching satin high heels.

Speaking at the Television Critics Association event, Tasmin revealed that some elements of the Georgian-era role proved quite challenging.

Ensemble: The on-screen mother and daughter duo were joined by the rest of the cast and creative directors for the press conference about the new series

Mastermind: Tamsin leads the cast of the six-part ITV series, which is adapted from a novel by Julian Fellowes, who created the hit series Downton Abbey

'I should've worn a corset for a few hours every day leading up to shooting,' she said.

'I was in the care of an osteopath within the week. 1815 corsets were different from less constrained than later corsets. Women were more constrained.

'If we look like we're comfortable, we're really great actors.'

Animated: Tamsin, 53, wore a striped jumpsuit under a cream jacket, rolling up her sleeves during her animated conversation with the event's host

Beauty: Before We Go star Alice let her short golden locks glow under the spotlight, as she used a pink lippy to accentuate her striking features

Role: Alice described her character, Tamsin's on-daughter, as 'independent & fierce'

Meanwhile, Alice described her character, Tamsin's on-daughter, as 'independent & fierce'.

Tamsin leads the cast of the six-part ITV series, which is adapted from a novel b Fellowes, who created the hit series Downton Abbey.

Photos released last year of cast in costume have hinted at how their characters might unfold when the show hits our screens.

Challenge: 'I should've worn a corset for a few hours every day leading up to shooting,' said Tamsin

Character: 'I was in the care of an osteopath within the week. 1815 corsets were different from less constrained than later corsets. Women were more constrained'

Tamsin plays the character Anne Trenchard, the wife of businesswoman James Trenchard (Life On Mars actor Philip Glenister).

She is seen looking off into the distance alongside daughter Susan Trenchard, played by Alice.

Eve, who is seen pulling a sultry look for the camera, appears in a second photo alongside Doctor Foster star Adam James as John Bellasis.

Drama: Tamsin dons a bonnet as she poses next to on-screen daughter Alice in first look pictures from new ITV period drama Belgravia

Other early casting announcements include The Crown actress Harriet Walter as Caroline, the Countess of Brockenhurst and Alice Eve as Susan Trenchard.

Filming of the period drama, produced by the same team as Downton Abbey, is now underway at locations across the UK. The premiere expected for later this year or early 2020.

Belgravia, published in 2016, tells the story of secrets and dishonour amongst the upper echelon of London society in the 19th Century.

Plot: Eve, who is seen pulling a sultry look for the camera, appears in a second photo alongside Doctor Foster star Adam James as John Bellasis

It starts when a businessman named James Trenchard and his wife Anne Trenchard accept an invitation to the now legendary ball hosted by the Duchess of Richmond on the fateful eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

They attend with their daughter, who catches the eye of the son of one of the most influential families in England.

That night sets into motion a series of events that will have consequences for decades to come.

It later follows the families as secrets unravel behind the porticoed doors of Belgravia, one of London's grandest postcode.

Belgravia will air on ITV later in 2020.
Shirdi (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Devotees here on Sunday staged a protest against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over his alleged comment terming Pathri in Parbhani as Sai Baba's birthplace.



"People are making inappropriate comments on the birthplace of Sai Baba. The entire market, several shops, restaurants, other commercial establishments, and local transport remained shut. We demand the government not to make such comments. Sai Baba has always helped people regardless of their caste, religion," a protestor told ANI.

"So we are protesting against the comments made," he added.

Speaking on the shut down a protestor Mangesh said, "We have called this bandh but people can still come here. We have shut down our shops."

"The Chief Minister has hurt the sentiments of the devotees. Baba has never mentioned any caste and religion. He is worshipped by the people of all religions," he added.

The 'bandh' has been called by locals upset with Thackeray's decision to allocate funds to develop Pathri town in Parbhani district for religious tourism, calling it the birthplace of Baba, who is a 19th-century spiritual figure.

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday to discuss the indefinite shutdown.

Shirdi temple is one of the most popular religious destinations in the country. Over a lakh devotees visit it every year.

While the rest of the town remained shut, the temple remained open for darshan today. (ANI)


Europe could face fresh terrorist threats if the UN-backed government in Libya falls, Turkey's president warned yesterday.

Speaking as world leaders met in Berlin to discuss the crisis, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the EU failure to adequately support the Government of National Accord (GNA) could see Tripoli, the capital, overrun by jihadist groups.

He said organisations such as Isil and al-Qaeda would find a "fertile ground to get back on their feet" after military defeat in Syria and Iraq.

Militants previously used Libya's porous ports as a gateway to southern Europe in the chaos that followed the fall of Gaddafi in 2011.

The GNA, led by Fayez al-Sarraj, has been under attack since April from warlord Khalifa Haftar's forces. Turkey and Russia brokered a ceasefire but Haftar walked away from talks in Moscow last week.

In an article published on the eve of the Berlin summit, Mr Erdogan told the EU that allowing Tripoli to fall would be "a betrayal of its own core values".

The Turksih leader called on European nations to support its work in Libya, where it is providing military support to the internationally-recognised government, if it wants to end the conflict there.

Erdogan made his remarks in a column published on the Politico website yesterday, ahead of a summit in Berlin today that will try to stabilise the country.

At the meeting, Germany and the United Nations will push rival Libyan camps fighting over the capital, Tripoli, to agree to a truce and monitoring mechanism as first steps towards peace, diplomats and a draft communique said.

Turkey supports the government of Fayez al-Serraj in Tripoli and describes Khalifa Haftar, who heads the eastern Libyan National Army (LNA), as a coup plotter.

"Keeping in mind that Europe is less interested in providing military support to Libya, the obvious choice is to work with Turkey, which has already promised military assistance," Erdogan wrote.

"We will train Libya's security forces and help them combat terrorism, human trafficking and other serious threats against international security," he added.

Today's summit will put pressure on Haftar and the LNA to halt their nine-month offensive against Tripoli after a week-long lull in fighting. But the summit will not try to broker power-sharing between the two sides, said diplomats briefed on preparations.

Haftar and Serraj are both due in Berlin - along with Erdogan and the leaders of Russia, Egypt and other Western and Arab powers. Libya has been in turmoil since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Erdogan said that if Libya's legitimate government were to fall Islamist militant groups such as Islamic State and Al Qaeda "will find a fertile ground to get back on their feet".

Haftar is backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Sudanese and Chadian fighters, and most recently Russian mercenaries. France has also given some support.

On the other side, Turkey has supported Serraj by sending troops to balance out recent gains by Russian snipers. Hundreds of pro-Turkey fighters from Syria's war have also been deployed, diplomats say.

 Telegraph
Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi used to be Facebook's friends. Not anymore.

A day after Pelosi kicked off a new war of words, calling the social media giant's behavior shameful and irresponsible," Biden ramped up the Democrats' open season on Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, during an interview with the New York Times on Friday.

"I've never been a fan of Facebook," the former vice president said. "I've never been a big Zuckerberg fan. I think he's a real problem."

A federal law that shields Facebook and other internet companies from being held liable for whats posted on their platforms should be revoked, Biden also told the newspaper.

During her weekly news conference on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Pelosi had sharp words in response to a question about Facebook's power.

I think what they have said very blatantly, very clearly is that they intend to be accomplices for misleading the American people with money from God knows where, Pelosi said.

Facebook disinformation in 2020: What you can do to stop its spread

Facebook declined to comment on Pelosis remarks. It could not be immediately reached about Bidens criticism.

Not long ago, Facebook and its executive team including chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg were praised by the Democratic leadership.

But soon after the 2016 presidential election, tensions emerged. The problem? A wave of scandals, starting with rampant misinformation and Russian interference during the election that favored Donald Trump and undercut his Democratic challenger, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Then came Facebooks assist to Trumps presidential campaign, the leak of millions of Facebook users personal information to Cambridge Analytica and data breaches.

Growing scrutiny of Facebooks dominance has come from both sides of the aisle. Zuckerberg, who has mounted a charm offensive on Capitol Hill and the White House, has been a magnet for criticism.

Story continues

Last week, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said the Facebook co-founder has gained too much power.

Former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the Democratic presidential primary debate at Drake University on Jan. 14, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. "I've never been a fan of Facebook," Biden said Friday. "I've never been a big Zuckerberg fan. I think he's a real problem."

Fueling the tensions: Facebooks refusal in May to remove a doctored video of Pelosi that made it sound like she was slurring her words. Then, Facebook said it would not fact-check ads from politicians ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Many Democrats see that policy benefiting Trumps reelection campaign.

Bidens campaign demanded Facebook remove a false ad from the Trump campaign accusing him of corruption for his role in Ukraine policy during the Obama administration. Facebook refused.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, another Democratic presidential candidate, highlighted the problem by running an intentionally fake ad claiming Zuckerberg had endorsed Trump's reelection.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on Oct. 23, 2019.

During an interview with "CBS This Morning" this month, Zuckerberg reiterated the company's belief that it should not censor politicians.

"What I believe is that in a democracy, its really important that people can see for themselves what politicians are saying, so they can make their open judgments," Zuckerberg said.

In an op-ed for USA TODAY, Facebook said scrutinizing the public speech of politicians is a good thing.

But for that to happen, the public and the news media have to see it. In fact, if Facebook became the gatekeeper of truth, the first people to complain would be those who are complaining now  for good reason.

Pelosi was not having it on Thursday, accusing Facebook of putting profits above all else.

I think they have been very abusive of the great opportunity that technology has given them, she said. All they want is their tax cuts and no antitrust action against them. They schmooze this administration in that regard because so far that is what theyve received.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Facebook feud: Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden take aim at social media giant
Jack Van Impe, a popular televangelist and one of the worlds most well-known end times preachers, died at the age of 88. His passing was confirmed Saturday by Jack Van Impe Ministries International.

Every week for more than 30 years, Van Impe appeared on TV as the host of his own half-hour show, Van Impe Presents, offering eschatological commentary on current events. Alongside his wife Rexella, Van Impe read the latest headlines and explained how they connected to prophecy about the Antichrist, one-world government, and the rapture of true believers that might happen at any moment.

We only report the news from the latest papers and magazines, Van Impe once said, but we use the Word of God to show you that it means Christ is coming.

Van Impe reached a global audience from his studio in the suburbs of Detroit. He had memorized tens of thousands of Bible verses, earning himself the nickname the Walking Bible. He would recall Scripture on his show as he explained his apocalyptic theology, before ending each episode with a call for viewers to prepare for the end by accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Few reached a larger audience than evangelist Jack Van Impe, historian Paul Boyer wrote in his landmark study of prophecy belief in modern America. Bible quotations studded Van Impes apocalyptic predictions, including not only the familiar ones from Revelation, Zechariah, and 2 Peter  but also more obscure selections from Joel, Zephaniah, Malachi, and  Ezekiel.

Beerhalls to Churches

Van Impe was born in Freeport, Michigan in 1931, the son of two Belgian immigrants. Jacks father Oscar worked in a Plymouth auto factory by day and as a musician in the Detroit beerhalls by night. Oscar taught young Jack to play the accordionsometimes, as Jack would later recall in his conversion testimony, with violent and drunken beatings.

Oscar and Marie Louise Van Impe had a conversion experience at an independent Baptist church that embraced the label fundamentalist in 1943. A week later, 12-year-old Jack walked to the front of the church to profess his own faith. The Van Impes stopped going to beerhalls and started performing gospel music in area churches. The young Van Impe soon felt a call to ministry.

He was ordained in an independent Baptist church in 1951, after graduating from Detroit Bible College, and joined Youth For Christ as a musician around the same time as the late Billy Graham. Franklin Graham tweeted his condolences, saying Van Impes life demonstrated the importance of laying up these words of Mine in your heart and in your soul (Deuteronomy. 11:18). May we all be inspired to do the same.

Van Impe married Rexella Shelton, a musically gifted and evangelistically minded Baptist who had spent one year at Bob Jones University, in 1952. The couple set off on their own in 1970, founding Jack Van Impe Crusades Inc. They travelled the country together, performing music and preaching in 130 cities in 10 years.

From the start, Van Impe had an apocalyptic message. Popular early sermons included The Coming War with Russia and Shocking Signs of the End of the Age. Van Impe also preached about current events, warning people of the dangers of communism, homosexuality, abortion, and errant ministers. The last became a specialty. Van Impe frequently attacked other Christian ministers in his crusadesin general and by name.

Night after night, he later recalled, I did my best preaching if I could be attacking individual names.

In keeping with their fundamentalist commitments, the Van Impe Crusades initially refused to cooperate with any churches that werent also independent Baptist. Then Van Impe decided to exclude Baptist churches he believed had strayed from the fundamentals of the faith. Finally, he excluded fundamentalists who associated with non-fundamentalists.

Break from Super-Separatism

The ministry expanded into radio in the late 1970s, and then television in 1980. After some backlash for criticizing other Christians on TV, though, Van Impe apologized for what he called his super-separatist mentality. I could no longer be a biased, hate-filled, prejudiced man, Van Impe told a Sunday school convention in Detroit in 1982. Im going to love all Gods people even if they have a different denominational tag.

The television ministry ran into financial trouble and closed in 1984, but relaunched on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in 88. The format of the new show was simple. Rexella Van Impe would perform a piece of music, chat with her husband, and then Jack Van Impe would bring up contemporary headlines and explain their prophetic significance. It was a formula they would repeat for the rest of their career.

By the mid-1990s, Jack Van Impe Presents aired weekly in about 25,000 cities in the US and Canada, and in more than 150 other nations around the globe. Viewers were delighted by the relevance of Van Impes message and his detailed application of seemingly complicated Scripture. Once, for example, he calculated how much of the earth might be destroyed by nuclear war in fulfillment of Revelation 8:7. His conclusion: exactly 18,963,194 square miles.

In the 1990s, Van Impe said he expected Christ to return between 2001 and 2012. He warned Christians to be on the lookout for the Antichrist and moves to establish a New World Order, or one-world government. The phrase New World Order was popular with far-right conspiracy theorists, including many in the militia movement. Van Impe was unfazed by the association.

The Bible teaches that when the Antichrist comes to power, they will form a world government, he said. Why am I now out on a limb?

Van Impe did balk, however, at being called a doomsday preacher. Christians could look forward to the rapture, he said, and Christs 1,000-year reign on earth before the final conflict at Armageddon. He insisted this was a message of hope.

Rexella and I are not doomsday people, he told the Detroit News. We believe the greatest time is coming.

Current events, however, looked very dark to Van Impe, and got darker in the 21st century. He increasingly worried about Islam after the terrorist attacks of 2001 and entertained numerous conspiracy theories about President Barack Obama, repeating false claims that Obama was a Muslim and part of a Muslim plot to infiltrate the US.

Conflict with TBN

Van Impes concerns led him into conflict with TBN in 2011. He started attacking other Christian ministers for not taking a strong enough stand against Islamand again attacking them by name. Van Impe said megachurch pastors Rick Warren and Robert Schuller, both of whom had spoken to Muslim groups, were secretly promoting a merger of Christianity and Islam, or Chrislam.

TBN refused to air the episode and Van Impe separated from the network. The Van Impes continued the show on their own, broadcasting Jack Van Impe Presents on TV and the internet. On January 10, the most recent episode available on the ministry website, Rexella Van Impe read headlines about the heightening conflict between the US and Iran.

You know friends, theres so much to consider out there, she said to the camera. And I am grateful that we have a president who says we are not going to be number two, we are going to stand up to whats happening.

Then she turned it over to her husband, asking him if there was going to be a war.

The Bible says in Ezekiel 38, 39, Gog, Magog, Mesheck, Tubal, and Rosh are going to lead the battle, Van Impe said. Who are they? Well Gog is the leader, Mesheck and Tubal is Moscow and Tobolsk, after being interpreted. And all the Orient, Revelation says, is going with them. China, North Korea, all of them  Its going to be the bloodiest war in the world. The blood will flow to the bridles of the horses for 200 miles.

Van Impe died eight days after the episode aired, concluding a 68-year career in ministry. Jack Van Impe Ministries has not named the cause of death. Funeral arrangements are being made.
Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi has said that someone who does not accept Vande Mataram does not have the right to live in India. On Saturday, Pratap Chandra reached Surat in Gujarat, where he attacked the Congress over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying that the Congress was misleading people. Sarangi said that there are no patriots who have set fire to the whole country.

He has said that people who do not accept India's independence, unity, Vande Mataram, people have no right to live in this nation. He said that people should thank PM Narendra Modi for bringing CAA. The Union Minister said that due to the Citizenship Act, now such Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians who have suffered religious persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh will get citizenship of India. By bringing citizenship law, Modi government has repented the sins of the Congress.

Sarangi has said that the sin of partition committed by Congress has been repenter by Modi government. He said that CAA should have been brought 70 years ago. Actually, this act is a way to atone for the sin committed by our ancestors. Congress sinned and now we are atoning it.

#WATCH Union Minister Pratap Sarangi in Surat, Gujarat: Those who do not accept Vande Mataram have no right to live in India. (18.01.2020) pic.twitter.com/zEr4R8Z7Op  ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2020

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Im doing it out of respect for the rabbi, Gerry told me last week, a few days before he was due to stand before the congregation at Ohev Sholom synagogue on 16th Street NW. He was a little embarrassed by all the fuss: his photo in the synagogues weekly newsletter; relatives driving in from out of town; a journalist in the Maryland apartment he shares with his wife, Goldie, also a Holocaust survivor.
Senior Labor figures in NSW are pushing for a female to replace outgoing state party president Mark Lennon, as the troubled branch tries to rebuild after a tumultuous year.

Several senior Labor sources say federal MP for Greenway Michelle Rowland, Senator Kristina Keneally and state Londonderry MP Prue Car are seen as contenders.

Labor communications spokeswoman Michelle Rowland is seen as a likely contender for the NSW party presidency. Credit:James Brickwood

Mr Lennon, a former head of Unions NSW, has told colleagues he will not seek re-election for NSW Labor's top post this year after the party suffered two election losses and a corruption inquiry.

NSW Labor has not won an election since 2007 and the party was hauled through a damaging Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry last year.
The protestors are angry about the governments proposed pension reforms, and theyve shut down much of Paris on and off over the past six weeks. Closing the Louvre to prevent tourists from visiting is very important because its the most visited museum in the world, said Christophe Benoit, 52, a protesting employee of Frances Culture Ministry, although he acknowledged that some visitors werevery angry.'  The New York Times
A professor whose vicar sexually assaulted her while saying 'this is what God wanted' 40 years ago has today condemned him as a 'predator' who had taken advantage of her faith.

Brave Julie Macfarlane has waived her right to anonymity to speak out against disgraced Church of England priest Meirion Griffiths, who was this week convicted of molesting her when she was a teenager.

The university law professor, now 61, was subjected to a year-long campaign of 'disgusting' and 'repulsive' repeated sexual abuse.

Victim Professor Julie Macfarlane has waived her right to anonymity to speak out against disgraced Church of England priest Meirion Griffiths

Griffiths, 81, now faces jail after he was convicted on Monday of indecently assaulting Prof Macfarlane and another woman from his congregation in the 1970s and 1980s.

Griffiths was a rector from the Diocese of Chichester, West Sussex, at the time and Portsmouth Crown Court, Hants, heard he grew 'obsessed' with his victims before 'systematically' abusing them.

Prof Macfarlane, who has since moved to Canada and lectures at Ontario's University of Windsor, said she turned to Griffiths when she was 17 and had doubts with her faith.

She said: 'He was a very big authority figure for me. I was a very earnest Christian girl.

'He was my minister and authority figure. I went to him for my doubts which I was experiencing about my faith, and that's when he started to abuse me at the very same time.

'I had no idea what was going on, I felt absolutely terrified. I felt totally repulsed and disgusted by what he asked me to do.

Vicar Meirion Griffiths outside Portsmouth Crown Court. He now faces jail after he was convicted on Monday of indecently assaulting Prod MacFarlane and another woman in the 1970s and 1980s

'But I thought he was a man of God, so he was able to do that to me over and over again.

'He told me 'this is what God wanted'.'

Mother of three Prof Macfarlane also warned: 'There will almost certainly be other victims out there.'

Prof Macfarlane contacted Sussex Police in 2014. She said: 'It's been a very, very long time.

'Not only since this took place but since I've been trying to put this right, because when I first decided that I needed to do something to ensure that he wouldn't do this to other people  I was clear that the behaviour was predatory and would be a pattern.

'It happened when I was a teenager, by the time I was in my 30s I realised I had some responsibility about this. That's when I first began to do something.'

She complained to Griffiths' then-church in Australia after the priest emigrated to the country and engaged in a lengthy legal battle with the Diocese of Chichester and successfully forced the church's insurer to change its civil claims policy.

The abuse has left her with chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder but Prof Macfarlane has praised fellow sex abuse victims who come forward, citing the #MeToo campaign.

She said: 'The more people who stand up and say 'me too' the more this will change the public perception which still tends to blame the victim, and people don't really understand why it takes so long.

'I look like a strong person now but this took me decades to do this.'

Jurors at Portsmouth Crown Court convicted Griffiths of four counts of indecent assault. He was cleared of two indecent assaults and will be sentenced at a date yet to be fixed.

Asked about her reaction to the jury's verdicts on Monday Prof Macfarlane said it was a 'day for hope not despair'.
Prince Harry's childhood nanny is baby Archie's secret godmother [Image: Getty]

In the run-up to their sons christening last year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they wouldnt be revealing the names of baby Archies godparents.

However, The Sunday Times have reported that the Duke of Sussexs beloved childhood nanny is a godmother to his eight-month-old boy, who has been residing in Canada since mid-November.

Tiggy Pettifer - previously known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke - looked after the 35-year-old and his older brother Prince William, 37, when they were children between 1993 and 1999.

She became a mother figure to the pair after the sudden death of Princess Diana in 1997.

READ MORE: Brand behind baby Archie's hat thanks Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after being inundated with orders

The former nanny, now 54, left the royal household when she married ex-Coldstream Guards officer, Charles Pettifer.

But Tiggy is understood to have remained close to both William and Harry in the years since.

The dukes are themselves godfathers to her sons Fred and Tom.

Along with her husband, she now runs a bed and breakfast, Tyr Chanter, in the Brecon Beacons.

Tiggy Pettifer was seen in Windsor on the day of the christening last July [Image: Getty]

READ MORE: Meghan Markle quietly carried out a second Vancouver women's charity visit

Tiggy was photographed in Windsor on the day of Archies christening in July.

The paper have also named Mark Dyer, 53, as godfather to Harry and Meghans toddler.

He served as an equerry to Prince Charles and became a mentor and close friend of his sons.

According to the Duke of Sussexs biographer Penny Junor, he is one of the few people who talks some sense into [Harry].

The former nanny - known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke before her marriage - became a mother figure to the Duke of Sussex after the death of Princess Diana in 1997 [Image: Getty]

READ MORE: Full list of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's current patronages

Mark now owns several London pubs, one of which hosted Harry and Meghan soon after they first started dating.

Shortly after Archies christening it was also revealed that Charlie van Straubenzee, one of the dukes school friends, had been made a godfather.

The businessman became close with the royal at Ludgrove Prep School in Berkshire, and has been described as his wingman.

Story continues

He gave a speech at the Sussexs royal wedding where he joked that Harry was a ginger.

Mark Dyer is also reported to be a godfather to the eight-month-old [Image: Getty]

READ MORE: Baby Archie wears H&M dungarees for first royal tour appearance

In one of their first public appearances as a married couple, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were seen attending Charlies wedding to videographer Daisy Jenks in August 2018, where it is believed Harry served as best man.

Charlie, Tiggie and Mark are believed to be three of fewer than 30 guests to attend Archies christening.

Their naming as godparents comes as Harry and Meghan continue to keep the remaining godparents under wraps.

They released a statement ahead of their sons baptism - part of which read: The godparents, in keeping with their wishes, will remain private.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
Visva Bharati University, which had sought CISF deployment on its campus citing security concerns, is likely to drop the plan as the cost for the paramilitary force deployment is too high for the varsity's budget for security.

According to sources, the estimated cost worked out following a security audit of the Shantiniketan campus by the CISF is over four times the budget for security of the university.

The cost worked out after the CISF audit is over 4 times the budget of the university for maintenance of security on campus. So, the university may consider to drop the plan, a source told PTI.

CISF, officials, however, said they have not received any final word on the move yet.

A team had gone for the survey at the campus and informed officials about the requirement of the force including setting up barracks, gadgets and the estimated manpower. We had not given any exact figures for the cost but explained the requirements, a CISF official said, adding, we have not received any communication about further action on the plan.

Calls and text messages to Visva Bharati Vice Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty, went unanswered.

The Home Ministry had in November last year accorded its approval for deployment of the CISF at the university, paving way for Visva Bharati to become the first educational institution or university to have paramilitary personnel stationed on campus.

The Vice Chancellor had written to the CISF alleging that private security personnel employed by the university owe their allegiance to TMC local bosses.

The letter was also marked to the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, which had forwarded it to the paramilitary force. The CISF then had detailed its procedure for deploying a contingent, including conducting required checks and surveys.

The vice-chancellor had cited incidents of confrontation between the university administration, students and staff, in his letter to request for CISF deployment on the campus.

"The private security personnel currently employed by the university owe their allegiance to TMC local bosses and, hence, disobey Visva-Bharati's security officer with impunity.

"There have been instances of students staging protest and preventing faculty members and officials from leaving the campus when security guards remained silent onlookers and even created enabling conditions for protesters," the letter by Chakrabarty had said.

The letter has also stated that the cost of deployment of the CISF personnel will be borne by the university out of the grants it receives from the government.

The move had found opposition among students, who launched a signature campaign to oppose the move of CISF contingent deployment.

Visva Bharati established in 1921 by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, was declared a central university in 1951.

The CISF guards vital installations in the country, including the Delhi Metro, 61 civil airports and organisations in the aerospace and nuclear domain.

It was tasked to extend its armed security cover, exclusively from the existing government sector deployment, to private installations after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which Pakistan-based terrorists targeted five-star hotels and other locations killing over 166 people.

Currently, ten installations in the private sector are guarded by the 1.50-lakh personnel strength force that includes Infosys campuses in Bengaluru, Pune and Mysuru and the Reliance refinery in Jamnagar among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cameras "miles in the sky," a countdown and then "boom": US President Donald Trump has recounted the final moments of Iran's powerful military leader, Qassem Soleimani, in an American drone strike.

Trump delivered the account Friday night to Republican Party donors at his Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago, for a fundraising dinner, U.S. media said.

CNN on Saturday broadcast an audio recording in which the president gave new details about the January 3 strike at the airport in Baghdad. It killed the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force commander and members of Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi, a paramilitary force with close ties to Iran.

"He was supposed to be invincible," Trump said.

Democrats and other critics have questioned the timing of the strike, the month before Trump's Senate impeachment trial, and the administration's shifting reasons for launching it.

In the audio released by CNN, Trump did not refer to an "imminent" attack that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Soleimani was planning. Nor was there a reference to "four embassies," which Trump later alleged were being targeted.

'Saying bad things'

"He was saying bad things about our country. He was saying like, 'We're going to attack your country. We're going to kill your people.' I said, 'Look, how much of this s*** do we have to listen to?' " Trump told his guests.

He then described the scene, relaying the words of the military officers giving live updates to him in Washington.

"They said, 'Sir  and this is from, you know, cameras that are miles in the sky  they are together, sir. Sir, they have two minutes and 11 seconds. No bulls***. They have two minutes and 11 seconds to live, sir. They're in the car. They're in an armored vehicle, going.  Sir, they have approximately one minute to live, sir ... 30 seconds, 10, nine, eight  . Then, all of sudden, boom. They're gone, sir.' "

Trump acknowledged that the U.S. strike "shook up the world" but said Soleimani "deserved to be hit hard" because he was responsible for killing "thousands of Americans."

Iran vowed revenge for the U.S. strike, raising fears of war, and later launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops. None were killed.
Imperial Valley News Center

Five Men Indicted for Operating an International Procurement Network to Export U.S.-Origin Goods to Pakistans Nuclear Program

Washington, DC - Five men, all associated with the front company Business World in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and including Muhammad Kamran Wali (Kamran), 41, of Pakistan; Muhammad Ahsan Wali (Ahsan), 48, and Haji Wali Muhammad Sheikh (Haji), 82, both of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Ashraf Khan Muhammad (Khan) of Hong Kong; and Ahmed Waheed (Waheed), 52, of Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom, were indicted in federal court for conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Control Reform Act. The grand jury returned the indictment on Oct. 16, 2019, and it was unsealed Wednesday.

The defendants smuggled U.S. origin goods to entities that have been designated for years as threats to U.S. national security for their ties to Pakistans weapons programs, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. This indictment puts the world on notice not to do business with these defendants and demonstrates our commitment to holding them accountable. It also stands as an example of the kind of deceptive behavior U.S. businesses need to watch out for in designing appropriate export control and sanctions compliance programs.

Federal export control laws are vital tools that help prevent items from being exported overseas where they could be used in ways that can jeopardize our national security, said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray for the District of New Hampshire. In order to protect the safety and security of the American people, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify those who violate these important laws. We will continue to be vigilant in our efforts to identify individuals whose actions may jeopardize the national security of the United States.

The alleged behavior of these five individuals presented more than a violation of U.S. export laws, it posed a potential threat to the national security interests of the United States and to the delicate balance of power among nations within the region, said Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations. HSIs Counterproliferation group proactively works investigations into U.S. import-export licensing laws violations because of the threat it can pose to our national security.

The indictments unsealed today are a result of the ongoing coordination and collaborative counter proliferation efforts by the Office of Export Enforcement, the Justice Department, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Homeland Security Investigations,said Special Agent in Charge William Higgins of the Office of Export Enforcement. The Boston Field Office of the Office of Export Enforcement will continue to vigorously pursue violators with all its partners to stem illicit trade that threatens U.S. national security and undermines U.S. foreign policy.

"Stopping the illegal exportation of sensitive defense technology is a top priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and today's indictment is the result of a multi-agency effort," stated Special Agent in Charge Leigh-Alistair Barzey, DCIS Northeast Field Office. "The DCIS is committed to working with the USAO-NH, Homeland Security Investigations and the Office of Export Enforcement, to protect our nation's security by identifying, investigating and prosecuting criminal procurement networks."

According to the indictment, between September 2014 and October 2019, the defendants operated an international procurement network of front companies that existed to acquire U.S.-origin goods for the Advanced Engineering Research Organization (AERO) and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), and to cause those goods to be exported from the United States to the entities without export licenses in violation of federals law. Both AERO and PAEC were on the Commerce Departments Entity List, which imposes export license requirements for organizations whose activities are found to be contrary to U.S. national security or foreign policy interests. PAEC was added to the Entity List in 1998. AERO was added to the Entity List in 2014, after the U.S. Government found that it had used intermediaries and front companies to procure items for use in Pakistans cruise missile and strategic UAV programs.

According to the indictment, the defendants attempted to conceal the true destinations in Pakistan of the U.S.-origin goods by using the conspirators network of front companies as the supposed purchasers and end users of the goods and as the apparent source of payments for the goods, even though the goods were ultimately received in Pakistan and paid for by AERO or PAEC. The defendants caused the U.S. companies to file export documents that falsely identified the Ultimate Consignees of the shipments as entities other than AERO and PAEC. The defendants never applied for or obtained an export license from the Department of Commerce authorizing the export of goods to AERO or PAEC in Pakistan.

The indictment identified 38 separate exports from the U.S. that the defendants caused, involving 29 different companies from around the country. Three of those companies are in New Hampshire. None of the U.S. companies is alleged to have been complicit in the illegal exports. Each defendant is charged with two felony counts of conspiracy. Although arrest warrants are pending, none of the five defendants has thus far been apprehended.

This matter was investigated by the Department of Commerces Office of Export Enforcement; the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis and Trial Attorney Nicholas Hunter of DOJs Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, National Security Division.

The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Its been a while since southern star Vijay Deverakonda has been in search of a leading lady from Bollywood for his upcoming film titled Fighter. It was earlier reported that Janhvi Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were being considered for the highly anticipated project. But according to the latest grapevine, Ananya Panday has now landed the coveted role opposite the handsome hunk.

For the uninitiated, Fighter has already been generating a tremendous amount of buzz thanks to Vijays rigorous prep and the casting of the leading lady. Actress Janhvi Kapoor was almost locked for her south debut with the movie. But according to a few media reports, she ended put turning down the film owing to her Bollywood commitments. Jhanvi has many movies in her kitty and was unable to allocate her dates for the Southern biggie.

Ananya Panday is said to have already signed the dotted line and will begin her prep for the role anytime soon. An official announcement from the makers to said to take place very soon. The movie, in all likelihood, will be releasing during the summer of 2020.

Dharma Productions head honcho Karan Johar is said to have played an instrumental role in helping Vijay find a lead actress for Fighter. He is said to have suggested names such as Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan, Jahnvi Kapoor for the role.

On the work front, Vijay is all set to begin shooting for his solo portions once he is back from Bangkok. The talented actor was stationed in the city to undergo some rigorous physical training for the movie. Fighter will be directed by celebrated Telugu filmmaker Puri Jagannadh.

ALSO READ: Ramya Krishnan To Play Vijay Deverakondas Mom In 'Fighter?

ALSO READ: Janhvi Kapoor Says Ishaan Khatter Has The Purest Heart; Reveals She Has A Crush On Vijay Devarakonda
Just look at that. In what looks like the final stage of talks with the Queen about their future, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are set to drop their HRH titles once and for all, bringing them one step closer to the relative freedom they so desperately seek. Cue the comparisons to King Edward VIII.

But where Meghan Markle is concerned, there are historical parallels that havent had nearly as much attention: the notion of Canada as a promised land for black people.

Lets go back to the beginning of last week. On the same day of the Sandringham summit, the first step in plans to make Canada and other parts of North America Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys part-time home, the Academy Awards announced that London-born actress Cynthia Erivo had been nominated for the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Harriet. The film is a biopic of Harriet Tubman, the African American abolitionist, activist and Civil War veteran who escaped from slavery in the state of Maryland in 1849, and then returned 13 times over 11 years to lead groups of other enslaved people on the punishing trek by foot north to freedom.

Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down Show all 20 1 /20 Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down July 2016 Meghan and Harry met through mutual friends in London in July 2016 when one of the former-actor's confidants, Markus Anderson, reportedly introduced them. Anderson is linked with private members club Soho House, of which Harry is a member, but it wasn't until months after the initial London meeting that their burgeoning romance made headlines. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down November 2016 Photographs of the couple together were published in the press, showing them on holidays, at friend's weddings and eating out in London making the news. But it was by way of an unprecedented statement that their relationship was officially announced. Kensington Palace, writing on behalf of Harry, stated that the harassment being experienced by Meghan and her family, saying a line had been crossed. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment, the statement continued, citing "sexism" and "racism". "He knows commentators will say this is the price she has to pay and that this is all part of the game. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game - it is her life and his," the statement read. "He has asked for this statement to be issued in the hopes that those in the press who have been driving this story can pause and reflect before any further damage is done." Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down October 2017 In October 2017, Meghan conducted her first public interview since news of the relationship emerged with Vanity Fair, in which she opened up about what it is like to date a member of the royal family. It has its challenges, and it comes in wavessome days it can feel more challenging than others, she told the publication. And right out of the gate it was surprising the way things changed. But I still have this support system all around me, and, of course, my boyfriends support. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down November 2017 The couple announced their engagement in November and were interviewed by the BBC's Mishal Hussain at their home, Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor, about the news. During the interview, Harry opened up about how much he enjoyed being with someone from outside his inner circle. "It was hugely refreshing," he said before discussing the trip they took to Botswana together shortly after meeting. "To be able to start almost afresh right from the beginning in getting to know each other step by step and then taking that huge leap of only two dates and then going effectively on holiday together in the middle of nowhere and sharing a tent together and all that kind of stuff. It was fantastic. It was absolutely amazing to get to know her as quickly as I did." Harry proposed to Meghan with a custom ring made by court jewellers Cleave and Company using one diamond sourced from Botswana and two smaller stones from Princess Diana's collection. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down December 2017 Princess Michael of Kent apologised for wearing a racist broach to the Queen's Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, that was also attended by Meghan and was her first Christmas with the royal family. The princess, who is married to the Queen's cousin, was pictured wearing a prominent piece of "blackamoor" jewellery pinned to her coat as she arrived at the annual royal family gathering. The princess was widely condemned for wearing the "blatantly racist" piece to the Palace and a spokesperson for the royal said she was very sorry and distressed that it had caused offence. They added that the brooch was a gift and has been worn many times before. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down May 2018 On 19 May, Meghan and Harry married at St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle. The bride and groom continued to defy convention at the wedding by putting a modern spin on everything from the cake to ceremony itself. The couple chose Reverend Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church, to deliver a powerful sermon about love. The joyous day was somewhat dampened after it was revealed that Thomas Markle Sr, Meghan's father, would not be there to walk her down the aisle. Instead, Meghan walked herself down the aisle until she was joined by Prince Charles, who gave her away. In an interview with TMZ, Meghan's father admitted to conspiring with a photographer to pose for staged paparazzi photos. As a result of his admission, he felt it would be best to not walk her down the aisle because he didn't want to embarrass the royal family or his daughter. He also shared that he had suffered a heart attack six days prior due to the stresses of the situation. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down October 2018 Since their wedding, speculation had been mounting that Meghan and Harry were expecting their first child but confirmation didn't come until 15 October, just as the couple were about to kick off their autumn tour of Australasia. Kensington Palace announced that the newlyweds were very pleased to be expecting a baby in the spring of 2019. Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019, the palace said in a statement. Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public. However, some people accused the royal couple of insensitivity over the decision to reveal the news during Baby Loss Awareness Week. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down October 2018 - March 2019 During her pregnancy Meghan, like many prospective mothers, would cradle her bump or place her hand on her stomach during public events. But the royal mother was criticised with some saying she was doing it for photo opportunities. Meanwhile conspiracy theorists took to Twitter with hashtags like #Megxit and #DuchessofDeception, claiming that Meghan was not pregnant and had been strapping on a pillow or a bespoke prosthetic. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down May 2019 On 6 May 2019, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born at the Portland Hospital in London after Meghan went into labour in the early hours of the morning. The birth was a break from tradition with previous royals, including the Duchess of Cambridge, who have previously used the Lindo Wing at St Marys Hospital in London to give birth. Meghan also chose not to pose for an '"on the steps" moment after leaving hospital like other royal mothers. Instead, the duke and duchess presented baby Archie to the world at a press briefing at St Georges Hall at Windsor Castle. The couple later revealed they chose not to use the courtesy title Earl Dumbarton, which Archie was allowed to use, nor to style him Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, opting for Master instead. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down May 2019 Danny Baker was fired by the BBC after tweeting about the royal baby using a photo of a chimpanzee. The former BBC Radio 5 Live host was criticised for the post, which he shared moments after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world. The tweet featured a black-and-white photograph of a couple holding hands with a chimp dressed in a suit alongside the caption: Royal baby leaves hospital. Baker swiftly removed the post after receiving backlash from Twitter users who branded it as racist due to Meghan's mixed-heritage. The 61-year-old later apologised, writing: Sorry my gag pic of the little fella in the posh outfit has whipped some up. Never occurred to me because, well, mind not diseased. Soon as those good enough to point out its possible connotations got in touch, down it came. And thats it. Now stand by for sweary football tweets. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down June 2019 The BBC showed a comedy programme, Tonight With Vladimir Putin, which portrayed the Duchess of Sussex saying Stay the f*** out of my trailer or Ill cut you, Kate. Both episodes of the programme included a feature entitled "Meghan Markles Royal Sparkle". In one episode The Duchess of Sussex's character was asked what makes her angry. The character replied with an anecdote about the Duchess of Cambridge asking to borrow her hairbrush. I say no because thats gross and then I leave my room and come back and I can tell shes used my hairbrush anyway because its covered in skanky hair thats going grey and I say, Stay the f*** out of my trailer or Ill cut you, Kate, she yelled. The show also made fun of the Duchesss relationship with her father, Thomas Markle. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down June 2019 In June 2019 the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received criticism after it was revealed that their home was renovated with 2.4m of taxpayer-funded costs. Frogmore Cottage in Windsor was turned into a single property for Harry and Meghan, from five separate homes. While the couple, who moved from Kensington Palace in April before the birth of their son Archie, paid for any upgraded fixtures and fittings themselves, royal accounts showed that the public fund met the cost of replacing heating, electric, gas and water main systems, as well as replacing ceiling beams and floor joists. Frogmore Cottage is owned by the Crown Estate and was a gift to the couple from the Queen, who was kept updated on the work. It had not been the subject of work for some years, and had already been earmarked for renovation. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down July 2019 Meghan and Harry chose to christen Archie at an intimate ceremony attended by close family. Royal baptisms are traditionally private but the couple went one step further by going against convention and deciding not to announce Archies godparents. "The godparents, in keeping with their wishes, will remain private," a statement from Buckingham Palace read. Speculation remained rife as to who had been named the godparents of Meghan and Prince Harry's son, with contenders including media mogul Oprah Winfrey, fashion stylist Jessica Mulroney and Hollywood actor George Clooney. The duke and duchess' decision sparked huge criticism among royal watchers. They have to give the public something, wrote one person on Twitter. We are paying them and it feels like they do not care about the public. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down August 2019 Harry and Meghan were heavily criticised for using private jets to go on holiday with Archie to the south of France. Many people accused the couple of hypocrisy given their staunch views on environmentalism. It came after two other European trips, including one to Ibiza for Meghans birthday and another to Sicily where Harry flew to discuss climate change at a conference. Harry later defended the use of the transport by claiming it was to ensure their safety. Meanwhile, Sir Elton John publicly defended the couple. Speaking in Amsterdam for a new flying scheme, Harry said: "I came here by commercial. I spend 99 per cent of my life travelling the world by commercial. Occasionally there needs to be an opportunity based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe. It's genuinely as simple as that." Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down August 2019 Prince William and Harry had been at the centre of rift rumours for months, ever since it emerged that the Sussexes were moving to Windsor. In August, the speculation came to a head with royal sources and experts claiming the brothers have drifted apart. Appearing on Channel 5s documentary William & Harry: Princes At War? royal expert and editor of Majesty magazine Ingrid Seward said: I would think it might bother William a little bit, because he might see the way that Harry and Meghan do things as being detrimental to the business of the monarchy as a whole. Seward added that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were surprised by Harry and Meghan's whirlwind romance, saying: "It was all so quick that William and Kate didn't have a moment to get to know Meghan because Harry hardly knew Meghan. "And of course William and Kate would have quite naturally thought 'oh she's been married before, she's older than Harry, I hope she's going to make him happy'. Anyone would think that." Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down September 2019 In August it was announced that Meghan Markle was to guest-edit the September issue of British Vogue magazine. The cover of the special edition featured a grid of 15 women selected as Forces for Change and articles inside that had been commissioned by the duchess. While the response was largely positive, some people criticised her choice of women, which did not include the Queen, and questioned whether or not a member of the royal family should edit a magazine, despite several others having done so before. I feel like I need to bring a bit of reality to the situation. We're talking about Vogue magazine. Probably the most elite, expensive, snobby, fashion-dominated, skinny-dominated magazine in the entire world. This is not some great mainstream force for good. This is a magazine for the elite. Brexit Party MEP Ann Widdecombe also took aim for picking political stars, saying: Royals have not only got to keep out of politics but they have got to be seen to keep out of politics. British Vogue/Peter Lindbergh Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down October 2019 In October 2019, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took part in an ITV documentary about their royal tour to southern Africa. In Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, Harry opened up about his aversion to paparazzi and confessed that he and his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, are on different paths, fuelling speculation that the two have grown apart. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex revealed she had been struggling with criticisms in the media, telling ITVs Tom Bradby that she was not really okay. Bradby later said that the couple seemed vulnerable and bruised during the filming and revealed he knew that things werent entirely rosy for the couple ahead of filming. The reality I found was just a couple that seemed a bit bruised and vulnerable, Bradby told Good Morning America. That was the story I found and it seemed the right journalistic thing to do, to try and tell that story as empathetically as I could. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down October 2019 Following the ITV documentary, Meghan and Harry issued an official statement, in which the duke said he could no longer be a "silent witness" to Meghan's "private suffering". 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," the statement read. In the same statement, it was confirmed that Meghan had filed a claim against Associated Newspapers "over the intrusive and unlawful publication of a private letter written by the Duchess of Sussex, which is part of a campaign by this media group to publish false and deliberately derogatory stories about her, as well as her husband." The proceedings in the Chancery Division of the High Court related to the unlawful publication of a private letter from Meghan to her father. Getty Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down December 2019 In December, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released their first Christmas card with their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor. The seven-month-old took centre stage in the black-and-white photograph, staring right down the camera lens while his parents laugh behind him with a Christmas tree in the background. While many royal fans were overjoyed by the image, others accused Meghan of using Photoshop to sharpen her own face so it would stand out more. Meghans close friends, Janina Gavankar, who captured the photo, spoke out to defend the couple on Instagram, writing: So proud to have taken the Christmas photo for one of my best friends and her family." She also clarified that the photo had not been edited. The couple enjoy a six-week break in Canada with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. Sussexroyal/Instagram Everything that led to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping down January 2020 Meghan and Harry are pictured at Canada House in London to thank the Canadian high commission for their warm hospitality following their trip over Christmas. One day later, on Wednesday 8 January, rumours about the couple possibly moving to Canada begin to surface, which Buckingham Palace initially refused to deny. At 6pm on Wednesday evening, Meghan and Harry announce their decision to relinquish their roles as senior members of the royal family in an Instagram post on @SussexRoyal. Their statement is followed by one from Buckingham Palace describing discussions regarding the move as being at an early stage. It is later understood that the couple did not consult any members of the royal family prior to releasing their statement and the mood at Buckingham Palace was one of disappointment. Getty

The network of secret routes and shelters, and the allies who assisted the fugitives, was what most of us know as the Underground Railroad. Tubman was a conductor, as per the parlance. In 1850, the Congress of the United States passed a piece of legislation shattering to the lives of black Americans, the Fugitive Slave Act, which made it legal for Southern slaveholders to go north to capture escapees and return them to lives as property. With the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law  also called the Bloodhound Law in cold reference to the bloodhounds that were used to literally track the scent of runaways  Tubman had no choice but to remove both herself and her flock entirely from under US jurisdiction. And, so, she took herself and them across the border. I wouldnt trust Uncle Sam with my people no longer, she said in 1868. I brought em all clear off to Canada.

Though the two appear to be unconnected on the surface, as a black Canadian myself, I see a poetic coincidence. For better or worse, in both these human dramas, Markles actual, and Tubmans historical, Canada is a promised land for these women of African descent.

I grew up with this narrative of Canada as a freedom destination for black people. The image of bare black feet treading forested ground was central to the black history available to me. An enduring memory I have is of a documentary titled Fields of Endless Day, produced in 1980 by the National Film Board of Canada, which told the history of black settlement in Canada, in part through dramatised vignettes.

It opens with a dramatic monologue by a black man in period costume of sorts recounting the flogging of an escaped slave. Canada to go, Canada to go, the determined man kept repeating as he was being punished. Go to Canada!

Later, introduced in 1991, was a commercial about the Underground Railroad that ran regularly on national television as part of a series of historical snippets called Heritage Minutes. The 60-second dramatisation shows a black woman, Liza, gazing anxiously out of the window of a lodging in a small rural outpost along the border between the United States and Canada. As we see her reunited with her family following a tense emotional crescendo, a voiceover says, Between 1840 and 1860, more than 30,000 American slaves came secretly to Canada and freedom.

Markles circumstances are a far cry from those of Liza or Tubman or, for that matter, Cynthia Erivo. But what they all have in common is a plight for self-determination with the same historical backdrop. And Markles example shows how difficult its legacies are to escape, regardless of what many the world over would like to believe. Lets not forget the engagement present one newspaper gave Markle: a meticulously researched family tree detailing her cotton slave ancestors. The bloodhounds sniffed it out.

There is no place on Earth that is an absolute haven from racial, or any other form of oppression. Yet, to Canada she has gone. But in the months and years to come, after the royal dust has settled and the Sussexes are seen enjoying sweet liberty above the 49th parallel north, lets hope amnesia does not set in. Lets see how much Markle remembers that an Underground Railroad exists in the 21st century, and that many Canadians, present and hopeful, walk with brambles underfoot.

Nicholas Boston is an associate professor of media sociology at Lehman College, the City University of New York
(Newser)  During jury selection for Harvey Weinstein's criminal trial in New York, juror No. 11 listed "novel writing" on a questionnaire under "hobbies and interests." Her pastime is more relevant than it sounds, the defense team argues: The juror is writing a novel on predatory men and their relationships with younger women, CNN reports. Women's accusations against Weinsten helped launch the #MeToo movement. Weinstein's lawyers objected to the woman's selection for the jury, but the judge denied the motion, and the defense already is seeking a mistrial. The novelist will be one of the seven men and five women to hear the case against the former Hollywood studio boss, who's charged with raping one woman and sexually assaulting another.

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There was another moment involving a novel: A male prospective juror asked his followers on social media how he could use a high-profile case to promote a book, per the New York Times. Weinstein's lawyers said they looked into juror No. 11 online and didn't buy some of her answers during selection. She said "no" when asked if she'd researched predatory men or relationships between men and younger women, and she said she hadn't been following the Weinstein case. "We believed that those presented a cause challenge," a defense lawyer said. Judge James Burke told the courtroom last week that his goal was to find people who could set aside what they had read and make their decision on the evidence presented in court. "This trial is not a referendum on the #MeToo movement," he said. (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 18:01:09|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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DAMASCUS, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army continued its heavy shelling on rebel positions in the western countryside of the northern province of Aleppo as a prelude to a large-scale military operation against the rebels, the pro-government al-Watan newspaper reported Sunday.

The army also responded to a massive counter-offensive on government forces' positions in the nearby province of Idlib by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, the newspaper added.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 6,000 people have fled their areas in the western countryside of Aleppo over the past 72 hours as a result of the military campaign.

The families fled to the nearby northwestern countryside of Idlib and the Turkey-held enclave of Afrin in northern Aleppo countryside, according to the Britain-based watchdog.

The observatory estimated the number of civlians in the western and southern countryside of Aleppo at around 500,000.

The anticipated army offensive in western Aleppo countryside aims to secure the Hama-Aleppo road as part of an agreement reached in Russia's Sochi in 2018 to secure the official road to Aleppo, which extends all the way south to the capital Damascus.

Since the Hama-Aleppo road is under rebels' control, people have travelled to Aleppo through another extension of the road.

The army is now considering the recapture of the entire road between Hama and Aleppo as a top priority, in order to restore the travel route from Damascus in the south to Aleppo to the pre-war time without a detour.
A recently unclassified report by the Texas Department of Public Safety identifies three overall types of domestic terrorism that threaten the Lone Star State.

The most violently active domestic terrorism type, according to DPS, are groups that are white racially motivated, such as white supremacists or white nationalists.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has stated that the participants of the Berlin conference agreed on a comprehensive settlement plan for Libya. She continued on by saying that the countries agreed that an arms embargo must be respected, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

"We had very intense consultations here in Berlin. And we managed to make a contribution, give a new impetus to the political process in Libya, to bring peace to the country and the Libyan people. I believe that the conference in Berlin supported the UN-sponsored peace process", Merkel told journalists at the press conference, following the talks.

According to the chancellor, the representatives of the Libyan conflict agreed to form a five-by-five military commission and name the participants. The document on Libya is to be approved by the UN Security Council and become part of the political settlement process, she also said.

UN Secretary-General Guterres, in turn, has stated that the military committee on the Libyan crisis will meet in Geneva in the next few days.

He further elaborated that the UN is concerned by the closure of oil ports in Libya.

On 19 January, representatives from a number of countries and organisations, including Russia, the United States, Turkey, Egypt, the European Union, and the United Nations met in Berlin to find solutions to the conflict in the North African country.

Both the Libyan National Armys (LNA) commander, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and Fayez Sarraj, the head of the rival Government of National Accord (GNA), were not included in the main list of participants of the Berlin conference on Libya, but their presence is mentioned in a German government press release.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in the centre of Landquart, ready to brave the cold on a 40km (25-mile) march across the mountains to snowy Davos.

Some were disguised as flowers or koala bears - a reference to the bushfires currently ravaging their habitat in Australia - and holding banners including: "Climate crisis: a world economic failure."

Authorities had approved the first stretch from Landquart to Klosters, but rejected the activists' request to proceed to Davos by road for security reasons.

The organisers said they were determined to go on to Davos, but would take smaller hiking paths they didn't need permission to use.
NETANYA, Israel, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellcom Israel Ltd. (NYSE: CEL) (the "Company") announced today that Mr. Ron Shvili, the Company's CTO, informed the Company of his intention to resign as CTO in the near term at a date yet to be determined.

Mr. Nir Sztern, the Company's departing CEO said: "Ron successfully led the Company's engineering and IT division in a period of rapid technological changes and was a pivotal factor in strengthening Cellcom Israel's position as a leading innovative communications group. During his tenure Ron led the Company's CRM project, fiber to the home and 4G network deployments, IOT and advanced data protection solutions, digital transformation, data monetization, innovation processes, and many other communications and IT infrastructure projects. We thank Ron for his ample contribution to the Company and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

About Cellcom Israel

Cellcom Israel Ltd., established in 1994, is a leading Israeli communications group, providing a wide range of communications services. Cellcom Israel is the largest Israeli cellular provider, providing its approximately 2.767 million cellular subscribers (as at September 30, 2019) with a broad range of services including cellular telephony, roaming services for tourists in Israel and for its subscribers abroad, text and multimedia messaging, advanced cellular content and data services and other value-added services in the areas of music, video, mobile office etc., based on Cellcom Israel's technologically advanced infrastructure. The Company operates an LTE 4 generation network and an HSPA 3.5 Generation network enabling advanced high speed broadband multimedia services, in addition to GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks. Cellcom Israel offers Israel's broadest and largest customer service infrastructure including telephone customer service centers, retail stores, and service and sale centers, distributed nationwide. Cellcom Israel further provides OTT TV services, internet infrastructure and connectivity services and international calling services, as well as landline telephone services in Israel. Cellcom Israel's shares are traded both on the New York Stock Exchange (CEL) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (CEL). For additional information please visit the Company's website http://investors.cellcom.co.il.

Company Contact Shlomi Fruhling

Chief Financial Officer

[email protected]

Tel: +972 52 998 9735 Investor Relations Contact Ehud Helft

GK Investor & Public Relations In partnership with LHA

[email protected]

Tel: +1-617-418-3096

SOURCE Cellcom Israel Ltd.

Related Links

http://investors.cellcom.co.il


A severe drought in 2011 decimated O.C. Fisher Lake in San Angelo, Texas. A new drought stretching across the state is showing some of the same characteristics.

AUSTIN, Texas  Sam Epperson, a fourth-generation rancher, studies the ground and sky each day from his vast ranch in south-central Texas. He's hoping the skies open up soon and drop torrents of rain on his scorched land.

Lately, his cows, goats and ewes  about 5,400 animals total  haven't had much to eat as the grass has shriveled and knotted. If conditions continue, he'll be faced with the tough decision of whether to cull part of his herd.

"It is serious, but were in the dormant season," Epperson, 65, said, meaning the grass still has a few months to grow in the spring. "Our real concern is what happens in a couple of months, and it does not look good."

A deepening drought is afflicting a large swath of Texas, from the Rio Grande Valley to central and east Texas, once again putting Texas ranchers' livelihoods in peril. Statistics released this week by the U.S. Drought Monitor showed 37% of the state in moderate drought conditions and about 11% of the state in severe drought. More than half of the state is abnormally dry, and parts of seven counties are experiencing extreme drought, according to the stats.

The dry weather patterns began last summer, said John Nielsen-Gammon, the state climatologist. Usually, winter is when Texas absorbs most of its moisture, thanks to cooler temperatures and steady rainfall, he said. But that hasn't happened this winter.

One of the worst droughts on record for Texas was in 2011, when only an average of 15 inches of rain fell on the state, leading ranchers to send thousands of heads of cattle to slaughter, sucking lakes and rivers dry, sparking wildfires and amounting to $8 billion in losses for the state.

The remains of a decomposing cow lies in a pasture July 25, 2011, on a ranch near San Angelo, Texas. At the time, a severe drought in the region had caused shortages of grass, hay and water, forcing ranchers to thin their herds or risk losing their cattle to the drought.

So far, 2020 has some of the same fingerprints of 2011, Nielsen-Gammon said. "You can't have a year like 2011 unless you start off dry," he said. "So far, we've started out dry."

A lack of rainfall, especially in the second half of last year, deepened the drought conditions. Austin saw about 24 inches of rain from January to June last year, said Keith White, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Austin/San Antonio office. But from July to December, only 4 inches fell on the state capital.

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Drought in Texas is usually most acutely felt by ranchers, whose animals subsist on sprawling non-irrigated grassy lands. As the grass dries up, ranchers need to choose to either invest in bringing in hay from elsewhere or bring down their herd numbers, said Jeff Savell, an animal science professor at Texas A&M University. As those numbers go down, Texas beef prices go up across the country, he said. Texas is the country's biggest producer of beef, providing around 15% of the nation's beef needs.

Gerald Nobles Jr. breeds cows and sells the calves from his ranch in Brady, Texas, about 130 miles west of Austin. He has watched in dismay as the drought shriveled the grass on his ranch and as his 300 heads of cattle grazed it nearly down to dirt.

Roy Freer, 67, a cattle rancher in Leesburg, Texas, works on his ranch, Rockin RK, on Dec. 12, 2012. A drought stretching across Texas may force some ranchers to cull herds or invest in more hay.

If the grass gets too low, it could take even longer to grow back, threatening the long-term prospects of the business, he said. In September, he made the decision to sell off about half of his herd. Some went to a cattle auction in nearby San Saba, while others were sold to individuals.

If it doesn't rain in another two to three weeks, he'll likely sell off the rest of the herd, he said.

"When do you say 'uncle' and say, 'I can't take this anymore?'" said Nobles, 68. "Were at that decision-making time right now."

He's not alone. There's a lot of concern among other ranchers over the worsening drought, though ranchers haven't quite reached the panic of 2011, said Jeremy Fuchs, a spokesman with the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. That drought led to the total number of head of cattle in the state to drop from 13.2 million to 11.9 million. It took several years for those numbers to rebound, he said.

"its certainly beginning to be a concern," Fuchs said. "Its something thats being watched very closely."

Cattle feed on hay near a frac sand container in Three Rivers, Texas. A drought stretching across Texas may force some ranchers to thin their herds or invest in more hay.

Epperson, the rancher, said the grass on his 25,000-acre ranch is "down to dirt" and his animals are running out of areas to feed. He has been baling hay from a small irrigated hay farm he bought years ago to feed his animals. The 2011 drought was so withering, even the irrigated hay farm wouldn't grow hay, forcing him to sell off 200 cows, or about half his herd.

He hopes this drought doesn't reach those extreme heights, he said. He's not so sure.

"It's really tough," Epperson said. "We cant have false expectations of positive things happening right now."

Jervis is the Austin-based correspondent for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter: @MrRJervis.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Drought in Texas could force ranchers to cull or sell herds
Students who use digital technology excessively are less motivated to engage with their studies, and are more anxious about tests, according to a study which says the effects may be worsened by increased feelings of loneliness.

As part of the study, published in the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 285 students who had enrolled in health-related degree courses were assessed for their digital technology usage patterns, their anxiety, loneliness, study skills and motivation.

The researchers, including those from Swansea University in the UK, found a negative relationship between internet addiction, and motivation to study.

Students reporting more internet addiction, they said, found it harder to organise their learning productively, and were more anxious about upcoming tests.

Internet addiction was also associated with loneliness which made study harder, the scientists reported.

"These results suggest that students with high levels of internet addiction may be particularly at risk from lower motivations to study, and, hence, lower actual academic performance," said study co-author Phil Reed from Swansea University.

About one-fourth of the students said they spent over four hours a day online, and the rest reported that they spent between one to three hours everyday.

According to the study, the students mainly used the internet for social networking (40 per cent) and information seeking (30 per cent).

"Internet addiction has been shown to impair a range of abilities such as impulse control, planning, and sensitivity to rewards. A lack of ability in these areas could well make study harder," said Roberto Truzoli, another co-author of the study from the University of Milan in Italy.

The research also found internet addiction to be linked with increased loneliness which made studying harder for the students.

Loneliness, the scientists said, plays a large role in positive feelings about academic life in higher

Poorer social interactions associated with internet addiction makes loneliness worse, further impacting the motivation to engage in a highly social educational environment such as a university, the researchers noted.

"Before we continue down a route of increasing digitisation of our academic environments, we have to pause to consider if this is actually going to bring about the results we want. This strategy might offer some opportunities, but it also contains risks that have not yet been fully assessed," Reed said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jharkhand BJP on Sunday said the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will protect the rights of minorities of the country which have been "taken away" by Bangladeshi infiltrators.

"...minorities living in the country will get their legitimate rights and NRC will protect their rights taken away by infiltrators from Bangladesh," state BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said in a statement here.

He asked the opposition parties not to "instil fears in the minds of minorities" over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and instead, tell them that CAA has "nothing against them".

"...CAA underlines that any person belonging to communities like Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, Christian and Sikh and has come to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh on or before December 1, 2014, will not be treated as an illegal infiltrator (immigrant)," Shahdeo said.

Section 6B (4) of the CAA states that the Act will not be effective in tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, besides the areas falling under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, he said.

The BJP leader also accused the opposition parties of indulging in appeasement politics as they were "unable to fathom" the developmental initiatives undertaken by the central government.

"The opposition parties feel shattered with the Narendra Modi government's developmental work, prompting them to indulge in appeasement politics," Shahdeo added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US national Moustafa Kassem died following a protracted hunger strike after being imprisoned for more than 6 years.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed outrage during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi over the death of a imprisoned American citizen.

Pompeo derided the pointless and tragic death of US national Moustafa Kassem following his protracted hunger strike, a US official said on Sunday.

The United States confirmed the death of Egyptian-American Kassem in a prison last week in Egypt, where he had been in custody since 2013, and promised to continue to raise concerns over Cairos human rights record.

An Egyptian presidency statement on the el-Sisi-Pompeo meeting made no mention of Kassems case.

Pompeos sharp remarks signal the US government intended to place the death of Kassem, 54, high on the diplomatic agenda on the sidelines of an international peace summit in Berlin aiming to end Libyas civil war.

The death of the auto-parts dealer from Long Island, New York prompted an outcry from human rights groups, as well as accusations of medical negligence in Egypts prisons.

The case also touched a nerve in Washington, which has cultivated close security and diplomatic ties with Egypt despite growing unease over its human rights violations under general-turned-president el-Sisi.

Activists and foreign affairs experts have called on the Trump administration to penalise its staunch Middle Eastern ally by slashing millions of dollars in security assistance. The US grants $1.2bn in annual military aid to Egypt.

Kassem was detained by Egypt in 2013 in what his lawyers described as a vast dragnet during the violent dispersal of a protester sit-in that killed hundreds of people. He was later sentenced to 15 years under a contentious anti-protest law the government often uses to silence dissent.

He maintained his innocence throughout his detention and started a hunger strike last year in protest.

El-Sisi came to power in the summer of 2013 and has overseen a sweeping crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands.
In a remote Papua New Guinea village with no reliable water, electricity, phone reception or medical facilities, stands a brand new school building made possible in part by a Brisbane teenager's generosity.

Jordanna Muddle, 14, used her 13th birthday party in 2018 to raise $2000 by asking guests to donate to her GoFundMe campaign instead of giving presents. The money bought a crucial chainsaw.

The PNG school building takes shape thanks to the work of the donated chainsaw.

The school building opened on January 4 and Jordanna and her family travelled to Utukwaf village in PNG, where they saw just how lacking the village was in basic infrastructure.

The Muddle family plan to return to Utukwaf with more funds and at the top of their list is establishing a reliable water supply by diverting some water from a nearby stream to the village.
Police in Vietnam have busted a ring of criminals who sell smartphone spyware capable of stealing login credentials of banking, email, and social media accounts on target devices where it is deployed.

The cybersecurity and high-tech crimes prevention unit under the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security on Saturday said that it had worked in coordination with police officers in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong to bust the crime ring, having operated in Ho Chi Minh City, Lam Dong, and the northern province of Son La.

The ring leader, 30-year-old Tran Ngoc Duc, was arrested on the same day.

Officers also searched Ducs residence in Da Lat City, the capital of Lam Dong, and seized seven bank cards, one laptop, six mobile phones, one motorbike, and one car.

At the police station, Duc confessed to being a dealer for two foreign websites http://www.cell-phones-tracker.com/ and https://tispy.net/, which sell smartphone spyware.

Duc would act as a middleman to sell the information-gathering software to buyers in Vietnam.

The spyware can be deployed into target devices to steal login credentials of banking, email and social media accounts.

Internet banking transactions and phone calls made on the device can also be secretly monitored and recorded without its owners knowledge.

All illegally gathered data is transferred to and stored in a foreign-based server.

Items seized from the residence of spyware crime kingpin Tran Ngoc Duc in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong are seen in this provided photo.

By the time of his arrest, Duc had sold the spyware to over 1,200 customers.

He also ran a Facebook page with over 4,600 likes and 5,350 followers and a YouTube channel that had garnered more than 488,000 views from 14 videos as of Saturday to advertise the software.

The ministrys cybersecurity unit has advised smartphone users to run a check on applications installed on their device when signs such as overheating, abnormal data usage, and short battery life are observed.

A device that automatically reboots or switches on its GPS and Wi-Fi connection should also be suspected.

In such cases, it is advisable that the user seek support from a trusted mobile phone service center.

The selling, buying, or installing of spyware on another persons electronic device is punishable by 7-12 years behind bars and a fine of up to VND50 million (US$2,100) in Vietnam, according to the countrys Penal Code.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Libyas national oil company says shutdown will cut oil production by 800,000 barrels per day.

Libyas largest oilfield and a second major one in the southwest began shutting down on Sunday after forces loyal to renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar closed a pipeline connecting them to the coast.

The escalation threatened to strangle the countrys finances and overshadowed an international peace summit in Berlin on Sunday.

Libya has been producing about 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil in recent months, and all major fields lie in areas controlled by Haftars eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA).

The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said guards under LNA command shut down the pipeline leading to the coastal city of Zawiya on Sunday, forcing the corporation to limit oil production at the El-Sharara and El-Feel oilfields.

Haftar  whose army is bearing down on the capital Tripoli with the backing of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and reportedly Russian mercenaries and African troops  attended the one-day summit in Germany despite abandoning truce talks last week.

The situation there [eastern Libya] remains very chaotic. Four major oil terminals have been blocked by pro-Haftar protestors including armed groups and militiamen, Al Jazeeras Mahmoud Abdelwahed in Tripoli reported.

El-Shahara oilfield is the countrys biggest with a production capacity of 320,000bpd, while El-Feel is second at 70,000bpd.

If these two major oilfields are blocked, then the country is losing a majority of its production capacity given that the five major oil terminals under the control of pro-Haftar forces are currently blocked, Abdelwahed noted.

El-Sharara is operated by the NOC in a joint venture with Spains Repsol, Frances Total, Austrias OMV, and Norways Equinor.

Oil as a weapon

The Tripoli-based NOC, which says it is neutral and deals with all parties in Libyas conflict, has warned that any shutdowns could have a lasting effect.

The oil and gas sector is the lifeblood of the Libyan economy and the single source of income for the Libyan people, NOC Chairman Mustafa Sanalla said on Friday. They are not cards to be played to solve political matters.

Libya has had no stable central authority since leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by NATO-backed rebels in 2011. For more than five years it has had two rival governments in the east and the west, with streets controlled by armed groups.





Haftar, the easts most powerful figure, has won backing from a range of foreign allies for an assault to capture Tripoli in the west, while Turkish support for Tripolis effort to repel him has turned the conflict into a proxy war.

Thousands of people have been killed and more than 150,000 displaced by fighting for the capital.

Lay down arms?

Haftar quit a Turkish-Russian summit a week ago and escalated the conflict on Friday when eastern oil ports were shut down.

While the focus on Sunday was to create a lasting ceasefire so talks can restart, diplomats are worried that both sides would use any lull in fighting to re-supply their front lines.

Both sides and their backers are not willing to lay down arms, said a Western diplomat.

A draft communique calls on all parties to recognise the NOC as a sole entity authorised to sell Libyan crude, and urges them to refrain from attacking oil facilities.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and European and Arab leaders also attended Sundays summit, and Haftars forces published pictures of him meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. The UAE sent its foreign minister.

Leaders will not attempt to broker a power-sharing agreement between Haftar and the internationally-recognised prime minister, Fayez al-Sarraj.

Both al-Sarraj and Haftar met Merkel on different occasions. Al-Sarraj could be seen hugging Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while Macron and Haftar were both seen smiling in photos when they met in a corridor.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

The Santa Fe Police Department evidence room needs fixing, but the problems might take some time to solve as department officials say they need to find the money to hire additional personnel and implement new evidence management software.

The issue came to a head last year when the department lost evidence in a murder case, leading the Santa Fe District Attorneys Office to give the defendant a favorable plea deal.

An independent auditor now has found several areas where the department needs to improve whats described as a messy evidence room  for instance, hundreds of pills sit in an open box, open to anyone who wants to grab a handful  and also found instances where the department wasnt following its own evidence management policies.

And the auditor, SCS Northwest Consulting Services, couldnt find the evidence in a randomly selected sexual assault case.

This is unacceptable evidence management, says the audit report released by SFPD earlier this month.

The department has an inflated inventory and a lot of stored evidence is for misdemeanor cases that have aged past the statute of limitations, the report says. Some drug evidence goes back to 1997.

We know we can do better as a police department and with this review we have established a corrective action plan to correct the issues identified, SFPD Chief Andrew Padilla said in an email. We want to inform the community we will resolve these issues, follow the best practices, hire more staff and purchase a true standalone evidence management system.

SFPD Deputy Chief Ben Valdez, who is overseeing changes to the evidence room, said the department will ask city leadership for funding to more than double its three-man evidence staff, by hiring three more technicians and a supervisor. He said the hiring process will take at least a couple months.

Its going to take a little bit of time to get new people on board and get them up to speed, Valdez said.

Valdez also said SFPD will start shopping for evidence management software to replace equipment that was brought in during the 80s. He said the department would like a system that uses bar codes to reduce human error.

The audit also cites how the department isnt following several of its own policies, like one that says the property custodian is supposed to keep a computerized log of all items submitted for evidence or for safekeeping.

SFPDs policy also says, All containers of narcotics, controlled substances, and dangerous drugs shall be periodically inspected for tampering or replacement. The containers holding these substances shall be officially sealed in tamper-proof packages.

The audit report came with photos of the evidence room, including one that shows hundreds of pills in an open box, drugs that came from people who were disposing of their old prescription medications using a drop-box program.

Items from the Drug Drop-Off Boxes are open to viewing and potential theft in the Evidence Office, the report says. This needs to stop immediately.

Chief Padilla said the department plans to establish a protocol to immediately send the drugs to the Department of Public Safety for destruction.

Narcotics (are) to be transferred out of the drop off boxes into a secured box(s) so it all can be safely and securely transferred over to DPS, Padilla wrote.

The audit also says the evidence room staff isnt educated on statutes regarding crimes, the time frame for storing found property and laws regarding DNA retention. Deputy Chief Valdez said new software will likely include information on statutes and will be able to tell an evidence technician when a case has passed the statute of limitations.

The audit recommends purging misdemeanor evidence before reorganizing. It also recommends destroying the old drugs in the evidence room as soon as possible. Do not allow procrastination or we are too busy to deter from these destructions, the report says.

According to the audit report, SFPD Lt. Sean Strahon contacted the SCS auditing firm to seek International Association for Property and Evidence accreditation in April.

But in June, SFPD Deputy Chief Paul Joye sent a letter to the Santa Fe District Attorneys saying the department lost 11 pieces of evidence in the murder case against Christopher Garcia, including trace hair that was found on the fatal stabbing victim, 21-year-old Selena Valencia, as well as some of her fingernail clippings.

Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office crime scene technician Shari Vialpando conducted a court-ordered audit of the evidence in the case and found that some items were labeled with the wrong case number and other items were being held in unsealed envelopes.

Garcias attorney, Jennifer Burrill, filed a motion to dismiss the charges due to the lost evidence, but a judge denied the motion. Garcia, initially charged with first-degree murder, later pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The DAs Office said the lost evidence affected the prosecution of the case. Although Garcia originally faced life in prison, Burrill said he could get out in about six years with good behavior.

Last week, District Attorneys Office spokesman Henry Varela said the evidence room may still cause some issues for prosecutors.

Inevitably, with SFPD cases we may see an uptick in pretrial litigation on issues of lost, uncollected or mishandled evidence, Varela said in an email. We also anticipate that more SFPD investigated cases will proceed to trial with this issue, when relevant, a major part of the defense trial strategy.  We appreciate the Santa Fe Police Departments efforts to address this critical issue and we are committed to helping SFPD improve its evidence tracking and retention system.

Burrill, who is also the vice president of the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, said she is concerned that the department didnt use accreditation programs offered by the New Mexico Association of Counties, among other organizations, to make sure the evidence room was up to current standards.

Its a little baffling to me why the Santa Fe Police Department hasnt taken advantage of these resources, Burrill said.
Perhaps you have recently decided to be a follower of Christ or you have strayed from making that decision at one time and want to return to your faith. Whether or not that was an easy or difficult decision, the most challenging part can be, what do you do next?

You may be excited but also confused and overwhelmed because you need some guidance on the next steps toward growing in your new-found faith.

Learning what it means to follow God each day is something all believers struggle with, but thankfully we all have a loving God who isnt up in heaven pointing a finger at us. Rather, Hes standing beside us with open arms to show the way. The choice is now yours to deepen your relationship with God.

Here are five steps to help you grow spiritually as a new believer:

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Digitalskillet

1. Be Patient with Yourself and Pray

While your sins are forgiven and you now are on a new path walking with God, it wont be easy. Be patient as you grow in your faith and learn more about God. Every moment is an opportunity to surrender your own desires and follow Him.

In Matthew 16:24 CSB Jesus said, If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. It is a daily process of deciding to lay down what we want and let God lead. He knows your heart. He knows your struggles. Pray and ask God to guide you on this new path.

We are all at different places in this journey of faith. Some will seem like light years ahead of you. Dont get discouraged, we are all in this together. God doesnt expect you to know everything you need to know right away. Spend time in prayer and in His kindness, He will give you exactly what you need, when you need it.

2. Create Boundaries

In the Bible, Paul (named Saul before he became a follower of Christ) shares about the days after he became a believer in his letters to various churches in the region. Before coming to Christ, Paul imprisoned and killed people for following Jesus. He was a leader in the Jewish faith who did not believe Jesus was the son of God, sent to save the world from their sins. He felt it was his mission to punish those who believed otherwise.

God blinded him on the way to persecuting more believers and the voice of Jesus overpowered him, helping him see that what he believed was wrong.

In Galatians 1:17-19, Paul says that after he became a believer, he took some time away from those who knew him. He separated himself from his former life for a time to pray and learn from those who could encourage him.

Creating boundaries may be difficult to do, but think about the people who influence you the most. Will they support you in your pursuit to follow God or pull you back into your previous life? Think about whether new boundaries are necessary as you pursue a relationship with God.

Please know that I am not suggesting that you only have relationships with other Christians. Just think about those in your life before Christ who may not have the best influence over you as you walk this new path.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! You are a new creation; surround yourself with those who can encourage you and be a positive influence.

3. Open the Bible

The best way to learn more about having a relationship with God is to open the Bible and read more about Him. Learning who God really is through His word can help you with making His truths a part of your life.

I recommend a physical Bible with actual paper pages for underlining and notetaking, but if that is not an option right now, there is an abundance of online Bibles and apps that are a great resource. Some great translations to begin with are NIV (New International Version), CSB (Christian Standard Bible), or ESV (English Standard Version).

Reading the Bible can seem like a daunting task, but there are books of the Bible that are easier to begin with than others. The book of John is a great way to ease into the life of Jesus. John was the last living disciple and the only disciple who remained with Jesus at his death. The book of John gives a broad scope of the life of Jesus, his ministry, and some of his miracles.

Challenge yourself to read a chapter per day. Ask questions. Many online Bible sites have commentaries that can explain certain phrases and topics. Take notes and write down questions you can come back to later. The Bible was not originally written in chapters, so reading larger sections helps give greater understanding of the scripture.

During challenging times in life, it is Gods Word that can bring comfort, hope, and reassurance that He is walking with us through our trials.

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Phil Coffman

4. Find a Friend or Small Group Strong in Their Faith

After becoming a follower of Christ, Paul went on to spend time with one of Jesus closest friends, Peter, and Jesus brother, James. I am sure he listened intently about their time with Jesus and asked an abundance of questions.

Paul knew if he was to understand his new path of faith and influence people for Christ, he had to surround himself with people who knew Jesus and pursued a growing relationship with God.

You may already have some friends to guide you. These friends should be grounded in the Bible. Their words, faith, and actions should reflect their time spent reading Gods Word. If you dont know anyone, pray for God to send someone to walk with you in your faith journey.

We are not meant to walk the road of faith alone. Jesus had 12 friends who walked with him for 3 years. The early churches fellowshipped with one another, encouraging each other as they learned to follow God.

Fellow believers will help you find a Bible to read and study as well as model prayer and pursuing God daily.

5. Find a Church Home

Once Paul found a group of leaders in the faith, he helped them start churches throughout the area while encouraging them in their faith. Even though Paul was a new believer, he often wrote throughout his letters how encouraged he was through their faith.

Look around at your community, is there a church that seems to be well-established and involved in serving the community? Check out their website and social media pages. Read what they are doing as a church body. The Bible should be their main source for ministry and teaching. You may even be able to watch some messages from their pastor or church leaders online.

All churches are different and what might be a good fit for some isnt what you may need. The important thing is to start somewhere.

In the Acts 2:42, the first group of believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. The apostles spent three years with Jesus, they had a relationship with Him that new believers could learn from.

I hope these five steps encourage you as a new Christian. Maybe you were saved years ago but have strayed from walking with God. These steps can get you back on track on your journey.

Again, be patient with yourself and pray. Dont feel like you must get it all done perfectly at once. Spend time reading the Bible to help you get to know God a little bit more. Give yourself time and ask God to help you along the way. Reach out to those who can encourage you as a new Christian through a church body. We are all on this journey together.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Lisa Valder

Leah Lively is a wife and mother of four living in central Virginia. Through writing and speaking opportunities, she is passionate about encouraging others in learning more about the Bible and maturing in their faith. Leah writes on her blog at leahlivelyblog.com and just released her second Bible study, 30 Days in Acts  A Journey: Igniting the Flame of the Early Church. Connect with Leah on Facebook and Instagram (@leahlivelyblog).
A man accused of killing his girlfriend has confessed to the crime.

Mustapha Idris from Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State was arrested by the police for killing his 20-year-old girlfriend, Nafisa Hashimu.

Mr Idris, 29, said he killed Ms Hashimu after she told him she was three months pregnant.

The two lived in the same apartment at Daneji village of Jigawa before the murder.

Speaking to reporters on Friday from his police cell the suspect said he killed his girlfriend to avoid the shame of giving birth outside wedlock.

Im ashamed of how the society will see us after she delivers the unborn child out of wedlock, and thus I decided to terminate her life to stay away from shame, he said.

The police spokesperson in Jigawa, Audu Jinjiri, said the corpse of the deceased was found in her pool of blood in a bush at the outskirts of Daneji village about 22 kilometres from Ringim town.

Mr Jinjiri said police preliminary investigation found that the late Ms Hashimu was a divorcee, adding that she was certified dead by a medical doctor and released to relatives for burial.

The suspect would be charged to court to face the wrath of the law, the police spokesperson said.
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On this day of the 2020 Womens March, masses of people across the nation will gather and march to call for recognizing the human rights of women as a necessary element of a truly just and equal society for all.

Especially in this context, it is worthwhile to highlight efforts within the Democratic Party to ensure a united front when it comes to genuinely advocating for womens equal rights and to promote an understanding of exactly what constitutes equal rights for women.

The anti-women attitudes and policies of the Republican Party are well-documented. It is not a question that, in general, when it comes to supporting rights for women, the Democratic Party is the lesser evil.

Thats rightthe lesser evil.

Granting women full equal rightshuman rightsentails empowering women to control their own bodies and make decisions about their own health. In other words, womens equal rights means women have the right to abortion. This position does not have unified support in the Democratic Party.

Recently, Lori Lightfoot, the first African-American lesbian woman mayor in Chicago, elected in 2019, called for a Democratic Party that is unequivocally unified when it comes to supporting womens equality, meaning abortion rights as well.

Achieving this unity, she bravely asserted, entails revising the proudly advertised moniker of the Democratic Party as the big tent party to instead promote a party identity solidly and unconditionally defined by its support and advocacy for womens rights.

This assertion took the form of a tweet last January 4 against the candidacy of long-time Democratic House Representative Dan Lipinski from Illinois 3rd Congressional District. Lipinski is an outspoken foe of a womens right to choose and one of the two Democrats who signed a legal brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit and overturn Roe v. Wade, joining two hundred congressional Republicans.

She tweeted:

I support a big tent but theres no room under the flaps for anyone who is actively seeking to deny women control over our bodies, Lightfoot tweeted from her political account. Time to leave @danlipinski.

This tweet, reverberating and garnering press attention in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois, constitutes an important salvo into the discourse around womens rights and abortion rights, particularly within the Democratic Party.

As Ive written about in the pages of PoliticusUsa, last Novembers elections in Virginia, which resulted in Democrats achieving control of the state government for the first time since 1993, inspired hope that Virginia would become the 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and pave the way for potential ratification of a constitutional amendment.

Lets remember exactly what the content is of the Equal Rights Amendment that continues to make this nation quake and resist.

Heres the statement in the ERA this nation trembles to validate:

Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.

And Lightfoots point is that it is not simply the nation that trembles to validate this basic assertion; there are elements of the Democratic Party, with its arguably overly big tent, which refuse to support womens equal rights. Lipinski is one of those elements.

Indeed, one of the long-standing points of resistance to granting women full personhood has been the fear that constitutionally affirming womens equality would effectively affirm and eternalize in the Constitution womens right to an abortion, making it more difficult, if not impossible, to limit or overturn The Supreme Courts decision in Roe v. Wade.

Of course, without control over their own bodies, women cant enjoy full equality.

Remember last year when Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva repeatedly referred to pregnant women as host bodies?

This kind of language, and the political attitudes embodied in it, should make clear that living up to our nations ideal of equality requires granting women the right to control their own bodies and to have access to an abortionthat they dont have equality if they are effectively viewed as host bodies.

Lightfoots gesture, her tweet, was a powerful one in calling for a Democratic Party that is not weakened and diluted by division in calling for womens equal rights. It is, indeed, not enough to rail against Republican misogyny; one must get ones own house in order as well and cultivate political and moral integrity in ones own party.

Calling out Lipinski and arguing he has no place in the Democratic Party provides a model for the Democratic Party, most basically, in defending our Constitution and resolving a wounding and embarrassing contradiction in our nations history.

The question as to why this nation cant and wont ratify the ERA is even more puzzling when we recall the language of the 14th amendment, which includes the clause:

nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

The only way women dont already have what the ERA is asking for, according to this language, has to be because they arent considered people.

So, refusal to ratify the ERA is a more than tacit admission that the nation is not prepared to grant personhood to women, to acknowledge that women, like corporations, just might be people.

Antonin Scalia, former Supreme Court Justice, clearly didnt see women as people, asserting the Constitution did not afford women equal rights.

In this sense, Lightfoot is simply asking for a basic constitutional literacy and an end to women-hating.

And she has started with her own house, her own party, re-defining unity in a way that does not brook compromise on essential principles.

On this day of marching for womens rights and equality, Lightfoot urges us not to accept the lesser evil but demand the uncompromised goodness of full human rights.
Imperial Valley News Center

Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Findings of the Criminal Investigation into the December 2019 Shooting at Pensacola Naval Air Station

Washington, DC - Attorney General William P. Barr Announces the Findings of the Criminal Investigation into the December 2019 Shooting at Pensacola Naval Air Station:

Good afternoon, and thank you for coming.

We are here to discuss the results of the investigation into the shooting that occurred on December 6, 2019 at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

Joining me today are David Bowdich, Deputy Director of the FBI; John Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Michael Sherwin, Associate Deputy Attorney General for National Security; Rachel Rojas, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Field Office in Jacksonville, Florida; and Larry Keefe, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

I want to thank the FBI and the other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in responding to and investigating the incident for their rapid and excellent work. Many people worked long hours through the holidays, and I am grateful for their diligence and commitment to seeing this through. You will be hearing from Deputy Director Bowdich shortly about the details of the FBI investigative work, which was superb.

In considering this case, we have to remember that there are thousands of allied pilots and other military personnel receiving training on military bases throughout the United States. These military partnerships are critically important to the United States. The Royal Saudi Air Force, which flies American-made aircraft, is an important military partner, and has long had a training relationship with us.

On Dec. 6, 2nd Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a member of the Royal Saudi Air Force, entered a building on the grounds of Pensacola Naval Air Station and killed three U.S. sailors and severely wounded eight other Americans. Alshamrani was killed during the attack.

This was an act of terrorism.

The evidence shows that the shooter was motivated by jihadist ideology. During the course of the investigation, we learned that the shooter posted a message on social media on Sept. 11 of last year that said: the countdown has begun. Over Thanksgiving weekend, he visited the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. He also posted other anti-American, anti-Israeli, and jihadi messages on social media, and did so two hours before his attack at the naval base.

Early reports indicated that the shooter arrived at the site, accompanied by other Saudi cadets, who took video of the attack as it unfolded. These reports turned out not to be accurate. The shooter arrived by himself. Other Saudi cadets happened to be in the area and, after the attack began, they took some videos of the resulting commotion. They fully cooperated in the investigation, as did the other Saudi cadets who were interviewed by the FBI at Pensacola and at additional bases across the country.

After Alshamrani entered the building and cased the facility, he proceeded to walk around shooting down his unarmed victims in cold blood.

During and after this heinous attack, there were many specific acts of courage, and I want to draw special attention to two U.S. Marines: Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Maisel and Staff Sgt. Samuel Mullins.

They were outside the building when they heard gunfire and, although unarmed, they ran into the building to confront the shooter. Their only weapon was a fire extinguisher that they had pulled off the wall as they ran toward the gunfire. Who but the Marines?

Although they were unable to engage the shooter, they helped save many lives by performing CPR and other medical aid on the victims.

I would also like to mention the heroic acts of Navy Airman Ryan Blackwell. The shooter shot Airman Blackwell five times, yet Ryan still managed to jump on top of a fellow sailor to keep her from being shot. He further assisted other students and helped them escape, all while taking additional fire from the shooter. Airman Blackwell's heroic acts also saved countless lives that day.

We are grateful as well for the bravery of the base personnel and local law enforcement responders who initially arrived at the scene and engaged the shooter.

I would also like to address the cooperation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia gave complete and total support for our counter-terrorism investigation, and ordered all Saudi trainees to fully cooperate. This assistance was critical to helping the FBI determine whether anyone assisted the shooter in the attack.

While there was no evidence of assistance or pre-knowledge of the attack by other members of the Saudi military (or any other foreign nationals) who are training in the United States, we did learn of derogatory material possessed by 21 members of the Saudi military who are training here in the United States.

17 had social media containing some jihadi or anti-American content. However, there was no evidence of any affiliation or involvement with any terrorist activity or group. 15 individuals (including some of the 17 just mentioned) had had some kind of contact with child pornography. While one of these individuals had a significant number of such images, all the rest had one or two images, in most cases posted in a chat room by someone else or received over social media.

The relevant U.S. Attorneys offices independently reviewed each of the 21 cases involving derogatory information and determined that none of them would, in the normal course, result in federal prosecution.

However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia determined that this material demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer in the Saudi Royal Air Force and Royal Navy and the 21 cadets have been dis-enrolled from their training curriculum in the U.S. military and will be returning to Saudi Arabia (later today).

The Kingdom has assured me that it will review each of these cases under their code of military justice and criminal code. The Kingdom has also agreed that we will have full access to anyone we want to interview in Saudi Arabia and any documents relevant to our investigation. Indeed, it has already been providing documents. Further, the Kingdom has assured us that, if we later decide to charge any of those being sent back to Saudi Arabia in connection with this counterterrorism investigation, it will return them for trial.

We appreciate Saudi Arabias cooperation in this case.

Finally, I want to address an issue regarding the shooter's phones.

The shooter possessed two Apple iPhones, seen on posters here.

Within one day of the shooting, the FBI sought and received court authorization based on probable cause to search both phones in an effort to run down all leads and figure out with whom the shooter was communicating.

During the gunfight with first responders, the shooter disengaged long enough to place one of the phones on the floor and shoot a single round into the device. It also appears the other phone was damaged.

Our experts at the FBI crime lab were able to fix both damaged phones so they are operational.

However, both phones are engineered to make it virtually impossible to unlock them without the password. It is very important to know with whom and about what the shooter was communicating before he died.

We have asked Apple for their help in unlocking the shooters iPhones. So far Apple has not given us any substantive assistance. This situation perfectly illustrates why it is critical that investigators be able to get access to digital evidence once they have obtained a court order based on probable cause. We call on Apple and other technology companies to help us find a solution so that we can better protect the lives of Americans and prevent future attacks.

With that, I will turn things over to Deputy Director Bowdich.
RAWLINSWilliam Dean Parsons, 80, passed away in Central Wyoming Hospice on January 7, 2020 following complications from a stroke.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Harry Parsons and Ida Martha Hammell.

Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara W. Clark Parsons: sisters, Joyce Klabunde (Dick), and Gwen Black Becker; daughter, Barbara Lee Brophy (Jay); son, William Eugene Parsons (Tami); and daughter, Beverly Marie Theresa Wilts (Ron); granddaughters, Calista Marie Selby (Edward), Emily Brophy, Faith Wailes (Don), and Tawni Wollard (Andrew); and grandsons, Nicholas Stuckert (Ines), Joe Parsons, and George (Amanda) Rowe; great-grandchildren, Briella Selby, Kieran Selby, Olivia Parson, Ian Hanson, Abram Wailes, Elizabeth Wailes, Lauren Rowe, Brady Rowe and Evan Rowe.

Bill was born in Wheatland, Wyoming. He spent his childhood years in Wheatland, Caldwell, Idaho and Laramie, Wyoming. After high school and marriage to Barbara in Laramie, he was in the United States Navy from June of 1956 to January 1960 where he was a highly classified, guided missile technician.

He graduated from the University of Wyoming and later received his Masters in Mathematics from Washington State at Pullman Washington.

Bill taught math, was the department chair and instituted the computer program at Rawlins High School from 1964 until 1997, where he was an advocate for girls education. He was proud that he had math classes with equal numbers of boys and girls. He instilled a love of math into his students and many chose mathematical careers.

Bill and Barbara built their Rawlins home in 1966 and have lived there since.

Bill enjoyed a life time of outdoor activities with his best friend, wife Barbara. Together with their family they built a traditional log cabin in the early 70s. Family and friends have accumulated many memories there. Additionally, they spent their lives exploring the Wyoming outdoors where they enjoyed hunting, fishing, mycology, and learning about the plants and critters that live here. Bill and Barbara also took trips to Canada, Alaska, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

Bill was very skilled in mechanics and electronics. He was an avid reader and duplicate bridge player, achieving his life masters.

Bill was known as a sweet, kind, honorable husband, father, grandfather, teacher and friend.

A celebration of Bills life will be held later during warmer weather.

In lieu of flowers a Bill Parsons Math Scholarship Fund is being established. Send contributions to 319 W. Larsen Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301.
- A Syrian travel vlogger who is Philippine-based touched the hearts of many Filipinos for his efforts to help the evacuees

- He spent hours cooking more than a thousand pieces of chicken wings and Chicken Kabsa

- Basel, who goes by "The Hungry Syrian Wanderer" on social media, will then go around Batangas to distribute the meals

- Netizens expressed their gratitude and praised Basel for his kindness

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Basel, better known as "The Hungry Syrian Wanderer" captured the hearts of many Pinoys because of his kindness. He recently spent hours to cook meals for Taal evacuees which will be distributed to the evacuees in Batangas.

"My first time ever to cook 1,103 pcs of Chicken Wings in ONE GO! (I really counted so I'm aware of the packed meals I'll be distributing today. ) and made Chicken Kabsa, a famous Syrian dish (very similar to Chiken Biryani, if familiar). Topped with nuts, cashew, (didnt find pistachios) etc.I added dates na din hehe. Not exactly complete ingredients but very close and did my best to finish 5 rounds of big giant kawa!" he wrote in the caption of his Facebook post.

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It took him 7 hours to cook and 4 hours to pack the food.

" I never cooked before I left Syria, so my mom would be so proud once she sees this haha. Shout out to my mama, eto na po yung anak nyong puro kain lang at walang alam sa pagluluto dati " Basel added.

He also gave out some relief goods as shown in his earlier video.

Basel moved to the Philippines 7 years ago when war broke out in Syria. He calls himself an "adopted son of the Philippines."

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will step back from royal duties this year. (PA)

The Duchess of Sussexs father has accused her of cheapening the royal family with her and Prince Harrys decision to step back from royal duties.

Speaking in an upcoming documentary for Channel 5, Thomas Markle, 75, said Meghan was "throwing away every girl's dream for money.

In the special programme Thomas Markle: My Story, he also said of the royal couple: "They are turning it [the Royal Family] into a Walmart with a crown on."

"When they got married they took on an obligation, and the obligation is to be part of the Royals and to represent the Royals. And it would be foolish for them not to, The Sun quoted Mr Markle as saying.

The Queen expressed her gratitude to Meghan and Harry in an announcement. (Getty)

"This is one of the greatest long-living institutions ever. They are destroying it, they are cheapening it, making it shabby they shouldnt be doing this."

He went on: "With Meghan and Harry separating from the Royals its disappointing because she actually got every girls dream.

"Every young girl wants to become a princess and she got that and now shes tossing that away it looks like shes tossing that away for money."

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It comes after the Sussexes announced they will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring, no longer use HRH and will repay the taxpayers millions spent on their Berkshire home.

Harry and Meghan said in a statement on Saturday, issued on their behalf by Buckingham Palace, that under the agreement they understood they were required to step back from royal duties.

The announcement marks the conclusion of talks about their future with senior members of the family and royal aides.

The Queen issued an emotional statement, saying she recognised the challenges they had faced over the past year, and added: I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.

Story continues

It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

The couples spokeswoman issued a statement on their behalf saying: As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments.

They will no longer receive public funds for royal duties.

With the Queens blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.

While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.
The blood of the martyrs, wrote the 2nd century Church father Tertullian, is the seed of the church. Martyr is the Greek word for witness, and what Tertullian was observing was that those who gave their lives for Christ were a powerful and attractive witness for Christianity in the Roman Empire. As Western Australia Today writes, persecution over the centuries has often brought out the best in believers (of all faiths and none), clarifying what they stood for to the point of dying for it. But surely in the 21st century there is no need for that, surely tolerance is advancing?

Not in the slightest. Right now, more people are persecuted for their faith than ever, and the large majority of them are Christian  more than 200 million of them around the world facing a near-constant threat to their lives and livelihoods.

This slips under the radar of the secular West, apart from exceptional events such as the suicide bombers killing more than 250 people in Sri Lankan churches last Easter. The legacy of colonialism means most believe that Christians are the ones in power doing the persecuting, but thats not so.

Of course, it is not just Christians  Muslims are in a terrible predicament in many places  but they are much the biggest group. Culturally diverse Christians vastly outnumber whites among the worlds biggest religion. Like the US State Department, Open Doors, an advocacy NGO for the persecuted church, provides an annual list of the worst countries for persecution, whether it is carried out by the state or by local communities (such as in Pakistan).

It will hardly surprise that North Korea is the most dangerous country to hold a Christian faith in 2020, or that Muslim nations dominate the top 50, with well over 30. Afghanistan is second, followed by Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen and Iran. India has crept to number 10. Muslims tend to show tremendous solidarity, seeing an attack on any in the Ummah (the worldwide community) as an attack on all. This is why Christians in Muslim majority countries fear Muslim anger elsewhere in the world  the locals can exact revenge only on local Christians, who are identified, usually wrongly, with the West.

It would be easy to despair at the hatred and violence, and of course Christians have plenty in their past. Yet it is a wonderful and extraordinary truth that religion thrives in the midst of oppression  Tertullian was right. Few seek martyrdom  unlike the early centuries, when the Church Fathers had to discourage zealots from suicide by persecution  but courage and integrity are deeply persuasive, as are forgiveness and compassion. Those of us blessed to live in the West should be grateful for the freedom to live our faith, whatever it is.
[[ Activists from all walks of life gathered in Washington Saturday for the fourth Womens March, calling for greater attention to womens rights and other social issues. First started on the heels of Donald Trumps election, the march has become a rallying cry for larger social change.
T hree men have died after a triple stabbing in north east London, Met Police have said.

Officers were called to Elmstead Road in Seven Kings, Ilford, just after 7.30pm on Sunday to reports that three men, aged in their 20s and 30s, had been stabbed.

All three men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers are working to inform their next of kin.

There have been no arrests.

Officers said there is some disruption to traffic in the area as a crime scene remains in place.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said extra police enforcement powers have been authorised for the borough of Redbridge until 8am on Monday following the attack.

He wrote: Im in touch with senior Met police officers and local representatives after a serious incident in Redbridge tonight, where three men have lost their lives.

My thoughts are with their families and the local community at this dreadful time.

Extra police enforcement powers have been authorised for the whole of Redbridge borough until 8am tomorrow.

Chief Superintendent Steve Clayman, Commander of the Mets East Area BCU said: While enquiries into this tragic incident are at an early stage, this is likely to be a triple homicide investigation.

I must retain an open mind as to any motive as we are in the early stages of establishing the full circumstances.
A decade of extreme weather events and global warming have catapulted climate emergency to the top of the list of issues worrying the worlds elite, who have taken their private jets to reach the Alpine ski resort of Davos in Switzerland for the 50th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF)s Annual Meeting from January 21-25.

Despite the private jets, limos and heated chalets in snowbound Davos, the meeting will be carbon neutral for the fourth consecutive year with the smart use of clean energy, green materials, and smart design, and the investment in certified projects that reduce emissions worldwide.

The meeting, which will be attended by 3,000 participants from 117 countries including 53 heads of state and government, is themed Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World. It will put the spotlight on stakeholder capitalism, rising debt, Brexit and climate crisis.

WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab has urged all members and partners to commit to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or earlier.

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal is leading an Indian delegation at the WEF of over 100 industry leaders and government representatives, including shipping minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Prime Minister Narendra Modis G20 sherpa, Suresh Prabhu, and chief ministers Amarinder Singh (Punjab), Kamal Nath ( Madhya Pradesh), and B S Yeddyurappa (Karnataka).

Among the heads of state and government at the WEF will be US President Donald Trump, his Rwandan, Afghan and Brazilian counterparts, Paul Kagame, Ashraf Ghani, and Jair Bolsonaro, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and prime ministers of Norway and Pakistan Erna Solberg and Imran Khan.

Climate emergency will take centre stage with Green warrior Greta Thunberg opening a discussion on averting the climate crisis two hours after Trumps special address on Tuesday.

To remain carbon neutral, the meeting will support the Jacunda Project in the Amazon to protect 95,000 hectares of native forest and sustainably-produced rubber, acai and brazil nuts, and the biogas for Greener Farms, which uses methane generated by the processing of manure in biogas digesters as energy and the residue as fertiliser for local farms in Switzerland.

The Davos Manifesto 2020 provides a vision for stakeholder capitalism and includes fair taxation, zero tolerance for corruption, executive pay and respect for human rights. Business now has to fully embrace stakeholder capitalism, which means not only maximizing profits, but use their capabilities and resources in cooperation with governments and civil society to address the key issues of this decade. They have to actively contribute to a more cohesive and sustainable world, said Schwab.

With the global economic environment undergoing rapid change in terms of disruptive technologies, development of global supply chains and increasing protectionist tendencies, India represents an island of opportunity. A strong reform driven approach by the Government of India has further bolstered economic progress. This is a very strong narrative for Davos, said Chandrajit Banerjee, director-general, Confederation of Indian Industry.

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SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) -- Cheering, clapping and waving signs ranging from the profound to the profane, protesters from all over the Bay Area rallied in San Francisco and around the United States for the fourth annual Women's March on Saturday.

"Today is about lifting each other up," said San Francisco Mayor London Breed, the city's first female African American mayor, who swept onstage to roars of approval from the audience.

Hundreds showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington, D.C., for the rallies, which aim to harness the political power of women, although crowds were noticeably smaller than in previous years. Marches were scheduled Saturday in more than 180 cities.

The first marches in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the country on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. That year's D.C. march drew close to 1 million people.

The marches began nationwide in January 2017, sparked by the election of President Donald Trump. About 100,000 people attended in San Francisco that year. Subsequent years have seen smaller crowds locally and nationally. No crowd estimate was available at press time for this year's event.

"Our reproductive health is under attack" by the current administration, as well as transgender rights and other civil liberties, Breed said. The marches focus on a broad spectrum of issues including immigration, pay equity and racial equality.

Like Breed, Eleni Kounalakis, California' first woman lieutenant governor, got a rockstar reception from the crowd as she took the stage.

"I stood here in this plaza three years ago feeling broken and devastated," said Kounalakis, who attended the 2017 San Francisco march.

"But as I stood with the women and men who marched in 2017, my spirit was revived. Because of that march, I stood up and declared I was going to run for office," winning the lieutenant governorship, she said.

In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of men, women and children filled several blocks as they made their way from a plaza to a park adjacent to City Hall, where a rally featured speeches by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Maxine Waters and others.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom credited women for mobilizing against gun violence, creating the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and discrimination, and taking back the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.

In 2020, I have no doubt that it will be women who will lead again, rise up and move this country forward on a path toward justice, she said.

The purpose of the marches is to rally women to political action. Speakers urged women to register and vote. Signups were available at the event.

"The centennial anniversary of women's right to vote is coming up and we need representation," said Crystal Martinez of San Rafael, whose bright pink sign read, "Girls just want to have FUN-damental rights." Martinez chairs the Marin Women's Commission.

"Everyone's voices must be heard," said Danielle Uribe, who journeyed to San Francisco from Selma, Calif., for the event.

"Truth Hurts," a song by rapper Lizzo that has become something of a feminist anthem, blared from the speakers before the event, and audience members Lindsey Benson and Ashley Crump, both of San Francisco, rocked out to the music.

"It's important to be here," Benson said.

Women's marches took place Saturday from San Jose to Pleasanton to Oakland to Walnut Creek and all over the Bay Area. Olive Lind, 10, of Berkeley, attended the Oakland event with her mom.

"It's very important to attend these marches," the 10-year-old said. "I want to be recognized as a woman and treated equally."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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.
If you play your cards right, small everyday purchases put on plastic can add up to big savings over time.

That's thanks to increasingly generous credit card cash-back rewards programs  provided you pay your bills promptly  according to one credit-card comparison website. In addition, the right card for you likely depends on where and how you live.

Those are among the findings of a recent CreditCards.com analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data on typical consumer spending in several large U.S. cities. The website then tried to recommend the best card matches for local residents.

"Whatever you spend your money on, that's how you should pick your credit cards," said Ted Rossman, industry analyst at CreditCards.com. "It was really interesting  how much spending varies by metro area."

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New Yorkers, for example, spend 121% of the national average annually on public transportation, whether in cash or by credit or debit. (They also, unsurprisingly, spend 28.21% less at the gas pump.)

The Big Apple is rolling out a new contactless transit payment system dubbed "OMNY" that doesn't just make it easier for commuters to fork over their $2.75 fares; it could also potentially earn them credit card rewards points every time they wave their smartphone or contactless card over a subway turnstile sensor.

To maximize rewards, CreditCards.com recommends New Yorkers consider cards which offer the most cash back on transit such as taxis, ride-share services, parking, tolls, buses, trains and more. Other public transit-reliant cities where commuters could benefit from a similar card include San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Los Angelenos, meanwhile, tend to drive more, spending $2,706 a year on gas  28.31% above the national average. A good fit for them might be a card which offers 3% cash back on fuel, among other perks.

Transit, in fact, is on the rise as a rewards-generating category of spending, "especially as cities like New York and Chicago get deeper into contactless cards and being able to tap and go on the subway," Rossman said.

Gasoline purchases, streaming service subscriptions and food bought both for home and at restaurants are also types of habitual spending that might be better put on a card.

"As long as you're paying your bills in full each month and avoiding interest, I would suggest putting all the money you would have spent anyway on a credit card because it really does add up," Rossman said. "I earned almost $2,500 in cash back last year and almost all of that was from regular spending."

However, if you normally carry a monthly balance, it's best you forget about cash back or travel perks. "It doesn't make sense to pay 17%, 20%, 25% just to get 1%, 2% or 3% cash back," he said.

Cash back rewards are, in fact, cardholders' preferred loyalty perk, according to CreditCards.com. A recent study found that about two-thirds of cardholders choose cash over travel rewards like airline upgrades.
Mosul: The SWAT team of Iraqi forces recently scored a "big" catch in the city of Mosul when they arrested an obese ISIS cleric who has been dubbed as "Jabba the Jihadi" on social media.

Weighing at a whopping 560 pounds (250 kg approx.), the fanatic was loaded onto a flatbed pickup truck by the Iraqi SWAT team as he was too large to be accommodated inside the police car, reported New York Post.

According to an official statement by the Iraqi forces, the apprehended mufti Abu Abdul Bari was known for "provocative speeches against the security forces" and was an important leader of "ISIS gangs".

The statement further added that Bari passed "fatwas" to order the killings of Islamic clerics who refused to pledge their loyalty to ISIS.

London based anti-Islamic extremism activist Maajid Nawaaz wrote a lengthy post on Facebook ridiculing Bari and his misdeeds, along with images of the fanatic who can be seen immobilized due to his immense weight.

Below are a few excerpts from Maajid's Facebook post:

"It is good that Syrians, Iraqis & others witness the debasement of this scum. That he is this obese, this immobile & this humiliated is yet another blow to ISIS imbeciles who thought God was with them."

"Do not underestimate the psychological blow the image of this obese monster being arrested is to ISIS."

"And that he issued rulings to fighters to both kill & be killed en mass, while justifying every manner of atrocity in the name of Islam, this hippo quite obviously had little intention of exerting his body beyond bowel movements. The hypocrisy stinks (figuratively & literately)!"

However, Maajid cautioned towards the end that his post shouldn''t be used to mock obesity, but instead, the hypocrisy of Islamic extremists.

In another social media post, this time on Twitter, Bari was branded as "Jaba the Jihadi" by Macer Gifford from Britain, who earlier fought against ISIS alongside the Kurdish militia.
Weve been watching Little People, Big World for over a decade, and the Roloff never cease to surprise us. While Matt and Amy Roloff started the show as a happily married couple, theyre now divorced. And Amy is getting all settled into her new home while also planning her wedding to her partner of three years, Chris Marek.

As for Matt and Amys kids, only Zach and his wife, Tori, are regularly featured on the show anymore. And Jacob Roloff, the youngest of his four siblings, was the first to leave. Hes not completely out of the spotlight, however, as Matt and Amy feature him on their Instagrams and talk about what hes up to. And at the end of 2019, Amy mentioned on Facebook Live that Jacob and his wife might actually be living with her in her new house.

Jacob Roloff stated hell never return to reality TV after Little People, Big World

While Jeremy and Molly Roloff arent regularly featured on LPBW, it was Jacob who made the biggest splash when he decided to leave. Back in 2016, the youngest of Matt and Amys kids wrote an Instagram post regarding his decision to quit the show.

I get comments on here all the time about how people miss me on the show or telling me I should do a few more episodes with the family; Im posting this to say that that will never happen, he captioned his Instagram post. So, I am with my family and I love them Im just here to say youll never see that from me on TV again.

Jacob also wrote about his reality TV experience in his book, Verbing. He mentioned that while filming the show, he felt angry which led to miscommunications with family, especially my parents, culminating in their decision to experiment having me see a therapist.

Amy Roloff may have briefly mentioned Jacobs living situation

Despite Jacob leaving the show, it seems hes still maintained a good relationship with Amy. Amy frequently posts photos of him and his wife, Isabel, to her Instagram. And she even noted in the past that one of the reasons she waited so long to move off of Roloff Farms was so that she could ensure Jacob could have his wedding to Isabel on the farm if he wished.

Amy posted proof that Jacob and his wife even visited her at her new home. It was soup night with Jacob and Isabel at my new house! This mom had a great time hanging out and talking and sharing with them, Amy captioned her post of her son and daughter-in-law. Love them so much and being a part of their life and seeing where life will take them.

Amy divulged even more information about Jacob and Isabel, too. On a Facebook Live video she recorded with her friend, Lisa, at the end of December 2019, she mentioned Jacobs living situation.

First, Lisa asked Amy how her new home is going to work with her fiance, Chris Marek. I think the biggest thing for me  is that hes been single for, you know, quite some time, and I have too, but Ive had Jacob and Izzy live here and stuff, and Im still in my house that Ive lived [in] for 30 years, Amy said. Going to this new house, I still have a tendency to say, well, this is what I do.'

Did Amy mean Jacob and his wife are living at her new home?

Matt and Amy Roloff attend the Discovery Upfront Presentation NY  Talent Images at the Frederick P. Rose Hall | Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Discovery

Its tough to discern exactly what Amy meant by Jacob and Izzy live here. While she couldve meant Oregon in general, she may have also meant Roloff Farms property. Or, its very possible Amy meant Jacob and Isabel were staying at her new home since that was the subject at hand. Were not exactly sure why Jacob and his wife would need to stay at Amys new place, but given the Instagram evidence provided by Amy, it looks like her son and daughter-in-law are looking quite comfortable at the new home.

We know Jacob and Isabel are adventurers, so perhaps theyre just looking for a temporary landing place. Theres also the chance that Amy just meant these two are in the area. Perhaps well find out whats going on with the newlyweds soon enough  though neither of them shares too much on social media, so well have to rely on Amy for more intel.

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San Diego, California - ResMed Corp., a manufacturer of durable medical equipment (DME) based in San Diego, California, has agreed to pay more than $37.5 million to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations for paying kickbacks to DME suppliers, sleep labs and other health care providers, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Paying any type of illegal remuneration to induce patient referrals undermines the integrity of our nations health care system, said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justices Civil Division. When a patient receives a prescription for a device to treat a health care condition, the patient deserves to know that the device was selected based on quality of care considerations and not on unlawful payments from equipment manufacturers.

The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits the knowing and willful payment of any remuneration to induce the referral of services or items that are paid for by a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare, Medicaid or TRICARE. Claims submitted to these programs in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute give rise to liability under the False Claims Act.

The settlement resolves allegations that ResMed (a) provided DME companies with free telephone call center services and other free patient outreach services that enabled these companies to order resupplies for their patients with sleep apnea, (b) provided sleep labs with free and below-cost positive airway pressure masks and diagnostic machines, as well as free installation of these machines, (c) arranged for, and fully guaranteed the payments due on, interest-free loans that DME supplies acquired from third-party financial institutions for the purchase of ResMed equipment, and (d) provided non-sleep specialist physicians free home sleep testing devices referred to as ApneaLink.

This settlement represents another example of our districts commitment to prosecuting violations of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute, said Lance Crick, Acting U. S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. Medical decisions should be based on what is in the best interest of the patient and not based on financial incentives and related schemes.

Medical decisions should always be made without outside influence caused by cash payments, free goods, or other types of illegal remuneration, and we will continue to take action to prevent attempts to induce medical decisions through illegal kickbacks, said Katherine L. Parker, Civil Chief, U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of California. We applaud the whistleblower for coming forward and notifying the United States.

Illegal kickbacks in the federal healthcare system create an unfair marketplace and the potential that medical decisions are not based on what is best for patients, said U.S. Attorney Peter E. Deegan Jr. for the Northern District of Iowa. This settlement is another sign of our offices dedication to fair and full enforcement of the False Claims Act.

When companies give free equipment to doctors for the sole purpose of generating business and increasing their bottom lines, federal health insurance programs should not foot the bills. This case rights that alleged wrong by ResMed, said U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable companies that put profits before patients.

Contemporaneous with the civil settlement, ResMed entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The CIA requires, among other things, that ResMed implement additional controls around its product pricing and sales and that ResMed conduct internal and external monitoring of its arrangements with referral sources.

The agreement resolves five lawsuits originally brought by whistleblowers under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims. The False Claims Act permits private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in the recovery. The whistleblowers will collectively receive a roughly $6.2 million share of the settlement.

The government contended ResMed provided free goods and services to companies in order to sell more medical equipment bought by taxpayers, said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The OIGs integrity agreement with ResMed is designed to ensure such alleged behavior will not be repeated.

I applaud the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorneys' for their continued efforts to hold health care providers accountable to the American taxpayer," said Army Lt. Gen. Ron Place, Director of the Defense Health Agency. The efforts of the Department of Justice safeguard the health care benefit for our service members, veterans and their families. The Defense Health Agency continues to work closely with the Justice Department, and other state and federal agencies to investigate all those who participated in fraudulent practices.

This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice; the U.S. Attorneys Offices for the District of South Carolina, the Southern District of California, the Northern District of Iowa, and the Eastern District of New York; the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Office of Investigations; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Defense Health Agency Office of General Counsel; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units.

The lawsuits resolved by this settlement are captioned United States, et al., ex rel. Ameer v. ResMed, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:15-CV-04842-MBS (D.S.C.); United States, et al., ex rel. Baker v. ResMed, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:16-CV-00987-MBS (D.S.C.); United States, et al., ex rel. Ross v. ResMed, Inc., Case No. 16-CV-1988-W (JLB) (S.D. Cal.); United States ex rel. Meyer v. ResMed, Inc., et al., Case No. 17-CV-12-MWB (N.D. Iowa); and United States, et al., ex rel. Ottavio, et al. v. ResMed, Inc., Case No. CV 17-5734 (E.D.N.Y.).

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): An FIR has been registered against actor Shabana Azmi's driver after the car they were travelling in met with an accident on Mumbai-Pune expressway yesterday afternoon, police said.



Azmi's driver has been identified as Amlesh Yogendra Kamat.

According to police, the complaint has been registered by Rajesh Pandurang Shinde, the truck driver as his vehicle was hit from behind by the Azmi's car.

"Due to rash driving by the car's driver, the car hit the moving truck on Pune-Mumbai Expressway which resulted in the accident," the FIR copy read.

Soon after the accident, the Azmi was immediately rushed to MGM Hospital and later shifted to multi-specialty Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai.



According to doctors, she has suffered a head injury and there was slight damage to the backbone. Her condition is said to be stable now and is under medical observation.



Her husband lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was traveling with her, escaped with a minor injury. (ANI)


President Donald Trumps legal team has sent the Senate a fiery response to its impeachment summons, outlining the defences it expects to use in the upcoming trial.

President Trumps answer to the Senates formal impeachment summons calls the two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.

The document offers a taste of the rhetoric expected to be deployed by the presidents defenders in the Senate.

This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away, the filing states.

President Trumps legal team, led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds, claiming President Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong.

His lawyers argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they do not allege a crime.

President Trump was impeached by the House on one count each of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The President has been impeached  and nothing either he or Leader McConnell can do will change that. #RealTime pic.twitter.com/SVeuVW4I2g  Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 18, 2020

Under the Constitution impeachment is a political, not a criminal process, and the president can be removed from office is found guilty of whatever lawmakers consider high crimes and misdemeanours.

President Trumps answer to the summons is the first salvo in what will be several rounds of arguments before the trial is expected to formally begin on Tuesday.

The House is set to file its brief outlining its case for impeachment later.

President Trump will file a more detailed legal brief on Monday, and the House will be able to respond to the Trump filing on Tuesday.
- Nigerian billionaire Ned Nwoko and his wife Regina Daniels were recently spotted with Steve Harvey in South Africa

- Harvey commended the efforts of Nwokos foundation in the eradication of malaria in Nigeria and Africa at large

- The individuals also discussed possible collaborations and initiatives to fast track the complete eradication of the disease

Nigerian billionaire businessman Ned Nwoko and his Nollywood actress wife Regina Daniels, were recently sighted with American comedian and talk show host, Steve Harvey, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

According to reports by State Press, Harvey commended Nwoko on the efforts of his foundation in working towards the eradication of malaria in Nigeria and Africa at large.

The report also noted that the American comedian discussed possible collaborations with Nwokos foundation on how to fast track and drive initiatives for the containment of malaria in the African continent.

READ ALSO: Kalsoume Sinare breaks the internet; shows her backside in new video

Check out photos below:

Ned Nwoko, Regina Daniels and Steve Harvey spotted together. Photo: State Press

Source: UGC

Prior to the meeting, Nwoko shared pictures from his visit to Antarctica on his official page on Instagram. The billionaire business man disclosed that he traveled to the continent to meet with various research stations and partner on how to drive the deadly malaria scourge out of Africa.

"Today I finally made it to the coolest place on earth, lowest point of the earth and the largest wilderness on planet. We are live in Antarctica!!! I will be meeting with the various research stations to see how we can partner on Eradication of Malaria in Africa," his post read.

See below:

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh previously reported that Regina Daniels and her husband gave fans on social media couple goals. The duo stepped out together to attend a conference on the eradication of malaria in Nigeria and Africa, which was hosted by the Prince Ned Foundation.

Source: YEN.com.gh
OLD soldiers never die, it seems, and neither do they simply fade away. The boys of the old brigade are still a force to be reckoned with.

Which is why I was literally buoyed up when I heard that the Third Tipperary Brigade, named after the unit that was once one of the most active and most heroic in the fight for Irish freedom, cradling men like Dan Breen and Sean Treacy, was, this Friday, holding a commemoration for an RIC man.

It was refreshing, to say the least, to encounter such a spirit of magnanimity when were all still smarting from the pains of the past. It was heartening, especially at a time when a timorous and populist Cabinet, faced with outrage from many quarters - and an election in the offing to boot - was stepping back from a public commemoration of the old RIC.

The man being honoured in Annacarty this Friday is not, however, your stereotypical RIC man. His name was Sgt Cornelius OSullivan, a Kerry man who served in Annacarty RIC Barracks at the height of the bloody fray.

The Third Tipperary Brigade, together with Comoradh and nOglach, is remembering Sgt OSullivan because he passed on valuable information to the IRA during the war of Independence.

He put his life at risk for the Republic, a statement read, and we will gather to remember his role in the fight for Irish freedom and all the good men of the RIC, who fought this secret war on behalf of the Republic.

Their motive, the organisers added, was to expose the flaws of the currently accepted revisionist narrative of the period. Sgt OSullivan, they believed, was killed by crown forces but his remains were never found. Thats their conclusion and there is only one narrative after all when it comes to Irish history, regardless of how complex or multi-faceted it might have been.

But thats not the whole story either. Last summer, Cloughjordan historical society (home town of 1916 signatory, Thomas McDonagh) unveiled a tombstone in a local graveyard to another RIC man who had lain there in an unmarked grave - after his remains had been retrieved from a local bog  for nearly a century. The young constable, who came from another part of the country, and his companion, had been lured by two young women to their grisly rendezvous with death at the height of the war of independence.

It was a poignant occasion, and an incredibly uplifting one for the large attendance.

The ceremony was respectful and inclusive, but the most touching aspect of all was the fact that among those who attended to pay their respects, were several descendants of the local volunteers who were players in the ambush and assassination of the two constables.

For all that localised fraternity, however, this decade of commemoration is turning into a bit of a farce around the country, mainly because we havent put enough distance between ourselves and what we are commemorating - and I dont mean just time distance. Objectivity is impossible because the revolution is still too personal. As far as some of us are concerned its ongoing. And where would we be at all, if we allowed the wounds to finally heal?

I know little about the RIC apart from the fact that half the country, including our first President, Douglas Hyde, had close relatives who were members. My favourite song, Lannans Farewell to Nenagh  which can still bring a tear to my eye - was written by an RIC sergeant on his transfer to Clare. My mother had two cousins married to RIC men. One was an OSullivan from Kerry, but I dont know if his name was Cornelius. I know that he died during the troubles and I also know, that unlike the volunteers, neither he nor any of the 500 or so RIC men who were killed in the struggle had set out to die for Ireland. But thats what happened anyway. And if we cant commemorate that unfortunate fact without rancour, then we have no business in two years time, looking back on a bloody and bitter civil war - for at least another generation.

In the meantime, we should study our history more carefully and stop relying on the lore of glorification and the lingering prejudices of the self-professed experts. Literature is more revealing sometimes and I dont think that anyone who has ever read Frank OConnors Guests of the Nation would be averse to the humanity of the other side.

But any commemoration worth its salt should not only honour the whole story, but also expose, unmercifully, the absolute false morality of war. But then, you may ask, wheres the glory in that?






WASHINGTON The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a revamp of the 26-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement that includes tougher rules on labor and automotive content but leaves $1.2 trillion in annual U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade flows largely unchanged.

The legislation to implement the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement passed on an 89-10 bipartisan vote, sending the measure to President Donald Trump for him to sign into law.

The Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed the legislation on Dec. 19 after hammering out changes to ensure better enforcement of labor rights and tighter environmental rules during months of often contentious negotiations with the Trump administration.

The Senate vote came a day after Trump signed a long-awaited Phase 1 trade deal with China, and shortly before the Senate formally began the impeachment trial of Trump on charges that he abused his power.

The U.S. S&P 500 stock index hit the 3,300 mark on Thursday for the first time, buoyed by the two trade deals, solid retail sales and upbeat Morgan Stanley earnings.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Trump's efforts to rebalance U.S. ties with its major trading partners were bearing fruit, and boosting U.S. economic growth.

"This historic agreement not only modernizes and rebalances our trade relationship with Canada and Mexico, but it promotes economic growth, creates jobs, and provides crucial certainty for farmers, workers and manufacturers," he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Mnuchin told Fox News that interim trade deal with China and passage of USMCA would boost growth of the U.S. gross domestic product by 50 to 75 basis points.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Thursday called the deal's approval good news for the Mexican economy, and predicted it would jump start new investments.

Canada still needs to approve the deal before it can take effect and replace NAFTA. It was signed by the leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada in September 2018.

Story continues

Trump made renegotiating NAFTA a centrepiece of his 2016 election campaign, calling it "the worst trade deal ever made" and blaming it for the loss of thousands of American factory jobs to low-wage Mexico.

He had threatened to cancel NAFTA outright unless Congress acted to approve the replacement deal, sparking uncertainty among business owners and putting a damper on new investment.

The AFL-CIO union federation, which represents some 12.5 million workers across the United States, estimates that some 851,700 U.S. jobs were lost to Mexico because of NAFTA.

The U.S. goods trade deficit with Mexico was $80.7 billion in 2018, compared with a $1.7 billion surplus in 1993, thanks in part to U.S. companies moving manufacturing operations south of the border.

But NAFTA also quadrupled trade among the United States, Canada and Mexico, sending it to $1.2 trillion a year by 2017, and knitting together supply chains across the continent.

Industry groups hailed the trade agreement and said it would provide sorely needed certainty to revive investment flows.

"This trade agreement will serve as a model for future trade agreements, and help grow the U.S. economy as a whole, especially the auto sector and its manufacturing supply chain," said Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council.

Canada's parliament does not return to session until Jan. 27, so the scheduling of a vote there remains unclear. But USMCA is expected to see little resistance in Canada, as Conservatives have said they would back the deal negotiated earlier by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal-dominated government.

"Today the Senate will send this landmark agreement to the president's desk. A big bipartisan win," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst told Fox Business Network that she expected Trump to hold a signing ceremony next week.

The bill was opposed by eight Democrats -- including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer -- Republican Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent. Senator Jim Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, did not vote.
Several protestors at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh on Saturday said that they have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting him to join them for tea and listen to their concerns over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC

New Delhi: Several protestors at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh on Saturday said that they have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting him to join them for tea and listen to their concerns over the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The sit-in by the protesters has been continuing over a month now. "I want the prime minister to make the effort of coming here and addressing our issues. Why has he not come here to meet us yet?" asked 80-year-old Bilkis.

Another protestor Sarwari (75) said she also wrote to the PM, urging him to rollback CAA and not implement NRC. Ninety-year-old Asma Khatoon said she has invited the prime minister to join them for a cup of tea and address their concerns over the issue.

A 40-ft-long banner displaying India's map has been put up at the site with the slogan: "We the people of India don't accept CAA, NPR and NRC". Several hawkers can be seen daily selling the tricolour at the protest site. Mubarak (49) claimed that so far he has sold about 90 medium and big flags.

The Delhi Police on Friday had appealed to the agitators to unblock the Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch as the residents, senior citizens, emergency patients and school-going children of Delhi and NCR are suffering due to the blockade. The matter had also come up before the High Court.

"We again urge protesters to cooperate and clear the road in the larger public interest," a police statement said. However, the protestors refused to budge unless the government discards CAA and any NRC exercise.

Torab Niazi, a protester, said they will not leave the place unless their demands are met. "We want the representatives of the government to visit the protesting women. They are not going to move from here unless the prime minister or the home minister addresses their concerns about CAA and NRC," Niazi said.
News

Houston, Texas - A federal jury found a Texas rheumatologist guilty Wednesday for his role in a $325 million health care fraud scheme in which he falsely diagnosed patients with life-long diseases and treated them with toxic medications on the basis of that false diagnosis.

Following a 25-day trial, Jorge Zamora-Quezada, M.D., 63, of Mission, Texas, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of health care fraud, and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Zamora-Quezada is expected to be sentenced on March 27, 2020, by U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa of the Southern District of Texas, who presided over the trial.

The conduct in this case was heinous. Dr. Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed vulnerable patients, including the young, elderly, and disabled, with life-long diseases requiring invasive treatments that those patients did not in fact need, said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. Todays guilty verdict shows that the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect the public from unscrupulous medical professionals who greedily line their own pockets at the expense of their patients health and safety.

As evidenced by the length of trial, this was a massive investigation into one of the worst medical fraudsters, said. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas. Unnecessary medical tests to create millions of dollars of false billing is as bad as it gets. Patients were put through unneeded anxiety and pain so the doctor could make millions. He wont need it where hes headed.

The guilty verdict against Dr. Zamora-Quezada ensures he will pay a steep price for his unthinkably callous and cruel criminal conduct, committed for the sheer sake of greed, said Special Agent in Charge CJ Porter of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG). The abhorrent conduct in this case, which resulted in harm to unsuspecting patients, only serves to deepen the dedication of HHS-OIG agents and our law enforcement partners to pursue, prosecute, and exclude bad actors in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Rarely do we see such an egregious case of health care fraud, where so many patients received years of unnecessary and debilitating treatments, which were rendered out of sheer greed, said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBIs San Antonio Field Office. The FBI is committed to seeking justice for each and every victim who suffered immeasurable harm at the hands of these defendants. The public deserves to be able to seek medical care without fear of being falsely diagnosed and given toxic medications they dont need. We will relentlessly pursue those who would enrich themselves at the expense of those most vulnerable in our community.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Zamora-Quezada falsely diagnosed a large number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a life-long, incurable disease  and treated them with toxic, medically unnecessary medications like chemotherapy drugs on the basis of that false diagnosis. Many patients, including patients as young as 13, suffered physical and emotional harm as a result of the false diagnoses, chemotherapy injections, hours long intravenous infusions, and other excessive, repetitive and profit-driven medical procedures. The evidence further showed that to obstruct and mislead a federal grand jury investigation, Zamora-Quezada falsified medical records. Zamora-Quezada operated medical practices throughout South Texas and San Antonio. He traveled to his various offices on his private jet and in his Maserati.

The Rio Grande Valley Health Care Fraud Task Force, which includes the FBI, HHS-OIG, Texas HHS-OIG and Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, investigated the case with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant Chiefs Adrienne Frazior and Jacob Foster and Trial Attorneys Rebecca Yuan and Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section are prosecuting the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Villanueva of the Southern District of Texas. Trial Attorney Kevin Lowell of the Fraud Section initially handled the prosecution.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippine military on Sunday said it has launched search and rescue operations for five Indonesian fishermen kidnapped by militants belonging to the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group in Malaysian waters last week.

Eight Indonesians were abducted in Sabah on Thursday. Three were released, while the remaining five were probably brought by their captors to the southern Philippine province of Sulu, said Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the military's Western Mindanao Command.

Sulu is Abu Sayyaf's stronghold.

Sobejana disclosed the abduction a day after soldiers clashed with Abu Sayyaf members in Sulare island in Parang town, in Sulu, killing one militant and destroying a speed boat believed to have been used in the kidnapping.

Sobejana said Malaysian authorities had immediately coordinated with the Philippine military after the abduction.

Indonesia's foreign ministry said it also has coordinated with the Philippine government and was still waiting for official information about the incident.

The speed boat was positively identified by the three Indonesian fishermen who have been freed as the one used in the abduction staged by six militants, Sobejana said.

"The likelihood they are in Sulare island or Parang, Sulu is very high," he said.

Abu Sayyaf, which has its roots in separatism, is notorious for banditry and piracy, including beheading some captives if no ransom is paid.

(Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; additional reporting by by Tabita Diela in Jakarta; editing by)
ITHACA, N.Y. - When she worked on the trading floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange, long before cellphone calculators, Susan Saran could perform complex math problems in her head. Years later, as one of its top regulators, she was in charge of investigating insider trading deals.

Today, she struggles to remember multiplication tables.

Seven years ago, at age 57, Saran was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a progressive, fatal brain disease. She had started forgetting things, losing focus at the job she had held for three decades. Then tests revealed the grim diagnosis.

"It was absolutely devastating," Saran, 63, said. "It changed everything. My job ended. I was put out on disability. I was told to establish myself in an [extended] community before I was unable to care for myself."

So Saran uprooted herself. She sold her home in 2015 and found a bucolic retirement community in rural New York whose website promised "comprehensive health care for life."

And now, she is fighting with that community over her right to determine how she will die - even though she has made her wishes known in writing. Similar fights could ensnare millions of Americans with dementia and similar end-of-life directives in coming years.

In 2018, after two brain hemorrhages, Saran conferred with a lawyer and signed an advance directive for dementia, a controversial new document that instructs caregivers to withhold hand-feeding and fluids at the end of life to avoid the worst ravages of the disease.

"It's not something that I am willing to endure," she said. "I don't want my life prolonged beyond the point where I'm participating in life."

But when Saran submitted the document to her New York continuing care retirement community, Kendal at Ithaca, where she has spent more than $500,000 to live, officials there said they could not honor her wishes.

In a letter, lawyers told Saran that the center is required by state and federal law to offer regular daily meals, with feeding assistance if necessary. No provision exists, the letter said, for "decisions to refuse food and water."

When asked about Saran, Kendal's executive director, Laurie Mante, wrote in an email: "We recognize the great complexity in balancing our residents' wishes with what is required of us. We have a dedicated team who works to balance those interests, and, when appropriate, work with our residents and their families to seek alternative paths."

It's a cruel quandary for Saran and other Americans who have turned to dementia directives that have been created in recent years. Even when people document their choices in these directives - while they still have the ability to do so - no guarantee exists that those instructions will be honored, said Stanley Terman, a California psychiatrist who advises patients on end-of-life decisions.

"It is, in my opinion, a false sense of security," Terman said.

That may be especially true for the 2.2 million people who live in long-term care settings in the United States. People with dementia are most likely to die in nursing facilities, according to new research from Duke University and Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System.

"If you've got the resources, where you've got family and paid caregivers at home, you're all set," said Karl Steinberg, a California geriatrician and hospice physician who has written extensively about dementia directives. If you're living in a facility, he said, "it's not going to happen."

One key question is whether patients with dementia - or those who fear the disease - can say in advance that they want oral food and fluids stopped at a certain point, a move that would hasten death through dehydration.

It is a controversial form of VSED - voluntarily stopping eating and drinking - a practice among some terminally ill patients who want to end their lives. In those cases, people who still have mental capacity can refuse food and water, resulting in death within about two weeks.

Many states prohibit the withdrawal of assisted feeding, calling it basic "comfort care" that must be offered. Only one state, Nevada, explicitly recognizes an advance directive that calls for stopping eating and drinking. And that's via a little-known law that took effect in October.

Critics of such documents, however, say they could lead to forced starvation of incapacitated people. The directives may be biased, reflecting a society prejudiced against age, disability and cognitive change, said James Wright, medical director of three long-term care facilities in Richmond and lead author of a recent white paper advising facilities not to honor dementia directives.

Based on his years of clinical experience, Wright said many people with dementia become content with their situation, even when they never thought they would be.

"To enforce an advance directive on someone who may have had a complete turnaround on what they think of a life worth living is unethical and immoral," Wright said.

The dementia directives offered in the past few years are aimed at filling what experts say has been a major gap in advance-care planning: the gradual loss of capacity to make decisions about one's care.

One version, published in 2018 by Barak Gaster, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, was downloaded 130,000 times after being mentioned in a New York Times story and continues to be retrieved about 500 times per week.

"This is an issue that people have really thought a lot about," Gaster said. "They worry about it a lot. They're so eager and excited to have a structured opportunity to make their wishes known."

Traditional advance directives focus on rare conditions, such as a persistent vegetative state or permanent coma, Gaster said. "And yet the No. 1 reason a person would lose ability is dementia," he said.

In addition to Gaster's document, directives drafted in New York and Washington state have drawn hundreds of users. The aid-in-dying advocacy group Compassion & Choices released a dementia directive in December.

As the U.S. population ages, more people - and their families - are grappling with dementia. By 2050, nearly 14 million Americans 65 and older may be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, according to the Alzheimer's Association.

"We are right now experiencing the very first upswing of the giant wave of dementia that's heading our way," Gaster said.

Saran is on the crest of that wave.

Divorced, with no close family, she turned to Kendal - with its 236 independent units and 84-bed health center - as her final home. During her four years there, she has noticed some decline in her mental clarity.

"Even some of the simplest mathematical problems, like even seven times seven, I can't think of it now," Saran said.

Still, she is able to manage her affairs. She cooks her own food and cares for her three cats - Squeaky, Sweetie and Pirate, a one-eyed tabby. A longtime Buddhist, she often drives to a nearby monastery to practice her faith.

In late summer, Saran invited visitors to her small cottage at Kendal, where tapestries hang on the walls and bookshelves are filled with tomes on religion, death and dying.

Frontotemporal dementia affects about 60,000 people in the United States, and patients often die within seven to 13 years. But Saran's disease appears to be progressing more slowly than expected.

"I think I have great capacity," said Saran, who wears her silver hair long and favors jeans, linen shirts and turquoise jewelry.

She chain-smokes, lighting up the Seneca cigarettes she buys for $3 a pack from a nearby Indian reservation. She thought about quitting but decided it was not worth the effort and continues to indulge her habit. "If you had my diagnosis, wouldn't you?" she said.

When Saran was hospitalized after her strokes, she suddenly understood what losing her abilities might mean.

"I realized, oh, my God, I might get stuck in a situation where I can't take any independent action," she recalled. "I better make sure I have all my paperwork in order."

She was stunned to learn it might not matter, even after her local lawyer, Chuck Guttman, drafted health-care proxy documents and a power of attorney. "I thought this was it," she said. "I thought I'd move here and everything was taken care of, everything was settled. And now it's not."

Mante, Kendal's executive director, declined to comment on Saran's specific situation, even after Saran authorized her to do so. "As with all of our residents," she wrote, "we are working diligently to provide for an enriching, quality living environment that honors her independence and wishes."

Saran said no one from Kendal has yet reached out to discuss an "alternative path."

Not all dementia directives include instructions about assisted feeding. Gaster said he and his colleagues had "heated conversations" before deciding to leave that issue off their popular document.

Instead, he said, his option helps more people by addressing general goals of care for each stage of the disease. The most important thing, he said, is for people to consider their choices and share their desires with their loved ones.

The debate, Gaster said, boils down to whether "assisted feeding is basic support" or "a medical intervention that can be declined in advance."

"There's still a very wide perspective of viewpoints on that," he said.

Backed by statute and practice, facilities say they are bound to offer food to all residents willing to eat, and to assist with hand-feeding and fluids if a person needs help. The controversy centers on the definition of those terms.

Wright says late-stage dementia patients who show any interest in food - a flick of the eyes, grunting or gestures, opening the mouth - should be fed until they refuse it. Steinberg and others contend the default should be "don't feed unless they ask for it."

It is always going to be "somewhat of a guess," Wright said, about whether hand-feeding someone is help - or force. "I've not seen any guidelines that can faithfully give good unbiased guidance," he said. "I feel that I personally can determine when food means something to my patients and when it doesn't."

The growing efforts to use advance directives were inspired, in part, by high-profile cases of dementia patients who were spoon-fed against their apparent wishes. In Oregon and in British Columbia, courts ruled that food and water were basic care that could not be withdrawn.

But so far, there has been no court case that says a clear advance directive for VSED "may or must be honored," said Thaddeus Mason Pope, a professor at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law who studies end-of-life decisions.

Pope said he has heard of many people who move out - or their families move them out - of long-term care facilities to avoid assisted feeding in the last stages of dementia.

Saran has considered that, too.

"I should probably just leave," she said, although that would mean losing the nonrefundable investment she already has made. She thinks about moving out every day, but then what? Hospice might be a solution, but only if there is room when she needs it, she said.

Saran said her situation should be viewed as a cautionary tale. She wishes she had asked more questions before moving into her community and insisted on answers about how she would die once her dementia progressed.

"I didn't realize I was signing away my right to self-determination," she said. "I am appalled that my future demented self takes precedence over my competent current self."

- - -

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation that is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
Good-quality food like this will optimise mental and brain health across your lifespan

Provided by Professor Jacka from her excellent book Brain Changer, demonstrating how eating good-quality food like this will optimise mental and brain health across your lifespan. This delicious warm salad with chickpeas, brussels sprouts and wholegrain farro will take you and your microbiome to a better place!

Serves 2

210g can chickpeas, drained

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling

2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp fennel seeds

120g farro

300g brussels sprouts, trimmed and sliced

1 tbsp currants

2-3 tbsp pomegranate seeds

For the dressing

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

1 garlic clove, peeled and finely chopped

pinch of chilli flakes

sea salt and black pepper

Preheat the oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6 and line a baking tray with nonstick baking paper. Spread over the chickpeas, drizzle with olive oil and scatter with the cumin and fennel seeds. Roast for 30 minutes or until golden and crispy.

Meanwhile, cook the farro according to the packet instructions and keep it warm. Blanch the sprouts in boiling water for 1 minute, then drain and add to the farro.

Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the currants and chickpeas.
King Mohammed VI received Saturday a phone call from French President Emmannuel Macron during which Moroccos key role in brokering the Skhirate agreement between the Libyan warring factions was underlined.

During the phone talk, which took place on the eve of Berlin talks on Libya, Moroccos steady efforts to reach a settlement of the Libyan crisis were highlighted, said the Royal Office in a statement.

Morocco played a leading role in facilitating the UN-brokered talks, which resulted in December 2015 in the Skhirate agreement, backed by the Security Council and the international community.

Separately, Morocco expressed through its foreign ministry astonishment after it was not invited to the Berlin meeting.

The Kingdom of Morocco understands neither the criteria nor the motivations behind the choice of the countries (invited) to participate in the Berlin meeting, the ministry said in a statement.
 

Russias northern capital St. Petersburg is marking 77 years since the breaking of the Nazi blockade. Formerly known as Leningrad, the city lived through 900 days of starvation and horror.

WtR

PS:

The President visited the Nevsky Pyatachok military historical complex, where he laid flowers at the Landmark Stone monument. Then he honoured the memory of Leningrad residents and soldiers defending the city who died during the siege, by laying a wreath by the Motherland monument at the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery.

The siege of Leningrad by Nazi troops lasted 872 days from September 8, 1941, until January 27, 1944.

The Landmark Stone commemorates the soldiers who fought during the siege at Nevsky Pyatachok. Nevsky Pyatachok is the conventional designation of a bridgehead on the left bank of the Neva River, which soldiers of the Leningrad Front defended during the Battle of Leningrad. Fighting here was conducted with the aim of breaking the siege.

Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery is the largest cemetery of World War II victims. Buried in 186 mass graves are 420,000 city residents who died from starvation, bombing, and shelling, as well as 70,000 soldiers who defended Leningrad.

Operation Iskra to break the siege of Leningrad took place on January 1218, 1943 on Nevsky Pyatachok and triumphantly ended in a meeting of the Volkhov and Leningrad fronts near the village of Maryino. The siege was broken completely one year later on January 27, 1944.

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62607
Polls suggest Trump has not won over the public on his Iran strategy. According to an ABC News-Ipsos poll, 56 percent of the public disapprove of Trumps approach on Iran, compared to 43 percent who approve. And 52 percent feel less safe after the strike on Soleimani vs. 25 percent who feel safer, the poll found. A Reuters poll taken before Irans missile attack found that 71 percent of the public believe war with Iran is very or somewhat likely over the next few years. Just 51 percent held that view in May.
TOKSOOK BAY, Alaska - There are no restaurants in Toksook Bay, Alaska. No motels or movie theatre, either. There also arent any factories. Or roads.

But the first Americans to be counted in the 2020 census live in this tiny community of 661 on the edge of the American expanse. Their homes are huddled together in a windswept Bering Sea village, painted vivid lime green, purple or neon blue to help distinguish the signs of life from a frigid white winterscape that makes it hard to tell where the frozen sea ends and the village begins.

Fish drying racks hang outside some front doors, and youre more likely to find a snowmobile or four-wheeler in the driveway than a truck or SUV.

In this isolated outpost that looks little like other towns in the rest of the United States, the official attempt to count everyone living in the country will begin Tuesday.

The decennial U.S. census has started in rural Alaska, out of tradition and necessity, ever since the U.S. purchased the territory from Russia in 1867.

Once the spring thaw hits, the town empties as many residents scatter for traditional hunting and fishing grounds, and the frozen ground that in January makes it easier to get around by March turns to marsh thats difficult to traverse. The mail service is spotty and the internet connectivity unreliable, which makes door-to-door surveying important.

For those reasons, they have to start early here.

The rest of the country, plus urban areas of Alaska such as Anchorage, will begin the census in mid-March.

Some of the biggest challenges to the count are especially difficult in Toksook Bay, one of a handful of villages on Nelson Island, which is about 500 miles (805 kilometres) west of Anchorage and only accessible by boat or plane.

Some people speak only Alaska Native languages such as Yupik, or speak one language but dont read it.

The U.S. census provides questionnaires in 13 languages, and other guides, glossaries and materials in many more. But none is one of 20 official Alaska Native languages. So local groups are bringing together translators and language experts to translate the census wording and intent so local community leaders could trust, understand and relay the importance of the census.

It wasnt an easy task. Language can be very specific to a culture.

For example, theres no equivalent for apportionment -- the system used to determine representation in Congress  in the language Denaakke, also known as Koyukon Athabascan. So translators used terms for divvying up moose meat in a village as an example for finding cultural relevancy, said Veri di Suvero, executive director of the agency partner Alaska Public Interest Research Group

When the official count begins this week, the Census Bureau has hired four people to go door-to-door. At least two of them will be fluent in English and Yupik.

Places such as Toksook Bay that run this risk of being under-counted also desperately need the federal funds assigned based on population for health care, education and general infrastructure.

Yet mistrust of the federal government is high. Thats true in many parts of the U.S., but especially in Alaska, where many have strong libertarian views, and even more in a rural community where everyone knows everyone, and someone asking for personal information is seen with suspicion.

The No. 1 barrier to getting an accurate count throughout Alaska is concern about privacy and confidentiality and an inherent distrust of the federal government, said Gabriel Layman, chairman of the Alaska Census Working Group. And that attitude is fairly pervasive in some of our more rural and remote communities.

The census is entirely confidential, Layman reassures people, and the Census Bureau cant give information to any law enforcement, immigration official to even to a landlord if you report if you have 14 people living in your rental. Violating that privacy could land a Census worker behind bars with a hefty fine.

When the count begins on Tuesday, a Yupik elder who is part of a well-known Eskimo dancing group will be the first one counted.

Lizzie Chimiugak, whose age isnt known because records werent kept but is anywhere from 89 to 93, is the grandma for the whole community, said Robert Pitka, the tribal administrator of the Nunakauyak Traditional Council in Toksook Bay.

Steven Dillingham, the director of the U.S. Census Bureau, will be on hand for Tuesdays start.

Village officials will greet him at the towns airstrip and bring him to the school, where community members will bring traditional food, which could include seal, walrus, moose or musk ox. Theyll have a ceremony with the dance group that includes Chimiugak, who will come to the school and dance in her wheelchair if the weather allows.

Mary Kailukiak, a town councilwoman, said shes one of the cooks.

Im thinking of maybe cooking up dried fish eggs, herring fish eggs, she said, pausing to speak to a reporter while ice fishing for tomcod and smolt on the Bering Sea, dressed in a black parka and snow pants and sporting a hat made by her daughter from sealskin and beaver. The eggs will be soaked overnight and served with seal oil.

Then Dillingham will conduct the first official census count, or enumeration as it known, with Chimiugak, out of earshot of others to satisfy federal privacy laws.

Pitka is hoping for nice weather  its been as cold as -20 Fahrenheit (-29 Celsius) lately  as the nations eyes turn west for the event: Its going to be a very special moment.

Simeon John, who leads a youth suicide prevention group, stood before about 120 people at the end of the Sunday service at St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church. In Yupik, he told parishioners to expect strangers in town this week and why.

Beyond helping prepare for Tuesdays kickoff, he also encouraged them to take part in the census when a worker knocks on their door.

That was one of the reasons why we encourage people to participate in as much as we can because of the benefits that we will be getting, said John, a community census helper.

Responses in the 2020 census could help residents in the future get improvements to the water facility, airport, port and even roads.

Besides announcements at church services, community leaders will repeat the same message this week to townspeople over marine VHF radio and through more modern means, including texting.
A heartbroken mother mourning the tragic death of her young son killed while skylarking with his best mates hopes other teens will learn from his fatal mistake.

Jordan Elwood, 17, was attempting to run and jump onto his friend's Nissan Navara ute in a car park underneath the Gateway Bridge at Murarrie in Brisbanes east on Friday night.

But he slipped in wet conditions before sliding under the moving ute and suffering 'catastrophic' injuries when he was accidentally run over.

His shattered mother Mildred and two younger sisters joined Jordan's friends for an emotional vigil at the accident scene on Sunday night.

Scroll down for video

Mildred Elwood (right) has paid a heartbreaking tribute to her son Jordan (left) who has died

His mother now hopes other teens will stay safe and think twice about skylarking.

'I just want to say to all the boys getting new cars, getting excited about driving, and getting out there on the open roads, to be careful about the choices they make because they are the choices they will live with for the rest of their lives,' Ms Elwood told the Courier Mail.

Jordan was accidentally run over and killed by one of his best mates who was behind the wheel, who'd known him since he was six.

'Those boys were at my house today and they too are just broken,' Ms Elwood said.

Her close friend Dale Olsson added: 'No mother should have to bury a child. Jordan was a beautiful, bright, well-mannered boy  what a tragic loss.'

Jordan's devastated mother Mildred Elwood (pictured at the 2018 Melbourne Cup) is well known in racing fashion circles

Emergency services workers were unable to revive the Brisbane teen at the scene (pictured)

Jordan was a week away from starting Year 12 at Redlands College and was hoping to become a mechanic when his life was tragically cut short.

His mother is well-known in Queensland racing circles as a Fashions in the Field competitor.

'He just finished his auto mechanic [training], [he was] very intelligent, very clean, very supportive,' Ms Elwood told Sky News on Saturday.

Speaking of the boy's friend who was with him when he died, she said: 'I feel so sorry for them, it's a sight no 17-year-old boy should hold.'

Jordan had been attempting to run and jump on a ute when the stunt went horribly wrong

Paramedics desperately worked on Jordan for 90 minutes at the scene but were unable to revive him

Ms Ellwood believes emergency services should have taken him straight to hospital, claiming it could have saved his life - saying the 'system failed him'.

She's now demanding answers from Queensland Police and Ambulance Services.

'If there's still some sort of sign of life, the paramedics should have taken him to the hospital. I work in the system and to see the system is failing is very sad,' Ms Elwood told Sky News.

The popular teenager (pictured) was remembered by his mother as intelligent and supportive

The tragedy has been referred to the coroner, and the driver is not facing any charges.

Police are investigating whether alcohol was a factor.

A spokesperson for Queensland Ambulance Service said: 'He received treatment from advanced care paramedics and high acuity paramedics, who did everything in the field that could've been done in an emergency department to try and save the boy's life.'
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela is prepared for direct negotiations with the U.S. to begin repairing relations and improve Venezuela's damaged economy.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Maduro reportedly suggested President Trump should lift sanctions on the nation in exchange for possible benefits for U.S. oil companies from the OPEC member state. The U.S. recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's rightful head of state, and the Post noted any talks with Maduro would weaken that stance. Maduro insisted he was in control of Venezuela and had outmaneuvered the opposition, who say he wrongfully claimed re-election in 2018.

Maduro criticized recent handling of U.S.-Venezuela relations, blaming Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Read more at The Washington Post.

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The ABVP national organising secretary (East) Sunil Ambekar on Sunday said the student organisation was not involved in the January 15 unrest in Visva Bharati university campus.

He dared those linking the ABVP to the unrest in Visva Bharati university campus to prove their charge.

Asked about Students Federation of India allegations that ABVP was behind the student violence in Visva Bharati campus on January 15, Ambekar told reporters "they (left students) fight among themselves and then link ABVP with that."



Daring the Left to reveal the true identity of those involved in the violence, he said "let the identity of those having been arrested in connection with the incident be ascertained. I am throwing the challenge."



ABVP national secretary Saptarshi Sarkar claimed that the two persons arrested in connection with Visva Bharati incident on January 15 "are linked" to Trinamool Chhatra Parishad and alleged the state government is "harbouring violence in educational institutions in West Bengal."According to police two groups of students clashed inside the Visva Bharati campus on January 15 leaving two persons injured.

The university authorities had said that the clash was not linked to politics but the SFI alleged that ABVP activists armed with rods attacked its members in the wake of SFI's protests against CAA.

Ambekar, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 37th state unit conference of ABVP, the students wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), also blamed the Left for creating lawlessness in few campuses they have some strength, like the Jawaharlal Nehru Univerity, Jadavpur University.

He said members of left students unions had confined journalist-MP Swapan Dasgupta for over six hours in Visva Bharati campus when he went there to deliver a lecture earlier this month and misbehaved with union minister Babul Supriyo in Jadavpur University in last September when he had gone to JU campus to attend a cultural function.

"They (the left) talk about democracy and they term it as democratic protest but when some guests go there to attend a seminar, to address a lecture and they confine these guests and misbehave," he asked.

About allegations of ABVP involvement in JNU violence on January 5, he said taking up the issue of fee hike in the JNU, the SFI and Naxals had instigated trouble in the campus by locking up different rooms, obstructing the car of the vice-chancellor, threatening one woman warden to submit her resignation letter in writing and attacking ABVP members.

He said the truth will come out once the probe is completed.

Turning to West Bengal, Ambekar said "an atmosphere of fear prevails in the campuses of the state where the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad and Left unions are preventing the ABVP to set up units. But we are already getting lots of support from the student community."



Sarkar said the organisation will open units in all colleges of the state, take out rallies in support of CAA.

"We will also step up protests to facilitate students union elections in different colleges, which had not been held by the TMC government for years," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy (L) and President of the UN General Assemblys 74th session Tijiani Muhammad-Bande (Photo: VNA)

As President of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for January 2020, Ambassador Quy informed Muhammad-Bande about the UNSCs agenda during the month.

He emphasised that the UNSC members had reached high consensus on important issues such as adopting the Resolution on cross-border humanitarian assistance mechanism for Syria, the Resolution on extending the mandate of the UN mission in Yemen, and successfully holding an open debate on upholding the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security along with a plan to hold a discussion between the UN and ASEAN in the field.

He thanked the UNSC President and UN member states for their support for the UNSCs activities, and expressed the UNSCs readiness to fulfill the role of maintaining international peace and security.

Bande, for his part, updated Quy about his priorities during the 74th session. He suggested enhancing ties between the UNSC and the UN General Assembly during the month Vietnam holds UNSC presidency, as well as during the UN General Assemblys 74th session./.
Two years ago, the fashion world lost one of its greatest unsung heroes: Judy Blame. The British stylist, jewelry designer and punk iconoclast defined the gender-bending London club scene of the '80s and collaborated with countless designers and musicians such as Neneh Cherry, Boy George and Bjork. The passing of Blame affected Dior's men's artistic director Kim Jones profoundly, as the two have been friends since Jones was just 16.

So for his Fall 2020 men's collection shown in Paris this week, Jones paid tribute to the late creative by incorporating various references to Blame's work as seen in the logos, embroidery, jewelry and other accoutrements. He did this while adding elements from the brand's rich archives and history, particularly the '50s era of haute couture. The result is a stunning feat of savoir-faire that made this the most elegant and opulent effort yet from Jones at Dior.

See below for a closer look at every single Judy Blame reference from Dior Men's Fall 2020 collection.

"This show is dedicated to the memory of Judy Blame, a close friend and pioneer in the world of fashion, whose love of couture was an inspiration to us all."

Kim Jones

Jewelry Photo: Jackie Nickerson/Courtesy of Dior

Dior Men's jewelry designer Yoon Ahn developed a series of metallic chains and charms that reinterpreted pieces by Judy Blame (wrenches, keys, etc.), which are engraved and embossed with the Dior logo that hung on coat lapels.

The Safety Pin Photo via Imaxtree

All the Dior logos include an image of a giant safety pin piercing the letter O, a nod to Blame's DIY-inspired style. (He was known for taking random scraps of objects and turning them into statement pieces and necklaces.)

Toile de Judy Photo: Jackie Nickerson/Courtesy of Dior

Dior's signature Toile de Jouy print was given a Blame spin with a pair of graphic intarsia knit sweaters called "Toile de Judy" which were designed in collaboration with the Trust Judy Blame foundation.

Arrow Cap Photo via Imaxtree

Dior teamed up with milliner Stephen Jones to design the hats for this collection, including one standout newsboy cap that featured a calf hair arrow, a reference to the famous arrow shape Blame shaved his head as.

Newspaper Print Photo via Imaxtree

Most people are familiar with Dior's famous newspaper print from the Galliano era, but it turns out there's an indirect link with Blame himself. Jones told WWD that Blame's longtime colleague Stephanie Nash helped design the Galliano Gazette print for his own brand before he brought the concept over to Dior.

Metal Zippers Photo: Jackie Nickerson/Courtesy of Dior

A subtle reference to Blame's punk roots, the metal zip hardware was applied to unexpected place like the front of berets and in curving shapes on Chelsea boots.

Arm Candy Photo via Imaxtree


1 / 11 A supporter of Taiwan's presidential election candidate, Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen cheers for her victory and holds a slogan reading "Taiwan Is An Independent Country" in Taipei. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-yin, File)



2 / 11 A man waves Bangladeshi flag as Muslims board over-crowded trains as they prepare to return to their homes after attending a three-day Islamic congregation in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Biswa Ijtema, or the World Congregation of Muslims, is considered as one of the largest gatherings of the Muslim devotees. (AP Photo/Al-emrun Garjon, File)



3 / 11 People watch plumes of smoke and ash rise from as Taal volcano erupts in Tagaytay, Cavite province, outside Manila. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)



4 / 11 A group of women pauses for a selfie during a Coming-of-Age ceremony at Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, near Tokyo. Held annually on the second Monday of January, Coming of Age Day is a special time for these young adults. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)



5 / 11 A family rides their motorcycle through clouds of ash as they evacuate to safer grounds as Taal volcano in Tagaytay, Cavite province, southern Philippines. Red-hot lava is gushing from the volcano after a sudden eruption of ash and steam that forced residents to flee and shut down Manilas airport, offices and schools. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)



6 / 11 Sri Lankan ethnic Tamil Hindu devotees light oil lamps during the harvest festival known as 'Thai Pongal' at a Hindu temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka. 'Thai Pongal' which is also known as 'Makar Sankranti' in India, marks the beginning of the sun's northward movement according to the solar calendar and is considered to be auspicious. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena, File)



7 / 11 Participants try to control a bull at the annual bull-taming event 'Jallikattu' in Avaniyapuram village on the outskirts of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The deeply held religious ritual had been banned for two years after Indias Supreme Court found it cruel. Jallikattu returned to Tamil Nadu in 2017 after tens of thousands of people protested for weeks and forced the government to rush new legislation exempting it from animal cruelty laws. (AP Photo/R.Parthibhan, File)



8 / 11 Nepalese men carry logs of wood for cremation, enveloped in thick morning fog in Bhaktapur, Nepal. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File)



9 / 11 An Indian woman poses with a kite during the International Kite Festival in Hyderabad. The three-day kite festival was organized by Telangana State Tourism Department, bringing together international teams of professional kite-flyers, along with thousands of kite-enthusiasts from around the city. (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A., File)



10 / 11 A resident clears volcanic ash from his roof in Laurel, Batangas province, southern Philippines. Taal volcano is spewing ash half a mile high and trembling with earthquakes constantly as thousands of people flee villages darkened and blanketed by heavy ash. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
We think intelligent long term investing is the way to go. But that doesn't mean long term investors can avoid big losses. For example the Casablanca Group Limited (HKG:2223) share price dropped 60% over five years. That is extremely sub-optimal, to say the least. Unhappily, the share price slid 1.4% in the last week.

See our latest analysis for Casablanca Group

In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Casablanca Group became profitable within the last five years. Most would consider that to be a good thing, so it's counter-intuitive to see the share price declining. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

We note that the dividend has remained healthy, so that wouldn't really explain the share price drop. However, revenue has declined at a compound annual rate of 6.9% per year. With dividends up, but revenue down, some investors might be concluding that the company is no longer growing.

The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

SEHK:2223 Income Statement, January 19th 2020

This free interactive report on Casablanca Group's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We've already covered Casablanca Group's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). The TSR attempts to capture the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested) as well as any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings offered to shareholders. Casablanca Group's TSR of was a loss of 59% for the 5 years. That wasn't as bad as its share price return, because it has paid dividends.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Casablanca Group shareholders are down 12% for the year (even including dividends) , but the market itself is up 9.8%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Unfortunately, longer term shareholders are suffering worse, given the loss of 16% doled out over the last five years. We'd need to see some sustained improvements in the key metrics before we could muster much enthusiasm. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Casablanca Group better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Casablanca Group you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK 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.
Commercial establishments, shops, restaurants remained closed.

Mumbai: Shirdi remained shut on Sunday to protest against the chief minister announcing a grant of `100 crore for the development of facilities at 'Sai Janmasthan' at Pathri, nearly 273 kilometres away from Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

Shops and eateries downed their shutters and vehicles remained off roads. However, the Sai Baba temple remained open throughout the day with no report of devotees facing any inconvenience.

There is adequate arrangement of food and accommodation for devotees visiting Sai temple amid the bandh today, Deepak Muglikar, CEO, Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Samsthan Trust, tweeted.

None of the devotees coming from outside faced any problems, as the distribution of food, eatables, water was arranged by residents of Shirdi. But the bandh will not be withdrawn unless the chief minister takes back his remarks, Sachin Tambe, a former member of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SST)said.

Long queues of devotees were seen in front of the 'prasadalaya', breakfast centre and 'laddoo' sale centres of the temple. Commercial establishments, shops, restaurants and local transport (autorickshaws and other private vehicles) were closed and a shutdown was observed in the town as well as in 25 villages around Shirdi. But devotees who had made bookings at hotels were allowed to stay and taxi services from the airport to the temple were also unaffected.

Mr Lokhande had also extended his support to the bandh. "I am a Sai devotee first and an MP later. I support this protest. Sai Baba came to Shirdi when he was 16. He never revealed his caste or religion. I am going to speak to the chief minister about the issue," he said.

Senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the number of devotees visiting the Sai Baba shrine took a hit due to the bandh. When I enquired about today's footfall of devotees at Shirdi, I came to know that it dropped by 10,000. I also got to know that people cancelled their bookings at hotels in the temple town, he said.
A police officer has been charged with assault after an alleged altercation at a rooming house.

Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Sunday that Christopher Kerley, a 62-year-old senior constable from Melbournes eastern region, had drunk wine on Friday night before allegedly throwing a cup of hot soup into the face of a fellow tenant.

Senior Constable Christopher Kerley. Credit:Luis Ascui

Police said the alleged victim, aged in his 50s, took himself to hospital to treat superficial burns.

Mr Kerley was arrested the following day. A search of his room allegedly uncovered a police baton.
Repurpose Your Christmas Tree to Grow Food, and More!

With the Christmas season officially over, many of us will be disposing of our living Christmas trees. While most municipalities will repurpose your Christmas tree for you by chipping them into mulch; you may like to consider other options for extending the life of your tree. Wildlife habitat Evergreen trees
SPRINGFIELD  About 200 people lined up at the Northgate Plaza Saturday morning and joined millions of others in cities across the country for Womens March 2020.

For the first time in its four years, the Pioneer Valley Womans March led women down Main Street in downtown Springfield for a rally on the steps of City Hall. The first three years of the march were held in Northampton.

Co-founder, Northampton City Councilor Rachel Maiore said the march should reflect the women who are being impacted and the women of Springfield bear the out-sized brunt of todays politics.

Springfield is a great choice for the parade because it is probably one of the most impacted cities in the area by the policies of the (Trump) administration, Maiore said. There are issues we all care about that arent going away, things like climate justice, asthma, poverty and womens rights that connect us.

This year the official focus of the Pioneer Valley Womens March is to call for climate action as well as demanding justice and equality for women and gender-oppressed people. In reality, each woman marching down Main Street brought her own reasons.

Zulmalee Rivera heads up Springfields Neighbor to Neighbor family program. She walked to support equality for women and people of color. But walking alongside her was her 9-year-old daughter, Zeva.

I am here to represent Neighbor to Neighbor, she said, but I am a mother, too. I want to set a good example for Zeva so she understands just how much work it takes for women to have a place in society.

The German Gerena School student carried a sign the length of the march.

I think it is fair that women should have the same rights to do things, she said.

Elvira Yanez is not 9 years old. She and Nancy Janoson of Easthampton are better described as middle- aged women. They have seen a lot of marches.

I have been marching in the streets since the 60s and I am getting tired of it, Yanez said. This is the first time in many years that I really think we could lose the democracy we have in this country  and it is scary. We need to get men out of politics and more women into it. They have messed things up and now it is our turn to fix it.

Janoson agreed.

We march every year because what is going on is terrible, and we are going backwards on womens rights, backwards on the disabled, we are going backwards for everybody. Its not fair. We have to take care of the poorest and the vulnerable. This administration is just terrible.

Springfields Joan Sulzer is no stranger to marches, either, She said she feels she has to attend.

I do all the womens marches because we still need equality. We are still second-class citizens as far as I am concerned.

Michelle Thomas and Felicia Wheeler stuffed chemical hand warmers into their gloves and shoes to battle the 17-degree cold. They said nothing will stop them from being part of the march.

I am here representing my son who was shot and killed on September 27, 2018, Thomas said. Our children are being killed in the streets every day. Its an everybody issue. Its not just women, not just mothers. Its families who are losing their loved ones. It has to stop.

Carl Sepheus was 30-years-old when he was gunned down on Norfolk Street in the Upper Hill neighborhood. Tyrel Wheeler was 16 when he was shot in Forest Park in 2011.

I want awareness of the fact that we need cameras on poles in this city so we can catch some of these people and get some justice, Wheeler said. "People are too scared to come forward as witnesses. More and more people are going to die until we do something.

Not everyone marching was a woman. Bill Stubblefield and Jim Thornley said many issues affect everyone equally.

We are all part of the same struggle, Stubblefield said.  We are in decline with climate collapse, democracy collapse, economic collapse. The world is falling apart and we have to come together to make it work.

Jim Thornley held a sign decrying the size of the Pentagon budget.

I am concerned for equality for all people, races, and genders, he said. All economic levels need to be on parity. The military budget alone is $738 billion, and one quarter of that could lift all of America out of poverty. This is just a small part of the insanity thats happening.

Elizabeth Cardona sees issues that need to be addressed, but this march and the ones that follow are the antidote, she believes.

I was at the large march in Washington a few years ago and it was the first time I ever felt that we were coming together, she said. I met people from all over the world who had come together in solidarity and represented the causes they cared deeply about. On my mind today is Puerto Rico and whats going on there. I am also concerned about immigrant rights, people who are being oppressed all over the world. I am so proud of the women who came today, and the men and allies who are here in support and solidarity. I am so glad it is happening in Springfield, a city I love.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the truce village of Panmunjeom in the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, June 30, 2019. Reuters-Yonhap



Moon urged to take path toward confidence building with NK



By Do Je-hae



President Moon Jae-in is facing grave national security and diplomatic challenges this year.



As outlined in his New Year address, he is resolved to push his engagement policy with North Korea despite discontent from the United State.



In particular, Moon will have to better cope with rising concerns about the health of the U.S.-South Korea alliance in his fourth year in office. The alliance has seemed to weaken under his presidency owing to discrepancies on a range of bilateral issues, including North Korea, the Special Measures Agreement (SMA) and most recently, the controversy over Korea's possible participation in the U.S.-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz. Korea and the U.S. are also at odds over the return of contaminated U.S. Forces Korea bases to South Korea; the transfer of wartime operational control of South Korean forces; and the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan among other issues.



In the latest sign of a lack of Korea-U.S. coordination, Cheong Wa Dae was reportedly left in the dark about the recent resumption of letter diplomacy between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ahead of Kim's Jan. 8 birthday. This raised speculation that South Korea was being ignored not just by North Korea but also the U.S. in the denuclearization talks.



On top of these problems, President Moon's renewed focus on getting various inter-Korean projects to kick off this year has also triggered concerns that the two allies are not on the same page. Moon is being heavily criticized for his pro-engagement policy amid the uncertainties over North Korea's resolve to take a "new path" this year from its moratorium on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests. But some experts say that this concentration on the stabilization of inter-Korean relations is timely and fruitful from a long-term perspective.



In a recent New Year interview with The Korea Times, David Kang, professor at the University of Southern California (USC) and director of the USC Korean Studies Institute, underlined the importance of continuing to focus on ways in which "confidence building and tension reduction can continue between North and South Korea." He also urged South Korea to continue to cooperate with countries such as China and Russia in dealing with the North Korea issue.



The escalating U.S.-China rivalry has put South Korea in a very difficult situation, as seen by the prolonged dispute over the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in Korea that produced a stern backlash from Beijing. The scholar shared some in-depth prospects about Korea's diplomacy in coping with these regional challenges.



The following are edited questions and answers from a written interview with Prof. Kang.







David C. Kang, professor at the University of Southern California (USC) and director of the USC Korean Studies Institute / Courtesy of David Kang

Q: How do you view the prospects for U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks this year?



A: If North Korea tests another ICBM or other provocation of that sort, it is quite likely that the U.S. will search for new ways to apply pressure to the North. I myself am not quite sure why North Korea has a self-imposed deadline for progress with the U.S. To me, Pyongyang has a lot to gain simply by waiting and not stepping up pressure. It seems counterproductive for Pyongyang to raise tensions, just when the U.S. appears content to let the situation ride for the moment. That being said, given that the current U.S.-DPRK relationship is really about the relationship between two leaders, there is the chance that something could happen between the two leaders to open up a path for another summit or further negotiations.



However, I'm not hopeful at this time, because I think both sides have settled into what is, unfortunately, their historical pattern: the U.S. expecting North Korea to make major moves to denuclearization first, before offering anything in return; and North Korea expecting the U.S. to make major moves toward reassuring or reducing pressure first, before the North has to move. So both sides are essentially now back to where they were historically, saying "you go first."



Q: Is there anything President Moon can do to salvage the U.S.-North Korea talks?



A: The Moon administration's best path forward is to continue to focus on ways in which confidence building and tension reduction can continue between North and South Korea; to stabilize the relationship below the level of "dramatic actions." It is smaller and less visible, but this type of stabilization of the North-South relationship can pay big dividends.



After all, much of the actual violence that has occurred in the past few decades has not been over nuclear weapons or missile launches, but disputes over the Northern Limit Line and at the demilitarized zone (DMZ). To remove those as tension points is a major step forward, and this should be continued. The Moon administration can also find ways to cooperate with China and Russia on North Korea  these two countries appear more interested in engagement and diplomacy than the U.S. at the moment.



Certainly, both China and Russia explored the possibility of sanctions relief in the U.N. recently. If the Moon administration can find ways to work with them on economic or social engagement of the North, this might have slow, long-term impact. After all, North Korea is a country beyond simply its nuclear weapons and missile programs. To slowly change the country's economy, and to help open up the North to outside influences, can only help move the DPRK toward a slightly less dangerous path than if it were totally isolated. To that end, if there are ways to engage the North without violating the U.N. directives, the Moon administration should explore them.



Concerns over alliance



Q: How do you see the future of the South Korea-U.S. alliance amid the mounting contentious issues?



A: There is tremendous uncertainty in the alliance now, mostly arising from the U.S. side. There are many issues on the table that need to be discussed and resolved. But despite these issues, I am confident the alliance will survive. There have been many issues that have come up over the decades  from Nixon's shock in the 1970s to the democracy movements of the 80s and 90s  and the alliance survived them. It will survive these challenges as well, because at its core the alliance is good for Korea and it is good for the U.S. This will take leadership on both sides, but I am confident that a way forward can be found.



Q: What should be Korea's best strategy to handle the complex Special Measures Agreement (SMA) with the U.S.?



A: This is a very delicate matter. On the one hand, it's unprecedented for the U.S. to ask a country to increase its contributions by 400 percent or so. On the other hand, the U.S. has a president who is determined to do so. There is clearly room for some negotiation on this, and whether the actual number increases by 100 percent or 300 percent is less important than establishing some type of framework or understanding between the Moon and Trump administrations for how this relationship will be handled. The Moon administration recently backed down on withdrawing from the intelligence sharing agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan, in part as a show of flexibility to both Japan and the U.S. There needs to be some response from the U.S. side  otherwise, this could be an unraveling of the relationship in ways that are not helpful to either the U.S. or Korea.





Protesters stage a rally to protest Korea's possible participation in the U.S.-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz, in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Jan. 10. Yonhap



Q: The Moon administration has decided to maintain the GSOMIA under the condition that Japan will reconsider its trade restrictions against Korea imposed in August. How do you assess the value of GSOMIA for trilateral security cooperation and should Seoul maintain it regardless of Japan's trade sanctions?



A: For a long time, Korea and Japan kept their issues carefully separated from one another: Historical issues did not impact economic relations; economic relations did not impact political or security relations. The Abe government decided to change that, by responding to developments in historical issues with what are essentially economic sanctions against Korea. The issue of GSOMIA in Korea is politicized, with domestic politics playing as much a role as anything about actual security cooperation. That the Moon administration decided to keep it shows a flexibility and willingness to search for some type of cooperative ways forward with both Japan and the U.S. To me, the real question will be whether the Abe or Trump administrations respond in kind with some type of flexibility of their own. If they do, there is an opportunity to resolve larger issues. If not, we will probably be stuck in this position for a while.



Q: Do you think that the Trump administration should play a bigger role in facilitating reconciliation between Korea and Japan on contentious issues?



A: That would be nice, but the Trump administration has a number of issues facing it. First, there is a staggering number of diplomatic slots in the U.S. State Department. There are so few diplomats that the actual capacity of the U.S. is limited in ways that are unusual. Second, this administration has many other priorities and it's not at all clear that Trump would direct his administration to help find a solution or a way forward. That being said, active U.S. leadership would be welcome, but I sense this is probably unlikely at the moment.





President Moon Jae-in leaves Beijing after a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Dec. 23, 2019. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is ready to explore all constitutional means to ensure that government respects the rule of law and desist from influencing the judiciary, INEC and our security agencies.The opposition party said this after its Friday 87th emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, attended by PDP leaders present, including Governors Umar Fintiri (Adamawa), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has announced the date for its peaceful and non-violent protest against the Supreme Court ruling on the Imo governorship election that sacked Emeka Ihedioha as governor of the the state.The party made the announcement on Saturday night via its official Twitter handle, saying he protest is also to register the displeasure of the Party against the current state of affairs in the country.

Anambra State Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, has declared that only God can stop his party from taking over in the state.

This statement came from the State Chairman as a reaction to the Supreme Court judgement which gave Senator Hope Uzodinma of APC victory over Hon Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

Former governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha of Imo state, recently sacked by the Supreme Court as governor of the state, says he is still in shock but calm. Ihedioha, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the judiciary and the electoral system in the country are on trial. The former governor who spoke at his residence in Abuja when the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) paid him a solidarity visit, said the verdict remains 

Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the presidency of mounting pressure on the supreme court to rule in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its appeals challenging Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa and Benue governorship elections. The said states were won by the PDP in the March 9 gubernatorial election and the Supreme Court is expected to deliver judgment on APCs appeals challenging PDPs victories in the states.

The Miyetti Allah Kaute Hore says the regional southwest security outfit, Amotekun is a plot against the Fulani, and has asked the federal government to arrest south-west leaders behind the outfit. Bello Bodejo, national president of the group, said this in an interview with Daily Sun.He was quoted by the newspaper as saying, They should not only ban it, but should arrest the leaders of this group. Like I said earlier, nobody or group has

President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that the closure of land borders in Nigeria is to strengthen the countrys security and economic.

Speaking via a statement which was released by his spokesman, Femi Adesina shortly after meeting with Nigerians in the UK on Saturday, he added that reports that say borders were closed so as to punish Nigerias neighbour is not true.

Former lawmaker, Shehu Sanni has debunked reports that say he pleaded with officials of the EFCC after he was presented with 13 audio evidence of his involvement in an alleged $25,000 extortion. In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant, Sulaiman Ahmed on Saturday, he added that such claims were only aimed at tarnishing his images.
Donald Trump has come under fire from the son of former Republican president Ronald Reagan: Getty

Donald Trump must be removed from office to safeguard the 2020 election, preserve the constitution and protect national security, according to an impeachment trial brief filed by House Democrats.

The US president abused the powers of his office, abandoned his oath to faithfully execute the laws and betrayed his public trust in his dealings with Ukraine, the memorandum stated.

It also argued that Mr Trumps behaviour in seeking to pressure Ukraine to launch an investigation into his political rival was the worst nightmare of the framers of the US constitution.

The Senate should convict and remove President Trump to avoid serious and long term damage to our democratic values and the nations security, the document added.

Mr Trumps legal team immediately hit back by arguing that impeachment was a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.

This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away, the presidents lawyers said.

The 111-page impeachment trial brief, filed ahead of the 5pm deadline on Saturday, was signed by House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff and six other House managers.

It set out their arguments supporting charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress against the president.

President Donald Trump used his official powers to pressure a foreign government to interfere in a United States election for his personal political gain, and then attempted to cover up his scheme by obstructing Congresss investigation into his misconduct, it states.

The Constitution provides a remedy when the President commits such serious abuses of his office: impeachment and removal.

The Senate must use that remedy now to safeguard the 2020 U.S. election, protect our constitutional form of government, and eliminate the threat that the President poses to Americas national security.

Story continues

House Democrats also described Mr Trump in the memorandum as an aberration among presidents because of his refusal to cooperate with the impeachment investigation.

They added: The case against the president of the United States is simple, the facts are indisputable, and the evidence is overwhelming.

It came after documents revealed an associate of Mr Trump's personal lawyer had sent messages to the president's donors about his activities in Ukraine and also about Joe Biden, the Democratic frontrunner for that party's 2020 nomination.

Lev Parnas tipped off a high-rolling donor that a "bomb [was] dropping" as Marie Yovanovitch, the US ambassador, was forced out of her role.T

he Soviet-born businessman also appeared to have received financial aid from Trump backers to fund his work - which he said this week was "all about 2020" and ensuring Mr Trump is re-elected.

Additional reporting by Associated Press

Read more

Lev Parnas texted Trumps donors about his Ukraine efforts and Biden
Around a dozen depositors of the scam-hit Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank were detained on Sunday for allegedly trying to stage a protest outside the Khar residence of HDIL promoters Rakesh Wadhawan and his son Sarang, who are accused in the bank fraud case, police said.

However, they were released after some time, police said.

"Around 12 depositors of the PMC Bank were detained as they tried to hold a protest outside the Wadhawan residence of in Khar here around 3 pm. But they were let off after some time," senior inspector of Khar Police Station, Gajanan Kabdule, said.

A group of around 25 depositors initially assembled some distance away from the house of the Wadhawans with banners in hands, where they started raising slogans, he added.

"As they started moving towards the Wadhawans' house, they were stopped by the police. But some of them squatted on the road adjacent to their house, which caused traffic snarls. After that we detained some of them," the officer said.

The fraud at PMC Bank came to light in September last year after the Reserve Bank of India discovered that the bank had allegedly created fictitious accounts to hide over Rs 4,355 crore of loans extended to almost-bankrupt Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL).

The Bombay High Court had on Wednesday last week directed the superintendent of Arthur Road Jail to shift the Wadhawans father-son duo to their residence under the supervision of two jail guards to ensure their cooperation to a committee that has been formed for valuation and sale of encumbered assets of the HDIL to expeditiously recover dues payable by the firm to PMC bank.

However, a day later, the Supreme Court had partially stayed the HC order.

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

Four people were shot dead Friday at a residence in Grantsville, a town of about 10,000 people in the U.S. state of Utah, local police said.

There is no threat to the public since the suspect has been arrested, Grantsville Police Cpl. Rhonda Fields told reporters outside the house where the shooting occurred.

She said that the incident happened at about 7:00 p.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Saturday.

Details on the identities of the victims or suspects have not been released, but Robert Sager from Grantsville Police Department was quoted by local FOX 13 news channel as saying that the department is treating the deaths as homicides.

Governor of Utah Gary Herbert made a statement in response to the shooting on Twitter on Friday night.

"Our hearts are broken by the horrible news coming out Grantsville tonight. We mourn over the loss of innocent lives," he tweeted, adding "Parents and grandparents, secure your firearms! Everyone, hug your loved ones tight. And remember love, not hate, will heal broken individuals and families."
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Incident 973

When: Jan. 8, 2020

Where: 1500 block of Arlington Street

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Incident 973

The male shown received a haircut at a salon on Arlington Street. While there, the suspect stole one of the stylists cell phones.

Incident 974

When: Sept. 27, 2019

Where: 300 block of North Town Road

A male entered a department store on North Town Road and was seen walking down an aisle and placing more than 20 bottles of assorted fragrances into a bag. The man then exited the store, ignoring staff members telling him to stop. He fled in a car without plates.
Greg Page might not have survived a cardiac arrest he suffered at The Wiggles' reunion show on Friday if it wasn't for Castle Hill RSL's public access defibrillator and an off-duty nurse in the audience willing to give it a go.

The original Yellow Wiggle's "extraordinary" survival story has prompted the NSW Ambulance Commissioner to urge proprietors of large venues across the state to invest in publicly accessible defibrillators.

CPR and a public-access defibrillator used by off-duty nurse Grace Jones, seen here with ICU paramedic Brian Parcell, saved Greg Page's life. Credit:AAP

Page remains in a serious but stable condition in Westmead Hospital after he collapsed as he was walking off the stage during the bushfire relief concert on Friday night.

Before his collapse, Page had complained of feeling unwell after performing on stage for an hour.
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly ratified the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, an update to the 1990s-era NAFTA deal. The new pact is largely similar to NAFTA but has some key provisions to support U.S. auto manufacturers, protect the environment and update intellectual property safeguards. U.S. dairy producers should also see increased exports, but the deal largely should leave commodities markets unaffected.

More crucially, on Wednesday, President Trump signed the Phase One Trade Agreement between the United States and China, a substantial move toward ending the trade war between the two countries.

The deal reduces some of the tariffs placed on Chinese goods in exchange for China updating its policies around intellectual property and agreeing to purchase more U.S. goods, especially farm products. Under the agreement, the Chinese are committing to nearly double their purchases of U.S. agricultural goods, which would be a substantial boost to U.S. farmers.

However, quickly after penning the deal, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said that Chinas purchases would be driven by market demand in China, a worrying signal that they may not meet commitments.
KANPUR A man allegedly murdered the father of a girl he was allegedly trying to rape in a field in Ajgain village in Unnao on Sunday. The accused, Vinod Kumar, strangulated the man to death when he came to rescue his daughter, said police.

The incident sparked furore on Ajgain-Mohan road, where hundreds of people blocked the road for more than four hours, seeking immediate arrest of the accused and compensation for the victims family.

Senior police and administrative officials reached the spot to pacify the villagers. The blockade was lifted after the police informed that the accused had been arrested.

The accused is being questioned and will be produced before the court on Monday. The police have registered a case of molestation and murder, said AK Singh, SHO, Ajgain.

The girl had gone to attend natures call in a field outside the village. The accused, who was already hiding there, came out on seeing her and attempted to rape her, said cops.

When the victim raised an alarm, her father (aged around 50), who was close by, came to her rescue.

However, Vinod Kumar managed to overpower the man and used his gamchha (a cloth tied around his neck) to strangulate him. While the accused managed to flee, the girl arranged for help and rushed her father to the local hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
Asserting that the uproar over the amended citizenship law and the Jamia-JNU violence will be a major factor in the Delhi Assembly polls, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Sunday said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's "subdued" response to the issues "smacks of opportunism".

He also said the Congress will play a "significant" role in the polls and exuded confidence that the party could get enough seats to emerge as the "determining factor" in government formation.

"He (Kejriwal) did not show up in Jamia (Millia Islamia), he did not show up in JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University). His statements were not frequent enough, strong enough and open enough," Sibal told PTI in an interview.

He said Kejriwal's somewhat "subdued" response to what has been happening around has not sent the right kind of signals.

"It smacks of opportunism," said the Rajya Sabha MP, who is a member of the Congress' election and campaign committees for the Delhi polls.

Asked if the massive uproar over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Population Register (NPR), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the violence on university campuses will be a major factor in the polls, Sibal replied in the affirmative.

"What has Kejriwal done? Kejriwal has not even visited the campuses, not even visited JNU, because this is politics," he said.

"This is the problem when political parties take positions only for the purpose of an election, not for the purpose of what is right. People see through their acts," the former Union minister said.

Sibal also alleged that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was not talking much about CAA, NPR and NRC for the fear of losing a section of a vote bank that it "desperately needs".

He asserted that Kejriwal has to answer to the people for his response to CAA, NPR and NRC.

Asked if the Congress can form the government on its own, Sibal said, "I don't think that we should be making such tall claims, but at the same time I think we will be a significant factor in this election... maybe giving us enough seats to be the determining factor in the formation of the government."



On whether the Congress can join hands with the AAP if it turns out to be the "determining factor", he said, "Let us first get the results out in the open. What our strategy is will be known to everybody at that point in time."



Sibal also dismissed suggestions that the Congress' chances in the polls may be hampered by the absence of a popular and credible face, saying the credibility of a face has no relationship to the party's credibility in terms of its functioning on the ground.

"In 2014, we had a credible face in (Narendra) Modi ji, that is what the people of India thought, see what has happened since then. So let us not talk about the faces. The face of the common man is far more important than the face of the chief minister," he asserted.

It is only the Congress party that has always looked at the face of the common man or woman and worked towards his or her concerns, said Sibal, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha twice in the past from Delhi's Chandni Chowk constituency.

Responding to a question about the Congress mounting a formidable challenge to the AAP, Sibal said his party does not have any seats in the Delhi Assembly, so the ruling party certainly has an advantage.

"I think they (AAP) claim more than what they have done on the ground. They have a fabulous media campaign. This is somewhat like our prime minister's media campaign which sort of tries to claim much more than what the reality is. I think the people know the reality. So let's see what happens," he said.

The Congress leader claimed that the BJP is on a sticky wicket in the polls as it has "lost credibility" and people are very unhappy with it.

He cited the examples of Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections, in which the poll pundits were proved wrong, to stress that a surprise could be in the offing in Delhi and his party could deliver a strong performance in the polls.

"I think the people of Delhi, as a member Parliament and (someone) who has fought elections in Delhi I can say, have realised that it is the Congress party that has delivered in Delhi. There is no other party that has delivered in Delhi. As far as AAP is concerned, it has been in constant conflict with the Centre," Sibal said.

"I remember the days when Sheila (Dikshit) ji was the chief minister and (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji was the prime minister. Even though we were different political parties with different ideologies, the administration worked together," he said.

This talks well of Vajpayee's administration and Dikshit's quality to embrace everyone and get the work of the people of Delhi going, he said, adding that, Kejriwal doesn't have that art.

"In a constant state of conflict, I don't think you can achieve much. I want to know how many great bridges have been built, how many underpasses have been built (under the AAP government). There is no infrastructure development at all," Sibal alleged.

All the schemes that have been taken forward in Delhi have been the brainchild of the Congress, he said.

Polling will be held on February 8 for the 70-member Delhi Assembly and the results will be declared on February 11.

The Congress is seeking to revive its fortunes in the national capital this time. It had won just eight seats in 2013 and drawn a blank in the 2015 Delhi Assembly polls.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
London: Prince Harry has broken his silence over his departure from the royal family in an emotional speech in which he also defends wife Meghan from claims she is responsible for the bombshell split.

In an address to a charity he founded more than a decade ago, an emotional Duke of Sussex said it "brings me great sadness that it has come to this" and appears to take aim at the terms of an agreement with Buckingham Palace that dictates how the couple will operate outside the umbrella of the House of Windsor.

"The UK is my home and a place that I love. That will never change," he said.

"I also know you've come to know me well enough over all these years to trust that the woman I chose as my wife upholds the same values as I do. And she does, and she's the same woman I fell in love with.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said the country is bearing the brunt of "differences" between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue of the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Speaking at a function here on Friday, the Congress leader alleged that the BJP was "misleading" the country, and asked people to remain alert.

"While Amit Shah says NRC will be implemented, Prime Minister contradicts his statement. Who is speaking the truth and who is lying? Who is right, the PM or the Home Minister?. It seems that there are some differences between the two and the entire country is bearing its brunt. You need to remain alert...," Baghel said.

He accused the BJP was "misleading" and "dividing" the country.

Hitting out at the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act and NRC, Baghel said, "There is no discussion in this government (at the Centre) over problems of price rise, economic crisis and unemployment being faced by the country, rather the focus is only on citizenship."

He said questioning people about their citizenship was an "insult to them.

"A huge chunk of Chhattisgarh's population is below poverty line. Neither they have land nor their parents were literate. Due to lack of certain documents, how they will prove their citizenship?" he asked.

During the previous five years of NDA government, Modi gave "nothing except pain" to people and now, since last seven to eight months, Amit Shah has been doing the same and has brought people out on the streets, he alleged.

Baghel also raised questions over the probe into the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack, saying startling revelations were coming out about a Jammu and Kashmir police officer in connection with the incident.

J&K Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh, who he had been posted in Pulwama as DSP at that time, was arrested last weekend with Hizbul terrorists in south Kashmir.

Baghel said the Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 security personnel were killed, took place before last year's Lok Sabha polls.

"So far, no investigation has been conducted into the incident. Who was responsible for the ghastly attack?" the chief minister asked.

Without taking any name, he said, "One DSP was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir and it is being said he was posted there during the Pulwama attack. Startling revelations are coming up about the officer."
The Commerce Ministry has recommended restricting purchase of tax-free alcohol to one bottle at duty-free shops as part of steps to reduce import of non-essential goods, sources said.

The ministry has also recommended to its finance counterpart that purchase of cigarette cartons at duty-free shops should be prohibited, they said.

These recommendations are part of proposals made by the commerce ministry for the forthcoming Budget, which would be unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.

Currently inbound international passengers are allowed to buy two litres of alcohol and a carton of cigarette from these shops.

According to sources, there are countries that allow only one litre of liquor to international passengers and the same practice can be adopted in India.

This suggestion assumes significance as the government is looking at various ways to curtail import of non-essential goods into the country to rein in trade deficit.

A duty-free shop is where an inbound international passenger can generally purchase goods worth about Rs 50,000 without paying any import duty.

The commerce ministry has also suggested increase in customs duty on several products like paper, footwear, rubber items and toys to promote 'Make in India' and boost manufacturing growth, sources said.

The ministry has proposed rationalisation of basic customs or import duty on over 300 items from different sectors, including furniture, chemicals, rubber, coated paper and paper boards.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delbert Orr Africa surrendered to police on August 8, 1978 after a shootout at MOVE headquarters in Philadelphia. Africa is pictured upon his release from prison in Dallas, Pa., January 18, 2020. Read more

On Aug. 8, 1978, MOVE member Delbert Africa climbed out of his basement and raised his arms to the sky in surrender. The image soon became one of the most iconic photographs in Philadelphia history, as seconds later, police officers were caught on film beating Africa with a helmet and rifle, then dragging him by his dreadlocks. The incident was part of the first armed battle between the Philadelphia Police Department and MOVE, a radical liberation group living at the time in a Powelton Village commune.

On Saturday morning, Africa, 73, was captured outstretching his arms once again, this time as a symbol of freedom. He was paroled from prison after more than four decades of incarceration.

Brad Thomson, part of Africas legal team, broke the news on Twitter. Delbert Africa of the #MOVE9 is free! the Chicago attorney wrote in a tweet. Thomson shared side-by-side images of Africa holding his Christlike stance in 1978 and 42 years later, after his release from Pennsylvanias state correctional institution Dallas.

Africa was one of nine MOVE members sent to prison on third-degree murder charges for the death of Philadelphia Police Officer James Ramp, shot during the 1978 standoff between MOVE and Mayor Frank Rizzos Police Department. The episode culminated a 15-month-long clash between city authorities and MOVE members, primarily involving healthcode and weapons violations.

MOVE was created in 1972 by West Philadelphia native Vincent Lopez Leaphart, who later called himself John Africa and preached an ideology centered on black revolutionary ideas and back-to-nature philosophies. The dozens of members considered MOVE their religion, adopting antitechnology and antigovernment beliefs, while taking on issues ranging from police brutality to animal rights.

Members would often stage protests and eventually began to use loudspeakers to broadcast tirades throughout their neighborhood.

In 1977, a federal grand jury indicted 11 MOVE members on bomb-plot charges, after an arsenal of weapons, including 49 pipe bombs and parts, was seized from the group. A year later, the city created an eviction order that sent police to raid MOVEs Powelton Village home.

Firefighters flushed the house with fire hoses, and police violently removed people. In the end, one shot killed Ramp. Eighteen police officers and firefighters were hurt.

MOVE has always claimed that the bullet that killed Ramp was accidentally fired by police.

Im so happy to have my brother home," Janine Africa said by phone Saturday evening after Delbert Africas return to Philadelphia. "Its something that they told us would never happen, but I never lost faith that this day would come. The power of righteousness will never betray you.

Delbert Africa is the second to last of the nine incarcerated MOVE members to be released or to have died while in prison. Janine was released in May. Only Chuck Africa remains locked up.

The standoff was just the start of the contentious relationship that was brewing between MOVE and the city. By 1980, the group had relocated to the 6200 block of Osage Avenue. Neighbors began to complain to the city about trash, the loudspeaker rants, and concerns about child abuse and neglect in MOVEs house. After many contempt-of-court violations, Mayor Wilson Goode and Police Commissioner Gregore J. Sambor called MOVE a terrorist organization.

On May 13, 1985, the city flew a helicopter over the groups Osage Avenue home and dropped the bomb that left 11 people dead, including John Africa and Delbert Africas 13-year-old daughter. The entire neighborhood was in ruins, with 61 homes destroyed. City officials were found to have acted recklessly, but no charges were filed.

In an interview with the Guardian, Delbert Africa explained how he responded to the news of his daughters death. I just cried. I wanted to strike out. I wanted to wreak as much havoc as I could until they put me down. That anger, it brought such a feeling of helplessness. Like, dang! What to do now? Dark times.

On Tuesday, Delbert Africa will speak out for the first time since leaving prison. A news conference is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Kingsessing Library (1201 S. 51st St.). Delberts other daughter, Yvonne M. Orr, has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to help him reacclimate and find housing.
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) speaking to reporters last February about a bipartisan compromise to avoid a government shutdown. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) on Sunday shrugged off President Donald Trumps requests for foreign countries to interfere in U.S. elections, stating that the president is human and makes mistakes from time to time.

ABCs This Week host George Stephanopoulos asked Shelby, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, a series of questions about the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate.

Do you think it was proper for the president to solicit foreign interference in our election? Stephanopoulos asked Shelby, who claimed its in dispute whether Trump actually did so.

The House voted to impeach Trump over his efforts to get Ukraine to publicly commit to investigating former Vice President Joe Biden, a front-runner in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, as well as over his decision to block witnesses from testifying during the chambers impeachment inquiry.

Stephanopoulos pointed out that Trump has publicly called on Ukraine and China to investigate Biden. Trump also urged Russia to hack Hillary Clintons emails when they were both candidates in the 2016 presidential election.

But Shelby said such statements were simply political.

So its OK? Stephanopoulos asked.

I didnt say it was OK, Shelby responded. But people make em  people do things. Things happen.

Well, this is the president of the United States, Stephanopoulos said.

Shelby noted that Trump is human. Hes going to make mistakes of judgment and everything else, he said. They have historically  both parties  from the beginning of our republic.

The senator added that he does not believe Trumps actions rise to the standard of an impeachable offense but said he would wait to see what comes out of the Senate trial.

Continue reading on HuffPost
[January 19, 2020] ToJoy Contributes 100 Million Yuan to Help the Idea of Great Sharing Take Root

BEIJING, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Beijing Summit of the Global Sharing Economy Forum, hosted by the China General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC) the China Association for the Promotion of Industrial Development (CAPID), and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), and organized by ToJoy, was held at the China National Convention Center on January 16, 2020. This meeting received strategic cooperation and support from the Global Alliance of Sharing Economy (GLASE), Institute of Industrial Economics of CASS, the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University, Renmin Business School, and the School of Management of Xi'an Jiaotong University. At the meeting, announced that ToJoy would contribute 100 million yuan to sponsor the first "GLASE" Award, aiming to reward experts, scholars and enterprises that make outstanding contributions to the general sharing economy, and to rank the sharing economy levels of various countries, hoping to encourage more social organizations, industry groups, enterprises and individuals to participate in the construction of the general sharing economy, and accelerate the advent of the era of the general sharing economy, leading to widespread co-creation, cooperation and win-win results. In-Depth Focus, Multi-Party Analysis of the Great Sharing Economy This meeting attracted the attention and participation of the Institute of Industrial Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the School of Humanities and the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University, Renmin Business School, and the School of Management of Xi'an Jiaotong University. There is o doubt that the general sharing economy has become a general trend of the international economy and the focus of scholars of economic and social development.



This meeting held two major panels: "The Great Sharing Economy and the Development of Unicorn Enterprises" and " The Great Sharing Era and Related Topics of Sharing Economic Theory" to analyze the general sharing economy from the perspectives of practicality and innovation and development. Relevant experts believed that "sharing" concepts are in line with the basic pursuit of Marxism and is an innovative practice of this pursuit in the context of the new era. Fan said that the sharing economy can not only promote regional coordinated development but also help resolve global trade frictions. Ge pointed out that the general sharing economy puts sustainable development as its core. It is an inevitable result of history, and it can promote the interconnection of knowledge, skills, funds and entrepreneurship and help to solve the problem of global sustainable development, which was also his original inspiration for writing the book The Age of Great Sharing.

The Chinese edition of The Age of Great Sharing, written by Ge and published by Tsinghua University Press, also made its debut at this meeting. The English version of The Age of Great Sharing had been officially published already, and will be translated into many languages for release in more regions of the world. Experts believed that the "paid and reasonable intellectual property sharing, regional business opportunity sharing, capital channel sharing, brand flow sharing, and international market sharing" proposed by Ge are the cornerstone of the concept of great sharing. It can be said that the book The Age of Great Sharing is the foundational work of the Great Sharing Economy. Persevering in Practice and Working with Global Builders As philosopher Sartre said, existence precedes essence. Although the concept of Great Sharing was proposed just recently. Chinese business accelerator ToJoy has always practiced the core idea of this theory for over 30 years: in the exploration of business models and business development, bringing together global projects, capital, talents, channels, and market resources to build the ToJoy global enterprise empowerment platform, and to push the unicorn accelerator, its core business, to the world, to accelerate the empowerment of global enterprises. In addition to sponsoring the first "GLASE" Award to encourage theoretical research and business model innovation in the sharing economy, the 100 million yuan contributed by ToJoy will also be used by GLASE to investigate and rank the levels of various countries in the sharing economy, so this move may receive widespread attention from countries around the world. At the beginning of 2020, the Beijing Summit of the Global Sharing Economy Forum was like a spring breeze for the Great Sharing Economy to blow into the next new decade of economy. ToJoy will make its efforts and join hands with many business partners and like-minded players from all walks of life to contribute to the Great Sharing Economy. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078821/ToJoy_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078822/ToJoy_2.jpg

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In view of some states resisting the recently enacted Citizenship Act, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday said that they are "bound to implement any law pertaining to citizenship".

Alluding to the decisions made by several states to challenge the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Naqvi told ANI, "When any law or amendment related to citizenship is made by Central government or Parliament, the states are bound to implement it. Unfortunately, some people are trying to put forth their political propaganda by taking steps which are contradictory to their constitutional commitments."

Naqvi's remarks came after Kerala and Punjab Assembly passed a resolution seeking Central government to withdraw the citizenship law.

The introduction of the Act, which grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, had sparked nationwide protests last month.

Additionally, Naqvi assured that a positive environment is being created in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also said that Kashmiri Pandits who were ousted from the Kashmir valley should get back their land and respect.

Thirty years ago on this day, the land of Jammu and Kashmir saw the beginning of the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits following a genocidal campaign launched by terrorists.

"It was unfortunate how they had to leave their houses behind and move from the valley. It is the need today that they should get back their respect back and can become the part of their homeland again," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON - House prosecutors on Saturday argued for President Donald Trump's conviction in the Senate, insisting he poses a threat to national security, while the White House rejected the impeachment charges as a "highly partisan and reckless obsession" of Democrats intent on ousting Trump.

With opening arguments in the Senate trial to begin Wednesday afternoon, the seven House managers filed a 111-page legal brief that lays out their case against Trump, arguing that the Senate "must eliminate the threat" by convicting and removing him from office.

The White House defense team has until noon Monday to file its legal brief outlining why the president should be acquitted.

The House's legal filing reiterates the findings of the House Intelligence and Judiciary panels, which, after hearing from witnesses and experts, charged Trump last month with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The House impeached him on Dec. 18.

"The evidence overwhelmingly establishes that he is guilty of both," the managers wrote in the brief. "The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths."

Trump's legal team released a seven-page response to the charges against Trump, which it filed shortly after the House made its brief public, dismissing the case as a "dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president."

Echoing months-long criticism of the investigation by Trump and his allies, the White House said the charges were the result of a "lawless process" and assailed House Democrats for a "transparently political act."

In the White House response, lawyers Jay Sekulow and Pat Cipollone said there was no basis for either article of impeachment. They argued that Trump did nothing wrong in his dealings with Ukraine and that his release of a rough transcript of his July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was "unprecedented transparency."

"The articles of impeachment violate the Constitution. They are defective in their entirety," the White House said.

The response from Trump's legal team did not directly address the allegations against the president - that he withheld a White House meeting and congressionally appropriated aid to pressure Ukraine into announcing and launching investigations into former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter.

A House aide working on the impeachment case said Trump's position as set forth in the response filed Saturday was "not just wrong, but dangerous."

"If the president were correct, it would represent a fundamental alteration to the American constitutional order," the aide said on a conference call with reporters.

The Democrats' brief - which the House framed as an explanation of "why the Senate should convict and remove President Trump from office, and permanently bar him from government service" - reiterates and summarizes arguments that Democrats have made for months: that Trump's alleged effort to trade nearly $400 million of U.S. security aid and a coveted White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for politically motivated investigations is the height of constitutional malfeasance.

The Ukraine plot, the House managers argue, was compounded by Trump's effort to obstruct the congressional probe by defying subpoenas for documents and testimony.

"If the President could both avoid accountability under the criminal laws and preclude an effective impeachment investigation, he would truly be above the law," they wrote. "But that is what President Trump has attempted to do, and why President Trump's conduct is the Framers' worst nightmare."

The impeachment inquiry began after an intelligence agency whistleblower reported the July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelensky in which Trump asked Zelensky to do him a "favor" and investigate Biden and his son. Hunter Biden sat on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president to Barack Obama.

The meat of the 111-page filing is a constitutional argument for Trump's conviction and removal, one that frequently appeals to the nation's Founding Fathers and their warnings about foreign influence on domestic matters.

"The Framers therefore would have considered a President's attempt to corrupt America's democratic processes by demanding political favors from foreign powers to be a singularly pernicious act," the managers wrote, adding that "they would have viewed a President's efforts to encourage foreign election interference as all the more dangerous where, as here, those efforts are part of an ongoing pattern of misconduct for which the President is unrepentant."

Most of the brief, however, is a recitation of key "material facts" gathered in the four-month House investigation, citing the dozens of depositions and hearings the investigating committees conducted from October into December, but also media reports about Trump's comments and actions relevant to the Ukraine affair.

Absent from the brief is how or whether the House managers will use the trove of text messages and other materials gathered from Lev Parnas, the former associate of Rudy Giuliani's who acted as an intermediary between Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney, and officials in Ukraine. Parnas claimed in recent days that Trump was aware of "everything" he and Giuliani were doing to pressure Ukraine to open a public investigation into Biden.

There's only one reference to Parnas in the footnotes, crediting him with handing over a letter from Giuliani to Zelensky in which Giuliani requested a meeting in his capacity "as personal counsel to President Trump, and with his knowledge and consent" to discuss a "specific request."

The brief also cites an opinion from the Government Accountability Office that was issued after the articles were transmitted to the Senate, in which the GAO said the administration's withholding of aid from Ukraine was unlawful.

In seven instances, the House brief refers to the evidence against Trump as "overwhelming" or "compelling," arguing that the House has gathered enough proof of the malfeasance the managers allege against Trump. The managers do not, in the brief, make the argument that has dominated the past four weeks since the House adopted the articles of impeachment - that the Senate should hear from additional witnesses at trial, such as former national security adviser John Bolton.

House aides who briefed reporters Saturday on the condition of anonymity said they expected the managers to make that case separately Tuesday, as the Senate discusses trial rules, which will be written by McConnell to delay the decision on summoning witnesses and additional evidence until after the two sides present their opening arguments. That debate is expected to take up most of Tuesday's floor time, and could stretch beyond it.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: A team of 14 engineer officers, including 10 from the Navy and four from the Coast Guard, were inducted into the aviation wing of respective services upon the completion of the Air Engineering and Air Electrical Officers Specialisation Course, at Naval Base, Kochi, on Saturday.

Four officers  two each from Bangladesh and Vietnam navies  also completed the course successfully along with the team. A ceremonial passingout parade was held at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology which was reviewed by Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel) Rear Admiral V M Doss. Bengaluru Air Force Technical College Commandant Air Commodore Biji Philip also was present.

Assistant Commandants Divesh P and Vijesh V Nair were awarded the HAL trophy and the Chief of Naval Staff trophy for securing first place in overall order of merit. The Director General Coast Guard trophy was presented to Lieutenant Deepinder Singh Kular, while the Venduruthy shield for Best Air Technical Project was awarded to Lieutenant Waghade Bhusan Arvind and Lieutenant Deepinder Singh Kular.

A team of 14 engineer officers, including 10 from the Navy and four from the Coast Guard, were inducted into the aviation wing of respective services upon the completion of the Air Engineering and Air Electrical Officers Specialisation Course, at Naval Base, Kochi, on Saturday. Four officers  two each from Bangladesh and Vietnam navies  also completed the course successfully along with the team. A ceremonial passingout parade was held at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology which was reviewed by Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel) Rear Admiral V M Doss. Bengaluru Air Force Technical College Commandant Air Commodore Biji Philip also was present.

Assistant Commandants Divesh P and Vijesh V Nair were awarded the HAL trophy and the Chief of Naval Staff trophy for securing first place in overall order of merit. The Director General Coast Guard trophy was presented to Lieutenant Deepinder Singh Kular, while the Venduruthy shield for Best Air Technical Project was awarded to Lieutenant Waghade Bhusan Arvind and Lieutenant Deepinder Singh Kular.

A team of 14 engineer officers, including 10 from the Navy and four from the Coast Guard, were inducted into the aviation wing of respective services upon the completion of the Air Engineering and Air Electrical Officers Specialisation Course, at Naval Base, Kochi, on Saturday. Four officers  two each from Bangladesh and Vietnam navies  also completed the course successfully along with the team. A ceremonial passingout parade was held at the Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology which was reviewed by Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air Materiel) Rear Admiral V M Doss. Bengaluru Air Force Technical College Commandant Air Commodore Biji Philip also was present.

Assistant Commandants Divesh P and Vijesh V Nair were awarded the HAL trophy and the Chief of Naval Staff trophy for securing first place in overall order of merit. The Director General Coast Guard trophy was presented to Lieutenant Deepinder Singh Kular, while the Venduruthy shield for Best Air Technical Project was awarded to Lieutenant Waghade Bhusan Arvind and Lieutenant Deepinder Singh Kular.
TULSA, Okla.  Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will announce on Sunday his presidential campaigns plan aimed at bolstering economic opportunity for black Americans, promising to triple their income over the next decade, but stopping short of promising reparations.

The announcement comes as the billionaire continues to face questions about the controversial "stop-and-frisk" police tactic he endorsed as mayor, and as he seeks to build support among African-Americans, a key voting bloc in the Democratic primary.

Bloombergs Greenwood Initiative plan is named after the Greenwood District, otherwise known as Black Wall Street, a Tulsa neighborhood that was once considered one of the most economically prosperous black communities in the U.S. The neighborhood was the center of a deadly two-day attack by a white mob during the 1920s. Ninety-nine years later, Bloomberg will announce his plan in the same district.

Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg addresses a news conference. (Photo: Reuters/Joshua Roberts)

For hundreds of years, America systematically stole black lives, black freedom and black labor, Bloomberg will say, according to his prepared remarks. And the impact of that theft over a period of centuries has meant an enormous loss of wealth for individuals and families, across generations  a kind of compound interest in reverse. Well, its past time to say, Enough  and to damn well do something about it.

New York social activist and black leader Geoffrey Canada will be present in the audience and is expected to endorse Bloomberg later Sunday evening.

Bloomberg, one of the richest men in the world, with a media empire and $50 billion estimated net worth, attributed some of his gains to the privileges that come with being a white man in America.

I also know that my story might have turned out very differently if I had been black, and that more black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth, had they been white.

Later in the speech, he is expected to add: I didnt know it at the time, but when my parents moved to the house I grew up in, the owners wouldnt sell to them. They didnt want a Jewish family in the neighborhood. Luckily for us, our Irish lawyer was willing to buy it and transfer it to my parents. But if my mother and father had been black, we would not have been so lucky.

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Bloomberg speaks to supporters in Texas. (Photo: Mark Felix/AFP/via Getty Images)

Bloombergs plan, according to details released by his team, focuses on investing in black business and home ownership, which includes a $70 billion investment in the countrys 100 most disadvantaged neighborhoods. The money will be controlled by a new White House office, the Neighborhood Equity and Opportunity Office, which will coordinate across federal agencies. The plan provided did not explicitly state the criteria to determine a level of disadvantage beyond being place-based and evidence-based.

In his proposal, mortgage and loan guarantors will also be forced to update their credit-scoring requirements, which the plan maintains is rigged against African-Americans. Under the initiative, a new Housing Fairness Commission would be established with a $10 billion fund to work with localities and municipalities to test and potentially reserve housing laws that might discriminate against buyers or renters of color.

Bloombergs presidential bid has been clouded by his fraught history with the NYPD stop-and-frisk policy when he was mayor. For years, Bloomberg passionately defended the practice, which gave officers broad authority to stop and search anyone suspected of a crime. But critics saw the police tactic as discriminatory against black and brown New Yorkers, who were an overwhelming percentage of those stopped.

Then, again in January of last year, in response to a question about the prejudiced perception of the policy, Bloomberg maintained that it had lowered crime rates.

Bloomberg speaks at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, where he addressed his past support for "stop-and-frisk" tactics. (Photo: Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

But several months later, as he was exploring announcing a presidential bid, Bloomberg apologized.

I was wrong, he admitted at a black megachurch in Brooklyn. And I am sorry.

Police brutality is mentioned twice in his Greenwood Initiative, which requires implicit bias training for the law enforcement agency.

Specific forms of reparations did not appear in the plan. The reparations issue is often met by skittish behavior from presidential candidates, and none of the four frontrunners  former Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg  address reparations directly in their policies focused on black Americans. All have conceded that the idea be studied further.

A senior Bloomberg adviser told Yahoo News that the former mayors thinking on reparations is in line with his rivals in support of continued study.

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Read more from Yahoo News:
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has termed as "internal matters" of India the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), but at the same time said the act was "not necessary".

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. Protests are being held across India against the controversial law.

"We don't understand why (the Indian government) did it. It was not necessary," Hasina told the Gulf News in an interview, referring to India's new citizenship law.

Her comments came weeks after Bangladesh Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen said that the CAA and the NRC are India's "internal issues", but voiced concern that any "uncertainty" in the country is likely to affect its neighbours.

Bangladesh, where 10.7 percent of the 161 million population is Hindu and 0.6 per cent Buddhist, has denied any migration to India because of religious persecution, the paper said.

Hasina, who is in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, also said that there has been no recorded reverse migration from India.

"No, there is no reverse migration from India. But within India, people are facing many problems," she said.

"(Still), it is an internal affair," Hasina said.

"Bangladesh has always maintained that the CAA and NRC are internal matters of India," Hasina said. "The Government of India, on their part, has also repeatedly maintained that the NRC is an internal exercise of India and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has in person assured me of the same during my visit to New Delhi in October 2019."

She said the relationship between Bangladesh and India is currently at its best, with cooperation in a "wide spectrum of areas".

The NRC has been prepared to identify genuine Indian citizens living in Assam since March 24, 1971, or before, and identify illegal Bangladeshi migrants in the state.

Out of 3.3 crore applicants, over 19 lakh people were excluded from the final NRC published on August 30.
Supreme Court judge Justice N V Ramana on Sunday said that lawyers and students should help the legal system in establishing the rule of law in the society.

Justice Ramana was addressing the gathering during the 16th K K Luthra Memorial Moot Court 2020 here.

"Justice N V Ramana, in his speech, told students and lawyers to help the legal system establish the rule of law. He further stated that it is the duty of lawyers to educate the people about their legal rights," said a press release issued by Professor Raman Mittal, professor-in-charge of the Campus Law Centre (CLC) of Delhi University.

"He (Justice Ramana) also stated that society gives lot of respect to lawyers and the lawyers should guide their clients properly. He also stated that lawyers should help the legal system to implement the rule of law in the society," it said.

Justice Ramana was the chief guest during the event while judges of Delhi High Court -- Justices Rajiv Sahai Endlaw, Jyoti Singh and Asha Menon -- were the guests of honour.

Assam's National Law University Judicial Academy won the first prize during the moot court while Chennai's School of Excellence, Dr Ambedkar University, won the second prize.

This year 60 teams from various institutions, including National Law School of India University, Bangalore and Symbiosis Law School, Pune, and international teams from the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Zambia, Afghanistan, Keneya and Nigeria had participated in the competition.

The issue for the moot court this year was 'law of theft, incorporating, different elements from common jurisdictions', the release said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
April Love Geary and fiance Robin Thicke recently kicked off the new year with a tropical getaway.

But the couple is covering up as they return to the (mildly) nippy weather of Los Angeles.

Geary donned a black western chic leather jacket Friday as they stepped out for dinner in Santa Monica.

Dinner date: April Love Geary donned a black western chic leather jacket Friday as she stepped out for dinner with fiance Robin Thicke in Santa Monica

The 25-year-old completed the look with a pair of skintight black jeans and some knee-high white leather go-go boots.

Thicke, 42, cut a cool look in a black denim jacket with a matching scarf as he carried a to-go bag to the car.

The couple recently took to Instagram with some envy-inducing snaps from a romantic vacation, presumably in Turks and Caicos.

Geary put on quite the cheeky display in some photos of her lounging on the beach in string bikinis.

Go-go vibes: The 25-year-old completed the look with a pair of skintight black jeans and some knee-high white leather go-go boots

Leftovers: Thicke, 42, cut a cool look in a black denim jacket with a matching scarf as he carried a to-go bag to the car

Tropical getaway: The couple recently took to Instagram with some envy-inducing snaps from a romantic vacation, presumably in Turks and Caicos

The trip comes shortly after they posed for a family photo with their kids and Santa Claus.

Thicke and Geary share daughters Mia, one, and Lola, 11 months, and he shares son Julian, nine, with ex-wife Paula Patton.

He and Patton were married from 2005 to 2015, divorcing when she accused him of infidelity, abuse and drug use.

Thicke popped the question to Geary on Christmas Eve in 2018, two months before welcoming daughter Lola.

The couple had originally met back in 2014 at a party, amid his pending divorce with Patton.
Firefighters fight a flare up on a containment line at the Three Mile Fire in the suburb of Kulnura on 10 December, 2019 on the Central Coast, Australia. Photo: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

The climate crisis is the biggest threat to global stability, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has warned.

WEF on Wednesday published its annual global risk report, highlighting what its members see as the biggest threats to economic and political stability. For the first time in the reports history, the top five longterm risks were all linked to the environment.

The planet is heating, the ice is melting, and we see that the library of species are on fire, Borge Brende, president of WEF, said at a press conference in London to launch the report. Its really, really serious.

The biggest risk over the next ten years is extreme weather events, which WEF warned could damage property and threaten human life. The predication comes as unprecedented wild fires, caused by hot weather, ravage Australia.

Other top risks include: a failure of climate change mitigation; human-made environmental disaster such as oil spills; the irreversible loss of biodiversity; and an increasing frequency of natural disasters like earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.

The last 5 years have been the hottest ever on our planet and we are seeing that climate change and environmental risks long-term are increasing in this survey, Brende said. The only way to really mitigate the risk is to come together.

READ MORE: BlackRock vows to address climate change: 'Climate risk is investment risk'

Worryingly, WEFs survey of 750 members found most expect political polarisation to rise in 2020, meaning coordinated international action to address the climate crisis could be difficult.

Brende said the world was facing global geopolitical and economic turmoil and fracturing at the top.

We are faced with a synchronised slowdown with the global economy and we are faced with the fact that the ammunition we have to fight a global financial crisis is limited.

However, he urged world leaders to put differences aside and come up with a plan for the environment.

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The cost of inaction today far exceeds the cost of action, he told journalists.

WEF released the global risk report ahead of its annual meeting of members in Switzerland next week. The event, more commonly known as Davos, attracts top politicians and business leaders from around the world. US President Donald Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden, and UK Chancellor Sajid Javid are all expected to attend, alongside the likes of Bill Gates, Goldman Sachs CEO David Soloman, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Climate change activist Greta Thunberg. Photo: Susana Vera/Reuters

One of this years most high-profile guests is Greta Thunberg, the 17-year-old climate activist from Sweden, who is returning for the second year in a row. TIMEs Person of the year 2019 will be use the conference to pressure global elites to take rapid action to address climate change.

We demand that at this years forum, participants from all companies, banks, institutions and governments immediately halt all investments in fossil fuel exploration and extraction, immediately end all fossil fuel subsidies and immediately and completely divest from fossil fuels, Thunberg wrote in an article published by the Guardian.

Senior private sector figures are also raising the alarm on climate change ahead of Davos.

BlackRock, the worlds biggest investment company, this week vowed to tackle climate change and put sustainability at the heart of his company. Chairman and founder Larry Fink said in a letter to chief executives he would vote against management teams who fail to address environmental issues.

21 of the planet's hottest years on record have been seen over the last 23 years, Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid wrote in a discussion paper last week, published to coincide with Davos.

Many scientists believe that weve passed a tipping point in terms of permanent environmental damage. It also seems that a tipping point has recently been reached in the public awareness of the impact humans are having on the environment, and action is increasingly being sought.

Reid warned that the action needed to combat climate change may shock citizens and be difficult to administer in democracies.

READ MORE: Sadiq Khan-backed renewable energy company London Power launches
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2

Gavin & Stacey made a stunning TV comeback after ten years, with 17 million viewers tuning in on Christmas Day to watch my old mate James Corden team up again with writing and on-screen partner Ruth Jones.

Curiously, a third star of the show, Mathew Horne, spent most of the build-up to the iconic comedys eagerly awaited return savagely attacking me in interviews.

Asked by The Guardian Which living person do you most despise and why?, he replied: Piers Morgan, and I dont think I need to say why.

Then he told The Times: I dislike Piers Morgan and everything he stands for.

Curiously, a third star of Gavin & Stacey, Mathew Horne (above), spent most of the build-up to the iconic comedys eagerly awaited return savagely attacking me in interviews

I dont know much about Mr Horne, whose career plummeted into stagnant oblivion at the same rate as Cordens sky-rocketed into global superstardom.

This caused such tension between them that Horne refused to appear on my Life Stories show with Corden in 2011, to pay tribute to his former colleague.

Since then, the politically active actor seems to have spent most of his time spewing furious socialist bile on Twitter and holds a visceral hatred for any journalists who dont share his Corbynista world view.

After the recent election result didnt go the way he hoped, Horne viciously attacked the BBCs superbly professional and impeccably impartial political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, in an abusive 2am rant, blaming her for Labours loss.

I really wish I loved myself as much as you Laura, he sniped. Resign, you disingenuous plopcarpet.

Then, as people reacted with outrage, he spat: Im leaving this unfathomable country.

Horne deleted these tweets the next day, presumably when hed sobered up and apologised. But it said all you need to know about him, and needless to say, sadly he hasnt left the country.

You couldnt meet a nicer, more decent person than Ms Kuenssberg.

Nor could you meet a more repellent little berk than Mr Horne and I dont think I need to say why.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3

Ive signed a new two-year deal with ITV to continue hosting Good Morning Britain, and present two more series of Life Stories.

For the latter Ive already started trying to persuade top long-term targets to submit themselves finally to my interrogation.

Sir Bob Geldof is one  what an amazing life hes led  but when I bumped into him at a party several weeks ago, he was resolute in his refusal to succumb to my advances. Come on Bob, the time is right, I beseeched.

When I bumped into Sir Bob Geldof (above) at a party several weeks ago, he was resolute in his refusal to succumb to my advances and appear on Life Stories

No Morgan, the time is not ****ing right! he bellowed, albeit with a big grin. The time will NEVER be ****ing right to do your ****ing show!

Why not?

Because, and I hate to ****ing admit this to your face, youre too ****ing good a journalist and will get me to say stuff I dont want to say! So stop ****ing asking me!

Given that Geldof has spent his entire life successfully refusing to take no for an answer, often against apparently insurmountable odds, Ill keep trying. Though we may have to get extra batteries for our expletive bleep machine if he ever agrees.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

I learned today I was the 15th-most Googled thing in Norwich last year  beating ed sheeran ipswich (geography obviously isnt a strong point up there) at No 17, game of thrones at No 18, and even chinese takeaway norwich at No 19. The revelation that more people in Norwich searched for information about me last year than Chinese takeaways may be my finest achievement.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

Labour leadership candidate Jess Phillips looked a little queasy when she sat down during a commercial break for an interview on Good Morning Britain. You OK? I asked.

No, she replied. I feel like vomiting.

Oh no, exclaimed Susanna, whats brought that on?

Im not sure, Phillips said, but it might be your co-host.

Me? I queried. What have I done?

Piers, she replied, I dont know how to break this to you but you make people sick.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

Speaking of things that make you sick, Greggs has unveiled its latest vegan scam on the public  a Vegan Steak Bake that, of course, isnt a steak because a steak is specifically meat- or fish-related.

The companys boss, Roger Whiteside, has personally thanked me for my help in driving sales of their vegan sausage rolls so high by mocking them that hes now been able to give staff a 7 million bonus. Its all down to Piers! he chortled. He reawakened people!

Compounding my discomfort, British YouTube comedian Alizee Yeezy released an explicit X-rated novella about me having sex with a Greggs vegan sausage roll.

As Piers Morgans Vegan Lover went viral, she explained: Piers is always banging on about vegan sausage rolls, so I thought, why doesnt he just marry one or **** one? Words, and this doesnt happen very often, fail me.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

Dinner with the irrepressible Dame Joan Collins at Robin Birleys swanky new Oswalds Club in Mayfair.

I dont eat seafood! she announced as we perused the menu. Pause. Well, apart from caviar, obviously.

I dont eat seafood! Dame Joan Collins (above) announced as we perused the menu at Robin Birley's swanky new Oswald's Club in Mayfair. Pause. Well, apart from caviar, obviously.

Later, as the wine flowed and the indiscreet chatter about everything from Meghan Markle to Harvey Weinstein intensified, her husband Percy suddenly announced: I was sexually harassed by a major Hollywood star.

The whole table fell instantly silent in open-mouthed shock, including his wife.

WHAT? exclaimed Joan, incredulously.

Percy chuckled: Its true. But its OK, I still married you.

As we left, after a delightful meal, two dogs launched themselves at Dame Joan on the pavement. GET OFF ME! she commanded.

And they did. Even canines know not to mess with Dame Joan.
New Delhi:

Amid nationwide protests-against the amended citizenship law, Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that the institutions of Indias liberal democracy need to be strengthened and must assert themselves in defence of the Constitution. Singh further added that the young people have recently reminded the country that freedom is best secured in the custody of enlightened citizens and when it is protected for all.

During his address at the launch of former Union minister Ashwini Kumars book Human DignityA purpose in perpetuity, Manmohan Singh said institutions of our liberal and libertarian democracy have been put to test on several occasions when fundamental freedoms were threatened.

Also Read: After Kerala And Punjab, Rajasthan Mulls Over Bringing Resolution Against Implementation Of CAA

These institutions, nurtured over the years, need to be strengthened and must assert themselves in defence of the Constitution, he said. Indeed, the idea of freedom can acquire shape and form in the lives of our people only if they can live as equal citizens under the law, the former prime minister said.

His remarks came amid raging protests against the amended citizenship law and the Kerala government approaching the Supreme Court against the CAA. Kumar, in his remarks, said somewhere along the line, the institutional response to challenging situations has been found wanting.

Also Read: BJP Repeatedly Harassing Hardik Patel: Priyanka Gandhi After Patidar Leader Sent To Judicial Custody

In the pages of this book, I have endeavoured to articulate the aberrations that have slowed our march towards the realization of human dignity in the hope that a purposive reflection thereon will assist to remedy the situation in these times of change and challenge, he said. After all, the cause of human dignity must be our purpose in perpetuity, Kumar said.

States have right to disagree with Centre, cannot be forced to implement CAA: Congress

Amid a debate over the implementation of the amended Citizenship Act, the Congress on Sunday said states have the right to challenge the Centre and cannot be "forced" to implement the "unconstitutional law" till the petition over it in the Supreme Court is decided. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a statement that the CAA is an attack on India's Constitution and the people's movement against the act shall continue "courageously and fearlessly".

The Congress' assertion comes a day after senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said there is no way a state can deny the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when it is already passed by Parliament. He, however, later asserted that every state assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek the amended Citizenship Act's withdrawal, but if the law is declared constitutional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel in Ahmedabad said the states ruled by his party would consider bringing in a resolution in the legislative assemblies against the enforcement of the CAA.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
KANSAS CITY MAYOR SLY IS NOW MAKING THE ROUNDS AS A POLITICAL PUNDIT AND IS SCHEDULED FOR MORE UPCOMING LOCAL CHAT SHOW APPEARANCES!!!

KCTV5 News political analysts Pete Mundo and former Kansas City Mayor Sly James join roundtable discussion over debate Tuesday night six democrats debated for the final time before the Iowa caucus. It was a make or break moment for everyone on stage. Pete Mundo from 710 KCMO Talk Radio and former Kansas City Mayor Sly James joined Brad and Ellen for a discussion about the race.

Better than continued progressive HE SAID/SHE SAID bickering betwixt Bernie Bros & Women For Warren . . . We've found some post-debate chatter from a right-wing talker favorite of this blog along with anoteworthy broadcaster debut . . .He's following in. However, given his former career as a litigator, Mayor Sly's gift for gab and crafting complex arguments is even greater than most established TV personalities and he might make a welcome addition to the otherwise stodgy local talk scene.Here's how he called the Democratic Party slap fight this week:Developing . . .
Hainan to maintain tight restrictions on property purchases: official

HAIKOU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Hainan will maintain tight restrictions on property purchasing within the entire territory of the southern island province, an official said.

Rumors have swirled around that the province will lift property purchase restrictions in 2020.

The restrictions will remain tough, and the policy will still be in place, said Huo Juran, head of the provincial department of housing and urban-rural development.

Hainan will stick to the principle that housing is for living in, not for speculation, Huo said.

"We will keep policy continuity and stability," Huo said.

Hainan will continue to stabilize housing prices and try to solve housing problems for locals and non-locals.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 15:11:54|Editor: huaxia

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HOHHOT, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- A court has sentenced and fined two people for vandalism at a key national protected relics site in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Authorities convicted Zhang and Wang of pushing down a protection marker separating relics in the Woye Ancient Town in Uiad Front Banner. They also damaged several walls at the site, according to the local People's Court.

The court gave Zhang a three-year sentence with a five-year reprieve and a fine of 30,000 yuan (4,355 U.S. dollars). It also sentenced Wang to one year in prison with a reprieve of one year and fined Wang 8,000 yuan.

The Woye Ancient Town is one of the six famous old towns built during the Northern Wei period (386-534). It was a military town at the border.
Imperial Valley News Center

Partisan Impeachment, a Profile in Courage

Washington, DC - The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is accepting nominations for its annual Profile in Courage award. The award recognizes a public official . . . at the federal, state or local level whose actions demonstrate the qualities of politically courageous leadership in the spirit of President Kennedys 1956 book by the same name. It tells the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers by taking unpopular stands for the good of the country.

As the U.S. Senate takes up a purely partisan impeachment, and the mainstream media focuses on what Republican senators may do, it may be timely to consult Kennedys definition of political courage and why he considered one statesman in particular worthy of admiration.

The sixth chapter of JFKs Pulitzer Prize-winning book tells the story of Sen. Edmund G. Ross of Kansas, who, in the view of one historian Kennedy cites, performed the most heroic act in American history. That deed holds important lessons for our own time. Ross won Kennedys esteem by defying his own partys effort to oust a sitting president.

Andrew Johnson had been elected as Abraham Lincolns vice president in 1864 and served alongside him until the Great Emancipator was struck down by an assassins bullet in April 1865. Although he ran on the same ticket as the first Republican president, Johnson was a longtime Democrat who refused to abandon the Union when his home state of Tennessee seceded in 1861. It was no surprise, then, that after a bloody Civil War, he shared Lincolns desire to bring the Southern states back into the fold as soon as possible. Early in his presidency, Johnson made clear that he would continue Lincolns policies.

The new president quickly ran afoul of the Republicans in Congress, who wished to impose a far harsher penalty on the former Confederacy. They grew increasingly impatient with Johnson after he vetoed several pieces of Reconstruction legislation, and they hatched a plot, in Kennedys words, to accomplish their major ambition, now an ill-kept secret, conviction of the president under an impeachment and his dismissal from office!

They found their grounds in a rather pedestrian law, the Tenure of Office Act, which asserted, on dubious constitutional grounds, that the president could not remove an appointed executive-branch officer without Congresss authorization. In August 1867, President Johnson fired War Secretary Edwin Stanton, whom hed inherited from Lincoln, and replaced him with Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.

With public opinion running against Johnson, the Republicans pounced. In February 1868, the House quickly approved articles of impeachment, voting 126-47 along party lines.

Attention soon turned to the Senate. Republicans also held a majority, but not the two-thirds required to convict. None of the 12 Democrats would vote in the affirmative, and of the 36 votes necessary to convict, Republicans were certain of only 35. Six Republicans had already declared their opposition. Ross was the lone holdout.

He had supported emancipation from the beginning. In 1854, when he was 28, he helped a mob rescue a fugitive slave in Milwaukee. Two years later he joined the rush of antislavery settlers to bleeding Kansas. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army, where he rose to the rank of major. And in 1866, he introduced resolutions at a mass meeting in Lawrence, Kan., that condemned then- Sen. Jim Lane for supporting Johnson on several key votes.

But once Johnson was impeached, Ross was determined to render a fair judgment, resisting his own partys stampede. After he told a colleague he wouldnt let his political leanings affect his decision, word spread throughout the caucus that Ross was shaky.

The Republicans came down on him hard. Ross and his fellow doubtful Republicans were daily pestered, spied upon and subjected to every form of pressure, Kennedy wrote almost a century later. They were warned in the party press, harangued by their constituents, and sent dire warnings threatening political ostracism and even assassination. One Republican opponent of the partisan impeachment called these actions of the House Republicans madness.

The pressure was almost unbearable. As Ross later described it, I almost literally looked down into my open grave. Friendships, position, fortune, everything that makes life desirable to an ambitious man were about to be swept away by the breath of my mouth, perhaps forever.

But at the close of the trial on May 16, 1868, he stayed true to his convictions, opposed the passions of his own party, and voted to acquit Johnson. He faced social ostracism and physical assault. Still, he knew he was right. To give Congress such power over presidential appointments, he later wrote, would have revolutionized our political fabric into a partisan Congressional autocracy. He was vindicated in 1887, when Congress repealed the Tenure of Office Act, which the Supreme Court later declared unconstitutional.

By the time he died in 1907, the public view of his role in Johnsons impeachment had changed. As Kennedy wrote, those Kansas newspapers and political leaders who had bitterly denounced him in earlier years praised Ross for his stand against legislative mob rule.

In his book, Kennedy borrows his definition of courage from Ernest Hemingway : grace under pressure. Edmund Ross showed such grace on that fateful day in 1868. Will we see it again?

Now, as all eyes turn to the U.S. Senate and another partisan impeachment, and the parallels between Rosss time and our own are striking.

Then as now, a political faction has forced a partisan impeachment through the House in the heat of an argument over a difference in policy. Then as now, this faction has cheapened the impeachment process, which the Founders believed should be reserved for only the most grave abuses of the public trust.

But despite the focus on what a handful of Republican senators may do, the true profile in courage, as Kennedy understood it, would be a Senate Democrat willing to stand up and reject a partisan impeachment passed by the Democrat-controlled House.

The question naturally arises: Who, among the Senate Democrats, will stand up to the passions of their party this time? Who will stand up against legislative mob rule and for the rule of law? Who will be the 2020 Profile in Courage?

Mr. Pence is vice president of the United States.

This op-ed appeared in The Wall Street Journal on January 16, 2020
Michael William Oley September 27, 1944-February 16, 2019

Michael Oley, who died unexpectedly in his sleep aged 74, had a long working life in the mining industry in Australia, Africa and Asia.

In 1951, Michaels father brought his family from Lancashire, England, to Brisbane, to work at the Southern Electricity Board of Queensland. Christine, Michaels only sibling three years his junior, is a retired geneticist living near Newcastle, UK. Michael went to St Josephs College, Brisbane, where he shone academically, consistently being dux of his class. In his final year, he was school dux and school captain. He was a keen member of the debating group and swam butterfly in the GPS competition. He subscribed to Time magazine while still a student and always read widely.

At the University of Queensland, Michael studied chemical engineering. Engineers were given classes in philosophy and English to round out their education. He learnt that Ludwig Wittgenstein was an engineer, so embarked on a lifetime of reading philosophy. Michael was involved in student politics each year, helped produce the student newspaper Semper Floreat and was vice-president in his final year. He was also president of the Newman Society.

After graduating he joined CRA (now Rio Tinto) in Broken Hill, NSW. While based there, Michael spent extended periods working in Weipa, north Queensland, and Palabora, South Africa. In 1974, Michael married Liz Bryant who he had met at university. After eight years working in Broken Hill, he and Liz moved to Zambia in 1975. Michael joined Roan Consolidated Mining (RCM) at their head office in the capital Lusaka. RCM operated several copper mines, smelters and refineries, as well as cobalt and precious metals processing facilities on the copper belt of Zambia which he visited a couple of times a week.
The 19th century Afghan governor of Kashmir, Jabbar Khan, it is said, decided to test the faith of the Kashmiri Pandits by declaring that Shivratri, their most important festival, would be held in the summer, rather than towards the end of winter when snow flakes would symbolically herald the union of Shiva and Parvati.

On the appointed day, in a sweltering July, it started snowing heavily as mother nature itself seemed to express solidarity with the plight of the persecuted minority. This incident, apocryphal as it may well be, is recounted in most Kashmiri Pandit homes as reflecting their remarkable ability to survive and succeed against apparently insurmountable odds.

Even as we commemorate three decades of the tragic displacement of the Kashmiri Pandits (KPs), from within the Valley, there are, indeed, few communities that have displayed a similar resilience or the ability to adapt in the face of extreme adversity. Even rarer are those who, across centuries, have placed such a premium on education.

So much so that every KPs major ritual begins with the chant: Salutations to you Sharda Devi, who lives in Kashmir, we pray to you every day to bestow on us education, knowledge, and wisdom!

In these last three decades, KPs have demonstrated this spirit of accommodation as well as the emphasis on acquiring knowledge. Not surprisingly, some of the most successful names in the powerful global Indian diaspora are Kashmiri Pandits, who remain intensely engaged with their history and culture as well as the welfare of the community.

The KPs remain a virtually casteless community of a few lakh non-puritanical Brahmins (with only a subtle hierarchy between the priests and those who adopted secular occupations) who are passionately non-vegetarian and have, through the 19th and 20th centuries, succeeded in most professions, including those as intriguing and dangerous as espionage.

Recall that the well known, Mohan Lal Zutshi Kashmiri  master spy, diplomat and linguist  helped the British execute their great game in Afghanistan. Their strength has always been their liberal flexibility shorn, until recently, of any political absolutism.

This, of course, is not that the first time that KPs have witnessed an exodus; by some accounts, this is the fourth time that the Valley was deprived of this extraordinary community, which has remained a microscopic minority for most of the last millennium.

According to some sources, in the late 14th century reign of Sultan Sikandar, only 11 families remained, until his son Zain-ul-Abidin, the Badshah, sought their wise counsel and they returned. The Banmasis were those who returned while the few who had stayed on were the Malmasis; those who left and stayed on the plains, became the downstairs KPs or butt Punjabis like the Nehrus, Haksars and Katjus.

Anecdotes about adversity and the spiritual and practical strength of the KPs have been part of the informal education of every child. And the one mantra to conquer all is universally regarded, within the KPs, as education  a source of liberation and empowerment.

With the Kashmiri Muslims, spare the period of persecution, there was remarkable harmony and interdependence: the KPs were the teachers, in schools, colleges and universities that Muslims respected and held dear. The KPs were great teachers not just of the sciences, but taught languages like Arabic and Persian with the same mastery. Not surprisingly, even the Afghan court had Bhawani Das Kachru, a KP, as a poet laureate.

For much of the daily business of everyday living, the KPs depended on the Muslims, including such personal rituals as a haircut, or a wet nurse, and even the upkeep of the cremation grounds.

There were common shrines of Sufis that both communities revered, and the syncretic culture that provided a united bond. Inter-marriage was very rare and inter-dining not commonplace till even the 1950s, but a camaraderie existed that went beyond traditional stereotypes.

But what of the future? Apart from the few thousand who continue to live in the Valley, and those in the still-wretched camps and townships like Jagti near Jammu, will the KPs return to the Valley? Especially now that the gulf between the KMs and KPs has widened and deepened so much that even the most formidable bridge may not offer a safe page to togetherness.

A little over a decade ago, inspired by the pilgrimage made by the poet philosopher Ayaz Rasool Nazki to Shardapeeth, the ancient seat of learning now in ruins across the Line of Control in the Neelam valley, I had floated the idea of a intellectual homeland for the KPs in the Valley; a new Shardapeeth University.

While obviously it would help in the physical return of the KPs, and through a profession in which they had traditionally excelled, it would also revive the traditional bonds of interdependence between the Pandits and Muslims and create the basis of reconciliation as they lived and learnt together in a common space.

While this idea may now seem like a utopian dream, I do feel that a true reconciliation (through such a institution) between KPs and KMs can provide the only basis for sustainable peace in the Kashmiri Valley.

Even as they reach the pinnacle of material success, for the Kashmiri Pandits, from Botswana to Brisbane, the call of the Valley remains supreme. Not surprisingly, every KP gathering, the world over, often echoes the words of Lal Ded, the 14th century mystical poetess:

Were the ones who were always there, we are the ones who live on;

There was never a time when we were not present

Like Shivas creations that dissolve and rise;

Like the sun that rises and sets and rises again.

We shall return to where we belong

(Amitabh Mattoo, DPhil. (Oxon), Padma Shri,is a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi)
NPP Constituency Chairman for Tema West, Dennis Amfo-Sefa

18.01.2020 LISTEN

Governing New Patriotic Party Tema West Constituency Chairman has stated that President Akufo-Addo will win the 2020 polls whether a new voters register is compiled or not.

Dennis Amfo-Sefah said the agitation by some political parties on the introduction of a new voters register was therefore unnecessary and would, therefore, have no impact on the victory of the President and the NPP in general.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on the issues that were raised on the introduction of a new register, Mr Amfo-Sefah said the agitations were born out of mischief by a people who knew defeat was staring them in the face.

The trends are poignant; it is clear that even with the current register that we are talking about, President Akufo-Addo will have a second term.

For our friends who are making the ugly noises around town, maybe they have forgotten, this is the very same register that gave President Akufo-Addo a landslide victory with a gap of one million votes, Mr. Amfo-Sefah, who is popularly called Nana Boakye, said.

He said under normal circumstance, it was President Akufo-Addo and the NPP which should be fighting the Electoral Commission (EC) over its intent to change the very register which gave the NPP a landslide victory and brought them into power from opposition.

But President Akufo-Addo is not doing this, the NPP is not seeking to use its incumbency to force the EC to maintain this register, which has been favourable to the NPP. It is the opposition parties rather that are fighting for the register to be maintained. The question is why? Register opposition

The coalition of opposition parties has argued that the EC had no justifiable excuse to change the existing biometric register because there was nothing wrong with it.

They also argue that whatever was wrong with the register could easily be solved. EC arguments

However, the EC has said that the existing biometric system is outmoded and expensive to maintain, hence the need to go in for a new one at a cheaper rate.

Parliament has approved about GH390 million for the EC to procure a new biometric system which has facial recognition technology and also compile a new voters register. Fractured parties

Mr Amfo-Sefah said a critical look at the parties opposed to the new voters register showed that the parties were a big joke.

A look at the cast of political parties protesting will easily show you that the whole protest movement is a joke. Take PNC, while their national chairman is protesting, their secretary has said he supports the compilation of a new register. The CPP is similarly fractured. As for Hassan Ayariga and his APC, everybody knows that his party is a one-man show, he said.

He advised the parties to stop wasting their energies on the protest that would end nowhere and rather concentrate on trying to position themselves as alternatives to the NPP government.

Because as for Nana Addo, whether you vote with a new register or not, he is already a winner, Chairman Nana Boakye said.

GNA
SPRINGFIELD  Sen. Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, was elected as the 39th president of the Illinois Senate on Sunday after hours of behind-the-scenes negotiations.

The race had been weeks in the making, and by the time the closed-door negotiations began Sunday shortly after 11 a.m., the field of candidates was down to two  Harmon, who has served in the chamber since 2003, and Sen. Kimberly Lightford, a Maywood Democrat and the majority leader, who has served in the Senate since 1998.

The negotiations took place in the Senate presidents office, which was then occupied by John Cullerton, who relinquished the gavel Sunday prior to the vote on Harmon. The doors to that office were locked to the public and media.

Harmon succeeds Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat who surprised his colleagues in November by announcing his plans to step down. He resigned his Senate seat shortly after Harmon was sworn in.

Harmon reportedly held a 22-17 lead after the first blind ballot, with two senators calling in their votes via phone.

Midway through the second round of negotiations, Sen. Emil Jones III, a Chicago Democrat whose father was the previous Senate president before Cullerton, spoke briefly with reporters about the intensity of the negotiations.

I don't want to say hard feelings, but strong emotions, he said of tension among Democrats. The stakes are high, so emotions are running.

The race appeared to divide the Senate Black Caucus. Jones, who is African-American, said he backed Harmon in the race. But Lightford, also an African-American, was vying to become the first woman elected Senate president.

I did vote for him (Harmon) on the first round, Jones said. Going back and forth, sitting down with both candidates, I had to make a decision for my district. I want to best represent my district and I picked which person I want to help me represent my district.

Democrats emerged from their closed-door caucus shortly before 5 p.m. with a deal that Lightford would concede the race and support Harmon, but that she would also stay on as majority leader.

After the caucus meeting, the full Senate convened for the formal vote.

Don and I have neighboring districts, and we have since 2002, Lightford said in a speech nominating Harmon. So weve been neighbors in the western suburbs and on the west side of Chicago. Weve been neighbors in our district offices, Senate offices, weve been neighbors here on the Senate floor. I cant think of anyone else who would do a wonderful job of leading our caucus, and I look forward to working with him in unity.

The vote went 37-12 in Harmons favor. Two of the Senates 40 Democrats were absent from the chamber and Cullerton abstained. Harmon and Minority Leader Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, voted for each other as Republicans ceremoniously nominated Brady for the post.

In a two-minute media availability after the vote, Harmon said he expects unity from Democrats after the long race between he and Lightford.

You know, were Democrats, we fight with each other, but we always seem to come together and rally around the important issues for working families of Illinois, he said. I have no doubt that there will be work involved, but we will be able to do that successfully and move forward as a very united caucus.

Harmon, 53, was born and raised in Oak Park. During the 2019 session, he was the principal sponsor in the Senate of the proposed constitutional amendment to overhaul the states income tax system, which will appear on the November general election ballot.

Earlier, he pushed for legislation to require gun dealers to be licensed by the state and to expand early childhood education programs. He has also been an advocate for voting rights and clean energy initiatives.

A staunch advocate for working families, Don was instrumental in shepherding the most sweeping and consequential legislative agenda through the state Senate this past year, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who presided over the floor vote, said in a statement following Harmons election.

Harmon takes over leadership of the Senate at a time when some Democratic lawmakers are being targeted by a sprawling federal investigation. Former Sen. Martin Sandoval, D-Chicago, was forced to step down last year after federal authorities executed a search warrant on his Statehouse office.

In addition, Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, was indicted last year on federal charges alleging that he was on a ghost payroll of a Chicago labor union, being paid while doing little or no work. He continues to hold office and has said he intends to serve when lawmakers convene the 2020 session later this month.

Harmon acknowledged the ethical cloud hanging over the General Assembly. In his first speech after being sworn in, he quoted the late President John F. Kennedy, saying: No responsibility of government is more fundamental than the responsibility of maintaining the highest standard of ethical behavior for those who conduct the public business.

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She's been spotted around Los Angeles while completing her court-ordered community service in recent weeks.

Felicity Huffman had some time off from her sentence obligations Saturday as she rented a pickup truck in Los Angeles with her husband William H. Macy, 69.

The 57-year-old Desperate Housewives star rocked a casual look while the two hauled some of their belongs.

On the move: Felicity Huffman, 57, had some time off from her sentence obligations Saturday as she rented a pickup truck in Los Angeles with her husband William H. Macy, 69

Felicity covered up in a black down jacket over a bright blue shirt and dark jeans.

She on a pair of navy Asics trainers and blocked out the sun with a black Nike cap and dark sunglasses.

William kept his look simple with a charcoal sweater and jeans, and he sported the mustache he often has while shooting his long-running Showtime series Shameless.

Casual day: Felicity covered up in a black down jacket and dark jeans while William stuck with a charcoal sweater

It takes three: The actors loaded up the truck to take some things over to a friend's house. They also had some company in the form of their adorable dog, which appeared to be a labradoodle

The two actors loaded up the truck to take some things over to a friend's house.

They also had some company in the form of their adorable dog, which appeared to be a labradoodle.

Felicity has been working on her 250-hour sentence, which she's been serving at the The Teen Project, a non-profit serving at-risk homeless and sex-trafficked young women.

She pleaded guilty last year to honest services fraud after she was indicted as part of the Varsity Blues scandal, which swept up wealthy parents who had fraudulently tried to get their children admitted to elite universities, as well as some of the college employees who had assisted them.

Cheater: The Desperate Housewives star has been serving a 250-hour community service sentence for paying someone to take the SATs while posing as her daughter to get a higher score; shown in September

Still serving: She pleaded guilty to one count of honest services fraud and recived a 14-day sentence and a $30K fine. She also has one year of supervised release; shown in September

Felicity was accused of making a $15,000 donation to a fake charity, which actually went to a person who pretended to be her daughter Sophia Macy while taking the SAT.

The scheme was partially successful, in that the fraudulent score was a considerable improvement over her daughter's PSAT score.

She was arrested at home on March 12 and charged with honest services fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

The latter charge was dropped when she formally pleaded guilty a month later.

She served 12 days of her 14-day prison sentence at the Federal Correction Institution in Dublin, California, near the San Francisco Bay Area, before being let out early.

She's now working on her community service and has a year of supervised release. She also paid a $30,000 fine.

Entering the Zone: Sophia Macy, the 19-year-old daughter of actors Felicity and William, has landed a role in the next season of The Twilight Zone

One person in the family who doesn't seem to have been negatively impacted by the scandal was their daughter Sophia.

The burgeoning actress recently landed a role in the upcoming season of Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone reboot.

Both prosecutors and Felicity have claimed she was unaware of her mysteriously high SAT score.

Old roles: Felicity starred in Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries When They See Us, though her role was filmed before the scandal; shown in 2014 with daughters Sophia (L) and Georgia (R)

In recent years, Felicity has been applauded by critics for her performances in three seasons of the anthology series American Crime.

She was featured on the Epix series Get Shorty, a reboot that ditched the plot and characters of Elmore Leonard's 1990 novel and the 1995 film starring John Travolta, Rene Russo, Gene Hackman and Danny DeVito.

She also played the disgraced prosecutor Linda Fairstein in Ava DuVernay's Netflix miniseries When They See Us, about the wrongfully convicted young men often called the Central Park Five.

Her Oscar-nominated husband has slowed down his film work in recent years while leading the Showtime series Shameless, which premiered in 2011.
Pramodkumar Vaidya By

HUBBALLI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday tore into the anti-CAA camp saying those who oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act are anti-Dalits because 70 per cent of those fleeing neighbouring countries due to religious persecution happen to be Dalits.



Are you against offering citizenship to these persecuted Dalits? Shah asked the Opposition parties. He was addressing a CAA awareness rally in Hubballi.

Shah said there was no clause in the Act that takes away the citizenship of Muslims, and accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of trying to create confusion. I challenge Rahul Gandhi. Read the CAA completely and if you find anything that takes away the citizenship of Indian Muslims....our Pralhad Joshi (Parliamentary Affairs Minister) is ready to debate with you.



ALSO READ: PM Modi flag bearer of Indian culture, tradition, says Amit Shah



Recalling the destruction of Buddha statues in Afghanistan, Shah said a number of temples, churches and gurdwaras were demolished and thousands of people from the minority communities had to endure the atrocities committed by the majority community in Pakistan and Bangladesh. They fled to India to save their life, Shah said.

He pointed out that the religiously persecuted refugees were living a miserable life. To help them lead a respectable life, the Narendra Modi government has thought of giving citizenship to them to protect their human rights.



ALSO READ | No jobs, growth rate is going down but PM Modi is worried about Pakistan: Kapil Sibal at CAA rally

Shah urged activists to visit refugee camps for understand ing their conditions. He lashed out at the Congress for procrastinating the issue all these years despite promises made by their tallest leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabh Bhai Patel and Moulana Abdul Kalam Azaad. Even Mahatma Gandhi had assured the minorities of the neighbouring counties citizenship, he said.

Spares none in opposition



The Communist Party, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the JDS, BSP, and SP of indulging in vote bank politics on CAA, Shah said.
Residents of an inner suburb of Perth are mortified by the possibility of losing one of their major entertainment, employment and education drawcards to the area as plans are floated to move sections of the precinct to the central business district.

Mount Lawley residents have expressed their disappointment over the possible relocation of Edith Cowan University facilities after the institution confirmed it was exploring options to create a CBD-based campus.

ECU Mount Lawley explores options to create CBD-based campus. Credit:Lauren Pilat

ECU was one of four WA unis that submitted an expression of interest in 2019 to the federal and state governments joint City Deal for an undergraduate campus in the CBD to boost economic activity in Perth.

Federal Cities Minister Alan Tudge met with Premier Mark McGowan last year to sign off on the deal and is expected to return to Perth this week as a panel of experts works to evaluate the proposed EOIs.
New Delhi:

A 45-year-old school teacher from India has become the first foreigner to have contracted the mysterious SARS-like coronavirus in China. Preeti Maheshwari, a teacher at an international school in Shenzhen, is undergoing treatment for a new strain of pneumonia. She was admitted to a local hospital after she fell seriously ill last Friday.

On Monday, doctors had confirmed that she has contracted the virus and was shifted to the intensive care unit for the treatment, news agency PTI quoted her husband Ashuman Khowal as saying. He said that his wife was unconscious and doctors have said she could take a long time to recover.

According to the reports from Wuhan, where the virus started surfacing few weeks ago, 17 new cases have been reported, taking the total number of cases to 62. A total of 19 have been cured and discharged from the hospital, and the rest remain in isolation and are receiving treatment, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. So far, the virus has claimed two lives.

India Starts Screen Chinese Travelers For New Coronavirus

On Saturday, India had announced to screen Chinese passengers arriving on direct or connecting flights from the country. Air travellers arriving from China will be subjected to undergo thermal screening as a preventive measure following the outbreak.

"All passengers travelling from China to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), will have to undergo a thermal screening as a matter of precaution," Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said.

The MIAL said it has now expanded its existing passenger safety measures in compliance with the latest directive given by the World Health Organization (WHO) in case if any traveller is detected with the symptoms of the infection, believed to be a new Coronavirus.

The concerned passenger will be immediately shifted to the isolation hospital earmarked for CSMIA on advice of the APHO team, the aerodrome operator said, adding it will share a daily report with the ministry on the scanning of passengers.

"As reported by the Chinese authorities, this is a new type of coronavirus and is different from all other human coronaviruses. The World Health Organization has reported symptoms such as fever, difficulty in breathing and chest radiographs showing bilateral lung infiltrates as the cause of the pneumonia," MIAL said in a press release.

What Is The Chinese Mystery Virus?

The World Health Organization have concluded the infection is a coronavirus, which is a broad family of viruses. So far, only six coronaviruses are known to infect people. The latest virus makes it the seventh one to have infected humans.

The symptoms of this new virus rang from common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome had killed 774 people in China in 2002. According to some analysis of the genetic code, the new virus is closely related to SARS.

The Chinese government has said that there are 50 confirmed cases of the infection and two people have died. However, disease outbreak scientists from UK estimate nearly 1700 people might be infected from the virus. The new estimate has come after two cases of the outbreak, which started in central Chinese city of Wuhan, were confirmed in Thailand and in Japan.

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While criticising internet blockades in general, developers said the whitelist indicated the inability of the J&K government and Ministry of Electronics to understand how the internet works.

Hyderabad: The government of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday announced a list of 153 websites that residents would at last be able to access. This is meant to be a reprieve for the people who have been forced to live with an internet blockade since August 5, 2019. These whitelisted websites include mail, banking, educational and miscellaneous services and importantly, exclude news websites.

However, according to experts, the sites on the list are practically useless. Most modern websites use external libraries to load their content, and none of these websites have been whitelisted.

Shashikanth, an IT professional told Deccan Chronicle, that JavaScript libraries and content delivery network (CDN) services (both of which facilitate loading of content) are used by almost all modern websites. Without access to these external resources, most of these 153 websites will be either unusable or at best, many of their features will be missing, he said.

Other developers noted that domain-specific whitelisting of websites cannot work since it is not in line with modern web development. The entire internet, they said, is extremely interdependent. Almost all websites use JavaScript libraries of various kinds such as jQuery, VueJS and React. If websites are not allowed to access these resources, they wouldnt work properly. Salman Qureshi, a web developer from Srinagar who has had to relocate temporarily to Jalandhar, confirmed that only government websites in the whitelist were working properly.

While criticising internet blockades in general, developers said the whitelist indicated the inability of the J&K government and Ministry of Electronics to understand how the internet works. One cybersecurity researcher from the city, wishing to remain anonymous, explained: If you try to open Gmail through the link mentioned in this list, it will hit a few other websites. The actual login page too loads elements from multiple domains. This means even Gmail will not work properly.

He added, A whitelist would have worked 20 years ago when most websites were hosted on a limited number of servers in one location. It is pretty clear little thought was put into this whitelist. And even less time was spent on considering the feasibility and usability in enforcing it.

Junaid Nazir, a web developer from Srinagar, echoed this sentiment. Nazir said the whitelist meant nothing to him since the general public has little access to the internet anyway. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle via phone, he said, There are probably around 150 centres where the public can try to access the internet. The general public still doesnt have mobile internet.

He too confirmed that to those who could access them, the whitelisted websites will not work well.

Nazir said his own website development business, which employs 15 people, has just died due to the shutdown. Some of his employees moved to Dehradun to continue operations but Nazir himself has had to stay back in Srinagar for personal reasons. The government might think they are doing us a favour by allowing us to access a few websites, but we wont be happy until they open up the internet, he said.

Even if most websites are blocked, Nazir said, We would find a way to access what we want. We will simply use a VPN (virtual private network). In 2016 (the government) blocked Facebook. We used it via VPN. But right now, we people couldnt care less about this whitelist.

Danish, another Srinagar-based developer who moved to Delhi after the shutdown, had similar thoughts. The whole region has been disconnected from the world. The government thinks these small moves (like the whitelist) are enough to pacify us. They arent. We cant be forced to stay in the dark forever, he said.
ALBANY  The main mission of the New York State Association of Counties, an influential Albany-based nonprofit, is to be a voice for the states 62 counties, including their elected leaders and citizens.

But NYSAC simultaneously accepts payments from private business interests, entering into exclusive partnerships and pushing products to its members  county executives  while reaping a cut of the profits.

While NYSACs arrangements with private companies have mostly gone unnoticed, a recent agreement between NYSAC and Verra Mobility  an Arizona-based firm specializing in installing stop-arm cameras on school buses  is drawing protests from Verras chief business rival, which argues that the company has gained an unfair inside track in New York.

In the four months since Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed a law allowing the installation of traffic safety cameras on school buses, the companies have rushed into a lucrative new market for digital imaging firms specializing in issuing traffic tickets.

The state law, which is meant to protect children boarding or departing school buses, gives local governments discretion over whether and how to implement the program. In many cases, those decisions fall to counties.

Counties can now install stop-arm cameras photographing and fining drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. The fines for drivers, starting at $250, could annually generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, which will be split by counties and companies. The digital imaging companies pay for up-front costs for the programs, then receive part of the revenue.

Under an agreement struck this fall, NYSAC will then get a 2 percent cut of the net proceeds earned by Verra. In exchange, NYSAC has given the company its good housekeeping seal of approval as the company seeks contracts from counties. The company also has had an unusual degree of access to county officials.

In recent months, NYSAC has set up and attended meetings with three counties  Dutchess, Onondaga and Broome  and officials spoke about the bus-camera program on phone with three other counties, Suffolk, Tioga and Niagara.

Verra officials were also present at the meetings, where the company was pitched to county officials as NYSACs choice.

Because most of the counties were unaware of the new law, and there were no plans to provide this program for any county in the whole state, NYSAC did some initial outreach, said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario.

The public benefit of the private money paid to NYSAC, according to the nonprofit, is that the funds alleviate the dues burden for counties  which ultimately lessens the burden on taxpayers who help fund NYSACs operations.

Acquario said counties ultimately make their own decisions about which companies to retain.

Every member county, after a determination of need is established, can select Verra or any of its competitors, Acquario said. NYSAC plays no role in those decisions, which are covered by state bidding and best value laws. To ensure full compliance and transparency in this effort, we received an opinion letter from an outside law firm that confirms the preferred service partnership complies with all relevant laws.

No tax dollars are being spent on the partnership, and it will save money for taxpayers, he argued, since the Verra program is entirely funded by revenue from the fines of motorists caught passing buses illegally. There are some 50,000 illegal passing incidents every day in New York, according to the New York Association for Pupil Transportation.

NYSAC has created a number of revenue-sharing partnerships with companies in exchange for NYSAC's endorsement, according to the organization. Its website lists as partners companies such as Cashvest  a Pittsford-based firm that helps counties maximize interest payment earnings  as well as insurance, pharmaceutical, workers compensation and retirement planning firms.

They are intended to either save counties (and county taxpayers) money or improve operational efficiencies, Acquario said. Some counties use our endorsed programs, others use it to get lower costs on their existing providers.

NYSAC, which was founded in 1925, is an influential force in New York politics, especially on issues of common interest to counties, such as property taxes and unfunded mandates. The organization also in some ways itself resembles government.

Some NYSAC employees get government pensions. NYSACs board of directors consists of county executives. And because it files tax returns as a purely governmental entity, NYSAC is not required to publicly disclose a 990 form containing certain details about its finances.

Yet NYSAC accepts substantial sums from private businesses. The chief business competitor of Verra Mobility in the stop-arm camera market believes the arrangement with NYSAC is a conflict of interest.

Jean Souliere, CEO of Virginia-based BusPatrol, said NYSAC never contacted his company before inking the deal with Verra. If NYSAC had, Souliere said, he would have relayed that BusPatrol equips every school bus on every route it serves with cameras, while Verra often only does so on the high-grossing 20 percent of routes.

"The value of a childs life shouldnt depend on what ZIP code they live in, Souliere said. Instead of speaking to us about this essential difference, it looks like NYSAC is touting a company that doesn't follow this lesson because of a revenue sharing deal they cut with them."

NYSAC officials say they went through an extensive vetting process before reaching out to Verra about forming the partnership. NYSAC  not Verra  initiated the partnership, Acquario said.

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

There was no outside influence or additional references that led to the selection, Acquario said. Evidence-based research, environmental scanning and demonstrated track record is the only reason the partnership came together.

While maintaining NYSACs vetting was extensive, a NYSAC spokesman said that he had been unaware of BusPatrols assertion that the company equips all buses with the cameras, while Verra only normally installs them on high-grossing routes.

A Verra spokeswoman responded that not all school district "want or even need school bus stop arm cameras on all of their buses and that about 80 percent of the violations occur on 20 percent of the bus routes. At the same time, she said, the company is willing to equip as many routes as desired by a particular school district. Verra has run a pilot stop-arm program in Suffolk County since 2017 and has implemented programs in a number of cities nationally.

NYSAC wanted to partner with a company with current experience, a strong track record issuing camera violations in the New York state and in particular for our county member, Acquario said. NYSAC's online vetting also turned up news stories about a bribery scandal involving a top official at company purchased by BusPatrol, a spokesman said.

BusPatrol has tried to level what it felt was an unfair playing field. In early November, a lobbyist for BusPatrol  former state Assemblyman Sam Hoyt  contacted NYSAC about similarly partnering with the organization.

According to NYSACs website, companies can buy an associate partnership for $2,500 and an excelsior partnership for $10,000. BusPatrol sought the latter, but was rejected because NYSAC already had the revenue-sharing agreement with Verra. Instead, according to emails, Hoyt was offered a different way to gain access to county officials.

We find ourselves in this scenario all the time," Juanita Munguia, a marketing specialist with NYSAC, wrote to Hoyt, "and competitors do see value in sponsoring and otherwise attending events and programs so they can network with our members."

Indeed, many companies large and small, with business before county executives, sponsor events at its three annual conferences or advertise their services in its newsletter.

Already, Verra has had some success. In early December, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar, whose county had met with NYSAC and Verra officials, announced that Verra would equip 500 school buses with cameras.

A competitive bidding process was not conducted by Broome County. Instead, Broome County piggybacked onto a national cooperative bid process previously conducted in the Houston area  which was won by Verra  and selected the company using the Texas bidding process.

Researching the market and then using a prior bidding program to pick Verra, instead of conducting competitive bidding itself, saved significant time and money, Broome County officials said, noting that the practice is legal.

Dutchess County, meanwhile, issued a request for proposals in November. In that instance, a 123-word section  outlining the required scope of work  is identical to the language used in requests for proposals previously issued in Atlanta and San Antonio  in both cases, bidding processes won by Verra Mobility.

In October, before the request for proposal was issued, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and his staff met with Acquario and an official from Verra.

A spokeswoman for Molinaro, however, said that the copied language in the request for proposal was not provided by NYSAC or Verra.

Dutchess County received a legislation template from the meeting. A county official then took key words from the document and Googled them, coming upon the Atlanta request for proposals  a section of which was then copied into the Dutchess County bid request, she said.
Former Governor of Mizoram Swaraj Kaushal on Sunday welcomed the Central government's agreement with stakeholders to settle Bru-Reang refugees in Tripura and termed the tribe as India's first line of defence along Bangladesh border.

In an exclusive interview to ANI, Kaushal said, "These tribes are all along India's border with Bangladesh, they are your first line of defence. You cannot ignore them. The agreement reflects the country's foresight about security and compassion."

The comments came in the backdrop of the signing of an agreement between the Central government and the governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives under which around 34,000 internally displaced people will be settled in Tripura.

The refugees would get all rights that residents of the states have and would now be able to enjoy the benefits of social welfare schemes of Centre and state governments.

"The Bru-Reang refugee agreement is to settle them permanently so that they lead a life of dignity," Swaraj said.

He also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and said that the initiative would not have been possible without them.

Kaushal added, "Imagine what a person in remote North-East must be thinking? Here is a country of 130 crore and population of Bru-Reang is 2 lakh, and GOI is trying to find a solution for two lakh people of whom 34,000 are worst affected. It is a grand message that country cares."

Former Mizoram Governor said that the agreement has sent a grand message to the people. "The message is that Delhi listens and has addressed the problem. Here in Delhi now, people are seeing the perspective. It is not a question of votes."

He said that the repatriation agreement to resettle refugees in Tripura is not an ad-hoc arrangement but a solution that will last.

Swaraj further added, "There is an aspect to this agreement that has never been written in any agreement before that is there will be residential schools for them. It means the permanent settlement of these people and the education of their children."

The Brus are spread across Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of southern Assam and are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect. They had demanded an Autonomous District Council (ADC), under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in western Mizoram.

In 1997, following ethnic tensions, around 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru tribals were forced to flee Mizoram and seek shelter in Tripura. These people were housed in temporary camps at Kanchanpur in North Tripura.

Since 2010, the central government has been making sustained efforts to permanently rehabilitate these refugees. The Centre has been assisting the two-state governments of Mizoram and Tripura for taking the care of the refugees. Till 2014, 1,622 Bru families returned to Mizoram in different batches.

On July 3, 2018, an agreement was signed between the central government, the two-state governments and representatives of Bru refugees, as a result of which the aid given to these families was increased substantially.

Subsequently, 328 families comprising of 1,369 individuals returned to Mizoram under the agreement. There had been a sustained demand of most Bru families that they may be allowed to settle down in Tripura, considering their apprehensions about their security.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I recently flew from Iowa City, Iowa, to Providence, Rhode Island, on Delta Air Lines. While we were on a stopover in Detroit, the luggage handlers apparently left my bag outside during a thunderstorm. The airline delayed and ultimately canceled my flight because of the storm.

When I retrieved my bag from the baggage claim carousel, it was soaking, and the pull-up handle no longer worked. I contacted Delta three days later when my daughter came to visit to help with the details. Delta began to process my complaint. The airline provided instructions and the need for details like photos and receipts. I accommodated these requests.

Then, to my dismay, Delta abruptly informed me that since more than 24 hours had passed before I made the claim, it was thrown out. Im 90 years old. I simply wanted help with the technology, and I was exhausted from the ordeal. No one at any time suggested I had to do this within 24 hours of my flight. Thank you for your help in the matter that has caused me much angst.  Mardella Carlson, Iowa City, Iowa

A: Im sorry to hear about your luggage. Delta should have taken greater care of your luggage when you were traveling.
The United Nations said on Sunday that a missile attack on a government military camp in central Yemen which killed nearly 80 people could derail a fragile political process that aims to calm the almost five-year-old war.

The attack on Saturday evening hit a mosque in the al-Estiqbal military training camp in Marib, a city held by the internationally-recognised government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, as people gathered for prayer, two medical sources and forces loyal to Hadi said.

The blast was from a ballistic missile launched by their Houthi foes, the forces said. It killed 79 people and wounded 81.

The attack "confirms without doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace", Hadi said in a statement.

The Houthi movement has not claimed responsibility.

The United Nations envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, condemned this incident and other stepped-up air strikes, missile and ground attacks around the country.

"The hardearned progress that Yemen has made on de-escalation is very fragile. Such actions can derail this progress", Griffiths said, urging parties to direct their energies into politics and away from the battle front.

Yemen has been mired in almost five years of conflict since the Iran-aligned Houthi movement ousted Hadi's government from power in the capital Sanaa in late 2014, prompting intervention in 2015 by a Saudi-led military coalition in a bid to restore his government.

The United Nations has been trying to re-launch political negotiations to end the war and, separately, Riyadh has been holding informal talks with the Houthis since late September about de-escalation. This has seen violence decrease on a number of fronts in recent months.

On Sunday a delegation of European Union ambassadors to Yemen was in Sanaa to call for better humanitarian access and an immediate end to the conflict.

Hadi, who resides in Saudi Arabia, said the military should be on high alert after the assault.

The Yemen war has killed more than 100,000 people and pushed millions to the brink of famine.

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How seriously should we take the media? And how seriously should the media take itself? Should it be hysterical and intrusive, or calm and inclusive? These have been some of the questions raised by the event that has overshadowed Brexit: Megxit (as it has been so unelegantly called). Was this a storm waiting to happen, or was it the fault of another dratted American divorcee yet again?

The exit of Meghan and Harry, the soon-to-be-former Duchess and Duke of Sussex, to another country to escape the media glare, the giving up of their titles, and now their offer to pay for the refurbishment of their home in UK, Frogmore House, is not just a storm in an ongoing reality show. It also speaks about the enormous difficulty of maintaining majestic dignity in the face of constant social media assaults. Who needs the Kardashians, when we have the Windsors? Brexit is past. We are now divided by Megxit.

The tabloids have had a love-hate relationship with royalty, that is nothing new. It is only the Queen that they adore; though even her mystique has been dented worldwide with the airing of The Crown. But no one could have anticipated the extent of the current crisis. I have to say one is feeling rather sorry for Meghan, Harry and little Archie. To have to leave their homes to get peace of mind has been difficult enough, but it seems the tabloids will still not back off. There is little acknowledgment of the bullying behaviour they have indulged in. Anyone who has been trolled and abused will understand. To be subject to this constant barrage for a young mother would have been scary.

The Sussexes kept trying to find refuge for the past one year; by physically removing themselves from London and shifting to Frogmore, by not appearing in public than was strictly necessary, by even disappearing over Christmas. Harry still carries scars of what happened to his mother, because no matter how far she ran, there was always a camera spying on her.

Yet instead of a deep introspection, and the drawing up of new rules by the media regulatory authority, the tabloids have further turned it into an Ekta Kapoor serial. Or a game of Lets Blame The Bride, because she is alienating her young husband from his family, while the grandmother is stoic as she tells the country she will bear up. People are totally divided over whether Meghan is an angel or a devil. A fierce quarrel erupted on BBC Question Time last Friday between the actor Laurence Fox and a guest on the show, academic Rachel Boyle, who called him a white privileged man for criticising Meghan. He tweeted later that he was drinking all of these leftist tears nonchalantly.

There is even a court scene coming in the near future with the young royals facing the Daily Mail in an explosive case. Her estranged father will appear against her and for the tabloid she is suing. For a climax to a TV serial you could not do better.

But where will they go and settle? Canada has been rumoured as a destination. When they were last there, Justin Trudeau said Come back again anytime. The Canadian high commission treated them to a dinner and served them their favourite chocolate dessert from Vancouver Island, possibly their intended Canadian home. Now that it could become a reality, Canadian newspapers have launched their own war. The largest selling newspaper, Globe, has raised the issue of who is going to pay for their security. Not Canada, it says. But then, it has been suggested that Harry could be appointed governor-general of Canada (for life?). That will solve problems of who pays for their security and also give an income to suit their style. Meanwhile, the erstwhile royals will need jobs: Meghan will no doubt return to the world of show business and is already doing a voiceover (where the proceeds will go to charity) and Harry will have to find a job suitable for an ex-royal.

The really serious charge is that Meghan quit because of racism. Could that have been the case, apart from the constant media intrusion into her life? I find this a little problematic  because whilst one has not personally experienced it, I know that some people still find the UK a racist nation, even as you climb higher into more and more protected and privileged circles. But this is not unusual in situations where power is held by a few. A conservative royal household which runs on tradition may have been stifling for an outsider.

Despite the challenges, the young couple has handled their departure from the royal household frontline as best they could. They are obviously keen to bring up their young son in a less frenetic environment. However, they will have sacrificed a lot  a regular and large income, a luxurious life, endless publicity, and the undoubted love from many of the British people. Thus, instead of indulging in outrage and criticism, the tabloids and social media ranters should consider toning down their pursuit of celebrity gossip. They must learn to draw the line between private and public space. And perhaps stricter government rules need to be drawn up on how to treat the UKs best known brand, the royals.
Let us learn from John the Baptist not to presume that we already know Jesus, that we already know everything about him, said Francis. He, and He alone carried, suffered, atoned for the sin of each of us, the sin of the world, and also my sins. All of them. He carried them all on himself and took them away from us, so that we could finally be free, no longer slaves to evil. Yes, we are still poor, sinners but not slaves, no; children, children of God!

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis expressed warm hopes vis-a-vis the summit in Berlin on Libya that it may be the beginning of a path towards the end of violence and the start of a negotiated solution that leads to peace and the much-desired stability of the country".

Before the Marian prayer, Francis, commented on today's Gospel (Jn 1: 29-34), underlining the John the Baptists attitude vis-a-vis Jesus when the latter went to be baptised.

Speaking before 30,000 people in St Peters Square, the pontiff noted that "The Baptist could not hold back the urgent desire to give testimony to Jesus when he said: I saw and testified. John saw something shocking, that is, the beloved Son of God in solidarity with sinners; and the Holy Spirit made him understand the unheard-of novelty, a true reversal. In fact, whilst in every religion it is man who offers and sacrifices something to God, in this Jesus event, it is God who offers his Son for the salvation of humanity.

"John shows his amazement and consent about this novelty brought by Jesus, through a meaningful expression that we repeat every time at Mass: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1: 29). John the Baptist's testimony invites us to start afresh on our journey of faith: to start afresh from Jesus Christ, the Lamb full of mercy that the Father has given for us. Let us be surprised again by Gods choice to be on our side, to be in solidarity with us sinners, and to save the world from evil by taking total charge of it.

Let us learn from John the Baptist not to presume that we already know Jesus, that we already know everything about him (Jn 1: 31). It is not the case. Let us stop on the Gospel, perhaps even contemplate an icon of Christ, a 'holy face'. Let us contemplate with the eyes and even more with the heart, and let ourselves be instructed by the Holy Spirit, who tells us inside: It is Him! It is the Son of God who made himself into lamb, immolated for love. He, and He alone carried, suffered, atoned for the sin of each of us, the sin of the world, and also my sins. All of them. He carried them all on himself and took them away from us, so that we might finally be free, no longer slaves to evil. Yes, we are still poor, sinners but not slaves, no; children, children of God!

After the Angelus, Francesco said that 2020 has been designated as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Nurses are the largest group of health workers, and midwifery is perhaps the most noble of professions. Let us pray for all of them, that they may perform their precious work in the best possible way.
More than 600 police departments are reportedly using a new using facial recognition app capable of comparing uploaded photos with three billion images in its database culled from social media and other websites.

Clearview AI allows users to take a photo of a person and upload it to the app, which then matches it up to to publicly-available photos of that person, displaying those images along with links to where they appeared online.

The publicly-available photos of people are said to be in a database that Clearview pulled together from outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, but also Venmo, YouTube, employment and educational websites and supposedly millions of other online sites.

Traditionally, law enforcement agencies use facial recognition software that primarily searches government images like mugshots and driver's license pictures.

In a new report by the New York Times, Clearview's system is said to go 'far beyond anything ever constructed by the United States government or Silicon Valley giants.'

More than 600 police departments are said to be using the Clearview AI app to help identify suspects. This file image demonstrates AI capabilities of facial recognition technology

The Clearview AI app says it has a 3billion image database of photos culled from across the internet. This chart compares Clearview's database to law enforcement photo databases

The report said that the app's computer code allows it be used in conjunction with augmented-reality glasses, potentially allowing anyone with the app to use it to identify anybody they see.

Clearview could be used to identify activists at rallies, but also random, attractive passersby, providing not just names and addresses, but also what they do and who they know, according to the newspaper.

The app's website states that the technology is a 'new research tool used by law enforcement agencies to identify perpetrators and victims of crimes' and that it has helped those agencies capture hundreds of criminals, while also exonerating innocent people and helping to identify the victims of crimes.

At the moment, it appears that only law enforcement organizations are invited to request access to the app.

Clearview told the New York Times that more than 600 law enforcement agencies have started using the app within the past year, but that it has also been licensed to some companies for security reasons.

Among the law enforcement agencies said to be using Clearview AI are local police departments in states including Florida, Georgia and New Jersey, while federal organizations such as the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are said to be testing the app out.

The Indiana State Police said that they were able to solve a case 20 minutes after using the Clearview app, finding a suspected gunman after uploading a photo taken from the fight that had led to the shooting. The app matched up the photo to a social media video he appeared in, where his name appeared in the video caption.

The alleged gunman 'did not have a drivers license and hadnt been arrested as an adult, so he wasnt in government databases,' Chuck Cohen, an Indiana State Police captain at the time, told the New York Times.

Cohen said that man wouldn't have been arrested and charged without the Clearview app's search, because they wouldn't have been able to search social media.

Clearview AI is currently available only to law enforcement agencies and is said to be used by local police departments and is being tested by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security

Clearview says that it is able to produces matches about 75 per cent of the time, but that surveillance images are often shot from an unideal angle for matches. A file image of a security camera's high angle is shown here

Police in Clifton, New Jersey, used the app to identifying shoplifters, a thief at an Apple Store and a good Samaritan who knocked out a man who'd been using a knife to threaten people.

In Gainesville, Florida, police were able to identify more than 30 suspects in previously dead-end cases using Clearview, in part because the app was able to produce matches to profile images or partial views of faces, as opposed to the dead-on images that government facial recognition tools operate with.

The app is not always a sure bet, though - many of the images police have to work with are taken from surveillance cameras that have overhead views, which are not ideal for facial recognition purposes, especially since the images in Clearview's database tend to be taken at eye level.

Still, Clearview told the New York Times that the app is able to find matches up to 75 per cent of the time.

It's not clear how many false matches it finds, however, as the app has not been tested by an independent party.

'The larger the database, the larger the risk of misidentification because of the doppelganger effect,' Clare Garvie, a researcher at Georgetown Universitys Center on Privacy and Technology, told the newspaper. 'Theyre talking about a massive database of random people theyve found on the internet.'

Garvie also noted that there's 'no data to suggest this tool is accurate.'

Because Clearview has not yet been checked out by independent experts, it's said that law enforcement agencies are currently uploading what could be sensitive photos to servers which have not had their data security capabilities tested.

Some law enforcement officials interviewed by the newspaper said that they were unaware that the photos they were running through the app were being sent to and stored on Clearview's servers, however.

Clearview said that its customer support employees don't look at the pictures police submit.

However, as more and more law enforcement agencies start using the app, Clearview is able to grow its database of people who are being searched for by police.

Privacy experts warn against the use of facial recognition AI databases like the one that Clearview offers.

'The weaponization possibilities of this are endless,' High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University co-director Eric Goldman told the newspaper. 'Imagine a rogue law enforcement officer who wants to stalk potential romantic partners, or a foreign government using this to dig up secrets about people to blackmail them or throw them in jail.'

Clearview told the newspaper that the app 'flags possible anomalous search behavior' as a way to stop users from engaging in 'inappropriate searches.'

Several cities and states have now banned the use of facial recognition technology by police and the government, according to Muckrock, which first reported on Clearview AI's use by police.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel greeted world leaders on Sunday (January 19) as they arrived in Berlin ahead of the Libya summit.

Germany and the United Nations hope to persuade Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to push their opposing camps to agree on a lasting truce in Tripoli, home to the internationally-recognized government.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan condemned the international community for not taking a harder line on eastern military commander Khalifa Haftar.

(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING:

"To achieve peace in Libya, a ceasefire and returning to the political process must be agreed at the Berlin summit. In addition to that, to implement the other stages of the political process and solution, (military commander Khalifa) Haftar's aggressive stance must come to an end."

Haftar, who in April started a campaign to take Tripoli, will be the main focus of the one day summit.

Western powers hope to put pressure on him to continue a ceasefire that has largely held for one week.
Future ages will certainly look back upon us as a people so immersed in the pursuit of wealth as to be blind to higher considerations. They will charge us with having culpably allowed the destruction of some of those records of Creation which we had it in our power to preserve; and while professing to regard every living thing as the direct handiwork and best evidence of a Creator, yet, with a strange inconsistency, seeing many of them perish irrecoverably from the face of the earth, uncared for and unknown.
The Iowa Democratic caucuses may be set up for the biggest comeback in political history.

Could the winner of the 1972 and 1976 Democratic caucuses win again 44 years later?

Keep an eye out on caucus night for this upset candidate: "Uncommitted."

OK, seriously. No, "Uncommitted" is not going to win the February 3 Democratic presidential caucuses in Iowa, like it did in those first iterations.

Edmund Muskie  fantastic name  finished second in 1972 and Jimmy Carter was second in the 1976 race that is widely credited with turning the Iowa caucuses into the spectacle they are today. In both, the highest share of Democratic support went to none of the above, or "Uncommitted," as its called in caucus parlance.

Ever since, Iowans have been more decisive at caucus time. The only times "Uncommitted" has showed up on the leaderboard were when there was an incumbent president or in 1992, when native son Tom Harkin ran.

But while its unlikely to be a top finisher this year, "Uncommitted" will be worth watching on caucus night, for a couple of reasons.
Email your questions to lmcbride@independent.ie or write to 'Your Questions, Sunday Independent Business, 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1'.

While we will endeavour to place your questions with the most appropriate expert for your query, this column is not intended to replace professional advice.

Q: I will be returning to Ireland this month after working in Dubai for the past seven years. My Dubai employer has terminated my employment contract early and as a result, I am due a termination payment this month. I will have returned to Ireland by the time I receive it. Will I have to pay Irish tax on it?

Sorcha, Dublin

As an Irish tax resident and Irish domiciled individual, you are liable to income tax here on your worldwide income. However, as you were not Irish tax resident in 2019 but intend to be tax resident in 2020, split-year relief should apply to any employment income earned by you prior to your return to Ireland.

Where the termination payment is explicitly mentioned in your employment contract, it is treated as arising from your employment.

Where the payment is considered employment income, split-year relief may apply and the termination payment should not be subject to Irish tax. Split-year treatment is a special rule to ensure that individuals resident in two countries in the same year are not taxed in both countries for the same income.

Where the termination payment is not explicitly mentioned in your employment contract, it may not be deemed employment income, and so split-year relief might not apply to the payment received when you are Irish tax resident.

However, a certain portion of the termination payment may still be exempt from Irish income tax, universal social charge and PRSI - up to a lifetime limit of 200,000.

Employment income received when you no longer hold the job is deemed to have been received by you in the last year of your employment.

The timing of the payment would need to be reviewed in more detail, as it will be paid to you after you return.

As such, we recommend that detailed tax advice is obtained to ensure the correct tax treatment is applied.

Tax on foreign home

Q: I emigrated to Australia about 10 years ago and have been working there since. I would like to return to Ireland this year. Since my move, I have married an Australian and we have two children. My husband and I own our own property in Australia. If we decide to sell the Australian property before - or shortly after - we move to Ireland, will we be liable to tax on any profit we make on the sale, and do we pay the tax to the Irish authorities or the Australian authorities? Should we decide to rent out the Australian property after we return to Ireland - rather than sell it - must we pay tax on the rental income earned, which authority do we pay the tax to, and are there any ways to reduce any tax due on that rental income?

Ciara, Co Donegal

You are liable to pay Irish capital gains tax (CGT) on your worldwide gains, if you are an Irish resident and Irish domiciled individual. However, if the Australian property has been your main residence for the entire period of ownership, you will not be subject to Irish CGT on any gain made on the disposal of the property, due to principal private residence relief (PPR).

The past 12 months of ownership is deemed to be a period of occupation for PPR relief, whether you lived in the property or not. Any gain made should be exempt once it is sold within 12 months of your return. PPR relief will be restricted where you did not fully occupy the property for the entire period of ownership, prior to the last 12 months.

Where the property is sold prior to your return, when you are not Irish tax resident, it should not fall into the Irish CGT net. As it is an Australian property, Australian tax advice should be sought prior to the sale of your home to establish whether tax applies there.

If you choose to rent out the property in Australia instead, the rental profits (after deducting expenses) may be subject to income tax there.

It would also be subject to income tax in Ireland as you will be Irish resident and domiciled. You may be entitled to claim a credit against your Irish tax liability for any Australian tax paid.

Assuming your partner is not Irish domiciled, it may be possible to avail of the remittance basis of taxation in relation to his portion of Australian rental income that is not remitted to Ireland, and additionally his portion of any consideration from a disposal that is not remitted, if the property were to fall into the Irish tax net on disposal.

Any income or gains attributable to your partner and not remitted would not be taxable in Ireland.

Timing of homecoming

Q: I have worked in the UK since the recession. I would like to move back to Ireland this year. When is the best time during the calendar year for me to return to Ireland - from a tax and social welfare perspective? How do I apply for an Irish PPS number and Irish tax credits? Will I be entitled to Irish state benefits?

Joe, London

The time of year you return to Ireland will determine your residency status. Where you spend 183 days in Ireland in a tax year or 280 days here across two consecutive tax years, with at least 30 days in each year, you will be considered Irish tax resident.

As an Irish resident and Irish domiciled individual, you will be liable to Irish tax on your worldwide income and gains. If you have foreign-source income, it may be more beneficial to be non-resident in your year of return to ensure that these sources of income are not taxable in Ireland. Advice will depend on the sources of income you have. It is also worth noting that as an Irish resident, you will be entitled to a full year's tax credits, even if you are not working in Ireland for the full year.

However, if you are non-resident, you will only be entitled to a portion of tax credits, based on your Irish income as a percentage of your worldwide income.

You may already have a PPS number from prior to your relocation and if so, you do not need to reapply.

However, you will need to register your new employment with the Irish Revenue Commissioners.

In order to obtain a PPS number, you must make an appointment to attend the PPS number allocation centre. Once you have a PPS number, you must register your new employment with Revenue's online myAccount service in order to obtain a tax credit certificate.

You will be entitled to claim Irish state benefits to the extent that you have previously paid social welfare contributions, either in Ireland or the UK.

If you worked in Ireland prior to your move to the UK, your PRSI contributions from this employment will still be on your social welfare record. You will also have paid UK national insurance since you began working there.

As there is a social security bilateral agreement in place between Ireland and the UK, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection will collate your Irish and British social security records when determining your Irish state benefit entitlements.
It's taken a while, but the First and Deputy First Ministers have finally found something on which they can wholeheartedly agree. Unfortunately, what seems to unite them is an eager desire to get their hands on everyone else's money.

Appearing on the BBC's Sunday Politics on Sunday morning, Sinn Fein's deputy leader Michelle O'Neill couldn't have been clearer that her immediate aim is to have revenue-raising powers devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive in order to plug the very considerable gap between what the Assembly wants to do and what it can afford.

The Deputy First Minister's suggested pathway to get there was through a commission on tax powers, in fact she said the new Finance Minister is going to set one up forthwith, though she was less clear about how to make ends meet in the meantime, because commissions by their nature tend to take time.

The inquiry into the cash-for-ash scandal is only now at the end of its deliberations. Deciding whether the Executive should be able to raise money, let alone how it should do so, would presumably be a much bigger undertaking. It couldn't possibly be done before the current Stormont term runs out.

O'Neill isn't wrong to say that a proper analysis of how Northern Ireland can self-fund improvements in public services is long overdue. Scotland has already taken on a number of revenue-raising powers and the Welsh Assembly now has an agreement that the first 10p of every pound paid in income tax stays in Wales. Consideration has even been given to allowing regions in England to become more self-funding.

Since the aim in all these cases is to make local government more accountable, it makes no sense to leave Northern Ireland out of the same conversation, especially since all the political talk around the Assembly right now is about money, or more accurately, the lack thereof.

First Minister Arlene Foster was banging that same drum on the BBC's Inside Politics a few days ago when she suggested that increasing tuition fees might need looked at again to plug the funding shortfall for universities.

Asked about that possibility on Sunday, Michelle O'Neill said she hadn't discussed it with the DUP leader, but that it wasn't on.

She said, "let's look at being creative" instead in terms of finding ways to raise money, but, in the absence of any new ideas, all eggs seem to have been put in the basket of this week's meeting between Conor Murphy and the British Government.

In the more-than-likely event that Boris doesn't bung a few extra bob our way, there's little the Executive can do. It has extremely limited powers to raise or borrow money.

Isn't there a bigger unanswered question underpinning this whole argument, though? Even assuming that the Executive got the power to raise revenue locally, why would anyone in Northern Ireland seriously trust the parties in government with that much control over their wallets?

When she was asked by the BBC's Mark Carruthers for the cost of mitigating tuition fees so that they don't have to rise to the same exorbitant level as in England, O'Neill admitted that she didn't actually know the current cost.

Further asked about Sinn Fein proposals to raise rates on the most expensive houses, she also conceded that members of her party "haven't had those kinds of conversations" with the DUP, which opposes the proposal.

If they're not even talking to each other about these things, what on Earth are they talking about?

With nowhere left to go, Michelle O'Neill predictably opted instead to blame Northern Ireland's problems on, you guessed it, "Tory austerity".

If this is the quality of debate being had in the Executive about how to balance the books, it hardly bodes well for the future.

There have been a number of independent studies done into how Northern Ireland could raise additional revenue, and they have unanimously concluded that, out of all the various tax powers which could be devolved, the only one with the potential to raise the significant amounts of money needed is income tax, and the problem there is that, whilst raising the rates on higher earners is politically attractive to parties of the Left such as Sinn Fein, there just aren't enough rich people in Northern Ireland to fund everything the Executive wants to get done.

The studies all agree that only an increase in the basic rate of income tax would bring in the huge amounts needed - and without wanting to state the obvious, that's unlikely to be popular.

There's also the problem that the UK Treasury may seize on any extra revenue raised locally as an opportunity to cut back the annual block grant to Northern Ireland, thereby requiring even more money to be squeezed out of local pockets.

God alone knows what the Executive would spend all this money on anyway, unless it's Irish language signs nobody needs, Ulster-Scots helplines nobody calls, or another job lot of special advisers, who are special only in the sense that they seem to be exempt from the rules under which everyone else has to operate.

Politicians may love spending other people's money, but that doesn't mean they're any good at spending it wisely, and they're definitely amateurs when it comes to understanding how to get the golden eggs without killing the goose that lays them. Arlene Foster certainly didn't seem to be considering the needs of already debt-burdened students when she casually threw out the suggestion of increasing tuition fees.

The other problem with giving the Executive finance-raising powers is that there would be no accountability whatsoever. There are only five Members of the Assembly who are not in government. All the main parties are part of the club, so who would be left to hold them accountable for the money that they raise and the way they choose to spend it? People's money would effectively be held hostage by the Executive, with little chance of ever paying the constantly increasing ransom.

Before being given such sweeping new powers, the Executive needs to demonstrate that it can sensibly manage the money it's already been given.

After three years without an Assembly, during which time the dysfunctionality of the old one has been shockingly exposed, it doesn't inspire confidence that the very first item on the agenda when ministers return is how to wangle more money from the people whose trust they've abused.

There's an irony here, which is that giving them tax-raising powers would, over time, arguably make them more responsible in how they spend public money, but they've not yet proven responsible enough to take the risk that it wouldn't quickly go pear-shaped.
Prompted by a comment from his disabled four-year-old daughter, Wolf Kuper gave up his pressured career to do what mattered most  spend precious time with his family as they embarked on a mystery tour together

'We need small people like her who wear their hearts on their sleeves, catch us out with all the right questions and think everything is possible'

Snuggled on my daughter Ninas bed, we had finished one story when she reminded me that good dads always read more than one. I sighed inwardly. It was already 8.23pm, and I had a deadline the following day. Answering her truthfully, I explained that I had a lot to do and could only spare another ten minutes.

Ten minutes? four-year-old Nina chirped, deep within a pile of pillows. Two arms emerged and pulled at my neck. Oh, Daddy  I wish we had a million minutes. Just for all the really nice things, you know? She squeezed my face between her hands. A million minutes. Tomorrow you can tell me a million-minute story, all right?

At that precise moment it hit me. A crack suddenly appeared, splintering my already skewed concept of work/life balance. Everything crumbled: my career goals, the image I had of what a healthy family, fatherhood, partnership should look like  even what it meant to be happy. But more than anything, the crack shattered the idea that it was perfectly natural to have time for everything, except the very things that mattered most.

I lived with my wife Vera and two children, Nina and baby Simon, in Bonn, Germany, but I rarely saw them. I was working as an environmental scientist and travelled the world as a consultant for the United Nations. That success came at a cost. I worked at fever pitch: ridiculous numbers of meetings, late hours, weekend work. It felt like a kind of tunnel.

'Some people thought I was nuts; others said I was screwing up my future

I had to admit, though, that even when I was in Bonn I spent more time at the university than at home. Perhaps, as Vera kept suggesting, it was because I found home life overwhelming.

I denied it, but it could be tough. Nina is physically disabled and ever since she had started lurching determinedly through my carefully planned life, like a combination of Charlie Chaplin and Pinocchio, the future seemed guaranteed to take a completely different course. From the start, it was as if Nina had carefully avoided doing what children are supposed to do. For the first eight months, she didnt smile; she barely reacted to us at all. We smiled less, too. We were always taking Nina to be assessed, trying to stay calm as we waited for the results.

Despite this, she had learnt to walk and talk. Experts said she had delayed development, especially in her motor skills. This left a lot of space for hope and imagination. Nothing was broken or missing. Now, at nearly five, smiling was no longer a problem  indeed, shed overtaken me on that front. We clung to the notion that life would eventually resume its course, despite the fact that she regularly behaved as if she were a stubborn extraterrestrial pensioner on holiday.

Then, during an assessment by a leading cognitive psychologist, Nina gave a weird and wonderful performance. She adamantly insisted dogs, not rain, fell from the sky. The doctor concluded her behaviour was probably only the tip of the iceberg and that this was, ultimately, how it was going to stay.

I had to reluctantly acknowledge that an international career was no longer viable. For the egocentric workaholic in me, it briefly felt like the end of all dreams. I had so carefully put together the jigsaw of my life, and now it seemed as if I had chosen the wrong pieces. I would have to start again from the beginning  and do it differently. But how?

Since Ninas birth, it had gradually become clear that whenever we went on holiday, she blossomed. During a trip to Namibia, at nine months old, she smiled for the first time. On a campsite in southern France, Nina started to talk. In Mallorca, when she was two, she stood up. Friends would ask when shed reached her milestones  and more and more our replies were in the form of place names rather than dates. Shed been able to catch a ball since Whitby, told her first joke in Ameland, learnt to swing in Aix-en-Provence. Whenever we went anywhere, something wonderful would happen.

As Vera and I talked, pieces of the jigsaw started coming together. If we theoretically had one million minutes, which Id worked out to be almost precisely two years, how far could we go  and what might we all achieve?

That evening, after sourcing 1,367 dried peas which Nina had joyfully and carefully distributed throughout our flat while singing a song about Cinderella, something shifted in my heart: this was not the end of my dreams. It was actually the beginning.

It feels strange to saw off the branch youre sitting on  especially when people keep trying to wrestle the saw out of your hands. Some people, I could tell, thought I was nuts; others told me I was screwing up my future. But we were all really excited. Vera and I had rarely laughed as much. I could finally look myself in the eye in the mirror without scaring myself.

We booked a flight to Thailand, but there were no concrete plans, no to-do lists for the million minutes ahead. On the tiny island of Ko Phra Thong, under the dazzling tropical sun, we had time  but hadnt worked out yet what to do with it.

Nina didnt have the slightest difficulty. To my surprise, the nicest things were small moments  making bonfires or sandcastles on the beach, finding sea urchins in the rocky bays. Why did it mean so much to me when I finally found a red double-twisted shell after crawling around on the beach for an hour? It felt as if something inside me was stirring into life after years of lying dormant.

'To my surprise, the nicest things were small moments  making bonfires or sandcastles on the beach, finding sea urchins in the rocky bays'

Vera had never looked so beautiful: her eyes shining in her tanned face. The kids looked as wild as they were. But it took seven weeks before I finally managed to follow Ninas example and relax enough to lie down with my head on the sand.

After three months of island hopping, we flew to Cairns on Australias Queensland coast and rented a small house in Port Douglas. Ten minutes walk into Daintree National Park and we were in a world of towering rainforest trees, twisting lianas, strangler figs, glow-in-the-dark fungi and tree frogs.

Winding through this lushness were rivers which tumbled into glittering rocky basins of bubbling bluey-green. You couldnt swim in them without getting ravenously hungry. As we enjoyed our picnic, everything was just right: nothing to do but relax and enjoy. Then Nina piped up. What do you want to be when you grow up? she said. I asked her the same question, to buy time. Fireman, of course, she replied. And I want to fly.

But what did I want? For as long as I could remember, Id wanted to travel the world  to sail the oceans, climb the Himalayas, trek over wastes of ice in Alaska and across the desert. My UN grant meant I was flown all over the place, but rarely had time to explore a destination. I had worked 19 hours a day and my plans had become for someday. I hadnt even noticed I was waiting. I had other goals: a professorship, a beautiful house, a shiny red car. It was a dot-to-dot picture where one thing led to another, but didnt leave scope for big dreams. When Nina and Simon came along, the routes Id sketched in had to be abandoned. Now, here we finally were.

This is what I want to be! I almost shouted the words. Were discovering things every day, I explained. Simons learning to walk on the beach. I just want this. The lovely thing was that Nina knew what I meant.

Nina was very determined, but anything physical regularly ended in tears. One day, playing a game in our local park and toppling over for the third time, she sobbed: Ill never be able to join the fire brigade, will I? Ever!

Lets wait and see, I said, not wanting to rob her of her dream.

A few days later we were on the beach when we saw Michael, a former fisherman whod lost the use of his limbs to encephalitis some years before. He rode on an electric beach buggy with a strange-looking trailer. He cant be a fireman either, Nina whispered. We watched as Michael tugged at a kind of tarpaulin which turned out to be a huge stunt kite, tied to the buggy with string. It filled with air, a jolt pulling the buggy forwards, rolling faster and faster. Eventually Michael was hurtling along the beach at an insane speed. Nina was speechless.

Later, having resolved to tell Michael how impressed I was, he said: Fighting wont bring my old life back. The wind doesnt blow any stronger just because you fight for it, or hope for it, or wait for it In other words, embrace the opportunities that come your way.

Nina, back from her travels. We need small people like her who think everything is possible, says her father Wolf

We didnt have to wait long. That evening, we held a beach barbecue for Ninas birthday. We lit a bonfire at dusk, despite it being strictly forbidden. Suddenly we were surrounded by bright lights and looming monsters. Five men in firefighters uniforms were marching towards us. Pumping foam on to the fire, one flipped up his visor. You cant make a fire here, he said sharply. I apologised, explaining it had been Ninas birthday request.

The man stopped. Oh, I see. He grabbed a red megaphone. Fireman Nina, we need your help. Ninas face was red with excitement. The man thrust a pair of enormous gloves into her hands, and a huge red shovel. He told her she was the only one who could shovel sand on to the embers  quite a dangerous job. Nina was shovelling for her life. If it had been up to her, shed have carried on until the entire beach had been shovelled on to that square metre of bonfire.

Our journey took us to the rugged southern coast of Western Australia and then on to the wilderness of New Zealands South Island. It was on the banks of Lake Tekapo that we realised it was nearly time to go  we had almost reached our millionth minute.

We gazed at the huge expanse of bright blue lake, and the purplish mountains beyond it. Such a beautiful wilderness. It was hard to imagine being back in a big European city.

We had become more of a family than I could ever have imagined. Is it absurd to talk about getting to know your own children? Both Simon and Nina were deeper and more complex than Id thought. I had mixed feelings about it all coming to an end. We had no plan for what would happen next.

For Nina, it was a shock. Not once in two years had she asked us how long wed been travelling or how much time we had left. That is part of the paradise of childhood: each day is just another piece of infinity. To console her, I asked her to go to the lakeside and fill her bucket with a million drops of water and pretend that each drop was a minute. The lake, I said, contained all the minutes of her life. Then I asked her to tip the water back into the lake.

Wolf today: We became more of a family than I could ever have imagined

They havent gone anywhere at all, I said. Those million minutes havent been lost. Now theyre part of your life. She seemed pensive now, rather than upset.

Time to set off. We looked back at the magical view  the mountains, the water, the endless expanse of blue. Eventually Vera broke the silence.

That lake really is an incredible colour, she said.

Thats because of all the happy minutes, said Nina, staring out of the car window. The happiest minutes are blue.

It may not surprise you that there was no happy-ever-after.

But at least there was a different-ever-after. Obviously, my career went down the drain. We are now chronically broke and will probably never own our own property. But I say this without any bitterness and only to highlight that dreams dont come for free. As long as you are willing to accept there will be a price, you have the freedom to make any decision you want.

We overlook the importance of time in our lives. Most of us have to choose between making money and having more time. Do I want a new car or would I like Thursday afternoons off to go to the mountains or the sea with my wife? Do I want the new smartphone or to spend Monday afternoons with my son in the playground? I know what my answer is.

Nina, meanwhile, is doing very well. It doesnt look like she will ever experience real stress, be able to tell the time properly, eat on the go, or strive to be boringly realistic. We need small people like her who wear their hearts on their sleeves, catch us out with all the right questions and think everything is possible. All we have to do is listen properly.

This is an edited extract from One Million Minutes by Wolf Kuper, to be published on 23 January by Bonnier Books, price 12.99. To order a copy for 7.99 with free p&p until 26 January, call 01603 648155 or go to mailshop.co.uk
It is a myth that dogs are safe and loved if they have a home. There are those cruel owners who make the lives of their pets living hell and some even get away with it. Not the man in question. A dog owner has finally been jailed after a year after his defenceless pooch was found unconscious and covered in blood because of horrifying injuries.

RSPCA

50-year-old Gary David Bell of Keighley, West Yorks, was arrested on suspicion of beating his American Bulldog and charged with three offences under the Animal Welfare Act.

Last year a RSPCA inspector found the dog, Smiler, seriously injured at her owner's home. "I went to Bell's home with police after having a couple of dealings with him about his dog Smiler...and becoming increasingly concerned about her. Initially there was no reply, then myself and one of the police officers heard heavy breathing through the ground floor bathroom window.

RSPCA

I was horrified to see Smiler in the bath with a bloodied tea towel on her head, Mirror UK quoted Sarah Bagley as saying.

She immediately took Smiler to a vet who informed her that the injuries were not accidental.

RSPCA

Bell denied the offences of metting out cruelty towards his pet. However, this month he was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering, inflicting trauma and failing to provide veterinary attention. He has been jailed for 16 weeks and forever banned from keeping animals for life.

This however, is not one of its kind case.

Dog Left With No Fur After Suffering 'Unimaginable Pain'

A dog who was subject to six years of misery was rescued with almost no fur. The Akita, named Keeta, was found in a bad condition at an address in Derbyshire.

RSPCA rushed the dog to vets who said they had not seen a dog with such severe dry eyes before.

BPM Media

The last time the dog was taken to a vet was in 2013.

The dog's owners Hayley Langton, 23, and Derek Yeomans, 69 pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a dog between August and September last year. However, both have been disqualified from keeping dogs for a period without limit.

Heartless Man Hurls, Kicks Pet Dog Because Of Huge Medical Bill At The Vet's

A lot of consideration should go into the decision of having pets: you should have a welcoming and friendly home, you should have time for your future pet and, most importantly, you should be able to afford its living.

Animals fall sick and need treatments just like we do, and at times those can be expensive. This is a no-brainer. What's sickening is when some of us blame a sick animal for its condition then give it hell when the bill at the vet's office turns out to be huge.

A video of a man, thrashing his dog at the vet's office, went viral last year. The sick man, hurled his ailing dog because the bill from its treatment was expensive.



Man ruthlessly hurls dog to the floor & kicks it after allegedly seeing the high medical bill https://t.co/MbcG0zR0Rd pic.twitter.com/eHNqblY8YB  Mothership.sg (@MothershipSG) October 7, 2019

In the video one can see that the man in grey shirt almost tears the dog off from the hands of the vet who was about to put the dog in a cage.

After that, the man hurls his own dog to the ground with all its might. The dog seems to be lying there motionless but the man did not stop there. He starts kicking his dog in the face and neck area! Thankfully one of the nurses/attendants, angered by the man intervenes and kicks and pushes him away from the already sick dog. We absolutely share the sentiments of the woman. How can a person who has lived with an animal be so cruel towards it only because its medical bill was expensive?



Heartless Owner Abandons Dog Who Gave Birth To Six Puppies, She Was Found Chained And Hungry

In another case of animal neglect, a dog with six new born puppies was found abandoned and tied to a chain in a field in County Roscommon, Ireland.



ISPCA

The poor dog was spotted by a walker and the puppies were so young that they had not even opened their eyes yet. The dog and her puppies were quickly taken to ISPCA National Animal Centre in Longford.

If people cannot handle the responsibility of having pets, the solution is simple- do not have one.
For months, the opposition claims, Maduro has sought to buy off and extort opposition lawmakers into abandoning Guaido. The plan came to a head this month when lawmaker Luis Parra, allegedly bribed by the government, was abruptly installed to replace Guaido as head of the National Assembly, while security forces kept Guaidos supporters from entering the legislative palace. The National Assembly is key to approving legislation, including new oil deals, that could theoretically provide vital new revenue streams for the Maduro government. It also provides the constitutional legitimacy of Guaidos claim to be Venezuelans rightful president.
Introduction

The United States state of Indiana is located in the countrys northern region in the Great Lakes and Midwestern area. Nicknamed the Hoosier State, Indianas capital city, which is also the largest, is Indianapolis. With an area of around 36,418 square miles, Indiana is the 38th largest state out of all the 50 states in the US. As of 2018, the state had a population of about 6.7 million, which makes it the 17th most populated state. The state of Indiana, as we know it today, was established back on December 11, 1816, which is the year when it was admitted to the Union. Prior to the admission, it was simply known as the Indiana territory.

History

Paleo-Indians were the first people to inhabit Indiana around 8000 BC after the end of the Ice Age. After this group, the Archaic Age, which lasted between 5000 and 4000 BC, came with a different set of indigenous cultures. These cultures were more advanced in their ways of life than the previous ones. Other periods that saw different cultures were the Woodland Period, which started around 1500 BC and the Mississippian Era, which started around 1000 AD all the way to the 15th century.

The Arrival of the Europeans

The first time Europeans set foot in Indiana was back in 1679 after the arrival of French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. A year later, he went back to Indiana and soon after, there were more Europeans arriving in the region and established trade. Some of the products traded included jewelry, whiskey, fur, and others.

The French went on to establish a number of trading posts due to the booming fur trade. The trade was what prompted the British to war with the French in the 1750s. By 1763, the British finally won the territory and kicked out the French. Eventually, the American Revolutionary finally kicked the British out and saw the establishment of the United States.

The Indiana Territory

The Congress of the newly formed United States established the Indiana Territory back in 1800 with Vincennes as its capital. Present-day Indiana was formed after the formation of the Illinois Territory in 1809. In the coming years, the US managed to remove rebel resistance in the form of native fighters during the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811.

Ascension to Statehood

In 1815, the state made a formal request to be admitted to the Union. The request was approved and an Enabling Act created for the establishment of the states constitution. The constitution was written in 19 days from June 10, 1816. On December 11 of the same year, President James Madison formally admitted Indiana into the Union. The state capital was changed to Indianapolis from Corydon a few years later in 1825.

After the induction into the Union, Indiana embarked on a building path to establish the state as a major state in terms of development. The Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act was probably the most influential development project. The project saw the development of roads, public schools, railroads, and other things. Despite bankrupting the state, the act paid off fourfold through things like increasing land value.
Terminally-ill Glenn Quinn is the SEVENTH person to have been murdered by an out-of-control serial killing UDA gang based in Carrickfergus.

All of the victims were targeted following personal disputes, with police unable to secure a single conviction in each of the cases which span two decades.

This abject failure has led to a climate of fear in the seaside town, with locals too afraid to speak out as they view the UDA unit as being "untouchable".

The silence is also hampering the police investigation into the killing of 47-year-old Glenn, who was beaten to death in his Ashleigh Park flat on January 3.

His crime, in the eyes of the terror gang, was to complain about its arson attacks on a mechanic business owned by his friend Joe Dunlop.

The Carrickfergus UDA's other unsolved murders include that of Chinese takeaway owner Simon Tang (28), who was beaten to death during a race-hate robbery.

Charlie Strain (28), Tommy Hollran (49) and Hugh Cameron (36) were all abducted and murdered by the organisation, as was loyalist Mark 'Judge' Gourley (36) who was secretly buried and has never been found. Two years ago ex-Carrickfergus UDA commander Geordie Gilmore (44) was shot dead by his former associates during a feud.

Expand Close Mark 'Judge' Gourley (36) was secretly buried. Credit: Pacemaker / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mark 'Judge' Gourley (36) was secretly buried. Credit: Pacemaker

The PSNI's inability to successfully prosecute anyone in connection with these multiple murders has severely weakened what little local confidence there is in Glenn's killers being caught.

This is a fact not lost on Ulster Unionist MLA John Stewart, a Carrickfergus native who organised last weekend's vigil outside the town's historic castle in memory of the UDA's latest murder victim.

He told Sunday Life: " Sadly, in small pockets of this brilliant town decent people are living under a blanket of fear, too frightened to speak out for fear of retribution from sinister elements who appear to be beyond the law.

"What we need to see is arrests and convictions. The power of organised criminals, terror gangs and lawless thugs needs to be broken once and for all."

The week before he was beaten to death Glenn Quinn was involved in a clash with senior Carrickfergus UDA figure Colin Simms.

The 39-year-old loyalist is reported to have elbowed the former barman in the face after finding out he had criticised UDA arson attacks on Dunlop's business.

The PSNI has publicly linked Glenn's murder to an incident on December 29 in which Glenn wasn't seriously hurt but was left frightened.

Convicted death driver and drug dealer Simms was arrested but freed on police bail to an address in Larne having strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Also lifted and later released on bail to a house in Whitehead was a 47-year-old woman who cops suspect complained to the UDA about Glenn bad-mouthing the terror gang.

A 38-year-old man, who is a suspect in the 2017 UDA feud killing of Geordie Gilmore, was another arrested on suspicion of murder.

Expand Close Carrickfergus loyalist George Gilmore / Facebook

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He was also freed on bail, however his dog was impounded with DNA samples taken from the pet being tested against animal hair and excrement found in Glenn's flat.

The baseball bat-wielding gang, which forced their way into the property after hiding under a communal stairwell in the complex, were accompanied by a dog.

Facing a public backlash South East Antrim UDA boss Gary Fisher has disowned those involved in the murder. He is even claiming that one of the killers was expelled from the organisation last year.

However, UDA sources have rubbished this as a desperate attempt by Fisher to save face. They are also predicting that those involved in Glenn Quinn's death could face internal retribution at the hands of the terror gang, which has around 2,000 members in South East Antrim with 500 based in Carrickfergus.

"The talk is that the UDA could execute the fella who organised the attack on Glenn," said a source.

"He was already in trouble before this, and is seen as a loose cannon who has brought far too much negative attention from the cops and the media. Glenn's beating wasn't even sanctioned and Fisher is raging that he has been dragged into this mess."

Prior to Glenn Quinn's murder, the South East Antrim UDA was among the PSNI Paramilitary Crime Taskforce's main targets along with the West Belfast UDA, East Belfast UVF and West Belfast INLA.

That status has now been upgraded to 'priority', with raids on Fisher's key lieutenants imminent. Taskforce bosses have been ordered to dismantle the South East Antrim UDA's lucrative drug dealing operation that stretches from Larne to north Belfast.

At Glenn's funeral last Wednesday at Joymount Presbyterian Church, the murder victim was described as a man with a "big heart" who loved his family and friends.

Expand Close The funeral of Glenn Alexander Quinn at Joymount Presbyterian Church in Carrickfergus. Credit: Pacemaker / Facebook

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Whatsapp The funeral of Glenn Alexander Quinn at Joymount Presbyterian Church in Carrickfergus. Credit: Pacemaker

He was also battling a terminal liver disease and was unable to defend himself when attacked by his UDA killers who beat him so badly that his coffin was closed throughout his wake.

Cops investigating Glenn's killing have released CCTV footage of him in a shop on the Woodburn Road in Carrickfergus the day before his death.

Detective Chief Inspector Darren McCartney wants anyone who saw or spoke to him to contact police.

He said: "I would also like to hear from anyone who saw or spoke to Glenn in the days before his murder. This was a violent and unprovoked attack on a vulnerable member of your community who was not in the best of health. The appalling individuals, who preyed on defenceless Glenn in his own home, need to be caught and put behind bars."

Anyone with information on the Glenn Quinn murder should contact the PSNI on the non-emergency 101 number or the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claimed in an interview with the Washington Post that he is comfortably in control of his country and open to direct negotiations with the U.S. to resolve their "confrontational relationship."

Why it matters: The Trump administration's bet that Maduro would fall in 2019 in the midst of an economic collapse, a massive refugee crisis and an international push for regime change appears to have failed.

What they're saying: If theres respect between governments, no matter how big the United States is, and if theres a dialogue, an exchange of truthful information, then be sure we can create a new type of relationship, Maduro told the Post.

Maduro suggested that U.S. companies could reap the benefit of Venezuelan oil if President Trump reset relations, but dismissed international opposition to his regime and made clear that he intends to remain in power.

could reap the benefit of Venezuelan oil if President Trump reset relations, but dismissed international opposition to his regime and made clear that he intends to remain in power. Do you want me to tell you the truth? I dont care even a little bit about what Europe does, or about what the U.S. does," he said. "No matter how many thousand sanctions, they wont stop us, or Venezuela.

to tell you the truth? I dont care even a little bit about what Europe does, or about what the U.S. does," he said. "No matter how many thousand sanctions, they wont stop us, or Venezuela. He also attacked hawks in the Trump administration for implementing hardline policies like the economic sanctions that have crippled the country, a line that other foreign adversaries like the Iranians have also echoed.

I believe Mike Pompeo has failed in Venezuela and is responsible for Donald Trumps failure in his policy toward our country. I think Pompeo lives in a fantasy. Hes not a man with his feet on earth. I think Trump has had terrible advisers on Venezuela. John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, Elliott Abrams have caused him to have a wrong vision.

 Maduro

Former White House national security adviser John Bolton tweeted Sunday: "Maduro tells the Washington Post he wants negotiations with the United States? The only negotiations we should have with Maduro are what he wants for lunch on the plane that will take him to permanent exile in Cuba or Russia. Viva Venezuela libre."

The big picture: The U.S. and 60 other nations recognize opposition leader and the head Venezuelas legislature Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate president. Security forces this month attempted to block Guaido from entering the country's National Assembly so the body could swear in a candidate loyal to Maduro as its leader.

Direct talks with the U.S. are unlikely. The Trump administration has repeatedly called for Maduro's exit from the presidential palace, and the talks would most likely bolster his legitimacy, strengthening his position.

Go deeper: Venezuela's Maduro survives 2019
New or expectant mothers across the United States are dying during or after childbirth at higher rates than in nearly every other industrialized nation and evidence suggests as many as 60% of these deaths are preventable.

Nine mothers in South Dakota died in 2018 within a year of giving birth, and 10 more died due to pregnancy complications within six weeks of giving birth from 2010 to 2015, according to federal data.

Experts say that in South Dakota, high rates of obesity, diabetes and smoking as well as a trend toward giving birth at older ages may contribute to the relatively high maternal complication and death rate. A lack of access to health care and inefficiencies or mistakes in the birthing process are also seen as factors. Native American women face a particularly high risk of death during pregnancy.

The state Department of Health has formed a committee made up of medical professionals that will meet later this year to address the risks during childbirth and seek solutions.

Giving birth is one of the most common reasons younger American women are admitted to a hospital, with roughly 3.7 million births recorded nationally each year, including about 12,000 in South Dakota.

Between 2010 and 2015 in South Dakota, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there were 10 pregnancy-related deaths, which is an estimate based on birth and death records.

Maternal pregnancy-associated deaths  those that occur within a year of the end of a pregnancy but are not necessarily connected to the pregnancy  averaged 7.2 per year between 2010 and 2018, according to the state Department of Health. There were nine deaths in 2018.

The CDC estimates that roughly 700 American women die due to pregnancy-related complications every year. In 2017, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 19 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the World Health Organization. Countries with similar economic conditions saw a much lower rate. The United Kingdom saw 7 deaths per 100,000 live births and Canada recorded 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 births that year.

About 50,000 women in the U.S. annually are estimated to experience life-threatening pregnancy complications such as heavy bleeding, organ failure or the dangerous blood-pressure condition called preeclampsia.

South Dakota does not keep data on the prevalence of severe pregnancy complications, but such problems are not uncommon, according to Dr. Jennifer McKay, who oversees obstetrics and gynecological services at Avera Health.

Yet relatively little is known about how often complications arise. In South Dakota, there is no requirement for hospitals to report how often they give new mothers blood transfusions or treat a pregnant woman for dangerously high blood pressure. Until this year, the state didnt have a statewide review process to study the factors causing pregnant women to die in childbirth.

Data that does exist is largely based on national surveys of hospital admissions and discharge paperwork as well as analyses of death certificates and birth certificates. The data show that both maternal deaths and the incidents of life-threatening complications are significant and have been growing in the U.S. since at least 1987.

The occurrence of life-threatening complications, for example, rose by nearly 200% between 1993 and 2014, according to the CDC National Inpatient Sample, a random sample of the nations hospital admissions.

The national rate of pregnancy-related deaths more than doubled between 1987, when the rate was 7.2 deaths per 100,000 births, and 2014, when the rate was 18 deaths per 100,000 births, according to the CDC Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System, which surveys death certificates as a way to monitor pregnancy-related deaths.

Existing data also shows that roughly 60% of maternal deaths could be prevented. Researchers with the CDC have found that delivery hospitals could do a better job of creating standard procedures for monitoring and responding to emergencies such as high blood pressure and excessive bleeding in mothers before, during and after delivery.

At Avera Health, McKay said she and her colleagues have been implementing new protocols for monitoring blood loss. At Sanford Health, an innovative piece of technology is helping hospital staff better monitor blood pressure in new mothers.

Later this year, the states new Maternal Mortality Review Committee will hold its first official meeting to analyze maternal deaths and try to figure out how to prevent more such deaths in the future.

It may change what we think about maternal mortality, said Colleen Winter, division director for family and community health at the South Dakota Department of Health.

No single cause has been pegged as the reason for Americas rising rates of maternal death and severe pregnancy complications. But the trend has coincided with rising health care costs as well as rising rates of chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. The average age of women giving birth has risen, too. And, until this year, there really wasnt a standard for how hospitals were expected to identify, treat and train for responding to severe pregnancy complications.

Whats interesting about women in South Dakota is that we tend to be overweight and gain too much weight (during pregnancy). We have higher rates of smoking. We are rural, which people dont think of rurality as being a social determinant of health but in fact it is. And then we have the complications of obesity like diabetes, like hypertension, we have all of those things, McKay said.

The state has a particular problem with gestational diabetes, a condition that affects how the body processes sugar, McKay said. Roughly one in 10 South Dakotans who got pregnant in 2017 were diagnosed with the condition, according to the South Dakota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Survey. Gestational diabetes, if recognized early, can be treated but it can also cause a baby to grow larger in the womb, McKay said.

If you have gestational diabetes, the downstream effects of that pregnancy are severe hypertension and big babies, and when you deliver a great big baby, a lot of times your uterus bleeds afterwards, McKay said.

McKay describes many of the states rural areas as maternity deserts, meaning women must travel 30 minutes or more to see an OBGYN or to give birth in a hospital.

Access to quality care may be one of the biggest reasons that Native American women are almost twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes, said Dr. Ashley Briggs, an OBGYN at Sanford Health. In 2018, Briggs helped create a multistate group of health care providers and public health officials who seek to improve both maternal and infant health in both states.

We are trying to do things that focus on the specific concerns of Native Americans, Briggs said.

The Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health within the Council on Patient Safety in Womens Healthcare has spent years trying to get hospitals to adopt sets of standardized procedures and practices, called bundles, that can be taught to anyone who works in a birthing hospital.

Many of the bundles are based on practices developed in California by the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative. Implementation of the bundles helped reduce that states maternal mortality rate by 55% between 2006 and 2013. Californias maternal death rate during those years fell from 16.9 deaths per 100,000 births to 7.3 per 100,000. California now has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the U.S, according to the states maternal mortality review committee.

Avera Health has been implementing procedures that conform to the AIM bundles for both high blood pressure and bleeding for a few years, McKay said. One of the hospital systems newer practices is weighing blood absorbing pads to get a more accurate measure of a mothers blood loss during and after birth.

I think our teams have done just a tremendous job of interrupting the bad things that can happen in deliveries because of the approach weve taken, McKay said.

Most hospitals that deliver babies in the U.S. will be required to have such policies in place by July 1. The Joint Commission is a nonprofit group that evaluates performance for about 80% of U.S. hospitals, including most hospitals in South Dakota. The group recently updated its accreditation requirements for labor and delivery hospitals to create procedures and training regimes that conform to AIM-supported maternal care bundles for monitoring and responding to high blood pressure and bleeding.

Sanford Health also has been developing its own set of practices in response to the Joint Commissions new requirements to improve patient safety, Briggs said. One innovation the hospital system plans to take advantage of are blood pressure cuffs that automatically notify operators when a patients blood pressure is dangerously high.

We are all human and we all make mistakes. I think these standards are a way to head that off, Briggs said.

At the end of 2018, South Dakota was one of nine states that had not established a Maternal Mortality Review Committee to analyze each death of a pregnant or recently pregnant woman. Establishing a state MMRC is regarded by the CDC and the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs as a necessary first step toward lowering the rate of maternal deaths.

They were very interested in improving outcomes for moms and getting a better handle on the data for our state, Winter said.

After months of laying the groundwork, Winter said South Dakotas MMRC will hold its first meeting this year to evaluate all nine maternity-associated deaths reported in 2018. The evaluations will help public health officials and health care providers pinpoint which areas of maternal health need more focus.

Because the DOH created the new MMRC without any funding from taxpayers, its members will be volunteers from the South Dakota medical community, Winter said. The states hospitals also will be asked to provide access to medical records for each maternal death recorded in the state.

The committee may take years to devise policy recommendations. Maternal deaths are rare, of the roughly 11,890 women who gave birth in South Dakota in 2018, only nine died. Such a small number of deaths can make it difficult to draw conclusions, Winter said. But, she said, the MMRC will make a difference.

Any maternal death is too many, Winter said. Our numbers are smaller  but wed rather have none.

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(Reuters) - U.S. consumer electronics retailer Best Buy Co <BBY.N> said on Friday that its board was conducting an independent review on allegations of misconduct against Chief Executive Officer Corie Barry after receiving an anonymous letter.

The company declined to reveal the contents of the letter. In an email statement to Reuters, its spokesperson said, "We encourage the letter's author to come forward and be part of that confidential process."

The Wall Street Journal reported that the letter, dated Dec. 7, claimed that Barry had a romantic relationship for years with former Best Buy senior executive Karl Sanft.

Both Barry and Sanft joined the firm more than two decades ago. While Barry became the finance head in 2016 and CEO in June last year, Sanft, according to his LinkedIn profile, was senior vice president of U.S. retail operations until March last year.

"The board has my full cooperation and support as it undertakes this review, and I look forward to its resolution in the near term," Barry said in the company statement.

Sanft, who is currently the operations head of California-based 24 Hour Fitness, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Best Buy's leadership has faced allegations of misconduct in the past as well. Its former CEO Brian Dunn resigned https://reut.rs/370CFWe in 2012 during an investigation into allegations of personal misconduct.

The company ousted https://reut.rs/2uXT9jL its then Chairman Richard Schulze after it was found that he failed to tell the board that Dunn had an improper relationship with a female employee.

Best Buy said on Friday the audit committee of the board has retained outside counsel, Sidley Austin LLP, to conduct the review against Barry.

(Reporting by Shanti S Nair and Ambhini Aishwarya in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
Danny England, a math instructor at Blinn Colleges Bryan campus, is celebrating his 35th year with the school.

England joined the Bryan campus faculty in 1984. He said he developed his passion for math in his high school trigonometry class and realized he might have a talent for teaching when he helped his father, a community college drafting instructor, understand concepts that no instructors on his own campus could explain clearly.

England joined a masters program in math at the urging of a professor at Dallas Baptist College, now Dallas Baptist University. That led to a teaching assistant position, and England continued to pursue a doctorate in math at Texas A&M.

Initially a part-time instructor, England became the first full-time faculty member on the Bryan campus and found himself teaching six courses and tutoring the entire student body.

It was definitely a job for a young man, he remembered. Little did I know that even if you keep the same job, it is not going to be the same duties necessarily. A lot has changed.
President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office announcing guidance on constitutional prayer in public schools in Washington on Jan. 16, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump Defenders: President Cannot Be Removed in Senate for Abuse of Power

With the Senate impeachment trial looming over the head of President Donald Trump, several of his defenders said he cannot be impeached for abuse of power.

Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, a high-profile criminal attorney, told ABC News This Week Sunday that Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Curtis, in his defense of former President Andrew Johnson, argued that abuse of power doesnt constitute an impeachable offense. Dershowitz confirmed Friday that he will join Trumps legal team and will attempt to defend the integrity of the Constitution.

So I am making an argument much like the argument made by the great Justice Curtis, he said. And to call them absurdist is to, you know, insult one of the greatest jurists in American history. The argument is a strong one. The Senate should hear it. His absurdist reference was a response to House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), who said that to claim abuse of power isnt impeachable is an absurdist position.

Curtis argued, very successfully, winning the case, that you needed proof of an actual crime. It neednt be a statutory crime, but it has to be criminal behavior, criminal in nature, Dershowitz added. And the allegations in the Johnson case were much akin to the allegations here  and that lost.

(L) Attorney Alan Dershowitz. (Richard Drew/AP Photo); (R) Former Independent Counsel Ken Starr. (Lauren Victoria Burke/AP Photo)

In a separate interview on CNN Sunday, Dershowitz said that if his argument is successful, it would negate the need for any witnesses. Several Democratic and Republican senators have argued that witnesses should be called in the trial.

No need for even arguments, any further arguments, he said. If the House charges do not include impeachable offenses, thats really the end of the matter.

Even if everything that is alleged by the House managers is proven or taken as true, they would not rise to the level of an impeachable offense, Dershowitz also argued.

Robert Ray, a former prosecutor who was added to Trumps legal team, concurred with Dershowitzs claim.

Abuse of power alone, and history has shown this, similar to also obstruction of Congress, those types of articles of impeachment have been tried on for size before but they have not fared well, he told Fox News Sunday Morning Futures.

The core of the impeachment parameters allege that crimes have been committedtreason, bribery, and things like thatin other words, other high crimes and misdemeanors, he added.

Trumps legal team also includes former special prosecutor Ken Starr, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, White House counsel Pat Cipollone, and others.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) didnt argue that presidents could not be impeached for abuse of power, but he told Fox News on Sunday that House Democrats allegations have been so poorly defined here I dont know presidents in the future can conform their conduct.

The claim from Dershowitz was attacked by Democrats on Sunday.

This is preposterous that this would not be an impeachable offense, that this standard in America is now that presidents could abuse their power to help in elections, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) told NBC News.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) told CBS News that he was surprised and said his claim is simply ignorance.
A brutal Irish gang war that has seen two people shot dead and a 17-year-old dismembered will not end until three more underworld figures are also killed, police have been told.

Officers held an informal chat with crime boss Owen Maguire, who was himself paralysed during a murder attempt in 2018, in August last year in an attempt to end a spiralling feud in the town of Drogheda.

But they were told of a three-man hit-list that included the man now suspected of murdering teenager Keane Mulready-Woods who Maguire's associates said had to die before they would back away.

The other two names on the list include the gunman who tried to kill Maguire, and a third gangland hitman linked to a number of assassination plots.

Keane Mulready-Woods, 17, who was murdered and dismembered and his severed head left in the boot of a burning car in north Dublin in a suspected gangland execution

Gardai pictured searching an area known locally as 'The Banks' near a house on Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, on Thursday

'The officer had an obligation to do everything to help end the dispute, but his request was completely ignored by Maguires associates,' a source told The Irish Sun.

Details of the hit-list emerged as it was revealed the Mulready-Woods last spoke with his mother over the phone on Sunday at around 6pm to tell her that he would be coming home late.

During the conversation he asked her to leave money on the mantelpiece to pay the taxi fare, but never made it home.

Until that point he had been on a curfew meaning he had to be home before dark, and had largely been observing it.

Mulready-Woods was abducted from Drogheda, Co Louth last Sunday before he was tortured in a house in Rathmullen Park in the town.

His severed head and limbs were found in two locations in Dublin last week.

The 17-year-old was involved in organised crime and detectives are investigating whether his killing was carried out in revenge for another recent murder or attack.

Not long after the meeting between police and Maguire, one of Maguire's associates shot dead Keith Brannigan in Clogherhead, Co Louth.

Just three months later, his associates also murdered Richard Carberry.

Mulready-Woods was dismembered and decapitated before his remains were dumped in two locations in Dublin, some 35 miles away from the crime scene in Drogheda, Co Louth

Keane Mulready-Woods is thought to have been caught up in a brutal gang war in the town of Drogheda

The chief suspect in the murder of Mulready-Woods is said to have vowed revenge after Carberry's killing.

It has been reported that the gang feud will not stop until these three targeted are killed.

Yesterday it emerged the chief suspect believed to be responsible for dismembering Mulready-Woods 'threatened to murder another man'.

The suspect, who is well known to Gardai, posted footage of threats against a man who has since fled the country.

As well as Mulready-Woods' murder, two men were shot in Dublin this week, as well as a student, Cameron Blair, who was stabbed to death during a house party in Cork on Thursday night.

Two men were also shot and wounded outside a pub in the early hours of yesterday morning.
T J S George By

Prime Minister Modiji said at Belur Mutt: Swami Vivekananda lives in the hearts and minds of crores of Indians. Then he said: The new citizenship laws will not take away anyones citizenship. Then two things happened. The Belur Mutt lost no time in distancing itself from the Prime Ministers position. The Mutt was apolitical, its spokesmen said, where people of all religions lived like brothers born of same parents.

Someone reminded everyone about Vivekanandas famous words. I am proud to belong to a religion that sees all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation that has sheltered the persecuted and refugees of all religions and all nations on earth.Were Vivekananda and Narendra Modi speaking about the same nation, the same religion? More than a century later, Vivekanandas words at Chicago still resonate across the world as relevant. Narendra Modis words are seen as relevant only to hardcore Hindutva politicians.

Vivekananda represented Hinduisms universal values and its philosophy of tolerance that won respect across the globe. Hindutva is a political gimmick that divides people for political gains. One enables visionaries to rise. The other makes bigots like ABVPs Akshat Awasthi boast: There was a man with a flowing beard. He looked like a Kashmiri. I beat him up. Awasthi is ministerial material in the India we dont want. But others like him are already in power. Which Home Minister will threaten opposition leaders as Amit Shah did last week? Consider two intimidating quotes.

Congress, listen. Listen carefully. Oppose it as much as you can, we will rest only after giving citizenship to all those covered under CAA. Tukde-tukde gangs that raised anti-national slogans at JNU should be behind bars. But Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal want to save them. Listen Kejriwal, whoever raises anti-national slogans will be jailed.The language and the tone of these statements are those of a bully ready to use brute force to silence critics. Modi sounds different because of his gift of showmanship and his ability to ignore the difference between words and actions. A master of visuals, he joined morning prayers at Belur Mutt and spent time in Vivekanandas room, doing photogenic pranayama. The world was also informed that the Prime Minister skipped his usual morning walk and had upma and dosa for breakfast.

Knowing how to use public relations smartly is a gift in itself. But no amount of PR can wipe out the travails of those who now have to prove their citizenship. Among the uneducated and the poor, how many will have documents such as birth certificates and residential documents of parents? As Prashant Kishor said: To throw out 3 per cent illegal residents, 97 per cent have to go through unimaginable logistical nightmare.

Ignoring the nightmares of innocent citizens, Modi-2 chose to be more stridently Hindutva than Modi-1. Its newfound authoritarianism forced even the usually cautious business community to express concerns. The Government will not budge. The CAA is the first instance in India of citizenship getting linked directly to religion.

The BJPs own ability to handle the complications arising from reforms like CAA seems doubtful. It is a party with no second level of leadership. J P Nadda, newly appointed BJP president, is a nobody in all-India terms. Vijay Rupani is a loser in his own home Gujarat. Manohar Lal Khattar and Devendra Fadnavis have been unable to grow even inside their states. Modi-Shah duo is a banyan tree under which nothing grows. Hence, the resort to gimmicks, threats, false posturings and untruths.

Which lends relevance to a recent Tony Joseph declamation: Lies that are outright. Lies that are quarter true. Lies deep-fried in malice. Lies lightly cooked in pseudo-concern. Lies that came readymade from the factory. Lies custom made. Lies practised and repeated. Lies spontaneous. Lies that make you hate. The regime lives on lies.

Harsh realities put in harsh words. But the scenario was foretold by Tagore in Gitanjalis immortal words. Is the mind without fear and the head held high in Amit Shahs India? Is ours a world that has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls, where words come out from the depth of truth, where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit? Can we pray with hope: Into that heaven of freedom, my father, let my country awake!I can hear Amit Shah asking, Kaun hai Tagore?


Jack Schlossberg, President John F. Kennedy's only grandson, tweeted on Saturday that a Wall Street Journal op-ed by Vice President Mike Pence  in which he cited JFK's book "Profile in Courage" to attack President Trump's impeachment  is a "total perversion of JFK's legacy and the meaning of courage."

Driving the news: Pence cited a chapter of the book on Republican Sen. Edmund Ross of Kansas, who defied his party by voting to acquit President Andrew Johnson during his 1868 impeachment trial.

"As the U.S. Senate takes up a purely partisan impeachment, and the mainstream media focuses on what Republican senators may do, it may be timely to consult Kennedys definition of political courage and why he considered one statesman in particular worthy of admiration," Pence wrote.

What he's saying: Schlossberg said Pence is "right to celebrate Ross, a public servant who, foreseeing his own defeated, nonetheless summoned the courage to vote his conscience, and put the national interest above his own. But lets not be confused."

Schlossberg argued Trump "was impeached because he did the exact opposite  he put his own interests ahead of our countrys national security and, in the process, broke federal law."

"I would argue instead that today, as in 186[8], political courage might require a Republican Senator to risk his or her own political future by breaking lockstep from the President and agree to hear from witnesses, review the evidence, and put the national interest above their own."

Go deeper: Trump responds to articles of impeachment, calls process "a dangerous attack"
I remember him coming off the stage and he gave me a big hug and said, You said everything I was going to say!  Jayapal said. She said Sanders asked her to introduce him at his evening rally in Seattle. She responded that she would, but told his staff she had not endorsed him yet because she wanted to learn more about his record on race, guns and gender.
Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a package of legislation that enshrines the tenets of the Affordable Care Act into state law, giving New Jersey the authority to operate its own insurance marketplace and protect people with pre-existing conditions from losing coverage.

The laws are a guard against pending legal threats to the landmark health care law, which in New Jersey insured 500,000 low-income people through the Medicaid program and 255,000 others who found coverage through the public marketplace last year.

Murphy expects the state will operate its own Healthcare.gov marketplace later this year, enabling it to keep the $50 million it sends to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services every year to handle that responsibility. The state would also be able to set a longer open enrollment period, which President Donald Trumps administration cut in half to six weeks.

The nine bills Murphy, a Democrat, signed into law Thursday protects benefits, such as coverage for pre-existing conditions and adult children up to age 26, that may be at risk should the courts or Congress repeal or further weaken the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

A federal appeals panel dealt the law a major setback last month when it declared the mandate for people to buy insurance unconstitutional. The appellate decision also sent the case back to a lower court to decide how much of the law remains intact.

At a time when the Affordable Care Act is under siege by the Trump administration and being challenged in the courts, New Jersey has a responsibility to protect and provide access to high-quality, affordable health care for all of our residents, said Murphy, a frequent critic of the Republican president.

I applaud my colleagues in the Legislature for taking the critical steps necessary to ensure that the provisions of the Affordable Health Care Act are codified into state law and for working to make the health of our residents a top priority," the governor added.

The governor signed:

S626, which prevents carriers from denying a policyholder coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition.

Because of the Affordable Care Act, as many as 133 million people  or 51 percent of Americans  who have pre-existing conditions are guaranteed that condition will be covered by their health insurer, said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), the prime sponsor. This law will safeguard this crucial protection for patients should anything ever happen to the ACA.

A5248, which requires insurance companies cover benefits deemed essential under Obamacare and protects older people and people with disabilities from discrimination.

Essential health benefits are exactly that: essential," said Assemblyman John McKeon, D-Essex, one of the bills sponsors. Our children need vision and oral care; our new mothers need maternity care; and at any moment, anyone may need emergency services."

A5500, which creates a more rigorous review process for carriers seeking more than a 10 percent annual rate increase.

A5501, which allows adult children to remain on their parents health coverage until they turn 26.

A5503, which establishes an open enrollment period for the states existing Individual Health Coverage Program.

A5504, which requires large insurance carriers to report their medical loss ratio to the state to prove they are spending at least 85 percent of premiums on medical-related expenses and keeping no more than 15 percent on administration, fees and profits. Policyholders would receive a credit if carriers keep too much money.

A5506, which repeals the law allowing insurance carriers to offer basic and essential plans that do not contain the 10 benefits required under the ACA, such as maternity care, substance abuse treatment and mental health treatment and prescription drugs.

A5507, which provides free cancer and other preventive health screenings.

A5508, which requires coverage for contraceptives.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio.

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Vietnam is seen as one of Southeast Asias most attractive real estate markets for foreign investors, so local property developers can easily seek partners through merger and acquisition (M&A) deals.

At the press conference, Akihiko Iwatani, senior manager and chief representative of the Japanese property developer Haseko Corporation in Hanoi, stated that Vietnam was considered Southeast Asias most attractive market to Japanese investors and foreign firms in general.

Most investors have been keen on developing apartment building projects in Hanoi and HCMC, while others have focused on the office and hotel segments, Akihiko noted.

Foreign investors found it difficult to invest in the real estate market in Indonesia, while the Singaporean market is small. In addition, the Malaysian property market has developed steadily.

In Vietnam, which has a population of nearly 100 million people with a significant proportion of young people, steady economic growth and fast urbanization, the demand for houses and apartments is high, creating multiple opportunities for foreign investors.

Dr Phan Huu Thang, former head of the Foreign Investment Agency, under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, shared this view, pointing out that all five segments of Vietnams real estate sector---houses, offices, industrial parks, commercial centers, and resorts and hotels---are attractive to foreign investors, thanks to the countrys foreign investment attraction, business development and high number of tourist arrivals.

Most foreign investors in the local real estate market are from South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, Thang added.

According to Than Thanh Vu, head of the company that organized VINA-M&A 2020, investors from more countries and territories have shown interest in the local property market, such as those from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, the United States, Australia and the European Union.

Although the event is more than two months away, more than 50 investors have registered to participate in the conference and the number is expected to grow further.

The event organizer hires entrepreneurs and experts in private business who understand the demands of enterprises and foreign investors, capital-related issues and the local market. The event will help connect enterprises and investment funds keen on investing in the Vietnamese market with domestic firms seeking partners through M&A deals, Vu said.

Akihiko from Haseko Corporation also agreed that the conference will attract much attention from foreign investors, especially those from Japan.

Luu Thi Thanh Mau, CEO of Phuc Khang Corporation, a large property firm in Vietnam, remarked that M&A deals are needed to increase the markets transparency and attract capital flows to the sector. Vietnamese enterprises with large land funds and approved projects will have significant opportunities to call for foreign capital. SGT

Le Hoang
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hagens Berman urges Green Dot Corporation (NYSE: GDOT) investors who have suffered losses in excess of $100,000 to submit their losses now to learn if they qualify to recover their investment losses. The February 17, 2020 lead plaintiff deadline in a securities fraud class action that has been filed against the company and senior executives is fast approaching.



Class Period: May 9, 2018  Nov. 7, 2019

Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Feb. 17, 2020

Sign Up Now: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/GDOT

Contact An Attorney Immediately: GDOT@hbsslaw.com

844-916-0895

Green Dot Corporation (GDOT) Securities Class Action:

The Complaint alleges Defendants misled investors concerning Green Dots business and operations.

More specifically, according to the Complaint, Green Dot, CEO Steven W. Streit, and CFO Mark Shifke misrepresented and concealed that: (1) Green Dots strategy to attract high-value long-term customers was at the expense of one and done customers; (2) Green Dots one and done customers represented a significant source of revenues in its legacy segment; and, (3) consequently, Green Dots business strategy was self-sabotaging.

The truth about Green Dots failed business strategy was revealed over a series of disclosures beginning on Feb. 21, 2019, when Green Dot reported poor FY 2018 financial results, which drove the price of Green Dot shares down about 10% that day.

Then, on May 9, 2019, the Company disappointed investors when it slashed earnings guidance and announced it would be dramatically increasing spending on technology and marketing to attract new users. This news caused a massive 26% drop in Green Dots share price.

On Aug. 8, 2019, Green Dot announced another guidance reduction due to a steep decline in legacy prepaid card product line and the Companys delay in launching its newest BaaS product. This news caused Green Dots shares to plummet another 42%.

On Nov. 7, 2019, CEO Streit blamed disappointing financial results for the third fiscal quarter and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2019 on the continuing year-over-year decline of accounts in its active consumer business approximating 620,000 and revealed these were mostly one-time use accounts. This news caused Green Dots shares to plummet over 18% on Nov. 8, 2019.

Most recently, on Dec. 18, 2019, Defendants announced that CEO Streit and CFO Shifke would be leaving their positions effective Dec. 31, 2019. This news drove the price of Green Dot shares down as much as 15% during intraday trading that day and prompted certain analysts to issue sell ratings.

If you invested in Green Dot between May 9, 2018 and Nov. 7, 2019 (the Class Period) and suffered significant losses, you may qualify to be a lead plaintiff  one who selects and oversees the attorneys prosecuting the case. Contact Hagens Berman immediately for more information about the case and being a lead plaintiff.

Were focused on investors losses and proving Defendants misled investors about Green Dots growth prospects, asset quality, and existing account metrics, said Hagens Berman partner Reed Kathrein.

If you purchased shares of GDOT and suffered significant losses, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman .

Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Green Dot should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email GDOT@hbsslaw.com .

About Hagens Berman

Hagens Berman is a national law firm with nine offices in eight cities around the country and eighty attorneys. The firm represents investors, whistleblowers, workers and consumers in complex litigation. More about the firm and its successes is located at hbsslaw.com . For the latest news visit our newsroom or follow us on Twitter at @classactionlaw .
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a reference to Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Population Register (NPR) and Register of Citizens (NRC), on Sunday said that Kerala will not implement any act which has Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) behind it.

"Prime Minister Modi gave a lame excuse that NRC was not even discussed. But Home Minister Amit Shah had made clear that it will be implemented across the country. Any act in our country should be constitutional. Kerala will not implement any act that has RSS behind it," Vijayan said while addressing a public meeting here.

"From its inception, the RSS has a policy that India shouldn't be a secular country. For that, they are implementing various policies. Their internal enemies are Muslims, Christians and Communists. Former RSS chief Golwalkar has laid down ways on how to eliminate enemies in his book. These are on similar lines like that of Hitler. It is due to this policy of RSS, Modi government is implementing various acts," he added.

The Kerala Chief Minister further said that people from all walks of life have joined the protest against CAA.

"Now, when Narendra Modi is trying implementing CAA, NPR and NRC, we are witnessing mass protest across the state. Not only students but people from all walks of life also have joined the protest against CAA," Vijayan said.

"The protest that we are seeing is to protect the secular values of the constitution. People are out on streets to protect the constitution and the country," he added.

After a resolution was passed in the State Assembly seeking withdrawal of the CAA, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan led government has approached the apex court against the Act that grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seeking to expand its footprint outside Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will contest on four Assembly seats in Delhi in alliance with the

Polling for the 70 member-Delhi Assembly will be held on February 8.

The had initially demanded 10 per cent seats in Delhi from the Congress, but finally it was decided that the party would contest on four constituencies -- Burari, Kirari, Palam and Uttamnagar, senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said.

"We have a list of 39-40 candidates for the four seats and our SWOT analysis is going on. We will announce our candidates on Monday," he said.

The last day for filing of nomination papers for the Delhi polls is Tuesday.

The banking on presence of a sizeable number of Purvanchali voters in Delhi and would hope to open its account in the city with the help of its senior alliance partner.

"We will give a good fight on all the four seats we are contesting," Jha said.

Delhi president Subhash Chopra said the alliance will help the in its efforts of challenging the and exuded confidence that his party would form government in Delhi.

The Congress, which ruled the city for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013, will for the first time go in the Assembly polls in Delhi in alliance with another party.

Taking a dig at the and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for "not being vocal" against the CAA and NRC, he said, "We are not opposed to Kejriwal but we do not appreciate his silence on fundamental issues that are currently being talked about."



The RJD had presence in Delhi and it contested elections here. Out of the four seats it has got in the pre-poll alliance, the party had earlier unsuccessfully contested in Kirari, Burari and Palam seats.

As a member of United Progressive Alliance(UPA), RJD contested recent Jharkhand Assembly polls along with JMM and Congress and bagged one seat.
Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav attacked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the statewide long human chain to be made on Sunday as a part of his 'Jal, Jeevan, Hariyali' (water, life and greenery) campaign.

"So many trees were cut by Nitish Kumar for making highways and for the other so-called development works. Water is being wasted every day from the faulty taps in the government offices while the CM keeps talking about Jal, Jeevan and Hariyali. He is going to make the school children stand in this cold weather for the human chain, who will take responsibility if they fall sick?" Yadav told reporters on Saturday.

The Bihar government had earlier claimed that the human chain on January 19 will be the longest one ever attempted.

The human chain will cover all districts in the state with the claimed participation of crores of people.

The Bihar government had organised such events in support of prohibition of liquor in 2017 and then against dowry and child marriage in 2018.
HONG KONGZack Ho has a recurring nightmare in which a man throws him off a tall building.

Other times, he is being chased by Hong Kong police.

Most nights though, he has trouble falling asleep.

Ho, 18, is in his last year of high school. Before mass protests erupted in mid-2019, before the Hong Kong government proposed the controversial extradition bill that prompted Ho to join a concern group and begin his journey as an activist, he was like any average high school kid. He was studying for his finals and training as a student athlete, representing his school in basketball competitions.

But after half a year of joining protests, witnessing bloody arrests at the frontlines, and being tear-gassed by policewith the government shelving the bill but refusing to concede to protesters other pro-democracy demandsHo says he feels the movement is taking a mental and physical toll on him.

The feeling is hard to describe. Its like something is tugging at my heart, he said during an interview in December.

He devotes most of his time and attention to serving as convener of student activist group Inspidemia Hong Kong and planning logistics for protest events. His grades have suffered, and he has stopped playing basketball. Its a sacrifice hes willing to make, but he cant help but feel frustrated and hopeless when thinking about the current situation.

I will blame myself. I feel, even though Im doing so much, why has nothing happened? I loathe that.  Why hasnt the government woken up?

Amid Hong Kongs ongoing protest movement against the Chinese regimes growing encroachment over the citys autonomy, teens and young adults are often at the frontlines, organizing events or confronting police during clashes.

Counselors and social workers worry about the impact on young protesters mental health.

The Youth

At the start of mass protests that began in June 2019, several people who participated in protests reportedly committed suicide. At the time, the government hadnt yet agreed to completely withdraw an extradition bill that would allow the Chinese regime to transfer individuals in Hong Kong for trial in mainland China.

Clarence Tsang, executive director of the Samaritan Befrienders, an NGO that provides counseling services in Hong Kong, said that that period was marked by a sense of hopelessness among young protesters.

His organization runs a hotline, mobile app, and a suicide crisis intervention center for people with suicidal thoughts or behavior. Some impacted by the political movement needed such help.

But as the protests continued and the public focused on instances of alleged police violence toward protesters, their emotions turned to anger. It turned to a stage where they had to get revenge. They had no time to focus on the emotional status of themselves. It turned into actions to deal with the government and the police, Tsang said.

Young students were especially distraught after the Hong Kong government in October 2019 banned citizens from wearing facial masks during public gatherings. As a result, some schools even had to cancel classes.

They felt the government really did not listen to their voices  that the government is doing more and more to control everything, Tsang said. In November 2019, a Hong Kong court ruled that the ban was unconstitutional; the government has appealed the ruling, with the next court hearing scheduled for this month.

The emotional reactions to the mask ban were alarming enough that the Hong Kong Psychological Societys department of educational psychologists issued a statement at the time, urging the government to consult with mental health professionals and reprimanding it for ignoring students feelings. Following the protests, the organization also issued a guide on how school staff can identify students with emotional needs, recognize suicidal tendencies, and how to console them or direct them to mental health services.

But youth have been reluctant to turn to institutions for help, fearing that organizations that receive funding from the government would leak their information to the police, or believing that they wont be understood by adult service providers, said Tsang.

For example, Ho has contacted a social worker at his school, but he found it difficult to put into action the advice the social worker gave. I cant go through the pain  its quite a big burden for me, said Ho.

He said that one of his biggest frustrations is the constant arguing among student organizations advocating for pro-democracy causes. Their discussion meetings usually run past midnight. He has found himself stress-eating on midnight snacks. I was more handsome back in June, Ho said half-jokingly, noting that he has gained weight.

Meanwhile, some of his peers have intense fears of getting arrested by police; when walking on the streets, they feel as if theyre being followed.

Social worker Ah Ming (nickname) noted that youth tend to turn to counseling staff who volunteer at protest sites.

At the start of the protest movement, most social workers appeared at protests as third-party monitors of police behavior and to help de-escalate tensions between police and protesters. Later, a group of roughly 30 to 40 decided to form a volunteer group to assist protesters who need counseling or mental health services.

Because the volunteers are often at the protest sites, protesters tended to feel comfortable opening up to them.

A lot of inner thoughts, they [protesters] may not easily speak out loud  their emotional states are quite complicated, Ah Ming said. The volunteers could refer them to formal services, or if they preferred something informal, introduce them to mental health professionals they know.

Ah Ming said some youth have mood disorders and are so distressed that even with prescribed medication, they still have insomnia.

But the emotional trauma isnt confined to young protesters. She recalled a story of one older protester who managed to leave Polytechnic University before a two-week siege in November 2019. During the stand-off, police sealed off the campus and bombarded the school with tear gas, water cannon, and projectiles, leaving dozens of protesters trapped inside.

The protester decided to eat a meal out one day. After ordering a dish, he suddenly burst into tears. He felt happy that he got to eat well, but he also thought back to those people who are still inside [the university]. He didnt know what to do.

Ah Ming said that protesters who escaped police arrest, or first-aid workers who left Polytechnic after their supplies ran out, shared that they felt a kind of survivors guilt.

Some people feel they want to do more  but they dont know how, she said.

Family Disagreements

Tsang said one of the biggest triggers of emotional distress is differences in political opinions among family. Some protesters have been kicked out of the house due to their parents being pro-government and disagreeing with the protest movements goals.

We always say that family is the best shelter for everybody. But now its not the case. People dont have a place where they feel safe to talk about emotions, Tsang said. The arguments at home are stressful for both parents and children.

For protesters who feel lonely, [that] they do not have people listening to them, Samaritan Befrienders tries to lend a pair of ears to them so they can openly discuss their feelings.

Ho, for example, said he has tried to share with his family, but gets the sense that they dont understand him. He often gets into arguments with his mother, who believes protesters are causing too much trouble, and feels she is constantly judging him for his choices.

Tsang said it can be especially difficult for young students, as some schools and universities have discouraged their students from openly discussing the protest movement. Without an outlet to discuss their emotions, they can feel stifled.

Samaritan Befrienders has started to give talks at secondary schools to teach parents how to improve communication with their children. Tsang encourages parents to be good listeners and accept that their child may hold differing viewpoints. Try to show your love for them, even though how different you are in your political views, he said, such as by giving them a hug or pouring a glass of water.

Trauma at Large

Ah Ming said that while Hong Kong has yet to resolve the crisis, something must be done to help citizens make sense of their collective trauma.

In mid-December, thousands of staff in the citys social welfare sector organized a three-day strike to call out the government for the current humanitarian crisis.

They organized an event in Tsim Sha Tsui, a busy shopping district, where people were encouraged to write down what theyve lost in the past six months.

One woman broke down crying as she spoke of her family disagreements.

Ah Ming said that for some, such as the more than 6,000 citizens arrested for protest activity, theres very practical things that indicate your life is now different.  You have to learn how to adjust and live as normal. For example, at the police station, officers may have confiscated their phones. Others may have to report to the station regularly after receiving bail.

Ho said hell keep going despite feeling defeated. I cant walk away now. I feel like I will let down others if I give up.

He hopes to make use of his English language skills to conduct international advocacy for the protest movement.

Hes also thinking about studying politics and public administration in college later this year, though for now, he just wishes for a little normalcy, such as finding time to play ball again.

And looking back at photos of himself in Junemaybe working on getting his jawline back.

If you or someone you know is showing signs that they might be considering suicide, the suicide prevention hotline is available 24-7 for those in Hong Kong at 2382 0000. For urgent assistance, call 999.

Those in the United States can call 800-273-TALK or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Texts can also be sent to The Crisis Text Line at 741 741.

From The Epoch Times
Khabib Nurmagomedovs father and trainer Abdulmanap has named the amount his team would need from the UFC to consider a rematch with Conor McGregor, after the Irishman's stunning return to the octagon at UFC 246, RT reports.

McGregor needed just 40 seconds to dismantle UFC veteran Donald Cowboy Cerrone in their welterweight main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

It marked an explosive return after 15 months out of action for McGregor, who suffered defeat to UFC lightweight king Khabib at the same venue in October 2018.

McGregor, 32, was quick to use the opportunity after the bout to talk up the chances of facing Khabib again  even saying he would venture into the Russian's homeland to do so for a "real-life Rocky story."

UFC boss Dana White also made clear again that Khabib-McGregor 2 is very much on the promotion's radar.

Immediately up next for the unbeaten Khabib is a title defense against Tony Ferguson in New York on April 18, although his father Abdulmanap said that if the UFC is willing to hand over the whopping fee of $100 million the day after that, their camp would consider a rematch.

We also need revenge against Conor, but give us $100 million, Abdulmanap told Russian outlet RIA Novosti. The day after the fight against Ferguson, give us that amount and then why not get revenge? I dont know, maybe Dana White wants to arrange it (for that amount), he needs that fight.

Khabib has appeared less than keen on the prospect of facing McGregor again, previously branding the Irishmans fight against Cerrone a minor-league encounter. The Dagestani grappling phenom has said McGregor would need to win 10 fights in a row to stand any chance of getting another shot at him.
PHILIPSBURG:---The House of Parliament will sit in a Plenary Public session on Monday, January 20, 2020.

The Public session is scheduled for 10.00 - 11.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be present.

The agenda point is:

Question hour: Questions from MP S.A. Wescot-Williams directed to the Minister of Finance related to sale of UTS (IS/281/2019-2020 dated November 12, 2019)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten.
The Kerala Governor said that the Constitution has to be upheld. (Photo Credit: Twitter/@KeralaGovernor)

New Delhi:

Upset after state government moved to the Supreme Court against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Sunday said that he would not remain a "mute spectator" and would ensure the law of the land is upheld.

"The Constitution has to be upheld and this is not a personal fight," khan, who arrived from Bengaluru, told reporters here on Sunday evening. "I will not sit like a mute spectator... will ensure that the rules and law are upheld", he added.

The Governor took strong exception to the state government's decision to challenge the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) "without consulting" him and sought a report from the Chief Secretary.

On Tuesday, Kerala became first Indian state to challenge the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act in the Supreme Court. In it's plea, the Kerala government said that the Citizenship Act is in violation of Articles 14, 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India as well as against the basic principle of secularism. The petition was filed under Article 131.

Also Read | Citizenship Act Will Have To Be Implemented In States: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan

Following the move, the turf war between the Kerala Governor and state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan came out in open. Khan publicly expressed his displeasure over the state government's plea against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"I have no issue with them going to Supreme Court but they should have informed me first. I being constitutional head come to know about it through newspapers. Clearly, I am not just a rubber stamp," Khan was quoted as saying.

Fuming over the state government's decision, Khan added, "This is breach of protocol and breach of courtesy. I will look into it whether the state government can go to the Supreme Court without the approval of the Governor. If not the approval, they could have just informed me."

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
North Korea has retained its unbroken record as the country ranked the most dangerous place to be a Christian by human rights charity Open Doors.

Pyong Yang, North Korea (Pixabay)

In its 2020 World Watch List of the top 50 countries where Christians suffer the worst persecution, North Korea once again ranks number one - a position it has held since Open Doors first started publishing the list in 2002.

"Something as simple as owning a Bible can mean a person is arrested and taken to one of the country's infamous labour camps, never to return," Open Doors said.

However, the report reveals an overall increase in both the reach and intensity of persecution towards Christians.

Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK & Ireland, writing in the introduction to the report, said: "In 2020, 260 million Christians live in World Watch List (WWL) top 50 countries where they are at risk of high, very high or extreme levels of persecution, a 6% increase from 2019.

"And as the number of persecuted Christians increases, so does the severity of the oppression they suffer.

"The persecutors' ultimate aim is to eradicate Christianity. And their primary tactic is to stoke fear within the wider Christian community, grinding down its resilience, hope and positive impact."

Acording to Open Doors, an average of eight Christians were killed for their faith and 23 Christians raped or sexually harassed for faith-related reasons every day last year.

Every week, an average of 182 churches or Christian buildings were attacked, and 276 Christian homes burned or destroyed, while every month, an average of 309 Christians were imprisoned for their faith.

Rounding out the top 10 countries on the list are Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen, Iran and India.

In one of the most dramatic increases, though, China has soared from 43 in 2018 to 23 this year as more churches report harassment at the hands of the state.

China, it warns, has seen a growth in digital persecution, with the state starting to utilise AI and biometric measurement to increase surveillance and control of religous believers, with facial recognition cameras now installed in at least one major church to record who is attending the services.

Open Doors anticipates that India is going to follow increasingly in China's footsteps and utilise similar technologies to monitor Christians.

In another dramatic change, Burkina Faso has entered the World Watch List top 50 for the first time, jumping 33 places from number 61 to number 28 after "relentless violence" in the last year. Explaining the "extraordinary" deterioration, it said that "Islamic militancy has taken hold within the country".

The report warns that Islamic extremism is growing rapidly in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, with radical Islamist jihadist groups exploiting instability and poverty. In addition to Burkina Faso, they have been able to establish bases in Mali (ranked 29th) and Niger (50th).

In the Middle East, the birthplace of Christianity, the human rights organisation echoes the warning of senior leaders in the area "that there may be no Christians left in the region in a few years' time".

Although the Islamic State was pushed back, it said there are signs that it is regrouping. At the same time, threats remain from Iranian-backed Shiite militias.

"People often suggest that the world has become a less tolerant place - especially for those who don't 'fit in': who aren't the 'right' race or creed," said Blyth.

"And you can see that trend in these latest figures too: yet again this year the number of Christians facing persecution has gone up as the trend continues upwards.

"Persecution can come in many forms: from discrimination at work, to forced marriage, to imprisonment and execution.

"It can come from governments and militant terrorist groups. However, it can also come from a family member killing you for converting and bringing dishonour on the family in Malaysia (40th) or reporting you to the authorities for owning a Bible in North Korea (1st).

"Hundreds of millions of Christians are affected by this intolerance and they simply don't feel safe practising their faith."

The report was launched today in the House of Commons and spans a year in which Christian persecution made international headlines.

On Easter Sunday 2019, over 250 people were killed in a series of suicide bomb attacks on hotels and churches in Sri Lanka. Many of the victims were Christians attending Easter Sunday services.

In May last year, Asia Bibi, a Christian mother who spent eight years on death row on trumped up blasphemy charges, left Pakistan for a new life in Canada with her family after being granted asylum.

Then on Christmas Day 2019, 11 Christian hostages were beheaded in Nigeria by the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP).

The persecution of Christians was under the spotlight over the summer with the release of the Bishop of Truro's review on behalf of the Foreign Office.

It found that Christian persecution was reaching genocidal levels, and made a number of recommendations to the UK Government, including that it initiate a UN resolution urging all governments in the Middle East and North Africa to protect Christians and other minorities, and impose sanctions on the worst offenders.

Blyth called on the Government and parliamentarians to ensure that the protection of Christians and other religious minorities does not slip down the agenda because of Brexit.

"If we want the world to be a more tolerant, inclusive place, we simply can't ignore the plight of these men, women and children," she said.

"Whether we have a faith or not, this is about a fundamental human right being restricted. Ultimately, erosion of rights like these affects all of us."
Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has outpaced industry in clocking double digit sales growth in petrol and diesel from its nearly 1,400-odd petrol pumps in the third quarter ended December 31, 2019.

In an investor presentation post announcing earnings for October-December 2019, Reliance, operator of the world's largest oil refining complex, said it registered an 11 per cent growth in diesel sales and 15 per cent growth rate in petrol sales from its 1,394 fuel retail outlets.

This is compared to industry growth rate of 0.2 per cent for diesel and 7.1 per cent for petrol.

Its per outlet throughput at 342 kilolitres per month was also nearly double that of petrol pumps operated by public sector firms such as Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL).

"Superior product mix and high asset utilisation underpinned strong earnings," it said in the presentation adding India's oil demand grew 3.2 per cent in October-December with petrol demand rising 7.1 per cent and LPG surging by 15 per cent.

"Preference for petrol cars, improving road infrastructure and rural connectivity is driving petrol demand," it said. A pick up in tourist movement post festive season provided support to ATF demand.

Reliance said there was a strong traction in retail and bulk fuel sales through its network.

"Growth driven by focus on large fleet customers (25 per cent year-on-year growth), fleet aggregators (114 per cent)," it said.

Its ATF sales were driving up via new customer acquisition and higher share from existing customers. "Improved ATF network competitiveness through logistical and supply source optimization," the presentation said.

LPG sales was up 37 per cent with new customers and increasing penetration in new markets.

Reliance said its petro retail sales revenues were up 5 per cent at Rs 3,725 crore in the third quarter. As much as 538 million litres of fuel was sold in the three month period.

Of the 1,394 petrol pumps that Reliance operates, 518 are company owned and the remaining dealer operated.

In April last year, Reliance agreed to sell 49 per cent in its petro retail business to UK's BP plc for Rs 7,000 crore. Reliance-BP joint venture agreed to expand the network to 5,500 in the next five years.

The country currently has 66,817 petrol pumps, with public sector retailers owning 59,716. PSU retailers have plans to double this network and have already starting appointing dealers.

Russia's Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy, formerly Essar Oil, has 5,525 petrol pumps and has plans to scale them up to more than 7,000 in two-three years.

Royal Dutch Shell has 169 outlets and is slated to add 150-200 more petrol pumps.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Tom Hanks is known as the nicest guy in Hollywood.

But the 63-year-old says that he does have a dark side - and there are people in the industry who don't think he is such a 'nice guy'.

Speaking to The Herald Sun on Sunday, the Oscar winner was asked what made him angry, and he was candid in admitting it's best not to cross him.

'If anybody takes advantage of my good nature, they'll have hell to pay': Tom Hanks (pictured) revealed in an interview on Sunday that he does have a dark side

'I'll tell you this: if anybody takes advantage of my good nature, they'll have hell to pay. Anyone who has done it, will say, "Oh he's not that nice a guy",' Tom said.

'Because when that happens, the hammer comes down and it's relentless. I take care of business when it's got to be taken care of.'

However, the Forrest Gump star does go on to say that it takes a lot to set him off these days.

'Listen, I'm 63-years-old. There is nothing that you can say that will insult me at all. Absolutely nothing. It bounces off me,' he added.

Careful! 'I'll tell you this: if anybody takes advantage of my good nature, they'll have hell to pay. Anyone who has done it, will say, "Oh he's not that nice a guy",' Tom told the Herald Sun

He added: 'Because when that happens, the hammer comes down and it's relentless. I take care of business when it's got to be taken care of'

But the star says it takes a lot to set him off: 'Listen, I'm 63-years-old. There is nothing that you can say that will insult me at all. Absolutely nothing. It bounces off me,' he admitted

It comes after Tom's strong reaction to Ricky Gervais' infamous roast of 'woke Hollywood hypocrites' at the Golden Globes earlier this month.

Close-up shots of Tom with a stunned look on his face as the comedian mocked celebrities during his eight-minute speech were made into a number of hilarious memes.

One fan referenced Tom's wholesome reputation: 'Imagine Tom Hanks' facial reaction to Ricky Gervais' monologue if he wasn't the nicest guy on earth'.

Meme worthy! It comes after Tom's strong reactions to Ricky Gervais' infamous roast of 'woke Hollywood hypocrites' at the Golden Globes earlier this month, were made into memes

'Tom Hanks is the only thing worth watching at the #GoldenGlobes,' another person Tweeted.

'The face you make when the host just burned you and all your dumba** friends,' one Twitter user wrote, attached to a screenshot of Hanks looking away and grimacing with puffed out cheeks.

Tom will next be seen in the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, in which he plays TV legend Mr Rogers.

The star is up for an Oscar for the performance, having received a Best Supporting Actor category nomination for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

Star turn: Tom will next be seen in the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (pictured), in which he plays TV legend Mr Rogers
YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. I am the bearer of two consciousnesses and two identities. First, I live in Turkey, I am a citizen of the Republic of TurkeySecond, I am Armenian this is the way the one, who did not spare his life to eliminate the existing taboos of Turkey and create a more sound society in Turkey, used to talk. 13 years have passed since the Armenian great intellectual from Istanbul - Hrant Dink has not been with us. However, his ideas and dreams continue spreading in Turkey, acquiring more followers year by year, giving hopes that a day will come when the wounds of the state which committed genocide will be healed.

On this day  January 19  the murder of Agoss editor by a minor conspirator made the crowd of thousands of people gather before the building of Agos, shouting We are all Armenian, we are all Hrant. However, the Turkish leadership did not solve many problems by Dinks murder. Those, who ordered the murder of Dink who always voiced about the painful pages of Turkeys history and the countrys problems, thought they would once and for all get rid of those problems that the Armenian intellectual created for them. But the shots fired at Dink were not able to silence justice.

Hrant Dink, son of the family that was saved from the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire, was born on September 15, 1954. He founded the only bilingual (Armenian and Turkish) newspaper in the Armenian community  Agos. By that he aimed to introduce the issues of both the community and the minorities of Turkey. He thought that the people in Turkey were prejudiced against the Armenians as they were not well familiar with the Armenians. So he used to say that the Armenians of Istanbul led  very isolated life and that if those in Turkey knew the Armenians better, all the prejudices would vanish.

An article was published in Agos about Sabiha Gokcen  one of Ataturks adopted children, shedding light to the fact that the first combat pilot of Turkey - Sabiha - was an Armenian woman, moreover one that became an orphan due to the Armenian Genocide and then was adopted by the founder of the Republic of Turkey. After the article was published, Dink was threatened not only by nationalist circles, but also state officials. Dinks friends and relatives not once urged him to leave Turkey but Dink was not one to flee. He used to say that it was his country, as the roots of the Armenians were there  in Turkey, that his ancestors lived there and he had the right to die in the country he was born in.

Today Dink, who got the reputation of a peaceful white dove, has become a symbol of those who are still persecuted in the country for their origin, ideas and views.

Dink lived by breaking barriers and died believing that a day will come when a Turkish citizen will wake up in a country where he would not be ashamed of his own past, a country where all will be equal irrespective of their nationality, religion, gender or ideas

By Araks Kasyan
Vietnam International Tourism Mart (VITM) 2020 will be held on April 1-4 focusing on preserving heritage and promoting heritage tourism.

Many air tickets and tour packages will be offered with discounts at VITM. Photo thethaovanhoa.com

With the theme Heritage  Power of Vietnam Tourism, the biggest annual event of national tourism will be held by the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

In the eighth edition, VITM will be coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the tourism industry.

Vu The Binh, vice chairman of VITA, explained at a press conference on Friday that heritage is the most important resource of Vietnamese tourism, the key factor to lure domestic and international tourists.

However, natural conditions and inadequate exploitation have led to damages and bad impacts on many heritage sites, besides, the limited budget for embellishment and protection of heritage also make the situations complicated, Binh said.

I affirm the importance of preserving and promoting the value of the heritage to the future of the countrys tourism industry. The VITM will include photo exhibitions and workshops on this field to raise peoples awareness and promote heritage tourism.

Following the success of the last show in 2019 with over 85,000 visitors, 502 booths and 720 exhibitors from 27 countries and territories, VITM 2020 will be back impressively.

Binh revealed that the event will have the participation of businesses, agencies, tourism promotion agencies from 45 provinces and cities nationwide. Until now, enterprises from 17 countries and territories have registered to take part including South Korea, the US, Australia, Thailand, China, Japan, Philippines, North Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, UAE, Cuba, and Sri Lanka.

As usual, the most attractive part of VITM is the tourism stimulus programme. This year, the organising board promised to offer 100,000 cheap tickets, 18,000 package tours, more than 15,000 vouchers with up to 50 per cent discount and many other gifts for customers.

When buckwheats in Ha Giang Province bloom, many tourists flock to the site to enjoy sight-seeing. Recently, public was stirred as an illegal construction in Ha Giang harmed the natural heritage. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha



As part of the event, the national forum Heritage - Development Resources of Vietnam Tourism will be held to discuss cultural heritages contributions to tourism and economic development.

At the seminar Tourism Looks toward the Future, participants will propose eco-friendly tourist products and introduce technological application in tourism development.

Other activities include an awarding ceremony honouring individuals and tourism businesses, art performances and culinary presentations.

Dinh Ngoc Duc, director of the Market Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said the sustainable development, heritage preservation and environment protection are remarkable issues to mention at all activities of VITM.

Tangible and intangible heritage have been the leading resource to Vietnam tourism, he said.

Through VITM, we will call on authorities, business and tourism labours to preserve, protect heritage and promote value of heritage through sustainable tourism to make heritage become a strong support for the national tourism. VNS

Green tourism: the way for Vietnams sustainable tourism development Sustainable tourism on the basis of green tourism is the path for Vietnam to go in the next 10 years, experts say.
BERLIN - Western and Arab powers signed a wide-ranging agreement on Sunday to respect a U.N. arms embargo and stop providing military support to Libya's warring factions. But the gathering failed to convince the rival sides to agree to a lasting cease fire, as many had hoped.

"We agreed on a comprehensive plan forward," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters at the end of the summit. "We all agree that we should respect the arms embargo and that the arms embargo should be controlled more strongly than it has been in the past."

The one-day summit, which attracted many of the world's most influential leaders, was the most significant attempt yet by the United States and Europe to remain relevant in Libya, after years of watching from the sidelines. The event, proposed in the summer, came to fruition only after Russia and Turkey - which support rival sides in the conflict - stepped up their military engagement to shape the future of the country.

But while Western leaders portrayed the summit and its agreement as a step forward, tensions in Libya appeared to be growing on Sunday, raising questions about whether conditions politically and on the ground there are ripe for a cease fire.

Both Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, the head of the U.N.-installed government in Tripoli, and eastern commander Khalifa Hifter, who launched an offensive on the Libyan capital in April, were in Berlin on Sunday. But they never met, underscoring the deep and lingering animosity that divides Libya.

"The difference between the parties are such a magnitude, that they don't speak to each other," Merkel said. "They were not in the same room."

Sunday's agreement calls for all countries and parties involved in Libya to work toward a permanent cease fire, primarily through a military committee composed of representatives from all sides. The agreement is to be presented to the U.N. Security Council, giving it greater weight.

The signatories included Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the senior-most U.S. official to attend the talks, French President Emmanuel Macron, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recip Tayyip Erdogan and other top leaders from Europe, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The communique calls on "all parties concerned to redouble their efforts for a sustained suspension of hostilities, de-escalation and a permanent cease fire." It also calls on countries backing the warring factions to "refrain from any activities exacerbating the conflict or inconsistent" with the U.N. embargo or the cease fire, "including the financing of military capabilities or the recruitment of mercenaries." Nations breaking the arms embargo should face sanctions, the signatories agreed.

"We know that today's meeting obviously will not solve all the problems of Libya," Merkel said. "We wanted to give a new impetus."

Pompeo said progress had been made toward a "full-fledged cease fire" but "there's still a lot of work to do."

"It's a complicated battlefield," he said.

It remains to be seen whether the countries driving one of the world's most internationalized conflicts will set aside their ambitions and stop sending weapons and fighters, after having blatantly ignored the arms embargo for years.

Russia and Turkey view Libya as central to their economic and geostrategic ambitions in the Middle East and North Africa. Regional powers such as the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia see Libya through the lens of ideology and counterterrorism - and are wary of the growing role played by Turkey, which supports Islamists they despise.

Sunday's communique, analysts noted, had been drafted and agreed upon by all the parties involved in Libya's war for more than a month.

"Throughout that time, they sent more weapons and mercenaries to Libya," said Wolfram Lacher, a Libya expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. "So the words of heads of states doesn't really count for much. There is no sign that the real positions of foreign meddlers have changed."

There are indications the warring sides have used the lull in the fighting to bolster their positions. In the capital, pro-government militias have gained confidence with the arrival of hundreds of pro-Turkey Syrian fighters and a Turkish air defense system. In Hifter's eastern stronghold of Benghazi, reports have surfaced of the arrival of new arms from abroad.

On the eve of the summit, pro-Hifter forces blockaded key oil ports in a show of strength, as Tripoli-based oil officials warned that production could halt within five days. Reports emerged Sunday of fighting in Tripoli, including heavy artillery.

The effort to end the spiraling chaos has been plagued by divisions among European countries and a lack of strong engagement by the United States and other Western powers.

Hifter's forces swept across Libya and launched an offensive on Tripoli in the very week last year that the U.N. was trying to hold a peace conference. His advance was met by silence from the international community, emboldening him, analysts said. While Italy and other European powers backed the Tripoli government, known as the Government of National Accord, France backed Hifter, whom they view as Libya's best hope. Italy and France have dueling economic interests in Libya, centered over oil and gas resources.

"We Europeans have been suffering internal divisions, and we have not been united enough," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters.

Washington, too, sent mixed signals. Congress and the State Department have voiced support for the GNA, but President Donald Trump endorsed Hifter's offensive in April.

Kremlin-backed mercenaries joined Hifter's forces on the front lines in September. Europe and the United States failed to act against Russia, and in November the GNA turned to Turkey for help. Ankara, which already was providing drones, weapons and military advisers, agreed to ratchet up support.

The Tripoli government signed a deal with Turkey guaranteeing Mediterranean Sea oil and gas drilling rights. That angered Greece, Cyprus, the European Union and Egypt, all of which covet the resources.

Ankara is also poised to gain about $18 billion in contracts suspended after Moammar Gaddafi's fall. Moscow, too, stands to gain billions in arms and construction contracts. It views Libya as a geostrategic asset and an ideological platform to undermine NATO, divide the EU and discredit the West, according to Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya analyst at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague.

Even before Sunday's communique, senior European leaders were calling for greater engagement and unity in Libya, especially to enforce the U.N. arms embargo.

"The Europeans should be strongly engaged, much more than in the past, to control the arms embargo," Borrell said.

Borrell and other top European leaders suggested sending European forces to Libya to monitor a truce.

"First, we need to have a cease fire," U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said. "We cannot monitor something that does not exist."
The chess world was amazed when the computer algorithm AlphaZero learned, after just four hours on its own, to beat the best chess programs built on human expertise. Now a research group at Aarhus University in Denmark has used the very same algorithm to control a quantum computer.

All across the world, numerous research groups are attempting to build a quantum computer. Such a computer would be able to solve certain problems that cannot be solved with current classical computers, even if we combined all these computers in the world into one.

At Aarhus University they share the ambition of building a quantum computer. For this reason, a research group under the direction of Professor Jacob Sherson has just used the computer algorithm AlphaZero to learn to control a quantum system.

What makes AlphaZero interesting is that it can learn on its own without any form of human expertise. In this manner, AlphaZero has beaten both humans and specialized computer programs in games such as Go, Shogi, and Chess, and it learned to do so only by playing against itself. After just four hours of playing against itself, AlphaZero managed to beat the leading chess program Stockfish. AlphaZero was so superior that Danish grand master Peter Heine Nielsen compared the program to a superior alien species that had visited the earth just to beat us in chess.

AlphaZero is good alone -- but better with researchers

The research group at Aarhus University has, via computer simulations, demonstrated the broad applicability by applying AlphaZero on three different control problems that could each potentially be used in a quantum computer. Their work was recently published in Nature Quantum Information.

The team was very impressed with AlphaZero's ability to learn, as the lead PhD student Mogens Dalgaard described: "When we analyzed the data from AlphaZero we saw that the algorithm had learned to exploit an underlying symmetry of the problem that we did not originally consider. That was an amazing experience. ''

However, even though AlphaZero in itself is an impressive algorithm, the research team achieved the best results when they combined AlphaZero with a specialized quantum optimization algorithm. As Professor Jacob Sherson concludes: "This indicates that we are still in need of human skill and expertise, and that the goal of the future should be to understand and develop hybrid intelligence interfaces that optimally exploits the strengths of both."

In an attempt to speed up development in the field, the research group has made the code openly available and they were surprised about the interest. "Within a few hours I was contacted by major tech-companies with quantum laboratories and international leading universities to establish future collaboration" Jacob Sherson says and continues "so it will probably not be long until these methods will find use in practical experiments across the world."

Background info, the quantum computer

A quantum computer uses quantum mechanics, a branch of physics that describes the smallest building blocks of our universe. At this small scale, the rules are fundamentally different. For instance, a system can exist in more than one state at a time. When translated into computer language, this means that a quantum computer can perform multiple calculations at a time, which gives a huge speed-up over regular computers. But even though the theory of quantum computers is well-established, no one has managed to build a full-scale quantum computer yet. This requires, among other things, that we improve our ability to control these systems.
United Arab Emirates foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed said on Sunday that UAE supports achieving security and stability in Libya based on non-interference in its internal affairs, state news agency (WAM) reported.

The minister also praised Germany for hosting a summit in Berlin to find a political settlement for the conflict in Libya.

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Lisa Armstrong was the 'peacemaker' during an eight-hour long discussion about her 31m divorce from Ant McPartlin, a source has claimed.

The make-up artist, 43, is said to have moved talks forward from a date at the end of January to last Tuesday so that a divorce deal could be made.

During the chat - where the details of their split are thought to have been decided - Lisa would have made 64,583 a minute, reports The Sun.

Making progress: Lisa Armstrong, 43, is said to have been the 'peacemaker' during an eight-hour long discussion about her and Ant McPartlin's divorce in London on Tuesday

In pictures obtained by the publication Lisa was seen walking into a building in London, believed to be her lawyer's office, while wearing a brown coat.

Lisa appeared to be in good spirits as she arrived at 10.30am and it is claimed she didn't step out again until 6.30pm.

Speaking about the chat, a source said: 'It was civil, nice and pleasant throughout and by the end of it all they can now move forward with their lives.

'She was certainly the peacemaker but there was willingness on both sides to press ahead and move on.

Split: The couple (pictured in 2015) announced they were divorcing in January 2018 and their union legally came to an end during a 30-second hearing in October that year

They added: 'It's a massive relief for Ant  and Dec  as it's been hanging over both of them for such a long time.'

Ant's representative declined to comment to Mailonline. Lisa's representative has been approached for comment.

MailOnline has contacted Ant and Lisa's representatives for comment.

It has previously been reported that Ant is set to hand over 31m to his ex-wife in the settlement, including their 5million former marital home in West London.

According to The Sun, the I'm A Celebrity host is 'delighted' the case has come to an end as he can 'move on', two years after announcing their split.

However, as the news broke on Tuesday, Lisa took to Twitter to deny the claims, posting: 'Nope a load of nonsense AGAIN....'

Back to work: Ant was seen filming for the upcoming series of Britain's Got Talent on Saturday as auditions kicked off in London

'Moving forward': A source claimed that although Lisa was the 'peacemaker' during the chat, 'there was willingness on both sides to press ahead and move on' (Lisa is pictured)

Denial: Lisa previously denied reports the couple have finally reached a divorce settlement on Twitter, calling it a 'load of old nonsense'

She went to 'like' tweets which stated: 'no amount of money could ever compensate for what this poor girl has had to endure', and 'Get what you can!

'You deserve it! Terrible treatment of you since you found out when we did! And with a so called friend! Its heartbreaking behaviour'.

Lisa also made her feelings clear on Saturday after liking a tweet which branded her ex 's****y and spineless' amid their divorce battle.

Not happy: The make-up artist also took to Twitter on Saturday to like a tweet suggesting that her ex was 's****y and spineless'

Following the alleged agreement, Lisa liked a tweet which suggested that the money she is about to receive 'means nothing' because it 'can't buy respect'.

The post read: 'I bet the money means nothing in some respects, it certainly can't buy the respect she deserves...

The tweet also suggested that she was forced into silence, adding: 'Or make-up for the s****y spineless way he scurried off & tried to silence her.'

It continued: 'What the sum is I'm sure it will be put to much better use & I wish her all the best. [heart emoji].'

Settlement: It has been reported Ant is set to hand over 31m to his ex, including their 5m former marital home in West London (pictured with his girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett)

Happier times: The I'm A Celebrity host is said to be 'delighted' the case has come to an end as he can 'move on', two years after announcing their split (pictured with Lisa in 2015)

It comes following reports that Ant is keen to 'move on' with girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett, now that the former couple have managed to come to an agreement.

It was reported by The Mirror on Thursday the TV presenter, 44, wanted to ensure that he focused on his girlfriend now he and his ex wife had decided to settle.

Claiming that Ant wants things to be 'all about' Anne-Marie, a source told the publication: 'It's all about her now. He just wants them to be happy.'

Anne-Marie was seen for the first time since since the report while she took their two Maltipoo dogs, Milo and Bumble, for a walk in London on Wednesday.

The former PA, 44, couldn't wipe the smile off her face during the outing as she walked around the common with their pet pooches.

Ant and Lisa married in July 2006 and announced they were divorcing in January 2018. Their union legally came to an end during a 30-second hearing in October that year.
Iran has backtracked on its commitment to send the black box recorders from the downed Ukrainian passenger plane to Kyiv, saying it has 'no plans' to do so.

The country's head of accident investigations, Hassan Rezaeifer, said that 'no decision has been made' on whether to send the flight recorders abroad less than 24 hours after he was quoted saying they would go to the Ukrainian capital.

He said yesterday it was impossible to read the black boxes in Iran and that they would be sent to Kyiv for analysis by French, American and Canadian experts.

The Revolutionary Guard shot down a Ukrainian Boeing plane on January 8 as it took off from Tehran, killing all 176 passengers on-board.

Eleven Ukrainian victims were flown back to their country this morning, arriving in coffins covered by the Ukrainian flag.

Iran has said it has 'no plans' to send the black boxes from downed Ukrainian passenger plane to Kyiv less than 24 hours after stating they would be sent. (Pictured: Black boxes from flight)

Iran's head of accident investigations for the civil aviation department, had been quoted as saying the black boxes would go to Kyiv for analysis by Canadian, American and French officials. (Pictured: Wreckage at the crash scene on January 8)

The Revolutionary Guard shot down the Ukrainian airlines passenger plane - killing all 176 people on board - when it took off from Tehran on January 8. (Bodies at the crash scene)

'The flight recorders from the Ukrainian Boeing are in Iranian hands and we have no plans to send them out', Mr Rezaeifer, who works for Iran's civil aviation department, was quoted as saying by state-run IRNA news agency this morning.

'We are trying to read the black boxes here in Iran. Otherwise, our options are Ukraine and France, but no decision has been taken so far to send them to another country.'

He added Iran is working to recover the data and cabin recordings, and that it may send the flight recorders to the Ukraine or France 'but as of yet, we have made no decision'.

The same official was quoted by semi-official Tasnim news agency yesterday saying the recorders would be sent to Ukraine for analysis by foreign experts.

If this was unsuccessful then the black boxes would be sent to France, he added, following reports that the boxes are damaged but usable.

Iran has recovered the plane's black boxes, but an official said they could not be read in Tehran

The official had previously said the black boxes would go to Kyiv and, if analysis failed, they would be sent on to France. (Crash scene on January 8)

Canada, which lost 57 citizens in the crash, said this afternoon there were still 'no firm plans as to when and where the aircraft recorders will be downloaded and analysed'.

The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) which made the statement added it believed the boxes were still in Tehran.

The warning that Iran may refuse to collaborate with the international community came as the country allowed the repatriation of 11 Ukrainian victims of the crash.

They arrived at Boryspil Airport on board a Ukrainian military plane this morning, and were carried out of the aircraft by soldiers, in coffins covered by the nation's flag.

Families of the victims arrived with flowers. Airline staff, some in tears, were waiting on the tarmac. Several knelt down as the coffins passed in a mark of appreciation.

'Today at Boryspil Airport the bereaved families and the whole nation have an opportunity to pay their respects to the Ukrainian crew and passengers of #PS752 who are now home,' Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko wrote on Twitter.

'Deeply grateful for the messages of condolence & solidarity that we have received from around the world.'

The cortege as relatives, friends and officials meet coffins with bodies of crew members and victims of the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 at Boryspil International Airport in Kiev today

Ukrainian victims of the crash pictured arriving home in Kyiv this morning. They were carried out of a military jet in coffins covered by the Ukrainian flag

Families of victims and airline staff came with flowers. Some knelt as the coffins passed

A mourner leans against a coffin after bodies arrived in Kiev from Iran today

The Islamic Republic may be hesitant to turn over the recorders for fear that more details from the crash - including the harrowing 20 seconds between when the first and second surface-to-air missiles hit the plane - will be revealed.

The Guard's air defences shot the plane down shortly after it took off from Tehran on January 8, killing all 176 people on board.

Hours earlier, the Guard had launched ballistic missiles at U.S. troops in Iraq in response to the U.S. airstrike that killed Irans top general in Baghdad.

Iranian officials have claimed lower-level officers mistook the plane for a U.S. cruise missile.

They initially said the crash was caused by technical problems and invited countries that lost citizens to help investigate.

Officials have claimed lower-level officers mistook the plane for an American cruise missile. (Pictured is the aircraft's flight path)

A major clean-up operation of the crash site has been undertaken by the Islamic Republic

Three days later, Iran admitted responsibility after Western leaders said there was strong evidence the plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile.

The victims included 57 Canadian citizens as well as 11 Ukrainians, 17 people from Sweden, four Afghans and four British citizens. Most of those killed were Iranians.

The other five nations have demanded Iran accept full responsibility and pay compensation to the victims families.

The plane was a Boeing 737-800 that was designed and built in the U.S.

The planes engine was designed by CFM International, a joint company between French group Safran and U.S. group GE Aviation. Investigators from both countries have been invited to take part in the probe.
Facebook says 'denying existence' of trans identities on platform is 'hate speech'

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In a move that mirrors Twitter's recent update to its user rules forbidding "misgendering" on the platform, Facebook has updated its terms of service to say that "denying existence" of self-determined gender identities will be considered "hate speech."



According to internet and tech watchdog Reclaim the Net, the social media giant "quietly updated its Community Standards on 'hate speech' and prohibited 'statements denying existence' based on 'gender identity.' Since Facebook users can enter custom gender identities, this update means that denying the existence of a potentially unlimited number of gender identities could now result in a permanent account ban."



Facebook's Community Standards page on what constitutes hate speech says in a December 2019 post that their rules extend to protected traits which not only include race and religious affiliation, but now adds "gender identity." The platform has over 50 pre-filled potential gender identities with words that have no dictionary definition or coherent meaning such as "Bigender," "Neutrois," "non-binary," and "Pangender."



Listed under Tier 1, the social media company now insists that content that targets a person or group with "statements denying existence" is not allowed.



The new rules also say that speech or imagery that dehumanizes people in the form of generalization, comparison, or unqualified behavioral statements is no longer allowed, such as likening people to insects, bacteria, or violent and sexual criminals.



The December 2019 update comes amid increasing public scrutiny over Silicon Valley's influence over the free speech of the citizenry in Western nations, particularly as it relates to gender identity ideology and transgender activism.



In November 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia-based journalist Meghan Murphy was banned from Twitter for posting comments such as "men aren't women," and was only allowed back on if she agreed to delete the tweets in question. The tweet for which Twitter permanently booted her from the platform was in reference to a transgender-identifying male who was still using male names on certain online profiles and is infamous for taking estheticians to human rights court arguing they had discriminated against him on the basis of gender identity, which was formally prohibited under the 2016 bill known as C-16.



Murphy told The Christian Post at the time that Twitter's rules change in its terms of service means that "male predators are allowed to change their sex, change their name, erase their history."



"So if a man is violent, a pedophile, if he is a danger to people, to women and girls or kids in general, he's fully allowed to erase that history from the internet and move on with his life and continue to predate," she said.

Concurrent with social media clamping down on criticisms of transgenderism, "gender identity" is increasingly being added to non-discrimination legislation, including at the federal level with the Equality Act, which passed the Democratic-controlled House last year.
Chinas scale and pace of development, its no-holds-barred approach to competition and the authoritarian regime that backs it fundamentally put in question the liberal model of globalism and win-win trade relations.

It is barely an exaggeration to say that the history of economic development, played out according to Western rules  the narrative that began with Adam Smiths doctrine of free markets in the 18th century  starts to look like only a preface to an age of competition between large economic blocs.

The Europeans increasingly look like the last man standing when it comes to free trade. The United States, with its long history of protectionism, was always a somewhat reluctant recruit to the camp of free trade. In the 21st century, with the emergence of China and India, the United States has company on the global stage.

China, under its current rulers, is a resurgent and assertive nation-state that poses a fundamental challenge to the power position America built in Asia during the Cold War. What is at stake is more than trade. It is geopolitics.

This was made explicit by the Obama administration and its talk of an Asia pivot, with Mr. Obama focusing more on the rise of Asia and less on the Middle East. Superpower competition reduces Mr. Trumps Phase 1 trade deal with its discussions about soy beans to a sideshow. What matters is the intersection of military and industrial policy in the tech arena  5G and A.I., not steel and agriculture, will shape the future balance of power.

This new competition brings to mind the Cold War.

China is ruled by a Communist Party that pays lip service to the cult of Mao. Americas positions in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the South China Sea are legacies of that era. But in the Cold War with the Soviet Union there was never the depth of economic, technological and cultural interconnection that the West has forged with China since the 1980s.
Jessica Mulroney has been called Meghans unofficial stylist and confidante. She is much more to the Duchess of Sussex than that, though. Stylist and confidante, yes, but also her best friend and fixer.

The Canadian socialite and brand consultant is married to television host Ben Mulroney, son of the former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, and the person, aside from Prince Harry, Meghan trusts most and depends on most. It would be hard to think of anyone who has had  and continues to have  more influence over her.

The most obvious illustration of this is the way Meghan looks today. Meghan and Mulroney (or maybe that should that be Mulroney and Meghan) have become practically indistinguishable, with virtually identical hair, make-up and clothes collections.

Jessica Mulroney (pictured with Meghan) has been called Meghans unofficial stylist and confidante. She is much more to the Duchess of Sussex than that, though

In plain sight, but still largely anonymous here, Mulroney, 39, has become a constant presence in Meghans life.

She had a starring role at her wedding in Windsor Castle in May 2018. Mulroney in a royal blue, cap-sleeve number walked hand-in-hand up the steps of St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle with her daughter Ivy who was a bridesmaid. Her mischievous twin sons were page boys.

She subsequently accompanied Meghan and Harry on their tour of Australia. She attended that baby shower in New York before the birth of Archie. She has been a regular visitor to London and was rumoured to have helped look after Archie while Meghan recently briefly returned to the UK from Canada.

Even so, not everyone on this side of the pond will have even heard of Jessica Mulroney, the consigliere in lipstick and Louboutin heels. She is the woman who, behind the scenes, is widely believed to be helping Meghan to achieve a more independent life with Harry and, in the process, forge a progressive role within the monarchy.

Mulroneys post on Instagram after news of the Sussexs Megxit plan broke, all but acknowledges this. Sharing a defiant quote attributed to the American filmmaker Gina Carey, it read: A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.

In plain sight, but still largely anonymous here, Mulroney, 39, has become a constant presence in Meghans life (pictured together in May 2018)

Meeting that challenge is already well underway, it has now transpired. Meghan and Harry have registered an application to trademark Sussex Royal for a range of goods including clothing and stationery.

Miss Mulroney is a fashion branding expert. Need we say more?

How ironic it would be if a woman who has posed on Instagram in racy bikinis (including a G-string swimsuit) turns out to have had more of a bearing on the future of the Royal Family than all the palace advisers and constitutional experts put together.

Much of what has been said about Meghans friendship with Mulroney has come from unnamed sources and insiders  and only in general terms.

Until last week, when the actualite of their relationship was exposed. Mulroney, it is claimed, put pressure on a former business partner of the Duchess to try to get her to sanitise an interview she had given about her to create a more favourable impression.

The business associate in question was Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne, founder of a London-based talent management agency, who once represented Meghan. In 2018, she spoke to the Mail on Sunday about the romance between Meghan and Prince Harry. She described Meghan as delightful, warm, and personable  and hugely charismatic. But she also said she could be difficult to work with, picky with her colleagues, instantly dismissing those who dont share her vision.

Before publication, she was contacted by Mulroney who wrote to her in an attempt to persuade her to withdraw or change [critical] statements, according to papers filed at the High Court by the Mail on Sunday, which denies breaching Meghans privacy by publishing extracts of a letter she sent to her father.

The episode involving Mulroney is a sub-plot in the case, an example, argues the MoS, of how friends have tried to manipulate, on Meghans behalf, what has been written about her.

Defence lawyers warned they would seek disclosure of all of the communications relating to Ms Mulroneys intervention to establish whether this was just an isolated incident. This means there could be more embarrassing allegations to come for Mulroney.

Pictured: The statements from Buckingham Palace and the Queen announcing that Prince Harry and Meghan would be stepping down as royals

Crucially, Jessica Mulroney is the only friend who was identified by name in the 44-page document. This should come as no surprise because, as weve already mentioned, Mulroney is much more than Meghans unofficial stylist.

Nowadays, they might have the same elegant look (tailored-trouser suits, figure-hugging dresses, tucked-in satin blouses) and similar long, straight dark hair. But they come from vastly different backgrounds. Meghan grew up in Los Angeles. Her mother, Doria Ragland, was a social worker and yoga instructor. Her father, Thomas Markle, a TV lighting director. The couple divorced when Meghan was six.

Miss Mulroney is a member of Canadas Browns Shoes dynasty whose marriage to Ben Mulroney propelled her on to the A-list.

A cover story in Toronto Life magazine a few years ago introduced them thus: Theyre Torontos most polished power couple, and theyre reinventing the way we think about influence.

Inside, it tells us that if Norman Rockwell was painting images of idealised domesticity, they would look a lot like the Mulroneys on Instagram: perfect marriage, perfect family, perfect clothing, perfect teeth and perfectly willing to put it all out there.

The same could be said, at least to begin with, about her friendship with Meghan, which blossomed when Meghan arrived in Toronto (with a CV that included a stint as a suitcase girl in the U.S. version of Deal Or No Deal, a job which required, when called upon, to open the case with the cash in rather revealing outfits) after winning a leading role in U.S. legal drama Suits.

The women, so the story goes, bonded over a deep passion for yoga and Pilates. Soon, Meghan would proudly refer to herself as Auntie Meg to Mulroneys children.

The women, so the story goes, bonded over a deep passion for yoga and Pilates. Soon, Meghan would proudly refer to herself as Auntie Meg to Mulroneys children

Their relationship was chronicled in narcissistic detail online. Back in August 2016, for example, shortly after Meghan and Harry began dating, Mulroney and the future Duchess jetted off to the Amalfi coast for a whirlwind girls trip.

Selfies of the two of them sipping Negronis and white wine poolside, were tagged on Mulroneys Instagram account #MJ x Italy and #fakehoneymoon  a reference to just how close they were in case anyone was in doubt.

Miss Mulroney used the platform to promote Meghans TV acting career as well as her humanitarian projects and the products Mulroney herself was plugging.

Take this, not long before the Amalfi jaunt: This woman [Meghan] is busy. She juggles more in a day than most do in a week. And yet she finds time to travel to Rwanda and creates global awareness for the water crisis. She is a boss. And I adore her.

At the same time, Mulroneys followers on Instagram, an essential marketing tool for her, soared six-fold to more than 360,000, and her Twitter following more than doubled to 13,400 after Meghan and Harry officially became a couple.

So, while no one should question the sincerity of their friendship, it has also been professionally beneficial for Meghan and commercially beneficial, in particular, for Mulroney who promotes her brands assiduously on social media, ranging in the past from lingerie to Pampers.

This is what Toronto Life meant when it said, with a hint of hyperbole, that Mulroney (and her husband) were re-inventing the way we think about influence.

When Meghan made her debut as Harrys girlfriend at the polo in Berkshire in 2017, she wore a delicate black bracelet with the word Joy in silver. The Canadian bauble had been designed exclusively for a charity Mulroney founded called the Shoebox Project which delivers shoe boxes filled with gifts to womens shelters.

A coincidence, maybe, but these include the Vancouver womens shelter that Meghan was photographed visiting the offices of last week.

But if their relationship isnt exactly collaboration, is it one of mutual benefit?

I always want to be recognised for the work I do, not the company I keep, Mulroney said, without a hint of irony, in her first interview since the wedding, with Harpers Bazaar in March.

She has a short memory.

Last July, Meghan wore a 637 blush pink sleeveless trench dress by Canadian brand House of Nonie to a Nelson Mandela exhibition in London. But it was Mulroney that the labels founder thanked on Instagram after the event, writing: Thank you Jessica Mulroney.

In Mulroneys world, the profile of her in Harpers Bazaar noted, every bare arm and empty earlobe are opportunities  especially if they are attached to the Duchess of Sussex.

That royal blue, cap-sleeve outfit Mulroney herself wore at St Georges Chapel? A pop-up collection by Di Carlo Couture went live on the morning of the royal nuptials with the Jessica Dress  a replica of Mulroneys form-fitting number, available to purchase for 1,100.

Miss Mulroney has prospered in other ways, too.

Last autumn, Netflix announced it was hiring Mulroney to present a new series, I Do, Redo, on the back of her appearance in the Jessica Dress at Meghans big day.

The co-production with the Canadian network CTV will give couples the chance to relive their disastrous weddings and turn them into dream ones. I am so blessed that I can show the world a side of myself that truly inspires, Mulroney said modestly in an interview.

Little wonder, cynics might mischievously suggest, that she has done everything she can to protect her best friend  and asset.

She has hit out at Meghans critics, writing on Instagram (where else): Three years of undeserved hate and abuse. Its enough . . . when someone faces unfair criticism, you call it out. When that person is your friend and your family, you call those critics what they truly are. Shame on you racist bullies. Last night she posted again about all those who carry the weight of bullies.

There wasnt a peep out of her, funnily enough, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was accused of racism after photographs emerged of him recently as an elaborately dressed Aladdin, with Afro wig and skin-darkening make-up, for an end-of-year Arabian Nights at a smart private school in British Columbia.

Then again, Mulroney and her husband are personal friends of Trudeau (Mulroney has given fashion tips to the PMs wife Sophie.)

Mulroney has now jetted off to Jamaica where she has started filming I Do, Redo. Off the plane and right into a rum punch and some reggae, she told her thousands of Instagram fans.

There must surely be many back at the palace who hope she stays there.

n Additional reporting: Tim Stewart.
Six youths are suspected of vandalizing two empty theaters with a fire extinguisher at Cornelius 10 Cinemas Friday night and then stealing three other fire extinguishers, Washington County sheriffs deputies said.

The sheriffs deputies were called to the business at 10:56 p.m.

The deputies caught one of the alleged vandals, a 13-year-old boy, as he tripped running away from the theater while holding a fire extinguisher, according to sheriffs deputy Shannon Wild. He was detained and accused of first-degree criminal mischief and third-degree theft, Wild said.

Three other youth running from the business were stopped and questioned but not detained because sheriffs deputies could not tie them to the vandalism.

The vandals "unloaded'' a fire extinguisher in an empty theater and then went to a second empty theater, broke a chair and stole three other fire extinguishers, according to Wild.

The cost of cleanup is estimated to be in the thousands of dollars, according to the sheriffs office.

A week earlier, similar vandalism had occurred at Cornelius 10 Cinemas and the cleanup cost was $5,000, Wild said.

The business office of Cornelius Cinemas declined any comment, saying the owner would respond to media inquiries.

--The Oregonian/OregonLive

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
I'm A Celebrity's Charlotte Crosby and Ryan Gallagher shared their first passionate kiss on Sunday night's episode.

The UK celebrity, 29, and Ryan, 31, have had a budding romance since they entered the South African jungle, with the blonde starlet inviting the kiss.

'I'm sat in this position for a reason,' Charlotte said, sitting on the edge of a washing up sink near their camp.

'I pashed and dashed': Charlotte Crosby, 29, (left) and Ryan Gallagher, 31, (right) shared their first passionate kiss in the jungle on Sunday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia

Ryan quickly strode over to the blonde star, before putting his hands down either side of her and leaning in for a kiss.

Charlotte wrapped her arms around his neck, and her legs around his waist.

'Wait, wait,' Charlotte said. 'I'm scared to kiss with tongues.'

Passion: Charlotte and Ryan's emotions boiled over, with the pair sharing a lingering kiss

While Ryan appeared to walk away, it was then the former Geordie Shore star pulled him in close and started pashing him.

The two lovebirds had a lingering kiss. Ryan then tripped over a stone.

'Play it cool, Ryan. Play it cool,' he murmured out loud, which prompted Charlotte to announce that she 'needs to runaway' now.

Close: While Ryan appeared to walk away, it was then the former Geordie Shore star pulled him in close and started pashing him

'I have to because I'm shy,' she yelled, as she ran back towards camp.

'That was good,' Ryan said. 'Used to it. My kisses always scare 'em away, don't worry.'

Running into the diary room, Charlotte admitted she was freaking out: 'My heart is beating so fast. I just kissed Ryan with tongue.

'I pashed and dashed,' she admitted, before saying: 'It was a good kiss.'

Connection: Charlotte and Ryan have had an on-off romance, with the two remaining close since they first met in the jungle

While Charlotte and Ryan have had chemistry since arriving in the jungle, some have claimed their onscreen relationship is nothing more than a 'showmance'.

The speculation prompted Charlotte and Ryan's shared manager Shane Tyler Greaves to defend the pair, claiming their chemistry is real.

'Speculation that Charlotte Crosby and Ryan Gallagher are having a 'showmance' is untrue and unwarranted,' Shane said.

'Charlotte and Ryan's onscreen chemistry and developing relationship is clearly genuine. Comments to the contrary are fictitious.'

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues Monday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
Lotte Group founder Shin Kyuk-ho



By Baek Byung-yeul



Shin Kyuk-ho, founder and honorary chairman of retail giant Lotte Group, died Sunday of a chronic illness at age 99.



Lotte said Shin died at 4:29 p.m. at Asan Medical Center in Seoul. The group said Shin was hospitalized in an intensive care unit Saturday and his condition deteriorated overnight.



Born in the southern port city of Ulsan in 1921, when the country was under Japanese colonial rule, Shin founded chewing gum maker Lotte in Tokyo in 1948, and eventually turned the company into the country's fifth-largest conglomerate encompassing food, retail, hotel and chemical affiliates.



The founder made a breakthrough in the group's business in the late 1960s. After Korea normalized diplomatic relations with Japan in 1965, Shin established Lotte Confectionary in 1967 here. He then gradually sought business expansion, making forays into other business areas such as chemicals, construction and retail.



The late Shin especially focused on investing in tourism businesses such as hotels, amusement parks and shopping malls due to his belief that "Korea which doesn't have natural resources on its soil could become a tourism powerhouse."



The construction of Lotte World Tower, the country's highest structure with a height of 555 meters, arose from his idea to build Korea's highest tower in Jamsil, southern Seoul in 1987 to offer tourists something other than royal palaces.



Though the founder built one of the largest business empires, Shin's later years were overshadowed by a feud between his two sons  Dong-joo and Dong-bin  over who would take control of the group.



The battle between the two brothers, who controlled the group's operations in Japan and Korea, respectively, tarnished the image of Lotte as well as its founder. Dong-bin officially became the successor to his father after defending a series of attempts by his elder brother to take the helm.



Shin was also sentenced to four years in prison in 2017 for embezzlement and breach of trust but avoided jail time as the court allowed him to remain free on health issues.



He was the last-surviving member of the first-generation of Korean entrepreneurs. With his death, all the founders of Korea's top businesses  Hyundai Group founder Chung Ju-yung, Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chul, LG Group founder Koo In-hwoi, and SK Group founder Chey Jong-gun  have passed away.



Funeral ceremonies are scheduled for Jan. 22 at Asan Medical Center and Lotte Concert Hall in Lotte World Mall.


Bad weather forces delay of SpaceX simulated rocket failure test The SpaceX Crew Dragon sits atop a Falcon 9 booster rocket on Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center before a scheduled in-flight abort test

By Joey Roulette

CAPE CANAVERAL (Reuters) - Bad weather forced Elon Musk's SpaceX to delay until Sunday a test in which it will destroy one of its own rockets in a trial of a crucial emergency abort system on an unmanned astronaut capsule.

The test, the company's final milestone test before flying NASA astronauts from U.S. soil, had been planned to take place on Saturday.

SpaceX said in a Twitter post https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1218473546772430848 it was standing down from the Crew Dragon capsule test because of high winds and rough seas in the recovery area.

It was now looking at carrying out the test on Sunday, with a six-hour test window starting at 8 a.m. ET (1300 GMT).

Less than two minutes after liftoff from a launchpad in Florida, the Crew Dragon will fire on-board thrusters to eject itself off a Falcon 9 rocket mid-air, simulating an emergency abort scenario that will prove it can return astronauts to safety.

The test is crucial to qualify SpaceX's astronaut capsule to fly humans to the International Space Station, which the National Aeronautics and Space Administration expects to come as soon as mid-2020. It follows years of development and delays as the United States has sought to revive its human spaceflight programme through private partnerships.

NASA awarded $4.2 billion to Boeing <BA.N> and $2.5 billion to SpaceX in 2014 to develop separate capsule systems capable of ferrying astronauts to the space station from U.S. soil for the first time since NASA's space shuttle programme ended in 2011.

The space agency has since relied on Russian spacecraft to hitch rides to the space station.

In the test, the Falcon 9 rocket's boosters will shut down roughly 12 miles (19 km) above the ocean, a mock failure that will trigger Crew Dragon's so-called SuperDraco thrusters to jet itself away at supersonic speeds of up to 1,500 miles per hour (2,400 kph).

The capsule will deploy three parachutes to slow its descent to water, carrying aboard two human-shaped test dummies dressed in motion sensors to collect valuable data on the immense g-force  the effect of acceleration on the body  imposed during abort.

Story continues

The booster will free-fall and tumble back uncontrollably towards the ocean, SpaceX's Crew Mission Management director Benji Reed said. "At some point we expect that the Falcon will start to break up."

"Our Falcon 9 recovery forces will be standing by ready to go and recover as much of the Falcon as we can as safely as possible," Reed said.

The in-flight abort test was originally scheduled to take place in mid-2019, but the timeline was delayed by nine months after one of SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsules exploded in April on a test stand just before firing its launch abort thrusters, triggering a lengthy investigation.

SpaceX zeroed in on a previously unknown explosive reaction between a titanium valve and the capsule's rocket fuel. Reed told Reuters SpaceX had completed the investigation within the last week.

(Reporting by Joey Roulette in Cape Canaveral; Editing by Greg Mitchell, Rosalba O'Brien and Frances Kerry)
Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday outside the former offices of Agos newspaper in Istanbul where Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered 13 years ago, a killing which sent shockwaves across the country.

Dink was shot dead with two bullets to the head in broad daylight in central Istanbul on January 19, 2007, by a then 17-year-old jobless high-school dropout.

The 52-year-old Dink was editor-in-chief of Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly Agos and a fierce advocate of reconciliation between Turks and Armenians.

His death became a wider scandal after it was discovered that security forces were aware of the murder plot, but failed to act.

"For Hrant, for justice," the crowds chanted.

"We have not forgotten and we will not let it be forgotten." A giant picture of Dink was hanging outside the former building of Agos weekly, embellished with slogans reading: "It is not late to be ashamed" and "This case will not be over before we say it is over."



Hakan, one of the supporters who joined the mourning, lamented that the murder had remained unsolved for 13 years.

"Hrant was killed here 13 years ago. For 13 years they haven't shed light on his death," he told AFP.

"We won't stop following Hrant's murderers. Whether they shed light on this or not, as Hrant's brothers, we will continue to be here."



Another supporter, Seyit Dogan, said: "There are courthouses in this country but there is nothing in the name of justice." Turkish police heightened security and blocked the street where the commemoration was being held to traffic.

After the ceremony, carnations were laid on the sidewalk where Dink was shot dead.

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

Soon, many of our neighbors can fully participate in the community and economic life of New Jersey that we easily take for granted. Thats thanks to a bill that expands driver license access to more New Jerseyans, which the New Jersey legislature passed last month during a lame duck session. It was the perfect finale to a year of wins for working people. And were not stopping there.

Our union SEIU 32BJ worked together last year with labor, immigration and faith allies to pass some of the most progressive legislation that New Jersey  and the country  has ever seen. We championed the $15/hour minimum wage that was signed into law to kick off 2019. We partnered on legislation that has improved the lives of millions of New Jersey families, including laws to put in place paid sick leave, to expand paid family leave benefits and to combat wage theft.

These laws are reforming New Jersey as we know it. Our force is unstoppable and working people have priorities set for 2020.

Workers who keep businesses and airports across the state running safely and smoothly are rising up. Subcontracted workers serving our schoolchildren food and keeping them safe, who currently make only a little more than the minimum wage, are getting ready to advocate for a law that would make it easier for them to raise their wages and benefits. Our union will fight to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used to create good jobs with meaningful benefits, by promoting legislation that would get developers to extend industry-standard wages and benefits to workers in projects that receive state tax breaks.

As presidential candidates discussed better options for the nations healthcare, our union fought to maintain quality, affordable health insurance as part of contract negotiations for 7,000 janitors in the state. Workers won that in the new contract they settled in December, just a day after voting to authorize a massive strike. Working families cherish quality, employer-paid health insurance  a fundamental component to a family-sustaining job.

This is what lifts working people up and gives them a chance to make it in New Jersey. Workers in other industries are standing up to low wages and rising costs that make it challenging to thrive here, like the workers at our nations busiest airports.

The Healthy Terminals Act (S377) would address a critical problem for about 40,000 workers at New Jersey and New York airports. These workers have won the highest mandated minimum wage in the country  $19/hour by 2023  but even with these wages, workers are just a heartbeat away from poverty with an unexpected healthcare expense. Because many of those with access to employer-provided health care plans cannot afford the high premiums and deductibles, many go without coverage or rely on taxpayer-funded programs to get by.

The Healthy Terminals Act, proposed in both New York and New Jersey, would make our largest airport and train stations stronger, healthier and more secure, and save taxpayers money.

Following similar successful legislation that applies to federal employees, the law would ask employers to provide a $4.54-an-hour supplement to wages for subcontracted airport workers that they could use to acquire health care.

Among other workers, the HTA covers security, baggage handling, cleaning/janitorial and wheelchair agents who keep millions of passengers moving at the three metropolitan airports. When workers can take care of their health, everyone can have a safe trip.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., workers at airports up and down the East Coast are standing up to race-to-the-bottom employers who force hardworking people into poverty. The legacy honored with MLK Day has long served as inspiration to propel the fight for dignity for airport workers with 32BJ SEIU. Thats why hundreds of passenger service workers will rally at Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport for the Healthy Terminals Act on Wednesday, January 22, with clergy and elected officials who understand the vital need for to provide affordable quality health care to airport workers.

New Jersey families have the momentum to build progressive reforms, with legislators. The Healthy Terminals Act will be the dawn of higher standards for all workers who want a better life for their families and futures.

Kevin Brown is vice president and New Jersey district director of 32BJ SEIU.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Burma Facebook Apologizes After Vulgar Translation of Chinese Leader's Name

Chinese President Xi Jiping in 2019. / Reuters

YANGONFacebook Inc said on Saturday it was working to find out how Chinese leader Xi Jinpings name appeared as Mr Shithole in posts on its platform when translated into English from Myanmar, apologising for any offence caused and saying the problem had been fixed.

The error came to light on the second day of a visit by the president to the Southeast Asian country, where Xi and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi signed dozens of agreements covering massive Beijing-backed infrastructure plans.

A statement about the visit published on Suu Kyis official Facebook page was littered with references to Mr Shithole when translated to English, while a Facebooks translation of a headline in local news website the Irrawaddy (Myanmar Edition) appeared as Dinner honors president shithole.

It was not clear how long the issue had lasted but Googles translation function did not show the same error.

We have fixed an issue regarding Burmese (Myanmar) to English translations on Facebook and are working to identify the cause to ensure that it doesnt happen again, Facebook said in a statement. This issue is not a reflection of the way our products should work and we sincerely apologise for the offence this has caused.

China is Facebooks biggest country for revenue after the United States, and the tech company is setting up a new engineering team to focus specifically on the lucrative advertising business there, Reuters reported last week.

We are aware of an issue regarding Burmese to English translations on Facebook, and were doing everything we can to fix this as quickly as possible, a spokesperson for the tech company said in a statement.

This issue is not a reflection of the way our products should work and we sincerely apologise for the offence this has caused.

Facebook has faced numerous problems with translation from Myanmar in the past. In 2018 it temporarily removed the function after a Reuters report showed the tool was producing bizarre results.

An investigation documented how the company was failing in its efforts to combat vitriolic Burmese language posts about Myanmars Rohingya Muslims, some 730,000 of whom fled a military crackdown in 2017 that the U.N has said was conducted with genocidal intent.

It also showed the translation feature was flawed, citing an anti-Rohingya post advocating killing Muslims that was translated into English as I shouldnt have a rainbow in Myanmar.

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MIND yourself.

Its an old Irish phrase that carries a lot of meaning in just two words, says Fr Simon Sleeman.

Last week, the Glenstal monk spoke about his depression, spending three months in Saint John of God Hospital and his recovery. However, despite the pain and misery Fr Simon said he wouldnt swap the experience for anything.

This week he discusses why so many others, like him, are falling into what he calls a dark hole.

Ireland has one of the highest rates of mental health illness in Europe, ranking joint third out of the 36 countries surveyed in the annual Health at a Glance report.

The human brain is complex and tricky to manage. If you let the mind run on its own it goes negative 80% of the time, said Fr Simon.

But that makes sense to him. The reason the brain has a factory setting of negativity is survival, he says.

Look at anxiety. We tend to think of anxiety as a bad thing but the humans in the wild that didnt have a certain degree of anxiety didnt survive. That was our way of life when we lived in tribes of 150 in the Savannah. In evolutionary terms that was five minutes ago. To me anxiety is a natural response or a signal about something being wrong.

The former headmaster of Glenstal Abbey school uses a rabbit as an example.

The bunny that has no anxiety gets eaten by a fox because it is too relaxed. The rabbit that wont leave the burrow because it is too anxious dies from starvation. But the rabbit that has some anxiety and is watchful for Mr Fox survives and thrives.

If the cautious rabbit sees the fox coming they react immediately, are stressed and jump in the burrow. Five minutes later they are back out nibbling grass. The rabbit has forgotten about the fox.

The problem for us with our minds is we dont forget. We think the fox is around the next corner and we play it over and over in our heads. We put ourselves constantly under stress.

We are so caught up in our minds. The last bit of evolution provides us with this consciousness but the lizard and crocodile brain - all those steps of evolution - are all still there. They havent gone. That is all driving us too. That is part of our machinery.

For months his machinery was broken. In late 2018 / early 2019, when Fr Simon woke up - if he had slept - he felt anxious but for no reason.

There were no tigers or lions around my bed. I was anxious and fearful and not functioning as I would normally expect to function.

We dont have any wild animals preying on us anymore but we have lost a lot of what was good about living in tribes in the Savannah, he says.

We succeeded because we co-operated, we worked together, a lot of the animals were bigger and stronger but we were smarter and worked together, that was our way of life. That need to belong hasn't evaporated, that need to connect.

He says our society has created increasing disconnection. Exteriority trumps the interior and image has supplanted substance.

There are many ways to lose ones sense of self. We can lose ourselves trying to control the world around us, in unhealthy relationships, in perfectionism and the list could go on. In the past we were told that our first parents, Adam and Eve, had messed up - they had fallen from perfection by eating that apple and we were suffering the consequences - we had to become perfect and this ethic of perfection has dominated Christianity.

Even if the popularity of organised religion is on the wane, perfectionism hasnt gone away but the story has changed - it is no longer about having fallen from past perfection but about striving for future perfection, and influences much of what we do, from the search for the perfect partner, the perfect house, the perfect kitchen, the perfect body to perfect sex. This striving takes us dangerously outside ourselves as we attempt to conform to an external standard of perfection which is an illusion. There is no perfect home, kitchen, body, or partner.

If we are to halt the ever increasing rate of suicide and depression especially among young people we need to rebuild connections, he says.

Not only have we become disconnected from ourselves but also from nature, from the sacred, from life-giving values, from community. All we are left with is consumerism - worshipping false and empty gods - idols. Some wise person once said to me, if you want to be happy, get connected. It is a simple phrase but holds great truth.

The 68-year-old can remember threshing. A time when a great machine drawn by a steam engine arrived in a locality for all neighbouring farmers to do the threshing of their barley crop before moving on to the next farm.

I was very young but remember the sense of community and joy that enveloped this event. Today we need what someone has called weavers, weavers of community.

The GAA is a very successful weaver of community, as are the scouts. The most surprising experience of weaving for me has been the Team Limerick Clean-Up initiative launched by JP McManus. Who would have believed that litter could unite a community even just for half a day? No one can be against it or opposed to it. The first year it happened it was like a miracle. No one was excluded, it united all. We need more weavers if we are to survive and live healthier and more fulfilled lives.

Fr Simon says our celebratory, consumer culture with its junk values is not interested in the health of our inner self.

In fact the damage we are doing to the external environment is reflected in the damage we are doing to our inner ecology - it is also out of balance and littered with pollutants, some of which, we are not even aware.

For most of Fr Simons life he was taught to look for answers outside himself - to books, to people, to religion.

My religious upbringing was about the external - being virtuous and devoting myself to the person of Jesus. I was warned off having anything to do with the inner world - that could lead to self-indulgence or narcissism.

My education too was focussed on the external - on behaviour and results. There was no attempt to teach me about my mind, my psychology or emotions or anything to do with my inner world. It is not surprising that people are flocking to Eastern religions - they know about the inner life and how to manage it. While we are busy concentrating on the external, they are focused on the internal.

The sad thing is that the Catholic Church has all the resources to provide for both the internal and external needs but is choosing not to use them. Our culture too, is very much focused on the external and takes us further away from ourselves - it depends on us feeling disconnected, empty on the inside so we keep buying, trying to fill the hole we feel inside and keep the economy growing.

It is something he experienced himself when he was in Saint John of God.

You could visit Stillorgan village once the staff felt you were not a risk to be let out into the wider world. During that time I became an avid consumer. I visited Stillorgan and never came back without buying something and was always disappointed when I got it. The same old story - I knew it well. It is always the anticipation of buying that gives us the buzz - releases the happy hormone, dopamine. And then the let down.

I knew I was still on the run, treating myself like someone I didnt want to spend time with - anything but sitting still by myself, doing nothing. And I am meant to be a monk - someone for whom this should be second nature - and not succumbing to filling the God shaped hole with busyness or with stuff. And if per chance God did come knocking on my door, I would probably be absent, out buying another spiritual book.

Research is showing that your pain may not be all your own - it may be inherited. However, Fr Simons depression rose from within.

I had weakened my sense of self over time - disconnected from myself. I was afraid of my father and abandoned in boarding school at a young age. One will never know the exact cause or causes of ones issues. And everyone has them. As someone said, There are two types of people, those with issues and those that are dead.

But I had developed a way of surviving which was more about pleasing other people and looking after their needs rather than my own - when you give priority to making others happy at a cost to yourself, it becomes unhealthy. I hid my loss under busyness and work. But inside I was in pain.

He searched everywhere and for ages trying to understand and release this pain.

I imagined myself living in a submarine and keeping my eye on the world through a raised periscope. I went to therapists, I read more self-help books than is probably legal. I made mistakes, some big ones and went down false trails.

Fr Simon wishes to acknowledge the love and support he received from his community in Glenstal and from his friends and family, and to everyone who has reached out following last weeks article.

When I left hospital I, and others, assumed I was fixed, back to my old self. I had come home to myself. But I was wrong. The hospital had reset my system. I was no longer depressed or over anxious but I was not fixed. It was a psychologist friend of mine, Tony Bates, who said to me, now the work begins. And he was right.

I was fortunate that I did not have to go back to the situation I had left. The job [headmaster] was gone and I had a welcoming community to slip back into, I changed my living space. Many others are not so fortunate - they have to return to the situation that caused the problem in the first place. And when you return, people expect you to be fixed, and ready to go on as before. But you cant go back to that self or you will be in trouble again. You have to change and re-set your priorities.

But what is the work?

It is about reclamation - reclaiming ones self or a part of ones self that was lost beneath the waves of daily survival. It means changing things in your life - it is a unique journey for each of us. But it is one we have to go on if we are to find a meaningful and fulfilled life.

At a practical level, there are things Fr Simon does to ensure he doesn't fall into the dark hole again.

He tries to sleep well, eat well, not drink too much. Saint Benedict generously allows each monk a hemina of wine a day which is roughly half a bottle.

I exercise and try to loosen up and play at some point in the day. Humour is a great healer and play is also important even for adults. I meditate or spend time in quiet for 20 minutes twice a day. I came across a helpful description of meditation which has changed my approach. It suggested that you dont do meditation rather you go for meditation. It is like going for a massage - you dont do anything except show up. You stop trying to control your world and sit, and let the Spirit work. We need to learn to manage our complex and tricky brain.

But while we must mind ourselves no man is an island.

And now for the first time I feel I have got a glimpse of what it means to feel a freedom and sense of self. It is fragile but it is real and needs to be minded.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr has said that President Donald Trump 'discredited the American experiment' in an interview published Friday.

'I think the problem is, number one, he is a bully. And you know, I don't like bullies. And I don't think ... that that's part of America's tradition,' Kennedy Jr said in an interview with Yahoo Finance.

'I think, in many ways, he's discredited the American experiment with self-governance,' added Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaccination activist who is the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy and son of his attorney general, Robert F. Kennedy.

Kennedy Jr went on to lament that, in his opinion, Trump has diminished the reputation of America in the minds of foreign citizens elsewhere.

'I think the problem is, number one, he is a bully. And you know, I don't like bullies. And I don't think ... that that's part of America's tradition,' Kennedy Jr (above) said of Trump

Kennedy Jr is an anti-vaccination activist who is the nephew of former president John F. Kennedy (seen with him above in 1961) and son of his attorney general, Robert F. Kennedy

'If you go to China today and ask them, do you want a democracy like America has? You ask anybody in the world this, they will say no because why would we want a form of government that can produce leadership of a person who doesn't read books, who's not thoughtful about issues, who's bullying, who ... employs all the dark alchemies of demagoguery?' he said.

'And it's, you know, it's destroying so much about the things about America that I admire and that make us an influence, that make us an exemplary nation,' he continued.

Kennedy Jr went on to boast that his uncle had been admired all around the world, predicting that Trump would never receive the same adulation.

Kennedy Jr said Trump 'doesn't read books' and makes American democracy look bad

In fact, there are a handful of streets named after Trump, with examples in Kalispell, Montana; Kamez, Albania and the suburbs of Ottawa, Canada (above)

'If you go to any capital in the world, you'll see there is a boulevard named after John Kennedy. There are hospitals, schools, or universities. The biggest statue in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is one of my uncle,' he said.

'You will not find ... any boulevard in any nation in the world, named Donald Trump,' said Kennedy Jr.

In fact, there are a handful of streets named after Trump, with examples in Kalispell, Montana; Kamez, Albania and the suburbs of Ottawa, Canada.

In Ottawa, residents have petitioned to changed the name of the street. The housing development was built prior to Trump's political career, and has several streets named after various New York City icons.
Wednesday 15 January 2020. Photo: Douglas OConnor. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Simon Coveney with Fine Gael Ministers and Candidates in Monaghan to launch their election campaign.

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has claimed an opinion poll putting Fine Gael 12 points behind Fianna Fail shows the real risk of letting the opposition party back into government.

Speaking on his way into Croke Park on Sunday, Mr Varadkar argued that the poll was a warning for voters about the possibilities of Fianna Fail being returned to government.

When asked about his partys own poor showing and the fallout from the now-postponed plans to commemorate members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, Mr Varadkar said he would not get into a running commentary on opinion polls.

But earlier he said: I think the opinion poll demonstrates that there is a real risk, a real danger that well have a Fianna Fail-led government after the next election and I would really hate to see that happen because it would mean the country falling backwards.

"We know what happens every time Fianna Fail gets into power, it ends badly. That sort of boom and bust, it ends with unemployment and with us having to wave our friends off at airports when they're forced to immigration and I don't think anybody wants that.

Mr Varadkar added that "three weeks is a lifetime of politics and we're up for the fight, but we're coming from behind".

Speaking on his way into Croke Park the Taoiseach appears more worried about the prospect of a Fianna Fail government than Fine Gael's low poll rating pic.twitter.com/4qmXB6TYvd  Hugh O'Connell (@oconnellhugh) January 19, 2020

Tanaiste Simon Coveney appeared to see a silver lining in todays Behaviour and Attitudes (B&A) poll for the Sunday Times, showing his party, Fine Gael, lagging 12 percentage points behind Fianna Fail.

"I think this poll is going to act as a motivator for Fine Gael people and Fine Gael candidates right across the country," Mr Coveney told reporters on his way into Thomond Park, Limerick.

"Two weeks earlier the same polling agency had Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both on 27pc, and for the last two years, Fine Gael has been in the high twenties,early thirties in terms of polls, so, of course were going to take note of this.

"I think its going to motivate people to work harder to sell out message; to listen to people, and to listen to voters, because clearly opinions are volatile, and we need to work hard, but there are three weeks left in this campaign."

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Fine Gael has "a very strong and positive message to sell", he said.

"The country today is in an infinitely better place than it was eight or nine years ago. People are back to work, the economy is strong."

However he acknowledged Fine Gael has "work to do in terms of public services, particularly around housing and healthcare".

"We know that and we are listening to people and their frustrations and their anger in relation to the pace of change in some of those areas."

The Cork TD also acknowledged the controversy surrounding Fine Gaels handling of a proposed commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary "probably" contributed to his partys poor performance in the B&A poll.

"This poll was taken before the election was called and there was a controversy around the RIC proposed commemoration. Clearly people were uncomfortable with that, and I think its important to acknowledge that and I think we did acknowledge it - weve put it off, responding to peoples concerns."

Meanwhile, Labour leader Brendan Howlin said the results of the first opinion poll for General Election 2020 dont reflect Fine Gaels "missteps" in the first week of campaigning,

Mr Howlin highlighted that the poll was conducted between January 2 and 14 - the day before the general election was called - and may not reflect parties' first week of campaign.

When asked if he was surprised to see the surge of support for Fianna Fail in the poll, he replied; "You have to be mindful of when this poll was taken. It was taken before the election was called, at the height of the debacle Fine Gael made of the Black and Tan issue.

I dont think there was a household in the country that wasnt amazed by the view Fine Gael were taking on things.

"I think that has manifested itself on this particular poll."

Mr Howlin added that Fine Gael publishing a controversial Election 2020 video online in the first week of their campaign after a spate of violent incidents across the country was a "misstep" on the party's behalf.

Despite Labour falling to 4pc (-2) in the poll, Mr Howlin said he still has confidence in Labour as the party perform "far better" in "real elections".

"This is a poll that we have bounced up and down in. We were at 4pc [in the polls]before the local elections. We actually got a national figure of 6pc and 10pc in the constituencies that we contested," he said.

"In the most recent by-election again, in the four actual contested constituencies, our average actual vote was 14pc.

"In real elections, where we have candidates, and campaigns and a traditional vote, we do far better [than in polls]."

"There will be some constituencies were not contesting. The critical mass of our votes is a much narrower set of constituencies, and Im very confident that we will be in double digits."

He said Labour have not ruled out going into government with Fine Gael, adding: "It would be an arrogance for a party of our size to start ruling out who should be in government. That would be a decision of the people."
Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) has reportedly violated norms by appointing two retired engineers without the knowledge of the state government. HMRL reportedly gave the officials an extension of two years, post retirement.

As per norms, any individual should not work in any organisation for a period of two years after retirement without notice being given to the government. It appears that the two engineers are getting pension from the state government and salaries paid by the HMRL as contract employees.

According to highly placed sources in HMRL, Mr M. Vishnu-vardhan Reddy, who was working as superintendent engineer, retired on December 31. Mr Vinod Kumar, working in the engineering section, retired on October 31.

They were reappointed by the HMRL on January 8 reportedly without the government being given notice.

Sources said that appointments led a row among the engineering wing officials as over five engineers have been vying for the same posts with similar experience as the re-appointed staff.

Sources said that the government has to officially release a GO regarding the extension of service. Otherwise, any gazetted officer will have to wait for a minimum period of two years prior to rejoining the same firm.

None in the municipal administration and urban development dep-artment seemed to know about the appointments. This reporter tried to reach HMRL officials for clarification regarding the appointments but no one was available for comment.

This is not the first time that this is happening. Officials who retired from the Metro Water and Sewerage Board and the GHMC are working in private agencies to whom they had issued contracts before retirement.
While ordinary people were going about their lives on Saturday, feminists across America woke up, donned their pink knitted caps (because nothing says strong like a cute, little, knitted pussy hat), and announced for the fourth January in a row that they really dont like President Trump.

London Breed, the mayor of feces-strewn San Francisco, described the event in heartwarming terms as one in which women were lifting each other up.

Cheering, clapping and waving signs ranging from the profound to the profane, protesters from all over the Bay Area rallied in San Francisco and around the United States for the fourth annual Women's March on Saturday. "Today is about lifting each other up," said San Francisco Mayor London Breed, the city's first female African American mayor, who swept onstage to roars of approval from the audience.

If youre wondering what that uplift looks like, here are some videos and pictures. Some show that a lot of women are still marching, although its unclear why considering that theyre primary beneficiaries of the Trump economy. What all show, though, is that these are not marches about women but, instead, are to support the Democrat party and display, in ritual fashion, a maniacal hatred for President Trump:

So much wrong, so little poster Public Cervix Announcement: F*ck the patriarchy Does this ass make my country look small?  These are some of the best signs from protesters in New York City and Washington, D.C. at this year's Womens March pic.twitter.com/vHrzJfCEyn  NowThis (@nowthisnews) January 18, 2020

Im in downtown D.C. where Ill be chasing Womens March 4.0 soon enough. The snow barely came down this morning but the people certainly did: Farragut Square is at capacity with half an hour until the march. Up to 10,000 people expected. @WTOP#WomensMarch2020 pic.twitter.com/d8GVZEwCru  Alejandro Alvarez (@aletweetsnews) January 18, 2020

My message from in front of the White House



 @rerutled pic.twitter.com/T3PxBelaZH  Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) January 18, 2020

CLE womens march 2020. The weather sucked and my crew bailed, but I went anyway because I cant keep my mouth shut. pic.twitter.com/WZsGRsKiN5  Dr. Ashley (@DrAshleyB) January 18, 2020

Democrat politicians made their ritual obeisance:

I was honored to speak at the Seacoast Womens March in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, today, and join the many thousands of people marching across the country. We will bring people together in the fight for justice and equality everywhere. pic.twitter.com/OOyXyZ8Hoj  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 18, 2020

As we saw almost three years ago at the first Womens March, women are a force that cannot be dismissed or pushed to the side. We will rise to the challenge, fight, and win. pic.twitter.com/PhNtH7qlNi  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 18, 2020

The marchers attacked Republicans:

As is typical on the Left, there was racial tension:

Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles has been excluded from the 4th Annual Womens March in Los Angeles. WMLA did not invite Black Lives Matter to participate, failed to respond to an email request for inclusion, and further refused speaking time during a subs https://t.co/30LrXG8RG4 pic.twitter.com/S4se9TOuJu  #BlackLivesMatter-LA (@BLMLA) January 18, 2020

I hate womens march cause is just a bunch of white women thinking theyre really doing something with things like this. White feminism is not it. pic.twitter.com/EaFGtJGPHv  Brenda Huerta Soto (@brenda_hsoto) January 18, 2020

Code Pink showed up to support the Death to America crowd:

At dc womens march saying no war with iran pic.twitter.com/KH1Dddct6p  Medea Benjamin (@medeabenjamin) January 18, 2020

And of course, men who think they're women and are systematically taking over women's spaces in sports, bathrooms, locker rooms, and prisons, were there too, showing the colors:

At the end of the day, a good time was had by a bunch of women who keep pretending its either 1855 or 1955 in America, and who resolutely refuse to acknowledge that, when it comes to sleazy sexual power politics, they should be looking Left to Hollywood and the mainstream media, not to Trump and Americas conservatives.
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : Indian captain Virat Kohli on Sunday termed their ODI series win against Australia as one of their most satisfying ones considering the fact that the visitors had beat them the last time they had toured the country.

Kohli and his deputy Rohit Sharma, who scored a century, led the effort with the bat as India chased down 287 with seven wickets and 15 balls to spare to win the series 2-1 at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.

"We are quite experienced players. Today we were one experienced player short in Shikhar (Dhawan)," said Kohli in the post-match presentation ceremony. Opener Dhawan was injured early during the Australian innings and it was K.L. Rahul who opened the innings with Rohit Sharma in his place.

"We got a very good start, and when KL got out, it was a tricky situation because the ball was turning and gripping. This is where experience comes in, (Rohit and I) spoke about stringing a partnership and Australia wants is wickets. If we don't give them that, we can chase seven or eight an over later on also. We do have that belief in our skill," said Kohli.

The pair ended up putting 137 runs for the second wicket and thus wiped out any momentum that Australia may have had. "This is basically how we have played in the last 4-5 years. It's quite enjoyable batting with Rohit, but more importantly, a comprehensive win," said Kohli.

An embattled Australia team that was without key players Steve Smith and David Warner, both of whom have got centuries in this series, had toured India last year and went on to win the series 3-2 after going 2-0 down in the first two matches. In this series, which is the first between the two sides in India since Australia's win last time out, India came from 1-0 down with Australia winning the first match by 10 wickets.

Kohli said that this is one of the more satisfying wins because of that. "They are even better than last time when they came. There's Steve and David in the team now and Marnus (Labuschagne) as well, a quality bowling attack, really intense in the field," he said.

"We lost after 2-0 in the last series so coming back and winning the last two games in this series is a great sign for us. 2020 has been wonderful, and we just want to go onwards and upwards. This is probably one of the more satisfying wins considering we lost at home to them the last time."
This is the first meeting of the ASEAN top diplomats this year to discuss the priority orientations of the regional grouping this year, especially the building of the community, the blocs foreign relations, and international and regional issues.

The ministers expressed their support and held that the themes and priority orientations tabled by Vietnam for ASEAN 2020 are suitable to the goal of the building of the ASEAN Community. ASEAN 2020 cooperation will focus on the fortification of the groupings solidarity and unity, and others. The ministers also agreed to push up the cooperation for the protection of the environment, peace, security and gender equity.

Representatives of the countries agreed with Vietnams proposal on the action plan of the ASEAN this year, according to which the bloc will realise a number of initiatives.

Regarding foreign relations, they stressed the importance of further broadening and deepening the ASEAN external ties. The ASEAN  New Zealand commemorative summit will be held on April 9 right after the 36th ASEAN summit to be held in Da Nang. The foreign ministers agreed to propose ASEAN top leaders to accept the invitation from the US President to a special summit to mark the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN  US strategic partnership to be held in the US in March, and accepted Vietnams proposal on sending the ASEAN Secretary General to inform the UN Security Council of the ASEAN  UN cooperation.

The ministers devoted much time exchanging ideas on the situation in the East Sea. They noted the progress in the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) and expressed concern on land reclamation at sea, especially on the recent developments, including the serious incidents that violate sovereignty in the sea of a number of ASEAN members and intensify tension, erode trust and do not facilitate the COC negotiations.

The top diplomats reaffirmed the need to boost trust, refrain from and avoid actions that further complicate the situation, towards settling disputes by peaceful means, and to take international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the basis for claims on sovereignty and sovereign right on the waters. They also stressed the need for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) so as to create an environment of mutual trust.

The ministers affirmed ASEAN will continue supporting efforts aimed at bringing back peace, stability, respect to the law and acceleration of reconciliation and concord among the communities, as well as ensuring sustainable development in Myanmars Rakhine state. They agreed to continue supporting and facilitating the repatriation and sustainable development there.

Minh thanked the support from the countries, describing it as a manifestation of the ASEAN solidarity and unity. He stressed that Vietnam will do all what it can to accomplish the tasks of the ASEAN 2020 Chair and cooperate with the countries for a region of peace, stability and prosperity, for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN.

In the afternoon the same day, Minh presided over an international press conference making known the outcomes of the AMM Retreat.
Kochi: Congregations attending holy mass in churches belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church Sunday were startled to hear an official circular read out, purportedly to alert them to alleged cases of Christian girls being recruited by radical Islamic organizations, sources said here.

In the circular, Cardinal George Alencherry, the head of the Syro-Malabar Church, urged priests and laity to take serious note of Christian girls getting romantically lured by radical recruiters.

The circular did not use the term 'love jihad', which is a description frequently by Hindu right-wing groups and individuals.

Last week the synod of the Syro-Malabar Church had issued a statement saying that love jihad was indeed a reality. Bishops of the church faced flak from some priests and sections of the laity for that statement.

The statement alleged that Christian women from Kerala were being lured into the Islamic State and used in terror-related activities.

In the circular read out in churches Sunday, Cardinal Alencherry expressed concern over growing incidents of inter-religious love affairs with intentions of endangering communal harmony and peace in society.

It is a fact that such planned moves targeting Christian girls are happening," the circular said. It should be an 'eye-opener' to all priests and faithful, it added.

Through the circular, the Cardinal urged law enforcement agencies not to approach this as a religious issue but treat it as a terror issue or a law and order issue.

Sources said many of the churches under the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese did not read out the circular, as most of the priests in the diocese have differences of opinion over the recent love jihad statement.

A priest of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese publicly came out against the statement, saying this was not the right time to raise the issue of inter-faith romantic liaisons when the nation is being polarised along religious lines.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPM, the Syro-Malabar Church, urging it to produce evidence of such recruitment in the state.

It alleged that the propaganda unleashed by the church would only help the RSS.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed the church statement.
Hundreds of women hit the streets here on Sunday protesting against the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, even as public rallies were held across the state.

Artistes, journalists, writers and women from other fields joined in large numbers at Latasil playground and marched to Chandmari area of Guwahati and vowed to continue their agitation till the CAA is repealed.

"Women have been at the forefront in Assam protests. Today also we have come out in large numbers for the state. The government is trying to lure us through various means. But they should withdraw the Act and then all the protests will end," film actress Barsha Rani Bishaya said.

The government is stating that five lakh people will benefit through CAA, but the people of Assam are not ready to accept a single Bangladeshi after 1971, she added.

Senior journalist Ratna Bharali Talukdar said: "We will not accept this Act at any cost. It will endanger the culture, identity and history of Assam as well as North East. So, we all have to be united in our fight against this Act."



In Bengali Hindu dominated Hojai, a huge gathering took place during a protest rally, in which senior journalist Ajit Bhuyan urged people to continue their movement till the "anti-people" Act is withdrawn.

Thousands of people in Tezpur participated in an agitational programme organised by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP).

A large number of people participated in similar protest rallies in Simaluguri, Moran, Duliajan, Nagarbera, Doom Dooma, Rupai, Rangia and many other places.

The CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis entering India on or before December 31, 2014, from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after five years of residence here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the 32nd chairman and vice chairpersons' meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 17, 2020. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang has stressed efforts to improve the work of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in its role as a specialist consultative body.

Wang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, made the remarks on Friday while presiding over the 32nd chairman and vice chairpersons' meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee.

Stressing the importance of the third session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC as a plenary session, Wang urged the CPPCC to carry out its dual responsibility of offering suggestions and building consensus, and pool joint efforts to serve the central tasks of the Party and the state.

He called for efforts to earnestly implement the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct, requiring thrift and strict discipline for the session.

The meeting reviewed and approved the draft agenda and schedule for the session as well as draft reports on the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and its handling of proposals.
The farmland market in England proved to be resilient in 2019 with average prices holding firm, according to land specialists Strutt & Parker.

Analysis of the Farmland Database, which records the details of all blocks of publicly marketed farmland over 100 acres in size, shows the average price of arable land in 2019 was 9,200/acre  exactly the same as in 2018.

Meanwhile, the percentage of farms marketed during the first half of the year that had either sold or were under offer by the end of the year was higher than in 2018.

Matthew Sudlow, Strutt & Parkers head of estates & farm agency, said: The figures show that the market continued to be far more resilient than some had expected.

There are a range of factors driving this including competitive bidding from lifestyle and non-farmer buyers, particularly within a hotspot crescent comprised of Hampshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire.

Supply-side factors have also helped to underpin average values, with the volume of farmland publicly marketed in 2019 20% lower than the five-year average and 35% lower than 2018.

The volume of farmland on the open market is the second smallest amount in the past 20 years.

There were fewer farms for sales in the Southern half of England, but the most dramatic year-on-year fall was seen in the East of England where the acreage for sale fell from 30,200 acres in 2018 to just 8,600 acres in 2019.

Mr Sudlow said: The drop in supply in the East of England has been exaggerated by a handful of very large sales in that region during 2018, but even if these are factored out then supply is noticeably down.

In our experience, many sellers have held back from marketing their land, particularly during the last six months of the year, due to political and Brexit-related uncertainties.

In total, 69,200 acres were publicly marketed in England in 2019, compared with 107,000 acres in 2018. In addition, private or off-market sales are estimated to account for about 20-30% of the market for farmland.

Mr Sudlow pointed out that average values do mask what has essentially become a multi-tiered market for farmland.

Over the past 12 months we have seen nearly a 200% difference between the lowest and highest price paid for arable land  from a low of 6,000/acre to a high of 17,500/acre.

While demand from lifestyle and non-farmer buyers remains stable, buyers who derive their primary income from the land are taking a more cautious approach.

There is still ongoing uncertainty about farm incomes, which has made many farmer buyers more reticent about borrowing against future farm profits, he said.

As a result, some high-quality commercial arable land in those regions focused on productive farming is currently achieving below average prices.

However, this does mean it looks good value-for-money in the long-term.

Over the past three years, around 30% of arable land has traded at 10,000/acre or more, while just under a quarter has sold for below 8,000/acre.

The average price of pasture land sold in 2019 was 7,000/acre, down from 7,700/acre in 2018.

Looking forward, Mr Sudlow said while the UK does now have a clearer sense of direction politically, there are still plenty of questions facing farmers and landowners in terms of the financial implications of the Agriculture Bill and the new Environmental Land Management System (ELMS).

Some vendors will decide that they have put decisions on hold for long enough and are no longer willing, or able, to delay selling. But equally, others could decide it is worth sitting tight for another year to see what happens.

So while there is a chance that more land could come forward in 2020, it feels unlikely supply will be above the five-year average.

He explained that demand from non-farmer buyers is expected to remain firm and overseas buyers have also become more visible in todays market  due in part to the weakness of Sterling.

A phenomenon seen over the past year or so in Scotland is unprecedented demand from forestry investors for hill ground suitable for planting trees, which has seen prices rise significantly.

With growing government pressure for increased woodland creation as part of climate change mitigation, we believe this could well become a growing trend in England and Wales as well, Mr Sudlow said.

Overall, the expectation is for average values to remain fairly static, albeit with a significant variation in prices paid, which will be highly dependent on location.

For anyone thinking of buying or selling farmland at present, understanding the nuances of local market conditions has never been so important.

They key to securing a successful sale will lie in seeking out the right advice on who the active buyers are in your local area, and beyond, and how best to market your farm to them, he added.
President Donald Trump's legal team is sending the Senate a fiery response to its impeachment summons, outlining the defenses it expects to use in the upcoming trial.

Trump's Saturday answer to the Senate's formal impeachment summons calls the two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.

The document offers a taste of the rhetoric expected to be deployed by the president's defenders in the Senate.

This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away," the filing states.

Two people close to the president's legal team outlined the filing in advance on the condition of anonymity.

Trump's legal team, led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, is challenging the impeachment on both procedural and constitutional grounds, claiming Trump has been mistreated by House Democrats and that he did nothing wrong.

Trump's attorneys argue that the articles of impeachment are unconstitutional in and of themselves and invalid because they don't allege a crime.

Trump was impeached by the House on one count each of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Under the Constitution impeachment is a political, not a criminal process, and the president can be removed from office is found guilty of whatever lawmakers consider high crimes and misdemeanors.

Trump's answer to the summons is the first salvo in what will be several rounds of arguments before the trial is expected to formally begin on Tuesday.

The House is set to file its brief outlining its case for impeachment Saturday. Trump will file a more detailed legal brief on Monday, and the House will be able to respond to the Trump filing on Tuesday.

House Democrats were preparing to outline their case for removing President Donald Trump from office in a legal brief due Saturday, as opposing sides in the impeachment case look ahead to the opening of the historic trial in the Senate.

Trump on Friday appointed several nationally known lawyers to the team that will defend him in the proceedings, set to open Tuesday afternoon.

The submission of the legal brief, due by 5 pm Saturday, follows the latest revelations in the case against Trump.

Democrats on Friday released more information documents, text messages, audio and photos turned over by Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

The release included multiple photos of Parnas, a Soviet-born Florida businessman, posing with Giuliani or Trump or Donald Trump Jr., the president's son.

It included messages between Parnas and a staff member for Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., a Trump ally who opposes the president's impeachment by the House.

Parnas appeared to be connecting the staff member to Ukrainian officials who pushed unfounded corruption allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden.

The documents also raised more questions about the surveillance and security of former Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. In them, an unidentified individual with a



Belgian country code appears to describe Yovanovitch's movements.

The document release followed Thursday's announcement by the Government Accountability Office that the White House violated federal law by withholding congressionally approved security aid to Ukraine, which shares a border with a hostile Russia.

In response, the White House disagreed and said it does not have to follow decisions by the accountability office because it is an arm of Congress.

White House officials also have noted that Trump eventually sent the USD 400 million in aid to Ukraine.

But the GAO report and Parnas documents intensified the pressure senators have been under to call more witnesses for the trial, a major source of disagreement between Democrats and Republicans that has yet to be resolved.

The White House has instructed officials to disregard subpoenas from Congress seeking for them to appear as witnesses or turn over documents or other information.

Trump on Friday named Ken Starr, the prosecutor whose investigation two decades ago led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, along with former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, to his defense team.

The additions bring experience in the of impeachment as well as constitutional law to Trump's made-for-TV legal team.

Both Starr and Dershowitz have been fixtures on Fox Channel, Trump's preferred television network.

Dershowitz said he will deliver constitutional arguments defending Trump from allegations that he abused his power.

Trump is also accused of obstructing Congress as it sought to investigate pressure he applied on Ukraine's president to announce an investigation into Trump's political rivals as the president withheld the security aid and a White House meeting as leverage.

Trump says he did nothing wrong and argues that Democrats have been out to get him since before he took office.

A legal brief from the White House laying out the contours of Trump's defense was due by noon Monday, and White House attorneys and Trump's outside legal team have been debating just how political the document should be.

Some in the administration have echoed warnings from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky, that the pleadings must be sensitive to the Senate's more staid traditions and leave some of the sharper rhetoric exhibited during the House proceedings to Twitter and cable

Dershowitz is a constitutional expert whose expansive views of presidential powers echo those of Trump.

Starr is a veteran of Washington's partisan battles after leading the investigation into Clinton's affair with a White House intern. The House impeached Clinton, who then was acquitted at his Senate trial. Trump is expecting the same outcome from the Republican-led chamber.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme have suffered lengthy delays on decisions and uncertainty and distress caused by a lack of information, prompting a fresh federal government pledge to fix the system.

An independent review into the scheme, to be released by the Morrison government on Monday, includes 29 recommendations to cut wait times, improve services and to make plans amendable.

NDIS Minister Stuart Robert. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

It also calls for more flexibility in the use of NDIS funds and clarifying access for people with a "psycho-social" disability.

Longer plans for participants, enabling them to be covered for up to three years without a review, should also be adopted, it found.
Millions of people came out on the streets here on Sunday to be a part of a human chain in support of the Nitish Kumar government's environment conservation and social reform measures.

The chief minister, flanked by his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and other dignitaries, stood holding hands at the Gandhi Maidan in the state capital, where the participants formed a pattern resembling the map of Bihar.

Kumar, whose third consecutive tenure as the chief minister would be complete in less than a year, organised the event to raise awareness about efforts such as the 'Jal- Jeevan-Hariyali' drive, campaigns against dowry and child marriage and ban on sale and consumption of alcohol.

Speaking after the function - as part of which patriotic songs were played by musical bands - Kumar thanked the people of the state for making the event a success and said, "I hope the number of people who have participated exceeds what we had intended to achieve."



Official sources said efforts were made to include 40 million people, "more than the population of countries like Canada and Australia", in the drive and an exact figure would be available by evening.

This is the third human chain organised at the instance of Kumar, the first being in 2017 followed by another a year later.

Opposition parties like the RJD, however, came out with stinging criticism of the event, dubbing it as a colossal wastage of public money and government resources.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav told reporters, "We would have appreciated, had the CM organized a rozgar shrinkhla - for providing jobs to unemployed youth - instead of the farcical manav shrinkhla."



The party's national vice president Shivanand Tiwary said the event was a flop show and shared a number of pictures on social media in which the chain could be seen broken at a number of places and children aged no more than 10 years made to stand in the cold weather, despite official claims that only those of Class VI and above would be taking part.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A proper town centre is needed in Sallins.

So says Cllr Bill Clear. There is no proper town centre in Sallins and it is a town now, not a village, he told a recent Naas Municipal District meeting.

Comparing Sallins with New Ross and Thurles, he said all three have similar populations but Sallins is the one without a town centre.

Councillors were told that an application for funding (under the town and village renewal scheme) to assess the needs of Sallins and how a town renewal plan might be developed was rejected  although it may be successful in the future if it is made for a different category of funding.

Its treated like the poor relation of Naas, said Cllr Clear, adding it really has been neglected and proportionately it has a very high number of people who are undertaking third level education.

Cllr Seamie Moore said he was unhappy at County Kildares success rate in securing some of this funding, which he said was less than of Carlow, Louth or Leitrim  all of which have smaller populations.
Late actor Paul Walker's vehicles garner $2.33 million at Arizona auction FILE PHOTO: Walker poses at the premiere of "Eight Below" in Hollywood

By David Schwartz

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Twenty-one vehicles owned by the late actor Paul Walker, who starred in the popular "Fast and Furious" movie franchise, sold for a combined $2.33 million (1.79 million pounds) during spirited bidding at an annual car auction in Arizona, officials said.

The collection assembled by Walker posted strong results at the week-long Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, with an Alpine White 1995 BMW M3 Lightweight fetching the top single price of $385,000 in the final day of sales on Saturday. It was one of five such BMW lightweights, of which 126 were produced, sold at the auction.

Walker, an avid car enthusiast, was a passenger in a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT driven by Roger Rodas when the vehicle careened into trees and a utility pole in Santa Clarita, northwest of Los Angeles, killing both men in November 2013. Walker was 40. Excessive speed was cited as the cause.

"People were clearly paying a premium for his cars," said Jonathan Klinger, a spokesman for Michigan-based classic car insurer Hagerty. "With these prices, the late actor appears to be poised to become the next Paul Newman of celebrity car collectors."

Klinger said star power does not always generate high bids, but Walker's combination of celebrity and passion for cars made the vehicles must-haves for some collectors.

Eighteen vehicles and three motorcycles owned by Walker that spanned five decades crossed the block before the hammer came down for the final time.

Among the crowd favourites were a custom 2009 Nissan 370Z, which made an appearance in the "Fast Five" movie. The low-mileage vehicle sold on Thursday for $105,600, the most expensive price paid for a 370Z at auction.

A never-raced 2013 Ford Boss 302S race car given to Walker as a gift by another car buff and put into storage sold for $95,700 on Saturday, auction officials said.

The vehicles were put up for bids with no minimum asking price and sales figures include a buyer's commission.

Proceeds from the sale will go to a trust for Walker's daughter, Meadow. She manages the late actor's foundation.

(Reporting by David Schwartz; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
The Bureau of Meteorology in Victoria issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of the state on Sunday, saying damaging winds and heavy rainfall were expected, the BBC reported.

Melbourne, Jan 19 (IANS) Australian forecasters warned on Sunday of severe storms to hit the bushfire-hit state of Victoria, which could lead to flooding.

It said storms and widespread rainfall were forecast in the state for the next three days.

One forecaster from the bureau said the state was "about to see it's wettest two-day period in many, many months".

At least 14 fires were still burning in Victoria as of Sunday.

In New South Wales (NSW), where 69 fires were burning on Sunday, forecasters said that widespread heavy rainfall in the north of the state would ease, as it withdrew flood warnings for the Bellinger and Orara rivers.

Meanwhile, officials in the third bushfire-hit state of Queensland urged people to "exercise caution" on Gold Coast beaches, where "large water movement and significant debris" were expected after heavy rainfall on Saturday.

The fires, which began in September 2019, have so far claimed at least 28 lives, destroyed thousands of homes and scorched millions of acres of land.

As the wet weather helped to ease the crisis, the government on Sunday announced a major package to aid tourism recovery, said the BBC.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government would channel some A$76 million ($52 million) from the national bushfire recovery fund into the industry.

He described the package as an "urgent injection" of funds for affected businesses, and said tourism in the country was facing "its biggest challenge in living memory".

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RAW sewage was running down the street in Rathkeale over Christmas and it took almost two weeks before the problem was finally resolved, local councillor Adam Teskey said this week.

You wouldnt expect to see it in a Third World country, he said.

Meanwhile, he told the January meeting of the Adare Rathkeale Municipal District, the mother of a child who had spent weeks in hospital was in tears as she saw the mess unfold in front of her home and feared for the health and safety of her child.

And he criticised what he called the lack of joined-up thinking between Irish Water and a section of Limerick City and County Council which dragged out the problem.

There had been a clash of personalities between himself and the representatives of Irish Water who came out to Rathkeale, he said. The council, he explained, said it was not their responsibility while Irish Water said they couldnt fix the problem.

Eventually, they stepped aside and the local authority office (in Rathkeale) went in and fixed it, he said.

The problem, councillors were told, was caused by an illegal connection into the sewage pipe of an unoccupied house in Pound Lane which got blocked before Christmas and forced sewage out on to the street.

It was cleared but the pipe blocked up again with wipes, baby grows etc, and a fast flow of waste material and had to be cleared again. Eventually, the pipe had to be redirected to a storm pipe.

It was the people who connected to the sewer who caused the problem, executive engineer, Aidan Finn said, and that would have to be investigated.

This was an exceptionally difficult situation. I have never seen the like. Generally it is dealt with by the property owner but this didnt happen. We should not have had to deal with it, he said.

The main sewer of the town also got blocked after Christmas, Mr Finn explained, and a brick, along with other material such as wipes etc had to be removed.

Cllr Teskeys ire, he said, should not have been directed at the people trying to deal with the problem.

The people who caused the problem were not the people there trying to fix it, he said.

But Cllr Teskey was unapologetic. When the roads crew and Irish Water worked together, it was fixed, he argued.

If we went in with joined up thinking it would have been fixed the first day, he said and he wanted a system put in place where public representatives could have a direct contact with somebody in Irish Water who could take action when a problem arose.

The problem, Cllr Richard ODonoghue said, was with the system.
It's about 10pm. Im locked in my cell with Gary, a likeable young Scouser who is nearing the end of his sentence for smuggling cannabis.

Were watching a film set in an American prison. Not for the first time I reflect on what a totally false impression movies give of life inside.

The on-screen criminals are muscular, tanned and seemingly possess all their faculties.

Its a far cry from the emaciated souls addicted to spice (a synthetic cannabis) who surround me in HMP Wandsworth in South London.

Theres a jangling of keys outside and the door opens. It is Mr Hussain, one of the younger prison officers.

Chris Atkins is a BATFA-nominated documentary maker who got embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund his latest film which saw him convicted for tax evasion and sentenced to five years in prison

Evening, Chris, he calls to me. Ive just dropped Rob off next door. Hes having a right mental.

Its not my shift, I reply, referring to my role as a Samaritans-trained Listener  part of a peer support service aimed at reducing suicide and self-harm in prisons.

The officer shrugs. None of the other Listeners will talk to him.

We are at the more salubrious end of H-Wing, an enormous Victorian block that forms part of Britains biggest jail. The ground floor is dark and deserted, except for a couple of rats sniffing around the bins.

Mr Hussain leads me to the so-called Listener Suite. Its name is deceptively flattering.

Its two derelict cells knocked together, and contains just three plastic chairs and a revolting toilet  hardly an ideal space for giving emotional support to vulnerable inmates.

Nonetheless, this is where I do most of my work as a Listener. Waiting is Rob, a large prisoner in his late 20s.

My cell is about 6ft by 12ft. The mattresses on the bunk beds are made from heavy-duty blue plastic, designed for the easy cleaning of bodily fluids. Pictured is HMP Wandsworth

He glares at me through enormous bloodshot eyes. Hes wearing his prison clothes inside out, and is obviously having some form of psychotic episode.

After a ten-minute discussion, I congratulate myself on, I think, building up a strong rapport with him. He nods and leans in conspiratorially.

Assuming that hes finally going to open up about his inner turmoil, I lean in, too.

Instead, Rob grins like the Grim Reaper and says: Sing me a song or Ill slit your throat.

So how did I, a university-educated, Bafta-winning film-maker find myself banged up in one of the most notorious jails in the country? Let me be clear: I definitely did something wrong.

The bottom line is I was one of a number of people charged with tax fraud in 2014 after Her Majestys Revenue & Customs closed tax breaks which had been introduced by the Blair Government to help boost the British film industry.

I was making low-budget documentaries and had been so desperate for funding that I turned a blind eye to the activities of our financial backers tax arrangements.

What I did was wrong, and I paid a heavy price.

In the summer of 2016, I was sentenced to five years (I served two and a half in jail). My spell behind bars coincided with the worst prison crisis in history.

That year there was a 27 per cent increase in prisoner assaults nationally, with attacks on staff up by 38 per cent.

The number of self-inflicted deaths had more than doubled since 2013, with 113 inmates taking their own lives.

The desperate state of our prisons is blamed on drugs and plummeting officer numbers. But for me, the main problem, which gets hardly any airtime, is that prisons are extraordinarily badly run.

If Wandsworth were a hospital, patients would be discharged with far more diseases than when they arrived. If it were a school, pupils would graduate knowing less than when they enrolled.

If Wandsworth (pictured) were a hospital, patients would be discharged with far more diseases than when they arrived

During my time at Wandsworth, the management was so grossly inept that if they were running any other part of the public sector theyd be sacked immediately. But prisons exist in a vacuum, where the authorities can tightly restrict all outgoing information and cover up their own incompetence.

Free from public scrutiny, Wandsworth and other prisons are able to continue failing on an epic scale.

A recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons report details some of the most disturbing prison conditions we have ever seen  conditions which have no place in an advanced nation in the 21st Century.

Far from being holiday camps, I saw how jails are brutalising teenagers to a lethal degree.

Prisons are supposed to rehabilitate inmates so that they dont inflict further harm on society.

On that basis, your hard-earned taxes are being flushed down the drain, as Britain has the worst reoffending rate in Europe, with 48 per cent of ex-prisoners being convicted again within a year of release. The cost of reoffending alone is estimated at 15 billion  more than three times the entire prison budget. This means that your house may well have been burgled by someone who has already served several jail terms.

If our prisons functioned effectively, youd still have your laptop and silverware.

Having spent years making TV documentaries, I knew the biggest barrier to capturing a decent story is access.

Even when access is granted, film-makers are often put under such tight restrictions we are only shown what they want us to see.

But in Wandsworth I was just another prisoner. This unfettered access gave me a front-row seat for the extraordinary chaos that unfolded every day.

I kept detailed notes of everything I witnessed. I hope my unvarnished account will provide a strong argument for a complete overhaul of our prison system

July 1, 2016

The first thing that hits me is the noise: yelling, banging, screaming, grunting, barking, threatening, ranting, laughing, whining, arguing, fighting, howling, crying.

Its as if someone has downloaded every single sound effect and is blaring them all out at once.

The reception wing looks like it last had a makeover in 1895 when Oscar Wilde was here, having been jailed for homosexuality.

Its basically Porridge meets One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest, and is full of the most terrifying individuals I have ever seen.

They mostly appear to be either severely mentally ill, off their head on drugs, or both.

What do they do all day? Smoke spice and watch Cash In The Attic on TV.

My cell is about 6ft by 12ft. The mattresses on the bunk beds are made from heavy-duty blue plastic, designed for the easy cleaning of bodily fluids.

At the back is a hideous toilet that doesnt have a seat. Theres no privacy curtain. The floor is cold concrete, and it all smells pretty bad.

Sitting on the bottom bunk is a tanned bald man in his 60s. He has a thin face with wire-rimmed glasses and is eating his dinner off a chair while watching TV.

He introduces himself as Ted, and explains hes just been rearrested in Spain, having absconded from a previous lengthy sentence for drug-smuggling.

July 2

I slowly unpack my things and pull out some photos of my three-year-old son, Kit.

Toothpaste, says Ted. I hand him a tube of Colgate.

No, you idiot! Use toothpaste to stick your photos to the wall. I do as instructed, and it holds surprisingly well.

Mid-morning were let out for an hour. In the shower room Im overwhelmed by the stench of marijuana mixed with human waste. I now realise why the prison blogs strongly recommend flip-flops  the floor is ankle deep in razors, floss and bottles.

After that, were locked up for the rest of the day. I always thought inmates were coy about discussing their crimes, but Ted is more than happy to talk about his colourful career.

I tell him how I came to be in prison. Thankfully, Ted is approving of my crime, as it involved misappropriating money from the Government.

July 3

Two pieces of pink paper are shoved under the door.

These are the canteen sheets, advises Ted. We can order toiletries and groceries, which get delivered a week later. I have only 50p to spend  our daily allowance. Ted is sitting on the giddy sum of 1.

Its darkly ironic that Ive been convicted of conspiracy to rob 1 million and Ted has been jailed for importing 10 million of cocaine, and yet we havent got enough between us to buy a packet of Hobnobs.

July 4

An orderly gives me an induction booklet and Im sent to a classroom on the landing below.

You need to do your English and maths tests, another orderly instructs. I take the assessments a tad more seriously than the other inductees  two lads are rolling joints, while an eastern European guy mutters darkly to himself.

I ask which education courses I can sign up to. Im told: None. All the main prison wings have just been shut down for the summer. Lack of staff.

Im confused. So what do we do? He yawns. Stay banged up in your cell. Its gonna be like this till August.

Im staggered that hundreds of men are simply locked in their cells all day.

No wonder most of them are going round the twist.

July 6

I am desperate to speak to my little boy. His mother Lottie and I separated a while back but weve remained on very good terms and Kit spends half the week with each of us.

Ive submitted the necessary forms to be able to use the prison phones, but theres a four-week backlog.

July 8

Friday is canteen delivery day. Ted has invested his 1 in gravy granules. There isnt a meal here that cant be improved with a dollop of gravy, he says. And that includes most of the desserts.

July 17

Its Kits fourth birthday and I hit an all-time low. I havent received clearance to use the phones. The only female officer on duty lets me use her office phone, and I get a couple of minutes with Kit while he blows out his candles.

Later that day I get a huge bundle of letters and printed emails. Id arranged to take Kit on holiday with friends from university, and theyve had to go without us.

People are Facebooking photos of me playing with everyones kids on previous trips. It feels as close as you can get to being dead without actually dying.

On the plus side, I hear Im going to be upgraded to a category C-Wing with lower-risk prisoners. Ted is furious that Im abandoning him.

July 18

Liz Truss is the new Justice Secretary, taking ultimate responsibility for prisons. This surprises everyone, not least Liz Truss herself, who walks into Downing Street looking as if she knows as much about prisons as I did when I entered Wandsworth.

July 31 Ive been moved to H-Wing  the prisons most coveted area. My new cellmate is a stocky, squared-jawed Romanian named Dan, whos been banged up for pickpocketing on the London Underground.

Welcome to the Ritz! calls Scott, a friendly Australian, when I venture on to the landing. Come and meet the rest of the white-collar club.

I follow him into his cell, which is more like a studio flat. Theres a separate sleeping section, and a big seating area with a large table.

A group of guys are playing board games, and Scott introduces me to his cellmate, Lance.

Ah, youre Atkins. Film chap. Where did you go to school? Lance has a loud public-schoolboy manner that is utterly out of place.

Scott and Lance have this large cell as a perk of being Listeners. It also serves as a common room for the white-collar fraternity  there are a few lawyers and City types.

They insist that Im welcome at any time.

August 2

Dan starts shouting at me for going out and leaving the lights on. His anger is baffling.

I cant fathom why a Romanian pickpocket is so concerned about HMP Wandsworths electricity bill.

August 3

Dan starts to engage in bodily functions as loudly and frequently as possible.

Anywhere else, this display of human sound would be a source of schoolboy-type amusement, but in this confined space its highly destabilising. I suspect hes trying to freak me out.

Another tactic is to refuse to say a single word to me. Ill ask if he wants the radio or the TV on, and hell just completely blank me. Then while Im watching something, hell aggressively grab the remote and change the channel.

Being locked up with Dan makes me feel physically threatened for the first time. I start to unravel.

August 4

Im offered the chance to move in with Martyn, one of the white-collar convicts. My whole body lifts as if being pulled by an invisible string.

August 5 Im delighted with my new cellmate. Martyn has an infectiously cheerful manner, and my mood takes a dramatic swing upwards.

He used to be the managing director of Deutsche Bank, but was convicted of insider trading and got four-and-a-half years.

Why dont you come to chapel on Sunday? he asks. I tell him Im an atheist, so it would be grossly hypocritical.

Youll get the whole morning out of the cell. Im in!

August 6

My son Kit is finally coming to visit. I have no idea what impact the past five weeks will have had on him. Ive had nightmares about him not recognising me, or refusing to talk.

I walk into the visits hall looking like an emaciated Robinson Crusoe. Kit sprints up and hugs me tight. Daddy! Read me a story!

He sits on my lap while I read him several Mr Men books. We dont talk about why Daddy is living in this strange building.

Despite the bizarre surroundings, it is extremely uplifting to sit with him for just a little while. Its like Ive been watching an incomprehensible film in Russian and someone has briefly turned on the subtitles.

Its like mainlining my old life again and helps me see tiny specks of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.

I assumed the visit would boost my spirits, but it suddenly hits me that Im only allowed two visits a month. I wont see Kit again for another fortnight.

I stagger back to my cell feeling as if my foundations have just been detonated. A sign proclaims that maintaining family ties is vital for prisoners rehabilitation.

This was recently echoed by Liz Truss, who said a prisoners family is the most effective resettlement agency. Given the derisory visits allowance, these statements just twist the knife even further.

August 11

Lance sticks his head around our door. There are a couple of jobs going, handing out visit notification slips, he says.

They offered it to me but I simply cannot be f*****.

This presents a fantastic opportunity to worm my way into the officers good books and perhaps qualify for so-called enhanced status and an increased number of visits from Kit. Martyn and I snap up the jobs.

August 23

Theres a lot in the news about Islamic extremism in prisons. Liz Truss wants to set up specialist units to keep dangerous extremists away from other inmates and stop the spread of poisonous ideologies. Id agree that prisons are ideal places to exploit weak minds.

The obvious way to prevent radicalisation is to improve conditions, but Trusss solution seems to be the exact opposite.

She intends to separate and segregate those at risk, and quarantine the potential terrorists together.

Shes found a pot of money to tackle the spread of extremism, but not for easing general overcrowding.

August 28

Martyn and I are racking up a few jobs around the prison now. One of his is running the prisons Alcoholics Anonymous group.

He admits that hes not actually an alcoholic, but the job gets him out of the cell for an extra hour on Wednesday evenings.

He returns from his first session mildly miffed. Its full of Muslims, who are all teetotal anyway, he complains. Theyre just doing it for the bloody unlock.

He fails to notice the irony.

September 15

Im chatting with Lance when Officer OReilly runs in. Weve just found a noose in some idiots cell. Can you come and talk to him?

In his role as a Listener, Lance is on call 24/7 to deal with those who are suicidal or self-harming.

Scott is the head Listener in Wandsworth, and he takes it really seriously. Its the only worthwhile thing Ive done inside, he tells me.

Scott encourages me to sign up. It will make a big difference to you, he says. Itll definitely change the way you look at the world  and there are some great perks.

I tell him to put my name down.

September 17

A complete rebrand of the jails population has been announced. Its been decreed by the authorities we will no longer be called prisoners but will henceforth be referred to as men.

The feeling is that calling us men will somehow reduce reoffending. We all agree that this rebrand will go down a storm on G-Wing, where most of the men havent showered for five days.

October 27

Today is the selection day for Listener training and I make the grade. Maybe I will be happier now that Im doing something really useful.

Little do I know that becoming a Listener will bring me into contact with far more misery than Id ever have experienced if Id been turned down and open my eyes to our brutal prison system at its very worst.

 Chris Atkins, 2020

A Bit Of A Stretch, by Chris Atkins, is published by Atlantic next month, priced 16.99. Offer price 13.59 (20 per cent discount) until February 18. To pre-order, call 01603 648 155 or go to mailshop.co.uk. Free delivery on all orders  no minimum spend.
Goa NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar on Sunday said the person who died in captivity after being abducted by pirates off the Nigerian coast on December 15 was from Ambelim village, over 40 kilometres from in Panaji. In all, 20 Indian crew members were abducted from aboard MV Duke, 19 of whom were released on Saturday, the Indian High Commission in Abuja in Nigeria tweeted on Sunday. "Indian Govt and Mission gave highest priority and worked with @NigeriaGov on release of 20 Indian seafarers kidnapped on 15 Dec from MV Duke. 19 were released yesterday. One sadly died in captivity in adverse conditions. Our deepest condolences. Mission assisting in speedy return," the Indian High Commission tweet informed.

Read: 1 Killed, 4 Chinese Abducted As Pirates Attack Ship In Gabon

'AAP was constantly drawing the attention'

In a tweet, Sawaikar said, "It is being informed that Brito D'Silva one of the 4 #Goans seafarers from Ambelim kidnapped by #Nigerian #pirates dies under abduction. 18 seafarers have been released by pirates today. Demanding an inquiry into the matter." Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party Goa convener Elvis Gomes, whose friend and fellow villager Roby Rego was reportedly among those abducted, said the joy of the release had been dampened by the death of a crew member from Ambelim. "AAP was constantly drawing the attention of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for action in the matter. Our seafarers cell in charge Capt Venzy Viegas was also taking regular updates from the local shipping agent and the parent shipping company in the UK," Gomes claimed.

Read: Pirates Kidnap 19 Crew Members Including 18 Indians Of Hong-Kong Registered Oil Tanker

(Image credit: PTI)
Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division John Demers speaks during a news conference discussing new criminal law enforcement action against China for economic espionage on Nov. 1, 2018 in Washington. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

US Works to Defeat Chinas Spying and Theft

WASHINGTONChina is Americas top adversary, and its ability to steal American intellectual property is an important part of that threat, but the Trump administration is developing the tools to fight back.

This was the message of two administration officials at a forum of the Homeland Security Experts Group, hosted by the Wilson Center on Jan. 17.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said that China remains our most significant and persistent strategic adversary.

Echoing what is now becoming a mantra in policy and government circles, the secretary said that China is pursuing a long-term, whole-of-nation effort to threaten and undermine the United States.

Wolf made a concession to the economic relationship between the United States and China, however, saying, We value our partnership with Beijing to promote global prosperity, tacitly acknowledging the U.S.China phase one trade deal that was signed at the White House just two days prior to his remarks.

But he pulled no punches in describing the threat from China.

Using covert and overt means, he said, China works to threaten the U.S.s power and dominance from within the system.

The secretary cited Chinese efforts within academia, scientific communities, and Silicon Valley as examples in which Chinese bad actors must be held accountable.

The Executive Branch Strikes Back

Wolf described in general terms actions that the executive branch of the United States government is taking to counter Chinese influence.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) itself is using its regulatory tools and its unique authorities, data, and missions to block Chinas efforts.

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS, plays a role as well.

CFIUS reviews deals involving foreign investment in the United States, including real estate deals involving foreigners, specifically for the purpose of determining what impact the investment may have on the national security of the United States.

Its an interagency committee that includes the heads of the Department of the Treasury and the Departments of Homeland Security, Commerce, Defense, State, and Energy, as well as the offices of the U.S. Trade Representative and of Science and Technology Policy, among others.

Wolf and his CFIUS colleagues will soon have additional tools at their disposal.

Significant reforms to CFIUS are coming into effect in 2020 as a result of the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA).

The provisions of FIRRMA not only codify certain CFIUS regulations and practices, but the act also expands CFIUS jurisdiction to cover several previously uncovered transactions, according to a bulletin provided by international law firm Skadden.

Wolf described DHS operational inefficiencies he discovered when he took over the top job.

I found each component addressing the Chinese threat in their own silo  perhaps not coordinating as much as they could across the department, he said.

A siloed approach is not efficient.

Since then, new planning protocols and priorities are helping the department to identify and address threats from China to make sure that we are positioned to respond to any threat quickly.

Insider Threats From China

Assistant Attorney General John Demers also weighed in on the Chinese threat.

Demers is in charge of the national security division of the Justice Department and leads the departments China Initiative.

The Justice Departments China Initiative was established in 2018 against the background of previous findings by the Administration concerning Chinas practices, according to a department fact sheet.

The Department of Justices initiative reflects the Departments strategic priority of countering national security threats from China and reinforces the presidents overall national security strategy.

Importantly, the China Initiative is a key plank supporting President Donald Trumps overall national security strategy.

It is focused on various aspects of Chinese malign behavior, but the big thing has been economic espionage, Demers said of the initiative.

China is stealing everything from corn and rice technology to the BPA-free lining of your water bottle, to commercial jet airplane technology, he said.

These days, however, although the theft of intellectual property through cyber activity is still occurring, its insider threats from Chinese intelligence services that are contributing to most of the cases the Justice Department has been handling over the past year and a half.

What Chinese intelligence services do really well, Demers said, is get information out of people.

They have the tools, skills, experience, and if they want to get a military secret out of you, that is what they will use to try to do that. If they want to get an economic secret out of you, they will use those same tools and threats, he said.

He held up the Micron case as an example of the benefits to a company of contacting and cooperating with the U.S. government early on in a case of suspected insider theft of intellectual property.

Micron Technology is a leading semiconductor company that specializes in memory-storage technology.

Included in its suite of products are components for Dynamic Random-Access Memory, known as DRAM. At the time of charging the case, Micron was the only American company manufacturing DRAM.

China didnt have DRAM, and according to the Justice Departments announcement of the indictment on Nov. 1, 2018, the Chinese government had already identified the development of DRAM as a national economic priority.

The case ended up charging a Chinese state-owned company, a Taiwanese company, and three individuals with conspiracy to steal, convey, and possess trade secrets, and conspiracy to commit economic espionage, among other crimes.

In a nice twist for the prosecutors, the U.S. Commerce Department was then able to put the Chinese company that had stolen the technology on a Denied Entry list, Demers said.

That meant the offending Chinese company couldnt import the tooling it needed from the United States to give them the ability to make the parts for which they stole the technology, he said.

We are not just trying to put the thief in jail  which may not help you as a company if, in the meantime, that other company has stolen your technology and are making a product to replace it on the market, he said.

If we catch them early enough, we can prevent the harm from occurring.
SpaceX on Sunday completed an in-flight test of its abort system designed to keep astronauts safe in the event of an emergency during launch.

Why it matters: The test marks the last major milestone ahead of SpaceX's first crewed flight to the International Space Station for NASA.

The state of play: SpaceX's Crew Dragon was launched atop a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Not long after launch, the Crew Dragon's onboard engines propelled the capsule away from the Falcon 9 to simulate what would happen in the event of an emergency during ascent.

The Falcon 9 broke up after the Crew Dragon accelerated away from the rocket, as expected.

The Crew Dragon then splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean where recovery teams are on hand to grab it and bring it back to shore.

Between the lines: This was a particularly important test for SpaceX after one of the company's Crew Dragons was destroyed during a ground test in April.

What's next: SpaceX and NASA will now review the data gathered during the test to see how the Crew Dragon performed during its flight and splashdown.

NASA hasn't yet announced a date for SpaceX's first crewed flight to the station, but it's expected to occur in the first part of the year.

Boeing has also been working toward launching its own crewed system to the space station, but the company experienced a setback when its uncrewed Starliner capsule wasn't able to dock with the orbiting outpost during a test in December.

Go deeper: The make-or-break moment for U.S. spaceflight
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is preparing a resolution that would leave room for President Trump's lawyers to move immediately to dismiss the impeachment charges if they so choose, according to Republican Sen. Josh Hawley.

Yes, but: Republican Senate leaders, including McConnell and Roy Blunt, the senior senator from Missouri, have already said members aren't interested in a vote to dismiss. And it seems unlikely that Trump's team would push for what would almost certainly be a losing vote  a move that could be seen as a sign of weakness at the outset of the trial.

Behind the scenes: "I am familiar with the resolution as it stood a day or two ago," Hawley, the junior senator from Missouri, told me in a phone interview on Saturday. "My understanding is that the resolution will give the president's team the option to either move to judgment or to move to dismiss at a meaningful time..."

Hawley added that in the most recent draft of the organizing resolution he saw there was an option for the president's counsel to make a motion in multiple places, including at the beginning of the proceedings.

A Republican leadership aide responded: "The White House has the right to make motions under the regular order, including a motion to dismiss, right after the resolution is adopted because a motion to dismiss is a motion permitted by the impeachment rules."

Hawley added that if the final resolution does not allow Trump's lawyers the option to dismiss or move to judgment at a "meaningful point" in the trial, he would be "very, very surprised," and might not vote for the organizing resolution.

Hawley also said he worries that if Trump doesn't have the option to move to dismiss or move to judgment then Adam Schiff would have too much control over the trial.

The state of play: There have been multiple indications  including from McConnell himself  that the Senate will not vote to dismiss the charges of impeachment against the president.

"There is little or no sentiment in the Republican conference for a motion to dismiss," McConnell told reporters on Jan. 14. "Our members feel that we have an obligation to listen to the arguments."

He said the resolution would lay out a way for senators to listen to the prosecution and defense and follow up with written questions submitted through the presiding officer Chief Justice John Roberts. "That means listening to the case, not dismissing the case."

That's certainly true for moderate or purple-state Republican senators up for re-election, such as Maine's Susan Collins. They have sought to show they are taking impeachment seriously and have tried to steer away from actions that would suggest they are dismissing the case against the president out of hand.

The big picture: Trump endorsed on Twitter the idea of outright dismissal of the charges against him. It could be an opportunity for some of Trump's closest Senate Republican allies to register their contempt for the case that House Democrats marshaled against the president  even if the motion is doomed to fail.

It could also serve as a break-glass option if the trial took a turn and Trump's allies felt they needed a mechanism to bring about an abrupt end to the trial.

What's next: Trump's team says it wants a fast impeachment trial, and Republicans are preparing for the possibility of a time frame as short as two weeks.

But there will be opportunities for curve balls that may extend throughout the trial.

Collins has joined several other Republican senators, including Mitt Romney, in saying they want to be able to vote to hear from additional witnesses  a key demand of Senate Democrats.

They are expected to be given that vote after the Senate has heard each sides' opening arguments.

Go deeper:
The Iranian official leading the investigation into the Ukrainian jetliner that was accidentally shot down by the Revolutionary Guard appeared to backtrack Sunday on plans to send the flight recorders abroad for analysis, a day after saying they would be sent to Kyiv.

Hassan Rezaeifar was quoted by the state-run IRNA agency as saying the flight recorders from the Ukrainian Boeing are in Iranian hands and we have no plans to send them out.

He said Iran is working to recover the data and cabin recordings, and that it may send the flight recorders commonly known as black boxes to Ukraine or France.

But as of yet, we have made no decision. The same official was quoted by the semi-official Tasnim agency on Saturday as saying the recorders would be sent to Ukraine, where French, American and Canadian experts would help analyze them.

Iranian officials previously said the black boxes were damaged but are usable.

It was not immediately possible to reconcile the conflicting accounts. Iran may be hesitant to turn over the recorders for fear that more details from the crash including the harrowing 20 seconds between when the first and second surface-to-air missiles hit the plane will come to light.

The Guard's air defenses shot the plane down shortly after it took off from Tehran on Jan. 8, killing all 176 people on board.

Hours earlier, the Guard had launched ballistic missiles at U.S. troops in Iraq in response to the U.S. airstrike that killed Iran's top general in Baghdad. Officials say lower-level officers mistook the plane for a U.S. cruise missile.

Iranian officials initially said the crash was caused by a technical problem and invited countries that lost citizens to help investigate. Three days later, Iran admitted responsibility after Western leaders said there was strong evidence the plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile.

The victims included 57 Canadian citizens as well as 11 Ukrainians, 17 people from Sweden, four Afghans and four British citizens. Most of those killed were Iranians.

The other five nations have demanded Iran accept full responsibility and pay compensation to the victims' families.

The plane was a Boeing 737-800 that was designed and built in the U.S. The plane's engine was designed by CFM International, a joint company between French group Safran and U.S. group GE Aviation. Investigators from both countries have been invited to take part in the probe.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Lagos state police command has announced the arrest of one Ataghar Namdoo for faking her own kidnap.

Namdoo(26) was said to have conspired with Emmanuel Idu, her boyfriend, and one Okpe David to stage her own kidnap on January 9.

According to Lagos police spokesman, Bala Elkana, the aim was to extort N10 million from Namdoos employer.

On 16/1/2020 at about 2200hours, Operatives from Anti Kidnapping Unit, Lagos State Police Command arrested one Ataghar Namdoo f 26years old for faking her own kidnap, the statement read.

On 9/1/2020 at about 1730hours, the suspect conspired with her boyfriend Emmanuel Idu and Okpe David to produce a short video of herself blindfolded and driven to a bush in a truck.

Read Also: Lagos Police Arrest Two Street Light Cable Vandals

In the second video, the girl a mother of one, was seen in a bush at Sangotedo area Ajah threatened by a man wearing a mask and holding a Jack knife. Police later identified the masked man as Emmanuel Idu who is the boyfriend of the girl. The abductors were demanding for ten million naira as ransom in the video.

The two videos were send to the employer of the lady with a threat to kill her and to also go after the family of the employer if the ransom is not paid. Frightened by the threat contained in the video and the follow up calls, the said employer who is into fleet business, reported the case to the police. On the receipt of the case, the commissioner of police, CP Hakeem Odumosu psc ordered the anti kidnapping unit to carry out an in depth investigate into the case. The videos were thoroughly analysed alongside other vital leads.

He revealed further that the police out together a well coordinated operation which led to the rescue of the self arranged victim of the abduction and the arrest of David, one of the two suspects whom the police are trying to verify his claim of being a military official.

Idu is said to be on the run, and the police have launched a manhunt.

The police said David confessed to have provided the truck used in driving the girl to the bush.

The truck was actually driven by him, the statement read.

He also did the video recordings send to the employer of the Lady. The three suspects all come from the state of origin, Benue State. They have known each other for so many years. Both the lady and the man arrested confessed to the commission of the crime.

That there aim is to extort money from the girls employer which they intend to share among themselves. It is worthy to note that, it is a criminal offence for anyone to fake his or her kidnapping. Under the Lagos State laws, the offender
Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein authorized the release of text messages exchanged between two senior FBI employees that were critical of Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, court documents show.

The former No 2 at the Justice Department said in a court filing submitted on Friday that he made the decision to share the messages between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, who were having an affair, in order to protect them.

Rosenstein said that the text messages were going to be released by Congress and he wanted to give it to the news media so that lawmakers could not cherrypick certain texts to make the Justice Department look bad.

Page reacted to the news of Rosenstein's decision on Saturday, tweeting: 'All I can say is this: I very much look forward to Rods deposition.'

The court filing was made as part of Strzoks lawsuit against the Justice Department.

Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said in a court filing on Friday that he approved the release of text messages between former FBI employees Peter Strzok and Lisa Page

Page (left) was an FBI lawyer and worked on both the Clinton email investigation and for Special Counsel Robert Mueller on the Trump-Russia probe. She had an affair with Peter Strzok (right), an FBI agent who was removed from the Mueller probe over the existence of their pro-Clinton text messages

Page was an FBI lawyer and worked on both the Clinton email investigation and for Special Counsel Robert Mueller on the Trump-Russia probe. She had an affair with Peter Strzok, an FBI agent who was removed from the Mueller probe over the existence of their pro-Clinton text messages.

Last year, both Page and Strzok filed lawsuits against their former bosses.

Strzok filed a suit last summer charging that the bureau caved to 'unrelenting pressure' from the president when it fired him.

Rosenstein said he authorized the release of the text messages because he believed they were going to be released by Congress and wanted to reveal them in their entirety so as not to make the Justice Department look bad

Strzok and Page expressed anti-Trump sentiments in their tweets, leading supporters of the president to allege they were involved in a conspiracy to bring him down

The suit from Peter Strzok also alleges he was unfairly punished for expressing his political opinions, and that the Justice Department violated his privacy when it shared hundreds of his text messages with reporters.

Among those texts were message he sent to his lover, Page, which said 'F TRUMP,' called the then-presidential candidate 'awful' and said of his campaign to win the election: 'We'll stop it.'

Last month, Page also filed her own lawsuit.

In a 23-page court filing, Page's attorneys spell out how on December 12, 2017, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions' spokeswoman invited reporters to the Department of Justice's headquarters after normal business hours and showed them the texts.

This release led to years of 'demeaning' tweets from President Trump, forced Page into therapy and left her looking for work, the lawsuit said.

Page reacted to the news of Rosenstein's decision on Saturday, tweeting: 'All I can say is this: I very much look forward to Rods deposition.'

She's seeking more than $1,000 in damages, as well as attorneys fees and other costs associated with legal action.

Page's lawsuit recalls how information slowly seeped out - the text messages had been given to the DOJ's Office of Inspector General as they were doing oversight on the Clinton email investigation.

The lawsuit said that senior DOJ officials knew about the text messages and let White House officials know. The White House then tipped off the media, with the New York Times reporting on December 2 that Strzok had been removed from the Mueller probe following 'the discovery of text messages in which Mr. Strzok and a colleague reacted to news events, like presidential debates, in ways that could appear critical of Mr. Trump.'

The same day the Washington Post reported that Strzok had been communicating with Page, who he was having an affair with.

The lawsuit points out that these stories came on the heels of Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn pleading guilty of lying to the FBI.

Trump used the Strzok-Page revelations to push back on bad news coming from the Mueller probe.

The news stories about the lovers' text messages opened the door to Congressional committees asking for copies of the texts, which in turn allowed the DOJ to say that Capitol Hill first leaked them when, on December 12, some of the contents were released.

What really happened, according to the lawsuit, is that then-DOJ spokeswoman Sarah Isgur Flores 'summoned a select group of reporters to the Department's offices.'

'There, they allowed the reporters to view the 375 text messages. The reporters were told they were not permitted to remove or copy the messages and could not source the messages to DOJ,' the lawsuit said, describing this as a 'clandestine approach.'

F TRUMP, HE'S A D****E AND WE WILL STOP HIM: THE EXPLOSIVE FBI LOVERS' TEXT Strzok to Page: God that's a great article. Thanks for sharing. And F TRUMP. Strzok to Page: Just went to a Southern Virginia Walmart. I could SMELL the Trump support. Page to Strzok: Trumps not ever going to become president, right? Strzok replies: No. No, he wont. Well stop it. Page to Strzok: God trump is a loathsome human. Strzok replied: Yet he many win. Good for Hillary.' Page to Strzok: omg hes an idiot. Strzok replied: He's awful. Strzok to Page: God Hillary should win. 100,000,000-0. Strzok to Page [during Republican national convention]: Oooh, TURN IT ON, TURN IT ON!!! THE DOUCHEBAGS ARE ABOUT TO COME OUT. You can tell by the excitable clapping. Page: My god, Im so embarrassed for them. These are like second-run stars. Nothing the B-list to relate to the kids these days. Page: And wow, Donald Trump is in an enormous douche. Strzok to Page [during Trump-Clinton debate]: I am riled up. Trump is a f***ing idiot, is unable to provide a coherent answer. Strzok: I CAN'T PULL AWAY, WHAT THE F**K HAPPENED TO OUR COUNTRY (REDACTED)??!?! Page: I don't know. But we'll get it back. We're America. We rock. Advertisement

The suit also alleged Page and Strzok were thrown under the bus by top DOJ officials to help then Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein survive a Congressional hearing scheduled for the next day.

'And the Department could achieve all of this at a relative low cost (in the Department's view) of the privacy of two FBI employees: Ms. Page, a longtime DOJ and FBI attorney, and Mr. Strzok, a career FBI agent,' the lawsuit argued.

Page's attorneys also describe what happened next, noting 'the president has targeted Ms. Page by name in more than 40 tweets and dozens of interviews, press conferences, and statements from the White House, fueling unwanted media attention that has radically altered her day-to-day life.'

Page resigned from the FBI on May 4, 2018.

The lawsuit said the department's release of her text messages has caused 'significant harm and financial loss,' since she's suffered 'reputational damage.'

She's also lost money from attorneys' fees related to the investigations and Congressional testimony she provided, childcare costs, the cost of paying a data-privacy service to protect her identity.

Finally the lawsuit said she's had to pay for 'therapy to cope with unwanted national media exposure and harassment caused by the December 12 disclosure.'

Nearly two years after becoming a household name, Page reared her head this month, appearing in a Daily Beast interview, tweeting a victory lap after the release of the Inspector General report and then filing the lawsuit.

Last month, Page heralded the Department of Justice Inspector General report that looked into FBI officials' conduct related to the Russia investigation.

'For those following along: After two IG investigations; At least a dozen IG lawyers and investigators poring over every text, email, and note I ever wrote; 1000 pages of investigative findings; and the President repeatedly accusing me of bias and treason,' Page began.

'The sum total of findings by IG Horowitz that my personal opinions had any bearing on the course of either the Clinton or Russia investigations? Zero and zero.'

To conclude her two tweets she signed off by writing 'cool, cool.' And she included an '/end' sign.

The report, authored by DOJ IG Michael Horowitz, found that while Page and Strzok had shared 'statements of hostility' about then-candidate Trump, they weren't the primary decision-makers as the Russia probe was being opened.

'We did not find documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias or improper motivation influenced the decisions to open the four individual investigations,' the report said in the section where Strzok and Page's behavior was mentioned.

Last month, Page heralded the Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz's report that looked into FBI officials' conduct related to the Russia investigation

Lisa Page used Twitter to take a victory lap after the IG's report was released Monday. She said it fully vindicates her

Lisa Page followed that up with a second tweet, where she said the IG found 'zero' proof that her personal opinions had any bearings on the Trump-Russia investigation and the Clinton email investigation

Those four investigations were into Trump campaign associates Carter Page, George Papadopoulos, Paul Manafort and Flynn.

Page also sat down for her first interview, with the Daily Beast's Molly Jong-Fast, published last month.

In the interview she said it was the president faking an orgasm as he talked about the FBI lovers at a mid-October campaign rally that inspired her to speak out publicly.

'Honestly, the demeaning fake orgasm was really the straw that broke the camel's back,' Page told Jong-Fast.

'It's almost impossible to describe,' Page told The Daily Beast. 'It's like being punched in the gut. My heart drops to my stomach when I realize he has tweeted about me again. The president of the United States is calling me names to the entire world. He's demeaning me and my career. It's sickening.'

'But it's also very intimidating because he's still the president of the United States. And when the president accuses you of treason by name, depite the fact that I know there's no fathomable way that I have committed any crime at all, let alone treason, he's still somebody in a position to actually do something about that. To try to further destroy my life. It never goes away or stops, even when hes not publicly attacking me.'
Shirdi in Maharashtra will remain closed for an indefinite period from Sunday following Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's announcement that the state government will develop Pathri town in Parbhani district as the birthplace of Sai Baba.

It is learnt that the closure of the city will not affect the functioning of Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi and it will remain open on Sunday. People living in Shirdi have called for an indefinite closure of the city to oppose Thackeray's decision to develop Pathri as Sai Baba's birthplace.

The decision to close Shirdi for an indefinite period was taken on Saturday during a meeting of the Shirdi Gram Sabha. People from areas near Shirdi have also decided to support the bandh call. The people in Pathri have also decided to shut the city to express solidarity with the people of Shirdi. Sources told Zee Media that people in Parbhani are also planning to hold 'bhajan' outside the District Administration's office to register their protest against CM Thackeray's decision.

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The residents of Shirdi are claiming that the temple will lose its importance if the state government decides to develop Pathri as the birthplace of Saibaba. On the other hand, CM Thackeray has already announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for the purpose of developing Pathri. The project to develop Pathri was approved by the Maharashtra Chief Minister during his two-day tour to Ahmedabad.

Notably, Shirdi's Saibaba temple is one of the most popular destinations in the country, with lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country visiting it every year. The temple receives crores of donation every year from the devotees visiting the temple.
Heavy gunfire broke out in Sudans capital yesterday as several agents of the National Intelligence and Security Service (Niss) rebelled against a restructuring plan for the body, prompting a closure of the international airport.

A teenager was wounded when shots were fired at some bases of the agency, now rebranded the Directorate of General Intelligence Service.

The Niss was a security arm loyal to longtime president Omar Al Bashir who was removed from office by the military amid protests in April. The violence was the biggest confrontation so far between the old guard and supporters of the new administration, which helped topple Al Bashir in April after 30 years in power.

Niss agents also shut two small oilfields in Darfur in protest about their severance packages, a government source told Reuters. They had an output of around 5,000 barrels per day.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwathnarayanon Sunday made it clear that the Belagavi border issue was settled, even as he accused certain political leaders in neighbouring Maharashtra of raking it up for political reasons.

Also, he urged them to focus on issues of public good that need immediate attention rather than instigating people for petty reasons on such emotive issues that have already been decided upon.

The Karnataka and Maharashtra border issue has already been settled by the Mahajan commission report, so they(political leaders) should stop repeatedly instigating the people on the issue with political motive,"Ashwathnarayan told reporters here.

He said, We all are Indians, boundaries between states have been fixed and decided upon. Instead of repeatedly dwelling on the issue, there are many good work to do. There are no boundaries for humanity and good work..."



"... Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena leader) raking up such an issue is making things awkward for himself," he added.

Ashwathnarayanwas reacting to visits by Shiv Sena leaders Raut and Maharashtra minister of state Rajendra Patil Yadravkars to Belagavi allegedly with an intention to bring the border issue up.

Raut, during his visit to Belgagavi, has reportedly said the 70-year-old border issue between two states can be resolved by a 'strong' Union Home Minister like Amit Shah, who abrogated Article 370 related to Jammu and Kashmir.

The deputy chief minister further said the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar should meet to resolve demands of Marathi-speaking people of Belagavi and nearby areas.

Last month, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa had declared that not even an inch of the state's land would be given away and accused his Maharashtra counterpart Uddhav Thackeray of stoking the Belagavi issue for political gains, as there were protests by the ruling Shiv Sena workers.

Maharashtra claims the border district of Belagavi was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, but is currently a district of Karnataka, on linguistic grounds.

Uddhav Thackeray had, in December, appointed ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Shinde as co-coordinators to oversee his government's efforts to expedite the case relating to the boundary dispute with Karnataka.

The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES), which has been fighting in the border areas of Belagavi for the merger of 800-odd villages with Maharashtra, had also recently submitted a memorandum of their demands to Uddhav Thackeray.

On its part as an assertion that Belagavi is an integral part of the state, Karnataka has built the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modelled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat in Bengaluru, where legislature session is held once a year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
But in his speech, there were many unspoken issues. Basically, in dictatorial systems, people read the main words, not from the dictators mouth but he avoids saying.

With the contradictions and major nodes plaguing the clerical system in all areas, some expected Khamenei to address some of them on Friday, and to give a clear perspective to the authorities and factions active in his government.

But Khamenei, in a repetitive speech, without mentioning the peoples main demands, pointed to things that were his primary concerns and threats that he felt, which are shaking the foundations of his regime. It was for these reasons that he arranged to attend the latest Friday prayers.

In his remarks, Khamenei hardly mentioned the countrys current major political and economic crises, international relations, the Ukrainian plane crash or the floods of Sistan and Baluchistan. But he tackled a bigger problem, that is, the crisis of illegitimacy that has been symbolized in the peoples protest slogans.

Last week, Iranian protesters in some cities and universities came out and shouted, No to the Shah, no to the [Supreme] Leader, we want neither bad nor worse  and Down with the tyrant  whether the Shah or the [Supreme] Leader.

Khamenei, who correctly understood the main message of the people, sought to regain legitimacy for himself and his regime by presenting himself on stage and creating another massive crowd.

With the death of Qassem Suleimani, a very serious strategic blow to Khamenei and the mullahs regime has taken place. In addition to having their power lost in the area, such a blow would be automatically transmitted to the entire Quds Force in the region and subsequently to all its Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Basijis within the country, with significant power loss.

By organizing a show for Qassem Soleimani he tried to cover up the effects of the November uprising and regain the atmosphere inside the country again.

But with the massacre in Kerman and then with the crash of the Ukrainian plane, all that was blown by the wind, and student movements were restarted and immediately took to the streets.

Khamenei clearly saw that the movement of the people, although not as extensive as that of November, but was very radicalized and strong, targeting the main pillars of the regime.

The impact of the popular protests early last week was so strong that calls for Khameneis resignation were prompted by even many regime agents inside the country. In an open letter to Khamenei, Mehdi Karroubi declared:

Khamenei lacks the requisite wisdom, courage, management, and power to lead. He went even further, in addition to condemning Khamenei for the crime of downing of a Ukrainian plane, he referred to his past crimes, writing:

Direct responsibility for other incidents, including lack of careful scrutiny of the serial killings, election fraud and bloody repression of the 2009 protesters, the crackdown on the protesters in 2018, and ultimately the repression of the people who have been hurt by the gasoline price hike in November 2019, are Khameneis responsibility. And he demanded that Khamenei step down immediately.

Faezeh Hashemi also saw the conditions of the country so bad and the Vali-e Faqih (Supreme Leader) so timid that she dared to say to Khamenei: He must step down. Letters with various signatures calling for Khameneis resignation have become commonplace and the regimes illegitimacy is so high that after the plane crash, and the scandals about it, 78 journalists sent a letter, shouted and demanded an end to this cycle of lies.

The refusal of some artists to participate in the regimes Fajr Decade programs, and the announcement of the departure of some of the celebrities of this regime, alerted Khamenei so that if he was late, nothing would be left for him and his regime.

But the main reason that prompted Khamenei to organize the latest Friday prayers sermon with the presence of, military and administrative agents, was that the rebellion youths burned widely the images of Qassem Soleimani, which he did not expect so soon, and that the people supported these acts.

If we want to unfold Khameneis untold remarks in the Friday prayers  his view of the killing of 176 innocent people of the Ukrainian plane was that he did not care about it and that the authorities were following his issue.

Another subject that he did not mention was about the latest floods in Sistan and Baluchistan. In his view, such events are normal and ongoing in the country, and he did not even need to name them.

When it comes to peoples economic hardships, his only advice to them was that they must wait and should have patience.

Apart from the fact that these subjects have no worth for him, Khamenei emphasized the position of the Quds Force so much that he called them ideal fighters without borders who were able to secure the security of his caliphate beyond the countrys borders.

He tried to save face about the crises of the nuclear deal (JCPOA) which he is stuck in and profaned the three European countries that lunched the trigger mechanism and claimed Germany gave Saddams Hosseins government chemical weapons, and France had helped Saddam by giving Dassault Super Etendard.

But he forgot that these European countries and their appeasement policy had put his most serious enemy, the MEK/PMOI, on the terrorist list for years (subsequently delisted by main courts in Europe and the US) and created the 17 June disaster. And while U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA, these same European countries had tried their best to keep the JCPOA alive for his regime.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 12:35:42|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Municipal delegates check out the biographies of the candidates in Havana, Cuba, Jan. 18, 2020. First batch of Cuban governors and deputy governors since 1959 were elected on Saturday in order to "economically and socially contribute" to national development, according to the Cuban constitution. (Photo by Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua)

HAVANA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- First batch of Cuban governors and deputy governors since 1959 were elected on Saturday in order to "economically and socially contribute" to national development, according to the Cuban constitution.

"All the proposals by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel were endorsed by municipal delegates across the country," Alina Balseiro, head of the Cuban National Electoral Council told reporters at a news conference.

Earlier on Friday, Diaz-Canel called for special attention to the creation of new government structures, as part of the effort to enhance people's power.

The position of governor has been added to the new constitution approved in February, 2019, some six decades after it was removed from the governmental system of the island country following the victory of the Cuban Revolution.

"Governors are fundamental to strengthening local power as they are accountable for 15 provinces' executive and managerial performances," said Lissete Perez, senior professor with the School of Law at the University of Havana.

A new structure of People's Power National Assembly at the local level will increase government control, supervision and citizen participation in the decision-making process, she said.

The Cuban constitution says provincial governments are "meant to economically and socially contribute to the territory's development and facilitate coordination between state structures and municipalities."

Teresa Lara, economic analyst at the Enterprise for Knowledge Management and Technology, said these changes would involve not only decentralization of government, but also that of economic activity.

She said that new authorities will have the opportunity to better bolster urban and rural development amid increasing U.S. blockade against the island under the current U.S. administration.

"It is a move on the right track for governors are called on to have more control over resources and state budget than presidents of former Provincial Assemblies of People's Power," she added.

Governors and deputy governors will serve for a five-year term after inauguration ceremonies to take place on Feb. 8 prior to constituting provincial councils.
Each facial reconstruction began with information about the gender, race, age, body type and other characteristics of the remains  all gleaned by forensic anthropologists or provided by detectives. Gatliff created a type of infrastructure by gluing small plastic markers of varying sizes to the skull to match the depths of tissue at critical points around the face. Using the road map created by the markers, she covered the face in clay, smoothing it at first and then sandpapering it to mimic skin texture. Demonstrating her technique to police officers and artists at a workshop in 1987, she told the group, as quoted by The Wall Street Journal, I guarantee after these four days you wont look at a persons face the same way again. If hair was found with skeletal remains, she could choose a wig with more certainty. She sometimes made informed anatomical guesses about a noses shape. She used prosthetic eyeballs and tried to produce a realistic gaze. But, she admitted, she knew she could not be perfect.

They never look exactly like the person, she told The Oklahoman in 2002. A skull will just tell you so much. Her sculptures were only temporary. After photographing a reconstruction from various angles, she removed the clay, cleaned the skull and returned it to the police. The pictures she took, which were given to the news media to solicit the publics help in identifying someone, would serve as the only evidence of her work. Shed say that artistic ego shouldnt enter this work, Ms. Taylor said. Betty Patricia Gatliff was born on August 31, 1930, in El Reno, Oklahoma, and grew up there and in Norman, where she would live for most of her life. Her father, Richard, was a builder and architect; her mother, Ella (Henry) Gatliff, was a homemaker who had a quilting business. Betty Pat, as she was known, painted and sculpted from a young age. In 1951, she graduated from the Oklahoma College for Women (now the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma) in Chickasha, where she studied art and science.

For nearly 30 years she was a medical illustrator for the Navy and the Federal Aviation Administration, where she worked with the forensic anthropologist Clyde Snow. As Dr Snows forensic reputation grew beyond aviation, he and Gatliff were approached by police investigators to help identify crime victims around the United States. Their collaboration led to her facial reconstruction of the Native American man. Gatliff opened her facial reconstruction business after retiring from the F.A.A. in 1979. She started teaching her technique at workshops at the F.B.I. Academy, the Scottsdale Artists School in Arizona, the Cleveland Institute of Art and the University of Oklahoma. She also applied her skills to high-profile facial reconstructions that did not use a skull. She created a model of President John F. Kennedys head, which the House Select Committee on Assassinations used in 1978 to test the trajectory of the bullets that struck him. And in 1983 she reconstructed the face of Tutankhamen on a plaster casting of a skull made from radiographs of his mummy, doing so at the request of an orthopedic surgeon curious about the pharaoh. Her boy king had high cheekbones, a delicate nose and thick lidded eyes.

If he winks, she told The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Im getting out of here. A few years later, she reconstructed the face of the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro based on a cast of his skull; that earned her a first-place award in three-dimensional media from the Association of Medical Illustrators. She also won the John R. Hunt Award from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in 1991 for her works continued excellence. Gatliff was the technical consultant for a 1978 episode of the television series Quincy, M.E. in which Dr Quincy, a medical examiner played by Jack Klugman, hires a forensic artist, played by Zohra Lampert, to determine if a skull belongs to a missing labor leader. In 2001, Gatliff was drawn into a campaign by the mystery writer Sue Grafton to identify a woman who was murdered and dumped in a quarry in 1969 in Lompoc, California. Gatliff reconstructed the womans face from her skull.

The case inspired Graftons novel Q Is for Quarry (2002), which included photos of Gatliffs work. The woman has still not been identified. Gatliff said such mysteries can take time to solve. She recalled how one victim was identified 15 years after pictures of her reconstruction were published. We only put a face on them as a last-ditch effort, when nothing else has panned out, she told The Oklahoman. In solving a homicide, you first have to know who the victim is before you can know who the perpetrator is. So it can be a key to solving the crime. Thats the reason I do it, is to help solve a crime. Ms Gatliff retired five years ago. In addition to her nephew James, she is survived by another nephew, John Gatliff.
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

The Department of Elections in San Francisco is recruiting people interested in serving as poll workers in the March 3 election.

Poll workers facilitate voting at neighborhood polling places on Election Day and receive a stipend ranging from $180 to $240, depending on the assignment.

The Department of Elections "expects the 2020 elections to be among the largest in the city's history," Director John Arntz said, adding, "There is no better way to fully participate in these historically significant moments than supporting our community and being a poll worker."

The department recruits more than 2,000 volunteers during each election to assist voters at the polls and provides training and materials.

A poll worker application is available online at sfelections.org/pwa/, by calling (415) 554-4395, or by apply in person at the department office in Room 48 at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place.

The department is also hiring temporary employees to assist with tasks before, during, and after the election. A list of available positions is available at www.jobapscloud.com/sf/.

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.
Imperial Valley News Center

Former Air Cargo Executive Extradited From Italy for Price-Fixing

Atlanta, Georgia - Maria Christina Meta Ullings, the former senior vice president of cargo sales and marketing for Martinair N.V. (Martinair Cargo) and a Dutch national, was extradited from Italy, the Department of Justice announced Monday.

On September 21, 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia in Atlanta, Ullings was indicted for participating in a long-running worldwide conspiracy to fix prices of air cargo. A fugitive for almost 10 years, Ullings was apprehended by Italian authorities in July 2019 while visiting Sicily. Ullings initially contested extradition in the Italian courts, but after the Court of Appeals of Palermo ruled that she be extradited, she waived her appeal. She arrived in Atlanta on January 10 and made her initial appearance today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

This extradition ruling by the Italian courts  the seventh country to extradite a defendant in an Antitrust Division case in recent years, and the second to do so based solely on an antitrust charge  demonstrates that those who violate U.S. antitrust laws and seek to evade justice will find no place to hide, said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justices Antitrust Division. The Division appreciates the cooperation of the Italian authorities in this matter. With the assistance of our law enforcement colleagues at home and around the world, the Division will aggressively pursue every avenue available in bringing price fixers to justice.

According to the indictment, Ullings conspired with others to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing and coordinating certain surcharges, including fuel surcharges, charged to customers located in the United States and elsewhere for air cargo shipments. These air cargo shipments included heavy equipment, perishable commodities, and consumer goods destined for American consumers and shipped by American producers. Ullings is alleged to have participated in the conspiracy from at least as early as January 2001 until at least February 2006.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Including Ullings, a total of 22 airlines and 21 executives have been charged in the Justice Departments investigation into price fixing in the air transportation industry. To date, more than $1.8 billion in criminal fines have been imposed and seven executives have been sentenced to serve prison time.

Ullings is charged with violating the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine for individuals. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

The Antitrust Division and the FBI led the United States extradition effort. Assistance with the extradition was provided by the Department of Justice Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Marshals Service. The investigation into the air transportation industry has been conducted by the Antitrust Division, the FBI, the Department of Transportations Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Services Office of the Inspector General.
A detachment of the People's Armed Police in southwest China's Chongqing municipality recently decorated their barracks with lanterns, spring couplets, and paper-cuttings to celebrate the approaching Chinese New Year.

Zhang Shunli, head of political work of the detachment, explained that the soldiers come from different parts of the country, and some are from as far as 1,000 kilometers away. While families across the country get together for Chinese New Year, the soldiers will still be guarding the people and contributing to the stability and prosperity of society. (Photo/People's Daily Online)
Yangon: Facebook Inc said on Saturday it was working to find out how Chinese leader Xi Jinping's name translated into an objectionable word in posts on its platform, apologising for any offence caused and saying the problem had been fixed.

The error came to light on the second day of a visit by the president to the Southeast Asian country, where Xi and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi signed dozens of agreements covering massive Beijing-backed infrastructure plans.

A statement about the visit published on Suu Kyi's official Facebook page was littered with objectional references to the Chinese President when translated into English from Burmese

It was not clear how long the issue had lasted but Google's translation function did not show the same error.

"We have fixed an issue regarding Burmese to English translations on Facebook and are working to identify the cause to ensure that it doesn't happen again," Facebook said in a statement.

"This issue is not a reflection of the way our products should work and we sincerely apologise for the offence this has caused," the Facebook said.

China is Facebook's biggest country for revenue after the United States, and the tech company is setting up a new engineering team to focus specifically on the lucrative advertising business there, Reuters reported last week.

"We are aware of an issue regarding Burmese to English translations on Facebook, and we're doing everything we can to fix this as quickly as possible," a spokesperson for the tech company said in a statement.

"This issue is not a reflection of the way our products should work and we sincerely apologise for the offence this has caused."

Facebook has faced numerous problems with translation from Burmese in the past. In 2018 it temporarily removed the function after a Reuters report showed the tool was producing bizarre results.
A new style of dance, inspired by K-pop boy band BTS, could soon be 'as big as tap or ballet' in the UK, according to dance experts.

The soaring popularity of Korean boybands - in a music genre known as K-pop - in Western countries is seeing a rise in dance classes for people wanting to replicate their fast-paced moves.

According to dance experts speaking in the Sunday Telegraph, the craze could see the routines becoming more popular than more traditional dances including tap and ballet - with current lessons regularly oversubscribed.

Korean boyband dancing inspired by heartthrob K-pop boy band BTS (pictured performing on New Year's Eve in New York's Times Square) could soon be as 'big as tap or ballet'

Seven-member boy group BTS sold out Wembley last year, topped the Billboard 200 charts three times in one year and hold a fiercely loyal fan base, dubbed the BTS ARMY.

Their dances involves sharp, contemporary moves with added breakdancing. Louise Quan, 32, who founded Love K-Pop Dance London, told the publication that her classes are constantly oversubscribed.

She said: 'We have a capacity of 30 in the class, but there can sometimes be another 30 on the waiting list.

'There will always be a place for classical dance, but this is very commercial, very popular among young people and very popular on the internet. I see no reason why it couldn't be as big as ballet or tap dancing.'

She told how while her clientele is mostly female and aged between 18-30, she has a wide range of people attending classes, from students to lawyers.

The dance teacher explained that in London alone there are five different dance schools teaching the genre, and told of how much she 'really respects' the artists who have inspired the phenomenon.

K-pop has had a recent explosion into mainstream culture, largely sparked by the band wh formed in 2023

Remember Psy? The artist is credited for bringing Korean-style dance into the mainstream with his 2012 hit Gangnam Style

'In K-Pop, you have to dance, so to sing and dance the way they do is amazing. People come to our classes and think it's tough, so they really respect the artists who do it, said Louise.

The publication also credited Psy for bringing Korean style dance into the mainstream with his 2012 hit Gangnam Style.

Louise's class is led by an all-female dance team, and leans more towards the 'girl-style' K-Pop dances, which involves more intricate footwork and less break dancing, with the occasional 'boy style' thrown in.

K-pop has had a recent explosion into mainstream culture, largely sparked by the band comprised of members Jungkook, 21; Jimin, 23; V, 23; Suga, 26; Jin, 26; RM, 24; and J-Hope, 25.

They formed in 2013 in South Korea and over the past couple of years have turned into an international sensation.

While they always had fame in Korea, their international standing took off in 2016 with the album Wings making it on the Billboard Hot 100 and in November 2018 their album Love Yourself: Answer became the first Korean album certified Gold in the U.S.

Heartthrob K-pop boyband BTS stole the show on Saturday Night Live last year, making history as the first Korean musical group to appear on the US programme

The seven-member boy group that hails from South Korea delivered a lively show performing their intense choreography without missing a note of their two hits Boy With Luv and Mic Drop

The seven-member boy group was founded in 2013 but found international fame in 2016 with their album Wings

In April last year, the group made history as the first Korean musical group to appear on Saturday Night Live.

They delivered a lively show, performing intense choreography without missing a beat of their two hits Boy With Luv and Mic Drop.

Their loyal global fans triggered a meltdown on Twitter where they went crazy over the performance.

'My daughter is making really weird mouth noises watching #BTSxSNL and just had to take her hoodie off because she's sweating. It's a #BTSARMY thing for those not aware,' radio host JJ Ryan tweeted Saturday night.

'I screamed in my living room. Not even gonna lie. #BTSxSNL,' another Twitter user added.

'I've been watching SNL since the late '70s til I stopped watching in the 90s. Never seeing an Asian face on their staff always stung. But tonight I just saw 7 Korean faces gracing that damn stage and it was the best part of that show so I AM OVER IT. #BTSxSNL,' actor Paul Bae wrote.
Karen Fu and Victor Alves were married Jan. 17 at San Francisco City Hall. Nancy Carlson, the deputy marriage commissioner, officiated. On April 11, Daniel Gelfarb, a friend of the groom, is to lead the couple in a second ceremony where they are to exchange vows at the Palms Hotel and Spa in Miami.

The bride, 27, is a consultant in San Francisco at Connor Group, a professional services firm based in Silicon Valley. She graduated from the University of Illinois, from which she also received a masters degree in accountancy.

She is the daughter of Lily An and Chester Fu of Naperville, Ill. The brides father is a project manager at Walgreens in Deerfield, Ill. Her mother, who is retired, was an engineer for Verizon Communications in Schaumburg, Ill.

The groom, also 27, is an associate at FPR Partners, an investment firm in San Francisco. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.
Kolkata, Jan 19 : In the case of illegal termination of the agreement of Baseline Ventures India Pvt Ltd for conducting the Pro Volleyball League by the Volleyball Federation of India (VFI), the federation received a major blow on Sunday with the arbitrator ruling that there is no financial irregularity in the accounts submitted by the company to the federation The sole arbitrator in the case had been appointed by the Chennai High Court.

The federation in its termination letter dated November 19, 2019, had said that widespread manipulation of accounts was one of the major reasons for terminating the agreement with Baseline Ventures.

The arbitrator stated that the audit report submitted by Baseline did not suggest any manipulation of the accounts and that the federation had no reason to claim any manipulation.

Observing that the federation had not undertaken the due process mentioned in the agreement for termination, the arbitrator also said that apart from earning Rs 3.5 crore from the league, the federation had gained everything from the conduct of the league. Players, who were usually remunerated in the range of Rs 40,000-50,000 were paid in the range of Rs 5 lakh-8 lakh through the league, while also nurturing and honing players' competitiveness as well as earning public adulation and support.

On the matter of the intellectual property (IP) rights of the league, which was another reason given by the federation for terminating the agreement, the arbitrator held that the matter has no relevance for the league as the IP rights are non-transferrable as per the terms of the agreement.

For the benefit of the players and the development of the sport, the arbitrator opined that the federation may initiate the process of its own league but with the stringent condition that it should declare the pendency of arbitral proceedings, and that any fresh contract will be subject to finalisation of the decision of the arbitral tribunal.

The federation would also need to return Baseline Rs 2.25 crore before initiating any such process, which would be over and above the damages which Baseline is entitled to claim.
A man was killed by gunfire Saturday evening in the Third Ward, Houston police said.

Officers responded to 2608 Truxillo Street. and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said the investigation is ongoing.
WARANGAL: A 22-year-old medical student, Thummanapalli Vamshi, was found dead with his hands and legs tied inside an agricultural well in Kaniparthy of Regonda mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district on Saturday.

According to his parents, Thirupathi and Rama, Vamshi, who is doing his third year MBBS in a private medical college in Khammam, came home for Sankranti holidays and left to Khammam on Friday evening.

They received no communication from him after that.

Villagers discovered his body inside the agricultural well on Saturday morning.

The police was informed and they rushed to the scene and retrieved the body from the well.

Chityal inspector Sai Ramana and Regonda sub-inspector Krishna Prasad said a case had been registered and investigation is on. CCTV footage in the village and surrounding areas is being analysed to see if Vamshi was seen with anyone before he disappeared.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

MUMBAI: Having forged a new alliance and played the kingmaker, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar is on a new mission: to cultivate the 1.5 crore-strong Dalits in Maharashtra, whose partial alienation cost the NCP-Congress combine 31 seats in the 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly in the recent elections.



The Dalits are the deciding factor in close to 50 seats. Realising their importance, Pawar has driven the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government to focus more on the poorest segment of the 12 crore population of Maharashtra.

A slew of decisions have already been taken to win over Dalits and NCP sources said more are on the way. The first was the declaration that the NCP would undertake a project to develop sites associated with Dalit icons and social leaders all across Maharashtra. Then came Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawars announcement of the budget for the proposed Ambedkar memorial at Indu Mills in Dadar being raised from Rs 700-crore to Rs 1100 crore and directing that work on it should begin.

The government also decided to raise height of Ambedkars statue to 350 feet on a 100 feet high pedestal. When completed, it will be the second-highest iconic site in India after the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Statue of Unity in Ahmedabad. Housing minister Jitendra Awhad has decided to develop a memorial of Ambedkerite social reformer and folk poet-activist Annabhau Sathe at Chirag Nagar in Mumbai. Sathe is the author of 35 novels, including his world-famous Fakira, which was translated in multiples languages.

Other than statues and memorials, Sharad Pawar is also making all the right noises, demanding the release of all Dalit workers and leaders, besides activists and writers, who he said had been implicated and wrongly arrested in the Bhima Koregaon riot case. His nephew and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and other party leaders even participated in a function to mark first anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon incident earlier this month.

The reason for the Pawars wooing the Dalits is not far to seek. In the Lok Sabha elections in April-May 2019, the Congress and the NCP lost eight seats by the narrowest of margins because of a massive shift in Dalit votes to the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi led by Prakash Ambedkar, great-grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar. The VBA managed to get 41 lakh Dalit votes. With the Dalit votes getting split between the VBA and the Congress-NCP, most of the eight seats were won by the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the recent Assembly elections, the VBAs Dalit vote share halved to about 24 lakh but it resulted in the defeat of the NCP-Congress in 31 seats by close margins.

NCP spokesman Sanjay Tatkare said his party does not treat any community as a vote bank but admitted they needed the support of the Dalits. We try to reach out to every section of the society and Dalits are also part of the society. In politics, this is an ongoing process. We are committed to welfare of all communities. But in the last five years the BJP created a distance between communities. We are trying to bridge the gap by appropriating their idols and icons, Tatkare said.

The NCP wants to woo back voters of three major communities, the Marathas, Muslims and Dalits. In the Assembly and Parliament polls the Marathas and Muslims voted overwhelmingly for the NCP, but its Dalit base got fractured. Pawar has decided to work on this Dalit agenda to ensure that the benefits of social programmes reach them, said Pratap Asabe, a political analyst.
Le Ngoc Lieu gave up her job of VND100 million a month at a university in Saudi Arabia and returned to Vietnam in 2017 where she works as a researcher.

Lieu, one of 10 researchers winning the 2019 Golden Ball Award, was the only female who received the Young Talent Award in Germany six years ago.

Le Ngoc Lieu





In 2013, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) gave awards to 25 young scientists with excellent research on sustainable development. Lieu was then the only Vietnamese scientist honored.



He research work focuses on refining biofuels from straw and waste materials. She believes that energy is the critical solution to increased global population, and that renewable energy is the best solution.

In 2013, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) gave awards to 25 young scientists with excellent research on sustainable development. Lieu was then the only Vietnamese scientist honored.

Lieu said that the most important benefit of renewable energy sources is reducing environmental pollution. Liquid fuels and biofuels, which are made from renewable biomass, are increasingly becoming a source of fuel for transportation in the future.



The jury board praised Lieus research which emphasized the importance of biofuel as a kind of energy to replace fossil fuel.



BMBF in 2019 celebrated the 10th year of awarding and chose 50 out of 200 researchers who won awards to glory. Lieu is one of them.



After finishing general school in Trang Bang district of Tay Ninh province, Lieu went to HCM City to study at the HCM City University of Science and Technology where she began scientific research.



Lieu could not imagine that she was majoring in food technology at university, but shifted to research chemistry and molecular biology for postgraduate period. The shift brings new challenges, but also leads to success.



In fact, Lieus scientific research path is not rosy. She was refused by professors at the Singapore National University because of her bad English.



But luckily, she met Prof Neal Chung who admitted her to his research team after he found outstanding achievements in her profile.



After successfully defending adoctoral dissertation, Lieu was invited to the University of Science and Technology of King Abdullah in Saudi Arabia to take a job with the pay ofVND100 million a month.



In 2017, Lieu returned to Vietnam and became a researcher of the International University with the income just half of the previous level. But she said she happy with it.



Lieu got two national awards EUREKA 2007 and VIFOTEC 2008, two international awards (Green Talents 2013, Germany and IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2010, Singapore).



She is the main author of 12 scientific articles, and the main author of one patent in the US.

Le Huyen

International competitions put pressure on VN students There are at least 16 national and international competitions in math for students from the first to the 12th grades. Many of them are believed to be useless.
Tell the truth

ANN BOCK

WAVERLY  There is a childrens story about a little boy who cried wolf too many times. The first several calls for help were responded to but, when he really needed assistance, no one believed him.

According to numerous fact-checking sites, our president has told thousands of lies and misleading statements. Eventually even his base will surely come to a point where they realize Mr. Trump has cried wolf one too many times.

His story as to what led him to call for the murder of Qassem Soleimani has changed repeatedly. With every public event he has come up with a different explanation for his decision. What are people to believe? As he continues to cry wolf, the American public becomes less confident in what he says and what can, or should, be believed.

If we cant trust the president of the United States and those closest to him to tell us the truth, the citizens of this nation, as well as our allies who we will at some point in the future need to rely on, will simply ignore his plea for help. He has put us all in a dangerous place with his compulsive disregard for the truth.

The Democrats

CURTIS WYCKOFF

HUDSON  These crazy leftists keep on lying and keep on hating America and President Trump.

Who in the Trump administration is saying they want war with Iran? There is nobody who has come out in support for war. These crazy Democrats have stood up for Soleimani and act as if we are the bad guys. I am still waiting for a Democrat to tell me why it was a good idea to give Iran $100-plus billion?

As far as impeachment, we were told things like how urgent it is to remove this president or our democracy will cease to exist if we do not act. More lies. They say they stand up for the Constitution yet they want to get rid of the electoral college. They say nobody is above the law, yet this is the same party that puts illegals above the law.

More and higher IQ Americans are moving away from the party of slavery, the party of internment camps, and now the party for sympathy of terrorists. Killing 600 is not enough?

Climate change

CHRIS SIMENSON

DUNKERTON  There is enough empirical evidence that the Earth is heating up. If we are going to combat climate change it is time to treat the American public like adults.

Stop treating every natural phenomenon as proof of climate change. Dont pretend there will be equality of sacrifice. The burden will fall on the middle and lower classes. Stop using climate change as a perpetual political bludgeon. Begin embracing nuclear energy. It is proven clean energy. Stop pretending clean energy jobs will replace those whose employees are impacted. Every city, town, road, public utility, business, distribution center, airports, etc., location is determined by market forces, not government fiat. Telling people clean energy jobs will replace employment where they live is just dishonest. Coal miners and oil roughnecks are not going to become programmers and high tech companies are not going to relocate to West Virginia or the Texas panhandle.

The American people, many of whom are rightfully skeptical, require a non-biased and nonpartisan approach. It might start with our politicians squaring with us and telling the truth for a change.

Scare words

RUTH WALKER

CEDAR FALLS  Martin Luther King Jr. was a Democratic socialist, working for the good of all.

Francis Bellamy, the socialist author of the original salute to the flag in 1892 (with the Civil War in recent memory) included the phrase, one nation indivisible.

President Truman pointed out socialism is a scare word used to disparage programs that help Americans.

Iowas Amana colonies were communistic, one of several religious groups in the U.S. following the example of the early Christians. Socialist societies thrive when rich capitalists with strong militaries arent making war on them or exploiting their resources.

In 1960, W.E B. Du Bois, still speaking publicly at age 92, said, Democracy has so disappeared in the United States that there are some subjects that cannot even be discussed. The essence of the democratic process is free discussion. There was a time when men were not allowed to talk about universal suffrage, or the education for women, or freedom for Negro slaves. Today communism is the dirty word, and socialism is suspect. (Audio at bit.ly/DuBois1960)

Please prevent scare words, sexism, racism, ageism, etc. from influencing the Iowa caucuses.

Cultural change

ARTHUR FRICK

WAVERLY  Irrespective of the international treaty signed by the U.S. making it a war crime to destroy cultural monuments, Donald Trump, a la tweet, has threatened to destroy Irans monuments in the event of conflict. Thus, he would parallel the fanatical excesses of ISIS, bent upon the universal destruction of all cultures and monuments other than their own.

Although the significant works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Giotto, and Bernini belong to Italy and the Vatican, in spirit, they belong to the world. All of us! For they reflect upon our identities, lifting us above the common place up to the majestic, the magnificent, and the sublime; allowing us to contemplate greatness. So it is with the superb creations of the Muslims, the Persians, and the Medes.

During World War II, the U.S. Army made use of officers and men, schooled in the arts, to protect, preserve, and care for monuments and works of art, both those of allies and enemies.

By what legal or moral right can any powerful magistrate, culturally disadvantaged or otherwise, deprive us of our aesthetic and cultural heritages?

Simply put, in this instance, our president is unquestionably un-American, and most certainly anything but great.

Asylum seekers

HELEN DUNCAN

CEDAR FALLS  Our president with help from Homeland Security snatched crying children from their parents arms, caged them (and lost some of them, deporting their parents without them), not for hours, but for some time in deplorable conditions. The religious right and many so-called evangelicals fawn over President Trump because he says he is pro-life.

It is not pro-life to send asylum seekers to Nogales requiring them to apply 350 miles away at Juarez, Mexico, which is controlled by the Juarez drug cartel known for decapitating and leaving the bodies in public places. It is one of the most dangerous places in the entire world.

Now the U.S. confirms it plans to send Mexican asylum seekers to Guatemala under a bilateral agreement. Guatemala is the nation that killed more than 200,000 of its own people in a prolonged civil war with another 45,000 missing (they are just now finding mass graves to account for some of the missing).

These are people fleeing dire circumstances.

Does anyone have a conscience? Is the president free to murder by proxy anyone and everyone he feels like? And get praised for it?

Special day

JOHN SHEDA

INDEPENDENCE  Today is Sanctity of Live day. Actually every day should be sanctity of life day because every single life matters, even the lives of people living inside the womb of their mother.

Deep down we all know when life begins. We can rationalize our opinions in a lot of ways, but facts are indeed facts. Life begins at conception. We know all the developmental information and statistics. And its time, way past time to recognize that all lives matter.

Doing the right thing is never a wrong or bad idea.

Becoming citizens

RYAN S. HOWARD

CEDAR FALLS  The claim President Donald Trump is anti-immigration is unfounded.

I was recently at a U.S. citizenship ceremony in Des Moines where 39 people from 23 countries officially became citizens of the United States.

Many parts of the ceremony stuck out to me and made me proud to be an American. One of which was the focus the ceremony placed on honoring the fact that there were so many different countries represented in the ceremony.

A second notable part was a welcome video from President Donald Trump. He referred to the immigrants as fellow Americans and welcomed them into the American family, regardless of where they came from or what faith they practiced.

This video encapsulated the larger picture of what weve seen from Trump: pro-legal immigration policies.

The ceremony also welcomed the citizens to vote and even provided the opportunity for them to register to vote on the same day they became a citizen.

I am excited to share that my wife Bruna, from Brazil, was one of the 39 people who became U.S. citizens that day in Des Moines.

It is a blessing to know our president recognizes and honors the value she brings to this country.

Letter response

BILL KAMMEYER

WATERLOO  In response to Matthew Hepworths partisan-filled letter Jan. 14, you fail to get the point of the Wilson column. Instead, you make it perfectly clear how you feel politically and about the author. Following the law isnt Republican or Democrat. The column never mentions not supporting local control rather the importance of following the law.

As the former school board president there were many times I wanted to pass certain policies, but I understood that I was limited by state and federal laws. I do live in Waterloo and Im the one who gets to pay for all the stupid lawsuits our elected officials get us into.

The column was about far more than ban the box. You choose to use it as an opportunity to vent about your beloved progressive movement and then make an attack on the author about winning. I know the author well, and with all do respect the Republican trifecta in Des Moines certainly puts his record of success above yours. When Waterloo loses its current lawsuit, I believe the mayor and members who voted for it should pay for it and then immediately resign!

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Is Italian tyre giant Pirelli plotting a 9billion (7.7billion) merger with Finland's Nokian Tyres?

That was the question stock market punters were asking after rumours whipped around the London market last week suggesting that Nokian could soon see some corporate action.

Last year, speculation did the rounds that Pirelli, majority-owned by ChemChina and with a primary listing in Italy, was running the slide rule over Nokian, so the Italians appear to be an obvious partner.

Italian tyre giant Pirelli could be plotting a 9bn (7.7bn) merger with Finland's Nokian Tyres

Nokian specialises in winter tyres while Pirelli concentrates on those used in summer.

A spokesperson for Nokian declined to comment. Pirelli spinners claimed the suggestion was 'without foundation'  but they made similar noises in 2014 when confronted with a tale about a takeover of their company, which was bought by ChemChina several months later.

Meanwhile, short-sellers continue to target Nokian, which has a history of unveiling shock profit warnings. Last week, the likes of hedge fund AQR and BlackRock increased their bets against the shares.

This really is a case of the bulls versus the bears.

The Vaccine Group

The Neil Woodford scandal has wreaked havoc on many biotech start-ups  but one of AIM-listed Frontier IP's companies, The Vaccine Group (TVG), a spinout from the University of Plymouth, has drummed up 680,000 in its first equity fundraise, valuing it at 9.5million, I'm told.

TVG is developing vaccine technology for animals to fight diseases such as bovine TB

TVG is developing vaccine technology for animals to fight diseases such as bovine TB.

Frontier IP takes stakes in outfits such as TVG not by investing cash, but by helping to commercialise ideas born in university labs.

That helps avoid the Woodford troubles where he set the valuations himself by the amount he invested.

Asos

Shares in online fashion giant Asos have staged a strong recovery in the past six months.

This Thursday's first-quarter trading update is key to whether that continues as it reports on how the business fared over Christmas.

City scribblers say the number to watch for is sales growth, with 15 per cent expected by most in the Square Mile.

Below that and fears might creep in that demand for the AIM-listed firm's products is on the slide  especially since last year's period was a weak one that brought a profit warning after being undercut by rivals over Black Friday, the US-inspired discount-fest.

EasyJet

Could there be more fireworks from easyJet? Last week chief executive Johan Lundgren hit out at taxpayer bailouts after Flybe was propped up by Government. A trading statement on Tuesday could be another chance to take a pop at Ministers.

Analysts predict that revenue per seat for easyJet in the last quarter of 2019 picked up by 4 per cent year on year, though this rise will be boosted by the fallout from the drone chaos at Gatwick in December 2018.

Lundgren also has his first chance to update investors on the launch of easyJet's package holiday business on the back of Thomas Cook's demise.

Contributor: Ben Harrington
Facebook has removed a series of apparently coordinated posts defending Robert Hyde, a Republican candidate for congress who has been implicated in the Ukraine scandal that led to Donald Trump being impeached.

Last week Lev Parnas, a business associate of Mr Trumps personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, said Mr Hyde had claimed to be carrying out surveillance on the then US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.

Ms Yovanovitch was abruptly recalled from her post after apparently getting in the way of a secret scheme by Mr Giuliani, Mr Parnas and others to pressure the Ukrainian president into announcing investigations into Mr Trumps Democratic rivals.

Mr Hyde, a former US Marine, has denied that he was keeping Ms Yovanovitch under surveillance ahead of her recall, saying his texts were just a joke.

A series of posts defending Mr Hyde has now been removed from Facebook after doubts emerged about whether they came from Trump supporters from around the country as claimed, the Wall Street Journal reported.

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

In a statement to the paper, Facebook said: When we find networks of Pages misleading people by concealing who controls them, we require those owners to show additional information. In this case, the necessary disclosure was not made, so per our policy, the Pages have been removed.

The pages had previously hosted a series of comments backing Mr Hydes run for a congressional seat in Connecticut. Mr Hyde denied being behind the pages in November when they were first highlighted by Buzzfeed.

Last month Mr Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for abuse of power over the Ukraine plot, in which he apparently withheld military aid and a White House invitation until Kiev announced the investigations.

He is also accused of obstruction for ordering staff not to give evidence and refusing to hand over relevant documents.

This week the Senate will begin a trial of Mr Trump which in theory could see him removed from power, although this is unlikely since the upper chamber is controlled by his fellow Republicans.

The president insists he has done nothing wrong and that the impeachment proceedings are a Democratic ploy to stop him winning re-election in November.

Mr Parnas said he did not believe Mr Hyde was keeping Ms Yovanovitch under surveillance, saying he thought he was boasting and adding that he did not believe he had ever seen him sober.

 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questions Facebook's Zuckerberg over allowing politicians to lie in ads

However, Ukraine said last week that it was launching an investigation into the claims.

Facebook has faced criticism for refusing to commit to fact-checking political ads.
New Mexico public school funding could play a prominent role in this years 30-day legislative session, due to the shadow cast by a landmark court case and the states cash-flush budget situation.

The state Public Education Department is hoping for an extra $53.5 million for at-risk students and a 4% salary increase for educators.

In the current budget year, the total schools and PED operational budget was $3.283 billion. For the coming year, the PED is eyeing $3.455 billion, according to PED Deputy Secretary Tim Hand.

The PED is also seeking $93 million to fund 4% salary increases for all school personnel, including teachers.

Public Education Secretary-designate Ryan Stewart previously told the Journal that the increase would apply to everyone from education assistants and custodian employees to top administration. And it could even apply to superintendents, although that would be up to districts boards of education, he said.

Teachers and school administrators received 6% pay raises last year, and lawmakers increased starting teacher pay to $41,000 annually, while also bumping up pay levels for more veteran teachers under the states three-tier system.

The changes were part of a plan to address a 2018 court ruling that found New Mexico was failing to provide a sufficient education to all students.

Although the PED isnt requesting an increase in the tier bases again, the 4% raise would also apply to teachers. And if the PEDs budget request is approved, school personnel are looking at a 10% pay raise over two years.

The PED is aiming to increase funding for students who are considered at risk, used to describe students who face hurdles such as learning English or coming from low-income families.

The additional funding request comes as the state is responding to late District Judge Sarah Singletons ruling that found New Mexico was not providing sufficient education for students with disabilities, English-language learners, students from low-income families and Native American students.

The plaintiffs have argued that the state hasnt done enough in response, despite the spending increase. Gail Evans, lead counsel for the Yazzie plaintiffs, has said the PEDs request does not go far enough to provide resources for these students.

The PED is looking to increase at-risk index funding in fiscal year 2021 by $53.5 million.

Some lawmakers have voiced concern over how PED will track the funding for at-risk students.

Stewart has pointed out challenges to tracking the money, too. For instance, existing systems dont follow exactly where each dollar for at-risk students is allocated. But he said the PED is working to streamline the oversight.

Other priorities include consolidating funding streams for K-5 Plus and Extended Learning Time, two programs that extend the school year with the aim of increasing participants academic gains.

Stewart, who was appointed PED secretary in May 2019 after the agencys previous secretary was abruptly fired, said the PED aims to combine the two programs funding streams, because money is left over from K-5 Plus that could go to pay for an increased demand for extended learning time.
State Bank of India (SBI) chairman Rajnish Kumar on Sunday said banking credit would need to be doubled from the current level if India were to achieve its ambitious target of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2024. At present, the Indian banking credit outstanding is around Rs 99 trillion and for India to become a $5 trillion economy, it needs to be at least doubled over the next 5 years, Kumar said here.

He observed that Indian banks had the capacity to cater to such high volume demand from industry and other sectors. Kumar was talking to journalists this afternoon ...
Idina Menzel has recently returned to a fan favorite role as Elsa in the long-awaited Frozen II.

And the actress still isnt ready to Let It Go, as she gave a live performance Saturday at the Producers Guild of America Awards.

She put on a dapper display as she arrived at the star-studded event at the Hollywood Palladium.

Idina Menzel put on a dapper display as she arrived at the Producers Guild of America Awards at the Hollywood Palladium

The 48-year-old channelled old Hollywood glam with an androgynous twist in a classic black tuxedo.

It sparkled with a glittery finish, featuring a diamond flower broach on the wide lapel of the jacket.

The suit was complemented with a white dress shirt, featuring no tie, and a pair of black stilettos.

She completed the look with a pair of diamond tiered hoop earrings and a black leather clutch.

The 48-year-old channelled old Hollywood glam with an androgynous twist in a classic black tuxedo

It sparkled with a glittery finish, featuring a diamond flower broach on the wide lapel of the jacket

She completed the look with a pair of diamond tiered hoop earrings, a matching flower broach and a black leather clutch

At the awards show, Menzel took to the stage with an energetic performance of her Oscar-nominated song Into the Unknown from Frozen II.

The movie nabbed a PGA nomination for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures.

In addition to Frozen II, her movie Uncut Gems has received overwhelming awards season recognition.

But Menzels next project may be a return to the Great White Way, where she got her start in the iconic 1996 musical Rent.

Shes reportedly in talks to star as Fanny Brice in the upcoming Broadway revival of Funny Girl.

At the awards show, Menzel took to the stage with an energetic performance of her Oscar-nominated song Into the Unknown from Frozen II
Panels made by students and the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program for display during the annual Greater Philadelphia day of service in 2012 at Girard College. Read more

With every year of celebrating MLK Day of Service, the national holiday honoring the civil rights leader, it seems our country drifts further away from the ideals that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived and died for. Since the inception of MLK Day, there has been not only a callous monetization of Kings image, but also a watering down of his radical message.

As another MLK Day approaches, some of the major issues King tirelessly fought against persist with brutal familiarity. King called for pacifism, guaranteed incomes to eradicate poverty as a major goal of his Poor Peoples Campaign, expansion of voter rights, fair housing, and reparations for African Americans. Yet year after year, people co-opt Martin Luther King Jr. Day to issue empty pronouncements about equality while fighting against those causes dear to King.

Take President Donald Trump, who tweeted about equality on last years MLK Day as a publicity stunt  while his track record includes decimating key portions the Voting Rights Act, rolling back efforts to expand affordable housing, and his racist and xenophobic comments, all diametrically opposed to Kings egalitarian message.

MLK Day is widely celebrated as a Day of Service  which we see especially in Philadelphia, a region that had a unique influence on Kings philosophy that the holiday has since diluted. The city currently hosts the largest King Day event in the country: the Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. Seven decades ago, the city played a central role for King himself. He began his philosophical and theological journey arriving at Crozer Theological Seminary as a 19-year-old student in 1948 and was mentored by the Rev. J. Pius Barbour, Crozers first black graduate and pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Chester, where King served as a youth minister. He also audited courses at the University of Pennsylvania. And a sermon at the Fellowship House in Philadelphia by Dr. Mordecai Johnson, the first black president of Howard University, introduced King to teachings of Mohandas Gandhi that became foundational to his philosophy of nonviolent activism.

King further forged alliances with like-minded, progressive black ministers at Philadelphia churches, such as Dr. William H. Gray Jr., pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church, and Zion Baptist Churchs Rev. Leon Sullivan, who shared his successful boycotting tactics with Kings Southern Christian Leadership Conference team.

In other words, Philadelphia was one of Kings most reliable bases in the North that helped shape his vision of freedom for black people.

While theres nothing inherently wrong with Philadelphia honoring that legacy through community service, limiting the day to generic volunteerism, here or elsewhere, is a gross misrepresentation of Kings radical message. It also allows the holiday to be co-opted by those who would rather stand for colorblindness  like the Wall Street Journal, where an op-ed last year declared King a colorblind radical -- instead of the racial justice that framed his platform.

It took a significant movement to create the MLK holiday in the first place. Four days after Kings April 1968 assassination, Congressman John Conyers Jr. (D., Mich.) introduced the first bill to establish Kings Jan. 15 birthday as a federal holiday. Also that year, Sen. Edward Brooke (R., Mass.), the only African American senator at the time, put forth legislation seeking the authorization of the president to issue a yearly proclamation designating Jan. 15 as Martin Luther King Day. It was another 15 years before an American president  Ronald Reagan, who long had reservations toward King  signed the holiday into law.

Now, we need another bold MLK holiday movement. But this time it needs to organize action. We can start with fair housing, eradicating poverty, womens and LGBTQIA rights, a living wage for all Americans, and investing in our public school systems.

If the MLK holiday is to be more than just a day when the U.S. soothes the guilt of inequality from our collective consciousness, then its crucial that our city and our nation fight for, reflect upon, and embody the values  beyond basic community service  that King courageously stood for.

Rashad Grove is a journalist. media personality, and pastor of First Baptist Church in Wayne. @thegroveness
Despite their ambition to live a transatlantic lifestyle, Harry and Meghan will need to resolve the question of where their son Archie will be educated.

The Sussexes have not said whether the eight-month-old will go to school in Britain or Canada.

Should they decide to give their son a British education, they may opt to send him to the American Community School, opposite Windsor Great Park, in Egham, Surrey.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not said whether eight-month-old Archie will go to school in Britain or Canada. Pictured during their visit to the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa in September last year

Should they decide to give their son a British education, they may opt to send him to the American Community School (pictured), opposite Windsor Great Park, in Egham, Surrey

Pupils on the 20-acre campus come from 60 countries  and British children are the second-largest intake after Americans. The school charges 25,000 a year, compared to Eton College where fees are around 40,000.

Pupils are reportedly encouraged to be catalysts for positive change and globally minded world citizens. Laying out its vision and values, the school states: The World Needs New Thinking... Get Ready. At ACS we prepare our students to be ready. Ready for cultures that cross over, boundaries that blur and ideas that interconnect. Ready for a world that demands a new kind of learning  and a new kind of citizen.

The choice of school would also ensure Archie is brought up with an appreciation of his mothers American heritage. If they educate him in Canada, it would mark a departure from the traditional private education  both Harry and his brother William attended Eton College. It would also prevent Archie from travelling with his parents during term time.

When Archie was born, royal insiders said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wanted their child to grow up a global citizen.
The Islamic Republic of Iran's Department of Environment (DoE) chief, Issa Kalantari has admitted that mazut, an environmentally harmful fuel is used for power stations in the country.

Mazut is a heavy, low quality fuel oil with an obnoxious smell that highly pollutes the air. The cheap product is usually used in massive industrial plants and for ships. In the West, mazut is broken down and turned into diesel.

Speaking on Sunday, January 19, Kalantari regretfully said that Iran is caught in a vicious circle of air pollution, without knowing how to find a way out.

"Under (U.S.) sanctions, the Oil cannot export mazut, and Iranian refineries are overflowing with the heavy fuel oil," Kalantari disclosed, adding, "Therefore, we have once again been forced to use the product for our power plants, polluting the air."

The level of sulfur density in mazut produced in Iran is nearly 3.5%, which is seven times more than the international standard for vessels on high seas, and its usage is strictly banned in urban areas, specifically in the cities like Tehran that are struggling with air pollution.

Iranian refineries, on average, have produced more than 60 million liters (approximately 15.8 million U.S. liquid gallons) of mazut per day, of which 35.5 million liters (roughly 9.3 million gallons) have been exported, 4.3 million liters (1.1 million gallons) used for bunkering (vessel fuel), and the rest domestically consumed.

Since Iran's refineries are very old (mostly built during the reign of Iran's last monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi) and deprived of new technologies, 24% of the crude oil turns into mazut, which compared with gasoline and diesel has a very low value.

The main bulk of Iran's mazut is exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and refined further for refueling local and foreign vessels.

However, since the re-imposition of Washington's sanctions on the Islamic Republic in 2018, exporting Iranian mazut has significantly declined, leaving Tehran with no option other than using the product to feed local industrial complexes.

One of the major consumers of mazut in Iran is its power plants that DoE head, Isa Kalantari, believes are the primary sources of air pollution in the country.

Earlier, the spokesman of Iran's power industry, Mostafa Rajabi, had admitted that, since March 21, 2019, nearly 99 million cubic feet of mazut had been used in electricity plants across Iran.

"Having a clean air has become an impossible dream for Iranians," Kalantari regretfully said on Sunday, noting, "87% of the minibuses, 81% of the motorbikes, 73% of buses, and 61% of the trucks in Iran are dilapidated. We are living in the country of broken-down vehicles, and still expect to have clean air."
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Thousands gathered on Saturday for the Women's March on Washington and at sister demonstrations across the country.

The aim this year, activists say, is to get President Donald Trump voted out of office.

Many of the marchers, in cities from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, blasted the president's policies, including his tough stance on immigration.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING:

"As you march today, a woman and daughter were separated from their husband and father. He's in immigration detention in Texas. He didn't commit any crimes. He and his family fled Venezuela because of the danger posed to his life because of political dissent. He can be freed if someone or many someones like us can pay his $20,000 bond. And he and his family are not the only ones."

Speakers also advocated for legislation increasing women's rights.

(SOUNDBITE)(English) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING:

"We all have our own stories, and it's time we share those stories. We need other women to know they are not alone. The good and the bad that happens in our lives makes us who we are today, and what the next generations will become in the future."

This is the fourth annual Women's march, which burst on the scene in 2017.

That first protest, one day after Trump was inaugurated in his first term in office, inspired millions to take to the streets around America and the globe.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 15:06:53|Editor: huaxia

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LIEGE, Jan. 19, 2020 (Xinhua) -- A multicultural festival was held in the eastern Belgian city of Liege to greet the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival, a celebration also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year.



The upcoming Chinese Year of the Rat will start on Jan. 25, 2020. The event is celebrated all over the world by the Chinese community.

The festivities started with a colorful parade in downtown Liege, followed by a series of cultural performances, a temple fair and a grand gala at the Liege Convention Center.
Sunil Badala, Waman Kale

Indian economy - boom or doom

The headlines today are engulfed with news on the unpredictable state of the Indian economy. Contentions in support of both, the boom and doom outlook are being put forth.

A persistent economic slowdown coupled with volatile macro and micro factors has resulted in Budget 2020 being a subject matter of intense scrutiny. The all-encompassing expectation from the second Union Budget of the second term of the central government is a pragmatic and swift resolution of the financial woes and fiscal challenges plaguing the country.

One sector that indisputably warrants urgent attention and decisive action is the liquidity-starved non-banking financial companies (NBFC) space. Apart from the regulatory incentives/relaxations, an exemption from the limitation of interest provisions (colloquially referred to as thin capitalisation) under the income-tax law can be a major booster for a part of the industry.

What is thin capitalisation in India?

Multinational enterprises have the ability to finance group entities with debt from other group companies, in a manner which results in higher interest expense claims and lower taxable profits for the borrowing entity. Following the recommendations of Action Plan 4 of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development /G20 BEPS project that deals with proposals to prevent base erosion through the use of interest expense, tax administrators of several countries have introduced a limit on the amount of interest that can be claimed by for tax purposes.

In India, this limit is set at 30 percent of the EBITDA (subject to conditions) and limits interest deduction in respect of debt from a non-resident related party. Further, not only the interest paid or payable to the foreign group entities, but also the interest on debt explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the group entity is covered under the purview of these rules.

Thus, in cases where debt of the Indian entity is guaranteed by the group, there is ambiguity as to whether limitation of interest provisions would apply in the following situations : (a.) lender is a foreign entity or (b.) lender is an Indian branch of the foreign lender or (c.) Indian lender.

Indian entities engaged in the business of banking are exempted from these provisions of thin capitalisation. However, no such exception is made for NBFCs.

What is the grievance of NBFCs?

There are many foreign-owned and controlled NBFCs which are impacted by these provisions. There are captive NBFCs, which are wholly-owned subsidiaries of foreign operating companies (like automakers), which offer loans to customers to purchase the merchandise of their holding companies. Even foreign banking groups and financial institutions, wanting to render services permitted under the NBFC regulations have set up shop in India. These NBFCs predominantly rely on their foreign group entities to either directly fund or guarantee the funding of their operations and are thus hit by the thin capitalisation provisions.

For an NBFC (a bank for instance), securing debt is like procuring raw material for conducting its business. The resultant interest expenditure is generally always higher than 30 percent of its EBITDA. Also, interest is the main component of the total expenditure claimed by the NBFCs. Applying thin capitalisation rules results in disallowance of interest expense and consequent increase in tax outflows, impacting the profitability and viability of these entities.

What is the rationale for seeking relief?

The primary contention of the impacted NBFCs is that if banks are provided exemption from thin capitalisation rules, then NBFCs (which operate on similar modus operandi) should also be treated on the same footing. Just like the banks, even the NBFCs are functioning under a stringent regulatory framework in India. Similar to banks, operational aspects of NBFCs, like capital adequacy ratio, asset classification norms, minimum net-owned fund requirement, etc. are monitored under the vigilant aegis of the Reserve Bank of India. If all else is equal, then why the discrimination towards the impacted NBFCs?

India's never quenching quest for financing its growth can be satiated by tapping the foreign funding through the NBFC route. Due to certain regulatory constraints on banks, there are sections of borrowers which are catered to only by the NBFCs (also known as the shadow banking industry).

Captive NBFCs play an indirect catalyst role in supporting the government's bid to bolster the manufacturing sector in India. Take for instance, a captive NBFC of an automobile maker, manufacturing cars in India. The captive NBFC assists the customer in financing the purchase of the car - the purchase of the car boosts the demand of the car - the increase in demand of the car encourages the manufacture of the car and supports ancillary industries, generating employment opportunities in the country. Perhaps this is a valid cause to eradicate the thin capitalisation damper?

Even under the income-tax law, in the last Union Budget, the NBFCs have been granted parity with the banks. Just like banks, interest income from bad or doubtful debts is now taxable on receipt basis for NBFCs. This year the ask is for uniformity in treatment of interest expense.

(The author Badala is a Partner and Head of Financial Services, Tax at KPMG in India and Kale is a Chartered Accountant.)

The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
TOKYO (Reuters) - President Donald Trump marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the security treaty between the United States and Japan with a call for a stronger and deeper alliance between the two countries, despite criticizing the pact six months ago.

"As the security environment continues to evolve and new challenges arise, it is essential that our alliance further strengthen and deepen," Trump said in a statement dated Jan. 18.

"I am confident that in the months and years ahead, Japan's contributions to our mutual security will continue to grow, and the alliance will continue to thrive."

Last June, Trump told a news conference in Japan that the treaty - signed six decades ago on Sunday and the linchpin of Japan's defense policy - was "unfair" and should be changed, echoing his long-held view that Japan is a free-rider on defense.

Trump at the time added he was not thinking of withdrawing from the pact.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday called for making the treaty more robust.

"We have elevated the relationship to one in which each of us, the U.S. and Japan, protects the other, thereby giving further force to the alliance," Abe said at a Tokyo reception to mark the anniversary of the signing.

"Going forward, it is incumbent upon us to make it even more robust, to make it a pillar for safeguarding peace and security in both outer space and cyberspace."

The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its U.S.-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by the United States to project power in Asia.

The treaty was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Abe's grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi. Kishi was forced to step down afterwards following a massive public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would pull their country into conflict.

Story continues

Abe since taking office in 2012 has raised Japan's defense spending by 10% after years of decline and his government in 2014 reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two.

Although generally supportive of the alliance, Japanese voters remain concerned about their country getting dragged into U.S.-led conflicts. A recent survey by Kyodo news agency showed 58.4% opposed Tokyo's decision to dispatch a warship and patrol planes to the Middle East to help protect ships bringing goods to Japan.

Trump's administration has also pushed for Japan to pay more for U.S. forces stationed in the country. Under an agreement reached in 2015, Japan pledged to increase its spending for U.S. forces stationed there by 1.4% over the following five years to 189.3 billion yen ($1.72 billion) per year on average.

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink and Linda Sieg; additional reporting by Hideto Sakai; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): As many as 187 people who were stranded amid heavy snowfall near Kufri in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla were rescued early on Saturday, police said.



Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Omapati Jamwal said, "The Shimla district Police have rescued 187 people who were stranded on Kufri- Chail Road due to snowfall."

"The roads have become icy and slippery due to snowfall and 31 vehicles including buses, trucks and cars on which were stranded on NH 5 have been safely removed," he added.

"Total NH traffic Tourist vehicles, local private vehicle, HRTC Buses, private buses, transportation vehicle, taxi, car, pickup, truck, etc removed from Kufri to Dhalli and Shimla (down side) along with passengers.

"Due to snowfall, road condition is Dangerous on Kufri to Chail Road. The rescue operation was finished at about 4 am on Sunday," he added.

Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has a forecast for the partly cloudy sky and light snow in upcoming days with minimum and maximum temperature will hover around minus 1 and 12 respectively.(ANI)


RICHMOND, Va. - State officials and U.S. hate-monitoring groups are warning about the potential for violence ahead of a gun-rights rally in Virginia thats expected to draw a mix of militias, firearms advocates and white supremacists to Richmond.

Citing credible threats of violence, Gov. Ralph Northam declared a temporary state of emergency days ahead of Mondays rally, banning all guns and other weapons from Capitol Square.

Virginias solicitor general last week said law enforcement had identified credible evidence armed out-of-state groups planned to come to Virginia with the possible intention of participating in a violent insurrection.

Online, threats of violence have been rampant among anti-government and far-right groups, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks white supremacists and other extremists. Conspiracy theories and other misinformation have also proliferated.

Organizers of an annual vigil at the Capitol for the victims of gun violence said Friday that they cancelled their event this year because of fears of armed insurrectionists.

Meanwhile, the gun-rights group that planned the event is urging peace.

A look at some of the groups that are participating:

Virginia Citizens Defence League

The Virginia Citizens Defence League, an influential grassroots gun-rights organization with a long record in the state, has been the leading force behind Mondays rally.

Each year on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday the group holds a lobby day, typically attended by several hundred gun enthusiasts who rally and meet with lawmakers to discuss legislation.

But this years event is expected to draw an enormous crowd.

The VCDL has donated over $200,000 to state lawmakers since 2002, records show. The group has emphasized the rally is intended to be peaceful and urged members not to bring long guns, saying they would be a distraction.

The eyes of the nation and the world are on Virginia and VCDL right now and we must show them that gun owners are not the problem, the group wrote in a recent email to its members.

The groups president, Philip Van Cleave, has been in the national spotlight before. In 2018, Van Cleave was duped into participating in Sacha Baron Cohens ambush chat show, where he advocated for arming children.

Gun Owners of America

The influential pro-gun group Gun Owners of America describes itself as the only no-compromise gun lobby in Washington and enjoys a loyal following.

Founded in 1975 by a California state lawmaker, Gun Owners of America joined the VCDL to seek an injunction against enforcement of Gov. Ralph Northams executive order banning guns from the Capitol Square. The state Supreme Court upheld the ban late Friday.

On its website, the group has urged its members to attend Mondays rally.

NRA

The National Rifle Association, the countrys best known gun-rights organization, has distanced itself from Mondays rally and instead held a lobby day last week.

Hundreds of people attended the event, where the NRA handed out unloaded 30-round gun magazines. A spokeswoman for the group headquartered in northern Virginia said the magazines were meant as a morale booster for the NRA members who showed up to urge lawmakers to reject the gun control measures proposed by Northam and Democratic lawmakers.

Oath Keepers

Former U.S. Army paratrooper Stewart Rhodes formed The Oath Keepers in 2009, and the group has become one of the nations largest anti-government organizations, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In 2014, Oath Keeper members joined an armed standoff between federal officials and Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy over grazing rights on government land.

Later that year and in 2015, members patrolled the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, amid protests over the police killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown. They wore camouflage body armour and openly carried rifles.

The group urged its members in a post on its website to attend Mondays rally and said it was sending trainers to Virginia to organize and train armed posses and militia.

It is NOT just about one day at a rally. Its about organizing and training up Virginians in each town and county to make their Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties truly strong, united, and capable of actually defending their lives, liberty, and property, the groups website says.

Three Percenter Movement

The Three Percenters are a loosely organized movement that formed in 2008, according to the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish civil rights organization that tracks extremist groups.

On its website, the right-wing group says it isnt an anti-government militia but we will defend ourselves when necessary.

The Three Percenters derives its name from the belief that just 3% of the colonists rose up to fight the British. They have vowed to resist any government that infringes on the U.S. Constitution.

The Oregon Three Percenters joined an armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon in 2016. Dozens of people occupied the remote refuge for more than a month to protest federal control of Western lands. The group also took part in a violent right-wing rally in Portland last year.

White supremacists

J.J. MacNab, a fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, said she didnt expect large numbers of white supremacists. But MacNab said she thinks those who do attend will try to capitalize on the large expected crowd for a moment in the limelight.

Its going to be a big event  they want to be part of it. Theyre desperate to do Charlottesville 2.0, she said, referring to the 2017 rally that descended into violence.

Last week, authorities arrested six men they linked to a violent white supremacist group known as The Base. At least three of the men were planning to attend the rally in Richmond according to an official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an active investigation.

___

Associated Press writers Denise Lavoie, Michael Kunzelman and Mike Balsamo contributed to this report.
This is the first meeting of the ASEAN top diplomats this year to discuss the priority orientations of the regional grouping this year, especially the building of the community, the blocs foreign relations, and international and regional issues.



Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (centre) and other officials at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, on January 17th (Photo: VNA)



The ministers expressed their support and held that the themes and priority orientations tabled by Vietnam for ASEAN 2020 are suitable to the goal of the building of the ASEAN Community. ASEAN 2020 cooperation will focus on the fortification of the groupings solidarity and unity, and others. The ministers also agreed to push up the cooperation for the protection of the environment, peace, security and gender equity.



Representatives of the countries agreed with Vietnams proposal on the action plan of the ASEAN this year, according to which the bloc will realise a number of initiatives.



Regarding foreign relations, they stressed the importance of further broadening and deepening the ASEAN external ties. The ASEAN  New Zealand commemorative summit will be held on April 9 right after the 36th ASEAN summit to be held in Da Nang. The foreign ministers agreed to propose ASEAN top leaders to accept the invitation from the US President to a special summit to mark the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN  US strategic partnership to be held in the US in March, and accepted Vietnams proposal on sending the ASEAN Secretary General to inform the UN Security Council of the ASEAN  UN cooperation.



The ministers devoted much time exchanging ideas on the situation in the East Sea. They noted the progress in the negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) and expressed concern on land reclamation at sea, especially on the recent developments, including the serious incidents that violate sovereignty in the sea of a number of ASEAN members and intensify tension, erode trust and do not facilitate the COC negotiations.



The top diplomats reaffirmed the need to boost trust, refrain from and avoid actions that further complicate the situation, towards settling disputes by peaceful means, and to take international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the basis for claims on sovereignty and sovereign right on the waters. They also stressed the need for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) so as to create an environment of mutual trust.



The ministers affirmed ASEAN will continue supporting efforts aimed at bringing back peace, stability, respect to the law and acceleration of reconciliation and concord among the communities, as well as ensuring sustainable development in Myanmars Rakhine state. They agreed to continue supporting and facilitating the repatriation and sustainable development there.



Minh thanked the support from the countries, describing it as a manifestation of the ASEAN solidarity and unity. He stressed that Vietnam will do all what it can to accomplish the tasks of the ASEAN 2020 Chair and cooperate with the countries for a region of peace, stability and prosperity, for a cohesive and responsive ASEAN.



In the afternoon the same day, Minh presided over an international press conference making known the outcomes of the AMM Retreat./.
DUBAI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Iran is sending to Ukraine the black boxes of the Ukrainian passenger plane that its military accidentally shot down this month, Tasnim news agency reported on Saturday.

The Iranian authorities are also prepared for experts from France, Canada and the United States to examine the data from the boxes, the semi-official news agency said.

All 176 people aboard the plane were killed when the Ukrainian International Airlines flight was shot down on Jan. 8 shortly after take-off from Tehran en route to the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

"With the use of the expertise of the countries of France, Canada and America we will try to read the (flight data recorder) in Kiev," Hassan Rezaifar, a director in charge of accident investigations at Iran's Civil Aviation Organization was quoted as saying by Tasnim.

"If this effort is unsuccessful then the black box will be sent to France."

The black boxes will not be read in Iran, Rezaifar said, according to Tasnim.

Fifty seven of the dead were Canadian. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has been pressing for a full investigation into the plane downing, said on Friday that Iran should send the black boxes to France for analysis.

France was one of the few countries with the ability to read the flight and cockpit data recorders from the jet, which he said were badly damaged, Trudeau told a news conference in Ottawa.

Iran has faced a deepening crisis abroad and at home over the plane disaster, with authorities taking several days to announce that its military had accidentally shot the plane down.

The downing occurred as Iran was on high alert for possible retaliatory action following its strikes on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops.

Those strikes were in revenge for the U.S. killing of top military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone attack in Baghdad on Jan. 3. (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh Writing by Frances Kerry Editing by Edmund Blair)
MOSCOW  In a solemn ceremony at an airport in Ukraine on Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky paid his respects to the 11 citizens from his country who were killed when Irans military mistakenly shot down a passenger jet in Tehran this month.

Mr. Zelensky has grappled with the diplomacy around the downing of the plane, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. The missile strike put his government in the middle of a conflict between the United States and Iran, and he has walked a fine line as his country sought answers from Tehran.

On the morning of the crash, Iranian air defenses had been on high alert after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at two American bases in Iraq in response to the United States killing of a top Iranian general in Baghdad. Iran was anticipating retaliation to its missile strikes on the bases.

Though the Ukrainian government quickly concluded that a missile had downed the plane, killing all 176 people aboard, it refrained from public criticism of Tehran until its investigative team on the ground had found irrefutable proof, including shrapnel holes in the planes fuselage.
President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in London ahead of the inaugural UK-Africa Investment Summit holding on Monday.

This was announced by the Presidents Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on his social media handles early Saturday morning.

An earlier statement by Adesina said the London Investment Summit would be hosted by the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

According to the organisers, the event is expected to bring together African leaders, international business chief executives and heads of international organisations to create new partnerships that will deliver more investments and jobs to the benefit of people and businesses in African countries and the United Kingdom.

Apart from highlighting new perspectives on UK-Africa Partnership for Prosperity, issues of Sustainable Finance and Infrastructure; Trade and Investment; Future African Growth Sectors and Clean Energy and Climate, are expected to dominate presentations and discussions during the Summit.

With the expected take-off of the African Continental Free Trade Area in mid-2020, the London investment summit will provide Nigeria with the opportunity to project itself as a leading investment destination for new industries.

The president is expected back in Abuja on Thursday.
CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro cast himself as the wily survivor of a dramatic, year-long struggle by the opposition at home and its allies in Washington to unseat him, and said it's now time for direct negotiations with the United States to end the political stalemate that has crippled this nation of some 30 million.

In an exclusive, extensive interview with The Washington Post - his first with a major U.S. media outlet since the day last February he abruptly pulled the plug on a Univision taping and ejected its journalists from the country - an exuberant Maduro said he had outfoxed his opponents in Caracas and Washington, is comfortably in charge and ready to talk.

He suggested a bonanza could be waiting for U.S. oil companies in this OPEC-member state should President Donald Trump lift sanctions and press the reset button on U.S.-Venezuelan relations.

Yet if anything, his words revealed the vast gulf that still exists between his authoritarian government and the opposition and U.S. officials who call him a dictator. His positions on key issues suggested no quick fix to the brutal humanitarian crisis that has led millions to flee poverty and hunger in this troubled socialist state.

Still, Maduro, the anointed successor of the late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez, said significant changes could be in the offing if Washington opened a direct channel with him.

"If there's respect between governments, no matter how big the United States is, and if there's a dialogue, an exchange of truthful information, then be sure we can create a new type of relationship," he said. "A relationship of respect and dialogue brings a win-win situation. A confrontational relationship brings a lose-lose situation. That's the formula."

The United States and nearly 60 other nations recognize Juan Guaido, the opposition leader and head of Venezuela's legislature, as the nation's rightful head of state after Maduro claimed reelection in a tainted 2018 vote. U.S. officials, the opposition and European powers have decried Maduro's steps in recent weeks to sabotage the opposition, take control of the legislature - the last democratic institution in the country - and consolidate what they describe as authoritarian power.

The United States has held firm on its position that unless and until Maduro is willing to discuss his exit from the presidential palace, direct talks would likely only strengthen him.

Speaking for more than an hour late Friday in the ornate Miraflores presidential palace, Maduro did not display such willingness. The 57-year-old former union leader, sporting a navy-blue workman's shirt, called any new presidential vote still years away. He also denied the assertions of U.S. and European diplomats and opposition negotiators that his government offered the opposition a deal including new presidential elections during talks brokered by Norway last year before they collapsed in the fall.

He doubled down on his pledge to hold legislative elections this year - a vote his opponents insist he would use as a tool to further consolidate power.

"What he wants is a fake election, one to produce a puppet National Assembly," said Leopoldo Lopez, a senior opposition figure and mentor to Guaido, who is living in the Spanish Embassy in Caracas. "What President Guaido, the majority of the Venezuelan people and the international community are calling for, is free and fair presidential elections. There will be no solution to the crisis if there is no regime change."

Maduro suggested his opponents have vastly underestimated him. One significant claim: Maduro said he had learned of the April 30 conspiracy to oust him - the failed plot now spoken of as Venezuela's "Bay of Pigs" - 10 days before it was sprung. He allowed it to play out anyway, he said, encouraging key loyalists to pose as potential turncoats to discover the extent of the sedition against him.

The plan involved the recruiting of key Maduro loyalists including Supreme Court chief Maikel Moreno, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and other officials, who were meant to back Guaido's predawn call for an uprising at a military base and force Maduro out. The plan was initially meant to be sprung May 1, but was moved up a day for reasons still disputed within the opposition. Guaido appeared with Lopez, sprung from house arrest, at the La Carlota base in Eastern Caracas, but the broader uprising never materialized.

In Maduro's account, Moreno, Padrino and other key officials whom the opposition thought they had flipped had actually gone running to him with details of the conspiracy.

On April 20, Maduro said, they told him in a senior-level meeting that his spy chief, Gen. Cristopher Figuera, had betrayed him; they recommended Maduro fire him. In two more meetings before the plot was sprung, Maduro told The Post, he laid a trap for Figuera - who ultimately escaped to Colombia and later the United States.

"I let it flow to see how far the tentacles of the conspiracies could get," he said. "Twenty-four hours earlier, I was going to abort it, but they moved earlier."

Figuera called Maduro's account "false."

"I carried out with my functions normally with Maduro until April 29," the former head of Venezuela's SEBIN intelligence agency said. "He had no knowledge of the conspiracy against him. He would never have willingly allowed Leopoldo Lopez to go free."

Maduro's account also conflicts with those of others - senior U.S. officials, opposition leaders and influential Venezuelans - familiar with the conspiracy. They claim talks to win over Maduro's loyalists began many weeks before Maduro claims to have been informed of the conspiracy. So even if Maduro's account is true, they say, it suggests his loyalists hid the conspiracy for months before sharing it with him.

Maduro's confidence stands in contrast to the cascading troubles his government still faces. Strict U.S. sanctions including an oil embargo have cut off the nation's main source of cash - the sale of crude to the United States - and the national coffers are rapidly emptying.

For months, the opposition claims, Maduro has sought to buy off and extort opposition lawmakers into abandoning Guaido. The plan came to a head this month when lawmaker Luis Parra, allegedly bribed by the government, was abruptly installed to replace Guaido as head of the National Assembly, while security forces kept Guaido's supporters from entering the legislative palace. The National Assembly is key to approving legislation, including new oil deals, that could theoretically provide vital new revenue streams for the Maduro government. It also provides the constitutional legitimacy of Guaido's claim to be Venezuelan's rightful president.

Maduro, his supporters and lawmakers alleged to have been bribed by his government and the Russians are among those few who have recognized Parra. The United States, most Latin American nations and European powers have dismissed the operation as political theater.

Maduro said he remained willing to sit down with Guaido - but he seemed to dismiss the opposition's key demand: that he exit in favor of a transitional government that would renovate the Supreme Court and national election councils to call new elections.

"Guaido is responsible for having lost the National Assembly," Maduro said. "He and his mistakes. Don't blame me now. He's the one that now has to answer to the United States."

Guaido did not immediately provide a response Saturday.

Maduro seemed to dismiss his growing international isolation. The Dutch, among others, are seeking to push the European Union into taking a harder stance against his government, and the EU is threatening to begin imposing individual sanctions and travel bans of the kind that already have been slapped on Maduro officials by the United States.

"Do you want me to tell you the truth?" he asked, leaning in. "I don't care even a little bit about what Europe does, or about what the U.S. does. We do not care at all. We only care about what we do. . . . No matter how many thousand sanctions, they won't stop us, or Venezuela."

He made no secret of his immediate plan to survive; he spoke of his deep alliances with the Cubans and the Russians.

He contradicted U.S. claims that Rosneft, the Russian oil giant, is processing 70 percent of Venezuela's sludgy crude - he placed the amount closer to 20 percent. He dismissed claims that another benefactor, China, had begun to distance itself from his government.

"It's part of fake reports that Trump is fed about Venezuela. Someone, who knows who, in [U.S. special representative Elliott] Abrams's office makes up a fake report and sends it to Trump.

"We are more united than ever."

Maduro said he has made repeated attempts to appeal directly to Trump. The Post has reported that Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer, was present during a phone call Maduro held in late 2018 with then-Rep. Peter Sessions, R-Texas. Maduro said he did not hear Giuliani's voice, but he knew the former New York mayor was on the call and hoped he could somehow broker a direct pipeline to Trump.

"Of course at the moment, his closeness as Trump's lawyer was clear," Maduro said. "We knew he would be able to get him the message. At this point I don't know because of all that's happening with Ukraine and the impeachment."

Maduro repeatedly asserted his view that Trump had been misled by his policymakers, and he seemed baffled that Trump had courted North Korea's Kim Jung Un but not him.

"I believe Mike Pompeo has failed in Venezuela and is responsible for Donald Trump's failure in his policy toward our country," Maduro said. "I think Pompeo lives in a fantasy. He's not a man with his feet on earth. I think Trump has had terrible advisers on Venezuela. John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, Elliott Abrams have caused him to have a wrong vision."

Abrams said Saturday that Maduro "cannot be trusted to preside over new National Assembly elections this year," particularly after the government's security forces blocked Guaido and other opposition lawmakers from entering the National Assembly on Jan. 5.

But he backed further talks between the opposition and Maduro.

"The United States favors negotiations between the Maduro regime and the democratic opposition under Juan Guaido to arrange new presidential and national assembly elections that are free and fair," Abrams said. "Previous efforts have all failed because the regime never took them seriously and instead used them to try to gain time and divide the opposition. When the regime is ready, and engages in serious negotiations with the opposition, the United States will do everything it can do to help those negotiations succeed."

U.S. officials have been considering more provocative steps to oust Maduro, including a naval blockade of Venezuelan oil destined for Cuba. Maduro said such a step would be "illegal," but stopped short of calling it an act of war.

"I think that wouldn't be good for anyone, least of all for the U.S.," he said. "It would create a lot of tension in the whole Caribbean and it would be bad for the interests of all the governments that are part of that community. I hope it doesn't happen."

The United Nations last year documented the torture, arbitrary arrest and killing of government opponents and citizens under Maduro. Maduro called the reports "lies" being spread by "rightist anti-revolutionary media outlets."

He scoffed at allegations that his government has established agreements with Colombian guerrillas engaged in narco-trafficking and kidnapping on the Venezuelan-Colombian border, or that Hezbollah operatives were operating in Venezuela.

"It makes me laugh," he said.

If a dialogue with Washington were launched, he suggested the key point of establishing what he, the United States and the opposition would agree were free and fair elections would be difficult to settle.

"I think we have to think more about the big picture," he said. "The relations in five, 10 years. The relations for the rest of the 21st century."

- - -

The Washington Post's Rachelle Krygier contributed to this report.
Night Curfew in Maharashtra: Check guidelines, rules; what is allowed, what is not allowed

Mumbai eateries, malls, multiplexes to remain open 24x7 from Jan 27, Netizens celebrate

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Jan 19: Thanks to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Police's new decision, India's financial capital Mumbai will now be the city that never sleeps as it is back to being the Maximum City in its truest essence.

Malls, multiplexes and Restaurants without serving any alcohol in Mumbai will have the option to remain open 24x7 from January 27. Under the new rules, which will be put out shortly, restaurants, which serve alcohol, will have to down shutters by 1.30 am.

But the permission was given on the condition that these places will have CCTV surveillance facility, have parking facility to ensure the safety of customer.

The decision was taken in a meeting called by state tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

"Establishments like restaurants, which do not serve alcohol, malls and multiplexes within gated communities and in non-residential areas can remain open round the clock," Mumbai's Municipal Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi said.

At least 25 malls in central and suburban Mumbai have been given the green signal by the police to stay open 24x7, according to officials here. These establishments have restaurants, food courts, multiplexes and shopping facilities. "To begin with, many establishments will stay open round the clock from Friday to Sunday," said restaurateur Gurbaxis Singh.

Residents of several gated communities with private security guards and CCTV cameras, where the entry of outsiders is restricted, have been pushing for restaurants and malls to stay open round the clock since many of them have odd working hours.

Aaditya Thackeray had first mooted the idea of establishments staying open round the clock on the grounds that these would help promote tourism and generate employment.

According to reports, some of the malls that have agreed for the 24x7 implementation are Atria Mall in Worli, R-City Mall in Ghatkopar, Oberoi Mall in Goregaon, Growel's 101 in Kandivli Phoenix Market City in Kurla and High Street Phoenix in Lower Parel.

Meanwhile, permission for Kamala Mills to stay open 24x7 is being reviewed as ward officers, police will find out the feasibility of malls in their areas. This will be followed by an assessment of the implementation.

Soon after it made to the headlines, people in the city of dreams began to rejoice. They have taken to Twitter showcasing their full support with Thackeray, as they celebrate the decision.

The netizens are praising the government and cannot wait for January 27, 2020, the moment it will be effective. Check out the tweets:

Mumbai 24*7. This should be fun. Midnight  birthdays  will be so much more interesting now with choices of malls and restaurants.  Pankaj Upadhyay (@pankajcreates) January 17, 2020

Malls & Restaurant will be open 24*7 in Mumbai, totally support this Decision !



We just Hope One day Outside Food & beverages will be allowed in "Cinema Theaters" & food inside Cinema theaters will be sold at MRP.@AUThackeray  Viv SwT (@VivekSawant9999) January 17, 2020

Good news Mumbaikars ....Approved! Malls, multiplexes & restaurants in Mumbai can remain open 24/7 from Jan 27  Nisha Guelis (@NishaGuelis) January 17, 2020

Mumbai- City of Dreams as they call it!! How can such city be shut even for a second!! Malls, restros and cafes to be open 24*7 from Jan 27!! #Mumbai  Harsha Jain (@harshajain1311) January 18, 2020

Bravo! Move to a vibrant #nightlife for #MaximumCity that is buzzing 247 bears @AUThackeray 's unmistakable imprint. Befitting for #Mumbai, which is India's #NY in terms of 24x7  Lalit Jalan (@ljalan) January 18, 2020

Finally.... the city wont ever sleep .. no wonder this could happen only in Mumbai.



Shopping malls, multiplexes, restaurants to remain open 24x7 in Mumbai from January 26 https://t.co/bKGWTkzHQV  Resham Runwal (@ReshamRunwal) January 17, 2020

@AUThackeray This is what the change of young and new maharashtra has started proud moment from the best once..... pic.twitter.com/4kRIb53Ktq  Shaikh Abdul Rehman ( ) (@abdulrehmansk46) January 17, 2020

Nice move  @AUThackeray showing great promise as a young administrator  aniran (@JohnGreen212121) January 17, 2020

Well done Mumbai. Back to being a 24x7 city   sunil sikand  (@ttunni) January 18, 2020

January 27 onwards



Malls, plexes and eateries in #Mumbai can remain open 24x7. We will truly be the city that never sleeps!



Thank you @AUThackeray

  Nadeem shah (@Nadeem_Shah) January 18, 2020

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 9:17 [IST]
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/19/2020



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

star Peter Weber is defending Hannah Ann Sluss amid her "Champagne-gate" scandal involving fellow bachelorette Kelsey Weier In 's second episode that aired on Monday night, Kelsey was looking forward to opening a bottle of expensive champagne she had brought to the Malibu mansion all the way from Iowa to share with Peter.Kelsey set up a romantic scene by a fireplace with rose petals and her bottle on ice, but when she turned her back for a moment, she could hear Hannah Ann and Peter popping the bottle and enjoying her champagne together."I think, honestly, it was just a misunderstanding," Peter, 28, told Us Weekly on Thursday."I know Hannah Ann, and she's not malicious in any way."Kelsey accused the Tennessee beauty of stealing her bottle of champagne on purpose to get a leg up on her competition, but Hannah Ann swore up and down she had no idea the bottle belonged to another girl.Regardless, Kelsey got extremely emotional and couldn't stop crying over her ruined moment with Peter and Hannah Ann's alleged betrayal."I know Hannah Ann did not do anything maliciously on purpose. I can promise you that," Peter told the magazine.But in attempt to ease tension and lift Kelsey's spirits, Peter decided to open a different bottle of champagne with her.When Kelsey took a sip from the bottle because no champagne glasses were in sight, however, the contents exploded all over her face. The night had turned into a nightmare for Kelsey."Kelsey's emotional, but I love that about her. I'm very emotional as well," Peter admitted."She obviously reacted in an emotional way, but it meant a lot to her, that bottle. It was just unfortunate, but it is what it is."Despite Hannah Ann's firm denial, Kelsey had already made up her mind and determined Hannah Ann was fake.Hannah Ann later accused Kelsey of calling her "a b-tch" and "a princess" off-camera, which prompted Hannah Ann to inform Peter that Kelsey was "bullying" her.Hannah Ann vented to Peter about how Kelsey's alleged verbal attacks really hurt her feelings."I was up all last night crying. I approached Kelsey and she told me to f-ck off," Hannah Ann explained to the pilot, adding that Kelsey's harsh words tore her up inside."My spirit was crushed and I felt bullied, and it was really, really hard."Also during his interview, Peter revealed he fell for multiple people over the course of 's 24th season."From the very first night, I had an insane connection, obviously, with Hannah Ann," Peter confirmed."But I am someone that falls fast, and I'm not ashamed of that. I like it. I like that about myself."Going back to "Champagne-gate," which was trending on social media earlier this week, Peter confronted Kelsey about Hannah Ann's bullying accusations -- saying he wasn't okay with that type of behavior behind the scenes."I didn't have a problem with [Hannah Ann] until she did what she did -- and she knew what she did," Kelsey claimed to Peter."But she's telling me that she didn't," Peter pointed out."And I'm telling you that she did. I don't like her," Kelsey countered. She can turn it on. She's trying to play the victim card, and she acts a certain way to you and then differently in the house... It's frustrating."Kelsey added that she takes her character very seriously and never acted like a bully, especially since she had been bullied as a child."For her to act like I'm being malicious, it sucks," Kelsey noted. "There's a difference of saying not-nice words to her face and constantly bullying someone."Peter didn't know what to do or whom to believe at the time because he was hearing two totally different stories.Hannah Ann is currently a frontrunner on Peter's season given she received the First Impression Rose and also won the Revolve group date in which she had to model clothes on a fashion runway.To find out how far Hannah Ann made it on Peter's season of as well as other major Season 24 spoilers, click here Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
Department of Justice Antitrust Division to Co-Host Workshop on Venture Capital Investment and Antitrust Law with Stanford University

Palo Alto, California - The Department of Justice and Stanford University will hold a public workshop on February 12, 2020, to explore the intersection between venture capital and antitrust law. The full-day workshop will discuss trends in venture capital investment from the 1990s through present, with a focus on what antitrust enforcers can learn from investors about how to identify nascent competitors in markets dominated by technology platforms. The workshop will also address proposed solutions to concerns that competitive alternatives to the market-leading platforms are not attractive investment opportunities.

The Justice Departments Antitrust Division and the Stanford Graduate School of Business will co-host the workshop, which will bring together venture capitalists, academics from both law and business, and other tech industry stakeholders. The Antitrust Division and Stanford intend to explore the practical considerations that early stage investors face when calculating the risks of investing in a startup and exit strategies.

The Antitrust Division is excited to partner with Stanford University on this workshop to learn from participants in the venture capital industry, who must predict the future of technology markets on a daily basis, said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Justice Departments Antitrust Division. Private investment plays a critical role in the dynamic competition that characterizes many technology markets, and it is fundamental to our mission at the Antitrust Division that we understand how market conditions today affect incentives for that investment.

Assistant Attorney General Delrahim will open the workshop, followed by a fireside chat with Michael Moritz of Sequoia Capital regarding trends in venture capital investment. Next, Stanford Law Professor Doug Melamed will introduce the basic legal framework for venture capitalists to think about antitrust principles, and then a series of panels will examine: (1) kill zones; (2) monetizing data; and (3) investing in platform-dominated markets. Dean Jonathan Levin of the Stanford Graduate School of Business will open the workshops afternoon session, which will conclude with a roundtable discussion recapping the competitive concerns raised throughout the day and evaluating proposed solutions to those concerns.

The Department of Justice invites comments from the public on the topics covered by this workshop. Interested parties may submit public comments online now through March 14, 2020, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The workshop is free and open to the public and will take place at Paul Brest Hall, 555 Salvatierra Walk, Stanford University, from 9 a.m. Pacific Time to 5 p.m. Pacific Time. A recording of the workshop will be available on the Divisions website. Registration information, an agenda, directions to the event, and a list of speakers will be available in the near future on the event webpage. Please register in advance for the workshop at https://law.stanford.edu/event/public-workshop-on-venture-capital-and-antitrust/

Reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities are available upon request. If you need such an accommodation, please contact the Antitrust Division at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodations needed and a way to contact you if we need more information.
(Newser)  A man arrested on a misdemeanor charge in Mississippi has been sentenced to 12 years for carrying a cellphone in jail, NBC News reports. Willie Nash was found guilty of carrying the contraband in August 2018, and didn't appeal the verdict, but called the sentence "grossly disproportionate to the crime." Yet state high court Justice James Maxwell said last week that Nash should feel luckyafter all, he could have gotten the maximum 15 years considering his past burglary convictions. Needless to say, not everyone agrees. "It seems to demonstrate a failure of our criminal justice system on multiple levels," wrote Justice Leslie King, who described the sentence as legally correct but fraught with problems.

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"First, it is highly probable that the Newton County Jails booking procedure was not followed in Nashs case," added King, per the Clarion-Ledger. "An officer at the jail testified that all inmates were strip-searched when booked, although that officer did not book Nash. Yet Nash went into the jail with a large smartphone that would have likely been impossible to hide during a strip search." Only when Nash asked a guard to charge his cellphone was the phone taken away. Now petitions have cropped up seeking leniency, and a syndicated columnist is excoriating the justice system: "Twelve years? For a cell phone? Seriously?" writes Leonard Pitts Jr at the Miami Herald, noting that Nash is African American: "...It's past time for slavery, in all its permutations, to end. Let my people go." (Read more prison sentence stories.)
Morocco has expressed its astonishment over its exclusion from the conference on the Libyan crisis, scheduled to be held in Berlin, Germany, Sunday Jan. 19.

Morocco, which hosted the inter-Libyan negotiations that were crowned by the Skhirat Accords, signed on December 17, 2015, and considered so far for as the only basis for a long-term settlement in Libya, is oddly excluded from the International Conference scheduled in Berlin to discuss the devastating crisis that continues to shake the brotherly Libyan people.

Morocco expresses its deep astonishment at its exclusion from the Berlin Conference on Libya, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a communique, recalling that the Kingdom has always been at the forefront of international efforts to resolve the Libyan crisis.

Rabat played a decisive role in the conclusion of the Skhirat agreements, which are, to date, the only political framework for the settlement of the crisis in this brotherly Maghreb country, and that is supported by the Security Council and accepted by all Libyan parties, the communique said.

The Kingdom of Morocco understands neither the criteria nor the motivations behind the choice of the countries (invited) to participate in the Berlin meeting, the Foreign Ministry added.

The host country of this conference, which is far from the region and the complexity of the Libyan crisis, cannot use the meeting on Libya as a tool to promote its own national interests, the Foreign Department noted, renewing Moroccos continued commitment towards the Libyan brothers and contribution to a solution of the Libyan crisis.

Germany is hosting Sunday 11 countries in view of pushing for a peace that will end ongoing rivalries between the internationally-recognized Govenment of National Accord (GNA) and the East-based opposed administration backed by warlord Khalifa Haftar.

Turkey, Russia, China, France, Italy, the US, the UK, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt are among the participating countries, in addition to the UN, EU, African Union, and the Arab League.
Whats on TV

AVENUE 5 10 p.m. on HBO; stream on HBO platforms. Armando Iannucci, the creator of Veep, returns to HBO with this new black comedy starring Hugh Laurie. Set 40 years in the future, the show takes place on Avenue 5, a luxury space cruise ship that has taken off for an eight-week journey around Saturn. The experience is exquisite, for a moment. Then the ships system malfunctions and sets it off course, leading to delirium onboard. As the fate of the ship remains up in the air, disgruntled passengers demand answers from the captain (Laurie) and his ill-equipped crew. Josh Gad plays the clueless billionaire who owns the ship; Suzy Nakamura is his stern right-hand woman; and Zach Woods is, like his character on The Office, essentially useless as the head of customer relations. The 10th season premiere of CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM follows at 10:30.

26TH ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS 8 p.m. on TBS and TNT. Members of SAG-AFTRA, the union for professional film and television actors, determine the winners of this annual awards show, which often predicts how the Academy Awards will shape out. Among the film and actor nominees are Parasite, for outstanding cast; Adam Driver, for best actor; and Lupita Nyongo, for best actress. In television, nominees include Game of Thrones, for best drama series, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, for best comedy series.
Guwahati (Assam) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Women from across Guwahati on Sunday staged a sit-in against the newly-enacted Citizenship Amendment Act and were raising slogans denouncing the law.



The protestor were also raising slogans against the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They were seen holding placards that read, 'We oppose CAA', 'Assam Never Accept CAA', 'We want jobs, not immigrants'.

"Women from across the city are protesting here. We want to say one thing to the people who gave 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' slogans, that the daughters of Assam reject CAA. We don't want foreigners here. We have already requested the Assam government but nothing has been done," a protestor told ANI.

"We still request the Assam government that if it is still possible to scrab down the act then please do it. It is a threat to Assam and the indigenous identity of the state," she added.

Protests broke out in different parts of the country, including Assam against CAA which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians facing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (ANI)


LAS CRUCES  A controversial proposal to allow firearms to be temporarily taken away from individuals deemed to pose a threat to themselves or others is being brought back this year, after stalling in a Senate committee last March.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently announced she would add the proposed red-flag gun law to the agenda of the 30-day legislative session, saying it would save lives in New Mexico.

This is a temporary removal of a firearm from an individual who poses an extreme risk or threat to themselves or others, the governor said during a news conference in Las Cruces this month.

Under the proposed legislation, a law enforcement officer or family member could request an extreme-risk protection order but would have to provide a sworn affidavit explaining in detail why the order is needed.

A judge would review the petition and determine if probable cause exists to issue a 15-day emergency order to seize weapons and ammunition. During those 15 days, the judge would schedule a hearing to decide if there is cause for a one-year order.

When the order expires, the guns and ammunition would be returned.

The bill is expected to draw fierce resistance from the National Rifle Association and rural sheriffs, who turned out in force during last years 60-day session to oppose a red-flag gun law bill and other gun control legislation.

At the end of the day, if you have not committed a crime, you cannot be denied your constitutional right to bear arms. Thats what it boils down to, said Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace, the chairman of the New Mexico Sheriffs Association.

However, Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, one of the bills co-sponsors, said the mass shooting at a Walmart in nearby El Paso in August that left 22 dead showed the clear need for a red flag law.

The tragedy of the Walmart shooting is even more deplorable because the shooter, the killer, the murderer published a manifesto before the shooting online, announced his intentions, specifically to target Mexicans, said he wanted to assure Hispanics did not have the voting voice in this country, Cervantes said. Yet with that warning, with that manifesto published and known, no action was taken.

Other sponsors of this years legislation, Senate Bill 5, are Reps. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, and Joy Garratt, D-Albuquerque.

This bill is a good balance between peoples rights to bear arms and public safety, Ely said.

Lujan Grisham has pushed for tighter gun laws since taking office in January 2019 and convened a domestic terrorism summit after the El Paso shooting last summer.

While some sheriffs attended that summit and later met with Ely about the proposed red-flag gun law, the talks did not lead to a deal.

A Governors Office spokesman recently said support or opposition from law enforcement officials does not determine the Lujan Grisham administrations stance on public safety issues, saying, Their opposition should not deter anyone who is committed to making our communities safer and ensuring our constitutional right to live in peace.

But the governor has also said she will try to persuade more sheriffs to back this years bill, after all but a few sheriffs opposed last years measure.

If approved, Ely said the law would help prevent suicides, which account for 70% of all firearm deaths in New Mexico. The states suicide rate is at least 50% higher than the national rate.

If legislators pass the law, New Mexico would join 17 other states and the District of Columbia with extreme risk protection orders.

Journal staff writers Dan McKay and Dan Boyd contributed to this report.
As many as 187 people who were stranded amid heavy snowfall near Kufri in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla were rescued early on Saturday, police said.

Superintendent of Police, Shimla, Omapati Jamwal said, "The Shimla district Police have rescued 187 people who were stranded on Kufri- Chail Road due to snowfall."

"The roads have become icy and slippery due to snowfall and 31 vehicles including buses, trucks and cars on which were stranded on NH 5 have been safely removed," he added.

"Total NH traffic Tourist vehicles, local private vehicle, HRTC Buses, private buses, transportation vehicle, taxi, car, pickup, truck, etc removed from Kufri to Dhalli and Shimla (down side) along with passengers.

"Due to snowfall, road condition is Dangerous on Kufri to Chail Road. The rescue operation was finished at about 4 am on Sunday," he added.

Meanwhile, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has a forecast for the partly cloudy sky and light snow in upcoming days with minimum and maximum temperature will hover around minus 1 and 12 respectively.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 17:16:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people on Saturday staged the fourth annual Women's March in front of San Francisco City Hall to call for the protection of women's rights and gender equality with the support of the city's Mayor London Breed.

Breed threw her weight behind the Women's March movement by echoing its theme "Together We Rise!" as she encouraged women to safeguard their own rights.

"Today is about lifting each other up," Breed said to the cheers of the energized crowd outside City Hall, who waved banners, placards and signs that conveyed messages of "We Are the 50%," "The Future is Female" and "Strong Women Have Attitude!"

Other city and state officials including California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, and Malia Cohen, chairwoman of the State Board of Equalization of California, also appeared.

"As I stood with the women and men who marched in 2017, my spirit was revived," which encouraged her to run for office and landed her in the lieutenant governorship, Kounalakis said.

San Francisco Assessor Carmen Chu, who is also a Chinese-American female assessor to serve among all 58 counties of California state, urged women to run for public office.

"We came out today because we don't want to be the only, (and) we don't want to be the last. We're looking for the next, and we want all of you to be our next," she said, voicing her support for women in running for public offices.

Shirley Coly, one of the participants and a fundraiser for higher education in Monterey, California, told Xinhua that Saturday's movement is a good opportunity for women to express their voices.

"It is a powerful way for women to come together to share their frustrations and to ask the government for more that they're ignoring," she said.

The Women's March movement began nationwide in January 2017.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 15:42:56|Editor: huaxia

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LANZHOU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- A team from the Hong Kong-based foundation Grace Charity has donated 620,000 yuan (about 90,000 U.S. dollars) to poor students and the elderly in northwest China's Gansu Province ahead of the Spring Festival.

The four-member team, led by the foundation's vice chairman Yue Charm-Ying, granted 350,000 yuan to 350 senior high school students from impoverished families and another 270,000 yuan to 300 people over age 65, according to the Hong Kong and Macao affairs office of the province.

They also distributed blankets, scarves and candy to the elderly and visited a welfare home in Huining County. Their tour lasted from Jan. 5 to 14.

The Spring Festival, the Chinese Lunar New Year's Day, falls on Jan. 25 this year.
DMK had skipped Cong-led Oppn meeting on January 13.

Chennai: Differences between the DMK and the Congress in Tamil Nadu that threatened to break the alliance blew over on Saturday with the state Congress chief K.S. Alagiri calling on DMK president M.K. Stalin at Anna Arivalayam, and both the leaders issuing statements that said the relationship between the two parties was strong, and that they stand united in their fight against communal forces.

While Mr Alagiri jokingly told journalists after the meeting that the two leaders had met to discuss Darbar, the latest Rajinikant-starrer, he later said, We are aware of the threat to the nation from fascist forces and their pliant rulers in the state. The Congress is steadfast in its resolve to be with the DMK in defeating them. The alliance will continue for the 2021 Assembly elections.

A post-meeting statement by Mr Stalin urged functionaries of both the parties to refrain from expressing their views on the alliance in public.

By continuing to air their misgivings over minor incidents, both the parties will only provide grist to the packs of jackals out to find a hole in the DMK-led alliance and some media outlets to chew the cud, Mr Stalin said, adding that he did not want that to happen.

There have been a few unwanted happenings in the alliance after the rural civic polls, though our alliance has received the peoples mandate. Both the sides should not have discussed these things in the public. Lets put a full stop and move ahead. Cunning and hungry foxes are waiting for an opportunity to disband the alliance. I urge functionaries of both the parties to refrain from discussing these issues in the public, he said.

Mr Alagiri made it very clear that the two leaders have decided that no one other than the DMK president and the TNCC chief will express their views on the alliance when he was asked if he had requested action against those  like DMK treasurer Durai Murugan  for speaking against the Congress.

Recalling the genesis of the controversy, Mr Stalin said it was triggered by Mr Alagiris statement over the allocation of less seats to the Congress in the panchayat elections. The issue could have been settled amicably, through discussions, he added.

We just said what we felt like saying, retorted Mr Alagiri when asked if the curtains have been pulled down on the rift between the two parties.

Mr Stalin appreciated Mr Alagiris constructive statement that the Congress would support and stand by the DMKs firm position against communal and fascist forces as well as their handmaidens.

To a question if he had met Mr Stalin at the behest of the Congress high command, Mr Alagiri said that the party leadership had given him complete freedom and had not issued any orders or advisories.

The DMK had stayed away from the conclave of Opposition parties convened by Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi to discuss the strategy against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Though DMK parliamentary party leader T.R. Baalu was in the national capital, he did not turn up for the event.
Henderson Heights. | Photo: Farrah A./Yelp

Need more burgers in your life?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top burger spots in Houston, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to fill the bill.

Winter is the top season of the year for consumer spending at restaurants across the Houston area, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a software provider that helps small businesses manage customers. The average amount spent per customer transaction at Houston-area restaurants grew to $28 for the metro area in the winter of last year, 1% 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. Henderson Heights

Photo: henderson heights/Yelp

First on the list is Henderson Heights. Located at 908 Henderson St. in Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park, the pub and cocktail bar is the highest-rated burger spot in Houston, boasting 4.5 stars out of 92 reviews on Yelp.

2. Bellaire Broiler Burger

Photo: curt l./Yelp

Next up is Bellaire Broiler Burger, situated at 5216 Bellaire Blvd. With 4.5 stars out of 231 reviews on Yelp, the spot to score burgers has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Bismillah Cafe

Photo: himmad k./Yelp

Sharpstown's Bismillah Cafe, located at 5696 Hillcroft St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the halal and Pakistani spot, which offers burgers and more, 4.5 stars out of 171 reviews.

4. Stanton's City Bites

Photo: stanton's city bites/Yelp

Stanton's City Bites, a traditional American spot that offers burgers, sandwiches and more in Washington Avenue Coalition/Memorial Park, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,100 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1420 Edwards St. to see for yourself.

5. Rodeo Goat

Photo: abass d./Yelp

Downtown, check out Rodeo Goat, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 522 reviews on Yelp. You can find the bar, which offers burgers and more, at 2105 Dallas St.

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.
Over time, the two young men who were involved in the attack on the synagogue came to realize the error of their ways and, I think, went forward with their lives more aware of the effects of the kind of behavior in which they had involved themselves.

Across America, there are now frequent attacks on Jewish institutions; vandalism is becoming commonplace. Shootings and murders of helpless congregants have occurred, and there is always an element of fear present in the minds of Jewish people simply going about their business.

We have also seen multiple attacks upon African American and Muslim communities. The sense of safety in our religious institutions has been fractured, and, in my view, it is not simply happenstance.

We have endured an endless stream of bigotry and hatred coming from the highest of the high. The office of the presidency, the one place Americans have always turned to for solace in times of trouble, for mitigation of inter-ethnic conflicts, for moderation and calm in the face of outrageous acts, has become  sadly  a motivating source of many of the problems we are experiencing in these times.
SANTA FE  A bill aimed at shining more light on how much money New Mexico spends on settling allegations of discrimination within state government is being brought back for the upcoming 30-day legislative session  with the backing of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration.

Sen. Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque, recently said hes been working on the issue with General Services Secretary Ken Ortiz and other legislators, and said the bill would be an improved version of the measure that passed the Senate last year, but ultimately stalled in the House.

Weve had everybody together at the table, Rue said. I think weve got the wind at our back.

Under last years version of the proposal, any settlement agreements would have been required to be posted on the states online sunshine portal, along with the nature of the allegations and the total amount of public funds paid to settle the claim.

In addition, the bill would have left in place a 180-day waiting period before settlements are made publicly available, but would have made it more clear when that time period begins.

Rue said the bill currently being drafted would be more comprehensive than the 2019 version and would also make changes to the states Inspection of Public Records Act.

The proposal comes as legal settlements approved by former Gov. Susana Martinezs administration during her second term in office have come under intense scrutiny.

State Auditor Brian Colon announced in November that a special audit commissioned by his office had identified $2.7 million in fast-tracked legal settlements that were kept secret under confidentiality agreements.

He described the settlements as an abuse of power and forwarded the findings to the state Attorney Generals Office, the 1st Judicial District Attorneys office in Santa Fe, and the new state Ethics Commission.

Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said the revised settlement transparency bill would be authorized by the governor for consideration during this years session. The shorter, 30-day sessions held in even-numbered years are typically limited to budgetary matters and other issues approved for consideration by the governor.

Were hoping to get that fixed, Stelnicki said.

Under the Lujan Grisham administration, the state General Services Department started publicly listing settlement agreements in June 2019. But there is currently no law in place mandating such public disclosure, meaning the practice could be discontinued in the future.

This information is public information  the trick is at what point, Rue said. Were trying to create a situation where it will be made public automatically.

Rue has pre-filed a proposal for this years session, Senate Bill 64, that would make state settlements subject to public disclosure the day theyre signed by all parties.
With the peaceful resolution of the Libyan crisis on the agenda for a second time this week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey is key to peace in the war-weary country, warning Europe of the threat of an escalation in the conflict, Daily Sabah reports.



Erdogan's remarks came ahead of Sundays Berlin conference on Libya in an article he penned for U.S.-based Politico website titled "The road to peace in Libya goes through Turkey."



"It would be a mistake of historic proportions to leave Libya at the mercy of a warlord, Erdogan said, referring to the leader of eastern Libyan forces, putschist Gen. Khalifa Haftar.



Erdogan warned Europe that it could face new threats if it fails to back Libyas U.N.-recognized government, the Government of National Accord (GNA).



"EUs potential failure to adequately support Libyas Government of National Accord (GNA) would be a betrayal of its own core values, including democracy and human rights, Erdogan said.



''Moreover, Europe would encounter a fresh set of problems and threats if Libyas legitimate government were to fall,'' he added. Erdogan went on the say: "The obvious choice for Europe is to work with Turkey as it is not much interested in providing military support to Libya.
Say farce, and most of us conjure slamming doors and horseplay set amid ludicrously improbable circumstances.

Before penning the classic hits Equus and Amadeus, Peter Shaffer wrote Black Comedy, his darkened ode to the genre.

The West End Theatre will open 2020 with the play at the North Fourth Art Center, beginning on Friday, Jan. 24. It runs weekends through Feb. 9.

Fittingly, Black Comedy opens on a dark stage.

A few minutes later, a short circuit illuminates it all to expose the characters in a blackout.

Director Colleen Neary McClure absorbed the farce as a young actor touring England with the play.

We went all over England with it, said McClure, who hails from Kent. In my 20s, I understudied all the female roles and was assistant stage manager and props manager.

Lovesick and desperate, the young sculptor Brindsley and his debutante fiancee Carol have spruced up his apartment with furniture and objects dart borrowed from Harold, the antique collector next door.

Harold is away for the weekend.

The pair are hoping to impress Carols pompous father, as well as a wealthy art dealer coming to view Brindsleys work.

Then a power failure plunges it all into darkness. Harold returns early and Brindsleys former mistress appears, as the scene tumbles into disaster.

Brindsley must somehow move the furniture back in the dark without Harolds knowledge.

It just makes me laugh so much, McClure said. The message is mildly serious: Dont pretend youre something youre not. Even though the characters are extremely flawed, you cant help but love them.

The actors must trip over furniture and bump into one another, blinded by the dark.

The most challenging part is they cant look at each other, McClure said. Theyre supposed to be in the dark.

Its amusing and most of the comedy comes from the physical comedy of Brindsley and, of course, the fact that they cant see each other, she added.

The United Kingdoms National Theatre commissioned Shaffer to write the one-act play in 1965, where it opened at Londons Old Vic. West End Productions focuses exclusively on plays from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
NEW DELHI : Air India trade unions are likely to demand a VRS package at their second meeting with Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi on Monday.

The minister is set to meet over a dozen Air India unions, including unrecognised ones, on Monday for the second time in a month over the airline's privatisation plans.

The government is planning to float Expression of Interest (EoI) for selling its entire 100 per cent stake in the loss-making flag carrier some time next week.

At the first meeting on January 2, the minister had made it clear that privatisation was the only option before the government to keep the airline afloat and sought employees cooperation in carrying out the disinvestment process.

Puri had also told the unions that he will call them again after the meeting of the ministerial panel on Air India disinvestment.

"Initially, we were told that government would protect our jobs if airline gets privatised and therefore we did not think about voluntary retirement.

"But off late, our members have been approaching us and want us to discuss a voluntary retirement scheme package with the government as it is expected that our job will be protected only for one year post privatisation. We are going to raise this issue at the meeting with the minister on Monday," an airline source told PTI.

The source said that if the government agrees "in-principle" on their demand, the unions will work out the contours of the VRS package, including the service cut-off period and the quantum of monetary compensation.

Media reports suggest that the new investor may be allowed to retain Air India's some 11,000 employees only for one year after the carrier goes into private hands.

The Group of Ministers (GoM) led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during its meeting on January 7 approved the plan to invite EoI and the sale-purchase agreement for the disinvestment of state-run carrier, an official had earlier said.

Air India's net loss in 2018-19 was around 8,556 crore. Moreover, its per day losses are estimated to be in the range of 20-26 crore, alongwith a debt of around 80,000 crore.

In 2018, the government had proposed to offload 76 per cent stake in Air India while retaining the rest 24 per cent with it as well as transfer the management control to private players.

However, the offer failed to attract any bidder when the deadline for initial bids closed on May 31, 2018, forcing it to put the plans on hold and then resume the entire process all over again last year. PTI IAS MR MR

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Photo: Handout/The National Archives and Records Administration

The National Archives apologized on Saturday for using a censored image from the 2017 Womens March on which it had digitally obscured mentions of President Trump and womens anatomy on marchers protest signs. The nonpartisan federal agency  which is tasked with documenting, preserving, and providing public access to U.S. government and historical records  had installed the altered photograph outside an exhibit looking back at the womens suffrage movement. An agency spokesperson had originally defended the use of the photo as an attempt to avoid political controversy. That plan didnt work out very well, and the ensuing scandal struck just as the fourth annual Womens March returned to the capital.

The fallout began on Friday night, when the Washington Post called attention to a large lenticular image introducing the National Archives exhibit, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote, which has been open since May and examines the relentless struggle of diverse activists throughout U.S. history to secure voting rights for all American women. In the display, depending on their viewing angle, visitors would see either a photograph of a womens suffrage march up Pennsylvania Avenue in 1913, or of protesters marching up Pennsylvania Avenue during the Womens March on Washington, as seen in its unaltered form below:

Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The 2017 Womens March on Washington was widely seen and experienced as a mass demonstration against the newly inaugurated President Trump and the threat he and his political allies represented to womens rights. That cause was evident from many of the signs protesters carried that day, but in the image displayed at the National Archives, at least four signs were altered so that Trump and terms regarding womens anatomy like vagina and pussy were obscured.

As a result, one protesters sign said God Hates [ ] while anothers warned, This [ ] Grabs Back.

Our latest on this story. With @stevesthompson National Archives says it was wrong to alter images - The Washington Post https://t.co/XNhfWPmYsf  Joe Heim (@JoeHeim) January 18, 2020

Archives spokeswoman Miriam Kleiman initially defended the changes in a statement to the Post, insisting that the agency removed Trumps name from signs so as not to engage in current political controversy and in an attempt to keep the focus on the records. The agency also obscured the anatomy terms out of fear they could be seen as inappropriate for children visiting the museum.

Kleiman pointed out that the Womens March image was not an artifact the agency was tasked with preserving, but part of a promotional display. She insisted the Archives only alters images in exhibits when they are used as graphic design components  but the agency did not provide the Post with any examples of previous alterations.

Historians and archivists who were reached by the Post and New York Times for comment about the image were aghast over the agencys actions  as were many more instant experts on Twitter. The National Archives foolishly compromised the publics sense of its independence, insisted a Post editorial, while Rinku Sen, the president of the Womens March board, called agencys move a symbol of the degradation of democracy.

On display at the National Archives by the time of Ivankas fourth term pic.twitter.com/ivCWYoCbWI  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 18, 2020

By Saturday afternoon, less than 24 hours since the original Post report, the Archives had done a complete about-face. We made a mistake, the agency announced, emphasizing a commitment to preserving our archival holdings, without alteration. Though the Womens March image was not an archival record, agency officials acknowledged that we were wrong to alter the image, and said they had removed the display and would replace it as soon as possible with the unedited original photograph.

We apologize, and will immediately start a thorough review of our exhibit policies and procedures so that this does not happen again, the statement concluded.

Afterwards, historian Douglas Brinkley told the Post he was relieved to hear that the National Archives was out of the Photoshop business. But other critics were less satisfied:

ACLU Deputy Legal Director Louise Melling responds to National Archives:



Apologizing is not enough. The National Archives must explain to the public why it even took the Orwellian step of trying to rewrite history and erasing womens bodies from it, as well as who ordered it."  Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 18, 2020

And now that the controversy had gained widespread media coverage, the man god originally hated on that uncensored sign may soon want to weigh in with a sign of his own protest.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Sunday said the proposal for allowing malls, multiplexes and shops to remain open 24/7 in Mumbai will be "better served" if it is limited to select places in malls and on mill land, sparking a speculation over its implementation.

Earlier in the day, Deshmukh said the nightlife issue will be discussed in the state Cabinet on January 22.

"Aaditya Thackerayji's nightlife proposal could be served better and implemented soonif it is limited to certain places like BKC, lower parel, marine drive and few other malls," the Home Minister tweeted in night.

He said the proposal can be implemented soon for the restaurants and other establishments located in malls and on mill lands.

State Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray had on Saturday said shops, malls and eateries in non-residential areas of Mumbai will have the option of remaining open 24x7 from January 26, although it will not be made compulsory.

Aaditya is said to be the prime mover behind the nightlife project.

"The issue will come up for deliberations in the January 22 cabinet meeting. We have to see how much the city police will be burdened if shops, eateries and malls are kept open through the night. After detailed deliberations, a decision will be taken," Deshmukh told reporters.

When asked about the controversy over the birthplace of 19th century spiritual figure Saibaba and a shutdown being observed in Shirdi, Deshmukh said the issue will be resolved by talking to all concerned.

The controversy erupted after Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at "Sai janmasthan" (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district.

Local residents and leaders in Shirdi are demanding that Thackeray withdraw his official statement in which he described Pathri as Saibaba's birthplace.

The chief minister has convened a meeting over the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Myanmar Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services Min Aung Hlaing here on Saturday, saying that the development of bilateral ties depends on cooperation of the two peoples from all walks of life, as well as the military-to-military exchanges.

Xi said this visit is the first state visit to Myanmar by a Chinese president after an interval of 19 years and also his first overseas trip this year, which shows the high level of the current bilateral ties.

Over the past 70 years since the establishment of China-Myanmar ties, despite changes in the two countries and ups and downs of bilateral ties, China and Myanmar always managed to eventually get on the right path of close cooperation and mutual support, Xi said.

The two sides should well safeguard and develop the precious "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship and promote the practical cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve results at an early date and benefit people, Xi said.

Xi expressed hope that the Myanmar commander-in-chief of defense services and the Myanmar military would strengthen exchanges with the Chinese military, so as to jointly advance the building of a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, adding that joint efforts should be made to safeguard peace and stability of the border areas, and create favorable conditions for promoting economic development of border areas.

Xi stressed that both China and Myanmar are champions of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

China, Xi said, has always adhered to non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, respecting the development path chosen independently by the people of various countries.

He called on both sides to keep understanding and supporting each other, strengthen coordination, staunchly safeguard their respective sovereignty, security and development interests, safeguard their common legitimate rights and interests, and safeguard basic norms governing international relations.

China will continue to speak out for justice for Myanmar in the international arena, Xi added.

For his part, Min Aung Hlaing noted the special timing and great significance of Xi's visit to Myanmar, adding that the visit has yielded fruitful results and fully demonstrated the height and depth of bilateral relations.

Xi's attendance at the celebration events marking the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties on Friday and the announcement of jointly building the Myanmar-China community with a shared future are of great historical significance to bilateral ties, he said.

Myanmar felt sincere happiness for China's great success in development and is thankful to China's long-term assistance in Myanmar's economic and social development and national defense building, Min Aung Hlaing said, adding that his country looks forward to learning from China's success experience and realizing Myanmar's national peace and development.

The Myanmar military staunchly abides by the one-China principle and considers issues relating to Hong Kong and Xinjiang as China's internal affairs, he said, urging other countries to stop interference.

Min Aung Hlaing pledged to continue to deepen the Myanmar-China "Paukphaw" friendship and bilateral military relations, actively support the joint construction of the Belt and Road and the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, and forge ahead with the building of the Myanmar-China community with a shared future.

Xi arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on Friday for a state visit to Myanmar.
Far From Home unveils the first gameplay teaser for their sci-fi, action-survival game coming to Steam Early Access in 2022 and later to consoles.
After Kerala and Punjab, the Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra is also considering to move a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 in the state Assembly. Speaking to news agency ANI, Congress spokesperson Raju Waghmare said, "Our senior party leader Balasaheb Thorat has also shared his stand on the CAA. Even Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that we are against the CAA. As far as the resolution against CAA is concerned, our senior leaders of MVA will sit together and decide."

Maharashtra to follow Kerala, Punjab's footsteps?

If this happens, then Maharashtra will be the third state to pass a resolution against CAA, which grants citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. The Kerala government earlier this week moved the Supreme Court against the CAA, seeking to declare it violative of the principles of equality, freedom and secularism enshrined in the Constitution. It was the first State government to challenge the Act and the Kerala Assembly was the first to pass a resolution against the law. Following in the southern states footsteps, the Punjab Assembly on Friday passed a resolution demanding to scrap the contentious law.

'The fight must go on!'

Meanwhile, emphasising that CAA is 'unconstitutional,' Senior Advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that every state Assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek CAA's withdrawal. He added that it would be problematic to oppose the CAA if the law is declared to be 'constitutional' by the Supreme Court.

I believe the CAA is unconstitutional



Every State Assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek its withdrawal



When and if the law is declared to be constitutional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it



The fight must go on !  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) January 19, 2020

READ | Sanjay Raut "holds the key" to Congress power in Maharashtra: Veer Savarkar's Grandnephew

READ | Shabana Azmi's accident: Maharashtra min Ashok Chavan dials hospital, posts update

Earlier speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival on Saturday, the Congress leader had said that constitutionally no state can say that it will not implement the amended Citizenship Act, as doing so will be "unconstitutional". Kerala government has also approached the Supreme Court against the CAA following the passage of a resolution against it in the state Assembly. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has also announced that the Congress state government is going to join Kerala in the Supreme Court in the case.

READ | Shiv Sena alleges manhandling of Maharashtra MoS in Belagavi, asks BJP to condemn incident

READ | Maharashtra CM's decision to develop Pathri draws ire, Shirdi residents call for bandh

(Image credits: PTI)
S Viswanath By

Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: At a time when the State government stepped up its efforts to go ahead with the proposed decentralisation of administration and development and is gearing up to pass Bills in the Legislative Assembly and Council in this regard, the stand to be taken by the TDP, which is opposing the move of the government, gains significance.

Though it would be a cakewalk for the ruling YSRC to get the approval of the Assembly, it will be a Herculean task for the treasury benches to get the nod of the Council as the opposition TDP has upper hand in the House.

Though the YSRC has absolute majority in the Assembly (151 MLAs out of total 175), the opposition TDP has 28 members in the 58-member Council (YSRC has only nine MLCs). The TDP, which is organising protests across the State against the three-capital proposal, may at best stall the Bills in the Council. However, experts opine that even if it does, it will be an empty victory.

Once a Bill is passed by the Assembly, it will be referred to the Council for passage. If the Council rejects the Bill, the Assembly will approve the Bill again and send it to the Council for the second time. Then the Council should have to pass it or reject it.

Even if it rejects, the Bill will be deemed to have been passed. The opposition will have no other way, but to stage a walkout in protest, a former Secretary of the combined AP Legislature told TNIE. According to rules, if the Council disagrees with a Bill passed by the Assembly, the Bill must be sent again for second time  from the Assembly to the Council.

Finally, the Assembly will have its way. The Council can only delay the passage of the Bill for three months in the first instance and for one month in the second. There is no provision for a joint sitting as in case of disagreement in Parliament over ordinary Bills. As for finance Bills, the Council is powerless.

A senior minister told TNIE that Legislative Council can only advise, not scuttle any legislation. Moreover, the capital issue being of grave importance and a political decision, the Council cannot sit on it or cause obstructions as the entire State will be watching. While the AP Legislative Assembly session will commence at 11 am on Monday, the Council will commence at 10 am on Tuesday
Glenn Seymour fought back flames that almost reached his doorstep with a fire truck hed bought on eBay.

The fire brigade in the tiny community living on French Island south-east of Melbourne has only one firefighting truck and one ute fitted with a water tank to service 170 square kilometres of farmland and dense bushland.

Thats why I bought it, said 73-year-old Mr Seymour, a former captain of the islands brigade whose home nearly went up in flames in the bushfire that took hold in the national park on Saturday afternoon.

The second fire truck provides a crucial, unofficial extra tanker to a place that is only accessible by passenger ferry or barge, which can only operate in certain conditions.
UPDATE: Power was restored to all affected Grand Rapids area home by around 6:50 p.m. Jan. 19 according to spokesperson Roger Morgenstern. As of 9 a.m. Jan. 20, the power outage map is still down on the website. Please contact 800-477-6060 if you are having issues.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Those without power, or who happen to be worried about the weather, may have noticed the Consumers Energy power outage map to be down Sunday as they attempt to check the status of current outages.

While thousands are reported by the company to be without power in the northwestern portions of Grand Rapids, customers are being told not to worry, the energy company is not battling outage issues of its own. The map going offline was planned by the company as part of routine maintenance, Consumers Energy spokesperson Roger Morgenstern said.

We need to occasionally take a maintenance outage on on our computer systems to make sure they are fully up to date and fully functioning, and as we looked at the weather and saw that the storm had mostly passed through, we determined this would be a good time to take an outage, Morgenstern said.

Its never a perfect time and we appreciate our customers patience, but we decided with mostly good weather across lower Michigan, and it being a Sunday we have lower customer volume, we decided it would be a good time to take the outage.

Morgenstern said the company expects to have all systems up and running and the statewide outage map back online later this evening.

As of about 1 p.m., Morgenstern said he was not aware of any outages in Kalamazoo, but thousands of customers in the northwest portion of Grand Rapids were without power. He did not have an estimated time when those in the Grand Rapids area would have power back, but assured that Consumers had crews in the field, addressing the issue.

Aside from the Grand Rapids outage, Morgenstern said that there are just scattered outages throughout lower Michigan, impacting a few hundred customers here and there.

Those without power are encouraged to contact Consumers at 800-477-6060.

We encourage our customers to give us a call to make sure we are aware of the outage and we will get our crews assigned and get the power back on as soon as we can, Morgenstern said. Our biggest challenge right now is we are not able to communicate details online with our customers.

Other power companies in the area, Great Lakes Energy and Indiana Michigan Power are reporting less than a dozen customers impacted by outages combined.

Also on MLive:

West Michigan digging out from wet, heavy snow

Suspicious death of 1-year-old in Kalamazoo County ruled a homicide
A medical student has put his dreams of neurology on hold to become a high-class escort.

He goes by the name Jake Ryan and describes himself as 'Australia's alpha male', travelling the country to service wealthy women seeking companionship.

The 27-year-old told Daily Mail Australia he started in the adult industry as a 'means to an end', but topless waiting turned to stripping and then, eventually, to escorting.

He goes by the name 'Jake Ryan' and describes himself as 'Australia's alpha male', travelling Australia wide to service wealthy women seeking companionship

Five years on from his beginnings as a topless waiter, 'Jake' is still pursuing work in the adult industry.

After originally setting himself a goal of making $2million, now he says the job isn't about chasing one figure.

'You always fantasise about how much is the golden number - and retrospectively it's a matter of how I can utilise the money that I have made and that I'm planning on making to afford that end result,' he said.

'I haven't quite reached that goal yet but I think it's a good start and if I decide at the time that it is enough to walk away and say I've done my bit then that would be great but I think a part of me is curious is to see how far I can go with it.'

While travelling, Jake can see between three to eight clients a day, ranging in age from 20 to 70.

He recently deferred his studies in the medical field to pursue escorting full time but he's not putting his dreams on hold forever.

'There is a part of me that fantasises about continuing my degree or changing degrees into a different realm of anatomy and physiology but I do hope I can go back and I don't mind thinking I'll be a mature student when it happens,' he said.

Despite perceptions of sex work, the type of work Jake does can be as basic as a coffee and a chat - rather than purely physical.

Even though he believes sex work is becoming more accepted, Jake has chosen to remain anonymous, obscuring his face in all his images online and creating a fake name and persona.

High class escort Jake Ryan (pictured) dreams of returning to his studies in the medical field while he earns money in the adult industry

But he has been open and honest about his current job with his family, and he said they're 'encouraging and supportive'.

'My family relationships are quite strong and my family do know what I do and I don't hide anything from them,' he said.

'The biggest thing for me was making sure that if they heard anything about me I'd prefer it to be from me rather than from someone else.'

Jake is currently single, saying his sex work made personal relationships are a real challenge.

'Because I'm travelling a lot it makes it very difficult to maintain a relationship but also the taboo side of being an escort is the emotional and mental stability required to date someone in my position or even to date a sex worker is very confronting especially in society today,' he said.

But he admitted while he's constantly connecting with women and curing their loneliness, it's an emotion he experiences himself from time to time.

'I wouldn't say I get lonely a lot. I'm very much a recluse introvert in my personal life so I find solitude quite comforting, but I would consider that more of an alone time than lonely,' he said.

'So I think I do get lonely but it's not in a way that would construct a relationship.'
Three madrassa students held in connection with violence that took place during anti-citizenship law protests in the city last month have been granted bail.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was formed to look into the cases has withdrawn serious charges against them on Saturday.

During investigation, the SIT had earlier charged the protesters under sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 143 (punishment) of the IPC.

Several people were arrested after violence erupted during protests against the amended citizenship law in Muzaffarnagar on December 20.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A six-year-old boy who vanished from services on the M1 on a school trip was asleep by roadworks when rescuers found him, his father has revealed.

Aadil Umair Rahim disappeared at Newport Pagnell Services, Milton Keynes, on the M1 motorway on Friday evening. Thames Valley Police have confirmed he was on a school trip heading home from London to Nottingham.

The boy was found near Newbolt Close, a ten-minute walk and half a mile away from the service station where he disappeared.

Police and volunteers from the local community carried out a nine-hour search, involving a helicopter, overnight.

Aadil Umair Rahim, who vanished from services on the M1 on a school trip, was asleep by roadworks when rescuers found him, his father has revealed

A CCTV image of Aadil from when he was at the service station earlier, which was circulated by police. He was wearing a green jumper, a grey long top, grey trousers and a white skull cap

Umair Rahim told The BBC his son was 'perfectly fine', adding: 'Police told me he was sleeping when they found him.'

'I have no idea if he was outside for the whole nine hours,' he added. He also said that he was grateful to the emergency services for their help.

According to the Milton Keynes Citizen, the boy was found on a block near roadworks by a large search party, wearing only a jumper to protect him from the cold.

He was located just off the M1 northbound carriageway, in an area which houses the Matrix system, close to a footbridge near Newbolt Close.

Thames Valley Police began a search at around 7.15pm and announced Aadil had been found nine hours later, shortly after 4am on Saturday.

Graphic shows the boy was found near Newbolt Close, a ten-minute walk and half a mile away from the service station in Milton Keynes

The force said a large number of officers were involved in the search, as well as a helicopter from the National Police Air Service, which is believed to have directed officers to the area where the boy was located.

After Aadil was found in the local area, his father Umair Rahim wrote: 'My son has arrived and he is safe now. Thanks for the prayers. Shukar to Allah.

'Thanks to Thames Valley Police helicopter services fire department and safe and rescue department who worked tirelessly for 9 hours and found him safe.

Emergency services pictured during the major search that took place. The six-year-old was found safe and well on Saturday after going missing from Newport Pagnell Services

Police have located the missing boy who wandered away from the service station. He was reportedly found sitting on a block near M1 roadworks

Search and rescue volunteers explore the surrounding area. After being found his father, Umair Rahim, thanked the 'local community' and police for helping in the search

'There was more than 1,000 people looking for him I'm thankful to everyone.'

Thames Valley Police Superintendent Amy Clements thanked the officers and members of the public involved in the overnight search.

She said: 'This was a very difficult operation involving a very young boy and we are relieved to say that Aadil has been found safe and well.

'I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the local community, who immediately offered help in trying to find Aadil.'

Emergency services during the search. When he went missing, the six-year-old was believed to be on a school trip when they made a stop at the service station

Bucks Search and Rescue, a volunteer organisation, helping in the search. Thames Valley Police Superintendent Amy Clements thanked the officers and members of public involved

When he went missing, the six-year-old was believed to be on a school trip when they made a stop at the service station, according to social media reports.

He was wearing a green jumper, a grey long top, grey baggy trousers and a white skull cap.

Khalil Rafiq told the Mirror Online that his son was on the same trip and had been visiting the Museum of London.

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter helped in the search.

A CCTV image of Aadil from when he was at the service station was also circulated by police.
For three decades a community of over five lakh people has been waiting for justice to get the perpetrators of their forced exodus identified and booked. The Kashmiri Pandits, a minority community from Kashmir, regard their exodus as a case of 'genocide' and 'ethnic cleansing'. For them January 19-20 is a painful memory of the persecution meted out to them in the Valley in late 1989 and thereafter. It is also a reminder of the bitter fact that theirs is, perhaps, the only case of violence in the country, on which no inquiry commission or committee was ever formed to investigate.

The community became the first and the foremost victim when terrorism emerged in the Valley in the late Eighties. Targeted killings were carried out against the community. Many of its leaders, professionals, government servants, traders and teachers, men, women and even children were killed.

The community claims that over 700 members were killed and a number of women raped and killed, but this has never been confirmed officially. In fact, the number of killings of the minority Kashmiri Hindus in the Valley has always been disputed. A local organisation of the Pandits, Kashmir Pandit Sangrash Samiti (KPSS), carried a survey in 2008 and said that 399 Kashmiri Pandits were killed till then and a majority of the killings happened in 1989-1990.

"There was a biased approach by the state administration in Kashmir against us. FIRs were not lodged which means that the crimes committed against us were not documented. This is an injustice to us and especially to those families, whose members were killed," says Satish Mahaldar, a Kashmiri activist. Another Kashmiri Pandit activist Ashutosh Taploo, whose father Tika Lal Taploo, a popular leader in Srinagar, was assassinated in September 1989, says that there are hardly any FIRs done in the murder cases and the exact number of killings is not known for sure.

In the absence of any confirmed figures, Ashutosh Taploo has created a dedicated Facebook page 'Martyrs Kashmiri Pandits' which has recorded the details of around 70 cases of murder. He has also posted information about some cases of Kashmiri Pandit women, who were kidnapped, gang-raped, tortured for days and then killed. He says: "I started this page with the sole purpose to provide a voice to the poor families who could not get the FIRs registered because they fled the Valley in fear and never went back to file FIRs." "There was so much fear in the community those days (1989-1992) and the local administration, including the police, was totally unhelpful. A large number of cases were not reported and then people were forced to flee their home and hearth. All this should have been investigated by an inquiry commission, which never happened," says Mahaldar.

What adds to the woes of the community is that most of the human rights activists and bodies have failed to take up their cause. In 1995, the National Human Rights Commission held the systematic ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits by terrorists as an act of genocide. Last year, on the recommendation of the state administration of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, while banning the separatist outfit Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), described ethnic cleansing and the purge of Kashmiri Pandits as the principal reason for the ban.

Perhaps, this was for the first time in three decades that the Central government accepted that genocide happened in the Valley. While declaring the ban on the JKLF, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said then that JKLF chief Yasin Malik was the mastermind behind the genocide and exodus of Kashmiri Pandits. He said: "Murders of Kashmiri Pandits by JKLF in 1989 triggered their exodus from the Valley and is responsible for their genocide." Never before was the admission made that the mass exodus of Hindus from Kashmir was not a simple migration but a result of persecution. It is unfortunate that this reality has been deliberately sought to be suppressed over the decades, feels the community.

"The exodus has been designated as migration and the victims termed as migrants rather than refugees or displaced by force by the successive Central and state governments. We are victims of terrorism. We were forced out of our homes. How we can be migrants?" asks Panun Kashmir activist Ramesh Manwati. He says: "Ours is a democratic country, but we have not got justice. The crime committed against us has not been investigated. If after almost 40 years, the 1984 Sikh riot cases are being investigated even though the case has been investigated by many probe bodies, why is not our case being investigated?" Kashmiri Pandits have been waiting for justice for the past thirty years. "Our numbers have been suppressed, FIRs not lodged, our houses have been looted and burnt, temples desecrated and land encroached (upon) in Kashmir. And, there is no one to talk about our plight, neither any human rights body nor any political leader," says Mahaldar.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)
BEIJING, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong subsidiary of China Electronics Corporation (hereafter "CEC") signed a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) to acquire Pactera Group. According to the agreement, Pactera is now officially a member company of CEC.

Established in 1995, Pactera is an industry-targeted a leading IT solution company from China, with 25 years of history and nearly 30,000 employees, providing worldwide services covering digital consulting, experience interaction, technology implementation, and operations. By leveraging rich experience in sectors including high-tech, finance, manufacturing, telecom, and internet, Pactera has established long-term cooperative relationships with 154 Fortune 500 companies.

China Electronic Corporation (CEC), established in May 1989, is one of world-leading large scale electronics & IT corporations. CEC focuses on providing IT products and services, with strong industrial competitiveness and R&D capabilities. By the end of 2019, CEC now has 22 second level subsidiaries, 14 listed holding companies and over 150,000 employees, ranking among Fortune 500 Global Companies for consecutive years.

According to CEC, with global presence, abundant industry experience, stable corporate governance team, and strength in the IT application service field, Pactera will become a valuable addition to the portfolio of CEC.

As a member company of CEC, Pactera will leverage the robust resources and advantages of CEC to accelerate market expansion and business development. "We firmly believe that Pactera will have broader room to grow and add values to our clients," said Tiak Koon Loh, CEO of Pactera.

SOURCE Pactera
By IANS

NEW DELHI: Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party will release 'Kejriwal's Guarantee Card' on Sunday as part of the assembly elections campaign.

The card, to be released by party chief Arvind Kejriwal, will be different from the party's manifesto.

According to party sources, the card will have those points the party will do in the next five years after being re-elected.

"Kejriwal, through the card, will commit to works to be done in the next 5 years," sources said.

The chief minister will list the major promises for the people of Delhi in the card.

The party said the 'Guarantee Card' is a measure of its confidence in its ability to fulfil promises made.

"Around January 26, we will also present our manifesto. So this is being done in a two-pronged manner - a Guarantee Card followed by a detailed manifesto. The Guarantee Card will also be taken to the people through a door to door campaign," AAP leader Gopal Rai said.

The sources said it is likely to include points on women safety and water supply.

The cleaning of Yamuna and improvement on transport sector will also be there, sources said.

The party will take the card to about 35 lakh houses in the city.
Shops, eateries, various other commercial establishments and local transport remained shut in the Shirdi temple town of Maharashtra on Sunday in response to the bandh called over a controversy on the birthplace of 19th-century saint Saibaba.

Shirdi: Shops, eateries, various other commercial establishments and local transport remained shut in the Shirdi temple town of Maharashtra on Sunday in response to the bandh called over a controversy on the birthplace of 19th-century saint Saibaba.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting over the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday. The bandh began at midnight, but the Saibaba temple remained open with devotees being allowed to offer prayers, officials of the temple trust and Ahmednagar district administration said.

The 'prasadalaya' and the temple kitchen were also open to ensure devotees were not inconvenienced, they said. Long queues of devotees were seen in front of the 'prasadalaya', breakfast centre and 'laddoo' sale centres of the temple, according to sources.

Terming the bandh as "successful", local BJP functionary Sachin Tambe Patil, who is former trustee of the Saibaba temple, said, "Commercial establishments, shops, restaurants and local transport (autorickshaws and other private vehicles) are closed and a complete shutdown is being observed in the town as well as in 25 villages around Shirdi."

"However, the temple is open and devotees are coming to offer prayers," he said, adding that a rally has been organised here on Sunday. Devotees who made pre-bookings at hotels were allowed to stay and taxi services from the airport to the temple were also unaffected, the district administration official said.

The state transport buses from other locations were being allowed to come to the town, he added. Former Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who is the local BJP MLA, on Saturday said he supported the bandh call.

The controversy began after Chief Minister Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at "Sai janmasthan" (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district. Local residents and leaders in Shirdi took exception to the chief minister's announcement, saying the birthplace of the famed saint was not known, and Pathri cannot make a claim to being his birthplace.

They are demanding that Thackeray withdraw his official statement where he described Pathri as Saibaba's birthplace. It was at Shirdi in Ahmednagar district where Saibaba, whose devotees cut across religious lines, spent much of his life.
A pilot project to determine citizenship and provide multi-purpose identity cards to people between 2004 and 2009 across 12 states and a Union Territory revealed poor documentation in rural areas, officials said on Sunday, even as a political row continues in the country over the amended citizenship law, the latest National Population Register (NPR) and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The central government finalised the plan in 2003 to launch the pilot project in which 3.1 million people, mostly in border districts, were enumerated. Determining citizenship and issuing identity cards were crucial recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee, which conducted a holistic assessment of Indias security after the 1999 Kargil conflict.

About 1.25 million people were given the Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC) which was valid for 10 years by the Registrar General of India (RGI), according to the government. The microchip-embedded card carried a photograph of the individual and fingerprint biometric data.

Documents provided as proof of being an Indian citizen were verified with issuing authorities by officials under the exercise. For instance, a school-leaving certificate was verified with the board that issued it. Those who couldnt provide any document were asked to produce at least two people who could stand guarantee to back the claims of citizenship, according to the rules laid out for the procedure.

In case there was the wrong declaration, the people who stood guarantee and the individual would face legal action, a senior official said on condition of anonymity. In particular, married women who rarely inherit land or property and landless labourers had extremely poor documentation, the official added.

The project was wound up in March 2009 without determining exactly how many of the nearly 3.1 million people enumerated could prove their credentials. In a reply in Parliament in 2011, then minister of state for home affairs Gurudas Kamath said later: The experience of the pilot project has revealed that the process of determination of citizenship is cumbersome, time-consuming and complex in nature. Document base is weak, especially in rural areas.

Under the project, which was carried out during the terms of governments led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, people in select districts of states and UTs including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Delhi were covered.

A committee of secretaries which looked into the results of the project concluded that citizenship is a complex issue and should be taken up in a phased manner. A former secretary who was part of the panel said: The results showed identifying citizens would be difficult and controversial. There was apprehension that creation of National Register of Citizens would be disruptive for society. It was downgraded in priority, he added, asking not to be named.

Former Union home secretary Madhukar Gupta said the government then decided to build a National Peoples Register  a biometric database. The National Register of Citizens was restricted to Assam because it was part of the 1985 Assam accord, he added.

The current National Democratic Alliance governments move to bring the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which fast-tracks citizenship to religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, the updated NPR and the proposed NRC have triggered protests across the country, with the Opposition calling the move divisive.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a rally in New Delhi that the government did not discuss a nationwide NRC in any Cabinet meet or Parliament.
ESCONDIDO, Calif.Theater is an age-old medium that provides outward, as well as inner, experiences. But todays fast-paced modern world busies our brains with intruding thoughts which can make it hard to completely take in an evening-length show, even one as colorful and world-renowned as Shen Yun Performing Arts.

Thats where talk show host Anna Leah Mintzs advice for seeing Shen Yun comes in handy. She found the classical Chinese dance performance to be breathtaking and priceless and felt it was an important experience for her teenage daughter when they attended on Jan. 18, 2020, at Escondidos California Center for the Arts.

I feel [Shen Yun] was therapeutic, theres good therapy in there. And you know the secret of watching a show like this, is to not have your mind be busy, to really sit there in the audience and feel it, be mindful, be right there at the moment and feel the music and feel the movements, and thats how you get the real deal out of it.  And I, my mind drifted a little bit, but I caught myself and I came right back to the moment, and I felt it again and it felt great. If you could just learn to let go and let the music sink into you, thats the key.

Mintzs talk show centers on holistic health, but her first love was with the theater.

My [university] major is drama in education, so I can more than appreciate this. They are so utterly professional  The performers were unbelievable, the choreography was so unbelievable. You could tell how much rehearsal had to go into that and I would appreciate it because  I know what it takes to do it just right. And they were spot-on: everybody, every flip, every landing, was perfect, perfect. So I applaud them, honestly, Mintz said.

New York-based Shen Yuns mission is to revive authentic Chinese culture, including the traditions and beliefs that civilization has thrived on since time immemorial. Through ancient art forms such as classical Chinese dance, originally-composed orchestral music, singing, and costume, Shen Yun is able to convey deep emotions and even divine themes in its performance.

It was so unique and theres such culture behind it, and the story behind it. It all just made sense and I felt it was very important to bring my 15-year-old daughter, Mintz said. Culture is important. And just to see the colors, the scenery, all that put together was just breathtaking and priceless. Honestly, it was a real cool experience.

Shen Yuns mission of reviving traditions is shunned by the Chinese Communist Party in China, which has sought to systematically destroy spiritual beliefs and persecute their followers. Mintz was saddened by this turn of events and hoped Shen Yun would be able to perform in the homeland of its cultural origin one day.

About Chinas divinely-inspired culture, Mintz said, they really expressed it. Its a pity they cant do this in China, and so for them to bring it here and be able to really bring it to us, for us to not have to read books about what they go through, it was really nice. It was just a true experience of history and culture all mixed in one two-hour show. Hard to believe it was all in two hours.

The meaning of Shen Yun in Chinese is the beauty of divine beings dancing, and Mintz could feel that beauty and divinity.

Theres a message and a mission for everybody on this earth. And these guys [Shen Yun] did their mission to bring China here, and you know, whats going on there. And my mission I feel is to bring good health and education to educate people to stay healthy, so thats what Im all about. So I really connected with all this.

Theres definitely a beauty behind the divine, she continued. Im very spiritual, so to me, I feel God all the time. I loved it when the performers tonight brought the person in from Heaven, Mintz said, referring to the Creator who, according to legend, originally brought Chinas divine culture to earth, and is depicted on stage in Shen Yun.

I believe its very possible the world will be saved. I mean this world needs help in many ways, as you can see. I mean just the fact that we cant have this show in China for whatever reason, Mintz added.

With reporting by NTD Television and Brett Featherstone.

The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time and has covered audience reactions since the companys inception in 2006.
The first time Kelly Stewart sat among other students in a school classroom, she was sitting her trial HSC exams in the northern NSW town of Grafton.

It was two hours' drive from her isolated home near Mount Mookima where she had educated herself over the previous 12 years.

Ms Stewart's dad was "sort of a doomsday prepper" who met her mother in the Philippines and paid to bring her to Australia. Her mother was without language or driving skills and "stuck in the middle of nowhere", living in a tent while pregnant and waiting for Ms Stewart's father to build their house.

University of Sydney student Kelly Stewart was self-educated, learning from mailed materials and cassettes. Now she's going to work at Google. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Ms Stewart was six years old when the couple divorced, and she and her younger sister started living between their parents' remote properties  the only permanent residents along dirt roads that connected patches of surrounding bushland. With just each other for company, the sisters educated themselves through cassette tapes and mailed material. The nearest letterbox was an hours drive away.
Re: Profile evaluation and suitable course [ #permalink

Hi, Julie-Anne Heafey



I'm wondering why you are thinking about getting an MBA and why now. - I already have honed technical skills in the biologics sector but i want to hone mid-upper management skills. In the long-run, post 3-5 years of MBA, i'd like to start my own venture, to become entrepreneur. So, i assume that earning MBA degree can help me to get the knowledge required to do my business in all aspects. I do have work exp. of more than 9.5 yrs which could be ideal ,for top B schools, Asians.



So - knowing your goals would be important for your first question. - After doing MBA study, i'd like to do job in the biotech sector or consultancy sector for 3 to 5 years. Following that, i'd like to start my own venture, to become entrepreneur.



what do you want to do - and also where, plus your qualifications including your improved GMAT score. - I planned to get into top 10 business schools across the globe. I pursued Master of Science, Majoring Biotechnology. GMAT score improvement is in progress.



I don't have full information on your profile as I mentioned above, but I'd recommend looking beyond the HBS MBA/MS program to consider other schools, as I think that Harvard will be a big reach for you (as it is for most people). It's new and small, and I don't believe they separately break out the stats for this program vs. the usual program, - What kind of programmes or schools do you think suitable for me? I am firmly determined to get into top B schools. From where, i can get the stat or batch details of Harvard MS/MBA, Biotech program?



I'm not sure about your full stats, but the 470 is concerning, and I think your years of experience will also be too much. - What kind of stats do you need to help me, kindly let me know. I heard people who crossed 35 to 40 years are also part of the many top tier programmes at top B schools. How much is acceptance rate for such people at all level of B schools?



For alternatives, I'd do some selective searching online with biotech MBA, but without an updated GMAT and more info on where you're going, - Kindly feel free to ask any information to guide me.



Regards,

Raxit T.
More than 300 people have been treated for injuries following hours of clashes between security forces and protesters that rocked central Beirut on Saturday (January 18) night.

That's the highest toll in some of the most intense violence since largely peaceful protests erupted across the country in October.

Security forces fired volleys of tear gas and deployed water cannon while protesters hurled stones, steel barriers and flower pots.

With Lebanon sinking deeper into its worst economic crisis in decades, anger has boiled over at the ruling elite.

The Lebanese pound has lost nearly half its value and dollar shortages have driven up prices.

The impact of that is not just being felt on Beirut's chaotic streets but also on the snowy pistes of one of Lebanon's most popular ski resorts.

Numbers are down and several slopes have been closed at the Mzaar ski resort which has slashed prices by 30 percent to entice skiers.

Nicole Wakim Freiha is the resorts marketing and development manager.

(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MARKETING AND DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF MZAAR SKI RESORT, NICOLE WAKIM FREIHA, SAYING:

"It is still slow, it is still slow, but the weather is great and the snow as well, so we're inviting everyone to come."

Tourism has traditionally been an important part of the Lebanese economy, but the worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 war has led banks to impose tight restrictions - forcing even those with money to think carefully before they spend.
A 'burly Disneyland park guest showed off his strength and shocked Disney enthusiasts when he pulled the legendary Excalibur from the Sword in the Stone.

A man known only as Sam was able to extract the notoriously tough Excalibur sword from the anvil in Fantasyland on January 8, Disneyland cast members told The OCR.

But it wasn't as graceful as in the film, and the sword was left 'broken and jagged' after Sam yanked it out, according to one witness.

It was initially reported that the Exaclibur was undergoing refurbishment amid similar renovations at King Arthur's Carrousel, but an eye witness revealed the strongman is responsible for breaking the sword.

'He literally ripped it out. The staff said that it was really old and that's why he was able to do so,' an person told WDW News Today.

Sam, a park guest at Disneyland, pulled the notoriously tough Excalibur from the Sword in the Stone attraction on January 8

'It was his first time at Disneyland and he's a pretty buff dude. I told him if he pulled it out he'd win a prize and he just used brute force, I guess,' he added.

Photos of the Sword in the Stone attraction on January 12 show Excalibur missing from the anvil and layers of black duct tape placed over the empty hole.

Disneyland cast members tapped over the Excalibur's empty hole after Sam reportedly broke the sword during his attempt

Luckily, another eye witness shared that a Disneyland cast member rushed over once they realized Excalibur had been removed.

'At first it seemed as if he had pulled it out, but a (cast member) quickly came over (because) he had in fact broken it,' they said.

At the California park, Merlin the Magician used to host a show where guests can attempt to remove Excalibur but the ceremony hasn't been done for a decade.

It was initially reported that Excalibur was undergoing refurbishment as part of King Arthur's Carrousel's repairs

The sword was returned to its rightful spot the following day and yet to be freed since.

Disney enthusiasts went to Twitter to express their shock and wonderment at the massive feat.

'Shoutout to whoever pulled the sword in the stone out at Disneyland...ur the true king,' one man wrote.

Disneyland guests were shocked by the accomplishment, with one person calling Sam 'the true king'

Other's recalled seeing Sam pull the sword out and suggested he was Excalibur's 'choose one'

One user said: 'Ive witnessed some guy pulling the sword from the stone at Disneyland. No joke. They blocked people from going anywhere near it. Thats crazy. How strong is that guy?'

'He is the chosen one,'no person said.

The Disneyland Excalibur pays homage to the 1963 animated movie, The Sword in the Stone.

It's unclear if the attraction will still be available when King Arthur's Carrousel begins repairs.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Sunday said the state cabinet will discuss on January 22 the issue of allowing malls, multiplexes and shop to remain open 24/7.

Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray had on Saturday said shops, malls and eateries in non-residential areas of Mumbai will have the option of remaining open 24x7 from January 26, although it will not be made compulsory.

Aaditya is said to be the prime mover behind the nightlife project.

"The issue will come up for deliberations in the January 22 cabinet meeting. We have to see how much the city police will be burdened if shops, eateries and malls are kept open through the night. After detailed deliberations, a decision will be taken," Deshmukh told reporters.

When asked about the controversy over the birthplace of 19th century spiritual figure Saibaba and a shutdown being observed in Shirdi, Deshmukh said the issue will be resolved by talking to all concerned.

The controversy erupted after Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at "Sai janmasthan" (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district.

Local residents and leaders in Shirdi are demanding that Thackeray withdraw his official statement in which he described Pathri as Saibaba's birthplace.

The chief minister has convened a meeting over the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Passenger vehicle (PV) exports from India increased by 5.89 per cent in the first nine months of the current fiscal, with Hyundai Motor leading the segment with dispatches of around 1.45 lakh units, as per the latest data by SIAM. PV exports stood at 5,40,384 units in the April-December period of the current fiscal as compared with 5,10,305 units in the same period of 2018-19.

Car shipments saw 4.44 per cent growth at 4,04,552 units, while utility vehicle exports saw a rise of 11.14 per cent at 1,33,511 units during the April-December period, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers' data showed.

However, vans witnessed a 17.4 per cent decline in exports at 2,321 units during the period under review as compared with 2,810 units in the same period last fiscal.

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) led the segment, followed by Ford India and Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) at the second and third positions, respectively. The South Korean automaker exported 1,44,982 units to overseas markets during the period under review, up 15.17 per cent over the same period last fiscal. The company exports vehicles to over 90 countries across Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Australia and Asia Pacific.

"With cumulative sales of 1,44,982 units and a market share of 26.8 per cent from April-December, Hyundai has once again maintained its leadership position in the exports market with its super performer brands," Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO S S Kim said.

The company will continue this positive momentum in 2020 with more world-class products adding meaningful moments for global customers, he added.

Also read: With over a dozen absentees, slowdown casts a shadow over Auto Expo 2020

Ford India's foreign dispatches stood at 1,06,084 units during the April-December period, down 12.57 per cent from a year-ago period. On the other hand, domestic car market leader MSI exported 75,948 units across global markets, down 1.7 per cent from same period last year.

Nissan Motor India shipped out 60,739 units during the period, up 39.97 per cent from same period last fiscal. Similarly, General Motors India, which has ceased selling vehicles in the domestic market, shipped out 54,863 units during the period.

Volkswagen India exported 47,021 units in April-December period, followed by Kia Motors India which dispatched 12,496 units. Renault India shipped out 12,096 units during the period.

Home-grown auto major Mahindra & Mahindra exported 10,017 units, while Toyota Kirloskar Motor dispatched 8,422 units during the period. Honda Cars India exported 3,316 units to global markets.

Other notable exporting companies during the period included FCA India and Tata Motors with 2,391 and 1,842 units, respectively.

Also read: Car sales in 2019 bore the brunt of slowing economy: SIAM

Also read: Budget 2020: Auto industry seeks bold fiscal measures to revive growth
He was living a life of hardship and isolation along the banks of the canal before the horrific accident. He had spent years sleeping rough in Dublin. Some people shared his harsh world of long, cold winter nights in the open air. They spoke in recent days of his ability to sleep outdoors in heavy rain.

The 30-year-old man, who arrived in Ireland as an unaccompanied boy from Eritrea in east Africa, has no family in Ireland. He had more than his share of troubles. He sank into a world of extreme deprivation.

He was sleeping unseen in a collapsed tent at the water's edge on the Grand Canal last Tuesday when he was gravely injured. The accident involved a machine being used to clear away materials used by people who slept rough.

It appeared he suffered massive spinal injuries and he remains in a serious condition this weekend following surgery in Saint Vincent's Hospital.

Homeless friends Aaron (25) and Lisa (38) slept near him on the banks of the canal at Leeson Street Bridge for several months.

He would sleep in the open air on a public bench beside the tent occupied by Aaron and Lisa.

"He slept on top of the bench in a sleeping bag when the nights were dry and he slept under the bench when it rained," said Aaron.

"Sometimes, he slept out in the rain. I was amazed he could sleep with the rain coming down on top of him. He was quite a hardy fellow," he said.

"He always took off his shoes and put them beside him before going to sleep."

They said they sometimes heard him talking, even shouting, but there would be nobody else around. He was a very private person and he did not seem to like having eye contact with people, they said.

They had all used hostels at different times and the staff in the Merchant's Quay hostel were friendly and helpful. But they preferred not to stay in hostels as they often felt intimidated by other occupants.

Aaron and Lisa felt safer in a tent. They said rats sometimes entered their tent looking for food when they were not there.

"I remember getting Aaron to hunt a rat out of the tent," said Lisa.

"One night, a rat bit a hole through the tent while we were sleeping and came in and took our chocolate. There were crisps in the tent but the rat was only interested in the chocolate," she said.

After pub closing times, passers-by would sometimes urinate quite close to the tent.

Aaron and Lisa were horrified when they learned of the accident. They saw gardai and tape sealing off the scene and they feared their friend was dead.

They said he was using their old tent when the accident happened. They had received eviction notices attached to the tent in the past. They abandoned the tent a couple of months ago and erected a spare tent on the canal bank at Baggot Street Bridge. Their Eritrean friend took up residence in their old tent, they said.

They found a new eviction notice on their new tent last Monday, ordering them to vacate the area by 11.30am the next day. Aaron and Lisa have now accepted an offer of six months' accommodation in their own room in a hostel beginning immediately.

Martin (41) was another homeless man who slept on the canal bank and in city hostels.

"It's terrible what happened. I used to give him socks or T-shirts sometimes," he said.

"People should not make assumptions about homeless people. Assumptions are the mother of all f**k-ups," he said.

Charity volunteer Padraig Drummond has worked with the Inner City Helping Homeless organisation for years. He said he remembered the young accident victim being a regular user of the charity's soup run when they would set up at night near the canal.

"He was a nice man. I would see him some nights sleeping on a bench. Sometimes his sleeping bag would be soaked by the rain and we would give him a new sleeping bag," he said.

They would also give him a large waterproof bag to keep the water off the sleeping bag and to keep the heat in, he said.

While on his nightly rounds helping rough sleepers, he also encountered the young man asleep on open ground with others near a car park at the back of the Eye and Ear Hospital. "I remember counting 13 tents one night last October between Leeson Street Bridge and Mount Street Bridge. By the next night they had all been cleared away," he said.

Anthony Flynn, co-founder of the Inner City Helping Homeless charity, said the large numbers of people sleeping rough in Dublin was a sign of a terrible failure of Ireland's housing policies.

"Ireland compares very badly with some other countries when it comes to housing the homeless. Hostels are not the answer to the homeless problem. Houses are the answer," he said.

Hostels did not meet the needs of many homeless people.

The policy that obliged people to leave early in the morning and refusing to allow them back until night-time was "a vicious merry-go-round", he said.
Fayaz Wani By

SRINAGAR: Life in the last 30 years in Kashmir has not been easy for 52-year-old Sanjay Tickoo. It was full of struggles, which have not ended for me and other Kashmiri Pandits, said Tickoo as his eyes glassed remembering a fateful night over 30 years ago. Tickoos is one of the few Kashmiri Pandit families which did not flee the Valley in the 1990s. He says that its sheer luck that we stayed back.



Hailing from Barbarshah area of uptown Srinagar, he said his family too had packed and planned to leave Kashmir in the 1990s after militants started killing Pandits.

On the day we had to leave for Jammu, my mood changed and I told the truck driver that we dont want to leave. I had paid Rs 500 in advance. He did not return the money after I told him we wont be leaving, said Tickoo, president of Pandit group, Kashmir Pandit Sangarsh Samiti. Once areas such as Barbarshah, Habba Kadal, Rainawari, Sonwar and Indira Nagar in Srinagar had a large population of Pandits, said Tickoo.

Sanjay Tickoo, a 52-year-old Kashmiri Pandit.

The 52-year-old said that life was tough for his family  comprising his parents, an elder brother and sister  who had stayed back. Militants would often barge into their home and security forces would not spare them during cordon and search operations in the 1990s. Every time we returned from Jammu, we were looked at as suspects by our Muslim neighbours. We also faced a backlash from migrant Pandits, who accused us of being traitors, he said.

According to Tickoo, a businessman, the Pandits began leaving the Valley from January 1990 and it continued till June. In five months almost all Kashmiri Pandits had left for Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country. Initially, they lived at camps and tents in Jammu in the summer heat which they were not accustomed to. The government then set up two-room quarters at Jagti, Muthi, Purkhoo and TRT Nagrota. The locals in the Valley, National Conference and PDP and separatists blame the then Governor Jagmohan for the mass exodus. The Pandits, however, rejected the claim.



ALSO READ | Tears of the uprooted: Kashmiri Pandits recall horror on 'exodus day'

I still remember a Muslim neighbour coming to our house in the evening and informing us that he had seen a hit-list of militants in a mosque which figured the name of one of our relatives. We took him to TRC Srinagar in the early hours next morning and ferried him to Jammu, Tickoo said. He said since mid-January they had no contact with their relatives as most of them had taken refuge in Jammu. According to Tickoo, non-migrant Pandits faced difficulty in performing rituals due to non-availability of priests during births and deaths. In November 1990, when my father died, only six Pandits participated in his cremation. The rest were Muslim neighbours, who carried his body to the cremation ground, remembered Tickoo.

The family of 33-year-old Sandip Kaul too decided not to leave their home at Karfalli Mohalla area in Srinagar. Before militancy erupted, Pandits dominated the area where Kaul lives, but now only a single-family resides.My father Poshkar Nath Koul preferred to stay back. We did not face any problem or trouble from our Muslim neighbours in the last 30 years. In fact, they stood with us during our good and bad, Sandip said. He, however, regrets his fathers decision of staying behind. All our relatives are outside the Valley. We feel isolated and cut-off.

When my father died in 2007, my relatives were outside the Valley. Although my Muslim neighbours stood by me, I missed the comfort of my relatives, said Sandip, who completed his graduation from SP College in Srinagar in 2008 and was the only non-Muslim student at the college. According to him, due to this isolation, he faces mental health issues.

Both Tickoo and Sandip support setting up of a separate township for Pandits in the Valley. There is nothing wrong with it. How can migrant Pandits live at their original places because many of them have sold their properties? they said. According to Tickoo, Muslims and Pandits should stop the false propaganda against each other and start a dialogue.

Rehabilitation



In 2008, the then Congress govt had announced a package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, offering maximum assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh to each family. But the then state government, led by NC, requested the Centre to enhance the package to Rs 20 lakh per family. The plan has since not moved forward.
Sarnami (sometimes called Suriname Hindustani) is a mixture of the Indian tongues that the immigrants spoke. It has also adopted words from Dutch and Sranan Tongo. The grammar and lexicon of Sarnami reflect the influence of all its mother languages.

On 5 June 1873, a ship by name Lalla Rookh (probably named after Thomas Moores literary work) reached its intended destination: Fort Nieuw Amsterdam (now Paramaribo) in Dutch Guyana (now Suriname) in South America. The ship had left Calcutta on 26 February 1873 with 410 indentured Indian immigrants. When the ship arrived, there were 279 men, 32 boys, 70 women and 18 girls (a total of 399 people) on board. 11 had perished en-route. The Indians got off the ship and made their way to the plantations situated in the hinterland beyond Paramaribo.

The Dutch presence in this region dated back to the late 1600s when after initial disputes and disagreements with the British, who also had interests in the region, they had exchanged a settlement named New Amsterdam in North America for the colony that later came to be called Dutch Guyana. The North American New Amsterdam later became New York City while the Dutch who thought they had the better of the bargain developed coffee, cocoa, sugar cane and cotton plantations along the rivers of their South American colony. Inevitably, these plantations were worked by slaves from Africa.

The relentless slave-fed economy lasted for close to two centuries till, in 1863, slavery was outlawed in Suriname. The process of freeing slaves took a further ten years and the arrival of the Indians coincided with the abandonment of the plantations by the slaves who made their way to Paramaribo to find their fortune. The indentured system was introduced to cope with the end of slavery since the sole objective of the plantation owners was to continue their agribusiness with labour that was as cheap as possible.

Indentured workers signed a contract to work abroad for a period of five years or more. They were supposed to receive wages, a small amount of land and in some cases, a return passage once their contract came to an end. In reality, this rarely happened. Working conditions were harsh and their wages low. Also, in most cases, workers were recruited through trickery and false promises.

Still, in order to escape poverty at home, between 1873 and 1916, when the indentured system was abolished, close to 34,000 Indians  both Hindus and Muslims  made the journey to Surinam, almost all of them from modern-day Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. They were required to serve their contract at their allotted plantation at the end of which they had the option of renewing their contract and continuing to work on the plantations, staying back as free men or returning to India. More than two-thirds of the arrivals stayed back in Suriname.

The Indians who had arrived in Suriname spoke Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Maithili and Magahi and in their new home, these tongues interacted as people from the various regions of the Gangetic Plains communicated with each other. Inevitably, the tongues, which in any case were mutually intelligible, tended to mix with each other  a process known as koineisation. The language of the coloniser, Dutch and a local Surinamese tongue, an English-based creole called Sranan Tongo (which is Surinames lingua franca today) were the other languages that the Indians heard and in time, developed some understanding of. It was in this linguistic situation that Sarnami (which literally means Surinamese) developed.

Sarnami (sometimes called Suriname Hindustani) is a mixture of the Indian tongues that the immigrants spoke. It has also adopted words from Dutch and Sranan Tongo. The grammar and lexicon of Sarnami reflect the influence of all its mother languages. Some linguists have noted in particular the influence of Awadhi and Bhojpuri on the tongue. Its development is unique in the Caribbean since in the other Caribbean colonies of Trinidad and Guyana, which also have significant Indian populations, the Indian tongues the immigrants spoke largely fell into disuse.

Surinames being a Dutch colony was crucial to Sarnamis development and use. Unlike the British who emphasised the superiority of English civilisation and language (hence the decline of Indian languages in British-administered Trinidad and Guyana), the Dutch government followed no consistent cultural or educational policy. For a time, they even encouraged instruction in the Indic languages. As a result, Sarnami became well-established.

From the 1960s onwards, as Suriname moved towards independence (Suriname became independent in 1975), Sarnami speakers mobilised support for their tongue threatened as it was by the prestige associated with Dutch and Sranans claim to be the only authentic Surinamese language which was contested by Indians who claimed that Sarnami was also authentically Surinamese.

Parallelly, Sarnami proponents also had to contend with the many Indians who had developed an affinity for Hindi-Urdu, which they felt more comfortable in identifying with, since their own language was often associated with the pejorative term  tutal bhasha (broken language). Hindi and Urdu which were greatly developed tongues seemed more attractive in comparison.

Support for Sarnami was especially loud and vocal in the Netherlands where many Surinamese Indians had found a home. The development of a Sarnami literature also helped in giving the language a firmer ground. While the first literary work in Sarnami had appeared in 1968  Bulahat (The Cry in the Night) by Shrinivasi (born Martinus Lutchman in 1926), the work of Jit Narain (pseudonym of Jit Baldewsingh) and Rabin S Baldewsingh was particularly influential. Some writers like Chitra Gajadin switched from Dutch to Sarnami as a result of Jit Narains influence. In January 1982, a magazine named Sarnami began to be published. Stifa, a long prose work by Rabin S Baldewsingh was published in 1984. In 2003, a Dutch-Sarnami dictionary was compiled.

Much of recent Sarnami poetry, especially in the Netherlands, has sought to put into words the anguish of the community about their own identity  are they Indians (Hindustanis as the Surinamese term it)? Indians from Suriname now resident in the Netherlands? People of Indian origin? Surinamese? This anguish at having become bidesias (foreigners) in the colonial period and not having a firm sense of belonging poses conundrums with no clear resolution as these lines from Jit Narains Agni ke yaad (1991) indicate:

Kahen u Bharat choris, ito ham samjhila

Bharat oke nahin choris, uto ham sahila

(I want to understand why my ancestors left India,

They were not forced to leave, but left by choice and now we bear that pain.)

The lone survivor among the Caribbean Hindustani tongues, Sarnami is valuable both as a cultural resource as well as an abiding artefact of a historical period. Its future though is uncertain. It continues to be in use in Surinames 1.25 lakh strong Indian community as a colloquial tongue even as Hindi-Urdu remain languages of prestige along with Dutch and English. In the Netherlands, as the generation that was born in Suriname and moved to the Netherlands at a young age pass, it is a moot point how much the younger generation will be able to keep the language alive. Like many others, Sarnami is perhaps on the verge of becoming an endangered tongue.
Meghan McCain has been a polarizing figure on The View as the loudest conservative voice on the show. Following the exit of Abby Huntsman, the ABC talker is down a right-leaning co-host. Although the network has not officially announced who will replace Huntsman, there are already rumors about who it could be. McCain shared a photo on Twitter giving a big hint on who could be the front-runner.

Meghan McCain | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

A day before Huntsman signed-off The View for one last time, McCain posted a photo with CNN political analyst S. E. Cupp. The latter is also a moderate conservative that would very well replace Huntsman on the show. The timing of the picture could not be more coincidental.

There is no one else in the world like this one   @secupp pic.twitter.com/CAAqdsR8xR  Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) January 17, 2020

Fans react to Meghan McCain, S.E. Cupp photo

After McCain shared the picture, fans were quick to reply supporting Cupp takes over on The View.

Even though I am sad Abby is leaving, I would love S. E. Cupp to replace her on The View, a fan wrote.

Join The View, a viewer added. Smart and intelligent. Itll be nice to not hear non-stop privileged rich girl Abby babble. Still amazed that she said their doorman is off on Sunday so they have to carry their garbage out themselves.

Can S. E. Cupp join The View? I am going to miss the balance that Abby brings. I think we need a robust debate and that requires more than one conservative on the panel. I love Joy and Whoopi, and I adore Sunny. I think Meghan is brave and consistent. Id love S. E. Cupp too, another fan said.

OK, SE is definitely replacing Abby on The View, a Twitter user suggested.

S. E. Cupp is coy about The View

During the week, Cupp was a guest on Bravos Watch What Happens Live where she was asked about the drama on The View. Andy Cohen asked what her take was on the rumors McCain and Huntsman were feuding.

No, shes sad Abby is leaving. Shes wishing her the best, Cupp said. Abby is leaving to join her dads campaign in Utah for governor. Meghan, as someone who is really close with her dad, totally understands more than anyone. So she wishes her nothing but the best.

Cohen tried to get more out of Cupp and asked if she was being considered for the open spot.

Ive done The View a lot. Its a really iconic, dynamic group of women, Cupp tried to play coy. I understand your question Andy, she added smiling.

Cupp did not spill the tea about knowing anything about who could replace Huntsman on The View. With the CNN host diverting the conversation, she may have hinted she knew more than she let out.

Why did Abby Huntsman leave The View?

After days of rumors, there was animosity on The View between the co-hosts and McCain, Huntsman announced she was leaving the show. There was seemingly no correlation between Huntsman deciding to exit and the rumors.

Family has always been my number one priority, and is where I need to be focused at this time, Huntsman said in a statement to People. We are incredibly close and are there to support and help each other when it matters. Its not often there is a political campaign that involves someone you love and believe in, but this is one of them.

Huntsman had joined the show in September 2018 when season 22 of the show started. Her last day on the daytime talk show was on Friday, January 17.
The Macomb-Oakland University Incubator supports economic development in Southeast Michigan by accelerating high-tech businesses, cultivating academic innovation and encouraging research and development. To help small businesses grow, the incubator creates customized success strategies for startup and emerging companies in the niche industries of defense, homeland security, advanced manufacturing and technology.

The Macomb-OU Incubator is located within the Technology Advancement SmartZone of Sterling Heights and is a partnership between the City of Sterling Heights, Macomb County and Oakland University. The incubator is housed in the Velocity building, an initiative and collaboration center that is a catalyst for launching, developing, retaining and attracting commercial enterprise within its target industries.
The Thane Municipal Corporation, which runs schools with over 35,000 students, has announced that bags carried by the children will be lighter when classes start in June for the new academic year. Students will no longer have to carry to school daily, books meant for the entire year. The municipal corporation is planning to print lighter books.

This is not the first experiment in Thane to reduce the weight of schools bags. A few years ago the municipal corporation had looked at the idea of having locker rooms where students could leave their books after class without having to cart them from home and back. The idea was never implemented.

Maharashtra is struggling to implement its five-year old policy on school bags. In 2014, the state government announced a policy to reduce the weight of bags carried by school students. The policy said that the bags should not weigh more than 10% of the childs weight.

The committee, which had been created by the government to suggest solutions to the problem, had a list of 44 recommendations to reduce weight of bags. Suggestions included replacing books with e-tablets, bags made of lighter material, water and food facilities in schools so that students did not have to carry bottles and lunch boxes. To ensure that schools followed the rule, the education department was to do regular surveys of bags carried by children.

Parents and education activists cheered the policy as there is evidence that heavy school bags can cause lifelong damage to the body. A study in 2015 by the citys largest public health facility, KEM Hospital, said that heavy bags are a prominent cause of Low Back Pain (LBP) amongst school going children. The study found that nine in 20 children had complained of back pain caused by heavy school bags. The problem is so severe that many parents take time off their work to help their children carry the bags.

The government and citizens groups, which are campaigning for lighter school bags, have never agreed on the extent of the problem. In June 2017, when schools resumed classes after the summer holidays, education activists said that the bags were, on an average, heavier by one kilogram because the education department had introduced new textbooks that were heavier.

The government has been claiming that the bags are lighter. In December 2017, the education department said that 88% of the bags in the city were lighter were before, but citizens groups are suspicious of the claim because the government had surveyed only 10% of the total schools in the state.

In 2018, the state government announced that the policy was a success, with their survey showing that out of over 400,000 students surveyed by them only 5,000 were found to be carrying heavy bags. This data suggested that only 1% students in the state carried heavy school bags. The government said that no students in the Mumbai city district were found with bags that violate the weight policy. The government said that their study had covered 23,443 schools.

Swati Patil, a Mumbai resident, who filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court in 2015, is sceptical of the claim. According to her not more than 7-8% of schools implement the rules.

In 2018, the governments response to Patils query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act revealed that there were no district-wise survey reports.

There have been four orders from the high court on the subject but the government has done nothing to implement the rules. Schools have not bothered to implement the rules, said Patil. The governments reply to my application under the RTI law shows that not a single school has been prosecuted for breaking the rule. The governments claim is laughable.

The high court disposed of the petition in 2019. Patil is now planning to go the Supreme Court to get the government to enforce the school bag rules.

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As the rich and powerful from across the globe assemble this week in this Swiss ski resort town to discuss a 'cohesive and sustainable world', over 100 CEOs as also some union ministers and chief ministers from India would also be present alongside filmstar Deepika Padukone and Sadhguru.

While Deepika will talk about mental health and other issues, Sadhguru will hold morning meditation sessions at the summit being attended by over 3,000 world leaders.

US President Donald Trump, Britain's Prince Charles, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Afghanistan's Ashraf Ghani and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan would be among the world leaders attending the five-day 50th annual meeting of WEF beginning Monday.

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2020, taking place on January 20-24, will focus on establishing stakeholder capitalism as a way of addressing the world's greatest challenges, from societal divisions created by income inequality and political polarization to the climate crisis we face today, the Geneva-based International organisation for public-private partnership has said.

From India, besides Deepika over 100 CEOs as well as political leaders including union ministers and chief ministers will take part . Underpinning the meeting will be the Davos Manifesto 2020, a document that builds on the original Davos Manifesto of 1973, which set out for the first time the stakeholder concept that businesses should serve the interests of all society rather than simply their shareholders'.

The Davos Manifesto 2020 provides a vision for stakeholder capitalism that touches on a range of important issues of our time, including fair taxation, zero tolerance for corruption, executive pay and respect for human rights.

"Business has now to fully embrace stakeholder capitalism, which means not only maximizing profits, but use their capabilities and resources in cooperation with governments and civil society to address the key issues of this decade. They have to actively contribute to a more cohesive and sustainable world," said Klaus Schwab, WEF Founder and Executive Chairman.

This year's programme focuses on achieving maximum impact on the Forum's platform for public-private cooperation across six core areas of activity: Ecology, Economy, Society, Industry, Technology and Geopolitics.

Among the initiatives to be launched at the Annual Meeting is one that aims to plant 1 trillion trees over the next decade and to equip 1 billion people with the necessary skills in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Besides Trump, Merkel, Prince of Wales, Ghani and Khan, top political leaders taking part include Han Zheng, Vice-Premier of the People's Republic of China; Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy; Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Swiss Confederation; Sebastian Kurz, Federal Chancellor of Austria and Ivan Duque, President of Colombia.

Leaders from international organizations include Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations; Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund; Roberto Azevedo, Director-General, World Trade Organization (WTO); Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary-General, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC); Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Liu Fang, Secretary-General, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO); Angel Gurria, Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank; Peter Maurer, President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Leaders from civil society taking part in the meeting include Sharan Burrow, General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation; Luca Visentini, General Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation; Micah White, Co-Creator, Occupy Wall Street; Kenneth Roth, Executive Director, Human Rights Watch; Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director, Greenpeace International; David Miliband, President, International Rescue Committee.

This year over 120 of civic-minded young leaders will also join as members of the WEF Global Shapers, Young Global Leaders, and Social Entrepreneur communities.

The WEF said it will also welcome 10 leaders under the age of 20 representing the viewpoints of younger generations.

Adding a new dimension this year is the Arts and Culture Festival. Running alongside the Annual Meeting, the Festival will feature a number of sessions and immersive art installations, including those featuring the participation of the winners of the 26th Annual Crystal Awards and Cultural Leaders.

The WEF has said the 2020 meeting aims to give a concrete meaning to "stakeholder capitalism", assist governments and international institutions in tracking progress towards the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and facilitate discussions on technology and trade governance.

Those who are registered from India include industry leaders Gautam Adani, Rahul and Sanjiv Bajaj, Kumar Mangalam Birla, N Chandrasekaran of Tata Group, Uday Kotak, Rajnish Kumar of SBI, Anand Mahindra, Sunil and Rajan Mittal, Ravi Ruia, Pawan Munjal, Nandan Nilekani and Salil Parekh of Infosys, C Vijayakumar of HCL Tech, Ajay Piramal, Rishad Premji, Ajay Singh and Pirojsha Godrej.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Protesting against the continuing government-sponsored oppression in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, scores of Kashmiri students from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) staged a sit-in near the maingate of the varsity on Saturday.

The protest was led by the students associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA). Expressing their dissent against the alleged act of the Central government, the students displayed placards and posters on which they depicted the ongoing situation in the northernmost State in the nation.

During the stir, the association activists were seen singing revolutionary songs which they claimed to be 'Sada-e-Mazloom' (Voice of the oppressed). "Throughout the history of Independent India, Kashmiris have always been oppressed by successive governments. The only difference is that Congress was doing it quietly while the BJP is very open about it," Hadif Nisar, the president of JKSA said.

Hadif Nisar added said that it should be remembered that the internet connection in Jammu and Kashmir has been snapped for the past five months since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5.
The department is examining the legal applicability of January 23 deadline for payment of over Rs 2.4 trillion statutory dues in the case of non- PSUs which were not originally party to AGR matter in the Supreme Court, according to sources.

Sources in the Department of (DoT) told PTI that while the PSUs too have been asked to make payments related to statutory liabilities (after the SC in October upheld government's position on calculation of non-core revenue for AGR dues), the larger question is whether the January 23 deadline is legally enforceable on state-owned companies that were not direct party to the dispute.

The current view that is emerging in the DoT appears to be that the court-imposed timeline may not apply to PSUs, but the matter is being legally examined for clarity.

"Of course, the court has decided the issue of principle of what is AGR, so they (PSUs) have to pay but if they do not pay by January 23 it will not be contempt as it will be in case of the parties to the case. So PSUs have to pay and we have raised demands, but if they do not pay by January 23 it will not amount to contempt of court on their part because they were not party to the case, but they have to pay," a source added.

Another official also said that the issue of deadline for PSUs is being examined legally. Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, on the other hand, are legally bound to comply with the payment timelines stipulated by the apex court.

Following the Supreme Court order of October last year, the DoT estimated that the total liability of 15 telecom companies, including penalties and interest, would be Rs 1.47 trillion.

These AGR liabilities arose after the Supreme Court in October last year upheld the government's position on including revenue from non-telecommunication businesses for calculating the annual AGR of telecom companies, a share of which is paid as licence and spectrum fees to the exchequer.

It has estimated another over Rs 2.4 trillion in liability for non-telecom companies, including state-owned gas utility Ltd and power transmission firm PowerGrid, which had taken licences to trade broadband on optic fibre running along their pipelines and transmission lines.

The DoT has sought Rs 1.72 trillion in past statutory dues from state-owned gas utility Ltd following the Supreme Court's AGR ruling. The DoT sent a letter to GAIL last month seeking these dues on IP-1 and IP-2 licences as well as Internet Service Provider (ISP) licence, in response to which, GAIL has told DoT that it owes nothing more than what it has already paid to the government.

The assessment puts PowerGrid liability at Rs 21,000 crore, and another Rs 40,000 crore liability was assessed of Oil India Ltd. However, a demand notice was served in case of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Ltd for Rs 15,019 crore.
New Delhi: The traditional halwa ceremony which marks the process of printing of budget documents will be held on January 20, that is 10 days ahead of the presentation of the Union budget in the parliament.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be in attendance along with other officials and support staff of the finance ministry who will be involved in the budget preparation.

The ceremony will take place at North Block where the Ministry of Finance and the Home Ministry is situated. The making of halwa is the official kick-start of the event.

Know about the significance halwa ceremony:

In this decades-old tradition, halwa is prepared in a large vessel and served to the finance ministry staff. After the ceremony, the employees who are a part of the budget-making process, move to the basement of North Block for around 10 days to prevent any leaks before the presentation.

Live TV

The budget-making group will be released from the basement only after the Finance Minister's presentation of the Budget in the Lok Sabha is over. The officials involved in the process can only contact their families through designated mobile phones.

The ceremony also functions as a method of recognition to laud the efforts of every staff member who has been a part of the budget-making process.

The Union Budget 2020 will be the seventh consecutive Budget of the present NDA government and it is scheduled to be unveiled in Parliament on February 1.

As per predictions, the government is likely to announce a distressed asset fund of Rs 5,000 crore for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) facing liquidity crunch in the upcoming Budget 2020-21 and it may also bring some relief to the middle-class taxpayers by announcing reductions in the tax rates.

(With agency inputs)
An explosion is seen during an alleged attack of Houthi forces at Saudi positions near the border with Saudi Arabia's southern region of Najran in Yemen, in this still image taken from video on Sept. 29, 2019. (Al Masirah/Houthi Military Media Center/Reuters TV via REUTERS)

60 Killed in Houthi Attack on Camp in Yemens Marib

CAIROIran-aligned Houthis attacked a military training camp in the Yemeni city of Marib on Saturday, killing 60 military and wounding dozens others, Saudi state television said on Saturday evening.

Al Ekhbariya quoted sources as saying the attack was carried out with ballistic missiles and drones.

Iran has been backing a proxy war in the country that has seen the neighboring Saudi Arabia get involved, supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government under Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi fled the capital of Sanaa to seek sanctuary in Saudi Arabia in 2015 after the Houthis took advantage of political unrest following the step down of President Ali Abdullah Saleh in 2012 in response to the Yemeni revolution of Dignity that echoing the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprisings.

From Riyadh in 2015, Hadi saw a Saudi-led coalition intervene, backing his government forces fighting the Iran-allied Houthis. Iran has always denied supplying weapons to the Houthis.

Iran-aligned Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.

With additional reporting by Epoch Times staff.
As SPO, Naveed used to visit Davinders home on quite a few occasions.

Hyderabad: It was about seven years ago that Naveed Ahmed Shah alias Babu, then a newly recruited special police officer (SPO), first came in contact with deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Davinder Singh. Since they belonged to south Kashmir, Naveed, in the course of his duties, would meet his superior regularly, particularly to share information about the terror network in his home town.

Over the years, Naveed was absorbed into the police department as a constable. By then, he had a fair idea of Davinders reputation when it came to making money. Both are then believed to have joined hands as Naveed became a conduit for Davinder to extort money from terror suspects. Their friendship continued till the police arrested them in each others company at Qazigund on January 11.

In a disclosure that has left all agencies working in Jammu and Kashmir red-faced, Davinder revealed to his interrogators that his association with Naveed began seven years ago and remained that way even after the latter joined the ranks of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

Highly placed sources associated with the investigation told The Asian Age that Davinder, who is presently in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), first met Naveed in his office sometime in early 2013. Since Naveed belonged to south Kashmir, he just wanted to call on Davinder and introduce himself. Since Naveed was well-connected with the local populace not only in Shopian but also in Pulwama, he would regularly get information about the movement and designs of terrorists, which he would share with Davinder, who worked in different posts in that period.

Over a period of time, Naveed, a resident of Nazneenpora in Shopian, started working as a conduit for Davinder. As SPO, Naveed used to visit Davinders home on quite a few occasions and used to be seen regularly in his office. Though sources indicated that Naveed had worked under Davinder at some point, the same was not confirmed by senior officials.

There were several underground cadres (working for terror groups) who were in touch with both of them; something that is common in anti-terror operations. Sometimes, these cadres would provide information to buy their own safety and at other times due to ideological differences or tussles between local and foreign militants. Both Davinder and Naveed made the most of this information, making huge money in the process, sources said, adding that Davinder even had a share in the cash rewards on the heads of various terrorists who surrendered.

By the end of 2016 however, Naveed, who had a close association with militants and their handlers across the border, made up his mind to join the ranks of the Hizbul Mujahideen. In 2017, while he was posted at the Food Corporation of Indias premises in Badgams Chandpora, he decamped with four rifles from the guard room and joined the Hizbul Mujahideen. In 2018, he was involved in snatching a weapon from a legislators house.

Even after he joined the Hizbul, Naveed remained in touch with Davinder all through. Sources said that Davinder used to talk to not only Naveed but other militants through him. They would communicate through various apps and therefore, never came on the radar of security agencies. With Naveed in the Hizbul Mujahideen and in a position to pay money, Davinder started helping him and his family members by providing them safe houses and transport besides parting with sensitive information. He ferried Naveed on an earlier occasion as well, they said.

Naveed alias Babu, who is the Hizbul Mujahideens second major commander after Riyaz Naikoo, was behind the killing of 11 truck drivers, non-local labourers, and apple traders in south Kashmir. He was also responsible for the killing of a few policemen. A total 17 FIRs are registered against him.
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumps trade deal with China last week opened up export opportunities for American farmers, manufacturers and energy producers. And his trade pact with Canada and Mexico, approved Thursday by the Senate, could help restore some auto production in the United States.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, center, and members of his staff leave the U.S. Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. Earlier the Senate overwhelmingly approved a new North American trade agreement that rewrites the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico and gives President Donald Trump a major policy win before senators turn their full attention ti his impeachment trial. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trumps trade deal with China last week opened up export opportunities for American farmers, manufacturers and energy producers. And his trade pact with Canada and Mexico, approved Thursday by the Senate, could help restore some auto production in the United States.

Yet perhaps more than anything, last week's twin breakthroughs on trade provided a breather from two chaotic years of Trumpian policymaking  involving threats, truces and heavy U.S. tariffs imposed on friend and foe alike on a scale unseen since the 1930s. The uncertainty had been clouding the economy, causing businesses to delay investments until they knew how the trade turmoil would shake out.

We got trade peace, said Mary Lovely, an economist who studies trade at Syracuse University.

At least for now.

But Lovely and other critics warn that the deal with China leaves unresolved most of the toughest and most complicated issues dividing the worlds two biggest economies and that progress could unravel over time. They also caution that the new North American trade pact, though it might spur some job growth, will likely make American-built cars more expensive and less competitive globally.

Whatever the outcome, the presidents approach to trade marks a clear break with seven decades of U.S. policy that had favoured ever-freer world commerce. Rather than seek to tear down trade barriers and pursue rules designed to benefit all countries, the administration unabashedly embraced an America First agenda. Armed with tariffs, threats and combative rhetoric, it sought to force concessions out of China, Mexico and Canada.

Previous presidents would have said its about win-win, its about trade liberalization, its about global growth, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Trump would say: No, its not. Its about whats good for America ... This is essentially: Might makes right. Were big and important, so we can push other countries around.

Free trade has long been a mutually accepted priority for the world's major industrialized economies. Many trade experts say they worry that in the long run, Trump's relentlessly confrontational stance and eager embrace of tariffs could pose risks to both the U.S. and global economies.

And even as tensions ease at least temporarily with China, the Trump administration is readying tariffs on the European Union over subsidies to the aviation giant Airbus and on France over a digital services tax that targets U.S. tech giants like Google and Amazon.

Here is a closer look at Trumps recent record on trade:

REVAMPING NORTH AMERICAN TRADE

Senators voted 89-10 Thursday to approve Trumps U.S.-Mexico Canada Agreement, a month after the House had passed it 385-41.

The so-called USMCA replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, which had eliminated most trade barriers among the United States, Canada and Mexico.

NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, triggered a surge in trade among the three countries. And it created a regional manufacturing bloc to compete with East Asia and Europe. But Trump and other critics argued that NAFTA cost the United States jobs by encouraging factories to move south to capitalize on low-wage Mexican labourers, who were largely prevented from forming independent unions.

Trumps top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, crafted a replacement trade agreement that is intended, most of all, to return some factory production to the United States.

To qualify for USMCAs duty-free benefits, automakers must derive 75% of their production content from within North America  up from 62.5% under NAFTA. That means more auto content would have to be homegrown in higher-wage North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere.

At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States or Canada  not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount.

After sealing a deal with Canada and Mexico, Lighthizer had to negotiate with Democrats, who had taken control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections. He ended up drawing overwhelming bipartisan support by agreeing to Democratic demands. These included calls to strengthen language meant to ensure that Mexico adopts labour reforms that will encourage unions.

But USMCA could produce negative side effects.

The new content requirements will raise production costs, resulting in higher auto prices, reduced U.S. demand, lower auto exports, and more rapid substitution of machines for workers, Syracuses Lovely and Jeffrey Schott of the Peterson Institute for International Economics concluded in a report last month.

A CEASE-FIRE WITH CHINA

After 18 months of trade combat, the United States and China agreed to an interim truce Wednesday.

Under the so-called Phase 1 deal, Trump scrapped his plan to impose tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese imports, and he halved his import taxes on an additional $110 billion worth. (The administration still maintains tariffs on $360 billion in Chinese products, and Beijing has imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.) In return, China agreed to do more to protect intellectual property and to curb its practice of forcing foreign companies to hand over trade secrets as the price of admission to the Chinese market.

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But the centerpiece of the deal was Chinas vow to buy an extra $200 billion worth of U.S. manufacturing, energy and farm exports this year and next. The mandated purchases are unusual for modern trade agreements. Trade pacts now usually set the rules for commerce but let customer demand sort out who buys how much of what.

Trumps deal is not about competing on price and quality anymore, Lovely said. Were using our market power to force purchases.

Critics wonder whether China is really capable of meeting the targets. Under the deal, for instance, China is supposed to buy $40 billion in U.S. agricultural products a year  a wildly ambitious goal considering that its never bought more than $26 billion a year and that during the trade war it has redirected some of its farm purchases to other exporting countries.

And things could get nasty if the United States decides China isnt living up to its commitments. In an unusual move, the two countries did not arrange to let any disputes go to a neutral arbitrator. Instead, they will try to work out their differences in a series of consultations. If they cant, the United States could impose tariffs  and the deal could unravel.

Perhaps most significantly, the Phase 1 deal did nothing about the U.S. key complaint that China uses illicit trade practices in its drive to surpass the United States in such advanced technologies as robotics and quantum computing. Specifically, it didnt address Beijings massive subsidies for its own tech companies.

Those issues are expected to be taken up in future talks  talks that arent likely to go anywhere until after Novembers U.S. election.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: Students of Amrita Vidyalayam got recognition for their innovative research work from the judging panel at the Fablearn Asia 2020, an international symposium held at King Mongkuts University, Thailand, on Sunday. Six students from Atal Tinkering Lab at Puthiyakavu and Thalassery Amrita Vidyalayam school got words of praise at the symposium. Class IX students Sanjula Sreekumar, Madhumati Anand, Vyshak Ajith, Goutham Mohanraj and Ashok Kumar and Thejus Shyamlal of Class V were appreciated for their research. They were the only children from India to attend the conference, Balakrishna Sankar, associate dean for the School of Engineering told reporters recently.

Sanjula, Madhumati and Vyshak presented their research paper titled Taking off with biodegradable tensegrities: An eco-friendly emergency medical delivery solution at a session during the conference. Goutham and Ashok Kumar from Thalassery Amrita Vidyalayam presented their paper on neuroexo heal which helps in treating stroke patients. The youngest student Thejus has made over 10 innovations in two years, while experimenting with different materials and form sizes for societal applications.
A man was detained by security officals at Chennai airport on Sunday when he shouted 'Down down NPA,' minutes before Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived here to address a pro-CAA event.

Police said the man had arrived at the airport to meet a relative and enquired why there was enhanced security.

On being told that the FM would be arriving here, he shouted 'down down NPA', following which he was detained, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As top world leaders get ready for the 50th WEF Annual Meeting in this Swiss Alpine resort town, the Geneva-based organisation's founder Klaus Schwab on Sunday urged all members and partners of the Forum to commit to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 or earlier.

In letters sent to all WEF members and partners, Schwab underlined the need to put in place concrete measures for a cohesive and sustainable world.

The move comes just ahead of the WEF's annual meeting, starting on Monday and expected to be attended by more than 3,000 world leaders including top CEOs and political leaders including US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The 50th annual meeting will have a theme of 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World'.

In the letter, Schwab said, "The opportunity and the need for companies and investors to show leadership on climate change is more eminent than ever before."



He said committing to tackle the urgent issue of climate change is also in line with the stakeholder imperative of the 2020 Davos Manifesto, a document released by the Forum in December outlining the concept of stakeholder capitalism in the modern era.

The year 2020 also marks the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on climate change. However, the years since have been marked by under-performance at the government and business level in implementing decarbonization policies.

Schwab's request will form a key element to discussions across each industry and community group at the Annual Meeting, with the hope of lending momentum to ongoing efforts by government, business and finance leaders at the beginning of this critical decade.

A number of initiatives are expected to be either launched or advanced this week in Davos and these include ESG (Environmental, social and governance) reporting, net-zero asset owners' alliance, mission possible platform and 1t.org.

The WEF said a common challenge for businesses looking to take action on climate is the lack of a globally accepted standard of measurement. The 140-member International Business Community will meet this week to review and hopefully adopt proposals that could move climate action further into the mainstream.

Besides, a coalition of institutional investors with nearly USD 4 trillion under management has committed to transitioning their portfolios to net-zero emissions by 2050. Members of the alliance include some of the world's largest insurers and pension funds. The alliance is expected to offer an update on activities in a press conference during the WEF Annual Meeting.

The Mission Possible Platform is a public-private partnership aimed at helping industries that rely heavily on fossil fuels such as aviation, maritime, trucking, chemicals and iron and steel transition to a net-zero future.

CEOs from these industries will meet in Davos to discuss the technology, financing and policy interventions needed for a low-carbon transition.

While the battle against climate change can only be won through systemic change across the financial, industrial and energy sectors, vital support in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere can be gained through adopting nature-based solutions. In support of this, a new platform, 1t.org, will be launched to coordinate and scale up efforts to either plant or restore 1 trillion trees by the end of the decade.

According to Net Zero Challenge, 7,000 companies worldwide now voluntarily disclose climate-related data. However, of these, only a small majority have adopted science-based targets aimed at tackling climate change.

The report also notes that among governments, while 121 have declared an ambition to become net-zero by 2050, only seven so far have developed the policy framework to make it happen.

Besides, Blackrock, the world's largest asset manager, has announced a new strategy to put climate at the centre of its investment strategy with plans to, among other things, exit investments with a high sustainability-related risk.

Microsoft has also unveiled an ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2030 and to have offset all the emissions it has made in its entire history by 2050.

At the same time, Nestle has announced it will invest over USD 2 billion in a move towards food-grade sustainable packaging.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu called for a national movement to promote all Indian languages.

Speaking in Chennai on Sunday, the Vice President said that promotion and protection of ancient Indian languages is the need of the hour as they offer a window to our ancient civilisational values, knowledge and wisdom.

Speaking at the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), the vice president called for according a sense of dignity and pride to those who speak, write and communicate in Indian languages. He also urged people to use their mother tongue at home, in the community, in meetings and in administration.

Pointing out the need for a multi-pronged approach to language preservation and development, Naidu opined that the efforts should begin at the primary school level and called for providing basic schooling in a child's mother tongue.

The vice president commended CICT for translating the 'Thirukkural' into all Indian languages and also in some foreign languages. He further called for translation of ancient and popular Tamil texts into Indian and foreign languages for the wider benefit of humanity.

The vice president also visited the International Institute of Tamil Studies, and saw the cultural centre with the permanent exhibition set up to recreate the history of Tamils that has been uncovered through research spread over the decades.
Mumbai will get a mounted police unit for traffic and crowd control post a gap of 88 years, and the horses will be deployed on duty after taking part in the Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Sunday.

Deshmukh said the mounted police unit, which would patrol the streets of the bustling metropolis, was disbanded in 1932 due to growing vehicular traffic.

"Today Mumbai police has modern jeeps and motorcycles. However, it was felt a mounted police unit would be useful for crime patrol in crowded areas. Accordingly, for the first time since Independence, Mumbai will have mounted police unit," he told reporters at a press conference.

He said horses in the unit can be used for crowd control during festivals and marches, at beaches and the rider can keep watch from a good height, and claimed a policeman on horseback was equal to 30 personnel on the ground.

He said the unit could be replicated in cities like Pune and Nagpur, among others, as well.

In the next six months, the unit will comprise 30 horses apart from a sub-inspector, one assistant PSI, four havaldars and 32 constables.

"At present, 13 horses have been purchased and the rest will be bought in the next six months. A stable will be built on a 2.5 acre plot at Marol (in suburban Andheri)," he informed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Pennsylvania man who kept his entire life savings in a Tupperware container is suing the federal government after the money - $82,373 in cash - was seized at an airport after DEA agents deemed it 'suspicious'.

Terrence Rolin, 79, and his daughter Rebecca Brown are the lead plaintiffs in a federal class action lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Institute for Justice which accuses the Drug Enforcement Administration and Transportation Security Administration of 'treating American citizens like criminals' by seizing large amounts of cash from airline passengers without evidence of an underlying crime.

Brown was visiting her father in Pittsburgh in August when he asked her to put his cash in a joint checking account.

She was flying back home to Boston to do that when TSA and DEA agents at Pittsburgh International Airport noticed the large sum of cash and began questioning her.

Brown said she had checked the TSA website beforehand to confirm that she could fly with that amount of money, and the site didn't say that anything would prohibit her from doing so.

A DEA agent asked Brown to put her father on the phone so he could verify her story about where the cash came from, but Rolin, who is suffering mental decline, was unable to verify some of the details, she said.

'He just handed me the phone and said: "Your stories don't match. We're seizing the cash,"' Brown recalled.

Terrence Rolin, 79, and his daughter Rebecca Brown (pictured together) are suing the DEA and TSA after Rolin's entire life savings - $82,373 - was seized at an airport in Pittsburgh last fall

The DEA notified Brown that it was seeking to permanently forfeit Rolin's life savings - leaving the retired railroad engineer unable to pay for dental work or repairs to his truck, his primary means of transportation.

'My father and his parents worked hard for this money, and the government shouldn't be able to reach into his pocket and take it,' Brown said a press release announcing the lawsuit.

'We did nothing wrong and haven't been charged with any crime, yet the DEA is trying to take my father's life savings. His savings should be returned right away, and the government should stop taking money from Americans who are doing something completely legal.'

'We did nothing wrong and haven't been charged with any crime, yet the DEA is trying to take my father's life savings. His savings should be returned right away, and the government should stop taking money from Americans who are doing something completely legal,' Brown (pictured) said in a press release announcing the lawsuit

The lawsuit claims that Rolin, a retired railroad engineer, has been unable to pay for repairs to his truck or dental work after his money was seized by the federal government

The Institute for Justice, a Virginia-based public interest law firm, charges that Brown and Rolin's predicament is not uncommon as the DEA has a history of abusing a practice called civil asset forfeiture, which allows authorities to seize cash and property suspected of being connected to criminal activity, even if the owner is not charged with a crime.

The lawsuit argues that the DEA's apparent policy of seizing money from travelers without probable cause when it exceeds $5,000 violates their Fourth Amendment rights.

'You don't forfeit your constitutional rights when you try to board an airplane. It is time for TSA and federal law enforcement to stop seizing cash from travelers simply because the government considers certain amounts of cash "suspicious,"' Dan Alban, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice, said in the press release.

'We are trying to bring about institutional change and fix this terribly broken civil forfeiture system.'

Rolin and Brown are the lead plaintiffs in a federal class action lawsuit filed Wednesday by the Institute of Justice which accuses the Drug Enforcement Administration and Transportation Security Administration of 'treating American citizens like criminals' by seizing large amounts of cash from airline passengers without evidence of an underlying crime

A 2016 investigation by USA Today found that the DEA had seized more than $209million from at least 5,200 travelers at 15 major airports across the previous decade.

Police groups have argued that civil forfeiture is a vital tool in disrupting drug trafficking by targeting its illicit proceeds.

A 2017 report by the Justice Department Inspector General found that the DEA had seized more than $4billion in cash from individuals suspected of drug activity over the previous decade - but $3.2billion of those seizures never resulted in criminal charges.

The majority of the seizures were made at airports, train stations, and bus terminals, where DEA agents maintain a network of travel industry employees who act as confidential informants.

The DEA was reprimanded by the Justice Department in 2016 after the revelation that a TSA screener had been recruited as an informant and promised a cut of any forfeited cash he discovered.
Police endured a gruelling period of call-outs after a series of violent crimes rocked Perth over the weekend.

The city's inner suburbs have suffered a turbulent 15-hour period of violence, including a suspected murder, shooting, stabbing, and a suspicious death.

The string of violent incidents kicked off early Saturday with the death of a 46-year-old man who was found unresponsive in his Atwell home.

Perth, and the city's inner suburbs, endured a turbulent 15-hour period of violent crimes over the weekend

Police believe the victim may have been involved in an altercation earlier near Narrows Bridge in South Perth, somewhere between the bridge and the intersection of Mill Point Road and Harper Terrace.

He was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital around 4.30am where he later died.

Hours later, in a separate incident, another man was shot in the leg on Parker Street, South Perth, in what police believe was a targeted attack.

The man was driven to Royal Perth Hospital about 6am on Saturday with the non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

'At this time the incident is not believed to be a random incident,' WA Police said in a statement.

In Beaconsfield, about 20km south of the city's CBD, a 39-year-old man was also stabbed in throat at his own home.

Police are looking to question Jarrad William Nash, 23, after stabbing in Beaconsfield

The suspect was reported to have arrived at the house around 9pm looking to speak to a woman.

After he was asked to leave, the knifeman became violent and slashed the man's throat.

The victim was taken to the hospital where he underwent surgery on Sunday.

Police are now looking to question 23-year-old Jarrad William Nash over the incident and have warned members of the public to not approach him.

Nash is believed to be armed and dangerous and has links to a bikie gang, the West Australian reported.

Police have also launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead in her home in another incident hours later on Saturday afternoon.

The victim was discovered in Balcatta after a man in his 20s walked into Mirrabooka police station at 12.15pm with information on her death.

The man was arrested and remains in custody.
People are totally divided over whether Meghan is an angel or a devil.

How seriously should we take the media? And how seriously should the media take itself? Should it be hysterical and intrusive, or calm and inclusive? These have been some of the questions raised by the event that has overshadowed Brexit: Megxit (as it has been so unelegantly called). Was this a storm waiting to happen, or was it the fault of another dratted American divorcee yet again?

The exit of Meghan and Harry, the soon-to-be-former Duchess and Duke of Sussex, to another country to escape the media glare, the giving up of their titles, and now their offer to pay for the refurbishment of their home in UK, Frogmore House, is not just a storm in an ongoing reality show. It also speaks about the enormous difficulty of maintaining majestic dignity in the face of constant social media assaults. Who needs the Kardashians, when we have the Windsors? Brexit is past. We are now divided by Megxit.

The tabloids have had a love-hate relationship with royalty, that is nothing new. It is only the Queen that they adore; though even her mystique has been dented worldwide with the airing of The Crown. But no one could have anticipated the extent of the current crisis. I have to say one is feeling rather sorry for Meghan, Harry and little Archie. To have to leave their homes to get peace of mind has been difficult enough, but it seems the tabloids will still not back off. There is little acknowledgment of the bullying behaviour they have indulged in. Anyone who has been trolled and abused will understand. To be subject to this constant barrage for a young mother would have been scary.

The Sussexes kept trying to find refuge for the past one year; by physically removing themselves from London and shifting to Frogmore, by not appearing in public than was strictly necessary, by even disappearing over Christmas. Harry still carries scars of what happened to his mother, because no matter how far she ran, there was always a camera spying on her.

Yet instead of a deep introspection, and the drawing up of new rules by the media regulatory authority, the tabloids have further turned it into an Ekta Kapoor serial. Or a game of Lets Blame The Bride, because she is alienating her young husband from his family, while the grandmother is stoic as she tells the country she will bear up. People are totally divided over whether Meghan is an angel or a devil. A fierce quarrel erupted on BBC Question Time last Friday between the actor Laurence Fox and a guest on the show, academic Rachel Boyle, who called him a white privileged man for criticising Meghan. He tweeted later that he was drinking all of these leftist tears nonchalantly.

There is even a court scene coming in the near future with the young royals facing the Daily Mail in an explosive case. Her estranged father will appear against her and for the tabloid she is suing. For a climax to a TV serial you could not do better.

But where will they go and settle? Canada has been rumoured as a destination. When they were last there, Justin Trudeau said Come back again anytime. The Canadian high commission treated them to a dinner and served them their favourite chocolate dessert from Vancouver Island, possibly their intended Canadian home. Now that it could become a reality, Canadian newspapers have launched their own war. The largest selling newspaper, Globe, has raised the issue of who is going to pay for their security. Not Canada, it says. But then, it has been suggested that Harry could be appointed governor-general of Canada (for life?). That will solve problems of who pays for their security and also give an income to suit their style. Meanwhile, the erstwhile royals will need jobs: Meghan will no doubt return to the world of show business and is already doing a voiceover (where the proceeds will go to charity) and Harry will have to find a job suitable for an ex-royal.

The really serious charge is that Meghan quit because of racism. Could that have been the case, apart from the constant media intrusion into her life? I find this a little problematic  because whilst one has not personally experienced it, I know that some people still find the UK a racist nation, even as you climb higher into more and more protected and privileged circles. But this is not unusual in situations where power is held by a few. A conservative royal household which runs on tradition may have been stifling for an outsider.

Despite the challenges, the young couple has handled their departure from the royal household frontline as best they could. They are obviously keen to bring up their young son in a less frenetic environment. However, they will have sacrificed a lot  a regular and large income, a luxurious life, endless publicity, and the undoubted love from many of the British people. Thus, instead of indulging in outrage and criticism, the tabloids and social media ranters should consider toning down their pursuit of celebrity gossip. They must learn to draw the line between private and public space. And perhaps stricter government rules need to be drawn up on how to treat the UKs best known brand, the royals.
Actor Saif Ali Khan has spoken about the altered political narrative of films such as Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, calling it an idea that has caught on but is dangerous. The actor plays Mughal general Udaybhan Rathod in the film, the nemesis of Maratha subedar Tanaji Malusare who was played by Ajay Devgn.

In an interview with journalist Anupama Chopra, Saif called the role delicious and said his issue with the films politics stems from an individual point of view and not as an actor.

For some reason I didnt take a stand maybe next time I would, Saif said, adding, I was very excited to play the role because its a delicious role. But when people say this is history; I dont think this is history. I am quite aware of what the history was.

Tanhaji propagates the idea of Swaraj as early as the 17th century. I dont think there was a concept of India till perhaps the British gave it one. I dont think there is really any constructive point in arguing about loudly, provided you yourself know why youre doing it, Saif, a self-confessed history buff, added.

ALSO WATCH | Saif Ali Khan on his character in upcoming film Jawaani Jaaneman

History would be in the realm of the intelligent. Someone being taught that in schools today should not quote it internationally. They will be corrected and told that they are wrong, he said.

Explaining why the Hindi film industry is making films such as Tanhaji, Saif accepted that this is what runs and therefore an idea that has caught on. I would really like to a part of a film industry that would take a stand that wouldnt make mass kind of films like that. Films that would rather say hey this is what history is rather than mould it to certain kind of belief. But people say that is what runs and thats whats given it the extra kind of bump, I mean its more than just action movie. Theres an idea there that seems to have caught on, but certainly a dangerous idea.

Saif said it was unfortunate that artists and intelligentsia, supposed to be the most liberal and most informed voices in the country, were taking a populist approach. Its not great, but it is what it is, the actor summed it up.

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Long after being sacked from their positions by the courts, some politicians elected into the 9th session of the Senate have their names still on the official roll call of Nigerian senators.

Days of scrutinizing the website of the National Assembly show that at least seven senators who are not supposed to be on the list have their names among the 109 on the website.

Six of the seven senators have been sacked by courts in various judgments, while the seventh died almost a month ago.

Benjamin Uwajumogu, who passed away on December 18. is also yet to be removed from the list of the Nigerian senators.

Prominent among those still occupying the nominal roll are ex-Zamfara governor Abdulaziz Yari, Dino Melaye who represented Kogi West and Adedayo Adeyeye who was briefly the senator for Ekiti South.

Others sacked by the courts are Abubakar Tambuwal, Tijjani Kaura and Christopher Ekpenyong.

Of the six sacked senators, five have already been replaced by others while one is awaiting election rerun to determine if he will retain his seat or not.

Never in the Senate

More shocking of the gaffe is the case of Messrs Yari and Kaura, another politician from Zamfara, who never took oath into the 9th Senate.

Both Messrs Yari and Kaura had their elections nullified by the Supreme Court in a landmark judgment which sacked all Zamfara candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for improper primaries. They had not been inaugurated before their sack.

Of the three Zamfara senators-elect affected by the Supreme Courts May 24 2019 judgment, only a former minister, Ikra Bilbis, has his name replaced with that of the actual occupant of the seat, Hassan Gusau.

The court judgment saw Lawan Hassan taking over the seat for Zamfara West, initially declared for Mr Yari while Yau Sahabi took up the slot for Zamfara North constituency which was initially declared for Mr Kaura.

Melaye Still In

Sacked by the court and defeated at a rerun, erstwhile senator representing Kogi West, Mr Melaye, still has his name as the representative of the Okun people in the Senate, as against Smart Adeyemi who took over the seat on December 4.

Sacked senators still on Senate website as lawmakers

On October 11, 2019, a Court of Appeal panel in Abuja affirmed the decision of the election petitions tribunal to sack Mr Melaye from the upper chamber. The court ordered a rerun election.

At the end of a hard-fought election, Mr Melaye lost to his arch-rival, APCs Mr Adeyemi, who was defeated for the seat by Mr Melaye in 2015.

Other Cases

In Sokoto, Abubakar Tambuwal, who was sacked by the Court of Appeal in October has remained on the Senates list. The court ordered INEC to issue certificate of return to Ibrahim Danbaba, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Though he has since assumed his legislative duties, Mr Danbaba is yet to have his name replace that of Mr Tambuwal on the website.

Adedayo Adeyeye, who was sworn in at the inception of the 9th Senate to represent Ekiti South Constituency was sacked by the Court of Appeal on November 6, 2019 and replaced with PDPs Abiodun Olujimi.

Sacked senators still on Senate website as lawmakers

But while Mrs Olujimi has taken her seat in the Red Chamber, her name is yet to be listed among the senators on the Senates webpage which still carries Mr Adeyeyes name.

Another name still on the Senate list is Bassey Ekpenyong, a senator facing a rerun election after he was sacked by court in November.

Sacked senators still on Senate website as lawmakers

Mr Ekpenyong who was declared winner of the Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial seat following the February 23, 2019 election was sacked by the Court of Appeal panel sitting in Calabar on November 9, 2019.

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But the senators name still fills the slot of the Akwa Ibom North-west slot in the Senate.

No Response

Calls put through the known telephone line of Senate spokesperson, Godiya Akwashiki, did not go through for days as the number remained switched off.

A text message sent to the line requesting for clarification on the misnomer was also not replied up to the time of filing this story.

Also, Janet Mambila, director of information of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) did not answer repeated calls put across to her on Thursday.

But a source at the NASC who is not authorised to speak said the management of the National Assembly website is in the hands of the leadership of the Assembly, not the National Assembly Service Commission.
Yemen missile, drone attack kills at least 70 soldiers



Dubai, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2020



At least 70 Yemeni soldiers have been killed in missile and drone attacks blamed on Huthi rebels, on a mosque in the central province of Marib, medical and military sources said Sunday.

Saturday's strike follows months of relative calm in the war between the Iran-backed Huthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.

The Huthis attacked a mosque in a military camp in Marib -- about 170 kilometres (105 miles) east of the capital Sanaa -- during evening prayers, military sources told AFP.

A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where the casualties were transported, said that at least 70 soldiers were killed and more than 50 injured in the strike.

The attack came a day after coalition-backed government forces launched a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Naham region, north of Sanaa.

Fighting in Naham was ongoing on Sunday, a military source said according to the official Saba news agency.

"Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured," the source added.

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the "cowardly and terrorist" attack on the mosque, Saba reported.

"The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," it quoted Hadi as saying.

The Huthis did not make any immediate claim of responsibility and the Saba report did not give a death toll.



- 'De-escalation cannot be sustained' -



The uptick in violence comes shortly after United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed a sharp reduction in air strikes and the movement of ground forces.

"We are surely, and I hope this is true and I hope it will remain so, witnessing one of the quietest periods of this conflict," he said in a briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday.

"Experience however tells us that military de-escalation cannot be sustained without political progress between the parties, and this has become the next challenge."

A year after Yemen's warring sides agreed to a UN-brokered truce for the key Red Sea port city of Hodeida and its surroundings, fighting in the province has subsided but the slow implementation of the deal has quashed hopes for an end to the conflict.

The landmark agreement signed in Sweden in December 2018 had been hailed as Yemen's best chance so far to end the fighting that has pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war that has ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the conflict to back the government against the Huthis in March 2015, shortly after the rebels seized control of Sanaa.

A senior UN official warned Thursday that certain key factors that threatened to trigger a famine in Yemen last year were once again looming large, including a plunge in the value of the national currency.

"With a rapidly depreciating rial and disrupted salary payments, we are again seeing some of the key conditions that brought Yemen to the brink of famine a year ago," Ramesh Rajasingham, who coordinates humanitarian aid in Yemen, told the UN Security Council.

"We must not let that happen again," he said.
The Colour of Music Festival, featuring professional black classical musicians, convenes in Charleston Jan. 29-Feb. 1. Concerts will be offered at three intimate venues: the Murray Center (14 George St.), Edmonston-Alston House (21 East Battery) and Middleton Place Pavilion (4300 Ashley River Road).

Participating musicians hail from France, Britain, Colombia, the Caribbean and the U.S.

The festival features a variety of chamber music, including a performance of Mendelssohn's famed Octet in E-flat Major.

Clarinetist Robert L. Davis will perform in clarinet quintets by Mozart and Samuel Coleridge Taylor.

Violinist Anyango Yarbo-Davenport and pianist Kyle P. Walker join in performances of quintets by Florence B. Price and Johannes Brahms.

Coming off of a remarkable fall season of masterwork gems with 88 musicians on stage at Nashvilles Vanderbilt University and 60-plus musicians at historic Chappelle Auditorium at Allen University, we are thrilled to showcase a more intimate program, which we are calling our Charleston winter showcase. said Lee Pringle, founder and artistic director of the Colour of Music Festival.

Since 2013, the festival has provided a stage in Charleston for classically trained black musicians. In recent years, the festival has traveled to college campuses for performances in Atlanta, Houston, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Washington, D.C.

For a complete listing of events, more information about the performers and tickets, go to www.colourofmusic.org.
Not only about rights, but duties as well: CJI Bobde on citizenship law

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 19: Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde said that citizenship was not only about people's rights, but also about their duties towards the society.

Speaking at the 107th convocation of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU), he lamented that some educational institutes have become "extremely commercially-minded" and said developing intelligence and character was the true goal of education.

"Today, education is proliferating. Unfortunately there are some institutes, I am not talking about universities, which have become extremely commercially-minded. I say this from my personal knowledge of certain institutes which profess to teach law," he said.

Wont rest until every refugee from Pak is given citizenship: Shah

"The most important question we should address is what is the purpose of university education. Universities are not about brick and mortar certainly. Universities aren't supposed to function like assembly line of a production unit," the CJI said.

"It is also very important to emphasise that university degrees are not end in themselves, but are means to an end. Most importantly, the idea of university reflects what we want to achieve as a society. Universities should re-orient themselves and ensure that they stay true to the compass and march on towards the basic goal of the society, which undoubtedly changes at different times," he added.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

On education, the CJI said, "Closely connected with idea of education is the idea of discipline and I understand that there is a growing resentment in some areas about the idea of discipline. But the word discipline does not mean what it has come to mean today.Discipline comes from the word disciple and the word disciple comes from learning. It is the state of mind in which one can learn endlessly any subject. Education is the state of mind for disciples and that state of mind is discipline."

"Martin Luther (King Jr) is again somebody who was concerned with discipline and indiscipline as we know it. He said something very insightful. He said the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and critically. Intelligence plus character- that is the true goal of education," Bobde said.

Research and thinking are important and must be undertaken in the ultimate analysis, he said, adding, "It is equally important, if not more, for the graduating students to realise what is expected from them by the society. It must be realised that in the society, interdependence is as important as independence."

"A university degree gives tools to chisel one's future. What one carves out through the help of these tools is the choice and wisdom of the craftsmen. Tools don't chisel on their own, one needs to be guided by moral compass that resides within", he said.

Amit Shah attacks Congress, terms those against CAA 'anti-dalits'

"You all have a responsibility to be an active citizen too and citizenship isn't only about rights but it is equally about duties towards society," the CJI said.

"What you are today is of course the outcome of your rigour, but it is important to realise that you also reap benefits what helped you was created by others. Therefore, we can't remain oblivious to the well-being of others," said CJI Bobde.

Calling the RTMNU his alma mater, he said, "It is now that one realises the true meaning of why it is called an alma mater. University is indeed like a mother. It nourishes its children with knowledge, skills and protects them throughout their lives," he said.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 8:53 [IST]
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

An external professor and member of the science board at Santa Fe Institute has been placed on paid leave by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, after a new report shed new light on the MIT faculty members relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Seth Lloyd, a tenured professor of mechanical engineering who has ties with the

Santa Fe Institute dating back to 1988, had received $225,000 of the $850,000 that Epstein foundations had donated to MIT, with all but $100,000 of the total received by the prestigious Cambridge school after Epsteins 2008 conviction for solicitation of prostitution in Florida.

Epstein, a billionaire financier who had a fascination for abstract concepts and young women and girls, had over the years also given $275,000 to SFI, a renowned complexity science research and education center located on Hyde Park Road. But only $25,000 was donated to SFI after Epstein pleaded guilty to the Florida charges.

Last month, SFI donated $25,000 to Solace Crisis Treatment Center, a Santa Fe-based non-profit that works to empower victims of sexual violence and other trauma.

While MIT has said it would contribute an amount equivalent to the all of the contributions it received from Epstein to his victims or organizations that work on behalf of victims of sexual violence, SFI told the Journal late last year that it

doesnt plan to give away any more than the $25,000 it received from Epstein after his conviction.

Nor does it appear that SFI is taking any action regarding Lloyd, as MIT did.

As far as I know, SFI does not have plans to follow suit, though its worth noting that as an external professor, Seth is not actually on our payroll, SFI spokeswoman Jenna Marshall wrote in an email to the Journal.

She did not respond to follow up questions she invited the Journal to submit.

Besides making contributions to SFI, Epstein, who investigators determined died by suicide in a New York jail in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving dozens of girls, had at least one other tie to New Mexico. He owned a ranch in southern Santa Fe County that according to New York Times reporting last year he planned to use as a base to impregnate women in order to seed the human race with his DNA.

Student pressure

MIT has been under pressure from some students and alumni to sever its ties with Lloyd.

Joi Ito, director of MITs Media Lab, the institutes research laboratory that was the beneficiary of most of the contributions Epstein made to the Cambridge university, was forced to resign in September.

The new MIT report released Jan. 10, conducted by the Goodwin Proctor LLC and commissioned by the university to better understand the extent of Epsteins interactions with the school, states that both Ito and Lloyd deliberately concealed donations from Epstein, something Lloyd denies. He was placed on leave that same day.

In October, Eleanor Graham, a student in one of Lloyds classes, set off a string of guest columns slanted against Lloyd that appeared in The Tech, a weekly student newspaper. In it, she wrote that allowing Lloyd to continue to teach at MIT puts the next generation of scientists in a difficult position.

The opportunity to study quantum computation should not be restricted by how easily you can put aside your moral discomfort regarding a man who takes money from pedophiles as a supposed act of charity, wrote Graham, who ended up dropping the class. By continuing to teach, by continuing to be a part of the scientific community, Seth Lloyd is continuing to do harm.

Later that month, MIT Students Against War staged a silent protest outside of Lloyds classroom, prompting Lloyd to conduct his lecture over a video link with police officers guarding both the classroom where the students were and the one in which Lloyd gave his talk.

During Parents Weekend last fall, the group printed hundreds of posters with messages like Seth Lloyd Must Go and posted them around campus.

The group demanded Lloyds resignation and pressured MIT President Rafael Reif to get rid of him. When he at first didnt take action with Lloyd, they called for Reifs resignation and staged protests that were anything but silent.

Alonso Espinosa-Dominguez, an MIT senior majoring in mathematics, said in an email to the Journal that Reif told them that all he could do was ask the provost and Lloyds department head to look into options. But it was Rief who eventually placed Lloyd on leave.

Which means Reif had more authority than he let on initially, said Espinosa-Dominguez, who is also one of the co-founders of MIT Students Against War.

He says that Reif placed Lloyd on leave pending the department heads determination of appropriate action.

But we do not trust that MIT will not simply decide that the appropriate action is to reinstate him once the media attention dies down, and so we intend to continue applying pressure, he said.

Espinosa-Dominguez said that keeping Lloyd on staff at MIT sends the wrong message.

People like Seth Lloyd, Joi Ito, and all the other high-profile scientists, business people, publicists, etc., who over the years continued to vouch for Epstein, despite all the obvious evidence available of his multiple sex crimes against women and underage girls and his overall patriarchal attitude toward women, directly enabled him, he wrote. This is reflective of a broader issue in our society wherein, especially in elite, male circles, sexual predators and the commodification of women are widely tolerated and enabled. If MIT were serious about combatting this grave issue which plagues it, science, and society overall, they would take the basic step of parting ways with Lloyd.

Lloyds SFI associations

Lloyds association with SFI started four years after its founding in 1984.

One of the founders was Murray Gell-Mann, under whom Lloyd studied applications of information to quantum-mechanical systems while a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology.

Gell-Mann, a professor at the University of New Mexico in the 1990s and early 2000s who died in Santa Fe last year, was friendly with Epstein and acknowledged Epsteins financial contributions to SFI in his 1994 book The Quark and the Jaguar, Adventures in the Simple and the Complex. The New Times reported he was also a guest of Epstein at dinners and scientific conferences.

According to the MIT report, Lloyd was introduced to Epstein by his book agent at a dinner in 2004. Lloyd told investigators that he received his first contribution from Epstein in 2005 or 2006.

Epstein was first investigated for committing sex crimes with children in 2005 after a parent of a 14-year-old girl contacted police in Palm Beach, Florida. A probable cause affidavit was filed by police in 2006.

But there was something unusual about that first donation of $60,000.

In a possible violation of MIT policies and certainly in violation of MIT norms, Professor Lloyd deposited the gift into a personal bank account and did not report it to MIT, the report states.

In a statement Lloyd posted last week on the online publishing platform medium.com  the same website Lloyd published an apology to Epsteins victims in August  Lloyd explained that Epstein offered him a personal grant for his research and told him to set up a nonprofit as a vehicle to accept the grant. That took a long time, he said, and Epstein ended up giving him the money as a gift, on which he paid a gift tax. The money was used to support his scientific research, he said.

He also said that he wasnt then aware of any accusations of sexual misconduct against Epstein.

At the time that I accepted the 2006 grant (years before his 2008 conviction), my knowledge was that Epstein was a wealthy individual who liked to support science, and so accepting an unrestricted personal grant from him for performing scientific research was unproblematic, he said.

Later, Lloyd visited Epsteins private island near St. Thomas, where it is now alleged that Epstein committed many of his sex crimes. A lawsuit against Epsteins estate filed last week by the government of the U.S. Virgin Islands alleges Epstein raped and otherwise sexually abused girls, some as young as 12 and as recently as 2018, after he lured them to the island of Little St. James.

The MIT report says Lloyd attended a lunch there with other scientists and was only there for a few hours.

Visit to Epstein

Even after Epsteins conviction, Lloyd continued to carry on a relationship with Epstein and accept money from him. The Goodwin Proctor report for MIT says Lloyd made efforts to hide the source of two $50,000 donations in 2012, which were unsolicited, and a $125,000 contribution in 2017.

Those donations came after Lloyd visited Epstein while he was serving his 18-month sentence on the 2008 conviction. This was no jailhouse meeting, however. It occurred in an office Epstein used while on work release during what has been criticized as an exceptionally light sentence.

Lloyd later explained that in continuing his relationship with Epstein he felt he could help with his rehabilitation.

The report indicates that Lloyd and Ito fostered a relationship with Epstein in an effort to obtain funding for their research but they didnt want others to know the money was coming from Epstein.

The fact-finding revealed that, despite Epsteins criminal record, and his registration as a sex offender, Professor Lloyd and former Media Lab Director Ito attempted to cultivate Epstein as a potential source of research and program funding and drove the efforts to obtain donations from and through him, the report states.

This took place while MIT was working to limit Epsteins donations, and affiliation with, MIT.

In summary, Professor Lloyd knew that donations from Epstein would be controversial and that MIT might reject them, the report states. We conclude that, in concert with Epstein, he purposefully decided not to alert the Institute to Epsteins criminal record, choosing instead to allow mid-level administrators to process the donations without any formal discussion or diligence concerning Epstein. In his interview, Professor Lloyd acknowledged that he had been professionally remiss in not alerting MIT to Epsteins criminal record.

Lloyds statement last week characterizes things differently.

I didnt hide the fact that Epstein was donating money to MIT. Nor did I conspire with Epstein to avoid any vetting process, he wrote. I actively inquired about MITs proper procedures for accepting donations, and I followed them to the letter.

But the Goodwin Proctor report found that one of the 2012 donations listed Lesley Groff, an assistant to Epstein and now a defendant and co-conspirator in civil cases against Epstein, was handling the contribution on the donors end.

The only reasonable inference is that Professor Lloyd did this to obscure the fact that Epstein was the donor and to hinder any possible due diligence or vetting by MIT, the report says.

This, too, Lloyd denies.

The accusation that I hid Epsteins identity from MIT, which is leveled in the recently released Goodwin Proctor report, is completely false, he wrote. I never hid the identity of Epstein as the donor prior to the donation being accepted. I facilitated the submission of the donation approval request to the MIT officers exactly so they could vet it. MIT knew that the donor was Epstein and fully approved the donation with this knowledge.

Lloyd said he wasnt trying to diminish his mistakes or make excuses for his lapse of judgment, which will continue to weigh on my conscience for the rest of my life.

Lloyd declined to be interviewed by the Journal. He did alert the Journal to the statement he posted last week.

I will not be commenting further at the moment, he added.

(Editors Note: MIT President Rafael Reifs name was misspelled in the original version of this story)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday blamed the international community for not showing immediate response against the ongoing civil war in Libya, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

"The reckless actions of (Khalifa) Haftar and his supporters, which publicly violated the UN Security Council resolutions, have long been neglected," Erdogan told reporters at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, before departing for Berlin to attend an international conference on Libya.

Libya has been torn by a raging civil war between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army led by Haftar.

The Berlin conference will be joined by envoys from the United States, Russia, Britain, France, China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Republic of the Congo, Italy, Egypt and Algeria, as well as the representatives of the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League.

The participants will discuss the ways to end the civil war in Libya, with a hope to convince the warring parties of the need for a sustainable truce.

When asked about the exclusion of Greece from the peace talks in Berlin, Erdogan said Athens is in "serious discomfort" for not being invited.

On Friday, Haftar had talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias during his unexpected visit to Athens.

"Haftar's talks in Greece have no value," Erdogan remarked.

The previous cease-fire talks on Libya in Russia's capital Moscow failed to achieve a resolution after Haftar left without signing the deal.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 18:50:13|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's civil affairs authorities helped 10,195 people find their families in 2019, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said Sunday.

The ministry carried out trial work of facial recognition at rescue centers around the country, requiring all of those without clear identification be reported to police for DNA collection, said Wang Jinhua, a ministry official, at a press conference.

Compared with 2015, the number of people displaced for long periods of time was reduced by over 60,000, Wang said.

Civil affairs authorities also offered rescue and help to over 1 million homeless and beggars with no means of living in 2019, including 169,000 seniors aged above 60 and 156,000 with mental or physical disabilities.

Wang said civil affairs authorities and rescue centers around the country will step up joint patrol with relevant departments this winter for the safety of the homeless and beggars.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

For decades, even if authorities had a DNA sample the only suspects they could identify were people who had already passed through the criminal justice system  mainly convicted felons and people who had been arrested for certain crimes.

But now, with the advent of forensic genetic genealogy, investigators can tap into a whole new database: one in which users  typically middle-aged with disposable income  willingly send their DNA to a private company to learn more about their heritage, long lost relatives and family ties.

Investigators are using that database to track down suspects whose DNA has not made its way into the criminal records.

These are the people who are married, they barely get a traffic ticket, said Kyle Hartsock, special agent in charge of the Crime Strategies Unit of the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office. No one knows and they generally can get away with this stuff because their life may be a little more stable in those areas so theyre not running into those other felony cases.

Angel Gurule fits that bill.

On Christmas Eve afternoon of 2015, a woman jogging in the bosque was violently raped. Last week investigators with the District Attorneys Office and the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office arrested Gurule, now 23, at his parents home, less than half a mile from the site of the attack.

Although he had been named as a suspect in an earlier sexual assault, his DNA had not been collected to be put into a law enforcement database. Otherwise, his only other court record is a speeding ticket.

Last week the District Attorneys Office announced that Gurule is, as far as anyone knows, the first suspect identified using forensic genetic genealogy in New Mexico.

Investigators took DNA from the womans rape kit and submitted the sample to GEDmatch, an open source database site that analyzes user information from many different genealogy sites. Eventually they used DNA matches from the site to zero in on Gurule.

Its a strategy that has some in law enforcement champing at the bit, excited to take on new cases.

However, defense attorneys and civil rights advocates have expressed some concern. Its unclear who Gurules lawyer is and his next court hearing is this week.

I have been thinking about this, said Chief Public Defender Bennett Baur, with the Law Office of the Public Defender. We support science that accurately identifies perpetrators, but theres a long history of the use of science in the courtroom that has been found to be flawed in its application, for instance bite mark analysis, polygraphs, photo lineups. A lot of those things in practice are flawed because of the ways theyre implemented.

Golden State Killer

In May, after considerable media and law enforcement attention, GEDmatch changed its policies so users have to opt in to allow their information to be viewed by investigators.

Forensic genetic genealogy had emerged as a law enforcement tool about a year earlier in 2018 when authorities announced an arrest in a 40-year-old cold case in northern California.

Detectives identified Joseph James DeAngelo, a former police officer in his 70s as the Golden State Killer by uploading his DNA into GEDmatch, finding his distant relatives and working backward through their family trees to find him.

Since then about 60 violent crimes around the country have been solved using GEDmatch, according to CEO Brett Williams of Verogen, a for-profit company that bought the site late last year. He said the database includes about 1.3 million users. He didnt respond to questions about how many users have chosen to allow law enforcement to access their information.

The 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office began its Albuquerque investigation in June so everyone it found through the site had consented to be contacted by law enforcement. Most were eager to share what they knew.

I will note that we were very careful in terms of only working with open source databases that have changed their privacy policies so that only individuals who have opted in and allowed law enforcement access (show up), District Attorney Raul Torrez said. I think that was critically important.

GEDmatch policy specifies its database may be used only by law enforcement working to solve violent crimes, including murder, non-negligent manslaughter, aggravated rape, robbery or aggravated assault.

And in November the Department of Justice issued its interim policy on forensic genetic genealogy investigations, saying the technique must be used in a manner consistent with the requirements and protections of the Constitution and other legal authorities.

The policy states that genealogy research should not be considered the only basis for an arrest and a case requires additional investigative work, including collecting the identified suspects DNA and uploading it into Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to see if its a match.

Furthermore, the DOJ says genealogy research should be used only in an unsolved violent crime, meaning any homicide, sex crime or other serious and criminal offenses authorized by a genealogy service.

The policies apply to federal investigations as well as those by state or local agencies that are funded by a federal grant.

Were not bound by it, Torrez said. But as a matter of practical policy since its the first time weve done it we talked about doing this and said lets just adhere to DOJ guidelines so we dont cast a net that is too wide in terms of going after cases that we shouldnt.

Privacy rights

These policies are not enough to totally ease the concerns of defense attorneys and civil rights advocates.

Although no one from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico was available for an interview on the subject, nationally attorneys for the organization have written opinion pieces urging lawmakers, the courts and law enforcement to ensure peoples rights to privacy arent violated.

And others worry about the privacy of people who are mistakenly zeroed in on through a genetic connection, even if they are eventually ruled out through subsequent DNA collection and testing and never charged.

For instance, in Gurules case another relative could have been surveilled if he had the same relationship to the person who had uploaded information on GEDmatch. Gurule was confirmed to be the suspect only once agents followed him to the hospital, collected DNA from a cup he had discarded and tested it against the rape kit.

The question is how many peoples trash are you going to be going through, Baur said. What other steps are they going to take to gather evidence on people who are incorrectly identified.  Some of these DNA tools can be interesting and useful but with great science comes great responsibility. This has to be used in a way that does not harm peoples real feelings of privacy and security.

Amy Sirignano, who runs her own law firm, said that as an emerging technology forensic genetic genealogy raises a lot of questions.

In terms of accuracy and standards and in terms of regulations CODIS has been on the books for a long time now, Sirignano said. CODIS has standards, its regulated by the FBI and they have written guidelines about what can be uploaded. The problem with these other DNA sites is there are no regulations, no requirements, no accuracy about what can be uploaded.

Wary of false hopes

Although this is the first case in New Mexico using forensic genetic genealogy, authorities say they expect it wont be the last.

Torrez said hes hopeful that the technique could be used to solve homicides, as well as cases that were mired in the states rape kit backlog. In 2016, then state auditor Tim Keller announced New Mexico had the highest rate of untested rape kits in the country and in Albuquerque alone there were 3,948 kits  some dating as far back as 1988  that hadnt been tested.

Law enforcement has been steadily whittling that down, and a spokesman for the DAs office told the Journal in November that so far more than 2,800 cases have been screened for prosecution and 16 cases between August 2010 and January 2017 have resulted in charges.

Frankly where we think the biggest potential for this is working with the Albuquerque Police Department and the sex crimes unit, Torrez said. Theyve been working through that backlog and there are going to be a subset of cases that are tested there, that have sufficient DNA and we think this particular approach would make sense.

He said his office has been negotiating with APD for months to figure out how to start testing other cases.

Its probably too early for us to know how many are in that universe but I would imagine that there may be a dozen or more of these types of cases that might be eligible, he said.

In response to questions about whether APD has started looking at its cases to see which could benefit from the technique, spokesman Gilbert Gallegos wrote in an email: I am not aware of the use of forensic genealogy at APD.

However Torrez did caution against giving victims false hope, saying its not going to work out in every case.

Just because we were successful here doesnt mean that every case is going to be open to this new technique, he said. I dont want to create any false hope for any victims or their family members who are in the unfortunate situation of being part of a cold case investigation.

And although Torrez hasnt uploaded his own DNA into a genealogy site, he did admit his mother has.

I am one of the few people I know who hasnt done it, he said with a laugh. If I do it Ill check the box that says law enforcement is free to use it.

Could forensic genealogy be used in one of the states most notorious cases?

When the District Attorneys Office announced in the summer of 2018 that it no longer had reason to believe 10-year-old Victoria Martens was killed by her mother and her mothers boyfriend  and that a mysterious stranger was responsible instead  one of the key pieces of evidence that emerged was a partial DNA sample found on the little girls back.

However, this DNA can not be traced through forensic genetic genealogy since the commercial services need a complete sample in order to do their testing.That was literally one of the first questions I asked, District Attorney Raul Torrez said. The sample size that we have in that case is too small to do this kind of technique.
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Thousands gathered in cities across the country Saturday as part of the nationwide Women's March rallies focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity, reproductive rights and immigration.

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang's wife Evelyn, who recently spoke out about being sexually assaulted by a doctor, spoke onstage in New York, while actresses Bella Thorne and Amber Heard were among the Hollywood stars bravely participating in Los Angeles.

Yang, a stay-at-home mom, said, 'As terrifying as it was to share my story on a national stage, I had to believe that coming forward would help me reclaim my voice and help others reclaim theirs, otherwise we would all just be another statistic in shadows.'

'I am standing here today also as a survivor of sexual assault,' she told the crowd. 'There are far too many of us.'

Hundreds showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington, D.C. for the rallies, which aim to harness the political power of women, although crowds were noticeably smaller than in previous years. Marches were scheduled Saturday in more than 180 cities.

The first marches in 2017 drew hundreds of thousands of people to rallies in cities across the country on the day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. That year's D.C. march drew close to 1 million people.

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang's wife Evelyn, who recently spoke out about being sexually assaulted by a doctor, spoke onstage in at the Women's March in New York

Evelyn Yang, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, attends a rally before the Women's March, on Saturday in New York. Hundred showed up in New York City and thousands in Washington, D.C. for the rallies

People participate in the Women's March in Manhattan in New York City despite the snow on Saturday

Protesters during the annual Women's March in Manhattan's Columbus Circle on Saturday

Protesters brought colorful costumes and signs to the Manhattan Women's March on Saturday

Demonstrators participate in the 2020 Women's March on January 18, 2020 in New York City

In Manhattan on Saturday, hundreds of people gathered as part of a 'Rise and Roar' rally at separate events in Foley Square and Columbus Circle.

'Today, we will be the change that is needed in this world! Today, we rise into our power!' activist Donna Hylton told a cheering crowd in Foley Square.

Snow began falling by the afternoon in Manhattan, apparently putting a damper on plans for the two groups to converge in large numbers near Times Square.

In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of men, women and children filled several blocks as they made their way from a plaza to a park adjacent to City Hall, where a rally featured speeches by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Rep. Maxine Waters and others.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom credited women for mobilizing against gun violence, creating the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and discrimination, and taking back the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives.

'In 2020, I have no doubt that it will be women who will lead again, rise up and move this country forward on a path toward justice,' she said.

Actress Bella Thorne speaks at the 4th annual Women's March LA: Women Rising in Los Angeles on Saturday

Actress Amber Heard speaks at the Women's March at Pershing Square on Saturday in Los Angeles, California

Marchers fill Pershing Sqaure during the Women's March on January 18, 2020 in Los Angeles, California

In downtown Los Angeles, thousands of men, women and children filled several blocks as they made their way from a plaza to a park adjacent to City Hall, where a rally featured speeches

In Denver, organizers opted to skip the rally after the march and instead invited participants to meet with local organizations to learn more about issues such as reproductive rights, climate change, gun safety and voting.

Several thousand came out for the protest in Washington, far fewer than last year when about 100,000 people held a rally east of the White House. But as in previous years, many of the protesters made the trip to the nations capital from cities across the country to express their opposition to Trump and his policies. From their gathering spot on Freedom Plaza, they had a clear view down Pennsylvania Avenue to the U.S. Capitol, where the impeachment trial gets underway in the Senate next week.

In Washington, three key issues seemed to galvanize most of the protesters: climate change, immigration and reproductive rights.

'I teach a lot of immigrant students, and in political times like this I want to make sure I'm using my voice to speak up for them,' said Rochelle McGurn, 30, an elementary school teacher from Burlington, Vermont who was in D.C. to march. 'They need to feel like they belong, because they do.'

Peta Madry of New London, Connecticut, was celebrating her 70th birthday in D.C. by attending her fourth Women's March with her sister, Cynthia Barnard, of San Rafael, California. Both women were wearing handknitted pink hats that date from the first march. With pained expressions, they spoke about Trumps determination to reverse the policies of his predecessor Barack Obama and his treatment of women.

People participate in the Women's March as they protest against the U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington DC

The fourth iteration of the Women's March brought thousands from across the country to Washington DC

Participants of the Women's March, make their way around the White House, Saturday

The protesters planned to march around the White House, but Trump wasn't there

'Look what hes doing to Greta Thunberg,' Madry said, referring to the teenage climate activist. 'Hes the biggest bully in the world.'

Melissa McCullough of Georgetown, Indiana, said when she recently turned 50 she promised herself that she would get more involved politically. 'Im here to protest Trump, as a woman,' she said.

Her daughter, 19-year-old University of Cincinnati student Elizabeth McCullough, chimed in to say that most womens issues are human issues, and they talked about the need to protect immigrants.

'You have to push to protect everyone or no ones safe,' Melissa McCullough said.

The protesters planned to march around the White House, but Trump wasn't there. He is spending the holiday weekend at his resort in Florida.

In Chicago, demonstrators gather across from the Trump Hotel and Tower during the Women's March on Saturday

People gather in Federal Plaza during the Women's March in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. January 18, 2020

Women's March participants demonstrate during the fourth annual event on Saturday in Chicago

Organizers of the Washington march faced criticism from some local African American activists for failing to focus on local issues and damaging the ability of local activists to organize.

'Local D.C. is a domestic colony and the actions of national organizers have to recognize that,' Black Lives Matter D.C. wrote in a letter this week to Womens March organizers.

'Here in D.C., these unstrategic mass mobilizations distract from local organizing, often overlook the black people who actually live here and even result in tougher laws against demonstration being passed locally.'
South Africas latest round of load-shedding was allegedly caused in part by the failure of equipment designed by the family member of a senior Eskom manager.

The City Press reported that Rula Bulk Materials Handling was appointed by Eskom to fix broken conveyor belts at Medupi power station.

These belts were confirmed by Rula Bulk managing director Roelf Odendaal to have been supplied by his company and two other contractors.

Roelf is the brother of Eskom engineering general manager Danie Odendaal, who was suspended in December 2018 due to an alleged conflict of interest involving Rula Bulk.

Roelf insisted that it was Eskoms fault, rather than Rula Bulks, that Medupi has been suffering issues with its conveyor belts.

There has been one incident which occurred due to the removal of the safety protections by Eskom operators, said Roelf.

He said there are many reasons these conveyor belts can trip, but it is usually because of insufficient maintenance.

Rula has assisted with repairs on one of the Medupi belts. The task was completed in less than a week, said Roelf.

Allegations of corruption

An anonymous report has also surfaced this week which alleges that private companies have captured Eskoms engineering department.

The report alleges that senior Eskom managers manipulated Eskoms systems to provide companies of their choice with important information  which was used to prepare for Eskom tenders.

A notable example in the report alleges that a senior civil engineer at Eskom deliberately let a silo at Majuba power station collapse so that a connected company would be given an emergency contract to fix it.

The engineer failed to produce a report alerting the executive committee to the dangers of the Majuba silo, but instead plunged the country into load-shedding, thus presenting the opportunity to not go out on a bidding process under the guise of an emergency, said the report.

The engineer deliberately kept quiet about the structure which was hanging precariously so that it could be deemed an emergency.

Odendaal denies claims

Following the report, Roelf Odendaal shot down associated claims that Rula Bulk was involved in capturing Eskoms engineering department.

Every contract that was awarded to Rula followed a specific ethical protocol of scrutiny through regular and transparent processes where many Eskom employees were involved, and competitive tender negotiations which can be substantiated by the minutes of the meetings, he said.

All contracts awarded to Rula were based on an open public tender process and Rula always had to compete against three to six and sometimes more competitors.

He said he did not disclose his relationship with his brother because to the best of his knowledge, Danie was not involved in tender negotiations.
and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have signed up to a formal exit deal from the royal family, which will see them forsake their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles and will no longer receive UK taxpayers' funding for their duties.

The deal, which comes into effect by spring in a few weeks' time, means the couple will no longer be representing the Queen in an official capacity.

"The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Saturday night.

Queen Elizabeth II said the agreement followed months of discussions and was a "constructive and supportive" way forward for her grandson and his family.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family," the 93-year-old monarch's personal statement read.

"I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life," she said, thanking the couple for their work for the UK and across the Commonwealth.





ALSO READ: Princes William, Harry dismiss false report alleging reason for royal split In a special message for 38-year-old Markle, she said, "I am... particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life".

The palace confirmed that the couple were required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments.

"While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty," the palace said.

It added that the pair would continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.

The couple intend to repay 2.4 million pounds of UK taxpayers' money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home as they split their time between Britain and Canada.

The palace has declined to comment on security arrangements and who would foot that bill for the couple in future, an issue that has been at the centre of much of the debate since Harry, 35, and Meghan made their bombshell announcement earlier this month that they intend to "step back" from being frontline royals and split their time between the UK and North America, and work towards becoming "financially independent".
Candidates vying for the 11th Congressional District seat will have a difficult time winning without carrying the city of Odessa, in a district that was designed around the Midland-Odessa population.

Odessa businessman Kirk Edwards said Odessa, Midland, San Angelo and Granbury are the cities crucial to the election  but it would be impossible to win against a candidate who won in both Odessa and Midland.

Edwards ran for the state Senate in 2004 when Midland and Odessa were part of District 31 and before redistricting, led by Rep. Tom Craddick, made Midland and Odessa the most populated cities in District 11.

He carried Odessa and Midland in the race, receiving 90 percent of the votes cast in Ector County and 77 percent of the votes cast in Midland County. Comparatively, former Midland mayor Mike Canon received about 70 percent of the vote in Midland County and 58 percent of the vote in Ector County when he ran against Kel Seliger in 2014.

Edwards said theres usually a common theme to win both Odessa and Midland, as both cities are at the epicenter of the oil and gas industry. However, the unincorporated area of West Odessa is unique to Ector County, he said. West Odessa had a population of 22,000 in the 2010 census.

He said residents there are living without their own water system, sewage system and police department, along with myriad infrastructure issues.

I hope our next congressman will bring the people of West Odessa up to the modern standards of the rest of Texas, Edwards said. Its a shame that in the past they havent been addressed more.

Ector County Republican Women hosted a forum Wednesday for the nine Republican candidates in the race. Club President Sherry Hurt said she expects Odessa will be playing a big role in the election to replace Rep. Mike Conaway, who is not seeking re-election.

Hurt attributed Odessas importance in part to the rise of the ECRW club, which recently announced it has the most members of any chapter in the country. She said she believes Odessans are primarily concerned with maintaining the status of the Permian Basin, as well as road repairs and fully staffing the police department and sheriffs office.

Obviously with the tragedy that affected our cities, we want to make sure we have enough law enforcement, she said.

Additionally, she said Odessans are concerned about the possibility of redistricting. The upcoming 2020 census will create an opportunity for redistricting, and many people are concerned District 11 will be redrawn if a Midlander or Odessan isnt elected.

Former Midland mayor Ernest Angelo said hes supporting a Midlander in the election. Theres historically been tension between Odessa and Midland, but Angelo said he hopes Odessans would back a Midlander, or vice versa.

I think relations between Midland and Odessa are light-years better than they used to be, he said.

He added, If the candidate is from Midland, I hope Odessans would support him, and if the candidate is from Odessa, I hope Midlanders would support him as well. Its important to be united on something so critical to the area.
Integrity Music and Matt Redman are proud to release Redman's brand new single "Unto Him." The song is taken from Redman's new album Let There Be Wonder which releases on January 31, 2020. The highly anticipated album, Redman's 14th career project and his first with Integrity Music, is now available for pre-order. With each advance order, the songs "The Same Jesus" and "We Praise You" are available as instant downloads. Click here for further details.

While preparing for this 12-song collection, all of the songs united into one principal topic: Jesus. Redman shares, "One theme that shone through so strongly on this record was the name and character and story of Jesus. I think there's a need in our society and in church to absolutely name Him, to not just speak generically about who God is but to put a name on Him and to declare it and to say it - to sing the name of Jesus."

Starting off with more than 50 songs, along with album producers Jacob Sooter and Joshua Silverberg Redman dauntingly narrowed it down to the featured dozen. Writing all of the songs, he also collaborated with key writers and friends such as Sooter and Silverberg, Phil Wickham, Hillsong's Joel Houston, Jason Ingram, Pat Barrett, Corey Voss, Andi Rozier (Vertical Church Band), Jon Guerra, and Brandon Lake, who also appears on the project along with Evan Craft.

Recorded in front of more than 1,000 people at Free Chapel in Orange County, California, "Let There Be Wonder encapsulates a lot of what has been in my heart when it comes to worship in these last few years," he continues. "Worship songs will never be able to paint the full picture of God's glory, but it's so important that we aim high and give our best effort to conveying Him as fully as we can. When we do this, it's much more honouring to God, and it's much more helpful for us. My hope and prayer for this new record is that we'd find ourselves caught up in the life-giving worship of the true and living God. Let there be wonder!"

Redman's 2020 will be a busy one as he's set to appear at numerous shows, conferences, and services in the U.S. and around the world. A headlining tour is also slated for late spring. Be sure to stay up to date by visiting his website, MattRedman.com and his social links below.

Tags : Matt Redman matt redman let there be wonder matt redman unto him matt redman new album Integrity Music
Phuket to welcome Chinese New Year with marine safety drill

PHUKET: Phuket plans to welcome the Year of Rat next week with a joint Thai-Chinese maritime safety exercise at Chalong pier.

ChinesemarineSafetytourismtransport

By The Phuket News

Sunday 19 January 2020, 11:02AM

Tourists alight from Belgium-flagged cruiser 'La Belle Des Ocean' and thank officers after their ship hit the rocks near Pida islet. They were safely taken to a Phuket port. Photo: Bangkok Post

Twelve rescuers from China's Peaceland Foundation will join their Thai counterparts to hold a full-scale emergency drill on Thursday (Jan 23), Phuket governor Phakaphong Tavipatana told Bangkok Post (read story here).

The aim of the exercise is to help tourists feel safe, especially in the wake of the Phoenix tour boat accident in 2018, the worst maritime tragedies in Phuket, and an increase in drowning victims in 2019, Bangkok Post reports.

According to the newspaper, after the Phoenix disaster, many travellers, especially Chinese nationals, opted for other tourist destinations with the number of Chinese visitors to Phuket plunging by 20% leading to direct financial consequences for the island's economy.

After the death of the 47 Chinese tourists in 2018, Phuket lost about 42 billion baht in tourism revenue, mainly due to the drop in the number of Chinese tourists.

Despite moves to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy, "there's no agency that can fully restore confidence in maritime travel", Wichat Trairat, deputy chairman of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Relationship Council, told Bangkok Post.

Dealing another severe blow to the island was the number of drowning victims soaring to 22 last year, up from just six in 2018, adds Bangkok Post quoting Phuket police.

According to local police, the number of deaths from drowning had been between six and 14 per year until 2018 and rose to 22 in 2019.

After studying water-related accidents off the coast of Phuket and the neighbouring provinces, Pol Maj Gen Kritsak Songmunnak, chief of Tourist Police Bureau's Subdivision 3, said drownings accounted for 36% of accidents, followed by unsafe boats.

He added that tourists themselves as well as slow rescue operations were to blame for most drowning cases, which usually occur during the monsoon season.

Adding more to the trouble is lack of rescue boats on the island, added Prapan Kanprasang, head of the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket).

The province requires nine boats, namely three patrol boats, three fire boats and three medical boats, which will cost over 200 million baht.

The proposal has been forwarded to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council but "we have yet to be granted the budget", Bankok Post quotes Mr Prapan as saying.

The Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre, which oversees six Andaman-rimmed provinces, including Phuket, plans to invite all stakeholders to a seminar to work out ways to cut maritime accidents in a more sustainable manner.
Several thousand people gathered here on Saturday to join a rally for women's rights and protest against US President Donald Trump's policy.

Light frost, snow and freezing rain did not startle activists who began their Women's March from Freedom Plaza at Pennsylvania Avenue just between the White House and US Congress, and steps away from Trump International Hotel, reported Sputnik.

"The mission of Women's March is to harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change," organizers said.

They added, "We are committed to dismantling systems of oppression through nonviolent resistance and building inclusive structures guided by self-determination, dignity and respect."

Protesters started the rally with a moment of silence to commemorate victims of women rights violations. After a short opening ceremony, they marched on the wide perimeter around the White House.

A women's musical group from Chile performed the global feminist protest anthem A Rapist in Your Path, and all people sang along with them in English and Spanish languages.

"Today we are not dealing with the evidence of hate, we are going to deal with love," the Reverend Sheri Dickerson from Oklahoma City said.

Addressing the audience of thousands, Dickerson noted that women are the soul of the nation. "Women of this nation must become its soul. Love overcomes hate," she added.

Son of Martin Luther King Jr - human rights advocate Martin Luther King III reminded that next Monday America will commemorate his father at Martin Luther King Day. He urged the audience "to be a voice for those who have no voice."

"When women have come together, changes begin around our nation and world," he said.

Many of protesters brought their own posters. "Women's rights are human rights", "Unlock the future for women and girls",

The rally was peaceful, but dozens of police officers were on the scene to keep order. Some verbal skirmishes were flashing between opponents and supporters of abortions, but they were very brief and calm.

Some protesters joined the rally not only to support women but to express their frustration about President Donald Trump. "Impeach Trump," "Trump/Pence Out Now," their posters said.

"I am against Trump. He is taking this country backwards," a woman in red 19-century style coat and hat said. "I am here because I am scared."

Another lady, named Mary Lou, said that she comes to every rally against Trump.

"I do not care if it is women rally, climate change - I come to all of them. Trump is bad on all levels for women, for men, the young people, for the climate, for democracy, for everything," she said.

Organizers said that protesters sent a strong message of their determination to fight for women's rights and against Trump.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Public health officials have begun screening passengers arriving at SFO from Wuhan, China, for a mysterious new respiratory virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The pneumonia-like virus was discovered in Wuhan, the most populous city in central China, and has been confirmed in more than 200 people, according to Chinese health authorities. Three people have died from the virus, which has spread to Beijing and Shenzhen.

The CDC has deployed more than 100 staffers to check passengers arriving from Wuhan to San Francisco International Airport, New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. They are the first health screenings of airline passengers in the U.S. since the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

CDC spokesman Scott Pauley declined Sunday to say whether any passengers at SFO or any other airport had shown symptoms or been diagnosed with the virus.

We know its crucial to be proactive and prepared, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a press call Friday, noting that health officials have learned much from dealing with outbreaks of SARS and MERS.

However, she added, the new virus so far appears less dangerous. We believe the current risk from this virus to the general public is low, she said. For a family sitting around the dinner table tonight, this is not something that they generally need to worry about.

Those three airports receive the vast majority of travelers to the U.S. from Wuhan, the CDC said. SFO and JFK are the only U.S. airports with direct flights from Wuhan. LAX has connecting flights from there.

SFO has three nonstop China Southern Airlines flights a week from Wuhan arriving on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, each averaging about 150 passengers over the course of a year, said Cathy Morrison, airport duty manager. In addition, about 10 to 25 passengers on connecting flights from Wuhan each day would be subject to the screening, she said.

The number of passengers this month could be higher, as the Chinese Lunar New Year makes January a peak travel season for visitors from China to the U.S., the CDC said.

The CDC said arriving passengers are escorted to a separate area, where they complete questionnaires asking about symptoms such as coughs, fever or difficulty breathing, as well as whether they visited meat or seafood markets in Wuhan. Their temperatures are checked with thermal scanners. SFO said the screenings take place in the customs facility.

Those who visited Wuhan but do not have symptoms are given information about what to do if symptoms later develop. Those who do have symptoms are further evaluated by a public health officer.

Travelers who appear infected will be transferred to local hospitals, where they will be isolated, diagnosed and treated, the CDC said. The CDC is not identifying any designated treatment hospitals.

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 only cases outside of China so far, two in Thailand and one in Japan, were found in people who had recently flown from Wuhan.

Considering global travel patterns, additional cases in other countries are likely, the World Health Organization said in a news release.

The new coronavirus, named after the crown-like spikes visible on its surface under electron microscopy, belongs to a large family of viruses that infect both animals and people, causing symptoms ranging from the common cold to serious diseases like SARS and MERS.

Most of the infected people had worked or visited a Wuhan market selling live fish, animals and birds, suggesting animal-to-person spread, the CDC said in a news release. The market has been shut down and disinfected. Some infected patients, however, reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggesting that some limited person-to-person spread is occurring, it wrote.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 19:26:16|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani warned on Sunday that Iran might reconsider its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Tasnim news agency reported.

Larijani criticized a recent statement by France, Britain, and Germany about their decision to trigger the dispute mechanism in the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying the United States has forced the European countries' move.

"We explicitly declare that if Europe behaves unfairly ... Iran will take a serious decision about its cooperation with the IAEA," the Iranian speaker said.

The draft bill to reconsider Iran's cooperation with the IAEA is ready for discussion in the parliament, he added.

In a statement released on Jan. 14, France, Britain and Germany announced their decision to trigger the dispute mechanism in the JCPOA, saying they have taken the step in response to Tehran's decision to back off nuclear commitments.

Iran, however, said its withdrawal from "practical" commitments under the JCPOA is a reaction to the U.S. exit from the deal in May 2018 and the subsequent sanctions.

The move is also a response to the Europe's sluggishness in facilitating Iran's banking transactions and its oil exports, the Islamis republic added.
Ontarios most vulnerable youths are being retraumatized by child protection and justice systems that set them up to fail and leave them languishing for months in pretrial detention, according to researchers who tracked kids in the care of foster parents and group homes.

The research team  co-led by Judge Brian Scully of the Ontario Court of Justice and Ryerson professor Judy Finlay  followed youths in care who were also involved with the justice system, including 28 youths in Toronto.

During the projects two-year period, the Toronto youths spent an average of 138 days in detention awaiting trial, due to systemic barriers that make obtaining bail difficult and reoffending easy. Nine of the 28 youths spent one to six months in pretrial detention; eight spent more than six months.

The longest pretrial detention suffered by one youth was 455 days served in two stints, including one of 401 consecutive days. The youth was already in detention for an unknown amount of time before researchers began their tracking.

Project researcher Jessica Salerno followed the youth, whom she referred to with the pronoun they. She co-ordinated conferences with key players involved in the case and witnessed a system that broke the youths spirit.

Towards the end, they were really sad, Salerno says in an interview. They just didnt care anymore  They didnt care about life and they didnt care what happened to them.

Researchers found the challenge was especially acute for Indigenous or Black youths sent to group homes far from their communities, where their culture isnt reflected. Another researcher on the team identified the long-detained youth as a Black male.

Sixteen of the 28 Toronto youths (57 per cent) were Black. Thats higher than the overrepresentation seen in Childrens Aid Society of Toronto data. Black youth represent just 13.6 per cent of city residents under 18.

The Black youths spent longer in pretrial detention than any other racial or ethnic group tracked  200 days, on average. White youths spent an average of 75 days; Indigenous youth spent about 40 days. The project also found that Black youth incurred more severe charges, on average, than other groups.

Many of the Black youth the project engaged with experienced the classic child-welfare-to-prison pipeline,  says a report issued by the research team, which partly blames the longer detention on institutional anti-Black racism and colonialism within the child welfare and youth justice systems.

Researchers call the children and teens they followed cross-over youth, because they start in the child protection system and end up in the youth justice one.

They witnessed what numerous reports have criticized for creating that pipeline: group home staff untrained to deal with traumatized youth; youths charged for acting out their trauma; childrens aid societies refusing to act as sureties; lawyers insensitive to the struggles youths face in the child protection system; and unreasonable bail conditions that inevitably get broken, thereby triggering further charges.

Once theyre in the justice system, they go deeper and deeper into it, says Finlay, a professor at Ryersons School of Child and Youth Care. She was Ontarios child advocate from 1991 to 2007, an office Premier Doug Fords government abolished.

In a statement to the Star, Jill Dunlop, associate minister of children and womens issues, said the government is deep into a process of reviewing and modernizing child welfare. The work includes looking holistically at the different systems children and youth may interact with, including the intersection between child welfare and youth justice systems. The goal is to divert them from criminal behaviour through education and prevention programs, she added.

Any time a child in care is remanded to custody, we see it as a failure, Dunlop said, adding that reforms by the previous Liberal government resulted in a 78 per cent reduction in youths admitted to custody and detention, to an average of 150 a year. She did not say how many of those are cross-over youth.

The researchers set up pilot projects at four sites  Toronto, Belleville, Thunder Bay and Brantford  funded by the federal and Ontario governments, and the Laidlaw Foundation.

Along with tracking youths, researchers held case management conferences with key groups, including police, Crown attorneys, judges, childrens aid workers and group home staff. The goal was to have everyone change the practices that funnel youths in care deep into the justice system.

Most of the data in the teams 208-page report, Cross-Over Youth Project: Navigating Quicksand, comes from 48 youths  12 to 17 years old  tracked in the Toronto and Belleville pilot projects. Most of them  64 per cent  had ended up in care not because they needed protection, but because they didnt get along with their parents. That highlights the need for early intervention to resolve conflicts and keep families intact, the report notes.

Ontarios child protection system serves a monthly average of 12,600 children and youths taken from abusive or neglectful parents and placed in foster or group homes. Fifty childrens aid societies  12 of them are Indigenous agencies  receive $1.5 billion annually in provincial funding to care for these children, and to help many more who remain with their families.

Of the 48 kids in Toronto and Belleville, a majority  67 per cent  were charged while living in group homes, usually within the first 30 days of arriving.

Group care settings at both sites acted as a gateway into the youth justice system by criminalizing the trauma of cross-over youth served by the project, the report says.

Youths were usually charged for going AWOL or acting out their trauma, the researchers found. Their report says poorly trained group home staff failed to recognize defiant, disruptive or aggressive behaviours as expressions of pain and called police when neither the staff nor the young person (was) in danger.

Group home caregivers depend on police for de-escalation and crisis intervention, the report says.

This emphasis on police for managing behaviour and subsequent instability is particularly catastrophic for Black and Indigenous young people, it adds. There exists a culture of racism within the group care system that allows these young people to be mistreated at higher rates than their non-racialized peers.

The Ministry of Children and Community and Social Services funded the development of a conflict resolution guide for group home caregivers, designed to prevent escalations requiring police involvement, said Hannah Anderson, a spokesperson for Dunlop. And last year, more than 1,000 residential care workers completed a free introductory course on trauma-informed training offered by the Child and Parent Resource Institute, she added.

The ministry has backed the development of a system-wide, anti-Black racism approach in child protection. Its also developing comprehensive quality-of care standards for the child welfare sector. The cross-over youth report notes the ministry has been making that promise since at least 2017 and there has yet to be any progress on the implementation of these changes.

Once the cross-over youth are detained, the obstacles multiply.

Most of those followed by the projects researchers were Crown wards, which means the province is their parent, and childrens aid societies are responsible for their care. But societies refuse to act as sureties, forcing youths to stay in detention while new plans of care are designed to satisfy requirements for bail, the report says.

If you ask these kids they say, This is the only time I actually needed my CAS worker and they couldnt help me,  says Salerno, who used to be a child protection worker.

Given the projects findings, the ministry is considering whether childrens aid societies should act as sureties and accept the legal responsibilities, Anderson said.

The researchers saw defence lawyers and Crown attorneys with little understanding of the behavioural effects of trauma or the struggles youths face in the child protection system. Many youths get shuffled through multiple foster or group homes. Researchers found one youth in Thunder Bay who lived in 120 different places while in care.

Often, a new placement for a detained youth must be found because the group home where they lived wont take them back or a bail condition makes their return impossible  for example, if police decide a youth cant have contact with another resident theyre accused of assaulting.

In that case, theres no possibility of the group home taking him back even if they want to, Judge Scully says in an interview, adding police have so far largely refused to consider ways of ensuring a victims safety without making the accused youth homeless.

The youths sit in detention during the slow process of finding a new home.

Levi, 18, experienced the frustrating process after he was taken into care at the age of 12. Levi wasnt one of the cross-over youths tracked in the pilot projects. He spoke to the Star because he is part of Youth Peer Mentors, a John Howard Society group that helped cross-over youth in the Belleville project and took part in the case management conferences. The Star is identifying him only by his first name.

He was placed in a home in Toronto, far from friends and family in Tweed, north of Belleville. He wasnt permitted to visit his family, so one day, when he was 13, he took a vehicle belonging to the group home and drove himself to Tweed. He says he was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, theft under $5,000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and fleeing from police.

The group home didnt want him back, and he says childrens aid rejected a request from his grandmother to obtain custody. So he spent a month at an Oshawa detention centre until a new group home for him could be found. I spent my birthday there, he says.

Salerno watched the frustration of youths grow as they waited for bail at the Roy McMurtry Youth Centre in Brampton or other sites. They inevitably clashed with correctional officers untrained to deal with troubled youths and got into fights with other young inmates.

So they get charged again and that makes it more difficult for them to get bail on the initial charge, Salerno says. Its like a vicious circle.

When they finally emerge from detention, bail conditions can sometimes deprive youths of needed services. Bail often imposes counselling sessions and, with charges like assault, prohibits contact with the victim. But small communities might have only one psychologist, and if the victim also needs the service, both youths cant be accommodated.

Researchers also found that freedom on bail is short-lived. Typical bail conditions order youths to respect rigid group home rules, which caregivers zealously uphold.

Often, group homes would call the police when their youth, on bail or probation, were even a minute late for curfew, the report states.

Group care operators and staff indicated that they felt bound by the Childrens Aid Societies policy that required them to call the police. They felt they would be held liable if they did not report a missing youth immediately. Police expressed frustration with this policy, but almost always charged the youth when they were called to respond.

Youths then get charged with failing to comply with bail conditions, and Salernos vicious circle resumes  further detention, the slow process of developing a new care plan and new bail conditions, more charges while in detention and, once released, more charges for failing to comply.

During the projects two-year period, the 28 Toronto youth the researchers followed incurred an astounding 416 charges  151 of them for violating bail conditions.

Breaching bail conditions was the primary source of recidivism across all (project) sites, the report states.

In Levis case, he was placed on two years probation, which required him to uphold group home rules. Even his probation officer, he says, found that condition unreasonable because you could be breached for not making your bed.

Levi says he was sexually assaulted dozens of times by a staff member at his group home. He says he shut down completely and kept the abuse to himself, but eventually began breaking curfew and staying away from the home whenever the staff member was on shift. He was charged with breaching his probation.

I sometimes think the worlds upside down, says Levi, adding that his childrens aid worker and staff at the group home never asked him about the reasons for his behaviour.

I think if a staff member came to me and said, Hey, Levi, whats going on? Why are you AWOLing all the time? Can we help you in some way? I think I would have told them about the sexual assault that was happening, he says.

Levi says he wasnt sent back to detention for breaking probation, thanks largely to strong support from the provincial child advocates office. But he ended up being shuffled from group home to group home  14 in one year.

I felt that everybody else thought they knew what was best for me, and my opinion didnt really matter, Levi says, noting he and others like him quickly get labelled as troubled and high-risk youth.

Levi began living on his own at 16, and soon ended up homeless on the streets of Toronto. He experimented with a hard drug, and it scared him. He moved back to Tweed, lived with his mother for a while, got a job, fell in love and volunteered with the United Way. The John Howard Society noticed his talents and offered him a job as a youth mentor.

Researchers dont know what happened to the 48 youths they were tracking after the two-year project ended. Other studies on cross-over youth have found that many end up in the adult prison system.

The researchers developed protocols and best practices for key players in the child protection and justice system, all designed to break the child-welfare-to-prison pipeline.

Recommendations include more reasonable bail conditions, trauma-informed training for group home caregivers, anti-oppressive practices, the use of restorative justice, and encouraging police to simply caution youths in care when called for an incident or send them to diversion programs  to help with mental health problems, for example  rather than lay charges.

The case conference approach used in Belleville  where lawyers, child welfare workers, police and judges co-ordinated efforts in specific cases  resulted in a significant drop in the number of youths ending up in court. The ministry says its now supporting a similar pilot project in Peel region.

In an interview, Finlay says much would change if police, child protection workers, group home staff and lawyers recognized the trauma and vulnerability of cross-over youth.

These young people get hardened, she says, because people look at them as criminals.
Homes destroyed in Victoria's bushfires will be cleaned up and cleared in a state and federal government scheme worth up to $75 million.

The initiative will prioritise using local contractors to demolish, remove and safely dispose of any buildings that were either destroyed or damaged beyond repair in an effort to boost economies of communities hit by bushfires.

Anyone whose home, shop or shed was destroyed in the fires, that have so far razed more than 850 homes and non-residential structures, can apply to have their properties cleared.

Building giant Grocon will lead the Clean-up Program, with local companies set to play a key role.
PITTSFIELD  A jury has found a Missouri man guilty of stabbing his former father-in-law to death.

Charles Allen, 45, of Louisiana, Missouri, faces 20 to 100 years in prison for the first-degree murder conviction in the March death of 65-year-old Donald Collard.

A sentencing hearing for the Allen is scheduled for March 18.

Jurors took about four hours to reach their decision Friday following a week-long trial.

According to testimony, the two men began fighting that night when Allen arrived at Collards home to pick up one of his daughters. Allen testified that Collard grabbed his throat and hit him in the face through the open window of his pickup truck.

Allen said he grabbed his knife to defend himself and didnt mean to kill the older man.

Prosecutors said Collard was stabbed four times in the chest and argued that the wounds showed Allen did intend to kill him. They told jurors that Collard wasnt armed and had told his wife to call police when Allen arrived, indicating he didnt go out to the truck planning to attack Allen.

Deputies responded to the 600 block of Orrill Street in Pleasant Hill just before 11 p.m. March 26 and found Collard dead.

These stab wounds were evident of deliberate actions taken by Mr. Allen, Pike County States Attorney Zachary Boren said.
South Dakota introduces bill banning puberty blockers, trans surgeries on kids

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South Dakota's state legislature is considering a bill that would bar doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and performing transgender surgeries on minors.

The proposed legislation would make administering trans medicalization and related procedures a felony offense if performed on underage children.

However, the bill does not apply to those born with intersex conditions, where the children might have, as a result a genetic abnormality, ambiguous or conflicting genitalia.

The House State Affairs committee will have a hearing for the bill on Jan. 22.

State representative Fred Deutsch, R-Florence, who authored the bill, emphasized in a phone interview with The Christian Post Wednesday that his proposal is not right-wing legislation but a measure to protect children in South Dakota.

"I reached across the aisle to bring on board people with various views. We'll have a progressive testify, we'll have transgender people testify that believe it's child abuse to provide these interventions on children," he said.

Thus far, the bill has garnered over 40 co-sponsors.

He believes Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, will experience similar pressures to scrap the bill as did her predecessor, Dennis Daugaard, also a Republican, when Deutsch introduced a bill in 2016 to keep private spaces, such as restrooms, sex-segregated. Daugaard ultimately vetoed that bill but Deutsch says the medicalized gender-transitioning of children is an even more serious issue.

"This bill is a pause button bill," Deutsch told CP.

"It says leave our kids alone and let them mature and let the normal, beneficial effects of puberty act upon their systems. We know from the literature that approximately 85 percent of children that are confused about whether or not they are a boy or a girl that the confusion goes away naturally. But you don't mess with them with opposite sex hormones, puberty blockers or surgeries that mutilate."

Deutsch recalled his shock when he first heard about the hormonal agents and surgical procedures that were being done on gender-confused children when he stumbled upon online testimonials of youth and young adults who had written about how they regretted going through with transition because they're bodies were harmed and the damage was permanent.

Asked what kind of pushback he expects, Deutsch said it was too early to say but suspects the usual political actors, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, to oppose it.

The ACLU has already issued a statement saying the bill will harm trans-identified children and will make their lives harder.

South Dakota Democrats say they will oppose the measure.

Deutsch said he has found several instances of doctors administering gender-transition treatment in Sioux Falls.

According to The Associated Press, Rep. Kelly Sullivan, D-Sioux Falls, said the bill interferes in the doctor-patient relationship and she is not aware of medical facilities that gender-transition minors. She argued that the Republicans' bill is a waste of time.

Other states are likely to follow South Dakota with similar legislative proposals.

Amid international media attention in the fall over the case of 7-year-old James Younger in Texas  a boy whose mother says he is a transgender girl named Luna and intends to transition him against the will of his father  Republican state legislators from Texas, Kentucky and Georgia have announced their intentions to bar gender-transition drugs and surgeries on minors in their states.

Puberty-blocking drugs in particular have been coming under increased scrutiny, as doctors opposed to the practice of chemically suppressing normal puberty voice their objections despite some medical organization's promotion of the drugs as safe and reversible.

In essay published in Public Discourse responding to the Pediatric Endocrine Society's recent statement in support puberty blockers, Rocklin, California-based endocrinologist Michael Laidlaw explained that, contrary to their claims, the effects of the medications for stopping normal puberty are not fully reversible. The FDA has never determined that there is scientific evidence to validate such claim, and that no long-term studies exist addressing this particular question.

"There is nothing healthy about stopping normal puberty, because puberty is not a disease. The practice represents an unethical medical experiment with both known and unknown harms to adolescent development and to the human person, during a crucial time in a young persons life," Laidlaw said.

"Adolescents can never regain the years that are lost to the blockade of normal bone, brain, and pelvic development. Puberty may be inadvertently 'paused' for an additional year or more after stopping puberty blockers, and the pituitary may never fully recover. Time lost for adolescents in developing into their sexed bodies with their peers and reaching psychosocial developmental milestones cannot be regained," he added.
London, Jan 19 (PTI) Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have signed up to a formal exit deal from the royal family, which will see them forsake their His and Her Royal Highness (HRH) titles and will no longer receive UK taxpayers' funding for their duties.

The deal, which comes into effect by spring in a few weeks' time, means the couple will no longer be representing the Queen in an official capacity.

"The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the royal family," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Saturday night.

Queen Elizabeth II said the agreement followed months of discussions and was a "constructive and supportive" way forward for her grandson and his family.

"Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family," the 93-year-old monarch's personal statement read.

"I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life," she said, thanking the couple for their work for the UK and across the Commonwealth.

In a special message for 38-year-old Markle, she said, "I am... particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family. It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life".

The palace confirmed that the couple were required to withdraw from royal duties, including official military appointments.

"While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty," the palace said.

It added that the pair would continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.

The couple intend to repay 2.4 million pounds of UK taxpayers' money for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home as they split their time between Britain and Canada.

The palace has declined to comment on security arrangements and who would foot that bill for the couple in future, an issue that has been at the centre of much of the debate since Harry, 35, and Meghan made their bombshell announcement earlier this month that they intend to "step back" from being frontline royals and split their time between the UK and North America, and work towards becoming "financially independent".

(Image-AP)
Drug dealers are targeting middle-class drug users with 'ethically sourced woke coke' that they promise is 'conflict-free', according to an author.

Anthony Loewenstein claims that dealers are promoting their cocaine in a way that appeals to the growing number of middle-aged, educated people that are using the drug - though he adds that the claims are impossible to prove.

Cocaine has exploded in popularity in Britain, with London getting through 23kg a day, a record in Europe, and Bristol having the highest rate of consumption per person on the continent.

The dark web is a thriving marketplace for the drug and dealers are trying to stand out by sharing their 'ethical' credentials in a bid to improve their Trip Advisor-style ratings.

Cocaine has exploded in popularity in Britain, with London getting through 23kg a day, a record in Europe, and Bristol having the highest rate of consumption per person on the continent (stock photo)

In 2018, the Global Drug Survey found that cocaine can be delivered more quickly in England and Scotland than a takeaway pizza.

Now, Mr Loewenstein, whose new book Pills, Powder and Smoke details the changing demographic of cocaine users, said: 'Dealers are promoting and selling ethically sourced cocaine. It means everybody in the supply chain, from the farmers in Colombia to drug mules in Europe, are treated fairly, given a decent wage and not prosecuted for their activities.'

But he also added that, despite the adverts, it was 'impossible' to know if a drug had been ethically sourced.

But this does not deter dealers from making the bold claims to attract middle-class users.

Anthony Loewenstein claims that dealers are promoting their cocaine in a way that appeals to the growing number of middle-aged, middle-class people

The number of hospital admissions for people aged over 50 needing treatment for cocaine poisoning has risen tenfold in a decade, astonishing new figures have revealed.

Statistics from NHS Digital show that there were 268 admissions of over-50s using the drug last year, compared with just 27 cases in 2009-2010.

There were four times as many admissions involving people aged over 40 for the drug last year as were ten years ago. A decade ago there were 209 admissions for over-40s but that rose to 982 last year.

The figures also reveal there were 41 cases last year of cocaine-poisoning admissions of those aged over 60, including six patients aged 90 or more.

In total, there were 4,341 admissions linked to the class-A drug last year, with more than half of the cases involving patients above the age of 30.

Steve Rolles, senior policy analyst at Transform Drug Policy Foundation, a drug policy reform charity, said: 'This worrying trend reflects the rising purity and availability of cocaine we have seen in recent years. There has also been an increase in cocaine-related deaths.

There were four times as many admissions involving people aged over 40 for the drug last year as were ten years ago. A decade ago there were 209 admissions for over-40s but that rose to 982 last year

Statistics from NHS Digital show that there were 268 admissions of over-50s using cocaine (stock image) last year, compared with just 27 cases in 2009-2010

'These problems are closely linked to the fact that cocaine prices have plummeted recently, while purity has increased by two or three times.

'Cocaine is now cheaper, stronger and easier to buy than ever for people of all ages. Cocaine is also often taken with other drugs,' he added. 'In particular, it can also lead to people drinking more and for longer, which significantly increases health risks.'

Laura Bunt, acting chief executive officer at drug, alcohol and mental health charity Addaction, said: 'Cocaine is cheaper, stronger and easier to buy than ever before.

'At the same time, more and more people are feeling uncertain of their place in the world and unsure of what the future holds, with cocaine offering a really powerful short-term confidence boost.

'Increasing hospital admissions show we need much better education around the potential harms of cocaine.'

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick previously said that middle-class drug users who order cocaine for 'dinner parties' have 'blood on their hands' because of the gang wars and murders triggered by the drug.

She also said that people who worry about global warming and the climate crisis think that there is 'no harm' in using cocaine, when there is actually 'misery throughout the supply chain'.
FILE PHOTO: A Delta Airlines, Flight 89, Boeing 777-200 jet empties its fuel tanks as it makes an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport, seen from Ocean View Elementary School in Whittier, California, U.S., January 14, 2020 in this still video image obtained by REUTERS

Reuters

Four teachers at an elementary school in California are suing Delta after one of its planes jettisoned jet fuel that landed on a neighborhood, during an emergency landing.

While the practice isn't uncommon, questions remain over why the pilots decided to drop the fuel at an altitude not high enough for it to vaporize before reaching the ground.

The four teachers allege they experienced a "lasting and severe irritation" as a result of the Tuesday incident.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Four teachers in Los Angeles, California, filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines on Friday, saying they felt "sick, dizzy, and nauseated" after they were drenched by jet fuel released by an Boeing 777 aircraft that made an emergency landing at nearby Los Angeles International Airport.

"Fuel penetrated their mouths and noses as well producing a lasting and severe irritation and a lasting and noxious taste and smell," the lawsuit said, according to a Friday report from USA Today.

In the lawsuit, the four elementary school teachers, who work at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, California, said they "could feel the fuel on their clothes, flesh, eyes and skin" following the jet fuel jettison, which occurred January 14.

The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the decision to drop the fuel from mid-air. An expert said on CNN Thursday a communication error with Air Traffic Control may be to blame for the incident, as a transcript revealed the pilot told air-traffic controllers he did not plan to release the fuel.

The flight, Delta Air Lines flight 89, was slated to travel from LAX to Shanghai, China, when it began to face unspecified engine troubles, according to the previous Insider report.

Some 60 adults and children were treated by firefighters at the scene, but none affected were sent to the hospital, USA Today reported. Most of the reported injuries involved complaints of skin irritation. The individuals treated came from five elementary and one high school in Cudahy, South Gate, and Los Angeles.

Story continues

At a press conference on Friday, one of the teachers said that she later sought medical attention for recurring symptoms following the Tuesday incident.

The lawsuit alleges negligence by Delta and does not specify the damages sought by the four teachers, USA Today reported. About 30 children at Park Avenue Elementary were reportedly playing outside when the Tuesday incident occurred. The lawsuit alleges the teachers had to tend to the injuries of their students before they could attend to their own needs.

While previous reports cited individuals affected at multiple area schools, all four of the teachers named in the suit work at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy. About half of all injuries reported with Flight 98's fuel drop occurred at Park Avenue Elementary, USA Today said.

The FAA said while fuel dumps of this nature are not uncommon in cases when a mechanical failure or medical issue occurs during a flight, they typically happen at altitudes so the fuel will atomize before reaching the ground.

It also was not clear how much of the 24 minutes flight 89 was in the air was spent shedding the jet fuel, though the process can reportedly be lengthy. Fuel is typically jettisoned during emergency landings in order to reduce the weight of the aircraft in order avoid potential damage to the aircraft or the runway, per a previous Insider report.

Delta reportedly sent cleaning crews to the schools that were impacted by the fuel drop, though it has not commented on Friday's lawsuit.

A Delta spokesperson declined Business Insider's request for comment on the lawsuit.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Countries in Asia, Middle East and North Africa (Mena) and small islands are most exposed to rising sea levels and different studies yield similar results, says Moodys in a report.

Countries including Vietnam (Ba3 negative), the Bahamas (Baa3 stable), Egypt (B2 stable), Suriname (B2 stable) and some in the Gulf are highlighted, with up to 10 per cent-25 per cent of the population or GDP exposed, says the Moodys in the report titled Sovereigns  Global: Sea level rise poses long-term credit threat to a number of sovereigns.

In absolute terms, the largest populations exposed are in Asia, including Bangladesh (Ba3 stable), China (A1 stable), Indonesia (Baa2 stable), and India (Baa2 negative). Some high-income economies, such as Japan (A1 stable) and the Netherlands (Aaa stable), also feature. Island sovereigns are not always in scope, but analyses of locked-in sea level rise in particular highlight the Cayman Islands (Aa3 stable), Maldives (B2 negative) and Fiji (Ba3 stable), with 80 per cent or more of the population exposed.

Credit implications are wide-ranging. The economic and social repercussions of lost income, damage to assets, loss of life, health issues and forced migration from the sudden events related to sea level rise are immediate. The main credit channels for sovereigns are economic and fiscal strength.

Vulnerability to extreme events related to sea level rise can also undermine investment and heighten susceptibility to event risk, by hindering the ability of governments to borrow to rebuild, increasing losses for banks, raising external pressures, and/or amplifying political risk as populations come under stress. While one isolated shock related to sea level rise is unlikely to materially weaken a sovereigns credit profile, repeated shocks could do.

Increase in frequency, severity of sea level-related disasters and effectiveness of adaptation will determine rating implications Through our assessment of exposure and credit impact, we find that Vietnam, Egypt, Suriname and a number of small islands face material credit risk. The extent of risk will be determined by the pace of increase in the frequency and severity of natural disasters related to sea level rise, which is currently highly uncertain, and by the effectiveness of adaptation measures, so far largely untested. -- Tradearabia News Service
Last weeks poll caused a heated discussion and no consensus was reached. Yet one thing is clear  the Samsung Galaxy Note10 Lite got a much warmer reception, it was a few percentage points off a positive result.

Its cheaper than the premium Note10 and Note10+ phones but offers the same S Pen experience. Thats unique in the phone world, the few other handsets that have a stylus cant hold a candle to the Note and S Pen.

Opinions about the Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite were noticeably more hostile. The high launch price is causing many to wonder if the Lite is worth it compared to the premium S10 models, which cost about the same.

New Samsungs rarely hold their price after the first few months, so S10 Lites price will be more palatable by Q2. Even so, the impending release of the S20 models means that Galaxy S10 prices are about to drop across the board.

Surprisingly few people mentioned the Snapdragon 855 chipset or the 48MP camera of the Galaxy S10 Lite. Those are advantages over the Note10 Lite, which uses the 2018 Exynos 9810 chipset and a trio of 12MP cameras.

But you can get flagship chipsets fairly easy these days if you go for Xiaomi, Realme, Oppo, vivo or one of several other brands. Phones with 48MP cameras are even easier to find, so no one was particularly impressed that a 650 phone has such a sensor.

The S Pen that successfully swayed opinions, however. The Galaxy Note10 Lite can become the phone to have for those who dont want a second hand Note9 but arent ready to pay Note10 money either.
BRIDGEPORT  A city contractor faces federal charges after he allegedly lied to investigators with the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, officials said Thursday.

Luis F. Estrada, 46, appeared before a judge in New Haven federal court Wednesday after an indictment was returned Jan. 2, charging Estrada with making false statements to the U.S. Department of Labor and falsification of records in a federal investigation.

During his Wednesday court appearance, Estrada pleaded not guilty to the offenses. He was released on a $75,000 bond.

The indictment alleges that Estrada is the owner of L.L.E. Construction.

In February of last year, Estrada and L.L.E. Construction entered a written contract to do roof repairs and other construction services at a property on Main Street in Bridgeport.

In February and March 2018, Estrada was given three checks totaling $11,0000 for the work.

The indictment said that on March 1, 2018, a compliance officer with OSHA visited to property and observed what he believed to be various safety infractions by construction workers who were making the roof repairs, a news release from U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham said.

The officer launched into an on-site inspection into the suspected infractions.

While Estrada wasnt on the Main Street property at the time, the news release said, he spoke with the OSHA compliance officer over the phone.

On May 22, 2018, OSHA compliance officers served Estrada with a subpoena that demanded documents and records linked to L.L.E. Constructions work at the Main Street property in February and March 2018.

Estrada hand delivered a written response on July 30, 2018, saying he did not do any work for the L.L.E. roofing project, the news release said. Estrada allegedly also wrote that there was no payroll because he didnt work on the project and that he didnt have any contract or documents for it.

The false statement charge carries a maximum term of five years in federal prison. The falsification of records offense carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.
CHENGDU, China, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the 6th anniversary celebration activities, Chengdu IFS announced the global debut of new and limited offerings from top international brands such as FENDI, ZENITH, adidas Neo, Pomellato, Ports 1961 and TOM FORD BEAUTY as it continues to deliver unique and trend-setting shopping experiences to customers.

Chengdu IFS, a flagship commercial real estate project in Mainland China by The Wharf (Holdings) Limited, today kicked off a campaign to commemorate its 6th anniversary, celebrating the achievements made in the past six years by what is now the signature shopping and lifestyle destination in Chengdu, a leader of China's up-and-coming first-tier cities.

Over the past six years, Chengdu IFS has established itself as an iconic destination for domestic and foreign shoppers who are often attracted by the "I AM HERE" giant panda art installation which has become a new landmark in Chengdu -- a city that ranks fourth in Savills' China Retail Cities Report for six consecutive years, thanks to its strong regional influence and consumption power.

Chengdu IFS is the leading mall in Chengdu and is among the top 10 shopping centres in China in terms of sales, achieving double-digit growth for six consecutive years. With more than 300,000 VIP members, sales and retail traffic at Chengdu IFS grew by 330% and 300% respectively in 2019 compared with the opening year, and the occupancy rate has maintained almost 100% over the past years.

First-store economy adds new vitality to the city's retail landscape

As the concept of the "first-store economy" gathers steam, "first store" has become a key indicator of urban development. Chengdu IFS is now home to more than 250 global, national or regional first stores. These stores include global fashion brands such as Balenciaga, Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Lane Crawford, Moncler, Moynat, Roger Vivier, Tom Ford, LOEWE and Valentino; as well as international jewellery and watch brands such as Audemars Piguet, Bvlgari, Chaumet, Chopard, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin and Van Cleef & Arpels.

In 2019 alone, more than 40 first stores of emerging brands opened at Chengdu IFS, including AHKAH, Cesare Casadei, Givenchy Kids, Goyard, Gucci Beauty, La Maison Valmont, MSGM, Pomellato and TOM FORD BEAUTY, becoming talk of the town and attracting throngs of interested customers.

In 2020, Chengdu IFS will see many highly sought-after and anticipated brands to open their space in the mall, including Carven, De Beers, LANEIGE, Maison Kitsune, Moncler Enfant and Stella McCartney Kids.

KOC development plan helps to drive consumption trends

Chengdu IFS has not only forged ahead in securing major brands, but also made solid achievements in customer relationship management. Since its inception, the retail destination has adopted an active CRM strategy and launched the "KOC (Key Opinion Consumer) development plan", targeting its core female members aged from 25 to 40 who are passionate about fashion and lifestyle.

In the past 6 years, Chengdu IFS has grown together with consumers, cultivating a VIP membership group of more than 62,000 high-spending and loyal members who have sophisticated fashion taste and with annual spending ranges from 200,000 to 12 million yuan. Powered by its membership plan, Chengdu IFS has successfully pooled together the Gen Y Taitai group with the strongest consumption clout and fashion taste in the western region.

Dance with "I AM HERE" across the city to celebrate 6th anniversary

The "I AM HERE" art installation has been exhibited at Chengdu IFS for the past 6 years accompanying Chengdu citizens. It has since become an internationally renowned online celebrity.

This year, the image that everyone loves moved for the first time, causing a wave of excitement across the city. Shoppers interacted with "I AM HERE", creating vivid memes, dancing and together celebrating the 6th anniversary of Chengdu IFS.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078867/Chengdu_IFS_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078865/Chengdu_IFS_2.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078868/Chengdu_IFS_3.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1078866/Chengdu_IFS_4.jpg

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Nepali Congress, the main opposition party in the country, on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the government against the controversial Information Technology Bill, which was recently cleared by the Parliamentary Committee on Development and Technology.

The IT bill, which is under consideration in the house, has a provision of upto five years in jail and a fine of upto Rs 15 lakh if a person is found to have harassed or demeaned or defamed another through the Internet or social media.

The party handed over the memorandum letter to the Assistant Chief District Officer in Kathmandu Gaulochan Saiju, according to a statement issued by the party's central office.

The memos were also submitted to all 77 districts administration offices in the country, the statement said.

The Nepali Congress has said the bill will curtail democratic rights enshrined in the constitution. The party takes "recent developments seriously" and "strongly urges the government to rectify them".

The party has warned that it will "take to to the street, if the government doesn't listen," the statement said.

The Federation of Nepalese Journalists, legal and Constitution experts, as well as human rights activists have been strongly raising their voice against the IT Bill.

However, the government has dismissed criticism of the bill, saying it aims to control cyber-crime.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Billionaire Michael Spencer has placed a giant bet on a string of growing firms amid speculation he could join the House of Lords.

New accounts for the Icap founder's personal investment vehicle, IPGL Holdings, show he invested 75.5million in private and listed companies in the year to March 31, 2019.

Big investments included stakes in insurer Singapore Life and investment platform AJ Bell. Spencer, who is tipped to be handed a peerage in the coming weeks, also increased his holding in Chapel Down, the English sparkling wine maker.

Investment call: Michael Spencer with Cheryl Tweedy at a charity event

IPGL, chaired and owned by Spencer, had net assets of 1.05billion as of March last year, confirming his status as a self-made billionaire.

He has since spent over 10million on a 10 per cent share of the Tote bookmaker, and 20million on 'femtech' start-up Elvie.

Spencer has made 11 big investments since selling his FTSE 100 trading giant Nex to Chicago's CME for 3.9billion in 2018 receiving 721.6million for his 18 per cent stake. Smaller investments include backing an African oil start-up with veteran oil and gold prospector Algy Cluff.

A spokesman said: 'Michael Spencer is developing IPGL into a venture capital investor and private office.'

Spencer, 64, one of the City's biggest Tory donors, made political donations of 716,000.

His firm also set aside 9million to cover an ongoing legal battle between his boutique investment bank Tellimer, formerly called Exotix Capital, and the liquidators of Lehman Brothers.


Significant High Grade Extension Intersected at Hollandaire

Perth, Jan 20, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cyprium Metals Limited ( ASX:CYM ) is pleased to advise that Reverse Circulation ("RC") drilling completed in December 2019 at the Hollandaire prospect has intersected a significant extensional mineralisation that is 18.0 metres thick in drillhole 19HORC029 (refer to image 1*). This drillhole is 116 metres down dip from drillhole 12HODD034 which returned a mineralised interval of 14.0m at 2.03% Cu, 0.22 g/t Au and 6.04 g/t Ag from 254m downhole, as previously reported by Silver Lake Resources (SLR) in 2012. Drillhole 12HODD034 was previously deepest recorded drillhole intersection of mineralisation at the Hollandaire prospect.Executive Director Barry Cahill commented "We are pleased to have extended the mineralisation at Hollandaire over 100m down dip from the deepest existing drillhole and look forward to follow up RC drilling from this intersection in the coming month.We are very encouraged by the scale of the mineralisation and that one of the drillholes has entered the primary mineralisation, returning three metres at 1.34% copper from a shallow depth of 61 metres. A further 1,300 metres of drilling will commence later this week.The results from the downhole geophysical investigations will be evaluated and incorporated into the design of the next phases of drilling to further outline mineralisation at the Eelya South prospect."Cue Copper Project Drilling ResultsCYM completed 3,957 metres of RC drilling at the Hollandaire, Eelya South and Rapier prospects at the Cue Copper Project during November and December 2019, as detailed in *Appendix 1, Figures 1 to 4, Tables 1 to 3, Sections 1 and 2.HOLLANDAIRERC drilling at the Hollandaire prospect has intersected a significant extensional mineralisation of 18.0m @ 1.97% Cu in drillhole 19HORC029 from 295m downhole including:- 12.0m @ 2.74% Cu with 0.61 g/t Au and 6.75 g/t Ag from 295m- 8.0m @ 3.63% Cu with 0.84 g/t Au and 8.94 g/t Ag from 296m- 3.0m @ 6.10% Cu with 2.61 g/t Au and 16.25 g/t Ag from 296mThe assay results from Hollandaire drillholes 19HORC030 to 19HORC038 are pending and will be released as separate announcement when received and will be taken into consideration for the next phase of extensional drilling at Hollandaire. This drilling is expected to commence later in January 2020 after the planned phase 3 drilling has been completed at Eelya South.EELYA SOUTHThe RC drilling programme completed in November and December 2019 at the Eelya South prospect comprised 13 drillholes which targeting the down-dip extensions of the structure (refer to CYM ASX releases dated 4 November 2019 and 26 November 2019). Of the RC drilling completed, 11 drillholes were included in phase one and two designs targeting the shallowest section of the structure and has intersected a depleted zone of the structure, including:- 19ESRC001: 1.0m @ 1.36% Cu with 0.04 g/t Au and 1.00 g/t Ag from 47m- 19ESRC007: 1.0M @ 1.32% Cu with 0.18 g/t Au and 29.50 g/t Ag from 46mFull results of the programme are detailed in Table 2*.An RC drillhole of the phase 3 programme was completed to target a deeper section of the structure and has intersected sulphide material below the depletion zone, which included 11.0m @ 0.64% Cu, 0.13 g/t Au and 6.64 g/t Ag from 58m downhole including:- 3.0m @ 1.34% Cu, 0.40 g/t Au and 19.83 g/t Ag from 61m.The initial assay results received to date have been very encouraging and the remainder of the planned three phase RC drilling programme of 2,430 metres at Eelya South will be completed by the end of January 2020. The assay results from the January 2020 RC drilling are expected to be available during the first quarter of 2020.RC drillhole 19ESRC013 was used for downhole geophysical investigations that was conducted on 12 January 2020. The geophysical results are expected by the end of January 2020 and will be used, in conjunction with RC drilling assay results to design the next phases of drilling to outline further mineralisation at the Eelya South prospect.RAPIERThe drilling intersections from RC drilling at the Rapier prospect are detailed in Table 3*.Composited intervals recorded values greater than 0.1% Cu and are scheduled for re-sampling and assaying by the metre to determine the extent of the mineralisation.RC drillholes 19RWRC001, 19RWRC006 and 19RSRC007 were cased and downhole geophysical investigations were completed on 12 and 13 January 2020 with processed results expected by the end of January 2020.Earn-in and Joint VenturePursuant to an agreement between a wholly owned subsidiary of CYM and Musgrave Minerals Limited ( ASX:MGV ), an option has been granted by Musgrave Minerals Limited to earn-in and joint venture for an 80% interest in the non-gold rights over the tenements at the Cue Copper Project (CYM ASX Release 25 March 2019).To view tables and figures, please visit:About Cyprium Metals Ltd

Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) is poised to grow to a mid-tier mining business and manage a portfolio of Australian copper projects to deliver vital natural resources, strong shareholder returns and sustainable value for our stakeholders. We pursue this aim, in genuine partnerships with employees, customers, shareholders, local communities and other stakeholders, which is based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value creation.
Mount Sterling-based food-service redistribution company Dot Foods is expanding its footprint in Arizona.

The company plans to add nearly 70,000 square feet to its operation in Bullhead City and hire 70 additional warehouse employees and regional delivery drivers over the next three years to staff the growing operation.

Our success in this region is due in large part to the deep pool of talent in the community, which has helped us build an incredible team, Dot Foods Arizona General Manager Rocky Vecera said. Weve been fortunate to draw a skilled workforce from Bullhead City, Mohave County and beyond, and were always looking for talented people to join our team.

The company established operations in Bullhead City in 2017. The 190,000-square-foot Dot Foods Arizona distribution center includes refrigerated, frozen and dry storage and a garage to service the Dot Transportation fleet. The expansion will nearly double the freezer space, expand the dry warehouse by about a third and add dock space and an outdoor dining area for employees.

The company currently employs more than 240 people in Arizona.

The expansion of the distribution center, one of 11 in the country, represents an investment of more than $12 million.



Edgard Cumpa has joined the HSHS Medical Group team.

Cumpa, specializing in internal medicine, is accepting patients at HSHS Medical Group Multispecialty Care-Jacksonville, 1745 W. Walnut St. in Jacksonville.

As a primary care provider, Cumpa will care for patients ages 18 and older. His scope of practice includes disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs.

Cumpa earned his undergraduate and medical degrees at Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University in Lima, Peru. He performed an internal medicine residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a member of the American College of Physicians and Society of Hospital Medicine.

 Compiled by David C.L. Bauer
The annual funding of the "LPR" pseudo-state formations by Russia exceeds RUB 30 billion, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the pseudo-republic's overall budget needs, the SBU said.

The SBU Security Service of Ukraine has revealed and registered the scheme of covert financing by Russia's government and non-governmental structures of the fake "authorities" in the temporarily occupied territory of the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic" ("LPR") in eastern Ukraine.

SBU operatives and detectives found out that Russia had established special financial institutions in its territory and in the temporarily occupied areas of Donbas to avoid sanctions against the banking sector.

Read alsoSBU busts "LPR" attempt to recruit official from Ukraine's Justice Ministry

Since the introduction of the ruble zone in the occupied territory of Luhansk region in 2014, Russia has created a mechanism for financing the apparatus of the occupying authorities with the help of said financial institutions.

The SBU has for a long time recorded the fact that Russia involved a banking institution of unrecognized South Ossetia to conceal direct financial support for fake establishments in the occupied territories of Luhansk region. The money was transferred to the so-called "state bank of the LPR". Then the funds were distributed by the self-styled "LPR finance ministry" to support the occupying authorities and "security forces" of pseudo-state formation.

According to the SBU, the annual funding of the "LPR" pseudo-state formations by Russia exceeds RUB 30 billion, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the pseudo-republic's overall budget needs.

After the formation of the evidence base within criminal proceedings initiated under Part 3 of Article 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the SBU reported that the so-called "LPR finance minister" and "director of LPR state bank" play a key role in financing the pseudo-republic. They have been holding their positions in the occupying administration since 2014. The "officials" are in constant contacts with the curators from Russia's governmental structures and systematically travel to Moscow to coordinate the allocation of "funds" for the functioning of the self-proclaimed "LPR."

The pseudo-officials were charged in absentia with committing a crime under Part 3 of Article 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (funding actions committed to forcibly change or overthrow the constitutional system or seize state power, change the borders of the territory or state border of Ukraine). They have been put on the wanted list. In the near future, indictments against the offenders will be sent to court to start the procedure of conviction in absentia.
Australias federal and Victorian governments are contributing $75 million to a clean-up package for properties left damaged in the wake of destructive bushfires.

Victorians whose homes, shops and sheds were destroyed in the bushfires can have their properties cleaned up at no cost under a $75 million program.

Natural Disaster and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud on Saturday revealed the joint state and federal program would demolish, remove and safely dispose of all buildings destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

All property owners wont be required to contribute to the cost of the program, even if they were not insured.

Littleproud indicated that other states that have been impacted by bushfires will get similar clean-up support with a 50 per cent contribution from the Commonwealth.

This is about cleaning up the country, he told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.

He said the federal government is working with all the states and clean-up funding will vary.

Obviously there are still fires to be fought and those assessments will continue in other states, he said.

We estimate it will cost the Commonwealth more than $100 million between all the states.

Victorian Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville says work can begin immediately in her state.

This is about clearing the debris, cutting red tape and reducing costs for the community, so everyone can start the important work of rebuilding as soon as as possible, she said.

By Colin Brinsden
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COBRA

Friday, Sky One

Rating:

(although also...

Rating:

as there is a sort of joy in watching a series get it quite so wrong)

Let us talk our way though the first episode of COBRA, Skys new political drama about Britain during a time of national emergency, although I am not sure you would know it was a national emergency.

Or, as I wrote in my notes, in caps: AM I THE ONLY ONE WORRIED AROUND HERE?

COBRA stands for Cabinet Office Briefing Room A, which is where the Cabinet meets during a crisis, and this stars Robert Carlyle as our Prime Minister. At the outset he is returning from his daughters graduation ceremony when he takes a call from Fraser Walker (Richard Dormer), the Governments top contingency planner.

COBRA is where the Cabinet meets during a crisis, and this stars Robert Carlyle (above with Victoria Marshall as Anna Hamilton) as our Prime Minister

Weve gone from a moderate to significant threat, the PM is told, and we are informing all go commanders.

A solar storm might be heading our way, apparently, and the PM is decisive. Convene a full COBRA for the morning, he says. What? Britain is under significant threat but you wont call the meeting for right now, Prime Minister?

Britain was previously under a moderate threat but you went to your daughters graduation anyway? Whats wrong with you, man? So the worry that I would be the only one worried around here set in early, you could say.

The PM arrives and finally were off to COBRA, where Fraser Walker (Richard Dormer) says the solar storm will almost certainly release several blasts of plasma into space

That said, the PM does at least call his Chief of Staff, Anna Marshall (Victoria Hamilton), but only to say: COBRA, tomorrow, at 11am. So, not even first thing in the morning?

As I also wrote in my notes, in caps: DONT PUT YOURSELF OUT ON OUR ACCOUNT, PRIME MINISTER! HAVE A LIE-IN! Annas not that bothered either. The following morning she arrives at No 10 and sacks some member of staff who has been briefing against government policy to the press.

Anna, is this important right now, when there might be a solar storm and 67 million UK citizens could be at risk? She seems to thinks so. Bizarrely.

The PM arrives  thanks for dropping in, mate  and finally were off to COBRA, where Walker says the solar storm will almost certainly release several blasts of plasma into space, and if it reaches us, all our power will be knocked out, and thats just the start.

However, the Home Secretary (David Haig) appears much more concerned about Annas plan to replace the sacked chap with a woman called Francine, who used to be a Labour MP.

I wont take this lying down, he spits. I was minded to pull him aside myself to say: Home Secretary, as blasts of plasma  blasts of plasma!  are heading this way and planes will fall out of the sky, shouldnt you be focusing on that?

By this stage, I knew for sure I was the only one worried around here.

So this is a narrative about an urgent situation told with no urgency whatsoever. Whats the first thing Walker does after having raised the threat to serious because the Met Office has just seen a multiple solar flare with multiple plasma launches?

He says he has to pop out for an hour to walk his dads dog, Mabel. Nice for Mabel, but wouldnt a contingency planner be expected to be around for, you know, contingencies?

Please don't put yourself out on our account, Prime Minister. Have a nice lie-in

Wasnt that in the job description? Wasnt he asked at his interview: if there was a major catastrophe in the offing but Mabel had to be walked, what would you do?

The trouble is, every character has a sub-plot  something once happened to Anna in Bosnia; the PMs daughter is in trouble; Walkers dad has gone into a care home  so the fact that planes are about to fall out of the sky and all the lights are about to go out are treated as secondary.

Indeed, where is the Home Secretary when a plane does fall out of the sky? Consulting with the Ministry of Defence? Consulting with the police? Nope, hes still plotting against this Francine.

Put her in the policy unit and there will be payback, he hisses at Anna.

At the end of this first episode all the lights do go out, but not before a plane has crashed on the motorway, causing a multiple car pile-up with no casualties whatsoever  you couldnt help but notice there was no one in any of the cars.

And not before its been revealed that the UK only appears to have one police officer, who rushes to the scene, where he is offered no back-up whatsoever.

I might also ask: why would a solar storm have it in for Britain particularly? And not go global, so we might hear what China has to say about it, or Russia or India or wherever?

There are five further episodes, if youre of a mind. And I suppose I am slightly tempted due to this one star transmuting into five-stars business. Perhaps, even, the sun itself will actually fall from the sky, which the PM may finally respond to once hes finished his breakfast in bed, done his teeth and smoothed the sheets?

And who would want to miss that?
World leaders gathered in Berlin on Sunday to make a fresh push for peace in Libya, in a desperate bid to stop the conflict-wracked nation from turning into a "second Syria".

Chancellor Angela Merkel will be joined by the presidents of Russia, Turkey and France and other world leaders for talks from around 2:00 pm (1300 GMT) held under the auspices of the United Nations.

The summit's main goal is to get foreign powers wielding influence in the region to stop interfering in the war -- be it through weapons, troops or financing.

Leaders of both warring factions -- strongman Khalifa Haftar and the head of Tripoli's UN-recognised government Fayez al-Sarraj -- are also expected at what is the first such gathering since 2018.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said the summit could be "an important step on the way to cementing the ceasefire and a political solution" in Libya. But pro-Haftar forces upped the ante ahead of the talks by blocking oil exports at Libya's key ports, crippling the country's main income source in protest at Turkey's decision to send troops to shore up Sarraj's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA).

The move underlined the devastating impact of foreign influence in the crisis, in which Sarraj's GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar while Haftar has the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

"Libya needs all foreign interference to stop," the United Nations' special envoy Ghassan Salame told AFP.

The UN hopes all sides will sign up to a plan to refrain from interference, and commit to a truce that leads to a lasting end to hostilities, according to a draft of a final communique seen by AFP.

That document also urges all parties to re-commit to a much-violated UN arms embargo and raises the prospect of intra-Libyan political talks in Geneva at the end of the month.

If all goes to plan, the Berlin participants will hold an evening press conference. But the summit has already ruffled feathers with several countries in the region fuming at being left out, including Greece, Morocco and Tunisia.

Libya has been torn by fighting between rival armed factions since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Most recently, Sarraj's troops in Tripoli have been under attack since April from Haftar's forces.

Clashes killed more than 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters and displaced tens of thousands, until a fragile ceasefire backed by both Ankara and Moscow was put in place on January 12.

At follow-up talks in Moscow, Sarraj agreed to a permanent truce but Hafter walked away without signing the deal. In the latest apparent ceasefire violation, GNA forces on Sunday accused Haftar's militia of opening fire on them in southern Tripoli.

Although Sarraj's government is recognised by the UN, powerful players have broken away to stand behind Haftar -- turning a domestic conflict into what is essentially a proxy war in which international powers jostle to secure their own interests.

Alarm grew after Erdogan ordered troops to Libya early January to bolster Sarraj, while Russia has been accused of sending in mercenaries to help Haftar as Moscow seeks to extend its influence in the region.

Underlining the stakes involved, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "we have to make sure Libya doesn't become a second Syria." Sarraj meanwhile issued a plea for international "protection troops" if Haftar were to keep up his offensive, echoeing a similar call by the EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell.

"Such a protection force must operate under the auspices of the United Nations. Experts will have to advise who should participate, such as the EU or the African Union or the Arab League", he told Die Welt newspaper on Sunday.

Erdogan has repeatedly urged Europe to stand united behind Sarraj's government, warning that Tripoli's fall could allow jihadist groups like the Islamic State or Al-Qaeda to regroup.

He has also cautioned that further unrest could prompt a new wave of migrants to head for Europe.

For Turkey, a fall of Sarraj's GNA could jeopardise a maritime boundary agreement the parties signed. It gives Ankara extensive rights over the eastern Mediterranean where the recent discovery of undersea gas reserves has triggered a scramble by littoral states.

With so many regional rivals and competing interests facing off, Wolfram Lacher, Libya expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, was sceptical about the chances of a Berlin breakthrough.

"Nobody believes that the states involved will really respect the arms embargo" after ignoring it for years, he told AFP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jerry Hanel, 69, is pictured above in an undated file photo. He is suspected of stabbing his landlady, fatally shooting two police officers, and then setting several houses on fire in Honolulu on Sunday

A 69-year-old man shot and killed two Honolulu cops and wounded several others before starting a blaze in which he died on Sunday.

Jerry Hanel, who had a history of mental illness, was being evicted from his home on Hibiscus Drive when he opened fire on authorities after they received reports he had stabbed his landlady, Lois Cane.

The Honolulu Police Department identified Tiffany Enriquez and Kaulike Kalama as the two officers killed.

A neighbor told The Associated Press she saw Cain being loaded into an ambulance with knife wounds.

The suspect is then alleged to have set fire to his home, a blaze that spread to seven neighboring houses. Two people from the nearby homes are reportedly missing, meaning the death toll could rise.

Hanel's remains have not been recovered, and officials said it could be days before coroners find his body.

Hanel reportedly had a history of violent behavior and making false reports to 911.

Hanel, 69, is pictured above on police body cam footage from last year

Hanel is believed to have suffered from mental illness. He has also had several disputes with neighbors as well as run-ins with the law

Police body cam video Video obtained by HNN shows the suspect in today's fatal shooting in Diamond Head talking to officers in an earlier incident. Sources have identified the suspect as 69-year-old Jerry Hanel. What else we know about the suspected shooter: https://buff.ly/2R7cUy2 #HINews #HNN Posted by Hawaii News Now on Sunday, January 19, 2020

The Honolulu Police Department identified Tiffany Enriquez (left) and Kaulike Kalama as the two officers killed

Enriquez, a 7-year HPD veteran, was the mother of three children

Kalama was a 9-year veteran of the Honolulu Police Department

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard choked back tears during a news conference in Honolulu on Sunday

Police were called to the scene of the eviction after Hanel allegedly stabbed his landlady.

Hanel then engaged the officers with his weapon, according to HNN.

Enriquez was taken to Queen's Medical Center in extremely critical condition and later died.

Kalama was reported in critical condition and also died from his injuries.

In a statement, Hawaii Governor David Ige said: 'Our entire state mourns the loss of two Honolulu Police officers killed in the line of duty this morning.

'As we express our condolences to their families, friends and colleagues, let us also come together to help and support those who have been forever changed by this tragedy.'

Mayor Kirk Caldwell tweeted: 'I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the two officers as well as the entire Honolulu Police Department.

'This is an unprecedented tragedy for not only the City and County of Honolulu but the entire state of Hawaii.'

Honolulu police take up defensive positions with their weapons during the shooting incident on Hibiscus Road

An aerial view of the Diamond Head region of Honolulu on Sunday shows several homes burning

Snoke is seen from the burning buildings after the shooting claimed two lives

Honolulu police carry an injured officer after a shooting and domestic incident at a residence on Hibiscus Road near Diamond Head on Sunday

A Honolulu police officer carries an assault rifle near the scene of multiple house fires in a Diamond Head neighborhood

Honolulu police watch a house fire after a shooting and domestic incident at a residence on Hibiscus Road near Diamond Head on Sunday

Two Honolulu police officers were fatally shot near a Diamond Head home in Honolulu, Hawaii, during an active shooter situation on Sunday morning

Honolulu police prepare to take defensive positions with their weapons after a shooting and domestic incident at a residence on Hibiscus Road

Honolulu police officers console each other near the scene of the shooting on Sunday

Shocked bystanders look on after the shooting on Hibiscus Road near Diamond Head on Sunday

Aina Haina resident Kai Ohashi (right) and Waikiki resident Lucy Taylor observe billowing smoke from a house fire

Honolulu firefighters work with police to extinguish a house fire on Hibiscus Road

A Honolulu police officer escorts Dolores Sandvold back to her home near the scene

The unclear confrontation at a Diamond Head home near Poni Moi Road and Hibiscus Drive in Honolulu, Hawaii

A witness at the scene said emergency crews performed CPR on an officer immediately after the shooting.

Dozens of local police officers, including police chief Susan Ballard, were seen arriving to the local hospital in waves as the victims were transported away from the scene.

Authorities have since closed nearby roadways as an investigation is underway regarding the incident.

At least four homes in the Diamond Head section of Honolulu were set on fire, according to authorities

Pictured: Smoke billows through the streets after a shooting in Honolulu on Sunday morning

HPD: 'In the area of Hibiscus Dr. and connecting streets are closed down due to police investigation'

Jonathan Burge, Hanel's lawyer, told Hawaii News Now that Hanel was living rent-free on the lower floor of the home where the shooting took place.

According to Burge, the home's owner, Cain, was friends with Hanel. She wanted to help Hanel despite several disputes with neighbors in recent years.

But the relationship took a turn for the worse when Cain told Hanel he could not get a dog to replace the one who died recently.

Burge also said that Cain was planning to move back to Hawaii and she had asked Hanel to vacate.

Cain went to court and obtained an eviction order for Hanel, according to HNN.

The eviction complaint filed by Cain stated that Hanel had no rental agreement.

It accuses Hanel of doing damage to the property and refusing multiple demands to leave.

'Defendant does NOT have a Rental Agreement to occupy the premises and Defendant has no ownership interest in said premises,' read the complaint for eviction that Cain filed last week in court.

'Despite repeated demands, Defendant has failed and refused to vacate the premises.'

It was anticipated that the eviction was going to be confirmed in court next week.

Hanel, a native of the Czech Republic who used Czech interpreters in court, faced a hearing next week on a charge of misusing 911 services, Burge said on Sunday.

Burge said that he spoke to both Cain and Hanel earlier this week about the situation.

He was under the impression that Hanel was preparing to leave the property peacefully.

Burge said Hanel had mental health issues but resisted getting treatment.

He said Hanel would often have delusions that he was being followed by the Secret Service and the FBI.

According to court records, neighbors obtained several restraining orders against Hanel.

Burge told HNN that most of the disputes were over minor issues.

In one incident, Hanel was charged with assault for shoving a neighbor. He was eventually acquitted.

Several houses caught fire on Sunday after the gunman allegedly set fire to one of them

A Honolulu police officer directs traffic near the scene of multiple house fires

Pictured: Fire from the Diamond Head could be seen from other nearby residences

Nearby resident Dolores Sandvold said she heard screaming and gunshots and saw Cain being carried to an ambulance.

She said she was led out of the area and that she had yet to be allowed back into her home.

Kailua resident John Farmer said the fire spread to his sisters nearby house, which burned down.

He said the resident has been described as paranoid and threatening.

Officials across the state began releasing statements mourning the lost lives, with Gov. David Ige saying, 'Our entire state mourns the loss of two Honolulu Police officers killed in the line of duty this morning.'

Police closed several streets nearby and asked the public to avoid the area.

The last time a Honolulu police officer was shot and killed in the line of duty was 2003.
Aligarh, Jan 19 : An FIR has been lodged against more than 60 unnamed women in Aligarh for allegedly staging protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The police said that the protest organised by the women was in violation of Section 144 which was imposed in the district at that time.

Anil Samania, Circle Officer (CO) of Aligarh Civil Lines, said, "Some women tried to stage a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Population Register, in violation of Section 144. An FIR has been registered against 60-70 unknown women and we are starting the process of identifying them." Protests broke out in different parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians facing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Aligarh also witnessed violent protests on the issue.
LAS CRUCES  As New Mexico faces the prospect of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, the left-leaning Las Cruces City Council at a Monday work session was unsurprisingly supportive, with a notable exception: Mayor Ken Miyagishima.

Miyagishima told the Sun-News on Wednesday that a legalization bill would be the most irresponsible legislation he has ever seen passed during his more than 20 years in New Mexico government.

Miyagishima voiced his staunch opposition after the council listened to a legalization policy proposal from Pat Davis, an Albuquerque city councilor. Davis chaired a work group appointed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to put together a series of policy recommendations for pots proposed legalization.

This just seems backwards to me, Miyagishima said of the plan during the work session.

New Mexico has allowed medical cannabis for certain conditions since 2007. Lujan Grisham plans to push for full legalization during the upcoming legislative session. A bill was filed in the state Senate Jan. 16 ahead of the session.

While councilors Gill Sorg, Gabriel Vasquez, Yvonne Flores and Johana Bencomo signaled strong support for the legalization effort, Miyagishima noted aloud that he was outnumbered on the council but spoke about his reservations.

Im not supportive of this, Miyagishima said. It took me a long time to support CBD. And I finally relented on the medical marijuana.

CBD is an abbreviation of cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant. Its often found in oils that advertise alleviation of pain or anxiety.

Miyagishima approves of medical use, saying he has seen the benefits to cancer patients and for users with chronic pain, calling the medical industry somewhat controlled.

But he said full legalization makes him worried about crime increasing, the higher potency of the drug compared to the past and teens using it while pregnant as a way to deal with nausea.

He said his worries stem from talking to a former mayor from Colorado, one of the first states to have legalized recreational pot back in 2012. The former mayor told Miyagishima that parents dropping kids off at school are often high, he said, and Realtors have trouble getting the smell out of homes theyre trying to resell.

It seemed to Miyagishima like a self-fulfilling endeavor, he said at the session, in which the state legalizes recreational weed and gives the revenue to public safety to train them to handle drugged drivers.

He referenced remarks by former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who has said he regretted legalization. Colorados legalization was done by ballot initiative; New Mexico would do so by legislation.

District 2 Councilor Tessa Abeyta Stuve said during the session she was torn on legalization, with her main worry as a parent being kids getting hold of marijuana.

District 1 Councilor Kasandra Gandara supports the overall proposal, but mentioned it wasnt a black and white issue. She said her son uses medical marijuana for anxiety and depression.

Gandara said shes concerned about how legalization would affect child welfare and families. She also wants to see more scientific research to examine the effects of legalization.

Even if the city wanted, the current legalization proposal wont allow local governments to prohibit recreational sales within their jurisdiction, as has been done in other states, to prevent pockets of illicit markets from flourishing.

Under the proposal, Las Cruces and other municipalities would still be able to wield its zoning authority to control the number of marijuana shops allowed in an area as well as in which areas they can set up shop.
Police nabbed a suspected reckless driver after a police chase early Sunday morning, Houston police said.

An officer witnessed a vehicle speeding and failing to heed stop signs around 1:30 a.m. Police tried to pull the driver over, but the vehicle sped away. Police gave chase and said the driver drove recklessly and at high speeds.
An Oxford brewery settled a lawsuit Monday brought by a mother and her daughter claiming the bar over-served a hammered state trooper at a retirement party before he ran a stop sign and slammed into their car, injuring both.

Filed Oct. 31, the lawsuit alleged the Black Hog Brewing continued to serve Sgt. John McDonald while he was visibly intoxicated.

The Black Hog Brewery will pay out $225,000 for the settlement, said Garrett Moore, the personal injury lawyer representing Lisa Conroy and her daughter Madison, the two women hurt in the crash.

It was totally anticipated  we had them dead to rights, Moore said Wednesday.

Court records show the Black Hog Brewing Co. and brothers Jason and Thomas Sobocinski were withdrawn from the case Monday.

The states dram shop law would have allowed a maximum payout of $250,000. But Moore said the difference would have been taken up by his fees if he had taken more depositions, leading to an even lower settlement for his clients.

McDonald is also facing criminal charges for the Sept. 25 crash, after investigators said he left a retirement party for another trooper in his state police Chevy Impala. A short distance later, he plowed through an intersection at Airport Road and Route 188 near the brewery, colliding with the Conroys Nissan Altima

The T-bone accident sent the family sedan off the road and into the woods. Both women were taken to St. Marys Hospital with injuries  Lisa Conroy, 52, suffered an injury to her eye, and her 19-year-old daughter Madison suffered injuries to her arm and wrist, said Moore.

Videos show this guy staggering, stumbling and dropping his drinks, he clearly was intoxicated. So we had a really strong case, the familys lawyer said.

McDonald, a 37-year-old state police sergeant with the Western District Major Crimes division, was reportedly stumbling around the scene after the crash, according to his arrest warrant. At least one witness said they smelled a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

That guy is hammered, an off-duty Oxford firefighter who arrived at the scene told police. He is not listening to me to stay out of the roadway.

McDonald was taken to the hospital before receiving a breathalyzer, officials said. When he got to the hospital, he left in the company of several other state troopers without receiving care, according to his arrest warrant.

Moore said the Conroys are happy to put this part behind (them), and were satisfied to know there was an acknowledgment that the brewery had done something wrong.

Unlike the state police which so far have continued to blockade, he added.

He said the lawsuit is continuing against McDonald and the state of Connecticut.

State police are also conducting an internal affairs investigation into the party to see if any other troopers there violated department policies.

That investigation is still ongoing, according to state police, and McDonald remains suspended. His suspension started Nov. 14.

Any status change - when there is a status change - we will put that out publicly, said Brian Foley, a spokesman for the office of state commissioner James Rovella.

Foley previously said investigators are looking at state police time cards to determine whether any troopers were on duty at the party and responded to the crash. He said it was likely several people would be disciplined after the investigation was complete.

Moore said he has still has not obtained surveillance video from inside the bar, which is referenced as evidence in the warrant for McDonalds arrest.

The video purportedly shows McDonald having as many as eight drinks before getting in his car, according to the warrant.

State police are holding the video as evidence in their investigation, and have not released it publicly.

Foley did not give a clear time frame for when the video would be made public.

Moore said he has watched the video, but only through a third party.

He said Mondays settlement does not rob the Conroys of their day in court. That will come with the state police, Moore said.

Moore said the next step in the civil lawsuit will be to take a sworn statement from McDonald. That will likely happen sometime in the spring, he said, because he has to wait until after the criminal case against McDonald has been adjudicated to take a deposition.

Officials suspended McDonald from duty in mid-November last year. Several days later, he was arrested Nov. 19, and charged with second degree assault with a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle under the influence.

He was also charged with reckless driving and failure to obey a stop sign.

McDonald is due back in court Jan. 27 in the criminal case, court records show.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
Authorities have concluded putting in place a plan that will enable five regions to be connected to natural gas, a move aimed at reducing reliance on erratic electricity, a Tanzanian government senior official said on Sunday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

Subira Mgalu, the east African nation's Deputy Minister for Energy, named the five regions lined up for natural gas connection as Arusha, Dodoma, Tanga, Kilimanjaro and Morogoro.

Mgalu said the intention of the government was to ensure that all regions were connected to natural gas for domestic and industrial use.

He said the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has embarked on a grand project to provide infrastructure for connecting natural gas for domestic and industrial use in Dar es Salaam, Coast, Lindi and Mtwara regions.

Under the TPDC project, said Mgalu, more than 50 industries have already been connected to natural gas, adding that almost all industries in the country will be connected to natural gas by 2046.

In May 2018, Mgalu told parliament that the government was implementing a project to connect key industries in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam with natural gas as source of energy, reducing dependence on erratic electricity.

"The plan is to reduce dependence of electricity as the only source of power for production by the industries," said Mgalu.

The official made the remarks as Tanzanian President John Magufuli has promised to turn the country into a middle income industrial economy by 2025.

Tanzania is on the process of implementing a mega hydropower at Stiegler's Gorge along the Rufiji River in the Selous Game Reserve that will produce 2,100 megawatts.

Tanzania, with a population of approximately 55 million, has just 1,500 MW of installed grid capacity.
New Delhi, Jan 19 : Criticising the Narendra Modi government over low economic growth, the Congress here on Sunday quoted the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data to claim that 26,085 deaths in 2018 were attributed to unemployment or related issues.

"Distressing figures have been published by the NCRB. It's extremely worrying and frightening because the NCRB says 36 people commit suicide a day due to issues related to unemployment, lack of jobs or underemployment," said senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

It was quite frightening that there were 26,085 cases of suicide due to joblessness in 2018, he said.

The Congress leader said but for 'jumlas' (false promises) like 'make in India', the government, the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and the Finance Minister were clueless. "An enemy a day, an issue a day, a potboiler a day -- keep all these issues away," he said.

He said the government was desperate to find quick-fix solutions, 'jumlas', misleading solutions to avoid major issues to divert public attention.
Criticising the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Yogendra Yadav said it is unfortunate that Narendra Modi can only see the 'white cap' and 'hijab' (worn by Muslims) but not the national flag in the hands of lakhs of people

Thane: Criticising the Centre over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Swaraj India president Yogendra Yadav said it is unfortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can only see the "white cap" and "hijab" (worn by Muslims) but not the national flag in the hands of lakhs of people.

He said the ongoing protests across the country against some decisions of the Centre were a way for people to vent out their "suffocation". The politician-activist was addressing a rally in

Bhiwandi town here on Saturday night to oppose CAA, the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, JD(S) national general secretary and Justice (retd) BG Kolse-Patil and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)student leader Umar Khalid also addressed the gathering. "Modi can only see the white cap and 'hijab' and not not the tricolour in the hands of lakhs of people which is unfortunate. The suffocation in the country has come out

through these agitations," Yadav said.

He also said that the agitation at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi has "proved the power of women". The protesters, who are opposing the CAA and NRC, have been sitting on protest at Shaheen Bagh for over a month. The road is a key link between Noida and Delhi and has been closed by Noida Traffic Police in view of the ongoing protests.

Addressing people of the power loom town of Bhiwandi, Yadav said if there is warp and weft (two basic components for weaving), then the product will be a good cloth. "People of Bhiwandi (weavers) recognise clothes and they will surely recognise the colour of Modi," he said.

On the occasion, JNU student leader Umar Khalid said Bharat is the country of people like Babasaheb Ambedkar and not of Modis. "We survive and eat out of our efforts and not on the 'tukda' of Ambani," he said.

Khalid also said that Modi earlier wore the "mask" of a 'vikas purush', and has now put on the mask of being the brother of Muslim women. The strings woven in Bhiwandi town keep members of both the Hindu and Muslim communities here united, he added.

Awhad said the time has now come to show the Modi government its place, and asserted that CAA will not be implemented in the state, just like Punjab and Kerala. "This is my word," the NCP leader said.

Several Hindus cannot identify where they performed the last rights of their father, but in case of Muslims they can identify the graves of their ancestors, he noted. He also said that members of the state's Pardhi and Kolhati communities can never provide proof (of citizenship).

Kolse-Patil said this fight was against the "Brahminical thoughts". "NRC and CAA are not anti-Muslim, but Muslim is only an excuse. Their (government) target is Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. If we come together and fight this war, we will surely win it," he said.

He also asked people to reach out to every village and locality and spread the message against CAA, NRC and NPR.
Usually with Marvel movies, weve been getting one big success story after another. Lately, however, the news has tended to lean toward the negative side. Worse yet, some fans think the backslide is originating from the very top.

Many fans cheered when Marvel announced it would include a trans character in one of their upcoming movies. However, Disney walked back that announcement, saying that character would not appear for a while.

Now some people are frustrated and accusing Kevin Feige of not telling the truth.

Kevin Feige | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for HFA

Will Marvel or wont Marvel include a trans character?

This all started when Marvel president Kevin Feige spoke at the New York Film Academy and, per IndieWire, was asked if future Marvel films would include any LGBT characters soon. Feige responded Feige responded, Yes  absolutely, yes. And very soon. In a movie that were shooting right now. That seemed to indicate The Eternals, which is due out in November.

However, it turned out Feiges answer was misinterpreted. He apparently was referring only to the gay and lesbian part, not the trans part. Some fans were not amused when discussing the issue on Reddit. One accused the company of kowtowing to foreign markets, which sometimes censor LGBT moments:

People will eventually get tired of Marvels queerbaiting. Im LGBT too but I have no hopes of any of this happening because 1.) Disney money 2.) China money 3.) Marvel fanboys money.

Other fans pointed out that Eternals will at least have a gay character. At the same time, fans have good cause to be skeptical because Disney has been skittish with representation issues in all its major properties: its own movies, Marvel and Star Wars.

Disneys questionable LGBT track record

Disney made headlines in 2017 when they revealed that the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast would include a gay character: LeFou, played by Josh Gad. However, fans were disappointed in the final scene, which featured only a quick shot of LeFou dancing with another man. This was considered much ado about not much.

Disney did something similar with The Rise of Skywalker, with some outlets reporting an historic first gay kis, but that was another blink-and-you miss-it moment, with the kiss happening on the margins of a scene between minor characters. Disney was accused of paying lip service to the issue.

Some fans have said that Captain Marvel strongly hints at a lesbian relationship between the title character and Maria Rambeau, but hints is as far as it got. Tessa Thompson got cheers at Comic-Con last year when she said Valkyrie was looking for her queen, but a scene referencing this had been cut from Thor: Ragnarok.

Disney and Marvel have taken a few hits lately

This lie about a trans character comes amid a wave of negative headlines about Disney movies and shows. The Release the JJ Cut story has been a blight on The Rise of Skywalker. The showrunner of the Lizzie McGuire reboot with Hilary Duff split from that project.

Marvel also announced that it needed a new director for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, with Scott Derrickson departing amid creative differences.

This too shall pass. Perhaps its a course correction in the face of Disneys record-shattering success, with the studio having seven of the top 10 hits of 2019, and with those movies grossing $10 billion, an achievement that is unprecedented.

Peter Parkers Uncle Ben famously stated that with great power comes great responsibility  and many in the LGBT community would argue that Disney not living up to the latter part.
Kabul, Jan 19 : As the US and Taliban began a new round of peace talks in Doha, an Afghanistan government spokesman said that "all allies" of the country, as well as the "people of Afghanistan," were "insisting on a ceasefire" before the next step in the peace process.

In this latest round of peace talks in Qatar, the Taliban has reportedly agreed to a reduction in violence for a 10-day period which means the group will not carry out attacks in urban areas, reports TOLO News.

Addressing a press conference in Kabul on Saturday, spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the talks were underway between US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad's team and the Taliban negotiators, but there has been "no progress so far", referring specifically to discussions about a ceasefire or reduction in violence.

Sediqqi said that ending the war and bringing peace to the country were priorities of the government of Afghanistan and "the President and the people of Afghanistan have always insisted on a ceasefire".

The spokesman reiterated that the ceasefire was the "most important demand of Afghans", adding that the Taliban "should accept a ceasefire if they are really interested in peace".

The process will "not achieve any results without the role of the Afghan government", Sediqqi said.

The new talks began last week after a month-long break since the two sides paused the negotiations for internal consultations on December 12, 2019, reports Efe news.

The Taliban and the US resumed the negotiations on December 7 following a three-month stalemate after President Donald Trump abruptly called off the talks in September over a deadly attack in Kabul that also killed an American soldier.

A possible US-Taliban agreement is expected to pave the way for intra-Afghan peace talks between the Taliban and the government of President Ashraf Ghani.

The Taliban have for long rejected to hold any official and direct talks with the Afghan government before it reaches an agreement with the US on its troop withdrawal from the country.
The wife of a Nagar Panchayat employee here has lodged a compliant with the police, accusing a BJP MLA and his mother, who is also the chairperson of Bithoor Nagar Panchayat, of harassing her husband, an official said on Sunday.

Bithoor police station in-charge Kaushlendra Pratap Singh said the woman, Shalu Dwivedi, a Kanpur resident, submitted a written complaint to the police on Friday.

The complaint is being examined, he added.

"In her written complaint against BJP MLA Abhijeet Singh Sanga and his mother, Bithoor Nagar Panchayat chairperson Nirmala Singh, the woman has stated that the two often call her husband Akhilesh Dwivedi, a Nagar Panchayat employee, and force him to work on their private farming land," the SHO said.

On her husband's refusal, his salary was stopped for two months, the woman said in her complaint, adding she along with her husband were also threatened that they would be implicated in false criminal cases, the SHO said, citing the complaint.

BJP MLA from Bithoor (SC), Abhijeet Singh Sanga, however, denied the allegations against him and his mother, and said the complaint was filed under a conspiracy against him.

"The charges are being probed by Kalyanpur Circle Officer Ajay Kumar," the SHO said, adding an FIR is yet to be registered in this connection.

The woman also alleged that the police is trying to shield the BJP MLA and his mother.

The police, however, denied the allegation, saying they are already probing the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former-Love Island contestants have paid their respects to their late fellow-star Mike Thalassitis, on what would have been his 27th birthday.

The likes of Montana Brown, Jonny Mitchell and Georgia Harrison took to social media on Sunday to honour the tragic reality star - who took his own life 10 months ago.

Montana - who appeared on the show with Mike in 2017 - posted two photos to Instagram of her with him, captioning them: 'Happy birthday angel face, miss you so much and I hope you're having a party party up there wherever you are.

Loving memory: Former-Love Island contestants have paid their respects to their late fellow-star Mike Thalassitis, on what would have been his 27th birthday, led by Montana Brown [pictured in January 2019]

'I wish we all had more time with you. We lost you too early.'

She added: 'If you're looking at this feeling suicidal and unhappy, please speak to someone, if you don't want to speak to someone you know, you can also text @giveusashoutinsta. You are all amazing, you all are worthy of the help and I know you're so loved.'

Jonny Mitchell - from the same season as Mike - uploaded a snap of them enjoying a toast in happier times, penning: 'Happy Birthday Magic Mike. Miss you big man '

Georgia Harrison posted a snap of her with Mike on Love Island, as well as shots of herself on a balcony, and captioned them: 'Happy birthday @mike_thala i think of you all the time, your humour, your caring nature, your generosity, the way you were an absolute gentleman.

'Angel face': Montana - who appeared on the show with Mike in 2017 - posted two photos to Instagram of her with him, captioning them - 'Happy birthday angel face, miss you so much and I hope you're having a party party up there wherever you are'

Remembering Mike: Jonny Mitchell - from the same season as Mike - uploaded a snap of them enjoying a toast in happier times, penning - 'Happy Birthday Magic Mike. Miss you big man '

'You were an absolute gentleman': Georgia Harrison posted a snap of her with Mike on Love Island

'The sort of man that would carry your bags for you, open the door for you, be the first person person at the bar offering everyone a drink. I miss you so much and i still regret so many moments where i missed the extent of what was going on in your head.

'I know you're in a better place and you motivate me in so many ways still. Thankyou for making me laugh and being by my side when i cried. Its so hard to talk about your feelings and whats going on in your head, especially for men [sic]'

She used the opportunity to promote a mental health organisation for men, continuing: 'Please follow @boysgetsadtoostudio who give a percentage of their profits towards mens mental health.

'I know sometimes you can feel like you have nothing left to live for, ive been there, believe me. But if you just start by talking about it and being honest the ods are with time youll get through it.

'Is this weird?' Montana went for a walk on Mike's birthday and allegedly stumbled across a group of stones formed into an M

Flashbacks: Montana uploaded videos she had of Mike to her Instagram stories

Tragic: Mike was found hanged in a park last March - after friends revealed he had been 'in a dark place' in the months leading up to his death

Devastated: Montana appeared on This Morning shortly after Mike's death and revealed Mike had texted her prior to his death but she didn't reply

'Life is full of obs ups and downs and mike was made to feel like he wasnt good enough and i think thats why the world was so shocked because anyone who knew him knew he was more than enough.

'He was an absolute legend and legends never die. I love you so much , when u left you broke the hearts of people that hadnt even met you because you were that amazing. See you in the next life  [sic]'

Sam Gowland, of the same season, posted a tribute, sharing photos of him with Mike.

In one he captioned it: 'Happy birthday brother! We all miss u very much! [sic]'

And of one of Mike and Sam sat by the firepit on the show, he wrote: 'Memories for a lifetime! [sic]'

Sam Gowland, of the same season, posted a tribute, sharing photos of him with Mike. In one he captioned it - 'Happy birthday brother! We all miss u very much! [sic]'

And of one of Mike and Sam sat by the firepit on the show, he wrote: 'Memories for a lifetime! [sic]'

Mike was found hanged in a park last March - after friends revealed he had been 'in a dark place' in the months leading up to his death.

He was found dead in Edmonton, North London, the Metropolitan Police confirmed at the time - thought to have been struggling to come to terms with the death of his grandmother and dealing with debt.

Montana appeared on This Morning shortly after Mike's death and revealed Mike had texted her prior to his death but she didn't reply.

'I spoke to him two days before. But I'm kicking myself because he text me but I didn't actually reply. I'm really bad on my phone. I wish I had replied,' she said, through tears.

For confidential support or advice call the Samaritans on 116 123 for free or visit www.samaritans.org.
By Trend

Military units of the armed forces of Armenia violated ceasefire 23 times throughout the day in various direction of the front, using large-caliber machine guns,Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Armenian armed forces, located in Voskevan village and on nameless hills in Noyemberyan region, in Aygedzor village of Berd region, and on nameless hills in Krasnoselsk region subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijan Army located in Kamarli, Gushchu Ayrim villages of Gazakh region, in Munjuglu village of Tovuz region, in Garaveliler village and on nameless hills in Gadabay region.

The positions of Azerbaijan Army were also fired from the positions of Armenian military units located near the occupied Ajarly, Yusifjanly villages of Aghdam region, Horadiz village of Fuzuli region, as well as from the positions located on nameless hills in Goranboy and Terter regions.

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 us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Oklahoma City police are investigating after they said multiple gunshots were fired at Penn Square Mall.

According to police, the shots were fired around 7:45 p.m. Saturday. Two off-duty officers were working as security guards in the mall when they heard gunshots.
Here are three of the week's top pieces of business insight, gathered from around the web:

Finding religion in the fine print

"How did God make it into millions of consumer contracts?" asked David Lazarus at the Los Angeles Times. Consider the one-year extended warranty offered by the eyewear chain LensCrafters. It excludes "'damage from abuse' as well as damage from 'fire, collision, vandalism, theft, etc.'" But apparently that's not enough: It also exempts damage resulting from "acts of God." That would seem to include, "well, everything." The roots of this clause can be traced as far back as a property-related case decided by an English court in 1581, which ruled that an "act of God"  a death  made the deal in question "null and void." In recent years, it has evolved into "legal shorthand for unanticipated events beyond human control." But according to one legal scholar, "there's a reluctance to use a different phrase" because that one "has come to be well understood."

A bust in crowdfunded real estate

Real-estate crowdfunding has struggled to live up to its hype, said Konrad Putzier at The Wall Street Journal. After bursting onto the scene a decade ago boasting they would "transform real-estate investing the way Amazon changed retail," several of the original crowdfunding real estate firms have gone out of business. The idea was that investors could buy "stakes as small as a few thousand dollars in commercial property." As the economy rebounded, however, "developers suddenly had plenty of cheap funding choices," leaving crowdfunders to pick up "riskier projects." The remaining firms are now courting wealthier customers, increasingly resembling the vehicles, such as real-estate investment trusts, they were aiming to disrupt.

Higher fees for ultrapremium cards

"The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is about to get more expensive," said Michelle Davis and Jennifer Surane at Bloomberg. Chase is bumping up its annual fee on its super-high-end card to $550 from $450 "as it adds new perks" like a $120 credit for DoorDash deliveries and a free year of Lyft's membership program. While many card issuers have been scaling back perks, Chase is "targeting services that are surging in popularity." It has found, for instance, that customers "doubled their spending on food-delivery services in the past year," and most Sapphire Reserve customers "use ride-hailing apps at least once a week." The price hike "follows a move by rival American Express," which raised the fee on its platinum card to $550 in 2017 "after adding benefits such as a $200 annual Uber credit."

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, try the magazine for a month here.

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An first information report (FIR) has been filed on Saturday against 60-70 women in Aligarh for allegedly staging the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and Population Register (NPR).

Police said that the protest organised by the agitated women was in violation of Section 144.

"Some women tried to stage a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act and Population Register, which is a violation of Section 144. So, an FIR has been registered against 60-70 unknown women," said Anil Samania, Circle Officer (CO) of Aligarh Civil Lines.

Protests broke out in different parts of the country, including Assam against CAA which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians facing 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.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 03:58:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The export of natural gas to Egypt started on Jan. 15 has "turned Israel into an energy power," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday during his weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.

He referred to the deal between Israel and Egypt as a "singular economic and diplomatic event" because Israel has "spreading itself to the Arab world and into Europe" through the gas pipeline.

Israel has no diplomatic relations with most of the Arab states, though it has signed peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan.

On Jan. 15, commercial gas started to be transported via a subsea pipeline from Israel's offshore Leviathan natural gas reservoir to Egypt.

Under the deal, Dolphinus Holdings, a private company in Egypt, will buy 85 billion cubic meters of gas at a cost of about 19.5 billion U.S. dollars from Israel's Leviathan and Tamar over a period of 15 years.

According to a statement issued on Jan. 15 by the Israeli and Egyptian energy ministries, the move "will also allow Israel to export some of its natural gas to Europe through Egypt's liquefied natural gas facilities and promote Egypt's status as a regional gas market."

Leviathan is a huge 622-billion-cubic meter gas reservoir that was found off Israel's Mediterranean coast in 2010.

Gas production in Tamar, a nearby smaller gas field, kicked off in March 2013.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 04:16:09|Editor: xuxin

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RAMALLAH, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Sunday accused the United States of trying to turn the future Palestinian state into cantons under the Israeli control.

"The U.S. administration wants to transform the Palestinians into small cantons in an entity that is under Israeli control," said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of Palestine Liberation Organization.

"The U.S. is an accomplice with the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory, by taking unilateral steps including dropping the issue of Palestinian refugees, borders, Jerusalem and legalizing settlement activity in breach of international law," she added.

She said the U.S. peace deal, known as the "Deal of the Century," would not lead to peace, security or stability, because the U.S. administration "is basing it on Israel's interests."

Ashrawi said that the U.S. repeated announcements of a peace plan are an attempt to "prevent any other party from presenting a political initiative to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict."

On Monday, U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said that the long-anticipated Middle East peace plan is likely to be presented ahead of Israeli elections in March.
Conor McGregor took 40 seconds to obliterate Donald Cerrone and launch his comeback in outrageous style.

The 'Notorious' looked every inch the slick, powerful and technically brilliant operator that took over the sport, maybe even better.

'Any one of these mouthy fools can get it!' he roared above the din having put the welterweight division on red alert.

Conor McGregor produced a devastating display to beat Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone at UFC 246

The Irishman was overcome with emotion as he produced a memorable victory in Las Vegas

The victory ensured McGregor returned to the top echelons of the sport almost immediately

It has been a long, painful road back to this point after the crushing disappointment of the defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov in October 2018. 'They thought I was toast, but I'm still the bread', the Irishman said this week and he backed it up.

McGregor stood under the spotlights with his eyes closed, head turned skywards and arms outstretched as he was announced to the packed out T-Mobile Arena. His walk-out took much longer than the fight, for which he'll take home $3million, before all the pay-per-view bonuses are added.

The Irish thoroughbred charged towards 'Cowboy', stunning him and busting the American's nose with a clever flurry of shoulder barges to the head in the first exchange.

They separated and Cerrone unleashed a head kick. McGregor replied in kind and found the target, wobbling his opponent before uncorking five left hands in succession.

McGregor went into the match-up as the slight favourite over popular American Cerrone

Almost immediately, McGregor launched a flying kick at Cerrone and overwhelmed him

Cerrone had no answer, his grandma who was watching on in her Cowboy boots will have been relieved when referee Herb Dean mercifully intervened.

He gave the bloodied fighter plenty of time to stick it out but called it off with the blows raining down less than a minute into the first round.

'I've made history. I'm the first fighter in UFC history to secure knockouts in three different divisions,' McGregor declared.

'I'm very happy and proud. UFC can strip fighters and give people fake titles, so there you go, you can't take that away, that's history.'

'I like this weight division, I feel very good. I don't believe I'm there yet, I've got a lot to do, I'm going to party then get back to it. Every single one of them can get it, I'm back!'

There were far more questions than answers surrounding McGregor in the lead up to this. The last 15 months away from the cage have been littered with hugely damaging incidents.

He smashed a fan's phone, punched a pensioner over a perceived slight about 'Proper 12' whiskey and saw his popularity in Ireland begin to decay.

A flurry of brutal punches ensured that Cerrone had no answer and could not land a strike

Apologists have put his unravelling down to the pitfalls that global fame and an outrageous bank balance can present to those who rise from humble beginnings.

But there was a noticeable change in McGregor this week. He showed remorse for the many, many mistakes and appeared far more composed than before. The incredible self-belief still radiated but he had a newfound sense of perspective.

Perhaps the fact he was fighting one of the sport's nice guys took the edge off or maybe fatherhood of two young children has helped him mellow.

We were sold the line that months of strict routine and a well-oiled training regime had produced the 'best version of McGregor' ever seen. It's hard to argue with that assessment now.

Even though he hadn't won a fight for more than 1000 days, a McGregor event is still the hottest ticket in town. Tom Brady was in the house, enjoying a rare night out in January, Tyson Fury watched on and Matthew McConaughey rocked up to a thunderous reception. He'll have appreciated that Hollywood finish.

This was McGregor's first time in the octagon since losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov

The contest was over inside a minute and McGregor dropped to his knees as he realised

This was billed as a 'party fight' and there was a carnival atmosphere all night. These events have a different feel when McGregor is involved but there were still nagging doubts about whether he'd be able to deliver.

Those evaporated in the blink of an eye. 'I've never seen anything like these shoulders to my face,' the beaten man admitted. 'I was thinking "I guess I'm going to get my ass kicked early". But I'm not going anywhere, I'm going to keep fighting.'

Cerrone is not a physically monstrous specimen at welterweight and if McGregor has aspirations of becoming the first triple-weight champion in UFC history then more severe tests lie in store.

That said, on this evidence he has fight-ending power at 170-pounds so there are an array of mouth-watering encounters on the horizon. A rematch with Khabib would also surely be by far the biggest fight in UFC history.

For now though, the sea of green pouring through the Las Vegas strip can toast McGregor's picture perfect start to the decade and immaculate comeback.
AL MUKALLA, Yemen  The death toll in a drone and missile attack on a government military training base in central Yemen rose to at least 76 on Sunday, representing an escalation bound to complicate international efforts to end the countrys prolonged war.

The attack targeted soldiers gathered Saturday near a mosque in the central province of Mareb before evening prayers. Abdu Abdullah Majali, a spokesman for the Yemeni Army, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, provided the new death toll and said at least 81 people were wounded.

But Yemens foreign minister, Mohammed al-Hadrami, gave a higher toll, saying more than 100 people were killed. He called it a cowardly terrorist act that violates all religious and human customs and values in a statement on his ministrys Twitter feed.

Yemens Houthi rebels, who are aligned with Saudi Arabias regional rival Iran, did not claim responsibility for the attack. But there are no other forces in the area with a motive to carry it out.
Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

Fueled by expectations of a recovery in semiconductor prices, Samsung Electronics shares rose to record levels last week, propelling it into the global top 20 companies in terms of market capitalization.

Advertisement

According to Bloomberg on Sunday, Samsung ranks 18th in the world in terms of market cap based on its closing price on Jan. 9, up 10 notches from 2018.

Samsung shares rose to the highest price since it was listed in June of 1975, surging 51 percent over the past year. Its total market cap rose to US$301.7 billion, up almost W120 trillion over the same period (US$1=W1,162).

Samsung is now richer than Intel (26th), AT&T (22nd) and Verizon (27th).

But Samsung remains the only Korean company in the global top 100. SK Hynix, ranked second domestically, did not even come close.

Worldwide, Saudi Arabia's state-run oil firm Aramco shot to the top as soon as it went public in December, followed by Apple, Microsoft, Google parent company Alphabet, Amazon and Facebook.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces wounded dozens of protesters on Sunday as renewed anti-government demonstrations gripped the capital and Iraqs south, activists and officials said.

The mass protests had lost steam when soaring U.S.-Iran tensions threatened an open conflict on Iraqi soil in past weeks.

As the regional crisis receded, Iraqi activists gave the government a weeks deadline to act on their demands for sweeping political reforms or said they would up the pressure with new demonstrations.

The uprising began on Oct. 1 when thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to decry rampant government corruption, poor public services and a scarcity of jobs. Protesters are demanding an end to Iraqs sectarian political system, alongside early elections and the stepping aside of its ruling elite.

Clashes between protesters and security forces in central Baghdad wounded at least 27 people on Sunday. Security forces fired tear gas to disperse crowds in Tayaran square and the nearby Sinak bridge, wounding 23, an activist and two medical officials said. Some protesters hurled rocks at police, wounding four personnel, a security official and two medical officials said.

The Iraqi officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

Three Iraqi activists said that more rallies are planned in the coming days as the protesters seek to refocus public attention on their mass movement.

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran peaked after an American drone strike killed a top Iranian commander and Iraqi militia leader outside Baghdads international airport. Those killings prompted days of political turmoil across the region and Iraq that led to Iraqi lawmakers calling for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

Supporters of the influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr say they are organizing a mass protest this week supporting calls for the ousting of American troops from Iraq in response to the U.S. drone attack. The planned rallies in support of al-Sadr have prompted fears of more clashes with the anti-government demonstrators, who say they are against both Iranian and U.S. influence in Iraqi affairs.

Protesters have been in a standoff with security forces on three strategic bridges  Sinak, Ahrar and Jumhuriyah  that lead toward the fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraqs government.

Meanwhile, Iraqs parliament postponed a critical session on Sunday due to lack of quorum. Lawmakers were expected to discuss candidates to replace outgoing Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, who resigned in December under pressure from protesters. The next session is expected to be held Wednesday.

Earlier on Sunday, protests burned tires cutting off main thoroughfares in Baghdad.

Protests were also held in the southern provinces of Najaf, Dhi Qar, Karbala and Basra.

Activists expressed fears that parallel protests planned by al-Sadrs supporters to take place on Friday could eclipse their peaceful anti-government movement. However, al-Sadr has emerged as a supporter of the movement. Many of the protesters hail from Baghdads impoverished areas where the Shiite leader enjoys widespread support; his militia group, Saraya al-Salam, has acted as unarmed protectors for the demonstrators.

In a statement on Sunday, al-Sadr said he supported the recent escalation by anti-government protesters and lambasted the political elite for not selecting a new premier.

But activists said the protests called by al-Sadr supporters to oust U.S. troops could weaken their hard-fought movement.

We are scared of one side trying to start a fight with the other side, said Ahmed, 34, one of protest organizer in Baghdads Tahrir square, the epicenter of the movement. For our part we are staying calm and focusing on our goals.

___

Associated Press writer Murtada Faraj contributed.
Patients, seniors, doctors, hospitals, state lawmakers and voters are owed a swift answer from the U.S. Supreme Court about whether the Affordable Care Act will survive the latest legal challenge to its existence. The court needs to remove the uncertainty hovering ominously over this landmark measure, one whose sprawling web of assistance programs consumers, hospitals and states have come to rely on for quality, accessible care.

That the fate of the 2010 law is dependent on the courts for the third time in a decade is exasperating. Twice already, battles over the ACAs constitutionality have been fought all the way to the Supreme Court. Twice, justices there have upheld the law. Now, a third challenge, one thats essentially a vanity project led by a headline-seeking Texas attorney general, is gaining ill-deserved momentum.

The legal argument in this dubious Texas lawsuit is the flip side of the original 2012 Supreme Court challenge to the law. Back then, the ACAs earliest opponents argued that the law was unconstitutional because it required people to buy insurance. The Texas AG now argues that the law is unconstitutional because Congress essentially gutted the purchase requirement in 2017 during an end-of-the year tax bill.

A U.S. District Court judge in Texas somehow was blinded to the irony of this argument and ruled in the Texas AGs favor. Last month, a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel essentially agreed with the lower court. In a 2-1 ruling, the justices decided to send the case back to the lower court to decide which parts of the law, if any, could be left intact. Minnesota is one of more than a dozen states that have filed a motion with the Supreme Court to review the case before the lower court acts.

The implications are enormous. Millions of Americans depend on the financial aid the law provides to buy private insurance. In Minnesota, the average household that applied for help through MNsure received $5,244 to buy coverage in 2020. That aid could be gone next year or in the future. The fate of the Medicare doughnut hole is equally uncertain, leaving seniors with frightening questions about how theyll be able to afford medications.

The questions about the laws future are also an absolute nightmare for lawmakers. One of the ACAs pillars involved expanding access to state-run public medical assistance programs, with the federal government picking up most of the tab. In Minnesota, that allowed the state to cover an additional 209,000 people. Federal dollars available through the ACAs Basic Health Plan program also allowed officials to bolster MinnesotaCare benefits and significantly offset the states financial responsibility for this program.

Lawmakers in Minnesota and elsewhere will have to make decisions about the future financing of these vital medical assistance programs, potentially without the generous flow of federal aid that has supported them thanks to the ACA. They need answers now from the Supreme Court about the laws future, not at some point as the case wends its way though the system. The courts obligation to consumers is even greater. If the Texas-led suit nullifies benefits that up to 20 million people now rely on, the nation needs to know now so it can prepare to mitigate the damage. Voters this election year also should hear what plans candidates have if the ACA is struck down.

When I voted for the ACA in Congress 10 years ago, I didnt think Id be defending it in court a decade later, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. While its far from perfect, its insured hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who were uninsured and provided millions with the peace of mind that their pre-existing conditions, preventive care, and adult children would be covered.

Its contemptible that politicians who would take all that coverage away from people have had 10 years to come up with their own solution and have just plain refused to do so. And its offensive that theyve let millions worry for years about whether they and their families will lose the coverage they won under the ACA, and if theyll be bankrupted if they do.

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This month we celebrate the birthday of the late Baptist pastor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. People dont know he was a Baptist pastor because the media dont want to recognize the positive accomplishments of pastors. The party platforms have changed so much I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would now be a Republican and support President Trump like his niece Alveda King.

Pastor John MacArthur said he voted for Trumps worldview. Trumps worldview got Pastor MacArthurs vote and 80 percent of Christians in 2016. Trumps worldview is expressed in his party platform. Pastor Dr. Jim Garlow said the Democratic platform contains many points which are anti-Biblical, causing him to vote Republican. Pastor Dr. Martin Luther King would almost certainly come to the same conclusion and vote Republican.
Lenny Mendonca is chief economic and business adviser to Gov. Gavin Newsom and director of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development, or GO-Biz.

Mendonca, an economist and former chair of the Bay Area Council, discussed the jobs and economy aspects of the governors proposed $222 billion state budget for 2020-21. The Legislature has until June 15 to approve a budget; typically that comes only after months of negotiation. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: This seems ironic considering that the economy is roaring and unemployment is at a record low 3.9% statewide, but lets talk about the risks of recession.

A: We are not predicting a recession; we are predicting a slowdown in growth. We are trying to build a budget that is balanced and will be resilient to shocks. We are using budget surpluses to pay down debt, to add to the rainy-day fund. We are proposing to continue substantial investment in paying down unfunded CalPERS (California Public Employees' Retirement System) liabilities. We are doing investments that are catalytic for change but that dont put us in a position where if we have a downturn, wed have to cut.

Q: What are the budgets most groundbreaking aspects for business and the economy?

A: Ensuring that all regions of California are successful. We will put staff in the Central Coast, Northern California, the Inland Empire and Fresno to support regional high-quality job creation.

Accelerating development of high-speed broadband around the state. We have large portions in every geographic area, especially rural California, that dont have access. Whether for safety, education, economic development, health care, you need access to current technologies at the speed the world is moving.

The Climate Catalyst Fund is an innovative way to accelerate private sector investment and (help) innovations scale to the next level of speed and commercial viability. The first wave (of the revolving loans) would be around transportation innovation, sustainable agriculture and the circular economy, including things like forest product development.

Creating an innovation corridor from Fresno to Merced, connecting the private sector, UC Merced and Fresno State.

Q: Why does the budget allocate $21.68 million for enforcement of AB5, the states new gig-work law, and Dynamex, the 2018 California Supreme Court decision that it codifies?

A: The governor said that with big complicated matters like this about the future of work, sometimes it takes a while for legislative solutions to get in place and to make sure we get them right. The state is very big and there are a large number of employers. If you want a law enforced, you have to have enforcement capability.

Q: What do you think AB5s economic impact will be?

A: It will be helpful to create a level playing field for businesses to compete. We dont want people using legal definitions to have a competitive advantage that is not aligned with our laws.

Also its really important to ensure that workers in California are paid for the work theyre doing. When they are, thats good for the economy, since 60%-plus is consumer spending.

Q: What about individuals caught in the crosshairs  freelance writers, musicians and others whove said AB5 will destroy their ability to make a living?

A: All laws and court decisions have complexity you have to address over time. The governor said in his state of state and in signing message theres still work to be done to be sure its right. Its important to hear all that feedback. Thats the process when you pass new big laws, you have to make sure theyre working right.

Q: Tell me about the new California Consumer Financial Protection Law.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

A: A lot of financial innovation occurs in the state. Thats great, but we have to make sure its done to benefit residents, not to circumvent regulations and (sell) inappropriate financial products to consumers and small businesses. That agency can regulate and encourage innovation at the same time.

Q: Despite the economic boom, wages have stayed flat, especially for lower-paid workers. What will it take to change that?

A: Economic gain has to be spread much more. That is starting to change a bit, driven by the tightness of the workforce and by policy changes, especially increases in minimum wage and expansion of the earned income tax credit. Earned income when combined with a robust minimum wage rewards work, encouraging people to be in the workforce.

Q: What other aspects of the budget could stimulate economic growth?

A: Eliminating the (minimum $800) filing fee for new limited liability companies, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships is a really big deal. That fee can constrain entrepreneurs. Eliminating it encourages entrepreneurs to start businesses, to build them and to hire people.

Q: Youre en route to a meeting of the Future of Work Commission. What is it discussing?

A: A lot of technologies changing the nature of work were invented in California. Some people question whether there will be jobs (in the future because of automation). We believe the issue is much more around what will the quality of jobs be. We believe work will dramatically change, but not eliminate opportunities. We have to make sure we have the ability to respond to that.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
Jammu and Kashmir [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Indian Army troops on Sunday evacuated a critically ill pregnant woman, suffering from severe anaemia from Civil Hospital and airlifted her from Gurez for specialised medical care.



The Gurez area was cut-off due to heavy snowfall.

Further details are awaited. (ANI)


Key players meet Sunday in Berlin to build on a fragile ceasefire for Libya and try to tackle foreign interference in a country mired in chaos since its 2011 NATO-backed uprising.

Here are key elements behind the insecurity and political anarchy in the oil-rich North African state and the motivations of key protagonists.

Why are Libyan factions at war?

Militias and armed groups have battled for territory and control of Libya's oil resources ever since the revolt that ousted and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

But two main rival authorities are locked in the contest for power.

A Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), headed by Fayez al-Sarraj and formed in 2016 after a UN-sponsored agreement, is opposed by an eastern administration championed by military strongman Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.

The latter takes his legitimacy from a parliament elected in 2014 that took refuge in eastern Libya after a western militia coalition seized control of the capital.

Several countries, including neighbouring Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France, hail Haftar for his anti-Islamist military campaign, with some providing him with military and logistical backing.

After expelling Islamists from the eastern city of Benghazi, Haftar turned his sights in January 2019 on southern Libya's desert regions, capturing them rapidly after rallying local tribes.

And last April, his forces launched an offensive to expel the GNA from Tripoli.

Why attack Tripoli?

Even before the Tripoli campaign, Haftar's power had expanded to cover most of Libya's territory, including its "oil crescent" -- a string of export hubs along the northeastern coast. Oil revenues go to the UN-recognised GNA and are then distributed across the country.

According to a Western diplomatic source, Haftar's aim had been to clinch a quick victory and present the international community with a fait accompli.

But despite initial advances on the southern outskirts of Tripoli, the battle for the capital has been in stalemate for several months now.

Haftar apparently failed to take into account the mobilisation of powerful western militias which brand him a would-be new dictator of Libya.

What countries are involved?

Apart from Cairo, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, France and Russia have, at the least, provided diplomatic support to Haftar, even if Moscow denies having funded Russian mercenaries on the ground.

The pro-GNA camp accuses Paris of siding militarily with the general after French missiles were found on a base seized from his fighters.

Washington appeared to show its hand when US President Donald Trump praised Haftar in a telephone call after the launch of his Tripoli campaign.

But the US has since remained ambiguous despite voicing opposition to the enhanced role of Russia, which with Turkey has co-sponsored the latest ceasefire. The truce has held since it went into effect on January 12.

Ankara has despatched a limited number of troops to Libya under a military accord with the GNA, which is also supported by Qatar.

Amnesty has said it found "a systematic disregard for international law, fuelled by the continued supply of weapons to both sides in violation of a UN arms embargo" in force since 2011.

"The international community must uphold the UN arms embargo, which Turkey, the UAE, Jordan and other countries have flagrantly violated," Amnesty researcher Brian Castner said in October.

What does Turkey want?

Analysts say the Turkish involvement is motivated by geopolitics and ideology. It aims to counter the influence of regional rivals Cairo and Abu Dhabi which oppose Ankara's Islamist sympathies.

Turkey also has economic interests, coupling with the GNA in a maritime accord to stake its claim to hydrocarbon reserves in the eastern Mediterranean in opposition to rivals Greece, Egypt, Israel and Cyprus.

What's Russia doing in Libya?

Russia regards Libya as a "commercial... but also geostrategic and symbolic" opportunity, according to Jalel Harchaoui of the Clingendael Institute in The Hague.

He said Russia's presence in Libya allowed Moscow to counter NATO and EU influence in North Africa and show it could succeed where the West -- with the 2011 uprising that Moscow warned would result in chaos -- had failed.

Where do the Europeans stand?

The Europeans fear that the increased internationalisation of the conflict could turn Libya into a "second Syria".

They want to reduce migratory pressure emanating from the Libyan coast and also jihadist threats.

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U.S. President Trump delivers remarks following missile attacks by Iran on U.S. bases in Iraq, at the White House in Washington

By Andrea Shalal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump to restructure the United States's top trade relationships have cost American companies $46 billion (35.22 billion pounds) since February 2018, and U.S. exports of goods hit by retaliatory tariffs have fallen sharply, according to an analysis of Commerce Department data.

The lion's share of the higher tariff costs, some $37.3 billion, stemmed from duties on imports from China, said Washington-based consultancy Trade Partnership Worldwide, which calculated cumulative tariff costs through November 2019, the latest data available.

Exports of U.S. goods hit by retaliatory tariffs from China and other countries fell by 23% in the 12 months ended November, compared with 2017, before the tariffs began, the analysis showed. Even when retaliatory tariffs have ended, those exports haven't bounced back, said Trade Partnership Vice President Dan Anthony. https://tmsnrt.rs/2Tg8IO7

Seasonally adjusted U.S. Commerce data released on Tuesday showed the overall U.S. trade deficit narrowed to a more than three-year low in November.

The Trade Partnership uses raw, not seasonally adjusted, data, which is specific enough to match tariff codes to categories of goods, and then break it down by state. It conducted the analysis for Tariffs Hurt the Heartland, which includes a coalition of more than 150 business associations and the Farmers for Free Trade coalition.

Two states that hold early primaries in the 2020 presidential election, Nevada and New Hampshire, saw their exports of goods facing retaliatory tariffs drop by nearly twice the national average, Anthony said. Nevada exports integrated circuits and New Hampshire produces computer and electronics products.

Trump's trade policies have not been a key issue to date for Democrats seeking their party's nomination.

China's Vice Premier Liu He is slated to sign a Phase 1 trade deal at the White House on Jan. 15 at the White House, China's commerce ministry said on Thursday.

Story continues

As part of that deal, the United States will halve 15% tariffs imposed in September 2019 on $120 billion in Chinese goods, but 25% tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods applied earlier will remain in place.

U.S. exports of goods subject to retaliatory tariffs in China were 26% lower in the 12 months ending November than in 2017, while exports of items not facing such tariffs were 10% higher than 2017 levels, Anthony said.

Total U.S. exports were higher than in 2017, but retaliatory tariffs slowed growth in 2018 and exports have declined in 2019, he said.

Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports in February of 2018. U.S. exports to countries that retaliated with tariffs of their own were 15% below their 2017 levels in the 12 months ending November 2019, he said.

After Washington rolled back these tariffs for Mexico and Canada, the two countries eliminated retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in May, but U.S. exports of affected products have not rebounded.

"The expectation was that trade would start growing again, but that hasn't happened in the last six months," Anthony said. "It raises questions about all other exports that have declined. There's no guarantee that those sales will rebound if or when those retaliatory tariffs go away."

(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; editing by Heather Timmons, Jonathan Oatis and Sonya Hepinstall)
Nearly 7,000 people have fled the region in western Niger where jihadist fighters killed 89 soldiers in a devastating attack earlier this month, the UN refugee agency said.

But insecurity in the region is making it difficult for the UNHCR to bring them the help they need, the statement added.

Following the attack at the town of Chinegodar, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the Malian border, "an estimated 7,000 civilians including 1,000 refugees have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety," the statement said.

"We are receiving accounts of people being given an ultimatum by armed groups to leave the area, of civilians being targeted, kidnapped or killed, of properties being looted."



Those who fled had to leave with little more than the clothes on their backs, UNHCR said.

"They are in urgent need of food, water and shelter, as well as sanitation, protection and security," the statement added.

"Insecurity in these areas severely hampers our ability to reach the affected population, those forced to flee and the communities hosting them," it said.

"In Sahel, the protection of those forced to flee must be at the core of the response to this displacement crisis."



Last week the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the January 9 attack on the army base, one their deadliest in the region.

While the official death toll was 89, the jihadists claimed they killed more than 100 people. The authorities in Niger say their troops killed 77 of the attackers.

In Niger, some 5,000 people fled to the nearby towns of Banibangou or Oualam, which are already hosting more than 7,000 Malian refugees, UNHCR said.

Around 1,000 Nigerien refugees, including unaccompanied children, have crossed over into Mali at the border town of Anderaboukane in the Menaka region, receiving help from local people.

According to UN figures, jihadist fighters killed more than 4,000 people across the Sahel region in 2019.

There is growing concern from Libya's neighbours including Niger that they are suffering the fallout from the increasing instability there.

African Union Chairman Moussa Faki is among those attending Sunday's Berlin talks on Libya as African countries seek a greater say in the peace process.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Rallies demanding overhaul of the ruling system rock capital Baghdad and Shia-majority parts of southern Iraq.

Iraqis angry at the governments slow pace of reforms have ramped up their protests, sealing the streets of capital Baghdad with burning tyres and threatening further escalation unless their demands are met.

Protesters on Sunday blocked roads in Iraqs capital and in the holy city of Najaf a day before their deadline to the government on making progress on reform pledges expires.

Fearing Iraq would be caught in the middle of the geopolitical storm amid rising Iran-US tensions following the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the Iraqi protesters last Monday gave the government one week to announce its reform measures.

More:

A leaderless uprising erupted in Iraq on October 1, with thousands taking to the streets in Baghdad and the predominantly Shia southern Iraq, decrying corruption, poor services, lack of jobs and calling for an end to the political system that was imposed after the 2003 invasion by the United States.

Cripple Iraqs roads

Hundreds of angry youths descended on the main protest camp in Baghdads Tahrir Square as well as nearby Tayaran Square on Sunday, burning tyres to block highways and bridges and turning back cars and causing traffic jams across the city.

Reporting from Babylon, Al Jazeeras Imran Khan said the protesters were preparing to cripple Iraqs roads.

The protesters say they will cut off south of Iraq from the rest of the country by blocking all the main roads, he said. The reason is simple: they say their demands for a new prime minister and new elections have not been met.

Jassim Abbas, a protester, told Al Jazeera they want rapid elections and an independent candidate who doesnt belong to the old parties.

If not, we will escalate and block the highway and all the entrances of the city and kick out the corrupt officials, another protester Abdul Hamza Khaffaji told Al Jazeera.

At least 10 people including police officers were wounded when security forces tried to clear the sit-ins with tear gas and protesters responded by throwing rocks, medical and security sources told AFP news agency.

Rallies also swelled in the cities of Kut, Diwaniyah and Amara, where most government offices, schools and universities have been shuttered for months.

In the holy city of Najaf, youth wrapped in chequered black-and-white scarves and carrying Iraqi flags lit tyres and began a sit-in on a main road leading to the capital.

Further the south in the oil-rich port city of Basra, students gathered in an ongoing strike in support of the rallies elsewhere.

Deadline ends tonight

Protesters are demanding early elections based on a reformed voting law, a new prime minister to replace current caretaker premier Adel Abdul Mahdi and that officials deemed corrupt be held to account.

Abdul Mahdi resigned nearly two months ago, but political parties so far have failed to agree on a successor and he has continued to run the government as a caretaker.

Demonstrators have publicly rejected the names circulating as possible replacements and are furious that other sweeping reform measures have not been implemented.

We began to escalate today because the government did not respond to our demands, notably forming an independent government that could save Iraq, said Haydar Kadhim, a demonstrator in the southern protest hotspot of Nasiriya.

Last Monday, we gave them a deadline of seven days. That deadline ends tonight, Kadhim told AFP.

A fellow protester, 20-year-old university student Mohammad Kareem, said more escalation could come. We gave the government a timeframe to implement our demands, but it looks like it doesnt care one bit, he said.

Al Jazeeras Imran Khan said the protest faces a decisive moment in the coming days. They need to put enough pressure on the government so it meets their demands, he said.

The protests are the largest and bloodiest grassroots movement in Iraq in decades, with nearly 460 people dead and more than 25,000 wounded since October.
Shankkar Aiyar By

A week is a long time in politics. It has been 365 weeks since the Congress welcomed the Rahul era at Jaipur in January 2013. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, once the grand patriarch of Soviet Union, said, There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen. The Congress party is waiting for that kind of a week since seven years now. It is as if the Jaipur observation, power is poison, has come to reside and haunt the party.

The January jamboree was a chintan shivir, organised to think about ways the Congress could return to power. The ensuing months saw a rash of chilling shivers, following a succession of defeats. Consider the legacy of the Rahul era. The Congress has been routed in two general elections returning with two-digit figures and if it was not for the alliance with the DMK, its tally in 2019 would have been worse than the 44 seats in 2014. It has fought in over 40 Assembly polls across India and has been drubbed in most. Of the total 4,100-plus Assembly seats in India, the Congress has less than one in four, or just over 850.

For sure it won in Punjab riding brand Amarinder Singh, in Rajasthan thanks to the ground-work by Sachin Pilot, in Madhya Pradesh due to the coalition of Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh, and shrewd tactics by Bhupesh Baghel in Chhattisgarh. Effectively, the individuals triumphed over a beleaguered institution. Indeed, the verdicts in the three recent Assembly elections, in Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, define the state of the Congress eloquently.

The party hashed an opportunity by hemming and hawing on the call to back Bhupinder Hooda and Kumari Selja, a Jat-Dalit combo, in Haryana. In Maharashtra, both the party and its leadership were virtually missing from the campaign. Seats came as dividends of the combative campaign by 80-year-old Sharad Pawar and the places in the Maharashtra Cabinet due to the munificence of mathematics. In Jharkhand, it continues to yo-yo between also ran and also won. And in the forthcoming elections in Delhi, the contest is seen between the BJP and the AAP while the Congress is barely mentioned.

The fortunes of political parties rest on leadership and clarity of ideology. The Congress expected Rahul Gandhi to grow into the role, get a grasp on the demands of leadership and acquire gravitas. The succession plan of the grand old party is in a shambles  coronation of 2013 culminated in resignation in 2019, the face of hope left the party in despair. His appearance and disappearances have left Congressmen baffled. It would be seductive to see parallels with what Prince Harry is petitioning for in Britain  a unique alchemy of access to authority and abdication of accountability. The flirtations of the scion with ardour and aversion has left the party adrift.

Whether a party flourishes or flounders depends on the connection with the people, on what they stand against, and what they stand for. Beyond issuing sporadic statements, the party has flailed at making policy accountable to people. The state of the economy is a case in point. Economic growth, Adam Smith observed, is the grand social outcome of the invisible hand, the aggregation of individuals acting in self-interest. For a party which claimed it did better, the Congress has failed to propose alternate solutions. The party which was in power when liberalisation was unleashed, is yet uncomfortable with free-market principles and struggles to articulate what it sees as the right or left way. The challenge is all the more because the organisation of the Congress is, rather the hand is invisible.

For weeks now, the nation is wracked by agitations across universities and cities in almost every state on the acronym soup of CAA, NPR and NRC. The issue of the constitutionality of the CAA is a subject of litigation and will be ruled upon by the Supreme Court. The BJP launched a outreach programme, to explain the CAA. Yes, Amarinder Singh has pushed a resolution in the Punjab Assembly opposing the CAA in its current form, as have two other states. But where is the Congress programme to convince people?

What about the NPR? The Congress implemented the National Population Register during its tenure. Congress-ruled states have announced they will not implement the NPR but the party has struggled to articulate its objections. Why not present the format the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance implemented and suggest it is agreeable to that as a resolution?

It is true that the Congress has historically tried to be all things to all people, has been a coalition of ideologies populated by votaries of free market and statist ideologues, by proponents of soft Hindutva and hard secularists. It is equally true that the 130-plus years old party has waffled its way for the past two decades on core principles  the theology of the party oscillating opportunistically to expedient extremes. There is the fog around leadership and there is a miasma enveloping the leadership on what the party must stand for. Politics is essentially a contest of ideas and cannot be just an argument industry.
Afghan officials said Sunday that the Taliban executed six members of the same family, including an infant girl, in a remote village in the country's north.

The Taliban denied any involvement, saying the attack Saturday was triggered by a personal dispute.

However, local Afghan officials said the family was accused by the Taliban of working in prostitution. The insurgents sentenced them to death for immoral acts, then stormed the house and opened fire, according to Jawed Bedar, a spokesman for Faryab province's governor.

The infant girl's mother and twin sister survived, but both of the child's legs had to be amputated, the spokesman said.

He said Afghan security forces deployed to the village early Sunday and helped evacuate the two survivors to the hospital.

He said the Taliban attacked the government troops when they arrived. The ensuing gunbattle killed three Taliban members, who Bedar said were involved in the family's killing.

The Taliban control the village in Andkhoy district where the killings took place, making it difficult to accurately determine what happened, he added.

The Taliban now control or hold sway over roughly half of Afghanistan.

Locals in the area also disputed the accounts of prostitution. Instead, they claimed that a member of the slain family was a former Taliban militant who recently joined the peace process, according to Andkhoy district chief Sultan Mohammad Sanjer.

It was not immediately possible to reconcile the conflicting accounts.

The Taliban continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, even as they hold peace talks with the U.S and have given the U.S. envoy a document outlining their offer for a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan.

Scores of Afghan civilians have also been killed in the crossfire and by roadside bombs planted by militants.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the next 30 years Ireland's population will increase by more than 1.5 million to around 6.5 million people.

By 2050, almost 1.6 million will be aged 65 or older, up from 630,000 at Census 2016. The number of those aged 80 or older is set to rise even more dramatically, increasing almost fourfold to around 550,000 by 2051.

While the working-age population will continue to increase, it will not keep pace with the growth rate of older people.

Today there are five people employed for every person not in the labour force. This is set to fall to 2.5 in the years ahead.

These demographic changes have significant implications for policy in Ireland, and this is particularly so as Ireland has a deficit compared to many of its European peers in areas of government revenue, social infrastructure (such as social housing and rural broadband), and public service provision (such as health services and childcare).

Over the past two decades, a range of research has provided some insight into future Exchequer demands associated with pensions and healthcare.

The Department of Finance has indicated that the gross cost of public pensions will rise from 5.1pc of GDP in 2020 to 6.6pc in 2070. This includes both social protection pensions and public service pensions.

The scale of the increase in age-related expenditure as a percentage of GDP is not as dramatic as one might expect.

According to the same report, total age-related spending (for example, pensions, healthcare, long-term care, education etc) will rise from 15.0pc of GDP in 2020 to 19.3pc in 2070.

One suggestion that is constantly made in this context is that the pension age should be raised.

But this proposal fails to address the range of policy challenges this new situation presents.

It is essential that Ireland takes a comprehensive approach in addressing the challenges of a growing older population.

We need to have clarity about what older people will require in the years ahead and how we intend to pay to ensure they all have what they need to live life with dignity.

While Ireland's economy has grown dramatically and the country now ranks among the wealthiest in the world, it still has major challenges to address - climate change; poverty and inequality; inadequate infrastructure and services; the changing world of work; the lack of real participation in decision-making; and an underlying development model that is not sustainable.

All of these challenges concern older people, as well as the working-age population.

None of these problems can be resolved in the next five years, but major progress is required on all of them during that period.

It is important to note that the apparent saving to the State of not having to pay the State pension to people for a year is not very high, about 250m, but this is reduced substantially by the fact that a large proportion of those who don't qualify to receive the pension for a further year will be eligible to claim Jobseeker's Allowance during that period and will do so.

If Ireland really wishes to address the challenges posed by an expanding older population, it must develop policies aimed at achieving five key outcomes: (1) a vibrant economy; (2) decent services and infrastructure; (3) just taxation; (4) real participation; and (5) sustainability.

Most people will agree with those outcomes.

But what is often missed is the need to achieve these outcomes simultaneously.

Decent services and infrastructure are essential to have a vibrant economy and just taxation is essential if the benefits are to be spread fairly and inequality is to be reduced.

Likewise, real participation in shaping the decisions that affect them is essential if people are to accept the demands that a changing situation will impose.

It is not possible to run a modern democracy without real engagement with ALL sectors in society.

If Government wishes all of society to take responsibility for producing a more viable social and economic model, it must involve all of society in shaping it and that includes older people.

When groups have been involved in shaping decisions, they are far more likely to take responsibility for implementing these decisions, difficult and demanding though they may be.

The pension age should not be unilaterally increased by Government.

Many people may be glad to stay in their job after the age of 65 and that option should be available and facilitated.

However, many may also want to retire at that age.

That may especially be the case for people who have worked in physically demanding jobs or whose health status may not be as good as in their younger days.

All should have access to their pension and should not have to face any delays or postponements.

Despite doing very well economically, Ireland faces many challenges. But there are solutions available.

Increasing the pension age is not one of these solutions.
Soldier Baljinder Singh who lost his life in line of duty on Siachen Glacier was cremated in his village in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district with full military honours on Sunday.

Havildar Singh, of 2 Sikh Light Infantry, died after being hit by an avalanche on Friday.

During the cremation, an Indian Army guard conducted the ceremonial drill and gave military honours to the soldier in Zahura village.

Singh is survived by his wife Perdeep Kaur and two sons.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed grief and extended his sympathies to the bereaved family.

He announced a financial assistance of Rs 12 lakh to the family and a government job to one eligible member of the family, a state government spokesperson said.

The chief minister said the sacrifice of the valiant soldier at an altitude of 19,000 ft. in harsh cold would be remembered by all.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Accusing Congress of spreading misinformation about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday said that those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, and Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country.

"Those who set the country on fire are not patriots. Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country," said Sarangi here in a press conference.

Sarangi said people should be thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the CAA, the act which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians facing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, the Union Minister further said that the CAA was a way to "atone for the sin of Partition" committed by the Congress.

"The CAA should have implemented 70 years ago. The act is a way to atone for a sin committed by our forefathers. Congress committed the sin, and we are atoning," he said.Last year in September, Sarangi gave a similar remark in wake of the protests erupted against the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir by the central government.

"When the staunch opposition parties of BJP have supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision of scrapping Article 370, the Congress objected it. Amit Shah has made it clear to Congress leaders that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Siachen are also part of India. Those who do not accept Vande Mataram have no right to live in India," he had said at the Jan Jagran Sabha in Odisha.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Some mediapersons were attacked on Saturday by one of the convicts in the 2013 rape case of a five-year-old girl in east Delhis Gandhi Nagar area.

Manoj Shah, convicted by a POCSO court, hit a group of reporters when he was being taken out of the courtroom in which a senior woman journalist suffered injuries.

The issue was brought to the notice of Additional Sessions Judge Naresh Kumar Malhotra, who asked the journalist to give a written complaint to police.

The judge then sent her for medical examination where the doctor said she had bruises on her cheek.

Following this, she registered a formal complaint with the police.

The POCSO court convicted Shah and another man, Pradeep Kumar, in the case, saying the child experienced exceptional depravity and extreme brutality.

Shah and Kumar raped the girl in Gandhi Nagar and shoved objects in her private parts on April 15, 2013. They fled after committing the crime and leaving the girl at Shahs room believing she was dead.

The child was rescued 40 hours later on April 17, 2013. PTI URD UK URD ABH ABH ABH
Dubai-based Sunset Hospitality Group today revealed a very successful business performance in 2019, with revenue growth of 18 per cent, strengthening its position as one of the leading companies in concept development and hospitality management.



Eyeing further growth in 2020, the group announced that plans are currently underway to open more than 10 new outlets before the end of the year, taking its strong portfolio above 30 venues. Two new divisions, namely Fast Casual and Living will be launched this year, creating unique experiences that are set to further boost the groups overall performance. Existing brands that are opening this year in the UAE and the wider GCC region include Black Tap, Stage, Azure Beach and Ammos.



The year 2019 has been very good to us, with increased revenues across all divisions. We see 2020 as another thriving year for Sunset Hospitality Group, with new exciting openings. Sunset Hospitality has a strong brand portfolio that caters to all customers, even to the most discerning ones. Our success is backed by a passionate team, who is working together to create exceptional experiences, as well as partners who are committed to delivering high-quality concepts to the vibrant hospitality industry. It will be another promising year as we continue to provide authentic hospitality and get people together to celebrate life, said Antonio Gonzalez, CEO of Sunset Hospitality Group.



Sunset Hospitality Group capped 2019 with 19 operating outlets. New brands that have been launched include Mood Rooftop Lounge and Sweet Chick, and the group has also successfully penetrated key markets such as the UK and Saudi Arabia.



For 2020, the groups focus will be the opening of Sushisamba and Aura Skypool at The Palm Tower, the iconic hotel and residential landmark development from Nakheel. Sushisamba will occupy the sprawling 51st floor of the tower and is set to dazzle the citys residents and visitors who are looking for an exceptional culinary experience. Aura Skypool, one of the highest venues of its kind in the world, will take the entire 50th floor, and will offer unobstructed and breathtaking views of The Palm Jumeirah, as well as many other Dubai landmarks such as Dubai Marina, Burj Al Arab, The World Islands, Burj Khalifa and many more.



Part of the growth plan for 2020 is the establishment of two new divisions, namely Fast Casual and Living, in addition to the existing dining, daylife and nightlife divisions.



We have renamed our divisions into dining, daylife and nightlife to create a distinction for each vertical. At the same time, we have added two new divisions, the Fast Casual that will oversee the Chick Inn brand and will soon operate a new coffee shop brand that will showcase the roots of Italy. The living division marks our entry into the lodging arena with a brand that will attract todays travellers who are looking for a place to unwind and have fun, a blend of modern minimalism and easy living. We are excited about the new projects and we will share more details in the coming months, added Naz Hafez, COO of Sunset Hospitality Group.



Founded in 2011, Sunset Hospitality Group is known for developing global dining concepts into the Middle East and Europe, including the famous Black Tap brand with venues in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Geneva. Other concepts include Luigia, Sweet Chick, Joes Backyard, Ammos, Azure Beach, Drift Beach, Stage, Mood and Sushisamba. - TradeArabia News Service


Mumbai will get a mounted police unit for traffic and crowd control post a gap of 88 years, and the horses will be deployed on duty after taking part in the Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park this year, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on January 19.

Deshmukh said the mounted police unit, which would patrol the streets of the bustling metropolis, was disbanded in 1932 due to growing vehicular traffic.

"Today Mumbai police has modern jeeps and motorcycles. However, it was felt a mounted police unit would be useful for crime patrol in crowded areas. Accordingly, for the first time since Independence, Mumbai will have mounted police unit," he told reporters at a press conference.

He said horses in the unit can be used for crowd control during festivals and marches, at beaches and the rider can keep watch from a good height, and claimed a policeman on horseback was equal to 30 personnel on the ground.

He said the unit could be replicated in cities like Pune and Nagpur, among others, as well.

In the next six months, the unit will comprise 30 horses apart from a sub-inspector, one assistant PSI, four havaldars and 32 constables.

"At present, 13 horses have been purchased and the rest will be bought in the next six months. A stable will be built on a 2.5 acre plot at Marol (in suburban Andheri)," he informed.
United Methodist churches observe 'Human Relations Day' to honor legacy of MLK Jr.

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United Methodist Church congregations across the United States and abroad are observing Human Relations Day Sunday as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.

Known as a special Sunday, it is one of six such observances found on the annual UMC church calendar that is aimed at showcasing a fundamental calling of the Church.

According to a statement posted on the UMCs website, Human Relations Day is centered on helping to bridge the gap between church and community.

For more than half a century, United Methodists have observed this churchwide special Sunday in recognition of the message Jesus demonstrated during his life: all of Gods children are important, the UMC stated.

On Human Relations Day, we join other UMC congregations in a special offering to support neighborhood ministries through Community Developers, community advocacy through United Methodist Voluntary Services and work with at-risk youth through the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Programs.

The UMC also stated that the special offering makes an impact in communities where people struggle because they dont have the tools or resources to reach their God-given potential.

The UMC Book of Discipline notes that special Sundays like Human Relations Day are placed on the calendar to make clear the calling of The Church as the people of God and to give persons the opportunity to contribute offerings to special programs.

The five other annual special Sundays include Native American Ministries Day, United Methodist Committee on Relief Sunday, United Methodist Student Day, Peace with Justice Sunday, and World Communion Sunday.

Human Relations Day is one of many ways that various religious and secular groups are observing the weekend that includes a day honoring the slain civil rights leader.

Monday will mark the 25th anniversary of the MLK Day of Service, in which many Americans use the holiday to engage in volunteer efforts in their respective communities.

Citizens in all 50 states deliver meals, refurbish schools and community centers, and collect food and clothing. Volunteers also recruit mentors, support job-seekers, build homes and provide other services for veterans and military families, and help citizens improve their financial literacy skills, notes the Corporation for National and Community Service.

 the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service is the only federal holiday observed as a national day of service  a day on, not a day off. This day of service helps to empower individuals, strengthen communities, bridge barriers, address social problems, and move us closer to Dr. King's vision of a Beloved Community.
Charlize Theron is unrecognisable as Fox News star Megyn Kelly in Bombshell, a film that looks at the sexual harassment scandal at the network. She talks to Laura Harding about Me Too and the complexity of the film.

In the summer of 2016, a group of female TV stars toppled one of the most powerful men in global media.

Fox News chairman Roger Ailes was forced out the company he helped found following allegations he sexually harassed numerous women, including former host Gretchen Carlson and star anchor Megyn Kelly.

The controversial conservative news network was the unlikely centre of one of the first strikes in the overturning of a long history of workplace harassment and now its being given the big-screen treatment, with Charlize Theron as Kelly and Nicole Kidman as Carlson.

It lends itself to great storytelling, Theron says as she nurses a cold on a chilly day in London.

Because theyre the most unlikely gang of women that you could think of for something like this. And that something like this would happen at Fox seems very unlikely, and yet it happened.

I think putting all of your feelings aside, your political views, your values, and whatever your issues are with Fox, or Rupert Murdoch, or all of that baggage that you bring to it, you have the first story that catapulted us into this movement, and its coming out of a place like Fox. That movement, of course, is Me Too.

Ailes fall from grace was triggered when Carlson slapped him with a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment after she was unceremoniously fired.

Soon, more and more women came forward with their own stories, including the networks biggest star Kelly, who had famously clashed with Donald Trump during one of the televised presidential debates.

The film visits the Fox newsroom in the two weeks it took to bring down this titan of the industry, told through the eyes of Kelly, Carlson, and a fictional producer called Kayla Pospisil, played by Margot Robbie.

And while some might blanch at the idea of divisive figures like Kelly, who famously declared Santa and Jesus were white, the film doesnt shy away from the qualities that have made Fox News personalities, and the people that empower them, so controversial.

Kelly is just one in a long line of complex figures that 44-year-old Theron has explored, ranging from her Oscar-winning turn as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster, to Imperator Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road.

If this story was being told in a space that felt warmer and the characters were a little bit lovelier, smiled a bit more and you could hug them and feel sorry for them a little more, it would be more conventional, she says thoughtfully.

I think that is quintessentially what is always seen with these stories.

For the first time, we are realising that women can be completely a part of the problem, and women also deal with these issues very differently from each other.

All of those things are finally being addressed.

Its been over two years since the Harvey Weinstein scandal shook Hollywood, but South African-born Theron points out that the Fox News shake-up happened over a year before the Me Too movement catapulted into the mainstream.

The world wants to deal with sexual harassment like its this thing that happened in the past, and it should be, but unfortunately its not, she says.

If we didnt have access to the formats that we have now  social media, more places for women to be heard  I dont know if we would have had the longevity that we have had in the last two years with movements like Me Too and Times Up.

Its a re-education for all of us. We all have to look at our behaviour and its within those nuances that it becomes very tricky.

But I think if we have to over-correct for a little while, thats OK.

We will get to the other side of it, where we can all joke again and everything is going to be fine, but I think its time for women to be able to say we dont want to work in these environments anymore.

The environment Bombshell depicts can be uncomfortable to confront. Harassment ranges from pressure on women about how they dress, to stomach-churning coercion. But it also explores the grey areas that so often muddy the waters around these issues.

We are finally talking about the nuances and the fine strokes with that small little brush, Theron says.

and the nuance of how messy and complicated these things are.

These things are not black and white. They really truly live in the grey zone, and the psychological abuse that women go through every single day, week after week, month after month  those are the things we have never really talked about.

She pauses for breath.

I think women are really empowered by us finally acknowledging that that is b******t and it shouldnt be around. We should be able to go to work and not be hassled or have a comment thrown at us, and that thing where you have to sit in a room and laugh at your boss jokes a little bit louder to placate him.

All of those things are finally being talked about. But it also looks at the idea that what a harasser looks like and what a victim looks like is not necessarily what we have always imagined them to look like. We are finally talking about how complicated those relationships can be and how complicated where the abuse takes place can actually be. I think thats ultimately what will give us a real solidified change when it comes to these issues.

Bombshell is in cinemas now.
A video has emerged of a South African police guard confusing his left from right and messing up the salute at Dr Richard Maponya's funeral in front of the President.

The business entrepreneur was granted a full ceremonial funeral at which President Cyril Ramaphosa was to give the eulogy praising his courage during apartheid.

In the live footage, four highly decorated officers are seen standing proudly to attention and waiting for their command at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg.

A South African Police officer messed up the funeral ceremony of Dr Richard Maponya as he turned the wrong way. He waited for his command at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg before shuffling around on the spot

Seconds later, the order was given for them to be dismissed and to quickly march away, in the live broadcast.

But in an embarrassing turn of events, the two middle officers turn the wrong way and get horribly confused.

The officers then appear to argue about who should be facing each way as their President looks on.

Eventually they took their lead from the four Honour Guard police chiefs opposite and when they marched off followed in the same direction looking extremely sheepish.

To make matters worse, he appeared to argue with the other officers about who should be facing each way as their President looked on

The South African Police Service have been branded a laughing stock after a video of their Honour Guard went viral.

National Police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said: 'The drill was an unfortunate mistake and highly regrettable.'

Thousands took to Twitter to lambast the hapless efforts of the coffin detail.

Muhlezi Ntombela tweeted: 'How do they even catch criminals if they cannot collaborate a simple march away from the coffin at the scene of their comrade's funeral?'

SAPS has been branded a 'laughing stock' following their salute which was captured on live television. Muhlezi Ntombela tweeted: 'How do they even catch criminals if they cannot collaborate a simple march away from the coffin at the scene of their comrade's funeral?'

The officers, which are pictured standing proudly to attention, made an 'unfortunate mistake' which is 'highly regrettable', according to a spokesman. Meanwhile the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union claimed they 'failed' and should do refresher courses

Gift Makhubo said: 'When you look at the rows and rows of medals that are on their chest you have to wonder what they earned them before if they can't even march properly!'

Dr Maponya, 99, died after a short illness and was hailed as a black business legend who managed to build a business empire during apartheid and worked tirelessly to create jobs for black people.

President Ramaphosa praised him at the funeral at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg saying: 'He did not hoard the gains he made in business but ploughed them back into the community.'

Dr Maponya (pictured with Sir Richard Branson in 2011), 99, died after a short illness and was hailed as a black business legend who managed to build a business empire during apartheid

South African Policing Union spokesperson Oscar Skommere said the police had been shown up as a 'laughing stock' on live TV and said that those responsible should be held accountable.

A Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union spokesman said: 'These are high ranking officials who failed to do a basic drilling order for such a high profile event which is very embarrassing.

'We cannot blame it on fatigue or overwork because they are doing nothing but sitting in their air conditioned offices fighting for positions and should do refresher courses.'
A summit in Germany bringing together foreign powers backing rival camps in Libya has called for all parties to refrain from hostilities against oil facilities, a draft of the final communique showed on Sunday.

The draft also recognizes Tripoli-based state oil company NOC as the sole legitimate entity allowed to sell Libyan oil, according to the draft, which will be discussed at the summit.

The call comes after tribesmen allied to eastern commander Khalifa Haftar shut down all oil ports in eastern Libya.

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These are the two British sisters who were 'gassed to death' in a bathroom while visiting Pakistan for the anniversary of their grandfather's funeral.

Maria, 25, and Nadia Rehman, 17, were found unconscious and in a 'half-dead state' in their room before they were rushed to hospital, where they later died, Pakistani media reported.

It is believed the girls died from a gas leak from a geyser in their room, which is used to heat water.

Maria Rehman, 25, and sister Nadia, 17, (pictured together) were found unconscious in a hotel bathroom in Gujrat, northern Pakistan

It is believed the girls died from a gas leak from a geyser in their room, which is used to heat water

They were visiting the city of Gujrat, northern Pakistan, with father Abdul and mother Zarina for the anniversary of their grandfather's funeral.

An investigation has been launched and a report was given to the authorities. A post-mortem is also due to take place.

The parents are reported not to be considering legal action as they have 'accepted the deaths as an accident'. The tragedy happened on January 12.

Only yesterday, a 16-year-old girl in Mumbai died from carbon monoxide poisoning that was caused by a gas geyser fitted in a bathroom.

Geysers use gas burners to heat water for showers. Users are advised to keep windows open because the gas needs oxygen to keep burning. Cutting off the oxygen supply can be fatal.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: 'We are in contact with the local authorities following the death of two British women in Gujrat, Pakistan, and have offered consular support to the family.'

Yesterday relatives at the family home in Preston were too upset to talk but Abduls first wife Sheila Rehman, 72, who is stepmum to the girls, hit out at rumours over the deaths.

She told the Sun: 'We know exactly what happened, it was a gas leak.

'There have been rumours across Facebook that are not true.'
Extinction Rebellion argues cars contribute to the climate crisis AFP/Francois WALSCHAERTS

The activists would be released once they had given their identity, a police spokesman told AFP.

In a statement, the group's Belgium wing said it had called the protest "to correct the deceitful image the car industry portrays of itself.

"This action of mass civil disobedience aims at denouncing the many lies which car manufacturers keep selling to the public to increase their sales at the cost of the environment, people's health and social justice," the statement added.

Some of the activists unfurled a banner reading "Stop CO2 emissions" at the main entry of the show, while others carried out protests at selected stands inside.

A few chained themselves to the steering wheel of cars on display or sprayed them with blood-coloured paint.

One group staged a protest at the stand occupied by oil giant Shell, holding placards reading "Shell Kills", while others wore masks made out of the company's logo or handed out leaflets.

Although the group followed its usual practice of spreading different actions at targeted locations, police officers managed to intercept and arrest some of the activists before they could enter.

An Extinction Rebellion spokesman, who identified herself only as Sarah, told AFP: "We call it 'the Salon of Lies' because we absolutely don't believe the automobile industry can bring solutions to this ecological and climate crisis.

"It has already lied in the past, is still lying and will continue to lie to us if we don't stop it," she added, calling for a new model of transport that respected the ecological and social good.
In New Hampshire, he added a stop at the Womens March in Portsmouth to his schedule and was introduced there by the author Naomi Klein. In Exeter, Mr. Sanders saluted female leaders of the resistance to Mr. Trump and added a promise to his stump speech.

I want to thank the women of this country for leading the opposition to Trump at every level, he said. He then vowed: I will never nominate any individual to the Supreme Court or the federal courts who is not 100 percent pro Roe v. Wade.

Ms. Warren did not add new remarks about gender in her trip to Iowa, but one of her campaign co-chairs, Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico, introduced her with a nod toward her history-making potential.

Elizabeth Warren runs through airports and runs through train stations  shes a woman on a mission, Ms. Haaland said. And if you havent heard, she added, shes a woman that will win the White House.

Ms. Warrens supporters in Iowa said the episode with Mr. Sanders, which had prompted his supporters to hurl attacks at her online and even refer to her with a snake emoji, was all too reminiscent of his treatment of Hillary Clinton in 2016.

At a Planned Parenthood event with Ms. Warren in Des Moines Saturday, two women mentioned the back and forth with Mr. Sanders and one said that she was getting flashbacks to the last presidential race. One woman asked Ms. Warren what her plans were for shutting him down and winning his supporters over. She said Ms. Warrens disagreement with Mr. Sanders gave her PTSD to Mr. Sanderss feud with Mrs. Clinton in 2016.

I believe you 100 percent because I looked at you and I looked at him and I thought, He did that, the woman told Ms. Warren. I know Bernie Sanders did those things to you.
Two engineering students have drowned in the plunge pool of a waterfall in Odisha's Sambalpur district, police said on Sunday.

The incident occurred when the duo, part of a group of 45 students from the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT) Burla, visited popular tourist destination Debjharan for picnicking on Saturday, a police officer said.

The deceased, Abhijit Samal of Hirakud in Sambalpur district and Soumya Ranjan Behuria of Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, were taking bath in the waterfall when they slipped and fell into the plunge pool, he said.

Both the third year Computer Science students were rescued by visitors and taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead, the officer said.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem and their parents informed, he said.

Prof P C Swain, in charge of public relations department of the VSSUT, said Saturday was a working day and the students had gone for a picnic without informing the authorities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
From left, Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung, Hana Financial Group Vice Chairman Ham Young-joo, Woori Financial Group Chairman Son Tae-seung and Industrial Bank of Korea CEO Yoon Jong-won / Korea Times file



By Kim Bo-eun



The month of January has put major banking groups on alert, as it may determine sanctions imposed on their chiefs that may affect their terms.



Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung faces a lower court ruling Jan. 22, over charges relating to hiring irregularities.



He is suspected to have intervened in the process of recruiting new employees and manipulated scores to get the children of the bank's executives hired when he was CEO of Shinhan Bank. The prosecution earlier sought a three-year prison term and 5 million won fine for Cho.



The chiefs of Woori and Hana financial groups face sanctions for their responsibility in the "DLF fiasco" in which banks mis-sold financial derivative options known as derivative-linked funds that caused major losses for investors last year.



Hana Financial Group Vice Chairman Ham Young-joo and Woori Financial Group Chairman Son Tae-seung attended a meeting at the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) last week, held to determine the level of sanctions that will be imposed.



Another meeting is set to be held this week, as the one last week failed to agree on the sanctions.



The FSS is seeking to issue a warning for both, which would ban them from serving new terms for three to five years.



This would be a problem for Woori, which put forward Son as the sole candidate to serve as the group's chairman this year.



The financial groups will likely take legal action if the FSS imposes the intended sanctions on the chiefs. They have contended that the legal grounds for punishing the management are insufficient.



The month of January is also proving to be a trial for the new chief of the Industrial Bank of Korea Yoon Jong-won.



Yoon began his term Jan. 3, but has been unable to conduct his duties at his office at the bank due to opposition by the bank's union over his appointment.



He has commuted to the Korea Banking Institute instead for the past 16 days.



The union has been refusing to accept Yoon as the bank's CEO, as he was not appointed from within the bank. Yoon was formerly the presidential secretary for economic affairs.



IBK's chiefs have been appointed from within the bank since 2010.



The union is taking issue with the practice of "parachuting government officials" into the bank's CEO position, stating this is a violation of an election pledge by Moon Jae-in.



However, as a state-run lender, the government holds authority over appointing the bank's chief.



President Moon reiterated this, when asked about the issue at a press conference last week.


There are no flies on Longford's Fine Gael operation. It knew where its red carpet for Leo Varadkar should lead: to the only coffee shop cum lifestyle store cum yoga emporium in town. It was more of a bespoke, Leo-centric welcome than just giving him a pint and a list of things that need doing. Longford has been paying attention. And the Taoiseach seemed to appreciate it.

His face lit up as he took in the indoor foliage, floating trays of cake and the Italian shoes on display. It had been ages since he'd done yoga, he told them. But he'd dabbled in Pilates and was clearly intrigued all the same.

They were on the right track - one the rest of rural Ireland might learn from. Instead of complaining that the Taoiseach is out of touch with you, get yourself on his wavelength. Ditch the hang sandwiches and guys in flatcaps, make yourselves a bit more Southsider-friendly and things will regenerate themselves. Leo might even come back and cut a ribbon or two.

Micheal Martin had already been pressing the flesh in a women's hair salon, so Leo had to show that he too could move among the great unwashed and ask the right questions. "You must be one of the people who gets up early in the morning?" he said to one woman, a question that hovered between sympathy and spot check. She agreed she was. It's only polite to be what Leo wants you to be.

This is Varadkar's first campaign as Taoiseach and our first chance to inspect his famed awkwardness. Is it really there? It's clear that walkabouts, hi-vis vests and small talk don't come naturally: this kind of ground war has never been his thing.

People seem more eager for pictures with him than to shake his hand. Like a British royal, he has learned to let his eyes settle somewhere in the middle distance while people inspect him. Unlike other Irish politicians, he's not inclined to fill every moment with stilted banter which is, at times, a relief. He seems to be above the normal rules of politics.

His star power might seem alienating on one level, but it brings out the crowds. Of course there is the selfie brigade, but old men also clamour close to his ear and whisper conspiratorially to him. This is the first concrete clue that Leo is the Taoiseach of not just Dublin Instagram, but the whole country. And he rose to the challenge by reassuring everyone that he was not some out-of-touch urbanite. "I want to scotch these rumours that I'm a vegan," he told voters in Birr last Friday.

At times you might get the impression that nobody wants to get this election over with like Leo. At a meeting in Edgeworthstown, he unconsciously tugged at his ear - thought to be body language for "I've heard enough" - and as the room filled with too many people, he absently clawed at his cheek.

When one local man spoke about the huge population of commuters who leave the town every day, as if to share in the sorrow of this fact, Leo poignantly responded, "Well, the train is certainly full when it reaches my constituency".

He might well have wished he was back there, but Longford promises to be an electoral weathervane for Fine Gael. If it can reconnect with voters there, who have abandoned it in recent years, that will bode well for the rest of the country.

Last time out, Fine Gael only won one seat in the constituency and that went to Peter Burke, who is from Derby rival Mullingar. The capable and courageous Gabrielle McFadden will try to regain the seat she lost in 2016, and Micheal Carrigy, a GAA council member, will also run this time.

Leo has long been a supporter of all things Longford. Just last summer he confirmed he was a Love Island fan and that he really liked Maura Higgins. And if they can get a Rose of Tralee to Europe - Maria Walsh beamed her megawatt smile over proceedings last Thursday - why not keep options open on the Ballymahon bombshell.

Leo feels on safer ground on the national questions. Fine Gael seems to want to talk about Brexit. A lot. Even if most people don't care, as evidenced by some of his comments on the campaign trail. When asked what was he going to do for Birr, he said that he will negotiate a good Brexit deal. At times, he has also seemed too eager to segue into the cut and thrust of the campaign.

The gruesome murder of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods was front page news last week for obvious and shocking reasons. Last Friday, Leo travelled to Drogheda, where the teenager was from, to address the gangland crime crisis in Louth. While there, he said he would consider attending a rally against public violence in the town and again, somewhat awkwardly, tried to bridge the gap between rural and urban Ireland by mentioning the criminal gangs he's taken on in his own constituency.

His facility with bigger questions was also evident last Thursday as a reporter asked what he thought of comments by Sinn Fein councillor Paddy Holohan, who said a family man should be running the country and that Indian "blood" separated Varadkar from the history of Ireland.

Leo calmly ticked the boxes in his response. Of course he'd experienced racism and homophobia, but when you're the leader of the country and have been on the cover of TIME magazine, it's hard to make a case for having been disadvantaged. And the real reason people consider Leo 'other' in rural Ireland isn't because he's gay or the son of immigrants, it's because he's unashamedly urban and posh. Which people are allowed to slag you for and you can't fight back.

Where were the protesters last week? You might have thought, given the health and housing situations, that walkabouts by Leo would generate more vitriolic chanting. But in Longford, the one sign holder - who told us we were "evicting like it's 1879" - cut a lonely figure.

Real dissent in Ireland has been sublimated into social media rage and, as Leo moved away into the darkness, the clicks of the camera shutters drowned out the few meek shouts of protest.
A heartwarming video has surfaced on the internet which shows police personnel and local villagers from Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul-Spiti district physically carried a policeman who appeared to be sick and had suffered a medical emergency. They carried him through a thick blanket of snow for over 7 kilometers to reach a hospital. Through the video, the braveheart policemen can be seen carrying the personnel on a makeshift stretcher through the densely snow-covered region.

Locals accompany the police team

The locals accompanied the police team following them in a line until they reached the hospital. The incident happened on the morning of January 17. Himachal was expected to receive snow or rain on Saturday due to the western disturbances prevailing over central Pakistan and the neighborhood, as per the India Meteorological Department.

READ: Himachal Pradesh: Ten People Airlifted From Kaza In Lahaul-Spiti Valley

Tourists escape avalanche

Earlier, a video had surfaced on the internet which shows tourists rushing to escape avalanche on a road at Tinku Nallah near Pooh, Himachal Pradesh. The bone-chilling video shows an avalanche sliding down a road in Himachal Pradesh as tourists look for safety. The video was filmed at Tinku Nallah near Pooh, Himachal Pradesh. It first appeared online in early January and was shared on Twitter by IRS officer Naveed Trumboo on January 13.

READ: 3.7-magnitude Quake Hits Himachal's Lahaul-Spiti

Ever seen the force of a moving glacier in real-time? This is in Tinku nallah near Pooh on NH-5, Kinnaur, HP.. #ClimateChange is not a distant reality. pic.twitter.com/J7ifxaAh1g  Naveed Trumboo IRS (@NaveedIRS) January 13, 2020

Through the video, it can be seen that a huge pile of snow sliding down the road. A few onlookers can be seen filming the scene on their phones as they begin to escape as the avalanche continues. A man can be heard shouting, "Go Back, Go Back" in the video. Some tourists hopped in into their cars and others continue to film. The video has managed to garner over 76,000 views and tons of comments since it was shared online. The state disaster management authority (SDMA) issued an avalanche warning for several areas ahead of heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh. Let us take a look how netizens have reacted over the video.

READ: Fresh Snowfall In Kaza Valley At Lahaul Spiti

READ: Video Of Tourists Escaping Avalanche On Himachal Road Breaks The Internet
Married At First Sight's Sam Ball has been found 'working in a Queensland bottle shop' after sparking concern among fans by 'completely disappearing' last year.

Following his rise to fame last January, the former Sydney-based tradie, 27, suddenly vanished from the spotlight and deleted his Instagram several months ago.

'I can confirm he is working in a bottle-o in Coolangatta,' one viewer told fan page MAFSFunny on Saturday, as they launched a nationwide search for Sam.

Located: Married At First Sight's Sam Ball (pictured) has been found 'working in a Queensland bottle shop' after sparking concern among fans by 'completely disappearing' last year

The fan attached a selfie with Sam as he served her and a friend from behind the till.

In the picture, Sam flashed a huge smile and appeared happy with his quiet life away from red carpets and spruiking products on Instagram, unlike his former co-stars.

Sam looked unrecognisable from his time on TV, sporting a freshly shaved head.

Located: 'I can confirm he is working in a bottle-o in Coolangatta,' one viewer told fan page MAFSFunny on Saturday, when they launched a nationwide search for Sam

Mystery: Following his rise to fame last January, the former Sydney-based tradie, 27, suddenly vanished from the spotlight and deleted his Instagram several months ago

During the fan search, others mentioned they had spotted Sam in Coolangatta.

After the MAFS finale aired in April, it appeared that Sam had high hopes for a career in the spotlight, appointing a manager and setting up a YouTube channel.

However, it appears he has since abandoned these dreams while craving a simpler life instead.

Sam is currently in a relationship with stunning young mum, Pippa Fung.

Many reality TV fans may recognise the beauty from a brief appearance on Seven's The Proposal last year, where singleton Daniel popped the question to her.

Cute: Sam is currently in a relationship with stunning young mum, Pippa Fung (pictured)

Throwback: Many reality TV fans may recognise the beauty from a brief appearance on Seven's The Proposal last year, where singleton Daniel (pictured) popped the question to her

Poppy and Daniel's engagement did not last once they returned to the real world.

Both Sam and Poppy have listed themselves in a relationship with each other on their private Facebook accounts.

Meanwhile, Sam's ex-'wife' Elizabeth is set for a sensational return to reality TV.

As Sam enjoys his quiet life with girlfriend Pippa and his job in Coolangatta, Elizabeth recently joined to the new season of Married At First Sight as an intruder bride.
To investigate the recent shooting of 3 US sailors, the government department has been demanding access to encrypted iPhone data.

In this Jan. 13, 2020, file photo Attorney General William Barr and FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, second from left, address reporters at the Justice Department in Washington to announce results of an investigation of the shootings at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. An an image of an iPhone is displayed at left. The Justice Department has placed a high national-security priority on its probe of the incident, insisting that investigators must get access to data from two locked and encrypted iPhones that belonged to the alleged gunman, a Saudi aviation student. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The deadly shooting of three US sailors at a Navy installation in December could reignite a long-simmering fight between the federal government and tech companies over data privacy and encryption.

As part of its probe into the violent incident, deemed a terrorist act by the government, the Justice Department insists that investigators need access to data from two locked and encrypted iPhones that belonged to the alleged gunman, a Saudi aviation student. The problem: Apple designed those iPhones with encryption technology so secure that the company itself cant read private messages.

The squabble raises two big questions. First, is Apple required to help the government hack its own security technology when requested? Second, is government pressure on this issue the prelude for a broader effort to outlaw encryption technology the feds cant break?

The quarrel so far

The Justice Department and Apple have been in talks recently over the Saudi students iPhone. Justice officials contend that they still havent received an answer about whether Apple has the capability to unlock the devices.

During a news conference Monday announcing the findings of the Pensacola station investigation, US Attorney William Barr said its critical for law enforcement to know with whom the shooter communicated and about what, before he died.

So far, Apple has not given any substantive assistance, Barr said. We call on Apple and other technology companies to help us find a solution so that we can better protect the lives of the American people and prevent future attacks.

Apple rejected that characterization. Our responses to their many requests since the attack have been timely, thorough and are ongoing, the company said.

Trying the backdoor

Our phones hold countless messages, files and photos  tracings of our everyday life and work. But in 2013, the whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the extent to which the government was spying on US citizens. Tech companies like Apple and Google began taking steps to shield those digital tracings from prying eyes  though often not their own  by mathematically scrambling them with encryption.

Apple was one of the first major companies to embrace stronger end-to-end encryption, in which messages are scrambled so that only their senders and recipients can read them. Law enforcement, however, wants access to that information in order to investigate crimes such as terrorism or child sexual exploitation.

Barr and other top cops call the problem going dark, as data they used to be able to scoop up with wiretaps has become harder and harder to read.

Although most law enforcement officials are vague about how to solve the problem, security experts say the authorities are basically asking for an engineered backdoor  a secret key that would let them decipher encrypted information with a court order.

But the same experts warn that such backdoors into encryption systems make them inherently insecure. Just knowing that a backdoor exists is enough to focus the worlds spies and criminals on discovering the mathematical keys that could unlock it. And when they do, everyones information is essentially vulnerable to anyone with the secret key.

What law enforcement can do

Forcing tech companies to engineer backdoors into their security systems would almost certainly require an act of Congress. Legislators, however, have never come close to agreeing on what such a law should look like.

But there are alternatives. Four years ago, the Justice Department took the extraordinary step of asking a federal judge to force Apple to break its own encryption system. The legal move involved an iPhone used by the perpetrator of a December 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, California.

Apple acknowledged that it could create the software the feds wanted, but warned that it would be a bad idea. The software could be stolen by hackers and used against other iPhones, the company warned, and might also lead to similar demands from repressive governments around the world.

The FBI ultimately dropped the case shortly before it was to go to trial, saying a third party had found another way of getting into the phone. It never disclosed who that party was; there is an entire industry of shadowy companies such as the Israeli firm Cellebrite that discover or pay for information on flaws in encryption systems. These firms then develop tools to essentially create their own backdoors.

Such companies do significant business with governments and law enforcement. Companies like Apple, meanwhile, do their best to close such loopholes as soon as they learn about them.

Where things stand now

Apple is reportedly bracing for another possible legal fight over encryption with the Justice Department. So far, though, theres no clear sign that the government is headed that way .

Theyre just public shaming and asking nicely, said Bruce Schneier, an encryption expert at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University. Hurting everybodys security for some forensic evidence is a dumb tradeoff.

Barr said the growth of consumer apps with end-to-end encryption, from Apples iMessage to Facebooks WhatsApp and Signal, have aided terrorist organizations, drug cartels, child molesting rings and kiddie porn-type rings. But the governments legal options could be limited.

For one thing, DOJs own inspector general slammed the department in the aftermath of the San Bernardino case, noting that it had made few attempts to break into the iPhone itself before filing suit. The FBI unit tasked with cracking phones had only sought outside help the day before the department asked a judge to compel Apples assistance, the inspector generals report found.

The same report found that an FBI section chief knew an outside vendor had almost 90 per cent completed a technique that would have allowed it to break into the phone, even as the Justice Department insisted that forcing Apples help was the only option.

Civil liberties advocates have also protested. The American Civil Liberties Union called Barrs demands dangerous and unconstitutional.

Here we are again, Schneier said. Its stupid every time.
A pregnant woman and five of her children have died after a religious sect allegedly forced them to walk through fire in a remote hamlet.

The makeshift sanctuary littered with muddy boots and scorched clothing belonged to a cult whose indigenous members professed to be anointed by God to sacrifice non-believers, even if the heretics were members of their own families, people in Panamas El Terron say.

Seven villagers were slain by the cult last Monday, while 14 more were rescued the next day by police who found them bound and beaten in the temple, authorities have said.

Several more villagers escaped with burns.

The improvised temple where a pregnant woman, five of her children and a neighbour were killed in a religious ritual. Source: AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco

Nine villagers have been arrested and charged with murder, reportedly including a grandfather and two uncles of the five children who died alongside their pregnant mother and a neighbour.

Nobody expected this, a distraught tribal leader, Evangelisto Santo, said.

El Terron is nestled in the jungle of the indigenous Ngabe Bugle enclave on Panamas Caribbean coast  and it is largely cut off from the modern world.

Residents must walk hours along steep and muddy narrow roads to hail boats that can transport them along a river to other villages that have electricity, telephones, health clinics and a police presence.

Many in the community, which gets by growing yucca and rice, are Roman Catholics.

The tiny mountain hamlet is home to about 300 people who live in palm-thatched huts.

Many are related to one another.

Farmer rescues two children from deadly fate

Residents say they had largely ignored the religious group. The sect arose after a villager returned to the community several months ago following a stint abroad, bringing back unusual religious beliefs with him.

People were dancing and singing and nobody paid attention because we knew that they were in the presence of God, Mr Santo said.

Nobody paid attention, that is, until one of the cult members announced he had had a vision: Everyone in the hamlet had to repent their sins, or die.

Story continues

Last weekend, members of The New Light of God sect began to drag victims to an improvised church, where they beat them into submission with sticks.

Cult members stood ready with machetes to take down those who failed to repent to their satisfaction.

Bibles, flowers, a drum and a microphone are seen inside the improvised temple in a jungle community. Source: AP Photo/Arnulfo Franco

Farmer Josue Gonzalez rescued two of his children  a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy  from the embers on Monday, while a 15-year-old son managed to escape on his own.

Outnumbered, Mr Gonzalez sought help for his pregnant wife and five of their other children.

By the time authorities arrived via helicopter on Tuesday, Mr Gonzalez's wife, the five children and a neighbour had been decapitated and buried.

The cult members charged in the case reportedly include Mr Gonzalez's own father and villagers say two of Mr Gonzalez's brothers had declared themselves prophets of the cult.

Authorities have not confirmed Mr Gonzalez's father and two brothers have been arrested.

Within the logic of religious sacrifices in some extremist cults, there's no greater proof of faith than to turn over the life of a loved one or family member, Andrew Chesnut, a professor of religious studies specialising in Latin America at Virginia Commonwealth University, said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
Oil-rich Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with two rival authorities and a multitude of militias now vying for control.

The country's internationally recognised unity government is based in Tripoli while eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar supports a parallel administration based in the east.

Here is a timeline of the Mediterranean country's descent into turmoil.

Kadhafi killed

Triggered by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, demonstrations erupt in Libya in February 2011. A coalition led by Washington, Paris and London lends its backing to an armed revolt.

Kadhafi, in power for 42 years, flees the capital but is captured and killed on October 20, 2011.

Three days later, the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC) declares Libya's "total liberation".

In August 2012 the NTC hands power to a transitional authority, the General National Congress (GNC).

Embassies targeted

US ambassador Chris Stevens and three American staff are killed in a September 11, 2012 attack on their consulate in Libya's second city Benghazi. An Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group is blamed.

A car bomb in April 2013 targets France's embassy in Tripoli, wounding two French guards.

Most foreign delegations withdraw.

Rival governments

Dissident army general Haftar launches an offensive in May 2014 against jihadist groups in Benghazi. He is backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Several military officers from the east join his self-styled Libyan National Army.

As nationalists and Islamists vie for power, legislative polls are held in June and a parliament is elected, dominated by anti-Islamists.

But Islamist-led militias contest the results and storm Tripoli in August, restoring the GNC to power.

The elected house, which has international recognition, takes refuge in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Thus the country finds itself with two governments and two parliaments.

After months of negotiations and international pressure, lawmakers from the rival parliaments sign an accord in December 2015 to set up a Government of National Accord (GNA) which is recognised by the UN.

In March 2016 GNA chief Fayez al-Sarraj arrives in Tripoli to set up the new government. But Haftar's rival administration refuses to recognise its authority.

Jihadists

In December 2016, the GNA announces forces it commands have ousted the Islamic State group from Kadhafi's coastal hometown of Sirte.

In July 2017, Haftar announces the "total liberation" of Benghazi from jihadists.

Sarraj and Haftar meet in Paris in May 2018 and agree to work together for new elections. But divisions between them only deepen.

Haftar on the move

In January 2019, Haftar launches an offensive into oil-rich southern Libya, ostensibly aimed at wiping out "terrorists" and criminal groups.

His forces seize the region's capital Sebha and one of the country's main oil fields, without a fight.

In April, his forces begin an offensive to take Tripoli from the GNA. It results in clashes that leave more than 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters dead in nine months.

The conflict draws in other countries, with Turkey and Qatar supporting the GNA while Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates back Haftar.

Russia is reported to have sent mercenaries to support Haftar, although it denies the charges.

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After all but ignoring the war unfolding in Libya for nine months, suddenly world powers are paying attention to the North African country.

Boris Johnson, the UK prime minister, Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkeys president, as well as representatives and leaders of several other European and Arab states, are heading to Berlin on Sunday to take part in long-delayed peace talks hosted by Angela Merkel, Germanys chancellor.

Even Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, is taking time out of his busy schedule of trashing Iran on Twitter to attend.

Many are relieved that such important figures are finally coming together to help resolve a years-long conflict that in its latest phase has cost 2,000 lives, displaced tens of thousands, and engulfed yet another Arab capital in war.

Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Show all 12 1 /12 Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya A woman brandishing a rifle takes part in a demonstration held by Libyans and Syrians in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to protest against Turkey's prospective military intervention AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Turkish members of parliament vote to send Turkish troops to Libya. They passed a bill approving a military deployment to Libya aimed at shoring up the UN-backed government in Tripoli, at a time of intensifying international tensions over the conflict. The beleaguered Tripoli government has been under sustained attack since April by military strongman General Khalifa Haftar, who is backed by Turkey's regional rivals - Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya AFP via Getty Protests against Turkey sending forces to Libya Reuters

The suffering and misery of Libyans has worsened since the 2011 Nato-backed armed uprising against long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi, whose toppling inaugurated a new era of chaos and civil war in the country. Aid workers and the United Nations say its crucial to halt a conflict before it devastates Tripoli, the countrys most densely populated area.

The violence in Libya has to stop, Thomas Garofalo, the International Rescue Committees Libya director, said in a statement, noting that his organisation has had to suspend some of its aid work in the country because of the conflict. The Libyan people live in constant fear the situation can deteriorate again at any time.

But the events leading up to the Berlin conference suggest it will fail.

Egged on by France, western leaders have for months been ignoring calls to intervene in Libya, where renegade warlord Khalifa Haftar, backed by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, has been waging a war against the United Nations-brokered authority in Tripoli to win full control of the country.

Haftar has insisted that those who run Tripoli are terrorists, which experts consider an odd accusation to make against Fayez Serraj, prime minister of the government of National Accord, and the mild-mannered scion of an elite Libyan family.

The collection of western Libyan armed groups that support the Tripoli government are generally thuggish and a few elements lean toward Islamist extremes. But they are no more radical and conservative than the Saudi-backed Salafi militias that do Haftars bidding, and certainly just as brutal.

Haftar would likely not have got as far as he has except for two pillars of international support.

One is the steady military support of the United Arab Emirates, which sees in the government of Tripoli unacceptable elements of the Muslim Brotherhood, and has been violating an arms embargo by sending drones and helping to finance Sudanese and perhaps Russian mercenaries to support Haftar.

The other has been UN Security Council member France, which has been actively running diplomatic interference for Haftar against the very government and peace process ostensibly supported by its own foreign ministry.

Over the last few months, France repeatedly watered down UN Security Council resolutions and European Union statements on Libya, often to the bafflement of other nations.

 Libyan forces take key town from warlord Khalifa Haftar

While Macrons motives remain unclear, more likely than not, hes doing so in part because of the wests affinity for Arab tyrants of the Haftar mold, but mostly because that is what the Emirati and Egyptian rulers who buy a lot of French weapons want him to do.

Macron even convinced Italy, which had been backing the government in Tripoli to keep migrants at bay, to ease up on its support, and appeared to do everything in his power to prevent Haftar from feeling heat after bombings of civilian targets, including dozens of innocent migrants his forces allgedly killed.

For nine months they failed to confront Haftar or call him out for backing out of the peace talks and launching war last year, for violations of human rights in areas under his control, including the disappearance of activist and lawmaker Siham Sergewa, or for his continued attacks on civilian sites in and around Tripoli.

But the insouciance of western leaders created a vacuum that Turkey, among the few international backers of the UN government in Tripoli, forcefully filled.

Erdogan in recent weeks has unveiled plans to bolster the forces defending Tripoli with troops, Syrian fighters and sophisticated equipment. It was a bold gambit meant to shore up his allies in Tripoli and build Turkish influence across the Mediterranean.

France, Egypt, Greece, the Emirates, and Cyprus protested, accusing Turkey of violating an arms embargo that Haftars side had been violating for years, and making a grab for vast gas deposits beneath the Mediterranean Sea. The EU weighted in, critical of Turkey.

Still, there was no talk of a Libya peace summit.

Then on 13 January, Putin and Erdogan stunned the west by bringing Serraj and Haftar to Moscow for peace talks, days after getting both sides to agree to a truce.

The talks achieved nothing after Haftar left in a huff. But they dislodged the notion that the west could accomplish any of its murky goals in Libya by delegating its decision to Mohamed bin Zayed, the ambitious crown prince of Abu Dhabi and architect of the Emirates foreign policy.

Not only had the policy drift created an opening for Turkey to cement a maritime deal with Libya that it has long sought for its own commercial and strategic goals, it gave an opening for the wests arch-nemesis Putin to become kingmaker in yet another important Arab country, after it managed to supplant the west in Syria.

The UNs Libya envoy Ghassan Salame and his deputies had been begging western leaders for months to change course on Libya, issuing dire warnings at the Security Council about the humanitarian disaster unfolding and the possibility of a now-subdued Isis reemerging in the chaos.

But only after the Moscow meeting did Merkel and Macron suddenly rush forward the peace conference in Berlin.

As the talks get under way, many Libyans have grown pessimistic that any of the international players have their interests in mind, and have become convinced that their country has become no more than a playing piece in the geopolitical games of world powers.
Theres a lot about Birmingham-based startup Dwell at Home thats unconventional.

Theres its product - an app that matches people needing caregivers with those willing to fulfill that role. Its an idea with obvious implications, as the number of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to more than double over the next 40 years, reaching 80 million in 2040. The number of adults ages 85 and older, those most needing help with basic personal care, will nearly quadruple in that time. In Alabama, according to a 2019 census estimate, a little less than 17 percent of the state is over the age of 65.

And theres the company owners, who dont fit the traditional mold of millennial tech saavy entrepreneurs. Mike Clark is 58, and Rod Palmer is 59. The two already found business success selling Owls Hollow Farm products at Pepper Place.

But the two knew there was a growing need for honest, trustworthy caregivers.

Mike Clark and Rod Palmer are the founders of Dwell at Home.

Their solution is an app that connects caregivers with those needing care. That can mean anything from seven-day-a-week monitoring, to a trip to the grocery store or an afternoon of conversation. Clark and Palmer envisioned it as a way to use the gig economy to connect people looking to spend time fruitfully with those wanting a little more out of their golden years.

The app, available on Apple (the Android version coming in Spring), allows users to find caregivers available for whatever is needed, or caregivers to connect with those in need. While caregivers are vetted and certifications are available, those using the app can also leave ratings.

Only a few weeks after launching the app, Palmer said it already has more than 70 caregivers in the Birmingham area listed. The app also gives a readout of caregiver and client interests, as a way of matching them for more compatibility, with its unique algorithm finding matches in a few minutes according to personality, career, hobbies and preferences.

Families have a really hard time with this, Clark said. They feel guilty because they cant do it themselves, but they know its the best thing. We think we have a real problem solving application that can help people around the country.

Clark said the idea came from several sources. One was a visit to a woman in a nursing home unable to attend church. When he went to sign-in for a visit, he realized no one - friends, relatives, acquaintances - had been to see her in three months. It made him angry.

At the same time, Palmers 90-year-old mother needed more care, he said, prompting the two to sense a need.

Theres something like 10,000 people a day turning 65, Clark said. This segment of the population is growing at a crazy rate. And the same time, senior care kind of sucks. A lot of times, it seems like its just, send the next person out.

At the same time, youve got people looking for help with their parents, and they dont know where to turn. You can go to agencies, and fill out a bunch of paperwork. We just wanted to make it easy for everyone involved.

For more information, visit the website.
Tourists are stopped for temperature checking at Cam Ranh airport in Vietnam's central province of Khanh Hoa January 13, 2020 amid pneumonia fears. Photo by VnExpress/Xuan Ngoc.

Two feverish Chinese nationals quarantined on arrival in Da Nang have tested negative for a pneumonia virus that has killed two in China.

A 22-year-old man and a three-year-old boy who traveled to Vietnam from Chinas Wuhang City, where the pneumonia outbreak started in late December, were part of a tour group. Their temperatures were high and both were quarantined right after landing at the Da Nang Airport.

The boys temperature came down shortly after he was quarantined. He was then allowed to enter Vietnam and his health has been normal since.

For the young man, tests at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Vietnam that operates within the Hospital for Tropical Diseases Ho Chi Minh City, showed that he was not infected with the pneumonia virus that has spread across China since December.

Nguyen Tien Hong, deputy director of Da Nangs health department, said the man, who was not named, only had a normal viral infection. Hed had a normal viral infection and returned to China Saturdays night.

The throat swabs and blood serum samples of the two were first sent to the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute to determine the cause of the fever.

Test results from the institute also confirmed both were not infected with the pneumonia virus.

However, local health authorities transferred the blood sample of the 22-year-old to the OUCRU to test for the NCoV, a new strain of coronavirus, which has been identified as the cause for the ongoing outbreak that has killed two Chinese in Wuhang so far.

WHO, China and other countries are trying to prevent further spread of the virus ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays next week, when many of the 1.4 billion Chinese citizens will travel abroad.

Vietnam has not detected any infection so far. The two Chinese tourists are the first case of foreigners entering Vietnam with a fever since the outbreak started.

Airports in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Khanh Hoa Province, a major destination for Chinese tourists, have installed equipment to monitor passengers body temperature on arrival.
Julian Castro is finally getting the media attention he deserves. All he had to do was drop his bid for the Democratic nomination for president and stump for Elizabeth Warren.

These days, you can find the former secretary of housing and urban development telling crowds in Iowa how his former opponent would make a great commander in chief, singing Warrens praises as he schmoozes with reporters in the spin room after this weeks debate, and enthusiastically tweeting that hes ready for President Elizabeth Warren.

Warren and Castro make a good team. And  if Warren survives the boys club of presidential politics and secures the nomination  theyd look good together on the same presidential ticket.

For one thing, Warren needs a boost with Latinos. Its no wonder why. The Massachusetts senator appears to have scarcely given that ethnic group a thought since entering politics to run for the Senate in 2012. Her constituency is highly educated, white, Northeastern liberals  and not much beyond that. And while Castro didnt corner the market with support from fellow Latinos during the year he spent on the trail, dont be shocked if they react more fondly to him now that hes gone, and theyre stuck with a field of Democratic front-runners that is as white as a snowy day in Iowa or New Hampshire.

If Warren-Castro becomes a thing, it would be the third time that Democrats went with the Massachusetts-Texas combination in a White House bid. There was John Kennedy-Lyndon Johnson in 1960, and Michael Dukakis-Lloyd Bentsen in 1988.

Sure, there are differences between the candidates. Like age; Warren is 70, Castro is 45. And then we have their relationship to the Fourth Estate; Warren is the medias preferred candidate for the White House, while Castro disappeared when he fell into the media brown hole (where Latinos go to vanish because theyre neither black nor white). Finally, there is geography; Massachusetts and Texas seem to be on different planets.

But, these two Democrats also have a few things in common. Like Harvard Law School; Warren taught there, and Castro studied there. And strong communication skills; both have done a good job of exciting the base of voters that supports them, even while keeping their cool when attacked.

The diversity duo also has one more thing in common: Theyve both learned the hard way that, if youre not a white male, running for president is no walk in the park.

Tension comes with the territory when youre trying to be the first of anything. No one likes change, and its not always easy to adjust to a new order of things. White men have it easy. Everyone else, not so much.

Castro was not so lucky. When he suggested decriminalizing unauthorized border crossings and treating them as civil violations, white pundits wondered aloud if the Mexican-American wanted an open border.

But women who run for president have it just as hard as people of color, if not harder. For years, Ive had women friends who were Latino or African-American tell me that they faced more challenges because they were women than because they were minorities.

I believe it. Women got the right to vote a half century after those African-Americans who were freed slaves were allowed to cast ballots. And Americans have elected, and reelected, an African-American president. But  looking just at the major political parties  voters have twice taken a pass on electing a female vice president (Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, Sarah Palin in 2008) and once refused to elect a woman president by denying Hillary Clinton the number of electoral college votes needed to claim victory.

Now Warren is getting a taste of ignorance. In her recent kerfuffle with Bernie Sanders over a discussion they had on whether a woman could be elected president, I believe Warren. Given that Sanders has long had a burr under his saddle about so-called identity politics, I find it easy to imagine that he said that a woman would have a tough time defeating Donald Trump in 2020. Of course, thats different from what the media is reporting, that Sanders said a woman could never be elected president. Word games aside, Warren is catching a lot of flak from everyone from conservative radio hosts who hate it when someone plays the woman card to Sanders supporters who think their guy got played.

There we go again. Americans are always blaming the victim, and making it seem like its the pioneer who has the problem.

Castro has been there and done that. So hes in a great position to defend Warren against what is yet another unfair attack.

Warren-Castro? Yeah, thats the ticket.

ruben@rubennavarrette.com
Adam (R), his girlfriend Allison, and his parents Donald and Linda Peterson at Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on Jan. 18, 2020. (Sally Sun/The Epoch Times)

PROVIDENCE, R.I.Adam Peterson, a project manager in construction, went to see Shen Yun Performing Arts with his girlfriend and parents.

This is an amazing performance full of passion and art. And you can feel the energy, and that culture is just brought to life. Thats something you dont get to see every day, he said on Jan. 18, 2020 at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

Adam had the idea of coming to see Shen Yun, which led to his parents buying tickets for him and his girlfriend as well as for themselves. His parents, Donald and Linda Peterson, thought the performance was visually beautiful and appealing. His girlfriend said she loved it.

Based in New York, Shen Yun is a performing arts company aiming to revive Chinas 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture through classical Chinese dance and music. The company was founded in 2006 and has been performing around the world ever since.

Adam said he learned of Chinas history and culture from watching the performing arts company, describing it as beautiful and colorful. But that was not the only thing that he took away from the performance. After watching a dance illustrating the story of the Creator, Adam came to an understanding about humanity.

I just think its amazing. You look at different cultures and they have a sort of similar creation story, the Christians and the Chinese and everywhere you look, theyre talking about how some divine Creator made everything. We may be a little bit different, but our stories are kind of the same, he said.

Adam expressed that he was moved by this universal value Shen Yun has shared with its audience.

I think it was inspiring. I think its neat, it kind of connects people. Everybody kind of has this deep feeling inside, that theres something else out there. Its not just us, he said.

Adam found the artists of Shen Yun amazing and said he supports what they are doing.

The project manager said, You can feel the passion they put into it there. Its just great. I would encourage them to keep doing it. The hard work that theyre putting in, thats got to be crazy, the shows they do and the practice. Its a lot of hard work. I would just encourage them to keep doing it. Theyre making a big impact.

Sallie Dunning and Chip Highfield enjoyed watching Shen Yun Performing Arts at Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island on Jan. 18, 2020. (Weiyong Zhu/The Epoch Times)

Shen Yun Shows Precision and Grace

Chip Highfield brought his friend Sallie Dunning to see Shen Yun, as he knew that she would love it. It turns out that he was right.

I loved it. I loved learning so much, about Chinese dance and culture. And history. The costumes and the choreography were amazing. Chip talked a lot about the precision. They were so in sync and tightly choreographed pieces. The women looked like they were floating across the stage. I loved it! she said.

Dunning works with elementary school teachers and Chip is involved in financial investments. This is Highfields second time in seeing Shen Yuns performance, and likely not his last.

Top rate! he said. [I was] very excited and sometimes just taken into a fantasy world and just amazed by whats going on in front of me.

With reporting by Sally Sun, Weiyong Zhu, and Don Tran.

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.
Ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday (January 19) released its manifesto for upcoming Delhi Assembly election, scheduled to take place on February 8. The manifesto titled 'Kejriwal Ka Guarantee Card' was released by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the presence of other senior leaders of the party. On his part, CM Kejriwal said that he will release the long manifesto in the next 10 days.

In the 'guarantee card', AAP has promised that Delhi will continue to receive round-the-clock electricity supply and the subsidy on electricity bill till 200 units will continue till AAP is in power in Delhi.

The AAP has also promised to end the problem of hanging electricity wires in different parts of Delhi. In the 'guarantee card' Kejriwal has said that his government has already linked 93% households of Delhi with water supply and very soon every house in Delhi will receive clean water.

The AAP has also given a guarantee that the state government will ensure that every child born in Delhi will receive education till graduation with government support. The Kejriwal-led government has also promised to give free treatment to every family in Delhi.

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CM Kejriwal has given a guarantee that more 'mohalla clinics' will be set up in the future and the AAP government will also build new hospitals in Delhi. The AAP's 'guarantee card' also said that metro connectivity of 500 km will be built in the future and Delhi will get world-class transportation facilities.

Kejriwal has also promised to continue the scheme of free bus ride for women if he comes to power again in Delhi. He has also promised to make bus ride free for students after coming to power. The AAP has also promised to plant more trees to tackle the problem of pollution in Delhi. In his 'guarantee card', CM Kejriwal has pledged to clean Yamuna in the next five years.
Berlin (dpa) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will rule by late Sunday on an appeal by the Russian Paralympic Committee regarding the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) suspension of Russia from the Paralympic Games, it was announced Monday.



In a statement, the IPC said CAS will hear the appeal in Rio de Janeiro and will announce a final ruling by midnight CET on August 22 (2200 GMT August 21).



The IPC on August 7 suspended the entire Russian team from the 2016 Paralympics for the Russian committee failing to fulfil membership responsibilities and obligations, including compliance with the IPC and world anti-doping codes.



The 2016 Paralympics will run from September 7-18 in Rio de Janeiro.




Victor Santiago was drafted into the Army during World War II, but didn't see his first combat until six years later in North Korea  but that fight would stay with him for nearly 50 years.

Now 94, Santiago served with the Army's 65th Infantry Regiment, a unit made up mostly of soldiers from Puerto Rico, in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, in which his regiment helped cover the retreat of the 1st Marine Division as it fought its way clear of encirclement by Chinese troops. The unit received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2016 for its service in the Korean War.

He was drafted into the Army in 1944 at age 20, sent to Panama for training before he could marry his wife-to-be, Martha. He would spend the rest of World War II guarding an oil refinery in Curacao that was never attacked, so he never saw combat in that war. He returned to Puerto Rico a year later to marry Martha and reenlisted because he couldn't find work. He ended up serving 21 years, retiring in 1966 as a staff sergeant.

Santiago was stationed in Japan, Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Devens, Mass., Hawaii and Thailand, but the 1950 battle in North Korea would stay with him until today.

"They ordered my regiment to open a gap to get them (the 1st Marine Division) out," Santiago recalled. "It was 40 (degrees) below zero and we had the same equipment we had in Puerto Rico. I got frostbite. When it's that cold, it hurts. We got the 1st Marine Division and the 7th Division out, and we were the last to leave."

Santiago still remembers being sent to a hospital for his frostbite and seeing bodies delivered to a morgue. One soldier saw his brother among the bodies and begged Santiago not to tell his mother that the brother had been killed. Santiago would suffer what he called "combat fatigue," now known as post-traumatic stress disorder, for five decades.

"He just went to my head. I used to dream about it" for years, Santiago said. "They wanted to give me medicine, but I told them I didn't need it; I could control myself. It didn't end for almost 50 years."

Santiago's military career has been passed down through the generations  son Victor Santiago Jr. also served 21 years in the Air Force and a grandson in Oklahoma now serves in the Army.

After retiring, Santiago, his wife and three children moved to New Hampshire to be near family. He worked low-wage jobs delivering furniture and pizza until he was hired by a new Budweiser brewery, where he spent 23 years in nearly every job there before retiring. He and Martha moved to Colorado Springs to be near his daughter and to be treated for a heart condition that eventually required a pacemaker.

Martha died in 2016, a day after the couple celebrated their 69th anniversary.
A teenage girl has admitted to smashing her mother's car during a drunken rampage on a night out.

Cameron Fisher, 19, started kicking the car before giving a bystander the finger in Maroubra, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, last December.

The following morning, Fisher's mother was horrified to see her Suzuki Swift covered in dents, her side mirror broken, windscreen wipers bent and her rear wiper completely torn off.

Cameron Fisher (pictured) admitted to smashing her mother's car while drunk in Sydney's eastern suburbs

The 19-year-old was later confronted by police where she admitted: 'I did it,' The Daily Telegraph reported.

Fisher was seen outside Waverley Local Court this week throwing up the 'hang loose' hand signal.

The teenager claimed she couldn't remember the events that unfolded because she was 'intoxicated'.

She also told the witness 'f**k you' during the night.

Magistrate Allison Hawkins found the teenager guilty of property damage but did not give her a conviction.

She said Fisher had a 'brain snap' and placed her on a conditional six-month release order.
Police said Higgins called in a pizza order on June 10 to an abandoned property four houses down from his house on the 5000 block of Pennsylvania Street in Gary, where he robbed the driver of the pizza and $40 in tips, charges show. The driver, who was unharmed, said it was his last order of the night.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated their commitment on Sunday to the Iran nuclear deal and agreed a long-term framework was needed.

The leaders statement follows European signatories to the nuclear deal triggering a diplomatic dispute mechanism last week  their strongest response yet to Tehrans steps away from the unravelling pact.

On Iran, the leaders reiterated their commitment to the JCPOA [nuclear accord] and also acknowledged the need to define a long-term framework to prevent Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon, a Downing Street spokeswoman said in a statement after Johnson and Macron met on the sidelines of a Libya summit in Berlin.

They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and of working with international partners to find a diplomatic way through the current tensions.

Following Washingtons decision to withdraw from the historic agreement in May 2018, Iran began dropping its commitments under the deal.

Josep Borrell, the European Unions foreign policy chief, said last week the aim of the dispute mechanism was not to reimpose sanctions, but to find a solution for the return to full compliance with the deal, which was also signed by Russia and China.

On January 6, days after the US assassination of a top Iranian general, Tehran took a further step by announcing it would scrap limits on enriching uranium, though it said it would continue cooperating with the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

The accord  deemed at the time to be a landmark achievement  sought to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief and global powers beginning to welcome the country back into the international community.

But US President Donald Trump called it the worst deal in history and in May 2018 unilaterally withdrew from the deal, re-imposing crippling sanctions which have devastated Irans economy. In response, Tehran challenged the European powers to fulfil their part of the deal and support its economy.

A new deal?

Johnson said last week he would be willing to work on a Trump deal to replace the international accord agreed between Iran, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany.

But his idea stands at odds with other European partners, which expressed determination to work with all participants to preserve the deal.

In an apparent bid to keep the door open for diplomacy, the three European signatories  known as the E3  said they were not joining the US campaign to implement maximum pressure against Iran.

Given recent events, it is all the more important that we do not add a nuclear proliferation crisis to the current escalation threatening the whole region, they said.
The first major hearing in the case against an Army veteran facing Bloody Sunday murder charges is set to take place in Belfast because of security fears.

The judges decision has angered families of the dead who believe he should appear in court in Londonderry  a stones throw from where one of the most notorious episodes of the Northern Ireland Troubles took place after soldiers opened fire.

Soldier F has been granted anonymity and has not entered the dock so far to face charges that he murdered two people during a civil rights demonstration in the city in January 1972.

Soldier F should be appearing at this courthouseMickey McKinney

Mickey McKinney, whose brother Willie was shot dead, said: What happened on Bloody Sunday happened here 200 yards from where we now stand and Soldier F should be appearing at this courthouse.

A month-long hearing to decide whether to send the accused, now aged in his sixties, to trial and to assess the evidence against him is due to be held.

Up to 25 witnesses could be called, a lawyer for the accused told a previous court hearing.

District judge Barney McElholm said: We cannot convene this in just some hall or public space.

There are considerations of security. We are willing to listen to any reasonable opposition put to us.

At the moment, despite trying to get somewhere closer to the city, I am afraid Belfast looks like the venue.

Bloody Sunday became one of the most notorious incidents of the Northern Ireland Troubles when members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on a crowd of civil rights demonstrators, killing 13.

Soldier F is accused of murdering James Wray and Mr McKinney.

The former paratrooper also stands accused of the attempted murders of Patrick ODonnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and Michael Quinn.

He faces a seventh supporting charge of the attempted murder of a person or persons unknown on the day.

Expand Close There are security concerns around using Derrys courthouse as the venue for the hearing (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp There are security concerns around using Derrys courthouse as the venue for the hearing (Brian Lawless/PA)

On Friday, District Judge McElholm said Derrys aged courthouse was limited in terms of size and acoustics.

He said: We have spent a lot of time looking at this and trying to get a venue providing sufficient accommodation that those who wish to attend the hearing can do so in reasonable comfort, also there are security considerations and people being able to hear what is going on.

After Fridays hearing, a solicitor for the McKinney family and four wounded victims, Ciaran Shiels, said security concerns could be addressed in the city.

He said: This is where the killings occurred  a stones throw from these buildings.

We have always been of the view that F should be attending here in person at his committal and that remains the position.

Lawyers for the families have two weeks to make submissions to the court challenging the decision to take the hearing to Belfast.

Mr Shiels added: I dont think security is the main issue in terms of the impetus behind this.

Any police officer I was speaking to has said they would far rather have these proceedings take place here than in Belfast.

The families of those killed also oppose granting anonymity to Soldier F.

Prosecutors have written to Fs representatives urging them to set out in detail the law they rely on to justify his continued anonymity, Mr Shiels said.

The case was adjourned until February 7.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 03:49:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BAGHDAD, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of angry Iraqi youths intensified their protests on Sunday due to the slow pace of comprehensive reform in the political process demanded by the demonstrators.

During the day, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in the squares of Tayran and Wathba near al-Tahrir Square, the epicenter of Iraq's anti-government protests, and set fire to dozens of tires to block the main roads leading to the rally sites, an Interior Ministry official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Sporadic clashes occurred with riot police during the day when dozens of demonstrators burned tires to cut off a highway named Mohammed al-Qassim, that links the downtown of the capital Baghdad to several neighborhoods in the east of the capital, the official said.

The riot police fired tear gas canisters and bullets in the air to disperse the protesters, leaving a protester killed and some 30 others injured and suffocated, according to the official.

In southern Baghdad, demonstrations flared in the provinces of Babil, Najaf, Karbala, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Wasit, Maysan and Basra, as protesters blocked the main roads and closed many of the government institutions, according to local media reports.

On Jan. 13, demonstrators in Nasriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar province, and other Iraqi cities announced a period of one week for the political blocs to form a new government to replace the government of caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, otherwise the protesters would totally block main roads across Iraq and close the government institutions.

Mass anti-government demonstrations have continued in Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since early October, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities.
For many of the Ugandan girls pictured here, these colorful outfits made by University of Minnesota design students are the first new pieces of clothing theyve owned. Read more

Students in a studio on the University of Minnesotas St. Paul campus sat at long tables on a recent afternoon, pushing fabric through buzzing sewing machines as piles of colorful clothing grew beside them.

In this technical apparel design course, they make clothes. Lots of clothes. The purpose of the course is to let students experience the process of mass-manufactured clothing conducted by big companies like Target.

But the course  and the clothing  has an additional purpose.

We produce a lot of stuff and we have to have something to do with all the stuff, said course instructor Lucy Dunne, director of the universitys apparel design program.

Clothing produced in class  this semester included overalls, dresses, rompers, T-shirts, and leggings in different colors and fabrics  goes to charitable organizations around the world. Those partners vary from year to year and Dunne said theyre always looking for new partners. But every year since the class began in 2012, they have sent clothes to Blue House Uganda, an orphanage for girls in a small Ugandan village founded by a University of Minnesota alumna.

Its fun because weve made things knowing that they will treasure them, said Andrea Dunrud, a senior in apparel design who sat next to a stack of freshly assembled overalls. Its nice to remind yourself that some little girl is going to love this pair of overalls.

Thats for sure, said Karen Lilley, a retired communications specialist who has long been involved with Blue House. The girls ordinarily would wear secondhand donated clothing shipped over by organizations like Goodwill. When the girls began receiving donations from Dunnes class, it was the first time in their lives theyd ever had a new piece of clothing that was made just for them, Lilley said. And that was a big deal.

 READ MORE: Their tote bags sold out at Aerie  proving what people with disabilities can do

The Ugandan girls submit drawings of clothes they imagine wanting to wear. Some of them are quite young, so were like, I think thats a dress, Dunne said, smiling. Others are more detailed, with zippers and straps.

Megan Malotky, a junior, pointed out that the tags inside the clothes feature a university logo inside a heart and a message: Made with Love, University of Minnesota Students.

The students create fashion illustrations based on the girls drawings, then refine them to make sample garments. The best samples get selected for mass production. Fabrics are donated by a textile manufacturer in China. The 12 students in this semesters class will produce 225 garments, about two-thirds of which will go to Blue House, delivered by volunteers.

Blue House Uganda was founded by Beatrice Garubanda, a Ugandan who earned a masters degree in education at the university and a masters degree in theology from Luther College in St. Paul. When Garubanda returned to her home village, Kazo, after 17 years away, she found it devastated by poverty, war, AIDS, and other diseases. Hundreds of orphaned children wandered homeless and hungry, unable to attend school. Girls were especially vulnerable.

Garubanda bought an empty store, painted the roof blue to represent hope, and opened it to orphaned girls.

Even now, the girls live just a couple of steps above the poverty they came from, Lilley said. The orphanage has no electricity, no running water, and the latrines are holes in concrete. But they have a safe, family-like home, and receive food, clothing, health care, mentoring and support to attend public school. In a country where just 21% of girls finish high school, the graduation rate among Blue House residents is 100%. Three have graduated from college.

Garubanda died in 2005. Some years later Lilley, who had known Garubanda, and a member of the apparel design faculty had the idea of making simple sundresses for the girls. Dunne suggested going a step further and having her students make items specifically designed for the girls. Dunne felt that the students classwork would have more meaning if they did it for a real group of kids with faces and lives and stories.

Those faces show their excitement when the girls receive the garments. They always do a fashion show when they get them, Dunne said, and send back photos of themselves in their fancy new outfits.

Thats the coolest part, said Malotky. It makes it feel more important, what were doing.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19 : The CPI-M will soon start a door-to-door campaign across the country against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said here on Sunday.

Speaking to the media after the Communist Party of India-Marxist's Central Committee meeting here, he also asked people not to give details in the National Population Register.

"The preparation of the National Population Register will lead to the preparation of the National Register of Citizens. Hence, none should give details of the NPR," he said.

Yechury said that the Central Committee has condemned the police "atrocities" against the anti-CAA campaign.

"The campaign will continue and it should be done in a peaceful way. It is in the BJP- ruled states (Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Karnataka) that deaths have been reported on account of police firing. Videos of police destroying property have come out, but innocent people are being charged," he said.

Later addressing a public meeting here, Yechury said that there is only one holy book and it is the Constitution of India.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attempt to destroy the Constitution will not be allowed. The Central Committee meeting also decided to carry out a nationwide campaign to see that normalcy returns to Kashmir. The Centre should see that they reimburse the damages that have been cause din the agrarian sector in Kashmir," he said.

Hitting out at the CAA, he said the BJP has dismissed whatever the CPI-M has spoken about CAA.

"The decision of the Centre in CAA is to see that Hindus are given citizenship and the Muslims are sent to detention centres," he said.

Slamming Modi, Yechury said that lakhs of Indian students have taken on the task of protecting the Constitution.

He also said that under Modi, the economy has gone for a toss and every sector has been badly affected.
Indian-Americans will hold events in over three dozen cities and towns across the US to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Kashmiri Pandit exodus to recognise the resilience of the community.

They will take out peaceful rallies, hold to candlelight vigil and public meetings to highlight the hardships faced by the Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley three decades ago.

Events have been planned in New York, New Jersey, Silicon Valley, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Detroit among others cities.

"This event is designed to present the truth, data and factual stories as well as current events and progress in restoration of peace in the Kashmir. Hundred of people are expected to participate," said Indian-Americans for Kashmir, which is organising the event in New Jersey.

Thirty years ago, Kashmiri Hindus (known as Pandits) experienced "unimaginable devastation" in their ancestral homeland, said Hindu American Foundation, which has been organising the events in multiple cities.

"The Pakistan-sponsored insurgency and campaign of targeted killings, rape, threats, and destruction of property and religious sites spanned over many years. But events on January 19, 1990 reached a feverish pitch and culminated in mass panic and the forced displacement of 95 per cent of the Kashmiri Hindu population," it said.

"The campaign, according to former ambassador of Pakistan to the United States, Hussain Haqqani, was part of an orchestrated campaign by Islamist militant groups sponsored by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency to create as Islamic state in Kashmir," it said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The NSA and CIA are giving in to pressure from Trump and refusing to turn over documents related to the Ukraine scandal to Congress.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said on ABCs This Week:



The intelligence community is reluctant to have an open hearing, something that we had done every year prior to the Trump administration because theyre worried about angering the president. Well, part of their job is to speak truth to power. And I worry that theyre succumbing to the pressure of the administration.

Ill say something even more concerning to me, and that is the intelligence community is beginning to withhold documents from Congress on the issue of Ukraine. They appear to be succumbing to pressure from the administration. The NSA in particular is withholding what are potentially relevant documents to our oversight responsibilities on Ukraine, but also withholding documents potentially relevant that the senators might want to see during the trial. That is deeply concerning. And there are signs that the CIA may be on the same tragic course.

We are counting on the intelligence community not only to speak truth to power but to resist pressure from the administration to withhold information from Congress because the administration fears that they incriminate them.

Video:

The pressure of dealing with an executive branch of one is starting to get to our system of governance. The behavior of the CIA and NSA is exactly what Joe Biden is talking about when he says that our government cant handle four more years of Trump.

In the past, the intel community would have done the public briefing and turned over the documents to Congress without a second thought. The problems that Donald Trump is creating are very real and may take more than one presidential election to repair.
Our country is constantly in the grip of one national crisis or another. Every day we read about the housing problem and our crippled healthcare system.

And while these crises are indeed awful, another issue has reared its ugly head once again.

This crisis sometimes goes under the radar. Simply because we get used to it.

We get used to the violence. We become numb to the bloodshed. We are deaf to the terror because it is not happening on our doorstep. Except it is, and if it hasn't yet, it will.

Coolock in north Dublin is currently at the centre of a gangland war.

And this war just went from tabloid newspaper fodder to international news with the brutal murder of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods.

Make no mistake about it, this crisis is the real cancer in our society.

It needs brave actions, it needs politicians to show leadership and introduce emergency legislation allowing for those suspected of drug-dealing or gang membership, who are well known to gardai and within their own communities, to be interned.

Gardai need resources to allow them take back control of our streets which have been surrendered to crime gangs and drug lords.

In 1996, when my sister Veronica was assassinated it was seen as a challenge to the security of the State. The public demanded action and unlimited resources were provided. For a short period of time we were winning the war against crime and then as time passed and as resources were reduced we took our eye off the ball. Today the drug problem has increased immeasurably.

Last week witnessed a new low with the savage and brutal murder of young Keane Mulready-Woods. Those on the ground and working within communities affected by drugs, while shocked at the brutality, are not surprised at recent events.

As a result of this brutality a real fear has taken over a community. We now have teens being walked to school by terrified parents; we are seeing the re-emergence of vigilantes in many areas. People now realise that the State can no longer provide protection to people. Regular beatings and attacks are not reported to the Garda.

Many youths knew that this young man would be killed. News of the grim discovery of body parts in Coolock last Monday saw many young men named on social media as the possible victim. This is why people are frightened.

Gardai saw fit to give this child, and yes he was only a child, a warning that his life was in danger.

As a society we need to ask how we have come to this?

The stark reality is that thousand of lives are being affected as hundreds of families are now heavily indebted to credit unions and money lenders because they have borrowed money to settle drug debts on behalf of their loved ones.

When I was a member of the Fingal Joint Policing Commission (JPC), I raised the issue of families, who contacted me, being intimidated by drug dealers who were owed money by a family member. These families had lost faith in the gardai; they knew nothing except more intimidation or beatings would result from reporting the matter.

There was a time that a drug user was the one intimidated by his supplier, now they target the families. They give credit to users knowing families have nowhere to turn when intimidated. They fear a loved one may be beaten or killed and pay the money demanded, not once but time and time again until they can borrow no more. It is only when the dealers realise that the well is dry they stop supplying and move on.

Parents have questions to answer. When your son wears tracksuits that cost 1,000 and has no job you need to ask serious questions and have real worries as to what his fate may be.

A garda recently told me that three youths stopped on the northside of Dublin were driving a 17D car - between them they wore watches worth at least 25,000 and designer clothes from designer stores worth thousands of euros. The oldest occupant was 22 and the youngest was 17.

Parents turning a blind eye are allowing their children to become the targets of the amoral monsters who now control the drug trade.

Are those smoking weed or using cocaine aware that they are fuelling this sick trade and by buying illegal substances they are a contributing factor to this cancer in society? They provide the money for the guns, the intimidation and the killings.

And many of these people will be among those who say the call for internment is extreme, taking away people's rights, assuming people are guilty and as always the do-gooders will be heard and nothing will be done.
The organisational rejig that was supposed to take place with the election of new state-level office bearers has not thrown up major surprises as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has retained most of the incumbents appointed during outgoing president Amit Shahs term.

To pick a new party president at the national level, the BJP began the process of elections in over 50% of the states, as is required by its constitution. However, while new faces have been announced in a handful of states such as Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh, and Odisha, in most others the incumbents have been given another term, for example in West Bengal that will go to the polls in 2021, Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.

The need to reinvigorate the party structure was flagged after the BJP failed to form governments in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, where it had been in power for long. Electoral loss in Maharashtra was also seen as a setback for the party that returned to power at the Centre with a thumping majority in 2019. The suggestion to recast the state leadership was also given by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fount of the BJP. The RSS has cautioned the BJP against the rise of regional leaders that can halt its pan-India expansion.

Replying to a question on why the leadership has opted for repeating the leaders, a BJP functionary said, By re-electing the office bearers, the central high command has signalled the endorsement of their leadership.

Consequently, leaders like Dilip Ghosh in West Bengal, who have courted controversies, were reappointed. Among others who got a second term include Ravinder Raina in Jammu and Kashmir, where the process of electioneering will begin only after the process of delimitation is conducted in keeping with the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.

In Assam, where the party faces stiff opposition to its fast-tracking of citizenship to persecuted minorities from the neighbourhood through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the party chose to renominate Ranjit Kumar Dass, who was first elected as the party state president in 2017.

A new person in the midst of an uncertain situation would require time to settle in. If the incumbent has been delivering, there is no reason to deny him or her chance, said the functionary quoted above.

Incumbents have also been given a second stint in Uttar Pradesh, where Swatantra Dev Singh was elected unopposed as the president of the state unit.

Among the new ones are Nalin Kumar Kateel, whose elevation after BS Yeddyurappa became chief minister, came as a surprise to the party unit. Also known for his controversial statements, Kateel was not a front runner for the post. A member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada, he hit the headlines during the Lok Sabha elections by tweeting Nathuram Godse had killed only one person, Mahatma Gandhi, whereas former Prime Minister Rajeev Gandhi had killed 17,000. The tweet was later deleted.

Most of the party unit heads also have the RSSs backing.

Some of these leaders such as Ashwin Sharma, who will head the unit in Punjab, have been active members of the Sangh. Their organisational skills have been honed by their experience in the Sangh and it comes as an added advantage to the BJP. It is not that these appointments have been done at the behest of the Sangh, said a second functionary.

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Nicole Kidman made an angelic appearance at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday night.

But when the 52-year-old was questioned on the red carpet about the possibility of HBO's Big Little Lies returning for a third season, she revealed that plans for expansion remain 'more of a dream' than a reality.

This isn't the first time Kidman has been asked about BLL3, but, even with the chances being grim, she - like fans - has remained hopeful.

Season three: Nicole Kidman was asked about the future of Big Little Lies while on the red carpet at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards in Hollywood

Ask Reese: Kidman replied 'you'd have to ask Reese' as she was pressed about the potential for Big Little Lies season 3

Season 2 of the drama series premiere in June of 2019 and, upon its conclusion, left fans craving for more.

And the big question was asked by ET's red carpet correspondents as Kidman showed off her $6,300 AUD J. Mendel ensemble at the event.

'Will you revisit Big Little Lies...everybody wants to know,' pressed one interviewer.

Kidman's guttural reaction was to urge them 'to ask Reese [Witherspoon].'

She admitted that her and Witherspoon had been texting just moments before she stepped onto the carpet.

'And [Witherspoon] was like, I'm rushing, I'm rushing!' explained Kidman as she glanced around for her pal, who would also be in attendance.

White on! Nicole Kidman made an angelic appearance at the 31st Annual Producers Guild Awards on Saturday night at the Hollywood Palladium

With Reese running late for the carpet, the interviewers put the heat on Kidman to reveal 'what it [was] going to take' to bring a season three of the HBO series to light.

'What would it take? It would take great story,' she replied.

But the Moulin Rouge actress kept it real with fans by emphasizing that chances remained incredibly slim.

'Sorry to say, but maybe one day,' she concluded before heading into the star-studded award show.

Big Little Lies: Kidman plays the role of Celeste in the critically acclaimed series

Kidman had to face a similar line of questioning when she appeared during HBO's Television Critics Association winter press tour on Wednesday.

The actress, who is busy promoting her dramatic mini-series, The Undoing, urged fans of Big Little Lies not to 'move on' from the show's story and characters entirely.

She went onto explain that many cast members are just too busy to contribute to a third season at the present moment.

'Right now, look at Laura [Dern]. I don't think we'll ever get Laura back,' joked Kidman, as Dern earned an Oscar nomination for her work in Marriage Story.

Future collision: Kidman expressed that she hopes the cast 'can collide again at some point' in the future; Reese Witherspoon, Lauren Dern, Zoe Kravitz, and Shalene Woodley in Big Little Lies Season 2

'[Dern] is working on so many different things and Zoe [Kravitz] has gone onto the Catwoman, so she's going to be doing other things.'

But Kidman hopes that the cast 'can all collide again at some point' when their careers allow.

Aside frpm discussing the fate of Big Little Lies, Kidman flaunted her age-defying good looks at the Producers Guild the red carpet, as well.

She highlighted her gym-honed physique in the quirky white designer creation from J. Mendel's Pre-Fall 2020 collection.

The look: She styled the designer's off-the-shoulder silk top, with bouffant sleeves and a quirky bow detail across the front, with their pleated high-rise silk pants

Nicole's daring look for the awards show comes with a price tag of $6,300.

She styled the designer's off-the-shoulder silk top, with bouffant sleeves and a quirky bow detail across the front, with their pleated high-rise silk pants.

The beauty accessorized the runway look with a pair of black heels and green earrings.

Nicole opted for a subtle makeup palette for the occasion.

She wore her hair in a half up-do, highlighting her flawless visage and careful not to distract from her spectacular outfit.

Nicole is hot on the awards circuit for her new film Bombshell, which centres upon sexual harassment claims at FOX News.
ASUNCION, Paraguay - At least 75 inmates, many of them members of a notorious Brazilian gang, escaped from a Paraguayan prison in a border town on Sunday, according to authorities who said they immediately fired the prisons director.

Officials said they discovered a tunnel and found cells filled with as many as 200 bags of earth.

Its not possible that nobody saw anything in all this time, Justice Minister Cecilia Perez told the Telefuturo station. This isnt the work of one day or one night.

Interior Minister Euclides Acevedo said in a statement that the tunnel itself may have been a ruse to cover complicity by prison officials and that many of the inmates may have been allowed to walk out of the prisons main gate.

Acevedo said the majority of the escapees belong to the First Capital Command based in Brazil, which borders the city of Pedro Juan Caballero, where the prison is located. The gang was founded in the 1990s inside a Sao Paulo prison and it has extended its influence throughout the country, becoming one of Brazils largest criminal organizations.

In Brazil, Justice Minister Sergio Moro said authorities were trying to prevent the escapees from reentering the country. If they enter Brazil again, they will only get a one-way ticket to federal prison, he tweeted.

Brazilian authorities said 40 of the escapees were Brazilian, and said they had passed their names and photos to border police.

Acevedo said national police had been mobilized to hunt for the escapees.

The prisons director and head of security were fired and Perez said the fight against organized crime isnt only against the Brazilian gang, but also clearly against all the corruption within our system, which sadly is totally contaminated.
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the waters in front of St Marks Square in Venice on Sunday to protest the use of motor boats in and around the lagoon city.

Forming a flotilla of small, traditional rowing boats, protestors urged authorities to take action against Venices crowded waterways while taking aim at the giant cruise ships that regularly sail close to the city.

Critics say waves created by cruise ships and other large, motorised boats on the canal are eroding the foundations of the city, which regularly suffers from flooding.

Stop the waves, stop the smog, said one banner. Shame on those making waves, read another in Venetian dialect. Look out for the waves, they are drowning us, said a third.

Beloved around the world for its canals, historic architecture and art, Venice suffered a record string of floods in November, which left much of the city underwater and threatened the famed St Marks Basilica.

Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Show all 15 1 /15 Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years EPA Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man stands in the flooded St Mark's Square ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A room in the flooded Gritti Palace AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A flooded shop during a night of exceptional high water Reuters Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People walk across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years People use a makeshift footbridge to exit a flooded hotel AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A stranded ferry boat is seen by the docks in Venice ANSA via AP Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A man walks across the flooded St Mark's Square past St Mark's Basilica and the Bell Tower AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A shop owner clears his flooded premises AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years The flooded Riva degli Schiavoni embankment with the San Giorgio Maggiore basilica in background AFP via Getty Venice flooding in pictures: City hit by highest tide in 50 years A water taxi transported by the water into a street Reuters

The high tides were blamed on climate change, but protesters say local authorities could be doing much more to protect the fragile city by banning big boats.

Last year, the Italian minister for transport, Danilo Toninelli, announced ships would be rerouted away from the centre of Venice to ports such as the outlying Fusina and Lombardia terminals. Both these terminals are still within the Venetian lagoon.

In the wake of the November floods, thousands came out in force to vent their anger at the citys officials and demand the resignation of Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro.

Rowing and sailing boats sail along the St Marks basin as Venetians protest against the damage caused by waves created by large motorboats (AP)

Calls were also made to scrap Mose, a multi-billion euro flood barrier project designed to protect Venice against acqua alta (high water) events, that has been persistently delayed and dogged by overspending and corruption scandals since it began in 2003.

Additional reporting by agencies
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he was still comfortably in charge and open to direct negotiations with the US, in an interview published Saturday by The Washington Post.

The interview was Maduro's first with a major US outlet since February of last year, when he abruptly ejected all Univision journalists from Venezuela.

"If there's respect between governments, no matter how big the United States is, and if there's a dialogue, an exchange of truthful information, then be sure we can create a new type of relationship," Maduro told the Post.

The socialist leader said he was ready to hold talks with the US to negotiate an end to sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump intended to throttle the South American country's oil industry and force Maduro from power.

Maduro indicated that, if Trump were to lift sanctions, US oil companies could benefit immensely from Venezuela's oil.

"A relationship of respect and dialogue brings a win-win situation. A confrontational relationship brings a lose-lose situation. That's the formula," Maduro said.

The US, along with more than 50 other countries, recognizes Maduro's opposition rival Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate interim president.

Guaido has called for a new presidential election to be held, on the grounds that Maduro is an "illegitimate" president because his 2018 re-election was tainted by fraud.

Oil-rich Venezuela's economy is crumbling under Maduro's rule, and millions have fled the country.

But despite the humanitarian catastrophe and biting US sanctions, Maduro maintains power with the support of the military as well as Russia, China and Cuba.

While speaking to the Post, Maduro also expressed willingness to talk with Guaido, but appeared to dismiss his opponent's main demand that he step down.

Norway has mediated talks between Maduro's and Guaido's representatives, but the meetings broke down in August.

The US in early January threw its support behind negotiations in Venezuela, saying talks could establish a transitional government, lead to fresh elections and bring an end to the country's long-running political crisis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Most breweries in existence at the time did not survive Prohibition, which started 100 years ago this month and lasted for 13 years.

One of the few that did was the August Schell Brewing Co. in New Ulm, founded in 1860. It now counts itself as the second oldest family-owned brewery in the country.

While 1919 brought about the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, Prohibition didn't begin until January 1920.

Although alcohol was made illegal, there was no lack of beer and liquor in the Mankato area during Prohibition. Bootleggers did a brisk business, often hiding stills in caves and crannies along the Minnesota River Valley.

Meanwhile, local law enforcement mostly turned a blind eye, with federal agents the main risk to moonshiners. And the bootlegging, coupled with the Depression that started in 1929, fostered a criminal element that thrived in the area, including in South Bend, which became a hotbed of outlaws, bootlegging and stories of visits by John Dillinger.

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Schell's scrapes by

Schell's President Ted Marti said the brewery just barely survived the 13 years of Prohibition.

"It was not an easy time," he said of the period when his grandfather, Al Marti, led the business. "We owned a lot of taverns and properties in small towns around here back then. We would sell those off."

At that time breweries often owned taverns, which they leased to someone else to operate. "They'd get a favorable lease and the only beer they could tap was ours."

During Prohibition, Schell's brewed root beer. (Schell's 1919 Root Beer, sold today, is a nod to the year Prohibition was approved.) They also brewed "near beer," which was legal but couldn't have more than 0.5% alcohol content. And the brewery cobbled together an income selling candy made by other companies and just about anything else they could think of to keep the doors open.

"New Ulm wasn't too crazy about near beer. It didn't taste very good unless you spiked it," Marti said.

Even though they were just able to survive, the family in 1926 put the brewery up for sale, asking $60,000 -- nearly $900,000 in today's dollars. But the family only got an offer for $40,000 and didn't sell.

Marti said that while they made and sold near beer, there was plenty of strong beer on site all through Prohibition. That's because the only way to make near beer was to start with strong beer and then go through one of various processes to reduce the alcohol level.

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"We ferment it and then pumped it back in the kettle and boiled it off to get rid of the alcohol. So there was always higher alcohol beer in the basement, so I'm sure if anyone wanted a beer they went down and got one. But it didn't get tapped or sold."

Marti said federal agents routinely showed up to inspect the brewery to ensure compliance. Beer alcohol content was measured by boiling beer and water side by side. The time difference it took to boil the two liquids was used to measure alcohol content.

Marti said if the feds were hanging around longer than his grandfather thought reasonable, he helped nudge them on their way, at least in winter months. "The agents sat in the upstairs office. My grandpa had a valve he could turn and shut the heat off in there. I'm sure they got a laugh out of it."

But, Marti said, Schell's has always gotten along well with federal regulators. During Prohibition his grandpa often took the agents pheasant hunting when they were in town in the fall. "Which is illegal now, I'm sure. We always got along with the feds."

Marti said that while the brewery couldn't produce strong beer, there was no lack of alcohol of all kinds. "Especially in a German town," he said. "They probably made their own beer at home. There were a fair number of stills around here. They'd hide them along the rivers. I suspect most of the police and sheriff knew where they were but weren't pushing to hard to catch them."

When Prohibition ended, Schell's bought more equipment and quickly ramped up to profitability.

The other brewery in New Ulm, Hauenstein, which started in 1864, also made it through Prohibition. But like many smaller brewers, it ran into problems in the late 1960s as it couldn't compete making the same style of beer as the big brewing companies. Hauenstein closed in 1969.

Shady South Bend

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In Mankato, the Bierbauer Brewery was operating before Prohibition and shut down when it started. The brewery was reopened after Prohibition as Mankato Brewing Co. but closed for good in 1969, said Shelley Harrison of the Blue Earth County Historical Society.

She said in the years prior to the closing they were selling only about 10% of their beer to locals, not enough to support them. "If the craft beer boom of today was happening back then, they probably would have survived."

Like everywhere else in the country, alcohol still flowed freely, albeit covertly, in the Mankato region. And while Prohibition was boosting the fortunes of big-name gangsters, lower-level outlaws were also doing well, with many of them hanging out or hiding out in South Bend, a line of homes and businesses along the old trail to Minneopa Park.

Belle Born may have been the most famous of local bootleggers and outlaws, eventually earning her the name Shady Lady of South Bend. Moonshiners would frequently make deliveries to her house, according to Steve Uleman, writing in the Blue Earth County Historian newsletter in 2010.

The liquor was taken to her cellar, and from there moved back through a tunnel to a cave in the hillside behind the house. Belle stored the moonshine in the cave until she could move it.

One of the main drop-off points was across Highway 169 and down a dirt road, which went under the railroad trestle and from there to the old steamboat landing on to the banks of the Minnesota River. Someone across the river would be signaled to by flashlight and cross to get the illicit cargo.

Born was also caught up in more serious and high-profile crimes and her home was a place for gangsters from St. Paul or elsewhere to visit or hide out. One story has John Dillinger being there, but the veracity of the story is uncertain.

Uleman wrote that Lynn Thro owned a stable of fine race horses near LeHillier, but had a lot of liquor stored in his stables as well. Locals joked that whenever a Thro horse trailer came down the hill, chances were there were no horses in them. Thro pleaded guilty to violations of Minnesota liquor laws in federal court in 1929 and paid a fine of $350.

Until the sheriff was forced to close it down due to complaints, a few Madison Lake residents even operated a floating dance hall and speakeasy on Madison Lake.

Danelle Erickson, of the Blue Earth County Historical Society, said there were plenty of stories published in The Free Press detailing the shenanigans going on during Prohibition.

One man who delivered gasoline to farmsteads around the country built a partition in his tank that allowed him to also deliver moonshine.

"The sheriff was accused of turning a blind eye to a guy from St. Paul coming down and smuggling alcohol into the jail." The local jail, it was said, was holding several Twin Cities bootleggers at the time.

And there was the great carp caper of 1921. A sportsman had killed a large carp that had attacked him. He delivered it to authorities who examined it and found it had bloodshot eyes and a stomach full of corn mash, a byproduct of moonshining.

Eventually a large still operation was tracked down near the Blue Earth River where the carp had been found. The bootlegger had dumped his corn mash into the river where the carp ate it.

One day federal agents simultaneously raided "soda parlors" in Mankato, including Mettler's and the Oleander. While the establishments were supposed to be selling only soda pop and near beer, hard liquor was found at all of them, and more at private residences of the owners and employees. By the end of the day, 22 arrests were made and more arrests came the next day in Mankato and area towns.

Every cot in the county jail was filled.

___

(c)2020 The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.)

Visit The Free Press (Mankato, Minn.) at www.mankatofreepress.com

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A 45-year-old Indian school teacher is undergoing treatment for a new strain of pneumonia outbreak spreading in the Chinese cities of Wuhan and Shenzhen, becoming the first foreigner to have contracted the mysterious SARS-like coronavirus.

Preeti Maheshwari, a teacher at an international school in Shenzhen, has been admitted to a local hospital after she fell seriously ill last Friday.

Doctors on Monday confirmed that she was suffering from the virus and is being treated for it, her husband Ashuman Khowal told PTI from Shenzhen.

The virus has caused alarm because of its connection to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) which killed nearly 650 people in China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

Khowal, a businessman from Delhi, said Maheswari was being treated in the intensive care unit and is currently on a ventilator and other supporting systems.

Khowal, who is allowed to visit the patient for a few hours every day, said she was unconscious and doctors have said she could take a long time to recover.

According to the reports from Wuhan, where the virus started surfacing few weeks ago, 17 new cases have been reported, taking the total number of cases to 62.

A total of 19 have been cured and discharged from the hospital, and the rest remain in isolation and are receiving treatment, state-run Xinhua agency reported on Sunday.

Two people in Shenzhen are currently in quarantine at the Third People's Hospital, which specialises in the treatment of infectious diseases, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

India on Friday issued an advisory to its nationals visiting China following a second death due to the outbreak of the new strain of pneumonia in the Chinese city of Wuhan where over 500 Indian medical students are studying.

"An infection with a novel coronavirus has been reported from China. As on 11th January, 2020, 41 confirmed cases have been reported so far," said the travel warning issued by India.

Travel-related cases have been reported one each in Thailand and Japan.

Over 500 Indian students study in the Wuhan city's medical colleges in universities. But most of them appear to have left for home for the Chinese New Year holidays.

The clinical signs and symptoms are mainly fever with a few patients having difficulty in breathing, the Indian travel warning said.

Mode of transmission is unclear as of now. However, so far there is little evidence of significant human- to-human transmission, it said.

The patients showed symptoms such as fever or cough, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said.

Epidemiological investigations into the 17 new cases are underway and close contacts are being traced, the authority said, adding that Wuhan will continue to expand the search area, identify suspected cases and conduct sampling tests.

Epidemiological analysis of previously published cases found that some cases had no exposure to Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which is believed to be related to most of the infected cases. It has been temporarily closed while disinfection is carried out, the Xinhua report said.

A total of 681 among 763 close contacts who were placed under medical observation have been released. No cases were found among the close contacts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jennifer Aniston and her Friends co-stars have long been rumoured to be on the verge of a reunion (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman has admitted she does not know if the shows long-rumoured reunion will ever happen.

Kauffman wrote the beloved comedy series with David Crane and watched as it became one of the most popular shows in the history of television.

It made stars out of its six leading actors and nearly 16 years since its final episode aired in 2004, there remains intense interest in a follow-up.

Expand Close Friends stars (from left to right) Matt Le Blanc, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston, have long been rumoured to be reuniting (Neil Munns/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Friends stars (from left to right) Matt Le Blanc, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston, have long been rumoured to be reuniting (Neil Munns/PA)

Fans were given fresh hope towards the end of last year when it emerged talks had taken place, but earlier this week a US TV executive involved in the discussions said a reunion was only a maybe.

Now Kauffman has said she is in the dark over the possibility of a Friends return.

Speaking at an event in Los Angeles, she told the PA news agency: I dont know. That is the honest answer, I dont know. People are talking about it, but I dont know if its actually going to happen.

Friends starred Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry as twenty-somethings struggling with life and love in New York City.

It was ready, it was time for it to be doneMarta Kauffman

It ran for 10 seasons from 1994 and remains a cultural phenomenon.

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Kauffman, speaking at the Producers Guild Awards where she was receiving the Norman Lear Achievement Award, appeared to cast doubt over whether a reunion was necessary.

The show lived its life, she said. It was ready, it was time for it to be done. Its about that time in your life when your friends are your family. And once they start having family it moves past that.

Kauffman, who also created hit show Grace & Frankie, added she felt closure after Friends ended.
Three members of the five-member team of experts of the Union ministry of health and family welfare from Delhi reached Udhampur on Sunday, after 10 children died of an unknown disease and six others took ill in a span of 15 days in Ramnagar tehsil here, a senior official said.

Three members of the [central] team from Delhi reached Udhampur today [Sunday]. They have started seeking all the angles from state and district level health teams, which are camping in the affected villages of Ramnagar tehsil, said Udhampur deputy commissioner Dr Piyush Singla. He informed that remaining two members of the team will reach Udhampur on Monday.

The three members of the team on Sunday collected samples from over 25 chemist shops from where the children were given medicines and injections. The 10 children, who belonged to over a dozen villages in a radius of over 30 kms in Ramnagar, were either attended by local quacks or medical assistants, said an official.

The Union ministry had on Saturday said that it would soon send a high-level team of experts to J&K to investigate pediatric deaths due to unknown etiology, being reported from Ramnagar of Udhampur district.

The team will assist J&K Health Department to investigate the cause of pediatric deaths and instituting requisite public health measures. The team, upon completion of their activities, will submit a report to Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) , an official statement said.

The visiting team comprises Dr Sumit Mehndiratta, Specialist (Pediatrics) Safdarjung Hospital; Dr Mahesh Waghmare, Deputy Director (Microbiology), National Center for Disease Control, Delhi; Dr Suneet Kaur, Assistant Director( Epidemiology) National Center for Disease Control, Delhi; Dr Shilpa Tomar, Microbiologist, NIV, Pune and Dr Avinash Deoshatwar, Epidemiologist- NIV- Pune.

Chief medical officer of Udhampur district, Dr KC Dogra had on Saturday said, Ten children between the age group of two months to six years have died in the past over a fortnight and six others have taken ill. Out of six children, four have been hospitalised in PGI Chandigarh, one each in Ludhiana and SMGS Hospital in Jammu. It is a matter of serious concern for us. We have issued an advisory to the people asking them not to panic and rush their children in the wake of any symptoms to the qualified paediatricans in hospitals.

The CMO informed that the children contracting the disease develop symptoms of fever, cold and they also vomit eventually leading to their renal failure. There are around 10 to 15 villages in a radius of 30 kms in Ramnagar tehsil where the children are getting ill to this undiagnosed disease, he had said.

He had informed that various teams of doctors were camping in the affected area to ascertain the cause of the fatal disease.

Even the doctors at PGI Chandigarh, who conducted autopsy of one of the affected children from Ramnagar, have not been to reach any conclusion as yet. We have lifted samples of water, drugs given to the children by local quacks and food etc. Teams of doctors from Jammu and Udhampur and block level are camping in the affected area and we are trying to ascertain the cause of the disease, Dr Dogra had said on Saturday.

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Shuto Mika, 54, loves her job as a Japanese language teacher for many reasons.

It is a job she graduated and mastered in.

It has provided her opportunities to teach her mother language to many foreigners at universities, Japanese schools, enterprises, teacher training classes and international exchange associations in Japan, especially in her hometown Himeji City, for more than 17 years.

Teacher Shuto Mikas teaching method often combines topics or specific situations so students can apply her lessons in reality.  VNA/VNS Photos Hong Minh



It has also brought her to live and teach as a volunteer teacher in Vietnam, where she has fallen in love with a Vietnamese instrument called the an bau (monochord) and the traditional costume ao dai (long dress).

Shutos first experience of Vietnam came from stories told by Vietnamese friends she met when she was a part-time teacher at a Japanese school in Japan.

One time I was chatting with two Vietnamese sisters who told me stories about Vietnam, about the sorrow and aftermath of the war as well as peoples efforts to get over it, Shuto said.

These stories really struck me, as I have never experienced war, she said.

After becoming a Japanese teacher, Shuto met many foreigners, particularly Vietnamese people.

I taught Japanese to many expatriates, so I always saw their optimistic attitude. I admire how they can live so passionately in a country that is not their homeland, Shuto said.

I really wanted to try teaching Japanese overseas to meet more people, so I decided to teach in Vietnam, she said.

When Shuto found out about the Japan International Co-operation Agency's (JICA) Senior Volunteers programme that offered the opportunity to come to Vietnam, she knew it was time to make her dream come true.

She was selected to become a volunteer Japanese teacher at Da Nang University of Foreign Language Studies in October 2018. Every day, she co-lectures with a Vietnamese teacher and helps younger teachers with her teaching methods and expertise.

"This is my first time volunteering abroad, but fortunately, I am teaching at a university where there aren't many differences from what I've done in the past, she said.

Shuto said she was inspired by her Vietnamese students, who have a reputation for their diligence and hard work.

They all want to learn Japanese so they can become proficient, she said.

Shuto said that every day in Vietnam was full of new and unexpected things stemming from lessons with students, conversations with colleagues, and meetings with strangers.

Tran Ngoc Phuong Linh, a second-year student, has been learning Japanese with Shuto for a year.

Sensei is meticulous about every small detail so that students can understand them thoroughly, Linh said, adding that Shutos teaching methods were often combined with specific situations so they could be applied in the real world.

It is interesting learning with her as she tells us a lot about the life and culture in Japan. She always incorporates stories about Japan in her lectures to help us understand, she said.

Linh said Shutos classes had motivated her and her classmates with a love for Japan, with a curiosity for learning and understanding.

She even integrates Vietnamese culture in the Japanese lessons, she said.

Shuto expects that her students who graduate from the university would be able to find work at Japanese businesses or use Japanese at work.

I think the students can act as a bridge between Vietnamese and Japanese people, she said, adding that she wanted her students not only to learn the language but also the Japanese culture and way of thinking.

I hope they will not only translate literally into Japanese but also convey the Japanese culture, customs and way of thinking. I also want them to be able to impart the Vietnamese culture and way of thinking to Japanese people, she said.

For the past 18 months, Shuto has also been learning Vietnamese.

I sometimes try to say something in Vietnamese but accidentally pronounce another word, so I cannot convey what I really want to say, she said.

Learning Vietnamese helps me understand the students' struggles when they try to learn a new language, she said.

Teacher Shuto Mika is always friendly with her students.



Ao dai and an bau

Shuto said that before coming to Vietnam, she was hoping to learn a Vietnamese musical instrument so that after returning to Japan, she could play it for Vietnamese people living in Himeji.

When I arrived here, I attended a concert of traditional music and was fascinated by the an bau (monochord), she said, adding that she found the artist playing the instrument so beautiful.

The monochord may only have one string, but the sound is brilliant and unique. When I hear the sound of the monochord, there is something deep in the soul that is hard to describe, she said.

At weekends, Shuto attends a class to practise the monochord with the hope of mastering it so she will be able to play it to Japanese and Vietnamese people when she returns to Japan.

Teacher Shuto plays Vietnamese an bau for her students. She hopes to master the instrument so that she can play it for both Vietnamese and Japanese people when she returns to Japan.



The Japanese teacher also loves wearing the traditional Vietnamese ao dai. Her favourite is a dress emblazoned with lotus flowers. She said she loved Vietnamese lotus flowers because they rose from muddy swamps and bloomed beautifully.

Just looking at a lotus flower, I can see a whole philosophy in it. Moreover, the lotus is a symbol of Vietnam. It represents the Vietnamese people who never give up," Shuto said.

And thats what I really love about Vietnam and its people, she added.  VNS

A Japanese friend of Vietnamese children Artist Nagano Hideko, famous Japanese author of childrens picture books, is loved by Vietnamese children for her interesting picture books and her talks full of laughter.
Across the country - and the world - citizens put on their best walking shoes for the 2020 Women's March.

And celebrities, from Jessica Biel to Jamie Lee Curtis, showcased their individual support for the march on Instagram on Saturday.

Biel, who couldn't attend the event, cheered on participants 'from afar,' while Jamie got in on the day's festivities with daughter Annie Guest.

Solidarity: Jessica Biel shared this selfie to Instagram on Saturday showing her support for those partaking in the 2020 Women's March across the country

Biel shared an up close and personal selfie to her Instagram page.

The 37-year-old beamed as she posed in an off-white beret that had 'solidarity' embroidered across the front,

Her signature brown hair flowed out from underneath, but got trapped in her tightly wrapped striped scarf.

'I'm not out there today,' admitted the actress in the post's caption.

'But I'm cheering for you all from afar. So Proud.'

I'm With Her: Jamie Lee Curtis headed out to the streets of Downtown LA on Saturday to do her part in supporting the politically-driven movement

Biel concluded the post by adding a 'fist bump,' followed by an 'explosion' emoji.

She also tagged the official Women's March Instagram page.

Aside from her breath-taking selfie, the 7th Heaven alum shared a barrage of pictures from the event's headquarters in Washington D.C.

Although, Biel couldn't attend the monumental women's rights event, plenty of Hollywood talent made their way out to the street, including actress Jamie Lee Curtis.

Bella's here: Bella Thorne came out in support of the march in Downtown LA on Saturday

Speaking out: Bella took the stage at the LA March and gave an impassioned speech

The Scream Queen shared two snapshots from the LA-based Women's March to her Instagram page, which featured the actress hold a reversible 'I'm With Her/#WhatSheSaid' sign.

Curtis donned an American Flag tee shirt paired with a slimming black blazer and black fitted trousers, as she made her way down the packed streets of Downtown LA.

She was joined by daughter Annie who showed off a sweater that featured a rudimentary depiction of the female reproductive system.

Out in numbers: Mira Sorvino (middle) posed with actress Frances Fisher (left) and Lisa Ann Walter (right)

Backstage: Sorvino posted this selfie on her Instagram story of her backstage waiting for California congresswoman Maxine Waters to speak

Statement: Frances pictured here with a hanger that reads: 'Warning This Is Not A Surgical Instrument'

'Women march! Women vote. Women care about health care, climate change, reproductive rights, gun violence, and the list goes on and on,' wrote Curtis.

In the second snapshot, Curtis can be seen holding onto a little girl's hand in solidarity as they marched.

She continued: 'Women stand unified. Women fight like hell and then pass it on to their daughters who will vote you all OUT of office!'

Strength: Feminist film director, Lysa Heslov, Rosanna Arquette, and actress Joely Fisher cozy up to Fisher

Epic photo: Lea Thompson (right) got her photo taken with Waters following her speech

The Halloween star then urged her over 2million followers to 'join' in on the movement to get more women into State leadership positions.

She tagged the political action committee, Fund Her, who works tirelessly to get women elected.

Since their launch in 2018, the committee has gotten 15 female politicians into office.

Marlee and me: Thompson (left) posed with friend Marlee Matlin during the festivities

Joining in: Frances joined Arquette, Thompson, and Matlin outside LA City Hall

And more: Community's Yvette Nicole Brown (right) was ready to participate

Power: Frances stopped to take pics with Waters, as well as Blackish star Jenifer Lewis

Bella Thorne showed up to support the LA branch in a turquoise pantsuit.

The 22-year-old shared a video of herself in her car on the way to the event, while her sister Tamara shared videos from Thorne's impassioned speech.

California congresswoman, Maxine Waters, was one of many to take to the stage on Saturday, alongside LA mayor, Eric Garcetti.

Girl gang: Rosanna Arquette (left) posed with Marlee Matlin (middle) for a quick pic in front of city hall

Actress Mira Sorvino shared a selfie backstage as she waited for her turn to speak.

'Getting all fired up by #AuntieMaxine' captioned the Mighty Aphrodite star.

Back to the Future's very own Lea Thompson got a photo with Waters after taking on the job of introducing the congresswoman to the stage.

'I was so excited to introduce Maxine Waters,' penned Thompson.

Lupita: The Us star can be seen giggling with Brown and friends in the throwback snap

2018: Yvette (right) shared this photo of herself and Lupita Nyong'o (right center) at the 2018 Women's March; as well as a snapshot of herself with singer Andra Day

Thompson also snapped a selfie with famous pal Marlee Matlin while the march progressed.

Matlin made another social media appearance in a photo posted on Rosanna Arquette's Instagram.

Arquette posed in front of Los Angeles City Hall with the Switched At Birth star.

Pride: Lea shared a photo from the front of the march in Los Angeles

Frances Fischer used her social media to highlight some of her favorite signs from the vast march, as well as show off the faces of her famous friends in attendance.

Community star, Yvette Nicole Brown, didn't share any recent snaps, but did share some throwback photos from previous Marches

In a few of the photos, Brown posed next to a very smiley Lupita Nyong'o, as well as singer Andra Day.

Throwback: Yvette Nicole Brown shared these pictures from the times she attended the 2017 and 2018 Women's Marches

Fischer's picks: Frances shared some of her favorite signs from the LA March on her Instagram page

The original Women's March took place on January 21st of 2017, following Trump's presidential inauguration.

Since then, it's become an annual means of defending women's right and promoting social awareness on the lack of female voices in politics.

The March's homebase is in Washington D.C., but 'sister marches' occur across the country during the scheduled day.
Jennifer Samuel, the aid worker rescued from Boko Haram captivity has narrated her ordeal at the hands of her captors.

Samuel, an indigene of Plateau State and aid worker attached to Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA), was abducted alongside eight others in the Northeast, December 2019.

The rescue of the aid worker who has now reunites with her family in Jos, sparked jubilation among her family members, nursing-colleagues, friends, neighbours and the government.

Narrating her ordeal, she said her release was nothing short of a miracle because others whom she met in captivity are still there.

Samuel said she was kidnapped along Borno-Monguno road enroute Jos at about 8 oclock in the morning by the insurgents in military uniforms after stopping several other cars, profiling occupants of the cars, releasing some, shooting some others on the tarred road, for reasons unknown to her, before leading the rest of them into the bush and then transiting to the camp.

She said, While in captivity, the insurgents shoot their gun shots from time to time outside the zinc rooms to make us know that they are around. We were provided with food stuffs to cook ourselves, and we did. There is no meat but we were given dry fish to use for the cooking.

They come around from time to time to ask us if we need anything. The first week, we were under lock and key, but from the second week we can come out of the rooms into a fenced compound that has tree leaves as carmouflaged roof.

All cooking ends on or before 5pm and we all return to our rooms, using a torchlight which they provided us in the room till morning. I and the others only eat once a day because we do fast and pray for our safety, but we never allowed them to know that we were fasting. At a point, I made up my mind that whatever happens to me, so be it.

Read Also: Soldiers, Police Officers Abducted By Boko Haram In Yobe

We were not sexually abused, but they kept preparing our minds psychologically for eventual marrying-off to someone else if need be, and they made us to believe that their belief allow such. When news began to filter in that some of us might be released, I did not believe until it happened.

During the course of my captivity, we were taken to three different locations, passing through forests, criss-crossing tarred roads intermittently and crossing different rivers.

They know all the bush paths/forests and they often use GPRS to know where they were heading. On the day of our release, we travelled for 26 hours in the car (from 3pm-5pm the next day) before we were freed, she said.

As foe Leah Sharibu, the only remaining girl in captivity of the 110 schoolgirls abducted by insurgents from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State, Jenifer said she didnt see her.

However, she explained that Alice, who has also being in captivity for about two years now said that Leah is doing fine.
Tom Becker has been the CEO of Iofina plc (LON:IOF) since 2014. This report will, first, examine the CEO compensation levels in comparison to CEO compensation at companies of similar size. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid.

Check out our latest analysis for Iofina

How Does Tom Becker's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

Our data indicates that Iofina plc is worth UK49m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as US$251k for the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at US$211k. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below US$200m. The median CEO total compensation in that group is US$327k.

That means Tom Becker receives fairly typical remuneration for the CEO of a company that size. This doesn't tell us a whole lot on its own, but looking at the performance of the actual business will give us useful context.

You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Iofina, below.

AIM:IOF CEO Compensation, January 19th 2020

Is Iofina plc Growing?

Over the last three years Iofina plc has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 16% per year (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 20% over last year.

This demonstrates that the company has been improving recently. A good result. This sort of respectable year-on-year revenue growth is often seen at a healthy, growing business. You might want to check this free visual report on analyst forecasts for future earnings.

Has Iofina plc Been A Good Investment?

Boasting a total shareholder return of 164% over three years, Iofina 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.

Story continues

In Summary...

Tom Becker is paid around what is normal the leaders of comparable size companies.

The company is growing earnings per share and total shareholder returns have been pleasing. Indeed, many might consider the pay rather modest, given the solid company performance! Shareholders may want to check for free if Iofina insiders are buying or selling shares.

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Iofina, 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.
Childres has heard from several people in the community who were not very pleased with the product that they were being served, he said. He wants to get to know the people in his potential precinct and be available for their needs.
Former UN Assistant Secretary-General Andrew Gilmour has described the situation for Palestinians as appalling and indescribable.

Israels treatment of the Palestinians is a deliberate act of humiliation, according to a former top United Nations human rights official, who stepped down from his post at the end of last year.

He has described the situation for Palestinians as appalling and indescribable.

Al Jazeeras James Bays reports.
By PTI

SHIRDI: Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday said the number of devotees visiting the Saibaba shrine in Shirdi took a hit on Sunday due to the bandh even as he called for peaceful resolution of the row over Saibaba's actual birthplace.

Shirdi remained shut in protest against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's statement referring Pathri town in Parbhani district as the "janmasthan" (birthplace) of Saibaba, the 19th Century spiritual figure.

"When I enquired about today's footfall of devotees at Shirdi, I came to know that it dropped by 10,000. I also got to know that people canceled their bookings at hotels in the temple town," the Food and Civil Supplies Minister told reporters here.

The senior NCP leader said such bandhs and protests are not good for the temple town.

Earlier in the day, Sachin Tambe, a former member of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust said that devotees visiting Shirdi didn't face any inconvenience due to the bandh.

An Ahmednagar district administration official had said that devotees who made pre-bookings at hotels in Shirdi were allowed to stay.

Meanwhile, Bhujbal also appealed to residents of Pathri and Shirdi to resolve the row through dialogue.

"Saibaba would not have liked the controversy over his birthplace," Bhujbal said.

He said Saibaba's devotees visit the Shirdi shrine from far-flung places in India and abroad.

"Saibaba is above any caste or religion. Though there are many people in the society who say that Saibaba is not God, but that doesn't anyway lower his stature.

"Saibaba brings people of all castes and communities together. It is not good to fight in his name," the minister said.

He said CM will speak to people from both the sides on Monday.
Pressed on whether it was appropriate for President Trump to solicit foreign interference from Ukraine and China, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said on ABC's "This Week" that the president is a "human" and that "things happen."

The exchange:

STEPHANOPOULOS: I asked if it was okay to solicit. We've seen the president in public ask the Ukrainians to get involved, ask the Chinese to get involved.

SHELBY: Well, those were just statements, political. They make them all the time.

STEPHANOPOULOS: So it's okay?

SHELBY: I didn't say it was okay, I said people make them. People do things. Things happen.

Why it matters: There has been a range of responses from Republicans on the question of whether Trump's conduct toward Ukraine was appropriate, with some arguing that it was improper but not impeachable  and others disputing the claim that he was soliciting foreign interference.

Shelby's response reflects the discomfort some Republicans have with admitting they had issues with Trump's behavior, when the president himself has insisted he did nothing wrong.

Shelby, who has been sworn in as an "impartial juror" in the Senate impeachment trial, said he doesn't believe Trump's conduct "rises to the standard of an impeachable offense," but added: "I still think we should wait and see what comes out in the trial itself."

Go deeper:
People were relieved with the restoration of prepaid mobile services across Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday but wanted full restoration of internet services on postpaid phones, marred by low-speed 2G data services.

Common people are relieved with the start of prepaid services and many students and professionals can now access their emails and e-banking websites after 2G was restored on postpaid mobile services, said Aijaz Ahmad, a private employee of Bandipora.

Kupwara and Bandipora are the two districts of north Kashmir along with the 10 districts of Jammu where the internet was restored on postpaid phones after more than a 6-month-long ban. However, the low speed remains a sore point.

ALSO WATCH | Watch dirty films: NITI Aayog member says misquoted on J&K net ban remark

My mail is working on my mobile but social media have been barred. The speed is very low. If the authorities have problems with social media, let them at-least restore the internet fully, he said.

The 2G internet connectivity announced on Saturday is only for whitelisted websites identified by the government and doesnt include social media. Whitelisting is done to allow access to safe websites.

The announcements follows Supreme Courts January 10 directive to review the ban on internet services in the Union Territory within a week.

Official sources say that there is a possibility of restoration of 2G internet in more districts of Kashmir after January 26, the Republic Day.

Muzaffar Ahmad, a student in the frontier district of Kupwara, was very annoyed with the low speed. This is internet only in name. They banned social media and have now announced start of net. What is the motive when it is not serving the purpose of people? Till the time any so-called whitelisted website opens, it gets timed out, Ahmad said.

Please upgrade the internet speed. Students have to submit different forms and upload certificates and photographs and how can they do these things with this dismal speed, he added.

Mobile phone, landline and internet services were disconnected in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir on August 4, a day before the Centre withdrew its special status and divided it into two union territories  Jammu & Kashmir with a legislative assembly and Ladakh without one.

The government has gradually restored phone lines, but broadband and high-speed mobile internet services remain suspended. Landlines were restored between mid-August and September and postpaid mobile services were back on October 14. Mobile internet services were restored in Kargil, a part of the Union Territory of Ladakh, on December 27. Short messaging service (SMS) on all mobile phones in Kashmir, and broadband internet services in government-run hospitals were restored from January 1.

We request government to please restore the internet fully. All our economic and educational activities get halted due to internet gag, said a post-graduate economics student of Srinagar, Yaqoob Ahmad.

After Supreme Courts order, the government on January 15, also restored broadband facilities in government offices, banks and some tourism establishments. However, media personnel are facing challenges with only a single internet facility called Media Centre made available to them in Srinagar.
Paul Levesque aka "Triple H," the vice president of Stamford-based WWE, called a joke he made about a former wrestler "terrible," and apologized for it via Twitter.

In an interview Levesque implied that former female wresting star, Paige, may not know how many kids she has. The comment came after the 27-year-old Paige (whose real name us Saraya-Jade Bevis) "was the subject of intense online attention and abuse after intimate videos and pictures of her were leaked in 2017," CNN reports.
German cabin crew union UFO said on Saturday it was planning further strikes at Lufthansa to increase pressure on management after talks with Germanys largest airline and two potential mediators did not yield any results, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The union will announce more details on Wednesday at 1400 CET (8.00 a.m. ET), a UFO spokesman told Reuters.

The flight attendants union had said earlier it was looking into the possibility of staging strikes lasting for an indefinite period.

The dispute includes pay and working conditions at Lufthansa and led to walkouts staged by UFO last year.
THE MOUNTAIN

There were two warring tribes in the Andes, one that lived in the lowlands and the other high in the mountains.

The mountain people invaded the lowlanders one day and as part of their plundering of the people, they kidnapped a baby of one of the lowlander families and took the infant with them back to the mountains.

The lowlanders didn't know how to climb the mountain. They didn't know any of the trails that the mountain people used, and they didn't know where to find the mountain people or how to track them in the steep terrain.

Even so, they sent out their best party of fighting men to climb the mountain and bring the baby home. The men tried first one method of climbing and then another. They tried one trail and then another. After several days of effort, however they had only climbed a couple of hundred feet. Feeling hopeless and helpless, the lowlander men decided the cause was lost, and they prepared to return to their village below.

As they were packing their gear for the descent, they saw the baby's mother walking toward them. They realized that she was coming down the mountain that they hadn't figured out how to climb. And then they saw that she had the baby strapped to her back. ...How could that be?? One man greeted her and said, "We couldn't climb this mountain. How did you do this when we, the strongest and most able men in the village, couldn't do it?"

She shrugged her shoulders and said "it wasn't your baby"

Jim Stovall

SUMMARY: When there is the will, there is always a way

.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad appears unlikely to surrender his leadership as promised to government coalition partner Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir was returned to office in elections in 2018. Several times since he has again said he would serve only one to two years before passing power to Anwar.

That idea raised fears that there may be a dispute over the office that could divide the coalition and cost it the next election.

Longtime politicians, Mahathir and Anwar fought in the late 1990s. They rejoined to defeat the countrys long-ruling and corrupt Barisan Nasional coalition in May 2018. The two men promised to clean up the government, decrease living costs and support minority rights. Ninety-four year old Mahathir also promised to give Anwar the office after two years.

But Mahathir, who was Prime Minister for 22 years until 2003, seems to be enjoying his second time in office. It appears he may have changed his mind about leaving the position.

In an interview with Reuters last month, he said again he would give his office to Anwar. However, at a meeting in Doha a few days later, he said he would not commit to Anwar. He added he would think about giving up his office only after he chairs the next meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, in November.

Anwar has so far accepted all Mahathirs statements. He says the change will happen at the right time. But there are fears that a refusal by Mahathir could split their coalition, the Pakatan Harapan, said Ben Bland. He is the director of the Southeast Asia Project at Australia's Lowy Institute.

They end up attacking each otherdamaging their prospects at the next election, he told VOA.

No one is surprised by the unpredictability of the situation. Many thought Anwar would replace Mahathir in the 1990s, when the younger man served as finance minister, but they fought. Anwar was removed from office in 1998. He was found guilty of sex crimes in 1998, which he denies, saying the case against him was brought for political reasons. Anwar spent the next six years in jail.

'No normal relationship of trust'

Their more recent effort to join forces against their enemy, the Barisan Nasional coalition, was successful.

However, "it's clear they still don't have a normal relationship of trust," Bland said. He added that many in the coalition believe that only Anwar has the political strength to lead Pakatan Harapan to a second victory.

Some experts say Mahathir also fears the loss of importance after he announces he is leaving.

An announcement at APEC, maybe?

Some say the APEC summit would make a strong goodbye for a man who has always cared deeply about his international importance.

"I think APEC is important for him that is one way for him to cement his foreign policy legacyhe's going to be the only leader to chair APEC twice, said Adib Zalkapli. He is the head of the consulting firm Bower Group Asia.

As much as Mahathir and his allies may still not trust Anwar, Zalkapli believes that Mahathir knows that a handover must come and that Anwar will need two years as prime minister before the next election, due by mid-2023.

Wong Chin Huat is a political scientist and professor at Malaysia's Sunway University. He says that he believes that Mahathir is being honest when he says he wants to see Anwar replace him.

But the longer Anwar struggles to take control of his own party, the harder that gets. "If Anwar is not strong, it makes the case for Mahathir to stay a bit longer," he said.

Im Susan Shand.

VOAs Zsombor Peter reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

Editor's Note: This story was amended on January 21, 2020 to correct the quote from Wong Chin Huat.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

prospects  n. n opportunity for something to happen

interview - n. a meeting at which people talk to each other in order to ask questions and get information:

cement  v. to firm up

legacy  n. something that happened in the past or that comes from someone in the past
Demonstrators gathered at the steps of the Manitoba Legislative Building Saturday morning to demand protection of womens reproductive, sexual and human rights with peers across the globe, and to call for equal abortion and health services in Manitoba.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Demonstrators gathered at the steps of the Manitoba Legislative Building Saturday morning to demand protection of womens reproductive, sexual and human rights with peers across the globe, and to call for equal abortion and health services in Manitoba.

"We need to let people in power know that womens rights are under attack right now," said Womens March Winnipeg chapter founder Vivienne Ho. "Every year we need to remind our people in power that were still here. We cannot stop doing this."

Despite a snowfall warning within the city of Winnipeg and biting winds, more than 100 people took to Broadway with placards and drums to hear from speakers Brianne Goertzen, provincial director of the Manitoba Health Coalition; Winnipeg Centre MP Leah Gazan; and medical student Erika Lee, who helped lead a successful campaign for universal coverage of Mifegymiso, a medical abortion pill, in Manitoba.

The protest was part of the fourth annual international Womens March, held in 20 countries worldwide. In Canada, marches took place in Salmon Arm, B.C.; Saskatoon, Regina, across southern Ontario, and throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The first Womens March was held in 2017, following U.S. President Donald Trumps inauguration, and this year, supporters marched under the banner of bodily autonomy: the right to self-governance over ones own body without coercion or external pressures, organizers said.

"When we lose our basic access to health care services, we lose our autonomy and we lose our power," Goertzen said. "When we talk about bodily autonomy we must talk about reproductive justice."

Goertzen, who serves as a school trustee for River East-Transcona School Division, said disparities in access to reproductive services and health care, including abortion, between urban and rural communities in Manitoba have to be eliminated.

Organizers also called on the provincial and federal governments to integrate abortion care into primary health care networks and to eliminate barriers  including distance and cost  to reproductive health care.

DANIEL CRUMP / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Jessica Noel (left) and Chloe Greenwalt hold signs during the 2020 Womens March Saturday.

"If we want womens issues to be placed firmly on the table in this legislative assembly and the House of Commons, we can not expect a male dominated power structure to serve our interests," she said. "We need more women stepping forward to put their name on the ballot.

"The personal is political."

Martha Paull said she joined the march Saturday to stand up for women and their rights, and agreed that health care services are often inacessible, hidden or poorly advertised.

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"I really think they (the government) should help women to access programs," Paull said.

"We have been pushed off to the side and no one is respecting us," she added. "I think that all women should be respected for being life carriers."

The Womens March Winnipeg chapter is committed to fighting for equal access to necessary health care services at the local level, Ho said, and will continue its advocacy beyond the march. The chapter is also focused on economic security and pay equity and safety.

"We have to always take a look and see what actions we can take. Its not just a march, its a movement," she said. "We have to see whats needed most next. Right now, locally its trying to get equal access for everyone in Manitoba.

"We have to keep on fighting and keep on marching. Although abortion is legal in Canada and a lot of things are a lot better for us than Americans or people around the world, we must amplify our voices and speak together with everyone else in the world," she said. "If we want an equitable and dignified life for all, we have to stand collaboratively and work collaboratively."

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca
A South Carolina couple has been found guilty in the kidnapping of a Monroe County teen.

Cynthia Ann Delgado, 31, and Confesol Paduani, 45, both from Dillon, South Carolina, are each charged with kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, interference with the custody of a child, and related offenses. The trial began this past Tuesday and testimony wrapped this past Thursday with the jury returning the guilty verdict Thursday evening.

Pennsylvania State Police Police said the couple in August 2018 met a 15-year-old boy from Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County online. They offered the teen a home because he didnt want to move to Dubai with his family, WNEP-16 News reports.

Delgado and Paduani then drove to the East Stroudsburg area, picked the boy up near his home, and traveled with him to a South Carolina trailer park, according to police. Charges were filed against the couple about a week later and the boy was returned home. Delgado and Paduani in September 2018 surrendered to police in South Carolina and were eventually extradited back to Monroe County to await trial.

The investigation revealed the couple engaged in sexual communication with the teen and told the victim they were his new family, police said.

Prosecutors during the trial called the couple predators and believed the boy was being groomed, according to the WNEP-16 report. Separate defense attorneys representing each of the defendants claimed the teen was confused and merely a runaway, the report stated.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson paid tribute to his late father, WWE Hall Of Famer Rocky Johnson on Thursday.

And by Sunday the action star shared what his father died of: a heart attack.

'As you know, I lost my old man a few days ago. I lost him just like that, didnt get a chance to say goodbye to him,' said the Jumaji actor. 'Id give anything right now to give him a big ole hug and a big ole kiss before he crossed over and just say thank you and I love you and I respect you. But I didnt get a chance to say that, but such is life, as many of you know.'

A last goodbye: Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson paid tribute to his late father, WWE Hall Of Famer Rocky Johnson on Thursday. And by Sunday the action star shared what his father died of: a heart attack

His video began: 'Hey everybody I just wanted to stop in on this very blessed Sunday to say thank you so much. Thank you. My heart is so full of gratitude. Youve lifted my spirits in ways that I hope you can imagine.'

Johnson also said: 'A lot of you guys wanted to know what happened to my dad. He had not been feeling well, had been battling a cold and infection and on Tuesday he had whats called a deep vein thrombosis, which is essentially a clot in the leg.

'It was a big ole blood clot that broke free, traveled up his body, and went right to his lung, clotted his lung and he died very quickly from a massive heart attack, just like that.'

He added his father 'went quick.'

'My hero': The Rock expressed appreciation for his father in the moving tribute post (pictured with his parents in 2015)

Milestone achievement: The wrestler was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2008 by his own son

'That did give me great comfort in knowing that it wasnt prolonged,' as he said his dad, who was a wrestler, 'had been in a lot of pain for a very, very long time.'

His message was heartfelt too.

'Ive written a lot of speeches for myself over the years but I have no idea where to start with this one. But I do have my tequila and I can hear him now, Good thats the way you gotta do it, and I can also hear him now Make sure you put me over in the speech  say good stuff about me,' Johnson said.

He added a laugh.

'For those of you who knows my dad you know that he would say, "You tell them I taught you everything you know, but I didnt teach you everything I know."'

He then chuckled and said: 'Thats right dad. Thats why you will always be better than me. And i love it and i love you and i love you guys.'

The Rock shared memories of his dad in a heart-felt Instagram post he shared Friday, just one day after it emerged the wrestler had passed away at age 75.

The tribute featured video of Rocky, known as the 'Soul Man', in the ring, along with a moving message expressing his appreciation for his father.

Paying tribute: Johnson paid tribute to his late father, WWE Hall Of Famer Rocky Johnson, on Friday

'I love you. You broke color barriers, became a ring legend and trail blazed your way thru this world. I was the boy sitting in the seats, watching and adoring you, my hero from afar,' Dwayne wrote.

'The boy you raised to always be proud of our cultures and proud of who and what I am. The boy you raised with the toughest of love. The intense work. The hard hand.

'The adoring boy who wanted to know only your best qualities. Who then grew to become a man realizing you had other deep complex sides that needed to be held and understood.

'Son to father. Man to man. That's when my adoration turned to respect. And my empathy turned to gratitude. Grateful that you gave me life. Grateful you gave me life's invaluable lessons.

There he is! In video accompanying the message, Johnson was in the ring as the announcer introduced him to the crowd

Beloved: A commentator noted just before the fight began that Rocky was 'one of the long-time favorites in the world wrestling federation'

'Dad, I wish I had one more shot to tell you, I love you, before you crossed over to the other side. But you were ripped away from me so fast without warning. Gone in an instant and no coming back. Im in pain. But we both know it's just pain and it'll pass.

'Now I'll carry your mana and work ethic with me, as it's time to move on because I have my family to feed and work to accomplish. Finally, I want you to rest your trailblazing soul, Soulman. Pain free, regret free, satisfied and at ease.

'You lived a very full, very hard, barrier breaking life and left it all in the ring. I love you dad and I'll always be your proud and grateful son. Go rest high.'

Show of strength: Johnson, known as Soul Man, began his wrestling career in the mid 1960s

In video accompanying the message, Johnson was in the ring as the announcer introduced him to the crowd.

'From Washington DC, weighing 250 pounds, Rocky Johnson!' the announcer said.

A separate commentator noted, 'Rocky Johnson, without a doubt, one of the long-time favorites in the world wrestling federation, and he and Tony Atlas are targets somewhat indeed for any number of tag team combinations wishing to challenge him for the tag team title.'

The WWE confirmed Johnson had passed away at age 75 on Thursday.

Johnson - born Wayde Douglas Bowles - began his wrestling career in the mid-1960s, according to THR.com, but only found fame a couple of decades later when he joined the WWE in 1983.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame by his son in 2008.
An Air India Captain, who was suspended after being found guilty of misconduct, has been reinstated as an instructor, a senior official said on Sunday.

Captain Sachin Gupta, who was accused of sexual harassment last year, was found guilty of misconduct and "major penalty" as per the company service regulation were imposed against him.

"The Internal Complaints Committee ( ICC) of Air India conducted the enquiry proceedings and found Captain Sachin Gupta guilty of the charges of misconduct. The immediate competent disciplinary authority has imposed major penalty as per the company service regulation," Air India's regional director PS Negi said in a statement.

However, the regional director said that Gupta has now appealed to the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) against the punishment.

"The said appeal on merit will be examined and considered by the competent appellate authority in due course of time," Negi said.

Last year, Air India had set up an enquiry against the senior captain on sexual harassment allegations after receiving a complaint from a woman pilot.

A spokesperson said that the woman pilot in her complaint to the airline's management stated that the accused asked her several inappropriate questions.

In her complaint, she had stated, "The instructor reportedly suggested the two to have dinner at a city restaurant in Hyderabad on May 5 after the training session was over. I agreed as I had done a few flights with him and he seemed decent. We went to a restaurant at around 8 pm and this is where my ordeal started."

"He started telling me how depressed and unhappy he was in his married life. He also asked me how I coped with my husband living away and whether I didn't need to have sex every day... At some point, I told him I did not want to talk about all this and called a cab," read the complaint from the woman pilot.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chennai, Jan 19 : Kolkata-based public sector insurer National Insurance Company Limited has called for a meeting of its Board of Directors on Monday.

The meeting is held after the Board of Directors of two other government-owned general insurers - Oriental Insurance Company Ltd and United India Insurance Company Ltd- were held in Delhi on Friday.

The central government had earlier proposed to merge all the three insurance companies into one entity.

While the leader of a major union in the sector told IANS that the board meetings are being held at short notice to give the green signal for merger of the three companies into one, the top officials of the three companies maintain a studied silence.

The Board meetings of United India and Oriental Insurance were held in Delhi to give their nod for merger. Similarly, the Board of National Insurance will meet on Monday for the same purpose, K.Govindan, General Secretary, General Insurance Employees All India Association (GIEAIA) had told IANS on Friday.

Another industry official also confirmed the development and told IANS on anonymity: "The development comes two weeks before the Union Budget to be placed in the Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman." The official said the Finance Minister may announce infusion of capital for the ailing entities in her upcoming budget.

"There is no need for a merger if the Finance Minister announces infusion of capital for the three individual companies," the official added.

The Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of United India Girish Radhakrishnan and the CMD of Oriental Insurance A.V.Girija Kumar were not available for comments despite several attempts by IANS.

On the other hand the CMD of National Insurance Tajinder Mukherjee declined to comment on the matter when contacted by IANS.

Another view is that the Boards of two companies met on Friday and one will meet on Monday to give their nod for raising more debt to meet their solvency norms.
Rags The Musical

Park Theatre, London Until February 8, 2hrs 30mins

Rating:

Heard the one about the hammy socialist actor who told his friends on Election night: Luvs, Labours lost? In the programme, the director (Bronagh Lagan) writes that this 33-year-old musical  about Jews arriving in New York in 1910  is relevant because of the anti-immigrant propaganda currently flooding our media.

But is that really true? Its a show  a sort of sequel to Fiddler On The Roof  that warmly embraces Jewish life. If Rags has any value today, its as a two-fingered good riddance to Corbyn and the antisemitism of the fascist Left.

The score is by Charles Strouse (Annie), lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell and Wicked) and a book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler On The Roof) and updated by David Thompson.

In the programme, the director writes that this musical  about Jews arriving in New York in 1910  is relevant because of the anti-immigrant propaganda currently flooding our media

But it flopped disastrously in 1986 because there are no hit songs and because it all feels too predictable.

The action follows the impoverished seamstress Rebecca Hershkowitz, who arrives at Ellis Island with her ten-year-old son. They are taken into the poor home of the benign vendor Avram (Dave Willetts), and Rebecca soon finds herself romantically torn between a big shot in the rag trade and a passionate union agitator.

Carolyn Maitlands forcefully sung heroine  you occasionally need ear defenders  is central to a plot that never really rises above the trite, with Martha Kirby as Bella, the shows young love interest.

Carolyn Maitlands (above with Alex Gibson-Giorgio as Saul) forcefully sung heroine  you occasionally need ear defenders  is central to a plot that never really rises above the trite

But the score has its rewards, performed here by a four-piece Jewish Klezmer band incorporating ragtime and blues. Three Sunny Rooms is a slyly funny courting duet between Rachel Izen and Willetts.

Theres a promising scene at the theatre where a Yiddish Hamlet  called Hyam-let  is playing, that occasions the song Hard To Be A Prince. What Mel Brooks might have done with that number!

Its a cosy, politically righteous, occasionally weepy affair, with some elegant couture by designer Gregor Donnelly. Its not utterly without interest, but Im afraid Rags is simply short on riches.

Once

Fairfield Halls, Croydon Touring until July 25, 2hrs 40mins

Rating:

Once, the 2007 film, was a surprising hit for something so low-key and lo-fi. But its gentle story about two heartsick musicians  he Irish, she Czech  who meet and record his songs in Dublin was obvious fodder for a stage version, with a folksy soundtrack by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, stars of the original movie.

Peter Rowes crowd-pleasing touring revival fills the stage  a cluttered, convincing Irish pub  with actor-musicians, and the larger and livelier the number, the more it stirs the heart.

But the leading mans lovelorn ballads can sound a bit drippy, and Daniel Healy is terribly earnest as the nameless Guy. In too sharp contrast, Emma Lucias blunt, optimistic Girl is perky and quirky, in an underwritten part that makes her feel occasionally like a plot device for saving a wounded artist.

Peter Rowes crowd-pleasing touring revival fills the stage  a cluttered, convincing Irish pub  with actor-musicians, and the larger and livelier the number, the more it stirs the heart

If the film was notably understated, in general this production feels turned up a bit bright: neither the comedy Irish fellows who join the pairs band, nor the Girls Czech friends and family manage to swerve some national stereotypes.

But the show has a good, warm heart, there are moments of touchingly staged intimacy, and it effectively stirs a rousing feeling  and toe-tapping rhythm  in the best of the songs.

Holly Williams
Though the fortnight-long celebrations ahead of Ramnavami are an annual feature in the Sangh Parivar calendar, this year it will be special.

The campaign will also see VHP cadre reaching out to those who offered or sent Ram shilas for the construction of the mandir during the movement.

New Delhi: With the Supreme Court clearing the decks for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is planning a fortnight long, nation-wide campaign to mark Ramotsav Pakhvada this year from March 24. The campaign includes reaching out to kar sevaks who participated in the Ram Janambhomi movement, and devotees who had offered shilas (bricks or any kind of material) for the temple.

Indications from the VHP suggest that it wants the construction to begin from Ramnavami in April, but only the Ram Mandir Trust, as ordered by the apex court to oversee the construction, will take a final call. The trust is yet to be set up.

Last month, BJP national president and Union home minister Amit Shah had asserted that a sky-touching Ram mandir would come up in Ayodhya in four months. The VHP has been the flag bearer among the Rashtriya Swayansevak Sangh (RSS) led Sangh Parivar for the construction of the temple.

Ahead of the apex courts landmark verdict in the politically sensitive case in November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the RSS and many others had appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony, with the RSS barring its affiliates, including the VHP, to take out any procession, in favour or against the verdict, and had asserted that whatever the verdict it should be accepted wholeheartedly by everyone.

Though the fortnight-long celebrations ahead of Ramnavami are an annual feature in the Sangh Parivar calendar, this year it will be special.

While the VHP affiliated Dharmsansad  a conglomerate of saints and seers from across the nation  will give a final shape to the campaign during their three-day long meet in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, from January 20, the VHP has already asked its cadre to reach out to all kar sevaks who participated in the Ram Janambhoomi movement which led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid at the disputed site.

The campaign will also see VHP cadre reaching out to those who offered or sent Ram shilas for the construction of the mandir during the movement.

The shilas  bricks with Sri Ram inscribed on them  were collected from across the country in 1989 just before the shilanyas took place in Ayodhya. The VHP and the Dharamsansad want these shilas to be used in the foundation of the temple.
Residents of Shirdi in Maharashtra will call off from Sunday midnight the day-long bandh, observed in the temple town amid a row over the birthplace of 19th century saint Saibaba.

Leaders representing the Shirdi residents said that the decision to call off the shutdown was taken at a 'gram sabha' on Sunday evening in view of the meeting called by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the issue.

They, however, warned that if the meeting with the CM fails to bring any satisfactory solution, an aggressive protest will be launched.

"The decision to end the bandh from Sunday midnight was taken in the evening 'gram sabha' (meeting) of local residents of Shirdi, representatives of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST)," Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi, Sadashiv Lokhande, said.

He said that besides him, representatives from Pathri and Shirdi, BJP MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, CEO of SSST, will attend the meeting called by the CM at 2 pm on Monday.

The bandh, which began after Saturday midnight, was observed to protest against Uddhav Thackeray's announcement of grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at "Sai janmasthan" (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district, nearly 273 kms away from Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

Saibaba, a prominent spiritual figure of the 19th century, is equally revered by Hindus and Muslims.

Former trustee of the temple, Kailash Kote, said that if the outcome of the CM's meeting is not satisfactory, then the residents of Shirdi will protest aggressively.

About 500 locals were present at the gram sabha, he said.

Another former trustee sachin Tambe Patilsaid that the bandh will be called off after Sunday midnight.

"Since the meeting is scheduled tomorrow at 2 pm, we decided to call off the bandh. If the outcome is not satisfactory for us, we will decide the future course of action," he said.

Apart from Shirdi, Sunday's bandh was also observed in at least 25 villages around the temple town.

On Sunday morning, a rally was taken out by devotees of Saibaba and locals around the Shirdi temple.

However, the Saibaba temple remained open throughout the day with no report of devotees facing any inconvenience even as shops and eateries downed their shutters and vehicles remained off roads.

The devotees were allowed to offer prayers at the temple and residents of Shirdi provided food and water for the devotees visiting the shrine, officials of the temple trust and Ahmednagar district administration said.

There are many beliefs about the actual birth place of the mystique saint, who enjoys a massive following in India and among Indians abroad.

Residents of Pathri village often cite Saibaba's biography 'Sri Saisachharitra' to claim that he was born in their town.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Asserting that the National Population Register is nothing but 'NRC in disguise', Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Saturday that the Modi government has changed gears and is now only talking about the NPR after the 'fiasco' in Assam over the citizenship list

Kolkata: Asserting that the National Population Register is nothing but "NRC in disguise", Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Saturday that the Modi government has changed gears and is now only talking about the NPR after the "fiasco" in Assam over the citizenship list.

The former Union home minister said states are justified to oppose the implementation of the NPR and the CAA as the Constitutional validity lies with the Supreme Court.

"Our purpose is to fight the sinister purpose of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR) and mobilise public opinion against them. Our stated position is that we will not agree to NPR being rolled out from April 2020," he said.

He said all political parties fighting against the NPR, the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC must come together.

"We are fighting against NRC (National Register of Citizens) and CAA. Sometimes together, sometimes differently. The important thing is that we are fighting," he said.

On the opposition-ruled states participating in the 17 January meeting on the NPR, Chidambaram said participation does not mean acquiescence or acceptance. "It is about knowing what the other side thinks about it."

"The census commissioner called the meeting, inviting officers of state governments. The states sent their officers to find out and place on the table their views. Several chief secretaries attending the meeting found pitfalls in the NPR," he claimed.

Chidambaram said chief ministers of states ruled by his party will take a position consistent with the Congress Working Committee resolution against the CAA, the NPR and the NRC.

"There is no constitutional issue involved (in states opposing the CAA). CAA is an issue before the Supreme Court now. Therefore, the states are perfectly justified in saying what they feel, the states are entitled to," he said.

Hinting at the Trinamool Congress, Chidambaram exuded confidence that opposition parties which did not participate in the meeting called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi on the issue will come along in the future.

"It is possible that in Bengal and many other states there are some domestic factors at play. But one should not miss the larger picture which is the fight to save the Constitution. All those fighting for values must eventually come together on a single platform. I am confident they will," he said.

Chidambaram said he went to the Park Circus Maidan in the city where Muslim women are on a sit-in for the past 12 days against the CAA.

On the petitions filed against the CAA in the Supreme Court, Chidambaram, also a lawyer, said, "Many eminent lawyers, many eminent jurists have already opined that the CAA is unconstitutional. We will put up arguments on our side."

He said granting power of detaining authority to the Delhi Police commissioner under the stringent National Security Act was "completely unacceptable, completely unnecessary and undemocratic".

"Under its provisions, anyone can be held. It is a retrograde provision....every day the BJP government resorts to such repressive measures," the Congress leader said.

Chidambaram said his party is confident about doing well in the upcoming Delhi polls and also in the elections in Bihar, slated to be held later this year.
Kolkata, Jan 19 : A middle aged farmer was killed in elephant attack in West Bengal's West Midnapore district early on Sunday, officials said.

Amal Ghosh, aged around 50, was crushed by a pachyderm when he went to his potato field to gauge the extent of damage caused by a parade of 25-30 elephants.

The incident happened in Bishnupur village under Salbani police station around 2 a.m.

In the darkness of the night, Ghosh accidentally came before the pachyderm which attacked him.

The parade had vandalised substantial amount of crop land in the village.
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle officially give up royal titles

Decision comes after the couple announced they are stepping back from being senior members of royal family.

Under a new arrangement, Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will lose their royal titles, Queen Elizabeth II said in a statement on Saturday.

QUEEN APPROVED THE COUPLE'S DECISION

"The Sussexes will not use their HRH [his/her royal highness] titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family," said the statement, referring to the couple's decision to step down as "senior members" of the royal family, made in a surprise Jan. 8 announcement.

Later, the queen called a family summit on Jan. 13 with Prince Charles and his sons Princes William and Harry to discuss the dramatic move.

The queen today said the couple will lose their titles and have agreed to pay back "Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home."





"Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," said the queen. "Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family," she said, adding that she is proud of Meghan for "quickly" becoming one of the family.

The duke and duchess of Sussex will no longer take part in official military appointments and will not receive public funds for their royal duties, the statement said.
The new arrangements made for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle following their decision to step down as senior members of the royal family will be reviewed in a year, a royal source tells PEOPLE.

After a family summit on Monday, which saw the monarch, 93, Prince Charles, Prince William and Harry convene at her Sandringham estate, Queen Elizabeth revealed the conclusions to the family discussions on Saturday.

However, the new changes  which will take effect in Spring 2020, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace  will last for a year, at which point the royal family will revisit the arrangement, the royal source explains.

This review is likely to include the foursome who met at Sandringham: Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry.

At the moment, Harry and Meghan will continue to attend royal events at the invitation of the Queen.

Rosa Woods/Getty

RELATED: Queen Elizabeth Reveals Conclusion to Prince Harry & Meghan Markles Royal Exit for Peaceful New Life

Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family, the Queen said in her statement on Saturday.

Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life. I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family, the statement read. It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments.

Story continues

The statement also said, They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties. With The Queens blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.

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!

The palace also confirmed that Harry and Meghan will no longer be using their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. They will still be referred to formally as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and will be called Harry, the Duke of Sussex and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home. Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly- funded security, the palace statement concluded.

Samir Hussein/WireImage

On Jan. 13, the Queen shared a rare and emotional statement following the royal familys 90-minute discussion, revealing that while she would have preferred to have the couple remain senior working royals, she supports her grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

Today my family had very constructive discussions on the future of my grandson and his family, the Queen said in a statement. My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghans desire to create a new life as a young family. Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.

The monarchs statement continued: Harry and Meghan have made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives. It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK. These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.

John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty

Palace sources told PEOPLE that the Queen ordered Harry, Prince William and Prince Charles to meet at her country home in order to talk things through.

Though it was previously reported that the Duchess of Sussex would join the meeting via phone from Canada, Buckingham Palace said in a statement that Meghan and Harry ultimately decided that it wasnt necessary for her to do so.

An insider previously told PEOPLE that Meghan and Harrys decision to step down left senior royals hurt and deeply disappointed.

RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Felt Their Hand Was Forced to Leave Royal Family Amid Bad Blood

While a rift developed between Harry and William, stemming from a conversation where William warned his younger brother against things moving too fast with Meghan, many imagined the siblings working shoulder-to-shoulder as they got older, a source tells PEOPLE in this weeks cover story. However, that proved to be more complex in reality.

When Meghan came around and she was interested in making changes, he welcomed it, says a friend. When Archie was born, the couples focus shifted even more to doing whats right for their family, adds another friend.

Though the particulars are still being worked out, Meghan and Harry want to focus on their own causes with a little less constraint and still be supporting the institution and the monarch, says a friend.

A royal source told PEOPLE on Saturday that Meghan and Harry will keep the titles of President and Vice President of the Queens Commonwealth Trust, and will continue to work in support for the Queen around the Commonwealth.

In addition, the patronages that Harry will leave are the three military patronages: Captain-General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Commodore-in-chief of Small Ships and Diving.
New Delhi:

Locals of Shirdi on Sunday evening decided to call off the bandh on Monday. A bandh was observed in Shirdi on Sunday against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's statement on the birthplace of Saibaba, a prominent spiritual figure of the 19th Century who has been equally revered by Hindus and Muslims.

However, the Saibaba temple remained open throughout the day with no report of devotees facing any inconvenience even as shops and eateries downed their shutters and vehicles remained off roads.

A former member of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) said residents of Shirdi provided food and water for the devotees visiting the shrine. He had earlier said the bandh would continue until Thackeray withdraws his statement on the Saibaba birthplace.

The shutdown was also observed in at least 25 villages around Shirdi.

A row erupted after the CM and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at Sai janmasthan (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district, nearly 273 kms away from Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

All eyes are now on the meeting convened by the CM on the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday.

The bandh was near total. None of the devotees coming from outside faced any problems, as distribution of food, eatables, water was arranged by residents of Shirdi, Sachin Tambe, a former member of the SSST, said.

On Sunday morning, a rally was taken out by devotees of Saibaba and locals around the Shirdi temple.

The rally started at the Dwarkamai temple. Several devotees hailing the name of Saibaba participated in the rally. he procession passed through Palkhi route around the Saibaba temple. It later concluded at the Dwarkamai temple, located on right side of Saibaba temple's entrance," Tambe, a BJP functionary, said.

The bandh began at midnight, but the devotees were allowed to offer prayers at the temple, officials of the temple trust and Ahmednagar district administration said.

The 'prasadalaya' and the temple kitchen were also open to ensure devotees were not inconvenienced, they said.

Long queues of devotees were seen in front of the 'prasadalaya', breakfast centre and 'laddoo' sale centres of the temple.

"Commercial establishments, shops, restaurants and local transport (autorickshaws and other private vehicles) are closed and a complete shutdown is being observed in the town as well as in 25 villages around Shirdi," Tambe said.

Devotees who made pre-bookings at hotels were allowed to stay and taxi services from the airport to the temple were also unaffected, the district administration official said.

Shiv Sena's Lok Sabha member from Shirdi, Sadashiv Lokhande, has also extended his support to the bandh.

Former Maharashtra minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who is the local BJP MLA, had on Saturday said he supported the bandh call.

However, his Loni village did not participate in the bandh. Meanwhile, Tambe said locals of Shirdi didn't have any issue with the development of Pathri village.

"We have no issue with that, let the CM make Pathri of gold. Our objection is to calling Pathri the birthplace of Saibaba, who had never said that he was born there," he said.

Tambe said a meeting of Shirdi locals will be held on Sunday evening to decide on attending the meeting with the CM on Monday, for which he said no official message was received.

The issue of Saibaba's actual birthplace came into prominence in 2017, when President Ram Nath Kovind stated that Saibaba was born in Pathri.

There are many beliefs about the actual birth place of the mystique saint, who enjoys a massive following in India and among Indians abroad.

Residents of Pathri village often cite Saibaba's biography 'Sri Saisachharitra' to claim that he was born in their town.

Referring to the President's reference, MP Lokhande said, "Some devotees say when President Ram Nath Kovind came here on October 1, 2017 for the inauguration of centenary of Saibaba's samadhi, he said Shirdi was baba's karmabhoomi and Pathri was his birthplace. I went to meet the President along with some Shirdi locals and explained to him about his comments regarding Pathri".

"The President said he had spoken information given to him by officials. He even expressed regret," he claimed.

Lokhande said he would meet Thackeray and try to resolve the controversy over Saibaba's birthplace.

SSST CEO Deepak Muglikar said locals of Shirdi and Pathri, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Lokhande will attend the meeting.

He said the Shirdi Sansthan will show 'Sai Charitra', and other documents to the chief minister.

Pushing the argument that Saibaba was born in Pathri, member of Pathri's Sri Sai Janmasthan Temple trust, Sanjay Bhusari, claimed that ample evidence existed in this regard.

"(Saibaba's disciple) Das Ganu Maharaj had mentioned Pathri as the birthplace of Saibaba in his biography. Periodicals dating 1990s also mentioned the same. The Shirdi Sansthan itself had published documents mentioning Pathri as Saibaba's birthplace. We will show these proofs at appropriate time," he said.

Bhusari accused Vikhe Patil of doing politics over the issue.

"Why Vikhe Patil didn't oppose the file for development of Pathri when he was a minister in the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government?" he questioned.

He said devotees have been visiting Pathri to take darsan of Saibaba's birthplace.

"It was all routine in Pathri on Sunday as well," he said.

(With PTI inputs)
By PTI

WEST PALM BEACH (US): President Donald Trump is expected to discuss new US trade agreements with its North American neighbours and with China during an appearance Sunday at a convention of American farmers.

When Trump spoke to the American Farm Bureau Federation's convention last year, he urged farmers to continue supporting him even as they suffered financially in the fallout from his trade war with China and a partial shutdown of the federal government.

Trump's follow-up speech Sunday in Austin, Texas, will give him a chance to make the case to farmers that he kept two promises on trade that he made as a candidate - to improve trade with China and separately with Canada and Mexico - and that farmers stand to benefit from both pacts.

Trump signed a preliminary trade deal with China at the White House last Wednesday that commits Beijing to boost its imports of U.S. manufacturing, energy and farm goods by $200 billion this year and next.

That includes larger purchases of soybeans and other farm goods expected to reach USD 40 billion a year, the US has said, though critics wonder if China can meet the targets.

Also last week, the Senate voted overwhelmingly in favour of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a successor to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement.

The administration designed the new agreement to return some factory production to the United States, mostly automobiles.

NAFTA had triggered a surge in trade among the three countries, but Trump and other critics blamed it for U.S.

job losses brought about when American factories moved production south of the border to take advantage of low-wage labor in Mexico. The House passed the U.S. -Mexico-Canada deal in December and Trump is expected to sign it soon.
While many people had long concluded that President Donald Trumps deal of the century had died, it came back to life Jan. 13 when voices were heard from Washington hinting at the possibility of its presentation on the eve of the March 2 election for the 23rd Knesset. The silence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in contrast to Blue and White leader Benny Gantz's complaint that such a presentation at that time would constitute meddling in Israels internal affairs, caused some to think this had been orchestrated between Netanyahu and Trump. Or perhaps there could be an American green light for the annexation of the Jordan Valley, perhaps a green light for the annexation of all the West Bank settlement lands  at any rate something that could show that only under Netanyahu could Israel get such delicacies from the American administration.

Since hints from the administration regarding an impending presentation of the plan have become almost a routine event, we can assume that this time, too, especially since there are only six weeks left until the election, the administration will postpone revealing its plan (assuming that indeed there is such a plan). But even if the American president decides to surprise us, its doubtful that it will be the magic pill that would give Netanyahu the majority he didnt win in the first two rounds of elections in 2019.

Seemingly, the outline of the plan is clear: Trump will offer a plan where there is no Palestinian state, there is no division of East Jerusalem, there is no vacating of settlements, no absorption of a single Palestinian refugee and no return to 1967 borders. The presentation of the plan would be followed by other, most obvious steps: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blows up, rejects it out of hand in disgust, while Netanyahu gravely examines it and says its a valid basis for real negotiations; Trump thanks him for his willingness to compromise, and in light of the Palestinian determination not to miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, he allows Netanyahu to annex whatever he wants. The public would be impressed by Netanyahus magic and would stream to the polls in order to give him four more years, despite the indictment for bribery, fraud and breach of trust against him that has landed at the desk of Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein.

If, indeed, what Trump would do is a cut and paste of the Likud platform (which also hasnt been revealed yet), Netanyahu could enjoy the support of his base at the expense of the right-wing parties after he had managed to unite them. All of the right-wing parties have united into one platform except for Otzmah Yehudit.

Still, its hard to assume that this is what the leader of the free world would do. Its much more likely that if he does this unlikely thing and presents his plan at the very last minute of the election campaign, it would include some kind of territorial concession. In such a case, the extreme right-wing parties would condemn Trump and argue that he misguided Netanyahu, showed a false face as a friend of Israel and now wants Israel to divide the land. Such a conflict, which would show Netanyahu as an errant follower betrayed by his master, could strengthen the extreme right at the expense of the Likud, and further widen the gap between Blue and White, which leads the polls, and Netanyahus party. In this situation Netanyahu would find it hard to publicly agree to the deal of the century, and this could put him in a position that he wants to be in least of all: a conflict with Trump.

Gantzs stance against the possibility of the presentation of the plan now is justified, but it is not clear that this stand is wise. Instead of simply rejecting it in its current timing, he could clarify that he doesnt fear a peace plan, and certainly not an American plan. And if he concludes that it accords with the Israeli national interest, as he sees it, he could actually welcome it and view it as a valid platform for negotiations with the Palestinian leadership. On the other hand, if he believes that the plan contains traps for Israel, he could oppose it whether or not Netanyahu agrees with it or not. Theoretically, and perhaps not only theoretically, there could be a situation where Netanyahu would find himself disagreeing with the plan and Gantz praising it, so that Trump finds himself hailing Netanyahus rival, although he intended to impede him.

But this is not only a political game between Blue and White and the Likud as the American president has played it when he established the American Embassy in Jerusalem and insisted that the settlements are not illegal and not an obstacle to peace. Somewhere over in Ramallah there is also a Palestinian side Israel must make peace with; after all, Israel is not making peace with America. A plan that turns out to be only a tool given to Netanyahu in order to prove that Israel has no partner is very problematic, and so even if Gantz says he accepts it, with no connection to Netanyahus position, but Abbas says its a plan that can be a basis for nothing, the leader of Blue and White would find himself in a kind of trap. He will also feel a need to follow Netanyahu and say that the Palestinian side is no partner. But he cant allow himself to do so, especially if he too feels that the plan has no real anchor for the Palestinians to hang on to.

Presenting an American diplomatic plan a few weeks before an election in Israel is something that shouldnt be done, and the Trump administration should understand this and retreat from such an intention, if there is one. If the plan is presented after all, Gantz should say he is glad for the American initiative, but would be prepared to seriously discuss it only after hes elected prime minister, and that one of the components in his consideration will be the need to create a common basis for talks with the Palestinian side. Since the chances of the presentation of a plan returning Netanyahu to the status of King Bibi are quite small, Gantz would do well not to wage an open battle against its revelation.
By PTI

KOLKATA: BJP MP Soumitra Khan on Sunday termed prominent personalities opposing the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC as "dogs" of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Khan, who had joined the saffron party after quitting the Trinamool Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2019, told reporters that despite knowing the facts about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens, the eminent persons are continuing with their protests.

"The persons who are doing so are dogs of Mamata Banerjee," Khan, who represents Bishnupur seat in the Lok Sabha, said.

ALSO READ: Committed to NRC, will send back 1 crore illegal Bangladeshis in Bengal, says Dilip Ghosh

But the same persons remained silent about the gang rape cases at Kamduni and Park Street besides incidents of bomb blasts, he said.

Actors, directors and musicians in the state have participated in rallies to protest against the new citizenship law and the proposed NRC.

They have also come together in a video against the CAA and the NRC, asserting that they would not show any document if there is a bid by the Centre to submit fresh proof of citizenship.

BJP's West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh said on Saturday, "These days there are so many intellectuals in West Bengal giving 'gyan' to people throughout the day and creating a cacophony. CPI(M) created these intellectuals by bringing them on to the streets and now, 'didimoni' (CM Mamata Banerjee) has created a factory to produce them."

Ghosh on Friday had described them as "creatures", "devils" and "parasites".

Subodh Sarkar, a recipient of Sahitya Akademy Award, said, "This is the actual language of the BJP. Now it is up to the people to decide."

Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, has been at the forefront of the anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests.
Delhi Police has identified a woman lawyer who was the first to torch the motorcycle of a policeman during a clash between lawyers and police at Tis Hazari Court Complex in November last year but no action can be taken against her, officials said on Sunday.

They said the high court has made it clear no "coercive action" can be taken against any lawyer in connection with the violent clash on November 2, adding police cannot take action also because a judicial inquiry is in progress into the incident.

The crime branch identified the lawyer after scanning through multiple CCTV cameras.

In one of the footage, the lawyer is seen setting the police motorcycle parked outside the lock-up in the Tis Hazari Court premises on fire at 4.14 pm. She is surrounded by other lawyers.

Within five minutes of it, more police bikes are set on fire.

In another footage, an advocate is seen bringing a sack full of stones at 4.19 pm. Shortly hereafter, a group of lawyers start pelting stones on police personnel as the fires rage.

Thirteen police motorcycles were torched during the clash that day.

The CCTV footage also showed a senior DCP-rank officer entering the court complex at 4.21 pm through Gate No 1A. With folded hands, she requests the crowd to calm down as vehicles torched during the clash are seen in the background. At 4.22 pm, she is manhandled.

Twenty-one police personnel and several lawyers were injured during the violence and 17 vehicles, including the 13 police motorcycles, were vandalised.

The Delhi High Court ordered a judicial inquiry by one of its retired judges, S P Garg, into the clash and following its direction, Special Commissioner Sanjay Singh and Additional DCP Harendra Singh were transferred during pendency of the investigation.

The high court also made clear that no "coercive action" would be taken against any lawyer.

A special investigation team was formed by Delhi Police to probe the clash and the seven FIRs, which included the charge of attempt to murder, lodged in connection with the incident.

One assistant sub-inspector was suspended and another police officer was transferred for their alleged involvement in the incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 402 Thanked: 489 Times

Underage driver kills pedestrian; won't spend a day in jail due to juvenile trial

Four Days Before Turning 18, He Killed a Man With Dads Mercedes. SC Says He Wont Spend a Day in Jail



Quote: In 2016, a young man in Delhi lost his life when a speeding Mercedes Benz ran over him. The person behind the wheels was four days short of 18. He had been fined thrice before for traffic violations while he drove his father's car.



The Supreme Court on Thursday confirmed that the accused will not serve even a day behind bars. He shall be tried as a juvenile and kept under observation, if and when held guilty. We are not solving a jigsaw puzzle... we cannot add or substitute word in a law. When two interpretations are possible, the one in the benefit of juveniles has to be adopted," said a bench headed by Justice Deepak Gupta.



The judge said that when the legal provision is clear, it is not possible to interpret it otherwise. "We are bound by law," he added.



While the juvenile board held that the delinquent must be tried as an adult since he had ample knowledge of the dangers of the act and in view of his mental capacity, the Delhi High Court decided against it.



Sister of 32-year-old marketing executive Siddharth Sharma, the victim, challenged this order in the Supreme Court.



The top court implored upon the law makers to bring about the amendments but said that in this case, the accused cannot be tried as an adult.



If the common man lose hope in the law, vigilantism or mob fury as we have seen in many accident cases, seems understandable. (I am not endorsing/supporting mob fury. I am just saying i can understand why they would want to take law in their hands, if the law fails to provide justice.) Came across this news today -This news is troubling for me as while i understand the law needs to be followed, there are still glaring gaps in the law that allow people to get away with crime. Many crimes are being committed by juveniles, and if the law says that they are unable to take appropriate measures then i don't know whether one can expect justice in any juvenile-based crimes. If i keep side the so-called 'heinous' offences, does it mean that juveniles can keep committing serious offences (non-heinous) that can lead to death such as the above case and keep getting away legally? Where is the justice then? In fact with more juveniles driving cars and bikes, the likelihood of similar incidents happening again and again is high.If the common man lose hope in the law, vigilantism or mob fury as we have seen in many accident cases, seems understandable. (I am not endorsing/supporting mob fury. I am just saying i can understand why they would want to take law in their hands, if the law fails to provide justice.)
A former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has declared support for community, state and zonal efforts to tackle Nigerias current security problems.

Mr Abubakar said this amidst the debate on Amotekun, the regional security outfit recently set up by South-west states but declared illegal by the federal government.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Paul Ibe, Mr Abubakar said Nigeria was facing a lot of security challenges that needed all efforts to tackle.

Read the full statement by Mr Ibe below.

As enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, the primary responsibility of government, at any level, is the protection of lives and property of the citizen.

In carrying out this function, the state employs different layers of measures to ensure effective and efficient policing.

It is without doubt that in the past decade particularly, the current policing administration in our dear country had been stretched to its limits and it is obvious that the reality of our domestic security upheaval will demand of us to recalibrate our police systems.

In the First Republic, before we gravitated too much to the center, policing was done federally with each native authority and region having some mechanisms to deal with little upsets that were the security concerns of those times.

In the present day Nigeria, there is hardly any state of the federation that does not contend with some type of security challenges.

Because our security challenges are diverse in forms and impacts, it is thus incumbent that centrally controlled police architecture cannot exclusively deal with those challenges.

Consequently, there is need for the creation of additional policing structures in the country to address the rapidly growing challenges of insecurity and crime.

The time is ripe to seriously confront the reality of insecurity in the country by addressing the urgency of introducing state police, zonal police and community policing to complement the efforts of the current federal police.

It is obvious that current levels of insecurity in the country are giving rise to major initiatives such as Amotekun and the issue need not be controversial in the first place.

The police are likely to be more effective if they constantly operate in the same local community or local government because such closeness might create a bond with the local people, thereby enabling community cooperation and participation that would engender proactive outcomes in crime prevention.

Nigeria is a vast country facing enormous security challenges and, therefore, there is the urgent need to create more security structures at the local levels to reduce the burden on the federal police.

The issue of security shouldnt be politicised and monopolised in the face of our current alarming security challenges characterised by the fear of even travelling on our highways by the citizens who might be intercepted by kidnappers and taken hostage for ransom.

Local policing shouldnt be mistaken for an effort to hijack the role of the federal police or a competition with the federal government.

The obvious inadequacies of the federal police to effectively deal with these rapidly growing security challenges make local policing not only desirable, but also necessary.

The police are more likely to be effective in areas where they are well known and trusted by the local communities who in turn are willing to share information about known criminals and criminal activities, thereby foiling those crimes before they are even carried out.

It is a given perception that when people have a role in their own security, they are going to help to defeat the criminal in their tracks and that the more they are involved, the more likely they would perceive the police as their friends.

In the envisage new order, states and local governments shouldnt be reduced to peripheral players in policing and security matters. When local police structures are closest to the grassroots, emergency response will be more effective than the current unwieldy chain of command that renders local government chairmen ineffective when their people are under attacks.

As a matter of fact, it is refusing to adopt new ways of doing things that poses a threat to the unity of the country.

Therefore, Atiku Abubakar supports Community, State and Zonal Police to complement Federal Police to deal with insecurity in the country. It has never been this bad to the extent of threatening the unity of the country.

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Signed:

Paul Ibe
Tesla stores across Shanghai have been crowded with customers after a new tax break earlier this month, with most orders coming for the most affordable electric vehicle, the Model 3 sedan built at the city's Gigafactory.





The Model 3 orders spiked amid a cooling electric vehicle market in China after authorities gave dozens of electric vehicle makers a new tax break which lowers the cost of buying a Tesla in China to less than 300,000 yuan (about 43,745 U.S. dollars).





"We have more customers these days looking for test drives and more information," said a salesperson in a Tesla store in Shanghai.





Tesla's Shanghai plant has manufactured nearly 1,000 vehicles available for sale and reached a production capacity of more than 3,000 vehicles per week since it rolled out its first 10 Model 3 sedans to Chinese customers on Jan. 7, according to Tesla's latest financial report.





The price makes Tesla a competitive player in China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market, said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association, adding that Tesla's China production will have a "catfish effect" on the country's auto industry.





Tesla's sales in China will help push domestic carmakers to speed up technological upgrading, Cui added.





As a benchmark for NEVs, the Model 3 will help drive the innovation and upgrading of domestic suppliers, according to a report by Minsheng Securities.





China's NEV sales went up at the end of 2019 after almost a year of slowdown, reaching a 71.4-percent growth month on month in December, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.





The country's subsidy policy on NEVs will remain stable in 2020, with no big retreat, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology earlier this month.





Tesla has started a big push for Chinese players and they will benefit from increased customer enthusiasm for smart, driverless cars, said Cui.




Nobody outside of politics talks about policies. Its an insider term. It makes viewers switch off, writes Terry Prone

COMING up to the 1977 general election, things were a bit ropey in Fianna Fail. Charlie Haughey had been brought back into the fold as the arms trial scandal faded a bit and was now in charge of the health portfolio, which wasnt a bad gig, back in the day before the Department of Health became Angola. But many within Fianna Fail were furious at leader Jack Lynch for bringing him back and felt (rightly) threatened by the appalling vista it opened up.

In the middle of all this, a phone call came to our house for Tom Savage, a journalist and communications lecturer, and my husband. Would he go in to Fianna Fail HQ pronto to discuss the party political broadcast?

Savage went in to Mount St and was handed a draft script which was due to be spoken by Lynch. It was a policy statement constructed in such conceptual, abstract, and public-administration terms that even he  and he was clever  had to read it three times before he fully grasped it. At which point Lynch arrived and they shook hands.

What the hell does this mean? Savage asked, reading aloud one of the denser sentences in the script. The Fianna Fail leader explained the problem the script related to. Described the misery the problem inflicted on a typical family. Outlined what his party was going to do to solve it. And stopped.

Savage looked at him in silence for a minute, then quietly tore up the script.

What youve just said is what youre going to say in the party political, he told Lynch.

And well have no mention of policies. Nobody outside of politics talks about policies. Its an insider term. It makes viewers switch off.

Someone at the table indicated that filming would happen in an RTE studio at a particular time, and Savage said no it wouldnt  that a cameraman (they were all male at the time) could film Lynch talking out the window of his shiny black car in the RTE car park and that the car could drive off when he hit the last full stop. RTE raised no problems, perhaps because nobody had ever done a party political broadcast with movement in it before and, even if clunky, it would be a quantum leap forward, in TV terms.

Lynch nailed it without a script on the first take. The car drove off and everybody signalled keep going, keep going. The one oddity in that party political broadcast was Haughey, who, at that time, was just about talking to those at the top of Fianna Fail but trusted them not at all. So when someone told him an outside expert had said CJs bit of the party political broadcast shouldnt be filmed in an RTE studio and shouldnt have him reading off the teleprompter, he balked. He believed he was good at the teleprompter. (He wasnt.) He believed the script was perfect. (It wasnt, for the reasons already outlined.) He thought the late-proposed changes were a conspiracy to do him down. (They werent. Rather, they were an effort to improve his performance.) The rest of the crew shrugged. If CJ wanted to look ridiculous in a two-minute slot right in the middle of a five-minute broadcast, so be it. If he opted to be a talking head listing off policies in a droning monologue in the middle of an otherwise slick, modern piece of TV, that was his problem. It would have the unsought end result of making Lynch look better. And thats what happened.

The question has to be asked why, more than 40 years later, despite decades of media training and the proliferation of media platforms, politicians still revert, in general elections, to talking about policies in conceptual and statistical terms. Its OK for back-room boys to develop policies. Thats what the constituency experts and legal eagles of every political party do. But nobody ever got elected on policies, because nobody other than politicians, lobbyists, and journalists read policy manifestos in bed at night.

I have a personal punctuality policy. It works like this. When Im meeting a client, I aim to get to the meeting place at least 15 minutes beforehand. But I dont tell my clients I have a robust punctuality policy, mainly because my clients would head for the hills if I did. Why should they care? And what consolation would my policy be to them the day I get a puncture and turn up 20 minutes late?

Policies are the detailed plans for what youre going to do. No more, no less than that. Theyre the under-the-bonnet stuff. They should stay under the bonnet, because when they come into public discourse, they distance the voter from the truth. Our policy is better articulated/costed than their policy, is a statement that makes its owner feel good and conveys nothing to non-politicians. This isnt a college debate, lads and lassies. This is a job interview. A multiple job interview, in which you have to prove you understand where were at, we being your potential employer. That tends to get lost when canvassing majors on proving points and making spiels. Just listening and feeding back your comprehension of the issue is seen by the human in front of you as amazingly good communication. And rare. So rare.

Talking about stuff like policy development, on the other hand, is just jargon, says Dr Inez Bailey, chief executive of the National Adult Literacy Agency (Nala), and while political jargon allows politicians to talk about issues in a quicker, coded way, it can also act as a real barrier for people accessing information.

NALA last week actually produced a guide to help voters understand what their politicians are saying. Nala believes politics is awash with terms and phrases that are beloved of commentators and politicians alike, while effectively excluding the citizen. Theyre right. Politicians, in this election, arent just talking boringly about policies. Theyre using jargon when what they should be doing is painting pictures, offering illustrative examples and explaining whats going to be different and better if they get elected. They should, in short, talk like the people of Ireland talk: Vividly, memorably, and understandably. The politicians who do that greatly improve their chances of election. Even if they havent a ghostly guardian angel working them from behind.

Im sorry if that last sentence confused you, but I cant find a better way to describe the posters in my local constituency, which show a candidate  male  in front of a ghostly guardian angel-like figure. The ghost is Clare Daly. She was the one who got a better-paying gig out in Europe and buzzed off with herself. All thats left of her is a spectral presence on yer mans poster. Its not clear why shes there. Perhaps he thinks well vote for him out of grief over losing her.

Or, who knows, maybe she whispers policies to him
A day-long bandh observed on Sunday in Shirdi following a row over the birthplace of Saibaba, will be called off after midnight.

The announcement was made by Shiv Sena MP from Shirdi, Sadashiv Lokhande, after a meeting with locals on Sunday evening.

He said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the issue.

The bandh was observed to protest against Thackeray's announcement of grant of Rs 100 crore for development of facilities at "Sai janmasthan" (birthplace) at Pathri in Parbhani district, nearly 273 kms away from Shirdi in Ahmednagar district.

Saibaba, a prominent spiritual figure of the 19th Century, is equally revered by Hindus and Muslims.

Representatives from Pathri and Shirdi, BJP MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Lokhade and Shirdi temple trust CEO will attend the meeting called by the CM.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Premier takes hard line with teachers, Jan. 17

In 1997, Ontario teachers staged a two-week protest over proposed changes to the funding and governance of education institutions. I was a teacher then.

What the Harrisites didnt understand then and the Fordites, their even less competent successors, dont understand now, is that teachers, charged with the sacred duty of educating the young, love their students. They dont see them as profit centres. Imagine if they did.

I have been retired for 20 years, my pension reduced every year because of that protest. I dont regret any of that loss. We fought for the value of a great public education.

Fighting is not fun. It is personal; it leaves wounds. My colleagues now in the fight know this, and still they will keep fighting. They value the public education system. Teachers love their students.

Brian Clow, Pickering

Tim Shields, Scarborough

Because of work-to-rule, I cant do choir, drama club, volleyball team or even field trips. I dont like how the Ontario government has failed to oversee a contract with the teachers. I go to McMurrich Junior Public School and our teachers are very nice.

Samantha Dennler, Toronto

Education Minister Stephen Lecce, dont think for one minute that the large number of parents signing up for the money to offset child-care expenses during a strike by teachers is in any way a vote of confidence for your governments position. Nothing could be further from the truth. Free, no-strings-attached money? Count me in!

John MacFarlane, Brampton

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Farmers will get a much-needed lift from two international trade agreements approved by the federal government this week, but experts are uncertain if their situations will improve in the long term.

After exchanging hundreds of billions of dollars of tariffs for more than a year, the U.S. and Chinese governments agreed to the first part of trade deal this week.

Congress passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, better known as USMCA, sending it to President Donald Trump to sign.

The average Illinoisan will likely not be much affected by the deals, experts say. Instead, the largest beneficiaries will be corn and soybean farmers who have been caught in President Trumps trade conflicts with China and Mexico since 2018.

.

A cautious step forward

Illinois farmers have been especially hurt by Chinas retaliatory tariffs in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, forcing the federal government to issue $28 billion in aid nationwide.

Wednesdays trade agreement with China, however, is more of a ceasefire than a peace agreement, said Jonathan Coppess, director of the Gardner Agriculture Policy Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Really what it does is kind of stop the damage that was initiated with this tariff conflict that that the president started, he said.

The deal should play out in two phases. Phase One, which began Wednesday, requires China to purchase $200 billion in U.S. goods over the next two years, including $32 billion of agricultural products.

Chief among them are soybeans and pork, in which Illinois ranks first and fourth, respectively, in U.S. production.

American soybean exports to China dropped 75% between 2017 and 2018, as China bought soybeans from other countries while exchanging tariffs with the U.S.

President Trump, however, said he will not lift Americas $360 billion of tariffs on Chinese goods until Phase Two is negotiated and implemented.

We see this as a sign of brighter days to come, Illinois Soybean Association President Doug Schroeder said in a statement. However, he added, A long-awaited win for the soybean industry will come when the soybean tariffs are fully rescinded.

Unfortunately, that could be awhile, said Todd Hubbs, a professor of agriculture economics at UIUC.

It doesnt sound like Phase Two is going to get done anytime soon, Hubbs said, because U.S. leadership could change after Novembers presidential election.

I dont think theres any desire on either side right now to ruin the deal,  (but) I dont see it happening before the election, he said.

Carson Varner, a professor of international business at Illinois State University who also owns soybean land, says farmers like him are willing to suffer in only the short term.

Wed much rather make our money selling soybeans than receiving tariff aid, he said.

Varner is hopeful, though, that China and the U.S. can strike a deal. He predicts Phase Two will also allow Illinois to export more pork and agriculture equipment.

(Trump) knows how to negotiate, Varner said. I think he told the Chinese hes willing to walk away from a bad deal, and so I am optimistic that this thing is going to move forward.

.

USMCA helps corn farmers, hurts car buyers

Despite President Trump calling the USMCA one of the biggest trade bills ever made, not much has actually changed from its beginnings as the Clinton-era North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Coppess said.

Were not talking about major reform of the trade agreement, Coppess said. If anything, the president has his trade agreement, so we can be assured at least for his time in office that maybe he wont threaten these trading partners again.

The agreement mostly reinforces trade the U.S. already does with Canada and Mexico, especially corn, of which Mexico is Americas top buyer and Illinois is Americas second-most producer.

Every step toward USMCA passage is cause for celebration, Illinois Corn Growers Association President Bill Leigh said in a statement.

The USMCA also increases U.S. dairy exports to Canada, but that will impact more dairy-heavy states like Wisconsin.

Both U.S. senators from Illinois, Democrats Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, voted for the bill.

In statements, Durbin applauded its bipartisan support, while Duckworth said it works for farmers and manufacturers and features enforceable labor standards to support American workers.

Duckworth added, however, the deal is not perfect because it does not tackle climate change. But Varner argues enforcing U.S. environmental standards on Mexico is demanding too much.

Dont let the perfect be the enemy of the good, he said.

One negative for regular Illinoisans is that the USMCA could increase the prices of new cars, because it ups the percentage of North American auto parts that vehicles must have to avoid tariffs.

Because companies often pass on increased production costs and losses from tariffs to consumers, the average American could see car prices increase between $470 and $2,200, according to the Center for Automotive Research.

Varner argues, however, the USMCAs requirements regarding auto parts and higher wage standards are designed to spur investment in the U.S. and increase domestic manufacturing.

I think it would cost a lot more if we abandon these deals, he said.

President Trump is expected to sign the USMCA next week. Mexico approved it last year, while Canada is expected to approve it later this year to officially make it binding.


Boyd Gaming destinations throughout southern Nevada are celebrating Lunar New Year 2020, The Year of The Rat, with festive Lions Dance performances, special gaming promotions and authentic Asian dining experiences (Pictured: Ping Pang Pong Fish-Shaped Coconut Pudding).

Gold Coast Hotel and Casino / 702-367-7111 / www.goldcoastcasino.com

Guests of all ages are invited to join Gold Coast Hotel and Casino in welcoming The Year of the Rat Lions Dance parade throughout the casino floor on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The parade will include several dragons, a percussion procession and characters that will make several stops to pull ceremonial lettuce from the ceiling and toss the leaves to spectators as a symbol of good luck.

Throughout the month of January, players can enjoy Lucky Table Hot Seat Drawings every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Gold Coast. Eight winners will be awarded every hour for a total of 88 winners per day. Players can win $100 in live chips from 3 p.m. to midnight. Plus, there will be an additional bonus drawing at 1 a.m. where eight winners will receive $200 in live chips. See Gold Coast Table Games for complete details.

Visitors can elevate their Lunar New Year celebration with authentic and flavorful Chinese cuisine at the award-winning restaurant, Ping Pang Pong, as well as the popular noodle bar, Noodle Exchange. Ping Pang Pong offers a renowned dim sum experience from 10 a.m.  3 p.m., as well as a wide variety of specialty Chinese dishes from 5 p.m.  3 a.m. The quick and convenient Noodle Exchange serves multiple noodle and rice dishes and its house-favorite, mini hot pots from noon  11 p.m. daily.

In honor of Chinese New Year, Ping Pang Pong will present its traditional gold brick-shaped Golden Fortune New Year Sweet Rice Cake, symbolizing ascending prosperity, health and peace for the new year. The classic offering is stamped with 999.9 Gold Bar and will be available for purchase now through Tuesday, Jan. 28 for $15.99. Ping Pang Pong will also serve Good Luck Cookies for $7.99 and Fish-Shaped Coconut Pudding for $11.99 now through Jan. 28, bringing guests good fortune in the new year.

The Orleans Hotel and Casino / 702-365-7111 / www.orleanscasino.com

Ondori Asian Kitchen at The Orleans Hotel and Casino will serve a delicious Chinese New Year menu, starting Friday, Jan. 24 through Monday, Jan. 27 from 11 a.m. to close (Jan. 24 specials start at 5 p.m.). The special menu will feature lobster with golden egg and ginger scallion for $98.88, ginger scallion salmon with snow mushrooms for $32.88, fat choy pork feet for $28.88, fat choy with bean curd stick and oyster soup for $18.88 and more. Guests can also enjoy the Tomodoro Hour, meaning together in Japanese, from 3 p.m.  4 p.m. and 11 p.m.  12 a.m. each day. Reservations are recommended. For reservations, please call (702) 365-7111.

Suncoast Hotel and Casino / 702-636-7111 / www.suncoastcasino.com

In commemoration of Chinese New Year, the contemporary Asian restaurant Peng Zu at Suncoast Hotel and Casino is offering a tasty special menu starting Thursday, Jan. 23 through Monday, Jan. 27. The special menu will start with the choice of a mixed green salad or Westlake mince beef soup. The main entree options feature the choice of the Double Happiness dish featuring sauteed shrimp and scallops for $29 or the dry-braised O.X. tail served with red wine sauce for $25. A perfectly sweet mango cake will be served for dessert.

California Hotel and Casino / 702.385.1222 / www.thecal.com

California Noodle House at California Hotel and Casino will offer a delectable Chinese New Year menu for $30 per person on Saturday, Jan. 25. The special menu will include teriyaki-grilled chicken wings, lap cheong and a preserved pork belly iron rice pot served with tempura green beans. For dessert, diners can enjoy a pear custard tart.
New Delhi [India], Jan 19 (ANI): Although the statement issued by senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal regarding the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) must be constitutionally right, but one should wait for the Supreme Court verdict on the issue, said party leader Tariq Anwar on Sunday.



"Kapil Sibal is a learned lawyer and has good knowledge of the Constitution too. But this matter is currently sub-judice before the Supreme Court and it will arrive at a decision after looking at every angle," Anwar told ANI here.

Anwar also spoke about the statements issued by the Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, in which the latter had claimed that the States had no option but to follow the CAA once it was passed by the Parliament.

"Arif Mohammad Khan is a politician from the BJP and is also its sympathiser, therefore, much importance should not be attached to his statements," he said.

Earlier today, Sibal had said that it will be problematic to oppose the new legislation if the Supreme Court declares it "constitutional".

However, he emphasized that every State Assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution against the CAA and seek its withdrawal.

"I believe the CAA is unconstitutional. Every State Assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek its withdrawal. When and if the law is declared to be constitutional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it. The fight must go on!" Sibal tweeted.

Earlier, Congress's Sibal, who is also a renowned lawyer, said that no State can say that it will not implement the Citizenship Amendment Act, as doing so will be unconstitutional if the Supreme Court declares it 'constitutional'. (ANI)


Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common with unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

- Calvin Coolidge

To choose the right moment in which to act is the great art of men Napolean Bonaparte

I have been watching the fast pace with which the so-called country of Nigeria has been tumbling towards tragedy. I have been watching the tragedy it has become for its peoples. I have been watching the disgrace it has become for those who carry its green passports. I have reached the conclusion that salvaging Nigeria is a mission impossible. I have reached the conclusion that breaking up Nigeria is the only viable option. There is no other way out.

I am aware that there are many who mouth UNITY every day when in fact they do not believe in it. I am aware there are people who keep chanting that TRIBALISM is our bane when indeed it is our real strength. I am aware that most of us like to be politically correct and say, Nigeria must unite when in fact we all know that breaking it up is the best thing for the peoples of this geographical expression.

I look through the various component ethnic groups in Nigeria and I am not able to identify a single one that expresses satisfaction. The Edo is not satisfied. The Mumuye is not satisfied. The Ibiobio is not satisfied. The Efik is not satisfied. The Anang is not satisfied. The Ijaw is not satisfied. The Igbo is not satisfied. The Nupe is not satisfied. The Agatu is not satisfied. The Magale is not satisfied. The Yoruba is not satisfied. The Kataf is not satisfied. The Kanuri is not satisfied. The Ogoni is not satisfied. The Karekare is not satisfied. The Tiv is not satisfied. The Khana is not satisfied. The Lamang is not satisfied. Even the Hausa-Fulani is not satisfied.

It is my view that the silent majority are angling to extricate themselves from the contraption called Nigeria. It is obvious that every ethnic group wants deliverance from the bondage called Nigeria. It is evident that no one believes in the quagmire called Nigeria. None of us has any emotional connection to the country called Nigeria. It is not ours. It is not our making. It does not belong to us. No one wants it.

Nigeria is not a nation. It is a country of nations. These component nations desire to be independent nation-states. A country or a nation (for the purpose of this context) is more than the physical buildings. It is more than a beautiful Capital Territory. It is more than the existence of powerful armed forces. It is more than a government that controls.

A nation, to exist has to be ingrained in the psyche of its citizens. There has to be that emotional connection. It has to run as blood in the veins and marrow in the bones of those who subscribe to it. A nation is that consummated indescribable feelings that command the unalloyed love, permeated with buoyant affection and infused with unsolicited loyalty of those who subscribe to it. A nation is that which is patently invisible but translucently obvious and recurrent in the gliding waves of the sea of sub-consciousness, of its people.

This is not the case with Nigeria. We all have nothing in common. Our aspirations are different. Our hopes are different. Our dreams are different. Our primordial attachment is very strong. No one likes to be dominated. No one likes to be in bondage. No one likes to be enslaved. No one likes it when others take advantage of him or his/her people. We are all ethnic jingoists. Yet we are unwilling to accept it. We are all in denial. We all pretend to be Nigeria lovers, when indeed we all hate Nigeria. Our ethnic group is where we derive our identity. It is where we derive our worldview. It is where we derive and form our character. It is what describes us as human beings. It is the kernel of our authenticity. It is what makes us unique. It is what makes us special.

As I wrote elsewhere, a Yoruba man anywhere in the world would do his best to raise his children in Yoruba ways. An Ijaw man would do the same. An Igbo man would do the same. An Efik man would do the same. A Kanuri man would do the same. A Mumuye man would do the same. An Edo man would do the same. Every man would do the same. None of us would raise his child as a Nigerian. This is because Nigeria does not exist in our consciousness. It is not in our psyche. There is no emotional connection. There is no cultural connection. There is no identity connection. There is no sense of belonging of any sort.

It is noteworthy that those mouthing ONE NIGERIA are those benefiting from the tragedy represented by Nigeria. Those who are advocating that Nigeria remains one are doing so not because they love Nigeria, but because they love their pockets. They are the ones who get the big contracts and refuse to execute them. They are the ones who appeal to the primordial sentiments when they lose out in the struggle for the loot. They are the ones who mouth national unity when they get inflated contracts. They are the ones who have no regard for their own people back in their communities. They are the ones who care less for the sufferings of the poor. They are the ones who live ostentatiously and flaunt their wealth to make poor people envious.

They are the ones who are quick to point to their friends in other ethnic groups as if, were Nigeria to break up that friendship would cease. I have Ghanaian friends. I have Togolese friends. I have Senegalese friends. I have Liberian friends. I have American friends. I have British friends. This does not mean that we have to be in the same country to remain friends.

There are those who tout inter-marriage, as a reason Nigeria should remain one. This is balderdash. I know many Igbo who are married to Americans. I know many Yoruba who are married to Germans or British. I know many Ghanaians who are married to peoples from the geographical location called Nigeria. This does not mean that they necessarily have to come from the same country to remain married.

It is my view that there would be better relationships among the peoples of the different nations of Nigeria if each were to control its destiny. It is my view that there would likely be more friendships across the new borders. There would likely be more marriages across the new borders. There would be less hostility across the new borders. There would be more geniality across the new borders. All we need is just go for it and break up Nigeria.

Nigeria is not a viable entity. It is a tragedy. It is a misnomer. It should cease existence. We all have to go our different ways. This is more so because this is what we all want severally. We all do not want Nigeria. We are all dissatisfied with Nigeria. Nigeria has betrayed us. Our hopes are dashed. Our dreams are unrealizable within the Nigerian structure.

Those who work hard are in penury. Those whose lands are producing the resources are in poverty. Nigeria deprives those who value education. Nigeria impedes those who value cattle rearing. Nigeria constricts those who want to be international businessmen. Nigeria is rebuffing those who want to make Arabic education a priority. Nigeria is holding back those who want to jump into the age of technology. Nigeria is denying those who want Sharia law. Nigeria is depriving those who want a secular state.

Nigeria is impeding those who want merit. Nigeria is humiliating those who value integrity. Nigeria is disgracing those who want self-respect and dignity. Nigeria incubates crime and criminals. Nigeria is lawless. Nigeria encourages uncouthness. Nigeria encourages abuse of elders. It disparages the youth. It undermines our age long traditions.

I am not a religious person. I hate churches. I loathe mosques. But something nudges me about the existence of the Supreme Being. Though, I am not sure about this, I am willing to entertain myself with the thoughts of such. To this extent, I am declaring that I have the proof that Nigeria exists against the WILL of ELEDUMARE.

I do not know about the Jewish Yahweh. I do not know about the Christian God. I do not know about the Islamic Allah. But I know that the Eledumare of Yoruba people is not deaf. He does not wait 60 years without responding to supplications as the Christian God and Islamic Allah have obviously done. The Yoruba Eledumare is swift and effective. We have abandoned our roots. We have abandoned our fore fathers. We have abandoned our ways. We have abandoned our identities. We go around in borrowed robes. We are following the wrong faiths. This is why the prayers would never avail Nigeria.

Why, for example, should the Ogonis remain in Nigeria when they are bigger than 22 countries represented in the United Nations in terms of population? Why? After all, there is a country (Monaco) represented in the United Nations which size is just 1 square mile! Then talk about the Edo nation. Talk about the Efik nation. Talk about the Igbo nation. Talk about the Tiv nation. Talk about the Nupe nation. Talk about the Yoruba nation. Talk about the Hausa/Fulani nation among many other nations chained together in bondage and subjugation in the Nigerian miasma. Why do we all choose to believe the lies that Nigeria cannot break into as many countries as the peoples of the presented geographical location called Nigeria want?

The Hausa/Fulani should consciously seek their freedom from this miserable Nigeria. They could go it all alone. If Burkina Faso and Niger Republic could survive, the Hausa/Fulani could survive too. The Katafs need to be free from Nigeria. The Igbo have to be free from Nigeria. The Ijaw have to emancipate from Nigeria. The Yoruba have to extricate from Nigeria. The Edo have to disentangle from Nigeria. The Efik must seek freedom from the Nigerian burden. The Tivs should throw off the yoke of Nigeria. We all must work together to consign Nigeria to the dustbin of history. It is Nigerias destiny. It must break up.

If Nigeria breaks up, it would increase the competition among all of us. Those who want to move fast to develop would do so. Those who want to slow down would do so. Those who want Sharia would move to adopt it. Those who want to be an extension of the Vatican City could do so. Those who want to educate their citizens could do so. Those who want to rear cattle would do so. Those who love Osama Bin Laden could follow him. Those who want a Taliban dominated nation would have the freedom to do so.

The Yoruba nation is saddled with the governments it loathes. The Yoruba nation is prevented from following its vision. The Yoruba nation is impeded from the pursuit of its dreams. The Yoruba nation is made to abandon its true character under duress. The Yoruba nation is made to denounce its true self under the threat of economic and political annihilation. The Yoruba nation has had its fabric torn to tatters. All these have been possible because the Yoruba nation is chained to the tragedy called Nigeria.

We all want to have our nation-states where we can hold people accountable. We need to do away with the protective evil umbrella that Nigeria spreads over the evil doers in our respective nations. We ought to stop pretending that we want Nigeria. Nigeria must break up. We all need to work towards this. It is the best option available.

I know breaking up Nigeria is a titanic task. I know most people are afraid to express this truism. I know most people are scared to contemplate this reality. But I am convinced that this is the DESTINY of Nigeria. I know that those who are benefiting from the Nigerian misery would resist. But we have to take a cue from Calvin Coolidge to be persistent and determined.

I call on the nations of Nigeria to begin their liberation from Lord Lugards contraption. The DESTINY of Nigeria is the freedom of all nations subjugated under its misnomer. Nigeria can never give us peace. It must break into pieces. It is Nigerias DESTINY.

"In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility - I welcome it."

-John F. Kennedy, January 20, 1960.

 Remi Oyeyemi
Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long-Bailey has claimed 'there is a racist double-standard' over how the British press has treated Meghan Markle.

Ms Long-Bailey, the so-called 'Corbyn continuity' candidate, vowed to 'fight' what she called a 'toxic combination of sexism and racism'.

The 40-year-old MP for Salford and Eccles tweeted: 'Let's be honest, there is a racist double-standard in how the press treat Meghan Markle.

Ms Long-Bailey (pictured on Saturday), the so-called 'Corbyn continuity' candidate, made links to Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott in a flurry of tweets that vowed to 'fight' a 'toxic combination of sexism and racism'

The 40-year-old MP for Salford and Eccles posted: 'Let's be honest, there is a racist double-standard in how the press treat Meghan Markle'

'Women of colour in public life are subject to bullying, harassment, disrespect and smears - and all the while are expected to be grateful that they're getting any attention at all.

'In our party we've seen how Diane Abbott has been vilified by the right wing press.

'Her litany of groundbreaking achievements - a welder's daughter who made it to Cambridge, becoming the first black woman in the House of Commons - are routinely ignored.

'The toxic combination of sexism and racism that runs rife through the right-wing press must be stopped.'

She added: 'As leader of the Labour Party, I will do everything I can to fight it.'

It comes a day after Meghan and Prince Harry opted to ditch their HRH titles as their split from the Royal Family was finalised.

It comes a day after Meghan and Prince Harry (left and right) opted to ditch their HRH titles as their split from the Royal Family was finalised

The Queen announced the changes in a heartfelt statement, adding the couple would forge a new life in Canada with baby Archie.

Ms Long-Bailey's claims fly in the face of Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly, who earlier rubbished the idea the Duchess of Sussex has been subjected to racist coverage by the British press.

Mr Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sunday the UK is 'one of the least racist, most open and welcoming countries in the world'.

Co-Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sunday Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has not been subject to racism

The Tory MP insisted Meghan and Harry's decision to step down as senior royals was down to the 'huge amount of media interest' the 38-year-old mother-of-one would have found 'really difficult to deal with'.

But when asked if Meghan was the victim of racism, Mr Cleverly added: 'I think this country is one of the least racist, one of the most open and welcoming countries in the world and that's reinforced by things like the British Attitudes Survey and a whole load of international surveys about people's acceptance of other races.

'But she was subjected to a huge amount of media interest and that can be really difficult to deal with.'

Last week Home Secretary Priti Patel also disregarded claims Meghan faced racist press coverage.

She rejected suggestions racism has driven negative media reports about the Duchess of Sussex, saying she had not seen 'things of that nature.'

The Home Secretary (pictured in London last week) rejected suggestions racism has driven negative media reports about the Duchess of Sussex saying she had not seen 'things of that nature'

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Ms Patel said: 'I'm not in that category at all where I believe there's racism at all.

'I think we live in a great country, a great society, full of opportunity, where people of any background can get on in life.'

Asked if the media had been in any way racist, she replied: 'I don't think so, no I certainly haven't seen that through any debates or commentary or things of that nature.'

Ms Long-Bailey this weekend defended her decision to speak out on abortion as she won the surprise backing of a top Tory for her stand.

In a defiant riposte, she hinted that her concerns had been 'misrepresented' in a bid to damage her bid to succeed Jeremy Corbyn.

Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long Bailey defended her decision to speak out on abortion as she won the surprise backing of a top Tory for her stand

There were also claims from fellow Catholic Labour MPs that she was the victim of attempts to use her faith to 'smear her'.

But it emerged that one of her own campaign team had suggested that people with 'regressive' views on abortion should not be Prime Minister.

She found herself at the centre of a bitter Labour row last week after appearing to back stricter abortion laws.

Responding to a questionnaire from local Catholic churches during the General Election campaign, she said that she did 'not agree' with current rules allowing women to terminate their child on disability grounds after 24 weeks.

She said she backed the Disability Rights Commission's view that 'the context in which parents choose whether to have a child should be one in which disability and non-disability are valued equally'.

The Salford MP has now defended her remarks and hinted at the 'Machiavellian' way the story emerged.


Soleimani is the product of the same historical events that have curbed popular sovereignty and democracy in the region.

Lorenzo Kamel is Associate Professor of History at the University of Turin and director of IAI's Research Studies.

A plethora of articles has been published in recent days on the US air strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Many authors claim that it is inexcusable to ignore the crimes of Soleimani. Others contend that his killing may harm the symphony of Iranian power that he projected like a conductor, and that the general is seen by the great majority of Arabs as responsible for ethnic cleansing of Arabs.

No less common is the opinion that Trumps decision to kill Soleimani was a reckless gamble.

What is missing in these and many other opinions or analyses published so far is context; that is, what Czech essayist Milan Kundera would call the weight of history.

To understand the present, we have to go back to the roots of the Iranian revolution of 1979, the role of Western countries in the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war, the outcomes of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, the circumstances that enabled the rise of Soleimani, and the consequences of the Trump administrations escalation against Iran.

A history of foreign intervention

The modern history of Iran is deeply intertwined with that of Western countries, which have repeatedly intervened in Iranian internal affairs and shaped contemporary Iranian politics.

In 1890, Shah Nasir al-Din granted English Major Gerald F Talbot a 50-year monopoly over the production, sales and exports of tobacco  a widely consumed product in Iran. This triggered the Tobacco Revolt of 1891-1892: the first form of organised resistance against Western expansionism in Persia, which paved the way for the emergence of Shiism as an insurrectionary movement against colonialism.

In 1921, the British backed a coup against the Iranian government under the weak Shah Ahmad of the Qajar dynasty. The coup was led by army officer Reza Khan and was meant to install a stronger ruler in Iran, sympathetic to London and able to resist the attacks of Soviet-backed forces.

The origins of the Pahlavi dynasty, which ruled Iran until the Islamic revolution of 1979, can be traced to the 1921 coup detat backed by the British authorities. After suppressing all forms of opposition and consolidating power, in 1925 Khan was crowned Shah of Iran, thus founding the Pahlavi dynasty.

In 1953, the CIA and MI6 put together a plot to overthrow the democratically elected government of Mohammed Mosaddegh, who had pushed for the nationalisation of the Anglo-Iranian oil company. London saw this decision as a serious threat to its interests. Washington, for its part, was also interested in Iranian oil and feared that Irans powerful communist party, Tudeh  which had some interests in common with Mosaddegh  might take power.

These events laid the key foundations for the most popular revolution in modern and contemporary history, generally known as the Islamic Revolution of 1979. In the decades and years preceding it, in fact, millions of Iranians felt the need to repel external interference and to oppose the Pahlavi regime and its attempts to erase dissent.

The rise of Iran

Probably the single biggest enabler of Iranian power projection abroad has been the US and its policies in the region. The so-called war on terror the Bush administration launched in 2001 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in many ways helped Iran spread its influence.

During the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Tehran supported the fight against the Taliban, a regime dominated by majority Pashtuns that imposed a harsh Sunni Islamic government. Then, when the Bush administration turned its gaze to Iraq, Iran welcomed that development too.

At the time, the US defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, declared that, when it came to weapons of mass destruction, we know where they are, while the current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified to the US Congress that There is no question whatsoever that Saddam is seeking, is working, is advancing towards to the development of nuclear weapons [..] If you take out Saddams regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.

However, the invasion of Iraq and the war on terror in general brought devastation to the region. According to US State Department data, between 2001 and 2014, incidents of terrorism increased 3800 percent  from 355 in 2001 to 13,500 in 2014. Between 2001 and 2014, deaths from terrorist attacks increased six-fold, half of them occurring in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The latter had historically played the role of bulwark against the spread of Persian and then Iranian influence in the region. The collapse of Saddam Husseins regime enabled the Iranian projection of power and the proliferation of Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East.

In other words, some of the players that created the main structural conditions for Irans resurgence in the region are demanding today that the international community act in order to stem Tehrans power.

Enter Soleimani

It is within this context that Qassem Soleimani built his career and came to be one of the main agents of Iranian influence abroad.

Soleimani joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) aged 22. A year later, Saddam Hussein launched an attack on Iran, trigging an eight-year war. The Iraqi dictator was motivated mainly by fears that the 1979 Iranian Revolution would encourage an uprising among Iraqs suppressed Shia majority.

While Iran was almost completely isolated, Iraq was heavily supported by the US, Saudi Arabia and a few European countries. Recently declassified CIA files prove that the US helped Saddam Hussein with intelligence, while being aware that he was using nerve agents, including mustard and sarin gas, against Iranian soldiers and civilians.

Soleimani volunteered for the front and quickly gained a reputation for his bravery on the battlefield. Throughout the war, he steadily rose through the ranks of the IRGC.

Soleimani remained relatively unknown until 2003, when he was tasked with supporting Shia militias in the region. In this new role, his popularity and appeal grew hand-in-hand with the collapse and fracturing of Iraq, which eventually created the conditions for the emergence of the ISIL (ISIS) armed group.

The rise of ISIL, which as David Kilcullen, a former adviser to US General David Petraeus, pointed out would not have existed if we hadnt invaded Iraq, enabled Soleimani to further entrench Iranian influence in the region.

In Iraq, Soleimani was tasked with mobilising Iranian-backed militias in the fight against ISIL.

In Syria, where the US supported rebel groups who were found to have committed violations of international humanitarian law, he led the effort  with Russian help  to prop up the regime of Bashar al-Assad, while it continued to commit war crimes against its people, including killing hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Soleimani thus intervened on behalf of a brutal dictator in Syria and supported various armed groups across the Middle East, which have been involved in crimes against civilians. He was hardly a paladin or a symbol of justice or peace.

And yet, as an ancient Yiddish proverb goes: A half-truth is a full lie.

The life of Soleimani is firmly rooted in the history of his land and region. It is the product of some wrong decisions, but also, if not especially, of a century of oppression, external interferences, and a long-standing quest for justice and dignity.

Beyond Soleimanis death

The people in Iraq and the broader region deserve to live without suffering nefarious external interferences, both from Iran (which shares a border, as well as cultural and religious ties with Iraq) and the US (which is some 10,000km away). They deserve to live in a state where the rule of law prevails, free from violence by state and non-state actors.

But Soleimanis death will not help to bring such change to the region.

In fact, it shifted attention away from the protests that took place in Iraq, Lebanon and other countries in the last few months, while giving more political momentum to the most conservative elements in Iran.

All this will result in a further stifling of internal dissent and will encourage Tehran to continue to support and grow its proxies in the Middle East.

Soleimanis assassination also sent a message to authoritarian regimes in the region that they are safe from American aggression or regime change tactics as long as they act in line with US interests. In other words, they can kill and dismember journalists in their consulates abroad, use starvation against civilians as a war tactic, or carry out widespread crimes under international law and human rights violations, but their nations will not suffer economic sanctions and civilian and military leaders will be safe from US drones.

Most people in the region are fully aware of how dangerous these dynamics are, and are willing and ready to oppose them. Iranians are a good example. They have witnessed the disastrous consequences of Western interference in the region, and vehemently reject it.

At the same time, they want to shape a different Iran, one that  in the words of protesting Iranian students  the students of Amir Kabir University on January 12, will not rush into the arms of imperialism due to its fear of despotism, and one that in the name of resistance and fighting against imperialism will not legitimise despotism.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
Anyone with information about these or other crimes can call the appropriate Crimestoppers number. Callers can be anonymous; a reward of as much as $1,000 will be paid for information leading to an arrest.



Crimestoppers of Morgan, Scott and Cass Counties

Submit tips anonymously at tipsubmit.com, by calling 217-243-7300 or by text messaging CRIMES (274637) with payout as the first word of the tip.

 Crimestoppers is seeking information to assist Department of Conservation Police in finding the person responsible for killing a swan in rural Franklin.

On Jan. 5, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources received a report of a mute swan that had been fatally shot on property in the 1000 block of Orleans Road.



Two Rivers Crime Stoppers

Serves Calhoun, Greene and Jersey counties

Submit tips to 1-800-300-2590



Schuyler County Crimestoppers

Call 217-322-3326



Pike County Crimestoppers

Call 217-285-1500



Wanted on warrants

The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to the various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated.

Morgan County

 Kellen D. Dixon, 30, of 819 Galena Drive is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on two counts of resisting a peace officer.

He is a white male standing 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes.
Global Executive Search Firm Expands International Footprint with Office in Tel Aviv

DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingsley Gate Partners, a leading global executive search firm, announced that it has acquired Everest Search Partners, an Israeli-based boutique executive search firm. Jeff Shapiro and Noam Eisenberg have joined the company as Senior Partners and are based in Tel Aviv. The acquisition of Everest Search Partners represents an important addition to Kingsley Gate Partners' international reach and expansion.

Everest Search Partners specializes in recruiting world-class CxO and VP executives across the technology and life sciences spectrum. The company concentrates on Israeli-founded companies and has successfully partnered with several Israeli 'unicorns' over the past decade in the market.

"The addition of Jeff and Noam to our team cements Kingsley Gate Partners' presence as the go-to, senior-level recruitment firm for any Israeli company interested in global expansion as well as a professional executive search process in Israel," stated Martin Mendelsohn, Senior Partner with the organization who has been working with Israeli clients in the region for the past decade. "Noam and Jeff are world-class professionals with extensive search experience and industry credibility. We are very pleased that they have elected to join our firm".

Jeff's career in executive search spans two decades. He specializes in recruiting Board Director, CxOs, and VPs of Sales, Marketing, Business Development and Engineering. Previously, he worked at global search firms, including CTPartners, Korn/Ferry and Egon Zehnder, where he was responsible for engagement delivery and client management.

Noam brings over 20 years of professional experience in executive search and has earned a reputation among his clients as trusted counsel and adviser, and project delivery expert. He partners with Principal investors and their portfolio companies on global mandates across the CxO spectrum, in addition to Board Director recruitment. Before founding Everest Search Partners in 2005, Noam led his own executive search practice where he worked with leading VCs and Boards to build global management teams for early and mid-stage growth companies.

Noam & Jeff stated, "Kingsley Gate Partners is at the forefront of the fast-changing executive recruitment landscape. The company has built some of the most impressive analytics technology we have seen in the industry and combine it with world-class search process methodology. We know that we can leverage this to enhance the service that we deliver to our clients and are thrilled to be part of this exciting team."

About Kingsley Gate Partners

Transforming the world of retained executive search, Kingsley Gate Partners leverages the scientific interviewing approach of its Synchronous Fit framework, deep industry insights of a world-class cadre of consultants and state-of-the-art technology to deliver enhanced accountability, accuracy, velocity and transparency ensuring a lasting strategic fit between our placements and clients. Headquartered in Dallas, the partnership employs search consultants worldwide with expertise in private equity, life sciences, financial services, technology, manufacturing and professional services. The firm works with best-of-breed organizations across the globe, having completed searches in 29 countries.
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Farmers in central China's Henan Province have been compensated 1.76 billion yuan (256.6 million U.S. dollars) for their losses in raising pigs in 2019, a local insurance watchdog said.

The value accounted for more than 60 percent of total agricultural insurance payouts last year, according to figures released by the provincial banking and insurance regulatory bureau.

The compensations were paid to offset the losses of farmers, help them resume pig farming and stabilize the pork market, said the bureau.

About 467,000 pig farmers were compensated as pig production was affected by African swine fever and other factors in Henan, a major pork supply base in China.

Statistics show that the pig stock in the province reached 33.63 million units in the first three quarters of 2019, down 24.7 percent year on year.
When I first saw Jea-Hyoun, in a medical meet-cute straight out of a romantic comedy, she was being evaluated for thyroid cancer. I was an allergy/immunology fellow harried by a pile of paperwork. She was a patient, in the same building where she saw patients of her own as a psychiatry and family practice resident, preparing to see the specialist. We made awkward small talk in the hallway before she was ushered into the exam room. Fortunately, the thyroid ultrasound was negative. Also fortunately, she returned my Facebook message. Weve been married for three years.

Medicine has since suffused into our daily lives. We quiz each other on the identity of strange rashes over breakfast. While we care for our daughter, we muse about the ways our respective specialties intersect, like the psychological impact of food allergies. Preparing dinner, well chat about how our days went. While I listen to her, I feel proud of her work, yet also envious of her serene sense of fulfillment. Shes just happier with her job. Partly its a function of our personalities, and our reasons for becoming doctors in the first place. But its also a result of the respective environments where we practice.

Jea-Hyoun works as a psychiatrist for the homeless. Once a week, her office is a van parked next to a strip mall. Many of her patients have endured unspeakable trauma. Medication compliance is spotty, and there are multiple layers of bureaucracy. Yet in her system, she never worries about billing, or whether her patients will take their business elsewhere.

I, on the other hand, work for a large multispecialty organization. My well-off patients have great insurance that covers incredibly expensive medications and procedures. In this environment, making people better is important, but so is generating that dystopian measure of reimbursement called relative value units (RVUs). The business of health care is deeply entwined with the health care itself.

Our job choices reflect our personalities. I am realistic, though Jea-Hyoun would say Im cynical. She, in contrast, is unfailingly optimistic, the kind of person who dances in a rainstorm. I fixate on the square footage of the house; she contemplates the love of the people inside. Perhaps not surprisingly, we entered medicine for very different reasons.

Since elementary school, I aspired to become a physician. I had a nebulous goal of helping people. Throughout my young adulthood, I was dead set on a goal that was not achieved until my early 30s, when I completed fellowship. The entire time, I rarely stepped back to consider the larger picture of why I pursued medicine with such fervor. And on the occasions that I did, the glittering promise of stability was enough to keep me going.

Jea-Hyoun had a more peripatetic path after college. She educated seniors in LAs Koreatown and volunteered at an orphanage in Mozambique. In medical school, she made several trips to Haiti. Distraught by the inequality she witnessed, and driven by a sense of social justice, her goal was helping the underserved. She dreamt of opening a clinic in Port-au-Prince.

We ultimately settled in the heart of Silicon Valley to be closer to our parents. Jea-Hyoun started working for the county, while I took a job in private practice. At work, her primary metric is improved mental well-being; mine is how much I bill. We both treat patients, but Im the only one who sees them with dollar signs above their heads. Because of all this, she has an internal sense of purpose that I lack.

The solution is simple: I could quit my own job, and if theyll have me, I can join her. Doing so could resolve this existential crisis. But I have never given it serious consideration. At the end of the day, Im not willing to make the financial sacrifices necessary to do so. To my chagrin, the practical wins out over the aspirational.

At the same time, my wife has had to adjust as well. Instead of living out her Paul Farmer fantasies, she got a cantankerous husband, a child, and a house in suburbia. Yet shes only occasionally been wistful about an alternate life. The truth is that marriage sometimes involves sacrificing long-held desires. At present, raising our family, serving the homeless in our community: This is enough. In fact, to her, its more than enough.

For now, finding the proper balance between money and meaning, for me at least, remains a work in progress. Jea-Hyoun has taught me, though, that the two dont have to be mutually exclusive. For instance, amid the bumblebee busyness of a clinic day, I can still stop for a moment to savor the small but consequential victories: three months without an asthma exacerbation, or outgrowing an egg allergy.

Part of the marriage pact is the idea that we both deserve to derive meaning from our work. Harboring jealousy towards her is obviously harmful to our relationship. Instead, Im fortunate to have married a person whose career is also her passion. Indeed, her idealism was one of the reasons why I fell in love with her in the first place.

Occasionally Ill tell Jea-Hyoun about the latest retirements in our medical groups weekly news bulletin. Often I have no idea who the retiring physicians are, but I do know that these brief notes dont encapsulate all the lives that theyve touched. Well project my own career three decades out, when my own retirement notice will be listed. Some upstart doctor just beginning his career will read it, give it two seconds of thought, and move on with his day. Our conclusion is that aside from a handful of people, no one else will care. The money, the stress, the prestige, all of that will melt away at the end, and the only thing Ill be left with is an internal sense of whether it was all worth it.

I want, need for it to be worth it. For my wife, for myself, for both of us, together.

Charles Feng is an allergy and immunology physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has sought a report from the state government for moving the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act without informing him.

The office of Raj Bhavan has sought the report from the Chief Secretary of the state.

"The Governor's office has sought a report from the Chief Secretary for not informing him about the state's move to approach the apex court against the CAA," a top source from Raj Bhavan told PTI on Sunday.

The LDF government had on January 13 moved the top court challenging the Act and had sought to declare it as ultra vires of the Constitution.

Attacking Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Khan had earlier said the public affairs and the business of the government cannot be run in accordance with the "whims of an individual or a political party" and everyone has to respect the rules.

Kerala was the first state to pass a resolution in the state assembly against the CAA and to knock on the doors of the top court, challenging the new law.

The Governor, who has made his displeasure known public, had told reporters in Delhi that as per Rules of Business Section 34(2) sub section 5, the state government should inform the Governor on matters that affect the relations between the state and the Centre.

However, the state has maintained that it had not violated any rules and no deliberate attempts had been made to challenge the authority of the Governor's office.

Law Minister A K Balan had said on Saturday that the government would clear all apprehensions raised by Khan.

A day after CPI(M) mouthpiece Deshabhimani attacked the Governor in a hard hitting editorial, party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Sunday accused Khan of unnecessarily interfering in the day-to-day affairs of the government.

"The Governor is defaming a state government which was elected by the people of the state.

The post of Governor is not to defame the state government," he said in an article in the party newspaper.

Meanwhile, Khan, who was scheduled to attend a public function at Kozhikode on Sunday, cancelled it, citing security reasons.

The Governor was scheduled to attend a session at the Kerala Literary Festival (KLF).

"The organisers told us it would be difficult for them to follow the security protocol for the Governor as the KLF is a function which is being attended by thousands of people. They requested us to change the date,"Raj Bhavan sources said.

There were reports suggesting that the Governor cancelled the event, fearing protest from anti-CAA agitators, especially at a literary function.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Civilians flee Idlib de-escalation zone

Around 27,000 civilians have fled their homes falling inside the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria over the last three days due to attacks of regime and its allies.

The attacks of Bashar al-Assad regime, Russia and Iran-backed terrorist groups in residential areas east and south of Aleppo province continue to displace thousands of Syrians.

CIVILIANS LEFT THEIR HOMES IN SEVERAL TOWNS

According to Syria's Response Coordination Group, the displaced civilians headed to areas near the Turkish border due to the attacks which violate the cease-fire agreement between Turkey and Russia.

Mohammad Hallaj, the director of the group, told Anadolu Agency that the civilians left their homes in Darat Izzah district and several towns, including Khan Tuman, Khan al-Asal, Kafr Naya, and al-Qasimia due to attacks supported by Russian air strikes.

Due to the increasing displaced population, the tent camps in Idlib fail to meet the need of war-weary Syrians as there is not enough space to set up more tents. Thousands of families are currently in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
It now looks like full-scale war between Iran and the United States has been averted. For the moment, at least. So, was the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, Irans top military commander, a smart move by U.S. President Donald Trump?

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 18/1/2020 (724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CP In this picture released by the official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, worshippers chant slogans during Friday prayers ceremony, as a banner show Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, left, and Iraqi Shiite senior militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in Iraq in a U.S. drone attack on Jan. 3, and a banner which reads in Persian: "Death To America, "at Imam Khomeini Grand Mosque in Tehran, Iran. (The Associated Press)

It now looks like full-scale war between Iran and the United States has been averted. For the moment, at least. So, was the assassination of Qassem Soleimani, Irans top military commander, a smart move by U.S. President Donald Trump?

In the aftermath of Irans ballistic missile attacks in Iraq and Tehrans seeming willingness to "stand down," some commentators are arguing in the affirmative. I couldnt disagree more.

Yes, its true that Soleimani was a violent instigator in the Middle East and had a great deal of blood on his hands. Backers of Trump also stipulate that removing him from the battlefield had been a long-standing U.S. military objective and his recent travels in the region made that more permissible.

His demise was long overdue, they maintain. He needed to be stopped. Furthermore, the targeted killing of Soleimani sent a powerful message to the religious mullahs in Tehran to think twice.

But surely if his purported attack against U.S. military personnel and assets was "imminent," then Soleimani being dead or alive is really immaterial. In other words, the oft-heard deadly plan, if imminent, must have been well-advanced before his termination.

To be sure, no one seriously thinks that Soleimanis killing would stop Iran from carrying out such a plan. And are we to believe that his replacement, Gen. Esmail Ghaani, would not move forward with attacking Americans? I dont think so.

This was a highly questionable assassination  based on pretty thin intelligence if you listen to members of Congress  by an impulsive U.S. president who was annoyed by pro-Iranian agitators storming the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. Even senior Pentagon officials were stunned to learn that Trump had agreed to take out Soleimani. They figured  wrongly, as it turned out  that Trump would never choose such an extreme option.

Whether an extreme option or not, which country has actually come out farther ahead? Is the U.S. standing in the region  politically, militarily and diplomatically  bolstered? I would argue the Iranians are now in a stronger position overall.

Indeed, should we now expect Iran to end any indirect or proxy-initiated attacks against U.S. targets? Will it suddenly halt its use of asymmetrical warfare?

Its highly unlikely the tragic downing of the Ukrainian airliner, killing 57 Canadians and even reaching into Winnipeg, was a demonstration of these unconventional tactics. In fact, Iranian authorities, calling it an "unforgivable mistake," have now acknowledged that one of their air-defence units unintentionally shot down UIA Flight 752.

It is worth emphasizing, though, that Trumps ill-advised actions have significantly strengthened the hand of the hard-line theocrats in Tehran (and undermined a fledgling pro-democracy movement). Killing Soleimani has only rallied the people around the regime (tempered only by the aircraft downing), served as a major distraction from pressing domestic ills and punishing sanctions, and given the government a freer hand to engage in additional attacks against the U.S. It was an unforced error by Trump and a gift to the Iranian regime.

Oddly, Trump has raised the prospect of negotiating a new nuclear deal with the Iranians. Hell has a better chance of freezing over, Id say.

If anything, Tehran will be emboldened by recent developments to accelerate its nuclear weapons program. It has already said as much. Why would it do otherwise  especially as it looks toward Kim Jong-un in North Korea?

Moreover, the Iraqi government, hobbled by internal dissent and Iranian influence, has been weakened further by Trumps assassination of Soleimani. It is just barely hanging on. There is even serious talk about Baghdad demanding that all U.S. military forces in Iraq leave the country.

That, of course, would be very good news indeed for Americas enemies. For instance, how will all this impact the Islamic State terrorist group?

In many ways, it could be in a stronger position to reconstitute itself in Iraq and then turn against the U.S. Washingtons ally in Baghdad would also be enfeebled and Irans hold on the country would only be fortified as it repelled a revitalized IS.

Lastly, Trumps antics have served to strengthen Russias role in the region. Indeed, he has certainly opened the door to Vladimir Putin to fill the political and strategic vacuum created by a diminishing U.S. presence.

The events of the past few days, then, highlight once again that Iran is committed to playing the long game, while Trump is only loyal to advancing his short-term electoral interests. But the cost of Trumps myopic thinking to U.S. long-term interests in the region will be enormous. Rather than actually minimizing the chance of war in the Middle East, Trump has made that prospect more likely in the coming years.

 Peter McKenna is professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.
When Parliament makes bad laws, they end up in courts where judges do what the lawmakers should be doing, former vice president Hamid Ansari said on Saturday.

Addressing an event here, he also said that good laws are made when Parliament and assemblies are not called to endorse the views of the ruler of the day.

Ansari lamented that Parliament and assembly sessions have become more of a ritual.

As we make bad laws, sooner or later they end up in some high court or the Supreme Court and what should have been done by Parliament is being done by judges, he said adding that such a fault can be corrected.

The former Rajya Sabha chairman said that Parliament, which earlier used to meet for 10 days, is now sitting for 60 days per annum, while in other countries legislatures meet for 120 to 150 days.

Ansari also said that for any law or rule to be framed, ample time is needed for discussion but parliament and assembly sessions have today become more of a ritual where you meet, say a few things, stay a few days together and go.

The former vice president, who was speaking at the event Sansad 2020, stressed that consent of people and expression of wishes of people are essential in a democracy.

He also said the consultation process has to be fair and open in a democratic system.
By PTI

ALAPPUZHA: In a rare wedding ceremony held in a Mosque, a Hindu couple tied the nuptial knot and exchanged vows here on Sunday.

The marriage hosted by the Cheruvally Muslim Jamaat mosque near here, was held according to hindu rituals in front of a lighted traditional lamp with guests from both the communities participating.

READ HERE | Kerala Mosque plays brides guardian, hosts Hindu wedding

The Bride Anju and the groom Sarath exchanged garlands and performed rituals in the presence of a priest at the mosque premises, which was decked up for the rare occasion signifying communal amity.

A vegetarian sadya was also held at the premises.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Facebook to congratulate the young couple and said the state has always upheld and showcased such beautiful examples of religious harmony.

An example of unity from Kerala.



The Cheravally Muslim Jamat Mosque hosted a Hindu wedding of Asha & Sharath. The Mosque came to their help after Asha's mother sought help from them.



Congratulations to the newlyweds, families, Mosque authorities & the people of Cheravally. pic.twitter.com/nTX7QuBl2a  Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) January 19, 2020

The wedding was held at a time when a concerted attempt was being made to divide people in the name of religion, Vijayan said conveying his wishes to the couple, their families and the mosque committee.

"Kerala is one and we will stay united" he said and shared a photograph of the wedding ceremony. Since the bride hailed from a poor economic background, Anju's mother had sought help from the mosque committee to conduct the wedding, which they readily agreed.

The Mosque committee also gifted ten sovereigns of gold and Rs two lakh to the bride as a wedding gift.

The marriage was held as per Hindu rituals.

Food for around 1,000 people was also arranged, Nujumudeen Alummoottil, secretary of Cheruvally Jamaat committee said.
I am astounded by the governments recent arguments in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Not only is its logic factually flawed, but its also deeply disturbing. Now, governments the world over distort facts, and the outcome can be disillusioning. But in this case, it has possibly gone further. It is, arguably, self-contradictory.

Lets start with the home ministers statement last week: Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Christian refugees from Pakistan have as much right over India as you and I. They are the sons and daughters of India. The country will embrace them. This is based on the fact we were one country before 1947. But then what about the Muslims of Pakistan? Werent they part of the same country too?

Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of our Nation, opposed partition on the grounds all Indians, including Muslims, were one people. Is Amit Shah refuting or turning his back on the Mahatmas belief?

In 2015, Ram Madhav, a general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told Al Jazeera he believes India, Pakistan and Bangladesh will reunite to form Akhand Bharat . Even though his party claimed this is his personal view  it was, however, part of the BJPs manifesto in 1952  read carefully what he actually said: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) still believes that one day these parts, which have for historical reasons separated only 60 years ago, will again, through popular goodwill, come together and Akhand Bharat will be created. As a RSS member I also hold on to that view.

Now, tell me, if Akhand Bharat ever came to be, what would happen to the Muslims of Pakistan? In Amit Shahs eyes, they are not the sons and daughters of India. They do not have as much right over this country as you and I. So, would we push them into the sea?

Next is the argument made by the prime minister that CAA will expose Pakistans persecution of minorities. As he put it: Its the result of our initiative that Pakistan will now have to answer why they have been persecuting minorities for the last 70 years (otherwise) the world would not have known about the kind of atrocities that were perpetrated on minorities in Pakistan.

Actually, the world is only too aware of how deplorably Pakistans minorities are treated. Asia Bibi was an international cause celebre but only the most recent. The ill-treatment of Abdus Salam, the countrys first Nobel laureate, was perhaps the earliest. In fact, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom never fails to castigate Pakistan. In 2019, it was designated as a country of particular concern. Actually, the Commission has come to that conclusion every year since 2002. In 2018, the State Department concurred. So, clearly, Indias discriminatory CAA is not needed to draw attention to Pakistans ill-treatment of its religious minorities.

Finally, has the number of Hindus in Pakistan reduced in recent years? And, are they the worst-suffering religious minority? On both counts the answer is no. According to Pakistans census, in West Pakistan, in 1951  after partition migrations  3.44% of the countrys population was Hindu. In 1961, that reduced to 2.83. Thereafter, its risen  3.25 in 1972, 3.30 in 1981, and 3.70 in 1998.

While Pakistani Hindus are undeniably ill-treated, there are reasons to believe the treatment of other religious minorities is worse. The BBCs Reality Check team says, the majority of blasphemy cases up to 2018 were filed against Ahmadiyas or other Muslims, not Christians and Hindus. Perhaps the worst sufferers are the four million Ahmadiyas. In 1974, they were declared non-Muslim. General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haqs 1984 ordinance forbade community worship or calling their places of worship mosques. While Hindus have risen to be chief justices, ministers and members of parliament, thats been denied to Ahmadiyas for over 45 years.

Now, remember, the Ahmadiya faith originated in Qadian, in the Gurdaspur district of our Punjab. Doesnt that make them sons and daughters of India? Dont they have as much right over India as you and I?

Karan Thapar is the author of Devils Advocate: The Untold Story

The views expressed are personal

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A firetruck is seen parked next to a building affected by fire, in Vejprty, Czech Republic January 19, 2020 in this picture obtained from social media. David Dvoracek/via REUTERS

Eight people have died in a fire at a mental health facility in the Czech Republic.

The fire, in the north-western town of Vejprty, broke out early on Sunday, the regional fire service said.

A further 30 people were injured in the blaze, with one in a critical condition.

Rescuers from neighbouring Germany came to help their Czech colleagues who were not able to use helicopters due to bad weather.

Czech prime minister Andrej Babis offered his condolences to the families of those who died.
WASHINGTON  Cory Booker wont be the Democratic presidential nominee this fall.

But he could still be on the national ticket.

Hes on everybodys short list to be the potential VP pick, Democratic consultant Antjuan Seawright said.

The New Jersey senator, who dropped his White House bid last week, checks a lot of boxes. Political experts say he would bring moderation to a party shifting to the left, youth in a field of 70-somethings, an ability to pull people out of their seats through the force of his rhetoric, and much-needed diversity to a party relying heavily on votes from minorities.

The Democratic Party, because it has cultivated an image and a brand of diversity, youd be really hard-pressed to field a presidential ticket that included two straight white men, said Andra Gillespie, a political science professor at Emory University and author of a book that focused on the 2002 Newark mayoral race between Booker and incumbent Sharpe James.

Party activists, in particular, would try to hold the presidential candidates accountable, she said. Whether or not the ticket is a white man and a white woman, or includes a white person and a person of color, thats likely going to be the norm for the foreseeable future.

Bookers presidential run didnt win him many percentage points in the polls, but it expanded his national footprint and showed the other Democratic candidates what he could bring to their campaigns.

He is a great campaigner, well liked and respected, he is smart and experienced and, most important, ready to be president, if necessary, Democratic consultant Peter Fenn said.

Perhaps most important would be Bookers attempt to do in the second spot on the ticket what he said he could do as the partys presidential nominee: Bring minority voters to the polls in Obamaesque numbers.

As Booker often said on the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton would be president today if blacks came to the polls in the same numbers that they did for Barack Obama four years earlier.

Like another African-American presidential candidate who fell short, Kamala Harris, Booker has what it takes to energize and mobilize voters of color, Seawright said. We need somebody to pull them out of the stands and get them onto the political playing field.

Booker would bring ideological balance to a ticket headed a more liberal candidate such as Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, and his views would be in sync with the partys more moderate wing represented by Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar or Pete Buttigieg.

Gillespie said a Biden-Booker ticket, with the old white political veteran naming a relatively young person of color to run with, would almost be a mirror issue of why Joe Biden got selected by Barack Obama.

Granted, Biden and Booker did clash during the campaign, but their arguments were mild in comparison to other intra-party spats.

And for the most part, Booker didnt attack his opponents but rather sought to run a positive campaign of unity.

He really tried to be someone on the stage who was not about attacking other Democrats, said Krista Jenkins, a political science professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University and poll director. He doesnt have the baggage that comes with being sharp-elbowed on the debate stage.

Even in defeat, he handled himself well during the campaign, Gillespie said. He didnt make any enemies. He doesnt leave the campaign with people unimpressed or less impressed. While him having to drop out is certainly a disappointment for him and his team, I dont think he did anything to endanger his political career.

Two leading oddsmakers  US-Bookies.com, which owns https://bet-nj.com and aggregates data from major bookmakers, and sportsbettingdime.com, which compiles them from betting sites  give Booker a better shot at vice president than they did when he was running for president.

However, both have Harris as the favorite, with Booker trailing several others, including candidates still in the race for president.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

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Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Heavy snow hampers search for missing S. Korean, Nepal trekkers



Kathmandu, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2020



Heavy snow, chilling winds and poor visibility hampered the search Sunday for four South Koreans and three Nepalis caught in an avalanche in the popular Annapurna region of the Himalayas, officials said.

Relatives of the missing Koreans have arrived in Kathmandu alongside several officials sent by Seoul to help with the emergency rescue efforts, Ang Dorjee Sherpa of the Korean Alpine Federation told AFP.

The missing group was near the Annapurna base camp around 3,230 metres (10,600 feet) above sea level when the avalanche struck after heavy snowfall on Friday.

"Search and rescue efforts are underway but weather and snow in the area has made it difficult to make much progress," said Mira Acharya from Nepal's tourism department.

Helicopters were sent out on Saturday to rescue about 200 people stranded around Annapurna and other nearby mountains after the incident.

Photos from the area shared on social media showed guesthouses along the trekking route blanketed in a thick layer of snow.

Tek Gurung, a guesthouse owner aiding in the search operation, said more than two metres of snow (6.6 feet) had fallen on the hiking trails.

"We have been searching since yesterday but have not found anything yet. It is very windy and snowy here, to search the snow-covered areas on foot is difficult," Gurung told AFP over the phone.

"There are still masses of snow falling from above."

Six of the missing were part of the same expedition, while one Nepali porter was escorting a different group.

The four foreigners -- two men and two women -- were part of an 11-member team of South Korean nationals.

"The rest of the team are unhurt and have safely come down. We are coordinating to make the search operation effective," said Dilip Gurung of the tourism management committee in Chhomrong, which lies on the trekking route.

Education officials in Seoul said they were part of a team of volunteer teachers working with children in Nepal.

Two more South Koreans were due to arrive in Nepal on Sunday to help with the search, the country's foreign ministry said.

Sherpa said it had snowed heavily around Annapurna in recent days, making the trek risky.

"The weather and snow got worse and, feeling it was becoming dangerous and difficult, they decided to turn. As they were heading back the avalanche hit," Sherpa told AFP on Saturday.

Annapurna is an avalanche-prone and technically difficult mountain range with a higher death rate than Everest, the world's highest peak.

Thousands of trekkers visit the route every year for its stunning views of the Himalayas.

A snowstorm killed about 40 people on the circuit in 2014, in one of the biggest trekking tragedies to hit Nepal.
World leaders pledge not supply weapons to warring parties as peace negotiations in Germany bring all sides together.

Countries with interests in Libyas long-running conflict agreed to provide no further military support to the warring parties while a ceasefire lasts.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the announcement at Sundays peace summit in Berlin after about four hours of talks at the chancellery.

We agreed on a comprehensive plan forward, Merkel said. I can say that all participants worked really constructively together.

We all agree that we should respect the arms embargo and that the arms embargo should be controlled more strongly than it has been in the past.

Leaders of Libyas warring sides and foreign powers met on ways to end the long-running conflict in the oil-rich North African country.

The head of Tripolis internationally recognised government, Fayez al-Sarraj, and his rival, renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, attended the UN-backed gathering in the German capital, the first such event since 2018.

Haftar must end his aggressive stance to pave the way for a political process, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the summit.

To implement the other stages of the political process and solution, Haftars aggressive stance must come to an end, Erdogan said in comments broadcast on Turkish television at the start of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday hit out against foreign troop deployments in war-ravaged Libya, saying such intervention only serves to fuel the conflict.

Voicing his acute concerns over the arrival of Syrian and foreign fighters in the city of Tripoli, Macron said that must end.

Also in Berlin were Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Other countries invited were the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, China and the Republic of Congo.

Leaders from the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League also attended.

Merkel previously said enforcing a UN arms embargo on Libya would be a priority at the summit attended by the leading parties in Libyas war, as well as representatives from their foreign backers and other nations.

It will be extremely difficult to see how Berlin can convince all the parties to stop providing weapons to the warring factions and stop interfering in Libya when they have different agendas, Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Berlin, said.

Haftar is backed by the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and, most recently, Russian mercenaries. France has also been accused of giving him some support.

Turkey strongly supports the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), and its parliament approved a motion to send troops to Libya earlier this month.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes Republic of the Congos President Denis Sassou Nguesso at the beginning of the Libya summit in Berlin [Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters]

Fragile ceasefire

The conference is the latest attempt to restore stability and peace to Libya, which has been splintered between competing factions and militias since former leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed during a NATO-supported uprising in 2011.

The deeply divided country currently has two rival administrations: The UN-recognised GNA and another allied with Haftar in the eastern city of Tobruk.

As with previous failed attempts at securing a lasting ceasefire, Haftar, who in April last year launched an offensive to take Tripoli, will be centre stage as international powers hope to put pressure on him to continue a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey that has largely held for one week.

The warring sides earlier this month agreed to the ceasefire, though Haftar dramatically departed talks in Moscow on January 12 before signing the formalised agreement with al-Sarraj.

Al-Sarraj cast doubt on Haftars agenda hours before the start of the conference.

Long experience makes us doubt the intentions, seriousness and commitment of the other side, whom everyone know seeks powers at any price, al-Sarraj told the German press agency dpa.

He vowed to defend Tripoli should the Berlin conference end inconclusively and Haftar resume his military campaign for the city.

Turning off the tap

Eastern-based forces loyal to Haftar escalated the conflict on Friday when allied tribesmen shut down eastern oil ports, cutting oil production by 800,000 barrels per day and crippling Tripolis main source of income.





The move was a protest against Turkeys decision to send troops to shore up the GNA.

Haftar wants the armed factions in western Libya to disband and has called for a maritime and military deal between the GNA and Turkey to be scrapped.

Underlining the stakes involved, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Europe and those players who are influential in the region have all been called to Berlin, because we have to make sure Libya doesnt become a second Syria.

The conference can be the first step to peace for Libya, Maas told Bild newspaper.

Speaking to reporters at an Istanbul airport before leaving to attend the talks, Erdogan on Sunday said he hoped for an important step to cement the fragile ceasefire and a political solution.

In a column published on Politico on the eve of the talks, Erdogan had urged Europe to stand united behind al-Sarrajs government, as Tripolis fall could leave fertile ground for armed groups such as ISIL or al-Qaeda to get back on their feet.

A fighter loyal to the UN-recognised Libyan GNA south of Tripoli on January 12 when a ceasefire was signed [File: Mahmud Turkia/AFP]

The UN hopes all parties will sign on to a plan to refrain from interference and commit to a truce that leads to a lasting end to hostilities, according to a draft of a final communique seen by AFP news agency.

The document also urges all parties to re-commit to a much-violated UN arms embargo and raises the prospect of political, inter-Libyan talks in Geneva at the end of the month.

The draft communique calls on all parties to recognise Libyan state oil firm NOC as the sole entity authorised to sell Libyan crude, and urges them to refrain from hostilities against oil production facilities, Reuters news agency reported.

What the Berlin conference is trying to do is get an agreement between the states meddling in Libya to stop their support [of] the warring parties, Wolfram Lacher, a political analyst, told Al Jazeera.

The problem is Western states are not ready to put pressure on Haftars foreign supporters, particularly the UAE, so the promises that the foreign meddlers will make in Berlin ring hollow, he said.

The International Crisis Groups Libya expert Claudia Gazzini said the Berlin conference could be a modest step forward on the path to peace.

Yet the risk remains that some participants will merely pay lip service to the diplomatic initiative, even as they continue to fuel a war from which they benefit.
Boris Johnson is enjoying a honeymoon with voters that has extended the Tories' huge poll lead over Labour.

The Conservatives now have a massive 17-point advantage, according to the latest research by Opinium - up from around 12 points at the election.

Some 42 per cent also said they thought Mr Johnson was performing better as PM than they had expected.

The findings come as Labour descends into a bitter civil war over who should take over from Jeremy Corbyn in the wake of his trouncing on December 12.

Senior figures have raised fears that choosing the wrong leader could doom the party to irrelevance - as the hard-Left tries to cling on to control.

he Conservatives now have a massive 17-point advantage, according to the latest research by Opinium

Although voting intention is regarded as very volatile when an election is not imminent, the latest poll gives an indication of the challenge Labour faces to become competitive again.

The Tories were up on 47 per cent support, while Labour had slipped three points to 30 per cent.

The Lib Dems were also down three points to just 9 per cent backing.

Some 42 per cent said the PM was doing better than they had anticipated, compared to a third who thought he was meeting expectations or falling short of them.

Mr Johnson signalled his determination to cement the Conservatives' hold on their new political heartlands in the north and midlands today.

Ministers have hailed efforts to 'connect with the whole of the country' after the PM ordered detailed work on the practicalities of putting the Lords in Yorkshire.

The plans have gone as far as identifying disused land owned by the government near York railway station as a potential site, according to the Sunday Times.

The Commons could also go 'on tour', holding debates away from London, in a bid to reconnect democracy to the wider UK.

International Development Secretary Alok Sharma said he was 'supportive' of the relocation and in principle it would be a 'very good thing'.

And Tory chairman James Cleverly told Sky News' Ridge on Sunday: 'What we are looking at is a whole range of options on making sure the whole of the UK feels properly connected to politics.'

The battle to succeed Jeremy Corbyn has entered a new phase, with the first hustings in Liverpool yesterday. Pictured are (left to right) Rebecca Long-Bailey, Jess Phillips, Emily Thornberry, Lisa Nandy and Sir Keir

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured in the Commons last week) is due to make way for a successor as Labour leader in April

Pressed on whether the government would move the Lords, he said: 'We might. It is one of a range of things that we are looking at.'

Adam Drummond, head of political polling at Opinium, said: 'Voting intention with nearly five years to go before another general election isn't the most predictive exercise but the takeaway from these results are that Boris Johnson has yet to do anything to annoy the diverse coalition that gave the Conservatives such a substantial majority in December.

'The key factors will be whether or not they are able to deliver a benefit to those traditional Labour voters who backed the Conservatives for the first time in 2019 and whether Labour's next leader is able to capitalise on any mistakes.'

:: Opinium carried out an online survey of 2,003 UK adults between January 15 and 17. Results have been weighted to represent the wider population.
New Delhi:

An FIR has been registered against the driver of veteran actor Shabana Azmi, who met with an accident after her car rammed into the truck on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway on Saturday afternoon. Driver Kamlesh Kamath (38), who sustained minor injuries in the incident, was apparently trying to overtake another vehicle when Azmis car rammed into a truck near Khalapur, about 60 km from here in neighbouring Raigad district, a local police official earlier said.

Azmis husband, lyricist Javed Akhtar, was travelling in another car, Raigad Superintendent of Police Paraskar said. However, police said that since sections are bailable offenses, the actors driver will not be arrested and will be issued a notice instead. ''We have booked driver Kamlesh Kamath under Indian Penal Code Sections 279 and 337 for rash and negligent driving and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. He is not yet arrested,'' Paraskar said.

Also Read: Shabana Azmi Working On Her Own Memoir

The actors car will be sent for an inspection to RTO (regional transport office) to ascertain if there was any fault in the vehicle or if the mishap took place after the driver lost control, Paraskar added.

Azmi is currently admitted at Kokilaben Ambani hospital in suburban Andheri after initial treatment at MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai. "She is stable and under observation," said Dr Santosh Shetty, Executive Director and CEO of Ambani Hospital in a statement late in the evening.

The Raigad Police had issued an official statement regarding the accident which read as "Shabana Azmi and her driver was injured in an accident near Khalapur on Pune-Mumbai Expressway. While they were driving from Pune to Mumbai their vehicle hit by a truck on the expressway. Javed Akhtar was also present in the car who is safe. Both the injured have been shifted to MGM Hospital."

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With her history of allergies, 18-year-old Shante Turay-Thomas wasnt too concerned about the symptoms she was experiencing.

Shed had a reaction after accidentally eating hazelnut  her throat felt itchy and she had the beginnings of a rash. To be on the safe side, she asked her mother Emma to call 111.

Yet the system behind the NHS phone line which promises help for people needing urgent medical attention was to fail Shante with a shocking series of blunders.

Emma Turay, pictured with her daughter Allysha, right, holding a photograph of Shante Turay-Thomas, 18, who died after an NHS 111 call centre failed to recognise the seriousness of the symptoms she was experiencing after accidentally eating some hazelnuts

And less than an hour later, Emma Turay could only look on helplessly as her daughter whispered: Bye Mum, I love you, and drew her final, shallow breath.

Now, after a damning series of findings by a coroner, heartbroken Ms Turay has told The Mail on Sunday: I would never call 111 again. It is simply a call centre. Its only a matter of time before what happened to Shante happens again.

Shantes inquest last week laid bare the shocking failures which led to her death weeks before she was to take up a place at the University of Sussex to study law.

Ms Turay tearfully recalled calling 111 after Shante fell ill shortly before 11pm on September 14, 2018. She spoke to call handler Ademola Dada, who passed Shantes case on to a medically trained clinician. But Mr Dada failed to include the vital detail that Shante may have had an allergic reaction. He had also failed to untick a box on his screen which placed Shante at her grandmothers house  when she was six miles away with her mother in Finsbury Park, North London.

Ms Turay said: After I got passed to a clinician, Shante seemed like she was getting worse. The clinician, Paul Summers, told Ms Turay, 42, that an ambulance was on its way. She said: I could see that Shante was starting to panic. I said, Its OK, they are coming. She was wheezing and she was using her asthma inhaler between breaths.

After Ms Turay checked with the clinician, Shante administered a dose of adrenaline to herself using an injector pen but it seemed to make no difference.

Shante, pictured right, along with her sister Allysha, asked her mother to ring 111 as a precaution as she could feel her throat react to her accidentally eating a hazelnut

The minutes ticked by, with no sign of an ambulance. Tragically, it had arrived at the wrong house. Shantes mother broke down as she described her daughters final moments: She was on the sofa. Then she looked up and said, Bye Mum, I love you and her head slumped to the side.

Ms Turay applied CPR until Shantes elder sister Allysha and her boyfriend arrived home from an evening out and took over the attempts to save her life. Paramedics finally arrived at 11.44pm  43 minutes after Ms Turay dialled 111. Shante was taken to hospital, only to be pronounced dead.

The inquest found that the NHS 111 computer system classed anaphylaxis  a life-threatening allergic reaction  as a category two case, meaning an ambulance will usually arrive within 40 minutes.

Yet a 999 call, as a category one emergency, would have provided a seven-minute response.

The inquest also found that Shante had not been told she needed to carry two adrenaline injector pens, as she would need both for a severe reaction. Further, her prescription was 300 micrograms, rather than the 500 micrograms she should have been given after turning 18.

The NHS computer system graded Shante's condition as a Category 2 - which required a 40-minute response by an ambulance - rather than a Category 1 - which would have seen an ambulance arrive in seven minutes

Inner North London coroner Mary Hassell found the mistakes together had caused Shantes death and made 18 different recommendations to prevent future deaths.

Shante was let down again and again, said Ms Turay, who was represented by law firm Leigh Day. Now we have some justice at last.

An NHS spokesman said: While incidents like this are extremely rare, where concerns are raised they are investigated and any necessary changes made  building on the NHSs reputation as one of the worlds safest health systems.
Opposition and on Sunday dubbed AAP's 'guarantee card' a "jumla"(gimmick) and a "lie", saying the ruling party is staring at defeat in the February 8 assembly polls.

"As the Aam Aadmi Party stares at defeat in the upcoming elections, it has come out with a 'Kejriwal Ka Guarantee Card' which is yet another jumla card to fool the people of Delhi and divert their attention from Kejriwal government's failures in the past five years," Delhi chief Subhash Chopra said.

His counterpart, Manoj Tiwari, accused Kejriwal of "lying" to the people after failing to fulfil his 70 promises made during the 2015 assembly elections in the national capital.

"The guarantee cards issued by convener are the 10 new lies spoken to the people of Delhi," he charged.

The Delhi chief minister should first explain what happened to the 70 promises he made in the year 2015 before giving 10 more guarantees, Tiwari said, adding that there is a great difference between making promises and fulfilling them.

"Kejriwal is giving guarantee card for the works which could not be completed during the last five years before issuing the new manifesto. It clearly shows that is apprehensive of its defeat in the upcoming assembly elections," said Delhi president.

The Delhi president accused Kejriwal of making "hollow promises" in his party's guarantee card.

"Rattled by the Congress's exposes against the government in last few weeks that were supported by data, Kejriwal came up with a jumla card," said Delhi Congress chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma.

Chopra said that fearing "certain" defeat in the upcoming and disappointed with people's "lukewarm response", Kejriwal has now come up with ten promises in the "Kejriwal Ka Guarantee Card".

"Kejriwal wasted his time clashing with the officials, the central government, the Lt Governor and the municipal corporations of Delhi without fulfilling the promises made to the people, in last five years," Chopra said.

Kejriwal woke up to the reality of "serving" the people of Delhi only in the last five-six months after remaining in deep "slumber" for four and a half years, he said.

The BJP and Congress have yet to come out with their manifesto for Assembly polls in Delhi.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 21:07:29|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- More than 9.47 million marriages were registered in China last year, down from 10.1 million in 2018, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The marriage rate in China has continued to decline since 2014 as a result of less population born due to the implementation of family planning policy rate in the 1970s and 1980s, said Yang Zongtao, an official with the ministry at a regular press conference held in Beijing Sunday, noting that changing concepts about marriage have also played a part.

Civil affairs authorities would further combat marital fraud by developing a nationwide online database for marriage credit, and work out measures to limit extravagance in wedding ceremonies, said Yang.

China also registered about 4.15 million divorces in 2019.
UPDATE: The Enterprise reports the second man died in the crash.

A man was killed Sunday morning in Brockton when a car struck a tree, according to fire officials.

A second man was also seriously injured in the crash after he was ejected from the car. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment, Brockton fire officials said.

Firefighters and police responded to the crash in the area of 2000 Main St. around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

The man who died was trapped inside the car when firefighters first arrived.

The Massachusetts State Police and Brockton police continue to investigate the crash.
While most of the country continues to grieve with the families who have lost their loved ones in the hideous attack on Ukraine International Airlines flight 752, others will be focusing on foreign policy concerns when the House of Commons resumes sitting on Jan, 27.

Simultaneously, the Conservative leadership race will be swinging into high gear.

Canadas global role will be under scrutiny, as we seek justice for the victims and an assurance that skies will be safe in times of conflict. Both of these goals are tall orders given the precarious state of the world order.

Negotiations with Iran regarding the investigation and the repatriation of the remains are still at a very delicate juncture. At all costs, the government must be able to keep communications open with the regime for the moment. The fact that Justin Trudeau and Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran, were able to arrange a phone call on Jan. 11 is significant, given our lack of diplomatic relations. The Harper government closed our embassy in 2012.

Already, some are advocating for those relations to be restored, not because we will ever agree with a cruel and despotic regime, but because we are left dependent on others if conflict escalates and disasters occur.

A recent Angus Reid poll reported that the tragedy has rated the highest awareness level ever seen in their polling. An average mark would be 50, but this issue ranks 82. While the federal government has successfully repeated that the world is watching, Canadians are too, and struggling with both grief and anger at the same time.

Therefore it has been disconcerting to see hard lines forming as to the apportionment of blame.

At first, it seemed simple enough. Iran was to blame.

A highly unusual statement by Rouhani issued on Jan. 10, admitted that an 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 unforgiveable mistake.

Blame, however, depends on perspective and philosophy. Does a single act stand alone, unrelated to any other event, or is there a fact, a causal link?

Michael McCain, one of Canadas most respected business leaders, who was affected by the loss of the wife and son of one of his employees, certainly believes in the causation theory.

In a series of angry tweets, he declared that a narcissist in Washington tears world accomplishments apart; destabilizes region and that the collateral damage of this dangerous, ill-conceived behaviour has needlessly cost Canadians lives.

The prime minister, in a much more nuanced comment to Global News, noted that if there were no tensions, if there was no escalation recently in the region, those Canadians would be right now home with their families. This appears to be a reasonable statement of fact.

But U.S. Republican lawmakers took offence. Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said there is no blame here for America. American stood up for freedom. Iran shot down an innocent, commercial airliner. Theres no doubt where the blame lies.

Canadian Conservative politicians lined up with the Republicans. Andrew Scheer, the lame duck leader of the opposition, fired off a tweet echoing the Republic stance. The horrible atrocity lies with the Iranian regime alone, he said. Premier Doug Ford echoed the same sentiments.

Blame may ease our anger. But it may also be counterproductive at this sensitive time. The government has done a first-class job of mobilizing international support for the Canadian cause, for keeping Canadians updated and for demonstrating a superior empathetic and compassionate tone.

Canadians were clear in the October election that they want mature discussion and collaboration on issues, where possible. There is no doubt this is a hellish moment in our history. To overcome it, we will need rational thought and clear strategy for the future.

Lets hope politicians on both sides of the border strive to make their statements with care for any consequences. The safety and security of our citizens is the highest priority. We must strive to make that happen.
REDDING, Calif. - On Jan 19 at approximately 4:17 a.m., Redding Police officers responded to a 911 call of a male subject swinging an axe and threatening citizens in the parking lot of the AM/PM gas station located on Lake Blvd. in Redding.

Redding police say several officers responded and made contact with Donald Priddy, 60, of Redding, on the sidewalk in front of Cassidys Auto Lube.

Officials say Priddy was laying down next to the axe and officers gave him numerous commands to move away from the weapon, but Priddy remained non-compliant.

Police say in hopes of gaining Priddys cooperation and out of concern for the safety of the public, Officer Kofford brought out K-9 Hank and warned Priddy that if he did not move away from the axe the K-9 would be released.

Priddy continued to refuse to comply and K-9 Hank was released to assist in the apprehension of Priddy.

Police say Priddy was taken into custody and treated at the Shasta Regional Medical Center. Priddy was then booked into the Shasta County Jail for brandishing the axe at citizens, trespassing on the AM/PM property, and resisting and obstructing peace officers.
President Trump's lawyers plan to make an aggressively dismissive case when the Senate impeachment trial opens this week.

Driving the news: "President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment," Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, and Jay Sekulow, Trumps personal lawyer, wrote in a seven-page response to Democrats released yesterday.

The document calls the articles of impeachment "constitutionally invalid on their face," and "a dangerous ... brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election."

The length and tone contrast with the 111-page, 319-footnote "Trial Memorandum" by the seven Dems who are House impeachment managers.

"The evidence overwhelmingly establishes that he is guilty," the Democrats write. "The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths."

overwhelmingly establishes that he is guilty," the Democrats write. "The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths." "President Trump's conduct is the Framers worst nightmare."

Why it matters: The Trump lawyers' blanket statements, and the brevity of their arguments, suggest they have confidence that the Senate Republicans wont let the president down when their big loyalty test comes.

Smart brevity on the strategy: Concede nothing, admit nothing, apologize for nothing. Talk for TV. And dont get into the weeds.

 The most extraordinary line from the document, "THE HONORABLE DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, HEREBY RESPONDS":

"The President's actions on the July 25, 2019, telephone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine ... were constitutional, perfectly legal, completely appropriate, and taken in furtherance of our national interest."

Reality check: The Government Accountability Office found that the administration broke the law by withholding Ukraine aid  funds that impeachment witnesses said were in the interest of U.S. national security.

Witnesses argued that the campaign to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens was a "domestic political errand," as Fiona Hill put it.

that the campaign to pressure Ukraine to investigate the Bidens was a "domestic political errand," as Fiona Hill put it. Rudy himself has said he was acting as the president's personal agent.

Go deeper:
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in Funding Circle Holdings plc (LON:FCH).

Do Insider Transactions Matter?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But 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 Funding Circle Holdings

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Funding Circle Holdings

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Chairman Andrew Learoyd for UK51k worth of shares, at about UK1.14 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of UK0.92. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. Andrew Learoyd was the only individual insider to buy over the year.

You can see the insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

LSE:FCH Recent Insider Trading, January 19th 2020

Funding Circle Holdings is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Story continues

Insider Ownership of Funding Circle Holdings

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It appears that Funding Circle Holdings insiders own 9.4% of the company, worth about UK30m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders.

So What Do The Funding Circle Holdings Insider Transactions Indicate?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Funding Circle Holdings shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in Funding Circle Holdings and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in Funding Circle Holdings, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
By Trend

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks by phone ahead of the international conference on Libya scheduled for Sunday in Berlin, the Turkish leaders office told reporters, Trend reports citing TASS.

"At the talks, [they] focused on regional issues, primarily Libya," Erdogans office said.

Germany plans to host an international conference on Libya in Berlin on January 19.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The mission is bigger than any one person.

Marina Salandy-Brown has employed that self-sacrificial task-focused approach to successfully create the most influential modern literary movement in the Caribbean: the Bocas Lit Fest.

In 11 short years Salandy-Brown, as founder and president of the Bocas Lit Fest, has brought together the best and brightest of Caribbean literature for the annual celebration, the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, sparking a literary renaissance of sorts in the region.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 20:13:23|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank on Sunday launched a new system to better disclose credit records of both individuals and enterprises.

The new system will provide more details of the credit status in a better format, such as co-borrowing records and loan repayment records, according to the People's Bank of China (PBOC).

The system update, reflecting recent developments in financial technologies, came in response to increased public demand for more effective credit information and service improvement, said the PBOC.

Other details to be added to the individual's credit report include employment status, nationality and credit agreement information. For enterprises, inquirers will obtain further information like revolving overdraft and late payments.

The new system has also intensified the management and protection of user identity and information transmission to ensure information security, said the PBOC.

China first launched its credit record system in 2006. By the end of 2019, the system had kept records for more than 1 billion individuals and 28.34 million enterprises and organizations. Some 2.5 billion inquiries have been conducted with the system so far, according to the central bank.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 9, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Graham Says Abuse of Power Allegations Could Damage Office of Presidency

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said the abuse of power impeachment charges by House Democrats against President Donald Trump would cause significant problems for future presidents.

Abuse of power is so poorly defined here I dont know presidents in the future can confirm their conduct, Graham told Fox News Sunday. Its the first impeachment in modern history without outside counsel they had to do it in such a hurry he could not exercise executive privilege, he added.

Any president has the right to defend the office, Graham said, referring to the second article alleging that Trump obstructed Congress amid House Democrats impeachment inquiry. He said that while Democrats have argued that Trump isnt above the law, they have tried to put Trump below the law.

Later in the interview, he remarked that there is a Supreme Court case that says during matters of national security, the privilege of the president is at its highest, adding that the Democrats case, if successful, would thwart the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches.

I want this trial to get over with as quickly as possible, Graham said, adding that he wants the American people to pick their next president in 2020.

Graham was responding to a move on Saturday by House Democrats, who underlined their assertion that President Trump abused his office and should be removed.

The evidence overwhelmingly establishes that he is guilty of both, House Democrats said in a trial brief Saturday.

Democrats have alleged Trump abused his power by withholding hundreds of millions of security aid to Ukraine in exchange for investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden, his son Hunter, and Burisma Holdingsthe company that featured Hunter Biden as a board member. Both Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have denied there was any pressure campaign waged by the White House to secure investigations. Trump also released to the public a transcript of the call.

On Thursday, the Senate swore-in Chief Justice John Roberts, who in turn, swore-in all 100 senators and asked them to take an oath as jurors in Trumps impeachment trial. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the trial will properly begin on Tuesday.
Many South African technology and telecommunications companies are firing workers, and this is set to continue in the coming year.

This is the view of labour consultant Tony Healy, who told Business Day TV that job losses are a consequence of many years of low economic growth and increased digitization.

On 13 January, Massmart announced it was planning to shut down its 23 Dion Wired stores which will affect over 1,000 employees.

Only days later Telkom said it was planning to cut 3,000 jobs this year because of the tough economy, the move to mobile data, and inefficiencies at the company.

This, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. Many other tech companies have already shut their doors or are cutting staff.

In the last two weeks news broke that ICT service provider ATIO is set to be liquidated and that Yekani Manufacturings R1-billion electronics factory in East London may shut its doors.

These job cuts, Healy said, are not surprising when one considers there was very little economic growth over the last few years.

Without economic growth, one just cant create the jobs that we need to stave off job cuts, he said.

Dennis Dykes, chief economist at Nedbank, said what we are seeing is capitulation  with companies realising the much-needed economic growth will not come.

Companies have done the cost cutting and trimmed their budgets to keep expenses under control in the hope that we will now start to see an uplift in the economy, he said.

They are now basically thinking it is not going to happen and are therefore turning to more serious interventions, including job cuts, to survive.

Bad outlook for 2020

Bad news for employees is that South Africas dismal economy growth means companies do not have the funds to train employees for other positions.

Healy said while the government is trying to intervene to prevent job losses, there is not much companies can do as they have to balance their books.

Further bad news is that South Africas projected economic growth of 0.9% in 2020 is not close to what is needed to turn the situation around.

We need growth levels above 5% before we can begin to realistically say that we are growing fast enough to reverse the job losses we are seeing now, said Dykes.

Dykes highlighted that unemployment in South Africa is currently at worse levels than what countries experienced during the Great Depression.

He said unemployment is sitting at 29%, but if one includes discouraged workers it is closer to 37%.

This is horrendous, he said.

Good news for IT professionals

Good news for IT professionals is that while jobs are lost, there are several areas where there is strong demand.

Healy said jobs which are required in the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions are very different from the skills which are currently required.

He said local companies are not upskilling enough people to fill the kinds of positions which are being created, though.

While people with more traditional skills are losing their jobs, those who have skills suited to the digital world are in demand.

Now read: Big trouble at Telkom
Hong Kong protesters were hit with tear gas and pepper spray after demonstrators allegedly attacked a plainclothes police officer during a mass protest, reports The Washington Post.

Demonstrations have been ongoing for months, and have recently erupted in occasional violence as pro-democracy residents continue to protest the local government. Several protesters were arrested on Sunday after tens of thousands participated in a rally in Hong Kong's central district, the largest demonstration since New Year's Day when over a million people gathered.

A plainclothes officer reportedly refused to show a rally organizer his identification card, which led to an altercation. At least three people were injured. Read more at The Washington Post.

More stories from theweek.com

One of the biggest crime waves in America isn't what you think it is

Supreme Court declines to fast track ObamaCare case, won't rule until after 2020 election

Trump's approval rating is on pace to be the lowest ever among independents, Gallup poll shows


World leaders committed Sunday to ending all foreign meddling in Libya's war and to uphold a weapons embargo at a Berlin summit, as part of a broader plan to end the spiralling conflict. The presidents of Russia, Turkey and France were among global chiefs signing up to the plan to stop interfering in the war -- be it through weapons, troops or financing. But the talks failed to deliver "serious dialogue" between the warring parties -- strongman Khalifa Haftar and the head of Tripoli's UN-recognised government Fayez al-Sarraj -- or to get both sides to sign up to a permanent truce. "We have a very disparate situation in Libya, where ensuring that a ceasefire is immediately respected is simply not easy to guarantee," said summit host Chancellor Angela Merkel. "But I hope that through today's conference, we have a chance the truce will hold further." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledged that there are "still some questions on how well and effectively" the commitments can be monitored. But he said he is "optimistic that there will be less violence and ... an opportunity to begin the conversation that (UN special envoy) Ghassan Salame has been trying to get going between the Libyan parties". Libya has been torn by fighting between rival armed factions since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Most recently, Sarraj's troops in Tripoli have been under attack since April from Haftar's forces. Clashes have killed more than 280 civilians and 2,000 fighters and displaced tens of thousands, until a fragile ceasefire backed by both Ankara and Moscow was put in place on January 12. Although Sarraj's government is recognised by the UN, powerful players have broken away to stand behind Haftar -- turning a domestic conflict into what some have described as a proxy war in which international powers jostle to secure their own interests. International alarm grew in recent weeks after Turkey ordered in troops to shore up Sarraj's government. - 'Small step' forward - For UN chief Antonio Guterres, the Libya conflict had spiralled to dangerous proportions in the last days. "Until now we have an escalation of the Libya conflict with some foreign interference. Now we are facing the risk of a true regional escalation. And that risk was averted in Berlin," he noted, adding that world powers have made "a strong commitment to stop" the perilous spiral. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointed to some positive takeaways from the Berlin pow-wow, but said the summit failed to launch necessary talks between Sarraj and Haftar. "It is clear that we have not yet succeeded in launching a serious and stable dialogue between them," Lavrov told reporters after the Berlin conference, where Haftar and Sarraj did not meet face to face. Nevertheless, the Libyan parties had taken "a small step" forward, Lavrov added. Pro-Haftar forces upped the ante on the eve of the talks by blocking oil exports at Libya's key ports, crippling the country's main income source in protest at Turkey's decision to send troops to shore up Sarraj's Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA). Ahead of the talks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at Haftar, saying he needed to drop his "hostile attitude" if Libya is to have any chance at winning peace. - Vested interests - The flaring oil crisis underlined the devastating impact of foreign influence in the conflict, in which Sarraj's GNA is backed by Turkey and Qatar while Haftar has the support of Russia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Russia has been accused of sending in mercenaries to help Haftar as Moscow seeks to extend its influence in the region -- allegations it denies. For Turkey, the fall of Sarraj's GNA could jeopardise a maritime boundary agreement the parties signed. It gives Ankara extensive rights over the eastern Mediterranean where the recent discovery of undersea gas reserves has triggered a scramble by littoral states. Erdogan has repeatedly urged Europe to stand united behind Sarraj's government, warning that Tripoli's fall could allow jihadist groups like the Islamic State or Al-Qaeda to regroup. Further unrest could prompt a new wave of migrants to head for Europe, he has cautioned. Amid the latest apparent ceasefire violation in which GNA forces on Sunday accused Haftar's militia of opening fire on them in southern Tripoli, Sarraj issued a plea for international "protection troops". The call echoed a similar suggestion by the EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell, who stressed that monitors must be present to check that any ceasefire and weapons embargo are respected. With the idea gathering pace, Britain and Italy had voiced readiness to help, ahead of a EU foreign ministers' meeting that will discuss how the bloc can contribute to implementing Sunday's deal. But as Guterres noted, that discussion remains premature. "First, we need to have a ceasefire -- we cannot monitor something that doesn't exist."
Last year, one of the most talked-about exchanges at the event was about Davos itself.

On a panel discussion featuring, among others, the conservationist Jane Goodall and Edward Felsenthal, the editor of Time magazine, Rutger Bregman, a Dutch journalist and historian, spoke about what he saw as the rampant hypocrisy on display in the Alps.

Fifteen hundred private jets have flown in here to hear Sir David Attenborough speak about how, you know, were wrecking the planet, Mr. Bregman said, eliciting nervous chuckles from the crowd. I hear people talk in the language of participation and justice and equality and transparency, but then, I mean, almost no one raises the real issue of tax avoidance, right? And of the rich just not paying their fair share. I mean, it feels like Im at a firefighters conference, and no one is allowed to speak about water.

The clip went viral and seemed to confirm peoples suspicions that for all the talk of world-changing agendas in Davos, not much really happened there. Moreover, his comments echoed a broader line of criticism that the global elite are uninterested in solutions to intractable problems if those solutions threaten their dominance.

Theyd rather listen to a Buddhist monk talk about meditation or hear about power poses, but they dont like to talk about the source of tax evasion, Mr. Bregman said in an interview, noting that he had not been invited back to Davos this year. They want to hear about how individuals can change their lives, rather than how structural reform can affect inequality or climate change.

Mr. Schwab defended the substance of the event.

Other dissenting voices will be in attendance this year, including the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who will attend for a second time. And Mr. Schwab was an early proponent of socially responsible business, helping define the stakeholder theory, which holds that corporations should answer not just to shareholders, but to employees, customers and the environment.

That may not sound particularly controversial today, but Mr. Schwab was ahead of his time in the early 1970s. Back then you had to fight against Milton Friedman, who gave a moral justification to profit maximization, Mr. Schwab said, referring to the economist who wrote that the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits.
Firefighters are using favourable conditions to extinguish a blaze that came close to destroying houses on Victoria's isolated French Island on Saturday night, as elsewhere in the state braces for severe thunderstorms and heavy rain.

Thunderstorms and rain are expected to hit central and north-eastern parts of Victoria on Sunday evening, raising concerns about potential flash flooding, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's duty forecaster Tom Fejes.

On French Island, residents have praised aerial firefighting efforts overnight, which they say saved their properties while CFA tankers were forced to wait for a barge to slowly transport them across the water, two by two.

Residents were told to leave their homes and campers evacuated from walking trails on Saturday afternoon as the blaze ripped through about 87 hectares of national park, which is a haven for koalas.

No homes were lost in the French Island fire, but the outbuildings of one property were destroyed according to the State Control Centre (SCC).
Union Ministers Arjun Meghwal, Ashwini Choubey and Jitendra Singh landed at Srinagar airport on Saturday, kickstarting a week-long mass awareness programme by the Centre to apprise the people about the benefits of revoking Article 370

In an attempt to raise awareness about the benefits of abrogating Article 370, the Centre plans to send 36 Union Ministers to Jammu and Kashmir. On Saturday, Union Ministers Arjun Meghwal, Ashwini Choubey and Jitendra Singh landed in Srinagar. On Sunday, Smriti Irani will visit Katra and Panthal areas of Reasi district, while Piyush Goyal will be in Srinagar, PTI has reported.

The awareness campaign by the Centre comes five months after the government revoked Article 370 in the erstwhile state and Ladakh and bifurcated them into Union Territories.

As a part of the programme, the 36 Union Ministers are also scheduled to hold 60 meetings at various places in the Union Territory and speak to people on the theme of development, Principal Secretary to the Jammu and Kashmir government Rohit Kansal told reporters.

Singh, Meghwal and Choubey are scheduled to participate in three functions, one in Jammu and two in Samba in Kathua district, and meet BJP leaders in Jammu, Hindustan Times reported. On Sunday, 10 Union ministers are scheduled to arrive in Jammu. On 21 January, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will lead another delegation of ministers to Kashmir.

Among the other ministers who are tasked with the outreach programme include Ravi Shankar Prasad, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Puri, G Kishen Reddy, Purshottam Singh Rupala, Mahendra Nath Pandey, General VK Singh, Gajender Singh Shekhawat and Anurag Thakur. There will be 51 visits to Jammu and eight to Srinagar, NDTV reported.

VK Singh is scheduled to visit Tikri in Udhampur on 20 January while Kiren Rijiju will go to Suchetgarh in Jammu on 21 January. Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy will be in Ganderbal on 22 January and Manigam on 23 January, while Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will visit Sopore in Baramulla district on 24 January.

Union minister of state Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti will be chairing a high level meeting of officials on 23 January and will be visiting to Faqir Gujri village which falls in Srinagar district, Hindustan Times reported. Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will travel to Harwan area on the outskirts of Srinagar, while V Muraleedharan will visit Bilawar and Anurag Thakur will be at Nagrota.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told the group of union ministers visiting Jammu and Kashmir to spread the message of development among the people, not only in the urban areas but also in the villages of the Valley, sources told PTI. They were also asked to spread the message about the various central schemes that will benefit the people at the grassroots level.

The Congress, which has accused the government of "double standards" by allowing foreign envoys to visit Jammu and Kashmir while blocking opposition leaders, dubbed the ministers' visit a "propaganda mission".

Amit Shah says all is normal in Kashmir If so , why send 36 propagandists to Kashmir ? Why not allow non-propagandists to go and understand the situation prevailing there ?  Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) January 16, 2020

The ministers visit also comes at heels of the lifting of a communication blockade in Jammu and Kashmir, where the administration ordered on Saturday that prepaid mobile service and 2G mobile data on postpaid connections to view whitelisted sites in Bandipora and Kupwara will be resumed.

Internet services, landline and mobile phones were snapped across Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Centre's announcement to scrap special status of the erstwhile state and its bifurcation into Union Territories on 5 August. While most of the services except mobile internet were restored in Jammu within a week, Kashmir witnessed restoration of landlines and postpaid mobile services and internet facilities to essential services like hospitals in phases.
Many Orthodox Christians around the world have been marking Epiphany, one of the faith's three biggest celebrations.

The event -- on January 19 on the Orthodox calendar -- is frequently marked with a dip in icy waters to symbolize the baptism of Christ in the River Jordan.

But in addition to washing away their sins, many worshipers also welcome the midwinter submersion as a test of hardiness and good health.

The Russian Orthodox Church, with around 90 million members, traditionally carries out the blessing of the waters twice, on the eve of Epiphany and again on the holiday.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill celebrated Epiphany Eve with a ceremony at the Church of Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, the church said.

Thousands of Musovites had already plunged into outdoor rivers, ponds, or other pools well before midnight on January 18, according to emergency authorities quoted by TASS, with temperatures remaining unseasonably warm at just a few degrees below zero and thousands more expected to turn out overnight and on January 19.

Based on reporting by Orthodox Times, the BBC, and TASS
I had never seen that many black people in one place, Mr. Jones told the Charlotte Observer in 2013. We had all been fighting against segregation for so long, and suddenly we were all together and you realized just what you had been a part of. You realized how really big it all was.
By PTI

JAMMU: Despite the social media having been deluged by displaced Kashmiri pandits' video clippings vowing to "return and die" in the Valley, the community on Sunday appeared to be plagued by self-doubts over the prospects of their return.

They demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should settle the community living as "refugees in their own country" for the past 30 years at one place in the Valley.

In the backdrop of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film 'Shikara' on exodus of KPs, to be released in February, several Kashmiri pandits have taken to social media to express their love and willingness to return to their homeland in the Valley to "live and die" there.

"Haji Sahib, we will come back. We will live and die in Kashmir.

Our ashes will be immersed in river Vitasta in Kashmir," is one such video clipping among many similar ones doing the rounds on social media.

ALSO READ: Indian-Americans to hold events in US to commemorate Kashmiri Pandit exodus

Kashmiri pandits consider 'safety and security' as the biggest hurdle in their return to their roots in the Valley.

The displaced KPs across the world commemorated January 19 as 'holocaust day', when over 70 thousand pandit families numbering over 3.5 lakh were forced out of the Valley due to killings and terror by Pakistan sponsored terrorists in 1990.

The event this year was held against the backdrop of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"We are hopeful that after the epochal decisions on August 5 and amendments in Citizenship Act, Union government under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi will address the pain and agony suffered by Hindus of Kashmir for last 30 years", Panun Kashmir convener Agnishakher said.

He said while Panun Kashmir bats for separate territory to be carved out in Kashmir for 7 lakh KPs, it is for government to discuss with the community the ways and means of the basis of return and rehabilitation of exiled community in accordance with the principle of non-refoulment.

Sitting in one-room quartet at Jagti camp on the outskirts of Jammu city, 89-year-old Mohan Lal Dhar wants one place settlement for all KPs in Kashmir.

ALSO READ: A wound that 30 years couldn't heal - Life of Kashmiri Pandits in Valley

He is hopeful that the government under PM Modi will rehabilitate them in Kashmir again.

Dhar, who is among the seven lakh-odd Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee Kashmir Valley in the wake of spread of terrorism in 1989-90, says they are living as "refugees in their own country" for three decades but nothing is being done for their return and rehabilitation because terrorism is still on.

Somawati, who living Muthi camp after their migration from North Kashmir's Wadipora belt, wants to return to the valley to die there as she urges Modi ji to create condition at one place in valley.

"I want to die there. That is my last wish. Modi ji should settle us at one place in a secured environment. We are hopeful that our dream will be fulfilled", she added.

Spelling there demand, All-State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) General Secretary Dr T K Bhat said tmost KPs feel that "one place-settlement" is only alternative for return and rehabilitation of the minuscule community in Kashmir after ensuring their safety and security.

"Our core concern is safety and security for the community in Kashmir Valley," Bhat said.

Stressing on the security aspect, Bhat said, "You can guard our houses, colonies but it is not possible to provide security to each and every Kashmiri Pandit when they go out in the market. Security is the most important aspect connected to the return of the community."

The UPA-1 government had offered a rehabilitation package for KPs that proposed Rs 7.5 lakh to every Kashmiri Pandit family willing to return to the Valley. Several families volunteered to return and filled up the forms. Eight years after that, there has been no progress," said Poshker Nath, who has been living Roopnagar in Jammu.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had in a written reply in Parliament said that only one family has returned.

Prof B L Zutshi, a prominent social activist said, "one place homeland is the political empowerment of the community, and we look forward to this political empowerment.

He said, right since 1947, Kashmir was gradually moving into grip of fanaticism and theo-fascism and 1990 saw the culmination of a well-orchestrated ploy to dislodge Kashmir Pandits  the epitome of Indian Nationhood in Kashmir.

Bihari Kak, a popular artist and member of Athwas Cultural Association also feels that the security of the community is prime and first thing for return to the valley.

The KPs say their return to the Kashmir Valley is linked to employment, as the youths willing to return need to have a source of livelihood.

The proposal to rehabilitate the community in composite townships in the Valley was mooted by the Narendra Modi government, which faced opposition not only from separatists but also the mainstream political parties in Kashmir.
Visva Bharati University, which had sought CISF deployment on its campus citing security concerns, is likely to drop the plan as the cost for the paramilitary force deployment is too high for the varsity's budget for security

New Delhi: Visva Bharati University, which had sought CISF deployment on its campus citing security concerns, is likely to drop the plan as the cost for the paramilitary force deployment is too high for the varsity's budget for security.

According to sources, the estimated cost worked out following a security audit of the Shantiniketan campus by the CISF is over four times the budget for security of the university. The cost worked out after the CISF audit is over 4 times the budget of the university for maintenance of security on campus. So, the university may consider to drop the plan, a source told PTI.

CISF, officials, however, said they have not received any final word on the move yet. A team had gone for the survey at the campus and informed officials about the requirement of the force including setting up barracks, gadgets and the estimated manpower. We had not given any exact figures for the cost but explained the requirements, a CISF official said, adding, we have not received any communication about further action on the plan.

Calls and text messages to Visva Bharati Vice Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty, went unanswered.

The Home Ministry had in November last year accorded its approval for deployment of the CISF at the university, paving way for Visva Bharati to become the first educational institution or university to have paramilitary personnel stationed on campus. The Vice Chancellor had written to the CISF alleging that private security personnel employed by the university owe their allegiance to TMC local bosses.

The letter was also marked to the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, which had forwarded it to the paramilitary force. The CISF then had detailed its procedure for deploying a contingent, including conducting required checks and surveys.

The vice-chancellor had cited incidents of confrontation between the university administration, students and staff, in his letter to request for CISF deployment on the campus. "The private security personnel currently employed by the university owe their allegiance to TMC local bosses and, hence, disobey Visva-Bharati's security officer with impunity. There have been instances of students staging protest and preventing faculty members and officials from leaving the campus when security guards remained silent onlookers and even created enabling conditions for protesters," the letter by Chakrabarty had said.

The letter has also stated that the cost of deployment of the CISF personnel will be borne by the university out of the grants it receives from the government.

The move had found opposition among students, who launched a signature campaign to oppose the move of CISF contingent deployment.

Visva Bharati established in 1921 by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, was declared a central university in 1951.

The CISF guards vital installations in the country, including the Delhi Metro, 61 civil airports and organisations in the aerospace and nuclear domain. It was tasked to extend its armed security cover, exclusively from the existing government sector deployment, to private installations after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which Pakistan-based terrorists targeted five-star hotels and other locations killing over 166 people.

Currently, ten installations in the private sector are guarded by the 1.50-lakh personnel strength force that includes Infosys campuses in Bengaluru, Pune and Mysuru and the Reliance refinery in Jamnagar, among others.
Imperial Valley News Center

Support for President Donald J. Trumps Phase One Trade Agreement With China

Washington, DC - Support for President Donald J. Trumps Phase One Trade Agreement With China:

Members of Congress

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA): President Trump just signed the Phase One Trade Agreement! China has taken advantage of the US for years. President Trump stood up for Americans and fought for the fairness our workers deserve.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA): The contrast is clear: Today @realDonaldTrump signed his trade deal with China that puts America firstanother huge win for workers, farmers, and consumers. Meanwhile Dems are wasting more time on their impeachment charade. Its obvious whos actually working for our country.

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK): I commend @POTUS and his teamparticularly U.S. Trade Rep Lighthizerfor successfully negotiating the Phase 1 US-China Trade Agreement, an important, serious, much-needed first step in resetting this economic relationship. Importantly, it is positive news for Alaskas fishermen.

Sen. John Boozman (R-AR): For far too long, Chinas one-sided trade practices have been harmful to American farmers, manufacturers and workers. President Trump set out to force a change in behavior and the phase one deal his team negotiated, when properly implemented and enforced, can achieve that goal. It is a promising step in the right direction.

Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ): Great news for AZ workers! @POTUS just signed #PhaseOne of a U.S.-China trade agreement that will protect American technology & innovation and increase agriculture trade between our countries.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): President Trump deserves credit for tackling the defining geopolitical issue of this century.

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA): President Trump is the first president in decades to actually stand up and fight for a level playing field with our trading partners around the world.

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA): Today, @POTUS signed a historic trade deal w/ China that will secure a bright future for our nation. Through this agreement, we will back GA farmers, bolster American manufacturing & keep our country safe. I applaud @POTUS and his Admin for their resilience on this landmark deal.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): BIG [week] for @realDonaldTrump & his trade deals [great] victories [with] China phase 1 + [today] USMCA passed Senate w overwhelming bipartisan vote 89-10 I was glad [to] lead this effort in Senate [working] in bipartisan way [to] deliver much needed certainty for American farmers + manufacturers + workers.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA): The phase one trade agreement with China, a critical market for Iowans, will be a boon for our farmers and manufacturers. Now, weve got to keep the pressure on China to uphold their end of the bargain as we move into phase two.

Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID): Congratulations to @POTUS on signing phase one of a trade deal with #China. As discussions with China proceed, I encourage everyone to focus on enforcement to advance the rights of U.S. farmers and producers, and ensure China plays fair.

Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID): Thank you, @POTUS, for having me today to see the historic signing of Phase One of a trade agreement with China. This will be monumental for Idahos farmers, ranchers and producers. #ChinaTradeDeal

Sen. Todd Young (R-IN): Todays news on the US / China trade deal is welcomed as we work to combat Chinas aggression.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN): When President @realDonaldTrump made trade with China a big issue, it was long overdue. China plays the long game, but in the short run theyre feeling the pinch in their economy. We always need to be cautious with them, but we should all be glad Trump got them to the table.

Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS): Its a good day for American businesses, especially farmers and ranchers. This agreement is a big step towards a stronger, more reliable trading relationship between the U.S. and China. Im glad to see this administration holding China accountable. And, I look forward to seeing this framework established and launching the next phase of this important agreement.

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA): Louisiana farmers and energy workers win as a result of todays phase 1 trade deal with China. China agrees to buy an additional $32B in agriculture and $52.4B in energy products! Great work @POTUS & @USTradeRep!

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): The inclusion of this provision in the Phase One Trade Agreement is a significant victory for Maines lobster industry, which has been unfairly harmed by retaliatory tariffs. I appreciate USTR Lighthizers responsiveness to the concerns industry members & I raised and for his efforts to secure the provision in the agreement.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS): The first phase of President @realDonaldTrumps trade deal with China is a big step forward for commerce between our nations. Our farmers can expect fewer barriers to exports, and our businesses have won important protections for their intellectual property.

Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT): President Trump is on a winning streak. Trade deals w/ Japan, Mexico&Canada, and China. @realDonaldTrump is obsessed w/ growing jobs and securing trade wins, Dems are obsessed w/ impeachment.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC): Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on signing phase 1 of this trade deal with China. With it, farmers are winning, small businesses are winning, & North Carolinians across the board are winning. The Presidents negotiating tactics are clearly working.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND): Joined the President at the White House today for signing of the phase-one China trade agreement. This is very important for our farmers & ranchers as China has agreed to purchase $40-$50 billion in #agriculture products.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND): This deal is a major victory for the United States and for North Dakota! I thank President @realDonaldTrump for fighting tirelessly to deliver trade deals that are good for North Dakotas producers and put American interests first.

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): Thank you @realDonaldTrump and your team for working hard to negotiate this trade deal with China. Nebraska will now be able to expand our market access. This deal will bring much needed economic certainty to manufacturing, ag & energy.

Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH): The #ChinaTradeDeal is a really good first step. @realDonaldTrump and @USTradeRep delivered an agreement that will level the playing field for American workers, address Chinas unfair trade practices & provide a big economic boost for our farmers.

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK): @POTUS is the 1st president to take China seriouslymade clear yet again with the signing of todays trade deal. He understands that for too long, our trade relationship with China has been flawed & that we need real & permanent fixes.

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK): Congratulations to @RealDonaldTrump on getting the Phase-One Trade Agreement w/ China done. Every president has tried to get China to be more fair in their trademore ag sales, greater intellectual property protections & first step toward a more open market.

Sen. John Thune (R-SD): Glad to have been at the @WhiteHouse for todays event where the phase one trade deal with China became official. This is good progress.

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD): The phase one deal signed today is great news for South Dakota farmers, ranchers and manufacturers. Under this agreement, China has agreed to purchase at least $40 billion of our agricultural products.  I thank President Trump for his efforts to make sure our farmers, ranchers and manufacturers are getting a fair deal.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): This is a solid win for our farmers and manufactures  China will be purchasing $200 billion in American goods and services over the next two years. From day one, our farmers have stood behind @realDonaldTrump as he fought to secure a better deal.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): The Dow industrials rose to a new milestone after an initial U.S.-China trade pact

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX): I commend @realDonaldTrump for leaning in hard to work toward fair and reciprocal trade with China. This is welcome news for farmers and ranchers in the Lone Star State and across the country who want access to Chinese markets.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV): Best view in the house watching @realDonaldTrump sign #PhaseOne of the U.S.-China Deal! This is great news, especially for West Virginias hardwood and met coal industries. Ive been working for months with @USTradeRep to make sure those industries were included.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY): #USMCA isnt the only trade victory. Since taking office, @realDonaldTrump implemented new deals with South Korea & Japan. He also forced China to the negotiating table & signed a deal to open Chinese markets to a variety of American products including Wyo beef & energy exports.

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR): @realDonaldTrump continues to follow through on his promise to stand up for our nations farmers and ranchers. #ChinaTradeDeal

Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ): One of my top priorities has been working to ensure the #USA has access to free and balanced trade relationships. The Phase One trade deal with China will benefit all American consumers and reflects the work @realDonaldTrump & @USTradeRep have done to further grow our economy.

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA): The signing of the United States and China Phase One trade agreement is a major accomplishment. For the first time we are holding China accountable for its abusive practices and unfair behavior that has harmed American workers and our local businesses.

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA): With #USMCAs passage moving forward in the Senate, @realDonaldTrump secures another vital trade deal today with China. Highlights include Chinas purchase of $200 billion of U.S. goods and promises to remedy issues like intellectual property theft.

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL): About to enter the White House to join President Trump for the signing of an important trade deal with China. This initial trade agreement will open Chinese markets to more American products and protect American technology.

Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL): I applaud @realDonaldTrump for bringing #China to the table to negotiate a Phase I trade deal & bring relief to our #ag workers in FL. This first step is critical in holding China accountable for abuses in our trade relationship. We will see what Phase II brings.

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA): Two BIG wins for American workers this week!  China agrees to purchase an additional $200 billion in US goods over the next 2 yrs in historic trade agreement secured by @realDonaldTrump  Senate approved the #USMCA, estimated to create nearly 180,000 new jobs here in America.

Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA): Today, President @realDonaldTrump signed Phase One of his historic US-China trade deal. The agreement addresses Chinas unfair trade practices and includes several of Americas top priorities. This is a big win for American workers and businesses.

Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA): For decades, China has been taking advantage of Americas economy, innovators, and workers. @realDonaldTrump promised to stop their unfair trading practices. #PhaseOne will boost the U.S. economy and protect American workers. #PromisesMadePromisesKept, thank you @POTUS!

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL): Between the signing of the Phase One Agreement with China and USMCA finally passing both chambers, this is a good week for farmers and American workers.

Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL): The phase one trade deal with China is a historic agreement that is substantive & holds China accountable for IP theft & forced tech transfers. Thanks to @realDonaldTrump & @USTradeRep, this deal will level the playing field for American farmers, workers & businesses.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY): Nice work @realDonaldTrump! Good for American consumers and great for American jobs. Im a big fan of bilateral trade agreements. We dont need WTO to tell us what to do.

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA): Two HUGE trade wins in two days: China agrees to purchase additional $200 million of U.S. products Senate passes USMCA @realDonaldTrump is delivering for Louisianians!

Rep. Billy Long (R-MO): Huge week for American Businesses:  @realDonaldTrump signed #PhaseOne of the historic U.S.-China trade deal  #USMCA passed the senate and is heading to the presidents desk.

Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC): The Phase One U.S./China Trade Deal is going to boost the #NC13 economy. Instead of working with the President, Nancy Pelosi was holding an impeachment pep rally and handing out gold pens on silver plates.

Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC): I was proud to join @realDonaldTrump yesterday as he signed the Phase One agreement w/ China. I look forward to continuing to work with the President to fight for better trade w/ China so we protect #NC10 jobs & ensure our already booming economy maintains its success globally.

Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC): President Trump continues to deliver in the face of non-stop political attacks from House Democrats. Weve now got a phase I trade deal with Chinain ADDITION to already record jobs numbers, wage increases, and economic growth. Lets keep it going. @realDonaldTrump.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) :China had a 5:1 trade surplus advantage over the US, due to their internal subsidies, predatory trade practices, & blocking our exports. Overtime, their duplicity grew worse. Glad @POTUS is defending America. We can now equally compete with China. I support free, but fair trade.

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE): Thank you, President Trump, for aggressively renegotiating trade policy with China. Important first step. @realDonaldTrump #ChinaTradeDeal

Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE): Thank you @POTUS for the invitation to todays China trade agreement signing at the White House. This agreement with China is a positive first step toward addressing one of our biggest trade challenges.

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY): Big announcement just came out of the White House with the President signing Phase I of a trade deal with China filled with great progress that will benefit a US economy that is strong and now getting even stronger.

Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH): Encouraged to see the phase 1 signing of a trade deal with #China. Important action on IP theft, trade secrets, and market access for American goods and services. Still work to be done, but I am thrilled to see this step in the right direction to force China to play by the rules.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH): This was a big step toward establishing fair trade practices with China and enabling American workers and businesses to compete on a level playing field.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): THIS WEEK: After withholding urgent impeachment articles from the Senate for 28 days, Speaker Pelosi FINALLY allowed a vote to move the process forward. Meanwhilenew economic victories thanks to @POTUS:  USMCA clears the Senate  Phase 1 of China Trade Deal signed.

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA): The era of economic surrender is over! Great job @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @USTradeRep for achieving the first step in re-balancing our trade relationship with China. Western Pennsylvania workers thank you for your leadership!

Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA): Its a big week for trade:  Senate passes #USMCA  President Trump signs phase one of China trade deal New market opportunities for our farmers are on the horizon!

Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD): Producers want certainty and #China needs to play fair  this agreement hits the mark on both fronts. This Phase One China agreement paired with the #USMCA are the wins our producers need. Thank you @realDonaldTrump!

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN): The Phase One trade agreement boosts exports of American goods and services to China and levels the playing field for American companies looking to do business in China. Thank you @realDonaldTrump and @USTradeRep for standing up to China and creating fairer trade for America!

Rep. Mark Green (R-TN): President @realDonaldTrump has delivered for American families and workers despite a constant smear campaign from the left, and the #PhaseOne trade deal with China is only the latest example. Democrats are pushing #impeachment because they literally have no other accomplishments.

Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX): This is a monumental achievement for farmers and ranchers in my district in West Texas and across rural America, who will reap the blessings of Chinas commitment to purchasing as much as $50 billion worth of U.S. agriculture products.

Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX): Today, @realDonaldTrump signed Phase One of the new trade agreement w/ China  a historic occasion! The days of China taking advantage of us are finally ending. Now, bad actors will be held accountable & the playing field will be leveled for U.S. families, workers & innovators.

Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX): @realDonaldTrump delivered another historic victory yesterday with the signing of phase one of a U.S.  China trade deal. This is great news for Texas farmers, energy producers, and manufacturers as it will generate billions in new economic activity!

Rep. Michael Burgess, (R-TX): Thank you @realDonaldTrump for continuing to put America first by signing #PhaseOne of the new trade agreement with China.

Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX): President Trump has signed a historic phase one trade deal with China. These successful negotiations mark an important step in re-balancing our trade relationship with China & are a tremendous victory for our Texas farmers, manufacturers, and innovators.

Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX): Great news for Texas and the nation. I look forward to seeing the bipartisan #USMCA create jobs, strengthen trade with Mexico and Canada and allow us to compete as China tries to replace the United States as the most important economy in the world.

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX): Every President has pledged to take China on as they steal and rip off the United States and our economy. @realDonaldTrump is the first to actually do it.

Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX): While @SpeakerPelosi was preoccupied handing out custom pens after signing impeachment articles to her henchmen (bizarre), @realDonaldTrump was signing a trade deal with China.

Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA): Trade is vital to the economic success of #VA05. I am proud of the work that @POTUS has done for our farmers, growers, and producers and am excited to see the tremendous growth the #USMCA and China trade agreements will bring.

State & Local Officials

Governor Mike Dunleavy (R-AK): Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on signing the historic Phase One Trade Agreement with China. Leveling the trade playing field is of national importance, it will boost our economy and help grow #Alaska businesses.

Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL): I applaud @POTUS for signing Phase 1 of the U.S. trade deal with China. This comprehensive agreement is going to help our nations economy & our state tremendously. We are proud to have Commerce Sec. @gregcanfield represent Alabama at this historic ceremony. @MadeinAL #alpolitics

Governor Asa Hutchinson (R-AR): The Phase One trade deal with China is great news for ARs farmers, manufacturers, and businesses. Thank you to @realDonaldTrump for your leadership in securing this historic agreement.

Governor Kim Reynolds (R-IA): Today, President Trump secured a historic win for the American people. Forging a stronger trade agreement with China puts Iowa farmers, families, and small businesses first. It was an honor to attend the signing ceremony, at the invitation of the President, and witness such an iconic moment.

Governor Eric Holcomb (R-IN): During my economic development trip to China in September, numerous government officials expressed a desire to secure a trade deal and President Trump has delivered. This is a great first step, especially for our Hoosier farmers. We look forward to a continued mutually productive relationship with China, one of Indianas largest international partners.

Governor Mike Parson (R-MO): Initial promises from the Phase One Trade Agreement with China include more than $200 billion in purchases that cover a number of industries that thrive in Missouri, including agriculture, energy, manufacturing & other services. A tremendous victory for our American economy!

Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND): With China committing to purchase at least $200 billion in additional U.S. goods and services over the next two years, including $40 billion to $50 billion in agricultural goods, this agreement represents a major win for North Dakota farmers and ranchers, who are among the best in the world and can compete with anyone on a level playing field.

Governor Pete Ricketts (R-NE): Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on securing a Phase One trade deal with China. The Presidents relentless focus on right-sizing our trade relationship with China is important for Nebraska.

Governor Mike DeWine (R-OH): I commend President Trumps work to negotiate better trade deals, first with USMCA and now the Phase One agreement with China. These agreements are significant progress to boost businesses in Ohio and across America.

Governor Henry McMaster (R-SC): I applaud @realDonaldTrumps hard work to finalize the #USChinaTradeDeal. This deal is a win for South Carolina, and all of America. It will be another shot in the arm for the US economy, American manufacturers, service providers, farmers, and more. #SCwinning #USAwinning

Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD): I arrived at the @WhiteHouse today with a couple of friends from SD Jerry Schmitz, a soybean producer, and Craig Andersen, a pork producer. They joined me here to be with @realDonaldTrump as he signed the phase one trade agreement with China! A BIG win for SD producers!

Governor Mark Gordon (R-WY): The Phase 1 agreement with China signed by President Trump today will benefit Wyoming exporters, including the trona, petroleum and agriculture industries, and may open doors for Wyoming technology companies to enhance international partnerships.

Lt. Governor Adam Gregg (R-IA): This phase one trade deal is a win for Iowa farmers, producers and rural Iowa! For too long, Iowans have faced uncertainty and unnecessary barriers in getting their products into China. Thank you @POTUS!

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch (R-IN): @GovHolcomb, @ISDAgov and I applaud @realDonaldTrump for making good on his promise to fight for Hoosiers, our workers & businesses. This Phase One Trade Agreement with China is a huge win for America & Indiana agriculture.

Lt. Governor Dan Forest (R-NC): Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, for negotiating a new, transformative trade agreement with China. Agriculture is North Carolinas No. 1 industry and this is a big win for our farmers. This deal also protects innovators building our states future economy.

Lt. Governor Pamela Evette (R-SC): President @realDonaldTrump once again draws on his business experience to negotiate better trade deals for the American people. This historic agreement will not only benefit American farmers & manufacturers, but also other innovators within the U.S. economy. #USChinaTradeDeal.

Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward: Honored to represent @AsaHutchinson and Arkansas Agriculture today at the @WhiteHouse for the historic US-China Trade Agreement! @ARDeptofAgricul

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black: I believe a firm hand is necessary to produce a fair deal. I congratulate President Trump for I know he believes that prosperity rises when trade barriers come down. Under the new agreement we look forward to expanding consumer trust of the Georgia Grown brand in China.

Indiana Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler: It was an honor to be invited and watch the signing of this historic deal. We are excited to further develop our relationship with China and are looking forward to the positive impact this will have on Indiana agriculture now, and in the future.

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin: This trade agreement will have an immediate, substantive and positive impact on Louisianas workers and businesses, especially our farmers.

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain: Our President, Donald J. Trump has secured an historic and unparalleled Phase One trade agreement with China. As a direct result of his leadership, we have achieved substantial progress towards free trade and a level playing field that benefits American agriculture, manufacturing, energy and services.

Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson: The signing of the Phase One Trade Agreement with China is a welcomed beginning to resolve these trade disputes, and serves as a symbol of the patriotism of our farmers. Im grateful for the work President Trump is doing on behalf of agriculture and trade.

Missouri Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn: Agricultures goal has always been free and fair trade among countries. Our farmers & ranchers continue to produce the safest and most wholesome farm products in the world and this deal ensures us a level playing field in the global marketplace.

North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler: We are thrilled with the signing of this first phase of trade with China. This is a very good deal for North Carolina agriculture, particularly with tobacco being included on the list.

North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring: I am thankful for the leadership of President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer on this deal. I am extremely pleased to see these unjustified trade barriers being removed and market access being enhanced for our agricultural producers, manufacturers and innovators.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller: The Phase One trade deal with China is huge Texas-sized news for American farmers and ranchers. It is the beginning of a new era for American trade with China and a great step forward for American agriculture. I applaud President Donald Trump, Secretary Sonny Perdue, Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Ambassador Robert Lighthizer on getting this historic trade deal done.

Navajo Nation Vice President Myron Lizer: I would like to thank President Trump for negotiating and signing this historic trade agreement. The reopening of the Chinese agricultural market is a win not only for the economies of the United States and the Navajo Nation, but for the global economy.

State Senate President Larry Objof (R-OH): Todays Agreement will reduce our trade deficit with China and will give us a more level playing field by protecting our intellectual property and addressing Chinas currency manipulation. Make no mistake: the China Phase One Trade Agreement is good for Ohio.

State Sen. Del Marsh (R-AL): This agreement is a major win for our economy and should be applauded by all Americans, regardless of political party, as a great first step in creating a more level playing field for the United States. I commend President Trump for his leadership and commitment to negotiate better trade deals which will benefit not only farmers in Alabama but across America.

State Sen. Ben Albritton (R-FL): As a lover of Florida farmers and a farmer myself, I am thrilled that President Trump is changing the status quo and fighting for American farming families.

State Sen. Tyler Harper (R-GA): I am thankful to President Trump and his Administration for the progress being made to assist rural communities, farmers, and businesses and especially thankful for the impact this trade deal will have on the district I serve as well as the impact it will have across our State.

State Sen. Mark Johnson (R-MN): This historic trade deal is a massive win for the American economy and farmers across this Nation.

State Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-MN): This trade agreement is great news at the right time. Through removing trade barriers and expanding markets, this agreement will be more fair to U.S. interests, promote greater Minnesota job growth, and benefit nearly every sector of agriculture in our State.

State Sen. Phil Berger (R-NC): President Trumps leadership in renegotiating the trade agreement with China shows a recommitment to supporting famers and agriculture across the nation, instead of foreign interests.

State Sen. Norman Sanderson (R-NC): Agriculture remains the top industry in North Carolina, and by securing this deal President Trump shows us once again that hes supporting hardworking Americans.

State Sen. Matt Huffman (R-OH): Todays signing of the Phase One trade deal with China is another strong move forward for Ohios workers, farmers and job creators, especially in western Ohio.

State Sen. Michael Rulli (R-OH): I commend the hard-work of President Trump and his Administration to seal this deal with China, ensuring fairer trade for the American people.

State Sen. Bob Peterson (R-OH): . I am grateful President Trump has remained steadfast in his commitment to creating opportunities for the hard-working men and women of our state and driving our economy forward.

State Rep. Sam Watson (R-GA): I applaud President Trump for working so diligently to improve the livelihood of farmers by engaging in dialog with our trade partners. This particular trade agreement is a win for rural America.

State Rep. Matt Hall (R-MI): I am grateful President Trump has remained tough with China and negotiated an agreement that puts America first by rebalancing trade with China.

State Rep. Debra Kiel (R-MN): This will open up markets that we can sell soybeans that are in our bins right now at a better price.

State Rep. Anne Neu (R-MN): This is a great first step toward a broad deal with China that will give an even greater boost to farmers across Minnesota and our country.

State Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-WI): This truly is a great win for Wisconsin farmers and manufacturers!

Colbert County, Alabama Commissioner Tommy Barnes: I want to thank our President in his successful negotiation of the Phase One Trade Agreement with China. The timing was critical for our Nation and the strength of the Presidents positions could not have come at a better time.

Charlotte County, Florida Commissioner Bill Truex: I look forward to [President Trumps] continued efforts in righting the imbalance of trade agreements for the benefit of the American Citizen.

Marion County, Florida Commissioner Kathy Bryant: President Trumps initiatives with China forecast improved farming incentives, a rise in commodity prices and an overall higher-quality agricultural landscape for farmers, not only in Marion County, Florida, but across the Nation.

Pasco County, Florida Commissioner Kathryn Starkey: The Phase One trade deal is a victory for American farmers, manufacturers, and our economy as a whole.

Brooks County, Georgia Commissioner Myra Exum: I truly believe that Phase One of the trade agreement with China will help our local economy by opening markets and bolstering commodity prices.

Crisp County, Georgia Commissioner Wallace Mathis: I appreciate President Trump, Sec. Perdue, and so many others in this Administration for the detail and thought into this trade bill with China, it no doubt will pay huge dividends in the future for citizens of America, China, and have a positive effect on other countries as well.

Seminole County, Georgia Commissioner Mark Spooner: We would like to thank President Trump for his efforts, along with our own Georgia native Secretary Perdue, for bringing some stability to our commodity markets by this Phase One China Trade Agreement.

Kendall County, Illinois Commissioner Scott Gryder: This agreement helps level the playing field, and we could not be more pleased by the efforts of President Trump and the administration. Our farmers will reap the benefits of this trade agreement being signed today.

Hamilton County, Indiana Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt: President Trumps work on the Phase One Trade Agreement with China displays his dedication to both farmers and consumers across America.

Kossuth County, Iowa Supervisor Kyle Stecker: With over 600,000 acres in Kossuth County this trade deal is a major victory for our farmers, the backbone of our economy locally and nationally.

Wright County, Iowa Supervisor Karl Helgevold: The [agreement] is a breath of fresh air to the farmers, citizens, and agricultural industries in our rural Iowa County.

Johnson County, Kansas Commissioner Mike Brown: The USA and China Free Trade Agreement Phase One is important to America and to the great State of Kansas.

Anoka County, Minnesota Commissioner Julie Braastad: President Trumps commitment to remove trade barriers will directly help job growth and business expansion in Minnesota.

Anoka County, Minnesota Commissioner Scott Schulte: This monumental trade deal is a substantial win for the U.S. economy and particularly for farmers across Minnesota.

Cascade County, Montana Commissioner Joe Briggs: In short, this trade agreement provides Montana with additional jobs and additional economic benefit for our citizens.

Tioga County, New York Commissioner Erick Coolidge: This agreement between the United States and China is truly needed and very much appreciated.

Yadkin County, North Carolina Commissioner Kevin Austin: This trade agreement is incredible news for the farmers of my County and of North Carolina.

Eerie County, Ohio Commissioner Stephen Shoffner: I want to thank President Trump and his Administration for creating a trade agreement that is fairer for the United States and the hard working famers of the Midwest and Ohio.

Morrow County, Ohio Commissioner Thomas Whiston: This agreement will positively impact all sectors of our economy and is historic in scope and spectrum.

Shelby County, Ohio Commissioner Julie Ehemann: Protecting our intellectual property while opening the door to our goods, especially our agricultural sector is a huge win for my community.

Cleveland County, Oklahoma Commissioner Rod Cleveland: President Trump is a seasoned trade negotiator. This historic trade deal is great for Oklahoma and great for America.

Grant County, Oklahoma Commissioner Cindy Bobbitt: Today was another history win for the American people with the signing of the Phase I agreement between the United States and the Peoples Republic of China.

Berks County, Pennsylvania Commissioner Christian Leinbach: While this is a first step, it is a major step to free and fair trade and it respects American consumers and business.

Waukesha County, Wisconsin Executive Paul Farrow: This deal is a tremendous victory for Wisconsins economy, especially our farmers, manufacturers, and innovators.

Waushara County, Wisconsin Administrator Robert Sivick: I appreciate President Trumps outreach to local governmental officials like myself and concern for the people and economies of rural Wisconsin, the Midwest, and America.

Policy Organizations & Industry Leaders

Agricultural Retailers Association Chairman Rod Wells: ARA applauds the Trump administration, the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and those working behind the scenes to help repair trade relations between the two countries. This agreement will boost U.S. goods and services exports to China by a reported $200 billion over the next two years. That level of economic growth cannot be understated.

American Automotive Policy Council President Governor Matt Blunt: AAPC commends the Trump administrations efforts to secure a phase-one trade agreement with China.

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: Todays signing is an important step in giving Americas farmers and ranchers the ability to get back to business in the global market.

American Feed Industry Association President and CEO Constance Cullman: I am very excited about what this agreement means for the U.S. animal food industry and reopening the Chinese market for our products. Im grateful for the hard work and enduring efforts of our trade negotiators on our behalf and the administration as a whole for defending the enhancement of productive trading relationships and supporting U.S. businesses and exports.

Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning: President Trump may have achieved what almost every American including me viewed as impossible through the signature of the fair and reciprocal phase one U.S.-China trade deal.

American Soybean Association President Bill Gordon: We have long supported changes to how China conducts business with the world, in agriculture and other industries. Todays signing addresses many of those concerns and is a positive for the U.S., including reduction of non-tariff barriers to trade that are important to soybean growers and other agriculture groups.

American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear: The signing of this agreement with China is good for our industry, which is significantly impacted by trade.  It will give a boost to U.S. manufacturers and exporters of American goods and provide certainty to the supply chain  all of which will positively impact the trucking industry.

Archer Daniels Midland: ADM strongly supports the Phase 1 U.S.-China trade agreement, which will bring about meaningful benefits for American food and agriculture by breaking down barriers and addressing systemic issues that have previously impeded full access to the Chinese market.

Biotechnology Innovation Organization President and CEO James Greenwood: Trade issues with China have long been a priority for BIO and our members. We appreciate the Administrations hard work and leadership and welcome the completion of this important first phase of the agreement.

Business Roundtable: Business Roundtable commends the Administration for completing a Phase One trade agreement with China that begins to level the playing field for American workers and businesses, removes some tariffs and allows for increased trade between both countries.

Chubb Insurance: Chubb welcomes and supports the successful completion of the Phase One trade agreement between the United States and China. We congratulate the governments of both nations for achieving this important confidence-building step.

CropLife America Inc.: We thank the @WhiteHouse for reaching & signing a historic trade deal with China that will benefit our #farmers and American consumers.

Consumer Technology Association President and CEO Gary Shapiro: President Trump made a deal that rolls back tariffs and addresses critical tech priorities including intellectual property protections and forced technology transfer.

Corteva Agriscience Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Sustainability Dana Bolden: As a company, we support this agreement because we support farmers, who truly want new markets and the free flow of trade. This agreement will help stabilize markets, further expand and modernize trade, and increase grower and consumer access to innovation.

Electronic Transactions Association CEO Jodie Kelley: The Phase One trade deal represents significant positive progress towards the resolution of several issues currently impacting American payments technology companies who want to operate in China.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Head of Jeep Brand, FCA  North America Jim Morrison: The Phase 1 agreement signed today by President Trump and Vice Premier Liu is a good first step towards establishing a healthy trade relationship.

Fitch Group CEO Paul Taylor: Fitch Group is committed to supporting the development and internationalization of Chinas capital markets. We want to express our appreciation to President Trump, Vice Premier Liu, and the U.S. and Chinese negotiating teams for this important agreement.

General Electric: We congratulate the U.S. and Chinese governments on todays signing of the Phase 1 trade deal, which should expand opportunities for GEs businesses in both the United States and China, and support continued bilateral negotiations that lead to the lifting of remaining tariffs.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor: Were grateful to U.S administration officials for their continued work on securing this trade agreement at such a pivotal time for our nations agriculture and renewable energy industries.

Here for America: Here For America is encouraged that the U.S. and China have agreed to a Phase One trade deal that allows automakers to continue exporting American-made vehicles.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert Jr.: Illinois farmers are ready to regain our trading position with China.  We are well-positioned to fulfill Chinas demand of soybeans, pork and additional commodities, and this agreement provides a pathway for the next generation of Illinois young farmers.

Information Technology Industry Council President and CEO Jason Oxman: The phase one deal is great news for American consumers and businesses. We commend the Trump Administration for reaching this important moment.

Intel Corporation Executive Vice President and General Counsel Steven Rodgers: Intel welcomes todays Phase One trade agreement signed by the U.S. and China. We hope this first step leads to greater trade cooperation between the U.S. and China and we encourage governments everywhere to work cooperatively towards free open and fair trade.

International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes: Today, the two most powerful economies in the world began to restore a positive, mutually beneficial trade relationship, and dairy producers and processors across the United States are grateful.

Internet Association Director of Trade Policy Jordan Haas: IA welcomes todays signing of the U.S.-China Phase One Trade Agreement. This deal will help to limit market access barriers for American internet companies and better protect innovative U.S. intellectual property.

Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Hill: Iowa farmers have long pushed for more free and open markets, and we are pleased with the progress towards that goal through the phase one China trade deal. Free and fair trade with China represents countless opportunities for Iowa agriculture in a growing market with a demand for U.S. ag products.

Job Creators Network President and CEO Alfredo Ortiz: The phase one trade deal with China is arguably Trumps most impressive trade victory to date.  Im already hearing from Job Creators Network members about how the deal is benefitting their bottom lines.

Minnesota Farm Bureau President Kevin Paap: Minnesota Farm Bureau appreciates todays progress and encourages the administration to continue to aggressively pursue a full trade agreement with China and move forward with protecting and expanding markets across the world.

Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association: China agreement restores trade certainty to our bilateral relationship and will benefit motor vehicle parts manufacturers.

National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons: [N]o other administration has achieved this level of success withand accountability ofAmericas primary economic adversary in the past three decades.

National Cattlemens Beef Association President Jennifer Houston: We cannot begin to express our thanks to President Trump for fighting for Americas cattle producers.  Today is a great day for the U.S. beef industry and the National Cattlemens Beef Association.

National Corn Growers Association: Signing the phase one agreement with China is a step in the right direction to resolving the trade dispute with China and restoring the trading relationship between our two countries.

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President Chuck Conner:The signing today of the phase one trade agreement between the United States and the Peoples Republic of China represents an important step towards helping Americas farmers and ranchers expand their exports.

National Fisheries Institute: NFI commends the @WhiteHouse @USTradeRep @realDonaldTrump for completing phase-one of the U.S.-China trade agreement. As one of the most traded commodities in the world, #trade is always top of mind for NFI and its members. #TradeMatters #SeafoodSeeJobs #USChinaDeal

National Grain and Feed Association Chairman Eric Wilkey: The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) commends President Trump and his administration for successfully concluding and signing a Phase One trade accord with the Peoples Republic of China.

National Potato Council Vice President of Trade Affairs Jared Balcom: This signing today, coming on the heels of the new Japan free trade agreement and the anticipated ratification of the USMCA, creates trade momentum for our industry and sets the stage for future increased market access that may result in substantial gains for U.S. growers.

National Pork Producers Council President David Herring: NPPC applauds the administration for its hard work in negotiating this deal. China is the worlds biggest producer and consumer of pork.

National Sorghum Producers Chairman Dan Atkisson: National Sorghum Producers was pleased to be a part of the signing today of a Phase One deal with China and applauds both the U.S. and Chinese administrations for their hard work to progress negotiations and reach an agreement that should lessen market uncertainty and shift purchases to more U.S. agriculture products, like sorghum, by our customers in China.

National Turkey Federation Chairman Kerry Doughty: Re-opening the door for business in China was a huge win for Americas turkey farmers and processors, creating the potential for this to once again become a major market for our products.

North American Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts: We are encouraged by the Phase One deal with China, which eliminates non-tariff barriers to trade with our fastest growing market for meat and poultry products.

Ohio Farm Bureau President Frank Burkett III: The signing of a trade deal with China is a big step in the right direction as farmers in Ohio and across the country are eager to get back to business globally.

Pet Food Institute President and CEO Dana Brooks: We are grateful to all the U.S. officials, led by the White House, involved in this effort to provide meaningful access to this important market for so many U.S. products, including pet food.

Semiconductor Industry Association President and CEO John Neuffer: The phase one trade agreement signed today helps ease uncertainty in the semiconductor industry, and we hope it provides a stepping stone to a more comprehensive deal between the worlds two largest economies.

Software and Information Industry Association: SIIA welcomes the Phase 1 agreement, especially the protection for intellectual property and ban on forced technology transfers.

South Dakota Soybean Association: Fair agricultural trade between nations raises the poor out of poverty, generates renewable wealth and supports peace and prosperity for all people.

United Parcel Service Chairman and CEO David Abney: The Phase One trade deal is an important first step in strengthening the rules of trade between the two countries and in particular for providing greater trade predictability to UPSs small and medium sized customers.

U.S.A. Rice Federation Chairman Charley Matthews Jr.: We appreciate the Administrations help in seeking a level playing field for U.S. rice with China through both historic market access and compliance with WTO requirements.

U.S.-China Business Council President Craig Allen: This is an encouraging first step that should benefit many of our membersWe urge both governments to use the phase one agreement as a foundation for building a stronger, fairer bilateral relationship that ensures a level playing field for Americans in Chinas rapidly growing market.

U.S. Dairy Export Council President and CEO Tom Vilsack:Todays announcement of a deal that makes progress on regulatory restrictions and other nontariff barriers hindering dairy trade is a positive step forward.

U.S. Grains Council Chairman Darren Armstrong: The U.S. Grains Council is pleased to see the signing today of a Phase One deal with China, which should reduce continued market uncertainty and incentivize China to purchase significant amounts of the full range of U.S. agricultural products, including grains, distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol, to total at least $80 billion over the next two years.

Western Growers Association Chairman Ryan Talley: Western Growers applauds the significant strides the Trump Administration has made in securing fairer deals for American farmers with key trading partners around the world.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Joe Bragger: It was a chance of a lifetime to join other Farm Bureau presidents and agriculture leaders for this historic event. I was proud to see agriculture in the spotlight and slowly working our way back into this critical market.
Naidu said if the present government -- which is already in debt -- does not honour the agreements, it will dent the image of the state.

New Delhi: Ahead of a special session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly called to decide on a proposal to have three capitals, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday urged Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy not to shift the state capital from Amaravati, warning that about Rs 50,000 crore committed investment could be withdrawn and also make farmers suffer. Denying any "irregularities" in the decision making for Amaravati as capital during his tenure, Naidu asserted he does not have any "vested interest" in Amaravati, saying his party is fighting to control further damage of the state.

Alleging that Andhra Pradesh is on "the path of destruction", Naidu said if the present government -- which is already in debt -- does not honour the agreements, it will dent the image of the state and investors will lose confidence for future investment.

The YSRCP government, which took over in May last year, has alleged irregularities by the previous Naidu government in awarding contracts and in allotting prime lands to those close to the then chief minister.

On 20 January, the three-day special winter session of the Assembly is scheduled to begin to approve the report of the High-Powered Committee (HPC) on "distributed capital functions". The chief minister wants to have executive capital at Visakhapatnam, legislative capital at Amaravati and judicial capital at Kurnool.

In an exclusive interview to PTI from Vijayawada, Naidu  a former chief minister of new Andhra Pradesh and also the undivided state  said there is "no logic" in having three capitals and called the government's proposed plan just a "witch hunt" against the Telugu Desam Party(TDP).

"Does it makes sense to shift the capital when the construction is almost at an advanced stage? An investment of nearly Rs 50,000 crore has been committed that has potential to generate 50,000 jobs in the state. About 130 institutes from hospitals to education hub were to come up. All this will not happen if the capital is shifted," Naidu said.

Already Rs 10,000 crore has been spent on developing Amaravati and many structures from the secretariat to assembly complexes, courts, Raj Bhavan and DGP office have come up. The construction of 5,000 quarters for ministers and senior officers is underway, he said, adding everything will be ready in Amaravati if the government spends another Rs 2,000-3,000 crore.

If shifted, there will be a problem of environmental degradation as the land cannot be used for agriculture, the TDP president said.

On top of it, farmers -- who are yet to get compensation for donating 33,000 acres of land under an unique 'land pooling scheme' for creation of the capital and who are agitating against the government's plan to shift the capital -- will be badly affected with the proposed move, he said and added the compensation amount is to the tune of Rs 1-4 lakh crore.

Denying any "irregularities" in making Amaravati as capital, he said it was created based on recommendations of the Sivaramakrishnan Committee constituted by the Centre in 2014 post-bifurcation.

Amaravati was chosen because it is a centrally located place and is planned and positioned very well in all aspects, he said adding the area for capital was already selected and that chapter is over now.

"If there were any irregularities, the government is free to act. Already eight months in power, why the government is not initiating any action. Instead of taking action, it is unnecessarily indulging in mudslinging," he said.

Except for interest of five crore people of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said he does not have "any vested interest" in Amaravati. "As a politician, I have only one interest, that is development and future of the state."

"I had prepared vision 2020 for combined Andhra Pradesh. Almost all has happened in Hyderabad. For new Andhra Pradesh, I prepared a vision 2029-2050. By 2029, Andhra should be number one state in the country in all aspects like per capita income and growth. Now, this man (Reddy) has damaged all hopes."

Alleging that the ruling YSRCP government is spreading lines rather than giving a convincing logic for shifting the capital, Naidu said the contention of the Reddy government is that Amaravati capital is being built on a submergeable area although Green Tribunal has made it clear it is not the case and even the Supreme Court had upheld its decision.

Another lie the state government said was that Amaravati was not suitable for the capital quoting a report of IIT Chennai. However, the IIT Chennai has denied having come out with any such report, the TDP president said.

Many countries have followed the concept of having all key offices at one place in the capital. Even the national capital New Delhi is bringing all offices at one place, he said, adding the same concept was followed at Amaravati where all departments will be housed in five towers for better governance.

Asked about his political strategy to stall the government's proposed three capitals plan, Naidu said: "We will work out a strategy. He (chief minister) is having a majority in the assembly, we are having majority in the council. We have to work it out how it is going to happen."

"It is 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh versus Jagan Mohan Reddy's government. In eight months, people have changed their mind. Everyone is annoyed with the government. People will have to protect the state," he said.
By Prof. Wang Baofu

Under the mediation of Russia and Turkey, leaders of the conflicting parties in Libya held an hours-long indirect negotiation in Moscow on January 13, but only Fayez el-Sarraj, Prime Minister of the Libyan Accord Government, signed the ceasefire agreement while Khalifa Beiqasim Haftar, Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), hasnt made a decision yet.

Why did the conflicting parties fail to reach a settlement?

The situation in Libya is in some way more complicated than that of Syria.

Both the Libyan Accord Government and LNA are backed by different external forces. While Russia and Turkey are busy mediating between the parties, the influence from western countries should not be underestimated, either. After all, tt was NATO that overthrew the Gaddafi regime by force many years ago, after which the Libyan situation has gradually escalated.

Besides, as Libya is an Arabian country, the League of Arab States, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE, also has a great bearing on its situation now. These league members all play a part behind the scene even though they are not at the negotiating table.

Another important reason for the failed negotiation results from the current military situation in Syria. The Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) takes the upper hand on the battlefield now, so it wont easily make a compromise unless it can get what it wants from the negotiation.

What made Russia and Turkey so actively mediate?

From Syria to Libya, Russia, out of geo-strategic considerations, hopes to expand its sphere of influence by resolving these issues in the Middle East, so that its strategic interests and clout in the region will reach a new level.

Turkey wants to deeply engage in the Libyan issue for its own interests as well, as it hopes to increase the national interests and acquire more tangible benefits after the issue is resolved.

Will the Libyan issue be resolved in the short term?

The Libyan issue wont be really solved anytime soon. A resolution not only depends on the stance of the opposing parties in Libya, but also on whether the external forces can be coordinated to work toward the same goal.

Besides, the external forces are complicated in themselves, comprising the west, the US, European countries, Russia, and Arab states such as Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. All of them have an impact, direct or indirect, on the Libyan situation. If they dont reach an agreement and therefore have a political foundation, it will be a long time before the Libyan issue can be resolved.

Now that Haftar failed to sign the ceasefire agreement, its possible that the Libyan situation, especially military confrontation, will become more intense in some areas, perhaps with fiercer conflicts and stronger external interference and support.

The right approach to addressing the issue is to get all parties concerned, particularly the opposing parties in Libya, and other stakeholders to sit down at the table and try to find a way out under the UN framework. Otherwise, a successful resolution of the Libyan issue will be unlikely by merely depending on a few countries to push for it.

(The author Wang Baofu is a retired professor from PLAs National Defense University and military strategist who once served as Chinese deputy military attache to Syria.)
" " The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory detected a comet plunging toward the sun at nearly 1.3 million miles (2 million kilometers) per hour. NASA/nemesis maturity/YouTube

Ever read the story of Icarus? In Greek mythology, he was the guy who ignored his father's advice and flew too close to the sun on wings made of feathers and wax. Bad stuff ensued. Some comets, called sungrazing comets also take that risk, coming within 850,000 miles (nearly 1.4 million kilometers) of this flaming orb. And, although this sungrazer didn't survive its brush with "death"  most don't  some spectacular images were captured.

On Aug. 3, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) detected a comet plunging toward the sun at nearly 1.3 million miles (2 million kilometers) per hour. As the press release puts it, "This comet didn't fall into the sun, but rather whipped around it  or at least, it would have if it had survived its journey. Like most sungrazing comets, this comet was torn apart and vaporized by the intense forces near the sun."

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Comets are chunks of mostly ice and dust  call them space debris  that orbit the sun, usually on elliptical tracks that take them far beyond Pluto's orbit. This comet, which was first detected on Aug. 1, is part the Kreutz family of comets, which broke off from a huge comet about 800 years earlier.

The white circle in this video represents the sun, and there's an amazing coronal mass ejection (a kind of solar explosion) shown on the sun's left side.

In December 2015, SOHO celebrated 20 years in space. According to NASA, this spacecraft has revolutionized the field of heliophysics (the study of the sun's effect on the solar system), providing the basis for more than 5,000 scientific papers. It also unexpectedly has become the greatest comet-hunter of all time, with more than 3,000 comets discoveries so far.

Now That's Interesting In 1998, SOHO was lost for four months due to a software error. Scientists were able to recover it thanks in part to the giant Arecibo radio telescope that located it.
One person was killed Saturday afternoon when a motorcycle struck a car on state Highway 9 at Heather Heights Road on the south edge of unincorporated Santa Clara County, the California Highway Patrol said.

The accident was reported at 4:14 p.m. at that intersection, about a quarter mile east of Skyline Boulevard (state Highway 35), the CHP said. A motorcycle with two people aboard ran into a Toyota; one of the people on the motorcycle, was killed, the CHP said.
BFIGroup, the preferred bidder approved by the Supreme Court for the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) has rejected the stay-of-execution of the committal order against the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Alex Okoh, for contempt and disobedience of the court.

Also, BFIG has petitioned the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to object to the hearing on the motion filed by Mr Okoh and BPE in appeal No. CA/A/117/M/2019 before Justices S.J. R. M. Abdulahi and M. B. Idris.

The motion is scheduled for hearing on Monday, January 20.

The Executive Vice President, BFIG, Jimmie Williams, said the Board of Directors of the corporation does not believe Justice Adah can provide a fair and impartial ruling in this matter.

The petition titled: RE: Case No. CA/A/117/M/2019 and dated January 17, 2020 was addressed to the appeal court president.

A copy of the petition, sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, reads in part:

Dear Hon. Justice Bulkachuwa: On behalf of the board of directors of BFIGroup Corporation, a corporation, organised and existing under the laws of the State of California, in the United States of America, the preferred bidder for the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), and the respondent in the above-referenced matter, we write to object to having this matter heard before the Honorable Justice S.J. Adah.

Our objection is based on the fact that Justice Adah was the original jurist who ruled on 23 November 2005 (in case no. FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2004) that our original claim for the purchase of ALSCON was invalid, and was subsequently dismissed by him.

This same claim was later found to be meritorious in the extreme by the Nigerian Supreme Court on 6th July 2012 (in case no. SC12/2008).

Further, on 30 September 2014, the respondent obtained a judgment to enforce and give meaning to the Supreme Court Judgment (case no. FHC/ABJ/CS/901/2013).

The appeal of the enforcement judgment was initially scheduled to be heard by a panel led by Justice Abubakar Datti Yahaya.

A panel who noted how one case participant made the calculated attempt to waste the time of the court [through an unprosecuted injunction] and to continue to frustrate a specific and clear Order of the Supreme Court to execute its judgment.

However, on the last day for the parties to adopt their briefs, Justice Adah appeared in the matter. Thereafter, on 11 January 2019, while upholding the aforesaid Supreme Court judgment, Justice Adah removed all of the enforcement orders issued by the court.

Finally, we note how Justice Adah granted the applicants request for a stay of execution of the ruling/committal order of Justice A.I. Chikere without having reviewed the actual Order of the court, nor giving the respondent any opportunity to respond thereto.

Accordingly, BFIGroup Corporation respectfully submits that we do not believe that Justice Adah can provide a fair and impartial ruling in this matter and we would request his removal from any panel hearing this case.

Invalid, corrupt

Mr Williams, who is also BFIGs General Counsel, said the corporation will challenge the stay-of-execution procured by BPE, describing it as invalid and corrupt.

The FHC (Federal High Court) officially released the judgment on Thursday this week. Can a stay of execution be issued on a judgment order not yet released by the court? Mr Williams asked.

The committal order for Mr Okohs imprisonment for a minimum of 30 days was issued by Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja for the serial disobedience of the Supreme Court order by BPE on the ownership controversy of the ALSCON.

The order followed contempt proceedings initiated in April 2019 by BFIG against Mr Okoh and BPE for failing to respect multiple courts rulings ordering the transfer of ownership of ALSCON to the Nigerian-American consortium.

Unending tussle

ALSCON, located at Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom State, has been the subject of a lingering ownership struggle since it was privatised by the government in 2004.

While BFIG won the initial bid in 2004, based on its declaration by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), the BPE cancelled the bid process in controversial circumstances.

BFIG launched a legal battle to reclaim ALSCON in 2007, resulting in the Supreme Court ruling in its favour on July 6, 2012. Despite the order, BPE refused to hand over the plant.

Justice Chikere had declared that the continued refusal to obey the Supreme Court order was a fundamental violation of the rule of law, which portrays the government as lawless.

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Controversial Order

While BFIG awaited the enforcement of the order, the BPE on Monday December 23, 2019 filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, for a stay-of-execution.

Appeal No. CA/A/117/M/2019 subsequently, restrained BFIG, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, law enforcement agents, and persons acting for or on their behalf from enforcing, attempting to enforce, arrest or imprison Mr Okoh, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on January 20, 2020.
Mexican troops urged some 1,500 Central American migrants to maintain "order and respect" on Saturday after the group attempted to force entry into the country from Guatemala in the hopes of trekking onward to the United States.

Standing on the wall above the Rodolfo Robles International Bridge that connects Mexico with its southern neighbor, National Guard General Vincente Hernandez told migrants they would be allowed to cross the border in a "controlled" manner.

"With order and respect, all will be served. There are opportunities for everyone," said Hernandez, who also coordinates the National Guard operations along the Suchiate River, the natural border between Mexico and Guatemala.

"We understand the situation, you are our brothers from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala," Hernandez told the caravan. His speech was met with applause.

Some 800 migrants agreed to regularize their status and seek employment in Mexico, an official from the National Institute of Migration (INM) said.

Earlier Saturday, troops had blocked the caravan, scuffling with the migrants as they attempted to cross the border.

One National Guard soldier standing guard at the bridge and speaking over a bullhorn told the travelers they could not enter without a visa or migration document, and that sneaking in was dangerous.

"Do not expose yourself to people traffickers. Your life is in danger," said the agent, who also told them the idea that the United States will grant them asylum is false.

Most of the migrants left last Tuesday from Honduras and had arrived Saturday morning at the bridge over the Suchiate River, which forms the border between Guatemala and Mexico to the north.

Some of the migrants insisted on getting in but others in groups of around 20 turned around and headed back to migration holding facilities on the Guatemalan side of the frontier.

Mexico had beefed up its forces at the border crossing as it anticipated the arrival of a caravan of some 3,000 people mainly from Honduras and El Salvador.

On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from traveling on to the United States.

Mexico has come under pressure from US President Donald Trump to slow a surge of undocumented migrants who arrived at the US-Mexican border last year.

Trump threatened in May to impose tariffs on Mexico if the government did not do more to stop them.

Lopez Obrador's administration then deployed 27,000 National Guardsmen to tighten its borders.

He has also allowed the United States to send more than 40,000 asylum-seekers back to Mexico while their cases are processed, under the so-called "Remain in Mexico" policy.

Human Rights Watch accused Mexico on Tuesday of violating migrants' rights by failing to guarantee the security of those returned by the United States and detaining others in "inhumane conditions."



Tens of thousands of Central American migrants crossed Mexico toward the US last year in large caravans, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence and seeking safety in numbers from the dangers of the journey.

That prompted Trump to warn of an "invasion" and deploy nearly 6,000 US troops to the border.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - A fire engulfed a protest camp in central Beirut on Saturday evening, burning tents and sending plumes of smoke into the air, as security forces faced off against protesters near parliament. It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire. The Internal Security Forces (ISF) denied media reports that some of its forces had set the camp on fire.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A fire engulfed a protest camp in central Beirut on Saturday evening, burning tents and sending plumes of smoke into the air, as security forces faced off against protesters near parliament.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the fire. The Internal Security Forces (ISF) denied media reports that some of its forces had set the camp on fire.

Activists set up the camp in recent months as part of protests against a political class that plunged the country into its worst economic crisis in decades.

(Reporting by Ellen Francis; Editing by Catherine Evans)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Ulf Laessing and Michael Nienaber

BERLIN (Reuters) - Foreign powers agreed at a summit in Berlin on Sunday to shore up a shaky truce in Libya, but the meeting was overshadowed by blockades of oilfields by forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar that could cripple the country's crude production.

Haftar, whose self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) is bearing down on the capital, Tripoli, with the backing of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Russian mercenaries and African troops, attended the one-day summit in the German capital despite having abandoned talks over a ceasefire last week.

Turkey has rushed troops to Tripoli, as well as Turkish-backed fighters from Syria, to help Libya's internationally recognized government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj resist eastern commander Haftar's assault.

Although there has been a lull in air strikes and less fighting over the past 10 days, heavy exchanges of artillery fire could be heard from some front lines south of Tripoli late on Sunday, residents said.

Libya has had no stable central authority since dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown by NATO-backed rebels in 2011. For more than five years, it has had two rival governments, in the east and the west, with streets controlled by armed groups.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters that the Berlin summit, attended by the main backers of the rival Libyan factions, had agreed that a tentative truce in Tripoli over the past week should be turned into a permanent ceasefire to allow a political process to take place.

A special committee made up of five military officials from each side will monitor the truce, she said. Foreign powers active in Libya have committed themselves to uphold an existing U.N. arms embargo and stop shipping weapons there, she added.

Serraj and Haftar did not meet in Berlin, Merkel said, highlighting the gulf between the two.

"We know that we have not solved all of Libya's problems today but we were aiming for fresh momentum," she said.

Story continues

Haftar, the east's most powerful figure, has won backing from a range of foreign allies for an assault to capture Tripoli in the west, while Turkish support for Tripoli's effort to repel him has turned the conflict into a proxy war. More than 150,000 people have been displaced by the fighting for the capital.

OIL OUTPUT TO TUMBLE 'IN DAYS'

Haftar quit a Turkish-Russian summit a week ago and escalated the conflict on Friday when eastern oil ports were shut down. Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) said the shutdown was directly ordered by Haftar's forces.

On Sunday, NOC said the major southwestern fields of El Sharara and El Feel were closing after forces loyal to Haftar shut a pipeline.

The closures will cut Libya's oil output to 72,000 barrels a day (bpd) from 1.2 million bpd in just a few days' time unless the blockages are lifted, the NOC said.

Any lasting closure could hit Tripoli hard since the government relies on oil revenues to fund its budget.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was very worried about the closure. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Serraj and Haftar had "in general" agreed to solve the output blockage, without giving a time frame.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters that progress had been made towards reaching a full-fledged ceasefire in Libya's war, adding that he hoped Libyan oil facilities would reopen as a result of the talks.

The east under Haftar has tried to export oil, bypassing the NOC, to gain a greater share of oil revenues.

UNWILLING TO LAY DOWN ARMS

A call for a ceasefire from Russia and Turkey helped reduce fighting a week ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin said ahead of a meeting with Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the conference.

"We don't lose hope that dialogue will continue and the conflict will be solved," Putin said.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio called the summit a "point of departure" for achieving a ceasefire and blocking a flow of arms into Libya that has accelerated with Haftar's offensive.

Italy, the former colonial power, has a particular interest in Libyan security as the main destination of hundreds of thousands of African migrants sent across the Mediterranean by smugglers until a sharp downturn in flows in 2017.

But since the NATO bombing campaign that helped overthrow Gaddafi, Western countries have stepped back from playing a decisive role in Libya, allowing Russia, Turkey and Arab states to take the lead as outside powers with the most clout.

Pompeo and European and Arab leaders attended the summit, and Haftar's forces published pictures of him meeting Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash tweeted on Sunday night that the UAE supported efforts by the Berlin conference to seek a political solution to the crisis in Libya.

Both Serraj and Haftar met Merkel on different occasions. Serraj could be also seen hugging Erdogan, while Macron and Haftar were both seen smiling in pictures when they met in a corridor.

(Reporting by Ulf Laessing, Michael Nienaber, Humeyra Pamuk, Vladimir Soldatkin, Aidan Lewis, Daren Butler, Andreas Rinke, Sabine Siebold and Ahmed Elumami; Writing by Ulf Laessing and Aidan Lewis; Editing by Peter Graff, Pravin Char and Peter Cooney)
Genene Jones needed to stay behind bars.

She is a notorious child killer and is considered a suspect in at least 40 infant deaths. Prison is where she belongs. And thats where she will stay, thanks to a freshly minted plea bargain.

Jones, dubbed the killer nurse after a 1984 murder conviction, has spent most of her adult life incarcerated, but almost was released. That wont happen under this agreement.

Back in 1984, when Jones received a 99-year sentence for a childs murder to run concurrent with a 60-year sentence for injury to a child, it was believed she would never again be a free woman. But it almost did not work out that way.

For starters, her sentences were ordered to run concurrent rather than stacked one after the other. This affected how her parole could be determined.

Then came overcrowding in Texas prisons in the 1990s, which benefited Jones. In an attempt to free up prison beds, state lawmakers passed legislation to allow inmates to earn two days credit of time for each day served, and they imposed mandatory parole guidelines. This made Jones eligible for mandatory release in March 2018.

Parents of the children suspected of being Jones victims, as well as victims rights advocates who had been working for years to bring some of the unprosecuted cases to justice, rallied to ensure Jones would remain locked up. They united through a closed Facebook group, Victims of Genene Jones. Today, that group has grown to 1,500 members.

They lobbied prosecutors in the Bexar County District Attorneys Office hard. And in turn, prosecutors, under two administrations, have been relentless in their efforts to keep Jones from receiving parole. In 2017, they were able to bring murder charges against Jones in five cases involving children whose ages ranged from 3 months to 2 years.

With these cases set for trial next month, prosecutors had leverage. And last week they were able to negotiate a plea agreement, which ensures Jones will remain in prison for at least 20 years before she is eligible for parole. Thats amazing given the cases are almost 40 years old.

Under the terms of the agreement, Jones, 69, agreed to plead guilty to the murder of Joshua Sawyer, who died on Dec. 12, 1981, in exchange for a life sentence and the dismissal of charges in four other cases.

Jones worked as a pediatric nurse in San Antonio and the Hill Country. At one time she was employed at Bexar County Hospital, now University Hospital.

In 1984, she was sentenced for the murder of Chelsea McClellan, a 15-month-old Kerrville toddler, and for injury to a child in the case of Rolando Santos of San Antonio. She was accused of intentionally giving the children lethal doses of muscle relaxants or blood thinners.

Things would have played much differently for Jones if current state laws regarding the murder of children had been on the books when she committed her crimes. She likely would have ended up on death row.

The Texas Legislature made the murder of a child 6 years or younger a capital crime in the 1990s.

The law was amended in 2011 to include the murder of a child 10 years or younger.

Mostly recently, Gov. Greg Abbott signed SB 719 in June making the murder of a child 15 years or younger a capital crime punishable by life in prison without parole or the death penalty. The law went into effect in September.

Its a just law. Child killers do not merit parole.
NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect SpaceX's new launch time.

SpaceX will fly a major test flight of its Crew Dragon space taxi today (Jan. 19) to prove the spacecraft's launch escape system can carry astronauts to safety in the event of a rocket emergency. The launch, set for 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) is unlike anything SpaceX has done before.

Called an in-flight abort, the SpaceX test will demonstrate Crew Dragon's SuperDraco launch abort system designed to rip the spacecraft free of its Falcon 9 rocket in the event of a launch failure. It's the last major test for Crew Dragon before SpaceX can start flying astronauts for NASA under a Commercial Crew Program contract.

You can watch the launch live here and on the Space.com homepage, courtesy of SpaceX, beginning at about 10:10 a.m. EST (1510 GMT). You can also watch the launch directly from SpaceX here, or from NASA here.

Scroll down for a look at how the major SpaceX test flight will work in 10 steps.

1. Launch

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Like every SpaceX mission, Crew Dragon's in-flight abort test begins with a Falcon 9 launch.

Liftoff is set for no earlier than 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) from the historic Launch Pad 39A of NASA's Kennedy Space Center. In the hours leading to launch, SpaceX and NASA will practice everything needed for an actual crew launch.

SpaceX has a 6-hour window in which to launch Crew Dragon and wants optimal weather conditions for the launch itself, as well as for the spacecraft's offshore recovery in the Atlantic Ocean. Visibility is a key concern for the launch.

SpaceX has already delayed the launch 24 hours (from Saturday, Jan. 18) due to bad weather. Another launch opportunity is on Monday, Jan. 20, but weather forecasts are less favorable.

2. A proven rocket

(Image credit: SpaceX)

SpaceX is using a proven rocket for the Crew Dragon in-flight abort test.

The Falcon 9 first-stage booster on this flight is making its fourth flight and is actually the first Block 5 version of the rocket SpaceX ever launched. The booster launched a satellite for Bangladesh in May 2018, an Indonesian satellite in August of that same year and then finally a set of 64 satellites in a rideshare mission in December 2018.

SpaceX will not recover this veteran booster. It should break apart, or maybe even explode, after Crew Dragon separates from the rocket's second stage. The first and second stages are fully fueled, but the second stage carries a mass simulator in place of an engine since one is not needed for this flight.

3. SuperDraco abort engines fire

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Precisely 84 seconds after liftoff, as the Falcon 9 rocket is flying Mach 2.3, Crew Dragon will fire its eight SuperDraco engines and rip itself free of the rocket's second stage.

SpaceX is triggering the abort test while Crew Dragon and its Falcon 9 are about 14 miles (19 kilometers) high and 2.5 miles (4 km) down range.

"Dragon will leave the Falcon very quickly," Benji Reed, SpaceX's director of crew mission management, said during a news conference Friday (Jan. 17).

The open maw of Falcon 9's second stage, still attached to the first stage booster, should act as an air scoop, slowing the booster and ultimately leading it to break apart. The booster could explode and be visible from the ground, Reed said.

"There will probably be some ignition," Reed said. "We'll see something."

4. Abort system shutdown

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Crew Dragon's SuperDracos will fire for 10 seconds, pulling the capsule free of the Falcon 9 and carrying upward on a suborbital trajectory.

The eight SuperDraco on Crew Dragon are arranged in four pairs of two around the capsule's side walls, with each capable of generating 16,000 lbs. of thrust. They are more advanced and more powerful than Dragon's Draco attitude thrusters. SpaceX makes them through direct metal laser sintering, essentially 3D printing.

5. Crew Dragon trunk jettison

(Image credit: SpaceX)

About 2.5 minutes after liftoff, Crew Dragon will jettison its "trunk" service module. The cylindrical, finned module contains the solar arrays and other gear required to sustain Crew Dragon's taxi flights to the International Space Station for NASA.

During reentry, Crew Dragon jettisons its trunk just like SpaceX's Cargo Dragon vehicles. This clears the spacecraft's heat shield for entry and prepares the spacecraft for a splashdown landing in the ocean.

6. Prepare for entry

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Just after the 3-minute mark, Crew Dragon will fire its regular Draco thrusters to orient the space capsule for entry and splashdown.

Crew Dragon will not reach space on this launch. The highest the capsule should fly is about 24.8 miles (40 km), according to Reed.

7. Drogue chutes deploy

(Image credit: SpaceX)

About 5.5 minutes after liftoff, Crew Dragon will begin releasing parachutes to slow itself for splashdown.

The first still will be the release of two drogue chutes to stabilize the capsule and prepare it for the release of its four main parachutes.

8. Main parachutes deploy

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Shortly after the drogue chutes deploy, Crew Dragon will release its four main parachutes to slow the spacecraft's descent ahead of splashdown.

The parachutes on this Crew Dragon are SpaceX's newest version, the Mark 3 parachute design. SpaceX has been testing parachutes to make sure they will safely return a Crew Dragon to Earth. To date, the company has flown 80 tests, including 10 successful tests of the four-parachute arrangement.

This flight will mark a major practical test of the parachute design, which has passed a series of drop tests in recent months, but not yet been used in an actual flight.

9. Splashdown

(Image credit: SpaceX)

About 10 minutes after launch, Crew Dragon will splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. According to Reed, the drop zone is between 18 and 21 miles offshore (30-35 km).

SpaceX's recovery ship, the GO Searcher, will be looking for Crew Dragon ahead of its splashdown, setting the stage for the final step of the mission: Recovery.

10. Crew Dragon recovery

(Image credit: SpaceX)

Crew Dragon's in-flight abort test will give SpaceX a unique chance to test its recovery procedures for astronauts returning from space.

The company has staged its recovery ship, the GO Searcher, near the splashdown zone and expects its retrieval team to reach the capsule shortly after it lands.

"When Dragon splashes down, we'll be approaching the vehicle within minutes," Reed said.

In addition to its regular recovery team, SpaceX has enlisted the aid of the Air Force Detachment-3, an emergency team of divers and officials on call to aid astronaut recovery in the event of an emergency.

After Crew Dragon is safely on board GO Searcher, the ship will return to Cape Canaveral so it can be studied to see how it fared during the test.

SpaceX hopes to begin flying astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA later this year. The first crewed flight, carrying NASA astronauts Bob Behknen and Doug Hurley on the Demo-2 flight, could launch as early as March if the abort system test goes well, according to Spaceflight Now.

SpaceX is one of two companies with multi-billion-dollar contracts to fly astronauts for NASA. The other company, Boeing, will fly astronauts on its Starliner spacecraft, which launches on a crew-rated Atlas V rocket. Boeing also plans to begin crewed flights this year.

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen, has appointed one of her daughters, Violet Osunde, as a special assistant in her office.

It is not clear if the ministers action violated any law, but critics including academics and lawyers said it suggests nepotism and could be a breach of her oath of office.

Until her appointment in November, Mrs Osunde was a senior executive assistant with the National Databank Management Department of the National Pension Commission.

Mrs Osunde, a 2010 graduate of Business Management and Information Technology from the University of Plymouth, England, also holds a Masters certificate in Information System Management from Brunel University, London. She joined the National Pensions Commission in 2016.

But criticisms have trailed the appointment with many Nigerians including lawyers, leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and the spokesperson of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the development as opportunistic and condemnable.

However, the minister has defended her action, saying she has the right to choose whoever she feels has the capacity to support her efforts towards achieving the mandate of her office.

How Appointment Was Made

On November 14, 2019, the ministrys Permanent Secretary, Ifeoma Anagbogu, through the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics Department, addressed a letter to Osunde, informing her of her choice by the minister as her special assistant.

The letter with reference FMWASD/PS/128/VOL.II/302 reads in part; I am directed to inform you that a request has been made to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for your release to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to serve the Honourable Ministers special assistant. Other correspondences on the subject have been forwarded to appropriate offices.

As you are aware of Honourable Ministers itinerary for the coming week, you are expected to travel with her and accompany her to various sessions, therefore you are directed to formally request for release from your organisation to serve as special assistant to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

The new appointee has since resumed office as our reporter met her at the ministry on Friday when the minister had offered to explain the rationale behind her choice. But the permanent secretary, Mrs Anagbogu, chose to speak on behalf of the minister.

Osunde Applies For Four-year Leave Of Absence

In response to the letter received from her mothers ministry, Mrs Osunde applied for a four-year leave of absence through the head of the databank management department to the National Pension Commissions head of human capital management department.

The application letter, which was dated November 15, is referenced TECH/NDMD/DMU/2019/574.

It reads in part; I wish to inform management that I have been appointed as the special assistant to the honourable minister of women affairs. Consequently, I wish to humbly request to be granted leave of absence for a period of four years effective December 1, 2019, to December 1, 2023, to enable me carry out my duties as required under the ministry of women affairs.

Accordingly, if approved, to ensure all tasks assigned are completed as expected, I will make certain that all assignments are duly concluded and handed over appropriately before my departure.

ASUU, PDP, others kick against appointment

While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the body of university teachers across the country, described the ministers action as opportunistic, the leading opposition party in the country, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the development borders on moral bankruptcy.

Speaking with our reporter on the phone, the National President of ASUU, Abiodun Ogunyemi, said the union has always kicked against the rising culture of opportunism and nepotism by some vice-chancellors, who he noted bring on board members of their families and villages to occupy positions of authorities once they are appointed.

Ogunyemi said; It is, therefore, regrettable that a serving minister could also do this. So on a moral ground, it is not acceptable that a public office holder will bring in a member of his or her family as an aide. Otherwise, it will bring in nepotism of the highest order, and this is not acceptable in our constitution because we are not running a monarchy.

Since we are operating a democracy, such appointment should be based strictly on merit, and based on other criteria that are spelt out in our constitution. ASUU condemns it and we invite government to look into it. So as much as we dont accept it on our primary constituency, which is the university system, I think such practice should not be tolerated in other segments within the larger society. So, on moral, constitutional and legal grounds, we believe that such should not be tolerated.

Also speaking, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said such practice has defined President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

He said; Well, we have not confirmed that story but if it were so, it borders on moral bankruptcy, which is a system that has been established by this administration. President Buharis administration is about absurdities; they have no respect for morality and they are very divisive. They also dont care about the feelings of Nigerians and that can only account for why a serving minister will use her daughter as a special assistant.

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The secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Bwari Branch, Abuja, Olalekan Oladapo, said such action by the minister is a breach of oath of office. Leadership is imbued with moral rectitude. We would not be wrong to posit that the new appointment was deliberate and for personal reason. But be that as it may, such action is a breach of the Oath of office of the Hon Minister.

A compound reading of 5th Schedule of 1999 Constitution, Code of Conduct for Public Officer, Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act, and Federal Character Commission Act posits that there is abuse of office, conflict of interest and a violent breach of the law

Ministry defends action

Speaking in defence of the minister, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Anagbogu, said there is nothing wrong in what her boss has done. She said what should be important is getting the work done and not who is brought on board to get it done.

She said; As long as I do not pay from my salary, my hourable minister and even me, has the right to choose whoever will give us support and enable us to achieve our mandate. Even if it is that man on the street and I found out he is useful to me I can use him as my aide. I am being very factual and honest with you, what is the big deal in appointing ones son or daughter as an aide?

The personal assistant to the minister, Bala Muhammed, also shares the permanent secretarys view, adding that the ministers choice was based on competence and merit.

Presidency, APC keep mum

When the position of the presidency on the matter was sought through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Garba Shehu, he said he could not comment on such matters, as he was busy with his sons marriage.

But the spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Issa-Onilu, said since he did not know the reason behind the ministers decision, it would be unfair to him to speak on such matter.

Mr Issa-Onilu said; I dont think this is a question that should be pushed to the party. I am sure the minister can explain the reasons behind her decision. So if I speak now, I will be speaking in abstract because I dont know the reasons for doing it. Actually she hasnt done anything illegal. And if we are coming from the moral angle, such can only make sense when we know the reason. And even if we disagree, sound reason may completely wipe off the moral sentiment one may be tempted to bring in. So if I dont have those facts, how am I going to comment on such matter?
Discovery Channel viewers became familiar with Dave Turin when he brought his mining skills to Gold Rush for several seasons, working with Todd Hoffman and his crew. After Turin left the Hoffman team at the end of Season 7, he was generally absent from TV screens, until last year. In Gold Rush: Dave Turins Lost Mine, Turin, who grew up in Sandy, Oregon, returned to Discovery with his own show.

Now, Discovery has ordered a second season, which means Gold Rush: Dave Turins Lost Mine will return on Feb. 21. In Season 1, Turin and his crew looked for abandoned mines, and worked to see if they could find more gold.

(How to watch Discovery Channel without cable: Stream via Hulu + Live TV or fuboTV or Sling TV)

That quest continues in Season 2, as Turin turns his attention to historic mines in Montana. According to Discovery, there are more than 3,500 abandoned mines in Montana, but Turin needs to learn about the lands history and potential.

Turning up the drama, the Discovery press release says, The stakes couldnt be any higher as Dave and his team go up against the clock in a search for gold before the winter freezes the land out completely. If that wasnt difficult enough, Dave has set a gold target of 400 ounces this year ($600,000 at todays price).

Once again, Season 2 will be a multi-platform offering, with viewers able to watch a series that chronicles Turins search for the right mine, his process in deciding what to pursue, and what to skip. The series will conclude with Turin determining which mine to devote his energies to. That series will be able on the DiscoveryGO app and platform, which is free to viewers with their cable subscription.

As Turin told The Oregonian/OregonLive last year, he enjoyed calling the shots on his own show, and assembling his own crew.

Gold Rush: Dave Turins Lost Mine begins its second season at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, on the Discovery Channel.

More of our coverage:

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Frank Furedi writes at Spiked:

There is an insidious crusade afoot aiming at controlling what the public sees, hears, thinks and believes. This project, which seeks hegemony in various Western cultures, is no less pervasive and thoroughgoing than previous attempts at thought control by totalitarian and theocratic regimes. But since this campaign to control the narrative has no name, and does not promote an explicit ideology, its significance tends to be underestimated, even by those who oppose the many attempts to police language and thought. A new identity-obsessed, anti-humanist and anti-civilisational narrative has taken hold. We are increasingly encouraged to change our language, adopt hitherto unknown words, and accept deeply questionable claims.

An example:

A group of 16 scientists  from such prestigious universities as Cambridge and Oxford  wrote a letter to the journal Nature denouncing its use of the term quantum supremacy. This was on the grounds that it conveys racist and colonialist ideas. They said that, in their view, supremacy has overtones of violence, neocolonialism and racism through its association with white supremacy, and demanded that the term be replaced by quantum advantage.

What muppets.

In August, a team at the Human Interface Technology lab in New Zealand asserted that it was problematic that most robots were manufactured out of white plastic, since it smacked of imperialism and white supremacy. Here we can see how white supremacy has been redefined, turned from a distinct and vicious political ideology into a kind of original sin possessed by all those born with light skin.

And just recently weve seen the term white supremacist thrown around at anyone.

In some instances, the policing of culture can rely on the police themselves. Earlier this year, Harry Miller, a docker from Humberside, was contacted by the police after he retweeted a trans-sceptical limerick on Twitter. The officer informed him that we need to check your thinking.

So sad.

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Tragic student Cameron Blair was killed in a brutal assault while acting as a peacemaker during a dispute between a group of teens at a house party in Cork last Thursday.

Twenty-year-old Cameron, a second-year engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology, from Ballinascarty, west Cork, died after he was slashed in the neck during at a house party on the Bandon Road at about 9.20pm.

Sources say a trio of youths, who have all since been identified and spoken to by gardai, gained entry to the party despite not being invited.

A weapon, believed to be a box-cutter type blade, was recovered in the vicinity of the murder scene and is being subjected to forensic analysis to establish whether it is the murder weapon.

The three youths who gate-crashed the party are not students at Cork Institute of Technology and they were not friends with the students at the party. Images of the trio inside the party which were circulated on social media are also in the possession of investigators.

Sources said a row broke out inside the house after the trio entered and they were ejected, only for them to return shortly later at which time a second row broke out.

A source told the Sunday Independent that during the second row, highly popular student Cameron attempted to act as a peacemaker.

"It appears one of the three men became violent before a second member of this group produced a blade of some kind and inflicted the fatal wound that caused Cameron's death."

Cameron is understood to have staggered on to the street where he collapsed.

Paramedics attended to him at the scene before taking him by ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he died a short time later.

A post-mortem examination took place at the hospital last Friday afternoon.

Following the fatal assault, all three men fled up the Bandon Road. One of the men was spotted by gardai responding to 999 calls a number of streets away from the party.

A second man agreed to a voluntary interview with investigators the following day and the third youth spoke with officers last Friday.

It is understood cautioned statements were taken from all three youths. However, a decision was taken to hold off on making arrests until gardai are confident of charging a suspect.

President of Cork Institute of Technology Barry O'Connor said the entire CIT community is in shock at Cameron's death He extended "heartfelt sympathies" to Cameron's family and friends.

Cameron played rugby with Bandon Rugby Club and is a former pupil at Bandon Grammar School.

Gardai have appealed for any witnesses or anyone who may have phone or camera footage to contact Togher Garda Station on 021-4947120, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666111 or any garda station.
Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Donald Trump wants his impeachment trial to end before his state of the union address in just two weeks time, Lindsey Graham said on Sunday.

Related: Alan Dershowitz: Trump impeachment acquittal would make me unhappy

His mood is, to go to the state of the union [on 4 February] with this behind him and talk about what he wants to do for the rest of 2020 and what he wants to do for the next four years, the South Carolina senator and close Trump ally told Fox News Sunday.

That timeline is ambitious, given overwhelming public support for a fair airing of the charges against Trump at his Senate trial, in which opening arguments will be heard on Tuesday. Graham conceded that a swift dismissal of the charges, which he had hoped for, will not be possible.

The trial could include testimony from top Trump advisers with firsthand knowledge of his alleged attempts to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals. But the White House has indicated that Trump would invoke executive privilege to prevent such advisers from testifying, setting up a court fight that could drag the trial out for weeks or longer.

The sooner this is over the better for the country, Graham insisted.

On Saturday evening, House Democrats and the Trump legal team outlined their approaches to the trial.

The House impeachment managers, who will act as prosecutors, declared the president must be removed for putting his political career ahead of the public trust and seeking to hide that betrayal from Congress and the American people.

The seven managers led by intelligence committee chair Adam Schiff published a 46-page tiral brief. A 61-page statement of material facts was attached.

In a much slimmer filing, the White House replied to a congressional writ of summons notifying Trump of the charges against him and inviting him to attend the trial.

The six-page White House filing was a work of blanket denial, stating: President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment.

Story continues

If all of the presidents arguments are true, then the president truly is above the law Jason Crow

Signed by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and by Jay Sekulow, a personal lawyer to Trump, it also charged the Democrats with a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away.

Speaking to ABCs This Week on Sunday, Schiff noted that the White House did not attempt to rebut the case on its facts.

Its surprising in that it really doesnt offer much new beyond the failed arguments we heard in the House, he said. The facts arent seriously contested.

Another impeachment manager, Jason Crow of Colorado, said the White House was in effect arguing that Trump was above the law.

If all of the presidents arguments are true, that a president cant be indicted, and that the abuse of power, the abuse of public trust doesnt count as an impeachable offense  if that is true, then no president can be held accountable, he told CNNs State of the Union. Then the president truly is above the law.

The battle lines roughly plotted by the two documents will be engaged in earnest on Tuesday, when the House managers are expected to begin making their case against the president. A two-thirds majority of senators would be required to remove Trump from office. That is vastly unlikely, given a Republican party aligned behind the president and a Senate leadership openly in lockstep with the White House.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi signs the resolution to transmit the two articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial. Photograph: Susan Walsh/AP

Trump must be removed, Democrats argue, owing to the egregiousness of his past misconduct and his ongoing efforts to encourage foreign tampering in US elections.

President Trumps continuing presence in office undermines the integrity of our democratic processes and endangers our national security, the managers wrote. President Trumps abuse of power requires his conviction and removal from office.

On Sunday Alan Dershowitz, the controversial Harvard law professor who has joined Trumps legal team, argued on CNN that the charges against the president were not impeachable because abuse of power does not constitute a high crime and misdemeanor as stipulated in the US constitution as grounds for impeachment.

That view is an extreme outlier among legal scholars, but it is not the only time that Dershowitz, who formerly represented OJ Simpson and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has gone against his colleagues.

Dershowitz denied that his past representation of and friendship with Epstein could backfire in the impeachment trial, besmirching the presidents defense in the eyes particularly of women in Senate and beyond.

They understand that its pure McCarthyism to hold a lawyer responsible for having represented controversial clients, he said.

Republicans have never attempted to mount a point-for-point rebuttal of evidence amassed by Democrats that Trump mounted a months-long effort to extract announcements from Ukraine that Trump thought could damage Joe Biden, his political rival.

Evidence indicates that the effort derailed the career of a respected US ambassador at the wishes of corrupt Ukrainian elements, potentially threatening her personal security; used the promise of a White House meeting to extract the deliverable Trump wanted; and escalated to the suspension by Trump of security aid for Ukraine appropriated by Congress.

Related: Who is Lev Parnas? Soviet-born operator thrust into Trump impeachment scandal

The Democratic briefing highlighted evidence that has emerged since Trump was impeached in the House in December. That evidence includes documents and testimony from Lev Parnas, a former close associate of Rudy Giuliani, Trumps designated point person in Ukraine.

Identifying himself as the personal counsel to President Trump, Giuliani sought a meeting with Ukrainian president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy in May 2019, according to Parnas evidence cited in the briefing.

President Trump has betrayed the American people and the ideals on which the nation was founded, the Democratic briefing concluded.

Unless he is removed from office, he will continue to endanger our national security, jeopardize the integrity of our elections, and undermine our core constitutional principles.
Israel starts to install sensors along Lebanon border



Jerusalem, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2020



Israel's army said it would start drilling to install ground sensors along its border with Lebanon on Sunday, a year after an operation to destroy tunnels dug across the frontier.

"We are deploying a defensive system into the ground.. in various locations" along the border, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus told journalists.

Work would get underway Sunday at the Israeli kibbutz town of Misgav Am, he said, to deploy the new noise-detecting technology.

The move comes a year after Israel concluded a weeks-long operation to destroy tunnels it accused Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah of building.

At least six tunnels were discovered in the operation dubbed "Northern Shield" along the border where a United Nations peacekeeping force is deployed.

Conricus said the drilling is "not related to any new intelligence" and all military activity would take place on the Israeli side of the border.

Work at Misgav Am is expected to last a number of weeks before the sensors are installed along other sections of the border.

"We understand that our activity might be seen, and most probably will be heard, on the Lebanese side," said Conricus.

Israel has notified the UNIFIL peacekeeping force which patrols the "blue line" drawn by the UN to mark Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.

Lebanon and Israel are still technically at war.

A month-long conflict in 2006 between Israel and Hezbollah killed more than 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and more than 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Tarah McLaughlin, the widow of Staff Sgt. Ian Paul McLaughlin, touches her husband's coffin on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020, on Fort Bragg, N.C. McLaughlin was killed Jan. 11 in Afghanistan.

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.  The remains of a U.S. Army paratrooper arrived back in Fort Bragg on Saturday, a week after he died in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Ian McLaughlin, 29, of Newport News, Virginia, was killed Jan. 11 by an improvised explosive device. Pfc. Miguel Angel Villalon, 21, of Joliet, Illinois, was killed in the same incident.

Both soldiers were part of the 82nd Airborne Division.

A chaplain prayed and a family member sobbed after the plane carrying McLaughlins casket landed at Fort Braggs Pope Army Airfield.

Tarah McLaughlins fingers traced her husbands flag-draped coffin before she pressed two fingers to her lips then pressed her fingers to the coffin.

Hundreds of other paratroopers lined the roadway to salute as the hearse was escorted away.

The remains of Staff Sgt. Ian Paul McLaughlin are carried from a plane to an awaiting hearse on Fort Bragg, N.C., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. McLaughlin was killed Jan. 11 in Afghanistan.

Also helping to escort McLaughlin from Fort Bragg to a Fayetteville funeral home were more than 50 motorcycles and about 65 members of the North Carolina Patriot Guard Riders.

The Patriot Guards purpose is to show honor and respect for fallen soldiers, veterans and first responders, said Steve Scooper Havens, assistant district captain for the Sandhills Division of the Patriot Guard.

They will never be forgotten, whether theyre in the service for a week or theyve been in for 40 years, Havens said. They will always be remembered.

Afghanistan attack: 2 US service members killed in roadside bomb attack

Soldiers salute as a hearse carrying the remains of Staff Sgt. Ian Paul McLaughlin drive by on Fort Bragg, N.C., on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. McLaughlin was killed Jan. 11 in Afghanistan.

A statement from the 82nd Airborne Division last week said McLaughlins wife and four children are among the survivors.

His obituary states a funeral will full military honors will be held Tuesday at Fort Bragg.

McLaughlins obituary says he joined the Army in 2012 as a heavy construction equipment operator.

His first assignment was at Fort Hood, Texas, where he met and married his wife, his obituary states.

He graduated Airborne School in 2016 and was later assigned to the 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion at Fort Bragg. In 2018, he became a jumpmaster.

Fort Bragg officials said McLaughlins deployment to Afghanistan was his first.

Story continues

McLaughlins awards and decorations include the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal.

Maj. Gen. James Mingus, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, said McLaughlin and Villalon represented the best of the nation and Army.

They went when our nation called and paid the ultimate sacrifice, Mingus said last week. They will be honored, mourned, but never forgotten and we are committed to taking care of their families for life.

More than 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Last year was the deadliest for U.S. service members since 2014, with 23 American troops killed.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fort Bragg soldier: Remains of paratrooper Ian McLaughlin return home
Cameras miles in the sky, a countdown and then boom: US President Donald Trump has recounted the final moments of Irans powerful General Qasem Soleimani in an American drone strike.

Trump delivered the account Friday night to Republican Party donors gathered at his Florida residence Mar-a-Lago for a fundraising dinner, US media said.

CNN on Saturday broadcast an audio recording in which the president gave new details about the January 3 strike at the airport in Baghdad. It killed the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force commander and members of Iraqs Hashed al-Shaabi, a paramilitary force with close ties to Iran.

He was supposed to be invincible, Trump said.

Democrats and other critics have questioned the timing of the strike, the month before Trumps Senate impeachment trial, and the administrations shifting reasons for launching it.

In the audio released by CNN, Trump did not refer to an imminent attack which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Soleimani was planning. Nor was there a reference to four embassies which Trump later alleged were being targeted.

He was saying bad things about our country. He was saying like, Were going to attack your country. Were going to kill your people. I said Look, how much of this shit do we have to listen to?, Trump told his guests.

He then described the scene, relaying the words of the military officers giving live updates to him in Washington.

They said, Sir, and this is from, you know, cameras that are miles in the sky. They are together sir. Sir, they have two minutes and 11 seconds. No bullshit. They have two minutes and 11 seconds to live, sir. Theyre in the car. Theyre in an armored vehicle going. Sir, they have approximately one minute to live, sir... 30 seconds, 10, nine, eight... then all of sudden boom. Theyre gone, sir.

Trump acknowledged that the US strike shook up the world but said Soleimani deserved to be hit hard because he was responsible for killing thousands of Americans -- a figure which contrasted with one he gave on January 8. At that time, Trump said the Iranian wounded and murdered thousands of US troops.

Iran vowed revenge for the US strike, raising fears of war, and later launched missiles at bases in Iraq housing US troops. None were killed.
Capt Chesley Sully Sullenberger pilloried Lara Trump after the president's daughter-in-law mocked Joe Biden's stutter during a campaign event last week.

Sullenberger, the famed pilot who landed a plane on the Hudson River in 2009, opened up about his own struggle with a speech impediment in a New York Times op-ed published Sunday.

'As a small boy in Denison, Texas, I remember vividly the anguish of being called on in grade school, knowing that I was going to have a hard time getting the words out; that my words could not keep up with my mind, and they would often come out jumbled,' Sullenberger wrote.

'My neck and face would quickly begin to flush a bright red, the searing heat rising all the way to the top of my head; every eye in the room on me; the intense and painful humiliation, and bullying that would follow, all because of my inability to get the words out.

'Those feelings came rushing back, when I heard Lara Trump mocking former Vice President Joe Biden at a Trump campaign event, with the very words that caused my childhood agony.

'Joe, can you get it out? Let's get the words out, Joe.'

Capt Chesley Sully Sullenberger (left) pilloried Lara Trump (right) in a New York Times op-ed Sunday after the president's daughter-in-law mocked Joe Biden's stutter during a campaign event last week

Lara Trump tore into Biden (pictured) during a Women for Trump event in Iowa on Thursday and mocked his stutter by saying: 'Joe, can you get it out? Let's get the words out, Joe'

Lara Trump, the wife of Trump organization executive Eric Trump and senior adviser to her father-in-law's re-election campaign, tore into Biden during a Women for Trump event in Iowa on Thursday.

'I feel kind of sad for Joe Biden,' she said, while tearing into the Democratic presidential pool and his debate performance. 'And you know that's when it's not going well for him, right?'

'Because I'm supposed to want him to fail at every turn, but every time he comes on stage or they turn to him, I'm like, 'Joe, can you get it out?' she remarked. 'Let's get the words out, Joe,' she mocked.

'You Kind of feel bad for him. The problem is that's their front-runner, guys, Okay?' she said, earning laughs at Biden's expense.

She said the Democratic field has 'zero chance' of beating her father-in-law, in video clipped by CBS News.

Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh wrote on Twitter that Lara Trump was not referring to stuttering.

'Biden was a terrible candidate the first 2 times he ran for president & he's no better this time. He doesn't know what state he's in half the time & thinks Thatcher is still British PM. Nothing to do w/speech impediment. Just bad candidate,' he wrote.

On Tuesday night, Biden briefly stammered during some of his answers on the Democratic debate stage, something he has done occasionally at his public events.

It is a problem he has spoken about openly before, including about his efforts as a teen to overcome the problem and begin a decades-long career in politics that included long speeches in the Senate.

Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh wrote on Twitter that Lara Trump was not referring to stuttering when she made the remarks at the Women for Trump event

Sullenberger shared sympathy for Biden in his op-ed, noting that he attended a fundraiser for the former vice president's campaign last year but saying 'this issue goes beyond politics'.

The pilot wrote: 'Regardless of how you feel about Joe Biden, or his chances of becoming the Democratic nominee for president; whether you are a Republican, a Democrat, or none of the above; whether you stuttered as a child or laughed at one who did; whether as a parent you try to protect your own stuttering child from taunts such as those made by the president's daughter-in-law; these words come without hesitation: Stop. Grow up. Show some decency. People who can't, have no place in public life.'

Sullenberger went on to praise Biden for 'courageously' speaking openly about his severe childhood stutter and for taking the time to reach out to children currently suffering from stutters.

He described how he overcame his own stutter through 'much hard work and intense focus' - revealing how it impacted his miracle plane landing over 10 years ago.

'The fact that I once stuttered did not keep me from being a successful U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, an airline pilot, or even a public speaker,' Sullenberger wrote.

'And on that frigid day in January 2009, when I had to tell the air traffic controller at New York Departure Control that I was about to land US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, after a bird strike following takeoff caused both engines to fail, my words came out with precision and control, even in the stress of a life-threatening emergency.'

He concluded the opinion piece by offering some advice to anyone disheartened by Lara Trump's remarks the way he was.

'You are fine, just as you are. You can do any job you dream of when you grow up,' he wrote.

'You can be a pilot who lands your plane on a river and helps save lives, or a president who treats people with respect, rather than making fun of them. You can become a teacher to kids who stutter.

'A speech disorder is a lot easier to treat than a character defect.'

Sullenberger, the famed pilot who landed a plane on the Hudson River in 2009, opened up about his own struggle with a speech impediment in the New York Times op-ed

He described how he overcame his own stutter through 'much hard work and intense focus' - revealing how it impacted his miracle plane landing over 10 years ago

Lara Trump's swipe came weeks after former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders apologized after mocking Biden's stutter in a tweet.

'I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I hhhave absolutely no idea what Biden is talking about #DemDebate,' she said after mocking his stutter in a December presidential debate.

'To be clear was not trying to make fun of anyone with a speech impediment,' she tweeted after her earlier post drew condemnation online. 'Simply pointing out I can't follow much of anything Biden is talking about.' She deleted her tweet.

Biden's comment which drew Sanders' ridicule referenced talking talking to kid who stutters and says 'I-I-I can't talk, what do I do?'

Biden shot back from his Twitter account at the time: 'I've worked my whole life to overcome a stutter. And it's my great honor to mentor kids who have experienced the same. It's called empathy. Look it up.'

Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders apologized after tweeting about Biden's debate performance last month
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Bolpur : , Jan 19 (IANS) The Rabindranath Tagore founded Visva-Bharati University has decided to seek deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at its campus here in West Bengal's Birbhum district after two recent incidents of disturbance, a spokesman said on Sunday.

The Central varsity would approach the Union Human Resource Development Ministry for facilitating the deployment of the paramilitary force which is tasked to protect vital installations and infrastructure.

"Many people are saying that they are feeling insecured in Visva-Bharati. Keeping this in mind, we are taking measures, so that the CISF can be deployed in the Varsity as early as possible," the spokesman said.

On January 8, Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta, on a visit to the varsity to deliver a lecture on the new citizenship law, was confined by the CPM-affiliated Students Federation of India (SFI) activists for close to six hours inside a locked room of the institute here, about 160 kilometres from Kolkata.

Dasgupta, Vice Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty, other varsity officials as well as BJP leader Dudhkumar Mondal were released from the Social Work department at Sreeniketan, a little distance away from the main campus at Santiniketan late in that night by the protesting students.

On January 15, two students having allegiance to the Left students unions of the varsity were allegedly beaten up with broken wickets, wooden rods and sticks in the hostel.

The SFI, however, strongly opposed the move.

"In the past also when there was talk of deploying the Central Reserve Police Force, then too we had opposed. This time also we will strongly oppose such deployment, not only in Visva-Bharati but also in any other educational institution in the country.

"If despite our opposition, they deploy the para-military, there will be an intense student movement," said SFI leader Somnath Shaw.

But RSS affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) backed the university authority's stand.

"First, Swapan Dasgupta was confined, and then, there was this attack in the hostel. Students are very scared. In the interest of safe education and safe campus, and for the security of the students, if administration has taken this step we welcome it," said ABVP leader Satkar Tripathi.

Polymath Tagore, the first non-European Nobel laureate and one who holds the unique distinction of having composed the national anthems of two nations - India and Bangladesh - founded the university in 1921.
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a pair of cases on whether electors casting Electoral College ballots for president and vice president have to follow the results of the popular vote in their states. The case could have significant ramifications for this year's presidential race.

The cases involve the so-called "faithless electors" during the 2016 presidential election. At issue is whether the faithless electors can vote for any candidate they like, or whether they are bound to follow the popular vote.

In one case, a Colorado elector voted for John Kasich instead of Hillary Clinton, who won the popular vote in that state. The state replaced that ballot caster with another elector. In the other case, in Washington state, several electors refused to cast their ballot for Clinton, who won that state, and instead cast them for Colin Powell. Washington State adopted those ballots, but fined them.

Thirty-two states have laws requiring electors to follow the popular vote in their state, and the Supreme Court in the past has allowed states to require they do so.

The Electoral College is the mechanism the U.S. uses, and has always used, to determine who wins the presidency. But in several elections, including 2016, one candidate has won the popular vote but another has won the Electoral College.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is juggling two jobs. In addition to being chief justice, he is presiding over Mr. Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate.

 CBS News correspondent Jan Crawford contributed to this report.

Trump's legal team prepares for impeachment trial

What MLK Jr.s American dream speech means to his children

The change MLK Jr.s children hope to see in the world
It also includes Greenpeace, Peta and other non-violent groups as well as neo-Nazis.

The Ukrainian Embassy in the United Kingdom demands that the official Coat of Arms of Ukraine Tryzub (Trident) be removed from the British Extremism Guide.

"Placing the Trident #Tryzub, [the] constitutional national symbol & Coat of Arms of #Ukraine, in Extremism Guide produced by @TerrorismPolice for UK teachers & medical staff is beyond outrageous. No explanations acceptable," the Embassy said on Twitter on January 19. "We demand Trident be removed from Guide with official apologies."

Placing the Trident #Tryzub, constitutional national symbol&Coat of Arms of #Ukraine, in Extremism Guide produced by @TerrorismPolice for UK teachers&medical staff is beyond outrageous. No explanations acceptable. We demand Trident to be removed from Guide with official apologies pic.twitter.com/sYbjW9yrsb  Ukraine's Emb. to UK (@UkrEmbLondon) January 19, 2020

The guide is produced by Counter Terrorism Policing and used across England as part of training for Prevent, the anti-radicalization scheme designed to catch those at risk of committing terrorist violence, The Guardian said on January 17.

Journalists drew attention to the fact that the counter-terrorism police document distributed to medical staff and teachers as part of anti-extremism briefings included Greenpeace, Peta and other non-violent groups as well as neo-Nazis.

It also features the Ukrainian Azov battalion's insignia.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on CBS's "Face the Nation" Sunday dismissed new impeachment evidence obtained from Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Rudy Giuliani, stating that there is "no question that there have been a series of grifters" who have associated themselves with the Trump campaign.

The exchange:

BRENNAN: "Doesn't it trouble you that [Parnas] was working so closely with Rudy Giuliani, who was acting on the president's behalf and saying he was acting on the president's behalf?"

CORNYN: "Well, there is no question that there have been a series of grifters and other hangers-on that have associated themselves with the president's campaign or claim to have special relationships with the president, but this is not the issue that the Senate is going to be deciding."

Why it matters: Parnas has claimed that the campaign to pressure Ukraine to announce an investigation into the Bidens was carried out with President Trump's consent and awareness. "President Trump knew exactly what was going on," Parnas told MSNBC last week.

Yes, but: Many have questioned whether Parnas is a reliable narrator because he's been indicted for violating federal campaign-finance laws.

Cornyn criticized Democrats for wanting to "rest their case" on someone "under indictment in the Southern District of New York with extensive ties to Russian oligarchs and organized crime."

The big picture: At least five former Trump campaign advisers or associates have been convicted or pleaded guilty to various crimes in the last three years.

Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, is reportedly under investigation for his business dealings, including his activities in Ukraine.

Go deeper:
Iran warns of repercussions for IAEA over European moves



Tehran, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2020



Iran's parliamentary speaker on Sunday warned of unspecified repercussions for the UN's nuclear watchdog if European nations that launched a dispute mechanism against the Islamic republic act "unfairly".

Britain, France and Germany launched a process last week charging Iran with failing to observe the terms of the 2015 deal curtailing its nuclear programme, while Tehran accuses the bloc of inaction over US sanctions.

The EU three insisted they remained committed to the agreement, which has already been severely undermined by the US exit from it in 2018 and its reimposition of unilateral sanctions on key sectors of Iran's economy.

"What the three European countries did regarding Iran's nuclear issue... is unfortunate," parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA.

"We clearly announce that if Europe, for any reason, uses Article 37 of the nuclear agreement unfairly, then Iran will make a serious decision regarding cooperation with the agency," he said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Since May 2019, Iran has progressively scaled back some commitments under the agreement in response to the US sanctions and Europe's inability to circumvent them.

It has stressed, however, that they can be reversed if Tehran's interests are realised.

Iran's latest and final step in January entailed forgoing the limit on the number of machines used to make uranium more potent.

The 2015 nuclear deal -- known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- was struck in Vienna by Iran, the EU three, the United States, China and Russia.

It has a provision that allows a party to claim significant non-compliance by another party before a joint commission.

Articles 36 and 37 of the deal say if the issue is not resolved by the commission, it then goes to an advisory board and eventually to the UN Security Council, which could reimpose sanctions.

The decision to begin the so-called dispute mechanism process comes as tensions soar between the West and Iran following the killing of top commander Qasem Soleimani in a US air strike, and the admission by Tehran days later that it had accidentally shot down a Ukrainian airliner.

"The issue is not Iran's behaviour," said the parliamentary speaker.

"It is America's threats that have pushed a powerful European country to a humiliating and unjust" position, said Larijani.

Germany confirmed last week that the United States had been threatening to impose a 25-percent tariff on European cars if the bloc continued to back the nuclear deal.
The report by the Ministry of Revenue in 1869 detailing Da Nang authorities' allocation of rice to help 540 people from China's Fujian Province who got stranded on Truong Sa. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong.

Da Nang authorities have received 19 documents on Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands from the Nguyen Dynastys imperial archives as donations to a proposed library.

They were handed over by Dang Thanh Tung, head of the State Records Management and Archives Department at a ceremony on Saturday.

He said the documents show the establishment and exercising of Vietnamese sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) islands by the Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945.

They also include one, made public for the first time, which is a report by the Ministry of Revenue in 1869 detailing Da Nang authorities' allocation of rice to help 540 people from China's Fujian Province who got stranded on Truong Sa.

The imperial archives and the woodblocks of the Nguyen Dynasty are two especially important collections in Vietnam's archives with legal and historical value, Tung said.

The archives contain the administrative records of the Nguyen Dynasty and the signatures of the Nguyen kings, and are being preserved at the National Archives.

"We are very proud to be able to donate a part of the documents we are managing and archiving to the People's Committee of Hoang Sa Island District," Tung said.

He added that more key documents would be handed over to authorities in Da Nang and the central Khanh Hoa Province, which administers Truong Sa Islands, to "build databases with full historical and legal evidence to fight for the sacred territories of the fatherland."

Assoc Prof Dr Nguyen Tuan Cuong, director of the Institute of Han-Nom Studies, donated to Hoang Sa District authorities the 40-page "Hoang Le Canh Hung map" he had collected from Keio University in Tokyo, in which page 31b contains a description of the Yellow Sand Bank, or Hoang Sa Islands.

Other documents donated at the ceremony include a map of Hoang Sa Islands published by the French Navy in 1885 and reprinted in 1940 based on a survey conducted by the Germans in 1881-83, a research paper on the battles Vietnamese naval forces had fought to defend the country, paintings of Truong Sa Islands and propaganda posters promoting Vietnam's sovereignty over the islands, and a map of Tourane (French name for Da Nang at the time) published by the Indochina Geographical Department in November 1898 that clearly shows Hoang Sa Islands as part of the city.

According to Vo Ngoc Dong, chairman of Da Nang's Hoang Sa District, since 2016 the district has received 212 relics and documents of historical and legal importance from Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals confirming Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands.

Most sources of information and documents related to Hoang Sa Islands are now scattered around various archives, and Dong hoped the Hoang Sa Library, which would be situated inside the Hoang Sa Exhibition House, would gather all documents.

At the handover ceremony, Hoang Sa District authorities also met with and gave mementoes to people who used to work on the islands before 1974.

Tran Van Son, one of them, said: "We are very touched by the affection of the people across the country. There are still many people trying hard to search for documents to fight for our sovereignty, making me very happy."

Vietnam has long had and been exercising sovereignty over both the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa islands.

China seized Hoang Sa Islands from South Vietnam by force on January 19, 1974, and has since been illegally occupying them.
The results season in the banking sector started last week with IndusInd Bank, Bandhan Bank and HDFC Bank announcing their Q3 results.

While the private lenders posted impressive profits, slippages and asset quality continued to raise concerns.

Meanwhile, troubled private lender Yes Bank, which is yet to finalise its capital infusion plans, had its issuer ratings placed under review and Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) further reduced to 'caa2' from 'b3' by Moody's.

HDFC Bank Q3 profit jumps 33%, but asset quality weakens, provisions spike

Private sector lender HDFC Bank on January 18 registered a 33 percent year-on-year growth in third quarter profit, driven by other income and operating income, but asset quality weakened along with deterioration in provision coverage ratio. Lower tax cost also boosted profitability.

IndusInd Bank's Romesh Sobti allays continuity fears as his tenure nears end

Romesh Sobti, who will retire as IndusInd Bank's Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on March 23, said that the market's fears over the continuity of the bank's philosophy under a new chief were unfounded as its strategies are not devised by an individual.

Michael Patra takes over as RBI Deputy Governor, central bank rejigs portfolios

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on January 15 said that Michael Debabrata Patra was taking over as the Deputy Governor at the central bank for a period of three years. He replaces Viral Acharya, who quit the post six months before end of his three-year term. Prior to this appointment, Patra was Executive Director at RBI.

Moody's downgrades Yes Bank's baseline credit rating, places issuer ratings under review

Moody's Investors Service on January 16 downgraded YES Bank's Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and adjusted BCA to 'caa2' from 'b3' citing concerns on the standalone viability of the private lender as it struggles to raise capital.

New debit and credit card rules: Only domestic transactions at ATMs & PoS terminals at time of issuance

In order to safeguard interests of bank account holders, the reserve bank has asked banks to clip some features while issuing new cards. These features will have to be enabled by the user, depending upon their spending habits.

Maharashtra UCBs call for NABARD as regulator

Maharashtra Urban Cooperative Banks Federation, that represents a third of the country's urban cooperative lenders, on January 16 called for a rollback of regulations that came into effect post-PMC Bank episode.
Update: Gardai say that Lacramioara Gabriela Argint has been found safe and well.

Gardai appeal for help finding missing Dublin teen

Gardai in Dublin are appealing to the public for assistance as they search for a missing teenager.

Lacramioara Gabriela Argint, 15, was last seen in Talbot Street, Dublin 1 around 5pm yesterday.

Lacramioara Gabriela Argint

Lacramioara is described as being approximately 5' 6 inches in height with a slim build, brown eyes and dark brown hair.

She was last seen wearing a blue jacket, jeans and dark runners.

Gardai and Lacramioara's family are concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts are asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 6668002 or any garda station.
A husband questioned over his young wife's death in Western Australia allegedly drove himself to the police station 'covered in blood'.

Homicide detectives are investigating the suspected murder of a woman in her early 20s at a home on Barker avenue in Balcatta, in Perth's north, at the weekend.

Police have taped off the home and are conducting forensic testing after the husband led them to the body on Saturday afternoon.

Police have taped off the home and are conducting forensic testing after the husband led them to the body on Saturday afternoon

The woman was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery but was unable to be revived, according to Nine News.

Police are now questioning the husband over the incident, but no charges have been laid.

As part of inquiries the car he drove to the station has been seized by police.

The couple were of Middle Eastern descent and it's understood they were in an arranged marriage, the West Australian reported.
MAUA, Kenya - It's an unassuming little red-and-green leaf, but the powers unlocked by chewing it have hooked millions of people around the world, made it one of Kenya's leading exports and gotten it banned in the United States and much of Europe.

Known as miraa in Kenya and Somalia and qat, or khat, in Arabic, its users say munching it for a few hours makes them alert and talkative, much like coffee would. But the potency of the leaf starts to wane as soon as it is picked off the tree, presenting a major challenge to suppliers in this more than $400-million-a-year industry: how to get it from the hills of central Kenya - the miraa heartland - to Nairobi, Mogadishu and other hubs of its biggest fans - the Somali community - without delay.
19.01.2020 LISTEN

Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otukonor has disclosed that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is planning with the Electoral Commission (EC)to rig the 2020 general elections.

He disclosed that the NPP wants to undermine the electoral process with its diabolic schemes.

However, he stated that, is shameful a desperate political party like the NPP will be engaging in these acts.

According to him, Everything pointed to the fact that the EC, especially its chairperson, Jean Mensa, was clearly in favour of the NPP to retain political power through any means, Peter Boamah Otukonor told Lawyer Ohene Gyan on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7

Otukonor stressed that, the current voters register was credible, as it was used to elect President Akufo-Addo. Again, he said it had been used for other previous elections in the country and, therefore, any attempts to change the electoral roll would be rejected.

Backing his earlier claim that the existing electoral roll was credible, Otukonor said, This was the same register that was used for the district assembly elections and the creation of six regions in the country last year.

The Electoral Commission (EC) says it has awarded the contract for the construction of the new Production and Disaster Recovery Datacentre to Persol Systems Limited, which has begun the processes for construction.

The telecommunication giant, MTN, has also secured the contract to provide network or internet connectivity services to the various district offices of the Commission.

---KingdomfmOnline
The Yemeni military was instructed by their President to be on high alert and ready for battle after the country suffered an attack on Saturday by Houthi rebels who are allegedly backed by Iran. The rebels attacked a military training camp in Yemen's city of Marib and killed 73 people and wounded dozens more.

Strong stance

In his statement, President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said the attack by the rebels proved that the Houthis have no desire for peace. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack`. According to reports, the attack targeted a mosque which is 170 kilometres east to the capital Sanaa as people gathered for prayer. Reports have also claimes that dozens of Huthi militia were also killed or injured in the attack.

Read: US Attempted Second Attack Targeting Iranian Military Official In Yemen: Report

Read: Missile Attack Kills 9 At Military Parade In Yemen's South

Saudi state media is reporting the death toll to be 60. Yemen has become a ground for a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia. According to Yemens official news agency, Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi had earlier condemned the cowardly terror attack.

Conflict

Yemen has been the worst hit due to the ongoing armed conflict between Houthi rebels and a coalition of states led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In 2015, Saudi Arabia and the UAE intervened in the conflict on request of former Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and the continued fighting has caused disproportionate suffering for the civilians.

Amnesty International, a London-based human rights organisation, had said in a report that Yemens war has been characterized by unlawful bombings, displacement and a dearth of basic services, leaving many struggling to survive.

The humanitarian response is overstretched, but people with disabilities  who are already among those most at risk in armed conflict  should not face even greater challenges in accessing essential aid, said Rawya Rageh, Senior Crisis Advisor at Amnesty International.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war that has ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Read: 70 Yemeni Soldiers Killed In Missile Attack Launched By Houthi Rebels: Report

Read: Yemen Missile, Drone Attack Kills At Least 70 Soldiers
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19

By Elnur Baghishov - Trend:

As of Jan. 8, the bodies 150 people died in the crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane near Parand, Iran's Tehran province, have been handed over to their families, Trend reports referring to the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization.

To date, corpses of only 169 victims have been identified, the LMO said.

The victim's bodies have been identified thanks to the genetic profiles sent to the Tehran Medical Expertise Department or their relatives who have appealed to the department.

The Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 crashed in Tehran province on Jan. 8, killing all 176 people on board.

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.
Phillip Schofield was forced to apologise when Maura Higgins swore on Saturday's Dancing On Ice.

The Love Island star, 29, was the last contestant to be named safe from the skate off, and out of relief she mouthed 'f***' before then appearing to say the word out loud while hugging her skating partner Alexander Demetriou.

As a result, the This Morning co-host, 57, had to make an apology to the crowd and everyone watching at home, as he said: 'Sorry if there was any bad language there, our apologies.'

Oops: Dancing On Ice: Phillip Schofield was forced to apologise as Maura Higgins dropped the F-BOMB after she was the last star to be named safe on Saturday's show

Maura was channelling her inner Diva in a jaw-dropping sequinned disco creation, as she performed to One Night Only from Dreamgirls with Alexander Demetriou.

The Irish beauty admitted having doubts ahead of her performance, and needed some encouragement from both her dance partner and her boyfriend Curtis Pritchard.

Luckily the pair were still able to deliver with their performance, and scored 25 points out of 40.

Tense moment: Out of relief, the Love Island star, 29, mouthed 'f***' before appearing to say the word out loud while hugging her skating partner Alexander Demetriou

John said: There was a lot of moves in there, we're at a level where it's got to get better and better each week.'

But Ashley said he thought her famous brazen attitude was missing from the skate, adding: 'You're improving and that's what you need to do. It needed a big diva energy and you're not quite there. I want to see it on the ice, bring it.'

Maura's beau Curtis was on hand to support his love while she gave it her all on the ice, despite her initial reservations about the dance.

Sparkling show: Maura was channelling her inner Diva in a jaw-dropping sequinned disco creation, as she performed to One Night Only from Dreamgirls with Alexander

You're doing OK! The Irish beauty admitted having doubts ahead of her performance, and needed some encouragement from both her dance partner and her boyfriend Curtis Pritchard

The professional dancer kept things simple for the outing, as he wore a white shirt that he tucked into black trousers.

Curtis was ever the doting boyfriend as he watched on in amazement as Maura, who started skating as a complete novice just months ago, completed twists and various other impressive moves.

The couple are still together some six-months after leaving the villa as finalists, and have beaten the odds by joining Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury as one of two couples to remain in a committed relationship from last year's show.
The Chhattisgarh government has constituted a one-member judicial commission to probe the 2009 Naxal attack in Rajnandagon district in which 29 police personnel, including a superintendent of police, were killed in three separate strikes on a single day.

A gazette notification in this regard was issued on January 15 by the state's General Administration Department, a department official told PTI on Sunday night.

The commission, to be chaired by Justice Shambhunath Srivastava (retd judge of the Allahabad High Court),has been formed to probe various significant points "which are of public importance and clear apprehensions pertaining over it despite after 10 years of the incident".

Then Rajnandgaon SP Vinod Choubey was among the 29 police personnel who were killed in three separate strikes by naxals in Madanwada and nearby areas on July 12, 2019.

The judicial inquiry was ordered by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in September last year.

As per the notification, the enquiry will be focused on 11 points, including the circumstances leading to the incidents near Madanwada, Mahaka Pahari, Karekatta and Korkatti villages under the Manpur police station area.

It will try to find out whether the incidents could have been averted and whether all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and security directives were followed.

Other points of the probe include the circumstances leading the Rajnandgaon SP and other security personnel to rush for the operation; whether additional resources and forces were sent as reinforcement, and whether the state police and Central forces had coordinated with each other.

The commission will have to submit its report within six months from the date of the gazette publication.

On July 12, 2009, two security personnel were killed in an encounter with Maoists in Madanwada.

Subsequently, Choubey rushed to the spot along with reinforcement. When he was heading to the spot along with his team, Maoists ambushed them, killing him and 24 other police personnel.

In another incident on the same day, four other policemen were killed in a naxal attack in a nearby forest.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UAE-based Azizi Developments said it will focus on delivering its pre-sold inventory across 54 ongoing projects from 2020 to 2023, and will leverage its extensive existing land bank to deliver sustainable growth for years to come.



The announcement came as the company announced its 2020 handovers, office launches abroad, expansions, diversifications and more in line with the UAEs Year of Preparation for the next 50 years of growth and development.



Azizi said it is starting the new year with a continued, customer-centric commitment to its ongoing projects; potential diversification and global expansions; and a host of new products and marketing activities to attract a plethora of nationalities that show increasing demand, in line with Expo 2020.



Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments, said: With 2019 having come to a close, we look back with great pride at all that we have accomplished. It was a year full of accelerated construction and delivery  a year that was marked with countless success stories, from completions and launches to the many new solutions that weve introduced to the real estate sector.



Weve succeeded in restructuring the firm into the stable, reliable and transparent partner that our stakeholders need and deserve, operating much more efficiently than ever before.



We have embarked on a ground-breaking pursuit of becoming the most investor- and customer-centric developer in the UAE and beyond, having taken concrete steps to further enhance our quality, and are now very well positioned to lead Dubais real estate market into a new paradigm of excellence. As we begin our journey into the new year and decade, with many more handovers, exciting solutions and new opportunities to come, and with Expo 2020 set to bring a substantial volume of Foreign Direct Investment into the UAE, we look forward to a very bright and promising future, he added.



Projects that will be handed over in 2020 include Samia, Farishta, Shaista, Star, and Plaza in Al Furjan  an up-and-coming strategic location with outstanding connectivity to the entirety of the emirate, Mina on the east crescent of the iconic Palm Jumeirah, Aura  the developers freehold residential building in Downtown Jebel Ali, and the first phase of Riviera, its 71-building French Mediterranean-inspired master-planned community project in Mohammed bin Rashid City.



In addition to its ongoing projects, Azizi also has 100+ projects in planning, worth several billion dollars. Of these, 48 require less than 30% of its accessible land bank, and are set for handover over the course of the next five years.



Azizi is currently looking into opening offices in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and London, and developing in other emirates, neighbouring high-growth markets, and more mature markets overseas, demonstrating that a UAE-based real estate firm can develop world-class projects across the globe.



Moreover, the firm will build on its recently launched fly-in programme, through which it is inviting the world to Dubai, offering customised five-star travel packages that comprise flights, all-inclusive hotel stays, and transportation across the emirate. Azizi aims to showcase its properties across the city's prime locations, as well as Dubai's many marvels, to foreign investors.



The developer also plans to diversify by expanding vertically into hospitality, leasing, facility management and brokerage services. With its current portfolio, land banks and strategic partnerships, Azizi is well-positioned to enter these markets. Some of the master plans around the lands that Azizi owns allow the developer to also look at retail, commercial and hospitality facilities. Azizi is now assessing other kinds of properties and locations for this purpose, to diversify by leveraging its capacity.



To play its part in the preparations and onset of Expo 2020, Azizi is developing a large concentration of projects with direct metro and highway access to the site, which will continue to be a vibrant hub of culture and leisure even after the event.



Moreover, it will further build on its short-term home rental concept through which it manages and services its customers owned apartments for them, and may convert some of its properties into hotel units, to cater to the surge in tourism. Azizi is also sponsoring the Solar Decathlon Middle East, a competition hosted in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in alignment with  and for the entire duration of  Expo 2020, through its sponsorship of Team Tawazun.  TradeArabia News Service
New concerns have emerged over an airport pension fund that previously caused a major industrial relations crisis at Aer Lingus and DAA.

Documents seen by the Sunday Independent said that transfer values for airport workers looking to move their pension pot away from the fund and into a different one were "likely to be significantly reduced".

The airport pension, a defined benefit scheme for workers at Aer Lingus, DAA and Shannon Airport, was the subject of a protracted industrial relations battle that saw the scheme frozen in 2015.

A ruling in a High Court case taken by pensioners against the cuts they had to accept to their own pensions following that deal is due on January 28, it is understood.

At the time, new defined contribution schemes were established for staff, while pensioners were to be paid from the frozen scheme. The assets of the scheme - which has close to 1.7bn in net assets - were transferred into what was described at the time as less risky low-yielding assets, mainly French, Italian and Spanish government bonds.

Members of the long-troubled Irish Airports Superannuation Scheme (IASS) will receive a portion of their pensions from the frozen scheme, and are entitled to transfer their deferred pension into another scheme any time up until their retirement date.

As recently as last summer, staff who sought the transfer value of their pension were told in responses from the scheme actuary: "Transfer values can be reduced by the trustee if the scheme is not solvent under the statutory funding standard.

"At the present time, transfer values are not being reduced, but you should be aware that this position could change at any point."

But in recent weeks, staff who have sought the transfer value of their own pension pot in the scheme have been told it may be less than they might have expected. "Any transfer amount payable from the IASS will be determined by the IASS actuary at date of transfer, and is likely to be significantly reduced, given the funding level of the IASS," according to the documents seen by the Sunday Independent.

The scheme has been the subject of a High Court case taken by some 600 retired Aer Lingus and Dublin Airport Authority workers, who are suing Ireland and the Attorney General over the 2015 restructuring.

The pensioners have alleged that the State used a law to cut payments to retired aviation workers to help address the then 770m pension fund deficit, and to avoid industrial unrest among existing workers before the sell-off of Aer Lingus to IAG.

Pensioners are not affected by any changes to the solvency levels of the frozen pension scheme, however, because their payments are protected by law.
While some investors are already well versed in financial metrics (hat tip), this article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE) and why it is important. We'll use ROE to examine Aena S.M.E., S.A. (BME:AENA), by way of a worked example.

Over the last twelve months Aena S.M.E has recorded a ROE of 24%. One way to conceptualize this, is that for each 1 of shareholders' equity it has, the company made 0.24 in profit.

View our latest analysis for Aena S.M.E

How Do I Calculate Return On Equity?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Aena S.M.E:

24% = 1.4b  6.0b (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 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. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company.

What Does Return On Equity Mean?

ROE measures a company's profitability against the profit it retains, and any outside investments. The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. That means it can be interesting to compare the ROE of different companies.

Does Aena S.M.E Have A Good ROE?

One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. Pleasingly, Aena S.M.E has a superior ROE than the average (13%) company in the Infrastructure industry.

BME:AENA Past Revenue and Net Income, January 19th 2020

That's what I like to see. In my book, a high ROE almost always warrants a closer look. For example, I often check if insiders have been buying shares.

Story continues

How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity?

Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the first and second cases, the ROE will reflect this use of cash for investment in the business. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same.

Aena S.M.E's Debt And Its 24% ROE

Aena S.M.E clearly uses a significant amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.16. There's no doubt its ROE is impressive, but the company appears to use its debt to boost that metric. Debt increases risk and reduces options for the company in the future, so you generally want to see some good returns from using it.

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. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to check this FREE visualization of analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss thisfree list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity 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.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  President Donald Trump has invited President Rodrigo Duterte to come to the US for a special meeting with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

This will provide an excellent opportunity for us to broaden and deepen our cooperation on matters of great importance to the nearly one billion people in the United States and ASEAN nations that we have the privilege to represent, Trump said in a November 1 letter to ASEAN leaders which was released only on Sunday by Malacanang.

The meeting, Trump said, will happen at a time of mutual convenience in the first quarter of 2020.

Trump has skipped ASEAN summits for two years in a row, with most Southeast Asian leaders snubbing the scheduled US-ASEAN meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. Trump sent National Security Adviser Robert OBrien in his stead.

It is not clear whether Duterte has accepted the invitation for him to come to the US. Trump has repeatedly invited Duterte to Washington, but the Philippine President has yet to make that visit.

Trumps invitation came ahead of the approval of proposals in the US Congress to ban Philippine officials involved in extrajudicial killings and what US senators have described as "wrongful detention" of opposition Senator Leila de Lima. The Philippine opposition senator has been in jail for more than two years over drug charges, with the court trial hitting a snag.

Since inviting ASEAN leaders to the US, the US Senate has urged Trump to deny US entry to and block all US-based transactions in property and interests of "members of the security forces and officials of the Government of the Philippines responsible for extrajudicial killings... and responsible for orchestrating the arrest and prolonged detention of Senator De Lima."

The move is in line with the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, an American law which allows Washington to punish foreign officials implicated in "significant corruption or gross violations of human rights" in any part of the world. Under the law, the US President shall decide on requests to impose sanctions on human rights violators and corrupt foreigners within 120 days.

Trump also signed in December a spending measure which includes a reference to a Senate committee report which instructs US State Secretary Mike Pompeo to ban foreign officials who have had a hand in the wrongful imprisonment of opposition Senator Leila de Lima from entering the US.

EXPLAINER: How the US budget law bans Philippine officials

Tim Rieser, a senior foreign policy aide of Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy, previously told CNN Philippines that it would not be easy for Pompeo to ignore the proposed ban as the State Department has taken notice of De Limas plight in human rights reports.

CNN Philippines Jay Dones, Eimor Santos and Xave Gregorio contributed to this report.
Charleston's prolific historic buildings are praised for their vibrant pastel colors, symmetrical pre-Civil War architecture and their timeless Southern elegance.

But little, if any, credit is given to the enslaved Africans who painstakingly constructed the Holy City's most coveted homes that made it a tourist destination.

"For most visitors to Charleston, unless it's pointed out ... it can be lost that enslaved people built pretty much everything prior to the Civil War," said Katherine Pemberton, manager of research and education at Historic Charleston Foundation. "That has to change."

The 2020 Charleston Home + Design Show later this month is aiming to change that mindset this year and is hosting a lecture about the city's master builders and the enslaved artisans who made some of Charleston's most iconic estates.

Christina Butler, a professor at the American College of the Building Arts in Charleston, is hosting the discussion. She said the vast majority of Charleston's pre-Civil War buildings were constructed with slave labor. But locating evidence documenting their work is more difficult, she said.

"The construction industry in Charleston was certainly heavily populated by slaves," Butler said. "There's not a lot of information out there, and it takes a lot of time to dig those papers up."

Most of the records that estate builders had were private. And even if they managed to survive floods, hurricanes and the heat of battle during the Civil War, names of slaves may have not even been recorded on project documents.

But Butler said it has become a national trend in architecture studies to try and find as much of those documents as possible, so that tourists understand some of the city's most famous properties in their proper historic context.

"The focus has traditionally been on describing Charleston's buildings as high-style," Butler said. "But we're not focusing on who built them and why."

Butler said jobs sites were often integrated and slave labor ranged from brutal manual labor such as shoveling and hauling lumber to more intricate tasks such as brick laying and metalwork.

If there isn't paper documents that have logged a slave's service, there is sometimes a physical receipt left on the homes.

Captured in the brickwork of Old City Jail and the City Market are the fingerprints of former enslaved children which linger as reminders of a painful history.

In her lecture, Butler will highlight roughly five properties that wouldn't be as prolific if it wasn't for slave labor.

One of them is the Miles Brewton House on King Street. Built sometime between 1765 and 1769, it is one of the most comprehensive examples of Georgian architecture in the American South.

By tracking down primary source documents from the family as well as cross referencing city records and newspaper clippings, she was able to find evidence of slave labor.

Lectures have been a part of the Home + Design Show in the past. But Tim Barkley, the publisher of the Charleston Home + Design and the chief organizer of the event, said there hasn't been anything that tackled slavery.

Ive really wanted to do a lecture like this, Barkley said. My staff sort of suggested I stay away from controversial topics, but I think its possible to educate (attendees) and enlighten them without it being a negative experience.

Barkley's perspective changed when he accompanied his 11-year-old daughter to the Beyond the Big House tour, which showcased outbuildings used as slave quarters around Charleston's most historic homes. Typically those structures didn't get much attention, forced to be left in the shadows of a dark history.

"We have to be deliberate, and we have to be intentional," said Pemberton, with the Historic Charleston Foundation. "If we don't mention it, it's a disservice."

Charleston Home + Design Show is Jan. 24-26 at the Gaillard Center. Butler's lecture is Sunday, Jan. 24 at 3 p.m.
With nearly 85 new members, the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce has grown to 218 members in the past five years in a roughly 256-square-mile area.

The chambers director, Shannan Reid, said the organization has been averaging 17 percent growth each year since its inception in 2015.

When calculating that same rate for 2020 we look to be above 250 by years end in paid total membership, Reid said. With our efforts focusing on the member profiles and needs of each type of member, we seek to improve our retention rate and get those members plugged in and engaged with something that makes sense for them. Last year we brought in 83 new members. That was exciting and we plan to see just as many if not more in 2020.

2020 board chairwoman

Helping to spearhead that effort is the chambers new chairwoman, Deanna Voitle, who expects 2020 to be an exciting year.

Voitle was introduced during the annual chairmans ball on Jan. 10. She follows the outgoing chairman, Phil Knutson. She is the owner of JK Graphics, Inc., which serves printing and signage needs in Tomball, Magnolia, Montgomery, where the large production of signs and banners happen at Cape Conroe Dr. for all the stores, and now Waller.

Reid said Voitle is a charter member who served the board of directors as the chamber crossed over from the Historic Montgomery Business Association to officially launch in January 2015. Voitle has served on the business associations leadership team since 2011 and has worked closely with the downtown businesses to assist with signage for their annual events, Reid said.

As we have our five-year anniversary, what stands out about the year ahead is the growth of our staff, our board and our members, Voitle said. Our membership is changing every day and we are introducing new ways to engage our community and business community.

Among the three goals laid out this year by Voitle includes a plan to work together to build education, community and economic growth. As the chamber works to recruit new members, she said it intends to also focus on informing current members of the value of being a chamber member. That includes by tapping into the talents of young professionals and the next generation of leaders and decision makers.

In accepting this position, this is my opportunity to give back to the community and an organization that has given me every opportunity to succeed in my personal and professional life, Voitle said.

New dynamics

Following the event, Reid said the primary focus this year is to better understand the needs of membership and connecting the value the chamber has as the trusted resource to help members improve their businesses in the Montgomery area.

Reid said the chamber has been researching its members and understanding the make up and dynamics of its members. In doing so, the chamber said it has currently seen 27 percent Entrepreneurs and 37 percent Agents, such as real estate, financial advisers, insurance agents, and small independent medical practices.

Community and civic organizations made up 13 percent community/civic organizations with branch level corporate managers taking another 13 percent, followed by marketing/advertising directors for large corporations with 8 percent, and salesmen at 2 percent.

These percent breakdowns arent about what industry they serve, but rather, what role they play in a company and what motivations they may have in participating with other businesses or our chamber, Reid stated in an email following the event. These profiles help us gear our conversations and our values to meet their specific needs, in a world where every business owner has lots of choices. So far, we have seen great success in using the research to help guide us in our development. And we look forward to seeing many more businesses join MACC in 2020 as a result.

Recognition

Along with Voitle, the chairmans ball also recognized the 2020 board: Susie Yeager, Pat Prein, Monica Bresofski, Phil Knutson, Debbie Pendley, Sheri McBride, Kati Krouse, Pam Westlake, Deanna Voitle, Lee Warren, Angie Yeary.

Several awards were presented during the event, including the Ambassador of the Year, Angie Yeary with First Insurance Services; Volunteer of the Year, Jennifer Skinner from Montgomery Original Snowballs; New Business of The Year, Bill Clark Pest Control, and Business of the Year, which is a business that is already established with the chamber and community, awarded to Spirit of Texas Bank.

For more information visit www.MontgomeryAreaChamber.com.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Aerial views showing Australia landscape before and after the megafires of 2019 and 2020. Photo: Nearmap

By Naaman Zhou

16 January 2020

(The Guardian)  More than 10.7m hectares of land have burnt so far in Australias bushfires  larger than the total area of South Korea, or Portugal, and 1.3 times the size of Scotland.

The ongoing and unprecedented bushfire crisis has spread across six states and multiple months.

In New South Wales alone, the Gospers Mountain megafire, north of Sydney, is 512,626 hectares in size  larger than Long Island and Manhattan combined. Last week, fires across the north-east of Victoria merged with fires in the NSW Snowy Valley, creating a huge complex of fires across the state border.

Here are nine images, before and after the fires, that show the devastation from beach to bush, farm to forest, across NSW and South Australia.

Many more fires are still burning  especially in Victorias East Gippsland and the NSW south coast  and the full visual aftermath will only be known when weather conditions improve. []

Aerial view of Wallabi Point before and after the megafires of 2019 and 2020. Photo: Nearmap

Wallabi Point

Homes were also declared to be in immediate danger at nearby Wallabi Point as the 21,000 hectare Hillville Road fire flared to emergency level. [more]

Australian bushfires from the air: before and after images show scale of devastation
Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was a way to 'atone for the sin of Partition' committed by the Congress

Surat: Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was a way to "atone for the sin of Partition" committed by the Congress.

He said the Act, which seeks to give citizenship to non-Muslim minorities when entered India before 31 December 2014, from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, should have been passed 70 years ago.

"CAA should have happened 70 years ago. CAA is a way to atone for sin committed by our forefathers, a select few leaders... It is atonement for the sin of Partition. And we should congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this. The Congress committed the sin, and we are atoning," Sarangi said.

He also said Partition, which took place on a communal basis, was "not unavoidable", and questioned then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for entering into an agreement with people who propounded the two-nation theory.

"The Partition did not take place on any political, economic, geographical, or historical basis. It was done on a communal basis. We never said we cannot live with Muslims.

We lived with them for thousands of years," Sarangi said.

"But who compelled us to enter into an agreement with the people who propounded the two-nation theory? Partition was not unavoidable. Who compelled Nehru? The country is nobody's paternal property. Nobody had the right to divide it," he added.

Sarangi said the religious division of the country caused crores of Hindus to stay back in Pakistan, and later in Bangladesh when Pakistan itself was broken up (in 1971), but the numbers of Hindus reduced due to "massive religious conversion, rapes, murders, atrocities, and forcible expulsions".

"Mahatma Gandhi had said it is the government's moral responsibility to provide citizenship and jobs to those who fled to India because of religious persecution. Our government passed CAA to give rights to minorities from those countries," he claimed.

Sarangi accused the Congress of spreading disinformation about the CAA and causing unrest in the country.

"Those who set the country on fire are not patriots.

Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country. They should go wherever they can," he added.

Speaking on the economic downturn, Sarangi said the country was going through the "darkest time before dawn".

"Dawn is not far away. New developments are being initiated across the country. From MSME, animal husbandry to agriculture, new life has been infused in all departments.

Even on the world level, there is an infinite possibility of growth in trade and commerce, and this is going to happen. Our products are being marketed across the world," he claimed.

Sarangi said the global slowdown has impacted India but "despite that, our basic structure has not been destroyed and we will move ahead and achieve this on our own might."
Researchers have cultured and characterised an elusive microorganism from deep marine sediments, an advance that may shed light on the origins of complex single-cell life forms on the Earth.

According to the study, published in the journal Nature, the microorganism, Prometheoarchaeum syntrophicum -- named after the Greek god Prometheus -- belongs to archaea -- a domain of single-celled organisms lacking a prominent nucleus.

Specifically, the scientists, including those from The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, or JAMSTEC, said the microbe belongs to a recently discovered group of lineages, known as the Asgard archaea.

They said these could be ancestral to the more complex eukaryotic organisms, which possess a well defined nucleus for storing genetic material.

Until now, the researchers said, our understanding of microbes in these lineages has been limited to studies of their genetic material, which suggested they had eukaryote-like genes.

In the current study, scientists Hiroyuki Imachi, Masaru Nobu, and colleagues described the isolation and cultivation of an Asgard archaeon microbe following a decade-long effort.

The researchers collected mud from the depths of the Omine Ridge off the coast of Japan, and incubated the samples in a special bioreactor supplied with methane gas.

After a time period spanning more than five years, they isolated a diverse mix of microorganisms which they enriched further over several years, yielding a culture of Asgard archaea.

According to the researchers, P. syntrophicum grows extremely slowly, doubling in number around every 14 to 25 days.

They also confirmed earlier studies which theorised that this microbe possessed a high proportion of eukaryote-like genes.

However, the researchers said the cells of P. syntrophicum lack intracellular organelle-like structures seen in complex eukaryotes.

They also have long, branching protrusions on their outer surface, according to the study.

The scientists speculate that these extensions may have captured passing bacteria and internalised them, which eventually evolved into the cell's powerhouse organelles, mitochondrion.

According to the researchers, this may have set the stage for the evolution of eukaryotes.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coleg Cambria launches new dog grooming salon and training academy

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Jan 19th, 2020

Coleg Cambria has launched a new a dog grooming salon and training academy.

The Collar and Comb Dog Grooming Academy at the north east Wales colleges Llysfasi site will be formally unveiled with a seminar hosted by Julie Harris, co-founder of The Groomers Spotlight website.

With more than 35 years experiences in the sector, Julie is one of the most respected names in the world of dog grooming and will discuss the topic: Canine Anatomy, Coat and Skin.

Wendy Murray, a Dog Grooming Lecturer at Cambria, said the decision to transform the previous dog grooming space into a working salon provides learners with valuable experience.

The salon and training academy will give our students the best of both worlds, said Wendy.

There will be classroom theory and time spent in the salon will enable understanding of practical real-life situations that will develop the skills and knowledge essential for working as a professional dog groomer.

She added: To have Julie Harris deliver a seminar here is a huge honour, she is one of my personal inspirations and extremely knowledgeable in all things grooming so Im very proud.

Our students will gain so much from this experience; many are new to dog grooming and wont have been to an event like this before.

Collar and Comb is already attracting customers and is well-equipped with the latest technology, providing a first-class service in a warm, welcoming environment.

The seminar will discuss dog handling and explore how dog groomers can best build a harmonious relationship with the animals.

Julie will talk about what signs to look for, how to interpret them and the best way to adjust your handling accordingly, said Wendy.

By understanding the canine anatomy and the function and structure of its skin we can improve every groom and help to heal and improve skin and coat problems, from lumps and bumps to other issues.

All of this is designed to help professional and student groomers develop their understanding, and it will positively affect their work in the salon.

The seminar takes place in the Conference Centre at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi on January 27 from 10am-4pm. For more information or tickets, email collarandcomb@cambria.ac.uk or call 01978 267529.
An incredible photograph appearing to show two kangaroos celebrating in the rain amid Australia's horror bushfire season was actually taken six years ago.

Australian photographer Charles Davis lashed out online after noticing his iconic black and white photo was being used as a symbol of the bushfires relenting.

Mr Davis took to Facebook to set the record straight, revealing the shot was actually of two kangaroos fighting each other in NSW's Kosciuszko National Park in 2014.

'These kangaroos are more than likely ash now and definitely aren't celebrating anything,' he wrote in a scathing post.

A stunning photo

Photographer Charles Davis has debunked the viral post this week, revealing the image was actually taken back in 2014 when he was on a job at Kosciuszko National Park, in NSW

The 33-year-old photographer, from Cooma, told Daily Mail Australia he captured the stunning shot after spending three hours watching kangaroos fight in the rain.

It won an award for the monochrome category for the Australian Geographic later that year.

He said he first noticed his photo had resurfaced online around Christmas time and then 'got out of hand' on New Year's Day when fires began to intensify around the country.

The 33-year-old, from Cooma, told Daily Mail Australia he captured the stunning shot after spending three hours watching kangaroos fight in the rain

Mr Davis said he became fed up with seeing his property being used to spread 'lies' online, prompting him to address the issue on Facebook last week.

'It really annoys me that I even have to post this while everything around my home is still burning,' he said on Tuesday.

'This photo, my photo has been used to post lies all over social media for the last two weeks. People are posting it saying (someone captured these kangaroos celebrating the rains that are putting out the fires in Australia).

'Firstly, I took this photo in 2014. These kangaroos are more than likely ash now and definitely aren't celebrating anything. I can say first hand there has been bugger all rain and everything is still very much burning.

'If you see you anyone posting this photo with bulls**t lies like this please set them straight.It's bad enough to have your work stolen but to have it used to promote lies for others social media ego stroking is not cool. '

Mr Davis said he was not so much bothered by his photo being stolen, but more upset over the false message it was sending.

'The area I live in has been on fire and people around the world are posting my photo saying there are no more bushfires and that people in Australia are celebrating.

'The person was so lazy they didn't even bother to check who took the photo or fact-check it.'

He emphasised that the kangaroos in the photo were fighting and not celebrating, as the post claimed.

Skies turn red from smoke of the Snowy Valley bushfire on the outskirts of Cooma on January 4

A kangaroo jumps in a field amidst smoke from a bushfire in Snowy Valley on the outskirts of Cooma, near the Snowy Mountains

'They're not celebrating, animals don't celebrate. They eat, sleep and fight. They were fighting.

'The photo is called 'Praise to the Rain' - so I think I'm a little bit to blame, but anyone with common sense would know they're fighting.

'It was taken in Geehi, NSW, near Kosciuszko National Park and everything around it burned so I don't think those kangaroos are celebrating much.'

Mr Davis said the majority of people sharing the photo out of context are foreigners or inner-city Australians who are not aware of the scale of the disaster.

He said he had messaged one American man asking him to take the photo down, but the comment was later deleted.

'People don't wanna take it down because they've gotten likes, they've gotten shares from posting it even though it's not true.'

'I know everyone likes to think [the photo] is happy, peachy and wonderful, but this is one of those things you can't sweep under the rug, the truth is it's still really bad and will keep being bad.'

The wildlife photographer lives in a farm near the Snowy Mountains region that has been under threat of raging bushfires for weeks.

The blazes have been so bad, Mr Davis has not been able to take any photos for a month because his 'subjects have burnt to death' or have fled somewhere else.
MOSCOW  Russian President Vladimir Putin played it differently this time. Instead of openly declaring plans to extend his rule like he did in 2011, Putin proposed constitutional amendments to appear to give more power to Russias parliament.

Instead of announcing the move as a fait accompli, he said the people should vote and decide.

And then he executed a swift, unexpected reshuffle of Russias leadership, putting a low-profile official with no political aims in charge of the government.

Putin announced last week what many see as a strategy for staying in power well past the end of his term in 2024. And the proposed constitutional reforms that might allow him to remain in charge as prime minister or as head of the State Council didnt elicit much public outrage.

Neither did the resignation of Dmitry Medvedev, Russias prime minister, whom Putin quickly replaced with the little-known tax chief, Mikhail Mishustin.

There was a smattering of calls for protest: One opposition supporter urged people to join his one-man picket in front of the Presidential Administration on Saturday, while another called for protesters to turn out against the constitutional coup at a Sunday rally in honor of two slain activists.

It was very different from what happened in 2011-2012, when efforts to engineer Putins return to the presidency crushed Russian hopes for liberalization and sparked massive protests in Moscow.

In his speech Wednesday, Putin presented his plan to amend the constitution as a way to improve democracy. By suggesting that lawmakers could name prime ministers and Cabinet members, he also curtailed the authority of the president, who currently holds that power.

Putin also said the constitution could specify a greater role for the State Council, an obscure body of regional governors and federal officials, indicating that he might take a leading position there.

All this would strengthen the role of civil society, political parties and regions in making key decisions about the development of our state, Putin said in discussing the amendments with lawmakers.

According to a survey released Friday by state-funded pollster VTsIOM, 45% of the respondents saw the shakeup as Putins genuine desire to change the existing power structure.

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.

But opposition leaders like Alexei Navalny said the changes are not the kind that people are looking for. Putin is looking to remain a lifelong, ultimate leader and run Russia as property divided between himself and his backers, Navalny tweeted.

And the announced changes do nothing to address what Russians really want, said Navalny ally Lyubov Sobol.

People demand to end corruption, people demand to improve their living conditions. They demand a reform of the health care system, theyre worried about pension reform. All these demands, they are not going anywhere, Sobol said.

Denis Volkov, a sociologist with the independent Levada polling center, said the government shakeup is so vague it is unlikely to spur public anger.

What is happening is not clear. Is this about a presidency? About some other governing body? It is unclear what people should express their unhappiness about, Volkov said. It is hard to protest against something thats unclear.

Daria Litvinova is an Associated Press writer.
Lynas Corp faces more market uncertainty on Monday after the rare earths group confirmed a legal challenge has been lodged against the Malaysian government's decision to renew its operating licence.

In a statement released to the ASX after the market closed on Friday, Lynas said it had received documents filed by three individuals commencing judicial review proceedings in the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur.

The grounds of the legal challenge relate to the process followed by the government in reaching its decision to renew Lynas' licence in August last year despite public concerns over toxic waste from its operations.

Lynas Corp CEO Amanda Lacaze is due to update the market this week. Credit:Peter Braig

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad defied an election promise in 2018, and members of his own cabinet, when he agreed to fresh conditions last year that would allow Lynas to continue operating in Malaysia if it agreed to extract the toxic waste offshore.
Some Republicans claim part of a phone transcript between Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump where the Ukraine president said he needed the military aid and Trump replied, "I need something, though," somehow clears Trump.

However, witnesses present during that call said it wasn't the complete transcript and Trump did ask for a Biden investigation.

According to the Constitution, just asking for that investigation is a crime. In recently released emails, Trump said to freeze Ukraine aid until he got a Biden investigation and to keep it secret.

There also were many more calls between Trump and the Ukraine president where 17 witnesses, many Republicans, some who were called by Republican Congressmen, heard Trump ask for a Biden investigation for Ukraine aid.

Before the Senate trial, most Republican senators said they weren't going to listen to testimony or remove Trump from office. They said they're worried removing Trump could harm their party. But, not standing up for the Constitution could hurt the Republican party more.

K.D. Slade

Longview
ATLANTA - A police sergeant foiled an armed robbery and shot one of the suspects outside of one of Atlantas largest malls, authorities said Saturday night.

Two suspects were arrested after they tried to rob someone in a parking garage outside of Lenox Square Mall, Atlanta police said in a statement.

A witness who saw the robbery occurring had flagged down a police sergeant, Deputy Chief Jeff Glazier told news outlets. The sergeant then shot one of the suspects who refused to drop his gun twice, the police statement said. The injured suspect was in serious but stable condition.

Even though the altercation occurred in a parking garage, social media footage showed terrified shoppers scrambling for cover inside the mall.

No officers were injured and the robbery victim was unharmed, police said.

Police did not release the names of the two suspects, but said they appeared to be in their early 20s.
Bill Maher dedicated a segment to Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys own kind of Brexit from the royal family on Fridays episode of Real Time."

New rule: if Meghan and Harry can quit their family, you can, too, Maher said (see clip above  caution: video contains some profanity).

Except the HBO host made a pitch for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to go further and completely relinquish their connection to the British monarchy.

Markle, 38, and Harry, 35, announced in a statement on Jan. 8 that they would step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent. They said that going forward, they intended to split their time between the United Kingdom and North America.

Maher, 63, who grew up in River Vale, said that as part of Meghan and Harrys divorce from royal duties, they should also do away with your highness as a manner of addressing royals.

No humans are higher by birth, Maher said. Its gross.

I give Harry and Meghan some credit, but not a lot, he said during the show. 'Cause they wanna be seen as this modern couple way hipper than the other stuffy ones in the family. OK, then go all the way and say it. Say were not just taking a step back from royalty, were renouncing the whole outdated, racist, anachronistic lot of it. Were saying loud and proud What is this bullsh*t that some people are royal?

A statement from Her Majesty The Queen.https://t.co/ZAPC5ARUup  The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 18, 2020

You wanna be modern and woke and all that? Wanna get rid of politically incorrect words? How about your highness? What could be more antithetical to liberalism than calling another human your highness'?"

It turns out that is precisely what Queen Elizabeth announced Saturday as part of a statement outlining the changes in Harry and Meghans royal status.

The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family, the queen, 93, said in the statement, referring to the traditional use of his royal highness and her royal highness" when greeting royals.

The communication from Buckingham Palace also makes it clear that Meghan and Harry will no longer represent the queen, will step back from royal duties and will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties."

Under the arrangement, the Sussexes will repay $3.1 million for renovations made to Frogmore Cottage, their home, which came from taxpayer funds. But Frogmore will remain their home in the United Kingdom as they split their time between North America and England.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

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This is a story a big announcement Delta Air Lines just made that will leave its more than 80,000 employees very happy.

It's also about something even bigger: a smart way to compensate employees and potentially build a culture where they might be motivated to do just a little bit extra for your company.

The announcement was about employee profit-sharing. Delta CEO Ed Bastian revealed the total number a bit earlier than usual this year: $1.6 billion.

It's the biggest profit-sharing figure in corporate history, according to Delta, and it marks the sixth year in a row that it's above $1 billion.

A Delta connection?

You can imagine the positive reaction from Delta employees. It should all work out to about two months' extra salary, according to the company.

In fact, Delta's profit-sharing numbers have been much larger than other airlines in recent years. Couple that with some other Delta news of late:

Delta claims now to be the biggest U.S. airline based on revenue, and one of the world's most profitable. (Many other airlines haven't released their 2019 numbers yet, but this seems very plausible based on partial data).

Meanwhile, Delta was just rated the #1 U.S. airline by The Wall Street Journal.

Last year, TripAdvisor rated Delta the number-1 "major airline" in the U.S. (Southwest came in first for "low cost airlines.") Another ranking put Delta at the #3 airline for traveling with kids (and tops among the legacy carriers).

Could there be a connection here between the accolades, the records, and the profit-sharing? Bastian seems to think so:

"For years, I would get beaten up by Wall Street. They thought the profits were theirs, and 'Why are you giving the profits away to the employees? Wall Street has actually come full circle, and they realize that Delta is the most awarded airline in the world because of its employees."

A tiny piece of real estate

It's fun to watch the airline industry, no matter what industry you happen to be in. It's sort of like observing a controlled experiment.

I'm sure it doesn't seem like that if you're actually working for one of the airlines. But, overall, it's a commodity industry with an aggressive but defined set of of competitors, and an almost universal customer base.

Whether you're Delta, American, United, Southwest, JetBlue, Alaska or another airline, they're all selling the same thing, really: the right to occupy a tiny piece of real estate inside a pressurized metal tube, combined with the promise of safe travel from Point A to Point B.

Granted, if you live near a United hub, like I do, you're probably going to be a United customer. Or if you have to fly from say, Seattle to Tucson regularly, you're probably going to fly Delta or Alaska, since that's who has nonstop service.

Beyond route selection however, most of what separates the airlines is about price, or comfort, or customer loyalty programs, or the less-tangible things, like my favorite: simply how they make you feel.

Back up a little differently

Let's use a Delta illustration to make that last point. It's a favorite of mine, actually.

A few years back, some Delta employees came up with an idea, after watching one Delta flight after another (after another) at the gate.

Wouldn't it be faster to back the planes up from the gate at a 45 degree angle, they suggested, rather than backing straight up, using a tug to turn 90 degrees, and only then starting the engines?

I wrote about this whole trick in greater detail here, but in short: the workers suggested it, Delta adopted it, and now it shaves a minute or two off turnaround times, thousands of times a day.

One thing that strongly affects how passengers feel about an airline is its on-time rate. So, it's easy to believe this small change has had at least some effect on a key metric of customer affinity.

Incentives and culture

Now, were the Delta employees in that example thinking to themselves: "faster turnaround times might lead to better profitability, and more profit means a bigger bonus?"

Maybe they were. But even if they weren't doing the direct math, there's something really intuitive about the idea that a profit-sharing culture is likely to coexist with one where employees will make serious suggestions, be taken seriously, and produce serious results.

If you're a business owner, it's intriguing to say the least: Would (partly) tying your employees' compensation to the overall business performance change how they view and do their jobs?
#Justice4KashmiriHindus started trending on microblogging site Twitter on Sunday (January 19) marking 30 years of exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Valley. It was on January 19, 1990 when around 5 lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee the Valley aftre they were targeted by Islamists.

The Islamists raised the slogans of Ralive, Tsalive ya Galive (convert to Islam, leave the place or perish), which forced the Kashmir Pandits to flee their homeland to escape from their homes and live as refugees in different parts of the country.

Ahead of the 30th anniversary, Twitter also trended #HumWapasAayenge (We Pledge to Return), inspired by the dialogue Hum Aayenge Apne Watan from the yet-to-be released film Shikara on Saturday (January 18).

As per a documentary produced by Creative Hindu Alliance and Mohan Wanchoo, testimonies of Kashmiri Pandits who left Kashmir and are now settled in America talk about the horrors they faced in Jammu and Kashmir during that phase. Aditya Bakaya speaks about how terrorists shed blood under the guise of demonstrations by Muslim women and stones were handed to small children as young as 6-7 years.

People like Virender Haque, Neerja Sadhu, Shashi Tikoo Ganju, and Neerja Haku are some Kashmiri Pandits who have seen this phase very closely and have suffered the pain of leaving their homes and city. It was revealed that in 1990, preparations were made to make Kashmir slaughter of Hindus. Pakistan TV channels were played in Kashmir at those times. These channels use to run propaganda against Hindus. Now, these Pakistani channels are completely banned in Kashmir.

These claims have been made by Kashmiris who used to live in the region in the 1990s and are recounting the atrocities they saw or faced, Zee News does not claim these to be facts.

In July 2019, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in the Rajya Sabha that the central government is committed to bringing Kashmiri Pandits back to the Valley.
Pet Shop Boys Hotspot Out Friday

Rating:

If anyone ever tells you that modern music is dumb, you can shoot them down with three syllables: Pet Shop Boys. For 35 years, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe have been making electro-pop that glows with a warm intelligence.

In photos they play the Gilbert & George of pop, but their work has more depth and range. Besides dozens of hits, theyve written two musicals, a ballet based on a tale by Hans Christian Andersen and songs for the stage version of Hanif Kureishis My Beautiful Laundrette.

If not quite national treasures, Pet Shop Boys are part of the fabric of our culture. Last June they were at Glastonbury, guesting with The Killers as they headlined the Pyramid stage.

If anyone ever tells you that modern music is dumb, you can shoot them down with three syllables: Pet Shop Boys (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, above)

This month they were acclaimed on Desert Island Discs when the actor Rupert Everett not only chose a song of theirs (Being Boring) as his favourite piece of music, but also called them my household gods.

A week later they cropped up in obituaries of the conservative philosopher Sir Roger Scruton, who once accused them of making only a minimal contribution to their own records.

This clever man knew so little about pop that he bracketed Pet Shop Boys with the Spice Girls. They sued him, and won.

Now here is Hotspot, their 14th album since West End Girls turned two grown men  one an editor at Smash Hits, the other a former trainee architect  into an overnight sensation.

Listen to it once and it may seem like just another Pet Shop Boys album, with the same old ingredients: succinct title, measured synths, limited vocals, nuanced lyrics and polished production from Stuart Price.

IT'S A FACT Tennant's first job was at Marvel Comics, where he Anglicised the dialogue and helped to ton down the female characters' images for the UK edition. Advertisement

Stick with it, though, and you find some new flavours. Theres a subtle protest song, Dreamland, with Olly Alexander of Years & Years joining Tennant to dream of a place where You dont need a visa/You can come and go and still be here.

There are fond references to Berlin, the duos second home; much of Hotspot was recorded at Hansa Studios, where David Bowie made Low, his synthiest album.

Theres plenty of dancefloor energy in the punchy Will-O-The-Wisp and the larky Monkey Business. But theres also a meditation on growing old in Burning The Heather, with Tennants thoughts as he turns 65 playing off some elegant acoustic guitar from Bernard Butler, and something that sounds suspiciously like a trombone solo.

If you love Pet Shop Boys genteel raps, theres a good one on Happy People; if you prefer their elegiac mode, Only The Dark is a treat. Only the dark, it goes, can show you the stars.

Hotspot ends, like a romcom, with a marriage  a big-hearted number called Wedding In Berlin. The hooks throughout have been as strong as they were in the days when Tennant and Lowe had a season ticket to the Top Ten.

No, this isnt just another Pet Shop Boys album: its the first of the albums of the year.

GIG OF THE WEEK

Judy Collins

Grand Central Hall, Liverpool Touring until February 3

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Judy Collins is 80, which doesnt bother her one bit. Her boots are leather, her heels are high and her top is sparkly, like her patter. I just want you to know, she says, that youre looking at the American Idol of 1957.

When she broke through in the folk clubs of Greenwich Village in 1961, she was already a wife, mother and former clerk. She brings the ruefulness of real life along with a fabulous voice, clear as the bottle of water at her feet.

She does a definitive Send In The Clowns, a mighty Amazing Grace and a beguiling Norwegian Wood, written by John Lennon, who was a year younger than her. The traditional folk songs can be patchy but Collinss taste in folk-rock is impeccable.

Judy Collins is 80, which doesnt bother her one bit. Her boots are leather, her heels are high and her top is sparkly, like her patter

The first person to have a hit with a composition by Leonard Cohen (Suzanne), and by Joni Mitchell (Both Sides Now), she was there, in Woodstock, the night Dylan wrote Mr Tambourine Man.

Shes still singing these three songs  all different, all beautiful. Her show is like a visit to a great museum.

THIS WEEK'S CD RELEASES

By Adam Woods

Louise Heavy Love Out now

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No one will judge you if you cant remember every one, but Louise Redknapp had a dozen Top 20 hits around the late Nineties and early 2000s. Shes been back in business since her 2016 Strictly rebirth, and here comes the new music: shiny, worldly wise dance-pop with sexy notes. Heavy Love strikes a confident, universal tone, vindicating her decision to return

Wolf Parade Thin Mind Out Friday

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Guitar music has largely been cast to the outskirts by electronic pop and hip-hop over the past decade or so, but Canadas Wolf Parade pack an impassioned punch on Thin Mind. Every song is a tangled blast of guitars and synths, and the kind of wry angst thats probably an inevitable by-product of trying to make a living as an indie-rock band in 2020

Selena Gomez Rare Out now

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Todays pop superstars arent shy about sharing their woes; the difference with Selena Gomez, perhaps the most readily likeable of the lot, is that she can justifiably complain, with a lupus diagnosis and a kidney transplant in her debit column. Actually, her first album in five years wallows very little, but its classy and wise, powered by the slinky, understated pop that has become her signature

Georgia Seeking Thrills Out now

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Researchers have developed novel suction devices that can be used on rough surfaces, no matter how textured, an advance that may lead to the development of "Spider-Man-style climbing robots," and robotic arms with grasping capabilities.

According to the scientists, including those from the American Institute of Physics (AIP) in the US, conventional suction methods struggle to maintain a pulling force on rough surfaces due to vacuum leakage, leading to suction failure.

In the new device, described in the journal Physics of Fluids, the researchers developed a zero-pressure difference (ZPD) method which helped overcome the vacuum leakage limitations.

The new technique, according to the scientists, uses a high-speed rotating water ring between the surface and the device's suction cup, which creates a centrifugal force for gripping rough surfaces, helping maintain the vacuum.

"There are many applications of our design, but we think the wall-climbing robot will be the most useful," said Xin Li, study co-author from AIP.

"Compared to other wall-climbing robots, the robot with our ZPD-based suction unit achieves surprising improvement in performance," Li said.

The centrifugal force of the rotating water cancels out the pressure difference at the boundary of the vacuum zone and the surface, preventing vacuum leakage, the study noted.

This set up enables the device to maintain a high vacuum pressure inside the suction cup, the researchers said in a statement.

According to the scientists, the ZPD suction unit is energy-efficient, and smaller and lighter than typically used suction devices.

"Experiments showed that a 0.8 kilogrammes ZPD suction unit generated a suction force of over 245 Newtons on rough surfaces with a power consumption of less than 400 Watts," the researchers wrote in the study.

In contrast, a traditional suction unit of the same size needs a vacuum pump requiring several kilowatts, and weighing dozens of kilogrammes to generate a similar suction force, they reported.

The scientists tested the ZPD unit with three different suction sizes and applications: on a robotic arm to grip and handle objects, on a hexapod wall-climbing robot, and as a Spider-Man-like wall-climbing device.

"The next step in this research is to cut down the water consumption. If the water consumption can be reduced, the suction unit will work for a very long time with little water so that the wall-climbing robot could carry its own water instead of being connected to a supply," Li added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORKThe acting director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday blamed New York Citys sanctuary policies for the death of an elderly woman from Queens. The woman, Maria Fuertes, was allegedly raped and murdered on Jan. 6 by Reeaz Khan, who was in the country illegally.

Im going to send my condolences to the family and friends of Maria Fuertes, a 92-year-old woman who was recently raped and murdered here in New York City by an illegal alien, that ICE could have arrested if not for the citys policies, ICE director Matthew Albence said.

According to ICE, they requested to detain Khan in November when he was arrested for allegedly stabbing his father. But Khan was released by state authorities.

New York City became a sanctuary city in November 2014 when the city council enacted Int 0486, which significantly restricts the Department of Corrections (DOC) from complying with immigration detainers issued by ICE.

When ICE suspects that an individual is subject to being removed from the country, they will issue a detainer with DOC.

In the sanctuary law, the DOC would only honor the detainer if the individual was convicted of a violent or serious crime within the last five years, he or she was listed as a terrorist or ICE had a federal judicial warrant.

But ICE director Albence says that there is no way for them to get a judicial warrant.

To be perfectly clear, not only do we not need one, we cant even get one, he said. There is no federal judge, state judge, local judge, magistrate anywhere in this country that has a lawful authority to issue a judicial warrant for a civil immigration violation. Its just not doable.

The system set up by Congress gives that authority solely to supervisory immigration officers, and that is the framework under which we operate.

In December 2016, New York City Council adopted a resolution that would keep New York a sanctuary city and continue to limit the citys cooperation with ICE agents.

The resolution was made to prevent immigration enforcement that would needlessly tear families apart and undermine confidence in law enforcement agencies.

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio told CBS that he believes people have the right to a trial. If an illegal immigrant is convicted of a heinous crime, then that person will be handed over to ICE, he said.

And yet, Albence says that handing them over only after theyve been conviction is not effective.

NYPD said that, well if this guy gets convicted well give him to ICE afterwards, he said. What the hell good is that? The crimes already been committed. The victims dead. Too little, too late New York.

After Fuertess murder, Albence urges that the city cooperate with ICE.

But maybe, just maybe this tragedy will be enough to get them to start rethinking how they do business and come and work with us, he said.

Furthermore, the vice president of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong told NTD that the policy does not help illegal immigrants that are otherwise law-abiding.

It doesnt serve even the immigrants that are here illegally, that arent committing crimes that arent on the radar, he said. We put this individual back into the community to hurt them.

Last April, the New York state court system set rules preventing ICE agents from making arrests inside court buildings without a federal judicial warrant, but ICE has done so regardless.

They can make a policy but that doesnt supersede our policyfederal law, said ICE enforcement and removal officer Thomas Decker.

Last year, ICE issued more than 7,500 requests to detain illegal immigrants charged with crimes but New York City has only complied with 10 of them.

Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KRHogan_NTD
Inside Hook

Last month, Harvey Weinstein reached a $25 million settlement with 30 women who had accused him of sexual misconduct. At the time, The New York Times reported that the settlement would not require the Hollywood producer to admit wrongdoing or pay anything to his accusers himself.

Some may have seen that news and thought that it let Weinstein off a little too easy, considering the things hes been accused of. As it turns out, several of Weinsteins accusers have opted out of the settlement  the latest of whom, Dominique Huett, talked with The Guardian about her decision.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not believe top scorer Marcus Rashford will be fit to return from a back injury for a number of weeks. Rashford was forced off less than 15 minutes after coming on as a second half substitute in a FA Cup third round replay win over Wolves on Wednesday and was absent for United's trip to Liverpool on Sunday. However, Solskjaer revealed the England international is unlikely to return before United's mid-season break at the start of the February. "He's got a couple of knocks, jolts against Wolves," Solskjaer told Sky Sports. "He aggravated his back (and) had trouble before. (We need to) give him time to recover and rest before we put him back on the pitch. "I wouldn't expect him to be back in the next few weeks. We have a mid-season break and I'm not sure are going to see him before then, no." United face either Watford or Tranmere in the FA Cup fourth round, travel to Manchester City for the second leg of their League Cup semi-final -- trailing 3-1 from the first leg -- and host Wolves in the Premier League in the next two weeks. Solskjaer's men then have a 16-day period to rest and recuperate thanks to the Premier League's first ever winter break before travelling to Chelsea on February 17. Down and out: Marcus Rashford (bottom) is set to be sidelined for a few weeks by a back injury
Ahmednagar : , Jan 19 (IANS) Shirdi town, famous for its Saibaba Temple, went on an indefinite shutdown from Sunday following a row over the purported birthplace of its revered saint in Ahmednagar.

The town with a population of around 37,000, plus around two dozen villages, clamped the 'bandh' to protest the claim of Parbhani' Pathri village in that the 19th century saint was born there.

All shops and commercial establishments, hotels and restaurants, remained shut on the first day of the bandh.

However, the Saibaba Samadhi Temple functioned as usual, with the poojas and aartis performed as per schedules, the prasadalaya served food add prasad to the pilgrims who thronged there for the weekend darshan, as well as the hospital, hostels, etc, a spokesperson for the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) Trust, which manages the temple, said.

The shutdown has the support of the local Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sujay Vikhe-Patil and other local organisations.

The protesters have spurned a call by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress to call off the bandh, and threatened to continue till their demand is met.

The matter snowballed after Thackeray, who last week visited Pathri, termed it the 'birthplace' of Saibaba and announced a Rs 100 crore grant to develop the temple and surrounding areas on the lines of Shirdi, where Saibaba had spent his life of preaching and teaching till he took 'Samadhi' in October 1918.

BJP leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil informed mediapersons that the people of Shirdi have no objections if funds are sanctioned for Pathri's development but had reservations to according it the status of "Saibaba's birthplace".

Taking cognizance of the Shirdi citizens' strong sentiments, Thackeray has convened a meeting in Mumbai on Monday to resolve the sensitive subject.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Shirdi residents took out a procession in the morning and evening carrying banner and placards with photos of Saibaba, raised slogans and staged protests at various locations, sang bhajans and religious songs extolling Saibaba, for their demand.

Similar 'counter-protests' were also held in Pathri with prayers, singing bhajans and religious songs of Saibaba.

The Pathri gatherings demanded that all the available 29 evidences and symbols, official and religious records, proving Saibaba was born here should be submitted to the Shirdi's SSST authorities to resolve the issue amicably.

NCP Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who prayed at the Shirdi Temple on Sunday, said that the shutdown will not resolve the dispute, calling for negotiations without politicising the issue.

MLC and former MLA from Pathri, Durrani Khan said that there are enough historical evidences available to prove that Saibaba was born in Pathri, and his statement was echoed by NCP Minister Dhananjay Munde.

They urged the people of Shirdi to withdraw their indefinite bandh to avoid inconveniencing the thousands of devotees who visit the town daily.

Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale said that the protests and shutdown cannot solve the issue and the row must be hammered out with discussions.
It is not strange for Seoul to request replacement



U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris is in the hot seat over his controversial remarks last week about the South's push to resume tourism projects with North Korea.



This is only the latest in a series of rows between Harris, who used to lead the U.S. Navy's Pacific Command and is apparently a hardliner toward North Korea, and the liberal government of South Korea. This time the problem looks more serious to the point of raising questions about the solidity of the alliance with the U.S.



If Seoul has already asked Washington to replace the ambassador, what is happening now is rather understandable. But if not, the way Harris is doing his job is definitely not what South Koreans expect from the U.S. ambassador. Frankly, he seems to have lost trust among officials and politicians here.



What is being said about his moustache is also not pleasant for South Koreans. There have been misleading media reports portraying South Koreans as disliking his facial hair because it reminds them of memories of mustached Japanese rulers during the 1910-45 colonial period. But the point is not his moustache. South Koreans would not have cared that much about his moustache if he was a "normal" ambassador. The stories of South Koreans' "bias" toward him are centered on his moustache along with his Japanese mother. This is a nasty narrative for South Koreans  and probably Harris himself.



Harris is here to promote America's interests in Korea and in the region. He has been doing this job since being appointed in June 2018. But his behavior and words have often triggered controversy here. In some cases, they caused misunderstandings that there is a serious rift in the alliance, especially over how to deal with issues concerning North Korea.



The point in contention in the latest fuss was the Moon Jae-in administration's move to resume exchanges with the North as a means to break the deadlock in the denuclearization dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.



Regarding the Moon administration's idea of resuming individual tours to Mount Geumgang in the North, Harris reportedly told foreign reporters in Seoul last week that South Korea would do better to hold prior consultations with the U.S. via the bilateral working group to avoid misunderstandings that might "trigger sanctions." Cheong Wa Dae expressed deep regret over this remark, describing it as "highly inappropriate." A spokesman for the Ministry of Unification handling inter-Korean affairs also protested, saying, "Our policy with regard to North Korea comes under our sovereignty."



It is unfortunate that there is misunderstanding that the U.S. ambassador is trying to intervene in South Korea's internal affairs when the allies need a coordinated approach toward the North more than ever amid the stalled denuclearization dialogue and the North's renewed threats.



We hope Ambassador Harris will learn diplomatic language, if the U.S. does not oppose inter-Korean peace. Some South Koreans have been criticizing him for acting like "governor general" of the Japanese colonial government. He should know it is not just because of his moustache or his Japanese mother.


Chennai, Jan 19 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday said the government is moving towards a direction where the law does not look at business enterprises with suspicion.

She also said the industry and government should jointly work together to take the country's economy to $5 trillion.

Delivering the Nani Palkhivala Centenary Celebrations Lecture, organised by the Palkhivala Foundation here, on "Road Map to $5 Trillion Economy", the Finance Minister said her earnest attempt is to decriminalise matters concerning the Companies Act or other related laws, and also cited Tata Group Head N. Chandrasekharan's speech in Mumbai on Monday where he had said government should trust its own citizens.

Stressing further on the trust factor, Sitharaman said the government's intention is not to distrust business houses and the road to $5 trillion economy will be much easier with mutual trust.

She also said that a suggestion has been made in the last GST Council meeting to revise the tax rates once a year after due consideration.

Queried on the credibility of public data, she said changing the base year for calculation has been done by governments earlier tooand blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this is not acceptable.

She also dismissed the allegation that Modi does not respect institutions as "absolutely unwanted".

According to her, the banks have been asked to reduce their non-performing assets (NPA) on regional levels.

She also said while targets have been given for tax collections so that there is no slack in revenue collections, officials have been asked not to harass tax-payers.
Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde on Saturday said that citizenship was not only about peoples rights, but also about their duties towards the society.

Speaking at the 107th convocation of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) here, he lamented that some educational institutes have become extremely commercially-minded and said developing intelligence and character was the true goal of education.

Today, education is proliferating. Unfortunately there are some institutes, I am not talking about universities, which have become extremely commercially-minded.

I say this from my personal knowledge of certain institutes which profess to teach law, he said.

The most important question we should address is what is the purpose of university education. Universities are not about brick and mortar certainly. Universities arent supposed to function like assembly line of a production unit, the CJI said.

It is also very important to emphasise that university degrees are not end in themselves, but are means to an end. Most importantly, the idea of university reflects what we want to achieve as a society. Universities should re-orient themselves and ensure that they stay true to the compass and march on towards the basic goal of the society, which undoubtedly changes at different times, he added.

On education, the CJI said, Closely connected with idea of education is the idea of discipline and I understand that there is a growing resentment in some areas about the idea of discipline. But the word discipline does not mean what it has come to mean today.

Discipline comes from the word disciple and the word disciple comes from learning. It is the state of mind in which one can learn endlessly any subject. Education is the state of mind for disciples and that state of mind is discipline, he said.

Martin Luther (King Jr) is again somebody who was concerned with discipline and indiscipline as we know it. He said something very insightful. He said the function of education is to teach one to think intensively and critically.

Intelligence plus character- that is the true goal of education, Bobde said.

Research and thinking are important and must be undertaken in the ultimate analysis, he said, adding, It is equally important, if not more, for the graduating students to realise what is expected from them by the society. It must be realised that in the society, interdependence is as important as independence. A university degree gives tools to chisel ones future. What one carves out through the help of these tools is the choice and wisdom of the craftsmen. Tools dont chisel on their own, one needs to be guided by moral compass that resides within.

You all have a responsibility to be an active citizen too and citizenship isnt only about rights but it is equally about duties towards society, the CJI said.

What you are today is of course the outcome of your rigour, but it is important to realise that you also reap benefits what helped you was created by others. Therefore, we cant remain oblivious to the well-being of others, said CJI Bobde.

Calling the RTMNU his alma mater, he said, It is now that one realises the true meaning of why it is called an alma mater. University is indeed like a mother. It nourishes its children with knowledge, skills and protects them throughout their lives, he said.
Tunisias Former Minister of Economy, Hakim Ben Hammouda, who has been nominated by seven parties for the position of Prime Minister on Saturday briefed President Kais Saied on his strategy if confirmed.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Ben Hammouda said that the biggest challenge facing the next stage is rebuilding the social contract and that six major changes should be made to rebuild the social contract.

According to TAP, the former Economy Minister laid emphasis on social issues and public policies for a better economic and social integration. He also stressed the need to boost the national economy and promote investments.

Ben Hammouda, who served as Economy Minister in Mehdi Jemaas government (2014), was nominated to the position by Tunisias main political parties, including Qalb Tounes (38 seats), Echaab movement (15), Tahya Tounes (14) and the National Reform parliamentary group (15).

President Kais Saied met former Minister of Tourism and Finance Elyes Fakhfakh also proposed for the position of Prime Minister.

Fakhfakh presented to the President his vision on the priorities and challenges facing the country, as well as his perceptions regarding the action and the form of the next government, said a Presidency statement.

He also discussed with the President ways to give hope to Tunisians, the statement added.

Elyes Fakhfakh served as Minister of Tourism after the elections of the National Constituent Assembly, before being appointed Minister of Finance in December 2012. He is among the names proposed to form the next government.

The proposals came after three months of political turmoil that has left the country unable to form a government.

Earlier this month, MPs rejected the Cabinet proposed by designated PM Habib Jemli, an independent nominated by Ennahda, the party which came out first in the legislative polls in October but failed to win enough seats to form a majority in Parliament.

If the coming PMs Cabinet fails to win the vote of confidence, Tunisia will be forced to call for new elections.
Police chief wants meeting with U.S. commander at RAF base: A British police chief requested an urgent meeting with a U.S. Air Force commander after learning of two more incidents related to wrong-side-of-the-road driving in the area where Harry Dunn, a teenage motorcyclist, died in a collision with a car driven by Anne Sacoolas, whose husband was an American intelligence officer at RAF Croughton, a base in central England used by U.S. forces. "I want to be absolutely clear on the fact that these incidents just cannot keep happening," Northamptonshire Police Chief Nick Adderley said. "We know all too well in the case of young Harry just how devastating they can be."
Varun Grover had originally posted a video of his narrating a poem/song written by him titled, hum kaagaz nahin dikhaayenge. He tweeted the video with the caption, Inspired by the spirit of every protestor and India-lover. With hat-tips to Rahat Indori saab and the Bangla slogans.



Now, it has come to light that Muslims in Neemuch and surrounding districts of Madhya Pradesh have refused to show their identity papers such as the Aadhar card to government officials for ration cards and availing food eligibility slips. Read More

UP Police Seize Food Items, Blankets From Protesting Women In Lucknow

The anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests have swept the nation with people of all gender and age coming together to voice their concerns against the contentious legislation. However, a pattern has emerged across states and cities where Police have been hostile towards people protesting peacefully. Severe violence was reported from Uttar Pradesh during the anti-CAA agitation, Delhi saw similar incidents more than once.

In Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Police confiscated food items and blankets from women protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the Ghanta Ghar area on January 18 evening. Read More

Internet Used To Watch Dirty Films In J&K, Says Niti Aayog Member

In a shocking statement from a government official, NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat has reportedly said that the internet service in the Jammu and Kashmir region was used to watch 'gandi filmein' (dirty films).

Since August 5, Jammu and Kashmir has seen unprecedented crackdown and suspension of internet remains in force for many people, though a recent order restored 2G connectivity but social media is still beyond reach in Kashmir valley. After a total of 164 days of disconnection, internet services in territories of Jammu and Kashmir were recently back online -- although not entirely. Read More

Kejriwal Wants Rape Convicts To Be Punished Within 6 Months While Nirbhaya Still Awaits Justice

Its been seven years since the brutal Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case brought the nation on the streets and shaking our collective consciousness. Nirbhayas mother has since been leading the fight for justice, moving door to door. But then, the final date on which the convicts are going to be hanged continues to get delayed as the lawyers representing the convicts have resorted to delay tactics.

And the outrage hasnt put a full stop to rape cases or crimes against women either. More and more rape cases continue to surface while the road to justice remains painfully slow for victims. Read More

Leave Country If You Cant Accept Vande Mataram, Says BJP Minister; Twiiter Calls Him Communal Cow

Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi attacked the Congress for spreading misinformation about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying that those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, and Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country.

#WATCH Union Minister Pratap Sarangi in Surat, Gujarat: Those who do not accept Vande Mataram have no right to live in India. (18.01.2020) pic.twitter.com/zEr4R8Z7Op  ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2020

"Those who set the country on fire are not patriots. Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country," said Sarangi in a press conference in Surat. Read More
New Delhi: Veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar on Sunday gave an update on actress wife Shabana Azmis health, who recently met with an accident while on her way to Pune from Mumbai.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Akhtar said that Azmi is in ICU but her reports are positive and there is nothing to worry about. The couple met with an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway after their car rammed into a truck. While Azmi got seriously injured, Akhtar escaped unhurt.

She was rushed to the Mahatma Gandhi Mission Medical College & Hospital (MGM-MCH) in Navi Mumbai for treatment and was later shifted to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH).

Dont worry. She is in the ICU but all the scan reports are positive. It seems theres no serious harm done, the 75-year-old lyricist told Bollywood Hungama.

On Saturday evening, Akhtars children Farhan and Zoya paid a visit to Azmi. Shibani Dandekar, Farhans girlfriend, also accompanied the brother-sister duo. Anil Kapoor, wife Sunita, Tabu were among the other celebs who were also pictured outside the hospital.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished the actress a speedy recovery. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: The news of Shabana Azmi Jis injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery."

The news of @AzmiShabana Jis injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 18, 2020

According to doctors, she has suffered a head injury and there was slight damage to the backbone.

An FIR has been registered against Shabana Azmi's driver for rash driving, police said on Sunday.

Due to rash driving by the car's driver, the car hit the moving truck on Pune-Mumbai Expressway which resulted in the accident," the FIR copyread.

(With agencies inputs)
By Roberto Ramirez TECUN UMAN, Guatemala (Reuters) - Scuffles briefly broke out on the Guatemala-Mexico border on Saturday morning as a group of several hundred mostly Honduran migrants pressed forward to cross, only to be pushed back by Mexican security forces. Scores of people who entered Guatemala from Honduras in recent days have been arriving at the Mexican border, with the bulk of them still advancing in a larger caravan, testing the resolve of Mexico to heed U.S.

By Roberto Ramirez

TECUN UMAN, Guatemala (Reuters) - Scuffles briefly broke out on the Guatemala-Mexico border on Saturday morning as a group of several hundred mostly Honduran migrants pressed forward to cross, only to be pushed back by Mexican security forces.

Scores of people who entered Guatemala from Honduras in recent days have been arriving at the Mexican border, with the bulk of them still advancing in a larger caravan, testing the resolve of Mexico to heed U.S. demands to contain migrant flows.

President Donald Trump has threatened to hurt Mexico and Central American countries economically if they allow large groups to reach the U.S. border, and the latest exodus from Honduras has been accompanied by U.S. border agents.

Guatemalan authorities say around 4,000 people have arrived in the country in the last few days, the biggest surge since Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador signed accords with the United States that increase pressure on them to deal with migrants.

After waiting on a bridge at the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman, some migrants began pushing and shoving before being driven back by Mexican security officials, who shut the border crossing and sought to calm the group.

A Reuters witness estimated there were 300-400 people on the Guatemalan side of the border. Along with local television reporters, he said order was quickly restored at the scene.

A few migrants made it through the gate, local media said, but Mexican officials appeared to be controlling the situation more successfully than when a large caravan sought to force its way through at the same crossing in October 2018.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he is monitoring the approach of the migrants and has held out the prospect of jobs in southern Mexico for those who want to stay.

Interior Minister Olga Sanchez said earlier this week that the migrants would not be granted safe conduct passes.

About 400 of the migrants who entered Guatemala since Wednesday have been returned to their countries of origin, according to a statement issued by the Guatemalan government.

(Reporting by Roberto Ramirez in Tecun Uman and Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City; Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Matthew Lewis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 18:49:13|Editor: ZX

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Saturday launched official celebrations of Chinese Lunar New Year in the city's Chinatown.

Breed urged locals and global tourists to support small Chinese businesses and share the joys of the traditional Chinese Year of the Rat, which begins on Jan. 25.

"Today is just an opportunity with this particular fair to kick off a chance for visitors and people who come from all over the world to shop, to eat and to enjoy the festivities," said Breed.

She said she was "proud" to kick off the celebrations of the Lunar New Year marked by the first day of a Chinatown Spring Festival Market Fair, an annual traditional event that drew thousands of people to buy small gifts, good-luck new year items, potted flowers and tangerines that signify prosperity and fortune in traditional Chinese culture.

Breed gave special note to the historic significance of the year when San Francisco and the Chinese city of Shanghai will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their sister-city relationships.

Breed was joined by San Francisco Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, California State Senator Scott Wiener and community leaders to participate in a mini-parade that started at historic St. Mary's Square in Chinatown and marched through several main streets.

Hundreds of young people dressed in ancient Chinese-style costumes and performed as lion dancers, as drummers danced merrily to share their festival joy with onlookers.
At least 70 Yemeni soldiers have been killed in a missile attack launched by Huthi rebels on a mosque in the central province of Marib, medical and military sources said on Sunday.

A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where the casualties were transported, told AFP at least 70 were killed in Saturday's strike.

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the "cowardly and terrorist" attack, according to official media.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi has released the hall ticket for class 12th board examination on its official website. School authorities can visit the official website to check download the admit card for class 12th students.

As per the examination schedule released on January 17, class 12th board examination will be conducted from February 22 to March 30, 2020. Students appearing the examination are advised to bring their hall tickets to their allotted examination centre or else they wont be entertained.

Heres the direct link to download the CBSE class 12th board exam 2020 hall ticket.

How to download the CBSE class 12th hall ticket:

1.Visit the official website

2.On the home page click on the link that reads, Admit card and school LOC for Board exam 2020

3.A new page will appear on the display screen

4.Key in your credentials and log in

5.The admit card will appear on the monitor.
A former would-be MP turned anti-drugs vigilante has told a court he plans to shoot and kill a loyalist he labelled "Mr Coke".

In remarkable scenes at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday morning, former election candidate Bobby Beck said from the dock he would "put two in the chest and one in the head" of the Newtownards man he named and who police said was a suspected paramilitary.

It followed Beck's arrest in Belfast's Belvoir estate on Thursday night when cops found him covered in blood and carrying two kitchen knifes.

Beck (56) stood for election in 2017 as an independent in East Belfast and was praised by prominent Irish language activist and tutor Linda Ervine, sister-in-law of late PUP leader David Ervine.

He now claims to be a member of a group called Loyalists Against Drug Dealers.

The court was told yesterday how police officers had been on their way to speak to Beck at his home address when they found him wandering the estate, armed with the two weapons and in an agitated state.

At Laganside Courthouse on Saturday, he was charged with threats to kill, possession of two kitchen knives without lawful excuse in a public place, and disorderly behaviour.

Cops told the court they were on their way to speak to Beck when they found him on Kilwarlin Crescent on the estate just after 10.30pm on Thursday.

A detective constable told the court: "He was found with one large red kitchen knife and one large blue kitchen knife.

"When approached by officers, he called them 'w***ers' and 'd***heads' before telling them to 'f*** off', saying he had been assaulted a short time earlier.

"He then moved towards a phone box and dropped the knives before being detained.

"In custody, he said he would 'find a 9mm and stick it in' a man from the Newtownards area suspected of being involved in a paramilitary organisation.

"He admitted swearing and shouting at police because he was irate, saying he had been assaulted by three males earlier.

"He also told police he had phoned the individual in question and told him he intends to carry out the threat and reiterated this in interview."

Beck, who appeared in court unrepresented, said he wished to apply for bail, telling District Judge John Meehan: "I strongly object to being remanded in custody. I am a spokesperson for an organisation called Loyalists Against Drug Dealers and last week there was action taken against known drug dealers in the north Down area.

"This included their houses, cars, businesses and pubs. They were told last week their lives were in danger and they would be executed.

"They were told their time is up.

"Newtownards' Mr Coke threatened me and went to my mother and father's house threatening them. I told him to stay away from their house or I would kill him, I'll put two in his chest and one in his head.

"I had intended to go away for a while to America or Canada but if you want to jeopardise that it's up to you."

Refusing him bail, Judge Meehan told him: "You are in a parallel universe in which you believe you are the law and pose a real danger to the safety of the public."

In 2017, Linda Ervine, whose husband Brian was formerly leader of the PUP, tweeted her support for the then prospective parliamentary candidate Beck, saying: "Chatting today with Robert Beck who is standing as an Independent.

"Great to see he supports an Irish Language Act. Maith thu Bobby Beck."

Standing as a pro-Brexit independent candidate, his pledges included strict controls at sea and airports targeting illegal immigration, a language act on a par with Wales and Scotland for both Irish and Ulster Scots, and a border poll for Northern Ireland by 2021.

He also advocated for a review of mental health provision as well as the introduction of a centre of excellence for motorcycling.

Despite the support of Mrs Ervine, he received just 54 votes in the constituency which was won by the DUP's Gavin Robinson.

Beck, from Mahee Close in the Belvoir estate in south Belfast, was remanded in custody to reappear at Laganside Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Russian President Vladimir Putin that London's position on the incident in Salisbury had not changed, the office of the prime minister said on Sunday.

"The Prime Minister met President Putin in the margins of the Berlin Conference on Libya. He was clear there had been no change in the UK's position on Salisbury, which was a reckless use of chemical weapons and a brazen attempt to murder innocent people on UK soil. He said that such an attack must not be repeated", the 10 Downing Street statement read.

Johnson remarked that both the UK and Russia "had a responsibility to address issues of international security including Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Iran".

On March 4, 2018, Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, were found unconscious on a bench near a shopping center in the UK's Salisbury. London has claimed they were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent called A234 and accused Moscow of staging the attack, which provoked a huge international scandal. London has also said that it suspects Russian nationals Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, who the government claims work for Russian intelligence, of carrying out the attack.

Moscow has categorically dismissed the accusations, pointing to the absence of any evidence and London's rejection of its requests to cooperate in investigation and grant access to the poisoned Russian citizens. Petrov and Boshirov denied their involvement in the attack in an interview with the RT broadcaster, saying that they had visited Salisbury for tourism purposes and actually worked in the fitness industry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
To become a genetic counselor you must obtain a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling. This article reviews the MS in Genetic Counseling programs available throughout California.

View Schools

University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine's two-year Master of Science in Genetic Counseling program prepares students to take the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) certification test. The program is housed in the UC Irvine School of Medicine's Division of Genetic and Genomic Medicine, and students have the opportunity to gain clinical experience starting in the first quarter of the program. They can also shadow counselors working with diverse demographics and specialty cases.

University of California, Los Angeles

Within the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Master of Science in Genetic Counseling students can take courses in medical genetics, translational genomics, specialty genetics, counseling skills, and ethics. This 2-year program weaves together academic classes, a capstone research project (wherein students have the chance to work alongside genetics scientists), and fieldwork experiences (wherein students work alongside genetic counselors in clinical settings).

Stanford University

Students in Stanford University's Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genetics Counseling program have the chance to work in a top-rated medical school. Admitted students spend two years learning a mix of genomics technology, psychosocial counseling, and research skills while simultaneously gaining hands-on experience through 5- to 10-week clinical rotations.

Keck Graduate Institute

At the Keck Graduate Institute, students learn the craft of genetic counseling through a mix of academic classes, research (all students complete a thesis under the guidance of an academic advisor), clinical experiences, conferences, journal clubs, and seminars. Students in the 2-year Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling program work with the center's partner institutions across Southern California to gain experience in medical, industrial, and laboratory applications of genetic counseling skills.

University Programs Offered Tuition for Academic Year (2018-2019)* University of California, Irvine Master of Science in Genetic Counseling In-state: $11,442

Out-of-state: $26,544 University of California, Los Angeles Master of Science in Genetic Counseling In-state: $11,442

Out-of-state: $26,544 Stanford University Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling $50,703 Keck Graduate Institute Master of Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling $36,100

Source: *NCES

Completing a Master of Science Degree in Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling master's degree programs can usually be completed in about two years and consist of a combination of lecture coursework and clinical experiences under the supervision of genetic counselors. Common courses for a genetic counseling master's degree program include:

Genetic Counselling

Many programs include a series of genetic counselling classes to introduce students to the principles and techniques of the discipline. These classes may use role play and clinical practice to strengthen a student's counseling skills, including active listening, contracting, interviewing, accessing family history, communicating risk, developing educational material, and assessing a patient's understanding. In addition, students may study the history of the discipline through past experiments, case studies, and academic literature important to the field.

Human Molecular Genetics

An advanced understanding of human genetics forms the foundation for genetic counselling. Thus, in this course students learn about the structure and function of genes, the cell cycle, gene expression and regulation, and inheritance. In addition to deepening their understanding of genetics, students may also learn skills related to mapping causal genes, genotyping individuals, replicating DNA sequences, and modifying DNA molecules.

Ethics in Medical Practice

In this course, students discuss the ethical, legal, and social issues that impact genetics counseling practice (and the medical field at large). Students often learn about pertinent laws and repercussions for unethical practice. In addition, the class may provide students with the chance to outline the steps to avoiding and/or solving ethical dilemmas in their own future practice.

Admission Requirements for a Genetic Counselling Master's Degree in California

Genetic counselling students come from a range of backgrounds, but they are generally expected to have completed undergraduate coursework in genetics, molecular biology, psychology, statistics, research design, and biochemistry. Students should have a GPA of around 3.0 or higher and strong GRE (Graduate Record Examination) test scores. Competitive applicants can showcase their past exposure to the genetics counselling profession and/or genetics research and genetics laboratory experience. To apply, applicants send in their test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation from previous professors, an updated resume (or CV), and a statement of purpose essay.

Universities from across California offer Master of Science programs for students who wish to enter the emerging discipline of genetic counseling. These programs provide students with the opportunity to learn technical skills, gain clinical experience, and pursue independent research projects.
This article was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.



JACKSONVILLE, Fla.  It was a Friday night five years ago, and in a basement bar below the officers club at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, two men were getting drunk.

One was the commanding officer, Capt. John R. Nettleton, a 49-year-old career Navy helicopter pilot who had risen to run the remote base on the southeast coast of Cuba, best known as the site of the prison and courtroom for detainees in the war on terror.

The other was Christopher M. Tur, a 42-year-old civilian and onetime enlisted Marine who had moved to Guantanamo with his wife and two daughters four years earlier for a job overseeing efforts to prevent shoplifting from the base commissary.

As the evening wore on, Tur watched with mounting fury from across the bar as his wife, Lara Tur, chatted cozily with Nettleton, who was touching her in a way that struck a witness as inappropriate. At one point, after Christopher Tur remarked that his wife was acting like a whore, the bases public affairs officer, a friend of the couples, told the bartender to stop serving so much to Captain Nettleton and Lara.

But things continued to spin out of control. Within hours, there would be allegations of adultery and a bloody fight. Christopher Tur would be found two days later drowned in the sea with potentially lethal amounts of Prozac and alcohol in his system, four broken ribs and a bruise on his forehead.

No one has been charged in his death, but Friday, Nettleton, his Navy career over, was convicted of obstruction of justice for covering up what happened that night.

A jury of 10 women and two men at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Jacksonville found him guilty on six charges, which can be punishable by five to 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing has not yet been set.

The liquor-laced tale of sex, violence, jealousy and power that emerged gradually through testimony and interviews provides a rare, unfiltered view of life among the 6,000 residents of the 45-square-mile outpost behind a Cuban minefield.

Guantanamo Bay, about 500 miles from Miami, has been largely defined for nearly two decades as the site of the secretive detention center, currently holding 40 men as prisoners, and the military courtroom where six of them face death penalty trials.

Yet for people like Nettleton and the Turs, the base is also a small, insular town, with boozy backyard barbecues and a McDonalds. They bring their families, cars and fishing boats, and live in suburban-style neighborhoods.

Everybody seems to know everybody elses business, Kelly Wirfel, the bases public affairs officer at the time and the friend of the Turs, testified at Nettletons trial. You can never get away from it. Drinking and going out with friends is something that happens quite frequently there.

On Jan. 9, 2015, the Turs and Wirfel were going together to a Hail and Farewell Party at the officers club to welcome the bases new second-in-charge, Cmdr. Alonza J. Ross, who now holds the rank of captain.

As they were getting ready, according to Lara Tur, the director of the bases social services center, she and Wirfel got on the phone from their homes and each did a shot to get the party started. They lived in the same neighborhood, Caribbean Circle, and socialized regularly.

Christopher Tur drove them to the club and bought a round of drinks. They then went down a narrow flight of stairs to the Hangar Bar for speeches and a gift exchange. Inside were 25 to 30 people, most of whom were already drinking.

Wirfel had brought a camera to document the evening but quickly abandoned the idea. There was so much drinking going on, she testified.

Across the bar, Nettleton and Lara Tur were close, touching and talking in a way that Wirfel found disrespectful to Christopher Tur, she testified. Christopher Tur noticed, too. Lara Tur testified that she and her husband later quarreled in an alley outside the bar. I told him that we were done, and get his hands off me, she said.

As the party was breaking up, word spread that Nettleton had invited everybody back to his house, up the street. Ross vetoed that idea, in part because Nettletons wife was away in Florida. Christopher Tur called Nettleton a son of a bitch or ass, Ross testified, and loudly, graphically accused Nettleton of having had sex with his wife, according to both Ross and Wirfel, who heard it.

Nettleton staggered off, Wirfel said, and a very intoxicated Lara Tur tried to walk with him until Wirfel stopped her. Ross told Christopher Tur to go home, and watched him walk in the opposite direction.

The details of what happened next are a matter of some dispute, but testimony and trial evidence have established these basic facts: Nettleton returned to his stately, 80-year-old official residence on a promontory above the bay. Christopher Tur showed up there soon after. There was a fight. Then Christopher Tur disappeared.

Nettletons daughter Julia, 15 at the time, was home and at 10:55 p.m. sent a text to a friend. They are getting into a fight downstairs, she wrote. It started with a man coming into my house screaming at my father. Julia Nettleton, now in college, testified that she heard a thumping and banging noise  it sounded like things hitting the wall to me, or hitting furniture.

She had looked down the staircase and saw her father  6 feet, 3 inches tall and 230 pounds  arguing with a man at the door, and was so scared that she locked herself in a bedroom.

Then it got quiet, so she crept downstairs and saw her father flat on the floor, face down, and a man standing over him using a phone.

Wirfel testified that Christopher Tur called her cellphone sometime after he left the officers club, while she and Lara Tur were waiting for a ride home. Christopher Tur, she testified, told her that he had knocked the skipper out. She said she dismissed his remark as a prank because she heard Nettleton say, Oh yeah, he just knocked me out.

Taking the stand in his own defense, Nettleton testified Tuesday that Christopher Tur must have come into his house uninvited because the first thing he remembered of the episode was regaining consciousness with someone shaking me and saying, Wake up, Marine.

It was Christopher Tur standing over him, he testified, alternately hostile and friendly, trying to coax Nettleton back to the bar.

Suddenly, he testified, Christopher Tur just gets this look of rage and began attacking him  pushing him against a wall, tearing his shirt and lunging at him. I just throw a quick punch and I hit him in the nose, Nettleton said, accounting for blood traces from the living room to the kitchen.

Nettleton said he last saw Christopher Tur at his kitchen table with ice and a paper towel to his nose. Nettleton went upstairs to talk to his daughter, and by the time he went down, Christopher Tur was gone.

Lara Tur described her husband as jealous, controlling and abusive, and said she was planning to divorce him. She had found work at the bases Fleet and Family Support Center, and had risen to become the director  a more senior job than her husbands.

In the month before he died, Lara Tur said, her husband demanded she be home at 5 p.m. each day to make dinner with a smile on my face, kiss him every time she came and went, and call him frequently.

Months earlier, she said, while they were attending a meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, she and Nettleton had had a sexual encounter. She called it a one-time mistake by two friends that crossed a line. There had been flirtation at Guantanamo, she said, and just kissing.

Nettleton testified that he chose not to report the fight because he considered himself the victim of an assault, and to report it would have cost Christopher Tur his job. Nettleton also said that he felt he had wronged Christopher Tur because I had slept with Lara in November  and he didnt know it, but I did.

By the next morning, it was clear that Christopher Tur was missing. It did not initially cause alarm because, Nettleton said, Lara Tur said there were instances of him not coming home at night, and later reappearing.

As the day progressed, Nettleton ordered a basewide search. The sailors in charge mapped it out believing that Christopher Tur was last seen at the bar because Nettleton had not told them he had been to his home. After first dismissing Christopher Turs call to her the previous night claiming to have knocked out Nettleton, Wirfel told Ross about it.

As they oversaw the searches, Ross testified, he asked Nettleton if Christopher Tur had come to his house. Nettleton denied it at first, he said, then later said Christopher Tur had shown up at his door and that he had sent him away. To Ross, Nettleton looked uninjured and in charge.

One thing did strike Ross as strange, he testified: He looked into the possibility of bringing a Coast Guard helicopter to the search, a suggestion, he said, that Nettleton angrily rejected.

Nettleton testified that he considered the idea outlandish because the Coast Guard pilots would not know the no-fly zones in and around the base and could create a problem with the Cubans if they strayed into their territory.

Thirty-six hours after the fistfight, a Coast Guard patrol boat found Christopher Turs corpse floating off the coastline.

By then, agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, were questioning Lara Tur at their base office. She denied having an affair with Nettleton. At the trial, she testified that she was unaware at the time that her husband had fought with Nettleton, and that had she known about it, would have answered differently.

In the midst of the interview, she said, she was summoned to a room where Nettleton, wearing his blue dress uniform, notified her that her husband was dead and offered his condolences.

Ten days later, Nettleton was relieved of his command. Someone had made an anonymous complaint to a Navy inspector generals office. He was discovered not to have told his superiors and security officers about the fight, and he denied an affair with Lara Tur.

Had Nettleton told the truth from the start, those searching for Christopher Tur might have had a better idea of where to look for him, witnesses testified.

How Christopher Tur got into the water is not a mystery that will be solved in this courtroom, Todd Gee, a federal prosecutor, told jurors. The charges in the case revolve around Nettletons failure to report the fight even though he knew Mr. Tur was somewhere on Guantanamo Bay, drunk, injured and bleeding, Gee said, and Nettletons continuing lack of candor after Christopher Turs body was recovered.

It is unclear why Nettleton never faced Navy charges. He retired in March after wrapping up his career at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

Before the trial began, Judge Timothy J. Corrigan forbade prosecutors and defense lawyers from speculating on how or why Christopher Tur ended up in the water.

We dont want to turn it into a trial on how Mr. Tur died, he told the lawyers. Its not a murder case. Im going to hold you to it. Its not a case either about whether he committed suicide. And Im going to hold you to that.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
A British woman has died falling from a cliff in Australia.

Madalyn Davis, 21, was fatally injured at Diamond Bay, Sydney, on Sunday. Emergency crews were alerted by a group of people who could not find her after taking photos there.

Signs warn tourists to stay away from the cliff edge and the local mayor said the height of fences in the area had been increased.

Ms Davis, from Lincolnshire, had been in Australia for a number of weeks.

Emergency services were called to the scene at about 06:30 local time, following reports she had fallen off the cliff, in the eastern suburbs of the city.

Her body was retrieved from the water about four hours later.

In a tweet posted on Saturday night, Marine Rescue North South Wales said: "Emergency services were alerted after a group of people taking photos inside the fence early this morning regathered and could not find the woman."

Another woman, believed to have been 27 from Sydney, died after falling 30m (98 ft) onto rocks at nearby Vaucluse Reserve in August last year, according to Australian press.

Warning signs posted by the local authority, Waverley Council, urge people to stay away from the cliff edge.

Speaking to Reuters news agency, mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said: "We're actually working closely with the police on this at the moment.

"We've already increased the height of our fences, we've added additional multilingual signage."
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra state on Sunday asked the Supreme Court to reverse its judgement on the Imo state governorship election within seven days.

The party said this during their protest in Akwa. The PDP chairman in he state, Ndubisi Nwobu, said the state chapter of the party is giving the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court seven days to reverse itself or face serious protest to right the wrong.

The judgement of the Supreme Court on 14th of January 2020, was a mockery on the Nigerian democracy.

Read Also: Imo Verdict: PDP Protesters Fill Streets Of Akwa Ibom, Imo, Ogun

President Muhammadu Buhari should use his good office to call the panel members at the Supreme Court to order and reverse itself and allow Hon. Emeka Ihedioha to return to his position freely given to him by the Imo people, he said.

He said the Supreme Court judges manufactured the figures they awarded to Hope Uzodinma of the APC was still a mystery to behold, saying nothing points to that.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds formal talks with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Jan. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

NAY PYI TAW, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Myanmar have agreed to work together to build a community with a shared future, opening a new era of bilateral ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi announced the decision during their formal talks in the Myanmar capital of Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday.

Xi said that enjoying a profound "Paukphaw" (fraternal) friendship, China and Myanmar face new development opportunities in bilateral ties as both countries have entered a new stage of national development.

This time, the two sides have decided to jointly build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future, ushering in a new era of bilateral relations, Xi said.

The president urged efforts to implement the decision, systematically plan and deploy next-phase exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and strengthen political guidance for bilateral relations, so as to push China-Myanmar relations to a higher level.

Firstly, Xi said, the two countries should accelerate the alignment of their development strategies and put more efforts into the construction of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).

The two sides should advance their five-year plan for economic and trade cooperation, effectively dovetail their development strategies, and well implement their economic and trade as well as production capacity cooperation.

Stressing the overriding importance of the CMEC in their Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said the two sides have started the substantive construction of the CMEC, adding that the two sides should work to increase the sense of gain of both peoples, the Myanmar people especially, as soon as possible.

Secondly, the two countries should focus on flagship cooperation projects to strengthen connectivity, Xi said.

China and Myanmar have agreed to allow the Kyaukphyu projects to play a demonstrative and driving role in the CMEC, and accelerate the construction of the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone and the New Yangon City, so as to complete the overall layout of the economic corridor supported by the north, east and west ends.

The two sides should also forge ahead with connectivity projects including highways, railways and power grids, in order to form a structural network for the corridor, Xi said.

Thirdly, China and Myanmar should expand trade and investment and boost local cooperation, Xi said, adding that China has always adhered to upholding justice while pursuing shared interests in its practical cooperation with Myanmar.

China welcomes Myanmar to increase exports to China, supports Chinese enterprises in increasing investment in Myanmar and is willing to enhance bilateral financial cooperation, he said.

Xi encouraged the two sides to give full play to the geographical advantage of their economic corridor and promote exchanges and cooperation between Myanmar and Chinese provinces including Yunnan Province, so as to contribute to the overall development of the two countries.

Fourthly, China and Myanmar should deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges and promote friendship and understanding between their peoples, Xi said.

He urged the two sides to make the celebration events for the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the China-Myanmar Year of Culture and Tourism a success, and encourage more youths to carry out exchanges so as to pass on the "Paukphaw" friendship from generation to generation.

China and Myanmar should endeavor to improve people's livelihood, security and infrastructure construction along the CMEC, to deliver benefits to more Myanmar people as early as possible, he said.

Extending once again a warm welcome to Xi, Aung San Suu Kyi said Myanmar highly cherishes its friendship with China and hopes to continue to be a good friend of China.

Xi's visit, which has boasted milestone significance and yielded fruitful results, will greatly deepen the Myanmar-China "Paukphaw" friendship and promote their practical cooperation, she said.

The Myanmar side is ready to actively advance the construction of the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, fully implement projects in Kyaukphyu and push forward cooperation in such areas as transportation, energy, production capacity, humanities, border and at local levels, she said.

Myanmar is ready to join efforts with China to forge ahead, build the Myanmar-China community with a shared future and better benefit the two peoples, she said.

Aung San Suu Kyi said that a prominent feature in Myanmar-China relations has been their mutual respect, understanding and support.

China has long been giving Myanmar precious understanding and support at both bilateral and international levels, and the Myanmar people will always remember that, she said.

China's support is not out of self-interest, but to safeguard fairness and justice, which is particularly precious to small countries like Myanmar, she said.

Currently, problems concerning world peace and development, as well as international fairness and justice are yet to be solved, Aung San Suu Kyi said.

Some countries have been wantonly interfering in the internal affairs of other countries in the name of human rights, ethnic or religious issues, she said, noting that Myanmar will never bow to such pressure and interference.

Aung San Suu Kyi expressed hope that China will continue to defend justice for small- and medium-sized countries including Myanmar on international occasions and play a constructive part in promoting the peace process in her country.

Stressing that time reveals a person's heart and adversity tries a friend, Xi said China is a good friend worthy of Myanmar's trust.

Noting that China and Myanmar have jointly championed and practiced the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Xi said the two sides have not only trusted and helped each other and set a model for exchanges between countries, but also made historic contributions to the promotion of establishing a new type of international relations.

China has always adhered to respecting the people of all countries' independent choice of a development path suited to their national conditions, and insisted on non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, Xi said.

China will continue to speak out for justice for Myanmar in the international arena, and support Myanmar in safeguarding its national dignity and legitimate rights and interests, Xi said.

China supports Myanmar in advancing the domestic peace process and achieving national reconciliation, and is willing to continue to play a constructive role in this regard, he added.

After the talks, the leaders of the two countries attended a ceremony of exchanging bilateral cooperation documents, covering political, economic, trade, investment, humanities, local and other fields.

China and Myanmar also issued a joint statement on Saturday.

According to the statement, both sides agreed to continue to enhance coordination and cooperation in regional and multilateral fora such as the United Nations, China-ASEAN cooperation and Lancang-Mekong cooperation platform.

They agreed to render mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, to work closely on global issues concerning the challenges faced by developing countries, and to uphold jointly peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

The two sides will continue their close high-level interactions, reinforce mutual political trust, enhance strategic communication, deepen exchanges of experience in governance, and further promote friendly exchanges between their legislative institutions, political parties and localities, says the document.

They also pledged to continue bringing into full play the role of inter-governmental mechanisms for practical cooperation, such as the China-Myanmar Joint Committee on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation and China-Myanmar Agricultural Cooperation Committee, and deepen concrete cooperation in fields such as economy and trade, agriculture, forestry, industrial capacity, investment and finance.
Having announced the names of 54 candidates, the Delhi Congress only has one more day to release the list of remaining 16 contenders who will represent the party in the February 8 assembly elections.

On Sunday, Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra confirmed that the party has finalised an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on four seats to woo Purvanchali voters. In Burari, Kirari, Uttam Nagar and Palam, the RJD contenders will seek votes under the Congress banner.

The Congress party, which was in power in Delhi for 15 years till the 2015 defeat, will be contesting the 2020 Delhi assembly elections in partnership with another party for the first time.

Senior leaders said the initial plan was to give the Karawal Nagar constituency to the RJD, but this decision was changed on Sunday. Contenders from these seats were chosen based on the population share of Purvanchali voters here.

We are in the last leg of finalising candidates and got nearly 30-40 aspirants for these four seats. By Monday, we will announce the candidates on all of the remaining seats, said Delhi Congress chief Subhash Chopra on Sunday.

Among the 16 seats for which Congress is yet to announce a contestant is the New Delhi constituency, which Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will be contesting on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket. The BJP is also yet to field a contender from this seat.

We are discussing names and we will announce a strong candidate for this (New Delhi) seat as well, just like we have for all the other seats, Chopra said.

In the 2013 assembly polls, Kejriwal become the giant slayer by defeating Congress three-time Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit. In 2015, when Dikshit did not contest the elections, the Congress fielded former minister in Delhi cabinet Kiran Walia, who could only secure 5.37% because of anti-incumbency sentiment and landed the third spot.

Another important fight will be for Okhla constituency, which has been in the limelight because of the ongoing protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). While the AAP has pitched its sitting MLA Amanatullah Khan from the Okhla constituency, the BJPs candidate is Brahm Singh.

Former Congress legislator from the area, Asif Muhammad Khan has been actively supporting the protests and is expected to be Congresss face from the constituency.

In the first list of candidates released by the Congress on Saturday, the party included a mixed bag of political heavyweightsits trusted former ministers and second-generation leaders; six sitting councillors have also found their names in the candidate list this time.

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Thousands joined an anti-government rally held in Belgrade for the 59th time in a row on January 18. Its theme was the commemoration of Oliver Ivanovic, a Kosovar Serb politician who was assassinated on January 16, 2018. The investigation into the killing is still ongoing, both in Kosovo and Serbia. Participants marched to the St. Sava Church where they lit candles for Ivanovic.
SRINAGAR: The first team of Union ministers began its tour of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday to what the officials said, disseminate the information about the importance of the government policies with regard to overall development of the Union Territory (UT) and its people along with steps taken in this direction in the last five months.

As many as 38 Union ministers would be touring J&K to hold close to 60 meetings across the UT over the next six days.

They would also interact with the people and inaugurate a host of projects and works, from tube wells and lane drain protection walls to a two-lane bypass road and a school of engineering. The tour, from January 18 to 24 is being coordinated by the home ministry.

Ministers Arjun Meghwal, Ashwini Choubey and Jitendra Singh who had to reach Jammu by a routine flight from Delhi could not land due to bad weather. Their flight was diverted to Srinagar from where they flew to Jammu in a helicopter.

According to Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, the ministers will interact with the people to educate them about the projects to be implemented in J&K.

Subrahmanyam has asked the district administrations to make all necessary arrangements for the public outreach programme of Union ministers.
Bangalore (India) (AFP) - A sparkling century by Rohit Sharma and inspired bowling helped India to a series-clinching seven-wicket win over Australia in the third one-day international on Sunday.

Sharma made 119 and put on a key 137-run second-wicket stand with skipper Virat Kohli, who made 89, as India chased down their target of 287 in 47.3 overs in Bangalore.

The hosts fought back in the series after a 10-wicket drubbing in the opening game to go past the Aaron Finch-led tourists 2-1.

Paceman Mohammed Shami claimed four wickets to lead the bowling charge with the hosts restricting Australia to 286 for nine on a good batting pitch despite Steve Smith's 131.

Sharma took the attack to the opposition with a steady flow of boundaries -- eight fours and six sixes in his 128-ball knock -- and completed his eighth century against the Aussies.

He finally fell to Adam Zampa's leg spin as the senior batsman attempted a big hit but the ball top-edged off his bat to be caught by Mitchell Starc at long-on.

Kohli kept the chase on track with an attacking Shreyas Iyer, unbeaten on 44, as the pair put on 68 runs before the captain was bowled by Josh Hazlewood.

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan did not bat after injuring his shoulder while fielding in the fifth over Australian innings. He went for an X-ray later and TV pictures showed the batsman's arm in a sling.

India though did not feel his absence as Sharma and wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul put on 69 runs to set up the chase.

Rahul was given not out by the on-field umpire after being trapped lbw off Ashton Agar for 19 but Australia successfully reviewed the decision in their favour.

- Smith century -

Earlier Smith followed up his 98 in the second match with his ninth ODI hundred and his first since January 2017 -- a period during which he served a one-year ban between March 2018 and 2019.

Smith put on 127 runs for the third wicket with Marnus Labuschagne to lay the foundation for Australia's total after they elected to bat.

Story continues

Shami struck first to send David Warner trudging back to the pavilion for three after the left-handed opener edged to wicketkeeper KL Rahul.

Finch and Smith started to build, but their partnership was cut short by a big mix up between the two batsmen with the captain being run out for 19.

Smith played the ball to short third man and Finch ran for a single only to get stuck with his partner at the striker's end, and fell well short of the crease while trying to make it back.

Smith kept the scoreboard ticking with singles and twos and the occasional boundary with partner Labuschagne, who got a maiden ODI fifty after making his debut in the opening match of the series.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership with the wicket of Labuschagne for 54, and struck twice in his ninth over to pull Australia back.

Smith played a lone hand before falling to Shami as the middle and lower order did not fire.
(CNN)  Lebanese police fired tear gas and water cannons at hundreds of anti-government protesters in downtown Beirut on Saturday, as the monthslong demonstrations turned violent in what is being called a "week of rage."

CNN reporters on the ground near Martyrs' Square saw demonstrators throw molotov cocktails, rocks and fireworks at police, and shine lasers at them to disrupt successive rounds of tear gas, in a violent nighttime exchange that has been going on for more than two hours.

At least 40 people were hospitalized and 65 have been treated at the scene, according to the Lebanese Red Cross.

Demonstrations over one of the country's worst-ever economic crises began in mid-October and led to the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who is now leading the country in a caretaker role.

Protests have been going on ever since, but had largely been peaceful. They erupted in violence this week as demonstrators began smashing bank windows and ATMs. Clashes with police have left dozens injured.

Protesters have grown increasingly frustrated as the country has been unable to form a legitimate government for more than three months.

The banking system has all but collapsed and Lebanese citizens have a monthly withdrawal limit worth around $200. The nation's currency has lost 60% of its value in the months of tumult, as prices soar and people are left unable to pay their regular bills.

Lebanese Interior Minister Raya Haffar El Hassan was forced to apologize after security forces attacked journalists at protests on Wednesday, saying officers were under stress and were struggling to keep up with the months of demonstrations.

Reuters, Lebanon's MTV and Al Jadeed TV said members of their crews were injured during clashes in central Beirut while they were covering protests outside the Helou barracks, that belong to the Internal Security Forces.

"The [security forces] members are tired. They are very tired. They are worried about themselves just as you are worried about yourselves. They are on alert. They're not sleeping. They're being insulted. They're getting stones thrown at them. They're getting [pieces of] metal thrown at them. So when they crack, oppression [of protesters] is the result. Is it excusable? No, it isn't excusable. But you have to put yourselves in their shoes for a minute," El Hassan told reporters.

Saad Hariri, who is currently leading the country in a caretaker role after resigning as prime minister in late October, issued a statement decrying the violence.

"The scene of confrontations, fires and acts of sabotage in Beirut Downtown is a crazy, suspicious, and unacceptable scene that threatens civil peace and warns of the most severe consequences," he said. "Beirut will not be an arena for mercenaries and deliberate policies to strike the peacefulness of popular movements."

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Lebanon police fire tear gas at protesters in violent 'week of rage'
Wind farms were given more than 3 million per day by the government last week to switch off their turbines and not produce electricity.

The money was handed over after a fault was discovered in the Western Link power line, a 530-mile high-voltage cable running from the west coast of Scotland to the north coast of Wales that carries electricity to England.

On January 10, strong winds meant that too much energy was being produced on the line, prompting wind turbines to be shut down.

The following day, 50 wind farms were asked to stop producing electricity, and given a total of 2.5 million in compensation.

In total, energy firms were given more than 12 million in compensation, which will be added onto consumer bills, with the payments causing fury.

According to analysis, the compensation payments were 25 to 80 per cent more than what the energy firms would have earned had they been producing electricity.

The Renewable Energy Foundation revealed in December that 86 wind farm operators in Britain were handed more than 136 million in compensation last year - a new record amount, reported the Telegraph.

Wind farms were closed last week after a fault was discovered, with the government paying energy firms million in compensation (stock photo)

The REF warned that consumers have to foot the bill for these operators, who are asked to shut their turbines down by the government.

They are asked to do because there are an 'excessive' number of turbines in Scotland, which leaves the electricity grid unable to cope when there are strong winds.

To overcome this problem, the Western Link was built but, after going live in 2018, it has been plagued by problems, including those from last week.

The payments are still being made this week, with the power line still out of use as an investigation takes place.

The Renewable Energy Foundation revealed in December that 86 wind farm operators in Britain were handed more than 136 million in compensation last year - a new record amount (stock photo)

Dr John Constable, director of REF, said: 'The Scottish Government has permitted excessive and environmentally damaging growth in wind power north of the border which has put the electricity system under great strain and burdened English and Welsh consumers not only with constraint payments but also with the additional expense of a 1 billion interconnector that is itself proving unreliable.

'The environment and the consumer have been betrayed over and over again.'

Viscount Ridley, the science writer and former businessman, has submitted a series of written questions in the House of Lords about the Western Link and its cost to taxpayers.

However, a National Grid ESO spokesman claims that the cost of managing the amount of electricity in the grid amounted to just 1 of the average annual household bill of 554.
[To read more provocative stories on race from The New York Times, sign up for our Race/Related newsletter here.]

NEWNAN, Ga.  It was the Saturday afternoon that this small Southern city had been dreading. A group of neo-Nazis promised to hold a rally in downtown Newnan to celebrate Adolf Hitlers birthday and rail against illegal immigration and the removal of Confederate monuments.

Newnan had prided itself on its quiet charm. It offered small-town living just 40 miles southwest of Atlanta and had earned the nickname City of Homes for its antebellum architecture. Now, on a spring day in April 2018, a neo-Nazi group had assembled in a park near the courthouse, the leader having said the group preferred to hold rallies in predominantly white towns.

But it turned out that only a few dozen white nationalists attended the rally, and the Newnan they had imagined no longer existed. Its population had more than doubled in less than 20 years, drawing an increasingly diverse collection of newcomers. Newnan was changing and many in the community wanted to embrace that change more openly. A year after the white nationalist rally, the town made an effort to do so by putting up 17 large-scale banner portraits, images of the ordinary people who make up Newnan.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, represented by its Training & Development Centre received the Silver Award from the American Heart Association.

The award is for the centres success in providing simulation-based life-support training programmes for basic and advanced CPR and childrens recovery in accordance with the highest international standards.

The achievement comes as part of MoHAPs vigorous efforts to enhance Continuing Medical Education (CME) offerings and provided outstanding healthcare services for society happiness and support the sustainable development strategy, and to improve the outcomes of the national indicator of cardiovascular disease mortality rates, in line with MoHAPs strategy to provide comprehensive, integrated, and innovative healthcare services.

Congratulating the centres management and staff on this new achievement, HE Awad Al-Ketbi, Assistant Undersecretary of MoHAPs Support Services Sector, pointed out that MoHAP is very keen on strengthening its health competencies and boosting the culture of innovation in the institutional work environment, by providing world-class training services, building smart learning systems that keep pace with future changes, and entering into effective local and global partnerships to reinforce the UAEs health system.

MoHAP has managed to deliver the internationally accredited and distinguish health training programmes, which contributes to raising the efficiency and quality of performance of medical and technical personnel, by relying on advanced infrastructure and training and operation techniques. This would help promote our health services and encourage health research and studies, so as to achieve the sustainable development process in accordance with MoHAPs strategic plan, added Al-Ketbi.

Saqr Al-Hemeiri, Director of the Training & Development Centre, said: Obtaining the award for the fourth consecutive year motivates us to exert further effort and work to implement excellent and quality standards and to continue providing internationally accredited training programmes. This would help reinforce the Centres status as a pioneering one in the region, especially in providing life-support programs in accordance with the latest scientific practices to elevate the trainees competence and improve the community health.

Al-Hemeiri shed light on the courses offered by the centre in cooperation with the American Heart Association including basic cardiac resuscitation, advanced adult cardiac resuscitation, advanced pediatric resuscitation, as well as courses in cooperation with the European Resuscitation Council, including neonatal resuscitation and advanced trauma treatment.

The Training & Development Centre has succeeded in providing 675 simulation-based training courses, where the number of trainees reached 4993. The Centre is also organising an annual conference on cardiac resuscitation in February, with the participation of an elite of cardiologists to exchange experiences with consultants specialised in the field of cardiac resuscitation in the region and the world. He added that the American Heart Association is a prominent global not for profit health organisation dedicated to fighting cardiovascular diseases, through education and training for life support programmes, to make a positive difference in peoples daily lives.

On the other hand, Al-Hemeiri pointed out that the Training and Development Centre had recently won the Middle East Enterprise Agility Awards 2019 in the field of human development during the Entrepreneur Middle East 2019 Awards Ceremony, presented by du, and with the support of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai Startup Support Centre, Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City. Where creative and distinguished individuals and companies with prominent contributions in the field of business in the Mena region were honoured and recognised.-- Tradearabia News Service
Journalism, especially newspapers, endured some tough times during the past decade, including layoffs, buyouts and massive shrinkage in newsroom staff and investigative resources.

There is some light at the end of that tumultuous tunnel, however, as a number of former journalists elected to state legislatures are fighting to strengthen the institution that Americas founding generation saw as a necessary bulwark for democracy.

Thomas Jefferson understood the importance of newspapers, writing in 1787: [W]ere it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers & be capable of reading them.

Two young state lawmakers in the General Assembly who worked as reporters before being elected are offering legislation to rally around the First Amendment, protect journalists and boost the teaching and support of journalism.

Del. Danica Roem, D-Prince William County, has won seven Virginia Press Association awards for her journalistic endeavors at Northern Virginia newspapers. She joins Del. Chris Hurst, D-Montgomery County, in sponsoring those bills.

Roem, who grew up in her Manassas-area district, said her grandfather sparked her interest in journalism by telling her that the basis of his knowledge came from reading the newspaper every day.

She is sponsoring a shield law for journalists, providing that no newsperson engaged in journalism shall be compelled to testify about, disclose or produce protected information unless courts determine a substantial need for confidential-source information.

A court would have to find the information highly relevant and necessary in some cases or that there is an overwhelming public interest in disclosure, including preventing harm or death.

The measure, House Bill 113, would help journalists protect confidential sources in Virginia, one of 10 states without such a shield law.

Roem said a former editor of hers went to jail in Texas to protect confidentiality of sources to whom he had given his word.

Hurst has Roems support for his bill to protect the free-speech rights of student journalists at public middle and high schools and public universities and to prohibit school administrations from censoring the student journalists work unless it is defamatory, violates federal law or is likely to spur unlawful acts of violence.

Hurst, a former Roanoke television news anchor, also has a veteran Democratic senator, Dave Marsden of Fairfax County, sponsoring his bill in the Virginia Senate. Hurst introduced the bill late in last years session, only to watch it die in a House of Delegates subcommittee.

This year he has gathered significantly more support for the measure, including the backing of Del. Mark Keam, D-Fairfax County, who chairs the House Education Subcommittee, where it will be heard on Jan. 29.

The Virginia Coalition for Open Government backs Hursts measure, House Bill 36, and the companion legislation, Senate Bill 80, sponsored by Marsden.

Supporters said the measure would greatly assist the teaching of journalism in Virginias schools and encourage responsible expression of student opinion and civic engagement.

The legislation promotes journalism as a safeguard to democracy, and promotes the values of civic education and high standards for teaching and practicing journalism.

The Hurst and Marsden bills would challenge students to learn and practice high standards in communications and media, and supporters maintain that Virginia and the nation need well-trained and qualified journalists now more than ever.

Supporters have said the measures back the rights of students to express their points of view, not only as student journalists but across the communities where they live and study.

They add that students ought to be encouraged and supported in their efforts to express, in all formats and media, what could appear to be divergent points of view.

Journalism matters. Facts matter, Roem said last year when the measures first emerged. We have to get this right.

If the Hurst and Marsden bills pass, Virginia would join 14 other states in providing protections for high school or college students. Half of the states with current protections for student journalists passed legislation in the last five years.

Bob Gibson is communications director and senior researcher at the University of Virginias Cooper Center for Public Service. The opinions expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the center.
Have your children got eco-anxiety? How would you know if they had?

According to a variety of psychologists and psychiatrists, talk of a climate crisis has led to an upsurge in young people reporting feelings of anxiety, helplessness and guilt.

The symptoms of this newly coined syndrome are real enough, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists  and why wouldnt they be in a world pumped full of one-sided propaganda?

We saw this over Christmas when Channel 4 screened a special edition of Gogglebox called Gogglesprogs, which featured viewers as young as six.

In recent weeks alone, a number of friends have told me of children feeling depressed or listless because they are falling for the lies of these abusers who claim that young people have no chance of ever growing up [File photo]

The children were shown watching as the BBC parroted untrue claims by Extinction Rebellion (XR) that scientists say we have only 11 years to act. And their response was all too understandable.

One child looked especially pained as she counted on her fingers how many years she had left to live and worked out that, according to the BBC, the world could end when she was just 19.

Later, a little boy reacted to the fanatical claims of XR by saying to the viewers: Thats sad. Why did we have to be born at this time?

They are growing up, of course, in a world where Greta Thunberg is preaching her gospel of imminent hellfire and in which world leaders queue up to approve her message.

According to a variety of psychologists and psychiatrists, talk of a climate crisis has led to an upsurge in young people reporting feelings of anxiety, helplessness and guilt. Protesters are pictured an an Extinction Rebellion demonstration in April last year

Supposedly serious politicians like to pretend that what the Swedish teenager is saying (were all about die) is true, that her proposed response (destroy free-market capitalism) is reasonable, and people who ought to know better are trying to outdo each other in hysteria. The results are hardly surprising.

In recent weeks alone, a number of friends have told me of children feeling depressed or listless because they are falling for the lies of these abusers who claim that young people have no chance of ever growing up.

One mother recently described how her daughters had asked what the point was in taking their GCSEs if they werent even going to be here a few years later.

You might have thought that, rather than whip them up still further, any remaining adults in the room should offer children the perspective and insight that age might bring, but I have been repeatedly struck by how few people there are willing to take up that role.

Meanwhile, cynical politicians such as Jeremy Corbyn and anyone who aspires to lead the Lib Dems have played a huge role.

Natural phenomena, including disasters such as the recent fires in Australia, are presented as though they have never happened before and they are presented as though they are solely the result of this climate emergency

The Guardian paper went so far as to warn that by 2020, Britain would be plunged into a Siberian climate. I need hardly say that we are not yet staggering around an Arctic wasteland wearing bearskins

They have spotted a cynical opportunity to appeal to young voters and latched on to the issue, giving the claims of XR great weight in the eyes of the young and impressionable.

Too many of us kowtow to children or treat them as some special source of truth, yet the reason why so many are becoming ill with anxiety is precisely because so many adults in a position to know better are telling them that they should be terrified.

Take a headline from the BBC website last summer: Climate change: 12 years to save the planet? Make that 18 months.

They are growing up, of course, in a world where Greta Thunberg is preaching her gospel of imminent hellfire and in which world leaders queue up to approve her message

This kind of scaremongering is so commonplace that it barely registers. Most of us have lost count of the number of eco-doomsday deadlines we have passed. Yet we are still here.

In 2000, the now-defunct Independent newspaper ran a story claiming that within a few years, children in countries such as ours were not going to know what snow was.

Two years later, the anti-capitalist activist George Monbiot was using the pages of The Guardian to claim there would be famine within ten years unless we all gave up eating meat, fish and dairy products. Well, 2010 came and went but most Britons remain well-fed.

Two years later, The Guardian was warning that climate change would cause millions of deaths in the succeeding years.

The paper went so far as to warn that by 2020, Britain would be plunged into a Siberian climate. I need hardly say that we are not yet staggering around an Arctic wasteland wearing bearskins.

But that was always the way with climate alarmists. One day we were going to never see snow again  the next we were due to be covered in the stuff. And all the time we were expected to trust them and destroy the economy on their wobbly say-so.

None of this, of course, is to say that there are not environmental issues, most importantly to do with pollution.

Many of our responses remain inadequate. But you have to be, if not ignorant, then very young to fall for everything that people tell you about the climate.

It hardly helps that those who have been making the direst predictions are people who really ought to know better.

According to former US vice president Al Gore, the polar ice caps ought to have melted away completely by 2013.

The Prince of Wales claimed that we were coming to the end of our days a full 11 years ago. Those 11 years came and went and were still here.

Young people are not merely being encouraged to expect catastrophe, they are told it is good to do so. They are told that they should feel alarm.

That they must feel panic. And that the threats of imminent destruction should sweep away all other legitimate concerns.

The symptoms of this newly coined syndrome are real enough, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists  and why wouldnt they be in a world pumped full of one-sided propaganda? [File photo]

Natural phenomena, including disasters such as the recent fires in Australia, are presented as though they have never happened before and they are presented as though they are solely the result of this climate emergency.

It is a cynical and dangerous trend. And so the hyping-up of a generation continues, all encouraged by adults.

Caroline Hickman, a teaching fellow at the University of Bath, recently claimed that eco-anxiety had increased massively in the past year.

Weve been talking to teachers and head teachers about how to help children and young people, she said. Some children have reported waking up with eco-nightmares. Her response? Parents cant just say, Everything will be all right as it wont be.

And there we get a glimpse into the real project here: a new generation is being terrified into agreeing with a specific and fringe eco-lobby.

This lobby does not care if it damages the mental health of a generation because it seeks to recruit that generation as foot-soldiers.

It is time we called this what it is: an abuse of children on a massive and unforgivable scale. Something that the generations that will succeed us will look upon with shame.
A Montana man told authorities that he cut off a grizzly bear's claws as a memento after shooting it in self-defense because he was mad that the bear was going to eat him, according to court records.

Bryan Berg, 35, of Marion, Montana, appeared in court on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Missoula, Montana, after pleading guilty to illegal transport of grizzly bear claws, a misdemeanor, according to the Flathead Beacon.

A judge sentenced Berg to three years of probation and ordered him to pay $5,000 in restitution.

Montana man Bryan Berg, 35, pleaded guilty to illegal transport of grizzly bear claws after he killed a bear in self-defense and cut off its claws in 2017 (file image)

Grizzly bears in northwestern Montana are classified as a threatened species.

Prosecutors said Berg shot the bear in self-defense in Helmville, Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness in September 2017.

He then cut off its claws and pushed the carcass over the side of the mountain.

Berg never reported the shooting to law enforcement - as required by law - and he later took the bear claws to Washington state, prosecutors said.

Authorities said they received a tip about the bear incident, leading to US Fish and Wildlife Service agents going to the Hart Basin area where the bear was supposedly killed, where they found a grizzly bear without any claws.

The bear was later determined to have been died from a gunshot wound.

The incident took place in Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness (pictured). Grizzly bears in northwestern Montana are classified as a threatened species

Authorities then interviewed Berg in March 2018. He admitted he shot the bear in self-defense, handed over the claws and provided investigators with photos and videos of the scene, according to records.

'I was so (expletive) mad at it because he was going to eat me, I know he was,' Berg told investigators, according to the records. 'So I basically said, "Hey, (expletive) you," and I cut his claws off. I did. I wanted to keep them as a memento.'

Berg added that he didn't report the incident because he was 'terrified' and said he knew taking the claws was illegal.

'I was hoping I would never run into you two,' he told the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents investigating the case.

Berg was also charged initially with failure to report the shooting of a grizzly bear within five days.

That charge was dropped as part of a plea deal with prosecutors Berg signed in December.

Berg's three-year probation term means that he is prohibited from hunting, fishing and trapping during that time period, according to the Missoulian.

He originally faced a maximum of one year in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Kansas City radio station signs deal to broadcast Russia state-owned media program A local Kansas City radio station reportedly signed a lease with a local radio operator that will allow it to broadcast six hours of programming from a Russian state-owned media outlet. The Kansas City Star reported Friday that Florida-based company RM Broadcasting LLC has agreements to air Radio Sputnik on the Alpine Broadcasting Corp., which broadcasts on three frequencies in the Kansas City area.

We've linked this a few times but readers keep wanting to see it again, here's a better report from The Hill on propaganda efforts that are slightly more obvious than most cable news talk shows. Checkit:
KASESE  The Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda, Mr Ernest Rubondo, has lost his daughter in a road accident.

Nicole Ahumuza Rubondo passed away on Saturday, 18th January 2020 in a car accident in Kasese.

Please stand with our Executive Director, Mr Ernest Rubondo and family as they celebrate the life his beloved daughter Nicole Ahumuza Rubondo, who passed away yesterday 18th January 2020 in a car accident in Kasese, a message from Petroleum Authority of Uganda reads in part.

According to burial arrangements, there will be a funeral service, today, Sunday 19th January 2020, at St. Johns Church Entebbe. Burial will take place on Monday 20th January 2020 at Kilyankuyege, Mbirizi, Lwengo District (32kms from Masaka along Masaka-Mbarara Road).

Several Ugandans sent in their messages of comfort to the family.

Miriam Kankunda posted My heartfelt condolences to the family of Ernest Rubondo upon this tragedy. May the good Lord give you strength to overcome the grief.

Moses R. Oteng posted: Sorry for your loss Mr. Rubondo and Family. May the soul of Nicole Rest in Eternal Peace! And may the Almighty comfort the family during this difficult moment!

Simon Peter Ssempijja said: Rest In Peace Nicole,til we meet..May the Almighty God strengthen you Mr. Ernest and your family.

Amani Ivan posted: So so sad. May God give strength to the family and friends of Mr Rubondo. Nicole rest in peace.

Related
All four were caught when a police team intercepted their car near Qazigund last week along with arms and ammunitions.

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency has booked the suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police, Davinder Singh, of the Jammu and Kashmir Police under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Arms Act after he was arrested along with two militants of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

The premiere anti-terror investigating agency registered a fresh case after if took over the probe into the case following directions from the Union Home Ministry.

Singh was arrested last week after he was caught by a special team of the state police while ferrying Naveed Babu, a district commander of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen along with another associate, Atif. An advocate Irfan Mir was also arrested along with them.

All four were caught when a police team intercepted their car near Qazigund last week along with arms and ammunitions. There was specific intelligence available with the state police that Singh was trying to take two militants out of the Valley, probably to either Chandigarh or Delhi.

After receiving orders from the Union home ministry, the NIA has re-registered this case and started the investigation, the spokesman said. Sources said NIA has now registered a fresh case under sections 18, 19, 20 and 38, 39 of the UAPA against the suspended police officer and others.

Initial investigations, sources added, had revealed that this was not the first time Singh was involved in facilitating movement of militants in or out of the Valley. It is possible that an NIA team may bring Singh to Delhi on Monday for further custodial interrogation and investigations into the case for which a team is likely to go to the Valley on Sunday.

The weapons recovered from Singh and other accused includes AK-47, hand grenades, pistol, and mobile phone.

This is a very sensitive case with larger national ramifications due to which it was decided by the home ministry that investigations should be handed over to the NIA. It involves the security apparatus in a very troubled area and we need to ascertain a lot of facts in the matter, a senior intelligence official said.
3 Gregory Vartanian tells fellow Armenians how he was injured when 40 people ransacked his apartment in Baku. On January 13, 1990, a week before Soviet troops invaded, many ethnic Armenians were targeted. At least 50 people were killed in Baku during ethnic violence between Armenians and Azerbaijanis after fighting flared in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. Thirteen thousand Interior Ministry troops who were stationed in Baku did nothing to stop the violence.
Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - A coalition of seven political parties has been formed in Burundi to contest this year's presidential and general elections
Ajay Piramal-led Piramal Enterprises Rs 3,650-crore rights issue will have to do all the heavy lifting in the final two days, with the offering subscribed less than 10 per cent until Friday. According to the data provided by the BSE, the rights issue  where existing shareholders are entitled to buy more shares in a company typically at a discount to the prevailing market price  has garnered bids for 2.22 million shares, just 8 per cent of the total issue size of nearly 28 million shares.

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A carjacking in Norwalk led to a pursuit with local and state police that ended in a deadly officer-involved shooting in West Haven, officials said Wednesday.

Trooper First Class Christine Jeltema, a spokeswoman for Connecticut State Police, confirmed Wednesday night that the suspect shot during the officer-involved shooting in West Haven was fatally wounded.

What led to the pursuit and deadly shooting began earlier in the afternoon when Norwalk police officers responded to the AT&T store on Route 7 for a report of a disturbance and information about a suspect armed with a knife around 4:30 p.m.

While en route, a vehicle was reported stolen by the suspect in the disturbance. The responding officers saw the vehicle and tried to get the driver to pull over.

Police said the driver did not stop, prompting a brief pursuit.

Norwalk police supervisors called off the pursuit and advised the dispatch center to notify surrounding police departments and Connecticut State Police of the vehicles description and what happened.

Police in Norwalk are still investigating the carjacking.

But as news reached troopers out of the Bridgeport barracks at Troop G, officers spotted the suspect vehicle and tried  as Norwalk police had  to get the driver to pull over.

Trooper Josue Dorelus, a spokesman for state police, said the driver instead engaged police in a pursuit that went into West Haven. Dorelus did not clarify what town or city the pursuit began in.

There have been reports of an officer-involved shooting which occurred in the town of West Haven stemming from this aforementioned incident, Dorelus said in a statement Wednesday night.

Dorelus did not say what specifically prompted the gunfire. He did not say how many troopers were involved in the pursuit or how many might have fired their weapons.

It was unclear if the suspect had a gun or if the suspect tried to use a weapon on any police officers.

Brian Foley, a spokesman for the state police Commissioner James Rovella, said no troopers were injured in the shooting. He said multiple troopers were taken to local hospitals per protocol.

Dorelus stressed that the information was preliminary and that more information would be shared as it became available.

The shooting prompted emergency personnel to shut down the Exit 43 off ramp of Interstate 95 north in West Haven. The closure was announced in a traffic alert by the state Department of Transportation around 5:20 p.m.

The alert indicated the closure was because of police activity. Drivers in the area were advised to seek another exit.
By PTI

BARASAT: BJP's West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh said on Sunday that the government is committed to implementing the proposed nationwide NRC and will send back 1 crore Bangladeshi Muslims living in the state illegally.

Addressing a rally in the North 24 Parganas district, Ghosh said that those opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are anti-Bengali and against the idea of India.

He said 1 crore illegal Muslims in the state are "thriving" on the government's Rs 2 per kg subsidised rice.

"We will send them back," he announced.

ALSO READ: BJP's Dilip Ghosh stopped from visiting Nandigram to address pro-CAA rally

"These illegal Bangladeshi Muslims are involved in arsons across the state," Ghosh added that he has no qualms in being branded communal for supporting the cause of Hindu refugees, who had to run for their life after being religiously persecuted.

"Those who are opposing the CAA are either anti-India or anti-Bengali. They are against the idea of India that is why they are opposing Hindu refugees getting citizenship," Ghosh said.

Continuing his tirade against eminent personalities, opposing the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC, he said their "hearts bleed for infiltrators".

"What about Hindu refugees? They don't have any answers.

This is a double standard," Ghosh said, days after terming them "parasites".

Exuding confidence about forming the next government in West Bengal, the controversial BJP leader said Mamata Banerjee's party will be restricted to 50 seats in the 2021 state polls.
South Sudan Peace Declaration Signed In Rome

"The Vatican hosted South Sudans political leaders for a peace-building retreat in April 2019, at which Pope Francis knelt to kiss the feet of the president of South Sudan and the leader of the opposition movement."

By Courtney Mares/CNA

15 January, 2020

The Republic of South Sudan and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA) signed a peace declaration in Rome on Sunday that will go into effect on January 15.

I think this process will help the country to change to bring peace for the people, Paolo Impagliazzo, Secretary General of the Community of SantEgidio, told CNA on January 13.

In peace talks in Rome facilitated by the Catholic community of SantEgidio, opposition groups and the South Sudanese government recommitted to cease hostilities, pursue political dialogue, and allow humanitarian aid for the people of South Sudan.

Signers of the Rome Declaration on the Peace Process in South Sudan notably included representatives of the opposition groups in SSOMA, who refused to sign an earlier peace agreement in September 12, 2018 in Khartoum, and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) and National Democratic Movement (NDM) as witnesses.

Dr. Sunday De John, communications director for the opposition alliance, told CNA that he hopes this will pave the way for a long-awaited visit by Pope Francis to South Sudan.

We have accepted the cessation of hostilities, and therefore there will be no confrontation between the forces of the opposition and that of the government. It means there will be relative security, and would allow the mobility of South Sudanese locally and international visitors, like His Holiness the pope as early as February, De John said on January 13.

South Sudan is a country that is made up of Christians, notably of the Catholic faith. We believe in His Holiness the pope, and should he come to South Sudan  even if the opposition is unable to be there for security reasons  we will be happy because our country is our symbol, he said.

Paolo Impagliazzo, Secretary General of the Community of SantEgidio, facilitated the peace declaration. He said that faith played an important role in the South Sudan peace talks hosted in Rome on January 11-12.

All of them are Christians, so for them to start a meeting with a prayer was very important. They attended Holy Mass on Saturday evening with SantEgidio  The fact that Pope Francis is so engaged in their country for them is something that they cannot forget, Impagliazzo told CNA.

We kept the two delegations separated in different hotels, different rooms for coffee breaks, and a plenary room where they entered together, shaking hands and sitting on the two sides of the table, he said.

The Community of SantEgidio is a lay Catholic movement centered on peace and helping the poor. The community has previously worked with the peace process in Mozambique and the Ivory Coast.

In the declaration, the government and the opposition recommitment to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement of Dec. 2017 to cease armed confrontation in South Sudan, and to allow humanitarian access to local and international organizations.

IGAD, the UNs Intergovernmental Authority on Development, participated as an observer.

Rome was not built in one day, so with our peace, we are building it, Barnaba Maria Benjamin, head of the South Sudan government envoy, said in a press conference on January 13.

Benjamin said it is important that SantEgidio will be monitoring whether the agreement is implemented. He underlined that the government of South Sudan is committed to inclusivity, calling it the cornerstone of the future of the Republic of South Sudan.

The cessation of hostilities is important because it allows our people  to have humanitarian assistance reach all rural parts of South Sudan and it allows us to build forgiveness, reconciliation and harmony, Benjamin said.

Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in South Sudans civil war, which began shortly after South Sudan became an independent country in 2011. The fighting primarily took place between those forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebel groups led by Riek Machar, the former vice president.

The signers of the declaration wrote that they were humbled by the relentless spiritual and moral appeal for peace, reconciliation and fraternity by Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Former Moderator of Presbyterian Church of Scotland, as well as those of the South Sudanese religious leaders for reconciliation, peace and fraternity.

The two groups also reaffirmed their will to foster political dialogue under the auspices of the Catholic community SantEgidio in order to facilitate further reconciliation and stabilization.

The Vatican hosted South Sudans political leaders for a peace-building retreat in April 2019, at which Pope Francis knelt to kiss the feet of the president of South Sudan and the leader of the opposition movement.

We came together here in appreciation to the tireless effort of His Holiness Pope Francis when he called the leadership of our country and begged them for peace, Pagan Amum Okiech, member of the leadership council of SSOMA and Interim Chairman of Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement.

Pope Francis, who does not have any international trips scheduled for 2020, has repeatedly expressed his hope that he will be able to visit South Sudan, along with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, in the coming year.

The pope sent a Christmas message together with Archbishop Welby and Rev. John Chalmers, the former moderator of the Scottish Presbyterian Church to the people of South Sudan expressing best wishes for a swift implementation of the peace agreements.

May the Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, enlighten you and guide your steps in the way of goodness and truth, and bring to fulfilment our desire to visit your beloved country, the message states.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 16:24:00|Editor: ZX

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KUNMING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Yunnan Province will encourage foreign companies to invest in the province, offering a maximum reward of 50 million yuan (7.3 million U.S. dollars).

The reward method said the province will grant 2 percent of the total invested foreign capital to newly-registered projects if their foreign investment reaches or exceeds 30 million U.S. dollars within a year.

The existing projects that have increased foreign investment by more than 10 million U.S. dollars will also enjoy the rewards, and the total amount of the rewards for each project will not exceed 50 million yuan, according to the method jointly released earlier this month by the provincial departments of finance, investment promotion, commerce, market regulation and foreign exchange.

The projects receiving the rewards shall not move out of the province or have their registered capital reduced within five years, according to the method.

The rewards will be granted from 2020 to 2023 for investment in the fiscal years of 2019 to 2022.

The companies that qualified in 2019 can send applications for the rewards by March 1 this year, according to the provincial department of finance.
"Repeated statements by the Home Minister and the BJP-appointed Governors to force the states to implement the CAA and are preposterous and against the very concept of constitutional federalism," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala in a statement here on Sunday.

New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) The Congress has criticised Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and objected to his statements against the state's stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"The BJP government and its Governors should not forget that India is a Union of states. As per the established parliamentary practice, states can disagree with the Union and challenge the same by the way of their Constitutional right under Article 131," it said.

The Congress also defended the Kerala government's decision to move the Supreme Court over the CAA.

"In the past, many states, like Karnataka, Bihar and Rajasthan, approached the Supreme Court under Article 131 to resolve disputes with the Union on a range of issues. Until the issue is resolved on a petition moved under Article 131, states can't be forced to implement an unconstitutional law, like the CAA," it said.

miz/rt/pcj
SYRACUSE, N.Y.  Syracuse firefighters and police spent nearly two hours this morning searching the chilly waters of Onondaga Creek after they got a report of a person in the creek, according to the fire department.

Crews called off the search around 5:18 a.m. today after getting a report of a person in the creek near 340 West Washington St., according to a news release. The report came in at 3:31 a.m.

The search involved the Syracuse police and fire departments, the sheriffs office and the AMR ambulance company. The sheriffs office also used its helicopter to help with the search.

No one was found, despite the extensive search, according to the news release.

The search was suspended due to the fact that we covered the entire area twice with no results, said Capt. David Ellis of the fire department. ...Nothing was found. The creek was moving pretty fast.

Crews coordinated their search to check the creek where it intersects with Water Street all the way north to its outlet at the Inner Harbor. A command post was established at Spencer and Maltbie streets.

Ellis said the call came in as a credible report of someone in the creek.

Weather conditions have stalled a search, Ellis said. There are no more plans to continue searching today. The search briefly ensued again this morning.

This morning and last night, conditions were favorable for conducting a search, he said. The heavy snow right now make searching unproductive.
People work on a production line of CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd. in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, Dec. 31, 2019. China's economy grew 6.1 percent year on year in 2019, within the government's annual target of 6 to 6.5 percent, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Friday. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Since the very beginning, the steadily expanding Chinese economy has always enjoyed the company of both wild and informed guesses of its future status.

Among the forecasters, dyed-in-the-wool China doubters have proved their creativity over the past decades by churning out a myriad of "China collapse" theories embodied in keywords like "looming collapse," "hard landing" or "China's next big trouble" -- only to find their sensational claims collapse again and again.

The tenacity of China's economy received new confirmation as official data released Friday portrayed a steadily expanding Chinese economy in 2019 and key economic indicators pointed to a resilient recovery after a tough year of mounting external uncertainties and shifting gears of growth with extensive structural reforms.

With a year-on-year GDP growth of 6.1 percent and GDP per capita exceeding 10,000 dollars last year, the country achieved a new milestone in its development, something many have failed to recognize.

Based on data released by the World Bank in 2018, there were around 1.5 billion people with a per capita GDP above 10,000 dollars. As the per capita GDP of China, a nation with 1.4 billion people, exceeds 10,000 dollars, the new figure will push 3 billion people, helping to further uplift the whole world.

China is not deliberately pursuing particular GDP numbers but is after reasonable economic growth with quality and efficiency. Still, many critics lost no time in fixating on hyping China's growth "hitting new lows" and peddling their stale doom-and-gloom prognostications once again.

Judging an economy and market of such a large size purely by its moderate GDP growth misses more important facts of its underlying strength and potential. Rich opportunities await, not dangers.

Despite the downward pressure and damaging trade tension throughout the year of 2019, Chinese people stayed sanguine about their future. For each day in 2019, 20,000 new businesses were registered as entrepreneurial enthusiasm ran high. Market vitality stayed unabated, with private firms contributing more significantly to foreign trade, job creation and technical innovation. Economic restructuring and upgrading continued to power ahead.

Undeterred by greater competition from overseas market players, local companies supported their government's market-opening decisions, embracing challenges by expanding spending on research and development, optimizing industrial chains by cutting production costs and accepting short-term limits on profitability for long-term growth.

Sadly, the promising changes taking place in China, if not simply ignored, will likely be misinterpreted as part of China's ill-motivated ambition under the "China threat" or "China demise" theories -- the other side of the "China collapse" doctrine. After all, it is beyond the understanding of some people to properly rate an economy that used to develop at a blistering speed and then steadfastly holds strong amid a slowing global economy.

As British scholar Martin Jacques once noted, the biggest desire for the West has been to understand China through the Western prism, which is why the Western perception and prognosis of China is so frequently wrong. Most China bears tend to short China simply because China does not have the Western model of "democracy" or the type of freewheeling economy they are familiar with.

In fact, foreign scholars of different schools are more enthusiastic about decoding China's economy and trying to figure out and apply solutions proved effective by China's economic development. They are broadening the horizon of economic theories, as new lessons offered by China may help better address developing issues unexplained by conventional wisdom.

In highlighting the significance of the Chinese mode of social governance to the world, British sociologist Martin Albrow once said at a forum in China: "If experience is the true source of knowledge, it is from you that we should be learning."

To give the devil his due, the "China collapse" theories are not without their merits: They keep reminding China about the importance of constant self-improvement. When China achieves the first centenary goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects this year, it will embark on the next great journeys: from 2020 to 2035, working to basically realize socialist modernization; from 2035 to the middle of the 21st century, developing into a great modern socialist country.

History is an ever-winding journey, and China and its people are not afraid of the wind and the rain, nor any kind of difficulties. Before the biased bearish fortune-telling is finally put to rest, it can well serve as a footnote to the rise of the world's most populous developing nation whose peaceful and open development will bring more benefits to the whole world.
He's settling into sporting retirement while she looks for her next big project after being axed from America's Got Talent.

And Gabrielle Union and husband Dwayne Wade looked the perfect pair as they arrived for Lanvin Menswear show at Paris Fashion Week on Sunday.

The fashionable couple turned head in bold blue and yellow ensembles at the event.

Team: Gabrielle Union and husband Dwayne Wade looked the perfect pair as they arrived for Lanvin Menswear show at Paris Fashion Week on Sunday

Gabrielle, 47, wore a mustard trench coat with revealing side cut-outs.

The actress pair the look with white high heels and colourful accessories including a cyan handbag and choker necklace.

The actress posed up a storm in her fashionable ensemble, ensuring to showcase the daring detailing.

Making a statement: The fashionable couple turned head in bold blue and yellow ensembles

Fashionable: Gabrielle, 47, wore a mustard trench coat with revealing side cut-outs

Colours: The actress pair the look with white strap high heels and colourful accessories including a cyan handbag and choker necklace

Dwayne, 38, rocked a baby blue double-breasted jacket with a buttoned-up white shirt over smart black trousers.

The former Miami Heat shooting guard was delighted with chic look as he held hands with his wife of six years as they made an appearance at the star-studded event.

Other shows happening today include Paul Smith, Ludovic De Saint Sernin and Dunhill.

Arriving: Dwayne, 38, rocked a baby blue double-breasted jacket with a buttoned-up white shirt over smart black trousers

Pose: The former Miami Heat shooting guard was delighted with chic look as he held hands with his wife of six years as they made an appearance at the star-studded event

This week's series of menswear presentations and shows have attracted some very big names to the streets of the French capital.

Bella Hadid was back to business with her sister Gigi as they headed to the Lanvin's presentation.

The model, 23, embraced a 90s look in a white bucket hat and brown leather jacket as she joined sister Gigi, 24, ahead of their appearance at the showcase.

Retro: Bella was channelling the 90s in as she headed to the Lanvin Menswear presentation in central Paris on Sunday

Busy bees: Gigi Hadid was back to business with her sister Bella, clutching a coffee in one hand

Bella completed her look with wide-leg trousers and patent brogues.

She sported a glamorous, full face of make-up including a slick of pink lipgloss and dark kohl lining her eyes.

Gigi displayed her edgy style sense in an oversized blue blazer, teamed with a slogan T-shirt, black leggings and platform trainers.
Privacy experts have described as very dangerous revelations an Australian entrepreneur has developed facial recognition technology that is being used by US law enforcement agencies, allowing surveillance images to identify suspects by matching their social media profiles.

The New York Times reported on Sunday that Hoan Ton-That - an Australian developer and one-time model - has developed a facial recognition app that allows a user to take a picture of a person, upload it and get to see public photos of that person along with links to where those photos appeared. It noted the development may end privacy as we know it.

Hoan Ton-That, whose app matches faces to images it collects from across the internet. Credit:Amr Alfiky/The New York Times

Police in the state of Indiana reportedly solved a case within 20 minutes of using the app. After a bystander recorded a fight that ended when one shot the other in the stomach, police ran a still of the gunman's face through the app. They got a match: the man appeared in a video posted on social media, and his name was included in a caption on the video.

The system developed by Clearview AI uses a database of more than three billion images that the company claims to have scraped from user uploaded images and videos to social media including Facebook and YouTube.
T he UK needs to change fundamentally to stop Scotland opting for independence, Labour former prime minister Gordon Brown will say.

Mr Brown will state in a key note speech on Monday that cosmetic gestures by Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson will fail to keep the country together.

The ex-PM will attack what he will describe as PR gestures such as suggestions of moving the House of Lords to York , as he insists that only substantive moves will keep the union together.

Mr Brown will say that more than cosmetic changes that look good presentationally are needed.

And he will state that the UK will have to change fundamentally so Scotland does not abandon union and regions can feel respected in it.

Speaking at a Westminster event organised by the group Hope Not Hate on Monday, Mr Brown will say: The Conservatives are accepting the need for change but clearly cannot contemplate the scale of change needed.

We must reboot and renew Britain or we risk losing it.

Mr Brown will call for a UK-wide constitutional convention and region-by-region citizens assemblies to gauge public opinion so as to respond adequately to local needs.

The ex-PM will propose a Forum of the Nations and Regions to prevent post-Brexit centralisation of power in London.

He will say this would act as forerunner of a new second chamber to replace the House of Lords.

With ministers saying that the Government is considering moving the House of Lords out of London, Mr Brown will say that more needs to be done.

He will say: An outdated institution 200 miles or so north of its current location is still an outdated institution.

I will argue for a Council of the North and Council of the Midlands that bring together local authorities, Mayor and MPs and in the form of a Northern Exchequer board take powers from the Treasury over the allocation of regional resources  so that on vital issues, outlying regions and communities will no longer be governed simply by dictates from London second guessing what they want.
Until recently, Hoan Ton-Thats greatest hit was an app that let people put Donald Trumps distinctive yellow hair on their own photos.

Then Ton-That did something momentous: He invented a tool that could end your ability to walk down the street anonymously and provided it to hundreds of law enforcement agencies.

His tiny company, Clearview AI, devised a groundbreaking facial recognition app. You take a picture of a person, upload it and get to see public photos of that person along with links to where those photos appeared. The system  whose backbone is a database of more than 3 billion images that Clearview claims to have scraped from Facebook, YouTube, Venmo and millions of other websites  goes far beyond anything ever constructed by the U.S. government or Silicon Valley giants.

Federal and state law enforcement officers said that while they had only limited knowledge of how Clearview works and who is behind it, they had used its app to help solve shoplifting, identity theft, credit card fraud, murder and child sexual exploitation cases.

Until now, technology that readily identifies everyone based on their faces has been taboo because of its radical erosion of privacy.

But without public scrutiny, more than 600 law enforcement agencies have started using Clearview in the past year, according to the company, which declined to provide a list. The computer code underlying its app, analyzed by The New York Times, includes programming language to pair it with augmented reality glasses; users would potentially be able to identify every person they saw.

Clearview has also licensed the app to at least a handful of companies for security purposes.

The weaponization possibilities of this are endless, said Eric Goldman, co-director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University. Imagine a rogue law enforcement officer who wants to stalk potential romantic partners, or a foreign government using this to dig up secrets about people to blackmail them or throw them in jail.

Clearview has shrouded itself in secrecy, avoiding debate about its boundary-pushing technology. When I began looking into the company in November, its website was a bare page showing a nonexistent Manhattan address as its place of business. The companys one employee listed on LinkedIn, a sales manager named John Good, turned out to be Ton-That, using a fake name. For a month, people affiliated with the company would not return my emails or phone calls.

While the company was dodging me, it was also monitoring me. At my request, a number of police officers had run my photo through the Clearview app. They soon received phone calls from company representatives asking if they were talking to the media  a sign that Clearview has the ability and, in this case, the appetite to monitor whom law enforcement is searching for.

Facial recognition technology has always been controversial. Clearviews app carries extra risks because law enforcement agencies are uploading sensitive photos to the servers of a company whose ability to protect its data is untested.

The company eventually started answering my questions, saying that its earlier silence was typical of an early-stage startup in stealth mode. Ton-That acknowledged designing a prototype for use with augmented reality glasses but said the company had no plans to release it. And he said my photo had rung alarm bells because the app flags possible anomalous search behavior in order to prevent users from conducting what it deemed inappropriate searches.

In addition to Ton-That, Clearview was founded by Richard Schwartz  who was an aide to Rudy Giuliani when he was mayor of New York  and backed financially by Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist behind Facebook and Palantir.

Another early investor is a small firm called Kirenaga Partners. Its founder, David Scalzo, dismissed concerns about Clearview making the internet searchable by face, saying its a valuable crime-solving tool.

Ive come to the conclusion that because information constantly increases, theres never going to be privacy, Scalzo said. Laws have to determine whats legal, but you cant ban technology.

Addicted to AI

Ton-That, 31, grew up a long way from Silicon Valley, in his native Australia. In 2007, he dropped out of college and moved to San Francisco. The iPhone had just arrived, and his goal was to get in early on what he expected would be a vibrant market for social media apps.

In 2015, he spun up Trump Hair, which added Trumps distinctive coif to people in a photo, and a photo-sharing program. Both fizzled.

Ton-That moved to New York in 2016. He started reading academic papers on artificial intelligence, image recognition and machine learning.

Schwartz and Ton-That met in 2016 at a book event at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. Schwartz, now 61, had amassed an impressive Rolodex working for Giuliani in the 1990s. The two soon decided to go into the facial recognition business together: Ton-That would build the app, and Schwartz would use his contacts to drum up commercial interest.

Police departments have had access to facial recognition tools for almost 20 years, but they have historically been limited to searching government-provided images, such as mug shots and drivers license photos.

Ton-That wanted to go way beyond that. He began in 2016 by recruiting a couple of engineers. One helped design a program that can automatically collect images of peoples faces from across the internet, such as employment sites and social networks. Representatives of those companies said their policies prohibit such scraping.

Another engineer was hired to perfect a facial recognition algorithm that was derived from academic papers. The result: a system that uses what Ton-That described as a state-of-the-art neural net to convert all the images into mathematical formulas, or vectors, based on facial geometry  like how far apart a persons eyes are. Clearview created a vast directory that clustered all the photos with similar vectors into neighborhoods. When a user uploads a photo of a face into Clearviews system, it converts the face into a vector and then shows all the scraped photos stored in that vectors neighborhood  along with the links to the sites from which those images came.

Clearview remains tiny, having raised $7 million from investors, according to Pitchbook, a website that tracks investments in startups. The company declined to confirm the amount.

Going Viral With Law Enforcement

In February, the Indiana State Police started experimenting with Clearview. They solved a case within 20 minutes of using the app. Two men had gotten into a fight in a park, and it ended when one shot the other in the stomach. A bystander recorded the crime on a phone, so police had a still of the gunmans face to run through Clearviews app.

They immediately got a match: The man appeared in a video that someone had posted on social media, and his name was included in a caption on the video. He did not have a drivers license and hadnt been arrested as an adult, so he wasnt in government databases, said Chuck Cohen, an Indiana State Police captain at the time.

The man was arrested and charged; Cohen said he probably wouldnt have been identified without the ability to search social media for his face. The Indiana State Police became Clearviews first paying customer, according to the company. (Police declined to comment beyond saying that they tested Clearviews app.)

The companys most effective sales technique was offering 30-day free trials to officers. Ton-That finally had his viral hit.

Federal law enforcement, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, are trying it, as are Canadian law enforcement authorities, according to the company and government officials.

Ton-That said the tool does not always work. Most of the photos in Clearviews database are taken at eye level. Much of the material that police upload is from surveillance cameras mounted on ceilings or high on walls.

Despite that, the company said, its tool finds matches up to 75% of the time.

One reason that Clearview is catching on is that its service is unique. Thats because Facebook and other social media sites prohibit people from scraping users images; Clearview is violating the sites terms of service.

Some law enforcement officials said they didnt realize the photos they uploaded were being sent to and stored on Clearviews servers. Clearview tries to preempt concerns with an FAQ document given to would-be clients that says its customer support employees wont look at the photos that police upload.

Clearview also hired Paul Clement, a U.S. solicitor general under President George W. Bush, to assuage concerns about the apps legality.

In an August memo that Clearview provided to potential customers, including the Atlanta Police Department and the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office in Florida, Clement said law enforcement agencies do not violate the federal Constitution or relevant existing state biometric and privacy laws when using Clearview for its intended purpose.

Clement, now a partner at Kirkland & Ellis, wrote that authorities dont have to tell defendants that they were identified via Clearview as long as it isnt the sole basis for getting a warrant to arrest them. Clement did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

The memo appeared to be effective; the Atlanta police and Pinellas County Sheriffs Office soon started using Clearview.

Woodrow Hartzog, a professor of law and computer science at Northeastern University in Boston, sees Clearview as the latest proof that facial recognition should be banned in the United States.

Weve relied on industry efforts to self-police and not embrace such a risky technology, but now those dams are breaking because there is so much money on the table, Hartzog said. I dont see a future where we harness the benefits of face recognition technology without the crippling abuse of the surveillance that comes with it. The only way to stop it is to ban it.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
By Mary Chris Jaklevic, Kaiser Health News

Patients have come to expect a technician to drape their torsos with a heavy lead apron when they get an X-ray, but new thinking among radiologists and medical physicists is upending the decades-old practice of shielding patients from radiation.

Some hospitals are ditching the ritual of covering reproductive organs and fetuses during imaging exams after prominent medical and scientific groups have said it's a feel-good measure that can impair the quality of diagnostic tests and sometimes inadvertently increase a patient's radiation exposure.

The about-face is intended to improve care, but it will require a major effort to reassure regulators, health care workers and the public that it's better not to shield.

Fear of radiation is entrenched in the collective psyche, and many people are surprised to learn that shielding can cause problems. The movement also has yet to gain much traction among dentists, whose offices perform more than half of all X-rays.

"There's this big psychological component, not only with patients but with staff," said Rebecca Marsh, a medical physicist at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado, who spoke about shielding at a December forum here at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. "How do you approach something that is so deeply ingrained in the minds of the health care community and the minds of patients?"

Covering testicles and ovaries during X-rays has been recommended since the 1950s, when studies in fruit flies prompted concern that radiation might damage human DNA and cause birth defects. Only in the past decade did radiology professionals start to reassess the practice, based on changes in imaging technology and a better understanding of radiation's effects.

Lead shields are difficult to position accurately, so they often miss the target area they are supposed to protect. Even when in the right place, they can inadvertently obscure areas of the body a doctor needs to see  the location of a swallowed object, say  resulting in a need to repeat the imaging process, according to the American Association of Physicists in Medicine, which represents physicists who work in hospitals.

Shields can also cause automatic exposure controls on an X-ray machine to increase radiation to all parts of the body being examined in an effort to "see through" the lead.

Moreover, shielding doesn't protect against the greatest radiation effect: "scatter," which occurs when radiation ricochets inside the body, including under the shield, and eventually deposits its energy in tissues.

Still, Dr. Cynthia Rigsby, a radiologist at Chicago's Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, called the move away from shielding a "pretty substantial" change. "I don't think it's going to happen overnight," she added.

Sweeping Shift

In April, the physicists' association recommended that shielding of patients be "discontinued as routine practice." Its statement was endorsed by several groups, including the American College of Radiology and the Image Gently Alliance, which promotes safe pediatric imaging.

Around the same time, the Food and Drug Administration proposed removing from the federal code a 1970s recommendation to use shielding. A final rule is expected in September.

In the coming year, the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, which gives guidance to regulatory bodies, is expected to release a statement supporting a halt to patient shielding.

However, experts continue to recommend that health care workers in the imaging area protect themselves with leaded barriers as a matter of occupational safety.

Groups in Canada and Australia have endorsed the change, and a movement to abandon lead shields is underway in Great Britain, according to Marsh.

Marsh, who's helping direct the educational effort, said perhaps a dozen U.S. hospitals have changed their official policies, but "most hospitals are starting to have the conversation."

Chicago's Lurie hospital is launching an "Abandon the Shield" campaign to educate staff, patients and caregivers before it stops shielding across the organization this spring, Rigsby said. Shielding is used for most of the 70,000 X-ray procedures performed annually at Lurie in a variety of settings, from orthopedics to the emergency department.

A few miles away, at the University of Chicago Medicine hospitals, the recommendation to stop shielding "came as kind of a shock," said Dr. Kate Feinstein, chief of pediatric radiology.

Feinstein said it seems contrary to what radiology professionals are taught, and she's uncertain how it applies to her department, which already takes steps to reduce the chance that a shield will interfere with an exam. "We apply our shields correctly, and our technologists are incredibly well trained," she said.

Nevertheless, Feinstein said, her department is weighing a halt to routine shielding.

Some hospitals are concerned about violating state regulations. As of last spring, at least 46 states, including Illinois, required shielding of reproductive organs if they are close to the area being examined, unless shielding would interfere with the diagnostic quality of the exam, according to the medical physicists' association.

Some states are revising their regulations. In some cases, hospitals have applied for waivers or sidestepped state rules by taking the stance that a shield has the potential to affect diagnostic quality anytime it is used, Marsh said.

No Evidence Of Benefit

The amount of radiation needed for an X-ray is about one-twentieth of what it was in the 1950s, and scientists have found no measurable harm to ovaries and testicles of patients from radiation exposure that comes from diagnostic imaging after decades of looking at data.

"What we know now is that there is likely no [hereditary] risk at all," said Dr. Donald Frush, a radiologist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, California, who chairs the Image Gently Alliance.

There's also no evidence that fetuses are harmed by even a relatively high amount of radiation exposure, such as that from a CT scan of the abdomen, Marsh said.

Nevertheless, some patients may insist on shielding. The physicists' group suggested that when hospitals craft their policies they consider that shielding may "calm and comfort."

"I don't think any of us are advocating to never use it," Frush said.

A Need For Outreach

Public confusion might develop if dentists continue to shield while hospitals don't. An estimated 275 million medical X-ray exams were performed in the U.S. in 2016, but 320 million dental X-rays were done.

Mahadevappa Mahesh, the chief physicist at Johns Hopkins Hospital, said there's been less outreach to dentists on the topic. "It's high time we bring them into the discussion," he said.

The American Dental Association states abdominal shielding "may not be necessary" but has continued to recommend using lead collars to shield the thyroid "whenever possible."

But Mahesh, who's on the board of the physicists' association, cautioned that lead collars to protect the thyroid may not be helpful and could obscure images taken by newer 3D dental imaging machines.

Contacted for a response, the dental association said its guidance on shielding is under review.

Technologists especially will need support in educating patients and families "so they are not feeling like they are walking into a disastrous conversation," said Marsh, the medical physicist.

She is doing her part. At the radiology conference, Marsh strummed a banjo and sang her version of the Woody Guthrie ballad "So Long, It's Been Good to Know Yuh," with lyrics like: "To get rid of shielding at first may seem strange, but the time is upon us to embrace this change."

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
Lebanese anti-riot police dispersed stone-throwing protesters with tear gas in the Lebanese capital Sunday, as heavy rain capped a weekend of rare violence that wounded hundreds.

Medics said 145 people were wounded in the latest clashes, taking the casualty toll to more than 530 in two days.

Thick clouds of white tear gas billowed in central Beirut, pushing protesters out of a flashpoint road near parliament after hours of clashes, before the downpour largely cleared the streets.

Unprecedented protests have rocked the country since October 17, with citizens from all religious backgrounds demanding the ouster of a political class viewed as inept, corrupt and responsible for an ever-deepening economic crisis.

For a second night in a row, dozens of people started lobbing stones at police behind a metal barricade blocking a road to parliament, crying "revolution, revolution".

Anti-riot forces responded with water cannons, rubber bullets and then thick plumes of tear gas that pushed demonstrators back towards a main square, an AFP reporter said.

The Red Cross said more than 145 people were injured, including 45 who needed treatment in hospital.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said two journalists were hit by rubber bullets, one a cameraman from local television channel Al-Jadeed.

President Michel Aoun called for a "security meeting" on Monday with the interior and defence ministers to discuss the crisis, NNA reported.

But a 34-year-old protester called Mazen said he and others had lost hope in politicians.

"After three months of revolution, they have proven to us that they don't change, don't listen, and have nothing to give," he said.

'Excessive violence'

On Saturday, at least 377 people were wounded - both protesters and members of the security forces - according to a toll compiled by AFP from figures provided by the Red Cross and Civil Defence.

Lawyers said more than 40 protesters were arrested on Saturday before being released.

Story continues

Most were subjected to "excessive violence", while some were wounded "especially to the head and face, and genitals", the Committee of Lawyers for the Defence of Protesters said on Facebook.

The lawyers also visited hospitals, from where they reported serious injuries including some caused by rubber bullets.

On Sunday, local television aired the testimonies of relatives of two young men they said were hit in the eyes by rubber bullets.

Security forces said they had opened a probe after a video shared online showed police beating up people believed to be protesters as they were brought to a Beirut police station.

Human Rights Watch condemned what it called "the brutal use of force unleashed by Lebanon's riot police against largely peaceful demonstrators".

It accused the riot police on Saturday of "launching tear gas canisters at protesters' heads, firing rubber bullets in their eyes and attacking people at hospitals and a mosque".

'Stop wasting time'

Saturday's clashes began after dozens of protesters threw stones and plant pots at security forces, and tried to charge police lines near parliament with traffic signs.

The security forces responded with water cannon and thick tear gas.

Protesters had called for a week of "anger" over the political leadership's failure to form a new government even as the country sinks deeper into a financial crisis.

"Another day without a government, another night of violence and clashes," UN envoy to Lebanon Jan Kubis said on Twitter.

Outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri, who stepped down on October 29, urged political parties to "stop wasting time".

"Form a government and pave the way towards political and economic solutions," he said.

Political factions agreed on December 19 to appoint former education minister Hassan Diab as the new premier but have since squabbled over proposed ministers.

Diab on Sunday evening met President Michel Aoun to discuss the matter, NNA said.

Protesters have demanded a new government be comprised solely of independent experts, and exclude all established political parties.

The World Bank has warned the poverty rate in Lebanon could rise from a third to half of the population if the political crisis is not resolved soon.

(AFP)
Despite advances in treatments, Australian children who develop cancer are five times more likely to be forced to fight the disease again, new research has found.

The authors of the research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, said the findings showed childhood cancer survivors needed to maintain vigilance well after their initial cancer had been treated.

Children who survive cancer are five times more likely to be hit with the deadly disease again. Credit:Michel O'Sullivan

Survivors of childhood cancer should be monitored for second primary cancers as they remain at increased risk well into adulthood, the authors wrote.

Research is needed to minimise the deleterious late effects of cancer treatment early in life.
J&K cops out, CISF in at airports

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 19: The Jammu and Kashmir administration said the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will take over the security related duties being performed by the local police at Srinagar and Jammu airports by the end of this month.

However, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will continue to provide security at these two vital installations as per the existing mechanism, an official spokesman said.

44,000 from 3 Jammu districts register themselves to serve Indian Army

"Acting upon the inspection of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), and to bring the Union Territory of J and K at par with the rest of the country, process has been initiated for the CISF to take over the security related duties being performed by the J and K Police at Srinagar and Jammu airports by January 31, while the CRPF will continue to provide security as per the existing mechanism," he said.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

The spokesman said suitable arrangements, accordingly, are underway for deployment of the CISF personnel at the two airports.

"Given the expertise of the CISF in the field of aviation security, all airports across the country handling the passenger traffic are being provided security by the force," he said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 10:11 [IST]
Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital, where patients infected by a mysterious SARS-like virus are being treated, in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on Jan. 18, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

China Reports 3rd Death, 136 New Infections, Due to Viral Pneumonia

Chinese authorities on Jan. 19 reported one new death as a result of a viral pneumonia. Also, another 136 patients were infected, raising the global number of infections to more than 200.

That is the largest increase since the virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December.

The pneumonia disease has killed three so far, all from Wuhan.

The citys Ministry of Health said that the new patients, aged from 25 to 89, were infected before Jan. 18.

As of Sunday, at least 170 people remained in Wuhan hospitals for centralized treatment, with 35 of them in serious condition and nine critically ill. The officials said they are also monitoring 90 others who had close contact with the patients.

Some 700 miles away from Wuhan, Beijing also confirmed two cases of infection on Sunday, and Guangdong Province in southern China confirmed one case, marking the first confirmation that the virus has spilled to other parts of the country. The two patients in Beijing have recently been to Wuhan, according to state media.

Thailand confirmed two cases of the new viral pneumonia, while Japan has reported one. All had recently traveled to Wuhan.

Tourist line-up in a health control at the arrival section at Suvarnabhumi international airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 19, 2020. (Jorge Silva/Reuters)

Shenzhen, a southern city bordering Hong Kong, has also isolated two patients suspected of carrying the Wuhan virus.

The new numbers rolled in just as Canadian and U.S. health authorities both began screening passengers from Wuhan at three of each countrys biggest airports.

Other countries, including Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Taiwan, have also announced measures to strengthen entry detection measures as the Lunar New Year approaches: peak migration season when large numbers of Chinese travelers are going to travel across Asia.

An airport officer walks past international travelers arriving to Los Angeles International Airport on the first day of health screenings for coronavirus of people coming from Wuhan, China in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 18, 2020. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Many More Cases Possible

The Imperial College Londons Medical Research Council Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis released a report on Jan. 17, in which researchers estimated that 1,723 people in Wuhan could potentially have the illness.

The calculation was based on the number of infection cases outside of China, the number of passengers at the Wuhan airport, daily international passengers flying out of Wuhan, and the number of days before the international cases are discovered.

One of the researchers, Neil Ferguson, said there is a possibility that the infection numbers may be significantly underreported in China.

A likely reason for the large discrepancy between the reports estimate and the officially reported data is that the infection is in fact widely disseminated across the population, Ferguson said in an interview with The Epoch Times.

He noted that the Chinese authorities testing was insufficient, largely concentrating on people with exposure to a live animal and seafood market in the city, which authorities have linked with the spread of the disease.

They should be getting widespread testing of people reporting respiratory diseases with pneumonia hospitals across the city, he said.

An elderly man wears a mask while walking past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which has been linked to cases of Coronavirus, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on Jan. 17, 2020. (Getty Images)

Human Transmission?

Some of the patients in Wuhan, as well as the patients in Thailand and Japan, have not been to the seafood market, raising fears that the virus may be able to spread from person to person. Chinese officials, as well as the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have acknowledged a chance of human-to-human transmission.

Ferguson also said it was possible.

If hundreds of people have been affected, its quite unlikely to just be due to the exposure to the market  so some degree of human-to-human transmission is quite likely to have occurred, he said. We know similar viruses and transmission is possible in some circumstances.

He said that the current situation calls for more transparency and information sharing from the Chinese side in order to prevent its global spread.

Ferguson also said this virus has similarities to SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), though it appears much milder in terms of threats.
Canada has reacted to the shock announcement the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will quit royal life completely, with Harry expected to join Meghan and baby Archie in the North American country.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to comment on the bombshell news, but newspapers were quick to weigh in.

In an opinion piece for the Toronto Sun, Christina Blizzard wrote: 'Yes, we're flattered to have you come stay. No, we don't want to pay for security.'

Canada has reacted to the shock announcement the Duke (pictured) and Duchess of Sussex will quit royal life completely, with Harry expected to join Meghan and baby Archie in the North American country

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to comment on the bombshell news, but newspapers were quick to weigh in. Pictured: Meghan driving in Canada earlier this week

Mr Trudeau is pictured leaving a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday

In an opinion piece for the Toronto Sun , Christina Blizzard wrote: 'Yes, we're flattered to have you come stay. No, we don't want to pay for security'

She added: 'You sense a great deal of pain and sadness in the Queen's statement. She deserved better. She tried so hard to welcome Meghan.'

Critics have said the couple are not welcome to settle in Canada, suggesting they would cost taxpayers 5million [$10million] and would cause a constitutional crisis.

This is because no British royal has ever settled there and the nation prides itself on not having any aristocracy, with anyone offered a peerage in the UK expected to renounce their Canadian citizenship first.

And the Globe and Mail touched on the cost of the couple, saying: 'The statement also didn't clarify who will cover the cost of their security, which has been estimated at around 600,000 annually.

And the Globe and Mail touched on the cost of the couple, saying: 'The statement also didn't clarify who will cover the cost of their security, which has been estimated at around 600,000 annually'

Respected broadsheet the National Post also covered the story in a news article (pictured)

'Saturday's statement didn't comment on security other than to say; ''There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly- funded security''.'

Canadian poll finds 73% oppose Sussexes' move - but there is a glimmer of hope for 'popular' Harry A Canadian poll taken after the Sussexes quit last week has found: - 73% of Canadians say 'no thank you' to paying for any aspect of the couple's move or security; - 25% says Royal Family is getting less relevant to Canada and 41% say it has no relevance at all; - 45% say Canada should not continue as a constitutional monarchy - unchanged since 2016; - The Queen is favourite royal - but Prince Harry is next best loved, above his brother William and father Charles, with Prince Andrew the worst rated. Advertisement

It added: 'The Canadian government has not said if it will cover the cost of the couple's security if they decide to live in the country.

'Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said this week that security costs were ''part of the reflection that needs to be had and there are discussions going on''.'

Respected broadsheet the National Post also covered the story in a news article.

It comes after a new poll in Toronto, a city Meghan lived for seven years, found her husband is, after the Queen, regarded as their favourite Windsor.

But nearly three-quarters of people were opposed to paying towards the Sussexes' costs.

While support for his grandmother the Queen is 'deep, broad and strong', two thirds said the royal family is losing or has lost its relevance and 45 per cent said Canada should not continue as a constitutional monarchy.
ALEPPO, Syria  The women of eastern Aleppo were rarely visible before the war, but now they shape the bitter peace. In the poor, conservative districts of Syrias ancient commercial capital, many women seldom used to leave the house, and only with their husbands if they did; the men not only won the bread, but also went out to buy it.

Then came the civil war.



Eight years and counting of bloodshed have condemned a generation of Syrian men to their deaths, to prison or to precarious lives as refugees. Now, with most of the country once again under government control, yet ruptured beyond recognition, moving forward is up to the women left behind: part survivors, part mourners, part mop-up crew.

Grandmothers are raising orphaned grandchildren. Single women worry they will never find husbands. Widows are supporting families gutted by losses that once seemed unendurable, and that the world now treats as routine.

In many cases, women are leaving the house on their own and working for the first time, old customs succumbing to the extremities of war and an economy in collapse  nothing new in large cities like Damascus, the capital, but a swift transformation for some of the more traditional corners of this socially and religiously conservative country.
The Jewish people were not put on Earth to be anti-anti-Semites. We were put on Earth to be Jews.

New York Times columnist Bari Weiss gave the following powerful speech at the No Hate, No Fear solidarity march in New York. There were an estimated 25,000 people in attendance protesting the recent outbreak of anti-Semitic attacks.

My name is Bari Weiss.

I am a proud American. I am a proud New Yorker. And I am a proud Jew.

I am not a Jew because people hate my religion, my people, and my civilization.

Not for a single moment does Jew-hatred, like the kind we are seeing in this city, make me a Jew.

I am a Jew because of the audacity and the iconoclasm of Abraham, the first Jew of all. The whole world was awash in idols and he stood alone to proclaim the truth: There is one God.

I am a Jew because my ancestors were slaves. And I am a Jew because the story of their Exodus from Egypt, their liberation from slavery, is a story that changed human consciousness forever.

I am a Jew because our God commands us to never oppress the stranger.

I am Jew because Ruth, the first convert to Judaism, told her mother-in-law Naomi, your people will be my people and your God will be my God, reminding us of the centrality of the Jewish people to Judaism.

I am a Jew because of Queen Esther, who understood that she had attained her royal position in order to save her people from destruction.

I am a Jew because the Maccabees were the original resistance. Because they modeled for us  and for all peoples  how to resist the temptation of self-erasure.

I am a Jew because when Rabbi Akiva was being tortured to death by the Romans he laughed. He laughed and he told his students that he could finally fulfill the commandment to love God with all of his being.

I am a Jew because even after the heart of Judaism and Jewish sovereignty were destroyed my people refused to accept the logic of history and disappear. And I am a Jew because some of our greatest renewals took place in exile.

I am a Jew because my people has been targeted and despised and murdered by the Nazis and Soviets.

I am a Jew because evil hates my people.

I am a Jew because my people managed to turn destruction into redemption by returning to their land after 2,000 years.

I am a Jew because our Founders saw themselves as new Israelites.

I am a Jew because the biblical words on the liberty bell  proclaim liberty throughout the land!  rang out from the righteous mouths of this countrys abolitionists as they fought for universal freedom in this New Jerusalem.

I am a Jew because it was Emma Lazarus who etched the biblical injunction to welcome the stranger onto the consciousness of America when she wrote the words: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

I am a Jew because of the martyred of Tree of Life and Chabad of Poway and Jersey City. And I am a Jew because of the courage of those who fought back in Monsey and who then, immediately after the attack, gathered together to sing. And I am Jew because my brothers and sisters in Crown Heights and Boro Park and Williamsburg who refuse to hide their Judaism.

I am a Jew because of students across this country who refuse to be smeared and denigrated because of who they are, who are standing up against humiliation, pressure and abuse to affirm the justness of Zionism.

I am a Jew because my brothers and sisters in England and France are battling the anti-Semitism of populist thugs and the anti-Semitism of politicians in parliament.

I am a Jew because I refuse to stay silent in the face of injustice. I am a Jew because I have no patience for leaders who speak boldly while failing to take the actions necessary to protect our community. Or for partisan hacks that claim anti-Semitism is the exclusive domain of their political opponents. Or for leaders who believe they can fight Jew-hatred while making political alliances with anti-Semites.

I am a Jew because I refuse to lie.

I am a Jew because Jews are of every color and class and politics and language. And I am a Jew because hatred of us has no color or class or politics or language.

I am a Jew because Jews do not cause Jew hatred. Ever.

Today, as in so many times in history, there are many forces in the world insisting that Jews must disappear or die. Some say it bluntly. Some cloak it in the language of progress.

But I am a Jew because of I know that there is force far greater than that. And that is the force of who we are and the force of our world-changing ideas.

The Jewish people were not put on Earth to be anti-anti-Semites. We were put on Earth to be

Jews.

We are the people whose God never slumbers or sleeps, and so neither can we.

We are the lamp-lighters.

We are the ever-dying people that refuses to die.

The people of Israel lives now and forever.

Am Yisrael Chai.

With thanks to Jewishmom.com
Since the end of the Cold War, India has signed Strategic Partnership agreements with more than 35 countries. Among the earliest was the one with France, signed in January 1998, during President Jacques Chiracs visit to India. Last week, the strength of this partnership was in evidence at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) when China sought to raise the subject of Kashmir in an informal, closed door session, originally convened to discuss the situation in Mali. France, supported by Russia and the United States (US) and other non-permanent members, led the move to block the Chinese initiative.

India and France share a common trait of civilisational exceptionalism, and after the Cold War ended, both countries were quick to espouse the virtues of multipolarity. French discomfort with a unipolar system was clear when French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine described the US as a hyperpuissance. Visualising the changing geopolitics with focus shifting from Euro-Atlantic to Asia-Pacific, France decided on India as its preferred partner in the Indian Ocean. Even before Indias nuclear tests in 1998, France declared that the nations exclusion from the global nuclear order was an anomaly, and that needed rectification. After the nuclear tests, France displayed an instinctual understanding of Indias security compulsions. The strategic dialogue that began in 1998 has grown over the years to cover nuclear, space, defence, cyber security, intelligence-sharing and counter-terrorism cooperation. Bilateral military exercises between the three services, beginning with the navies in 2001, followed by the air forces in 2004, and the armies in 2011, have now became a regular feature.

Cooperation in the space domain began in the 1960s with French assistance to set up the Indian launch facility at Sriharikota, but languished in later years because of export controls. The dialogue helped restart this cooperation and the Indian Space Research Organisation and Centre national detudes spatiales now work on joint missions.

After the US cut off nuclear fuel supplies for Tarapur in 1984, France became the fuel supplier. Following the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver in 2008, India and France signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement providing the framework for building the French Extended producer responsibility reactors in India.

Regarding Kashmir, France maintains that it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and, therefore, does not merit discussion in the UN. China had first raised Kashmir at Pakistans behest in August, shortly after Article 370 was abrogated and the state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into two Union territories. On August 16, 2019, the UNSC held an informal closed-door session, the first time Kashmir had appeared on the agenda of the council after 1965. Indias stand that the developments in Kashmir were an internal matter received considerable support. An attempt was made again by China in December to take up the issue but finessed by France and other countries.

Pakistans foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had addressed a fresh letter on Kashmir to the UNSC in January, and this time China decided to introduce it into a previously scheduled meeting under the agenda provision of Any Other Items. French lead was quickly endorsed by the other permanent and a number of non-permanent members bringing the meeting to a closure. The Chinese action, which came after the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in October, makes it clear that China remains insensitive to Indias core concerns. The announcements on strategic communications that differences do not become disputes and the plans of holding 70 major events in the two countries to mark 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations are unlikely to put a gloss on growing differences over ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor, Belt and Road Initiative, Indo-Pacific, Chinas veto on Indias membership of the NSG, and attempts to block the listing of Masood Azhar as a terrorist.

A close strategic partnership with Russia was forged during the Cold War, and it has stood the test of time. Yet there are occasional murmurs in Moscow about Indias growing proximity to the US, particularly in the Quad (Australia, Japan, US and India), which foreign minister Sergey Lavrov described as a divisive concept last week at the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi. India too has been blindsided by Russias new engagement with the Taliban and by extension, Pakistan. The strategic partnership with the US is more recent, but has developed strong roots with more than 50 bilateral dialogues. Beginning from scratch a decade ago, the US has also emerged as a key defence supplier. Yet, it is clear that US has its interests in the region when it comes to Pakistan, Iran and its negotiations with Taliban.

The test for a strategic partnership is not that there must be convergence on all issues; the test is that where there are differences, these are expressed in private and not publicly. This is where the India-France strategic partnership, nurtured over two decades, demonstrates its resilience.

Rakesh Sood is a former diplomat and currently distinguished fellow, Observer Research Foundation

The views expressed are personal
A school of striped fish with yellow tails darts through the water. Larger fish linger in bushes of swaying brown kelp on the ocean floor, and above them two researchers swim past in scuba gear.

They've come to Cabbage Tree Bay, an aquatic reserve at Manly, to check on a plantation of crayweed  a type of seaweed that used to be plentiful on Sydney's coast until it disappeared from a 70-kilometre stretch between Palm Beach and Cronulla some time in the 1980s.

Madelaine Langley and Derrick Cruz climb into Cabbage Tree Bay to monitor crayweed. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Researchers can't be certain what made the crayweed disappear, but strongly suspect pollution including sewage played a part. Treated sewage is now released several kilometres offshore.

Derrick Cruz, 39, and Madelaine Langley, 24, are part of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science's "operation crayweed", which aims to restore the once-flourishing habitat for crayfish, abalone and other marine life. Crayweed also stores carbon from the atmosphere.
There was wild jubilation in Nguru, a local government area in Yobe State, as 452 officers undergoing Regimentation and Leadership Training at the 241 RECCE Model Battalion, Nguru, took a fitness walk through the town.

Apparently feeling some air of safety, given the huge number of soldiers involved in the march, a part of the crowd joined in the walk, singing victory songs along with the soldiers, in jubilation.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the exercise that lasted for about two and a half hours, reports that residents of the ancient town came out in droves, hailing and cheering the soldiers as they marched through the streets of the town.

The almost five-kilometre walk, according to the Commanding officer, Edwin Ugorji, was aimed at ascertaining the fitness level and combat readiness of the officers against any form of challenge they may find themselves after they would be deployed to protect and defend the country against any enemy, external or internal.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that all the officers are graduates of Nigeria Defence Academy and are on a three months Regimentation and Leadership Training at the 241 RECCE Model Battalion.

The fitness walk, which started from the parade ground of the barracks, took the officers into the town as they navigated from the east flank through the market, the roundabout and back to the barracks.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that 26 female officers were among the 452 graduating officers who would be passing out next Friday.

Col. Ugorji marching with his officers

Some of the jubilating residents, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, said they feel very safe with the soldiers around them.

Amodu Tella, a fisherman said, the presence of the soldiers from Jaji-Maji, Nguru and Machina has given them confidence to do their fishing activities on the Yobe-Kumadugu river with confidence.

I feel very protected with the soldiers in this barracks. We also have a cordial relationship among them. We are doing our fishing business here without any harassment by the army and we are very happy about that, Mr Tella said.

Hussaina Abubakar said, I am happy that we dont have Boko Haram in this area. Nguru is very safe for us and we are grateful for what the soldiers are doing for us. We dont have any issue with them and they are protecting us very well.

Mamuda Nguru was delighted with the show of force and the march of the troops through the town.

children marching with soldiers

This marching gives me a lot of joy and hope that we are well protected. It gives confidence to the people and clearly sends a signal to the enemy that the soldiers are in charge in this area, Mr Nguru said.

Read also:

Commanding Officer Ugorji, in a brief remark, said the officers are well equipped and combat-ready to deal with any form of external or internal agression against the country.

According to him, my AOR from Jaji Maji to Machina and Nguru are highly fortified to fight any form of criminality, banditry and armed robbery. As far as we know, Boko Haram is over. What we are dealing with now is some form of criminalities like banditry, armed robbery and criminals.

The officer also called on the people of the area to cooperate with the security operatives by providing useful information on suspicious characters in their midst. He said this would make the security agents work better so they can sleep with their eyes closed.
A dress brand has unveiled a pioneering approach to online shopping that sees each item modelled by eight women with different body types.

Perfect Dress Company, based in Bournemouth, uses eight different models, ranging from a size 6-8 to a 20-22, to showcase each of its dresses online.

The aim is to allow female customers to select a model who best reflects their individual body type thereby giving a more accurate idea of how the garment will look.

Perfect Dress Company uses eight different models, ranging from a size 6-8 to a 20-22, to showcase each of its dresses online. It contrasts to similar tools available on sites like ASOS that use AR to achieve the same effect. Pictured, the Perfect Dress Company Drop a Dress Size Round Neck Short Dress in a size 6-8 (left) and ASOS velvet mini wrap tux dress in a size 8

Sunny, founder of the Perfect Dress Company, hopes to give customers an accurate idea of how the dress will look on them. Pictured left, the Perfect Dress Company Drop a Dress Size Round Neck Short Dress in a size 8-10. Right, a 5ft 7in ASOS model in the size 10

The Perfect Dress Company Drop a Dress Size Round Neck Short Dress in a size 10-12, left. Right, the ASOS velvet mini wrap tux dress in a size 12 on a 5ft 11in ASOS model

It is similar to tools used by other retailers like ASOS that use augmented reality (AR) to digitally place an item on models of different sizes, without the women ever trying the clothes on.

Shoppers have praised ASOS for its 'see my fit' tool, saying it is 'ahead of the curve'. However others argue it is misleading as it does not actually show how an item stretches, falls or hangs on different body types.

Pictured left, The Perfect Dress Company Drop a Dress Size Round Neck Short Dress in a size 12-14. Right, the ASOS velvet mini wrap tux dress in a size 14 on a 5ft 10in ASOS model

Pictured left, The Perfect Dress Company Drop a Dress Size Round Neck Short Dress in a size 14-16. Right, the ASOS velvet mini wrap tux dress in a size 16 on a 5ft 10in ASOS model

Speaking to FEMAIL, Sunny Bird, Founder of Perfect Dress Company, noted that ASOS' AR approach is gives customers 'false' expectations and leads to disappointment if an item looks different on the shopper.

MailOnline has contacted ASOS for comment.

Sunny said: 'You cant just stretch a size 8 dress and use AR technology to put it on a size 22 model and expect it to fit or it to look the same.

'This is whats wrong with the fashion industry and gives people a false representation of how they will look in the dress, which leaves them feeling disappointed when they purchase the item.

Pictured left, The Perfect Dress Company Drop a Dress Size Round Neck Short Dress in a size 16-18. Right, the ASOS velvet mini wrap tux dress in a size 18 on a 5ft 9in ASOS model

'But not only that and more importantly our research revealed it can make women feel disappointed, sad and depressed as they feel it is their bodies fault that the dress or item of clothing doesnt fit or flatter them.

'Sadly I really think that this initiative by ASOS could contribute to mental health issues. The launch of AR advertising still does not consider or represent real and diverse body shapes inclusive of curves, lumps and bumps and this will create further problems with how women perceive themselves and is not a solution.'

Perfect Dress Company, launched last month, sells two different dresses in three different colours. Each dress is designed to flatter the female figure and enhance the shopper's shape.
Nancy Markalunas, of Tinton Falls, leads a conga line during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The snow and windy weather didnt keep hundreds of people from turning out for the Atlantic City Womens March on Saturday.

People from all walks of life, and from around the state gathered inside Boardwalk Hall to unite under the marchs 2020 theme Together We Rise.

Concerns about the weather conditions outside forced march organizers to host the entire event inside, instead of marching down the boardwalk as they have in the past.

The weather also prevented Lt. Governor Shelia Oliver, from attending the march, and giving the keynote speech.

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Vivian Watson, of West Orange, smiles as participants dance during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The Women's March began in 2017 after the election of President Trump as a way to send a message about women's rights and other issues. In the years since marches have continued to be held around the country.

My hope is that people leave here energized and empowered with a sense of urgency to create change in their communities whatever place they are in in life, said Atlantic County Freeholder Ashley Bennett, one of the marchs organizers.

The theme for this years march, Together We Rise, emphasized the importance of women coming together, to unite in common causes, and to empower and lift each other up in all areas of life.

I think its great to be involved, and when women gather together and show power through and within their communities they can do anything, co-organizer Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake said.

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Sue Altman, executive director of New Jersey Working Families, speaks during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Chants  including women power! and Here in Jersey what do we say, unity is here to stay!  energized the crowd before the rally began. Several speakers took the stage to share their experiences and encourage the crowd to work in solidarity with one another.

Sue Altman, executive director for New Jersey Working Families, who was recently thrown out of a state senate hearing, reflected on the progress that has been made in the past three years since the first womens march in 2017.

We have organized meetings, canvased, knocked on doors, traveled across the state and to other states, Altman said. We are seasoned and we are battle-tested and laser-focused.

Altman called the countrys democracy precious and said that there is no single person or policy that can save democracy, it requires the work of everyone.

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Senior Advisor Estina Baker is introduced during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

For many in the crowd, Saturday was not the first time they have attended a womens march.

Janet Yunghans, of Cape May County, attended a march in Philadelphia in 2017 with her daughter and has kept coming back in order to be re-inspired.

I attend because it gives me hope during these very dark times that were living in, Yunghans said. There seems to be a lot of dark forces at work in the world and I feel like coming together like this is a way to combat that.

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Her friend Caroline Basset of Linwood joined the march this year in order to combat the toxicity of the current administration.

Coming together, it inspires us to keep working, Basset said.

Men also came out to the march to unite under the cause.

I believe that women all over the planet have more freedom, more responsibility and talent than any other time in history, said Jeffery Heburn, of Cape May. But there is still too much disparity in the representation of women in our government. It is our responsibility to help women empower themselves and support them.

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Lead organizer Fareeda Mabry speaks during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Senior Advisor Estina Baker echoed the need for women and men to come together to battle larger institutional disparities in the country.

If we stand for one, we stand for all, Baker said.

She emphasized the importance of unity despite personal differences, in order to make a greater change, ending her speech with the power of the people is greater than the people in power.

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

The upcoming 2020 election was a line that ran through many of the speeches, with speakers emphasizing the importance of registering to vote and getting to the polling station on election day.

Gwen Callaway Lewis, chairwoman for the Atlantic City Democrat Committee, stressed the importance of voting to the crowd.

Your voice is your vote, and your vote is your voice, she said. We owe it to ourselves to make sure we vote, and we owe it to our cities.

The march ended with Bennett sharing a personal story about she was raised by a single mother who inspires her to accomplish everything she has achieved.

I truly believe everyday people can do extraordinary things, she said. Together we are the change."

Scroll below to see more pictures of the Atlantic City Woman's March

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LOreal "Elle Vintage" Chrisp, a poet and spoken word artist is introduced during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Dr. Nicole Lyles Belton speaks during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Dr. Arati Kreibich, who is running for congress, speaks during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Marie Hitchman, of Monmouth County, right, and Laura Docherty, of Ocean County, cheer during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Ronsha Dickerson, the National Organizer Director for the Journey of Justice Alliance, speaks during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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The Honorable Carolyn Chang, Esq, speaks during the Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Atlantic City Woman's March at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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Junaid Mohammed, a second republic lawmaker, has alleged that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, lobbies to be vice president when President Muhammadu Buhari was sick in London.

The former lawmaker while speaking with TheInterview, said Sanusi asked Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to consider him for the nations number two position in the event that the president dies.

The former lawmaker said, Once Buhari was sick, very sick in England, he went to Osinbajo, this current Emir Sanusi; he was sure that Buhari was going to die. And if Buhari dies, he would like Osinbajo to consider him as a vice president, even though on the surface, he belonged to no party. 

Read Also: Emir Sanusi Lists What Buhari Must Do If He Is Sincere About His Fight Against Poverty

He wanted Osinbajo to consider him as vice president! Now, anybody with any sense of logic, any sanity would not countenance this kind of thing. If for whatever reason, this issue was reported to Buhari, if Buhari were another leader, he would have got rid of him in a jiffy.

I know for a fact, and I am glad there people involved who will now confirm. The Emir of Kano, when he was governor of Central Bank went to see my friend Bola Tinubu and went to see the current Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu telling them that a certain presidential candidate was actually the choice of Kano and the choice of the north. So, he would want them to support that person.

The Oba was diplomatic. But Tinubu told him in no uncertain terms that we are supporting Buhari; not because we like his face. We are supporting Buhari because, consistently, he has scored 12 million votes since he came into politics in 2002.

This is not the first time. I am now 70 years old. I am older than the Emir of Kano, who I have known since childhood. And I knew his father and mother.
By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/19/2020



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So are Michael and Juliana still together? Did the couple get married?

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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

couple Michael Jessen and Juliana Custodio de Sousa have seemed to be getting along great on the show's seventh season as Juliana continues to blend with Michael's family -- so did these lovebirds make it and get married, and if so, are they still together?Michael, a 41-year-old independent and self-employed wine entrepreneur from Greenwich, CT, and Juliana, a 23-year-old from Goiania, Brazil, are one of the couples starring on Season 7 of , which premiered in early November on TLC.Michael imports and distributes wine and works at wine auctions. He's apparently a wealthy man who's part of a jet-setting social group that parties all over the world.During a big yacht party in Croatia, Michael met Juliana, an international model, and there was an instant attraction."I remember when I first saw her," Michael told the camera during the debut episode of 's seventh season. "She's beautiful, amazing body -- I don't necessarily believe in love at first sight, but it's like we were kindred spirits."Once Michael and Juliana got to know each other, Michael said he realized she was funny, thoughtful and smart. He was amazed she was only 20 years old."There are certainly a lot of people that may pass judgment [and] may think I'm just an old sleazy, rich guy going after a young hot woman," Michael said. "It doesn't bother me at all. I don't really care."Michael admitted when it became time to return to America, it was really hard to say goodbye to Juliana."We had such a connection -- it was just the beginning of something really beautiful," Michael noted.Juliana, a former seamstress who grew up very poor, was discovered by a modeling agency, and Michael pledged to support her financially in any way that he can.Michael therefore gave Juliana access to his credit cards. Michael admitted he had spent no small amount of money on her, but he simply wanted to give Juliana the world. (When a producer later asked if the amount was around $150,000, Michael refused to comment. Juliana even purchased a car on Michael's credit card.)Michael was hoping Juliana could visit him in the United States shortly after they met, but that plan apparently fell through because her intentions were questioned and they were both denied Tourist Visas.Michael realized obtaining a K-1 visa would be the only way she could come to America -- so he proposed marriage and planned to marry her within 90 days of her visit.As a result, Michael and Juliana had to wait for the K-1 visa to be approved, and both individuals almost lost hope a couple times due to the amount of time it was taking. Juliana, for instance, bought a car in Brazil although she was supposed to be moving to America soon.The only option for the couple, however, was the United States because Michael was not about to leave his two children, Max and Cece, behind. He shares the two kids with his ex-wife Sarah Jessen, with whom he still has a great friendship.The premiere of 's seventh season showed that Michael bought a house for his fiancee, which was close to Sarah.Sarah was concerned Juliana was with Michael for his money, but Sarah told the cameras she'd have to trust Michael's decisions, as long as he'd keep their children as his top priority.The day before Juliana's interview in Rio de Janeiro for the K-1 visa, Michael boarded an overnight flight so he could be there for and support his future wife.When the pair reunited in a hotel room, Juliana gushed about how much she missed Michael. They had spent one month apart, and Juliana was so happy to have her best friend by her side again.Both Michael and Juliana were nervous about the interview because Juliana was apparently in a "high-risk" category considering she's young and from a poor part of Brazil.Juliana also had a lot of stamps in her passport, and so there would be concern her desire to come to America would be so she can be involved in "illicit activities."Cameras were not permitted inside the consulate, but after the interview, Juliana said it was "bad" and they had insulted her."They just asked stupid questions. They asked me if I had been working as a prostitute the last 10 years," Juliana revealed in a confessional.Michael didn't think it was right for Juliana to be asked that question, and he confirmed, "No, she's not a prostitute!" Michael said it's normal for young models to travel the world and party with wealthy people."I'm a model and I'm professional, so of course I've been to many countries," Juliana told the cameras.Michael called it "ridiculous" and planned to consult with his lawyer over that "upsetting" interview."What does that make me? A pimp?... I don't need to [pay for sex]," Michael vented to Juliana, before she called the process "a nightmare."But after providing a police-clearance document to show Juliana had no criminal history, Juliana's K-1 visa was approved.Michael wanted Juliana's arrival in the United States to be as special as possible, so he bought a bouquet of flowers, champagne, and a $4,000 necklace, and headed to the airport in a big white Hummer limousine.Juliana cried tears of joy when she saw Michael at the airport in America, and she said their wildest dreams had come true and she felt like the luckiest girl in the world.Juliana was later introduced to Michael's children, and the meeting went well. The kids thought Juliana was really pretty and their father was a "really lucky guy."The kids had made Juliana a "welcome home" cake with gummy bears on it as well as breakfast. Juliana said Max seemed smart and Cece appeared to love her immediately, so all was good in the world!Michael was so glad Juliana and his children had "bonded immediately" upon her arrival into the United States. Juliana said the experience of having two kids around her all the time wasn't new because she had been very close with her niece and nephew in Brazil.Juliana later met Sarah, whom Max called "assertive" and outspoken.Sarah said while most women would probably be intimidated by such a tall, sexy, gorgeous, exotic, smart and well-traveled girl, she wasn't -- because she didn't have the need, energy or time to be jealous.Juliana thought it was very unusual Michael and Sarah were still close because when people divorce in Brazil, they stop communicating. However, she was very sweet to Sarah, and Sarah, in turn, was kind and gracious.But Sarah asked Juliana to "not parent at all." Sarah wanted Juliana to embrace her new role in the family as just a stepmom and become her friend, but Juliana didn't feel like she was part of the family yet.Sarah later clarified on social media she just didn't want to overload Juliana with too much responsibility given she was still adjusting to a new life in a new country with a new soon-to-be husband.Michael and Sarah were then shown going furniture shopping and moving into their new house, which Juliana found wonderful and overwhelming.Michael and Juliana then found a wedding planner on short notice so they could get the ball rolling on their nuptials. At this point, Juliana had been living in the United States for about two months.Michael told the wedding planner they'd like good food, good wine, some dancing and about a 40-person guest count. Michael and Juliana had to tell the wedding planner they had both been married once before.Juliana apparently felt pressured to have an arranged marriage at age 19 that only lasted for one year. Juliana didn't want to marry the man but felt obligated to do so in order to satisfy her religious family.Juliana said her first marriage was "really bad." She and her ex-husband apparently signed papers to wed and then went to lunch, during which the man allegedly complained about how expensive the lunch happened to be.Michael was then quoted $50,000-$100,000 for a wedding at their new home by the wedding planner. Juliana couldn't believe how expensive the wedding was going to be.Juliana expected only three people would be coming to their wedding from her side, but she was still happy. Juliana apparently didn't want her parents to see how wealthy she had become in America because they would expect a lot of financial help from Michael.Juliana didn't want to feel guilty for having a fancy, opulent wedding when her parents might look at the flowers and think, "Those would be our groceries for a week." The couple struggled with how to enjoy their new life together when Juliana's family was so poor back home.Later on, Sarah stopped by and told the couple she'd be willing to become ordained and officiate their wedding.Michael thought it was a nice offer, but Juliana admitted she didn't want Sarah's face in the wedding photos. Juliana was a bit uncomfortable with how close Sarah and Michael still seemed to be, and she confessed she was also a little jealous in her heart.Sarah then asked Michael if he and Juliana had a prenuptial agreement in place to ensure their children would be well taken care of financially in case something were to go wrong in their marriage.Sarah said she didn't mean to stir the pot, but Juliana was left feeling very confused.Juliana later asked Michael to explain a prenuptial agreement to her, and he said it's an agreement made in case of divorce to ensure his children, Max and Cece, are protected, but she still didn't understand what it meant.The conversation upset Juliana because she never wanted to get a divorce and said she'd do anything to make the marriage work, but Michael insisted the prenup would protect her interests as well. Michael pointed out prenups tend to protect the women in marriage "heavily."Michael and Sarah had never signed a prenup together, but Michael said they had no money at the time they wed and had student loans and such since they were so young.Juliana was upset she had to hear about the prenup from Sarah and not Michael, and Michael agreed it was "uncouth" of Sarah and out of character for her to bring that up.Juliana agreed to go forward with a prenup, but she appeared frustrated because she had to give up her jobs, her little dogs and her family in Brazil to come to the United States. She said it was therefore very uncomfortable to talk about divorce before they even married.Michael and Juliana were then shown meeting with a mediator a few weeks before their wedding. Michael revealed he has two children and "business interests" and so he wanted to be "prepared for worst-case scenario."The mediator, Carolyn Swiggart, said a prenup balances out power in a relationship and decision-making. Michael said assets would remain in his name and they'd have separate property.Juliana had stopped working a few months prior, so she didn't have much money to bring into the marriage. Juliana said if Michael didn't want to share his income and assets then neither did she if she ended up making it big as a model.Carolyn told Michael to make sure Juliana would be well taken care of in the case of divorce, and Juliana felt the mediator was on her side, which Michael probably didn't expect.Juliana told Michael that if he left her once, he'd probably be willing to do it again -- referring to a breakup they previously had in their relationship after a big fight.Juliana and Michael apparently broke up for three months last year, when Michael allegedly called her and said he didn't want to date her anymore.Juliana said Michael had suddenly disappeared and she couldn't afford to pay her rent. Juliana never wanted to be in that situation again, and she was angry at herself for depending on Michael so much in the United States.Juliana said she felt like a "loser" and figured Michael would have all the money and power in their relationship."I'm thinking it's time for me to be independent," Juliana told Michael. "If you were in my shoes, you [would be] thinking the same thing. So don't judge."Michael said he never would have brought Juliana to the meeting had he known it was going to be so upsetting for her.After the mediator caused some tension between Michael and Juliana, Michael explained in a confessional Juliana was having a hard time realizing she had lost a lot of her independence and would be vulnerable in the United States."I think he always had control over everything and he wants control over me, but that's not going to happen because men [don't] control me," Juliana told the cameras.Since Juliana was so upset over the prenup, Michael decided against signing one."We're not doing it. No prenup. It doesn't make sense. It's stupid. No matter what happens, you're going to be okay and the kids are going to be fine. That's not why we're getting married -- to have a business transaction," Michael finally shared with his fiancee.Michael hoped for the best and was confident his future marriage would work out.Juliana gave Michael a few kisses and appeared both happy and relieved at Michael's decision. Juliana, however, still didn't trust Michael, telling the cameras, "I don't trust anyone."In the latest episode of , Michael apparently bought Juliana a bicycle for her birthday so she could get around on her own. Juliana loved riding her bike, and a scene showed her visiting Michael's ex-wife Sarah at her place.Juliana had to wait three or four months to work and model again. She began modeling at age 15 in Brazil and opened up to Sarah about how the other girls in her agency were "so mean" to her and she had no money or food when she left her parents."Even though modeling was my dream, I gave up after three months and went back home. It was devastating," Juliana told the cameras, adding that she joined a church after the hardship."I think the church was a cult... and for any reason, you could go to hell."The church's pastor apparently introduced Juliana, who was 17 years old at the time, to a 34-year-old man whom she later married. Juliana said they married after dating for only four months, and in the same day they wed, "he changed."Juliana's ex-husband demanded Juliana that she stay home, not work and clean their house -- and she said the pastor did not believe her when she complained about his behavior."[We] didn't sign divorce or anything. [I] left," Juliana shared.After Juliana escaped the bad relationship, she moved to Sao Paulo to start modeling again as a stronger and more confident woman. Juliana wasn't going to let anyone bully her again, and then after four months, she filed for divorce and forced her ex to sign the papers.Sarah applauded Juliana on having overcome so much in her life and she cried after listening to her story. Sarah realized there was "indescribable" depth to Juliana.Sarah was beginning to regret asking Juliana not to parent her two kids, Max and Cece, since she has great values. Sarah complimented Juliana on being an intelligent hard worker, who values family.Sarah said she and Juliana "filled in the gaps" together in terms of what would make an excellent mother, and she told Juliana that she was glad she chose Michael as a partner."And I'm thankful you're so nice," Juliana said."When I first met Sarah, maybe she was thinking that I was taking advantage of Michael and [had] all the reasons to think that I'm bad. Opening up to her about my life was very important to me, because now I feel like she knows me and understands... I think Sarah likes me -- I hope."Later on, Sarah brought Juliana to a store where Juliana could try on her wedding dress after alterations, and Juliana hoped to become best friends with Sarah because she thought she was really nice.Sarah just advised Juliana to keep ahold of her own money and not become a house servant, cooking and cleaning everything for Michael.Juliana cried in her dress because she couldn't wait to marry her love. But a part of Juliana feared she'd get hurt again."Don't be nervous. You're part of a big family now," Sarah assured the future bride.It is evident, based on this family's social media accounts, that Michael and Juliana are still a couple.Juliana revealed she was hanging out with Sarah in her Instagram Stories on January 14, and she captioned one photo of them both growling, "Men don't control us."On January 13, it appears Juliana did a "closet challenge" with Sarah's new husband Sean Naso and Michael's daughter Cece in which Sean had to pick out feminine clothes blindfolded from a closet and then try them on.Michael also posted photos of Juliana meeting a guitar craftsman he finds remarkable on January 9, and four days earlier, he shared a photo of his love and gushed about her on Instagram."I think this is now my all-time favorite photo of my wonderful and beautiful {word redacted}, @julianacustodiooo.... and she took it herself," Michael captioned the image of Juliana looking naturally beautiful and posed."#lovehersomuch #nofilter #mensdoesntcontrolher #90dayfiance #2020 #homestudio #selfportrait #michaelandjuliana #beautiful #thankful #grateful."On January 4, Juliana and Michael both shared photos from when they celebrated a friend's 50th birthday at what appeared to be a fancy black-tie affair.Michael also took to Instagram on December 25, 2019 with photos of Juliana, his children and their dog."Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from the Jessen/Naso family @maxwell.jessen @julianacustodiooo @keathley76 @the_real_naso @howardthedog87 @dogpercythe #gusgusthedog," Michael captioned the slideshow."We wish you a wonderful and safe holiday season and hope that you enjoy much love, happiness, and health in 2020."After the episode aired earlier this season in which Michael and Juliana met with a mediator to discuss a prenuptial agreement, Michael slammed TLC and the show's production company on Instagram for alleged "bullsh-t" editing that painted himself in a bad light."It's something where I feel like I need to call a little bit of bullsh-t because it's not really who we are. It's not really reflective of our reality," Michael said in a series of videos posted to his Instagram Stories in mid-December, according to In Touch Weekly."I think we're all a little upset that it's kind of cut out the kindness that we truly share together and it was something that was a part of the narrative of our experience that was departing from who we really are... We're all upset about the harshness for which we were portrayed. It hurts our feelings... We're not paid actors. This is still our real lives."Michael also shot down criticism he's selfish in his relationship with Juliana.In the process of defending himself in the video clips, Michael revealed he and Juliana had decided to adopt her niece and nephew from Brazil and bring them over to the United States!"Juliana and I, today, just initiated the process of adopting her niece and nephew from Brazil," Michael reportedly shared on December 15."They're 8 and 6 years old. And they're in [a] dire situation. The only way to give them a chance at a good life is to bring them to America. We've reached out to my lawyer, we're bringing them over here."For Juliana's part, she posted a video on Instagram Stories of herself walking around New York City with Michael at the time. The couple was shown hugging and then the video ended with the pair lying in bed together with Michael shirtless.Juliana also gushed about Michael and defended him following the episode of their prenup dispute."I love this guy. I just wants to share how much I love this man, and so many sacrifices he made just to be with me, isn't fair he being attacked just for what people seem on tv, the fact that I haven't been smart with my own stuff have nothing to do with him," Juliana wrote on Instagram."He doesn't deserve all this hate, he is a prince, I'm so happy that on the real life he is the most amazing human being I have ever met and has a beautiful soul, love you @michael_jessen_77 #90dayfiance."Michael later re-posted the video and wrote, "Here's the real loAve that isn't being shown on TV."Juliana also posted a series of funny photos of Michael, Sarah, Max and Cece on her Instagram Stories around the same time, showing she's still living in America and has a relationship with all of them.Sarah re-married and tied the knot with Sean in early December, and based on a photo Max posted on Instagram, Michael and Juliana attended the small and intimate wedding reception at a waterfront restaurant in Greenwich, CT, together.And when Sarah posted an Instagram photo of Sean, Max, Cece and herself on her wedding day, she tagged Michael and Juliana in her post.The photos provide more evidence Michael and Juliana are still together.On November 27, Juliana confirmed she's still living in the United States when she shared a slideshow of family photos as well as one picture of her standing next to an American flag. She captioned the slideshow, "At home in the USA."Juliana and Michael attended a cancer-research fundraising event together nearly one week earlier and showcased a "wine project" they jointly took on.It's clear Sarah is still very supportive of Michael and Juliana's relationship today. Sarah even once re-posted an inspiring story about Juliana's life and childhood on her Instagram account.Back in November, Juliana posted a video of herself giving a makeup tutorial, and Max and Cece were featured in the video!As Juliana did her makeup on-camera, Max offered hilarious commentary on how to get the job done. He even called a small foundation sponge "a radish."The trio seem to get along beautifully, and Max could be heard calling Juliana his "stepmom," which clearly suggested Michael and Juliana got married.According to two photos Sarah had posted on her Instagram account -- but since deleted -- Michael and Juliana did in fact get married!Sarah shared two families photos from Michael and Juliana's wedding, but they can no longer be found on her account.One photo featured Michael, Juliana, Sarah, Max, Cece and Sarah's now-husband.Juliana's beautiful lace, ballgown wedding dress was featured in the latest episode of 's seventh season.In the other photo, the bride and groom posed with Sarah and Sean only.Everyone was all smiles, and in another picture Sarah subsequently posted, Michael was kissing Cece on the cheek at what appeared to be the wedding reception."Best daughter, best daddy, best day," Sarah wrote alongside the sweet image.A pal of Michael's high-school friend leaked the same photos from Michael and Juliana's wedding late last year."Mike and his now wife Juliana, 20 year age difference, are on ... Clay will be on some episodes including the wedding which they also filmed," the person wrote of Clay, who's apparently Michael's high-school friend, on social media."Mike told Clay they originally tried to make him a villain and he said no then I'm not doing the show so they didn't do that to him. Clay said it's pretty staged... Clay is going to Mike's house Sunday for a viewing party."According to this person, Mike's ex-wife Sarah actually officiated the marriage ceremony for Michael and Juliana.Want spoilers? Click here to visit our Spoilers webpage!
When the crowd goes into deep meditation at Simpson Reserve next weekend they will reflect on four deaths  four young people from Papamoa who took their own lives last year.

Its to share love and raise awareness because I have lost four people I know through my community - all young Maori and it is so terribly sad, says event co-organiser Clare Williams.

We want to remember the people weve lost, send them our blessings and also extend that blessing to anyone battling with mental health issues right now, says event co-organiser Linda Ho.

Its about bringing people together in a positive energy space, helping connect them to solutions, the pair say.

And they will do exactly that to kick off the Alternative Solution Convention next weekend.

According to Clare, meditation is a tool that plays a crucial role in mental wellbeing.

We will show people how to meditate and connect with their breath. This is for everyone, not just people who meditate already.

"If people can learn to meditate for a minute a day  it will make a difference to your daily life  thats the message we want to get out there, she says.

In meditation, we will open our hearts and radiate its energy out over this earth, over all people, and bless them with our intention for healing and health, says Linda.

They expect to see more than 60 people turn out on Saturday, January 24.

Alongside the meditation, attendees will attend talks and workshops on mindset, nutrition and the environment.

"You are going to see alternative ways to heal, eat, move, think and gain wealth," says Clare.

Both convention organisers work in wellness spaces in Tauranga. Clare a life coach and Muay Thai teacher, and Linda an NLP coach and hypnotherapist.

They say its their mission to see people walk out inspired and transformed.

When asked about the mass meditation theme, Clare says its because everyone knows someone impacted by suicide.

Its something at the front of many minds across the country. What New Zealand has gone through in the last 12 months with suicide is just awful.

The event will be held at Papamoa Sports and Recreation Centre next Saturday. Its for all ages and several food trucks will also be on site.

Eco and health products, crystals, reiki, tarot, energy healing and hypnotherapy will also be available.

For more information, visit: www.eventfinda.co.nz/2020/the-alternative-solution-convention/tauranga
No decision has been taken so far to send them to another country.

Iran is trying to analyze the black boxes of a Ukrainian airliner that its military shot down this month, the state IRNA news agency reported on Sunday, denying a report that a decision had been taken to send the plane's recorders to Ukraine.

"We are trying to read the black boxes here in Iran. Otherwise, our options are Ukraine and France, but no decision has been taken so far to send them to another country," Hassan Rezaifar, a director in charge of accident investigations at Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, told IRNA, according to Reuters.

Read alsoEvent to commemorate UIA Flight PS752 victims taking place at Kyiv's Boryspil Airport (Photos)

All 176 people on board the plane were killed in the January 8 crash. Canada, which had 57 citizens on board, and other countries that lost nationals have said the flight data and voice recorders should be analyzed abroad.

The plane disaster has heightened international pressure on Iran as it grapples with a long-running dispute with the United States over its nuclear program and its influence in the region that briefly erupted into open conflict this month.

The military has said it downed Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 in error in the aftermath of tit-for-tat strikes by the United States and Iran. But authorities delayed admitting this, prompting days of protests on Iran's streets.

Rezaifar had been quoted by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency on Saturday as saying the black boxes could not be decoded in Iran and would be sent to Ukraine after Kyiv's repeated requests. IRNA also reported on Sunday that the official had made similar comments a day earlier.

It was not immediately clear what prompted Rezaifar to backtrack, Reuters said.
Ive been a registered nurse (RN) for 44 years. Ive worked in hospitals and in public health, but I also had a unique perspective on our countrys experiment in mass incarceration.

I worked for the New Jersey Department of Corrections for 22 years, from 1984 to 2006. During that time, the states inmate population tripled from 9,000 inmates to 27,000 inmates, with 86% of them Black or Hispanic. These inmates came from our inner citiesTrenton, Camden, Atlantic City, Newark and Paterson. The vast majority of them were poor, and incarceration only further impoverished them and their families. Rich people seemed to somehow avoid many of the legal consequences of drug law violations.

Yes, what drove this mass incarceration was increased enforcement of drug lawsespecially marijuana lawsand enhanced penalties for drug violations. Mandatory minimum sentences and school zone laws condemned non-violent drug offenders to decades of incarceration. In many cities it is nearly impossible to be outside of a school zone. This means city residents face far greater penalties than suburban and rural residents for the same offense.

Many people believe that no one goes to prison for marijuana offenses. This is not so. For four years, I was a Supervisor of Nurses at New Jersey State Prison at Trenton (NJSP). At the time, it was the only fully maximum-security prison in the state. Being at NJSP was hard time for the inmates, every minute of every day. Inmate Steven Kadonsky #807236B has been at NJSP since 1994 for a non-violent marijuana offense. This is not only a waste of the exquisite custody procedures, equipment and manpower of NJSP, but his incarceration has cost the taxpayers over $1.5 million so far.

The average amount of time inmates spent in prison was four years. But civil penalties, on top of the criminal penalties, caused life-long disruptions to employment, education, housing and family life. This led to a high recidivism rate. A marijuana offense was the gateway to the criminal justice system that the poor never seemed to escape from.

Mass incarceration has had a devastating effect on our state. The poverty rate in Trenton is 28%, twice the national average, and forty percent of the children here live in poverty. The violence is ever-escalating. Far too often I hear gunshots when Im sitting in my home. I was born in Trenton and I live in Trenton today. We did not have this kind of violence when I was a student at Trenton High School.

People opposed to marijuana reform say that we need to keep marijuana illegal for the children. When a child has a parent in prison, that is an adverse childhood event. Far too many children in New Jersey suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of the poverty and violence of the inner cities. Having children live in these drug war zones nearly guarantees that they will have a lower socio-economic status, more contact with the criminal justice system, and a greater risk of problematic substance use. The war on marijuana condemns future generations to lives of poverty, violence and drug abuse.

The decades of harm that the drug war has caused will not be undone by any single piece of legislation. But lets get something positive done now. Lets agree with the majority of New Jersey residents and vote to legalize marijuana for adults on November 3, 2020. We can begin to undo the harms of arresting 94 state residents every day for marijuana offenses. We can begin to rebuild our communities.

As a nurse, I urge you to, first, stop the bleeding. #VOTECannabis2020.

 Ken Wolski, RN, MPA, Executive Director, Coalition for Medical MarijuanaNew Jersey, Inc.
Development of Indian science has been impeded by favouritism andn regionalism, says a paper presented at the Indian Social Science Congress.

DC Correspondent

Bengaluru: Favouritism and parochial pressures have often been said to blight Indian science. The greatest of our scientists have had to brave these factors while going about their work. Not even Indias first Nobel Prize winner in the sciences, Prof C V Raman was spared the brunt of this.

Dr Raman started his research work in Calcutta after resigning his lucrative government job to join the Indian Association for Cultivation of Science (IACS). His research at the institute not only fame for him, but also for the institute. But it could not win the hearts of his contemporaries.

Sometime into Dr Ramans tenure, the institute started receiving anonymous letters alleging that he was favouring South Indian students over Bengalis. As a result of such allegations, he was finally stripped of his position in the IACS and he left Calcutta and joined the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru in 1933.

Instances such as this are rife in Indian science, says a paper presented at the 48th Indian Social Science Congress in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Delving into 150-year development of science in the country, the paper by Prof Santosh K, a former professor at the Jawaharlal Nehru University School of Biotechnology, the paper says regionalism, favouritism and paucity of funds are the major reasons for fundamental science research not getting its due attention in India.

Regionalism and favouritism seem to be ingrained in our system, says Prof Santosh.

He states in his paper, "Prof. Raman's efforts to attract top-notch scientists who were fleeing from Germany also did not materialise due to the noncooperation of the Indian bureaucracy and industrialists."

Dr Ramans case was not the only one of a scientist overcoming great hurdles. The paper traces the saga of another prominent physicist, Prof. G.V. Ramachandran, who was a student of Dr Raman.

Prof. Ramachandran was a pioneer in coming out with the Ramachandran Phi-psi diagram, otherwise known as the Ramachandran Plot. His research could have won him a Nobel but did not because his paper could not be published in time, the paper says.

Prof. Ramachandran worked silently while his rivals were publishing their papers in the West. Although he was an excellent researcher, it was not enough to bring laurels to the country," it adds.

When Prof. Ramachandran sought funds to continue his research, bureaucrats were indifferent, and his research suffered heavily.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Canada Providing $25,000 to Families of Iran Plane Crash Victims

The families of Canadian victims who were killed when Irans Revolutionary Guards shot down the Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet will receive $25,000 to handle immediate needs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Jan. 16.

Trudeau said at a press conference in Ottawa on Friday morning that he had been in direct conversations with the families of the victims about the needs they are facing and that the government will be providing the financial support within the coming days.

As a first step, the government will give families of the victims who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents $25,000 per victim to assist with their immediate needs such as funeral arrangements and travel, he said.

This is a unique and unprecedented situation because of the international sanctions placed on Iran and the difficulties that that imposes on these families.

Trudeaus government has said that 57 of the 176 people aboard the flight were Canadian and 29 were permanent residents.

However, the Prime Minister said that while the government will be providing the initial funds, they will continue to put pressure on Iran to provide full compensation for shooting down the civilian jet.

I want to be clear: We expect Iran to compensate these families. But I have met them[the families]. They cant wait weeks. They need support now, he said. Canada continues to call for a thorough and credible investigation into last weeks tragedy.

Trudeau added that his government has not yet specified an exact figure in terms of how much compensation it hopes Iran will pay but assured that any money paid by the Islamic Republic would go straight to the families of the victims.

We havent looked at what the full compensation would end up looking like from Iran but I can assure you that any money from Iran to the victims would go straight to themit wouldnt be to reimburse the Canadian government.

He said the Canadian government would also expedite visas and waive fees to make it easier for families to travel and are providing legal support to the families of victims.

All 176 people on board Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 were killed when Irans air defense fired two anti-aircraft missiles and shot down the Ukrainian airliner just after takeoff from Tehrans Imam Khomeini International Airport on Jan. 8.

Those killed included 11 Ukrainians, 57 Canadians (including many Iranians with dual citizenship), 17 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans, and four Britons.

Iran initially said the crash was caused by a mechanical failure but admitted shortly after that its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard shot down the plane by accident, triggering another wave of widespread protests in Tehran and elsewhere.

The plane was shot down as Iran was on high alert for possible retaliatory action just hours after it launched missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops in revenge for the U.S. killing of top Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in a drone attack in Baghdad on Jan. 3.
New Delhi: The BJP is repeatedly harassing Hardik Patel, who fights for the rights of farmers and employment for youths, said Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday.

"BJP is repeatedly harassing Hardik Patel, who fights for the rights of farmers and employment for youths. Hardik has raised the people`s voice, asked for jobs for them, make the demand for the scholarship. Launched farmers' movement. BJP is terming all this as sedition," said Gandhi in a tweet.

Congress leader Patel, who has been sent to judicial custody till January 24, was arrested on Saturday after he failed to appear before a trial court in Ahmedabad in connection with an alleged case of sedition.

Patel was booked by the Crime Branch in 2015 under sedition charges over his provocative remarks where he allegedly asked his supporters to kill the policemen rather than committing suicide for the cause of reservation.

However, Patel has asserted that there is no evidence against him in the charge-sheet filed by the Crime Branch with regard to criminal conspiracy and inciting people to dislodge the government during the violent agitation that followed the gathering of Patidar community on August 25, 2015.
Welcome to Hitting the Books. With less than one in five Americans reading just for fun these days, we've done the hard work for you by scouring the internet for the most interesting, thought provoking books on science and technology we can find and delivering an easily digestible nugget of their stories.

Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation is Arming Tomorrow's Terrorists

by Audrey Kurth Cronin

Book cover

The internet is all around us -- in our phones, our homes, our cars, and even our toaster ovens for some reason. Problem is, the adoption of this ubiquitous connectivity has far outpaced our efforts to secure those systems against unlawful intrusion, giving bad actors a plethora of new ways to harass, intimidate, harm and terrorize their targets.

In Power to the People, author and noted security expert Audrey Kurth Cronin, delves into the history of technological innovation and its impacts on international terrorism. From gunpowder and dynamite to cyberattacks, autonomous systems, and 3D printing, these advances have markedly improved our society but have also given your run of the mill extremist idealog access to weapons of mass murder.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection of millions of computing devices via the Internet, equipped with sensors that directly receive and transfer data without human involvement. As the IoT grows to encompass more cars, kitchen appliances, thermostats, door locks, voice-activated assistants, and even hospital infusion pumps and heart monitors, it provides malevolent actors plentiful opportunities for hacking into systems and wreaking havoc.

A great danger is that because private sector companies compete furiously to get their products to market cheaply and quickly, software engineers routinely fail to incorporate security into their designs. Release of new products takes priority over implementing security features, and since competitors' security is just as lax, properly securing these consumer products, which would lead to delays of months, would be a serious competitive disadvantage. What has resulted is a kind of race to the bottom: according to one estimate, 70 percent of all IoT devices have flaws such as unsecured software and unencrypted communication systems. Thus far, companies are usually not held legally responsible for hacks that break through lax security in consumer devices. What's more, the companies themselves have little incentive to secure or encrypt these data sources, because easy access affords them a wealth of information about users. Openness and accessibility are valuable; for those who want to sell to us, having information on what millions of people do is very lucrative. But profiles of our behavior also offer extremely valuable intelligence for those who want to attack us.

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Consumers have little to no control over what information is gathered through these devices because they do not own the software that runs them, or have control over that software. The Internet of Things is changing the nature of buying and owning items. According to law professor Joshua Fairfield, a fundamental shift in property rights is underway and we're entering an era of digital serfdom, loosely resembling feudalism. Whereas serfs did not own their own land, homes, or even farm tools, we generally own the hardware of our smart devices, but the companies who produce them own the software and the information about us they gather. With some smart products, even the hardware is not owned outright, but rather rented. John Deere, for example, has told farmers that they don't really own the tractors they purchase from the company because they are licensing the software that runs them. Farmers cannot fix the vehicles themselves or take them to independent repair shops.

Because IoT devices are connected to the Internet, they can also be hacked, and intrusions are already widespread. Would you leave your front door wide open? In August 2017, hundreds of Internet-connected locks became inoperable because of a faulty software update by LockState. It left hundreds of owners unable to lock or unlock their homes for a week. Hackers have moved from taking remote control of your PC to taking control of your smart TV or your city's CCTV cameras instead. They have hacked cars (repeated attacks on Jeep Cherokees in 2015 and 2016), power plants (malware took down Ukraine's power plants in 2016), smart bulbs (researchers showed they could hack thousands of Philips Hue smart bulbs in 2017), and voting machines (a Princeton professor hacked into one in seven minutes). Relatively inexpensive IoT hacking tools are widely and cheaply available to non-state actors. Why bother planting an explosive device under a car if you can hack into a vehicle's navigation system and make it accelerate into a wall or off a bridge? No need for assassination if hackers can deliver a fatal dose of insulin through the unencrypted radio communication system of the insulin pump. No need to take physical hostages; just tamper with a hospital's computer-connected infusion pump to overdose a patientthen threaten to do the same to others.

According to American cryptographer and computer security expert Bruce Schneier, IoT devices are more vulnerable than your laptop or your phone, for a number of reasons. The first is that huge corporations like Apple, Samsung, and Microsoft can afford to hire large teams of engineers devoted to security, while the smaller companies that are making smart locks and thermostats, for example, cannot. Second, whereas people replace their smartphones and laptops every few years, that is not the case for smart refrigerators, pacemakers, or cars, which they will keep for five or ten years or more. Nefarious actors have much more time to discover their vulnerabilities and, because the software is rarely updated, those vulnerabilities persist year after year, just waiting to be exploited. To make matters worse, a vulnerability in one Internet-enabled device, like your home router, can be used as a launching pad for attacks against a range of other connected devices you might own. One small flaw and your whole computer-assisted life can be hijacked.

Much attention has been paid to the threat of espionage and cyberattacks by states, and in February 2016, US Director of National Intelligence James Clapper warned that the Internet of Things will further empower state- sponsored espionage, enabling better monitoring, tracking, and targeting of individuals. The threat of attacks by non-state actors is also high. For terrorists, a key question now, as always, is which avenues of attack are most easily available? Enormous collections of data are enticing targets, at scales of magnitude that non-state malicious actors could never dream of amassing themselves. States and corporations are focused on the potential fruits of big data rather than on the criminals and terrorists who can hack into it.

By connecting everything from home defense systems to medical devices to utility companies to hydroelectric dams to the Internet, we have made a new means of attack highly accessible. Absent better security measures, well- established processes of the diffusion of lethal empowerment will kick in. In the mid-twentieth century, airline hijackings evolved from airplane flight diversions to Cuba to the downing of airliners with hundreds of innocent people aboard. Exploiting the Internet of Things to hold people hostage or attack them will spawn increasingly violent copycat attacks. Putting better defensive measures in place is essential.

From Power to the People: How Open Technological Innovation is Arming Tomorrow's Terrorists by Audrey Kurth Cronin. Copyright  2019 by Audrey Kurth Cronin and published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)The festival takes place in many areas around campus like the Purdue Memorial Union and the Stewart Center. Over 60 schools from all of the mid-west performed at least three selections for judges from all over the country.

Then the judges host a thirty minute clinic with the group on their performance. This is the largest jazz festival in the mid-west.

Director of Operations for Purdue Bands and Orchestras, Douglas Fletcher, said this is a great opportunity for young musicians.

"We hope they have a positive experience at Purdue University and that they enjoy coming here performing," said Fletcher. "And that they got some valuable feedback that they can then go back to their school and continue to develop."

Purdue Bands also performed at the Jazz Festival.
The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) an apex trade body -- on Sunday condemned NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat's reported remarks that the Union Territory's economy was not significantly affected by the internet suspension and the data service was only used to watch "dirty films", and demanded his immediate removal.

"We condemn these remarks. They are spreading venom against the people of Kashmir. Nobody gives him the right to speak like this about the people of Jammu and Kashmir and utter this nonsense against us," KCCI president Sheikh Ashiq told PTI.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual convocation at Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on Saturday, Saraswat said, "What difference does it make if there's no internet there (Kashmir)? What do you watch on internet there? What e-tailing is happening there? Besides watching dirty films, you do nothing there."



Ashiq said the whole world knows that the Valley is suffering due to the internet shutdown and the losses to the business sector here have amounted to over Rs 18,000 crore in the past nearly six months.

"We at the Chamber know that our economy has been deeply affected by the suspension of internet services. Every sector of our economy has suffered a great deal. If any person says something like this, it speaks a volume about his mind capacity. He has no right to sit in the NITI Aayog," he said.

The KCCI recently submitted a detailed report about the business losses in the Kashmir valley to Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu and Union minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal as well as MoS PMO Jitendra Singh.

Ashiq said the Union Territory is going through a very difficult and challenging phase and people like Saraswat at the NITI Aayog can do no justice to Jammu and Kashmir and demanded his immediate sacking.

"People like him are taking advantage of the situation and talking non-sense. We can read between the lines that such filthy minds can do no justice in the NITI Aayog. We urge the government of India to remove such persons immediately as they can do no justice to the job they are assigned to.

"The KCCI is of the strict opinion that business community of Kashmir is going through a very difficult and trying all sorts of ways and means to recover from this difficult time. But remarks like this do not help," the KCCI president said.

Ashiq said considering the present state of the economy of not only Kashmir but all over the country "which is moving from bad to worse" and the "failure" to formulate any redressive policy by the government and the NITI Aayog, it would have been better if Saraswat would have chosen to maintain his silence.

"However, the statement issued by a person holding a responsible position raises concern at the calibre and mental condition of persons entrusted with serious responsibilities.

"The statement is not only unbecoming, but also maligns the population of Kashmir. The losses caused to our economy is a matter of record and cannot be swept under the carpet by issuance of absurd and factually incorrect statements," he said.

Internet services, landline and mobile phones were snapped across Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Centre's announcement to scrap special status of the erstwhile state and its bifurcation into Union Territories on August 5.

While most of the services except mobile internet were restored in Jammu within a week, Kashmir witnessed restoration of landlines and postpaid mobile services and internet facilities to essential services like hospitals in phases.

On Saturday, The Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered the restoration of the prepaid mobile service in the Valley after over five months of suspension besides the 2G mobile data service on postpaid connections for accessing "whitelisted" sites across the Jammu division.

2G mobile data services on postpaid mobiles for accessing the whitelisted sites were resumed in only two districts -- Kupwara and Bandipora -- in Kashmir.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Home Office has formally requested the extradition of 42-year-old US citizen Anne Sacoolas (Family handout/PA)

The family of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn have written to the UN Secretary General in a plea to review the outdated diplomatic immunity conventions.

The 19-year-olds parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, have always disputed the immunity granted to their sons alleged killer Anne Sacoolas.

In a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, seen by the PA news agency, the family have urged him to review the confusing diplomatic immunity regulations, which they have claimed are abused frequently.

Expand Close The family of Harry Dunn (left to right) mother Charlotte Charles, stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp The family of Harry Dunn (left to right) mother Charlotte Charles, stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, claimed diplomatic immunity after Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

Her lawyers, the US administration and the Foreign Office have all claimed she was granted immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Conventions which was established in 1961.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Mr Dunns family have argued Mrs Sacoolas was not a diplomat and therefore was not entitled to diplomatic immunity.

In the letter to Mr Gutteres, the parents have said: We cannot of course discuss the details of the case or the ladys driving, but one of the issues our campaign is focusing on is reviewing the outdated diplomatic immunity conventions dating back to 1961.

They are confusing and are abused frequently, as here by the US administration. Diplomatic Immunity is of course not a get out jail free card.

The parents have asked me to seek a meeting with the Secretary General or any of his senior aides to discuss and hear the parents concerns on behalf of citizens right around the world who suffer similar abuse and to work out a plan as to how the international community can and will behave better whilst accepting of course the original reason for the provision which is to keep real diplomats safe in hot spot countries, not give them a get out of jail free card.

Mr Dunns parents have also urged authorities to investigate a separate incident in which another driver was involved in a near miss close to RAF Croughton.

The Prime Minister said he would raise concerns over the driving of US diplomatic staff at a world leaders summit after footage, released by PA, showed a blue BMW on the wrong side of the road.

Boris Johnson is in Berlin with world leaders, including US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, at the summit hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The video, reported to Northamptonshire Police on Saturday, shows the car has what appears to be one of the registration numbers used on US government vehicles in the UK.

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In a statement, Northamptonshire Chief Constable Nick Adderley said: I do not underestimate how much of a concerning incident this was and how much worse it could have been, especially considering the circumstances in which 19-year-old Harry Dunn tragically died.

The Prime Minister previously said that it was right to appeal for the extradition of Mrs Sacoolas, but said the chances of her returning were very low.

Thats not what they do, Mr Johnson said, sparking criticism from Mr Dunns family who later said the Prime Minister had no intention to meet them.

The US State Department has said the UK extradition request for Ms Sacoolas is highly inappropriate and would be an abuse.
There was sympathy, sadness and a little frustration from people outside Buckingham Palace on Sunday morning over the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were quitting as senior members of the royal family.

Mindy Lefurg, 51, from Iowa in the United States, said that Meghan knew what her duties were when she married into the royal family but added she has the right to want a happy and normal life.

Mrs Lefurg, who used to work in retail banking, said: From what you can see of the pressures they face, it all seems to date back to his (Harrys) mother and her death.

You can understand why he might want a more normal life for his family and for himself but I think if they had stayed here and given it more time, things would have calmed down.

Susan Deokie, an office administrator from Toronto, Canada, predicted there would be a warm welcome for the royal couple in her homeland, but that the mood could shift if Canadians have to fund the Sussexes security bill.

She said: It would not be fair for them to pay the bill. We are all living through a recession and job security is not guaranteed.

Staying she has mixed feelings about the Sussex situation, she added: I think he (Harry) needs to find some normality which he has never had, but he has a duty and needs to give the public what it wants.

Living in Canada would be great for them. They could have a normal life with their baby Archie and they would not be hounded by the press.

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Sales worker Dru Shiner, 51, from Kansas City in the US, said: You are mixing two cultures  the British and American  and then you complicate it all with being part of the royal family.

While she (Meghan) had a level of public spectacle for years (as an actress), the level of scrutiny she got was always going to provide much more difficulty.

Lynne Hooton, 60, a cleaner from the Wirral, said of the decision: I am not surprised. They are a young family and they want to live their lives.

It is like any family, you do not see what is happening in the background as you only see what is happening in the front.

I think Meghan is the one that does all the decision-making.

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Mrs Hootons husband Paul, 63, a retired car production worker, said: I think Meghan has just found it a bit more difficult coming into the royal family than she thought.

I know she had been in the TV industry but it obviously was not like this.

They have only been married two years and she obviously found it difficult.

Susan Kelly, 62, a staff nurse from Dublin, said she was sad for the family and hoped it would not damage the charities the couple had been involved with.

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She said: It is sad for both William and Harry. They had the star quality and there was also a good attractive balance between Kate and Meghan.

It will now put an onus on Kate and William to carry the load.

Her husband Paul, 63, a self-employed businessman, said: This is the worst option for them. Harry had a job to do and he has basically put it off.

They should have been able to negotiate through this because everyone in life has to cope with their issues.
Bombshell Cert: 15, 1hr 49mins

Rating:

I first saw Bombshell a few weeks ago, and when I told people what a treat they had heading their way, they naturally wanted to know what it was about. When I told them Roger Ailes head of Fox News sexual harassment scandal, I quickly grew accustomed to two very different reactions.

Most would look at me completely blankly  Roger who? theyd ask. The response from the remainder, however, was even more disconcerting. Oh, Roger Ailes, theyd nod knowledgeably, you mean the sleazy guy from The Loudest Voice?

My turn to look blank.

Gretchen Carlson's  played here by a seriously bewigged Nicole Kidman  liberal views became at odds with the conservative editorial line so aggressively set by Roger Ailes

Now, however, Im all caught up and realise that Bombshell does have two big obstacles to overcome. First, a majority of cinemagoing Brits wont know who he is or, indeed, who the female news presenters are whose sexual harassment claims  and accompanying lawsuit  cost him his career.

Second, however, is that a well-informed minority will think theyve seen it all before because theyve watched the mini-series that covers the same ground, and for which Russell Crowe recently won a Golden Globe.

Picking up three Oscar nominations this week (acting nods for Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie, and a deserved third nomination for the hair and make-up team), Bombshell is thankfully more than good enough to overcome both potential stumbling blocks.

John Lithgow (above with Charlize Theron)  virtually unrecognisable under a fat-suit and prosthetics to portray a character who is old, fat and ugly  is fabulously repellent as Ailes

Its energetic and, given the challenging subject matter, surprisingly entertaining  even funny at times. But when the difficult moments come, its brave, tense and hard-hitting too.

The end result is very good indeed, and all the better for sticking with a cleverly constructed screenplay that allows its central female characters to be properly flawed, and thus all the more believable, rather than giving them the usual saintly Hollywood polish.

You can tell that Theron, who also produces, has been one of the main driving forces behind the project.

You can tell that Theron, who also produces, has been one of the main driving forces behind the project. It falls to the real-life character she's playing to set the high-octane scene

It falls to the real-life character shes playing  political anchor-woman Megyn Kelly  to set the high-octane scene as she stalks the Fox newsroom, addressing herself straight to camera, letting us know where the real power lies (Ailess office, complete with private lift, is on the second floor, while the Murdochs are on the eighth) and setting the ambiguous, sexually charged tone.

Nice dress, notes a younger male colleague who passes her in the corridor.

Dont worry, purrs Theron, Fleabag-style, to camera, hes not horny, hes just ambitious.

The scene in which he invites Kayla (Margot Robbie), a fictional amalgam of many of the women who fell into Ailess clutches, to raise her already short skirt ever higher is truly chilling

But its not Kelly who blows the whistle on Ailess harassment. That honour belongs to another real-life character, Gretchen Carlson, a former Miss America whose ever more liberal views became increasingly at odds with the unrepentantly conservative editorial line so aggressively set by Ailes.

Not for nothing was the station best known as Donald Trumps favourite.

With her looks perceived to be fading and views diverging, Carlson  played here by a seriously bewigged Nicole Kidman  sensed what was coming and consulted lawyers.

IT'S A FACT Roger Ailes was a media consultant to US Presidents Nixon, Reagan and George W Bush, and advised on Trump's campaign. Advertisement

So when she finally gets fired, shes ready with a lawsuit, totally confident that many of her female colleagues will support her claims of sexual harassment. Only they dont.

Mind you, Kelly is so busy being harassed and humiliated publicly by Trump, you can almost understand why. Almost.

John Lithgow  virtually unrecognisable under a fat-suit and prosthetics to portray a character who, by his own admission, is old, fat and ugly  is fabulously repellent as Ailes.

His much-repeated mantra that television is a visual medium has produced a channel of glass desks (all the better for seeing the womens legs), a bullying insistence that female presenters wear short skirts rather than trousers, and given him the excuse to invite any naive young woman with ambitions to be on TV to just give us a little twirl.

The scene in which he invites the humiliated Kayla (Robbie), a fictional amalgam of many of the women who fell into Ailess clutches, to raise her already short skirt ever higher is truly chilling.

In the end it doesnt matter that we insular Brits wont know who many of these people are. This is a film that powerfully captures a key turning point in social history. Highly recommended.

ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

Just Mercy (12A)

Rating:

Ever since Sidney Poitier and In The Heat Of The Night, young idealist black detectives and/or lawyers have been fighting injustice and racism in Americas Deep South.

This is very much in that cinematic tradition, with Creed star Michael B Jordan playing Bryan Stevenson who, fresh out of Harvard, arrives in Alabama to fight for black inmates on Death Row.

Walter McMillian, played here by Jamie Foxx, has been convicted on flimsy, even fabricated evidence. It's hard-hitting stuff - all the more so for being based on a true story

Many, including Walter McMillian, played here by Jamie Foxx, have been convicted on flimsy, even fabricated evidence. Its hard-hitting stuff  all the more so for being based on a true story  but director Destin Daniel Cretton, having certainly gained our attention, slowly loses it by flirting with cliche, over-indulging his actors and taking far too long to make his unarguable point.

Waves (15)

Rating:

Luce star Kelvin Harrison Jr plays Tyler, a black (and, yes, his ethnicity is important here) high-school student who seems to have it all. Hes from an affluent and supportive family, is the muscular star of the wrestling team and his cheerleader girlfriend is one of the prettiest girls at his Miami school.

But his God-fearing father is pushing him very hard, hes hiding a secret shoulder injury and that pretty girlfriend thinks she might be pregnant. So his life is definitely not all good  a bit like this touching but overlong and somewhat melodramatic picture.

A Hidden Life (12A)

Rating:

Terrence Malicks film has two big things going for it: its about that modern-day rarity, moral courage, and sees the maverick director returning not only to a true story but also one that has a beginning, middle and end.

A third plus is the stunning Austrian mountain scenery, where a young farming couple have to deal with the terrifying wartime consequences of the husbands refusal to swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler.

A young farming couple (Valerie Pachner, above) have to deal with the terrifying wartime consequences of the husbands refusal to swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler

Its a deeply moving story but the ponderous pace, endless introspection and almost three-hour running time will definitely damage its commercial prospects.
Rutgers Universitys search for a new president might be over.

The universitys Board of Governors has called a special meeting for 9 a.m. Tuesday to discuss appointing an executive-level member to the administration, according to a notice of the public meeting sent Sunday.

University spokeswoman Dory Devlin could not provide any information beyond the meeting notice, she said. However, Rutgers has been searching for a replacement for retiring president Robert Barchi, with a goal of selecting a new leader by early 2020.

Both the university Board of Governors and Board of Trustees will hold special meetings Tuesday morning, according to the meeting notice. Both boards will discuss contract negotiation and personnel matters in closed session before acting in open session on the appointment of the new, high-ranking administrator, according to the meeting notice.

Barchi is stepping down at the end of this school year after eight years as president.

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Fishing is one of the major economic activities in Beira, Mozambique. (File Photo by Andrew Mambondiyani for The Epoch Times)

Mozambiques Fishermen Point to China as Fish Stocks Dwindle

BEIRA, MozambiqueLuis Domingo, a fisherman in Beira, Mozambique, is following the trade that has sustained his family for generations.

But now, he said, I can go out to the ocean for the whole day and come back ashore with a very small catch or nothing at all.

I dont know what is happening, but we are running out of fish.

Depleted fish stocks have caused some of his fellow fishermen to leave the villages dotting the Indian Ocean coastline, Domingo said. Theyve settled inland to try small-scale farming.

But we are experiencing frequent droughts in the country and farming is difficult, too, he said. For many years, our lives were centered on fishing, but were now running out of options.

Some fishermen blamed Chinese vessels for dwindling fish stocks.

Eduardo Chisale, another fisherman in the area, said: I have heard of so many Chinese fishing vessels here in Mozambique, and some of these vessels are fishing illegally. I pray they are not going to leave us with no fish at all. I survive on fishing and nothing else.

Fishermen in Beira, Mozambique. (Andrew Mambondiyan for The Epoch Times)

A Wide Net and a False Flag

Its difficult to say exactly how big the problem of Chinese plunder in Africa is. Studies on the topic have found that agreements between Chinese fisheries and African governments lack transparency. Some vessels with licenses flout quotas; many vessels operate without any license at all.

China has the largest distant-water fishing fleet in the world. And an estimated 80 percent of Chinese distant-water catch is from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, according to a report commissioned by the European Parliament in 2012.

Some investigations of IUU fishing in Africa have confirmed a heavy Chinese presence. For example, Chinese vessels accounted for more than half the IUU vessels identified off the coast of Guinea in a 2007 investigation by the Environmental Justice Foundation.

IUU fishing is threatening the fishing industry and the health of the oceans globally. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 90 percent of the worlds marine fish stocks are now fully exploited.

In West Africa, about half of all the fishing is IUU. That represents more than $2 billion annually that could be in the hands of local fishermen and communities. It also represents hundreds of thousands of local jobs.

In East African countries, such as Mozambique, the problem is rampant, and locals have little left to sustain them.

Backed Into a Corner

Many fishermen are driven into crime, terrorism, and piracy, said Yasin Hagi Mohamoud, foreign minister of East Africas Republic of Somaliland, in an open appeal he wrote in March.

Somalilands small fishing fleet cannot compete with Chinese vessels and the advanced technology that they employ. It is said that one Chinese ship can catch as many fish in a single week as the average fishing boat in Africa can catch in an entire year. Across Africa, this disparity drains economies of billions of dollars, he wrote.

For many years, the Chinese have similarly dominated the natural resource industries on land, particularly logging and mining.

[Logging] is dominated by Chinese people who go to the bush and convince the poorest people to cut the logs, Imede Falume, Mozambiques deputy director of forestry, told Reuters last year.

At the time, Mozambiques government signed a memorandum of understanding with China to try to stem the major loss of forestland10 percent of the countrys forests had disappeared since 2000, according to the nonprofit Global Forest Watch.

A recent investigation by Zam Magazine in Mozambique found that the routes used for the plunder of timber before, and now of fish, seem to have been overlapping. The magazine alleged that a network of Mozambican ruling party leaders and Chinese businesses are responsible.

Chisale, the Mozambican fisherman, said he feared reprisal from powerful people linked to the illegal fishing in Mozambique if he spoke with The Epoch Times further about it. But at the same time, hes optimistic his government will do something about the situation.

I know our government will do something to protect us because fishing is our future, Chisale said.

Solutions

In November, at a meeting in the capital, the Mozambique Ministry of Sea Inland Waters and Fisheries national director of operations, Leonilde Chimarize, said the government is working on it.

She said that last year, there were more than 200 prosecutions for illegal fishing and most of the culprits were foreign shipping vessels. He said that the Mozambican government is reviewing legislation, including creating maritime courts to curb illegal fishing in the country.

Ahmed Diame, an oceans campaigner for Greenpeace Africa, has called on African countries to work together on the problem. He said in a 2017 blog post, I have seen crew applaud their boats arrest, knowing the wrongs of their captains orders. And I have heard people on land across West Africa speak about their suffering.

The non-profit Stop Illegal Fishing has helped African countries work together through an effort called FISH-i Africa. It created a network of countries, including Mozambique, that share fisheries intelligence.

For example, if a particular vessel has acted illegally in the waters off the coast of one country, the other countries are alerted and block it from entering their waters.

Peter Sinon, former minister of natural resources for Seychelles, said in a FISH-i Africa press release that before FISH-i, [we were] shooting in the dark, we were not seeing the whole picture. The illegal fishers would play us one against the other, be clean in one port and illegal in another.

China has taken some action to address the problem. From 2016 to 2018, it canceled subsidies worth $111.6 million for vessels caught fishing illegally, according to Greenpeace. It has also revoked the distant-water fishing licenses of several companies.

China has had a shaky relationship with international laws, such as the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), that would protect Africas coasts.

While China has adjusted its legislation in accordance with UNCLOS, enforcement of these laws and regulations remains a great challenge, said Tabitha Grace Mallory of Johns Hopkins University, in testimony to the USChina Economic and Security Review Commission in 2012. Chinas will to implement UNCLOS has been called into question in its dealings with other nations in the South China Sea, closer to home.

With some other international initiatives related to IUU, China has either refused to sign, or signed but not ratified. For example, it did not sign the UN FAOs 2009 Port State Measures Agreement, which would require port states to inspect fishing vessels and deny entry to those engaged in IUU fishing.

The Human Costs

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), a UK-based organization working internationally to address threats to environmental security and their associated human rights abuses, said marine fisheries are critical for the food security, income, and employment of coastal populations across West Africa.

An estimated 6.7 million people depend directly on fisheries for food and livelihoods, with fish accounting for over 50 percent of animal protein intake in countries such as Ghana and Sierra Leone, EJF said in a recent report.

Greenpeaces Diame spoke to the conditions of the people working on the boats and sanitation issues for food handling, when he described one vessel he observed: Nets, rubbish, and dead fish were strewn over the rusty deck. We found out that the tiny, 21-meter [69-foot] longboat was home to at least 20 workers, living in incredibly cramped and unhygienic conditions.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The NCB has unearthed an inter-state nexus of psychotropic medicine traffickers with the seizure of over 7 lakh tablets and more than 1,400 injections and bottles of cough syrup, officials said on Sunday.

Three people have been arrested as part of the operation spanning across Agra in Uttar Pradesh and Ludhiana in Punjab, NCB Delhi zonal Director K P S Malhotra said.

"A total of 7,24,840 tablets and capsules, 1,400 injections and 80 CBCS (codeine-based cough syrup) bottles have been seized," he said.

"These medicines are suspected to have been diverted from lawful channels into the trafficking network," he said.

The seized tablets also include Tramadol, a drug regulated under the law as it is a psychotropic substance, a senior official said.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is now probing the role of pharma companies, dealers and retailers to unearth the entire nexus, the officer said.

NCB officials said the seized drugs are of schedule H/H1/X category which require a medical prescription to procure from the pharmacist.

Seized drugs are narco drugs used for anti-anxiety, as sedatives and pain killers, and lead to habit-forming and dependence creation, they said.
President Donald Trumps legal team presented Saturday its line of defense for his upcoming impeachment trial, a process they dismissed as unconstitutional and dangerous.

It was the first time the team presented its arguments, modelled on those put forward since December by Trump and his fellow Republicans.

White House counsel Pat Cipollone will be lead lawyer, backed by Trumps personal attorney Jay Sekulow. They will be joined by Ken Starr, who was at the center of Bill Clintons impeachment in the 1990s, and celebrity lawyer Alan Dershowitz.

In an initial response to the presidents being charged, written by Cipollone and Sekulow, the defense said that the articles of impeachment -- passed by the majority-Democrat House of Representatives -- are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president.

This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, the team said in a statement.

Trump has been impeached on charges that he abused his office to try and force Ukraine into digging up dirt on leading Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden by withholding $400 million in military aid and a White House meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He was also impeached for allegedly obstructing Congress.

The articles of impeachment are constitutionally invalid on their face. They fail to allege any crime or violation of law whatsoever, the defense team said.

In a call with reporters earlier Saturday, a source close to Trumps legal team said the articles violate the Constitution because they are the product of invalid proceedings that flagrantly denied the president any due process rights.

The impeachment process risks doing lasting damage to our structure of government, the source said.

The sources added that Trump had met with Zelensky at the UN in September and that the military aid had been released, proving there was no quid pro quo with Kiev -- although by that point, a whistleblower within the administration had already triggered the impeachment proceedings.

The House managers, or prosecutors in the impeachment trial, filed their official brief on Saturday, in which they said that Trumps conduct is the Framers worst nightmare, referring to the authors of the US Constitution.

The case against the President of the United States is simple, the facts are indisputable, and the evidence is overwhelming, the managers said in a joint statement after filing the brief.

President Trump abused the power of his office to solicit foreign interference in our elections for his own personal political gain, thereby jeopardizing our national security, the integrity of our elections, and our democracy.
According to Fitch Solutions, its 2020 real GDP growth forecast for Vietnam is maintained at 6.8%.

Real GDP growth eased to 7.0% y-o-y in Q419, from an upwardly revised 7.5% y-o-y in Q319, due mainly to an easing of growth in the industrial sector.

Infrastructure and human capital bottlenecks will likely continue to cap growth of the manufacturing sector, and continued damming upstream of the Mekong River from Laos and the outbreak of African swine fever will weigh on growth of the agriculture sector.

That said, this is likely to be partially offset by a strengthening of growth in construction and services.

The General Statistics Oce of Vietnam (GSO) reported that real GDP growth came in at 7.0% y-o-y in Q419, easing from an upwardly revised 7.5% y-o-y in Q319 (from 7.3% y-o-y previously). This took the 2019 real GDP growth to 7.0%.

Infrastructure and human capital bottlenecks will continue to cap growth of the manufacturing sector, while continued damming upstream of the Mekong River from Laos and the outbreak of African swine fever will drag on the agriculture sector. However, a strengthening of growth in the construction and services sectors over the coming quarters will partially offset the moderation in the aforementioned sectors.

Yhe easing of growth in the nal quarter was mainly due to weakness in the industrial sector, which saw growth ease to 7.3% y-o- y in Q419, from 10.4% y-o-y in Q319. This saw the industrial sectors growth contribution fall to 2.1pp, from 3.0pp in Q319.

Growth of the construction sector picked up to 10.3% y-o-y in Q419, from 9.0% y-o-y in Q319, and contributed 0.8pp to growth in Q419. Services sector growth strengthened to 8.1% y-o-y in Q419, from an upwardly revised 7.3% y-o-y in Q319, which saw its growth contribution increase to 3.2pp, from 2.8pp over the same period.

The stronger services growth was mainly driven by retail, transport and warehousing, hotels and restaurants, and nancial services. Finally, droughts weighed on crop output, while the outbreak of African swine fever, which has affected all 63 provinces in Vietnam, and Avian Flu in two provinces dragged on livestock production.

Accordingly, growth of the agriculture, forestry, and shery sector slowed to 1.6% y-o-y in Q419, from 2.0% y-o-y in Q319 and contributed 0.2pp to growth in Q419, versus 0.3pp in Q319.





Transport and logistical infrastructure and human capital bottlenecks will continue to weigh on growth of the manufacturing sector, which accounts for around 16.5% of the Vietnamese economy.

The US-China trade war accelerated the structural shift in low-end electronics manufacturing and textiles manufacturing out of China and into ASEAN, with Vietnam being a major beneciary.

However, the rush to set up operations and export out of Vietnam has put considerable stress on the existing road and port infrastructure, resulting in severe trac congestion in and around major cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and also week-long delays at the ports, according to media reports.

Indeed, exports growth has decelerated since September 2019 (see chart above) and we expect this trend to persist over the coming months.



The lack of adequate highway connections to the ports has further exacerbated delays. A shortage of qualied labour, as being suggested by high y-o-y wage growth of between 12% and 18% across the occupational skill levels (see chart above), will also weigh on manufacturing growth.

A lack of skilled labour would weigh on productive eciency through inhibiting the integration of better technology into work processes.

Indeed, Vietnams manufacturing production growth slowed sharply to 6.5% y-o-y in November 2019, its lowest level since 2017, from 10.8% y-o-y in October 2019.





Separately, growth of the agriculture sector (14.0% of GDP) will also be under pressure in 2020 due to hydroelectric dam projects upstream of the Mekong River in Laos, as well as diseases such as the African swine fever.

According to a study by the Mekong River Commission in early 2018, the dam projects could reduce Mekong Fish stocks by up to 40%, in addition to causing a 97% reduction in sediment owing downstream, adversely impacting soil fertility and agriculture.

Separately, the African swine fever has affected all 63 provinces in Vietnam and has reduced the countrys hog herd by 25.5% y-o-y in December 2019. The spread of the disease across the rest of Asia will further inhibit Vietnamese farmers ability to rebuild their hog herd, and thus informs our view for agriculture growth to remain subdued.

That said, stronger growth in construction (5.9% of GDP) and services (41.6% of GDP) will partially offset the slowdown. The Vietnamese authorities aim to build 900km more highway roads by 2021, almost doubling the 1000km at present, and the pursuit of this goal will support construction activity.

In particular, progress on the construction of the North-South Highway, which began in September 2019 and is expected to be completed by 2021, will be a key project supporting the construction sector. Upside risks to construction growth should construction on the proposed $55.8bn North-South Express Rail indeed begin in 2020 as the government has currently planned.

Services growth is expected to be underpinned by four key sub-sectors. A strong increase in real wages (even if ination continues to print around 5-6% over 2020, similar to the December 2019 reading of 5.2% y-o-y), in part driven by skills shortage would support a continued rise of Vietnams middle class.

This together with the ongoing trend of robust tourist arrival growth, bodes well for further growth strengthening in retail as well as hospitality services. Indeed, retail sales growth has been relatively stable above 10% over the past three years, growing by an average of 11.7% y-o-y over the period.

The inux of companies to Vietnam to circumvent the US tariffs on China will also support growth of transport and warehousing services, especially with the shortage of such services likely pushing up prices and protability in this sub-sector. Finally, despite a likely (slight) softening of economic growth in 2020, still-robust economic activity will continue to support growth of financial services.

Completion (or possibly even partial completion) of infrastructure construction projects could help to ease existing bottlenecks which are restricting growth in the manufacturing sector.

Combined with a chance of Vietnam ratifying the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement early in 2020, the deceleration in manufacturing sector growth could be less than we expect.

The myriad of tailwinds we have highlighted could also see services sector growth come in stronger than we expect, pushing headline growth higher.

Q. Khuyen

Economists warn GDP growth target a challenge Vietnam's economy experienced good economic results in 2019, but it will be a challenge to repeat the strong growth this year.
Telecommunications giant, MTN Ghana has announced that they have fully resolved the challenges which led to break in their data services and international outbound calls.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

In a series of communications to custmers, MTN said the challenge has been resolved.

We are glad to report that we have resolved all issues with our internet service, the statement read.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo inaugurates committee to investigate depreciation of the Ghana Cedi

MTN subscribes in Ghana and other Africa countries form Thursday, January 16, 2020 experienced fluctuations in their internet connections and network generally.

The telco responded and explained to customers what the problem was. MTN Ghana blamed the disruptions on an undersea fiber cable cut.

In a circular sent to shareholders and other stakeholders on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), the company said the hitches were caused by double undersea fibre optic cable cut in Europe.

It explained that the cut on the West Africa Cable System (WACS) had also affected other operators and customers in West Africa but assured that it was working to resolve the situation.

READ ALSO: A year after his murder: Ahmed Suales brother speaks; drops hints about a cover-up

But the company says Ghana now has been fully connected to the internet and also expressed appreciation to subscribers for their patience while apologising for the inconvenience caused.

Meanwhile some MTN subscribers also confirmed on social media that, they now have access to uninterrupted data service.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the one-week observance for police Inspector Kate Hawa Kwakuru has been held on Friday, January 17, 2020.

The late Inspector Kwakuru and her three children died after a gas explosion incident in their house at Ablekuma.

Some of the photos show the police band giving a performance at the one-week observance.

Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
After years of insisting a curious blanket fold on a guests bed was a rocket ship, Kate Chastain from Below Deck finally comes clean.

During a special appearance in Columbus, Ohio, Chastain admitted that the blanket art was no rocket ship. A packed crowd heard the big news first as Captain Lee Rosbach joined Chastain at a Stars Marketing Group event hosted by Colin Macy-OToole from Below Deck Mediterranean. The conversation was light and Rosbach was in a jocular mood as he was the one who finally got Chastain to admit her true intention behind the blanket design.

Colin Macy-OToole, Kate Chastain, Captain Lee Rosbach | Photo courtesy of Stars Marketing Group

Even though most fans know Chastain was creating a phallic symbol to grace guest Dean Slovers bed, she continued to smile slyly and insist she was merely creating a rocket ship. But finally, indeed she admitted her intention and Rosbach seemed downright giddy that he finally busted her.

Busted!

The conversation flowed on stage as Chastain accidentally admitted the rocket ship blanket was sculpted into a phallic symbol. Oops. There was no way Rosbach was going to let that go. A d**k blanket, Rosbach exclaims as the crowd loses their collective minds. It was a rocket ship up until this point! It is now officially a d**k blanket! You are so busted.

Rosbach laughs like he just struck gold. You are so busted, he remarks. Chastain, who is now laughing too says, I am! Rosbach continues to laugh, You have officially admitted it was a d**k blanket.

Rosbach then turns to the audience and says, You guys are the first to hear this! She has gone on numerous, numerous interviews and said its a f**king rocket ship. You guys are here to hear this first, its a d**k blanket. Chastain turns to Macy-OToole to ask what shape he thought she created. Its definitely a rocket ship! Macy-OToole exclaims.

This is why Slover got the rocket ship

Slover started out on Chastains bad side, but quickly became one of her favorite guests. When he first appeared on Below Deck, he kept needling Chastain to smile more, which made her feel uncomfortable. He pushed her so far that she took her aggression out on the blanket in his stateroom. I have never used my blanket folding to get revenge prior to this, mostly because Ive never had to, she told Bravo. Walking into the master stateroom I was simply planning on doing the anchor as usual, but the next thing I knew I had madesomething else.

Initially, it looked like the blanket fold could have gotten Chastain fired. Slover coyly mentioned it to Rosbach and didnt indicate whether or not he was angry. She squirmed the entire charter and the crew became furious with her because if Slover was angry it would negatively impact their tip.

Thankfully as the crew lined up for Slovers departure, he said he found the blanket fold to be hilarious. He left a generous tip and returned again. At the time, Rosbach blogged about how lucky Chastain was that Slover had a sense of humor. Were you worried? I think that was apparent and deserved, but when its all said and done, now you want credit for a great tip that you had no clue was coming? Wow, he wrote.
(Reuters) - Oilfield services provider McDermott International Inc is preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon as next week, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters.

McDermott is discussing a restructuring plan in which its debt could be converted into equity, with its group of lenders getting the majority of the shares, the report said.

Unsecured creditors would receive less than 10% of the equity along with warrants, according to one of the people cited in the Bloomberg report.

A group of lenders led by HPS Investment Partners and Baupost Group LLC are in talks to provide a loan of around $2 billion to keep the company's operations running during bankruptcy, the Wall Street Journal reported in late December.

(Reporting by Sabahatjahan Contractor in Bengaluru; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
The first of a new generation of revolutionary mini nuclear power stations is to be built in the North of England and North Wales by a consortium led by Rolls-Royce, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

A number of existing licensed nuclear sites have already been informally discussed within Whitehall.

The sites under consideration include Moorside in Cumbria and Wylfa in North Wales, where plans for future large-scale reactor projects have recently been shelved.

The government is considering a new generation of revolutionary mini nuclear power stations to be built in the North of England and North Wales by a consortium including Rolls-Royce

The Government is considering introducing a series of smaller nuclear power station because of delays in building major contracts such as the first reactor at Hinkley Point C, pictured, in Bridgewater, Somerset. The reactor is the largest ever concrete pour in Britain

Britains eight large-scale nuclear power plants are nearing the end of their collective lifespan, with most due to close by the end of the decade.

Now a consortium led by Rolls-Royce has tabled plans, subject to approval from regulators, to have the first small reactor plugged in by 2030, promising reliable, low-carbon electricity for decades to come.

It will be followed by up to 16 more mini reactors at other sites, with plans for all to be producing electricity.

It is understood that other locations being considered include Trawsfynydd in Snowdonia, North Wales.

Alan Woods, strategy and business development director for Rolls-Royce, would not be drawn on specific sites. But he revealed: We expect to build them in the North and Wales. Thats where were focusing, thats where well put our effort.

Modular reactors are smaller and, once the first is approved and built, manufacturers hope mass-production will lead to shorter construction times and lower costs for each unit.

Each will produce about a fifth of the energy of the latest generation of large reactors, such as the one being built at Hinkley Point C in Somerset by French energy giant EDF.

The Rolls-Royce consortium will also need to establish factories to produce the small modular reactors, possibly also in the north of Britain where much nuclear expertise still exists  due to the nuclear industrys long presence in West Cumbria.

The pre-fabricated modules would then be transported to sites for construction. Officials have cautioned, though, that there could be public opposition in some areas to a nuclear facility being built nearby.

Nuclear power currently produces about 20 per cent of the UKs electricity. It had been hoped that large-scale reactors would boost supply but many around the globe have been beset with delays or huge cost overruns, including Hinkley C.

Work at Wylfa by nuclear developer Horizon, owned by Japanese firm Hitachi, was suspended a year ago amid rising costs. Only months before, plans for a new nuclear power station at Moorside were scrapped after the Japanese giant Toshiba announced it was winding up the project.

A joint investment of 500 million between the Government and the Rolls-Royce consortium was proposed last summer. An initial award from the Government of 18 million was signed off in November, which the consortium will match.

One nuclear industry source said: There is broad support for this programme from Government.
If Toronto does not invest in new child care subsidies, the city will lose young families to the suburbs where living costs are lower and child care is more plentiful, advocates warn.

If you freeze subsidies when the city and demand (for child care) is growing, parents will be cut out of the workforce, said Jane Mercer of the Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care.

There are currently just over 80,000 licensed spots in Toronto, but only 30,700 child care fee subsidies to help low- to moderate-income families pay for them.

Despite plans to add another 2,900 licensed spots this year, a staff report to the citys budget committee recommends freezing the number of subsidies.

Provincial cuts to child care operating funding, announced last year, are to blame for the lack of new subsidies, staff told the committee Friday.

But advocates say Toronto cant afford to sit on its hands.

The new spaces we are investing in will become less viable because parents wont be able to afford them, Mercer said. And parents paying full fees will see their costs go up to subsidize the system (vacant spaces).

Toronto has the highest child care fees in the country, with annual costs topping $22,000 for infants. A recent city report found child care is unaffordable for more than 75 per cent of Toronto parents. It is a situation the city has been struggling to address, in partnership with Ottawa and Queens Park, through a 10-year child care growth strategy.

But Doug Fords Progressive Conservative government slashed provincial funding for child care expansion spaces from 100 per cent to 80 per cent, meaning a loss of $15.1 million to the city this year, said Shanley McNamee, general manager of childrens services.

Although this has been offset by a one-time increase of $12.3 million in core funding from the province, the city is still $2.8 million short this year, McNamee told the committee. Toronto would need to raise $15 million this year to add another 3,000 subsidies to maintain its goal of ensuring at least 40 per cent of spots are subsidized.

Families with children need child care. If we dont deliver on child care growth, we will lose families, Mercer said. They will move to places like York Region where housing is less expensive and child care is more plentiful.

Toronto mother Nicole Ramos, 34, is expecting her second child in March and says she cant wrap my head around the possibility of not getting subsidies for her children when she has to return to work in April 2021.

It would be devastating if we dont get those subsidies, said Ramos, whose mother looks after her 15-month-old son, Niko, while she works as an early childhood educator. My mother is ill and not able to care for two young children. We need daycare and we need subsidies.

Ramos figures it would cost about $4,000 a month if she and her partner had to pay full child care fees for an infant and pre-schooler. Thats almost twice the cost of the two-bedroom apartment they rent near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.

At some point were going to have to move because we have a boy and a girl, she said. And if child care becomes an issue, well have to move out of the city.

But moving out of the city means having to buy a car and longer commutes, she said. I just dont want to think about it. Toronto parents need this help. So many people will suffer without it.

Coun. Mike Layton said it is the provinces fault the city is not investing in more subsidies this year.

Without new sources of revenue, the city cant afford to pick up the slack, he said.

The city is levying an eight per cent city building tax over the next six years to pay for public transit and affordable housing, and there is a proposal to introduce a new tax on vacant property and to increase the land transfer tax on luxury homes.

But Layton said those taxes wont raise nearly enough money to pay for child care, measures to prevent youth violence and other desperately needed social services.

If we want to make significant investments, we need to identify major sources of revenue and council has been unwilling to do that, he said.

His motion to seek a staff report on the feasibility of introducing a large parking lot tax  a measure he said could raise between $50 million and $300 million a year  was defeated by the budget committee on Friday.

Even just asking for information on how we would do it was turned down, Layton said in an interview. But it doesnt mean I wont try again at council.

Addressing child care, tackling the roots of youth violence  we need to find resources to fund these programs over the long term. We need to do it for the long-term security and sustainability of our city, he said.

The citys 10-year child care growth strategy, overwhelmingly approved by council in 2017, aims to boost the number of licensed spots by 30,000 by 2026 and add another 17,000 subsidies.

The goal is to have enough spaces to serve 50 per cent of children under age four and to ensure at least 40 per cent of spots are subsidized. The plan also includes funding to boost chronically low wages in the sector.

Toronto only has enough licensed child care spots to serve less than 30 per cent of children under age nine.

If (city councillors) dont continue to invest in child care subsidies, we are going to become a city of under-25s, over-55s and tourists, Mercer said. We want them to dig in and dig deep to find the funds to support our social infrastructure.
COLUMBIA  They call lawmakers on their cellphones to try to make a personal connection. They offer to help with their own future campaigns to return the favor.

Their staffers, particularly those who have worked in South Carolina before, seek to leverage their own relationships to win them over to the cause.

While the results of South Carolina's Democratic presidential primary will ultimately be decided by rank-and-file voters, the candidates have separately been engaged in a yearlong battle to cultivate influential local officials in hopes of adding their imprimatur to the campaigns  and with it, ideally, the votes of their constituents.

As College of Charleston political science professors Gibbs Knotts and Jordan Ragusa explain in a new book on the First in the South primaries, endorsements "have often played a key role in a candidate's performance in South Carolina" and can serve as a predictor of their electoral success in the state.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is pacing the field when it comes to that metric, capitalizing on the decades of relationships he's built in the state while also winning over some newer faces on the political scene to demonstrate his broad support from the state's Democratic establishment.

His dozens of supporters, more than all the other candidates combined, range from the 87-year-old Dick Riley, a former S.C. governor and U.S. education secretary who worked with Biden during his time in the Clinton administration, to the 30-year-old state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis of North Charleston.

Adding to those elected officials is more than 100 faith leaders from every corner of the state, giving Biden some valuable voices coming from the pulpit on Sundays.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has won the backing of eight African American state lawmakers, including some who previously supported him in his 2016 campaign, including state Reps. Terry Alexander and Justin Bamberg.

Sanders has also touted the endorsements of multiple mayors and local officials, including Stephen Wukela of Florence and Brendan Barber of Georgetown, as well as a group of Latino activists who could help boost Sanders among the state's small but growing Hispanic population.

Though a relative newcomer to campaigns, billionaire businessman Tom Steyer has found more success courting S.C. officials than several more established figures, winning endorsements from five state House members. He made one of them  Legislative Black Caucus chairman Jerry Govan  a senior adviser on his campaign.

Recently, Steyer picked up his first endorsement from the state Senate in John Scott of Columbia, as well as S.C. Democratic Party black caucus Chairman Johnnie Cordero.

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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has two lawmakers in her corner from the crucial Democratic county of Richland in state Reps. Wendy Brawley and Kambrell Garvin, as well as several local officials from around the state.

In an unusual twist, one of South Carolina's most prominent Democratic officials  Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin  is backing a candidate who won't even appear on the state's ballot: former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who decided to focus on states with primaries later in the cycle after entering the race late.

None of the other seven remaining candidates have landed any notable S.C. supporters.

Perhaps the two biggest prizes remain up for grabs.

Neither of South Carolina's Democratic congressmen, Jim Clyburn of Columbia and Joe Cunningham of Charleston, have endorsed a candidate  and it remains unclear whether they will before the state's Feb. 29 primary.

Not all elected officials buy into the endorsement game at all.

State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, the longest-serving member of the S.C. House, makes clear from the outset of every presidential campaign that she won't be offering an endorsement because she believes voters should do their own homework on the candidates rather than simply following her lead.

"I think endorsements tend to do more for the person doing the endorsing than they do for the candidate, particularly if the endorsement does not come with a real constituency," Cobb-Hunter said.

The limitations of endorsements have also been demonstrated through some of the candidates who dropped out.

Most notably, U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey quickly earned the support of several S.C. lawmakers and activists, like CNN commentator Bakari Sellers for Harris and state Rep. John King for Booker, only to see their campaigns ultimately fizzle out.

As far as the remaining campaigns were concerned, the departure of Harris and Booker simply opened up more potential endorsers to be wooed once again.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday said the whole country wishes the Duke and Duchess of Sussex 'the very best for the future' after they stepped back from royal duties.

Speaking from Berlin, where Mr Johnson is attending a summit on Libya, he said the royal family will 'find a way forward' after the shock departure of the royal couple.

He told Sky News: 'I think the whole country will want to join in wishing them the very best for the future.'

Boris Johnson, left, and German Chancellor Angela Merkle, right, enter the hall during the Conference on Libya in Berlin, Germany, today

Last night's statement from the Queen said Harry and Meghan will 'not use their HRH titles', as they look to forge a new life in North America.

Mr Johnson added: 'As I said before ... I was sure that the royal family, which has been around a very long time, will find a way forward.'

In her statement, the Queen said: 'Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family.

'Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.

'I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.

'I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.

The couple (pictured in London last week), who will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are no longer to use their HRH titles and will repay 2.4million of taxpayer's money spent on renovating their Berkshire home, the couple have announced, as talks about their future roles concluded. Pictured is the Queen's statement

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, pictured with Vladimir Putin on Sunday, said the royal family will 'find a way forward' after the shock departure of the royal couple

'It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.'

Harry and Meghan, who sources say intend to spend 'the majority' of their time in North America, will pay a heavy financial cost.

As well as returning the 2.4 million spent on a lavish refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, they will pay a commercial rent  estimated at up to 360,000 a year  to retain it as their British home.

A statement from Buckingham Palace read: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

'As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments.

And a statement from Buckingham Palace (pictured) read: 'The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives'

'They will no longer receive public funds for royal duties. With the Queen's blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations.

'While they can no longer formally represent the Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.

'The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.

'Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly funded security.

'This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020.'
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday released his 10-point Guarantee Card to bolster its campaign for the February 8 Delhi assembly elections.

Kejriwals guarantee card mentions the work the party will do in the next five years after being re-elected.

At the top of the list of Kejriwals guarantees is that his government would provide 24 hours of electricity and up to 200 units of free electricity in the next five years.

These are Kejriwals guarantees that for the next 5 years, we will get 24 hours of electricity and up to 200 units of free electricity. The Opposition says the free power supply is only till March 31. But it will remain for the next five years, he said unveiling his guarantee card.

His government will also clean up the mess of high tension cables that crisscross many localities and take them underground.

Kejriwal also guaranteed that water pipelines in the city would be completed to take tap water to every house which will receive drinking water supply round the clock. 20000 litres free water a year will continue.

He also guaranteed good education for every child born in Delhi till graduation. The government will open new schools in areas where they are needed.

The AAP chief also guaranteed health for all. There will be free health care for all. More Mohalla clinics and polyclinics will be set up, he said

The guarantee card also includes surface transport, including bus, metro and last mile connectivity. He also guaranteed that free bus travel for women which began last year will continue for the next five years. Students will also be guaranteed free bus travel for the next five years.

The AAP will also fight pollution with a guarantee of planting two crore trees in Delhi and cleaning up the Yamuna river.

I will make sure each one of you can take a dip in the Yamuna, Kehjriwal said.

Cleaning up Delhi is another guarantee which may take five years, he said.

The will also be Mohalla marshals for womens safety.

Kejriwal also guaranteed roads, plumbing, water, sewers, Mohalla clinics and CCTV in unauthorized colonies.

The AAP leader also guaranteed home for slum dwellers near their current dwellings.

Kejriwal said the AAPs manifesto will be declared in about 10 days. Delhi goes to the polls on February 8 and the results will be declared on February 11.

The AAP which was the first off the blocks to name candidate for all 70 candidates is hoping to return to power on the back of its performance. The party had won 67 of the 70 seats in 2015.
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- When Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a radical overhaul of Russias governance system this week, he also ended the Medvedev era. Dmitry Medvedev was, at least formally, Putins closest sidekick, the politician with whom the strongman was most willing to share formal power. Whether or not its time for Medvedevs political obit, his stint near the top of Russias so-called power vertical will serve as an example of how the Putin systems inertia can suffocate the best modernizing intentions.

Medvedev abruptly resigned as prime minister on Wednesday, without giving advance notice to members of his government, who also had to tender their resignations. We as the government must give our countrys president the opportunity to make all the necessary decisions, Medvedev said, though it wasnt clear how his continued occupancy of the top cabinet post could get in the way of Putins reform.

Putin expressed rather tepid gratitude for the prime ministers service. Not everything has worked out, but then things never work out completely, he said. Putin has always avoided firing close, trusted associates, but as prime minister since 2012, Medvedev presided over Russias longest run of declining real incomes during Putins 20-year rule. The governments $400 billion national projects spending plan, designed to rectify things, hasnt gotten off to a great start.

The new job Putin has offered Medvedev didnt even exist before  deputy chairman of the Security Council, an advisory body that includes Russia's mighty security chiefs. Its formally headed by Putin but run by its secretary, former secret police chief Nikolai Patrushev. The council has been described, including by Kremlin propaganda outlets, as the closest Russia has to the Soviet Union's ruling Politburo. So the newly created post, with Putin as the direct supervisor, can be enormously influential  but perhaps not when filled by Medvedev, who has never really commanded the respect of the security bosses in the way Putin does, with his KGB record and training.

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Medvedevs move means he isnt likely to be Putins successor as president when the latter's term ends in 2024. Nor will he return to the prime ministerial post, now handed to a supremely skillful technocrat, former tax chief Mikhail Mishustin. His career has been launched on a downward trajectory  something he probably expected. For years, he has appeared bored and morose at official functions, time and again photographed with his eyes closed and seemingly asleep. Opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny posted one such photo taken as Putin delivered his Wednesday address, tweeting, Only one thing in Russia is really stable and unshakable  Dmitry Medvedev, asleep during the presidents state of the nation speech.

During a recent award ceremony, Medvedevs New Years greetings included this quotation from Anton Chekhov: The newer the year, the closer you are to death, the wider your bald spot, the twistier your wrinkles, the older your wife, the more kids you have and the less money. Some of the incredulous listeners couldn't help but recall Medvedev's most famous quote, his answer to a woman in Russian-annexed Crimea in 2016 who complained that her pension was too low: There's just no money now. When we find the money, we'll raise pensions. You hang on in there, stay cheerful and healthy.

Medvedev may have been fatigued and depressed lately as his government failed to deliver on Putin's promises of a tangible improvement in living standards, but money isn't something he's lacked himself. During this snowless winter, the vast land plot around his residence in Central Russia is covered with artificial snow. Medvedev has never given a substantive answer to a long video produced by Navalny's team and watched more than 33 million times on YouTube, in which he was accused of accumulating vast wealth while working for the government.

Medvedev's approval rating never recovered from that video's release, languishing below 40% in recent months, while Putin's remains close to 70%. Government spending cuts that began in 2015 and lasted through 2018 didn't help, and the governments decision in June 2018 to raise the retirement age  made by Putin, but often ascribed to Medvedev because of his perceived insensitivity  dealt his popularity an especially crippling blow.

The visibly bored, defeated Medvedev at the end of his prime ministership was a far cry from the hopeful, cheerful modernizer who started a four-year presidency in 2008 and charmed U.S. President Barack Obama and his aides into trying a reset of U.S.-Russia relations. Though many Putin opponents  myself included  never believed Medvedev could pursue an independent policy, so-called system liberals, believers in changing the system from within, vested serious hopes in the younger, more polished leader. They believed he could shake off Putin's conservative influence if he ran for a second term in 2012, and that Russia would then gradually become freer both economically and politically.

Medvedev tried some promising things. He set up a large innovation center at Skolkovo near Moscow, trying to lure investors and entrepreneurs into a Russian version of Silicon Valley. He started reforms in the self-serving, thoroughly rotten law-enforcement agencies, and he modernized Russia's obsolete armed forces, starting an ambitious reorganization and rearmament. He removed some of the most entrenched, hidebound regional leaders, breaking up the corrupt monopolies that had sprung up around them.

But the system liberals hopes were probably dashed in March 2011, when Medvedev ordered the Russian representative in the United Nations Security Council to abstain on a resolution authorizing the U.S. and its allies to use force against the regime of Muammar Qaddafi in Libya. Putin publicly criticized his protege for not ordering a "no" vote, likening the Western intervention in Libya to a medieval crusade." In his book, From Cold War to Hot Peace," Michael McFaul, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and a believer in Medvedev's liberal intentions, wrote that U.S. military intervention in Libya, which helped topple Qaddafi, also inadvertently might have helped remove Medvedev from power in Russia."

In September 2011, Putin and Medvedev announced they intended to switch jobs the following year, a development that bitterly disappointed the system liberals. Protests against a rigged parliamentary election, which broke out less than three months later, only served to convince Putin that the West was trying to undermine him and empower Medvedev instead. But, perhaps out of a sense of loyalty toward his temporary successor who hadn't tried to cling to power, Putin made no attempt to replace Medvedev as prime minister.

The latter never really raised his head again. He avoided making major decisions or advocating big reforms; the cabinet ministers learned they needed Putin's approval for anything remotely controversial. In a way, that helped Russia build a protective economic wall after Putin annexed Crimea and, simultaneously, the oil price crashed in 2014. Amid Western sanctions and a tightening hold of Putin's cronies and enforcers on the economy, Russia's generally competent economic managers could only cut spending to insulate the budget from external shocks  and accumulate international reserves every time the price of oil edged up. Medvedev's tenure ended with these reserves at $554 billion, near the 2008 historic high of $569 billion.

Putin's patience was sorely tested. Busy with geopolitical chess and with finding ways to retain power after 2024, he clearly wanted his hands free from domestic economic management. He wanted to set goals and let someone else get to them. Time after time, he told Medvedev that he wanted "results. They failed to materialize.

Meanwhile, Medvedev's work as the formal leader of the Kremlin's loyalist party, United Russia, also proved insufficient. The party's support melted away, and its legislative majorities and governorships have had to be obtained with increasing rigging efforts and administrative pressure. In December, only 29% of Russians were willing to cast a vote for United Russia in a national election, a threat to its parliamentary majority even in an unfair system. Putin needs a stronger party behind him post-2024, and an effort to build one on the basis of his broad support network, the United People's Front  or to reform United Russia  is to be expected.

Putins legendary personal loyalty stretched far enough not to send Medvedev, who is only 54, into retirement. But then, it was Putin himself who backpedaled in 2011 instead of letting Medvedev pursue his cautiously reformist course. It was Putin who created a system that paralyzed any kind of economic liberalization and who launched Russia on military adventures that limited its ability to develop trade. Putin, who gave Medvedev the exhilarating hope of building a more modern Russia, then quickly took it away, leaving his former successor with little except the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by the Russian elite.

It was Putin's country to give and to take back.

To contact the author of this story: Leonid Bershidsky at lbershidsky@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tobin Harshaw at tharshaw@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

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.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

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By Gwenaelle Barzic and Maya Nikolaeva

PARIS (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co <JPM.N> is the latest investment bank to significantly expand its Paris hub as part of plans to relocate some services from London after Britain's exit from the European Union, snapping up new premises in the French capital.

JPMorgan would have said "No" to a Paris move back in 2016, its French executive told Reuters, but government-led labour law and taxation reforms made it review its stance.

The U.S. bank said it plans to buy a building in central Paris from France's BNP Paribas to house up to 450 staff in coming years, allowing it to keep operating in the EU once the current unfettered two-way direct access between Britain and the bloc comes to an end in December following a Brexit transition period.

The expansion is expected to make the French capital, where it currently has 260 staff, its second-largest base in Europe behind London, where there are 10,000 staff, JPMorgan said.

It currently has 600 staff in Luxembourg and 450 in Frankfurt.

The bank will initially transfer sales teams, followed by trading staff depending on the timing of Britain's full withdrawal from the European Union, Kyril Courboin, JPMorgan's CEO of France, told Reuters.

"Paris is going to be the second pole for our market activities in Europe," he said. "London will still be number one because we are only transferring euro activities."

He declined to disclose the purchase price of the new building, which is close to JPMorgan's existing Paris offices on the prestigious Place Vendome.

The move is part of a wider trend of banks shifting selected activities to euro-zone cities ahead of Brexit, without calling into question London's dominance as Europe's premier financial centre.

MORE TO FOLLOW?

Large international banks and investors could relocate around 4,000 jobs to Paris, the French financial lobby Paris Europlace said, citing data from "Choose Paris Region", which helps international companies set up business in Paris.

Story continues

"In addition to the new announcements made by American banks...Asian investors, from HongKong and Singapore...confirm their wish to strengthen their activities in Europe, in particular in Paris," Arnaud de Bresson, chief executive of Paris Europlace, told Reuters.

Wells Fargo, which currently has three job openings in Paris, said in October it had chosen the city as its European hub for post-Brexit trading activities. Bank of America <BAC.N> also plans to move more than 400 jobs into a new office in central Paris.

An Elysee official said JPMorgan was one of several large banks who have been considering a move to Paris, without naming others, leaving open the possibility that more jobs will be relocated to the "city of lights".

The building purchase by JPMorgan was announced on Sunday as part of the "Choose France" drive, an annual investment event created by President Emmanuel Macron to draw business leaders to France en route to the World Economic Forum in Davos each January.

(Reporting by Gwenaelle Barzic and Maya Nikolaeva, writing by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Kirsten Donovan)
The hottest musician in Ghana music industry right now, Bosom Pyung has paid a surprise visit on the fastest rapper on the land, Sarkodie.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

The latest internet sensation presented to Sarkodie one of his yet to be released songs. In a video shared on Instagram, Sarkodie is seen jamming to the tune of Bosom Pyung.

READ ALSO: Photos: Meet the former Black Stars player who is now a musician

Bosom Pyung has taken Ghana music by storm with his popular hit track, Atta Adwoa.

Ghanaians are really loving his song and social media is also buzzing right now.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

In an interview with Pulse.com.gh, Bosom Pyung said his style of music is very unique.

READ ALSO: Mr. Obrempong: Photos of the expensive cars owned by Tracey Boakye's boyfriend pops up online

Bosom Pyung raps in his native language, Twi and also has this funny way of putting out his stuff which is dope.

He also has also stated that Sarkodie is is idol and high above all rappers in Ghana

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that dancehall superstar Stonebwoy is now the owner of the popular beverage brand, Big Boss energy drink.

This follows a recent agreement between Stonebwoy and the original owners of the drink, Bel Beverages.

It is not known when the deal was signed but Stonebwoy took to his Instagram handle to break the news on Saturday, January 18, 2019.

Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Gloria Tayelolu, the lady who was rescued back into Nigeria from Lebanon after a video wherein she cried for help went viral has recounted how her waist bead saved her from rape from her boss in Lebanese.

Read Also: Man Resorts To Prayer After Unclad Lady Whose Waist Bead Broke During Sex Acts Weirdly (Video)

Speaking at Naptip office, Kwara state, she said she had to warn the boss of impending danger which the bead would inflict on him if he tried to sleep with her.

When I bought my waist-beads some two years ago, I did so because of fashion. But do you know that the beads eventually saved me from the hands of those who lured me to the far Lebanon for slavery related endeavours?

I was linked up by a fellow who facilitated my movement to Lebanon sometime in October last year. The fellow dangled before me a teaching job of English language if I would go, even though my academic qualification is Ordinary National Diploma (OND) in Accountancy.

There was no nexus between what I read and what I was being offered, but the desire to travel abroad overwhelmed my sense of reasoning as at the time in question.

The first thing I observed on getting there was the inclement weather condition. The cold was so much on my health that each time I coughed, I was throwing up blood-stained sputum with serious chest pains. Besides, rather than taking me to any school as a teacher as planned, I was subjected into a house help job, fetching water with heavy buckets from a distance location into the storey building apartment I was housed in. I was working like a slave, doing all sorts of menial jobs.

To worsen my situation, my master started making advances towards me. I tried all I could to ward him off, but he would not relent. I had to call him aside one day to let him know that no other man could sleep with me aside the one that gave me the waist bead. He dared me by asking me of the likely consequences of him having the affair with me, despite the repeated warnings.

I promptly told him that such a man would be mentally deranged for six days and that on the seventh day, he would die. That narration calmed him down temporarily and it gave me a momentary sigh of relief. That was how my waist beads saved me from being raped. But my life became miserable and I had to think of the way out of it, so that I would not die in a strange land.
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Steve carell as Michael Scott, Regional Manager of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch, isnt anything like the mean, obnoxious David Brent, the character played by Ricky Gervais in the British original version of The Office. Even though his role was loosely based on Brents, Carell went on to do what he does best  add a human touch to his character, and to the shows proceedings, thereby endearing to a whole new audience.



As the highly popular show returns to Indian TV, we chat with the lead actor about his last days on the show, and why he still hasnt watched the UK series.

The Office is being spoken about so much again. It has gained a whole new audience now. Does that feel really exciting?

Its pretty cool, yeah  what people are finding in it again. Because, the show ended long ago, and I left the series even before that. So its pretty neat that people are continuing to watch it.



The Office began with Ricky Gervais in the UK, and your character has been more empathetic about things rather than Ricky. Tell us about that.



He knew that the run would be limited and he could play this guy who is just insufferable and a truly terrible person. In TV, people are inviting characters into their living rooms, and they dont want complete jerks in their homes. I thought, in order to make it a little more palatable, they need to see a bit more of human.

Have you ever watched the UK series?



I havent, actually. Never. I have it and I thought I would watch it after the show ends, but I havent. But I remember getting the call to audition, and Paul Rudd telling me, This is awesome! You have to see it.

One of the things you achieved with The Office, which has been a recurring theme in a lot of your work, is the fantastic ensemble. It was pretty flawless from top to bottom. Was that chemistry instant, or did it sort of build, as the show went on?

It was pretty instant. It was. And, I think we can attribute that to Greg. He just knew the right people to cast with one another. He knew that we would get along  he just had a really good sense of personality.

Thats what I think. Or he just got lucky, but that was a great group of people and we were very, very tight. That was hard to leave. Because that was a family  and it was a really special time.



What did you say to Jenna Fischer in the last scene of your final episode  the long shot in the airplane terminal?

I dont remember specifically. It was basically just the two of us saying goodbye and crying like, Im going to miss you. Its going to be okay. That sort of thing. I dont remember the specific words, but it wasnt small talk. It wasnt, Is the camera still rolling? It was an actual moment between us.

Have you found the time to catch up with The Office cast-mates? Have you seen them lately?



Well, I havent seen everybody together. I mean, I see people from time to time, here and there. We are all planning to, and we will probably have to plan it like a year in advance, so everyone can clear their schedule, get together and have a big blow out. Thats definitely in the offing.

Did you watch yourself when The Office was on air?



No. Well, sometimes, a member of the cast would get together, and we would watch it  which is fun, but no, I tend not to.

Have you ever watched any of your movies?



If Id been in Shawshank Redemption, Id really watch that because I always watch Shawshank Redemption (laughs). All seasons of The Office air on Star World every Monday to Friday at 7:00 pm
Playing up to the camera on a girls' night out, Meghan Markle poses cheek-to-cheek on a Toronto rooftop bar with her two most influential friends.

One of them, Jessica Mulroney, is married to the son of a former Canadian prime minister.

The other, Sophie Trudeau, is married to the current one.

Meghan Markle (left) posed cheek-to-cheek on a Toronto rooftop bar with her two most influential friends. One of them, Jessica Mulroney, (right) is married to the son of a former Canadian prime minister

The pictures, possibly from a photo booth, were taken in 2016 at the Canadian branch of fashionable private members' club Soho House.

They show how  having successfully penetrated Toronto's 'platinum elite'  Meghan also struck up a friendship with Mrs Trudeau.

Mrs Trudeau's husband Justin, who has been Canada's PM since 2015, has urged his country to welcome the Sussexes, but not all are convinced.

The pictures, possibly from a photo booth, were taken in 2016 at the Canadian branch of fashionable private members' club Soho House. Pictured: Meghan (right) with Sophie Trudeau who is married to the current Canadian prime minister

Mrs Trudeau's husband Justin, who has been Canada's PM since 2015, has urged his country to welcome the Sussexes, but not all are convinced

Last week, The Globe and Mail, the country's biggest-selling newspaper, said the couple should not live there.

Other issues are Harry and Meghan's immigration status  as there is no provision to treat them any differently from other newcomers  and security costs, which polls say most Canadians do wish to pay.

Meghan's friend, Jessica, married Ben Mulroney, the eldest son of former premier Brian Mulroney, in 2018.
By ANI

SURAT: Accusing Congress of spreading misinformation about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Minister Pratap Chandra Sarangi on Saturday said that those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, and Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country.

"Those who set the country on fire are not patriots. Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country," said Sarangi here in a press conference.

Sarangi said people should be thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the CAA, the act which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians facing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, the Union Minister further said that the CAA was a way to "atone for the sin of Partition" committed by the Congress.

"The CAA should have implemented 70 years ago. The act is a way to atone for a sin committed by our forefathers. Congress committed the sin, and we are atoning," he said.Last year in September, Sarangi gave a similar remark in wake of the protests erupted against the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir by the central government.

"When the staunch opposition parties of BJP have supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision of scrapping Article 370, the Congress objected it. Amit Shah has made it clear to Congress leaders that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Siachen are also part of India. Those who do not accept Vande Mataram have no right to live in India," he had said at the Jan Jagran Sabha in Odisha.
UAW strikers with Local 22 take to the streets outside of GM Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Monday, Sept. 16, 2019.

No one wins in a strike.

That's the conclusion of the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, after it analyzed the UAW's nationwide strike against GM last fall and the four-year contract that resulted.

Union members got higher wages and kept their health care coverage and cost structure along with other wins. But they did not get much in the way of added job security, said Kristin Dziczek, vice president of Industry, Labor & Economics at CAR.

The comments were made during a recent 90-minute webinar hosted by CAR called, "Implications of the 2019 UAW-Detroit Three Contract Negotiations."

"The UAW went into this looking for guarantees and certainly they didnt lose anything," said Dziczek. But after six weeks on the picket line, they came out of it with what they had," in terms of job security.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Three carmakers will each see their average hourly labor costs grow at a rate higher than their nonunion foreign competitors who run U.S. plants, said Dziczek.

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Murky job security

For the Detroit Three, average labor costs will climb by 2023.

The UAW chose to negotiate first with GM and used that contract as a template for the agreements it hammered out with Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

The UAW's 48,000 workers at GM's 55 facilities in 10 states went on strike for 40 days before ratifying a new four-year contract on Oct. 26. The UAW had similar deals with Ford and FCA shortly thereafter.

The new contracts gave GM's workers generous ratification bonuses, wage increases, improved profit sharing and lump-sum payments. But at GM there was no reversal to product allocation such as bringing a vehicle built in Mexico to a plant in the United States.

GM did reverse its November 2018 decision to close the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly plant to instead retool it to build electric trucks, but the UAW was unable to save Warren Transmission, Baltimore Transmission and Lordstown Assembly plants from shutdown.

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"The economics has always been important, but the job security has become very important," said Art Schwartz, the retired general director of GM's labor relations. "The UAW got some decent (investments from the Detroit Three) so well see how it plays out.

Former General Motors labor negotiator Art Schwartz.

Historically, the Detroit Three have exceeded their promised product investments, said Dziczek. In 2015, the three companies agreed to invest $21 billion in U.S. manufacturing. CAR's research showed the automakers surpassed that amount over the four years. In 2019's agreement, the Detroit automakers have said they will invest $23 billion in U.S. manufacturing over four years, Dziczek said.

Big labor costs

Going into negotiations GM wanted to trim a $13 cost gap in its average hourly labor costs compared with its nonunion foreign competitors.

Instead, Dziczek said, GM, Ford and FCA will see their average hourly labor costs rise by 2023 at a greater level than their nonunion foreign competitors.

GM's average hourly labor cost now: $63, rises to $71 an hour by 2023.

Ford's average hourly labor cost now: $61, rises to $69 by 2023.

FCA's average hourly labor cost now: $55, rises to $66 by 2023.

Nonunion foreign automakers in the United States average hourly labor now: $50, rises to $52 by 2023.

So this is increasing cost steadily compared to the 2015," said Dziczek. In 2015, GM paid $55 an hour in average hourly labor costs.

The average hourly labor cost is the sum of all labor costs, including wages, benefits and payroll taxes, divided by the total number of hours worked in a year.

Honda, Nissan and Toyota, international automakers in the United States, usually employ more temp workers than the Detroit Three, helping to lower that figure. They also have some newer plants with entirely new workforces that are lower on their wage progression and few retiree costs, said Dziczek.

But the widening average labor cost gap doesn't mean the Detroit Three must offset it with price increases on new cars, said Schwartz. He said if GM can trim other costs and boost productivity, that could keep it cost-competitive.

"Companies have always tried to balance pay increases with increases in productivity," said Schwartz. "GM could offset the increased labor costs with cutting costs elsewhere, too, such as material costs."

Plus, GM has made multiple billions in profits over the last four years, so it stands to reason that the UAW would demand workers get a slice of that pie.

"Its logical to expect that labor costs will go up during negotiations, said Schwartz. "Anyone who went into this thinking the labor costs would stay the same or go down was probably dreaming.

The human cost

Ultimately, the strike was not worth it for the UAW workers, these experts said.

For the manufacturers, a strike is extraordinarily expensive; it cost GM $3 billion, and it destroys your brand," said Marty Malloy, a retired Ford labor affairs vice president for 34 years. "As long as this strike lasted, I would have thought thered be something radically different in this agreement and it came out pretty much as expected. There was really no language that was new or a breakthrough.

Dziczek agreed, noting the human toll the strike took on GM and UAW workers. In one case, GM fired three UAW workers at Flint Assembly Plant for what it said were threats of violence and actual violence during the strike.

There were other costs: 55-year-old Roy McCombs, a UAW picketer at GM's Spring Hill Assembly in Tennessee. died after being struck by a passing SUV..

Many strikers struggled after a couple of weeks to make rent, mortgages and pay other bills on just $250 a week in strike pay.

Theres an enormous human cost being out on strike," said Dziczek. "I was surprised it went on as long as it did. There are tremendous costs on all sides.

Contact Jamie L. LaReau: 313-222-2149 or jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jobs: GM-UAW strike wasn't worth it for workers
Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who is out on bail and remains under partial house arrest after she was detained last year at the behest of American authorities, leaves B.C. Supreme Court following a case management hearing, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

Defense lawyers argue a senior executive of the Chinese tech giant Huawei should not be extradited to the US because her actions would not be considered crimes under Canadian law.

The extradition hearing for Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou is scheduled to begin Monday. Meng, the daughter of the companys founder, faces charges of committing fraud to try and evade US sanctions on Iran. Huawei is Chinas first global tech brand and Beijing views her case as a political move designed to prevent Chinas rise.

This is a case of US sanctions enforcement masquerading as Canadian fraud, say defense documents released Friday.

Meng was arrested at the Vancouver airport in late 2018 at the request of the US government. American prosecutors allege she made misrepresentations to foreign banks, including London-based HSBC, about Huaweis relationship with its Iran-based affiliate Skycom.

Last week, the Canadian Department of Justice released documents supporting its case the allegations against Meng meet the extradition test of double criminality meaning if they had occurred Canada, they would be criminal under Canadian law.

Defense lawyers dispute that claim, arguing its not illegal in Canada to do business with Iran.

Canada not only permits banks to do business with Iran-based entities, it encourages them to do to, the documents say.

The documents point out the prosecution has argued Mengs action have caused HSBC to be placed at risk of financial prejudice for offering banking service to Huawei and Skycom because of US sanctions.

Simply put, a bank in Canada would not be concerned that Huaweis relationship with Skycom could trigger sanctions risk, the documents say.

Meng made a brief court appearance Friday where lawyers discussed additional court dates. The first stage of the extradition hearing dealing is expected to last five days.

Meng is free on bail of and is living in one of the two Vancouver mansions she owns.

Beijing detained former two Canadians, ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, in late 2018 in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release Meng. They have not had access to lawyers or their families.

Huawei is the biggest global supplier of network gear for phone and internet companies has become the target of US security concerns because of its ties to the Chinese government.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Lets talk jewellery!

I get asked about my wedding rings all the time but Ive never really shared too much about them  mainly because its quite personal, isnt it? Sharing where theyre from would reveal how much was spent, which puts a price-tag on our relationship and leaves us open to judgement. Ive also never really seen anyone else reveal where their wedding rings are from, so I feel like its perhaps not the norm to divulge something so intimate!

Despite this, I wanted to share the stories on how my rings came to be, because theyre so special to me, and Id love to help provide a little inspiration for anyone thinking about shopping for rings any time soon (exciting!!).

I never ever wore rings regularly until I got engaged, and now Im never without them! I remember how enchanted I was by my ring after Jordan proposed with it, and even now over three years later Im still in love with it. Its the perfect setting and I love how beautiful it looks alone and when combined with my wedding ring. I cant imagine a more perfect stack of rings than what I currently have.

My engagement ring

I didnt really have an idea of what I wanted my ring to look like before I got engaged, I wasnt someone who had it all planned out and I really think Jordan could have proposed with any old ring and I would have been over the moon.

I must have given him a couple of clues though because my ring is everything I wanted, even if I didnt know it! The halo style feels vintage and timeless, and as I only wear yellow gold the band is perfect.

When I first saw it though, even in all the proposal shock, I remember I was surprised by the size of the setting  I actually thought maybe it was too flashy! I got over that quick.

Jordan bought my ring himself at a jewellers here in Glasgow, which I found out later when I had to get it resized slightly. I didnt have a clue that he was going to propose, we had been together five years at that point but even so I hadnt really allowed myself to think about the idea of a wedding. I still felt young and uncertain of the future in some ways, although as soon as we got engaged I felt something shift in me. I felt more of a change when we got engaged than when we got married  from then on, we both knew this was it for us.

One thing I will say about engagement rings is that you should absolutely do things your way, there are no rules when it comes to proposing  if he has chosen you a ring, perfect! If you want to choose a ring together, also fine! This is your future, that ring is going to be on your finger for (hopefully!) forever, you had better love it.

Personally, I dont think price should really come in to it either. My engagement ring is the only ring of mine I got insured, the other two are more reasonably priced and that doesnt bother me at all. If anything, it makes me a little more relaxed about wearing them!

I do believe that if Jordan hadnt chosen me something I loved, I would have told him and suggested we shopped for something together. Luckily it didnt come to that, he picked perfectly, but I think that communication is key. I had hinted to Jordan that I only wore gold, and Id (apparently!) pinned a couple of halo-style rings so he had something to go on. Admittedly, I didnt even really know what I wanted, so he wasnt up against any big ideas from me, which I think really helped.

My wedding ring

My wedding ring was the one I picked myself, although I didnt really do much searching! Since we planned to elope only a few short months after we got engaged, I didnt have a lot of time to really think about or search for what I wanted.

I always knew I wanted something quite unique when it came to my wedding ring. I didnt want to spend a great deal, but I wanted something I could wear everyday and feel happy with.

I wasnt looking for a plain band, but I thought my engagement ring was sparkly enough so I didnt consider a jewelled wedding ring either. I needed something a bit different but still in keeping with the vintage style of my engagement ring.

I originally found this Catbird Nora ring and I loved that there was a mens version too. Since we were getting married in New York, it seemed right that we would get our wedding rings from a Brooklyn-based jeweller. In the end we didnt love that, due to the delicate nature of the rings, they couldnt be resized  it was a bit of a risk to have them sent to the UK without trying them on.

We scrapped this idea, although after we got married I did pick up a little Catbird ring to celebrate! I dont wear it often (its a very delicate hammered style) but I love it so much.

In the end I went for a vine style from the designer Melanie Casey, it was everything I wanted! A unique, delicate and classic style  and in my price range too.

I couldnt imagine how the ring would look against my engagement ring, so I ended up emailing the brand to see if they could help me out, and they sent back a picture of the band next to one of their rings which was similar to my engagement ring. It was perfect!

I honestly couldnt wait to get married so I could wear my wedding band, it was like getting engaged all over again! After we got married I kept looking at it on my hand, its just so beautiful.
In the life cycle of any business, its 10th anniversary is a pretty special occasion. Reaching its 20th anniversary, however, is normally an occasion for celebration and a toast to the next 20 years.

Unfortunately, this was not the case for the Dublin-based creative advertising agency Chemistry. When it should have been popping the champagne corks, following 20 years in business in 2019, the agency was rocked by the loss of three major clients and the prospect of a substantial six-figure loss for the year.

Facing the prospect of even bigger losses in 2020, the agency was forced to make the very difficult and painful decision to shut up shop.

On Friday, it closed the doors of its Leeson Park offices for the final time.

Founded in 1999 by Ray Sheerin and Mike Garner, two of the industry's leading advocates for the power of creativity, Chemistry rapidly earned its creative spurs, with a string of account wins, awards, and admiration from its peer group and marketers looking to hang out with the new kid on the block.

Although the WPP-owned Ogilvy & Mather Ireland had a minority stake in the agency from the outset, control rested with the two founders, who derived immense pride from the fact that it was an independent agency and way beyond the grasp of Martin Sorrell, who was heading up Ogilvy's parent at the time.

Within a relatively short period of time, Chemistry had raised the creative bar for the rest of the advertising industry and, down through the years, many of the sector's top talent cut their creative teeth there.

Clients, past and present, include the likes of Kerry Group, Eircom, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, Irish Life, the Irish Cancer Society, Audi, Mitsubishi, Eagle Star, Center Parcs, Leinster Rugby and Fine Gael. The agency also picked up a coveted Cannes Lions award for its work with the National Newspapers of Ireland in 2006 and, more recently, it bagged the Agency of the Year award at the Kinsale Sharks Festival in 2019.

Chemistry's untimely demise, however, is in many ways symptomatic of a wider malaise that has been gnawing away at the advertising industry for some time. It should also set alarm bells ringing for other agencies contemplating the next 10, never mind 20, years.

Depending on who you talk to in the advertising industry, there are many reasons why this malaise has set in and why the old agency model is now firmly broken.

At an operational level, creative agencies are costly businesses to run and operating margins can vary from a mere 7pc, at the lower end, right up to between 15pc and 20pc at the higher end.

Staff costs, in particular, can account for a sizeable chunk of an agency's overheads. In many Irish creative agencies, staff costs as a percentage of revenue are often in excess of 70pc.

For agencies that are part of an international network - most of which have rigid group-wide cost-control policies in place - staff costs are often between 60pc and 63pc. In a labour-intensive business, the difference between the two can be the difference between success and failure.

Notwithstanding the high cost of living in Dublin and a general talent shortage, many creative and media agencies have also found themselves in a never-ending battle for talent with the likes of Facebook, Google and LinkedIn. Unfortunately, it appears that the American giants are winning.

The bottom line is that good talent costs money, but good creative talent costs a lot of money - a fact that many agency owners feel is often not appreciated or, indeed, understood by their clients.

While high operating costs are an issue, how agencies are remunerated has also become a bone of contention, with the so-called 'blended rate' model deemed to be no longer fit for purpose, and unsustainable.

Others point to the increased competition in the creative space that has come from various quarters, including public relations firms; media agencies 'recoupling' with creative services; in-housing specialists capable of providing creative, design and production services at a fraction of the price; and the arrival of the so-called 'cagencies' in the form of Deloitte and Accenture. In other words, way too many agencies and suppliers for such a small market.

All of these issues combine to paint an uncertain future for the Irish advertising industry as we know it. None of these issues, however, look like they will be sorted any time soon.

Unfortunately for Chemistry, it has now joined other great Irish agency brands like McConnells and DDFH&B in the advertising graveyard.

Sadly, a bright star in the advertising firmament has been extinguished. And the advertising world is that little bit darker as a result.

Hughes lands on Pluto

Miriam Hughes, former CEO of creative agency DDFH&B, has joined the board of the experiential events company Pluto.

An experienced marketer who has worked with the likes of Nestle and Bank of Ireland, Hughes is currently chairperson of Barnardos and a non-executive director of Bus Eireann.

Pluto's clients include the likes of Google, EY, Dropbox, Unilever, Pladis, Audi, Lidl and Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard.

Cotter spots acne role

The Deloitte-owned creative agency Acne has made its first move in the Irish market with the hiring of Dylan Cotter, the creative director of BBDO Dublin, who will join its new Dublin office in March.

Founded in 1996, and headquartered in Stockholm, Acne's clients include Ikea, Volvo, Louis Vuitton, H&M, Spotify, Max and Telenor. With offices in London, Stockholm, Tokyo and now Dublin, it was acquired by Deloitte in 2017.
More than 80 soldiers killed in Yemen missile, drone attack



Dubai, Jan 19 (AFP) Jan 19, 2020



More than 80 Yemeni soldiers have been killed and scores injured in a missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, medical and military sources said Sunday.

Saturday's strike follows months of relative calm in the war between the Iran-backed Huthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.

The Huthis attacked a mosque in a military camp in the central province of Marib -- about 170 kilometres (105 miles) east of the capital Sanaa -- during evening prayers, military sources told AFP.

A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where the casualties were transported, said that 83 soldiers were killed and 148 injured in the strike.

Death tolls in Yemen's grinding conflict are often disputed, but the huge casualty list in Marib represents one of the bloodiest single attacks since the war erupted in 2014 when the rebels seized Sanaa.

Saudi-owned Al-Hadath television broadcast a video that it said showed the gruesome aftermath of the attack.

Body parts can be seen on the floor, among shredded debris, and with blood pooled on the carpet and spattered against the walls.

The drone and missile strike came a day after coalition-backed government forces launched a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa.

Fighting in Nihm was ongoing on Sunday, a military source said according to the official Saba news agency.

"Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured," the source added.



- 'De-escalation cannot be sustained' -



Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the "cowardly and terrorist" attack on the mosque, Saba reported.

"The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," it quoted Hadi as saying.

The president also stressed the importance of increasing military vigilance "to foil hostile and destructive plans and maintain security and stability".

The Huthis did not make any immediate claim of responsibility and the Saba report did not give a death toll.

The uptick in violence comes shortly after United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed a sharp reduction in air strikes and the movement of ground forces.

"We are surely, and I hope this is true and I hope it will remain so, witnessing one of the quietest periods of this conflict," he said in a briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday.

"Experience however tells us that military de-escalation cannot be sustained without political progress between the parties, and this has become the next challenge."

A year after Yemen's warring sides agreed to a UN-brokered truce for the key Red Sea port city of Hodeida and its surroundings, fighting in the province has subsided but the slow implementation of the deal has quashed hopes for an end to the conflict.

The landmark agreement signed in Sweden in December 2018 had been hailed as Yemen's best chance so far to end the fighting that has pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war that has ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the conflict to back the government against the Huthis in March 2015, shortly after the rebels seized control of Sanaa.

A senior UN official warned Thursday that certain key factors that threatened to trigger a famine in Yemen last year were once again looming large, including a plunge in the value of the national currency.

"With a rapidly depreciating rial and disrupted salary payments, we are again seeing some of the key conditions that brought Yemen to the brink of famine a year ago," Ramesh Rajasingham, who coordinates humanitarian aid in Yemen, told the UN Security Council.

"We must not let that happen again," he said.
Dear Annie: Our beloved family dog, Dasher, passed away last year. Dasher was a husky. She was the sweetest and best dog I ever could imagine. Good with the kids and our old kitty. When I contacted the breeder I bought her from, he said that he is no longer breeding. My friend suggested I look at adopting a dog from the local shelter or a rescue group. I really want a husky, and our shelter didn't have any but suggested I reach out to local husky rescue groups. Well, I did, and I found a great one.

After I filled out the application, a volunteer called me within 24 hours. She thanked me for considering adoption and gave me some very sad statistics about how many dogs get euthanized because of overpopulation. She then said my house will be a tricky place to find the right dog for. Most huskies have a strong prey drive and are not great with cats, small dogs or small children. I was taken aback because Dasher was so great with all of the above. When I told her this, she said my best bet would be to get a puppy and socialize the dog around kids and cats as much as possible. She said that her rescue group rarely gets pups in and that it could take a long time. I want to adopt, but I also don't want to put the lives of my cat and kids in danger. Do you have any advice as to what I should do? -- Adopt or Shop?

Dear Adopt or Shop: Whenever possible, adopt; don't shop. I understand loving a particular breed and wanting a puppy of that breed. The way I see it, you have three options:

1) Wait until the husky rescue gets a puppy in.

2) Go on Petfinder and search for husky puppies. You may have to travel a bit to find a puppy, or it may not be a purebred husky, but chances are great that you can find a husky puppy. Sometimes mixed breeds are healthier than purebreds.

3) If you do decide to buy a puppy, at least be sure you know where you're buying from. Kristina Lotz wrote a wonderful article for iHeartDogs titled "10 Signs That A Puppy Is From a Puppy Mill," and I would recommend reading it before buying from a pet shop or breeder.

Dear Annie: Your column with the letter from widower "Neil" brings back sad memories for me. I lost my mother when I was 13 years old, and it was staggering. I had no siblings and an alcoholic father. Life was a mess.

Years later, I attended a seminar, and the most important thing I learned was how to handle major upsets. Here's the way to do it. When thinking about an upsetting incident, write down the following questions and your answers: When did it happen? Where did it happen? Who was involved? How did you feel? What happened?

You might want to write the same upset down several times. Just do it. It will work. -- Art in Oregon

Dear Art: Writing is a wonderful form of therapy. I second your suggestion. Thanks for it.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM
She's been enjoying quality family time with husband Chris Judd and their four young children in Noosa, Queensland.

And WAG Bec Judd, 36, was a picture of holiday bliss as she shared an Instagram snap of herself reading a book on Sunday.

In the photo, the glamazon was pictured flipping through her paperback novel while lying on a deckchair in the sun, with her slender frame on display in a tiny leopard-print bikini.

'A brilliant page turner!' WAG Bec Judd, 36, was a picture of holiday bliss as she shared an Instagram snap of herself reading a book during her Noosa family getaway on Sunday

She completed her look with a black cap emblazoned with the logo of her acivewear brand Jaggad, and a collection of diamond rings- including her engagement sparker from husband Chris.

'Our book club president and friend @janecockramauthor wrote a brilliant page-turner,' she enthused in the caption.

'If you are looking for an addictive summer read, this is it! The House of Brides,' she added.

Booking beauty! Bec recently posed for a photo with author Jane Cockram after being gifted with a copy of her book, House Of Brides

Almost perfect! On Saturday, she took to Instagram to share a photo of her trim bikini body as she and her AFL star husband hit the beach- while poking fun at her husband for accidentally capturing part of his finger in the frame

It's the latest in a series of enviable holiday snaps shared by the the mother-of-four.

On Saturday, she took to Instagram to share a photo of her trim bikini body as she and her AFL star husband hit the beach.

In the caption Bec poked fun at her husband's photography skills, drawing attention to the fact that he accidentally captured part of his finger in the frame.

Soaking up the sun: Noosa has been a popular holiday destination for the Judd family over the years

'Hey babe, can you take a pic for me? Juddy: 'Yeah, no worries'. Checks camera roll [eye roll and rolling on the floor laughing emojis]. Every. Single. Time,' she joked in the caption.

Noosa has been a popular holiday destination for the Judd family over the years.

Former Carlton captain Chris even proposed to his wife in Noosa in 2009.

Rebecca previously wrote on her blog: '[My family and I] often get the guilts about not spreading our holiday love to other destinations.

'But whenever we do try somewhere new, we are always disappointed because they are never as good as Noosa.'
(Bloomberg) -- Want the lowdown on European markets? In your inbox before the open, every day. Sign up here.

The U.K. government is considering subsidizing some routes operated by regional airline Flybe as part of the rescue deal struck with the owners of the countrys biggest domestic carrier, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Any decision to grant Flybe routes so-called public service obligation status would come on top of a deferral of air passenger duty payments and a proposed government loan, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing details not disclosed in the initial blueprint.

Only one Flybe service, from London Heathrow airport to Newquay in the far southwest of England, currently benefits from U.K. government aid through the PSO mechanism. Another, linking Cardiff with the island of Anglesey, is funded by the Welsh Assembly.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week took the unusual step of coming to the aid of Flybe as it teetered on the brink of collapse. Johnson said he intervened because a loss of the airline would have left some of the most economically challenged parts of the country with diminished transport links, given the relative lack of suitable alternatives such as high-speed trains.

The Department for Transport will lead the review and consider a number of options for ensuring that we continue to have good regional connectivity, including existing policy levers such as PSOs, it said in a statement to Bloomberg. It is important that all options are properly considered.

A representative for Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., part of the Connect Airways consortium that owns Flybe, declined to comment. A call to Flybe wasnt immediately returned.

Communications Fiasco

British Airways owner IAG SA said Flybes rescue had become a communications fiasco, in response to news on the likely addition of PSO routes. The sooner the government comes clean, the better, it said in an email. IAG has filed a complaint about the tax deferral to the European Union.

Story continues

We stand ready to discuss with the U.K. the compatibility of proposed public measures with EU state aid rules, the European Commission said in a statement.

Further details of the rescue emerged Thursday, with Stobart Group, another partner in the consortium, saying it injected 9 million pounds ($12 million). Based on their holdings, Virgin would have supplied a similar sum and private-equity firm Cyrus Capital provided 12 million pounds. Thats on top of 110 million pounds committed after they bought Flybe in 2019.

An evaluation of PSO designations will begin immediately, while a state loan to Flybe granted on commercial terms is likely to be finalized in coming weeks, said the person.

The APD deferral, which the government says concerns a debt of less than 10 million pounds, will apply for 60 to 90 days, according to the person. A review of the tax regime for domestic routes could see the 13 pound charge levied once rather than on outbound and return flights, the person said. The outcome of deliberations will be revealed in Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javids March budget.

Johnson has faced criticism for stepping in to save Flybe after Monarch Airlines, Flybmi and Thomas Cook Group Plc all failed in the past 2 1/2 years, with environmental campaigners saying the rescue was inconsistent with the governments commitment to slash carbon emissions.

Ryanair Holdings Plc, which is based in Ireland but counts the U.K. as its biggest market, said Flybes business model is unsustainable and that a company backed by Virgin founder Richard Branson and a private equity firm shouldnt qualify for government help. It also said the APD tax holiday should extend to competitors including Ryanair, BA and EasyJet Plc.

Stobart shares rose as much as 2.9% in London. Virgin and Cyrus arent listed. Ryanair and EasyJet pared gains.

Cities Cut Off and Airports at Risk: Whats at Stake at Flybe

Flybe was delisted in March after its purchase by Connect Airways for 2.2 million pounds. The carrier, which employs 2,400 people, has struggled for years with the narrow margins on regional routes, where demand is lower, together with fluctuating fuel prices and uncertainty around Brexit.

Under European Union transport law, governments or other authorities can offer subsidized PSO contracts in an auction for those routes deemed vital for the economic and social development of a region, and which would otherwise not be attractive to an airline.

There were 176 such routes in the bloc as of Sept. 18 last year. The U.K. government currently funds three PSOs; Flybes Newquay flights - which will switch to London Gatwick from Heathrow this summer -- and trips from the U.K. capital to Dundee in Scotland and Derry in Northern Ireland, both flown by smaller regional carrier Loganair.

Loganair also operates most of the 18 PSOs in Scotland funded by the Edinburgh government and local authorities to provide links between outlying islands and to the mainland.

(Updates with European Commission comment in eighth paragraph)

--With assistance from Thomas Penny, Siddharth Philip, Jeremy Diamond and Aoife White.

To contact the reporters on this story: Christopher Jasper in London at cjasper@bloomberg.net;Guy Johnson in London at gjohnson87@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Kenneth Wong at kwong11@bloomberg.net

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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2020 Bloomberg L.P.
VICTORIA - The crisis facing British Columbia's forest industry is intensifying as markets decline, mills shut and a strike involving 3,000 forestry workers enters its seventh month.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Softwood lumber is pictured at Tolko Industries in Heffley Creek, B.C., on April, 1, 2018. The crisis facing British Columbia's forest industry is intensifying as markets decline, mills shut and a strike involving 3,000 forestry workers enters its seventh month. The multiple threats are deeper than the global meltdown of 2008 and may rival the damage wrought by B.C.'s 1980s recession, setting off massive industry restructuring, says an insider who is hearing from many people on the brink of financial collapse. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

VICTORIA - The crisis facing British Columbia's forest industry is intensifying as markets decline, mills shut and a strike involving 3,000 forestry workers enters its seventh month.

The multiple threats are deeper than the global meltdown of 2008 and may rival the damage wrought by B.C.'s 1980s recession, setting off massive industry restructuring, says an insider who is hearing from many people on the brink of financial collapse.

"There's a whole bunch of things swirling around that's causing a whole world of hurt for people working in this industry," said David Elstone, executive director for the B.C. Truck Loggers Association.

"Many people are saying this is worse than 2008. Back in 2008, the industry was in rough shape but so was the rest of the world in tough shape with the global financial crisis."

Other factors hitting B.C.'s forest industry now include low timber prices, less demand from Asian markets, U.S. tariffs, high cost structures, government fees or stumpage rates, timber supply shortages, mill closures in B.C.'s Interior and the strike on Vancouver Island, he said.

"Time will hopefully end the strike," said Elstone. "Time will hopefully help us recover markets."

Late last year, Finance Ministry budget numbers revealed forest revenues were down 11 per cent and projected harvest volumes of 46 million cubic metres were the lowest in years.

Among the mill closures was Mosaic Forest Management on Vancouver Island, which announced an early winter shutdown of timber harvesting operations, putting 2,000 people out of work indefinitely.

About 175 workers at a mill owned by Tolko Industries in Kelowna lost their jobs with the operation's permanent closure on Jan. 8. Last year Canfor's permanent closure of its mill in Vavenby, north of Kamloops, resulted in the loss of 172 jobs in the community of about 700 people.

Elstone said he heard from many forest industry contractors at the recent Truck Loggers Association annual convention who are struggling to make ends meet, especially from those on Vancouver Island where the strike has hit hard.

"It goes well beyond the 3,000 workers being affected," he said. "My membership, the contractors, employ the majority of the workers. It goes to the tire shops, the dealerships, the grocery stores."

Premier John Horgan spoke at the convention Thursday, saying the government will make $5 million available for loans to help contractors in danger of losing their equipment due to the strike.

He said he was aware many of the contractors have not been able to work since last July when the strike between Western Forest Products and members of the Steelworkers union started.

Horgan mentioned the challenges facing B.C.'s forest industry, including U.S. duties on B.C. softwood exports, mill closures in the Interior, two consecutive wildfire seasons and ongoing structural changes in the industry. But he said the strike remains deeply concerning.

"The elephant in the room is abundantly clear to everyone here," said Horgan. "A labour disruption of seven months is unprecedented in B.C. history. If you haven't made a dollar since July, there's not much I can say to you that's going to give you comfort other than we are indeed in this together."

Horgan said he has contacted both the company and the union and firmly suggested they negotiate a settlement. He said he expected some movement next week but did not elaborate.

The company said in a statement Friday it is waiting for contact from the mediators in the dispute.

"Western is doing everything we can to reach a mutually beneficial settlement with the USW," said the statement. "We continue to take our lead from mediators, Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers, and we are awaiting word on next steps."

Elstone said the Truck Loggers Association appreciated Horgan's appearance at the convention.

"By being there he did demonstrate he is concerned himself," said Elstone. "He did say what's been going on with the length of the strike is unacceptable. I will give the premier credit for showing some strong emotion and trying to reach out and show some empathy for people who are suffering right now with their livelihoods in question with the strike and the forest industry crisis in general."

Opposition Liberals forestry critic John Rustad also attended the convention and said the premier's speech did not provide much relief to contractors facing financial hard times.

"They're frustrated. They're angry," he said. "They want to be working and they aren't working. They're financially stressed. It was probably the most sombre truck loggers convention I've attended in all the years I've been going to them."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2019.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) will ask the Chhattisgarh government to probe if the resettlement of Bangladeshi refugees has led to demographic changes in tribal areas, according to officials.

It will also ask the Chhattisgarh government to probe complaints of the refugees "displacing" a large number of tribals from their land in the Bastar region and "inflicting atrocities" on them, an NCST official told PTI. A number of tribal representatives raised these issues during the commission's visit to the state last month, the official said.

READ: Chhattisgarh woman kills husband after he finds out about her affair

"The government resettled a large number of Bengali refugees, who came to India from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after Partition, in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and the Northeast under the Dandakaranya project that started in 1958. Many more came after the 1971 India-Pakistan War," the official said. In Chhattisgarh, the Bengali refugees were resettled in the Bastar region, especially Kanker district.

READ: Chhattisgarh govt moves Supreme Court against 'unconstitutional' NIA Act

"During our visit to Chhattisgarh, tribal representatives claimed that the influx of refugees over the years has led to demographic changes in tribal areas," the official said. The commission has also received complaints about the refugees "displacing a large number of tribals from their land and inflicting atrocities on them", he said.

NCST chairman Nand Kumar Sai said, "The matter pertains to the Bastar region. We have told the Chhattisgarh government that it is a serious issue and a thorough investigation is needed." "Tribal areas are special areas as per the Constitution and a demographic change is a serious threat to the rights of the indigenous people," he said.

READ: 'Chhappak opposers' are 'Hitler supporters': Chhattisgarh CM doubles down on tax exemption

The commission will ask the state government to furnish the number of Bangladeshi refugees resettled in the state initially and their current population. "The state government will be asked to find out if the number of refugees has exceeded the tribal population, and how many cases of Bangladeshi refugees displacing tribals from their land have been reported," the official said.

The commission has apprised Chhattisgarh Governor Anusuiya Uikey, who has also served as the vice-chairperson of the NCST in the past, of the issue, another official said. When contacted, Chhattisgarh's Scheduled Tribes Department Secretary D D Singh said, "The commission has informed us that certain issues have surfaced during their visit to the state and that they are preparing a report. We are awaiting a formal communication from the NSCT."

(image from PTI)

READ: Chhattisgarh follows Madhya Pradesh; Baghel makes Deepika Padukone's Chhapaak tax-free
Lebanese anti-riot police dispersed stone-throwing protesters with tear gas in Lebanon's capital on Sunday, as heavy rain capped a weekend of rare violence that wounded hundreds. Medics said 145 people were wounded in the latest clashes, taking the casualty toll to more than 530 in two days. Thick clouds of white tear gas billowed in central Beirut, as police pushed protesters out of a flashpoint road near parliament after hours of clashes, before the downpour largely cleared the streets. Unprecedented protests have rocked the country since October 17, with citizens from all religious backgrounds demanding the ouster of a political class viewed as inept, corrupt and responsible for an ever-deepening economic crisis. For a second night in a row, dozens of people started lobbing stones at police behind a metal barricade blocking a road to parliament, crying "revolution, revolution". Anti-riot forces responded with water canons, rubber bullets and then thick plumes of tear gas that pushed demonstrators back towards a main square, an AFP reporter said. The Red Cross said more than 145 people were injured, including 45 who needed treatment in hospital. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said two journalists were hit by rubber bullets, one a cameraman from local television channel Al-Jadeed. President Michel Aoun called for a "security meeting" on Monday with the interior and defence ministers to discuss the crisis, NNA reported. But a 34-year-old protester called Mazen said he and others had lost hope in politicians. "After three months of revolution, they have proven to us that they don't change, don't listen, and have nothing to give," he said. - 'Excessive violence' - On Saturday, at least 377 people were wounded -- both protesters and members of the security forces -- according to a toll compiled by AFP from figures provided by the Red Cross and Civil Defence. Lawyers said more than 40 protesters were arrested on Saturday before being released. Most were subjected to "excessive violence", while some were wounded "especially to the head and face, and genitals", the Committee of Lawyers for the Defence of Protesters said on Facebook. The lawyers also visited hospitals, from where they reported serious injuries including some caused by rubber bullets. On Sunday, local television aired the testimonies of relatives of two young men they said were hit in the eyes by rubber bullets. Security forces said they had opened a probe after a video shared online showed police beating up people believed to be protesters as they were brought to a Beirut police station. Human Rights Watch condemned what it called "the brutal use of force unleashed by Lebanon's riot police against largely peaceful demonstrators". It accused the riot police on Saturday of "launching tear gas canisters at protesters' heads, firing rubber bullets in their eyes and attacking people at hospitals and a mosque". - 'Stop wasting time' - Saturday's clashes began after dozens of protesters threw stones and plant pots at security forces, and tried to charge police lines near parliament with traffic signs. The security forces responded with water cannon and thick tear gas. Protesters had called for a week of "anger" over the political leadership's failure to form a new government even as the country sinks deeper into a financial crisis. "Another day without a government, another night of violence and clashes," UN envoy to Lebanon Jan Kubis said on Twitter. Outgoing prime minister Saad Hariri, who stepped down on October 29, urged political parties to "stop wasting time". "Form a government and pave the way towards political and economic solutions," he said. Political factions agreed on December 19 to appoint former education minister Hassan Diab as the new premier but have since squabbled over proposed ministers. Protesters have demanded a new government be comprised solely of independent experts, and exclude all established political parties. The World Bank has warned the poverty rate in Lebanon could rise from a third to half of the population if the political crisis is not resolved soon.
Read what is in the news today:

Politics

-- Vietnam and China celebrated their 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties on Saturday.

Society

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a delegation of incumbent and former Party and State leaders offered incense at a temple dedicated to late President Ho Chi Minh on Ba Vi Mountain in Hanoi on Saturday, on the threshold of the Lunar New Year 2020, which will fall on January 25.

-- A scene of unruliness was observed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday as droves of passengers began the massive Spring migration for the Lunar New Year 2020 holiday, with some flights being delayed by hours and passengers having to sit on the floor while waiting to board.

-- The cybersecurity and high-tech crimes prevention unit under the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security on Saturday said it had worked in coordination with police officers in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong to bust a ring of criminals who sell smartphone spyware capable of stealing login credentials of banking, email, and social media accounts on target devices where it is deployed.

-- Police officers in the central province of Quang Nam on Saturday said they had captured ten people, including two Malaysian nationals Long Boon Leng, 29, and Lim Kean Kew, 24, for posing as police officers and prosecutors to appropriate nearly VND7 billion (US$301,000) from their victims.

Business

-- Cars which provide passenger transportation via ride-hailing platforms, such as Grab, in Vietnam will have to install a lightbox or carry logo stickers showing that they are contract vehicles, according to a government decree issued on Friday.

Lifestyle

-- Hoi An City in the central province of Quang Nam has jumped four places to the 7th position on this years list of ten cheapest destinations for the British, according to the annual Holiday Money report by the Post Office, the UKs leading currency exchange.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
I was distraught, she said. Though I am proud of the sacrifice he made for this country, its just hard to even think about that happening to him. He was so young and had so much to do. His life was cut short.
RICHMOND, Va. - The convoys and militias are coming, if social media posts are to be believed, headed to Virginia's capital on Monday to take a stand for gun rights - or, in the words of some, to fan the flames of a civil war.

"I'll be rolling into town early. I can't give you my exact time for security reasons," said Christian Yingling, head of the Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia and a leader at the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville in 2017.

"I organized a convoy, places we can meet up and drive up together. I'll be leading it," said Tammy Lee, a militia activist in Oklahoma.

Both Lee and Yingling were members of groups that signed consent decrees never to return to Charlottesville while armed, part of a lawsuit settlement over the violence there. But there is no restriction against coming to Richmond.

Thousands will join them, they say, for a rally Monday on Capitol Square to protest plans by the new Democratic majority in the General Assembly to pass gun-control laws. State and federal officials were preparing for a volatile mix of weapons, passions and anti-government fervor. Central Richmond was braced for road closures and extensive police presence.

That was before President Donald Trump decided to weigh in Friday afternoon on Twitter.

"Your 2nd Amendment is under very serious attack in the Great Commonwealth of Virginia," Trump tweeted. "That's what happens when you vote for Democrats, they will take your guns away. Republicans will win Virginia in 2020. Thank you Dems!"

Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, last week declared a state of emergency and issued a ban on firearms or other weapons on Capitol grounds. The state Supreme Court upheld the ban after a challenge by two gun rights groups. The Federal Aviation Administration has issued temporary flight restrictions for Richmond airspace, making it illegal to fly planes or drones above the city on Monday. Northam has said officials are concerned about threats from weaponized drones.

On Thursday, the FBI arrested three alleged members of a white-supremacist group on gun charges, in part out of concern that they planned to attend the Richmond rally and incite violence.

The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-gun advocacy group, sponsors what has always been a peaceful rally every year on Lobby Day, which coincides with the state's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. With children out of school and state offices closed, it is a time for citizens to come to the Capitol and lobby lawmakers on a variety of issues.

The pro-gun rally is always the most visible event, but this year it has virtually wiped out everything else. The Virginia Citizens Defense League has appealed for 10,000 supporters to show up unarmed to fill Capitol Square and asked several times that many stand outside with weapons.

Northam told all nonessential staff to stay home, and many lawmakers urged aides to stay away, though committees will still meet and both chambers will convene floor sessions. The young pages who run errands in the House and Senate were given the day off for safety.

The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence canceled its annual vigil and lobbying day, announcing the decision on Twitter "with a heavy heart." The organization's state director, Lori Haas, said it was because of "ongoing, credible threats to public safety that have been promoted . . . by gun extremists."

One of Richmond's staunchest gun rights Republicans, who needled Northam over the ban earlier in the week, closed ranks with the governor after a closed-door briefing on the security threats Friday.

"Any group that comes to Richmond to spread white supremacist garbage, or any other form of hate, violence, or civil unrest isn't welcome here," House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, said in a written statement Saturday. "While we and our Democratic colleagues may have differences, we are all Virginians and we will stand united in opposition to any threats of violence or civil unrest from any quarter."

Gilbert declined to discuss the content of the briefing, but his statement referred to efforts to "infuse" the event with a "twisted or extreme worldview."

Outside the Capitol, authorities used tall chain-link barriers to create a pie-shaped pen for the rally. The area takes up about a third of Capitol Square, a manicured park dotted with monuments to historical figures ranging from Native Americans and George Washington to a segregationist governor and civil rights leaders. The monuments were protected with additional fencing, as was the Executive Mansion to the east.

The square is usually open on all sides to foot traffic. Under Northam's emergency order, access is restricted to one spot, at Ninth and East Grace streets. Just inside that entrance, the crowd will be split into 17 lines for screening with metal detectors.

Anyone attempting to bring in weapons will be turned away, but police will not confiscate those items, officials have said. Demonstrators who do not want to part with their guns may remain armed on city streets. Authorities say they will cut off admission to the rally once the crowd hits a certain number, which they have declined to disclose.

Police expect rallygoers to start lining up Sunday night, despite freezing temperatures. Authorities are setting up two medical tents in the area in case of injuries.

The hoopla is focused on promises by Northam to enact sweeping gun control this year, including limiting handgun purchases to one per month, banning military-style weapons and silencers, allowing localities to ban guns in public spaces and enacting a "red flag" law so authorities can temporarily seize weapons from someone deemed a threat.

Democrats across Virginia ran on the promise of gun control in last year's legislative elections, winning majorities in both the House of Delegates and state Senate for the first time in a generation. That gives them the power to act - and has inspired outrage from pro-gun activists.

More than 110 counties, cities and towns around the state have passed some type of resolution in support of gun rights, many of them "Second Amendment sanctuary" proclamations in which local officials pledge not to enforce laws they see as unconstitutional.

National militia and extremist groups have mobilized, with some making threats against elected officials. Many promise to use Virginia as the place to take a stand against what they see as a rising tide of anti-gun sentiment, invoking language of insurrection and civil war.

Not all of the heated rhetoric has come from outsiders.

Sen. Amanda Chase, R-Chesterfield, who plans to speak at the rally, warned on Facebook that authorities might send a troublemaker into the crowd - a "government plant," she said - to cause a disruption as an excuse to arrest attendees on "domestic terrorist" charges.

Some far-left organizations have also expressed sympathy with the cause. A coalition of groups at the site Richmondcommunists.org issued a statement Friday slamming gun control as a means of keeping down the working class.

Antifa Seven Hills, a Richmond-based anti-fascist group, said in a recent email interview that it also opposes gun control. But although it claimed no interest in disrupting the rally, it called on the Virginia Citizens Defense League to "prevent racists and fascists from attending" and promised to "always confront fascist ideology when it shows up in our city."

Yingling, the Pennsylvania militia activist, said he believes turnout will be big. "God, I hope it happens," he said in a telephone interview. "Like it or not, the governor's trampling on the rights of millions of gun owners. . . . People are upset, and they should be. He's talking about people's right to defend themselves."

Yingling led his militia on the streets of Charlottesville for the rally there in 2017. He said they were not backing the neo-Nazis who defended the statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee, but were protecting the rights of all involved to exercise free speech. Monday's rally is another case of the Constitution under siege, he said - this time over gun rights.

And yes, Yingling anticipates violence. He blamed Northam for pushing to limit access to guns.

"Let me make one thing unequivocally clear: I do not advocate for violence ever, ever," Yingling said. "But if he [Northam] keeps pushing people, people are going to feel that they're not going to have another choice."

Yingling said law enforcement has been in contact with him ahead of the rally, but he declined to disclose what they talked about.

Lee, the convoy leader from Oklahoma, has promoted the Richmond rally in Facebook live videos. "I can absolutely not wait," she said in one. "This may possibly be the first time that almost the entire patriot movement is there."

But in a video posted Friday, she also expressed dread. "If you're not apprehensive about going to this event, then I would worry about you and your mental state and your thought process," she said.

In an interview, Lee said the convoy would kick off in Oklahoma on Saturday morning and swing through 10 states before its scheduled arrival in Richmond on Sunday afternoon. She declined to say how many vehicles or people would be involved.

Lee said she has participated in nearly 50 rallies in the past five years. That includes Charlottesville, which she attended as a member of the American Freedom Keepers. She later cut ties with that group.

In a recent video, she indicated that the gun rights movement was fractured over whether the out-of-state militias would help or hinder their cause in Richmond.

"While some don't want outsiders coming in, it's too late for that," she said. "There are so many people woke to what's happening . . . that I don't think you could keep people away if you wanted to."

Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, said he toured the grounds with Capitol Police on Friday to get a sense of the layout. He said he was hoping for a peaceful rally.

"The frustrating thing to me is, if something does happen, that'll be all people talk about," Van Cleave said. "My view is, we have no control. We're telling police everything we know about and trusting them to do their job."
Iranians demonstrate against the regime in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Obtained from social media by Reuters)

US Sanctions Iranian Commander Over Mahshahr Killings

WASHINGTONThe U.S. State Department said on Saturday it had imposed sanctions on a general of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who commanded units blamed for a massacre of protesters in November.

The U.S. State Department has said previously it had received videos of the Revolutionary Guards opening fire without warning on protesters in Mahshahr county in southwest Iran.

On Saturday, it cited multiple media reports and information submitted by the Iranians through its Rewards for Justice tipline that units under Brigadier General Hassan Shahvarpours command killed as many as 148 people when they used armored vehicles to encircle fleeing protesters, firing machine guns into the crowd and setting fire to the marsh in which protesters took cover.

The State Department said it was designating Shahvarpour, a commander in Khuzestan province where Mahshahr is located, under a U.S. law banning officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members for whom there was credible information on their involvement in gross violations of human rights.

The announcement comes amid high tensions in Iran with thousands of citizens protesting in the streets, and also between Tehran and Washington after the United States killed Irans most powerful military commander in a drone strike in Iraq and Iran retaliated by launching missile strikes at U.S. targets in Iraq.

The State Department, which has stepped up criticism of Iran over human rights, said the latest move demonstrated Washingtons continued commitment to the Iranian people to support their demands for accountability from Iranian officials who committed serious human rights abuses against protesters in November.

People protest against increased gas price, on a highway in Tehran, Iran on Nov. 16, 2019. (Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters)

A Reuters special report last month found that about 1,500 people were killed during less than two weeks of unrest that started in Iran on Nov. 15. The figures, provided by three Iranian interior ministry officials, included at least 17 teenagers and about 400 women as well as some members of the security forces and police.

Irans authorities have disputed the U.S. account of what happened at Mahshahr, saying that security forces confronted rioters who they described as a security threat to petrochemical complexes and to a key energy route that, if blocked, would have created a crisis in the country.
Michael Higgins dreaded being struck down by a serious illness, so he was happy to be on the national $1.7 billion My Health Record system.

The 67-year-old's worst fears were realised when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer that had spread from his bowel to his liver last year.

Michael Higgins, who has been diagnosed with bowel cancer, with his dog Alex. Credit:Simon Schluter

The retired teacher logged into his digital health records to try to comprehend his grim diagnosis.

He was shocked to discover his medical records had not been updated, despite the scheme being rolled out almost a year ago.
Fiction

1. Where the Crawdads Sing

by Delia Owens. In a quiet town on the North Carolina coast in 1969, a young woman who survived alone in the marsh becomes a murder suspect.

2. The Guardians

by John Grisham. Cullen Post, a lawyer and Episcopal minister, antagonizes some ruthless killers when he takes on a wrongful conviction case.

3. Such a Fun Age

by Kiley Reid. Tumult ensues when Alix Chamberlains babysitter is mistakenly accused of kidnapping her charge.

4. The Silent Patient

by Alex Michaelides. Theo Faber looks into the mystery of a famous painter who stops speaking after shooting her husband.

5. The Dutch House

by Ann Patchett. A sibling relationship is impacted when the family goes from poverty to wealth and back again over the course of many decades.

6. Criss Cross

by James Patterson. The 27th book in the Alex Cross series. Copycat crimes make the detective question whether an innocent man was executed.

7. The Institute

by Stephen King. Children with special talents are abducted and sequestered in an institution where the sinister staff seeks to extract their gifts through harsh methods.

8. The Giver of Stars

by Jojo Moyes. In Depression-era Kentucky, five women refuse to be cowed by men or convention as they deliver books.

9. A Minute to Midnight

by David Baldacci. When Atlee Pine returns to her hometown to investigate her sisters kidnapping from 30 years ago, she winds up tracking a potential serial killer.

10. Blue Moon

by Lee Child. Jack Reacher gets caught up in a turf war between Ukrainian and Albanian gangs.

Nonfiction

1. Educated

by Tara Westover. The daughter of survivalists, who is kept out of school, educates herself enough to leave home for university.

2. Talking to Strangers

by Malcolm Gladwell. Famous examples of miscommunication serve as the backdrop to explain potential conflicts and misunderstandings.

3. Becoming

by Michelle Obama. The former first lady describes how she balanced work, family and her husbands political ascent.

4. Me

by Elton John. The multiaward-winning solo artists first autobiography chronicles his career, relationships and private struggles.

5. The Body

by Bill Bryson. An owners manual of the human body covering various parts, functions and what happens when things go wrong.

6. Say Nothing

by Patrick Radden Keefe. A look at the conflict in Northern Ireland known as the Troubles.

7. Sam Houston and the Alamo Avengers

by Brian Kilmeade. The Fox & Friends host gives an account of the battle against the Mexican Army in 1836.

8. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

by Lori Gottlieb. A psychotherapist gains unexpected insights when she becomes another therapists patient.

9. Catch and Kill

by Ronan Farrow. The Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter details some surveillance and intimidation tactics used to pressure journalists and elude consequences by certain wealthy and connected men.

10. How to Do Nothing

by Jenny Odell. An argument for unplugging from technology to potentially focus attention on important matters.

New York Times
Balboa Park is often called San Diegos cultural center, and this effort will ensure that people from all cultures feel represented and welcomed at the organizations, both within their walls and through their visitor facing programs.

In December 2019 the Parker Foundation, an independent, private foundation and California non-profit corporation, awarded the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, a collaborative body of 26 Balboa Park institutions, a grant of $38,000 in support of the organizations Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) initiative project - a first step in working to advance these practices across the parks non-profit organizations. Stemming from the Balboa Park Cultural Partnerships mission to unite, advance and preserve Balboa Parks cultural institutions for present and future generations, the IDEA initiative directly supports a cohort of participating organizations.

Were aiming to support the parks non-profit organizations in advancing equity and diversity in the workplace from the inside out, said Kristen Mihalko, Director of Operations at the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership and the IDEA Initiative facilitator. Balboa Park is often called San Diegos cultural center, and this effort will ensure that people from all cultures feel represented and welcomed at the organizations, both within their walls and through their visitor facing programs. Were so grateful for this opportunity from the Parker Foundation.

The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership has identified the first cohort of organizations who will benefit from the grant. In partnership with Culture Amp, a culture analytics agency, the Cultural Partnership will use the grant to facilitate assessments of the participating organizations employee engagement and perception of inclusion and diversity in the workplace. Results of the survey will inform policy and procedure updates at organizations such as the Fleet Science Center, the San Diego History Center, the San Diego Museum of Man, Museum of Photographic Arts, the San Diego Natural History Museum and Mingei International Museum. If more funding is made available, additional Balboa Park organizations will participate in the program, with a goal of all organizations completing assessments in the near future.

As a county-wide organization connecting San Diegans to the power of Science, we at the Fleet Science Center believe IDEA as a necessary and integral aspect of our work, said Ashanti Davis, Fleet Exhibitions Manager. We are excited as an organization to explore the changing values and norms of our internal team but also as a cultural institution in San Diego to take meaningful steps towards our collective future in Balboa Park.

The cultural assessments for the first cohort of organizations will be conducted through the first half of the year, with completion by August 31st of 2020.

About the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership

The Balboa Park Cultural Partnership serves as the collaborative body and collective voice for 26 arts, science, and cultural institutions in Balboa Park. The Cultural Partnerships programs, including the Balboa Park Explorer Pass, Balboa Park Sustainability Program, One Park - One Team Program and the Balboa Park Learning Institute, aim to achieve greater effectiveness, innovation, and excellence and contribute to the vitality and sustainability of Balboa Park. The collective of 7,000 volunteers, and 3,500 staff members, and 500 trustees serve more than 6.2 million visitors annually.

For more information about the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, visit bpcp.org.

About the Parker Foundation

The Parker Foundation was founded on October 5, 1971 for charitable purposes leading to the betterment of life for all people of San Diego County. With a net endowment of $42 million, the Foundation has granted over $54 million since inception.

An independent, private foundation and California non-profit corporation, the Parker Foundation is limited by its governing instruments to funding charitable organizations operating only within San Diego County.

About Culture Amp

Founded in 2011, Culture Amp is a software company dedicated to helping companies collect, understand, and act on the data required to make the best decisions about people and culture. Culture Amp has a history of being at the forefront of employee engagement technology having created the worlds first real-time employee engagement platform which incorporates real-time driver analysis. We had observed that even though business leaders universally understood the importance of their people, the tools being used to understand them and make decisions had not kept pace with innovations on the customer side. Culture Amp was founded to address this issue starting with the employee survey. Culture Amp is now the employee feedback platform used globally for culture first organizations such as Adobe, Airbnb, Conde Nast, Mercy Health, Pixar, Salesforce, Slack, Virgin Hotels, Warby Parker, and more than 2,500 other world-class organizations.
The former head of the Canadian Dairy Commission who facilitated a $225-million investment by a Chinese dairy processor to build an infant formula plant in Kingston, Ont., is now serving on that same Chinese corporation's board.

In keeping with the "cooling-off" period required by federal law, Jacques Laforge waited a year before accepting this paid role. But he was not required to notify the federal ethics commissioner in order to evaluate whether the move was appropriate  something that troubles critics of Canada's current conflict of interest rules.

Laforge, a New Brunswick dairy farmer and a former president of the Dairy Farmers of Canada, was appointed CEO of the commission by then-agriculture minister Gerry Ritz in 2012.

The director of corporate services for the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC), Chantal Paul, confirmed to CBC News that Laforge's mandate ended in May 2018 and he left the Crown corporation at that time.

The corporate website for China Feihe Limited says Laforge was appointed as one of its three independent non-executive directors in June 2019. His appointment took effect in October, just over a month before the Canary Islands-registered corporation was listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange.

Under Laforge's leadership, the CDC signed agreements in 2016 with Feihe to build a new manufacturing facility in Canada, where no other dairy processor makes infant formula.

Now incorporated in Canada under the name Canada Royal Milk, the factory took its first deliveries of Ontario milk in December and currently is testing its processing line. Once production ramps up, most of the formula will be exported to China.

Documents obtained by CBC News under the Access to Information Act show that during Laforge's final two years as CEO, the CDC set up meetings for Feihe executives with other levels of government and federal regulators. Laforge also travelled to China multiple times, meeting with Feihe's chairman Leng Youbin and Chinese government officials.

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Submitted

"I definitely was involved in bringing them to Canada," he told CBC News. "We spent a lot of energy ... We opened up the doors for them."

Laforge said he does not believe his role as one of three rotating independent board members amounts to a conflict with his former role at a Crown corporation because it's "99 per cent international" and won't deal directly with the Canadian factory.

No disclosure required

Despite his direct dealings with Feihe as a public official, Laforge told CBC he did not clear his new job with the federal ethics commissioner.

When asked what post-employment rules apply for Laforge, the CDC's Paul suggested the CBC examine Section 33 of the Conflict of Interest Act.

It says: "No former public office holder shall act in such a manner as to take improper advantage of his or her previous public office."

A spokesperson for Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner Mario Dion said his office can't answer questions about individuals because of confidentiality rules, but confirmed that Laforge's one-year "cooling-off period" is over, so his board appointment is no longer prohibited.

Zhang Wei/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images

Guy Giorno, a former chief of staff to Stephen Harper who now advises clients on ethics and accountability in his legal practice, said not requiring a former senior civil servant like Laforge to disclose offers of employment and submit to an ethics review amounts to a "hole" in the law.

"It ought to be mandatory, and it stands to reason that the commissioner can't do a very good job policing people who have left when he's not under the statute required to be told about everybody who is seeking a new position," Giorno said.

'Fuzzy' rules

Nevertheless, several federal ethics rules apply for life, Giorno said.

Laforge can't give advice based on confidential information he knew as head of the CDC, and he can't "switch sides" and start working for Feihe on any financial transactions or legal proceedings he handled at the Crown corporation.

But Section 33, the rule against "taking improper advantage of a previous office," hasn't been interpreted very often. Giorno called it "very fuzzy."

"That doesn't mean it's unimportant as a general rule ... In fact, it's the first listed in the statute," he said.

Government service brings with it a network of contacts, goodwill and other "intangible things" which taxpayers paid Laforge to acquire, Giorno said.

"My own personal view is that Parliament intended to police the profiting from the monetization of those things," he said.

"Nothing happens for nothing. A former public servant must always be asking, 'Why are they paying me?'"

Protecting shareholders from 'boo-boos'

Laforge said he received a number of requests after he left the CDC. He followed its internal policy and waited a year before saying yes to anything, including Feihe's offer last summer.

"It's my first time doing this. I didn't know too much about independent directors," he said. "Common sense was telling me, stay away for a year, and when you start taking things make sure that it's not in conflict of interest with some files."

Feihe International Inc.

"They might have a Chinese name but ... they want to source and do things internationally," he added. "I'm there to observe that they don't make any boo-boos affecting the shareholders."

He said he hasn't been paid yet, but expects his compensation to follow the guidelines of the Hong Kong exchange, which provide for a "basic fee of at least $400,000 HK ($67,000 Cdn) per year, coupled with additional payments for membership or chairing of board committees." Laforge sits on two committees, including Feihe's audit committee.

"It might look lucrative," he said, adding it's not clear how much time it will require.

He also admits he's nervous about the potential consequences of taking on this role.

"I know Feihe's a good company, but companies are companies. They go sideways once in a while," he said.

Normalizing China

David Mulroney, Canada's ambassador to China from 2009-12, said it's not necessarily bad for a company that wants to build a high-quality reputation to have a Canadian aboard.

During China's 2008 tainted baby formula scandal, which involved Feihe's competitor, directors on that company's board from New Zealand helped bring the facts to light.

While Laforge said his role with the company is largely international, Mulroney said the rationale for his appointment still needs to be explored and explained.

Office of Mayor Bryan Paterson

And although Laforge's appointment respects the "cooling-off" period in the law, Mulroney said that year-long period is too short  and Canadians should expect public servants to do more than tick the box on the minimum post-employment requirements.

"There's something wrong with the speed with which elected officials and senior officials are taking jobs that do suggest they're trading on their past experience," the ex-ambassador said.

"The Chinese may be on the lookout for guanxi opportunities in Canada," Mulroney said, using a term that means "connectedness" to refer to the Chinese approach to networking through seeking out personal connections.

Without singling out Feihe, Mulroney said that China's corporate sector writ large is widely seen as too closely linked to the Chinese government.

"It's ... increasingly unclear in Xi Jinping's China that there are companies at all separate from the Chinese Communist Party," he said.

"It's difficult to understand why so many high-profile Canadians are allowing themselves to be associated with Chinese firms. It normalizes China at a time when China is anything but normal."

Feihe representatives have not responded to multiple interview requests in recent months.

CBC News asked Laforge about his decision to accept this work at a delicate time in CanadaChinese relations.

"Believe me ... don't think that's not crossing my mind," he said. "It's too late now."
RIO DE JANEIRO  Outrage rained on Brazils government from across the political spectrum after the culture secretary used language similar to that of Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels in opening an arts initiative focused on nationalism and religion, forcing President Jair Bolsonaro to fire him.

The parallels between Thursdays remarks by Roberto Alvim, who had held the culture post only since November, and those of Goebbels in the 1930s drew furious reactions from Jewish organizations, key lawmakers, political parties, artists and Brazils bar association.

Bolsonaro is normally defiant in the face of criticism, but he quickly removed Alvim on Friday. The far-right president, who often celebrates torturers and killers of Brazils 1964-85 military dictatorship, also denounced Nazism and authoritarian regimes in a Twitter post.

Though the government is strapped for cash, Bolsonaro had announced Alvims $4.9 million arts initiative to encourage the production of literature, theater, opera, music and other arts.

Alvim, a born-again Christian, delivered a separate message about the initiative using language that local media identified as a paraphrase of a 1933 speech by Goebbels. Website Jornalistas Livres first detected the comparable quote in Peter Longerichs popular biography on the Nazi propagandist, referenced as a speech to Germanys theater scene at the time.

The Brazilian art of the next decade will be heroic and will be national, Alvim said in his speech. It will yield great capacity of emotional involvement and it will be equally imperative, as it will be deeply committed to the urgent aspirations of our people, or it will be nothing.

In his 1933 speech, Goebbels said, The German art of the next decade will be heroic, it will be steely romantic, it will be factual and completely free of sentimentality, it will be national with great Pathos and committed, or it will be nothing.

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.

Alvim, who has disavowed Nazism, acknowledged the similarity but said it was merely a rhetorical coincidence.

He sat beneath a framed picture of Bolsonaro, and orchestral strings played in the background. The music was from an opera by Richard Wagner, sometimes associated with Nazism and German nationalism. Alvim said he chose the music because the composers work is transcendent and stemmed from his Christian faith.

Diane Jeantet and Mauricio Savarese are Associated Press writers.
If there is a single date that sums up the clash between Margaret Thatcher and the miners, it is June 18, 1984, when a violent confrontation took place between police and pickets at Orgreave in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Dubbed the Battle of Orgreave, it arouses strong feelings to this day, with campaigners calling for an independent review into what happened and why.

The site itself has been completely transformed, however, under the auspices of Harworth Group, a property developer specialising in regeneration throughout the North of England and the Midlands.

Strong feelings: 1984's Battle of Orgreave

Harworth shares are 1.54 and should increase in value, as the company has an impressive track record, a strong portfolio and is focused on precisely the areas that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has earmarked for investment.

Orgreave, renamed Waverley, is a case in point. Once a gritty colliery and coking plant, the area now boasts 850 new houses and a massive business park, whose tenants include Rolls-Royce and McLaren Automotive, which makes components for Formula 1 cars on site.

In days gone by, around 700 miners were employed at Orgreave. Today, more than 2,000 jobs have been created on site and thousands more will come as Harworth has planning permission to expand the business park and leading manufacturers are keen to move in.

The University of Sheffield has a significant presence there too, with an Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and an apprentice college, where businesses can find the skilled workers they need.

Over time, 3,000 more homes will be built at Waverley, with schools, hospitals and parkland to complete the area's transformation.

Once a gritty colliery and coking plant, the area now boasts 850 new houses and a massive business park, whose tenants include Rolls-Royce and McLaren Automotive

Harworth's success on this site is no accident. The group knows more than most about regenerating former coal mines, as it was spun out of UK Coal, formerly British Coal. The group then listed on the stock market in 2015.

Chief executive Owen Michaelson has spent his career taking over neglected brownfield sites and turning them into places where people want to live and work.

He has restructured Harworth's portfolio, selling off farmland with limited development potential and acquiring brownfield sites in the Midlands and NorthWest, where regeneration is sorely needed.

Today, the group owns 120 sites, some residential, some commercial and some a blend of both. These are spread over 20,000 acres, roughly the same size as Rotherham, where Harworth is headquartered.

The company is constantly looking out for new opportunities so further expansion is likely. Property developers have a bad name in some quarters but Harworth has been working in the North for years and local authorities trust the business because its developments bring new homes and jobs to areas that have been neglected for years.

Michaelson already has planning consent for 10,000 new homes, with a further 10,000 awaiting permission. And there is a large amount of commercial development too, for tenants ranging from Amazon and Lidl to hundreds of small, local businesses.

Residential plots are sold to housebuilders once planning permission has been granted and the sites are ready for construction. But Harworth retains ownership of commercial developments, generating income for the group once tenants move in.

The process sounds straightforward but it can take years, particularly during periods of political volatility. That made 2019 slightly challenging at times but Johnson's Election victory and pledge to invest in the North have fuelled confidence in the future.

A trading statement is scheduled for this Tuesday and the tone should be upbeat. Brokers expect 2019 revenues of around 80million, rising to 86million in the current year.

Harworth pays a nominal dividend  likely to be 0.9p for 2019, rising to 1p in 2020. However, it is primarily a growth stock. The shares have doubled since listing and should continue to rise.

Midas verdict: The UK needs more homes and it needs to boost productivity. Harworth helps on both fronts and its regional focus is a further plus. The company is well managed, finances are sound and prospects are fair. At 1.54 the shares are a buy.
Brits have an average of 21 days annual leave a year, but many feel guilty about taking time off. Photo: Getty

For most workers, holiday leave is something to look forward to  a chance to take a break from the daily grind and get away from deadlines, projects, and stress.

In the UK, employees who work five days a week are entitled to a statutory minimum of 5.6 weeks or 28 days of paid annual leave, including bank holidays and public holidays. Those working part-time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata, which is currently 5.6 times your usual working week.

However, many people arent taking days off  despite having paid holiday leave. According to a survey of 2,000 working adults by British Airways (IAG.L), a third did not use up all of their annual leave in 2017, losing an average of four days each.

READ MORE: How to stay calm and confident on the first day of your new job

Brits have an average of 21 days annual leave a year, but many feel guilty about taking time off  with more than a third afraid to take a two-week holiday due to work stigma.

The problem is even more pronounced in the US. In 2018, workers in the United States left a record number of vacation days on the table, equating to billions in lost benefits, according to research from the US Travel Association, Oxford Economics, and Ipsos. A total of 768 million days went unused and of those, 236 million were completely forfeited  equating to $65.5bn (50.2bn) in lost benefits.

Most people are aware of the benefits associated with taking time off. Not only does it reduce stress and anxiety and improve wellbeing, taking regulars breaks allows us to stay engaged, feel refreshed, and improve productivity.

READ MORE: Is instant messaging at work stressing us out?

When I see how many vacation days went unused, I don't just see a number  I see 768 million missed opportunities to recharge, experience something new and, connect with family and friends, US Travel Association president and CEO Roger Dow said in a statement.

So why are we so bad at detaching ourselves from our jobs?

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One of the key issues  dubbed holiday guilt or vacation guilt  is to blame. Despite being allocated paid holidays, some of us continue to beat ourselves up over the fact that were ditching our duties for a few days of rest and so avoid taking vacations altogether.

Holiday guilt can be attributed to various factors, including the belief that time away from work could have a negative lasting impact on your career. For those married to their jobs, it can be hard to relinquish control over projects and assignments which may be given to other colleagues while youre on holiday.

READ MORE: What are soft skills and why should you include them on your CV?

The fear of missing out on opportunities also plays a part. In a survey of more than 1,200 full-time American employees, 14% of those questioned said they believed that not using their holiday time increased their chances for advancement.

According to a Trades Union Congress (TUC) report, workers also feel compelled to work longer hours and take less time off due to the challenging economic climate. Despite employees across the UK already working some of the longest hours in western Europe, many feel compelled to forgo holidays due to heavy workloads, tight deadlines, and the fear of losing their job.

Despite wider conversations about worker wellbeing and employee health, some companies still push their staff to avoid taking vacations. And when they do take leave of the office, many workers are still expected to be in touch via email or by phone  meaning they rarely get away from work.

READ MORE: Should we learn to love job-hoppers?

Age also plays a part in the likelihood of workers taking time off. Research by the US Travel Association has found older Americans tend to take more time off than younger age groups, with around one-third of baby boomers (35%) and Gen X (31%) reported taking 10-19 days in 2018, compared to only one in five Millennials (21%).

There are several ways to avoid feeling guilty or worried about taking time off. Firstly, giving your manager plenty of notice when booking a holiday is essential. Not only will it allow you to tie up any loose ends before you head out of the office, your boss will be able to prepare for your absence  leaving them less likely to contact you while you are away.

Try not to focus on what youll be missing out on at work, but rather what youll be experiencing while you are away. Reading books on a beach, seeing friends or travelling to new places are all just as important as work.

Its also important to remind yourself of the benefits of taking a break every so often. Not only will you feel better physically and mentally, youre more likely to come back feeling productive  something your boss will appreciate too.
Burnt trees are seen in Mallacoota on January 15, 2020 , Australia. The Princes Highway between Mallacoota and Orbost remains closed to public due to the risk of falling trees following the devastating bushfires that have swept through East Gippsland in recent weeks.

Over half of the world's GDP (gross domestic product) is exposed to risks from lost parts of the natural world, according to a new report.

It comes following a 12-month period which reportedly saw the hottest year on record for the world's oceans, the second-hottest year for global average temperatures and wildfires from the U.S., to the Amazon, to Australia.

The report, which was produced by WEF in collaboration with PwC U.K., found that $44 trillion of economic value generation  more than half of the world's GDP  is "moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services and is therefore exposed to nature loss."

Policymakers and business leaders from around the world are due to arrive in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Monday.

The annual January get-together is scheduled to focus on the intensifying climate crisis.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 08:53:05|Editor: ZX

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Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2020 shows a lantern show on Qingxiu mountain in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Colourful lanterns were lighted up across the country to celebrate the upcoming Chinses Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 25 this year. (Photo by Yu Xiangquan/Xinhua)
In late 2019 the U.S. Navy banned personnel from having the Chinese social media app TikTok on government-supplied smartphones. A few weeks later the U.S. Army issued a similar ban. Army and navy personnel can still use TikTok on their personal phones, which limits the effectiveness of the ban.

There are potential problems with TikTok because it is owned by a Chinese firm (ByteDance) and thus subject to the Chinese government ordering it to allow malware to be secretly installed, or uninstalled. This sort of thing is difficult to do without getting caught, especially on such a widely used app (about 500 million users) outside of China. TikTok is not allowed in China, instead, a similar app is available just for Chinese users.

The second reason for the TikTok ban is that TikTok, like many social media apps (and apps in general) uses geolocation (via GPS capability standard in phones). This is so that users or, in many cases just the publisher, can see where the user and has been while using the app. This is popular with users and especially with app publishers because this geolocation is a powerful, and lucrative, marketing tool. Because the TikTok ban does not apply to personal (non-government owned) phones the geolocation data is still available from enough military personnel to provide accurate data where these personnel are and where they have been. It is estimated that several hundred thousand military personnel use TikTok and that is a large enough number for TikTok geolocation to show where army, navy, marine and air force units are. Even if the users do not indicate they are in the military, there are statistical techniques to deduce who is and who isnt.

The problem here is the Chinese dont need TikTok geolocation data for tracking American military units and personnel. There are many other American made apps that collect geolocation data and sell it to just about anyone. That data made it possible to track the American president and other senior officials, even though the Secret Service (which guards senior officials) has a lot of procedures in force to avoid that sort of tracking.

All this is nothing new. In mid-2018 the U.S. Department of Defense banned all personnel in operational areas (usually overseas combat zones) from using commercial devices with geolocation capability. This included cell phones and PSMs (Physiological Status Monitors) like Fitbit. What triggered this was the discovery that a social network for athletes called Strava had developed software that enabled anyone to track users wearing a FitBit or other GPS enabled PSMs. Dedicated (often professional) athletes joined Strava to exchange PSM information and that led to Strava developing features that enabled user locations worldwide.

Turns out that intelligence agencies had discovered Strava as well and reported that they could not only detect PSM users anywhere in the world, but could often identify these users by name. Many intelligence and military personnel used their Fitbits while overseas, often while on secret missions. From January to July 2018 the extent and implications of this became quite clear. The intel agencies quickly (and quietly) ordered their personnel overseas (and often at home as well) to stop using PSMs that made their data accessible to public networks, even ones that were not open to the public. These could be hacked. Now there is a market for secure (encrypted) PSMs for military and intelligence personnel. Actually, work on that sort of thing has already been underway. TikTok is more a threat for capabilities China has nothing to do with than for something that might be secretly installed in the future.
When I was in college, my roommate and I would together drive the six hours to our southern Illinois campus the day before the spring semester started. Our tradition was that, while my friend took a turn driving, I would read aloud Martin Luther King Jr.s I Have a Dream speech, which was printed in our local newspaper annually on the Monday commemorating the activist.

That was a quarter of a century ago  before our first black president seemed to have made good on the promise of an America that could see beyond race.

It was also before white supremacists seized on Kings ideal of not being judged by the color of ones skin but by the content of ones character in order to push back against what they perceive as rampant racism against whites in the form of affirmative action and other preferential treatments for historically marginalized people of color.

And it was before blacks, as well as others of color, wondered whether being good (or, in fact, twice as good as whites and hoping to at least attain half as much) was really the way to gain equality in a country that refused to see the lasting, daily impact of the legacy of slavery and the Jim Crow era.

It was at a time when, in public schools across the country, trotting out the I Have a Dream speech in mid-January and then discussing King  along with Rosa Parks and Jackie Robinson  during a few social studies lessons in February was considered super progressive.

And it was long before African Americans would look critically at Kings life  such as his purported sexism and marital infidelities  and consider how his legacy of nonviolence is often used to point out the failings of todays more aggressive, less polite Black Lives Matter movement. (Dont miss Mychal Denzel Smiths electric 2018 essay Is King All That We Are Allowed to Become? in The Atlantic.)

I Have a Dream holds up through the ages, but its not difficult to imagine that King would have hated his day being the prequel to a single month out of each year when black people are recognized as important, positive contributors to the greatness of America.

While the month does give saintly treatment to a handful of very important black icons, those same icons would probably be horrified to learn that Americans interest in outstanding, important and pivotal black people ended, more or less, in the 60s.

In a perfect world, Black History Month  like the months celebrating the heritage of women, Latinos/Hispanic, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans  would be every month, just like white history is celebrated. They are not separate, they are equal.

Since perfection does not describe how history is taught in the public schools or reported in the media, it falls on us to seek out alternative sources for information in February.

The Civil Rights History Project of the Library of Congress (www.loc.gov/collections/civil-rights-history-project/) is a great place to bookmark on your web browser. This collection couldnt make it easier to read an article or essay on a little corner of history, such as the role young people played in the fight for civil rights or how music fueled the movement.

Even more enticing are the many video-recorded oral histories of people who lived in the communities struggling to win their civil rights and what their everyday lives were really like. Just prepare your chest to tighten  these are powerful, emotional stories.

This idea to explore black history might be one we return to, or it might fall by the wayside as we navigate busy, hectic lives. But, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the chances are high that youll see a copy of his famous speech scroll across your news feed or posted in your social media streams and notifications.

Take a moment to read through the speech. Its not long. And it remains tragically relevant today.

While theres no comparing living conditions for some African Americans in the Jim Crow South with the lowest-income blacks today, its still true that, regardless of educational attainment, many often still live on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity.

And, for people of all races and ethnicities, Kings words ring out as strongly today as ever, because now is absolutely still the time to make justice a reality for all of Gods children.

estherjcepeda@washpost.com
The announcement Saturday that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are to give up their titles and stop receiving public funds is only the latest instalment in a royal soap opera that has gripped Britain and the world.

Love over country

The 1936 abdication of Edward VIII 326 days into his reign remains the biggest scandal in modern royal history and caused a worldwide sensation.

Britains brief king provoked a constitutional crisis when he stepped down in order to marry the twice-divorced US socialite Wallis Simpson.

The union was deemed impossible while Edward was monarch and head of the Church of England, which at the time refused to remarry divorcees while their former spouse was still alive.

Edward was the first monarch in the 1,000-year history of the British Crown to give up his throne of his own free will.

His brother King George VI replaced him on the throne, and Edward -- who married Simpson in 1937 -- was subsequently ostracised by the rest of the Windsor family until the late 1960s.

He died in 1972.

Margarets heartbreak

Queen Elizabeth IIs fun-loving younger sister, Princess Margaret, also sparked a firestorm with her choice for marriage.

In 1952, the then-22-year-old began a romance with her late fathers divorced equerry, former Royal Air Force officer Peter Townsend.

The couples wish to marry prompted a battle between the government and the public -- which was seen to be sympathetic to the union -- with the queen caught in the middle.

Margaret was eventually persuaded to abandon the relationship, under the threat of losing her royal position, and instead married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones in 1960.

They divorced in 1978.

A horrible year

The queen memorably described 1992 as an annus horribilis after three of her childrens marriages crumbled.

Heir to the throne Prince Charles split from Princess Diana after 11 years of marriage caused a media sensation.

The princess then rocked the monarchy by leaking shocking details of palace life to author Andrew Morton for his 1992 book Diana: Her True Story - In Her Own Words.

Around the same time the queens second son Prince Andrew separated from wife Sarah Ferguson, whom he had married six years earlier.

Meanwhile Princess Anne, the reigning monarchs only daughter, finalised her divorce from first husband Mark Phillips following their separation in 1989.

Dianas death

The popular princess died in a high-speed car crash in a Paris tunnel in August 1997.

For the next week leading up to her spectacular funeral, Britain was plunged into an unprecedented outpouring of grief which shook the monarchy.

Anger had soon mounted at the silence of senior royals holed up in Balmoral in Scotland, where the queen, Dianas ex-husband Charles, and their two children, William, 15, and Harry, 12, were holidaying over the summer.

Newspapers, furious that the Union Jack flag was not flying at half-mast over Buckingham Palace, called on the queen to address her subjects.

Within days she had paid homage to her former daughter-in-law in a televised speech for only the second time in her reign. She also publicly bowed before Dianas coffin.

Prince Andrew scandal

Prince Andrew has been dogged by allegations he had sex with one of the then-teenage victims of deceased US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The prince, often referred to as the queens favourite son, attempted to clear his name in a BBC interview in November but it backfired spectacularly.

He looked stiff and unapologetic in a performance that one public relations consultant said was akin to watching a man in quicksand.

The prince promptly promised to step back from public duties a few days later but remains under pressure to cooperate with United States authorities still investigating the Epstein case.

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CRISIL Research expects revenue growth of corporate India, excluding banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) and oil companies, to decline 2-3 per cent on a year-on-year basis in the third quarter (Q3) of fiscal year 2019-20, mainly due to muted private consumption and a decline in revenues of industrial and construction-linked sectors. This marks the second successive quarter of de-growth in sales after the September quarter of FY20 reported a decline of 3-4 per cent.

The CRISIL research is based on an analysis of 300 companies that account for approximately 60 per cent of the market capitalisation of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), excluding banking, financial services, insurance, and oil players.

Expected revenue growth at 2-3 per cent marks a hard fall from the preceding four quarters (between the second quarter of FY19 and the first quarter of FY20) when aggregate revenue had grown 11-12 per cent on average, the report said.

The decline in revenue is largely on account of falling revenue of consumer-linked sectors, which are estimated to have contracted 1-2 per cent year-on-year. In fact, revenue of automobile companies is estimated to have posted a sharp slide of 9-10 per cent on-year. This could be attributed to muted purchase of passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, lower freight demand aggravated by the new axle norms, weak product mix and weak finance availability for commercial vehicles. In a rub-off, auto component manufacturers' revenue is estimated to have decreased 13-15 per cent amid production cuts.

Overall, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is expected to fall 1-2 per cent year-on-year for the quarter, adding to a nearly 1 per cent drop the previous quarter. This comes despite support from telecom and retailing sectors, which are benefiting from accounting changes. Excluding these, the fall would have been sharper, at 6-7 per cent.

Also read: Finally, power demand grows in December after six months of decline

Among sectors, aggregate revenue of power companies is estimated to have declined 3-4 per cent, against an average of 8 per cent in the previous four quarters, due to a slowdown in power demand across regions.

Revenue of petrochemicals companies is expected to have fallen 17-19 per cent on-year due to lower realisations amid a fall in feedstock naphtha prices (around 7 per cent) as crude prices trended lower.

Construction-linked sectors are expected to log a revenue decline of around 6 per cent, because of an 18-19 per cent decline in steel products and falling realisations (flat steel prices dropped 21 per cent).

Large cement players will likely log around 4 per cent growth in revenue, primarily on account of a rise in volumes.

"For key sectors such as automobiles and steel products, EBITDA margin is expected to have declined 150-350 bps on-year, given lower utilisation and a slump in domestic realisations, respectively. Indeed, nine of 19 key sectors evaluated are expected to show an on-year drop in margins for the quarter. On the other hand, cement companies' margins are likely to have expanded 200 bps on account of improved realisations and lower power and fuel costs," said Hetal Gandhi, Director, CRISIL Research.

Also read: Pharma industry sales drop in December quarter over tepid volumes

Also read: Slowdown Blues: Gems & jewellery exports decline for 9th consecutive month in FY20
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:

"Today we take a momentous step, one that has never been taken before with China."

President Donald Trump this week touted what is being billed as a "Phase 1" trade deal with China, which rolls back some American tariffs on Chinese exports in exchange for a pledge from Beijing to buy more American products.

But critics say the deal falls short of the pledges Trump's trade team made when they launched a war of tit-for-tat tariffs.

And on Sunday those critics were joined by the president's own former chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER GARY COHN, SAYING:

"This did not address the big issue, the big issue the president and I agreed upon, is that the Chinese have been stealing our intellectual property. They've been infringing on our trade marks. They've been infringing on our copyright. It has not addressed that.

Gary Cohn was the chief White House economic adviser up until 2018, and he helped craft the administration's signature piece of domestic legislation, a tax reform bill.

Cohn reportedly parted ways with the administration over Trump's trade policy, which leaned heavily on punitive tariffs.

On Sunday (January 16) Cohn told CBS he did not believe the tariffs made a difference in trade talks--

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER GARY COHN, SAYING:

"I don't think the tariffs helped us get to any different outcome."

-- and said that the steel and aluminum tariffs in particular may have impaired U.S. economic growth.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER GARY COHN, SAYING:

"The minute a company's thinking about spending capital, what do you go out and buy? You go out and buy steel and aluminum. That's how you build factories. That's how you build property plant and equipment. So all of a sudden the advantages that we were trying to give companies, to help stimulate the economy, to build facilities, to go out and hire people, to drive wages, we took away that advantage by taxing the input that they needed to build.

Story continues

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CBS ANCHOR MARGARET BRENNAN, SAYING:

"You're saying the president got in his own way."

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER GARY COHN, SAYING:

"I'm saying the policies collided with each other."

The deal inked last week leaves in place U.S. tariffs of 25 percent on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, and Chinese retaliatory tariffs on $100 billion worth of American products.
Promoters of the Vision 20:2020 had envisaged that Nigerians would wake up to the New Year 2020 in fanfare and heavy fireworks to celebrate the countrys achievement of becoming one of the 20 best economies in the world.

This was topmost among the goals of this grand national development plan that grabbed public imagination since it was launched 11 years ago.

Conceived by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2006, the blueprint of Vision 20:2020 was launched in September 2009 by late President Umaru YarAduas administration amidst fanfare.

The main organs responsible for the development of the vision were: The National Council on Vision 2020, the lead organ, chaired by the president; the National Steering Committee which consisted of about 70 persons; the National Technical Working Group comprising about 20-25 experts in specified thematic areas; the Stakeholder Development Committee which included state governments, federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other key institutions.

But at the expiration of the tall target on January 1, 2020, Nigeria was not among the worlds top 20 economies in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It was the 28th largest economy in the world in 2019, according to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The long-term plan did not make a dent on Nigerias developmental challenges as many Nigerians are in worse socioeconomic conditions than ever before.

Nigeria now has the highest number of people living in extreme poverty across the world, with an estimated 86.9 million people said to be living on less than N381 a day. The World Poverty Clock said the figure increases every six months.

That several economic malaises including insecurity, epileptic power supply, week infrastructure and institutions still plague the country suggests that the broader objectives of the goal are out of reach.

A review published by the ICIR found that 10 specific parameters of the target were not met.

Experts have pointed to a series of long-term trends, from poor execution to weak evaluation as some reasons why the vision failed to meet its mandate.

But what actually happened to Vision 20:2020? This is a question even the advocates of the audacious goal are yet to answer considering the pomp and pageantry that heralded its offtake.

Misplaced priority

From onset, critics queried the rationale behind the major target of the vision  propelling Nigeria into the league of 20 best economies. This translates to having a GDP of at least US$900 billion by 2020 compared to about US$212 billion as at 2008.

Today, Nigeria is number 28 in terms of GDP size globally but yet has the highest number of people living in abject poverty.

The country is among the top 10 countries in the misery index. Nigeria has one of Africas highest unemployment rates with 23 per cent of its population18 million of the labour forcecurrently without jobs.

The challenge of inequality is at crisis levels in Nigeria.

The richest man in the country earns about 150,000 times more from his wealth than the poorest 10 per cent of Nigerians spend on average on their basic consumption in a year, according to Oxfam 2019 inequality index.

As a result of its decrepit health sector, Nigeria is at the bottom of most world health indices  One of the worst places in the world to bear a child and or cater for infant or mother; has the worlds third-lowest life expectancy rate of 55 years; has the second largest number of stunted children in the world, to mention but a few.

Currently, Nigeria has over 10 million out-of-school children.

Critics should, therefore, be excused for questioning what is sacrosanct about $900 billion GDP and what, indeed, is the guarantee that such achievement would address the basic needs of Nigerians.

The target of being among the top 20 economies will not help Nigeria, said Nnimmo Bassey, a renowned environmental activist. This is because of the current measure of growth is defective and doesnt capture the state of affairs for citizens anywhere in the world.

GDP has been defined as Gross Domestic Problem by an Italian politician.

Nigeria needs to define steps needed to be taken to meet the basic needs of her citizens and not hinge its development plans on GDP figures which does not impact on current realities on the ground, he noted.

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American billionaire and philanthropist, Bill Gates, during his visit to Nigeria in 2018 said the countrys economic plans do not have the ability to address the unique needs of Nigerians at present.

He said the Nigerian Governments Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) prioritises physical capital over human capital.

Mr Gates said the most important choice Nigerian leaders can make is to maximise the countrys greatest resource, which is the people.

One-sided vision?

Frank Tie-Tie, a human rights lawyer, described vision 2020 as a one-sided vision that was designed to fail.

It failed because it was meant to fail. Citizens did not buy into it; they were not carried along, he explained.

There was a serious disconnect between the visionaries and the citizens. Also, the corporate citizens did not buy into it, the political class did not believe in it because they did not develop it, its more of a technical document and they dont even understand it.

We have accidental politicians who often drive personal agenda over visions on a piece of paper. The target was only cosmetics and there was no commitment to making it a success.

Lanre Suraju, an anti-corruption advocate, said the goal was always propaganda and more of a campaign to gain some measure of credibility at both local and international level for them (government) to be considered to be working towards an agenda.

An analyst, Ayo Olukotun, in an article published by Punch Newspaper likened the audacious goal as a beautiful architectural drawing that signaled the possibilities of utopia, bereft, however, of precise or significant steps towards laying a foundation, much less, building the proposed edifice.

No clear relationship with similar targets

One major criticism leveled against the blueprint was that its drafters failed to harmonise the vision with several other national plans running at the time. For one, it was the perceived failure of Vision 2010  launched in the 1990s under the military rule  that signaled the introduction of vision2020.

Then also, there were the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy; The United Nations Millennium Development Goals; YarAduas 7-Point Agenda; Goodluck Jonathans Transformation Agenda, among several others.

Goodluck Jonathan

Though these targets had similar objectives, they ran disjointedly by different hands.

No progress review, no scorecard assessment

The policy blueprint of the vision broke down the processes and stages to achieving the target to include building a solid foundation between 2008 and 2010; achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) en route 2020 between 2011 and 2015, and the eventual attainment of one of the global best 20 economies in the world by 2020.

But until the vision joined the graveyard of several unmet national targets, there was no planned review examining the progress made on any of the projected phases of implementation.

There was no monitoring mechanism. Right now we dont even have any information from either the government or the proponents of the vision to say oh we cant meet the vision again but here is where we are, Mr Suraju said.

The implementers are no longer committed to the vision and no ministry or agency was saddled with the responsibility to monitor the process.

Nobody can give an account of what has happened so far despite the huge resources wasted in launching the target.

It took the commissioning of about 1000 economic experts who worked for nine months to produce just the draft document Vision 20:2020 that gulped millions of naira.

The offtake of the programme also involved the recruitment of hundreds of experts, domestic and international consultants and local support staff.

Several committees were set up and agencies were established.

Never has so many resources been committed by so many to such a scanty outcome, Tayo Oke wrote in an article published on Punch Newspaper few days ago.

Abandoned

It is not uncommon for successive governments and political parties to abandon projects started by their predecessors. Similarly, this was the case of the vision.

Even President YarAdua focused more on his seven-point agenda. While President Jonathan was fixated with his transformation agenda, President Muhammadu Buhari launched the ERGP upon assumption of office.

Late Former President Umar YarAdua

For you to have a long-term plan that will outlive your tenure in office, it must have an implementation strategy and design that is not just about the presidency or his government, Mr Suraju said. It should be guided by the philosophy of a political party that is actually responsible for championing it. It should resonate with each successive government.

Even though Vision 2020 was an agenda of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there was no party buy-in and people involvement and that reduced the credibility of the programme.

The subsequent governments could not even promote it, much less support or work towards it.

President Muhammadu Buhari [Photo: Presidency]

In his New Year Day letter to Nigerians, Mr Buhari highlighted key tasks his government would undertake in 2020 but kept mute on the botched vision.

No effort towards tackling developmental challenges

Critics argued that the target of Vision 2020 was way too ambitious considering Nigerias acute developmental challenges and huge dependency on oil.

But promoters said the dream was achievable based on the assumption that the countrys resources are enough and would be properly managed to meet the target.

The plan was to make efficient use of human and natural resources to achieve rapid economic growth; and to translate economic growth into equitable social development for all citizens.

For instance, in line with one of the indicative parameters in the blueprint, the government was to embark on a massive upgrade of infrastructure in several sectors.

To achieve that, experts, said Nigeria would need an estimated N32 trillion. However, there was never a line in the budget for the target.

The government turned to the private sector via a Public-Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement to undertake a massive infrastructure development between 2010 and 2013.

But not many investors keyed in either because of existing challenges such as insecurity and poor electricity supply or of past experiences with PPPs.

In the past decade, most PPP initiatives of the government failed or were stalled by disagreements and litigations.

Several initiatives on economic diversification have not helped too as the country is still heavily dependent on oil which was why it slid into recession three years ago when oil prices plummeted.

If the level of infrastructure has not decayed beyond what it was 10 years ago, it has not significantly improved, said Mr Suraju.
Farmers of betel leaf (paan) have reported extensive damage to the crop because of rain across the state in the past two weeks.

The betel leaf growers union has demanded that the state government compensate the farmers for their losses and also include the crop in insurance scheme.

Paan is cultivated in 21 districts in the state: Mahoba, Banda, Lalitpur, Sonebhadra, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, Amethi, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Kanpur, Rae Bareli and Lucknow.

All these districts have reported absolute destruction of the crop because of winter rain and dew, said Chhotelal Chaurasia, general secretary of Rashtriya Paan Kisan Union, Uttar Pradesh.

Betel leaf is an extremely weather-sensitive crop which is why it the farmers cultivate it in baraja (reed housing)--a kind of traditional greenhouse for temperature and moisture control.

The government considers paan farming as horticulture and not as agriculture and crop insurance does not cover it. We have been demanding that paan should be covered in crop insurance to insulate farmers in case of calamities as has happened now, said Chaurasia.

Balram Chaurasia, a paan farmer in Jaunpur, said that his entire crop had wilted in the recent rain. Vinod Chaurasia in Mahoba too voiced similar woes. Chhotelal Chaurasia said: The cultivation area of paan in Uttar Pradesh is roughly 1,000 hectares and the rain has destroyed 80% of the crop. The government must immediately release 25 crore to the horticulture department to help paan farmers and should also introduce crop insurance for paan cultivation.

Chaurasia also said: The government should also introduce a scheme to finance 80%construction cost to help farmers replace the traditional baraja with modern baraja.

The union also criticised the government for its recent announcement that said it would grant 50% construction cost for baraja between 1000 sq metres and 1500 metres in size.

Earlier this range was between 500 square metres and 1500 square metres. Due to this, most of the farmers wont be able to avail of the scheme because most of the paan cultivation is on pieces of lands around 500 sq metres, Chaurasia said.

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CPI (M) Central Committee on Sunday announced that it will conduct a house-to-house campaign to apprise people about the link between Population Register (NPR) and Register of Citizens (NRC).

"We have decided that all units of the party across the country will conduct a house-to-house campaign to explain the link between NPR and NRC," the Committee said in a press communique.

The committee also urged the people not to answer any questions concerning NPR when the enumerators come to their houses.

"The enumerators will have two sets of questions - one for the Census and one for the NPR. While the questions related to the Census may be answered, the questions related to the NPR must not be," it added.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview to ANI had asserted that there was no link between the NPR exercise and the NRC and that the process of NPR cannot be used for NRC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PRAGUE  At least eight people were killed and 30 others injured in the Czech Republic after a fire broke out on Sunday at a home for people with mental disabilities, officials said.

The fire occurred at a home in Vejprty, where mostly men with mental and other disabilities lived, fire and rescue officials told the public broadcaster Czech Television. The town is on the countrys northwest border with Germany.

Prokop Volenik, a spokesman for the regional rescue service, said one of the injured was in critical condition.
Yemens President: Military Needs to Be on High Alert Following Deadly Attacks

Yemens president has called on the military to stay alert following a missile attack that reportedly killed dozens of soldiers over the weekend.

President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi blamed the attack in Marib on the Houthi rebels, a militia group that is said to be backed by Iran. The move confirms without doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace, he said in a statement via state media, Reuters reported Sunday. The Houthis have not confirmed that they were behind the incident.

Saudi state-run al-Ekhbariya TV reported that 79 soldiers were killed in the attack. Neither Yemens government nor the Houthis has confirmed the details.

Yemens Ministry of Defense told CNN that the attack was to avenge the killing of the Iranian terrorist Qasem Soleimani, who was killed by an American drone strike in Baghdad on Jan. 3. The ministry didnt provide any further details about why officials believed that to be the case.

Yemens Defense Ministry said its armed forces will remain the solid rock that breaks the ambitions of Tehrans military moves in the Middle East, according to state-backed media. CNN also reported that the attacks took place as the soldiers were praying at a mosque.

In this Feb. 7, 2012 file photo, Yemens then Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi attends an inauguration ceremony for his presidential election campaign, in Sanaa, Yemen. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File)

The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, condemned the apparent escalation of military activities in Yemen, the worlds poorest Arab nation.

I have said before that the hard-earned progress that Yemen has made on de-escalation is very fragile. Such actions can derail this progress, warned Griffiths in a statement on Sunday. I urge all parties to stop the escalation now and to direct their energy away from the military front and into the politics. He called on both parties to return to the negotiation table to resolve the years-long military conflict.

Yemen has been the site of a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran after a Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore Hadis government. Hadi was the longtime vice president under Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled the country for more than 20 years before stepping down in the wake of protests.

Hadis government was then ousted from power by the Houthis, a Shiite group, who also took over the capital, Sanaa. They have denied being backed by Iran and have said they are fighting against a corrupt system.

Tensions in the Middle East have been high following the killing of Soleimani, Irans top general, after which Iran conducted a retaliatory attack on Iraqi bases holding American troops. Iranian leaders have also made threats of future attacks on U.S. assets in the region while simultaneously pulling out from some of its obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal.
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There have been numerous misunderstood characters on the series Vikings and one of them is certainly Jarl Borg (Thorbjrn Harr). He was a Jarl from Gotaland that came into contact with Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) when King Horik (Donal Logue) asked Ragnar to speak with him. Did Borg deserve the ultimate fate he received? Read on to learn what fans say about the situation.

A dispute for the ages

Thorbjorn Harr | Stefania DAlessandro/WireImage

Ragnar gets involved on Horiks behalf due to some disputed lands between himself and Jarl Borg. Borg convinces Rollo (Clive Standen) to fight his brother Ragnar and a battle plays out between Horik and Ragnars men against Borgs men with Rollo. Eventually, Rollo surrenders and Borg and Horik come to an understanding.

Years later, Jarl Borg shows up to raid with Ragnar and Horik and hes turned away. When Ragnar is gone raiding, Borg attacks Kattegat and takes it over for himself. Eventually, Ragnar gets his home back, but not before deciding that he would pay Borg back for what he did.

Enticed by the prospect of raiding, Borg returns to Kattegat one more time, but he ends up being blood-eagled by Ragnar for his treachery. Its a truly gruesome death and fans are conflicted about whether Borg deserved his fate.

Some fans think Jarl Borg only wanted to raid

Horik and Ragnar made a deal of raiding together with Jarl Borg then they back out of it at the last second, a Reddit user explained. Horik and Ragnar were in the wrong for breaking the deal. Jarl Borg attacks Kattegat and Ragnar eventually takes it back. Horik and Ragnar then ask Borg to join them in raiding again but Ragnar tricks and executes Borg by blood eagle. Jarl Borg was wronged twice and only wanted to raid with them but somehow hes seen as a villain.

Borg should have attacked King Horik, not Ragnar Lothbrok

Other fans think Jarl Borg should have taken his issue with Horik, not Ragnar, who was just doing Horiks bidding. Borgs beef was really never with Ragnar but Horik instead, another Reddit user wrote. He should have attacked Denmark not Kattegat. I dont feel his attack on Kattegat was justified and because he killed many of Ragnars people and drove Ragnars family out of their home, he did deserve the blood eagle.

Viewers think Jarl Borg couldnt be trusted and had to be dealt with

Ragnar would never feel safe again had he not done something about Borg. He already left once and Jarl Borg took over his home, so of course he wanted revenge according to some fans.

Yes Horik and Ragnar were in the wrong, and when Borg retaliated by taking Kattegat while Ragnar was gone they saw how Borg acts in the face of others weakness, a user said. Borg could not be trusted at all in the future because he attacked when Kattegat was weak. Something had to be done or else Ragnar would never feel safe leaving home again with the ever-looming threat of Borg over his head.

Fans say he isnt a villain

Some viewers dont see Borg as a villain at all and dont think hes really seen by others as one in the show. Hes still talked about and clearly respected to some degree even after what happened between himself and Ragnar.

I would say he isnt really seen as a villain, a Reddit user contemplated. People still talk about him with respect as far as season 5. Sure Ragnar didnt like him but that was cause he tried to kill Ragnars family. Honestly I think that was the only reason Ragnar killed him.

Viewers have mixed feelings about Jarl Borg and his actions. Did he deserve his fate? Thats clearly debatable to hear fans tell it.
I write in response to the opinion piece in The T&D on Sunday, Jan. 12, by Dr. Joseph Horton. It was titled Methodists coming apart.

Like Dr. Horton, I was born and raised in the Methodist Church. I was confirmed when I was 12 years old and ordained by the United Methodist Church in 1980. My husband and I have served as United Methodist pastors in South Carolina since 1982. However, I differ with Horton's statements on several points.

First, I disagree with his analysis that the members of the United Methodist Church have only two viewpoints, liberal and conservative. That opinion is a mischaracterization. I believe there is a larger group that he has omitted, the centrist/moderate.

For me, the centrist group reflects the primary understanding that United Methodists have had of themselves. This is perhaps best exemplified in the title of Dr. (now Bishop) Scott Jones book published in 2002, "United Methodist Doctrine: The Extreme Center."

The perspective of centrists is reflected in a statement from the United Methodist Book of Discipline (2016), P. 103, Section 2: Beyond the essentials of vital religion, United Methodists respect the diversity of opinions held by conscientious persons of faith. [John] Wesley, [founder of the Methodist movement], followed a time-tested approach: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials liberty; and in all things, charity. In other words, on non-essentials (including the issue of homosexuality), centrists seek to agree to disagree.

Second, the 16-member team that developed the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace through Separation recognized that there are indeed three groups in the United Methodist Church with regard to the issue of homosexuality  progressives, centrists and traditionalists. Horton characterized the groups as liberals and conservatives, but those who selected members of the team intentionally included those in the middle as well.

Third, Horton indicates that the design team completely ignored the perspective of African Methodists. He neglects to note that the group was initiated and called together by Bishop John Yambasu of the African nation of Sierra Leone. Yambasu recognized that there was not unity following the decisions of General Conference 2019. Instead, the feeling of conflict intensified. Thus, in July 2019, he called together a group of United Methodist leaders from across the spectrum and around the world to consider a way beyond the conflict.

Rather than ignoring the perspective of African United Methodists, the design team was birthed out of the hope of an African bishop to bring an end to the conflict over homosexuality that has consumed so much time and energy of United Methodists for decades. Bishop Yambasu himself offered this statement when the news of the proposed separation was released: All of us [in the group] are servants of the church and realize that we are not the primary decision makers on these matters. Instead, we humbly offer to the delegates of the 2020 General Conference the work which we have accomplished in the hopes that it will help heal the harms and conflicts within the body of Christ and free us to be more effective witnesses to Gods Kingdom.

I do not think that the Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace through Separation is a perfect solution. However, I do believe that it offers a plan for United Methodists to move beyond the conflict that has taken so much of our attention as a denomination. That will allow us to focus on our true mission: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

The Rev. Carol R. Cannon is co-pastor of St. Andrew's United Methodist Church in Orangeburg.

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Meet Pa'Trice Frazier, a 34-year-old master welder and instructor.

- On being a black female welder: "It's like I'm a Loch Ness (monster) right now, or Bigfoot. What's alive but you don't see all the time? Like a baby pigeon. ... When's the last time you seen a baby pigeon?"

- From toe shoes to tungsten: "As a kid growing up, I thought I would be a ballerina. Straight up."

Pa'Trice Frazier saw a monopoly and wanted in.

It was 2008, and Frazier, then 22, was reading the newspaper with her gram in Gouldtown, N.J., when she saw a story about how the United States would face a shortage of welders in two years. Further research showed Frazier that few welders were black, and even fewer were women.

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She couldn't find stats on how many black female welders there were in the U.S. because the numbers were so small nobody kept track.

They still don't.

"I was like, 'Whoa. It's a monopoly. I got to get into this monopoly,' " Frazier said. "There wasn't no females, there wasn't no brown people. I was like, 'Oh yeah. I got to be a part of this.' "

And within two years, Frazier became a certified welder. Six more years passed before she ever encountered another woman on the job.

Although women have been welding since the days of Rosie the Riveter, just 5% of all welders in the country are women and only 8% are black, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"My first few years I was intimidated, very much so," Frazier said of working in the male-dominated industry. "And then I realized they was intimidated, and then it changed my whole perspective on everything."

Raised in South Jersey by her grandmothers, Frazier, now 34, is as fiery as the sparks she throws off while welding. Quick-witted and honest, she wears gauged earrings and has tattoos covering her arms, including a shark on her bicep. She wears large, Lennon-esque circle glasses and fully embraces her androgynous appearance ("let them guess for a while").

A graduate of Cumberland Regional High School, Frazier tried college for a while but found she was better with her hands.

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Inspired by the stats she read in that newspaper article ("I like numbers. I move off of numbers"), Frazier enrolled in the Cumberland County Technology Education Center. She was the only woman in her welding classes.

After graduation, Frazier had a few local welding gigs but found it difficult to land jobs as an independent welder in the Philly area - a longtime labor union stronghold. So she moved to Atlanta, Ga., where she helped build everything from bridges to frames for digital touchscreen displays.

Her favorite job was working on the hand rails for Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Super Bowl was held last year.

"Seeing the Super Bowl and people playing there and being safe and actually seeing my work, ... it's amazing," she said.

Frazier became specialized in TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding - a precise and detailed form of welding often used on engines, artwork, and thin metals - and at holding her own on job sites.

"You got to be good at s - - t talking," she said of working with mostly men. "Man, you got to be top."

In 2017, Frazier moved back to Sicklerville, N.J., to pursue her dream of owning her own welding business. In the interim, she was hired by Mark Cavo of Cavo Design-Build to help with a renovation at the Independence Seaport Museum.

Cavo, who hired Frazier for her TIG welding skills, said he doesn't often get female applicants.

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"It's a rare thing to come across," he said. "But she got that steady hand."

Last year, as she worked on developing her business plan for her company, Weld Jointed, Frazier - who dreams of opening her own welding academy - took a job teaching welding at the Philadelphia Technician Training Institute.

"I confirmed to myself that I could do it," she said. "Not only do I have the skill, but I can relay the skill."

Dominique Morgan, 24, was the only female student in Frazier's class.

"When she walked through the door, I was like, 'There's somebody like me!' " Morgan said.

Frazier believes if there are more female welders and instructors, more women will view it as a viable career. She thinks women make the best welders because "our hand-eye coordination is so sharp."

"If I can do it - I'm 120 pounds, straight up - you can do it," she said.

Frazier is hoping to organize a welding seminar in West Philly this spring for those who might be interested in the career and for established welders looking to connect with each other.

Because of all the things she's built, what Frazier is most proud of making are her relationships with other welders.

"It's the connections I've made, that's what matters," she said. "It's such a small community, and we're all, like, kind of rebels, man."

---

(c)2020 The Philadelphia Inquirer

Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Sunday met with the family members of five people who were killed during a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Uttar Pradeshs Meerut . Since the leader was denied permission to visit their houses, he met them at a public place.

Azad alleged the family members narrated horrific tales of police atrocities during the interaction and accused the UP police of opening fire on people during the protest.

Cops had killed people during protest against the CAA and stern action should be taken against the guilty policemen, he said. Azad also said the Bhim Army has moved the high court over the matter, which would hear it on January 23.

ALSO WATCH | Chandrashekhar Azad reads Constitutions preamble at Jama Masjid

The Dalit leader, speaking to the media, alleged that the situation was not so bad in the state even in the aftermath of Babri mosque demolition and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The killings during the anti-CAA protests indicated that the governments intention was not good, he added.

The Bhim Army chief, who was sent to judicial custody on December 21, for organising a march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the CAA on December last year without police permission, was granted bail on Wednesday. Azad was granted bail on the condition that he would not visit Delhi for the next four weeks, except for medical treatment, and would not be involved in any protests during this period.

Accusing the government of misleading the people on the CAA and NRC, Azad said they would adversely affect the unity and communal harmony in the country and demanded that PM Narendra Modi should immediately announce the newly amended Citizenship Acts rollback.

Replying to a question, Azad said the law should be the same for everyone and asked why was he stopped from reaching out to the people for explaining the CAA and NRC even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was getting permission to hold rallies and conduct programmes.
A 32-year-old driver associated with a cab hailing platform was arrested on Saturday for allegedly demanding Rs 40 lakh in ransom from a jeweller whose mentally-challenged brother has been missing since November last year, a Mumbai crime branch official said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Aamir Shaikh, had tried to pass himself off as the kidnapper of the 39-year-old man, he said.

Shaikh, who was known to the Kurla-based jeweller, sourced information about his missing brother from social media accounts of the complainant.

"On November 16, the jeweller received a series of internet phone calls demanding Rs 40 lakh in ransom. The caller would tell the complainant that his brother was not eating food. He, however, never connected the jeweller with his brother over phone," the official said.

The complainant then approached Kurla police station.

Jagdish Sahil, senior police inspector, crime branch, said, "We went through the call records before zeroing on Shaikh, and arrested him on Saturday".

He said the 39-year-old man still remains missing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A march to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on the federal holiday recognizing him is returning Monday after weather forced its cancellation last year.

Jacksonville civil rights advocate Jackie Rogers has coordinated the King marches since 1981. Weather forced the cancellation of last years march, Rogers said, noting that its only the second time the march has been cancelled.

The march will begin at Emory Baptist Church, where Rogers is a deacon, and end at the King monument in Community Park.

Rogers said that holding the march is an important way of honoring Kings legacy and his message of unity and respect, especially in light of racial and religious division during the past few years that has reminded Rogers of racial tensions in the decades before the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

You look at the country and we are so separated, Rogers said. What Dr. King stood for was unity, and right now theres no unity in America.

Rogers said the march also is a time to reflect on changes and progress in Jacksonville and the nation. When he first started the march, many Jacksonville businesses didnt recognize Martin Luther King Day and didnt give employees the day off to observe the holiday, he said.

Now, more businesses and most schools recognize the holiday, though Rogers said he wished that MacMurray College and Illinois College would recognize the holiday so students could participate in the march.

Id just like to see more participation in this march, Rogers said. I dont see the participation in this city like we see in other cities that have the Dr. King march.

The holiday is not just for people of color but for all of the United States to come together and strive toward equality, Rogers said.
TV Cameras to be allowed to broadcast high-profile cases from Mold Crown Court

This article is old - Published: Sunday, Jan 19th, 2020

Television cameras will be allowed to broadcast high profile crown court cases for the first time, following draft legislation being laid by the UK Government.

The new legalisation will allow cameras to broadcast the sentencing remarks of High Court and Senior Circuit judges in some of the most high-profile cases including murders, rapes and other serious offences being heard in crown courts across England and Wales, including Mold.

Filming has been permitted in some Court of Appeal cases since 2013.

The UK government is now extending this to the crown court meaning the public will be able to hear judges explain the reasons behind their sentences for the most serious offences.

Trials will not be televised as they are in the US as only judges sentencing remarks will be filmed, no other court user  including victims, witnesses, jurors and court staff  will be filmed.

Justice Secretary & Lord Chancellor, Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, said: This government, alongside the judiciary, is committed to improving public understanding of our justice system and allowing cameras into the Crown Court will do just that.

It will ensure our courts remain open and transparent and allow people to see justice being delivered to the most serious of offenders.

The legislation follows a successful three-month pilot that allowed not-for-broadcast sentencing remarks to be filmed in eight Crown Courts and has been welcomed by ITN, Sky and the BBC.

John Battle, Head of Compliance at ITN, said:This is a landmark moment and an important day for open justice and transparency of our legal system. For the first time the public will see images of proceedings in the Crown Court on television news.

This change will help a wider audience to see and understand the criminal justice process for themselves.

John Ryley, Head of Sky News, said: The filming of judges sentencing remarks in the Crown Court is a great day for transparency in our courts.

This is a further step in helping the public to understand the constraints under which judges work and the complexities of many of the biggest criminal cases.

This has been a long campaign by the three main broadcasters working together.

Fran Unsworth, Director of News and Current Affairs at the BBC, said: Todays announcement comes after a great campaign by the BBC, ITN and Sky to allow filming of judges sentencing remarks in the Crown Court and is a momentous day for transparency in our justice system.

By opening up the courts, our audiences will be able to further their understanding of the criminal justice system and witness the judicial process for themselves.

Th UK government say this provision is part of the governments wider court reform and digitalisation programme, using technology and modern ways of working to increase access to justice for people up and down the country.
P iers Morgan has hit out at people who claim racism against the Duchess of Sussex, describing them as "race-baiting pundits who want to be on TV."

The Good Morning Britain host has made no secret of his disapproval of Meghan, branding her a piece of work and a spoilt brat who has forced Prince Harry to ditch his family.

Continuing his Twitter tirade on Sunday morning, he called criticism of the royal pair perfectly justified and dismissed claims that the duchess has been subjected to racist press coverage as "complete nonsense".

The new 'it's all racism' defence of perfectly justified criticism of Meghan/Harry since the wedding is complete nonsense, fuelled by race-baiting pundits who want to be on TV, he tweeted.

His latest analysis comes hours after he hit back at Labour MP Wes Streeting for calling his acerbic comments shameful on so many levels.

Mr Streeting was responding to the GMB presenters comments on the Queens announcement that Harry and Meghan would lose their HRH titles and public funding.

Mr Morgan tweeted: Only surprised it took her so long to get Harry to ditch his family, the Monarchy, the military and his country. What a piece of work.

This prompted the MP to comment: This is shameful on so many levels. The treatment of Meghan at the hands of sections of the media hasnt just been negative or bad - it has been downright racist.

Thats what should bring shame on our country, not so-called Megxit.

Mr Morgan responded: Oh pipe down, you virtue-signalling berk. Your disingenuous race-baiting claims are whats shameful.

Its got nothing to with with racism & everything to do with Meghan Markle being a ruthless, social climbing, fame-obsessed piece of work whos now forced Harry from his country.

It comes amid a continuing social media between actor Laurence Fox and a university lecturer who accused him of white privilege.

Mr Morgan has waded into the debate, retweeting posts by Mr Fox and backing him against his critics.
The card, '10 guarantees of Kejriwal', also promises to continue the scheme for free electricity up to 200 units, free health facilities, to plant two crore saplings, clean Yamuna river and reduce pollution in Delhi over the next five years

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday released a "guarantee card" listing 10 promises, including free bus rides for students and deployment of "mohalla marshals" for women's safety, that his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will fulfil if it is re-elected in Delhi.

The card, "10 guarantees of Kejriwal", also promises to continue the scheme for free electricity up to 200 units, free health facilities, to plant two crore saplings, clean Yamuna river and reduce pollution in Delhi over the next five years. "I am giving 10 guarantees to the people of Delhi. This is not a manifesto. We will launch a comprehensive manifesto in 7-10 days. The manifesto will have more things specifically for students, teachers, among others. This will be for everyone," Kejriwal said.

"The Opposition is saying that many of our schemes will only last till 31 March, so this is our guarantee that these schemes will continue for the next five years. Twenty-four hours electricity will continue and 200 units of free electricity will continue," he said.

The "guarantee card" also promises more than 11,000 buses and to increase the length of the Delhi Metro network to over 500 km. Kejriwal released the card by signing it.
Amid escalation of war of words between him and the Left Democratic Front government, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan made it clear on Sunday he will not remain a 'mute spectator' as he sought a report from it over moving the Supreme Court against the Citizenship law without informing him.

Days after the Governor hit out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government for not informing him before moving the apex court and declaring that he was not a 'rubber stamp', the Raj Bhavan sought the report from the state Chief Secretary on the matter.

"The Governor's office has sought a report from the Chief Secretary for not informing him about the state's move to approach the apex court against the CAA," a top Raj Bhavan source told PTI on Sunday.

Confirming that he had sought the report, Khan, who arrived in Thiruvananthapuram this evening from Bengaluru, told reporters that it should not be seen as a 'personal fight'.

"This is not personal fight. My only concern is that the Constitution and the law must be upheld and the business of the government must be transacted in accordance with the law," he said.

Khan's stand had drawn the ire of ruling front with Communist Party of India-Marxist mouthpiece Deshabhimani slamming him for making 'political statements' and alleging he was 'threatening' the state in a 'tough language'.

However, the government has said it did not violate any rules and no deliberate attempts had been made to challenge the authority of the governor's office.

Law Minister A K Balan had said on Saturday the government would clear all apprehensions raised by Khan.

Days after passing a resolution in the assembly against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the state government had on January 13 approached the supreme court against the controversial law.

An upset Khan had on Thursday said it was 'improper' and protocol and courtesy demanded that he should have been informed by the government prior to moving the court.

Khan, who has been at loggerheads with the LDF regime since it convened a special assembly session to pass the resolution seeking scrapping of the CAA, on Sunday said the government moving the court without his knowledge was an illegal act.

"This is in contravention of the rules. This is an illegal act. I am not fighting any personal vengeance. I am just pointing out that the law and Constitution must be upheld," he said.

When pointed out that the law minister had said no rule had been violated by the state government, the Governor challenged him to show the law.

"Let him quote the Law. I am quoting here. Even after this, you are saying somebody has given his personal opinion. I am giving you the law. What the government has done was illegal. Let them show me the provision. I will take everything back. I will not sit like a mute spectator. I have to ensure that the Constitution and the law are upheld."

Khan further said: "Please do not make it as a personal fight. I am not important. What is more important is the Constitution and the law of the land. My only point is that the transactions of business of the state must be done according to the law."

Attacking Vijayan, the governor had earlier said the public affairs and the business of the government cannot be run in accordance with the 'whims of an individual or a political party' and everyone has to respect the rules.

Khan had told reporters in Delhi on Friday that as per Rule of Business Sec 34 (2) sub section 5, the state government should inform the Governor regarding matters that affect the relations between the state and the Centre.

CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Sunday said in independent India the post of governor was superfluous.

"Now we are not subjects of the central government. We need to start the discussions whether the post of governor is required or not," he said in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Governor's role was that of a representative of the President, he said adding it was a continuation of the colonial era.

Meanwhile, CPI-M state secretary, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged Khan was making 'unnecessary interference' in the day-to-day affairs of the state government.

'The Governor is defaming a state government which was elected by the people of the state. The post of Governor is not to defame the state government,' Balakrishnan said in an article in the party newspaper.
Kent Swanson sees the cottonwood river forest that runs through Albuquerque with different eyes.

As manager of the citys Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors NW, he pierces the bosque with the eyes of the natural resources planner, searching for sections where treesRoots, by Jennifer Pretzeus, is part of the exhibit Arbol de La Vida. (Courtesy of Jennifer Pretzeus) need to be planted, spying out areas threatened by invasive species.

As an Albuquerque native and South Valley resident who has spent many years exploring, hiking in and biking through the bosque, he looks at it with an affection reserved for things that are special and irreplaceable.

And as an artist, he focuses on light, shadows, seasons and place.

Interpreting (the bosque) as an artist, looking at things to make art, is about being present in a place for an extended period of time, paying attention to where you are, said Swanson, 46. It is kind of a meditative experience.

Tree of Life

Swanson and fellow artists Jennifer Pretzeus and Joshua Willis created the 20 or so works that make up Arbol de La Vida (Tree of Life), an exhibit, inspired by the Rio Grande bosque, that opens this week at the KiMo Theatre Gallery, 423 Central NW.

Theres an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the KiMo. The exhibit will be on view through April 5 by appointment.

I had kind of been, just on my own, working on prints and artwork that related to trees, and in particular the cottonwood bosque, Swanson said. Then I approached Jennifer and Joshua, artists interested in similar, nature-related themes. The work on this show has been in progress about a year.

He said the exhibit is intended to spur dialogue about the changing bosque ecosystem. Cottonwoods, which have a life span of 70 to 100 years, regenerate through seeding provided by natural flooding. But Swanson said that because of dams and channels created along the Rio Grande to control flooding, this hasnt happened since the 1940s.

A lot of the trees have started to die off because the river has changed so much, he said. It no longer has a natural flood cycle. We wanted to offer a way to visually explore that landscape and bring attention to the bosques fragility.

Swanson said Albuquerques Open Space Division and the Open Space Alliance, a nonprofit group of volunteers, are engaged in reforestation efforts to preserve the bosque.

Open Space works with school groups and adult volunteers to plant 300 native shrubs and more than a thousand trees, half of them cottonwoods, a year, he said. Another project is stream bank lowering that helps with the (natural) reseeding process.

Swanson said he hopes Arbol de La Vida encourages people to spend time in the bosque, learn to appreciate it and discover ways to support restoration, either by volunteering or contributing to groups involved in those efforts.

Patterns and textures

Swanson, Pretzeus and Willis met with each other during the course of the project to share experiences and look for common threads.

We were looking at the time scale of the forest, the length of time the bosque has been around and how it is beginning to change, Swanson said. Joshua wanted to focus on the river. Jennifer was looking at tree rings, larger trees that had reached maturity and been cut down, chopped down and left in place to provide habitat or removed to make sure they are not a fire hazard.

Jennifer spent a lot of time in the area close to Montano (Road), near the Bosque School. I explored the South Valley and the area between Montano and Paseo del Norte. Joshua rides his mountain bike along the whole (bosque) stretch, from Rio Bravo to Paseo.

Pretzeus worked in encaustics, hot wax into which colored pigments are mixed. For this project, she added tree resin and charcoal and ash from bosque fires. Willis used fabrics to create his pieces for the exhibit.

Swansons exhibit pieces are woodbock print and mixed media on hand-dyed scrolls of paper. Viewing some of his images may make you feel as if you are looking up through looming bosque bowers just as the sun climbs over the Sandia Mountains.

I like to look at patterns of branches, textures and the bark, he said. Im still making them recognizable as tree forms, but capturing the essence of what it would be like to walk through the bosque observing patterns on macro and micro scale.

Survive and thrive

Swanson graduated from Highland High and studied printmaking, book arts and papermaking on the way to a fine arts degree at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He earned a masters in planning at the University of New Mexico and served two years with the Peace Corps in Honduras, working in municipal development. He has been with Albuquerque Open Space for 13 years.

I have always been interested in getting involved in natural resources, ecology and art, he said. Planning is community-based ecology work, community improvement and engagement.

Community improvement and engagement is at the root of Arbol de La Vida, a step toward helping the bosque survive and thrive.

Some of the more spectacular groves of cottonwoods would be south of Central, on both sides of the river, and north of Rio Bravo, Swanson said. Thats a wider section of the river. Historic flood patterns may have allowed for seeding longer and allowed trees to develop.

The river has done what it could. Now, its our turn.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Opening reception for Arbol de La Vida (Tree of Life), an art exhibit inspired by the Rio Grande Valleys cottonwood riverside forest and featuring works by Jennifer Pretzeus, Kent Swanson and Joshua Willis

WHEN: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. Exhibit on view through April 5 by appointment. Call Augustine Romero at 764-1743

WHERE: KiMo Theatre Gallery, 423 Central NW

HOW MUCH: Opening reception and exhibit are free
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 23:53:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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PRAUGE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and 30 others injured in a fire at a home for the disabled in the northwestern Czech Republic on Sunday morning, local media reported.

The fire, which broke out in the early morning in the small town of Vejprty which borders with Germany, has already been extinguished, said local authorities. At the time of the fire, 35 patients aged 18 and up were housed in the building.

"Four people have moderate to severe injuries, one of which had to be connected to an artificial respirator. Another 26 people suffered minor injuries or were injured, but they were taken to hospitals for follow-up examinations," said Prokop Volenik,spokesperson of the Emergency Medical Service of the Usti Region.

None of the workers of the home are among the dead or wounded and one policeman was slightly wounded from smoke inhalation, he added.

Deputy Mayor of Vejprty Josef Kadle is also one of the hospitalized victims, after he entered the building to try to help.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis visited the place after the fire. He confirmed the details of the incident to reporters, saying that such incidents need to be prevented in the future.

According to him, the government will cooperate with the Usti Region to resolve the situation. "It's a huge tragedy," he added.

The fire was reported to emergency services at 4:49 a.m. local time, said Commander-in-Chief of the Fire Brigade of the Usti Region Michal Zavoral. The fire apparently started in one room and then spread to three other rooms in the home before firefighters arrived to escort victims out of the building, he added.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
District collector of Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh and her deputy on Sunday took on 'unruly' protesters who defied prohibitory orders to hold a rally in Biaora town supporting the new citizenship law, video clips of which have gone viral.

The rally was organised by the BJP.

The video clips purportedly show collector Nidhi Nivedita slapping a man and additional collector Priya Verma taking on some men who were part of the crowd.

The rally was taken out despite prohibitory orders in place in Rajgarh since Saturday night, and repeated pleas to the saffron party to call it off fell on deaf ears, some officials said.

Additional Collector Verma told PTI on Sunday night that some men from the crowd misbehaved with herself and the collector.

She denied that they resorted to high-handed behaviour, as alleged by the Opposition party.

"Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC are in place in the district. While we were doing our duty, a crowd came from the other side and misbehaved with us," she said.

Verma said a man pulled her hair from back while another kicked her in the waist.

"All that (she taking on some men) happened after it. Despite our requests to the protesters to sit down, they did not pay any heed," she claimed.

Verma denied that police resorted to cane charge to disperse the crowd.

"We have lodged a complaint with the police against two men for misbehaved with us. One of them has been identified as Singh while another is yet to be identified, but we have his picture," she said.

However, the BJP hit out at the two bureaucrats and claimed 'Hitlerism' would not be tolerated in Madhya Pradesh.

Reacting to the incident, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said it was the "black letter day" in democracy.

"Collector madam, which law book you have read empowers you to beat up and drag citizens protesting peacefully," Chouhan said in a tweet.

He further tweeted that the Congress-led government should hear it clear and loud that "Hitlerism with people of MP would not be tolerated at any cost".

The Kamal Nath government has opposed the CAA passed by Parliament recently.

CAA provides for granting citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians, who had migrated to India before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TULSA, Okla.  Mike Bloomberg is ready to acknowledge his white privilege, and he's hoping it'll help him with black voters.

Why it matters: Bloombergs courtship of black voters appears an uphill climb because of his past support for stop-and-frisk in New York City. He's seeking to redefine his reputation with black voters using his biggest strength  an understanding of data and the economy  to present himself as a wealth advocate on their behalf.

"Stop-and-frisk," a policy for which Bloomberg apologized prior to launching his campaign, is haunting the former New York mayor at a time when race and gender are driving the political conversation.

During his 12-year tenure, "there were millions of street stops heavily targeting black and brown young men," per the New York Times.

Now, Bloomberg is facing the impact his own political legacy has had on the black community.

Driving the news: The former New York mayor is giving a speech on the racial wealth gap and economic mobility in Tulsa on Sunday, delivering some of his most honest remarks on race since launching his presidential campaign. Bloomberg's campaign is also releasing "the Greenwood Initiative," an economic proposal that aims to address the lasting legacy of discrimination.

What they're saying: "As someone who has been very lucky in life, I often say my story would only have been possible in America  and thats true," Bloomberg is expected to say at the Greenwood Cultural Center.

"But I also know that my story might have turned out very differently if I had been black, and that more black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth, had they been white."

Bloomberg's team maintains that hes been aware of his privilege for a long time  because of his experience in New York City and because he's a data guy familiar with racial disparities  but now he's talking about it publicly.

Bloomberg's Greenwood plan combines some of the other ideas we've heard from other 2020 Democrats, like investing in black-owned businesses and stimulating generational wealth for African American families.

A senior adviser for the campaign told reporters that they think what makes his plan different is its "place-based" strategy: The campaign is working to identify 100 communities  mostly in non-white areas  hit hardest by economic and/or racial discrimination.

The adviser also said that Bloomberg supports H.R. 40, a House bill that calls for a commission to study reparations for slavery.

By the numbers: Bloomberg's team is not yet saying where the money is coming from or how much the full plan will cost.

It proposes $70 billion over 10 years specifically for the 100 communities.

It would also seek to create 1 million new black homeowners, which a senior adviser said would get the country back to 2003 numbers  the last time black homeownership rates were still climbing.

The plan would double the number of black-owned businesses, to 100,000, and seek to increase median household income for black families by one-third.

It would also invest an initial $10 billion for the creation of a Housing Fairness Commission.

"For black Americans, there was nothing that white landowners, businesses, banks, and politicians might not take: Their wages and their homes, their businesses and their wealth, their votes and their power, and even their lives," Bloomberg is expected to say in his speech.

Tulsa was known as "Black Wall Street" because it had several prominent and successful black-owned business, until race riots in 1921 destroyed the area and these businesses.

"What happened here in Tulsa demonstrates in incredibly stark relief the violent destruction of a prosperous black community and the enormous obstacles that so many black Americans have faced not only in creating wealth, but in passing down assets to their children and grand-children as generations of white families have done," Bloomberg will say.

Between the lines: Bloomberg is running a non-traditional campaign with an eye toward general election states rather than the early voting states. But so far, the campaign has been less clear on how to earn the support of African American voters.

Bloomberg is currently polling at 4% among African American voters in the Democratic primary. Since 1992, no Democratic candidate for president has become the party nominee without earning a majority of the black vote.

The big question: Will Bloomberg continue the conversation on racial discrimination past MLK weekend? If so, he'll have to continue processing the legacy of "stop-and-frisk" in public and in real time.

Go deeper:
January 19, 2020

 A SpaceX launch has ended in an abort, dropping its crew capsule into the ocean and leaving its rocket in pieces  exactly to plan.



In the last major trial before it can begin launching astronauts, SpaceX conducted an in-flight abort test with its Crew Dragon spacecraft on Sunday (Jan. 19). The company purposely triggered the uncrewed capsule to fly away from its booster in a demonstration of the Crew Dragon's emergency launch escape system.



"I am super fired up. This was great, really great," said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO, at a post-test press conference. "As far as we can tell thus far, it was a picture-perfect mission. It went as well as one could possibly expect and is a reflection of the dedication and hard work by the SpaceX and NASA teams."



"Another amazing milestone is complete for our very soon to be project, which is launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil for the first time since the retirement of the space shuttles," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "Congratulations to SpaceX and the entire NASA team on this final major flight milestone that we needed to accomplish."



Flying atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Crew Dragon lifted off at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) on a trajectory that mimicked the ascent that astronauts will follow on missions to the International Space Station.



At 84 seconds into the launch, though, at about 12 miles altitude (19 kilometers), SpaceX triggered the Crew Dragon to purposely initiate an abort.



"That is kind of where we hit the 'sweet spot' of the conditions that we think is the right place to test in," Benji Reed, SpaceX's director of crew mission management, said at a pre-launch briefing on Friday.







Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test. Click to enlarge in a new pop-up window. (NASA)

The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage engines cut off, the Crew Dragon separated and its eight SuperDraco thrusters ignited for about eight seconds. The spacecraft then coasted up to about 25 miles high (40 kilometers), where the Crew Dragon's rear-mounted trunk was jettisoned and the capsule's smaller Draco thrusters fired to re-orient the vehicle for its descent to the Atlantic Ocean.



The Falcon 9, meanwhile, was left to plunge back to Earth and break apart in a dramatic fireball under the aerodynamic stress of the atmosphere. The rocket's first stage had previously helped launch three satellite missions in 2018.



"There are definitely no big pieces of the rocket left," said Musk. "In general, we would not expect to recovery anything [of the Falcon] in a launch abort scenario."



Two minutes after executing the abort, the Crew Dragon began the deployment of its two drogue and four main parachutes to slow its fall and set up a splashdown some 20 miles (30 kilometers) off the shore of Florida. The spacecraft hit the water about nine minutes after it left the launch pad.



SpaceX staged recovery ships near the splashdown site, where they were joined by members of the U.S. Air Force's Detachment-3 to practice approaching the spacecraft as they would in the case of an actual rescue operation when there are astronauts on board.



Instead of a crew, the Dragon for Sunday's test flew with two anthropomorphic test devices, or human-shaped dummies, strapped into seats outfitted with sensors to measure the forces exerted on the spacecraft. SpaceX anticipated prior to the test that the astronaut stand-ins would experience no more than four times the force of gravity during the abort.



"The highest g-state was about 3.5 g's," said Bridenstine. "That's impressive. It looked like it might have been a rough ride, but the data didn't bear that out. I think that gives our astronauts confidence that the ride might not be so bad if we have to execute one of these launch abort capabilities."



The Crew Dragon that flew the in-flight abort was built to be identical to the capsules that will fly with astronauts, omitting only some of the interior equipment not required for the test.



Sunday's test follows several past milestones, including a pad abort test in 2015, which qualified the escape system in the case of an emergency while the Dragon was still on the launch pad. SpaceX also conducted a static fire, igniting the Crew Dragon's SuperDraco thrusters while the spacecraft was secured to the ground at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in November 2019.



A Crew Dragon, without astronauts on board, was also successfully flown on a demo mission to the International Space Station in March 2019. That vehicle was also intended to fly the in-flight abort but was lost in the lead up to a static fire a month later.



The completion of the in-flight abort test brings SpaceX a significant step closer to launching its first crewed mission. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are assigned to test fly the Crew Dragon to the space station, possibly as soon as this Spring. The two practiced donning their spacesuits and heading out to the launch pad prior to Sunday's test.



"We feel really excited about the progress that SpaceX and NASA have made to this point and kind of shows us that we're getting really close to our flight," said Hurley in a SpaceX pre-test video. "So to see all these capabilities all put together, all the teams together and to be able to launch this vehicle, it is just a huge boost of confidence."
Karachi, Jan 19 : The government in Pakistan's Punjab province has rejected the medical report of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, claiming it was prepared by a private UK doctor instead of his general physician in London.

According to the information obtained by The Express Tribune, the medical report lacks details about Sharif's treatment with regard to his blood platelet count.

The former leader, who is serving a seven year jail term, was granted bail and later allowed to travel abroad particularly for treatment of the ailment responsible for constant drop in his platelet count.

Sources have claimed that Sharif has sent medical reports prepared by a doctor who didn't even conduct his check-up in London.

According to rules in the UK, the medical summary includes data of a patient's complete check-up issued by the same doctor who the patient has been seeing on a regular basis as well as the medical history of the patient.

Under the rules, the doctor keeps one copy of the summary; the second one is handed over to the patient while the third copy is kept as record at the concerned hospital, The Express Tribune reported.

According to reports, Sharif has undergone four cardiac checkups for platelet deficiency and (iTP) disease, while a cardiologist also recommended some tests.

Heart Specialist Simon Brett Wood recommended angioplasty after conducting three checkups of Sharif at Guy's Hospital, London.

However, the sources claim, no report of Wood has been submitted to the government.
London: It was only a matter of time before the vultures circled and dragged the Harry and Meghan saga to tawdry new depths.

Like clockwork, Meghan's opportunistic father, Thomas Markle, slithered onto the scene over the weekend. In an interview for an upcoming television documentary, the Duchess of Sussex's estranged father threw fuel on a bonfire by claiming the young couple's split from the royal family was "destroying" and "cheapening" the monarchy.

"They're turning it into a Walmart with a crown on it," the 75-year-old said from his home in Mexico.

"She actually got every girl's dream. Every young girl wanted to become a princess and she got that. Now it looks like she's tossing that away for money. It's kind of embarrassing."
More evidence that President Trumps immigration policies are having great effects, from the Wall Street Journal: Mexican Forces Clash With Migrants at Border With Guatemala.

Mexican security forces used plastic shields to push back hundreds of Central American migrants who tried to force their way across a border bridge from Guatemala into Mexico on Saturday. Lines of National Guard officers jostled with migrants, some of whom threw bottles and wielded sticks as they tried to push their way into Mexico. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has vowed to stop migrants from entering the country illegally as they try to reach the U.S. The migrants are part of a group of some 1,500 people, mostly from Honduras, who gathered on the Guatemalan side of the Mexican border Friday.

This is another attempt to form a caravan to invade the United States, organized by leftist Honduran activist[s]. (Parenthetically, I still would like to know who is paying for this activism.) But this time, it isnt working. Why?

Mexico is determined to stop a replay of similar incidents in 2018 and 2019, when thousands of migrants entered the country in caravans and headed for the U.S. border. The regional migration crisis drew the ire of President Trump.

***

The Mexican leader yielded last year to Mr. Trumps demands that Mexico adopt a tougher stance against illegal immigration. Mr. Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on Mexican imports if Mexico didnt act. Since then, apprehensions of Central American migrants at the U.S. border have plummeted, while the number of detentions and deportations of Central Americans by Mexico have risen sharply. Migrants chances of entering the U.S. are the lowest in years. The U.S. government has sent nearly 60,000 migrants to Mexico while they wait for the U.S. to process their asylum requests. The Trump administration has signed asylum agreements with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to send migrants to seek protection in those countries instead of in the U.S.

Asylum in this context is a farce, basically meaning that it is better to live in the U.S. than in Honduras or Guatemala because of the historic benefits of our free enterprise system and relatively corruption-free economy. More important, this is great news, and another practical accomplishment of the Trump administration. I have often said that my first choice for an immigration policy would be Canadas, but that I would willingly settle for Mexicos. Here, we are seeing the benefit of Trumps pressure on Mexico to enforce its own laws rather than passing the caravan buck to us. Kudos to Donald Trump and his administration.
Accenture, a global professional services company, has agreed to acquire Symantecs Cyber Security Services business from Broadcom, Inc., which will make Accenture Security one of the leading providers of managed security services.



It will further enhance its ability to help companies rapidly anticipate, detect and respond to cyber threats, a statement said, noting that financial terms of the were not disclosed.



Symantecs portfolio of Cyber Security Services includes global threat monitoring and analysis through a network of security operation centers, real-time adversary and industry-specific threat intelligence and incident response services.



The six security operations centers are located in the US, the UK, India, Australia, Singapore and Japan. Its managed security services business is supported by a proprietary cloud-based platform that delivers a steady stream of technical and cyber adversary threat intelligence through a customizable portal.



Cybersecurity has become one of the most critical business imperatives for all organizations regardless of industry or geographic location, said Julie Sweet, Accentures chief executive officer. With the addition of Symantecs Cyber Security Services business, Accenture Security will offer one of the most comprehensive managed services for global businesses to detect and manage cybersecurity threats aimed at their companies.



Kelly Bissell, senior managing director of Accenture Security said: Companies are facing an unprecedented volume of cyber threats that are highly-sophisticated and targeted to their businesses, and they can no longer rely solely on generic solutions. This acquisition is a game-changer and will help Accenture provide flexibility rather than a one size fits all approach to managed security services.



With Symantecs Cyber Security Services business, we can now bring clients our combined expertise fine-tuned to their industry with tailored global threat intelligence powered by advanced analytics, automation and machine learning.



Symantecs Enterprise Security business, now a division of Broadcom, is headquartered in Mountain View, California and its Cyber Security Services business includes more than 300 employees around the world who serve top-tier organizations across a diverse range of industries, including financial services, utilities, health, government, communications, media, technology and retail.



Becoming part of Accenture Security is a tremendous opportunity for our clients and our cyber warriors around the globe, enabling us to fuse the unique services, capabilities and solutions of two well-established companies to deliver the next generation of cybersecurity services, said John Lionato, vice president and general manager of Symantecs Cyber Security Services business.



Symantecs Cyber Security Services business will be the latest in a series of acquisitions  including those of Deja vu Security, iDefense, Maglan, Redcore, Arismore and FusionX that demonstrate Accenture Securitys commitment to investing in and innovating advanced threat intelligence and cybersecurity solutions.



In its 2019 fiscal year, Accenture invested nearly $1.2 billion globally on 33 acquisitions to acquire critical skills and capabilities in strategic, high-growth areas of the market.



Completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in March 2020.  TradeArabia News Service


The body of a 60-year-old man who fell into a valley while fixing a rappelling rope in Harischandragad in Ahmednagar district on Saturday was recovered a day later, police said.

Arun Sawant was fixing the rope at Konkankada rappelling point, some 250 kilometres from here, on Saturday evening when he fell, and his body was found at around 2pm on Sunday, Assistant Inspector SH Kharmade of Tokawade police station told PTI.

Another police official said Sawant, a resident of Goregaon in Mumbai, was part of a group of 30 trekkers.

Rappelling, from French rappeler which means 'to recall' or 'to pull through', is a controlled descent off a vertical drop, such as a rock face, using a rope.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Centering her candidacy around representing the people, Mokah Jasmine Johnson packed The Max Canada with her supporters as she launched her campaign for the District 117 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives on Jan. 18.

Running as a Democrat, Johnsons platform includes expanding Medicaid, banning assault rifles alongside other gun reform, protecting abortion rights and increasing investment in minority and female-owned businesses.

I want to fight for the people at the state level, I want to fight for justice and equity on a state level, Johnson said. Because I know too many people that still have to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet.

The rally featured several prominent community members who endorsed Johnsons candidacy, citing her record as an activist and their personal experiences with her. Notable speakers included District 5 Athens-Clarke County Commissioner Tim Denson, Athens PRIDE Vice President Cameron Harrelson and former District 117 Rep. Deborah Gonzalez.

Mokah told you I asked her to step up for this seat. What she didnt tell you was that I was a real pain in the ass about it, Gonzalez said. Because I made one promise to this district  that seat would never go unopposed again.

In 2012, 2014 and 2016, Republicans campaigning for the District 117 seat ran unopposed. Gonzalez, running as a Democrat, won the seat in a special election in 2017 against Republican Houston Gaines. Gaines won the seat back in 2018.

Denson and Harrelson criticized Gaines for voting against H.B. 426, which would establish penalties for hate crimes. Georgia is one of four states to not have hate crime laws, so Johnson supports passing bipartisan, LGBTQ-inclusive hate crime legislation.

On this, we have no excuses, Harrelson said. [If] Stacey Abrams can come within a centimeter of the governor's mansion, ladies and gentlemen, I tell you that we could get hate crime legislation passed on day one.

April Brown  the Chairwoman of the Libertarian Party of Athens  made an appearance and endorsed Johnson as an individual, not as a representative of the party. Despite their different political affiliations, Brown previously worked with Johnson to eliminate cash-bail in Athens-Clarke County last summer.

She doesnt play politics, Brown said. Shes willing to work with anyone, no matter their affliction, no matter their background.

District 2 Commissioner Mariah Parker urged the crowd to go out and canvas for Johnsons campaign.

We need people from every single corner of the city involved in the representation, legislation and the transformation of this community, Parker said. It comes to me as no surprise that Miss Mokah-Johnson has finally realized that this seat belongs to her, and this seat belongs to us.
The protest by a group of women in Lucknow against the amended Citizenship Act continued on Sunday, with protestors accusing policemen of taking away their blankets. However, Police has dismissed the charge. On the lines of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, around 50 women along with children have been squatting near the Clock Tower in Lucknow's old quarters protesting the CAA and NRC.

The women protestors alleged that blankets provided to them by some organisations were taken away by police. Rubbishing the claims made by women protestors, the Lucknow Police in a tweet said, "During the illegal protest going at Lucknow's Ghantaghar Park (Clock Tower), some people tried to make a 'gheraa' (cordon) using ropes and sticks, and also tried to put sheets. They were not allowed to do so. Some organisations were distributing blankets in park premises. As a result of which, people living in the vicinity, who are not a part of the protests, were coming to take the blankets."

FIR filed against women for protesting against CAA in Aligarh

"Police removed those persons and organisations distributing blankets there, and action is being initiated against them," the Lucknow Police said, and urged people not to spread rumours. Lucknow's Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey also dismissed the allegations levelled by the protestors.

The indefinite protest by women at the national capital's Shaheen Bagh against the CAA and NRC has been going on for over a month now. Besides Delhi, protests have unfolded in several parts of the country over the contentious law since it was passed on December 11 and have led to clashes at several places including Uttar Pradesh.

READ: 'Clerical Error', Claims Aligarh Police Confirming 1,000 Students Booked; Not 10,000

According to the amended law, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

READ: Yogi govt sends notice to protesters seeking recovery for damage of public property

Yogi Adityanath said "will take revenge"

Amid widespread protests and agitations in Uttar Pradesh against the amended Citizenship Act, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath last month had issued a stern warning against those involved in violence. He said the government would auction the property of alleged rioters to compensate for the losses.

"There is no place for violence in a democracy. There was violence in Lucknow and Sambhal and we will deal with it strictly. All properties of those involved in damaging public assets will be seized and auctioned to compensate for the losses. They (those involved in violence) have been captured in video and CCTV footage. We will take badla (revenge) on them," Adityanath had said.

READ: Owaisi compares UP govt's compensation order to Haryana violence during Ram Rahim's arrest


Cutting across the lines of religion, a mosque in Kerala's Kayamkulam hosted a Hindu marriage ceremony on Sunday.

Committee of the Cheravally Muslim Jamaat mosque decided to extend a helping hand towards the mother of the bride who was mother was unable to raise money for the wedding.

"Today this sets an example for the world. A Hindu couple got married at mosque premises. About 1400 years ago Muhammad Nabi had opened the doors of the mosque to Christians and Judah," said the secretary of the mosque committee, Najumudeen Alummoottil.

The mosque was all decked up for the historic wedding as the bride Anju and bride-groom Sarath exchanged flower garlands and vows.

"My younger brother and his friend were the reason this to happen. It has been developed through their discussions. We are very happy," said Anju.

Following the wedding rituals, a vegetarian meal - sadya - was also served in the mosque premises.

Soon after the wedding ceremony, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Facebook to congratulate the newly married couple who also said that "Kerala is one."

"Best wishes to the bride, family members and church committee to all who worked for this. Kerala is one; we can say louder that we are single - with these good hearts," read the message on Vijayan's Facebook post.

The marriage which was performed by a Hindu priest as per the rituals hosted guests from both the communities in front of a lighted traditional lamp.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vehicles in traffic jam in Hanoi on January 16, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh.

Auto manufacturers are expanding factories in Vietnam to increase output as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on imports.

On January 14 U.S. company Ford announced plans to invest $82 million in expanding its plant in northern Vietnam to triple capacity from 14,000 to 40,000 vehicles a year.

The money, which will take its total investment in Vietnam to more than $200 million, will come in two stages over a two-year period starting this year. Ford saw sales rise by 31 percent last year to 32,175 units.

Ford only sells three locally made models of the crossover SUV EcoSport and passenger vans Transit and Tourneo.

Their sales reached 8,941 units last year, far below the 14,000 capacity of the companys plant in Hai Duong Province.

Following the expansion, the factory will produce more models locally, including the compact crossover Escape, starting in the second quarter of this year.

Vietnam is seeking to reduce imports to boost local production.

In 2018 Toyota rented an additional 9.1 hectares of land to expand its factory. Honda has also proposed to increase its plant capacity, while Mitsubishi plans a second plant in the country in central Nghe An Province in addition to its existing one in Binh Duong Province near HCMC.

Vietnamese manufacturer Thanh Cong Motor (TC Motor) has signed an agreement with South Koreas Hyundai to build a second plant in northern Quang Ninh Province after the first in northern Ninh Binh Province.

Truong Hai Auto built a KIA assembly plant in September last year following earlier lines for Peugeot earlier the same year and Mazda in 2018.

VinFast completed the first phase of its auto plant in the northern Hai Phong City in June last year with a capacity of 250,000 units a year.

While sales of locally made vehicles still remain higher than that of imports, the latter is surging. Last year sales of the former fell 12 percent year-on-year to 189,450 units while sales of imported vehicles surged 82 percent to 132,872 according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Vietnam imported 140,301 vehicles last year, up 69.3 percent year-on-year, according to the customs.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said here that the ongoing protests in the country over the citizenship law could be defused if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister assure that they would "drop the idea of the Register of Citizens" and will no longer go to every door asking for documentary proof of "where your father and mother were born."

Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival, Tharoor also said that during the Population Register (NPR) enumeration, Muslims would be asked to produce documents to prove their nationality.

"Home Minister has explicitly tied CAA with NRC. CAA says if you can prove you are from these countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan) we will fast track your citizenship," said Tharoor.

"Every Indian would be asked for documentation and 65 per cent Indians don't have birth certificates. If people of these faiths (Hindus, Sikh, Parsi, Christian and Buddhist) don't have a birth certificate they would be allowed for something else whereas Muslim without documentation would be asked "how can we believe that you are not from Pakistan," he said.

"They would be asked to prove that they are born here," he said.

The MP from Thiruvananthapuram said: "The protest that has intensified can be diffused if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah say we are dropping NRC and we would not ask NPR enumerators to go to every door asking for where their father and mother were born."

"They must assure that they will no longer give power to officials to write 'dubious citizenship' against your names," said Tharoor.

"But they (PM Narendra Modi & Home Minister Amit Shah) are not prepared to give all those assurances and it says about their intent. Their intention is very much to identify people living in India," he added

CAA grants citizenship to the non-Muslim refugee from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. The Population Register (NPR) is a Register of usual residents of the country. It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sun Yang of China celebrates after the men's 200m freestyle final of FINA Champions Swim Series 2020 in Beijing, Jan. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The drum-dance and hot air could not compare with Sun Yang when the three-time Olympic champion delighted the full-house audience as he smashed the men's 200m freestyle at FINA Champions Swim Series here on Saturday.

Sun stormed to a time of 1:45.55, beating his arch-rival Danas Rapsys of Lithuania (1:45.74). Dominik Kozma of Hungary followed with 1:48.98.

"I did not think it as a revenge since I lost to Danas in Shenzhen by 0.03 seconds. It is a good competition with the strongest rivals in the world. To me, Danas is very tough and also a respected friend," Sun said.

Comparing to Rapsys' starting response time of 0.63 seconds, Sun took 0.76, just an arm-length behind.

"I am always weak in the start and turns. Today I started even slower. Danas jumped off while I just started to move. That's what I need to improve. But I swam fast in the middle part."

"Strong rivals and the audience, all helped me to have a smooth victory today. I hope I can keep the form and work harder to realize my dream at the Tokyo Olympic Games. That is to stand on top of the podium."

The 28-year-old Chinese team captain who took a gold in 400m freestyle and a silver in 200m freestyle in Shenzhen leg on Jan 14-15, will continue to compete in the 400m freestyle in Beijing on Sunday.

"I just need a good sleep and prepare for tomorrow's battle. Water is my world, I am used to it," Sun said.
The biggest city in the Sahara, southern Morocco, will be a venue on February 22 of a meeting bringing together foreign ministers of Morocco and 12 pacific countries.

The meeting ushers a new era of support for Moroccos territorial sovereignty, Foreign minister said after announcing the event.

The participating countries will explore means to boost cooperation, he said, adding that many pacific nations are expected to open their consulates in the Sahara, Provinces following the examples of many African states.

Comores, Gambia, Gabon and Guinea have recently gave substance to their support for Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara by opening consulates in the territory.
A gun rights activist carries his handgun in a hip holster outside the Virginia State Capitol building as the General Assembly prepares to convene in Richmond, Virginia, on Jan. 8, 2020. (REUTERS/Jonathan Drake)

Virginia Supreme Court Leaves Governors Emergency Gun Ban in Place

The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday evening declined to hear a challenge against Gov. Ralph Northams temporary ban on carrying guns during a pro-Second Amendment rally on Monday, leaving the state of emergency ban in effect.

Several gun rights groups involved in the rally sought to overturn the governors emergency order after a lower court upheld the motion. Last week, Northam had banned guns on the state capitol grounds from Friday evening to Tuesday, which means that those who were planning to attend the rally would not be allowed to carry gunsunlike previous years the rally was held.

We ask everyone to follow the temporary Capitol grounds rules, the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL) said to supporters on Saturday, the Washington Free Beacon reported. There is NO need for an act of civil disobedience to achieve standing for a court fight. We already have standing.

On Thursday, the groups filed a lawsuit challenging the ban but were blocked by Richmond Circuit Court Judge Joi Taylor.

The states Supreme Court wrote that under the circumstances, they were not able to discern whether the circuit court abused its discretion. The court also noted that the decision rendered by the Richmond Circuit Court was made in less than a day, and the court records in the case are limited. There were no written statements or transcripts, the states highest court said.

On Wednesday, Northam said he would declare a state of emergency to ban all weapons, not just guns, in light of reports of militia groups threatening to storm the capitol during the gun rally.

We have received credible intelligence from our law enforcement agencies that there are groups with malicious plans for the rally that is planned for Monday, Northam told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday. Intelligence shows the threat of armed militia groups storming our capitol, he added.

Northam said authorities received reports of out-of-state militia groups and hate groups planning to travel from across the country to disrupt our democratic process with acts of violence and added that they may be are coming to intimidate and to cause harm, it was reported.

But Virginia Citizens Defense League organizer Philip Van Cleave, the organizer of the rally, told news outlets that while the event will still take place, the governor and leadership in the Democratic Party have declared war on law-abiding gun owners, and theyre tired of it.

Northam has touched the third rail and has motivated people to drive across the state and from other states to come protect our rights, he remarked.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 07:52:24|Editor: ZX

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People dance during a Chinese Spring Festival parade in downtown Liege, Belgium, Jan. 18, 2020. A multicultural festival was held in the eastern Belgian city of Liege on Saturday to greet the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival, a celebration also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year. The upcoming Chinese Year of the Rat will start on Jan. 25, 2020. The event is celebrated all over the world by the Chinese community. Saturday's festivities started with a colorful parade in downtown Liege, followed by a series of cultural performances, a temple fair and a grand gala at the Liege Convention Center. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

LIEGE, Belgium, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A multicultural festival was held in the eastern Belgian city of Liege on Saturday to greet the upcoming Chinese Spring Festival, a celebration also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The upcoming Chinese Year of the Rat will start on Jan. 25, 2020. The event is celebrated all over the world by the Chinese community.

Saturday's festivities started with a colorful parade in downtown Liege, followed by a series of cultural performances, a temple fair and a grand gala at the Liege Convention Center.

At the Liege-Gillemins train station, eight groups from all over Belgium appeared in quick succession, performing dance routines, a "cheongsam" show, an umbrella dance, Qigong performance, among others.

Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Cao Zhongming said: "The Chinese and overseas Chinese in Belgium live in harmony with the local people and abide by the law. They have contributed to the economic development of Belgium with hard work. They are enthusiastic about public welfare and serve the local society."

"The Chinese community and Chinese companies in Belgium, through their spontaneous action, will donate 17,500 euros (19,410 U.S. dollars) to the Truffaut-Delbrouck Solidarity Fund, a charity in Liege," Cao said.
(Natural News) American greed in the age of godless capitalism knows no bounds. Theres almost nothing too sinister or evil that todays Americans wont do for a buck, including manufacturing the cheapest and most overpriced products with built-in obsolescence that they can get away with, which is exactly what John Deere is doing with its newest lines of farming tractors.

To be fair, part of the problem is that the government actually mandates that manufacturers of cars, tractors and other vehicles make them as proprietary and complicated as possible to ensure that consumers are forever dependent on corporations in order to live. But John Deere is reportedly going above and beyond these requirements by peddling tractors that can actually brick themselves in the event that farmers attempt to repair them without taking them to John Deere-approved repair facilities.

Just like Elon Musk is doing with his garbage Tesla vehicles, John Deere is making it all but impossible for farmers to keep their John Deere tractors running without making continual payments to the company for the latest software upgrades.

Writing for The Burning Platform, farmer Eric Peters explains that new John Deere tractors are constantly connected to the mother ship, which means the company can update them on a whim and basically kill their ability to operate if John Deere owners dont abide by the companys newfangled rules.

John Deere no longer even considers purchasers of its new tractors as owners. It instead refers to them as authorized users, almost like a software license that continually has to be renewed in order to be valid. This corrupt business model is making it difficult for many farmers to even stay in business, which is driving many of them to purchase older John Deere tractor models that are serviceable by pretty much anyone with a basic know-how of how they work.

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As it turns out, older is better in almost every technological category. And American society is beginning to see a resurgence back towards the technologies of old, which are cheaper, more reliable and all-around better than anything offered today in the name of technological progress.

Thats the beauty of the pre-computer stuff, writes Peters. It never needs an upgrade and you diagnose it by checking for spark, ignition and fuel. There are no codes to read. Just the occasional leak to fix or worn component to replace. Which doesnt require a trip to the dealer because the manufacturer doesnt claim it owns the codes and hasnt got a proprietary lock on the tools  and wont allow you to service the thing yourself, even if you had them.

Most modern technology is JUNK  stick with the old, if you can

Peters says he currently uses a 1979 Mitsubishi tractor that contains nothing electronic besides the sealed beam headlights and the 12-volt starter battery. This particular model even has a mechanically injected diesel engine  meaning that, even in the event of a wide-scale electromagnetic pulse (EMP), the thing will still be able to run.

But all of the newer tractors, which cost upwards of $100,000 a piece, will only continue to run as long as John Deere allows them to run. Should John Deere remotely decide that a farmer isnt paying enough for corporate repairs, the company can simply shut the machine down and render it useless.

In many modern computer-controlled vehicles  tractors as well as cars  key components are specific to that particular vehicle and must be coded to work with it by the dealer, Peters further explains.

Believe it or not, you cant even replace the battery or a headlight in some new cars (and probably also Deere tractors) without plugging the vehicle into a dealership computer.

Be sure to read his full analysis at this link.

For more related news about the sinister designs behind modern technology, check out Deception.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheBurningPlatform.com

NaturalNews.com
An FIR has been registered against the driver of veteran actor Shabana Azmi for rash and negligent driving, after her car met with an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway in Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.

Azmi (69), who was injured in the accident which took place on Saturday, is undergoing treatment at Kokilaben Ambani Hospital in suburban Andheri and is "stable", the hospital's Executive Director and CEO Dr Santosh Shetty told PTI.

Driver Kamlesh Kamath (38), who sustained minor injuries in the incident, was apparently trying to overtake another vehicle when Azmi's Tata Safari car rammed into a truck near Khalapur, about 60 km from here in neighbouring Raigad district, a local police official earlier said.

Azmi's husband, lyricist Javed Akhtar, was travelling in another car, Raigad Superintendent of Police Paraskar told PTI on Sunday.

"We have booked driver Kamlesh Kamath under Indian Penal Code Sections 279 and 337 for rash and negligent driving and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. He is not yet arrested," Paraskar said.

The car will be sent for an inspection to RTO (regional transport office) to ascertain if there was any fault in the vehicle or if the mishap took place after the driver lost control, he said.

After the incident, Azmi was first rushed to MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai and later shifted to the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital here.

"We will collect Azmi's medical report from the MGM Hospital where she was initially taken. The driver's medical examination was also conducted and he was not found under the influence of alcohol," Paraskar said.

Meanwhile, Dr Shetty at the Kokilaben Ambani Hospital said the actor's health condition is "stable".

"Azmi is recuperating. She is stable and under observation. No surgery, operation was performed during the night...she is undergoing medical treatment," he said.

Azmi is known for her path-breaking roles in films like "Arth", "Ankur", "Paar", "Masoom" and "Godmother".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Adam Schiff said Sunday that he believes the intelligence community is giving into pressure from the White House in not releasing documents to Congress that would be relevant to the impeachment trial.

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee told ABC's This Week in an interview Sunday morning that the National Security Agency is withholding 'potentially relevant documents' regarding Ukraine.

'The intelligence community is beginning to withhold documents from Congress on the issue of Ukraine,' Schiff told ABC's George Stephanopoulos two days before the Senate impeachment trial in set to commence.

'They appear to be succumbing to pressure from the administration,' he continued, blaming Donald Trump. 'The NSA in particular is withholding what are potentially relevant documents to our oversight responsibilities on Ukraine, but also withholding documents potentially relevant that the senators might want to see during the trial.'

'That is deeply concerning,' Schiff, who will serve as the lead impeachment manager for the Senate trial, said.

'And there are signs that the CIA may be on the same tragic course,' he said. 'We are counting on the intelligence community not only to speak truth to power but to resist pressure from the administration to withhold information from Congress because the administration fears that they incriminate them.'

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff said Sunday that the National Security Agency is withholding 'potentially relevant documents' to Ukraine and the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump

Schiff was named Wednesday as the lead manager for the House Democrats in the Senate impeachment trial

Democrats have previously complained that the State and Defense Departments have failed to provide documents related to Ukraine  which is at the center of the impeachment charges against the president.

Schiff also slammed a newly appointed impeachment defense attorney, claiming Trump had to go 'so far out of the mainstream' to find someone to make the constitutional case against impeaching.

Alan Dershowitz, a liberal Democrat and Harvard Law professor , joined Trump's defense team this week and told ABC News Sunday morning that he will make the case on the Senate floor that the president has not committed any impeachable offenses, according to the constitution.

'When you read the text of the Constitution, treason bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors, other really means that crimes and misdemeanors must be akin  akin to treason and bribery,' Dershowitz George Stephanopoulos on This Week.

The argument is the same one that Andrew Johnson, the first president to be impeached, used in his defense in 1868. He was acquitted by one vote.

In a separate interview on This Week, the congressman leading the House Democratic prosecution team in the Senate trial clashed with Dershowitz, calling his argument 'absurdist.'

'You had to go so far out of the mainstream to find someone to make that argument,' Schiff told Stephanopoulos. 'You had to leave the realm of constitutional law scholars and go to criminal defense lawyers.'

Schiff said Sunday morning that part of Trump's legal defense is 'absurdist' as he slammed newly announced defense attorney Alan Dershowitz

Dershowitz, who appeared in a separate interview with ABC This Week Sunday morning, said he would argue that Democrats are attempting to remove Trump for offenses that are not detailed in the Constitution as impeachable

Dershowitz will make the case on the floor of the Senate that what the Democrats are accusing of Trump in the two articles of impeachment  abuse of power and obstruction of Congress  do not amount to the high crimes and misdemeanors. Outlined in the Constitution high crimes and misdemeanors, which are grounds for impeachment, are detailed as treason and bribery.

'The argument is a strong one, the Senate should hear it. I am privileged to be able to make it,' Dershowitz said, hitting back at Schiff.

Dershowitz, who also was a defense attorney for Jeffrey Epstein and OJ Simpson, claimed Schiff's comments were 'to insult one of the greatest jurists in American history,' referring to Justice Benjamin Curtis, who first made the argument in Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial.

The White House announced Friday that Dershowitz, along with high-profile lawyer Ken Starr, will joint Trump's legal defense in the Senate impeachment trial.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday that seven Democrats who will serve as managers in the trial  and Schiff is at the helm of that team.

After the articles of impeachment were signed Wednesday, Schiff, along with the six other impeachment managers hand-delivered them to the Senate

He will also be joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler.

The impeachment articles were officially transmitted to the Senate on Wednesday evening  Pelosi signed them after holding them in the House for a month.

Trump's legal team issued a furious response to the articles of impeachment, accusing House Democrats of engaging in a 'dangerous attack' on the rights of voters.

'This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election now just months away,' reads the filing sent Saturday in response to the Senate's impeachment trial summons.

'The highly partisan and reckless obsession with impeaching the President began the day he was inaugurated and continues to this day,' it continues.

Dershowitz and Starr will present the opening arguments for Trump's defense, which will commence when the proceedings begin Tuesday.

Dershowitz also defended Jeffrey Epstein in 2008 as part of his legal team when the millionaire businessman first faced federal allegations of sexual assault on teenage girls.

The White House also appointed attorney Ken Starr as part of the legal team for Trump who will participate in the opening arguments expected to begin next week

He also was an adviser to Harvey Weinstein's legal team  and in 2018 wrote a book defending Trump, 'The Case Against Impeaching Trump.'

During an interview with CNN's State of the Union Sunday morning, Dershowitz also claimed 'McCarthyism' when his positions in Epstein, Simpson and now Trump's defense teams.

CNN's Brianna Keilar noted to Dershowitz how both he and Starr were involved in the Epstein plea deal years ago.

'That's our job,' Dershowitz said.

'Do you think that the two of you being a part of this, considering how unpalatable an association, legal association with Jeffrey Epstein is, that that could actually backfire and not serve the president?' she asked.

'That's what lawyers do,' Dershowitz asserted.

'In the case of Jeffrey Epstein and the others that you state, the victim or the alleged victim, all women,' Keilar continued, 'You have a number of senators, including female senators and lot of their constituents who are female who may look at that, and they may not like that association. Do you think it will backfire?'

'No, they understand that it's pure McCarthyism to hold a lawyer responsible for having represented controversial clients under the sixth amendment,' Dershowitz said. 'It's what lawyers do, it's what lawyers should do, and I am proud of my role as a defense lawyer. I did nothing wrong in any of those cases.'
Former Mizoram Governor Swaraj Kaushal on Sunday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the Bru-Reang repatriation agreement, aimed at settling 34,000 refugees of the community in Tripura, saying it sends a grand message that the country cares about the tribals and asserted that the pact was not an ad-hoc arrangement and an agreement which offers a lasting solution.

"The Bru-Reang refugee agreement is to settle them permanently so that they lead a life of dignity. The best thing about this agreement is that it's not an ad-hoc arrangement. This agreement is a solution that will last," Kaushal, who served as Mizoram's Governor from 1990 to 1993, told ANI in an exclusive interview.

"It's not Bru-Reangs, these are Indian citizens. These tribes are all along India's border with Bangladesh and they are your first line of defence. You cannot ignore them. There is human compassion and security angle to it," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday presided over the signing of an agreement between the Central government and the governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives under which around 34,000 internally displaced people will be settled in Tripura.

Shah said that around 34,000 Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura under the new agreement and the state would be given a package of around Rs 600 crore for their rehabilitation.

The Brus are spread across Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of southern Assam and are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect. They had demanded an Autonomous District Council (ADC), under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in western Mizoram.

In 1997, following ethnic tensions, around 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru tribals were forced to flee Mizoram and seek shelter in Tripura. These people were housed in temporary camps at Kanchanpur in North Tripura.

Since 2010, the central government has been making sustained efforts to permanently rehabilitate these refugees. The Centre has been assisting the two state governments of Mizoram and Tripura for taking care of the refugees. Till 2014, 1,622 Bru families returned to Mizoram in different batches.

Meanwhile, Kaushal said that the agreement is not a question of seeking votes.

"Here in Delhi, now people are seeing the perspective. It is not a question of votes. This decision was not possible without the initiative of the Prime Minister and Home Minister. I am happy that there is a show of sensitivity," he said.

"This is a grand message that the country cares. This a message is that Delhi listens and has addressed the problem," he added.

Talking more about the agreement, Kaushal said, "There is an aspect to this agreement that has never been written in any agreement before. There will be residential schools for them. It means permanent settlement of these people and education of their children."

"Imagine what a person in remote North East must be thinking? Here is a country of 130 crore and the population of Bru-Reang is two lakhs. The government is trying to find a solution for the two lakh people of whom 34,000 are worst affected. It is a grand message that the country cares," he added.

Alluding to the delay by the erstwhile Left government in taking steps to repatriate Bru refugees in Tripura, Kaushal said that they lacked perspective and could not see beyond 'red'.

"The problem with red is that they just see red or black. They do not go beyond red. If there is a cadre and voter, there is compassion. It requires foresight. The state government, unfortunately, did not have a national perspective." he said.

Allaying fears of those protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) claiming it to be 'anti-religion', the former Mizoram Governor said that the law does not concern those living in India but only those who are "from a foreign country".

"Frankly, I really do not find one good reason to oppose the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. It does not concern people who are already here. It concerns those who have come from a foreign country," he remarked.

The introduction of the Act, which grants citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Buddhist, and Christian refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, had sparked nationwide protests last month.

Kaushal further said that the newly amended act is only for people who have come from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

"Today we have a friendly government in Bangladesh. Was it always a friendly government? No. There was a government in which fanatics dominated. Do you leave your people at the mercy of such people?" he asked.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Mnangagwa, First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa and Acting President Constantino Chiwenga pose for a photograph with Zimbabwes Ambassador for the Women Riders World Relay Natasha Mutsvairo at the First Familys farm in Kwekwe on Saturday.





Acting President Constantino Chiwenga on Saturday visited President Mnangagwa, who is enjoying his vacation at his Pricabe Farm in Sherwood, Kwekwe.





The two, who, besides being the first and second citizens of this country, are long-time friends. They spent the whole day chatting and touring the Presidents farm.





President Mnangagwa is a passionate farmer, with over 350 hectares of soya and about 400 hectares of maize under irrigation. He has a 405-hectare farm and is renting pieces of land on neighbouring farms.





Pricabe Farm manager, and young brother to the President, Mr Patrick Mnangagwa, yesterday confirmed the surprise visit by the Acting President.





He said the two were relaxed at the farm while talking farming.





I took the Acting President Chiwenga together with the President on a tour of the farm starting with the soya, said Mr Mnangagwa.





We also toured the maize field and the pump station. It was not a planned programme, so the two had time together as they relaxed at the farm after the tour.





Mr Mnangagwa said Acting President Chiwenga was impressed by the work being done at the farm.





On Unity Day last year, President Mnangagwa hosted over 18 political party leaders under the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) at his farm at their request. The politicians said they were inspired by the Presidents farming prowess. Herald




By Trend





Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks by phone ahead of the international conference on Libya scheduled for Sunday in Berlin, the Turkish leaders office told reporters, Trend reports citing TASS.

"At the talks, [they] focused on regional issues, primarily Libya," Erdogans office said.

Germany plans to host an international conference on Libya in Berlin on January 19.
Manhattan Beach Toyota is bringing in the new year with new Toyota vehicles. One of the most exciting models inside its showroom is the 2020 Toyota Highlander. This three-row SUV is designed for families and a good choice when it comes to long distance travel.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander has lots of advantages with its spacious interior and powerful performance equipment. The Highlander is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine for versatile performance. This SUV can reach 295 horsepower. The 2020 Toyota Highlander also has a standard Stop and Start Engine System (S&S) to help save on emissions.

Shoppers will be happy to see that the 2020 Toyota Highlander is spacious and has several comfortable amenities. This model has a total cargo volume of 84.3 cubic feet and 139.1 cubic feet of space for passengers. The Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds for any extra baggage and offers sensible legroom capacity with 42 and 41 inches of legroom in the first two rows with 27.7 inches of legroom in the third row. Drivers will also enjoy the safety features that can help protect their passengers. The Smart Stop Technology (SST), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Traction Control (TRAC) and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA) are just some of the features that drivers can take advantage of.

Interested readers can learn more about the latest news on models like the 2020 Toyota Highlander at Manhattan Beach Toyota by visiting their inventory page on the dealerships website, manhattanbeachtoyota.com. Shoppers can contact the professionals of Manhattan Beach Toyota to help answer questions as well as help schedule a test drive for interested shoppers. These professionals can be reached by calling 855-955-7001 or visiting the dealership at 1500 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.
(Newser)  An Alaska dentist, who gained notoriety after he was seen in a video riding a hoverboard and pulling teeth, was convicted Friday of defrauding the Alaska Medicaid program, the AP reports. Seth Lookhart was convicted of 46 counts, including felony medical assistance fraud and scheming to defraud, and misdemeanor counts of illegally practicing dentistry and reckless endangerment, prosecutors said. The conviction followed a five-week bench trial before Anchorage Superior Court Judge Michael Wolverton, who said in a written finding that he found the state's evidence simply overwhelming. He also said Lookhart's own text conversations were persuasive. Friends had asked Lookhart how he got away with some of his practices. Dr. Lookhart responded, in effect, that unless someone was standing right next to him at the time, no one would ever know," Wolverton wrote. The judge also convicted Lookhart's corporation, Lookhart Dental LLC, which did business as Clear Creek Dental, of 40 criminal counts.

story continues below

Lookhart, who started practicing in 2014, offered unnecessary intravenous sedation (which is more expensive than anesthesia) to Medicaid patients in order to maximize Medicaid payments, per the Anchorage Daily News. The practice became lucrative for Lookhart, prosecutors said, and his practice in 2016 accounted for 31% of all Medicaid payments for IV sedation. Lookhart also schemed to cut out his partners by billing Medicaid under a different provider identification and having payments sent directly to his home, prosecutors said. Since Lookhart obtained an IV sedation license in 2015, prosecutors said, Medicaid paid him about $1.9 million for IV sedation services. He faces up to 10 years in prison plus fines; his business faces a fine of up to $2.5 million. An office manager who was involved previously pleaded guilty. And yes, Lookhart was also convicted on the hoverboard-related charges. (Read more dentist stories.)
Prominent businessman and entrepreneur Vijay Dhar, who runs Delhi Public School in Srinagar, talks about the exodus of Pandits, the evolution of the community after being forced to leave, and what justice means to them after 30 years. Edited excerpts:

Could you briefly explain the history of Pandit-Muslim relationship before 1989?

I think Id probably go back to 1947, if the Kashmiris joined the rest of the country here, it was primarily because of secularism. We chose a secular India to a Muslim Pakistan. And this secularism continued right up to 1989, I would say. Then in 1989 I thinkactually there were various forces playing since 1986, I would say. And after that, these forces erupted and, I may be wrong, but at that time, when the Kashmiri Pandits left, they could have been brought back.

And for me, for example, I came out in 1990April or May, I was one of the last to leave. In 1992, my mother took ill. In the hospital she asked if she could go home. I said sure we could go home. So, she got well, I think it was August-September, we decided to go back and take my mother. The impression that I was given, the then home minister and the Prime Ministers Office, they said nothing doingyou cannot go because of security reasons. I said look, I have promised my mother, Ill take her. Anyway, so there was a compromise. We changed our names. My name was changed, my mothers name was changed and my wifes name was changed. We got into a flight, the moment we landed in Srinagar, the reception that we got from everybody was really really very warm. When we left the airport, the security that they given us was so pathetic that it made me feel that Pakistan had no other business but to shoot me. There were cavalcades in the front and in the back. When we reached home, the telephone started ringing and our friends said, Please dont come to our house and we will not come to your house, but we will leave the tiffin at the gate, please collect it. So, we were there for five weeks and we were so overwhelmed, we did not even make our breakfast. And this was a bad time1992,1993 and 1994.

What exactly happened in 1989-90 that made Pandits leave?

You know, this thing, as I said, was going on for a long time, for almost two-three years and then you had a scare for the Pandits. There were slogans of go out. Even my own staff, which was looking after us for 20 years or so, told me that, Saab, you have to leave. We cannot protect you. Two years later, the same staff welcomed me. But in between you know, there were burning properties for whatever reasons, so that kind of a scare had come up. Then they packed up and left. Those were very sad circumstances. But as I said, they could have been brought back after six months or one year.

Looking back, who would you now blame for this?

If you look at it from 1986 onwards till 1989, you had the last phase of Rajiv Gandhi and the initial phase of VP SinghI think when VP Singh took over, they were still grappling with the situation. Nobody except Arun Nehru understood the situation. And then they decided to send Mr Jagmohan and Farooq Abdullah left in a huff and a puff, so you had really nobody at the helm of affairs, except for the governor. I cant put the blame on A, B or C but the turn of the situations did not give anybody time to think about Kashmir.

Could you describe a bit about the evolution of the Pandit movement?

Pandits were a handful, maybe 400,000 people who left at that time or maybe even less. The only person I would say who helped Kashmiri Pandits at that time was Bal Thackeray. They went from door to door, asking for help. When they went to Thackeray, he said do you want money, they said no, do you want land, they said no. They said please protect the future of our children. And this gentleman got up and he said Ill give 1,000 seats in the technical colleges of Maharashtra without capitation fees. That was the revival of the Kashmiri next generation. So, if you have got Kashmiri Pandit engineers all over the world today, they should owe it to Bal Thackeray.

Will the abrogation of Article 370 help to bridge the divide or widen the gulf further?

I dont think the relationship between Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims have been bad. Temporarily, over a period of time, yes. Today, you have a lot of Pandits who are trying to come back and build a property there. I, for example, set up a school and I must say the amount of encouragement that I got was phenomenal. There are 5,000 children studying in it and 40% of them are girls. I have never felt any communal discrepancy. Secularism is still alive in Kashmir.

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The intelligence services said Sunday there is 'no imminent threat' to US troops stationed at two bases in Germany after a tip reportedly involving an unknown Jordanian extremist.

Described as 'third party information' the U.S.'s 66th Military Intelligence Brigade said they were told soldiers located at both Tower Barracks in Grafenwohr and Tower Barracks in Dulmen could be the target.

Their report added: 'The source of information stated the attack would be carried out by an unknown Jordanian extremist currently located in Germany near an unknown military base.

'The unknown Jordanian was described as a loyalist to the Jordanian kinglet and recently advocated killing U.S. soldiers in Germany.'

The intelligence services said Sunday there is 'no imminent threat' to US troops stationed at two bases in Germany after a tip reportedly involving an unknown Jordanian extremist. Tower Barracks in Grafenwohr is pictured

Described as 'third party information' the U.S.'s 66th Military Intelligence Brigade said they were told soldiers located at either Tower Barracks in Grafenwohr or Tower Barracks, Dulmen, pictured, could be the target

In a Facebook post U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria wrote on Saturday: 'Expect increased force protection measures at Tower Barracks and Rose Barracks'

U.S. Army Europe confirmed the threat to Newsweek, saying Sunday: 'A potential threat was identified and investigated last night.'

They added: 'German and US officials were consulted and no imminent threat was found to exit.

'We'd like to remind everyone to stay vigilant and be aware of their surroundings.'

In a Facebook post U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria wrote on Saturday: 'Expect increased force protection measures at Tower Barracks and Rose Barracks.

'The safety and security of our community and installations remain our top priority. Remain vigilant. If you see something, say something.

Jordan is a key U.S. ally. King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan speaks at the United Nations in September last year

'If you observe suspicious activity in or around our installations or communities, report it immediately.'

The term 'kinglet', used in the report, is a derogatory term for Jordan's King Abdullah II. Jordan is a key U.S. ally in the middle east region and has been greatly affected by the eight-year-long civil war in neighboring Syria.

In 2017 a Jordanian soldier was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of killing three U.S. military trainers the previous year.

1st Sgt. Marik al-Tuwayha, was tried by a military court in Jordan's capital of Amman for the killings of Staff Sgt. Matthew C. Lewellen, 27, of Kirksville, Missouri; Staff Sgt. Kevin J. McEnroe, 30, of Tucson, Arizona; and Staff Sgt. James F. Moriarty, 27, of Kerrville, Texas.

The Americans were killed as their convoy waited at the gate to the al-Jafr base in southern Jordan.

The latest warning come from a spot report, Newsweek reports.

They are 'preliminary reports on ambiguous circumstances, not fully evaluated information'.
Millionaire lawyer and Labour leadership front-runner Sir Keir Starmer spent the 1980s campaigning AGAINST the minimum wage, I can reveal.

Last year, Sir Keir, 57, was much more on message, celebrating that two decades ago Labour delivered the national minimum wage. Millions of people saw their pay rise. This is what a Labour Government can deliver.

But such worker-friendly sentiments differ greatly from his views while on the editorial collective of Trotskyite magazine Socialist Alternatives.

Given that even Jeremy Corbyn points to the minimum wage as one of the few things he will praise Tony Blair for, has Sir Keir  who now claims to be a moderate  managed to outflank the veteran Lefty?

Such worker-friendly sentiments differ greatly from his views while on the editorial collective of Trotskyite magazine Socialist Alternatives. A 1989 edition is seen above

Back then, the middle-class radical was furious the TUC had backed the policy at its 1986 conference in Brighton.

A young Keir wrote: The statutory minimum wage is an admission of the unions inability to organise and defend the working class.

The then 24-year-old claimed it would lead to continued confusion over the role of unions as it places the onus to protect employment rights on the state rather than the organised proletariat.

He insisted the minimum wage calls into question the central principle of free collective bargaining.

Given that even Jeremy Corbyn points to the minimum wage as one of the few things he will praise Tony Blair for, has Sir Keir  who now claims to be a moderate  managed to outflank the veteran Lefty?

In the run-up to his first Budget, novice Chancellor Sajid Javid is scouring the national coffers for every last penny to pay for Boriss pre-Election spending pledges.

By contrast, I also hear The Saj plans to splash out on a new PR supremo to boost his image.

Boris Johnson is ready to forgive and forget in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle by promoting MPs from the lower ministerial ranks who might not have been his biggest cheerleaders in the past.

If having been rude about Boris was a bar to high office, there wouldnt be a Cabinet, joked a source.

He will forgive people for their previous indiscretions, just as colleagues have clearly been able to forgive him for his own.

Boris Johnson is ready to forgive and forget in the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle by promoting MPs from the lower ministerial ranks who might not have been his biggest cheerleaders in the past

New MPs traditionally say something nice about a predecessor in a maiden Commons speech.

So all eyes will be on Kate Griffiths, whos expected to speak this week after replacing estranged love-rat husband Andrew in Burton-on-Trent, almost mirroring 1990s TV drama The Politicians Wife.

Who needs scriptwriters in 2020 Westminster?

Dom and Ken's phoney war

Like Japanese soldiers emerging from the jungle in the 1970s still thinking they were fighting the Second World War, the battle continues for Tory ultra-Remainers Ken Clarke, above right, and Dominic Grieve, left.

Despite no longer being in the Commons, the pair continue to host meetings of the Conservative Group for Europe as its president and chairman. Sadly, barely two dozen others came to their New Years meeting.

The battle continues for Tory ultra-Remainers Ken Clarke, above right, and Dominic Grieve, left

Are Labour leadership contender Rebecca Long Baileys NHS credentials ideologically pure enough for her Left-wing supporters?

Two years ago, she boasted she had no problem with the general principle of engaging with the private sector to get projects delivered, the opposite to party policy. And what about Beckys decade as a solicitor with the NHS in Manchester?

Between 2003 and 2007, she was at the now defunct Halliwells law firm, but an ex-colleague tells me our biggest health-related client at the time was a conglomerate of Manchester, Salford and Trafford councils using private finance initiatives to build healthcare facilities.
CLEVELAND Ohio  Architectural clients in Cleveland have earned a reputation over the past half-century for hiring famous, out-of-town architects for big jobs, only to obtain second-best results.

The list of such projects is a long one. It includes the clunky 200 Public Square office tower, AKA the BP Building, designed by Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum, and the late I.M. Peis Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which recycled motifs from his Louvre glass pyramid and lost some of its integrity when its site got switched from Tower City Center to North Coast Harbor.

Of course, there are exceptions. They include Cesar Pellis fine work on the downtown Key Tower, Rafael Vinolys expansion and renovation of the Cleveland Museum of Art, and, arguably, Norman Fosters Samson Pavilion, the main building in the new Health Education Campus of the Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University.

Whats debatable now is whether The Beacon, a newly completed apartment tower downtown at 515 Euclid Ave., just east of the 200 Public Square building, belongs on the list of mediocrities by big name designers, or whether its something more.

The answer isnt simple. The 29-story, $95 million-plus building, the first new apartment tower built in downtown since the 1970s, may not rank among the greatest buildings in the city. But with visually dynamic facades that incorporate an Op Art effect, it is the most original architectural expression, so far, of the demographic shift bringing new residents back to urban centers in Northeast Ohio after decades of white flight and middle-class abandonment.

Designed by NADAAA, the Boston-based firm founded in 2011 by Nader Tehrani, the project features 187 apartments on 19 new residential floors and a top floor Sky Lounge, all built atop a pre-existing 8-level garage with restaurants and a new lobby for the apartments on the ground floor. DLR Group Cleveland and Vocon, also of Cleveland, collaborated on the project.

The garage, built in 2005, was designed by Cleveland architect Richard Fleischman, with an odd pattern of glass panels affixed to the underlying concrete structure.

The apartment tower, a joint project of Stark Enterprises and Reuven Dessler, the managing partner of the investor group that owns the garage, is separated visually from the garage by an overhang that creates a sharp shadow line.

From there up to its top, the tower features a staggered checkerboard facade of windows and metal panels colored in six shades from cream and tan to brown.

Organized in a semi-random pattern that fades from dark to light as the building rises, the panels create vibrant visual effects, as if The Beacon were a giant abstract painting, or even a form of urban camouflage, which is how Tehrani thinks of it.

The tower is noteworthy because of its gently disruptive visual impact, and because its unusual these days for a Cleveland developer to hire someone of Tehranis stature.

Born in London in 1963 as the son of an Iranian diplomat, Tehrani was educated in Switzerland, Pakistan, South Africa, Iran and Italy.

After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Tehranis family settled in the U.S. He earned a bachelor of fine arts and a bachelor of architecture degrees in 1985 and 1986, respectively, at the Rhode Island School of Design, and a masters of architecture in urban design at Harvard in 1991.

As an educator, Tehrani has headed the architecture department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and is now dean of architecture at the Cooper Union in New York.

In 1986, he co-founded Office dA in Boston with Rodolphe El Khoury, later joined by Monica Ponce de Leon, another prominent designer and educator.

Among other things, Office dA designed a row of condominiums for Clevelands Uptown project in University Circle that was dropped by developer MRN Ltd. when financing fell through during the 2008-09 recession.

An Office dA proposal for condominiums at Uptown in University Circle was dropped in favor of rental units designed by Stanley Saitowiz.Courtesy NADAAA

After Office dA broke up, Tehrani founded NADAAA in 2011 with Katherine Faulkner, who also worked on The Beacon.

NADAAAs work is characterized by inventive geometries, innovative structures, and a rich understanding of materials, texture and pattern.

NADAAA's design for North Hall at the Rhode Island School of Design demonstrates the firm's facility with texture, pattern and creative use of materials.John Horner

Yet Tehrani said hes disappointed that Stark cut many of his ideas for The Beacons interior.

Tehrani wanted the tower to include innovative social spaces on the 22nd-floor terrace level, which is outlined with strips of lighting that dramatize the building at night.

Tehrani reasoned that the social spaces would appeal to milliennials, who constitute a significant part of the buildings rental market. Stark insisted that the floor be devoted to apartments.

Because of this and what Tehrani called other radical constraints, NADAAAs contribution was limited primarily to the facades.

We are fully committed to the clients and the audiences for whom we design, Tehrani said in a recent interview, adding that his work for Stark did not allow for that kind of commitment.

The irony was that I dont believe we were used to the capacity we could be for the project, he said. If its doing good for the city, it remains skin deep.

Rebecca Molyneaux, the vice president of development at Stark, said she was surprised by Tehranis statements.

It was always the intention that NADAA was involved in the exterior of the project, and less so with the interior, she said.

She praised the architecture firms work: NADAAA was wonderful. They are a very forward-thinking firm for certain, and we were incredibly lucky to have them working on our project.

On the inside, The Beacon looks and feels typical of the new or renovated apartments aimed at attracting millennials and empty nesters in Cleveland and other cities.

Tehrani said, however, he was pleased that the building ended up having relatively large, operable windows, and 9-foot ceiling heights in primary living spaces of most units.

The buildings facades, however, are what make it worthy of attention. Its jiggly window pattern sets it apart from the rest of the Cleveland skyline, and from a host of bland, boxy apartment buildings built in Cleveland in recent years to accommodate an influx of millennials and empty nesters.

The design frankly acknowledges that The Beacons skin is made of windows and repetitive metal panels wrapped around repetitive residential units stacked atop one another.

NADAAAs contribution to this formula in Cleveland was to stagger alternating floor layouts in order avoid creating a monotonous gridiron of windows.

The resulting back-and-forth pattern extends out to the corners of the building, where the metal panels protrude like interlocking puzzle pieces. Its an honest way of calling attention to the components from which the building is assembled.

Tehrani said the facade pattern takes inspiration from the work of the late Venezuelan Op artist Luis Cruz Diez, as well as Ohios history as a birthplace of Op Art.

The Beacons particular distinction as a gigantic abstract painting is that it embodies a mind-bending optical effect called The Cafe Wall Illusion, first identified in the 1970s by British psychologist Richard Gregory.

Its a phenomenon in which parallel lines in a staggered checkerboard pattern seem to converge, as if they were bending, even though logic dictates that the horizontal lines between the staggered rows are absolutely straight.

The illusion is mildly disorienting if you take the time to stop, look, and think about it, but its also intriguing because it raises questions about the difference between what the eye sees and the mind knows.

Stark Enterprises deserves credit for building something so inventive and adventuresome in Cleveland, even if the impact is only skin deep.

If The Beacon encourages Stark or other developers to try harder for design excellence in future projects sparked by resurgence of city living transforming downtown Cleveland and other urban areas in Northeast Ohio, so much the better.
Joe Bidens campaign is hoping to take advantage of twin developments: the bitter back-and-forth between Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, as well as the impeachment trial in the Senate that will keep them away from Iowa for much of the final two weeks before the Feb. 3 caucuses. Biden has been airing new ads  one that says he cant wait to kick [President Trump] out of the White House and will leave him in the dust  and has planned two bus tours around the state.
'My story might have turned out very differently if I had been black': Michael Bloomberg originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Mike Bloomberg, a candidate who kicked off his campaign with an apology for discriminatory stop-and-frisk policing when he was mayor of New York City, continued efforts to build support in black and brown communities with a speech on racial wealth disparities -- and an acknowledgement of his own white privilege -- in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on the Sunday of Martin Luther King Jr., weekend.

"As someone who has been very lucky in life, I often say my story would only have been possible in America -- and that's true," Bloomberg said, speaking before a crowd that spilled over into a second room. "But I also know that my story might have turned out very differently if I had been black, and that more black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth, had they been white."

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg waves to the crowd at the conclusion of his speech at the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

He could not have built his business or enjoyed the same success under the conditions facing black Americans, Bloomberg said, acknowledging that as he built his fortune, he was still aware that it was within a socioeconomic framework meant to gird him from exploitation -- a luxury others did not have.

The location where Bloomberg has chose to deliver the speech is significant -- though inspired by one of the lesser-known pages of history. He'll be speaking in a Tulsa neighborhood that once was home to an affluent black community thriving with black-owned businesses and known as "Black Wall Street," until it was burned to the ground by a mob of white rioters in 1921.

"It was one of the deadliest and ugliest attacks in American history -- but like most Americans, I had never heard of it. I remember thinking, 'How is it possible that high schools and colleges don't teach this?'" Bloomberg said.

Bloomberg's focus on the Tulsa Massacre in his speech opening led into his plans for addressing racial inequality, along with continuous acknowledgement that he, a white male billionaire, would never be where he is today if he were black.

Story continues

MORE: Bloomberg says he would join 'good theater' debates, but touts self-funded campaign

"What happened during that period was part of a continuum of violence that black Americans faced -- even after the end of slavery -- violence that denied them their lives, their liberty and their pursuit of happiness, the cornerstones of the American dream," the former New York mayor said.

PHOTO: Democratic Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, left, greets the Rev. Robert Turner, right, during a service at the Vernon Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Tulsa, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Despite having their businesses and homes destroyed, many of the black residents of the Greenwood neighborhood in Tulsa, where the riots happened, were also arrested and murdered. Historical accounts estimate between 100 to 300 people were killed.

Though he didn't promise reparations in the speech, he nodded to the argument for enacting them.

"A theft of labor and a transfer of wealth -- enshrined in law and enforced by violence. And the impact of that theft over a period of centuries has meant an enormous loss of wealth for individuals and families, across generations -- a kind of compound interest in reverse. Well, it's past time to say enough and to damn well do something about it," Bloomberg said in the speech.

The mayor's stance on reparations, according to his campaign, begins and ends with his support for the House bill that most Democratic candidates are behind, which calls for a study to learn more about the possible impacts and methods of implementing reparations.

As part of his address, Bloomberg unveiled his plan for narrowing the racial wealth gap, which focuses on identifying broad solutions rather than on numbers and detailed cost breakdowns, according to a senior adviser who worked on the policy.

MORE: Jury still out for some black voters on Bloomberg after 'stop and frisk' apology

The three major goals in the racial wealth plan, called the "Greenwood Initiative," are increasing home ownership to 1 million more African Americans, getting more capital to 100,000 more entrepreneurs -- specifically black women, who make up the fastest-growing group of new entrepreneurs -- and flooding 100 impoverished neighborhoods in the country with $70 billion for pilot programs and community investments.

Stop and frisk, the controversial policing strategy that Bloomberg apologized for because of its disproportionate effect on black and brown men in New York City while he was mayor, is not mentioned in the plan, though Bloomberg addressed it head on in his speech.

"Now, as all of you know, in my determination to reduce gun violence, we employed a common big city police practice called stop and frisk, and that resulted in far too many innocent people being stopped. And when I realized that, we took action," Bloomberg said. The former mayor apologized for the policy shortly before declaring his run, though he stood by by his record until as recently as January 2019, when he was asked about it during a Naval Academy conference.

In Tulsa, Bloomberg told the crowd that despite cutting down on stop and frisk by 95% before he left office, he still knows he "was wrong."

"I was wrong not to act faster and sooner to cut the stops, and I've apologized to New Yorkers for that," Bloomberg said. "I've always believed though that leadership involves listening to diverse opinions and acknowledging when you didn't get them right. And learning from it. And that's what I've always tried to do."

The campaign said they plan to address the disproportionate injustices created by stop and frisk in a policy form through a separate criminal justice plan that's still being finalized, according to a senior adviser.

As for Bloomberg's record on housing while he was mayor, some describe a tale of two cities. In his effort to rebuild the city's economy after 9/11 and then after the Great Recession, Bloomberg created affordable housing and rezoning initiatives. But independent data throughout the years reveals that residents of color were displaced during his efforts to rebuild the city.

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is applauded as he speaks at the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

The campaign did not provide a cost for the home ownership goal in the latest plan, though it focuses on down payment assistance and changing the way credit scores are evaluated so it's easier for people to be eligible for a mortgage.

(MORE: Bloomberg gets 45-day extension on financial disclosures from FEC)

By comparison, the candidates who have housing plans largely focus on funds to build new housing, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., whose plan would cost $500 billion; former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, whose plan calls for around $430 billion; and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., whose plan calls for $2.5 trillion.

Bloomberg's plan to double black businesses from around 100,000 to 200,000 also doesn't come with a price tag.

Buttigieg's plan for investing in minority entrepreneurs calls for $10 billion from the government, matched by $10 billion from private investors, while Warren's plan on the same issue calls for $7 billion from the government.

Front-runner Joe Biden, the former Vice President to Barack Obama, does not list a housing plan on his website, nor does he have a specific plan to address racial wealth disparities.

But in Tulsa -- which is not a common campaign stop at this point in the race -- most of the voters who came out to see Bloomberg hadn't attended events for the other front-runners.

Warren, who grew up in Oklahoma and held an event in Oklahoma City in December, is the only candidate in the top tier to have visited the state ahead of Bloomberg, who is running a nontraditional campaign due to his late entry to the race. He is skipping out on the early states, like Iowa and New Hampshire, where most of the candidates are currently spending their time.

Tracie Chandler, a retired history teacher, said that could provide an advantage. Having not seen other 2020 candidates in person, she walked away from Bloomberg's speech feeling inspired to volunteer for the campaign -- and, as a black voter, said she felt receptive to his willingness to apologize for stop and frisk.

"What I was happy about is that he addressed the elephant in the room. And that's the way you do with things -- you don't run and hide from it. You don't allow somebody else to bring it up first. And then you own it," said Chandler. "And he apologized for it. What else is there to be said?"

PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg speaks at the Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa, Okla., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Chandler was also receptive to Bloomberg's acknowledgement of how being white has facilitated his upward mobility.

"I mean it's a fact," said Chandler, who said she'd heard of Bloomberg mostly through the ads he's been blanketing the country with, spending around $200 million of his own money. "A lot of white people do not understand that they are privileged. We fear for our lives, especially here in Tulsa, just driving down the street."

But other Tulsa voters felt that Bloomberg's admissions -- and the ideas he put forth to create change -- didn't separate him from the pack.

As he walked by her to shake hands with attendees, Tulsa resident Shelley Thomas told Bloomberg she liked his speech, but that he should understand the many layers of disparity that are affecting the black community in her city.

"You can't talk about economic initiatives without understanding the role of health care disparities, environmental justice -- all of that is interrelated," she said, adding that she was worried that his broad ideas for improvement at the national level wouldn't "trickle down." Thomas, 53, is currently unemployed, despite her experience as an attorney and a health care executive, a struggle she said is compounded by the racial disparities in Tulsa. She sat next to her longtime friend Paul Jackson, 52, a veteran who is also currently unemployed.

MORE: Diane Patrick sought advice from Michelle Obama before husband entered 2020 race

Jackson, who previously worked in operations in the energy industry but has been out of work for over a year, said the ideas "sounded good" but he was hungry to see "how it really manifests itself."

"I will say that it seems like we've heard it all before," said Jackson, who, like Thomas, has lived in Tulsa most of his life.

"They talk about reparations or they talk about the black plight or they're talking about the historical oppression that we've gone through, and they all come and they all say about the same thing -- 'We understand the plight, we want to help,'" Jackson said. "We've heard it all before. I don't know that we've ever seen it."

ABC News' Briana Stewart contributed to this report.
Theres only one path to rebuilding Venezuela, and its paved with oil. For the time being, that path leads nowhere.

The key to controlling everything now lies with the National Assembly, the only body with the power to hand out oil licensesand Maduros recent scheme to retake control of the countrys oil may just have been foiled by more Trump sanctions.

Venezuela is the 12th largest oil producer in the world and home to the worlds largest oil reserves--all of which is irrelevant as long as it remains in the throes of a deep economic and humanitarian crisis amid runaway corruption, a devalued currency and crippling sanctions by the U.S. and the EU.

Maduros attempt to cling to power is relentless, but in his quest this past week to take control of the oil industry, Washington was paying close attention. And now, the rogue president and his government have suffered another major blow, with the US imposing fresh sanctions on seven Maduro acolytes.

Legislative Crisis

Last week, Venezuela plunged into a major legislative crisis after soldiers and pro-Maduro supporters barred U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido and his deputies from entry into congress before quickly naming Luis Parra, a former opposition lawmaker who recently defected to the Maduro camp, as head of a pro-government assembly.

Maduro loyalists and Guaidos opposition legislators engaged in a showdown of claims and counterclaims that left neither side with clear control of the assembly.

Diplomats and energy consultants see the latest drama as a move by Maduro to continue to cling to power by gaining control of congress and legitimizing investments by Russian, Chinese and other deep-pocketed investors in a bid to revive the countrys collapsing oil industry.

Russia, China, India and Turkey have been demanding legal security from Caracas even as they look to tap the countrys cheap energy and mining assets. Related: Will The Permian Peak This Year?

Venezuelas national assembly is the last independent government institution with the sole mandate to legally approve oil-licensing deals, thanks to a law crafted by Maduros leftist predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez, which gave state oil monopoly PDVSA (Petroleos de Venezuela) majority financial stakes and mandatory operational control.

Had the congress takeover been successful, Maduros supporters would have been in a position to draft a new law that would confer legal powers to foreign companies to run day-to-day operations for oil projects in the country.

It would have been similar to Mexicos massive energy reforms (now being undone) that opened up the country to foreign investors and destroyed a state-run monopoly. Under any other circumstances, the West would have been rather excited at this prospectbut not where it concerns Venezuela.

This whole operation reflects the extreme necessity of the regime to try and give legitimacy to contracts, especially in the oil sector, Luis Stefanelli, a former opposition lawmaker who went into exile to escape state persecution, told the WSJ.

Venezuelas Crude oil production has plunged from 3.2 million barrels/day before President Obama imposed the first sanctions on the country in 2015 to just 700,000 barrels/day currently due to the international sanctions even as the government lacks funds to maintain derelict oil infrastructure. Meanwhile, the countrys economy has contracted 60%, clearly underlining the importance of oil to the countrys coffers.

Moscow to the Rescue?

Caracas will no doubt be counting on Moscow to come to its rescue-- as it has done several times in the past.

Russia has repeatedly expressed unflinching support for Maduro, going as far as providing military support even after Washington prohibited its allies from doing any business with the nation. Washington has in the past accused Moscow of providing assistance to Caracas in the movement of gold and oil, helping to finance, market and ship the commodities in ways that circumvent U.S. sanctions.

Make no mistake about whose side Russia is on in the latest saga: The nation was one of the few nations to brazenly applaud Maduros latest antics. But thats because it wants a return on its investment, in the least. Related: Oil Rig Count Rises For The First Time In 4 Weeks

Maduro remains the de facto head of state thanks to the backing of the armed forces, in addition to the backing of heavyweights like Russia, China and India who salivate at the prospects of exploiting the nations vast mineral riches.

Guaido, on the other hand, is the legitimate leader of Venezuelas Congress and also enjoys the backing of the United States; however, his support could be weakening as evidenced by dwindling volumes of followers at his rallies.

And certainly, Maduro and his cohorts are already devising a new workaround to thwart Washingtons efforts.

Jay Park, the CEO of oil and gas explorer Recon Africa, is a Latin America expert who helped Mexicos Pemex seal its first-ever joint venture deal. He knows the region better than most, and he is an expert at navigating the oil-political nexus.

In the case of Venezuela, Park told Oilprice.com that its difficult to see Maduro leaving anytime soon.

Hes survived U.S. sanctions and local opposition, and no one seems willing to take the military step to show him the door, Park said. Even if they did, it would take a number of years for Venezuelas oil industry to come back.

By Editorial Dept of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
EUGENE, Ore.-- Officials with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health are investigating a fatal accident that killed a worker Saturday morning at a Beltline construction site.

According to Eugene Springfield Fire, a worker in his early sixties was pinched between an excavator and a barrier near the Delta Highway and Beltline interchange just before 11 a.m. When first responders arrived, the worker had been freed and was transported to Riverbend hospital with "serious" injuries.

The Oregon Department of Transportation said the accident halted work on the project for some time.

According to officials, the worker was an employee of contractor Hamilton Construction. In a statement, the company confirmed the death and told KEZI 9 News, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers. We lost a great employee and friend."

The company said that safety is it's top priority and will cooperate with authorities to investigate the cause of the accident.

RELATED: Construction on Delta/Beltline interchange halted after workplace injury

OSHA said it has 180 days to complete the investigation.

According to the US Bureau of Labor statistics, in 2018 there were nearly 5,000 public workplace deaths with over 1,000 of those being construction related -- accounting for over 20 percent of workplace fatalities

In Oregon, of 62 public workplace fatalities, 11 were in construction.

OSHA specifies four key dangers they coin the "fatal four" in construction; falls, electrocution, being struck by an object, or getting caught in or between something.

According to ODOT, work is being done in the center median of the Beltline highway, closing center lanes in both directions throughout the weekend. Officials said lane closures are still expected to end by 6 a.m. Monday morning.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The murder of Eva Antony, 17, and the subsequent statement by Syro-Malabar Church Synod that Christian girls have been targetted and killed in the name of love jihad have once again brought to focus in Kerala the controversially coined term.

But for the Kerala police, it is really a catch-22 situation as probing a love jihad angle in inter-religious love marriage is not that easy as it looks unless there is a complaint with cogent facts that the woman was forced to convert to another religion for marriage.

State Police Chief Loknath Behera said it was legally possible for the police to probe forceful conversion in an inter-religious marriage only if there is a complaint. Altogether it is a complex issue. The police can register a case only if there is a complaint. We can successfully prosecute a person only if there is concrete evidence proving forceful conversion, he said adding that the police have limitations when handling allegations of forceful conversions in inter-religious marriages.

It was in 2009 that the term love jihad created a furore in the state when the Kerala High Court directed the then State Police Chief Jacob Punnoose to conduct a probe into any organised movement taking place to convert young non-Muslim girls into Islam after allegedly trapping them in love, promising marriage.



The High Court gave the directive while hearing bail applications of two Muslim youths who were accused of allegedly attempting to convert two non-Muslim girls into Islam after a love affair with them. Based on the directive, Jacob Punnoose conducted a probe and submitted before the court that no conclusive evidence had been received about the existence of love jihad movement. He also submitted that no clear material was available to make an unambiguous statement on the truth of allegations of forced conversions.

However, in 2017, a report prepared by the state police came out stating that 23 young women professionals were converted to Islam in Thrissur district while the total number of converts in Palakkad was 139 in the past two years. The report, which presented a case study of a dozen conversion incidents in north Kerala, said the maximum conversions were taking place in Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur.

The report also mentioned about Dawa Squads, an organised wing that helps such conversions. Former State Police Chief TP Senkumar said there have been a couple of incidents in the state which the police can really look into ascertaining how young girls are being lured into love relations for religious conversions. A detailed investigation can be done as there are a few victims who can give concrete statements, he added.
Were on to another new year with many opportunities to create a new path of growth and prosperity for our dear state of Connecticut. The legislative short session begins on Wednesday, Feb. 5 and finishes on Wednesday, May 6. As we head to Hartford, here are some things that are at the forefront of my mind:

The implementation of tolls remains a priority for Gov. Ned Lamont. Since his campaign last year, he has continued to put forward every possible proposal, from promising to toll trucks only, to tolling all vehicles, to tolling only some roads and/or bridges, and now back again to tolling trucks only. There is no question that maintaining our transportation infrastructure is critically important. People need to be able to commute to work safely and in good time. We can all agree on that.

Where opinions differ, however, is in regards to how we should fund our transportation needs. I support the concept of tolls because its a logical way to collect fees on a service people use daily. Many of our surrounding states have road/bridge tolls that we pay to use. Why not have the same opportunities to collect revenue in our state?

Yet just as we teach our children, if someone else does something, that doesnt mean we that should follow suit; it might not be right for every situation.

Here in Connecticut, it is projected that only 40 percent of all tolling fees would be paid by out-of-state residents. We already pay more for road infrastructure repair than residents of any other state in the country  and not by just a little, but by a lot  so wouldnt it make sense to instead find out what is driving our high transportation costs before committing to charging our states hardworking residents more fees?

Furthermore, while tolls revenue would purportedly be used to support infrastructure repair, our state government is notorious for spending our tax dollars elsewhere.

A Special Transportation Fund (STF), built on taxes and fees dedicated exclusively to transportation and road repair, was established in 1983. This revenue is protected by a constitutional amendment passed in 2018, which states that any funds going into the STF must be used for transportation. We refer to it as the transportation lockbox. The problem with this lockbox, however, is that it does not designate what funds must go into it. This is neither transparent nor predictable, leading to millions and millions of dollars designated for the STF being swept into the General Fund to balance our faulty state budget every year.

So, again, though I support efforts to rebuild our state infrastructure, and the concept of tolls in general, I am a no vote right now on any tolling proposal because basic math and common sense tell me that until we are more efficient and transparent with the funding sources already dedicated to the STF, we should not be burdening the residents of Connecticut with another cost of living.

Shoring up Connecticut

Having long advocated for changing the direction of our states fiscal path, I found Dan Haars column in the Jan. 5 Norwalk Hour article titled, Connecticut: The Lost Decade, both compelling and sobering. He states that 2010-2020 was a lost decade by any measure.

Jobs in Connecticut grew by 4 percent in the decade where Massachusetts and the United States gained 15 percent each, he writes. If Connecticut had gained jobs at the same rate as the nation, we would have added another 179,000 jobs; enough to support as many households in New Haven, Hartford, Fairfield and Greenwich combined.

He shares another eye-opening statistic: Massachusetts had a 40 percent jump in median home prices. U.S. stats indicate a 44-percent jump. Yet Connecticut was up just 8 percent, with Fairfield County faring even worse.

We know that we are one of the most heavily taxed states in the country; challenged with a large underfunded pension liability, the richest state union pension and benefits, a governing party addicted to spending; and yet to read about it alongside such statistics is a major wake-up call.

We are also a state with well-educated, compassionate and vibrant residents, rich cultural offerings, reputable schools, a beautiful shoreline, highly valued historic landscapes, and easy access to New York City, Boston and all of New England. There are so many positives about Connecticut.

I join Mr. Haar in calling for a solid dose of an attitude change and embracing of the political middle. It is not that hard to cut spending where the benefits dont merit the expense. Great ideas and suggestions to do better are out there, and you can read more about Mr.Haars in his column. It is reminiscent of the good work of the bi-partisan Fiscal Stability and Economic Growth Commission Report published in March 2018, which gave a realistic assessment of where are as a state and suggestions of what to do to turn it around.

We just need to have the courage to find common ground and move forward for the future viability of Connecticut. I look forward to furthering this work again this session.

In closing, Id love to hear from you. Please come by for one of my coffee and conversations events on Feb.1. I will be at NEAT Coffee between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and Rowayton Market between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Republican Terrie Wood is the state representative in the 141st district of Norwalk and Darien.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday used his first official meeting with Vladimir Putin to warn the Russian leader not to repeat the 2018 chemical attack that almost killed former spy Sergei Skripal. Downing Street said Johnson told the Kremlin chief on the sidelines of a summit on the Libya crisis in Berlin that ties between Moscow and London would not return to normal until Russia ended its "destabilising" activities. Johnson "was clear there had been no change in the UKs position on Salisbury, which was a reckless use of chemical weapons and a brazen attempt to murder innocent people on UK soil," Downing Street said in a statement. "He said that such an attack must not be repeated," Johnson's office said. Russia has repeatedly rejected accusations that officers from its GRU military intelligence agency used a powerful nerve agent to poison Skripal in retribution for his work with British and other Western spy services. Skripal and his daughter both spent days in a coma but survived and have since gone into hiding. The incident further undermined London's already difficult relations with Moscow. Downing Street said Johnson had told Putin "they both had a responsibility to address issues of international security including Libya, Syria, Iraq and Iran". But the British leader also made clear that this dialogue did not mean London's relations with the Kremlin were back on track. "The prime minister said there will be no normalisation of our bilateral relationship until Russia ends the destabilising activity that threatens the UK and our allies and undermines the safety of our citizens and our collective security," his office said. - Russian suspects identified - London and Washington identify the GRU as Russia's main security threat to Western interests abroad. Both also accuse the agency of attempting to hack the world's chemical weapons watchdog in The Hague in 2018 in order to spy on its investigation into the use of nerve agents in Syria. British officials have identified the two Russians suspected of delivering the nerve agent to Salisbury as GRU agents Alexander Mishkin and Anatoly Chepiga. Both men entered Britain using false passports and were captured on CCTV footage walking around the southern English town shortly before Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found slumped on a park bench. Mishkin and Chepiga later told Russian television that they were tourists who went to Salsbury to look at the local cathedral. The open-source investigations website Bellingcat argued last June that a GRU officer coordinated the attack from a London hideout using his phone and a few messaging apps.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Sunday said that State government's decision to move Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is 'illegal' as it does not have his approval.

"Before passing any order concerning the state and the centre, or other states, or moving to the High Court and Supreme Court, requires Chief Minister to submit it before Governor for his assent. If the order has not been submitted to the Governor, as in this case, then it is an illegal order and is in contravention to the law," Khan told reporters here.

"What is important is the Constitution and the law of the land. My only interest is that the Constitution and law must be upheld and business of the government must be transacted in accordance with the law. The transaction of business rules for the state government have been enacted under Article 166 (3) of the Constitution," he added.

After a resolution was passed in the State Assembly seeking withdrawal of the CAA, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan led government has approached the apex court against the Act that grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

The Kerala Governor had earlier said that the Citizenship law has to be implemented as there is no other option and the states have to implement it under Article 254.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Ghaziabad police have recovered the looted Tiago car, believed to be connected with the gang involved in the murder of Gaur City resident Gaurav Chandel. The car was recovered on Sunday morning from a vacant plot in the Misalgarhi area in Ghaziabad, near National Highway 9 (NH 9). The police said they suspect this was the same Tiago that was looted on the night of January 14 in Ghaziabad with the help of Chandels SUV KIASeltos which was recovered from Ghaziabads Akash Nagar the same night.

Misalgarhi, where the Tiago was spotted, is barely 500-600 metres from Akash Nagar, both located near NH 9. It was looted by overpowering 24-year-old Ghaziabad resident Chirag Agarwal on January 14 from near Ghaziabads Mehrauli, also on NH 9. The gang later dropped Agarwal near a hospital close to Misalgarhi and fled with the Tiago.

The Ghaziabad police, which suspects the same gang that killed Chandel is responsible for stealing the Tiago, said the car was found abandoned on the night of January 17, two days before the vehicle was recovered by investigating officers. Officers explained that they deliberately left the car there in an attempt to catch the suspects.

Though the Tiago was found on the night of January 17, we chose to leave it there and deployed officers who kept a 24x7 watch it to see if anyone comes to pick it up. But no one came to pick up the vehicle. It has now been sent for forensic examination, superintendent of police (rural) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun said.

The police had recovered sets of partial fingerprints from Chandels SUV, which was recovered on January 14.

He added that the recovered Tiago bears a Haryana registration number, which belongs to a different SUV carregistered in July 2018 in Gurugram. More details which have surfaced are being investigated as the Tiago bears a Haryana registration number, instead of its original Uttar Pradesh number, the SP added.

Police said the Tiago was identified as the one belonging to Agarwal with the help of a sticker.

We identified the Tiago through a sticker that had originally been pasted on the windscreen. It is the same car which was looted from Agarwal on the night of January 14. We are investigating if the Tiago was used to commit any more crimes before it was abandoned at Misalgarhi. Prima facie, the Haryana number used on the Tiago is a random number and it is suspected that someone picked a random number and made a fake registration plate, Jadaun said.

Police said Chandels KIA Seltos was recovered the same night  January 14  the night Agarwals car was looted. In addition to this, the fact that the two vehicles were recovered from localities Misalgarhi and Akash Nagar, which are barely 500-600 metres apart, had led the police to suspect that Chandels SUV might have been used to loot the Tiago.

Police teams were deployed in plain clothes at a house in Misalgarhi and some suspects were identified who came near the car (Tiago) but did not board it or try to take it away. We were hoping that the gang would have some local members who would return to pick up the Tiago for executing other crimes, however no one came. Parking the looted Tiago near Akash Nagar is somewhat daring and could be the handiwork of a professional gang, a police source said.

The police have come across several night-time footages from CCTV cameras from Akash Nagar but are yet to confirm if Chandels SUV also came to the locality on the night of January 14. Sources said that from some of the CCTV footage from the Misalgarhi area, a person can be seen parking the Tiago and walking away.

There is high probability that both the cars had come to Akash Nagar and were driven by gang members. However, this cannot be confirmed till the persons behind all this are nabbed. The entire sequence of events indicates that the gang is well versed with areas around NH-9 and was able to drive cars easily at night to Akash Nagar and Misalgarhi, said a police source.

The police are also trying to find out if the Tiago was used for executing any other crime and before being left behind at Misalgarhi.

Police from Hapur, Gautam Budh Nagar, Ghaziabad and Aligarh, as well as units of the state Special Task Force are working on the cases and have several gangs on their radar, including the Ashu gang which operates locally. It is suspected that gang members belong to these areas (around NH-9 in Ghaziabad) or have some connection with the city. The main gang which gives way to such carjacking incidents is the Ashu gang which is a dreaded gang and involved in cases of carjacking, loot and murders in the district, a police source said.

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has questioned the need for Indias new citizenship law that fast-tracks citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities from three countries and said people within India are facing many problems because of the law.

Hasinas comments, made in an interview with Gulf News newspaper, mark the first time the Bangladeshi premier has publicly spoken on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) that has created considerable disquiet in Bangladesh. Three Bangladeshi ministers have called off their visits to India after the bill was passed by Parliament.

We dont understand why [the Indian government] did it. It [CAA] was not necessary, Hasina said during the interview in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi.

She said there has been no recorded reverse migration from India. No, there is no reverse migration from India. But within India, people are facing many problems, Hasina said.

There was no immediate response from Indian officials to Hasinas remarks.

The CAA speeds up the process for granting citizenship to members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian minorities who fled Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan because of persecution before December 2014.

Bangladeshi leaders have expressed annoyance at being clubbed with Pakistan in the law. The external affairs ministry has clarified that persecution of minorities occurred in Bangladesh before Hasinas government came to power.

About 10.7% of Bangladeshs population of 161 million is Hindu. Bangladeshi politicians and experts have also expressed concerns that Indian Muslims unable to prove their citizenship could seek shelter in Bangladesh.

Hasina also acknowledged that the CAA and the proposed pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC) were Indias internal matters.

[Still], it is an internal affair, Hasina said. Bangladesh has always maintained that the CAA and NRC are internal matters of India. The government of India, on their part, has also repeatedly maintained that the NRC is an internal exercise of India and Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi had in person assured me of the same during my visit to New Delhi in October 2019.

The implementation of the NRC in Assam and repeated comments by a section of the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders that all illegal migrants would be deported had first hit bilateral relations last year. Hasina raised the issue of NRC during her meetings with PM Modi in New York in September and in New Delhi in October. The problems were exacerbated after the passage of the CAA.

However, Hasina contended the India-Bangladesh relationship is currently at its best, with cooperation in a wide spectrum of areas.

She highlighted concerns with Myanmar, from where 1.2 million Rohingya refugees have arrived in Bangladesh and are currently living in camps in south-eastern Coxs Bazar.

The Rohingya crisis originated in Myanmar and the solution lies with them. But unfortunately, Myanmar is yet to take any meaningful step to address the core concerns of the Rohingya [for their] safe and dignified return. Two repatriation initiatives [so far have] failed as not a single Rohingya wants to go back voluntarily. It revealed that Myanmar did not succeed in creating an environment conducive for repatriation, she said.

Bangladesh cannot indefinitely shoulder the burden of providing for more than a million refugees, she said. If the problem persists, it may seriously affect the security and stability of the region. [This is why the] international community should remain [engaged] with the Rohingya issue until it reaches a sustainable solution, she added.
Just days after Prohibition became law in the United States, officials in Harrisburg were getting ready to clean out the library.

Officials at the State Library and Harrisburg Public Library were concerned because there were many volumes that included recipes to make beer and wine. Even chemistry books were being evaluated.

Such books, according to The Patriot on Jan. 20, 1920, had already been removed from some New England libraries.

One hundred years ago, the United States banned the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol.

It did not go over well. Bootlegging and illegal speakeasies abounded.

The 18th Amendment to the Constitution received final approval on Jan. 16, 1919. It went into effect one year later on Jan. 17, 1920.

Prohibition was rooted in an active temperance movement that was primarily advanced by women who saw alcohol as a destructive force for families and society.

From history.com, In 1906, a new wave of attacks began on the sale of liquor, led by the Anti-Saloon League (established in 1893) and driven by a reaction to urban growth, as well as the rise of evangelical Protestantism and its view of saloon culture as corrupt and ungodly. In addition, many factory owners supported prohibition in their desire to prevent accidents and increase the efficiency of their workers in an era of increased industrial production and extended working hours.

circa 1920: A man destroying barrels of alcohol during prohibition in America. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images)Getty Images

During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson had enacted a temporary prohibition in order to save grain for producing food during the war.

According to history.com, federal and local governments struggled to enforce Prohibition.

While it did reduce alcohol consumption, illegal bootlegging, speakeasies, moonshine and bathtub gin proliferated.

Enforcement agents routinely found and dumped illegal alcohol.

In addition, the Prohibition era encouraged the rise of criminal activity associated with bootlegging. The most notorious example was the Chicago gangster Al Capone, who earned a staggering $60 million annually from bootleg operations and speakeasies. Such illegal operations fueled a corresponding rise in gang violence, including the St. Valentines Day Massacre in Chicago in 1929, in which several men dressed as policemen (and believed to be have associated with Capone) shot and killed a group of men in an enemy gang.

As the country languished during the Great Depression, the legalization of liquor was considered one way to create jobs and revenue.

With the election of President Franklin Roosevelt, Prohibition came to an end.

On March 22, 1933, Roosevelt signed the Cullen-Harrison Act, legalizing beer with an alcohol content of 3.2 percent. On Dec. 5, 1933, the 21st amendment repealed the 18th amendment.

In Harrisburg, the first arrest under the new law was just hours after it went into affect.

The Patriot on Jan. 19, 1920, reported, Peter Andruzko was arrested at the railroad station. He was carrying a satchel containing 18 quarts of bitters, a concoction containing 18 percent alcohol. He also had a gallon jug of what appeared to be apricot wine.

circa 1925: Barrels lined up by the side of a road in an American town where alcohol was found and confiscated during the Prohibition. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Getty Images

Story after story in the newspaper documented raids and confiscation of booze.

In Braddock, Pa., prohibition agents confiscated 47 cases of whisky, valued at more than $10,000, from a funeral home.

In Uniontown, agents were searching Fayette County for thieves who took 78 barrels of whisky from four distilleries.

Weekly raids were being conducted in southern West Virginia  one of the most active moonshining districts in the state.

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Ahmedabad: Congress leader Hardik Patel was arrested on Saturday (January 18) for failing to appear before a trial court here in a sedition case. He was arrested near Viramgam in Ahmedabad and has been sent to judicial custody till January 24.

A court in Ahmedabad had issued a non-bailable warrant against Patel in the sedition case and had asked him to appear before it on January 24. However, he was arrested by the Gujarat Police ahead of the hearing. According to a report, the court issued the non-bailable warrant against Patel after he failed to remain present during a trial of the sedition case. Patel had earlier filed an application seeking exemption from personal appearance in the court on the matter, which was objected by the government lawyer.

DCP Ahmedabad Crime Branch Dipen Bhadran confirmed the arrest of Patel. "We have arrested Hardik Patel from near Viramgam after the court issued a non-bailable warrant against him. We will produce him before the court tomorrow," he said on Saturday.

Patel had been previously arrested in connection with the sedition case filed by the local Crime Branch after violence broke out during a rally by the Patel community in Ahmedabad on August 25, 2015.

Patel had joined the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election.
In the backdrop of the anti-CAA agitation and to improve the law and order situation in the state, Uttar Pradesh has decided to implement the long-pending plan for a police commissioner system in the state, starting with Noida and Lucknow. ADGs Sujit Pandey and Alok Kumar have been named the first police commissioners of Lucknow and Noida.

Sources say that the commissioner system will give local police chiefs a free hand to act swiftly in a law and order situation instead of district police chiefs seeking permission from the district magistrate. Not surprisingly, the move faced with stiff resistance from the IAS lobby. However, the IPS Association, which incidentally the Ministry of Home Affairs says it does not recognize, has been quick to welcome the move as a great opportunity to serve the public.

In the past too, the proposal for the commissionerate system was shelved in the Chief Ministers Secretariat. But this time Yogi Adityanath rode over all opposition from the IAS officers. Apparently, the Chief Minister was convinced by the police set-up in other states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and Karnataka where the police commissioner system is in place.

Under the new system, 40 police stations in Lucknow will be brought under the police commissioner who will have a team of two IGs as joint commissioners, nine SP-rank officials and a woman officer of SP rank along with a woman officer of ASP rank.

Smoke signal for Changing tracks

The government has initiated a major restructuring of the Railway Board, among other reforms. The strength of the Railway Board, the apex decision-making body of Indian Railways, has been cut from eight to five members, including the chairperson. The government has also merged the different cadres into a single Railway Management System. So instead of the current eight services including engineering, traffic, mechanical and electrical, Indian Railways will now have only one cadre  the Indian Railway Service. The modalities will be worked out in consultation with the Department of Personnel and Training in a year.

But the announcement that all eight existing services within the Railways will be merged into one has caused consternation among the babus in Rail Bhavan. Many rail officials have been expressing concerns over seniority and career growth under the proposed reform. It is being said that the government should have announced the merger only after firming up the policy.

Meanwhile, the term of Chairman of the Railway Board V.K. Yadav has been extended, putting to rest rumours.

J&K officers feel a crunch

The Centres decision to lower the quota for local officers from the state services in IAS and IPS in Jammu and Kashmir has expectedly not been received well in the Union territory. Several babus have said that the decision would impede the already retarded career prospects of the Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) and Kashmir Police Service (KPS) officers.

The Centre has lowered the quota for local officers from the existing 50 per cent to 33 per cent following the nullification of Article 370 in the erstwhile state of J&K. After J&K was reorganised as a Union territory, the Centre has decided that it cannot enjoy the special quota provision and must abide by the 67:33 rule applied in the rest of India.

According to sources, the move is not surprising as various central laws have now been extended to J&K since it became a union territory. Since the reorganization, officers selected through the civil service examination will now get AGMUT cadre instead of Jammu & Kashmir.
Kim Kardashian West is no stranger to flaunting her famous curves in her pictures, and looked fierce doing so in her silky tiger print dress.

The global icon and beauty entrepreneur, 39, wowed in a Roberto Cavalli FW/00 dress she modeled for a beach shoot in Mexico.

The beauty queen shared the snaps with her 157million Instagram followers, captioning the images with a simple tiger emoji.

The mum-of-four paired the dress with dark red sunglasses, and topped the look off with gold statement cross earrings.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Only 14,55,805 households, or 72% less, have completed 100 days of guaranteed employment till Jan. 19 against 52,59,912 in FY19.

Chennai: With just two more months to go for the financial year 2019-20 to end, the number of households which have completed 100 days of guaranteed employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme is down by 72 per cent. The number of person days generated too is down by 38 per cent.

As per government data, 14,55,805 households have completed 100 days of guaranteed employment this fiscal till January 19 against 52,59,912 in FY19  a drop of 72 per cent.

MGNREGA is meant to provide guaranteed 100 days of employment to the rural poor. The scheme has provided an average of 41.44 days of employment per household. Even the number of households which have worked this fiscal is down at 4.81 crore against 5.27 crore last year.

MGNREGA has so far generated only 199 crore person days against 267 crore person days in the previous fiscal. Among 12.43 crore active MGNREGA workers, only 6.8 crore individuals have worked so far this fiscal.

However, of the total available funds of Rs 61,452 crore, 85 per cent, or Rs 52, 513 crore, has been spent on the scheme. Last fiscal, the total available funds for the scheme were Rs 69,228 crore and the government had spent 100.56 per cent of the available funds.

Though the average wages per day per person is just a tad higher at Rs 181 this year against Rs 179 last year, the total wages of Rs 37,453 crore paid till now is 20 per cent lower than last years total wages of Rs 47,172 crore.

Despite the governments proposal to upgrade the skills of MGNREGA workers, the material and skilled wages stood at Rs 12,782 crore, 34 per cent down from last years Rs 16,465 crore.

The scheme has completed 56 lakh work against 90 lakh work in FY19--down by 38 per cent. However, the total number of work taken up during this fiscal was 164 lakh. This included both new and spillover works of the previous year.

MGNREGA payouts have been a key factor that has affected the rural economy adversely this year.
At least eight people died and thirty were injured after a fire at a home for people with learning disabilities in a western Czech town early Sunday, rescuers said.

"A total of 38 people were affected by the fire, of them eight unfortunately died," emergency services spokesman Prokop Volenik told AFP.

He said 30 people were taken to hospital -- one in critical condition, three with serious injuries and 26 with light or no injuries.

Czech media said the fire which was now under control was reported at 0349 GMT.

"The fire broke out in the boys' section of a home for the mentally handicapped," said Jitka Gavdunova, the mayor of Vejprty, a small town on the German border some 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of Prague.

Originally, rescuers said the fire had occurred at a nearby home for the elderly.

"It's insane, we're swamped with phone calls from the relatives of the pensioners," said Gavdunova.

Volenik said it was too early to talk about the causes of the blaze.

He added seven ambulance units including two German ones had been deployed. Czech media said rescue helicopters were grounded by bad weather in the mountainous region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In recent days, some states have expressed objections over the National Population Register form having columns on date and place of birth of parents.

New Delhi: In recent days, some states have expressed objections over the National Population Register (NPR) form having columns on date and place of birth of parents. However, speaking to Firstpost, a senior government official said that the controversy is unfounded as the aim is to collect quality data, and that disclosing this information is optional.

The official recalled that during a pilot project of the NPR in Kathua many years ago, an enumerator had come across a family with 32 members, all of whom were of the same age group.

This had created a suspicion and was flagged during a workshop. We realised that it is important to avoid such data. Most people know at least the place of birth of their parents, if not the date of birth. Sharing this information is optional, in case some people cannot remember the place of birth. This quality data can be used by central ministries and states for various welfare schemes, programmes and can save the taxpayers' money, the official said.

During a workshop held on 17 and 18 January, this issue, along with 20 other questions, was discussed at length. During the workshop, officials were told that at least three exercises of updating the NPR were conducted in the past, and only seven more questions have been added to it to improve the quality of data to be collected by census officials.

The official quoted earlier said, "State government officials present at the meeting agreed on most issues. However, some states are merely carrying out political actions."

Another official privy to the meeting said nine states and four Union Territories that have coastal areas had conducted the NPR process in 2011, when the UPA government had planned the National Register of Indian Citizen (NRIC). In March 2012, when Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat, the state government had told the Centre that the verification process of NPR in coastal villages was not foolproof, and had asked for proper vetting before distributing resident identity cards. The state was of the view that a robust methodology for verification of individuals must be carried out. Subsequently, the UPA government had covered 3,331 villages in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat,Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and West Bengal, and the Union Territories of Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and had also started the distribution of smart cards with the help of the Department of Posts. Congress leader P Chidambaram, who is opposing the NPR, had, in fact, pushed for the completion of the NPR and NRIC, when he was the home minister in 2012.

The official said, "There is a lot of misinformation that the NPR process is basically the NRC. It is not. Since the NPR in coastal areas was launched in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the entire process was vetted from a security perspective. In the proposed NPR, many questions are optional. In 2011, we had found that many people in Arunachal Pradesh who were living outside their native villages were not able to name the village they hailed from. Such data cannot be useful."
More than 80 Yemeni soldiers have been killed and scores injured in a missile and drone attack blamed on Houthi rebels in central Yemen, medical and military sources said Sunday.

Saturday's strike follows months of relative calm in the war between the Iran-backed Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.

The Houthis attacked a mosque in a military camp in the central province of Marib -- about 170 kilometres (105 miles) east of the capital Sanaa -- during evening prayers, military sources told AFP.

A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where the casualties were transported, said that 83 soldiers were killed and 148 injured in the strike.

Death tolls in Yemen's grinding conflict are often disputed, but the huge casualty list in Marib represents one of the bloodiest single attacks since the war erupted in 2014 when the rebels seized Sanaa.

Saudi-owned Al-Hadath television broadcast a video that it said showed the gruesome aftermath of the attack.

Body parts can be seen on the floor, among shredded debris, and with blood pooled on the carpet and spattered against the walls.

The drone and missile strike came a day after coalition-backed government forces launched a large-scale operation against the Houthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa.

Fighting in Nihm was ongoing on Sunday, a military source said according to the official Saba news agency.

"Dozens from the (Houthi) militia were killed and injured," the source added.

'De-escalation cannot be sustained'

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the "cowardly and terrorist" attack on the mosque, Saba reported.

"The disgraceful actions of the Houthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," it quoted Hadi as saying.

The president also stressed the importance of increasing military vigilance "to foil hostile and destructive plans and maintain security and stability".

The Houthis did not make any immediate claim of responsibility and the Saba report did not give a death toll.

The uptick in violence comes shortly after United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed a sharp reduction in air strikes and the movement of ground forces.

"We are surely, and I hope this is true and I hope it will remain so, witnessing one of the quietest periods of this conflict," he said in a briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday.

"Experience however tells us that military de-escalation cannot be sustained without political progress between the parties, and this has become the next challenge."

A year after Yemen's warring sides agreed to a UN-brokered truce for the key Red Sea port city of Hodeida and its surroundings, fighting in the province has subsided but the slow implementation of the deal has quashed hopes for an end to the conflict.

The landmark agreement signed in Sweden in December 2018 had been hailed as Yemen's best chance so far to end the fighting that has pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war that has ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the conflict to back the government against the Houthis in March 2015, shortly after the rebels seized control of Sanaa.

A senior UN official warned Thursday that certain key factors that threatened to trigger a famine in Yemen last year were once again looming large, including a plunge in the value of the national currency.

"With a rapidly depreciating rial and disrupted salary payments, we are again seeing some of the key conditions that brought Yemen to the brink of famine a year ago," Ramesh Rajasingham, who coordinates humanitarian aid in Yemen, told the UN Security Council.

"We must not let that happen again," he said.

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New Delhi, Jan 19 : In bad news for some foreign travellers, the Commerce Ministry has proposed restricting purchase of liquor at duty-free shops to one bottle.

In addition, it has also recommended to the Finance Ministry that purchase of cigarette cartons at duty-free shops should be banned.

These recommendations are part of proposals made by the Commerce Ministry for the Union Budget.

As per current practice, inbound international passengers are allowed to buy two litres of alcohol and a carton of cigarette from these shops. There are countries that allow only one litre of liquor to international passengers and the same practice can be adopted in India.

This proposal is significant as the government is looking at ways to curtail import of non-essential goods into the country to rein in the trade deficit. These measures come as part of a large strategy to reduce imports and raise import duties, which, in turn, will benefit the domestic industry and help in employment generation.

Reducing non-essential imports cuts the trade deficit but the projection as a protectionist economy will hurt international optics for foreign investment.

While countries have been opening up controls for the last couple of years there have been tendencies of protectionist trade policies, even in large economies like the United States.

A duty-free shop is where an inbound international passenger can generally purchase goods worth about Rs 50,000 without paying any import duty.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Congress and the DMK have decided to bury the hatchet over seat-sharing for local body polls, after Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy played the role of an emissary on Saturday to iron out differences with the Dravidian ally.

Narayanasamy called on DMK chief MK Stalin at Anna Arivalayam earlier in the day, after which a few TNCC members also went and met Stalin.

Breaking his silence on the week-long tussle between members of both parties, Stalin, in a statement, appealed to the leaders on both sides not to express their views on alliance in the public domain.

Certain forces are waiting to see at least a small rift develop in the DMK-Congress alliance, he said. He, however, pointed out that it was TN Congress Committee chief KS Alagiris open statement on seat sharing that had led to the unwanted verbal duel.

ALSO READ | No difference of opinion between DMK, Congress: KS Alagiri

Speaking to the reporters after his meeting with Stalin, Narayanasamy, apparently an emissary of the Congress high command, denied any trouble in the alliance, and blamed the media for the issue.

Keep Who said there are differences? Ties between Congress and DMK will continue for the 2021 Assembly elections. Even media cannot break our ties. All will be fine if you (the media) keep off, he said.

Alagiri, former TNCC chief KV Thangkabalu, Congress Legislature Party leader in the Assembly KR Ramasamy and a few other leaders held a meeting with Stalin for 30 minutes.

When asked by the media if he had met Stalin as per the directions of his party high command, Alagiri said: My party has not given me any directive. It has given me full freedom and stands by me.
Miss something this week? Don't panic. CBC's Marketplace rounds up the consumer and health news you need.

Want this in your inbox? Get the Marketplace newsletter every Friday.

We go deep inside the anti-vaccination movement

Marketplace producers travelled to Washington, D.C., to speak with members of the anti-vaccination movement. Misinformation spread by the movement has been successful in convincing some people to turn away from vaccinations. But with epidemics breaking out worldwide, vaccine hesitancy is considered one of the biggest health threats of our time. Our hidden cameras show anti-vaxxers sharing strategies for spreading their message on platforms like Facebook, and a confrontation with one of the movement's leaders.

itsmejust/Shutterstock

Experts say there's no need to worry about vaccine safety

There's nothing dangerous about vaccines, despite the anti-vaccination movement's campaign to convince people otherwise. Meggan Larson, a mother of three, learned this the hard way when her unvaccinated children contracted the whooping cough. Now, she's urging other vaccine-hesitant parents to take action.

CBC

Cancer linked to Biocell breast implants no longer 'rare,' data suggests

A cancer in women with textured breast implants is more widespread than previously believed, raising questions for patients and physicians about continuing to describe it as "rare." As of Dec. 20, 2019, Health Canada said it had received 106 reports describing "breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma," including both confirmed and suspected cases. That's double the number of confirmed cases the regulator said it had received before last May.

In 2018, Marketplace went undercover to find out if plastic surgeons were downplaying the risk of breast implants.

Canada faces shortage of heartburn drug Pepcid after Zantac recall

The common heartburn medication Pepcid is in short supply across Canada, and experts say it's a direct result of the recent international recall of Zantac. Zantac was recalled in the U.S. and Canada in October after a potentially cancer-causing chemical was found at low levels in the drug. Barry Power, a spokesperson for the Canadian Pharmacists Association, said he has spoken with pharmacists across the country who have been told Pepcid is on back order until March.

Story continues

Bill Arnold/CBC

What else is going on?

Juul to stop selling most flavoured vaping pods in Canada. Vaping company to halt production of mango, vanilla, fruit and cucumber varieties McDonald's still rejects reusable mugs  but promises change following customer outrage. Fast-food chain anticipates a national pro-reusable-mug policy by the end of February. These fashion design profs are turning your unwanted clothes into bags, scrunchies and narwals. It's a clever way to make something new and reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry. 'I felt like it was on fire': Woman burned by laser hair removal warning others to do their research. A Toronto woman whose face was burned during a laser hair removal session is warning others to do their research before undergoing the procedure in a largely unregulated industry.

The latest in recalls

Inside the anti-vaccination movement

CBC

This week on Marketplace, we go undercover inside the anti-vaccination movement at a rally and VIP event in Washington, D.C. Once there, we speak with anti-vaxxers and confront one of the movement's leaders face to face. We wanted to know why the movement's dangerous message continues to spread and why nearly half of Canadians now say they have some concerns about vaccine safety. With epidemics breaking out worldwide, vaccine hesitancy is considered one of the biggest health threats of our time. Hearing from anti-vaxxers directly about the tactics they use, you can understand how their messaging might be compelling to people who see it on social media. But after sifting through mountains of studies and anti-vaccination arguments to get a deeper sense of the misinformation being distributed, our experts maintain there's nothing harmful about vaccination. You'll want to stay tuned for my confrontation with Del Bigtree, a controversial activist and filmmaker, and one of the key figures in the movement. Tune in to our full investigation and on catch up on past Marketplace episodes on Gem and YouTube.

-Asha Tomlinson and the Marketplace team
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 22:12:36|Editor: ZX

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HELSINKI, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese exhibition area at the MATKA Nordic Travel Fair in Helsinki has attracted nearly 10,000 visitors so far, organizer of the Chinese booth has said.

With growing reputation of China's cultural tourism resources overseas in recent years, China's booth has received a warm response, said Xue Ling, director of the China National Tourism Office in London, adding that "our seats were already crowded with people even before the breakfast meeting on the opening day."

"This year is the first time that we adopt a fully open booth at the MATKA fair, with an area of 60 square meters, an unprecedented scale," said Xue.

The booth decorated with Chinese elements such as red lanterns and the Great Wall, showed unique tropical island scenery of Sanya, a coastal city in southern China's Hainan Province.

Petri Vuori, vice president of Sales and Route Development of Finnish state-owned civil aviation company Finavia, said that they are glad to see more and more tourists between China and Finland visiting each other, and that closer cooperation between bilateral tourism destinations and airlines is expected.

MATKA Nordic Travel Fair in Helsinki, northern Europe's largest travel fair, running on Jan. 16-19, has drawn nearly 1,000 tourism product operators, destinations and companies from over 80 countries and about 67,000 visitors.
NITI Aayog member V K Saraswat has courted controversy with his remarks that shutdown of Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 did not have any significant effect on its economy as people there only use Internet for 'watching dirty films'.

The comments defending the suspension of Internet in J-K drew strong reaction from trade body Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) which demanded his immediate removal for uttering 'this nonsense', while Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Sitaram Yechury also hit out at Saraswat, saying he needs to read the Indian Constitution.

Saraswat made the controversial remarks in Gujarat's Gandhinagar on Saturday after attending the convocation of the Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology.

"What difference does it make if there's no internet there? What do you watch on internet there? What e-tailing is happening there? Besides watching dirty films, you do nothing there," he told reporters on a query about suspension of Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir over five months ago following abrogation of its special status.

"If there is no internet in Kashmir, it does not have any significant effect on the economy," he said.

He also said that internet services were suspended in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent certain elements from 'misusing' information that could affect law and order situation there.

"If Article 370 had to be removed, and if Kashmir had to be taken forward, we knew there were elements there which will misuse this kind of information in a manner that will affect the law and order situation," he said.

Asked about his remarks, Saraswat on Sunday claimed that he was 'quoted out of context' and apologised if it has hurt the feelings of people of Kashmir or anybody else.

"During the conversation somebody talked about Kashmir and I said 'yes internet is required and I respect the feeling of all Kashmiris in this regard that they should be provided internet and agree with the fact that they should have the freedom'.

"But sometimes governments have to take action for maintaining law and order and security to shut down the internet for sometime. Then the conversation was over and we were talking about many other things. And from many other things, they picked up all this nonsense.

"I have been misquoted, I have been quoted wrongly and out of context," he told PTI.

"I have also said that because of being misquoted by the media, if it has hurt the feelings of people of Kashmir or anybody for that matter, I apologise for that," he added.

Condemning Saraswat's remarks made in Gandhinagar, KCCI president Sheikh Ashiq said it is unbecoming of a person entrusted with serious responsibilities to make such statements that 'malign the population of Kashmir'.

Ashiq said the Valley is suffering due to the internet shutdown and the losses to the business sector here have amounted to over Rs 18,000 crore.

"We at the Chamber know that our economy has been deeply affected by the suspension of internet services. Every sector of our economy has suffered a great deal.

"If any person says something like this, it speaks a volume about his mind capacity. He has no right to sit in the NITI Aayog," he said.

"We condemn these remarks. They are spreading venom against the people of Kashmir. Nobody gives him the right to speak like this about the people of Jammu and Kashmir and utter this nonsense against us," he told PTI.

The KCCI recently submitted a detailed report about the business losses in the Kashmir valley to Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu and Union minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal as well as Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh.

Ashiq said the Union Territory is going through a very difficult and challenging phase and people like Saraswat at the NITI Aayog can do no justice to Jammu and Kashmir and demanded his immediate sacking.

Internet services, landline and mobile phones were snapped across Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Centre's announcement to scrap special status of the erstwhile state and its bifurcation into Union Territories on August 5.

While most of the services except mobile internet were restored in Jammu within a week, Kashmir witnessed restoration of landlines and postpaid mobile services and internet facilities to essential services like hospitals in phases.

On Saturday, the Jammu and Kashmir administration ordered the restoration of the prepaid mobile service in the Valley after over five months of suspension besides the 2G mobile data service on postpaid connections for accessing 'whitelisted' sites across the Jammu division.

2G mobile data services on postpaid mobiles for accessing the whitelisted sites were resumed in only two districts -- Kupwara and Bandipora -- in Kashmir.

The development came after the Supreme Court, in a significant ruling on January 10, asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to review within a week all orders imposing curbs in the Union Territory.

'This man is a member of the NITI Aayog. He needs to read the Indian Constitution to update himself, and can start with the Preamble. There are numerous anti-CAA/NRC protests in every town and city across the country, and he will easily come across the Preamble in them,' Yechury said on Twitter on Sunday while tagging Saraswat's remarks.

On recent protests in Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Saraswat said the institution has become a "political battleground" with half of the teachers being 'hardcore Leftists'.

He called for the issues there to be resolved 'democratically'.

Saraswat also said that protests like those against the Citizenship Amendment Act and in the JNU affect the economy.

"The losses are affecting the economy. We are giving people money, but there is no output from them. Government teachers are getting their dues despite the strike. What is the output... all this affects the economy," he said.
Rear Admiral Peter Brown, President Donald Trumps third homeland security and counterterrorism adviser, is being moved out of his role after about six months, said four people familiar with the issue.

Its the latest turnover in an office thats seen its responsibilities narrow.

Brown replaced Doug Fears, who departed in July, after being tapped by then-National Security Adviser John Bolton, who departed the White House in September. Fears returned to the Coast Guard, where Brown had served.

The White House didnt immediately comment.

Brown played a prominent role during the 2019 hurricane season. He was one of Trumps staunchest defenders after the president claimed that Hurricane Dorian might hit Alabama, despite National Weather Service statements to the contrary. Brown released a lengthy statement in September, supporting the president.

Thomas Bossert was Trumps original homeland security adviser, serving from January 2017 to April 2018.

The scope of the White House homeland security advisers job seems to have narrowed, with counterterrorism, cybersecurity and biodefense playing a less prominent role. Its unknown whether there will be a homeland security adviser once Brown leaves, two of the people familiar said.

The people said Brown was moved out of the White Houses West Wing a couple of weeks ago and likely will take on a new role overseeing Puerto Rico recovery from hurricane damage and recent earthquakes.

Written by The Bloomberg News and distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Their relationship has been going from strength to strength since meeting on the set of Stranger Things.

And Natalia Dyer was joined by boyfriend Charlie Heaton as they attended a Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees party at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The on and off-screen couple were celebrating with their co-stars as the hit series was nominated for three SAG awards, including two for ensemble performance.

Red carpet: Natalia Dyer was joined by boyfriend Charlie Heaton as they attended a Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees party at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles on Saturday

Natalia, 25, dazzled in a pale pink applique dress that was embellished with delicate petals.

The actress, who plays Nancy Wheeler on the Netflix show, tied her brunette locks up in a bun.

Making her way down the red carpet, Natalia's porcelain complexion glowed as she flashed a smile for the cameras.

Gentleman: Boyfriend Charlie, 25, looked dapper in a grey suit and a skinny black tie

Elegant: Natalia, 25, dazzled in a pale pink applique dress that was embellished in delicate petals

Dating: The pair later posed for an adorable photo as they enjoyed each other company at the relaxed event.

Boyfriend Charlie, 25, looked dapper in a grey texture suit and a skinny black tie.

The pair later posed together as they enjoyed each other company at the event.

Natalia and Charlie met while filming for the popular sci-fi series in 2016, striking up an immediate rapport.

Look: The actress, who plays Nancy Wheeler on the Netflix show, tied her brunette locks up

Smart: The on and off-screen couple were celebrating with their co-stars as the hit series was nominated for three SAG awards, including two for ensemble performance

On Monday, Charlie shared a rare snap of him cosying up to Natalia to celebrate her 25th birthday.

Taking to Instagram to mark the special day the actor, who plays Jonathan Byers on the hit show, posted a picture of the two of them smiling together.

Stranger Things is now in its third series, which was released in July 2019, and is set to return for a fourth season.

Couple: Natalia and Charlie have been playing Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers on Stranger Things since it dropped its first season on Netflix in 2016

Reunion: The couple joined forces with their with co-star Joe Keery inside the bash

After months of rumors, the couple confirmed their real-life romance by attending the Fashion Awards at London's Royal Albert Hall together in December 2017.

The pair were also spotted enjoying a holiday in Italy, where they were glimpsed lounging on the Amalfi Coast's Fornillo Beach.

Charlie covered last year's spring issue of V Man and chatted to the magazine about the benefits of dating a co-star.

Loved-up: Charlie has shared a rare snap with girlfriend and co-star Natalia to mark her birthday on Monday

Co-stars: The pair met while filming Stranger Things, where they play Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers (pictured in character during season two)

He shared: 'there are times when you do get stressed. So to go home with someone you work with, and say: "I think they hate me..." Theyll say: "No they dont."'

Charlie went on: 'You can break the walls down with your partner.

'Because we work in the same industry and have had similar trajectories, weve gone through it together. Sharing that does bring you closer.'

Fashionistas: The Stranger Things couple confirmed their romance in 2017 (pictured at a Dior shop launch in Paris last September)

Natalia took the same view while talking to Refinery29 last summer, saying: 'Its an interesting thing to work with somebody who you go home with.'

She dished: 'Its always really fun. Were really comfortable with each other, so we can play and feel more free, and we can talk about it before.'

Stranger Things is up for three SAG awards on Sunday night, including Ensemble in a Drama Series, Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series, and David Harbour for Male Actor in a Drama Series.
By Jeff Gammage, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS)

Jiovani Cunanan says there are two key reasons why his 8-year-old daughter, Lucia, is still alive and fighting after being stricken with a deadly blood cancer.

One is the skill of doctors at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, a leader in treating her specific illness, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

The other is his wife, Lizbeth, trained as a nurse in the familys native Philippines, who has devoted herself to their daughters care.

While Jiovani works to support the family, Lizbeth manages Lucias medications, physicians appointments, and delicate nutritional needs. She lives constantly on alert for signs of fever, which for Lucia can be a life-threatening emergency. When a bone-marrow transplant landed her in seven months quarantine, Lizbeth lived in quarantine, too.

The government had recognized the precarious state of Lucias health, granting deferments from deportation that allowed the family to remain in the United States for treatment.

But now the Trump administration says that while Lucia, her father, and her younger brother can stay, her mother must go.

That has thrust the parents into crisis, terrified that Lucias health will crash without her mothers constant attention. But returning as a family to the Philippines, with its limited access to cancer care and low survival rates, could be a death sentence for their daughter.

I am just trying to be strong, said Lizbeth, 43. I told myself, if I will get sick, who will take care of my daughter?

Asked why Lizbeth was denied a deferment, a spokesperson for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the agency does not comment on individual cases.

Philadelphia immigration attorney Ricky Palladino, who represents the family, said he was absolutely shocked that Lizbeth alone was denied. His review found that she has never been arrested or accused of a crime.

He repeatedly asked USCIS for an explanation, he said, hoping for a chance to address any concerns the agency might have. Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey also inquired, he said, but no answers were forthcoming.

It just doesnt make any sense, Palladino said. Our government, which allowed them to come to the United States to save their daughters life, is turning its back on her.

Consistent, quality care has kept Lucia in remission for five years, enabling her to go to school. But her health remains uncertain.

Complications from her 2014 bone-marrow transplant caused numerous hospitalizations, and continue to require attention and treatment, according to CHOP documents and other records shared by the family.

Last month, Lucia was seen three times at CHOP, including for a 104-degree fever that sent her to the emergency room. She undergoes blood and platelet transfusions, and continues to be examined by oncologists, endocrinologists, and dermatologists.

Palladino thinks the mothers denial could stem from the Trump administrations attempt to eliminate the deferral program last summer, wondering if USCIS created a tougher internal standard for relief.

In mid-August, with no public notice, USCIS stopped accepting applications for deferred action, ending a small humanitarian program that the government has run for decades. It allows undocumented families to live and work in this country while fighting serious illnesses including cancer, leukemia, and cystic fibrosis.

Families were told to leave or face deportation  sparking an uproar from medical professionals, elected officials, and advocates. Deporting desperately sick children to nations with mediocre health-care systems, they argued, amounted to signing their death warrants.

The government gets about 1,000 requests a year for deferred action, which grants no immigration status but shields families from removal.

After a months barrage of criticism, USCIS restored the program.

In deferment cases, typically at least one family member crossed into the U.S. without proper authorization. Thats not true for the Cunanans. The family obeyed federal immigration regulations, never entering or staying in America without official permission. They declared up-front that they sought medical treatment for their child.

All I want is to have my daughter live her full life, said Jiovani Cunanan, 45, a nurse by profession who now works as a dialysis technician.

Lucia loves to draw and paint, and to spend time with her 6-year-old brother, John, at the familys Northeast Philadelphia apartment.

When a classroom assignment asked students to name something for which theyre grateful, Lucia wrote she was thankful for God, because he gave me a second chance to survive.

Surgeons had to remove Lucias spleen because it was damaged by cancer, and the loss of that blood-filtering organ increases her risk of infection. All her baby teeth were surgically extracted after the roots were wrecked by chemotherapy. Shell need to take antibiotics for the rest of her life. She also has a lifetime requirement to report to a hospital within an hour of developing a fever.

CHOP pays Lucias medical bills.

The saga began in 2006, when Jiovani was offered a nursing job in the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. Lizbeth followed a year later, both of them drawn by the higher pay and benefits offered in a country thats short of nurses.

They stayed close to family in the Philippines, where Lucia was born in May 2011. After returning to Qatar, the couple realized their baby was sick.

At 9 months old, Lucia was diagnosed with leukemia.

She underwent two cycles of high-dose chemotherapy in Qatar. Doctors said she would soon need a bone-marrow transplant. But that procedure was not available in Qatar, nor for children in the Philippines.

In July 2012, the parents brought Lucia to the U.S. on legal visas, directed by a friend to the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Doctors immediately admitted Lucia to the intensive-care unit for sepsis, a dangerous condition caused by the bodys response to an infection.

When physicians performed a marrow aspiration, taking a sample of the liquid portion of the soft tissue inside Lucias bones, they found no cancer cells. She was in remission.

The family returned to Qatar hoping Lucia was cured.

But the child relapsed in August 2013.

The National Bone Marrow Registry found three matching donors in the United States.

The couple handed off then-4-month-old John to Lucias mother, and came to America on visas in April 2014. At that point, Lucia was dying. CHOP performed the bone-marrow transplant in August.

Lucias recovery was tormenting. She had one tube in her nose, another in her stomach, and a central line in her chest. She was plagued by diarrhea, and vomited 20 times a day.

Still, her mother said, when doctors asked how she was feeling, Lucia would offer a resolute thumbs-up.

After a month in the hospital, she was discharged to quarantine at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden, where the family was staying. Her compromised immune system could not risk exposure to the outside world.

The familys visas, valid for six months, were twice extended, and while still legally in the country, they were granted deferred action.

Their trouble began in February 2019, when USCIS unexpectedly denied a renewal for Lizbeth.

Palladino filed a detailed request for reconsideration in June, noting that Lucias life and well-being continue to critically depend on CHOP, and her mothers presence continues to be critical for Lucias daily care.

In August, USCIS again denied Lizbeth, saying it no longer processed deferments.

Once the agency reversed course and again began accepting applications, Palladino asked for a new assessment.

The answer was the same  a third denial in November.

The family has little legal recourse, because deferment is granted by an executive-branch agency, not by a court.

Theyve asked for help from Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey. A spokesperson said Toomey is working with the familys lawyer and USCIS to try to find a solution for all involved.

And theyve tried not to dwell on their fears for Lucia.

One time she saw Daddy crying, Lizbeth said. She will tell Daddy: Daddy, dont worry. Im OK. Just pray. Thats why we are not giving up on her, because she herself is so positive. Shes giving the strength and courage to us.
The next Democratic debate offers candidates left behind by increasingly difficult Democratic National Committee rules the chance to get back on stage, New York Times' Maggie Astor writes.

Why it matters: The DNC's new rule, which allows candidates to qualify for the Feb. 7 debate by gaining just one pledged delegate from the Iowa caucuses, could land candidates like Andrew Yang back in the mix and, possibly for the first time, Michael Bloomberg.

12 Democratic candidates currently remain in the running, but only half of them made it to the last debate  their final chance to appeal to voters before Iowa caucuses begin.

currently remain in the running, but only half of them made it to the last debate  their final chance to appeal to voters before Iowa caucuses begin. Since Bloomberg isn't fundraising, the DNC-donor threshold kept him off-stage, though he met polling requirements.

Background: The debate will fall four days before the New Hampshire primary and four days after the Iowa caucuses, and so far will feature the same six candidates as last time.

Go deeper: Who's qualified for the Democratic debate in New Hampshire
Neha Kirpal By

London-based Chinese-born writer Jung Chang is best known for her family autobiography Wild Swans that sold over 10 million copies worldwide. As she looks forward to participating in the upcoming Jaipur Literature Festival from January 23 to January 27, she talks about writing about the Soong sisters from Shanghai in her latest book, Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister, and her struggle to be a writer whose books are banned in China, where she is restricted to visit her family for 15 days every year.

Tell us about the Soong sisters and your latest book.



After I wrote Mao: The Unknown Story with my husband Jon Halliday, and then Empress Dowager Cixi, I initially wanted to write about Sun Yat-sen, the Father of Republican China. He was a programme-setter like Mao and Cixi, and was the man most responsible for Chinas transition from Cixi to Mao. But when I was piecing together Suns life, the personalities of his wife (Soong Ching-ling) and her sisters (Ei-ling and May-ling) emerged and captured my imagination. I was moved by their strength, courage, and passionate love, as well as despair, fear and heartbreak. I decided to make them the subjects of my new book instead.

Tell our readers a little about the research process that went behind the book.



In writing about the sistersand along with them Chinas colossi Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek (husband of May-ling)I have been blessed with abundant material. Copious correspondence, writings and memoirs, including many kept in China, have been published or made available. In Taiwan, now a democracy, archives have opened their doors. London, where Sun initiated his own kidnapping that launched his career, offers many insights. Above all, in America, to which the extended family was closely connected, institutions and libraries house numerous collections of documents that are simply treasure troves. A most valuable and fairly recent addition is Chiang Kai-sheks diary, which he wrote every day for 57 years, and which is unusually personal, with many revelations about his marriage with May-ling.In the past decades when I was writing my previous biographies, especially Mao: The Unknown Story, I conducted hundreds of interviews, and many of those remain highly relevant to this book. Indeed some historical figures, now deceased, were close to the Soong sisters and offered unique and invaluable recollections and insights. I was able to use the records of those interviews.

You have said earlier that when you were young, it was the most dangerous profession for one to be a writer. How did you decide to be one? Was there struggle?



I wrote my first poem on my 16th birthday in 1968. It was in the Cultural Revolution when books were burnt across China. I was lying in bed polishing my poem when I heard the door banging. The Red GuardsMaos task force in the Cultural Revolutionhad come to raid our flat. If they saw my poem, my family and I would have been in trouble. I had to rush to the bathroom quickly to tear up the poem and flush it down the toilet. That was the end of my first venture in writing. But the desire to write never left me. In the following years, I was exiled to the edge of the Himalayas and worked as a peasant; then I worked as a steelworker and an electrician. When I would spread manure in the paddy fields and when I was checking electricity supplies on top of the electricity poles, I was always writing in my head with an imaginary pen. In 1976, Mao died, and China began to change. In 1978, I came to Britain. In 1988, my mother visited me in London. For the first time in our lives, she told me the story of her life and that of my grandmother. My mother stayed with me for six months and she talked every day. By the time she left London, she had left me 60 hours of tape recording. Thats how I started writing Wild Swans. Thanks to that book, I became a writer. So, it was my mother who inspired me to write.

You face censore and whose books are banned in her own country. You are also restricted to 15 days every year to visit your family in China. How does that feel since you have grown up there?



I miss my mother. She is 88 and frail. Whenever she falls dangerously ill, I feel extremely anxious and sad that I am not there with her. I live in dread that my privilege to visit my mother for two weeks a year may be revoked someday, and I may never see my mother again. But I realise this is the price I pay for writing honestly.

You have earlier said that history is one of the biggest taboos in China today. According to you, is it still dangerous for writers to write about China?



Yes, it is still dangerous for people in China to write against the Party line. I sympathise with their tremendous sense of frustration.

What are you working on next?



I am translating my new book, Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister, into Chinese, for publication in Taiwan. Unfortunately (or maybe, fortunately!), I have to write my books twice, once in English, and once in Chinese. I love working on the translations. After all, Chinese is my mother tongue. I just feel very sad that all my books are banned in Mainland China.
Reports of arms, troops, and cash flooding into Libya from foreign allies have sparked concerns of further bloodshed.

Berlin, Germany  Several foreign powers signed a landmark agreement to limit external interference in the war in Libya and to push the countrys warring factions towards a peaceful end to the fighting.

Speaking to journalists after a much-anticipated summit in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sundays agreement advances a political process and rules out a military solution to the conflict, which escalated.

We reached an agreement on a comprehensive plan to support a ceasefire in Libya, said Merkel, acknowledging the road to peace in Libya would be long and arduous.

We all agree that we should respect the arms embargo and that the arms embargo should be controlled more strongly than it has been in the past, added the German leader, though she confirmed potential sanctions for violators were not discussed in detail.

Sundays deal marks a new stage in diplomatic attempts towards ending the countrys most recent bout of fighting, which began when renegade military commander Khalifa Haftars eastern-based forces began an assault on the capital, Tripoli, last April, leading to more than nine months of fighting in which more than 2,000 people have been killed, according to the United Nations.

Haftar and his rival, Fayez al-Sarraj, prime minister of Tripolis UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA), attended but were not participants at the Berlin summit  the first to bring all parties and their backers together.

The two men did not meet directly, with Merkel citing differences of great magnitude.

Reports of arms, troops and cash flooding into Libya from foreign allies in recent months have led to concerns over spiralling violence amid Haftars offensive.

That escalation that was taking place and was becoming extremely dangerous  today there was a strong commitment to stop it, said Guterres following almost four hours of talks in Berlin.

Even as world leaders convened in Germany, reports emerged of air raids and shelling in Tripoli, in apparent violation of an uneasy ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia on January 12.

A number of key ports and oilfields in Libya were shut down by forces loyal to Haftar on Sunday and the previous day, obstructing the resource extraction on which Libyas economy is almost totally reliant, in an apparent bid to ratchet up pressure before the summit.





Refraining from interference

Leaders and senior officials from Turkey, Russia, Egypt, France, the UK, Italy, the US were all in attendance at the Berlin gathering. Also present were representatives from the UAE, Algeria, China, Republic of the Congo, the United Nations, European Union and African Union.

We commit to refraining from interference in the armed conflict or in the internal affairs of Libya and urge all international actors to do the same, read a draft declaration of the text to be signed by international leaders.

The 55-point draft communique also called for the disarming of militias, the distribution of oil resources, progress towards the formation of a single government, and free elections. Committees will be established to monitor the ceasefire and the various commitments made at the summit.

A number of European figures, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell further suggested the possibility of deploying peacekeeping troops to Libya if a permanent ceasefire were agreed, though this was not part of the discussions.

We should be ready to participate in any kind of efforts in order not to just complain but to be assertive and be part of the solution, Borrell told reporters.

Tim Eaton, a senior MENA researcher at Chatham House, told Al Jazeera it remained to be seen if Sundays agreement would hold.

According to initial reports of the outcomes, the communique signed in Berlin would appear to be akin to a gentlemans agreement that could be enforced if the will is genuine, or could soon fall apart with allegations of violations and mutual recrimination, said Eaton. It will soon become clear which is true.

He said the US and other actors in the UN Security Council must stand behind the agreement and pressure those who violate it.

This could be a real step forward and is the best that could have been hoped for from this gathering. However, previous experience of a complete lack of willingness to enforce the arms embargo and call out violators means that the readout from Berlin will be received with scepticism, Eaton said.

Libya has been racked by conflict and insecurity since the removal and killing of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 during an uprising supported by NATO forces, with rival factions and militias warring over control of the county and its significant oil wealth.





Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), with its headquarters in Tobruk, currently rules much of the east and south of the country, while the Tripoli-based GNA and its allies administer most of the west.

The conflict has grown into a tangled proxy war, drawing in foreign powers from the region and further afield as they pursue their own security and economic interests. Haftar has received crucial air support from the UAE and allegedly from Russian mercenary forces, as well as the backing of neighbouring Egypt.

Turkey has provided direct military assistance to the GNA, delivering drones and weapons and authorising the deployment of its forces in Libya earlier this month. Ankara has stepped up its engagement in Libya since signing a maritime treaty with al-Sarrajs government in November to grant it exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

Oil blockade

The Berlin conference also stressed international recognition of the Tripoli-based National Oil Company (NOC) as Libyas sole independent and legitimate oil company, as well as calling for an end to interference with oil facilities.

The shutdown by Haftars forces of ports and oilfields will more than halve Libyas crude exports, plummeting from 1.3 million barrels per day to just 500,000, costing it $55m per day, according to the NOC, which has declared force majeure, meaning it cannot honour contracts because of unforeseen events.

At the end of the day, an oil blockade is a self-defeating gambit as all actors, including Haftars forces, require oil income to remain afloat, said Eaton.

The events, as well as reports of the ceasefire being breached, will call into question how sincere the rivals are in setting aside arms and engaging with the UN peace process, which was first proposed by Ghassan Salame, chief of the UNs Libya mission, last July.

Long experience makes us doubt the intentions, seriousness and commitment of the other side, whom everyone knows seeks powers at any price, al-Sarraj told German news agency dpa before the meeting.

Outside the Federal Chancellery in Berlin, where discussions were taking place, pro-Haftar and pro-GNA protesters waved banners denouncing foreign interference in the conflict.

Erdogan is the leader of terrorist groups, read one sign from Haftar supporters, while supporters of the GNA held another featuring Haftars face and the caption: No to the military coup.

Though Haftars forces have become bogged down in the suburbs of Tripoli for months, continued air attacks and front-line fighting since April have seen hundreds of civilians killed and more than 150,000 forced to flee their homes, according to the UN childrens fund UNICEF, which also warned that children were being recruited as soldiers.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse)  Sun, January 19, 2020 09:07 723 48be62e941b44f04afae568c322b5d5e 2 Books Anthony-Bourdain,Book,travel Free

Bourdain's first posthumous book, 'World Travel: An Irreverent Guide,' will be published on Oct. 13.

The late chef and television host was working on "World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" at the time of his death by suicide in June 2018.

Bourdain's longtime assistant and "Appetites" co-author Laurie Woolever finished the travel guide, which compiles "essential advice on how to get there, what to eat, where to stay and, in some cases, what to avoid."

According to the book's description, "World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" will introduce readers to some of the late chef's favorite places such as Buenos Aires, Oman, Borneo, Paris, Shanghai and his hometown of New York.

The hardcover will also feature insight from and essays by Bourdain's relatives, friends and colleagues, including "a guide to Chicago's best cheap eats by legendary music producer Steve Albini."

Read also: Eric Ripert and Jose Andres declare June 25 Bourdain Day

"It's been my honor and pleasure to create a book that includes stories from his loved ones and colleagues. I was lucky to work closely with Tony, and I'm so pleased to be able to share his reflections and insights about the world as he saw it in this guide," Woolever said in a statement announcing the book.

Each chapter of "World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" will be illustrated by "Maakies" and "Sock Monkey" cartoonist Tony Millionaire, who also created the cover in which Bourdain is depicted sitting at a Parisian cafe.

"World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" will arrive more than a year after the book "Anthony Bourdain Remembered," in which CNN compiled tributes and photographs honoring the late chef and host of "Parts Unknown."

That book features contributions by various chefs, journalists, filmmakers, musicians, and writers inspired by Bourdain, including Barack Obama, Eric Ripert, Jill Filipovic, Ken Burns, Questlove and Jose Andres.

"World Travel: An Irreverent Guide" is slated for publication on October 13 via HarperCollins' Ecco imprint, with pre-orders already available.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Gang war in Martissant and at Bicentenaire

On Saturday at Martissant and at the Bicentenaire two rival armed gangs and their allies operating in the neighborhoods of Village de Dieu and Grand-Ravine clashed for several hours with automatic weapons; a situation which sowed panic in the population of which several houses were burned. Testimonies report several dead and wounded and at least 2 burnt corpses. No assessment of the authorities has been issued on these violent armed clashes...



Message from the UN Secretary General

Friday, the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, urged Haitians "to resist any escalation" in the political, economic and social crisis facing their country "Today, insecurity and weak economic growth contribute the escalation of social tensions and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation. I urge Haitians to resolve their differences through dialogue and to resist any escalation that could reverse the achievements of the past decade."



Certification of 125 young professionals

Friday at the Karibe Hotel, the Pan-American Development Foundation (PADF) awarded certificates to 125 young people from the Martissant and Cite-Soleil neighborhoods, having successfully completed training in tiling, masonry, electricity, programming computer and cell phone repair.



Miami Consulate closed

The Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti in Miami informs the general public that the mission will be closed on Monday January 20, 2020 on the occasion of "Martin Luther King Day". The consulate will reopen to the public as usual on Tuesday January 21, 2020 from 8:00 am.



Entrepreneurship training workshop

Thursday, January 16 at the Historical Park of Canne-a-Sucre was held the first day of the training workshop on entrepreneurship for the benefit of nearly 80 participants with an intervention by the businesswoman of Haitian origin Nadine Francillon, from Canada. This training was organized by the Haitian Women in Tourism Initiative with the support of the Lorquet Foundation for a New Haiti, Sco Tour Haiti and the Francoise Canez Auguste Foundation.



French Guiana : November passports ready

The Consulate of Haiti in French Guiana informs applicants that the passports for the month of November 2019 are available at the Consulate. Please bring your receipts and old passports for pickup during office hours: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion curated for you. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Dont understand why: Bangladesh PM on Indias amended citizenship law

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Jack Reacher author Lee Child to pass on writing duties to his author-brother Andrew Grant. Heres what you need to know

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Realme 5i gets December security patch: Here are top 5 tricks you can try in colorOS

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Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) posted a record financial performance in Q3 2019 -- perfect timing for a decade that boosted shares of Southwest up 372%, about double the S&P 500.

Southwest will report Q4 2019 earnings on Jan. 23, along with competitors American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Alaska Air Group. Here's a look at Southwest's 2019 performance and what to expect from this quarter and the years ahead.

Financial strength

Southwest has a history of financial strength and a reputation for a rock-solid balance sheet. Southwest's fundamentals, consistent performance, and low P/E ratio that is about half of the S&P 500 make it a premier value stock.

Despite droves of airline bankruptcies in the early and mid-2000s, including United Airlines and Delta Air Lines,followed by American Airlines in 2011, Southwest has remained profitable for 46 consecutive years.

Regarded as a fun-loving airline dedicated to its people, Southwest is also the only company out of the six major U.S. airlines to have negative net total long-term debt.

As a result of its capital discipline, Southwest also has the lowest Price to Free Cash Flow (FCF) of the six major airlines, with a market capitalization that is just 10.6 times FCF. Free cash flow is a means to fund growth outside of typical operations, such as returning cash to shareholders in the form of a dividend or buying back stock. Although not an elite dividend stock, Southwest yields 1.3% and raised its dividend 200% over the past five years.

MAX pain

Southwest's record quarter was achieved despite the grounding of Boeing (NYSE:BA) 737 MAX planes which have cost Southwest an estimated $435 million as of Sept. 30, 2019.

Boeing, like many airlines, expected the groundings to cease before 2019 year-end, but the planes remain out of service. The delays have forced airlines to prepare for the worst. American Airlines has delayed service of its Boeing 737 MAX fleet until April 7, 2020, Southwest until mid-April, and United until June 4, 2020, costing billions for Boeing and hundreds of millions for these airlines.

Southwest's record quarter despite the MAX delays is impressive when you consider the airline can't fly its 34 MAX planes. Southwest was originally expecting 113 737s by year-end 2020, but that forecast will probably go down the longer the planes stay grounded.

That being said, the company's resilience in the face of adversity speaks volumes to Southwest doing what it can despite an unfortunate situation.

Q3 2019 takeaways

Third-quarter records included $5.6 billion in operating revenues, $659 million in net income, and $1.23 earnings per diluted share.

In terms of Q3 2019 highlights, Revenue per Available Seat Mile (RASM) came in at a record 14.32 cents, a 4.2% increase Year-over-Year (YoY). Also noteworthy was fuel costs that came in low, at $2.07 per gallon.

Fuel costs used to be one of the biggest headwinds for airlines until the rise of U.S. oil supply drove prices down to what's widely considered a less volatile, more playable range. This surge in domestic production was enough to spark even the interest of Warren Buffett, a long-term critic of airlines who began buying stock in four of the majors in 2016 .

Q4 outlook

Southwest doesn't forecast fourth-quarter results to be as good as the third quarter, but RASM is expected to be up as high as 2% YoY.

Southwest noted that removing the MAX from its flight schedule is hurting capacity. Since Southwest is forced to operate with a smaller than expected fleet, there is "less flying in peak periods than planned, or optimal." In sum, Southwest is doing just about everything in its control to improve the situation, but there's no understating the negative effects the MAX groundings are having on its earnings.

Investors should be on the lookout for any adjustments Southwest makes to its Boeing 737 MAX flight schedule based on fourth-quarter results, as well as how the bottom line fared during a quarter that was intended to have the first wave of Southwest's MAX planes in service.

Southwest's ability to break records, keep its debt low, and retain the lowest price to FCF despite its susceptibility to the MAX groundings is a testament to the company's quality, making Southwest a buy despite the current predicament.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 01:56:00|Editor: xuxin

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LONDON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Britain and France on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to the Iran nuclear deal while acknowledging the need to define a long-term framework to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, said a Downing Street spokesperson.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron made the remarks during a meeting on the margins of the Berlin conference on Libya.

"They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and of working with international partners to find a diplomatic way through the current tensions," the spokesperson said.

France, Britain and Germany said Tuesday that they have triggered the dispute mechanism set up in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the hope to preserve the nuclear deal and bring Iran back into full compliance with its commitments.

Iran, however, said its withdrawal from practical commitments under the JCPOA is a reaction to the U.S. exit from the deal in May 2018 and the subsequent sanctions, and also a response to Europe's sluggishness in facilitating Iran's banking transactions and its oil exports.

"Britain, France and Germany, three parties to the Iranian deal, claim that Europe has kept its obligations under JCPOA, however, in reality, they have not imported Iran's oil and have not facilitated Iran's international banking actions," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted Thursday.

Meanwhile on Libya, the spokesperson said Johnson and Macron also discussed the ongoing conflict in the war-torn country.

Johnson stressed the need to bring an end to the fighting and for all parties to support peace talks to determine a way forward for the Libyan people, said the spokesperson.

Gathering envoys from the United States, Russia, Britain, France and China, among others, the Berlin conference on Libya was called after warring sides in Libya -- the UN-backed Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army -- failed to reach a deal in Moscow.
Laura Whitmore has had a great week after discovering the viewership for spin-off show Aftersun had jumped by 1.4million on 2019 last weekend.

The new Love Island host looked delighted as she left the BBC Radio 5 Studios in London on Sunday following her morning show, juggling her filming and radio commitments like a total pro.

The 34-year-old Irish star - who has replaced Caroline Flack amid her assault charge - was casually clad in a black jacket layered over a bright orange top.

Beaming: Laura Whimtmore looked delighted as she left the BBC Radio 5 Studios in London on Sunday following her morning show, juggling her filming and radio commitments like a pro

She dressed down in a pair of cropped, wide-legged trousers teamed with white trainers, accessorising with round sunglasses.

The blonde beauty carried her essentials over one shoulder in a leopard print satchel.

Last week, the media personality shared her delight as she celebrated a 1.4 million increase in viewership figures for Aftersun.

Casual: The 34-year-old Irish star - who has replaced Caroline Flack amid her assault charge - was casually clad in a black jacket layered over a bright orange top

Off-duty style: She dressed down in a pair of cropped, wide-legged trousers teamed with white trainers, accessorising with round sunglasses

On Instagram, a happy Laura uploaded a snap of a WhatsApp conversation which featured the figures from Monday's Aftersun.

It read: 'Nearly 2m for Aftersun - grew from 600K. Mad numbers', alongside the caption: 'Thanks for tuning in. Gobsmacked!'

Despite the increase for Aftersun, the main show got off to a slow start, with 800,000 fewer viewers than the summer version's launch show.

Yay! Last week, the media personality shared her delight as she celebrated a 1.4 million increase in viewership figures for Aftersun

Only 2.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the latest batch of singles entering the South African villa, compared to 3.3 million last June.

Of those who did watch the launch show, 1.2 million were aged between 16 and 34 years old - a whopping 43 per cent of viewers.

On Sunday, the blonde became the face of the first-ever winter series, with viewers enthusing the 'likable' star was the perfect choice to replace Caroline, 40, amid her assault charge.

The praise continued as she hosted the spin-off show Aftersun on Monday, which is filmed in the English capital.
Since the beginning of the year, Gazprom began a sharp decline in gas supplies, primarily due to a three-fold reduction in transit through Ukraine

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The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, discussed with Russian President Vladimir Putin the issue of gas transit through Ukraine. She wrote about this on her Twitter page.



Good to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the margins of the Berlin Conference. We spoke about the Ukraine-EU-Russia trilateral gas agreement via Ukraine, she wrote.



Good to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the margins of the #BerlinConference. We spoke about the Ukraine-EU-Russia trilateral gas agreement via Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/utHj0agJKt  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 19, 2020

Since the beginning of 2020, the Russian company Gazprom has sharply reduced gas supplies in transit through Ukraine. In particular, on December 30, the volume of deliveries through Ukraine amounted to 262.3 million cubic meters per day, and on January 7, transit decreased to 91.2 million cubic meters.

Related: We need to cut gas transportation system: New contract with Russia only temporarily delayed its inevitable demise

And also Ukraine will be able to receive 6,6 billion cubic meters of gas from Poland per year. This was stated by the Executive Director of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine Sergiy Makogon on Facebook.

"Ukraine already has two connections with the Gas Transmission System of Poland: Drozdovichi and Hermanovychy. Recently, we have undergone reconstruction and we are ready to receive up to 6,6 billion cubic meters of gas per year from our side," Makogon wrote.
Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday said that there is no way a state can deny the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) when it is already passed by Parliament, and doing so would be unconstitutional.

If the CAA is passed no state can say I will not implement it. It is not possible and is unconstitutional. You can oppose it, you can pass a resolution in the Assembly and ask the central government to withdraw it. But constitutionally, saying that I wont implement it is going to be problematic and will create more difficulties, said the former Union law minister on the third day of the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), according to PTI.

Kapil Sibals colleague Salman Khurshid also backed him on the issue, saying a law has to be obeyed.

If the Supreme Court doesnt interfere, itll remain on the statute book. If somethings on the statute book, youve got to obey the law, else there are consequences, said Khurshid.

Last Tuesday, Kerala became the first state to challenge the amended act after the state moved the Supreme Court to declare the law violative of the principles of equality, freedom and secularism enshrined in the Constitution.

Watch | No state can deny implementation of CAA: Kapil Sibal

The Kerala Assembly was the also first to pass a resolution against the law that fast-tracks Indian citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. On Friday, the Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution demanding that the contentious law be rolled back.

Sibal explained what states mean when they say they wont implement it and how they wish to do that. ...The NRC is based on the NPR, and the NPR is to be implemented by the local registrar. Now the local registrar has to be appointed at the level of the community in which that enumerations is to take place and those have to be the state level officers. So what is being said is that we would not allow a state level officer to cooperate with the Union of India. That is what is being said, practically if this is possible or not I am not sure. But constitutionally it would be very difficult for the state government to say that I will not follow a law passed by the Parliament, he explained.

Sibal said the ongoing agitation against the CAA in different parts of the country is being led by students, poor, and middle-class people of the country and not any political party. ... It is making an impact because globally and within the country the people are realising that this is not politics, this is real. These are students, ordinary and poor middle-class people coming out. They are not connected to any political party. People in India are showing their angst, their concerns, their worries about the future of India. Everybody wants development, what has Modi done? He has done his own development rather than development of the country, Sibal said.

Sibals party colleague Salman Khurshid suggested that everyone should wait for the Supreme Court to decide on CAA.

Its a matter where state government have a very serious difference of opinion with Centre as far as this law is concerned. So we would wait for final pronouncement made by Supreme Court. Ultimately the SC will decide and till then everything said/done/not done is provisional and tentative, ANI quoted him as saying.

At least 60 petitions have been filed by individuals and political parties in the top court challenging the validity of CAA. They are likely to be heard on January 22.

The Opposition claims the law is unconstitutional because it makes religion a test of citizenship.
Published on 2020/01/19 | Source

Hyundai's luxury brand Genesis unveiled its first SUV on Wednesday. The GV80 is capable of automatic lane-change, and other high-tech functions.

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It is not environmentally friendly, which may limit its appeal in the long run.

The five-seater with rear-wheel-drive comes with a 3.0-liter diesel engine and a four-wheel-drive model seating seven is also available.

Motorists will have to fork out W65.8 million for the basic model, rising to over W80 million depending on options (US$1=W1,158).

The carmaker said a gasoline version will be also released in the future, but no hybrid or electric versions appear to be on the horizon.

Hyundai hopes to expand global awareness of the Genesis brand with the GV80. Launched in 2015, Genesis currently sells cars in the U.S., Canada, Russia, the Middle East and Russia, where fat gas-guzzlers offend few people.
Biden tells black Baptist leaders: Trump is fanning the flames of hate

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Democrat presidential hopeful and former Vice President Joe Biden told hundreds of black church leaders that President Donald Trump is fanning the flames of hatred in the United States.

The 77-year-old, who served as vice president for the nation's first black president Barack Obama, gave a keynote address at the National Baptist Conventions winter meetings in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday.

NBC is the largest predominantly black Christian denomination in the U.S.

While Biden did not mention anything about Trumps impeachment trial, he did accuse Trump of emboldening hate groups in the U.S.

If I have learned anything during a time of Donald Trump being president is this: hate never goes away. It just hides, Biden said. When leaders give it oxygen as Trump has done, it comes roaring back.

Since his election in 2016, Trump has been accused by the political left of emboldening white nationalist and anti-immigrant rhetoric in the U.S.

Biden said that white supremacists used to operate in the shadows. But now, he contends, they feel emboldened to spread their hatred openly.

David Duke [former grand wizard of the Klu Klux Klan] said, Thats why we voted for Donald Trump, Biden said. Because he said he was going to take our country back.

Biden claimed that with Trump as president, the countrys core values, standing in the world and democracy are at risk.

Thats why we have to restore the soul of the nation, Biden said. Thats why I am here with you.

Biden assured, however, that sometimes progress runs fastest when were at our lowest point.

Sometimes its those who fan the flames of hate that end up drawing forth the next great wave of progress, Biden said.

Biden said he believes that were in one of those moments as he hears the voices of intolerance singing the chorus of hate, exclusion, and denial.

From the bottom of my heart, I believe were in one of those moments with president Donald Trump, Biden said.

Biden vowed to work to unite the nation if he were elected president.

With Donald Trumps poisonous and divisive politics, we now have a tremendous opportunity because Americans have been awakened to how bad things are, Biden said.

Trump campaign spokesperson Samantha Cotten slammed Biden in a statement shared with KTVT CBS 11.

Whether its touting extreme policies like destroying the oil and gas industry, which employs millions of hardworking Texans, or his misguided criminal justice agenda, its clear Joe Biden is out-of-touch with Texas, Cotten said. Meanwhile, President Trump is delivering on his promises by passing landmark criminal justice reforms and securing record low unemployment rates that benefit the African American community.

A Real Clear Politics average of national polling shows Biden as the frontrunner in the Democratic primary election as of Friday. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren are second and third, respectively.

Last year, Biden was criticized by former 2020 Democrat hopeful California Sen. Kamala Harris during a televised debate over his own record on racial issues and past relationships with segregationist senators.

Harris accused Biden of opposing desegregation busing in public schools. However, Biden disputed that claim.

What I opposed is busing ordered by the Department of Education, Biden said in return. I have supported the [Equal Rights Amendment] from the beginning.

Im the guy that extended the Voting Rights Act for 25 years, Biden continued. [W]e got to the place where we got 98 out of 98 votes in the United States Senate doing it. Ive also argued very strongly that we, in fact, deal with the notion of denying people access to the ballot box.

This is not the first time Biden has accused a Republican opponent of racism. In 2012, Biden told a group of African American supporters in Danville, Virginia, that presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney would "put you all back in chains."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 21:02:21|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Photo taken on Jan. 18, 2020 shows a bushfire area, about a one-hour drive from Canberra, Australia. At least 28 people have lost their lives and more than 2,000 homes been destroyed across the country in this bushfire season in Australia. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)
(Communique. Issued at the end of one-day meeting of SOUTHERN AND MIDDLE BELT LEADERS FORUM (SMBLF) in Abuja on 13th January,2020)

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF)held a one-day meeting in Abuja on 13th January,2020;48 hours to the 50th anniversary of cessation of hostilities in our 30-month fratricidal war (1967-70).The meeting was presided over by Chief E.k Clark ,Leader of PANDEF and supported by Chief Ayo Adebanjo for the Leader of Afenifere,Chief John Nnia Nwodo,PresidentGeneral of Ohanaeze Ndigbo ;and Dr Pogu Bitrus ,President of Middle Belt Forum.

In attendance were prominent leaders from across the South and Middle Belt.

After exhaustive deliberations on the state of the country 50 years after the civil war ,the following communique was adopted :

ANOTHER CLOUDS OF WAR GATHER OVER NIGERIA

MEETING observed with sadness that Nigeria today is under a worse irresponsibility of power than it was in 1967 when the first civil war occurred with unbridled nepotism,sectionalism and undisguised marginalization of major sections of the country in pursuit of FULANISATION AGENDA; as we have seen an ethnic group dominating the heads of the three arms of government ,the leadership of all security agencies ,finance sector and communications in a manner suggestive of a rehash of the planning stage of the genocide against the Tutsis by the Hutus in Rwanda when all sectors relevant to a war economy were taken over for the purpose;

MEETING was saddened with reports received that Hausa has allegedly become the Lingua Franca in many federal establishments today and non-speakers who complain that they don't understand the language are usually told to go to school ;

MEETING was not comfortable that 50 years after the war the war diplomatic protocols and multilateral agreements on movements of citizens across borders enacted by ACTS OF PARLIAMENT are being overthrown by PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATIONS to obviously facilitate invasion of our country by Fulani herdsmen through visa-less entry to change the DEMOGRAPHIC COMPOSITION of Nigeria with the attendant increased insecurity as the President had openly admitted that most of those flinging illegal AK47s across Nigeria,whom the FG has failed to arrest or disarm ,are ex-fighters in Libya and other African countries ;

MEETING was further disturbed by reports alleging that the National Identity Management Commission was registering these illegal migrants .If this is true,we would want to know if registration by NIMC can make anybody a citizen of Nigeria without having any place of birth in The country or parents who are Nigerians ;

MEETING reviewed the subtle threats that have followed the introduction of a neighborhood security outfit called AMOTEKUN in South West Nigeria with a conclusion that there is an obvious agenda to make non-Fulani groups in Nigeria defenseless and vulnerable to herdsmen and kidnappers so that the Presidency would not have to tutor them on how to live peacefully with their killer-neighbors the way it had to tell Gov.Samuel Ortom of Benue in January,2018.;

MEETING gave kudos to South West Governors for exercising the right to provide SECURITY for their people emphasizing that individuals or states securing themselves is not an issue on the EXCLUSIVE LIST.What is currently on the exclusive list is POLICING which is wrong under Federalism as federating units in this country once had NATIVE AUTHORITY POLICE before as is usual of MULTI-LEVEL POLICING under a federal structure .While we encourage our states to make do with AMOTEKUN types as a temporary measure ,the demand for STATE POLICE must be intensified within the overall RESTRUCTURING of Nigeria;

MEETING also expressed worry as to why the President has kept particular persons as Service Chiefs in the ARMED FORCES since 2015 against traditional practice and in the process truncating the careers of generation of officers in the forces.This strange practice can only kill morale within the forces and leading to decline in efficiency .We ask the President to let the current service Chiefs go and appoint new ones reflecting the FEDERAL CHARACTER of Nigeria.

Finally,meeting warns that no group should because of temporary power advantage be blind to the realities in the country today ,or think that those who at the receiving end are weak or fools ;and plunge the country into another war that can only bring an end to the very idea of Nigeria as we have it ,God forbids!

Again,we ask for the immediate reconstruction of Nigeria along federal lines to guarantee PEACEFUL-COEXISTENCE .

Yinka Odumakin.

South West

Gen,C.R.U Iherike

South East

Senator Bassey Henshaw

Souh South

Dr Isuwa Dogo

Middle Belt
On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trade Ministers from India and Malaysia are likely to meet amid a palm oil spat between the two countries. The row between the countries, nevertheless, pushed benchmark Malaysian palm futures to its worst weekly decline in more than 11 years on Friday.

India is the world's largest importer of palm oil, buying more than 9 million tonnes annually. Hindu majority has repeatedly objected Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad speaking out against its recent policies which critics say discriminates against Muslims. Malaysia being a Muslim majority nation is the second biggest producer and exporter of palm oil. Last week, India imposed restrictions on the refined variety of the commodity which saw retaliation for Mahathir's criticism of New Delhi's actions.

READ: Trump to attend World Economic Forum in Davos amid impeachment

India's trade minister Piyush Goyal denied on Thursday that the government was trying to hit out at Malaysia in particular. As per international media, no agenda for the meeting has been set however it was reported that the request for a meeting had come from India.

Furthermore, it was reported that Malaysia did not want to aggravate the palm spat with India by talking of any retaliation for now, after Mahathir's media adviser called for tighter regulations on Indian expatriates and products. Malaysia instead wants to rely on diplomacy.

READ: Trump's trial begins at the start of an election year

World Economic Forum

Trump, who is already under immense political scrutiny, is likely to be one of the most influential and controversial world leaders to attend the annual event. Other leaders who are expected to attend the event include Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Democratic mega-donor George Soros, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. According to reports, approximately 3,000 leaders from 118 countries are expected at the gathering which is set to take place in Davos from January 21 to January 24.

READ: Donald Trump predicts his impeachment trial in Senate 'should go very quickly'

READ: Donald Trump 'agrees' with Boris Johnson's 'Iran deal' remark

(with inputs from agencies)

(image credits: PTI)
It's traditional for cynics to mark the start of every election campaign by declaring that, if voting changed anything, the powers that be would abolish it.

A little world weariness is understandable, but is probably unwarranted this time.

That prominent figures, including John Halligan, Maureen O'Sullivan and Gerry Adams, are not standing for re-election this time round will naturally open up the race in a number of constituencies. Other politicians such as Mick Wallace and Clare Daly have already departed for the bright lights of Brussels. Whatever happens on February 8, the new Dail is likely to look very different from the one people have got used to seeing over the past years.

On a more general level, the UK election showed how quickly an election can make a difference. In the autumn, there was a moribund House of Commons in which it wasn't possible to get anything passed, as Remainers mounted a rearguard action to stop Britain leaving the EU. Now, parliamentary business is being done much more briskly by a new influx of largely pro-Brexit MPs. Irish people might not like the business that's being done there, but that's another matter. What's important is that it dramatised how quickly things can change.

Expand Close Too slow: Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald took too long to deal with comments by SF councillor Paddy Holohan / Facebook

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Whatsapp Too slow: Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald took too long to deal with comments by SF councillor Paddy Holohan

It's harder to get such a decisive result in Ireland's multi-seat system, but not impossible, as the post-crash 2010 surge by Fine Gael and Labour proved, even if that coalition did end up promising more than it delivered.

The UK election has helped those arguing for a change of government in Ireland, in that it's taken Brexit off the table for the time being.

There was a disagreement earlier last week about how big a talking point Brexit was on the doorsteps. Fianna Fail's Willie O'Dea said nobody had mentioned it to him at all. Others begged to differ.

Anecdotal evidence from canvassers is always mixed, and, by a strange coincidence, always seems to favour the argument each individual candidate wishes to make at the time; but it does seem that FG may be overstating the Brexit effect in this election.

Brexit worked as a bogeyman when it sparked a fear of the unknown, but that's largely gone now as a result of the withdrawal agreement. Most voters have accepted that it's happening, and want to move on to talk about other things.

Nor do they probably see that big a difference between the main parties in their approach to the next stage of negotiations. Those will be done on a Europe-wide basis. The team is already in place, including Commissioner Phil Hogan. It's hard to argue it makes much difference whether a FG or FF Taoiseach is in place as talks grind on.

It could be that the Government is trying to fight the campaign that was planned had Leo Varadkar called an election last year. He was consistent about not dissolving the Dail at a time when everything was up in the air and the country needed stability and continuity, but we're over that hurdle now.

Still FG ministers won't let the whole subject go.

It's a cliche that generals always fight the last war, but in politics that's often true. FG seems determined to avoid the mistakes of the 2016 campaign, when the slogan "Let's Keep The Recovery Going" irritated rather than reassured voters; but in its determination to portray Leo as a safe pair of hands, it does sound awfully as if they're just saying let's keep the recovery going but in different words.

In a way, that's the logical place to fight an election as an incumbent, but it fatally ignores the air of restlessness in the world right now, the desire for change, even if it's not altogether clear what the best type of change might be. It's difficult to campaign as a champion of the new when you're already in office, because it begs the question why you haven't already done the things you're pledging to do.

Again, Boris Johnson did manage to do that in December. He had an easier job, because he was a relatively new prime minister, just in the door for a few months, and Leo already feels like part of the furniture; but he still had to overcome the fact that the Tory party had been in power since 2010. He did it by weaponising the desire to Get Brexit Done. The message felt radical, even though it came from politicians who'd been knocking around for years.

FG needs to do something similar - to feel new, despite coming off the back of nine years in office - but the best it's come up with so far is the insipid slogan: "A future to look forward to." There may be a way of simultaneously offering stability and change, but the Government certainly hasn't found it yet; and if there is a lesson of the first week of the campaign, it's that the change element of the pitch will be most crucial to get right as polling day nears.

FG is still trying to play on fearfulness about squandering the painful gains of the past decade, and that's evident in their own media strategy, which is about keeping everyone rigidly on message.

Even when he appeared on BBC Radio Ulster on the day the election was called, FG's Fergus O'Dowd could be found robotically parroting soundbites about the Government's record on the economy and by catastrophising the risks to stability from SF and FF's spending plans, rather than answering the awkward question he'd actually been asked, which was why SF is unacceptable to his party as a coalition partner in the Republic, when it's perfectly happy for republicans to be in power in Northern Ireland.

There are few votes in Dail constituencies to be won on the airwaves in Northern Ireland, but the existential terror of saying anything that's not on the approved list of banalities is clearly strong in Government candidates.

It's still early, but it just doesn't seem that this is the right election in which to be overly-cautious. The first days of the UK election campaign were markedly lacklustre, despite the huge stakes, but that hasn't been the case in Ireland. Other parties have been fast out of the blocks, confirming that an election was probably overdue to break the constraining rhythm that the confidence and supply agreement brought to the Dail. FG needs to avoid the constant temptation to slip back into a low-energy, steady-as-she-goes campaign.

However much crisis management goes into avoiding the obvious pitfalls, it's the unforeseen hazards that always prove most damaging. That's why those moments when the Taoiseach gets cornered by a protester, such as the young woman who harangued him about landlords, have such cut-through, because they're unscripted, unguarded, and they usually chime with what people at home are saying privately.

You can spend 23 hours and 59 minutes of each day not putting a foot wrong, and the remaining one minute in which you momentarily lose control of the situation will still end up being the one that makes the Six One News.

Other stories, such as the gangland murder of Dublin teenager Keane Mulready-Woods, or the sweeping up of a homeless man in his tent by an industrial vehicle, also take on massive symbolism, and buzzwords about economic stability and managing Brexit won't answer the profounder questions that these dreadful snapshots of real life raise about what sort of society voters want to live in.

What happens at these moments is that the abstract meets the concrete, and FG seems to believe that vague abstractions will carry them through the next three weeks. Leo is particularly prone to the lure of airy waffle.

In fact, people seem eager to pin down candidates in much more detail about policy. SF of all parties appear, for example, to have spotted the unpopularity of the Government's plans to raise the State pension age to 67 from 2021 and 68 from 2028.

On many levels, the plan makes sense. We're all living longer and healthier, and most sixtysomethings would be rightly insulted if they were called old or pushed out of the workplace to make way for the young. The pension age was set for a time when people died much earlier than they do now, and decades of retirement were not the norm. The public finances simply can't cope with that burden.

At the same time, the spectacle of 65-year-olds having to sign on the dole to make ends meet, leaving them thousands of euros short every year, offends most people's sense of fair play, not least because raising the age of qualification will soon mean Ireland has one of the highest retirement ages in the whole world.

That just doesn't pass the smell test, and SF's championing of the issue has garnered some momentum in the campaign, even if it is just one of a never-ending list of spending pledges.

FG is fortunate that SF was not able to make more of the issue this week, distracted as the party was by the fallout from the bizarre comments made by its Tallaght South councillor, former MMA fighter Paddy Holohan. His apparent obsession with Leo Varadkar's Indian heritage, and with "f***ing scum women" allegedly tricking men into sex and then blackmailing them, gave SF's rivals an easy target, and it took Mary Lou McDonald far too long to deal with it.

The Government may not have "a future to look forward to" under Leo Varadkar if it complacently banks on that good luck lasting for the next three weeks of the campaign.
The Green Party are once again showing their commitment to principles are incredibly expendable when it comes to political gain. They are now trying to engineer an election result which would result in a Government which had more votes cast against it, than for it.

Now to appreciate the hypocrisy of this, one has to look at MMP and the major principle or virtue of MMP. It is a proportional voting system where a party gets representation in Parliament in proportion to party votes cast for it. The Greens have strongly supported MMP, and one of the reasons so many supported it was because of the 1978 and 1981 situation when National formed a Government despite having less votes than Labour.

Now the Greens are trying to engineer a deliberate over-hang situation, which would result in a non proportional result. This is their suggestion that Maori roll voters should give their party vote to Greens and electorate vote to Maori Party in order to create an over-hang.

First we need to look at how over-hang happens. It happens when a party wins more electorate seats than its share of the party vote would entitle it to. It is hard to eliminate entirely unless you abolish electorate seats. We currently have an over-hang of one seat as the Maori Party won four electorate seats and their party vote only entitled them to three seats.

It is also possible that this election could see ACT, United Future or Progressive with over-hang if their leaders retain their seats but their party vote is around 0.7% or less.

So we already have over-hang, but it is what I call accidental over-hang. The Maori Party, ACT, United Future and Progressive all want to increase their party vote.

But what the Greens are calling for, is for Maori roll voters to vote in such a way to ensure over-hang, to gain parties of the left more seats in Parliament than their party vote entitles them to. Here is how it works. Let us say the Maori Party wins all seven Maori seats. Now if they get 6% party vote, then the Maori Party will have eight MPs  one list MP and seven electorate MPs.

The Greens are saying, those Maori Party voters should give their party vote to the Greens. Now in an extreme example if those 6% all gave the Greens their party vote, then the Greens would gain an extra eight List MPs, while the Maori Party would still have seven MPs  all overhang seats. That means a Parliament of 127.

And this could change who gets to form the Government. Lets say National gets 51% of the vote and 62 MPs. They should get to be the Government under MMP  this is exactly what MMP is meant to guarantee.

But by this strategy of deliberate vote splitting to ensure over-hang, then Labour, Greens and Maori Party could gain 65 MPs instead of the 58 they would have on the party vote only, and get to form a Government which only a minority of NZers voted for.

So whenever the Greens talk about any sort of principle when it comes to MMP or electoral law, you should remember that they are proposing a plan which is without principle and designed to secure power for the left, even if that goes against what the majority of NZers want.

Now some people could say, hey this is a loophole in MMP, and one should exploit any loophole you can find. The fact is though this loophole is more a design issue (cant really easily fix it), and one which no party up until now has tried to really exploit. For the last 12 years various people have tried to convince National to try and do what the Greens are talking about. How it would be done is National splits into two parties  one contests the party vote and no electorates, and one contests electorates only. They would be seperate parties but co-operate together like the Libs and Nats in Australia. This would result in National getting 30 seat overhangs. Labour would then probably do the same and youd basically have a meltdown of the MMP system (or a 190 seat Parliament!).

So the consequences of what the Greens are trying to do are severe. They are not only trying to frustrate the will of the voters, but they endanger MMP. For let me tell you that if they actually succeeded with their plan, and engineered a deliberate over-hang which changed the election result, the backlash would be nasty and massive. MMP would go, as the main rationale of MMP would have been discredited. Now FPP supporters might like that, but for the Greens as supporters of MMP to act in such a way is unprincipled and shameless.

The Greens, like all parties, are entitled to ask voters on teh Maori roll to vote for them with their party vote. But that should be on the basis of wanting Green party policies implemented and/or to get more Green MPs into Parliament. But they are not doing that. Instead they are arguing on the basis of overhang, that people should vote Green:

The question that Maori voters are asking though is that if the Maori party wins 6 electorate seats (it thinks it can win seven) is it worth also giving a party vote to the Maori Party? Last election each seat in Parliament was worth about 20,000 votes. So the answer is yes, a party vote for the Maori Party can deliver another parliamentary seat but only if there are about another 140,000 votes to go with it and help it climb above the seat overhang the Maori Party is expected to have. In other words, Maori voters who are leaning towards the Maori Party would need to give 7 times as many votes to the Maori Party to get one seat in parliament as they would to the Green Party.

They should abandon such arguments and retain a shred of principle. An MMP election should be decided by which parties get the most party votes. If they want to use overhang to gain power, then they should support the SM electoral system which effectively does precisely that.



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The European Union has urged Turkey to drop plans to drill for oil and gas around Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean, saying such exploration was "illegal".

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed Thursday that Turkey would start exploring for gas in the eastern Mediterranean "as soon as possible" this year, after signing a maritime deal with Libya.

"Concrete steps towards creating an environment conducive to dialogue in good faith are needed," EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said in a statement released Saturday.

"The intention by Turkey to launch further exploration and drilling activities in the wider region goes, regrettably, in the opposite direction."

Ankara has angered neighbouring countries in the Mediterranean with an agreement signed with the Tripoli government in November, which claimed extensive areas of the sea for Turkey.

Greece says the deal fails to respect its maritime rights around the island of Crete.

Turkey has already upset Cyprus by sending ships to search for oil and gas off the divided island.

"The international law of the sea, the principle of good neighbourly relations and the sovereignty and sovereign rights over the maritime zones of all Member States have to be respected," the EU statement said.

Possible sanctions could be discussed as early as Monday when the bloc's foreign ministers meet in Brussels, officials said.

Erdogan, who is in Berlin Sunday for a Libya peace conference, has rejected what he has called "ultimatums" issued by the EU, reminding the bloc that some four million refugees, mostly Syrian, are currently in Turkey which, he has threatened, could start sending them to the EU.

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Meghan, 38, has had to face an increasingly hostile press since she married into the Royal Family last year. (Photo: AFP)

Prince Harry has admitted he and his brother are now "on different paths" and have "good days" and "bad days" in their relationship.

The Duke of Sussex has been plagued by rumours in recent months of a rift between him and Prince William, and in an interview with ITV he acknowledged that "inevitably stuff happens" given their high-profile role and the pressure the family faces.

Speaking during his recent tour of southern Africa with his wife Meghan Markle, he said: "We are brothers. We will always be brothers.

"We are certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him as I know he will always be there for me. "We don't see each other as much as we used to because we are so busy but I love him dearly.

"The majority of the stuff is created out of nothing but as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days." Meghan, who has also been rumoured to have feuded with Kate Middleton, described the past year as "hard" and said her British friends warned her not to marry Harry.

Meghan, 38, has had to face an increasingly hostile press since she married into the Royal Family last year, with the tabloids luxuriating in stories about her fractured American family and the rumours of palace rifts.

The couple launched legal action this month against British tabloid the Mail on Sunday for invasion of privacy. The US-born former actress said she had tried to cope by putting on a "stiff upper lip" but she was not prepared for the intensity of tabloid interest.

Meghan said: "When I first met my now-husband my friends were really happy because I was so happy, but my British friends said to me, 'I'm sure he's great but you shouldn't do it because the British tabloids will destroy your life'."

Asked whether she can cope, Meghan said: "In all honesty I have said for a long time to H -- that is what I call him -- it's not enough to just survive something, that's not the point of life. You have got to thrive."
Guests tried on colorful hijabs and then admired their looks in a mirror inside a Clear Lake-area library Saturday afternoon.

Trying on the traditional headscarf worn by Muslim women offered a way to get acquainted with the culture during the Know Your Muslim Neighbor event. Dina Abdelrahman, who is part of Muslim American Women in Action, described how the group of Clear Lake-area women held its seventh event at Harris County Public Library Freeman branch.

We want to speak for ourselves, instead of somebody else speaking on our behalf, said Abdelrahman, 46. We want people to come and meet Muslims in person and have a real experience, something that is not necessarily painted in any bias.

Visitors could get their hands painted with henna, try on a hijab and learn more deeply about the history of those who follow the Islam religion. Kamal Elmekki, an imam from the Clear Lake Islamic Center, also discussed misconceptions about Muslims and provided context on what it means to follow Islam.

In the United States, there are more than 3 million Muslims, according to the Pew Research Center. Houston also is home to the largest Muslim population in Texas. In 2012, there were over 60,000 Muslims in the city, taking up about 1 percent of the citys population.

But there are misconceptions about those who call themselves Muslim, said Veronica Mohammed, also part of Muslim American Women in Action.

Mohammed, 47, said people usually ask her where shes from and are taken back when she says she was born in America.

Its a misconception that you have to be from a foreign country, said Mohammed.

She said women who practice the faith also come under intense scrutiny. Some people think women are suppressed, but Mohammed, whos a nurse, notes how Muslim women have a variety of careers and want to use their voices to openly.

Were definitely outspoken and very interested in explaining and portraying what our true faith is all about, she said.

Abdelrahman said the political climate also increased the urgency for these type of community events. In 2017, President Donald Trump issued a travel ban to primarily Muslim countries. More recently, Gov. Greg Abbott said Texas wont admit refugees. Mohammed, cited the countrys recent tensions with Iran, as another example.

Every time something happens in the news, were labeled terrorists, said Mohammed. This helps clear up a lot of those feelings of animosity, especially with the negative publicity we get overall in the media. They see, Hey were just like you. 

Camely Myers, who attended the event on Saturday, is learning more about what it means to be Muslim because her 21-year-old daughter recently converted to the faith.

Myers, 55, said her church, Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church, sits next door to the Clear Lake Islamic Center. In 2015, her church held up signs of support promoting religious tolerance as their neighbors from the mosque drove in for Friday afternoon prayer.

We were coming to such a tolerance and understanding, and in the last few years it feels like its being reversed, said Myers.

Despite the negativity, Abdelrahman said shes also had bouts of encouragement. Shes had people stop her in the grocery store and at the mall to give her compliments.

Islam gave me the values that I can live with, said Abdelrahman. It gave me the motivation, the understanding, the world view that can help me move in this world with action towards what I do, towards values that are very crystal clear that I use for myself and try to raise my kids with.
Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 7:55AM

Google wants to help keep our browsers clutter-free. The company is testing out a way to remind you to close old tabs. It has been working since August, but now it's showing up more prominently. The "Suggest to close Tabs" feature is hidden behind a flag in chrome://flags, but some versions of Chrome (like the Canary build) have it enabled by default.

If enabled, the feature will analyze your usage and check which tabs are unused or "stale." It isn't clear how Google determines what constitutes a stale tab beyond general activity or interaction with it. The feature won't automatically close the tab for you. Instead, it will open a window and let you determine which tabs it should close. Google hasn't announced if or when it will release this feature to the general public.

Source: 9to5Google
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday lashed out at the Opposition for misleading people over Citizenship Amended Act (CAA) and triggering unrest in the country.

He drew a metamorphic parallel to the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata saying that the act by opposition parties is like cheer haran (disrobing) the country and asked people not be mute spectators and instead support the law that fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

When cheer haran of Draupadi was done, nobody including Bhishma, Dronacharya spoke against atrocities on her. As they all watched the cheer haran silently, they were termed as equal sinners. Today the similar cheer haran of nation is being done, he said at a pro-CAA rally in Gorakhpur.

The act by opposition is like cheer haran of the nation as the countrys image is being maligned by rioters involved in loot, arson and vandalising public property. The atmosphere is being vitiated by pushing women into protests, Adityanath said referring number of anti-CAA protests staged by women, including the 24-hour protests in Lucknows Clock Tower for last three days and one in Prayagraj Mansoor Ali park for a week now. Both these protests have been inspired by women of Delhis Shaheen Bagh who have been on a sit-in agitation since December 15.

The CM asked the audience to express their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing the law, by sending him postcards.

Tell him (PM) that the law which you have brought is in the interest of country, society and humanity and is in line of policy of India that follows Lord Ramas principle - who so ever comes in your shelter should be saved.

He said that after Ram temple, nullification of Article 370, CAA was the part of PMs promise to address aspirations of the society and country during his second term. In his first term, the PM worked hard to work for poor, ensuring that the benefit of Government schemes reaches to every single individual regardless of religion, caste or sect.

PM Modi gave benefit of schemes to all without any discrimination. So how come the law be termed as against anyone?

The BJP has recently launched a mass outreach programme to drum up support for the CAA.

Last month, anti-CAA protesters had clashed with the police in Meerut and Bijnor and a few other places. Around two dozen people were killed in police firing and the government fined rioters to recover damages to public property.

The Opposition claims that the CAA is unconstitutional because it makes religion a test of citizenship.
Clean Cafes: The North-Easts high hygiene standards

Owners of restaurants and cafes will be no stranger to the importance of an eye for detail to make sure your eatery meets the UKs hygiene standards.

The Food Standards Agency is an organisation that upholding these standards, making regular evaluations of establishments across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They cover a wide range of business types, from hospitals, mobile caterers, schools and universities, as well as farmers and growers. We delved into the restaurant, cafe, and canteen sector in areas across the North East to gain a better understanding of just how clean the region is eating!

FAQs on food hygiene standards

Assessments are in partnership with local authorities  the rating is determined by a food safety officer from the local authority, following an inspection where various aspects are assessed. Some of these include:

- How food safety is managed

- Cleanliness of facilities

- Handling of food

- Preparation of food

- Storage of food

Your hygiene rating will not be dependent on food quality or presentation, customer service or comfort. Instead, it focuses on the standards of the actual food and the process involved prior to it being served to customers.

In regard to the hospitality sector, customer safety is priority. Many high-profile allergy contamination cases have made mainstream news, amplifying the plight to raise awareness of the given standards. Despite an increase in the amount of people who report becoming ill as a result of food, food poisoning cases look to be declining steadily, dropping from 3,070 reported cases in 2017, to 2,192 cases reported by April 2019. Food hygiene standards will influence this figure, and as a result business need to be cautious when it comes to meeting these requirements.

Youre probably familiar with the food hygiene rating stick displayed in eateries. However, having the sticker visible is only mandatory in Wales and Northern Ireland, with a voluntary choice to show it in England. Aspects such as ventilation, lighting and pest control will all contribute to the overall rating of a venue, while training and employee hygiene are also taken into account. Businesses which fall short of a five star-rating are offered advice on how they can improve their rating. So, lets take a look at how the North Easts restaurants, cafes and canteens fared!

Scores on the doors for the North East

Northern cities Durham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Sunderland are great for food. Its no wonder, as all kinds of tasty cuisines up for grabs throughout the bustling city centre of each! The food scene in each city is relatively different though, from trendy container venues in the heart of Newcastle, to beachside cafes perfect for taking in the fresher, saltier air at Roker and Seaburn and Sunday lunch in Seaham, Sunderland to traditional eateries and pubs in Durham with a wealth of history  take a tour through the many pubs. Some of the regions most traditional dishes have stuck around though, from stottie cakes to saveloy dip and pease pudding. In Newcastle, 62% of eateries in our restaurants, cafes, and canteens category boasted a five-star food hygiene rating, with 428 out of 690 venues securing the top score. Venturing south east of the River Tyne and into Sunderland, 71% of restaurants, bars and cafes hold a five-star food hygiene rating. In Durham, more than half of all venues in were commended in their FSA inspection with a five-star status, adding to the glowing report of the regions major cities.

It isnt just cities that have been given high hygiene awards  many towns across the North East have earned them too. The five-star ratings were distributed to 88% of restaurants, cafes and canteens in Darlington, 84% of venues in Hartlepool and 84.6% in Stockton on Tees. Further up into the picturesque region of Northumberland where youll find a charming selection of hotels in Alnwick, the stunning fortress at Bamburgh Castle and unrivalled stretches of idyllic coastline looking out onto the expanse that is the North Sea. Venture south and youll find the borough of Redcar and Cleveland, where the five-star food hygiene rating has been awarded to 80.6% of cafes, canteens, and restaurants.

The North East is certainly home to high hygiene standards when it comes to food, so make sure you explore the different options available!
Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary appealed to domestic and foreign media with a request to take a balanced and responsible position on the coverage of this issue

112 Agency

Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov informed on the complexity of negotiations with Iran on the return of PS 752 black boxes. This was reported by the press service of the department.



"Now there are ongoing consultations of Ukrainian and Iranian experts on this issue. The negotiations are complex and intense. The information hype, manipulations around this topic, the spreading of unverified information significantly complicate the negotiation process and can negatively affect its effectiveness," Danilov said.



He also appealed to domestic and foreign media with a request to take a balanced and responsible position on the issue of returning black boxes of a downed plane to Ukraine.



Related: Iran ready to reconsider cooperation with IAEA in case of "unfair measures of Europe"

Earlier it was reported that Iran has not yet made any decision to transfer the black boxes of PS 752 to another country.

Iranian side said it was ready to hand bodies of deceased Ukrainian citizens over to Ukraine. Ukraine's Interior Ministry informed about that on January 16.

"Today, experts of the Ministry that stay in Tehran received the DNA profiles of the remains of all eleven deceased citizens of Ukraine. Preparations for further passage to Ukraine are underway," says the message.

Their remains are supposed to reach Ukraine by January 19.

On January 8, Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines, flight PS752 with 176 passengers aboard crashed in Tehran, not far from Imam Khomeini airport.

11 citizens of Ukraine died in the crash of Boeing 737 of Ukraine's International Airlines (PS 752 flight). President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the passenger plane crash in the Iranian capital left no survivors.
Women from across Guwahati on Sunday staged a sit-in against the newly-enacted Citizenship Amendment Act and were raising slogans denouncing the law.

The protestor were also raising slogans against the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

They were seen holding placards that read, 'We oppose CAA', 'Assam Never Accept CAA', 'We want jobs, not immigrants'.

"Women from across the city are protesting here. We want to say one thing to the people who gave 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' slogans, that the daughters of Assam reject CAA. We don't want foreigners here. We have already requested the Assam government but nothing has been done," a protestor told ANI.

"We still request the Assam government that if it is still possible to scrab down the act then please do it. It is a threat to Assam and the indigenous identity of the state," she added.

Protests broke out in different parts of the country, including Assam against CAA which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians facing 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.)
NEWTON, Iowa  As a winter storm barreled down on Iowa, Elizabeth Warrens campaign team struggled with whether to scrap a town hall scheduled at the old Maytag headquarters.

There was more than weather at play as the Massachusetts senators campaign monitored the forecast and called expected attendees to gauge their willingness to brave the snow and whipping wind. For the Democratic presidential candidate, the event was probably one of her last chances to make a face-to-face appeal to voters in Iowa before the Feb. 3 caucus. So it went on as planned.

Warren, along with Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, is soon to be marooned in the Senate as a juror in President Trumps impeachment trial. With the trial schedule up in the air, this weekend is probably the final full weekend of campaigning for those candidates before the kick-off caucus.

Thats left their campaigns scrambling to make the most of their time in Iowa and the other early-voting states, and thinking of ways to stay on voters radars during the trial in Washington. Its also given their 2020 rivals outside the Senate an opportunity to take advantage.

Klobuchar trails the top tier of contenders in polling and fundraising and needs a strong showing in Iowa to catapult her campaign into the next round of primaries. She insisted that the demands of the Senate trial wouldnt hurt her candidacy.

Im a mom and I can balance things really well, Klobuchar said during an event Saturday in Coralville.

But privately, the collision of the trial and the caucus has created anxiety among campaign advisers who face the prospect of their bosses being trapped in the Senate as silent jurors just as voters in Iowa are taking a final look at the candidates.

Campaigns are planning for the prospect of the candidates being in Senate session Tuesday through Saturday next week, as well as five or six days the next week. The fourth Democratic senator still in the race is Michael Bennet of Colorado.

Well-funded candidates such as Warren and Sanders are considering putting private planes on hold in Washington so they can quickly fly to Iowa for late-night events after the trial wraps up. Sanders already has scheduled an 8 p.m. rally in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday.

The Senate schedule increased the pressure on the candidates to make the most of what may be their last free weekend. Warren had three events scheduled Saturday with influential interest groups. Klobuchar was headlining three town halls in eastern Iowa. Sanders was campaigning in New Hampshire, the next state on the primary calendar, before heading back to Iowa on Monday.

The Senate trial has added a layer of uncertainty to the political climate in Iowa, where the Democratic race remains exceedingly close. Recent polls show Warren, Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Ind., in a virtual tie, with Klobuchar trailing behind. Biden and Buttigieg will largely have the state to themselves once the impeachment trial begins.

Julie Pace is an Associated Press writer.
For years, China has pushed its narratives and propaganda through media outside of its borders. Since 2017, these Chinese influence campaigns have been accelerated with new tactics, according to a just-released report by the U.S.-based nonprofit Freedom House.

Journalists, news consumers, and advertisers in countries ranging from Sweden to Russia, South Africa, the United States, and Australia are encountering intimidation or censorship of political content that the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] considers undesirable, stated Sarah Cook, Freedom Houses senior research analyst and author of the report, in a press release.

In a phone interview with The Epoch Times, Cook explained that Beijing has three goals behind their influence campaigns: promoting a positive image of China and the CCP; promoting Chinas openness to economic engagement, especially Chinese investment in other countries; and suppressing viewpoints and coverage of topics that is critical of the CCP.

Positive Image

Cook added that Beijing added a new goal in 2017: presenting China as a model for political-economic development for developing countries.

Beijings messaging, while intentionally portraying China in a positive light, omits the objective negative dimensions of Chinas authoritarian political system and rapid economic development, according to the report.

Examples of such omission include egregious human rights violations against ethnic and religious minorities, and the dark side of Chinas foreign engagement, such as corrupt deal-making and the opaque accumulation of public debt, according to the report.

Beijing has been accused of putting developing countries in a debt trap, after these countries join Chinas massive investment initiative of One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road). Rolled out in 2013, it aims to build up trade routes linking China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.

Chinese Tactics

Cook told The Epoch Times that Beijing has resorted to covert, corrupt, and coercive tactics in pushing forward its narrative abroad.

One example that illustrated the covert element of Chinese media influence: Chinese state media often used misleading taglines. For example, the Chinese Communist Partys official mouthpiece Peoples Daily has the tagline of the biggest newspaper in China on its Facebook page.

China Global Television Network (CGTN), the overseas arm of Chinas state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), has the tagline of Chinas preeminent 24-hour news channel on its Facebook page.

Cook explained that people who dont know much about China may not necessarily know that these are CCP mouthpieces.

In Western countries, the regime is spending millions to insert its propaganda into mainstream media outlets, Cook said. China Daily, overseen by the CCPs Publicity Department, the agency in charge of disseminating propaganda, has partnerships with many Western newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post in the United States. These publications have published supplements in print or online written by the English-language state-run newspaper.

Federal filings by China Daily show the outlets annual spending has increased tenfold during the last decade to more than $10 million in the past few years, Cook noted, adding that a lot of that [expenditure] is actually paying mainstream American media to carry that content.

In addition, Chinas state-run media [are] injecting disinformation into global social media platforms, Cook stated. The reported identified disinformation efforts during the most recent presidential election in Taiwan that were traced back to China, including Facebook groups supporting a pro-Beijing candidate that were run by China-based users, as well as efforts on Twitter to undermine pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

China is also active in the digital television broadcasting sector, with investments throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. For instance, Chinese telecom giant ZTE signed a deal with state-owned Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) to expand the latters digital services in 2017.

Searching for the keyword Taiwan on PTVs website reveals no coverage on the most recent Taiwan elections, nor Taiwans local elections in 2018. It did, however, report on Taiwans 2016 election, when Tsai Ing-wen won her first term in office, but that was before the ZTE deal.

Searching Taiwan in Urdu, one of the languages spoken in Pakistan, does reveal stories on Tsais recent re-election victory.

A search of the keyword Xinjiang revealed only seven articles, none of them about Chinas imprisonment of Uyghur Muslims there.

The third tactic, coercion, manifests through the bullying of journalists, such as in Russia and Sweden.

According to the report, the Chinese embassy in Sweden issued at least 52 statements targeting specific journalists and news outlets, criticizing their coverage while peppering them with insults and threats, between January 2018 to February 2019.

The report also pointed to the case of an arson attack against the Hong Kong edition of The Epoch Times printing press on Nov. 22 last year. The attack is widely believed to be an effort by the CCP to silence The Epoch Times, which has reported extensively on the protests in Hong Kong and the CCPs human rights abuses.

These [Chinese] activities really undermine fundamental aspects of democratic governance, transparency, the rule of law, and fair competition, Cook stated.

Cook warned that as a form of censorship, the Chinese regime has also displaced independent media with its state-run media, as evident by a case in Papua New Guinea in 2018.

According to media reports, Chinese officials prevented local and international journalists from covering Chinese leader Xi Jinpings meeting with eight regional leaders in the South Pacific island nation that year. These officials then told the reporters that they should use Xinhuas (state-run news agency) reporting or CCTVs video as the basis for their coverage.

Pushing Back

Cook said countries could do more to push back against the regimes aggressive influence campaign, including imposing penalties on Chinese diplomats and tightening broadcast regulations.

When Chinese diplomats and security agents overstep their bounds and attempt to interfere with media reporting in other countries, the host government should vigorously protest, the report said, recommending that such officials could be expelled or barred re-entering the country.

The United States should also properly enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by requiring more Chinese state-run outlets and overseas Chinese-language media to register, Cook said.

FARA requires organizations and individuals to register with the Department of Justice (DOJ) if they seek to influence U.S. officials or American public opinion on behalf of foreign governments. As part of registration requirements, organizations and individuals must disclose their annual budget and expenditures.

Currently, only CGTN and China Daily are registered, and while state-run news agency Xinhua was ordered to register by the DOJ, it has not yet done so.

Cook said there is also a plethora of privately-owned Chinese-language media in the United States that are clearly pro-Beijing, which require more scrutiny and consideration about whether they should register under FARA.

Media investors and governments should also support independent Chinese-language media outlets, such as through funding and training.

Governments should proactively engage with such outlets, providing interviews and exploring other potential partnerships, while resisting pressure from Chinese diplomats to marginalize them, the report said.

From The Epoch Times
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Kotak Mahindra Bank will release its December quarter earnings on January 20. Most brokerages expect the private sector lender to report a flat margin, but stable asset quality for Q3 FY20.

The estimates of brokerage firm BNP Paribas showed Kotak Mahindra Bank's PAT may rise 26.3 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1,630.6 crore for Q3FY20. However, this number is 5.4 percent down quarter-on-quarter (QoQ).

Pre-provision profit may come to the tune of Rs 2,558.4 crore, up 32 percent YoY and 2 percent QoQ. Net interest income (NII), as per BNP Paribas, may grow 15.6 percent YoY or 1.4 percent QoQ to Rs 3,398 crore.

Motilal Oswal Financial Services in its report said that the bank can report a modest loan growth at 14 percent YoY, while the asset quality may remain stable with GNPA at nearly 2.3 percent.

Margins, as per Motilal Oswal, is likely to remain flat at 4.6 percent and CASA retention will be the key driver for NII and NIMs.

"Kotak Mahindra Bank's net profit may grow 28.2 percent YoY to Rs 1,655.1 crore while operating profit can see a 33.7 percent YoY rise to Rs 2,592.3 crore," Motilal Oswal Financial Services said.

NII of the bank can grow 19 percent YoY to Rs 3,496.8 crore. Gross NPA may come at Rs 5,230 crore, while Net NPA is expected at Rs 1,830 crore, said the brokerage.

In terms of percentage, gross NPA may inch up 2.3 percent in Q3FY20 against 2.1 percent in Q3FY19 while net NPA may soften to 0.8 percent in Q3FY20 against 0.7 percent in Q3FY19, Motilal Oswal said.

Brokerage firm Nirmal Bang Securities expects Kotak Mahindra Bank's PAT to come at Rs 1,617.3 crore for Q3FY20, up 25.3 percent YoY, but down 6.2 percent QoQ. On the other hand, the brokerage expects NIM to be 4.3 percent, up 14 bps YoY but down 7 bps QoQ.

Pre-provision profit may come at Rs 2,576 crore, up 32.9 percent YoY and 2.7 percent QoQ, while NII is expected to the tune of Rs 3,436.1 crore, up 16.9 percent YoY and 2.6 percent QoQ for Q3FY20, the estimates of Nirmal Bang Securities showed.

Emkay Global Securities estimates Kotak Bank's PAT for the said quarter to come at Rs 1,648.6 crore, up 27.7 percent YoY but 4.4 percent down QoQ.

The brokerage's estimates showed a pre-provision profit for the bank is likely to come at Rs 2,587.8 crore, up 33.5 percent YoY and 3.2 percent QoQ. NII is expected at Rs 3,422.5 crore for the quarter, up 16.4 percent YoY and 2.2 percent QoQ.

The above report is compiled from information available on public platforms. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
PM Modi said in a tweet that the news of Shabana Azmi's injury was distressing.

'The news of @AzmiShabana Ji's injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery,' he said. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed his concern at actor Shabana Azmi meeting with an accident and wished her speedy recovery.

Modi said in a tweet that the news of Shabana Azmi's injury was distressing.

"The news of @AzmiShabana Ji's injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery," he said.

"Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has been admitted at Kokilaben Ambani hospital. She is stable and under observation," Dr Santosh Shetty, Executive Director and CEO of the hospital said in statement.

The car in which the actor was travelling on Mumbai-Pune expressway on Saturday met with an accident involving a truck near Khalapur.

She was immediately rushed to MGM Hospital and later shifted to multi-speciality Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai.

According to doctors, she has suffered head injury and there was slight damage to backbone.

Her husband lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was travelling with her, escaped with a minor injury.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 11:47:39|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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Actors perform lion dance during the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations at Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim, the United States, Jan. 17, 2020. Disney's Mickey and Minnie Mouse kicked off the Chinese New Year Season on Friday at Disney's California Adventure Park, looking fabulous in their new traditional Chinese-style costumes designed by leading international fashion designer Guo Pei. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

by Julia Pierrepont III, Gao Shan

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Disney's Mickey and Minnie Mouse kicked off the Chinese New Year Season on Friday at Disney's California Adventure Park, looking fabulous in their new traditional Chinese-style costumes designed by leading international fashion designer Guo Pei.

Unveiled at a packed press reception held at the Disney park, Guo's Chinese-coutured Mickey and Minnie made their highly-anticipated runway debut.

Stepping together into the limelight on stage, Mickey and Minnie were a vision in red and gold silk, the traditional colors of Chinese New Year.

Mickey was tailored in a traditional Chinese-style tunic of fine red silk with exterior pockets, embroidered at the cuffs, hem and front seam with elegant, gold-thread patterns to represent the traditional Chinese element of water, plus gold trousers and red Mickey bubble shoes as the final touches.

Minnie was a vision in red, adorned with a richly decorated red silk cape, fringed with gold tassels, and embroidered front, back and cuffs with traditional Chinese water wave, peony blossoms, and auspicious cloud patterns.

For more than 20 years, Guo has been dressing celebrities, distinguished ladies, royalty and political elites who turned to the Chinese designer for show-stopping creations.

Annie Yu, vice president of costuming for Disney parks and resorts, said at the press conference, "We are so happy to have award-winning couture fashion designer Guo Pei to create Disney's new Lunar New Year costumes for Mickey and Minnie. She is known for her devotion to honoring Chinese traditional art and designs in her beautiful embroidery."

The Chinese New Year, celebrated in most of Asia as the Lunar New Year, falls early this year on Jan. 25. It is based on a 12-year Zodiac cycle of characters, with 2020 the Year of the Rat, which symbolizes wealth, prosperity, and new beginnings.

Disney has repurposed this rodent-centric theme as "The Year of the Mouse," starring their iconic Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Red and gold Chinese-style silhouettes of Mickey and Minnie adorned festive banners, table-settings and merchandize on Friday, but by far the most exciting embrace of Chinese New Year was Mickey and Minnie's new wardrobe.

In a respectful nod to Chinese culture, Disney commissioned elegant new Chinese-style costumes for Mickey and Minnie to wear during the Lunar New Year season, which stretches from Friday until Feb. 9.

"The first step is selecting the right designer who can breathe life, respect and that touch of Disney whimsy into their designs," Gary Maggetti, general manager of Pixar Pier, park banquets and festivals, told Xinhua.

"We brought Chinese elements into Mickey Mouse with Guo Pei's designs and the thought and care that went into it was amazing. Something so beautiful and yet so huggable," he added.

For this challenging effort, Disney chose Guo, a China-born and internationally-prominent fashion designer. No stranger to the limelight, Guo rose to this challenging task with genuine delight.

"I really enjoyed it. It's not a task, it's a pleasure," she told Xinhua in an interview. "I have loved Disney and known these two main characters of Mickey and Minnie all my life. They allow people to keep their childlike innocence."

"When I was a little girl, Disney was like a beautiful dream to me. So now, having a chance to do these designs for Mickey and Minnie is like a dream come true for me," she said.

Guo explained the elements of Chinese and Disney culture that she creatively fused in her designs. Red and gold are the traditional colors of Chinese New Year, so they were good place to start.

"I also used three elements of Chinese culture in the design: one is water, which represents smooth sailing and good fortune; I also added peony to represent elegance, and the third is the traditional 'Auspicious Cloud Pattern' for good luck."

She added, on a more personal note, "I wore Minnie's style of cape when I was a girl. It expresses my childhood memories."

"Children all over the world love Mickey and Minnie, it's an opportunity for me to express and share Chinese culture to the world through my work," Guo added.
By ANI

NAGPUR: Amid the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in several parts of the country, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad Bobde on Saturday said that citizenship was not just about people's rights, but also about their duties towards the society.

"You all have a responsibility to be an active citizen too and citizenship is not just about rights but it is equally about your duties towards society," said Bobde at the 107th convocation of the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU).

Emphasising on the value of justice, he said, "I have always believed that donating justice is a sacred duty. It is a natural right for every person in the country to get justice. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar reiterated this fact not only from the Constitution but also from the 1956 revolution. The imagination of justice varies from person to person, time, and situation. It cannot be tied in any one frame."

"What is justified today may not be justified tomorrow. But it is okay to expect justice and use appropriate tools for it. Along with the imagination of justice, rights and duties are equally important. Some people think that they only have rights and no duties. According to me, along with rights, duty is equally important," he said.

The CJI added that "if we do not follow our duties then there will be an imbalance in the society."

Protests broke out in different parts of the country against and in support of CAA which 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.
Attacks on Citrix servers are intensifying, one of the threat actors behind them is patching them and installing its own backdoor to lock out other attackers.

Security experts are monitoring a spike in the number of attacks against Citrix servers after that researchers announced the availability online of proof-of-concept exploits for the CVE-2019-19781 flaw in Citrix NetScaler ADC and Citrix NetScaler Gateway servers.

Researchers from FireEye noticed that one of the threat actors involved in the attacks is patching the vulnerable Citrix servers, installing their own backdoor, tracked as NOTROBIN, to clean up other malware infections and to lock out any other threat from exploiting the CVE-2019-19781 Citrix flaw.

One particular threat actor thats been deploying a previously-unseen payload for which weve created the code family NOTROBIN. reads a report published by FireEye.

Upon gaining access to a vulnerable NetScaler device, this actor cleans up known malware and deploys NOTROBIN to block subsequent exploitation attempts! But all is not as it seems, as NOTROBIN maintains backdoor access for those who know a secret passphrase . FireEye believes that this actor may be quietly collecting access to NetScaler devices for a subsequent campaign.

The popular expert Kevin Beaumont first reported the scans for vulnerable systems earlier in January, but only last week the exploits were made public.

 In my Citrix ADC honeypot, CVE-2019-19781 is being probed with attackers reading sensitive credential config files remotely using ../ directory traversal (a variant of this issue). So this is in the wild, active exploitation starting up.  https://t.co/pDZ2lplSBj  Kevin Beaumont (@GossiTheDog) January 8, 2020

The issue affects all supported product versions and all supported platforms:

Citrix ADC and Citrix Gateway version 13.0 all supported builds

Citrix ADC and NetScaler Gateway version 12.1 all supported builds

Citrix ADC and NetScaler Gateway version 12.0 all supported builds

Citrix ADC and NetScaler Gateway version 11.1 all supported builds

Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway version 10.5 all supported builds

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.

The NOTROBIN backdoor was designed to prevent subsequent exploitation of the flaw on Citrix servers and also to establish backdoor access, a circumstance that suggests that attackers are preparing future attacks.

Experts pointed out that the threat actor exploits CVE-2019-19781 to execute shell commands, attackers send the malicious payload to the vulnerable newbm . pl CGI script through an HTTP POST request from a Tor exit node.

Below a web server access log entry reporting the exploitation attemp:

127.0.0.2   [12/Jan/2020:21:55:19 -0500] POST

/vpn/../vpns/portal/scripts/newbm.pl HTTP/1.1 304  - curl/7.67.0

The experts have yet to recover the POST body contents and analyze them.

Then attackers execute one -line bash script to remove crypto-miners, create a hidden staging folder (/tmp/ . init ) and download NOTROBIN to it, and install / var / nstmp / . nscache / httpd for persistence via the cron daemon.

NOTROBIN is written in Go, it scans every second for specific files and delete them. If the filename or file content includes a hardcoded key, the files are not deleted.

The mitigation works by deleting staged exploit code found within NetScaler templates before it can be invoked. However, when the actor provides the hardcoded key during subsequent exploitation, NOTROBIN does not remove the payload. This lets the actor regain access to the vulnerable device at a later time, continues the analysis.

The experts from FireEye noticed threat actors deploying NOTROBIN with unique keys, they observed nearly 100 keys from different binaries.

The keys look like MD5 hashes, the use of unique keys makes it difficult for third parties, including competing attackers, to scan for NetScaler devices already infected with NOTROBIN.

 FireEye believes that the actor behind NOTROBIN has been opportunistically compromising NetScaler devices, possibly to prepare for an upcoming campaign. They remove other known malware, potentially to avoid detection by administrators that check into their devices after reading Citrix security bulletin CTX267027. concludes FireEye.NOTROBIN mitigates CVE-2019-19781 on compromised devices but retains a backdoor for an actor with a secret key. While we havent seen the actor return, were skeptical that they will remain a Robin Hood character protecting the internet from the shadows.

Further technical details are reported in the analysis published by FireEye, including Indicators of Compromise (IoCs).

Pierluigi Paganini
In context: The EU is due to publish a paper in February exploring how to better regulate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. But a draft of the upcoming document has shown that another worrisome technology  facial recognition software  is also being scrutinized. The EU is even going so far as to propose a three to five-year ban on the technology to allow rules and regulations time to catch up.

Regulation for some of the worst aspects of the internet age has been notoriously slow to come about. People spent 20 years giving away personal data before governments and regulators started to take the issue seriously. Thats not a mistake that the EU are wanting to repeat, as they are looking to ensure that issues around new and emerging technologies are given adequate consideration.

In a new draft of a European Commission whitepaper on artificial intelligence, mention is made of the inherent risks to privacy and human rights that biometric remote identification (i.e. facial recognition) poses. And one current solution that the EU is exploring is, a time-limited ban on the use of facial recognition by private or public actors in public spaces.

The leaked draft goes on to say that during a three to five-year ban a sound methodology for assessing the impacts of this technology and possible risk management measures could be identified and developed.

The EU already has some of the strictest regulations in the world when it comes to personal data and its use by companies and governments, so the news that similarly strong standards are being looked at for biometric data will no doubt please privacy-minded citizens.

The paper does note that it would be necessary to foresee some exceptions [to the ban], notably for activities in the context of research and development and for security purposes. So precisely how far the temporary ban would go is still unknown.

But given the nature of the technology, any constraints on its use are likely to be worth exploring. After all, one only needs to look at the Chinese governments use of facial recognition and social scoring to see the kind of dystopian implementation thats possible.

Well likely have to wait until the European Commissions paper is formalized in February to find out more.
A police officer pulled over a 23-year-old woman on Texas 6 in Brazoria County in the early-morning hours of Nov. 16.

The Arcola officer, Hector Aaron Ruiz, accused the woman of speeding, driving while intoxicated and evading arrest  allegations that he warned could land her in jail, according to accounts in court records.

She began to cry, but Ruiz reassured her that he wouldnt take her to jail, according to the records.

The woman said she began to drive away, thinking the officer was following her to make sure she got home safely. But then, she says, Ruiz pulled her over again, went to her window and said, I told you to follow me, according to the court records.

The driver recalled following the officer to an isolated, dark location, where he asked, Are you going to convince me? She says he unzipped his pants and she performed oral sex on him before blacking out.

Afterward, the woman recalled driving away. She was not wearing her bra, shoes or shirt, and does not recall whether they had sexual intercourse. Around noon, she went to the Manvel Police Department to report the incident.

The womans allegations were contained in recently filed court documents against Ruiz, of Rosharon, who was arrested and charged last November with second-degree sexual assault and official oppression arising from the womans accusations.

The following month, a second woman accused Ruiz of sexual assault while giving her a ride home the previous August, authorities said. Ruiz was arrested again and two other arrest warrants were also executed for charges of sexual assault and official oppression relating to the alleged assault.

Crimes such as these cause us to collectively grieve  both for the victims who suffered at the hands of a peace officer, and also for the damage it does to our trust in the officers sworn to protect and serve us, Fort Bend District Attorney Brian Middleton said in a written statement.

Police officers were charged with forcible rape more than 450 times between 2005 and 2014, according to a research database compiled by Bowling Green State University in Ohio.

Police officers can target a range of victims, including undocumented immigrants or even victims of domestic violence, said Philip Stinson, a professor in the universitys criminal justice program who led the research.

We used to think in these cases, that victims were stereotypically very attractive young, white females, said Stinson. We have seen in recent years something different, where sometimes these are just like other sexual predators, these are crimes of violence, where theyre looking for vulnerable victims.

Stinson noted that officers will use their badge as a source of power to leverage with sexual assault victims. Requiring officers to wear body cameras and have dash-cams and GPS tracking devices on patrol cars help in supervising police activity, he said.

That shows you the power dynamic in these situations, where victims are put in a horrible position, said Stinson. You can hardly say, that even if she complied that was voluntary and consensual. At the very least, its coerced and its criminal.

Both women describe their encounters with Ruiz as being coerced into having sexual relations. In the August incident, the woman alleges that Ruiz was helping provide Spanish translations to her and her boyfriend after he was arrested for allegedly driving drunk. She told police that Ruiz gave her a ride home, but when they arrived there, he forced her to engage in a sexual act.

Ruiz is currently out on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 24. Those charged with sexual assault can face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Official oppression carries a sentence of up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Ruiz could not be reached for comment and his attorney did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Arcola Police Chief Michael Ellison said Ruiz has been fired. He had been with the department for two years with no signs of previous bad behavior. Ellison described Ruiz as being quiet and having a good work ethic and a clean background check.

I was quite disturbed and quite disappointed, and also upset at the same time to find out all the allegations that were made against him, said Ellison.

Ruiz was one of six officers, including the chief of police, in the small community of over 2,000 residents that sits less than 5 miles from Sienna Plantation, a mammoth master-planned community with some 13,000 residents. Its about 20 minutes down Texas 6 from burgeoning Alvin.

Tom Pekar, 58, who runs an aviation business in Arcola, said he would sometime see Ruiz at the airport in the small town. Pekar described him as quiet and extremely polite.

He probably wouldve been one of the last ones I wouldve expected, said Pekar.

Ellison called the alleged sexual assault in November an isolated incident and vowed to keep the public informed about developments in the case.

We are going to remain transparent so that the community can keep its trust in us, and so the officers that are here can continue to do their jobs at the highest level, said Ellison.

Prosecutors are asking any victims to contact Investigator Dustin Claborn of the Fort Bend County District Attorneys Office at 281-341-4460.

The county intends to vigorously prosecute anyone using a position of trust to abuse those who are most vulnerable and who should be protected, Middleton said. The actions of one person should not tarnish the good work that our dedicated men and women in law enforcement perform every day in our community.

brooke.lewis@chron.com
Police officers rescued a one-month-old baby who 'turned red' and was left choking for dear life on his mother's breast milk.

Parents Elvis and Cristina Marques rushed their son Lucas to Ermelino Matarazzo Hospital after he started to turn red and stopped breathing at their home in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Footage shows three military officers holding the newborn face down in mid-air while one of the team repeatedly smacks his hand on the baby's back.

A month-old baby called Lucas was rescued by a group of police officers after 'turning red' and choking on breast milk in Sao Paulo, Brazil

He methodically hits Lucas's back as other officers get closer to try and detect whether he is breathing.

A staff member reportedly performs mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the unconscious baby.

They then slowly turn the newborn on his side and one of the female staff members plants a kiss on his forehead.

Lucas (pictured) was taken to Ermelino Matarazzo Hospital in Sao Paulo. His mother Cristina Marques realised he was 'struggling to breathe and choking' after bathing him

His arms and legs start moving in a miraculous and speedy recovery.

Within a matter of seconds, he starts wailing.

The clip then shows Cristina lingering by the door and close to tears as she anticipates the return of her baby.

She appears to shield her face and starts sobbing into a blanket.

He is wrapped in a blanket before being carried to his mother who is waiting outside

The dad reportedly told officers that his wife had breastfed their baby and brought up the wind.

As she prepared to bathe him, she realised he was 'struggling to breathe and choking', according to the Mirror.

The clip then shows Cristina lingering by the door and close to tears as she anticipates the return of her baby.

Parents Elvis and Cristina Marques carrying their one-month old son. He started breathing normally and survived his ordeal, according to local media

She appears to shield her face and starts sobbing into a blanket.

The dad reportedly told officers that his wife had breastfed their baby and brought up the wind.

As she prepared to bathe him, she realised he was 'struggling to breathe and choking'.

Brazilian news media Globo reported that he started breathing normally and survived his ordeal.
Bharatiya Janata Partys president in West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh kicked up a political storm on Sunday by claiming that those supporting illegal migrants will be sent back to Bangladesh along with lungi-clad infiltrators. Ghoshs statement came during a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally in Bengal and resulted in immediate condemnation from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and other opposition parties.

Hindus were driven out of Bangladesh in their hundreds and thousands. Why is Mamata Banerjee opposing granting of citizenship to these victims of religious persecution? On the other hand, the infiltrators are eating away our share of government benefits and the TMC and the Left are facilitating them to do this, Ghosh said after leading a rally from Madhyamgram town to Barasat town, a distance of about five kilometres.

We wont let the one crore infiltrators in Bengal live here. They didnt let us (Hindus) live on the other side of Bengal (Bangladesh) and they have no right to live in this part. And concerning those standing by these infiltrators, we will send back the interest along with the principal, said Ghosh, who was recently re-elected as the BJPs state unit chief.

ALSO WATCH | BJPs Dilip Ghosh reacts to criticism over shot like dogs remark | CAA

Senior TMC leaders shot back at him.

Dilip Ghosh is our goddess Laxmi. The more he speaks the better for us, said TMC secretary-general and state education minister Partha Chatterjee.

This loudmouth has nothing else to offer other than big talk and hate speeches. He should be ashamed of himself, said Tapas Roy, state junior minister for parliamentary affairs.

Ghosh later led another pro-CAA rally, in the same district, in Naihati town. In the morning, TMC took out a rally opposing CAA and NRC in Jalpaiguri district of north Bengal.

Meanwhile, in a unique demonstration, a youth swam 12-km downstream in the River Hooghly to protest Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech supporting CAA from the Belur Math compound on January 12, Swami Vivekanandas birth anniversary.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) minister Arup Roy came to the riverside to encourage the protester, Mukesh Gupta, a resident of Howrah district.

The prime minister insulted an auspicious place like Belur by using it for petty politics. So, in protest, I swam in the Hooghly from Belur, Gupta said.
At first, no one in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil would drink the bitter coffee at Syrian refugee Abdussamad Abdulqadir's cafe. But now it's a hit, part of a growing cultural exchange. Since conflict broke out in Syria in 2011, many ethnic Kurds living in the country's northeast fled across the border to Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Despite their similar ethnic origins, the two communities speak distinct dialects and have different cultural habits, but in recent years they have traded customs. When Abdulqadir fled his northeast Syrian hometown of Qamishli six years ago, he settled in Arbil and opened a cafe in its bustling market. During his opening week, he sent free cups of coffee to neighbouring shopkeepers to win new customers, but they complained it was undrinkably bitter. "Business was bad," the 45-year-old told AFP, saying Iraqi Kurds typically prefer instant coffee or tea so sugary it resembles syrup. With persistence and charm, Abdulqadir first converted his neighbours to drinking coffee with sugar -- then, eventually, to the original bitter drink. He now has so much business that he opened a second quaint cafe in the market. "Now I sell between 200 and 300 cups of coffee every day and 90 percent of my customers are Iraqi Kurds who drink the coffee without sugar," he said proudly. - More vibrant - The changes go beyond caffeine, with restaurants adopting Syrian food, architects fusing Iraqi and Syrian styles and even musical and linguistic exchanges. Jumana Turki, who has lived with her Syrian Kurdish husband in Arbil since 2014, said it used to surprise her how few women she would see in public in Arbil after dark. But now women -- Syrian and Iraqi Kurds -- are shopping and even working in markets and shopping malls until late. "This was the impact of Syrian refugees because in Syria, it was normal for women to work in markets and be out at night," said Turki, who holds a master degree in sociology. Around the world, communities faced with an influx of newcomers often react with xenophobia, because of an instinctive fear that change would mar the host culture. Kurds in northern Iraq have carved out an autonomous enclave where they speak the Sorani Kurdish dialect, have their own television channels and government bodies. They, too, initially rejected Syrian Kurdish customs, but the slow integration in recent years "has deconstructed that historical rejection," said Hawzhen Ahmed, an Arbil-based academic who holds a doctorate in cultural studies. Around 300,000 Syrian refugees -- most of them Kurds -- now live in Iraqi Kurdistan, with the threat of a Turkish offensive last year pushing thousands into displacement camps in the north. "Syrian refugees have proved the historical argument that host cultures become more vibrant and enjoyable when mixed with different traditions and norms," Ahmed told AFP. - 'Strong empathy' - Integration is a two-way street, said Hussein Dewani, a Syrian musician and schoolteacher in Arbil since 2012. "Iraqi Kurds helped us revive our Kurdish language since they speak a more pure Kurdish than Syrian Kurds, whose dialect was banned in Syria," Dewani said. Syria's government had long prohibited Kurds from speaking their language or celebrating their festivals and had even refused Syrian nationality for the community, worried they would threaten the state with calls for independence. But in Iraqi Kurdistan, radio channels, government statements and street signs are mostly in Kurdish. Dewani said he has picked up the Sorani dialect of the region but also taught his colleagues some of the Kurmanji dialect used in Syria. "When I arrived, I heard some Kurdish words which I used to hear from my grandmother and they were all lost generation after generation," he recalled. Dewani, also from Qamishli, has decorated his Arbil apartment with musical instruments including guitars and the daf, a frame drum. He learned to play the daf in his new hometown, which he said hosts some of the best drum musicians and instructors. The 33-year-old said the well-developed Iraqi Kurdish music culture had also seeped into Syrian Kurdish music, and that Syrian Kurds were now wearing more traditional attire that resembled their counterparts in Arbil. Empathy and shared norms have blossomed in recent years, said Rodi Hassan, a Syrian physician working in Iraqi Kurdistan. Hassan arrived in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2008, three years before Syria's uprising began, to study medicine. "When I arrived, we had very little information about each other, and it was all stereotypes," he told AFP. "But now it is completely different. There is a strong empathy, friendship and intermarriage between us," he said. str/sbh/mjg/dr Iraqi Kurds are getting a taste for bitter coffee thanks to the influence of Syrian refugees With persistence and charm, refugee and cafe owner Abdussamad Abdulqadir gradually converted his neighbours to drinking bitter, Syrian-style coffee An Iraqi Kurdish woman prepares Syrian coffee in a shop in Arbil's central bazar This Syrian Kurdish man sells sweets at a shop in Arbil
In 2019 investors backed some of the major online healthcare and pharmacy retailers, with PharmEasy leading the deal list. The firm raised funds through the year to bring in around $220 million and the round is yet to be concluded, according to Venture Intelligence data.

1MG, HealthKart and subscription-based medicine delivery start-up Digi-Prex also raised funds during the year.

The online pharmacy segment saw private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) investments double in 2019 to an all-time high of $321 million. While the amount last year was invested in four deals, the year before that witnessed investments of $140 million in 10 deals.

Industry experts are expecting more activity in the segment, especially if draft rules for the sector are notified this year.

According to the data from research firm Venture Intelligence, the highest number of deals took place in 2018.

By the end of 2018, various lawsuits were filed, alleging that the existing regulations do not allow selling medicines online, pushing the segment into uncertainty.

However, in 2019 investors backed some of the major online healthcare and pharmacy retailers, with PharmEasy leading the deal list. The firm raised funds through the year to bring in around $220 million and the round is yet to be concluded, according to Venture Intelligence data.

1MG, HealthKart and subscription-based medicine delivery start-up Digi-Prex also raised funds during the year.

There is a lot of interest from potential investors for this space. Being a category with very good frequency, it has a lot of potential to capture and create offerings for the entire patient lifecycle. We saw all the four online pharmacies raising funds and each contributed in growing the entire sector, said Dharmil Sheth, co-founder of PharmEasy.

According to a Frost & Sullivan study, published in January last year, the e-pharmacy market in India was estimated at $512 million in 2018 and expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 63 per cent to reach $3,657 million by 2022.

Indian OPD healthcare is a $50-billion industry, with inefficient channels for patients and other stakeholders, making online pharmaceutical space interesting for investors.

Also, factors such as large market size, gross margins, and current inefficiencies in the ecosystem offer a huge opportunity for the digital platform to disrupt the existing infrastructure and offer a seamless ecosystem, said Sheth.

Industry experts said the sector is expected to continue seeing investments as the digital ecosystem is growing in the country. More start-ups should come into the sector as it needs more innovations and fill in the gaps in the existing healthcare system.

Apollo Hospitals Group, after hiving off its front end of pharmacy business to another entity, is also looking at this space. The management, in an earnings call with investors for the quarter ended September 2019, has said the company is working on the segment along with a consultant, though it is going slow. Sources said it may take a decision on entering the segment this year.
Telkom has been forced to cut jobs because of weak economic conditions, a decline in fixed-line voice revenue, and the migration from fixed to mobile data products.

This is according to Mooketsi Mocumi, the executive for Group Communication at Telkom who was speaking to the SABC.

Telkom recently announced plans to cut as many as 3,000 jobs across the company and has served unions with letters regarding the Section 189 process.

Telkom will continue to consult with the unions, and it is our hope that through considered engagement with the unions, we will come to a mutually beneficial solution, the company said.

This announcement did not sit well with unions, which argued that Telkom can do a lot more to create a sustainable business and train staff to take up new positions.

Telkom job cut plans

Mocumi said that apart from the weak economy and struggling business units, the company has to address inefficiencies in the business.

He explained that job cuts are needed to address these issues, which will initially affect three business units  Consumer, Openserve, and Trudon.

These three business units will be targeted in the first phase of job cuts which will happen between January and April.

The second phase, which will take place between May and August, will look to cut staff at the Telkom head office.

Mocumi said the conciliation process will inform the way forward and which packages will be offered to affected employees.

Unions set to fight back

Worker unions are not happy with Telkoms plan and vowed to fight against job cuts at the company.

Solidarity has requested a moratorium on Telkom retrenchments, arguing that they threaten the companys financial sustainability.

It requested an aggressive retraining programme to be implemented to equip workers with new skills to help Telkom grow in a fast-changing environment.

The trade union added that Telkom cannot pay its executive team more than R100 million and then get rid of 3,000 of its employees.

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) said they will also fight the job cuts and urged workers to unite against the onslaught from Telkom.

CWU Secretary-General Aubrey Tshabalala took aim at Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko and former chairperson Jabu Mabuza, saying their corporate plan has failed.

He said Telkoms management is eager to just dismiss workers, which demonstrates that the privatization of state-owned enterprise yields no results.

Telkom interview on SABC



Now read: Big trouble at Telkom
But Goop is not a thing of the fringe; its merely the Netflix-ready version of a common faith. Paltrow did not invent the greenwashing of classist, consecrated consumption: Her brand of nature worship can also be found in that real-world Diagon Alley, the Whole Foods supplement aisle. (Whole Foods is owned by Amazon, whose CEO, Jeff Bezos, owns The Washington Post.) It is the reason people think organic food is salvific and conventional food is deadly (Scary GMO Apples Hit Stores, reads a Goop headline). It explains why parents in wealthy Los Angeles schools opt for natural immunity, resulting in vaccination rates on a par with those in South Sudan. Worst of all, it depends on the assumption that the best life  both physically and ethically  is accessible only for the rich, and that wellness, ours and the planets, is to be secured primarily by people making natural purchases, rather than communities making compassionate policy. Goop is a symptom of the fact that these beliefs are widespread, and remaining silent about why they are misguided wont make them go away.
DMK leader MK Kanimozhi was responding to a question about the legacy of Jayalalithaa at Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in Kozhikode (Photo Credit: File Photo)

New Delhi:

DMK leader MK Kanimozhi on Saturday while commenting about the controversial Citizenship Act said if late chief minister J Jayalalithaa would have been there today she would not have supported the new law. Responding to a question about the legacy of Jayalalithaa at Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) in Kozhikode, she said, if Jayalalithaa was at the helm of affairs in the party, Id like to believe that she would not have supported the CAA, she said.

Shes not left a legacy even in her own party. Thats the sad part. Whatever she stood for, her party is failing her. Her party has left Tamil Nadu, the country and their own leader down, The Indian Express quoted Kanimozhi as saying.

She has not left an ideological legacy. She has left a void in her party. We have a lot of differences with Jayalalithaa. We did not agree on her way of administration, but at least she believed in state rights, she added.

DMK against Citizenship Act

In December last year, DMK and its allies took out a huge protest rally against the amendment to the Citizenship Act and warned of intensifying the agitation by mobilising apolitical sections of society till the Centre withdrew the draconian law. The DMK has been maintaining that the law was anti-Muslim and Sri Lankan Tamils.

Alleging that the ruling AIADMK tried to thwart the rally by approaching the court, he said the court, however, negated it and ruled there was no bar on holding the agitation.

According to the amended Act, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and face religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. President Ram Nath Kovind had given assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, turning it into an Act.

On culmination of the rally, Stalin in a brief address said the protest was not a march of party workers but a battalion determined to fight against the CAA.

I bow to the Tamil people for taking part in the rally and expressing your sentiments (against the CAA), he said.

The DMK chief, flanked by Chidambaram and other leaders on the dais, said the opposition to CAA will not stop with todays agitation.

The protests will be taken forward after consulting allies and by mobilising apolitical sections of the society till such time the Centre withdrew the draconian, legislation, he said.

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As every investor would know, not every swing hits the sweet spot. But really big losses can really drag down an overall portfolio. So consider, for a moment, the misfortune of Nanjing Sinolife United Company Limited (HKG:3332) investors who have held the stock for three years as it declined a whopping 89%. That might cause some serious doubts about the merits of the initial decision to buy the stock, to put it mildly. And more recent buyers are having a tough time too, with a drop of 50% in the last year. Furthermore, it's down 17% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.

While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness.

See our latest analysis for Nanjing Sinolife United

Nanjing Sinolife United isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. When a company doesn't make profits, we'd generally expect to see good revenue growth. As you can imagine, fast revenue growth, when maintained, often leads to fast profit growth.

Over the last three years, Nanjing Sinolife United's revenue dropped 4.0% per year. That is not a good result. Having said that the 52% annualized share price decline highlights the risk of investing in unprofitable companies. This business clearly needs to grow revenues if it is to perform as investors hope. Don't let a share price decline ruin your calm. You make better decisions when you're calm.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

SEHK:3332 Income Statement, January 19th 2020

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Nanjing Sinolife United's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Story continues

What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

Investors should note that there's a difference between Nanjing Sinolife United's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Nanjing Sinolife United's TSR of was a loss of 88% for the 3 years. That wasn't as bad as its share price return, because it has paid dividends.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 9.8% in the last year, Nanjing Sinolife United shareholders lost 50%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 32% per year over five years. 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 business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Nanjing Sinolife United better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Nanjing Sinolife United (at least 1 which is concerning) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK 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.
President Donald Trumps trade deal with China last week opened up export opportunities for American farmers, manufacturers and energy producers. And his trade pact with Canada and Mexico, approved Thursday by the Senate, could help restore some auto production in the United States.

Yet perhaps more than anything, last weeks twin breakthroughs on trade provided a breather from two chaotic years of Trumpian policymaking  involving threats, truces and heavy U.S. tariffs imposed on friend and foe alike on a scale unseen since the 1930s. The uncertainty had been clouding the economy, causing businesses to delay investments until they knew how the trade turmoil would shake out.

We got trade peace, said Mary Lovely, an economist who studies trade at Syracuse University.

At least for now.

Trump trade deals: Trump to promote China, Mexico-Canada trade deals at the American Farm Bureau Federation convention

What trade deal means to you: Americans wont get a total reprieve after China trade deal as effects of lost factory jobs, pricier goods linger

But Lovely and other critics warn that the deal with China leaves unresolved most of the toughest and most complicated issues dividing the worlds two biggest economies and that progress could unravel over time. They also caution that the new North American trade pact, though it might spur some job growth, will likely make American-built cars more expensive and less competitive globally.

Whatever the outcome, the presidents approach to trade marks a clear break with seven decades of U.S. policy that had favored ever-freer world commerce. Rather than seek to tear down trade barriers and pursue rules designed to benefit all countries, the administration unabashedly embraced an America First agenda. Armed with tariffs, threats and combative rhetoric, it sought to force concessions out of China, Mexico and Canada.

Previous presidents would have said its about win-win, its about trade liberalization, its about global growth, said William Reinsch, a former U.S. trade official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Trump would say: No, its not. Its about whats good for America ... This is essentially: Might makes right. Were big and important, so we can push other countries around.

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Free trade has long been a mutually accepted priority for the worlds major industrialized economies. Many trade experts say they worry that in the long run, Trumps relentlessly confrontational stance and eager embrace of tariffs could pose risks to both the U.S. and global economies.

President Donald Trump speaks before signing a trade agreement with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 15, 2020, in Washington.

And even as tensions ease at least temporarily with China, the Trump administration is readying tariffs on the European Union over subsidies to the aviation giant Airbus and on France over a digital services tax that targets U.S. tech giants like Google and Amazon.

Here is a closer look at Trumps recent record on trade:

Revamping North American trade

Senators voted 89-10 Thursday to approve Trumps U.S.-Mexico Canada Agreement, a month after the House had passed it 385-41.

The so-called USMCA replaces the North American Free Trade Agreement, which had eliminated most trade barriers among the United States, Canada and Mexico.

NAFTA, which took effect in 1994, triggered a surge in trade among the three countries. And it created a regional manufacturing bloc to compete with East Asia and Europe. But Trump and other critics argued that NAFTA cost the United States jobs by encouraging factories to move south to capitalize on low-wage Mexican laborers, who were largely prevented from forming independent unions.

Trumps top trade negotiator, Robert Lighthizer, crafted a replacement trade agreement that is intended, most of all, to return some factory production to the United States.

To qualify for USMCAs duty-free benefits, automakers must derive 75% of their production content from within North America  up from 62.5% under NAFTA. That means more auto content would have to be homegrown in higher-wage North America, not imported more cheaply from China and elsewhere.

At least 40% of vehicles would also have to originate in places where workers earn at least $16 an hour. That would benefit the United States or Canada  not Mexico, where auto assembly workers are paid a fraction of that amount.

After sealing a deal with Canada and Mexico, Lighthizer had to negotiate with Democrats, who had taken control of the House in the 2018 midterm elections. He ended up drawing overwhelming bipartisan support by agreeing to Democratic demands. These included calls to strengthen language meant to ensure that Mexico adopts labor reforms that will encourage unions.

But USMCA could produce negative side effects.

The new content requirements will raise production costs, resulting in higher auto prices, reduced U.S. demand, lower auto exports, and more rapid substitution of machines for workers, Syracuses Lovely and Jeffrey Schott of the Peterson Institute for International Economics concluded in a report last month.

A cease-fire with C

After 18 months of trade combat, the United States and China agreed to an interim truce Wednesday.

Under the so-called Phase 1 deal, Trump scrapped his plan to impose tariffs on $160 billion in Chinese imports, and he halved his import taxes on an additional $110 billion worth. (The administration still maintains tariffs on $360 billion in Chinese products, and Beijing has imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports.) In return, China agreed to do more to protect intellectual property and to curb its practice of forcing foreign companies to hand over trade secrets as the price of admission to the Chinese market.

But the centerpiece of the deal was Chinas vow to buy an extra $200 billion worth of U.S. manufacturing, energy and farm exports this year and next. The mandated purchases are unusual for modern trade agreements. Trade pacts now usually set the rules for commerce but let customer demand sort out who buys how much of what.

Trumps deal is not about competing on price and quality anymore, Lovely said. Were using our market power to force purchases.

Critics wonder whether China is really capable of meeting the targets. Under the deal, for instance, China is supposed to buy $40 billion in U.S. agricultural products a year  a wildly ambitious goal considering that its never bought more than $26 billion a year and that during the trade war it has redirected some of its farm purchases to other exporting countries.

And things could get nasty if the United States decides China isnt living up to its commitments. In an unusual move, the two countries did not arrange to let any disputes go to a neutral arbitrator. Instead, they will try to work out their differences in a series of consultations. If they cant, the United States could impose tariffs  and the deal could unravel.

Perhaps most significantly, the Phase 1 deal did nothing about the U.S. key complaint that China uses illicit trade practices in its drive to surpass the United States in such advanced technologies as robotics and quantum computing. Specifically, it didnt address Beijings massive subsidies for its own tech companies.

Those issues are expected to be taken up in future talks  talks that arent likely to go anywhere until after Novembers U.S. election.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: President Trump trade deals with China and Mexico-Canada raise doubts
HONG KONG  The tapioca pearls at Fred Lius bubble teahouse are springy and fresh, just like the fish balls at Elaine Laus noodle shop. But that is not the only reason customers flock to these eateries in Hong Kongs bustling Causeway Bay shopping district.

Both are members of the so-called yellow economy, shops that openly support the democracy movement remaking Hong Kong as it strives to protect the freedoms differentiating the territory from the rest of China.

After seven months of street protests against Beijings assault on these liberties, Hong Kong is color-coded  and bitterly divided. The yellow economy refers to the hue of umbrellas once used to defend demonstrators against pepper spray and streams of tear gas. That is in contrast to blue businesses, which support the police.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 18:25:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- In the age of fast urban development and technological evolution, U.S. and Chinese experts gathered in Silicon Valley Saturday to discuss how urban areas can deliver not only survival and prosperity, but also a clean world and a better future.

Aimed at stimulating discussion and cooperation on sustainable urbanization methods, the International Towns Forum attracted more than 100 people from academic and technological communities in the United States and China.

Despite fast global urbanization, the experts noted that the gap between urban and rural areas is still big and deserves attention.

"Inexpensive solar energy has made irrigation, water purification, electric mobility possible, however, many people or villages do not have the capital or knowledge to economically utilize the technologies," said Steven Chu, professor of physics at Stanford University and a recipient of the 1997 Nobel Prize for Physics, in his keynote speech.

He said a new business model is needed and a better definition of wealth, which takes into consideration human development and quality of life, should be created to address the challenges.

Thomas Ridge, former governor of Pennsylvania, called for application of smart city technologies to rural area, because "too often, smaller rural communities are ignored in the discussion of smart cities."

Ridge also encouraged major cities and universities to collaborate with at least one rural community to pilot a smart city application.

Zheng Xinli, vice chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchange, said a pilot project in the city of Wuxi in eastern China's Jiangsu Province could serve as an example for sustainable urban development, especially for countries in Asia and Africa.

He said the city would become the first in China to realize "zero-emissions," and he hoped that U.S. experts could participate in China's "green transformation."

The event was jointly organized by China-USA CEO Association, International Towns Federation and the Center for Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness.
A group of women continued their protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the Ghantaghar Park here on Sunday with some of them alleging that police took away their blankets, a charge dismissed by the police.

On the lines of Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, around 50 women along with children have been squatting near the Clock Tower in Lucknow's old quarters protesting the CAA and National Register of Citizens.

The women protesters alleged that blankets provided to them by some organisations were taken away by police.

Rubbishing the claims made by the women protesters, the Lucknow Police in a tweet said, "During the illegal protest going at Lucknow's Ghantaghar Park (Clock Tower), some people tried to make a 'gheraa' (cordon) using ropes and sticks, and also tried to put sheets. They were not allowed to do so. Some organisations were distributing blankets in park premises. As a result of which, people living in the vicinity, who are not a part of the protests, were coming to take the blankets."



"Police removed those persons and organisations distributing blankets there, and action is being initiated against them," the Lucknow Police said, and urged people not to spread rumours.

Lucknow's Police Commissioner Sujeet Pandey also dismissed the allegations levelled by the protestors.

A 27-second video clip emerged on social media which purportedly shows a policeman carrying blankets and sheets in a plastic bag. A woman could be seen in the video shouting at him and calling him "thief", but police personnel did not respond to it.

The indefinite protest by women at the national capital's Shaheen Bagh against the CAA and NRC has been going on for over a month now.

The protest at Lucknow's Ghantaghar started Friday night.

Besides Delhi, protests have unfolded in several parts of the country over the law since it was passed on December 11 and have led to clashes at several places including Uttar Pradesh.

According to the amended law, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and facing religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In January it became law in Germany that retailers must print a receipt for every last transaction in a bid to fight tax evasion, but shopkeepers, customers and industry groups are already bucking against the scheme.

"Small shops' cash registers already have electronic chips that tax officials can read any time. Why should we go back to the old system?" asked Christian Koch, owner of Hammett, a specialist crime novel shop in Berlin.

"It's a pain, of the 50 tickets I print each day I'll throw 49 straight in the bin," he added.

Even bakers selling rolls for a few dozen euro cents each must now print a receipt for every transaction -- even when their customer doesn't want one.

With their high numbers of small sales each day now generating reams of unwanted documentation, bakeries and snack stands are especially outraged by the change in the law.

"I've already emptied this once," said a worker at Frankfurt sausage stand "Best Worscht in Town", pointing to a bin overflowing with discarded slips of paper during the busy lunch hour trade.

"It's a really stupid idea for the environment."

Economy Minister Peter Altmaier asked Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to give up on the plans, especially because receipts printed on thermal paper cannot be recycled.

Since then, retailers' federation HDE has also written to Scholz, asking him to exempt businesses that issue more than 500 receipts per day on average.

"That's one receipt per minute for a shop open nine hours a day," the group said in the document, seen by AFP.

Until now Scholz has resisted all such calls, saying the fight against tax evasion -- estimated at around 10 billion euros by tax officials -- must include preventing shops and restaurants from failing to record transactions properly.

"I don't think small shops are really trying to get out of paying their taxes," said Sarah, a shopper at Hammett.

"They should worry more about people like Amazon, make them pay their taxes in Germany," she added.

German authorities hope to tighten their grip on money flows through businesses where a large proportion of payments happen in cash, making them more open to tax fraud.

In Berlin, retailers are legally required to install tamper-proof cash registers by October, and many have yet to make the switch.

"It costs close to 1,000 euros ($1,110) per device, and a lot more if you have to buy a new one," trades association ZDH told AFP.

That represents a "prohibitive" cost for retailers, especially those like a chain of bakeries with 30 or 40 branches, for example, it added.

The finance ministry retorts that Austria, Italy, Portugal and other European countries get along just fine with obligatory receipts.

But the HDE notes that France plans to gradually phase out the requirement -- except in cases where customers explicitly request a paper record.
A Naas CBS student has been honoured by the Institute of Biology of Ireland for his Leaving Certificate results last year.

Matthew Hartnett received an award from the institute having achieved the highest result in biology, with a marking of 100%.

The Institute is the professional body for biologists.

It also advises Government and the public in general on biological matters which have implications for society, promotes international relations and provides support and expertise to biology teachers.

Matthew received the Institute of Biology medal of excellence and his teacher Ms Anita Hassett received a teacher commendation certificate for excellence in her teaching of biology on the Leaving Certificate course.

Matthew is now studying medicine in University College Dublin.

A total of 10 sixth year students from the school (academic year 2018  2019) received entrance scholarships to UCD.

Some 167 boys sat the exam at Naas CBS.

The school was again one of the top feeder schools providing students to various third level institutions in the country in 2019.
The essence of irony, Henry Fowler wrote in A Dictionary of Modern English Usage, is that it postulates a double audience  one thats in on the joke, and another that isnt. The title of Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnigs new book, A Very Stable Genius, is thus savvy marketing. Its possible to imagine both Donald J. Trumps detractors and his admirers eagerly grasping a copy. The admirers will not make it past the table of contents. Among the chapter titles: Unhinged, Shocking the Conscience, ...
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed latest developments in the Libyan crisis with EU High Representatives for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell Sunday in Berlin at a meeting on the sidelines of Libya Berlin conference , the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, the two officials discussed ways of building on the Berlin conference to reach a comprehensive political settlement to the Libyan crisis which includes boosting efforts to counter terrorism and illegal migration in the North African country torn by civil fight.



Shoukry and Borrel also discussed the latest developments in other issues in the Middle East region, the statement added.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is currently attending the Libya Berlin conference.

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Speaking to the media in Shirdi on Sunday, Maharashtra Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal appealed to the protesters to take back their shutdown call. Assuring that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray would listen to both sides, Bhujbal contended that the shutdown had negatively impacted the devotees. He observed that the current dispute went against the essence of Sai Babas teachings.

Read: No Need For This: Vikhe Patil Backs Shirdi Bandh After CM Uddhav Triggers Birthplace Row

It is believed that Sai Baba never entertained any question on his caste, religion, and birthplace. Moreover, he would say that he belonged to all castes and religions. According to Bhujbal, a bandh was not a solution to any problem.

Chhagan Bhujbal remarked, I had come for the darshan. There is a bandh in Shirdi. Because there is a bandh in Shirdi, there is also a bandh in Pathri. I do not think there will be a solution by observing a bandh. Honourable Chief Minister has called a meeting tomorrow. In the meeting, he will listen to both sides. And then, he will comment on the issue. None of us are historians to take a firm position on this. Sai Baba himself would say that you should not ask me about caste, religion, birthplace and so forth. Sai Babas message was that I belong to all castes and religions.

Read: Shirdi Trust Confirms Temple Will Remain Open Despite Saibaba Birthplace Dispute Bandh

'I appeal to both sides'

He added, There are thousands of Sai Baba temples not only in Mumbai and Maharashtra but also US, Europe, and Japan. They have created a Shirdi-like atmosphere. Even then, most of the people come to Shirdi. There are nearly 10,000 fewer people than expected. Many hotel bookings have been cancelled. I dont think it is correct to continue this shutdown. I appeal to both sides to take back their shutdown calls. Even Sai Baba will not like such a dispute.

Read: Maharashtra CM's Decision To Develop Pathri Draws Ire, Shirdi Residents Call For Bandh

The dispute over the birthplace of Sai Baba

The Sai Baba temple at Shirdi is one of the most popular destinations in the country, with lakhs of devotees thronging it every year. There has been a longstanding dispute over his birthplace. The situation turned for the worse when Thackeray announced a grant of Rs.100 crore for the purpose of developing Pathri. Reportedly, the residents of Shirdi have the apprehension that the temple will lose its importance if Pathri is proven as the birthplace of Saibaba.

Read: Shirdi Bandh: Cong's Sanjay Nirupam Slams CM Uddhav For Triggering Sai Baba Birthplace Row

(With ANI inputs)
Kylie Jenner loves spending quality time with her daughter, Stormi. The two are inseparable, despite Jenners busy life. And now that Stormi is almost two, Jenner is doing her best to teach her daughter basic skills (Jenner has the help of a nanny, too). The Kylie Cosmetics founder recently showed off her daughters intelligence on her Instagram story.

Kylie Jenner with Stormi | Raymond Hall/GC Images

Jenner and Travis Scott welcomed Stormi nearly two years ago

When Jenner and now-ex Travis Scott first started dating back in 2017, fans didnt think much of it. Jenner had just exited a long-term relationship with Tyga, and it didnt seem like she was looking for anything serious. But only a few months into their relationship, the two learned that they were expecting. Rather than announce their pregnancy to the world, they decided to keep it a secret for its entirety. Nine months later, Jenner surprised fans when she announced the couple had welcomed their daughter, Stormi, in February 2018.

Since then, Jenner and Scott have broken up, but they still make Stormi a priority. Theyve spent holidays together and seem to be grasping co-parenting well.

Jenner and Stormi spend as much time together as possible

Jenner has an extremely busy schedule. She officially founded Kylie Cosmetics back in 2016, and since then, she has been named the worlds youngest self-made billionaire. But despite the fame and fortune, Jenner tries to spend as much time with her daughter as she can. She reportedly receives help from nannies (its hard to be a CEO and a full-time mom), but she still makes sure to give Stormi plenty of love.

Jenner often posts photos and videos of Stormi to her Instagram, showing off their adorable bond. They do everything from flying on private jets together to lying in bed and watching the Trolls movie.

Stormi is already learning a map of the United States

Jenner loves posting Stormis milestones for fans to see. And on January 14, Jenner posted a video to her Instagram story of Stormi learning the different states on the map. Wheres California? Show us California, Jenner says to her daughter.Stormi makes her way over to California and points to it on the map. Good job, she says to Stormi.

Its unusual for someone so young to be able to identify states on the map, so Stormis ability to do so is a testament to her knowledge. Of course, its possible that Jenner helped Stormi memorize Californias location, but still, its impressive that she was able to retain the information.

Kylie Jenner shows Stormi playing with a map of the United States | Kylie Jenner via Instagram

Jenner has gushed about Stormis intelligence before

Though Stormi is still young, Jenner is convinced that she is very smart  and shes gushed about it before. The beauty mogul once said that her daughter learns a new word every day. This morning it was trampoline, Jenner said during an interview with E! back in August. Shes so smart. Jenner seems very proud to be Stormis mother. The little girl will turn two in February, and were all patiently waiting to see the wild birthday party Jenner throws for her this time.
Like many hobbies, rock hounding might be slowly fading away. But theres still something magical about keeping your head down, scouring the earth for that odd-looking rock that could be a precious gemstone in disguise.

Sherman Buzz Lenhart caught his case of rock fever when he was still in high school in Lingle, Wyoming. I had a friend who collected rocks and he used to stop by and show me some of his collection after school, he said. When we moved to Gering in the 1970s, I learned about the Panhandle Rock and Gem Club, so I decided to join.

Organized in the 1950s, the rock club today has about 20 members, most of them in their 60s and beyond. Ive noticed that with cell phones and other technology, people just dont get out as much anymore, Buzz said. They dont take the time to do it.

But at club meetings, Buzz and his fellow members discuss rocks, what kinds theyd like to find, whats being found and about anything else related to rocks and gems.

The group meets the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Paul Reed Construction building. Everyone is welcome, and use the front entrance.
Following the renaming of Uttar Pradeshs Mughalsarai railway station in 2018, Centre in a notification issued Sunday changed the name of the railway division as well from Mughalsarai to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Railway Division.

The names of other Railway offices in this Division, bearing the name Mughalsarai, may also be changed accordingly, the notification said.

The Mughalsarai railway junction station comes under the East Central Railway zone. It is one of Indias busiest junctions catering to nearly 500 trains a month and home to the largest railway marshalling yard in Asia. The attempt to change the stations name in 2017 courted controversy when UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath who proposed to rename the station after its ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya, whose body was found at the junction in 1968, was accused of tinkering with history.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, was a Jan Sangh leader who was killed in a train theft incident on 11 February 1968 on a railway track.

The first attempt to change its name was made in 1992 by BJP led government. The plan was later shelved by the then state CM who resigned following the outbreak of violence in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition.
Over the years, the Junction Butte pack has fluctuated from five to more than 20 pack members. Life and survival is difficult for wolves  their No. 1 cause of death is wolf-on-wolf fights over food, territory and mates. The Junctions over the past seven years have gone through several alphas, with the sisters each having served in the lead role at one time or another. Others have been killed in the Montana hunt, two hit by a car, some pups didnt survive, and many were killed by pack members.
A young father has been accused of trying to kill his former father-in-law in a savage knife attack.

Jarrod Nash, 23, allegedly attacked Robert Burt, 39, in Beaconsfield, Perth on Friday night.

Nash was at Mr Burt's home because he wanted to speak to a woman known to him before he became violent, police said.

Jarrod Nash (pictured), 23, allegedly attacked Robert Burt, 39, in Beaconsfield, Perth on Friday night

Nash is the ex-partner of Cailtin Burt (pictured). They have a one-year-old son called Leo

He allegedly tried to slash Mr Burt's throat with the knife and left him with a large gash on his chin before running away.

Mr Burt was helped by his wife and children before being rushed to hospital where he had 60 stitches on his neck and face.

Recalling his terrifying ordeal, he told 9News: 'I felt the handle hit me in the jaw. I immediately felt there was a slice there.

'Doctors said it was deep. They said it was bad, and he just missed the jugular. If that had of been cut, there is no way to fix that  I would have been dead.'

Nash has been charged with attempted murder.

A police spokesman said in a statement on Sunday: 'He allegedly struck the male victim with a knife, causing a laceration injury to his throat.'

Mr Burt was taken to Fiona Stanley Hospital where he remains in a stable condition following surgery.

Mr Burt (pictured) was rushed to hospital where he had 60 stitches on his neck and face

Nash was arrested in bushland late on Saturday after detectives and the Tactical Response Group raided his home in the city's northern suburbs.

The man has also been charged with other offences unrelated to the Beaconsfield attack.

These include burglary and criminal damage following an incident in Spearwood, near Fremantle, on Thursday.

He was refused police bail and is expected to appear in the Perth Magistrates' Court on Sunday.
Procurement of expensive aircraft parts to be done after approval of senior official: Air India

Air India reinstates senior pilot as instructor who was found guilty of sexual harassment in 2019

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 19: A senior Air India pilot who was suspended in May last year after being accused of sexual harassment by a woman colleague was found guilty by an internal committee of the airline but has been reinstated recently, senior officials said.

The committee imposed a "major penalty" on Captain Sachin Gupta, who has now appealed to the next authority against the punishment, they said.

In response to specific queries on the matter, P S Negi, Regional Director (Northern Region), Air India, told PTI, "The Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of Air India conducted the enquiry proceedings and found Captain Sachin Gupta guilty of the charges of misconduct."

FIR registered against IPS officer for sexual harassment' of 17-year-old girl on her birthday party

The immediate competent disciplinary authority has imposed a "major penalty" as per the company's service regulation that is applicable to Captain Sachin Gupta, he said.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

"In keeping with these service regulations, Captain Sachin Gupta has now appealed to the next higher authority/CMD (Chairman and Managing Director) against the punishment awarded. The said appeal on merit will be examined and considered by the competent appellate authority in due course of time," he added.

Another senior Air India official told PTI on condition of anonymity that Gupta has been "reinstated as instructor". Air India had suspended Gupta last year over the sexual harassment allegations, telling him that "pending (an) enquiry... during the period of suspension, you (Gupta) will not enter the premises of Air India Limited without written permission".

According to a complaint filed by the woman pilot, the alleged incident took place on May 5 last year in Hyderabad, where she was being trained by Gupta. In the complaint, she had alleged that Gupta suggested that the two should have dinner at a restaurant after the training session was over on that day.

"We went to (a) restaurant at around 8 pm and this is where my ordeal started.... He started with telling me how depressed and unhappy he was in his married life," the woman said in her complaint. "He also asked me how I coped with my husband living away and whether I didn't need to have sex everyday. He asked me if I masturbated...," she alleged.

"At some point I told him I did not want to talk about all this and called a cab," she added.

POCSO court hails IO for deft handling of sexual assault case

The pilot alleged that the instructor's behaviour got worse during the half-hour wait for the cab. "I was left shocked at this behaviour and felt extremely uncomfortable, scared and humiliated," she said.

The woman said she felt "morally obliged" to report this matter to the airline so that such behaviour is not repeated with anyone else in the future. On May 16 last year, Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani had told employees that sexual harassment cases are "often" being witnessed at Air India and the airline needs to come down "very, very heavily" on such offenders.

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Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 12:09 [IST]
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GILLETTE, Wyo.  From behind the counter of his brother's auto-parts store, Bubba Miller looks out at the 2020 presidential race and worries about what will happen to his hometown if a Democrat wins. Not just a Democrat, but, based on the current frontrunners, a liberal Democrat. Or a progressive. Or an avowed socialist.

"I wish we could build a wall around Wyoming," he says with a laugh. "I think there's just something wrong in their heads to think you can get everything for free."

Shifting the wad of tobacco tucked in his lip, Miller, 24, lays out the case for reelecting President Donald Trump, from this coal town's booming economy to the president's protection of gun rights to his tough border policies to his efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. As far as Miller is concerned, Trump can do no wrong.

He's not alone. In 2016, then-candidate Trump won 86% of the vote here as he swept every Wyoming county but one, the wealthy liberal enclave of Teton County, home to Jackson Hole. Only once since 1952 has the state voted for a Democratic presidential candidate, and in 2016 Trump beat Hillary Clinton here by the widest margin of any state. And ahead of the November presidential election, none of the 2020 Democratic candidates are making any inroads with these most conservative of voters.

"I've very concerned about the direction of the Democratic Party," says Robin Clover, a 20-year Wyoming resident and registered Republican who has voted for Democrats at the local level. "They're either past their prime or far too progressive."

Here in Wyoming, where every other car is a pickup and cowboy hats and boots are a working man's uniform, the 2020 election worries voters, who fear the election of a Democrat will upend their way of life and force the coal mines to close and the oil wells to stop pumping. Force them to pay higher taxes, force them to give up their AR-15 rifles and high-capacity magazines. Force them to subsidize the health care of immigrants. Force them to pay for college loans for city kids. Force. Force. Force.

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"That's the problem," Miller says. "I'm an adult. You can't make me. It's just taking away from letting people grow up."

A sign on the outskirts of Gillette, Wyoming, offers residents health care options.

Like his neighbors, Miller says he wishes Trump could lead the country the way he was elected to, without being second-guessed or attacked by what he considers a "corrupt" class of politicians and bureaucrats. The way Miller sees it, the fact that Trump is being so forcefully opposed perfectly demonstrates that the president is on the right track in "draining the swamp" in Washington, D.C.

The state Republican Party officially endorses a slew of other conservative positions, from disarming forest rangers to returning to a Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy for the military and banning birthright citizenship. The party has also called for banning the acceptance of any international refugees unless they are vetted Christians, defining marriage as only between a man and a woman, abolishing the EPA and the U.S. Department of Education, and strictly enforcing all immigration laws.

But for most voters here, coal and the jobs it provides are the biggest drivers of decisions. And that means Trump is their guy.

Because Wyoming has only three Electoral College votes, there's little chance a Democrat will even bother campaigning here, and even Trump is considered unlikely to visit, because most voters across the state will back him regardless if they see him in person shaking hands and holding babies. That leaves Wyoming's voters in a uniquely powerless situation: Ignored by both parties, they are effectively sidelined despite the critical role federal policy plays in their future. And they're facing Democratic candidates who all see a bigger federal government as a solution to the nation's problems.

Polls suggest their worst nightmare could come true in November. Former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg are all narrowly leading or in a close tie with Trump in recent polls. The president's supporters in Wyoming, however, point out that polls showed Clinton winning the presidency in 2016, so they don't put much stock in them.

Wyoming's 578,000 residents, most of them white and living on land seized from Native Americans, have long prided themselves on a frontier spirit of rugged individualism and independence. They also see themselves as a world apart from the nation's big coastal states, all of which tend to vote Democrat. For generations, they've voted Republican and argued that big-city liberals can't possibly understand what life is like where there's just six people per square mile. New York City, by contrast, has 27,000 people per square mile.

But the outside world is increasingly moving in a different direction, where global warming is settled science, inclusivity, diversity and tolerance are honored, and access to health care is seen as a fundamental human right. The United Nations even has set a 2030 goal for achieving universal health coverage internationally. That's setting up an increasingly stark contrast for Wyomingites who see a Trump victory as essential to preserving their freedoms and independence.

"Our way of life here is threatened by a Democratic administration," said state Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, a Republican who represents a portion of the largest city, Cheyenne, where Trump won 60% of the vote in 2016. "Every Republican in Wyoming you'll talk to would agree that Wyoming is better off under a Republican administration. No one liked Hillary. They just knew that she was the enemy. And whether it's Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders, I don't think the vote totals would change by 5%. There's just this attitude that you have to maintain control of the presidency at all costs."

Coal-fired power plants next to the WyoDak mine east of Gillette, Wyoming, provide electricity for millions of homes.

To understand Wyoming, you have to understand a little bit about coal, the state's backbone, both physically and financially. In Gillette, which calls itself the "Energy Capital of the Nation," coal is inextricable from daily life. The mines outside town set the pace, explosives blasting the windswept ground to free the coal. Many of the workers are no longer full-time employees but work as contractors, missing out on the benefits but still keeping the same 12-hour shifts they used to before repeated bankruptcies prompted many mine operators to restructure.

In town, restaurants proudly display "coal keeps the lights on" and "friends of coal" stickers, and the diesel-equipment repair shops and heavy machinery repair yards line the approaches to the historic downtown, where the Gillette Brewing Company's bar is supported by pieces of drilling rigs.

Taxes levied on the vast trainloads of coal hauled to power plants across the West means the state has never had an income tax, and its sales taxes are among the nation's lowest. While Eastern coal states like Kentucky and West Virginia get the president's attention, Wyoming leads the nation in coal production, with its approximately 5,500 miners digging more than the next six states combined.

Virtually all of that coal is mined from land owned by the federal government, which leases the property to conglomerates to mine and then burn the coal for electricity. That quirk of geology has long helped Wyoming maintain its financial independence, but even coal's strongest backers worry that times are changing. The federal government plays a key role because slowing down new coal leases or restricting coal-powered generating plants almost immediately affects the miners themselves.

During the 2016 campaign, Clinton declared "we're going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business, a statement that infuriated Wyoming residents who already disliked her for reasons ranging from Benghazi to her work with the Clinton Foundation. While Clinton then went on to explain that she planned to offer job retraining to coal workers, Wyoming's voters  who weren't going to support her anyway  hardened their opposition further.

A loaded hauler ferries freshly dug coal from the Eagle Butte mine outside Gillette, Wyoming. Wyoming's coal mines are open pit, which means workers blast and dig away the top layers of dirt to reach the coal seams below, and then cover the area back up once the coal is gone.

They say there's still life in coal, and that Clinton would have harmed an already struggling industry. And they say the Democrats running for president in 2020 have a similar playbook.

"I think Hillary would have killed our economy. And I think any of the people running on the Democrat side would absolutely eviscerate our economy. The Democrats seem to do everything they can to squash business," says Vicki Million Hughes, a Cheyenne real estate agent whose grandparents moved to Wyoming in 1920.

Hughes says she's 100% behind the president, aside from offensive tweets attacking specific people, because his focus has been creating a strong economy, growing industry and "jobs, jobs, jobs."

The strength of the national and local economy is a major factor for Trump's support in Wyoming, even though coal mining jobs have been on the decline for decades. Voters here believe four more years of his administration will keep the economy humming and extend the life of the coal mines for the foreseeable future.

"If God is good enough to give us a natural resource, we should use that resource wisely," says Hughes, who like many Wyoming voters says she believes the planet naturally warms and cools and that humans have little to do with it. "Why waste what God has given us?"

About 70% of Americans say climate change is occurring, and a majority  55%  say it's mostly human-caused, according to an April 2019 study by Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. In Wyoming, voters like Hughes and Miller say they have the right to disagree and worry that their voices will be shouted down by the modern-day shaming mobs populating social media.

An American and Trump 2020 flag wave in the evening wind outside Gillette, Wyoming, a small city with some of President Trump's most ardent supporters.

"I have lots of friends who live on the coasts and they tell me it's time to evolve, that Wyoming needs to get past fossil fuels. But we make our living and livelihood off oil and gas and coal," Zwonitzer says. "You've got people who have been involved in these industries for generations."

That singular focus on coal and federal land management means Wyoming's voters spend little time worrying about the nuances of immigration or health care reform, although many shake their heads at what they see as the entitlement culture of the Democratic candidates and their supporters.

Wyomingites pride themselves on their low-tax, work-focused culture, and the idea of erasing student loans or giving everyone government-run health insurance runs counter to their deeply held ideology of taking care of their own problems and being responsible for their own decisions.

A giant mural on the side of a building in Gillette, Wyoming highlights the state's two sources of income: Coal mining and cattle ranching.

Miller, for instance, is paying off medical debt accumulated when he crashed his dirtbike and blew out his knee. He didn't have health insurance at the time and instead paid the Obamacare tax because it was cheaper than paying for health insurance. While having to pay the bills "sucks," Miller says, he accepts that it was his decision to forgo insurance.

"Everybody in Wyoming would love to have the best college education, the best health care, and for it all to be done for free. And that's just impossible," said Carl "Bunky" Loucks, a Republican state representative from Casper. "I just don't understand the mentality that you can get everything for free."

Loucks, 52, said he and many other Wyoming residents support both an audit of the federal government and a balanced budget amendment that would limit government spending to what it can actually afford, instead of adding to the ballooning national deficit. Loucks said he's frustrated the national debt has increased under Trump but says it would have been worse under a Democrat. Trump won Louck's county with 70% of the vote.

Miller says Wyoming has flourished under Trump, and none of his neighbors regret their 2016 votes. If anything, he says, Trump's support has increased.

"How can you hate someone who is so good for the United States?" Miller says. "I think his mouth gets him in trouble, but sometimes what he says is well-needed."

The license plate on a Wyoming resident's car pays homage to his father's long career as a coal miner in one of the mines surrounding Gillette, Wyoming.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2020 Democratic candidates are the bogeymen for voters who back Trump
Diane Patrick sought advice from Michelle Obama before husband entered 2020 race originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Diane Patrick, the former first lady of Massachusetts and wife of 2020 Democratic candidate Deval Patrick, said she sought advice from a friend before her husband jumped into the fray -- and that friend was Michelle Obama.

At a campaign event in New Hampshire on Saturday, Diane Patrick told ABC News in an interview that her husband had considered running for president as early as 2018.

PHOTO: Deval Patrick is shown with his wife, Diane, on his way to officially enter the US Presidential race by signing paperwork to join the New Hampshire primary ballot, at the New Hampshire State House on Nov. 14, 2019, in Concord, N.H. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

In talking with friends and advisers, they said they'd sought to work to change the national conversation resulting from Donald Trump's first term.

It took time, she added. Her husband of 35 years deciding to enter the race "was not an immediate 'let's go.'"

"We spent time with family, a lot of time with dear friends, we spent a lot of time with people who have advised us over the years," she continued. "It was a long, very thoughtful process over a several-month period.

MORE: Deval Patrick: Everything you need to know about the 2020 presidential candidate

That time included speaking with the former first lady of the United States.

PHOTO: Diane Patrick is shown at a campaign event in Nashua, N.H., Jan. 18, 2020. (Christopher S. Donato/ABC News)

The Patricks and Obamas have been friends for a long time. Deval Patrick told ABC News on the day he announced his candidacy that he'd spoken with Barack Obama and told him, "I was close to a decision. Then when I had made one, I called him and said that we were going. And he's been great."

The former Massachusetts governor spent time with Obama in 2018 as he considered a presidential run. Patrick said the former president gave him insights into his own campaign and addressed potential strengths and weaknesses of Patrick's.

"He's equally encouraging and open to others who have thought about it and who have gotten in. And I appreciate it," Patrick said of Obama at the time.

PHOTO: In this Dec. 9, 2019, file photo, former first lady Michelle Obama attends the Girls Opportunity Alliance program with Room to Read at the Can Giuoc Highschool in Long An province, Vietnam. (Yen Duong/Reuters, FILE)

Diane Patrick told ABC News on Saturday that Michelle Obama similarly was "incredibly generous with her time and her advice."

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Deval Patrick had decided to join the 2020 presidential race in November 2018 but postponed doing so after learning his wife had uterine cancer. After undergoing surgery and several months of radiation treatments, Diane Patrick said she pushed her husband to announce in November 2019 and that she now feels great.

MORE: Deval Patrick: 'I wouldn't be in it if I didn't think I could win it'

She also told ABC News how much she "admired" Michelle Obama's time in the White House because "she was supportive of her husband and his work, but also independently ambitious on her own, and determined to do the things that she cared about."

Diane Patrick said she'd seek to emulate her friend's time in the White House, focusing on early childhood education, mental health and women's rights.
Google Maps

A man is in critical condition after his stepfather allegedly shot him Saturday night during in Aldine, according to the Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Authorities responded to the shooting in the 800 block of Isetta Lane, close to Aldine Mail Route and the Hardy Toll Road, sometime before 9:30 p.m., the sheriff tweeted.
Staten Island Advance

#fyiSI -- You asked, so were answering!

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- For this week's #fyiSI question-and-answer article, I'm tackling a handful of questions that don't require an in-depth investigation.

Whatever the question is -- whether it requires a quick or an in-depth answer -- I'm here to answer it for you -- see, that's me in the picture with my #fyiSI sign.

Scroll through the slideshow for some questions and answers, and keep an eye out for more #fyiSI articles.

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Staten Island Advance

Whats going on at Bayley Seton?

Joseph asked: What is going on at the Bayley Seton site with all the heavy earth-moving equipment? The digging has been going on for months with huge mounds of earth.

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Staten Island Advance/ Victoria

Film sets happen at Bayley Seton

Bayley Seton has been used for several movies and television shows over the years, including FOX's "Gotham" and most recently Amazon's "The Hunt."

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Staten Island Advance

It was almost a homeless shelter

Last year, the city confirmed plans to build a 200-family, mostly women and children homeless shelter at 44 Victory Blvd. on the North Shore in addition to a 22-bed all-female shelter at Mount Loretto on a site owned by Catholic Charities.

But the site of the slated North Shore shelter set to be constructed in the heart of the future Bay Street Corridor has upset many Island politicians and residents in the area.

Island elected officials had sent over a list of alternative sites to the city when plans for the 200-family shelter were announced and Borough President James Oddo and Rep. Max Rose had been in discussions with the Salvation Army about potentially building the controversial shelter at its Bayley Seton Hospital campus.

The city had appeared to be willing to work with elected officials in looking at alternate sites to 44 Victory Blvd., but while Oddo and Rose were still in active discussions with the Salvation Army, the city suddenly announced it would stick with the North Shore site.

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Staten Island Advance

What will be done about the abandoned shopping carts?

My question concerns the numerous abandoned shopping carts that show up outside of people's homes when a supermarket is in the area. After years of dealing with this in New Dorp Beach, Pathmark closed and we had almost none. Now with the new Shop Rite coming soon the surrounding area for blocks will be loaded again, David said.

People used to be seen unloading them and continuing on, just leaving them wherever they pleased. Some spots were favorites and often held up to a dozen carts that -- some filling with refuse over the many days or even weeks -- weren't picked up. It was a plague for many and should not be allowed to happen again. What sort of program for daily pickup or prevention does the new ShopRite plan to have in place? he asked.

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Staten Island Advance

ShopRite said it has special shopping carts with locking wheels

"Mannix Family Supermarkets invests in specially designed shopping carts and a system that aims to keep all the grocery carts on site and at the store. Our shopping carts are designed to work smoothly in our stores and parking lots and have special wheel locks that prevent the carts from working off site," said a ShopRite spokeswoman.

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Staten Island Advance

When will the Goethals Bridge pedestrian and bike path open?

Steve asked: The Goethals Bridge bike and pedestrian path is still not open, even though they are 90 percent done with the lines for the bike lanes and all sidewalks in place  theres been no progress in months. Now what's the hold up? Would love to know.

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Staten Island Advance

Delays due to pedestrian and cyclist safety

When the new Goethals Bridge opened in May 2018, the Port Authority claimed the path would be opened by the end of the summer.

"We're mainly finishing up the work that's being done on the structure and then connecting it to the infrastructure on both sides," James Blackmore, program director of the Goethals Bridge Replacement Project, said at the time.

According to the Port Authority, the shared use path, itself, has been completed since the opening of the new bridge, but issues surrounding safe connections have held up the process.

"It became clear that allowing cyclists over the bridge and into Staten Island would put them in an unsafe condition, since as soon as they exited the Goethals path, they would be on Goethals Road North, which is the main entryway for trucks accessing the New York Container Terminal," said Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman.

"We have worked cooperatively for months with the NYC DOT on this issue and thats what resulted in the agreement we reached to create a safe path for cyclists to use once they exited the Goethals in Staten Island," he continued.

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Staten Island Advance

Construction began in October; Staten Island side completed

In October, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the city Department of Transportation (DOT) announced construction on the shared bike and pedestrian would start in 60 days, weather permitting.

Construction has been completed on the Staten Island side of the path, sources tell the Advance.

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NJ Advance

Waiting on the city of Elizabeth, New Jersey

The Port Authority is ready. The New York City DOT is ready. And we are waiting on the City of Elizabeth before the path can open to cyclists and pedestrians, a spokesman for the Port Authority told the Advance.

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Staten Island Advance

About the pathway

The new path, while circuitous, will allow access to Forest Avenue without requiring cyclists and pedestrians to dangerously travel into oncoming, heavy truck traffic.

Those exiting the bridge's shared use path will turn left onto Goethals Road North, circling around Western Avenue to Gulf Avenue, and then turning left onto Forest Avenue.

The same route would be used in the reverse direction for those accessing the bridge in the New Jersey-bound direction.

A combination of on-street and off-street paths will be used to provide cyclists and pedestrians a safe and efficient route, separated from motor vehicle traffic.

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Staten Island Advance

#fyiSI -- here's the point

When #fyiSI launched in October 2018, the Advance received dozens of questions from readers about all things Staten Island.

Now, were ready to start providing answers and are asking you again to ask us anything, Staten Island -- and we mean anything.

Through #fyiSI, Im going to answer all of your burning questions  with the occasional help of my coworkers  about the borough with 479,458 residents that we all call home.

Some of the questions weve received so far include:

How can we ask for a stop sign to be added?

What happened to my favorite restaurant?

Is that a mobile speed camera?

Why is the Department of Transportation doing construction on my block?

Now, I'm ready to tackle them all, and I'm looking for more questions. Whatever it is, I'll provide an answer.

You might be wondering how #fyiSI differs from the average story you already read in the Staten Island Advance or on SILive.com.

Were not stepping away from the traditional news article, but instead adding social media elements like Facebook live, Instagram stories, Twitter polls and other multimedia to help us reach you.

Well also do a lot of reporting on site.

Questions should include your name, neighborhood of residence and contact information, and can be emailed to fyi@siadvance.com or kdalton@siadvance.com.

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Staten Island Advance

#fyiSI questions weve answered so far

 #fyiSI: The first question we got  why are people so rude? (commentary)

 #fyiSI: Answering some of the questions posed by our readers

 #fyiSI you asked: Can we get a traffic light on Decker Avenue in Port Richmond?

 #fyiSI: More speed cameras are coming to a school zone near you

 #fyiSI: What's being done about the 'disgusting turkeys?'

 #fyiSI: Answers to your questions about the NY Wheel, bike paths, and more

 #fyiSI: Is after-hours parking in municipal lots allowed?

 #fyiSI you asked: Is there an update on the contamination at Great Kills Park? We got an answer

 #fyiSI: Answers to your questions about car charging stations, mental health services and more

 #fyiSI you asked: Can you report neighbors who use traffic cones to save parking spaces?

 #fyiSI  Why is that street closed? Road work shut these streets across the Island

 #fyiSI: Answers to your questions about school bus parking, dog waste and more

 #fySI: Answers your questions about Hylan Blvd. construction, handwriting in schools and bike racks on buses

 #fyiSI: Answers to your questions about homeless shelters, the 'grand staircase,' two-way tolling and more

 #fyiSI: What are the worst parking lots, trouble spots on Staten Island?

 #fyiSI: What's the worst parking lot offense? Take our poll

 Bump, scratch, squeeze: Staten Island's worst parking lots -- #fyiSI survey results

 #fyiSI you asked: What are dog leash laws on streets and in parks?

 #fyiSI: Answers to your questions about speed bumps, film permits and more

 City: Many parking lots were built before current zoning regulations, amendments were put in place

 #fyiSI: Answers to your questions about stopping for school buses, Front Street traffic signals, and tree pruning

 Rampant handicap parking abuse on the Island: See how many parking permits, tickets have been issued

 #fyiSI you asked: Why does it take so long to paint lane lines after repaving?

 #fyiSI: Answers to your questions about city trees, noise ordinances and median cleaning
More than five crore people came out of their homes in Bihar on Sunday and formed an unbroken "maanav shrinkhla" (human chain), claimed to be over 18,000 kilometres long, responding to the call of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to support his government's efforts towards environment conservation and eradication of social evils.

The human chain bettered previous records of 2017, when people had stood in support of Kumar's move to impose a complete ban on sale and consumption of alcohol, and of 2018 when the exercise was repeated to back campaigns against dowry and child marriage, a top state government official said.

"Altogether 5.17 crore people took part in the human chain which was 18,034 kilometres long. The length this year was much longer than 14,000 kilometres of 2018 and 11,000 kilometres of the year before when Bihar first entered record books beating Bangladesh," Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar told reporters here.

He said, "A total of seven helicopters had been pressed into service for capturing aerial images of the event that was bound to go down in the annals of history as a record. Besides, more than 100 drone cameras have clicked photographs which showed the enthusiasm of the state's people, for which we are thankful".

The human chain began at around 11.30 AM and people stood for about 30 minutes, holding hands, with the chief minister himself leading from the front at the historic Gandhi Maidan in the state capital.

A host of dignitaries, including Magsaysay Award-winning environmentalist Rajendra Singh and United Nations Environment Programme's country head for India Atul Bagai attended the event at Gandhi Maidan where several dignitaries including members of Parliament, state cabinet and state legislature were also present.

In his thanksgiving speech that followed the 30- minute-long exercise, the chief minister who like other attendees wore a white cap thanked Singh and Bagai for extending their support to the endeavour.

Rajendra Singh, while responding to queries from journalists, lavished praise on the Bihar chief minister for the "Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali" campaign and said, "If India can dream of becoming Vishwa Guru, one of the reasons is our age- old tradition of respecting nature. No praise is too high for Nitish Kumar's thrust on environment conservation".

The mammoth event threw up many stellar examples of public participation. In Bochaha block of Muzaffarpur district, villagers stood atop a make-shift bridge of boats on the 200 meters wide bed of river Gandak.

In Begusarai's Balia sub-division, bereaved family members and neighbours of Om Prakash Agarwal deceased elder brother of a well-known doctor in the area stood holding hands in front of the funeral pyre after it was lit.

The celebratory mood was, however, also marked by the death of a man in Darbhanga district and a woman in Samastipur.

"Both died of heart attack," the chief secretary said.

The success of the human chain also exposed chinks in the opposition Grand Alliance, which had chosen to stay away from the event.

RJD MLAs Faraz Fatami, Maheshwar Yadav and Prema Devi and MLC Sanjay Prasad, besides Congress MLA Munna Tiwari took part in the exercise much to the chagrin of their parties.

Fatami said, "I am supporting the cause and not taking a political stand. I do not think my move harms the party in any way. I would have, however, liked the RJD to rise above politics and support this human chain. It's not about politics."



"I know the party is thinking of humiliating me, in the name of discipline, like it humiliated my father. I wish to ask if discipline is so important in the RJD, why no action was taken against Tej Pratap Yadav (party supremo Lalu Prasads elder son) who caused many of our candidates to lose in Lok Sabha polls," Fatami said.

His father Mohd Ashraf Fatami has ended his long association with the RJD and joined the JD(U) headed by the chief minister.

Opposition leaders like Tejashwi Yadav and former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi alleged that people from all walks of life, including small children, were forced to take part in the human chain, which was a "colossal wastage of government resources".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sam Frost has reportedly split from her long-term boyfriend, Dave Bashford.

A source close to the couple supposedly 'confirmed' the break-up to Woman's Day on Monday, explaining that Sam, 30, is now prioritising her career over romance.

The pair have not shared a picture together on Instagram since September.

Over? Sam Frost (right) has reportedly split from her long-term boyfriend, Dave Bashford (left)

'It all became too much for Sam who was going through a lot,' the source claimed.

'When things are good, they're both very happy, but the lows are bad. They argue over trivial things.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sam's representative for comment.

Her agent did not respond to previous emails from Daily Mail Australia several weeks ago, when rumours of a split first surfaced.

'It all became too much': A source close to the couple supposedly 'confirmed' the break-up to Woman's Day on Monday, explaining that Sam, 30, is now prioritising her career over romance

Sam, who plays Jasmine Delaney on Home and Away, began dating navy diver Dave in July 2017.

They were last spotted in public together on September 21, at the Colgate Optic White Stakes Day in Randwick, Sydney.

Sam and Dave appeared to spend New Year's Eve apart. The former Bachelorette instead enjoyed a girls' trip to New Zealand with her friend Laura French.

Going their separate ways? 'When things are good, they're both very happy, but the lows are bad. They argue over trivial things,' added the insider

In June last year, Dave pleaded guilty to possessing 0.4 grams of cocaine.

The 27-year-old had been busted during a covert police drug operation at the Beach Road Hotel in Sydney's Bondi on May 4.

On June 25, magistrate Michael Compton handed Dave a 12-month good behaviour bond and conditional release.

Final sighting: They were last spotted in public together on September 21, at the Colgate Optic White Stakes Day in Randwick, Sydney

At the time, Sam supported her boyfriend during his legal troubles.

'I just love him so much and I think, fair enough if it was me, but it wasn't me and I had nothing to do with it,' she said of the media scrutiny Dave faced.

'But it was something that happened and now it's public because of me.'

'He's human, he made a mistake and he's extremely remorseful and I think it's unfair that it's had to play out in the media because he doesn't deserve it,' she added.
Being a known figure, he chose to stay back in his native place when the Valley was in the grip of turmoil.

An FIR was registered at the local police station Dooru. Unfortunately, no clue regarding the accused was stuck out, so the probe in the case was closed as untraced.

New Delhi: The exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits will be completing 30 years on Sunday (January 19), but the community is still waiting for justice and their return to homeland with honour and dignity.

Late Sarwanand Koul Premi is still being remembered in Kashmir as a renowned poet, a social activist, a journalist and a reputed author of around three dozen books. Being a known figure, he chose to stay back in his native place when the Valley was in the grip of turmoil.

Unfortunately, his belief was brutally shattered and cost him his and his younger sons life. On the intervening night of April 29-30, 1990, some unknown persons kidnapped Premi and his son Veerji Koul from their native village Soafshali and then killed them. An FIR was registered at the local police station Dooru. Unfortunately, no clue regarding the accused was stuck out, so the probe in the case was closed as untraced.

Further, the family suffered another blow when on the intervening night of August 11-12, 1998, some miscreants set the residence of Premi on fire regarding which an FIR was registered. The case was again closed as the culprits were untraced.

However, Rajender Koul Premi, the elder son of Sarwanand Koul Premi, who was forced to migrate to Delhi after the horrifying incident with his family is still fighting for justice not only for his personal cause but also for the entire community.

Mr. Premi, who is the complainant, told this newspaper that even after 29 years of the tragic incident, the inaction and insensitive approach of the government, which initially had made huge promises to compensate and resettle the family, has miserably failed to transform the same into action.

For the last 29 years, I have met Prime Ministers and chief ministers, Union ministers and top officials but everything went in vain, we are yet to get justice. My family has lost everything so as my community. We want justice, due compensation and return to our homeland with safety and security. He further said that after the government revoked Article 370 last year, we got a ray of hope. People are now coming forward for the our cause.

The State Human Rights Commission on February 22, 2012, in its double-bench verdict has ordered very valid recommendations and has asked the state government to redress the grievances of the family sooner the better but nothing has changed since then, said Mr Premi.

Meanwhile, the Kashmiri Pandits living in the national capital are now expecting the Centre to chart out a concrete roadmap for their safe return and rehabilitation in the trouble-torn valley.
Hundreds of Chileans rallied Saturday night to protest what they call police repression during three months of the worst social unrest since democracy replaced the country's military dictatorship in 1990. More than 1,000 people, many wearing black, marched in silence from Plaza Italia, ground zero of all the protests, along Alameda Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Chile's capital. Keeping quiet was their way of denouncing the security forces' use of tear gas, water cannon and birdshot, although the latter was barred in November because it was causing many injuries. "We are marching because of the human rights violations we have suffered. We will be here as long as is needed. This is the new Chile," said a social worker who gave her name only as Ana Maria. The unrest broke out over a metro fare rise but quickly grew into a broader outcry against economic and social inequality in what had been considered among the most stable countries in Latin America. A total of 29 have died in violence related to the protests and nearly 3,700 were injured -- more than 400 with eye injuries from the birdshot fired by police, according to the National Human Rights Institute. The protesters on Saturday night got close to the La Moneda presidential palace. They sang and shouted slogans against conservative President Sebastian Pinera, whose approval rating has dropped to single digits since the protests began in November. Chileans march against police repression outside the presidential palace
China's Vice Premier Liu to sign U.S. trade deal in Washington next week Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Vice Premier Liu He, head of the country's negotiation team in Sino-U.S. trade talks, will sign a "Phase 1" deal in Washington next week, the commerce ministry said on Thursday.

Liu will visit Washington on Jan. 13-15, said Gao Feng, spokesman at the commerce ministry.

Negotiating teams from both sides remain in close communication on the particular arrangements of the signing, Gao told reporters at a regular briefing.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Dec. 31 that the Phase 1 deal with China would be signed on Jan. 15 at the White House. Trump also said he would sign the deal with "high-level representatives of China," and that he would later travel to Beijing to begin talks on the next phase.

The Chinese delegation will include 10 officials, among them Zhong Shan, minister of commerce, Yi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China, Liao Min, vice minister of finance and Zheng Zeguang, vice minister of foreign affairs, as well as China's ambassador to Washington, Cui Tiankai, according to a U.S. source familiar with the preparations.

The United States launched a trade war against Beijing a year and half ago over allegations of unfair trade practices, such as theft of U.S. intellectual property and subsidies that unfairly benefit Chinese state-owned companies.

The Phase 1 deal, reached last month, is expected to cut tariffs and boost Chinese purchases of U.S. farm, energy and manufactured goods while addressing some disputes over intellectual property.

But no version of the text has been made public, and Chinese officials have yet to publicly commit to key points such as increasing imports of U.S. goods and services by $200 billion over two years.

China will not increase its annual low-tariff import quotas for corn, wheat and rice to accommodate stepped-up purchases of farm goods from the United States, senior agriculture official Han Jun said on Tuesday, according to local media group Caixin.

Story continues

The move could make it harder for Beijing to meet import commitments in a Phase 1 trade deal. Trump said last month the agreement would likely double China's $24 billion in pre-trade war purchases to $40 billion-$50 billion annually.

When asked if China would have to reduce grain imports from other countries in order to meet its U.S. commitments, Gao said that China will continue to improve the administration of tariff quotas for wheat, corn and soybeans in accordance with World Trade Organization commitments, and will make full use of quotas according to market conditions.

This is not inconsistent with expanding agricultural imports from the United States, said Gao.

(Reporting by Gabriel Crossley, Andrea Shalal in Washington; writing by Ryan Woo; Editing by Himani Sarkar, Gerry Doyle and Steve Orlofsky)
The company that owns the Ritz at the Bourse movie theater complex at 400 Ranstead St. in Center City said the facility will close Jan. 31, and the final screenings will be Jan. 26.

We regret to inform you that the Ritz at the Bourse is closing. Thank you for your continued patronage and we look forward to serving you at the Ritz East and the Ritz Five, Cohen Media Group said in a statement issued Sunday. The company declined further comment.

The Old City theater, with its half-dozen screens, was opened by Ritz Theatre founder Ramon L. Posel in 1990. Ownership was transferred to Landmark Theatres in March 2007. The Landmark Theatres chain, including its three locations in Philadelphia, was sold to Cohen Media in December 2018. Landmark is co-owned by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who sold the chain for a reported sum of $70 million to $100 million.

Cohen Media acquired 56 Landmark theaters in 27 markets, including the Ritz Five, Ritz at the Bourse, and Ritz East. The Ritz location in Voorhees was sold to a separate entity.

Cohen Media was founded in 2008 by real estate developer Charles S. Cohen, who became a film producer. His work includes Frozen River, which garnered a 2009 best actress Oscar nomination for Melissa Leo and a number of nominations for her, and a few wins, for other awards; and The Salesman, which won the best foreign language film Oscar in 2016.

At the time of the acquisition, Cohen said, I have been in the art house business for a long time as both a distributor and a producer, and I know better than most that these films need a special home and require the utmost care. Landmark is that home.

Cohen purchased and renovated New York Citys Quad Cinema, but made few upgrades to his Philadelphia holdings, at a time when national chains like AMC and Regal were spending heavily to redo theaters, particularly in the Philadelphia market. Landmark had also been competing with the Philadelphia Film Society and its two facilities, the Philadelphia Film Center at Broad and Chestnut Streets and PFS Roxy Theater at 20th and Sansom Streets. AMC has also recently opened eight screens in the Fashion District, the former Gallery at Market East.

Independent distributors like Cohen have been hit hard by the rise in streaming services, which have competed in the independent art house space that draws people to theaters like the Ritz at the Bourse. In fact, when Cuban put Landmark up for sale, Netflix and Amazon were rumored to be among the interested parties. Netflix has purchased independent theaters in a few markets in order to give it more options for distribution  Netflix has frequently quarreled with major chains over its policy of mandating a limited theatrical run. Owning its own theaters gives it more flexibility.

Comcast plans to launch its Peacock streaming service this spring in hopes of luring cord-cutters.

There is no early word from Landmark about whether the Ritz at the Bourse is being marketed to potential distributors like Netflix. Netflixs The Irishman is one of the seven titles currently playing there. Other titles are A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Pain and Glory, A Hidden Life, Honey Boy, The Lighthouse and What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael."

The Bourse was also home to Landmarks Midnight Madness series  Friday midnight screenings of cult classics like The Room. There was no word on whether the series will be exported to the Ritz East or Ritz Five. And Sundays announcement did not indicate what would happen with the building.
New year, new military branch, same old uniform.

The United States Space Force on Friday unveiled the name tapes for its utility uniforms, showcasing the blue embroidered name on a camouflage uniform  much to the internets delight and confusion.

The first #SpaceForce utility uniform nametapes have touched down in the Pentagon, the Space Force said on Twitter.

In the image shared by the Space Force, blue thread was used for the name tape that is worn above the left breast pocket. The Army uses black and the Air Force uses spice brown, an Air Force official said on Saturday. A logo, a seal and an emblem for the Space Force remain under development.

The Space Force announcement quickly drew questions as social media users homed in on the camouflage uniform to which the name tape was attached. The photo inspired Star Wars jokes, and some mused about future battles on the Forest Moon of Endor.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 17 -- Countries around the world are once again hopeful about the sound development of China-U.S. relations in the new year as the two leading economies have made fresh progress in resolving their trade frictions, a Chinese diplomat said here Friday.

In a speech celebrating the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Jan. 25, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Wang Donghua told an audience of over 700 people that the year 2020 will be a key year in the development of China-U.S. relations.

"Both the Chinese and American people, as well as other countries in the world, are holding new hopes for the China-U.S. relations in the new year," Wang said.

He noted that China is willing to work with the United States to implement the phase-one economic and trade agreement signed this week so that their economic and trade cooperation can return to normal as soon as possible.

"We urge the United States to take a correct, objective approach to China and adopt a rational China policy, and to make joint efforts with China to bring their ties back to the track of a stable, healthy growth," he said.

The year 2019 marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, and achievements in the past decades have "fully" proved that the two countries are not strategic rivals, but cooperative partners, said Wang.

As the world's two largest economies, China and the United States are highly intertwined economically and share a lot of common interests as well as broad prospects for cooperation, Wang noted.

Marilyn Librers, president of China Silicon Valley, an organization that promotes cooperation between China and the U.S. tech hub, said she was excited to attend the Chinese Lunar New Year reception because she is optimistic about the future of the two countries.

"I see the future to be booming for both of our countries, which is very exciting," she told Xinhua, adding that both China and the United States are major countries with significant influence.

"We must trade and we must have commerce together," Librers said.

Geoffrey Wilson, president of the Physicians Organizing Committee, a San Francisco-based non-profit association which has committed itself to fighting for ethics in the health profession, said he was looking forward to "a great prosperous year" ahead for China and the United States.

Wilson said the phase-one deal will help improve the relationship between the United States and China because they can benefit a lot from cooperation that will continue in the new year.

He said China and the United States can benefit from each other in many ways and he expects trade to flow for both countries. "If we can remove the trade barriers, the entire world will benefit," Wilson said.
Ryan Kwanten had a breakthrough role on HBO's True Blood from 2008 to 2014.

And the 43-year-old looked a world away from his playful character Jason Stackhouse, while cutting a serious figure on Saturday.

The actor was busy promoting his new project Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones as part of the 2020 Winter Television Critics Association tour in Pasadena.

New look: Ryan Kwanten, 43, (pictured) looked a world away from his days as Jason Stackhouse in True Blood as he promoted Sacred Lies: The Singing Bones in Pasadena

Ryan sat next to his co-stars Juliette Lewis and Kristin Bauer van Straten, with him speaking onstage at the Blumhouse Television and Facebook Watch segment.

Ryan appeared animated as spoke to the crowd describing the project in detail and speaking about his take at the The Langham Huntington.

The actor appeared clearly upbeat, with him smirking at some points and gesturing with his hands while speaking while sat on a leather chair.

Handsome: Ryan looked animated as he spoke about the series, in which he plays inmate Peter, a man with a troubled past

Leading man: The actor opted for a beige top while promoting the original drama series, which will air on Facebook Watch next month

The actor looked every inch the part of the Hollywood hunk, wearing his cropped chestnut brown hair in a neat part.

The Australian star also sported a bit of scruffy facial hair, of course making hearts in the room flutter with delight.

The actor opted for a casual look for the event, wearing a beige short sleeve t-shirt with a pocket. He paired the top with slim-fit black jeans.

Holding court: Ryan was engaging as he promoted the series alongside Kristin Bauer van Straten (R), while speaking at the event

He finished the ensemble with a black wristwatch along with stylish black lace-up boots.

According to blog Futon Critic, this season of Sacred Lies follow Elise as she searches for a family she never knew after being abandoned as a child.

The story line is heavily inspired by the Brothers Grimm's The Singing Bone with real crime cases weaved into the fictitious story.

Who me? Ryan even appeared to get a cheeky laugh out of the crowd. Here with co-star Kristin Bauer van Straten (R)

Ryan plays Peter, Elise's father, who is currently incarcerated for past dark crimes, with him possibly having committed more crimes than is first thought.

While Juliette Lewis plays Harper, a telemarketer-turned-amateur detective who has made a lifestyle out of searching for unidentified murder victims.

The series has the same executive producer as True Blood.

Actor's studio: Ryan and his co-stars Juliette Lewis (L) and Kristin Bauer van Straten (R) took turns in speaking about the project

Facebook Watch is the social media giant's on-demand video streaming service.

Australian-born Ryan is well-known to cable TV fans having starred on True Blood in the main cast ensemble from 2008 to 2014.

The hunky actor also stars on The Oath, which premiered on Sony Crackle on March 8, last year.

He is most recognisable to Australian and UK fans from the long-running series Home and Away, where he starred as Vinnie Patterson from 1997 to 2002.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-19 22:01:02

WorldRemit Appoints Scott Eddington as APAC Managing Director, to Lead Development in the Region

Enquiries:

WorldRemit

Rachel Matthews

media@worldremit.com

Leading mobile payments company WorldRemit has appointed seasoned digital executive Scott Eddington to lead the Asia Pacific business as it positions itself to help even more customers make secure, quick and affordable cross border payments.

Scott will be responsible for accelerating WorldRemits mobile payments service in Asia Pacific, which currently allows customers to send from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Developments in Asia such as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) envision free flow of labour and are likely to change the traditional migration and cross border payments flows over the next decade with more intra Asian migration. Scott will also be responsible for the development of WorldRemits send and receive network, helping deliver services into new geographies in a secure and convenient way.

Prior to joining WorldRemit, Scott was responsible for digital strategy at Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Scott has over ten years of international expertise in a variety of roles working for McKinsey and Company and Linklaters LLP based in London, Japan and Singapore.

I am pleased to welcome Scott to WorldRemit at this exciting time. Over the last ten years, WorldRemit has transformed the cross border payments industry by making money transfers as easy as sending a text. The digital insight Scott brings from his previous roles will help continue our journey delivering a mobile first service that is convenient, fast, secure and value for money, said Tamer El-Emary, Chief Commercial Officer at WorldRemit.

About WorldRemit

WorldRemit has disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online - making them safer, faster and lower-cost. We currently send from 50 to 150 countries, operate in 6,500 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 800 people worldwide.

On the sending side WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money.

Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog  WorldRemits headquarters are in London, UK with a global presence in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200119005
Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday said the number of devotees visiting the Saibaba shrine in Shirdi took a hit on Sunday due to the bandh even as he called for peaceful resolution of the row over Saibaba's actual birthplace.

Shirdi remained shut in protest against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's statement referring Pathri town in Parbhani district as the "janmasthan" (birthplace) of Saibaba, the 19th Century spiritual figure.

"When I enquired about today's footfall of devotees at Shirdi, I came to know that it dropped by 10,000. I also got to know that people cancelled their bookings at hotels in the temple town," the Food and Civil Supplies Minister told reporters here.

The senior NCP leader said such bandhs and protests are not good for the temple town.

Earlier in the day, Sachin Tambe, a former member of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust said that devotees visiting Shirdi didn't face any inconvenience due to the bandh.

An Ahmednagar district administration official had said that devotees who made pre-bookings at hotels in Shirdi were allowed to stay.

Meanwhile, Bhujbal also appealed to residents of Pathri and Shirdi to resolve the row through dialogue.

"Saibaba would not have liked the controversy over his birthplace," Bhujbal said.

He said Saibaba's devotees visit the Shrdi shrine from far-flung places in India and abroad.

"Saibaba is above any caste or religion. Though there are many people in the society who say that Saibaba is not God, but that doesn't anyway lower his stature. Saibaba brings people of all castes and communities together. It is not good to fight in his name," the minister said.

He said CM will speak to people from both the sides on Monday.

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

VISAKHAPATNAM: Eastern Naval Command is preparing to organise yet another multi-national exercise. After successfully hosting International Fleet Review in February 2016, Visakhapatnam will be hosting another international naval event MILAN-2020 in March.

MILAN, a series of biennial and a multilateral naval exercises that commenced in 1995 and conducted at Andaman and Nicobar Command till 2018, is now being held for the first time on the mainland at Eastern Naval Command (ENC) with increased scope and complexity of the exercise. MILAN 2020 with the theme Synergy Across the Seas would provide an opportunity for operational commanders of friendly foreign navies to interact with each other.

The exercise is aimed at enhancing professional interaction between friendly foreign navies and learn from each others strengths and best practices. The areas of cooperation included capacity building, training, operational exercise marine domain awareness, hydrography and technical assistance. Apart from a large number of ships, senior dignitaries from foreign navies are expected to take part in various programmes and visit naval facilities.

Among the countries participating in the exercise include New Zealand, Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Qatar, Mauritius, Korea, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, South Africa, France, Brunei, Bangladesh, Russia, Iran, Oman, UAE, Kuwait, Tanzania, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Bahrain and Seychelles.
While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatened to carry out a protest in Abuja on Monday, protesters have trooped to the streets of Owerri, Imo state capital, today to voice their disapproval with the verdict of the supreme court which led to the removal of Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo state.

The apex court had on Tuesday nullified Ihediohas victory and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to return Hope Uzodinma, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election.

Uzodinma placed a distant fourth in the results announced by INEC but the supreme court declared him winner based on the APC candidates claim that his votes across 388 polling units were annulled.



Uzodinma was sworn-in barely 24 hours after the verdict.

BREAKING Ongoing protests in Imo State over the removal of Emeka Ihedioha as Governor by the Supreme Court pic.twitter.com/El244LJIcA  Dele Momodu Ovation (@DeleMomodu) January 19, 2020

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Police in San Francisco are investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday night in the Tenderloin neighborhood that sent one person to the hospital.

Officers with the San Francisco Police Department responded Saturday at 11:21 p.m. to shots fire in the 900 block of Market Street.

A short time later, a victim suffering from a gunshot wound arrived at a local hospital, according to police.

No other information about the shooting was immediately available.

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.
Apongbon area of Lagos state was thrown into confusion as a bikeman identified as John Abanna died at the hands of an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority(LASTMA) and a commercial bus driver, Punch reports.

According to reports, the man was killed after the officials flagged down the commercial driver for violating traffic law.

While trying to evade arrest, the driver reportedly made to zoom off but one of the officials pounced on his steering wheel.

Read Also: LASTMA Official Seizes Phone Of Lady Who Recorded Him Extorting Money From Motorists (Video)

While they were struggling with the steering, the driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the bike man who died on the spot.

According to an eye witness who spoke with journalists after the incident, he said the bikeman died after hitting his head on the floor as a result of the accident.

His words:

Some LASTMA officials wanted to arrest a Danfo driver at Apogbon for a traffic offence but he resisted arrest. One of them started struggling the steering wheel with the driver who was not ready to surrender.

The driver wanted to zoom off not knowing a rider was right beside the bus. As the rider tried to pass, the vehicle veered and knocked him off the motorcycle. He hit his head on the floor and died on the spot.

The LASTMA officials fled but some boys chased them to their office in Iponri and vandalised some vehicles. Some of the officials quickly changed their uniform to mufti.



However, Mr. Olumide Filade, the spokesman of LASTMA denied that the officials were responsible for the crash.

He said:

The incident has nothing to do with us. From Apogbon, the motorcyclist was riding against traffic when he was knocked down by the bus. No LASTMA official was struggling with the Danfo driver.

Unfortunately, some miscreants who always support okada riders attacked our office.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, said the corpse had been deposited at the Mainland Hospital mortuary, Yaba, and investigation had commenced.

He said, Police received information that some commercial motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders had invaded LASTMA office along Funsho Williams Avenue.

On receipt of the report, a police team mobilised to the scene. It was observed that over 100 motorcyclists were already vandalising vehicles in LASTMA colours.

Also, a body later identified as John Abanna was lying lifeless right in front of LASTMA office. The deceased was said to have been knocked down by a Vanagon bus around Apongbon Bridge after the driver and a LASTMA official were said to have struggled over the steering wheel which caused the driver to inadvertently run into the deceased.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the international community to stand against the merchants of blood and chaos, as he headed to a Berlin summit seeking to resolve the Libya conflict.

Mr Erdogan supports the UN-backed administration in Tripoli led by Fayez Sarraj and sent troops to Libya earlier this month to help them in their battle with eastern-based forces led by General Khalifa Hifter.

He will join leaders from Russia, the West and Arab countries, as well as the heads of the opposing Libyan factions, in the German capital in a bid to halt nine months of fighting around the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be among those attending.

Expand Close General Khalifa Hifter leads eastern-based forces in Libya (Petros Giannakouris/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp General Khalifa Hifter leads eastern-based forces in Libya (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

Speaking at Istanbuls Ataturk Airport, Mr Erdogan said the world had failed to respond adequately to Gen Hifters reckless attacks.

He added: Hopes that flourish again with the ceasefire and the Berlin summit should not be sacrificed to the ambitions of the merchants of blood and chaos.

A truce sponsored by Turkey and Russia was imposed a week ago but sporadic fighting has continued.

On Friday, tribal groups loyal to Gen Hifter seized several large oil export terminals along Libyas eastern coast as well as southern oil fields in another challenge to the Tripoli government,

Germany is bringing together key players in Libyas long-running conflict in a bid to solidify the ceasefire and help relaunch a political process to determine Libyas future.

Mr Serrajs government is backed by Turkey, Qatar and Italy while Gen Hifter is supported by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and France.

Russian military contractors have been fighting alongside Gen Hifters forces, although Moscow retains links to both sides in the conflict.
The government has roped in states to expedite projects worth about Rs 90,000 crore to directly supply piped natural gas to about 40 million households, and it has nudged Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL) to set up a Rs 250-crore gas equipment manufacturing unit to halt the influx of Chinese meters, people familiar with the development said.

For the first time, the ministry of petroleum and natural gas will hold a conference of all stakeholders, including state governments, this week to resolve the contentious issue of land rights, a state subject, which is a major roadblock in creating underground pipeline infrastructure for city gas distribution (CGD) projects, a person with knowledge of the matter said on condition of anonymity.

The ministry has also prompted state-run promoters of IGL to quickly set up a manufacturing facility under a joint venture with a global technical expert to locally meet the demand of about 40 million meters in the next four-five years, he added.

IGL, which is a private entity, is promoted by state-run energy majors  Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) and Gail India Ltd with equal shareholding of 22.5% each. Balance equity in the company is held by banks, financial institutions and the public.

India is taking all necessary steps to usher in a gas-based economy and at the same time, encouraging domestic companies to localise manufacturing of equipment to boost the economy and generate employment. Supply of PNG [piped natural gas] to kitchens and CNG [compressed natural gas] to vehicles is part of the strategy, a second person, who works for the petroleum ministry, said on condition of anonymity.

IGL managing director ES Ranganathan confirmed the development. We have to meet a demand of at least 40 million meters in the next seven years. It is a good opportunity to set up a meter manufacturing unit under a joint venture soon. We plan to invest about Rs 100 crore in plant and machinery and about Rs 150 to Rs 200 crore as working capital, he said. Currently, China is the bulk supplier of the meters.

He said that the venture will start by June this year, locally assembling imported components, and full-scale manufacturing will begin from January 2021. Joint venture with a foreign partner is required mainly for technology knowhow, he added.

The petroleum ministry official quoted above said the government will encourage other public sector companies and domestic private firms to manufacture equipment locally, as they have an opportunity to tap investments worth Rs 1,94,666 crore in the oil and gas sector by 2025. The road map was unveiled by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman as part of the Rs 105 lakh crore planned infrastructure projects on December 31 last year.

An announcement to this effect is expected on Thursday at the national conclave on emerging opportunities in natural gas sector, the second person said. The conclave is expected to be inaugurated by home minister Amit Shah and attended by oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan, senior officials from states, regulators, and industry bodies.

So far, 5.5 million domestic households are connections with piped gas in the country. The target is to add another 40 million households by 2027, the two people mentioned above said. Currently, city gas projects are underway in 232 geographical areas covering more than 400 districts across 27 states and Union Territories.

Vijay Kumar Gupta, former central council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) said: It is a good strategy of the Centre to rope in states to avoid unnecessary delays in getting regulatory clearances, a state subject. The government plans to spend about Rs 1.95 lakh crore in development of oil and gas infrastructure. The share of CGD alone is expected to be over Rs 90,000 crore. This is the time when the government should encourage domestic investors to set up manufacturing facilities, which will boost the sagging economy.

Indias gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 4.5% in the July-September quarter (Q2 2019-20), the lowest since March 2013. According to the Central Statistical Offices (CSO) first advanced estimates, Indias GDP is expected to grow at 5% in 2019-20, a 10-year low.
On the heels of a safety report accounting for more than 3,000 sexual assaults on rides in one year, the ridesharing app Uber rolled out a new security feature recently, garnering some praise from safety advocates as they stressed more could be done.

The new feature, first announced in December, allows a rider to add a four-digit PIN code that only their matched driver can enter.

When an Uber vehicle pulls up, a rider can tell the driver the PIN code, which the driver then enters into their app. The riders app will indicate if their PIN was used by the correct driver.

The changes are designed to better ensure riders are getting in the right car.

The update to the app spurred discussion of a notorious case involving a Mercer County woman killed after mistaking a man to be her Uber driver.

Samantha Josephson, of Robbinsville, was kidnapped and killed in South Carolina in March 2019 after she got into the mans car.

Authorities said Nathaniel Rowland picked up Josephson March 30 in a Chevrolet Impala outside of a bar near the University of South Carolina, where she studied political science.

Rowland, who was not her driver, is accused of trapping Josephson in the car and killing her, later leaving her body in a wooded area.

The 21-year-old had plans to move back to the area and attend Drexel Universitys law school in Philadelphia.

Her father Seymour Josephson, in a statement released from the office of U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th Dist., said the PIN feature appears to be in line with some of the rideshare reforms they were seeking.

I could only wish that it did not take Samanthas death and our constant push to create these safety measures," he said. "We ask, why wasnt this done prior? Why did it take her kidnapping and murder for this to happen!

A bill in the works, Samis Law, would encourage states to require rideshare drivers to identify their vehicles clearly with digital signage and scannable barcodes. States that didnt would lose a portion of their federal highway funding.

New Jersey passed a law about this in June.

The federal bill, sponsored by Smith, has been in the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit since October 2019, Congressional records show.

A rideshare safety expert said the case is an extremely tragic example of a bigger problem.

There are predators who search for victims and those predators have found their way into rideshare, said Bryant Greening, a Chicago-based attorney whose firm, LegalRideShare, pursues personal injury cases against rideshare companies.

Its more common to see instances of a driver robbing someone, or driving them to an ATM and ordering them to take out money, he said. But cases like Josephsons capture our attention.

After that and a few other high-profile cases, companies were forced to react with innovation, Greening said.

In a few cities, Uber is testing a feature that records audio of drivers rides, according to a November report in The Washington Post.

And Lyft announced this week that its forming a safety committee, including law enforcement groups and members of the Rape, Incest and Abuse National Network (RAINN).

In the statement, Seymour Josephson said he wants to see other safety changes like requiring front license plates, which is one of the changes addressed in the federal bill.

And he wants to see other rideshare companies, not just Uber, make those changes.

We have to applaud that theyre making efforts to create a safer environment, said Greening. "But were still having people victimized in rideshare cars. And until that number is zero, more work has to be done, he said.

Rowland is charged with murder and several other offenses in Richland County, South Carolina, court records there show. His proceedings have stalled, with the most recent court date listed in May 2019.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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Hyperinflation, joblessness and shortages of food, water and medicine have reduced life for many in this South American nation of 30 million to a daily struggle to survive. But Caracas, at least, is showing modest new signs of economic life: Government moves to ease controls on prices, currency and imports have put more food on store shelves, for those who can afford it. And this month, Guaido has faced a new challenge, as pro-government forces have sought to oust him from his perch as head of the National Assembly, the opposition-controlled body widely seen as the nations last democratic institution.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA  Its not unusual for a wide range of celebrities to appear at Television Critics Association press tour panels, but a day that includes both Kim Kardashian West and Paris Hilton is a bit out of the ordinary.

Both of the personalities were on hand, however, on Saturday to talk to journalists and critics about projects that are more serious than what most people would typically associate with either Kardashian West or Hilton.

Kardashian West discussed Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project, a two-hour documentary coming to Oxygen thats an outgrowth of the Keeping Up With the Kardashians stars advocacy for Alice Marie Johnson.

In a campaign that included lobbying President Donald Trump to grant clemency, Kardashian West helped free Johnson, a grandmother who was serving a life sentence for a first-time, non-violent drug offense.

Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project, which premieres at 7 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 7, explores four cases of incarcerated individuals whose situations illustrate issues in the justice system.

The documentary is described as following Kardashian Wests efforts to gain freedom for prisoners who have been wronged by the justice system.

In the panel discussing the show, Kardashian West said her efforts are part of an interest in the law. She traced that back to when she would sneak into the office of her late father, Robert Kardashian, when he was part of O.J. Simpsons murder trial defense team and, Kardashian West recalled, look at evidence she shouldnt have been looking at.

After years of watching crime shows and feeling like perpetrators should be locked up forever, Kardashian West said that meeting prisoners, and learning more about their circumstances, helped broaden her understanding about how such crimes occur.

When asked about her motives for pursuing sentencing reform, and criticisms that she was doing this for publicity, Kardashian West said, Im very used to criticism, so nothing really fazes me. Im one of those not-human souls that can really deal with it.

Adding, No, Im not doing it for publicity, Kardashian West said she is extremely compassionate, and spends 20 hours a week away from my family, and my kids, every single day. I just completed my first year of law school. Aced a test recently.

Kardashian West was joined on the panel by others involved in the documentary and in her advocacy work, including Jessica Jackson, co-founder, with CNN commentator Van Jones, of #CUT50, an organization dedicated to reducing the prison population.

Racial disparities in criminal justice sentencing also helped influence Kardashian Wests decision to get more involved in these cases, she said.

Im raising four black children that could face a situation like any of the people that I help, she said. Just to know that I could make a difference in my childrens lives, and their friends lives, and their childrens lives, by helping to fix such a broken system, that is just so motivating for me.

Asked about whether she wants to communicate her advocacy for justice reform to young fans who follow her, Kardashian West said, I absolutely do. I talk to my kids about it, and theyre extremely young, adding that she also talks to her younger sisters about her work.

I think everyone is really interested in justice reform right now, Kardashian West said, adding that she is proud of the younger generation for really being so knowledgeable and caring so much.

Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project premieres at 7 p.m. PT Sunday, April 7, on Oxygen.

Paris Hilton talked about "This Is Paris," a documentary about her that begins streaming on YouTube in May, at the Television Critics Association 2020 winter press tour, in Pasadena, California. (Photo: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

This Is Paris: Just as Kim Kardashian West spoke about how she has interests that go far beyond the gossipy image people may have of her, heiress Paris Hilton talked about a new documentary that promises to reveal her private issues and experiences.

This Is Paris begins streaming in May on YouTube. When she was first approached about doing the documentary, Hilton said, I was very reluctant to do it. And I didnt really want to take the meeting, because I wasnt ready to really show myself.

Though her life and global travels look glamorous, Hilton said, it does get lonely sometimes. The blonde airhead that the public may identify as Hilton isnt really her, she said.

Ive been playing this character for so long, she said. Even during this film, I really discovered a lot about myself and who I really am, and I wanted the world to see there are a lot of misconceptions. And Ive been judged based on a character that I created in the beginning of my career. And now I feel like its finally time that people see who the real Paris is.

Hilton didnt specify what experiences This Is Paris may reveal, but she said the documentary is different than anything shes ever done.

The director, Alexandra Dean, followed Hilton for the documentary to show her real life, Hilton said, not the character shes been playing.

With this, I really just wanted to pull the curtain back, and show my real life, and talk about things that are very hard to talk about, and things that Ive experienced in life that Ive never discussed before. It was an amazing experience, but also very scary, even watching the film for the first time. I was like, Oh my God, I cant really  can we cut that out? I was kind of freaking out. But they have total control over the whole film, so everything is in there.

Dean, who was also on the panel, recalled how she was initially reluctant to do a film on Paris Hilton. But the more she learned, the more she thought a documentary about Hilton was a logical next step following Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, in which Dean explored the life and career of Lamarr, who became a Hollywood star because of her beauty, but who was also an inventor, with an interest in technology.

I felt like a lot of people wanted to talk about misunderstood women, wanted to talk about women in America today, and I wanted to pick up that conversation and continue it, Dean said.

Of her persona as the flighty, pampered heiress from the reality show, The Simple Life, Hilton said, People thought thats who I really was, so sometimes it is annoying that people assume that I am(that) blonde airhead that I was playing on the show.

Though Hilton said she was in on the joke when she was doing The Simple Life, she added, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. But basically, before the show started they said, We want this to be Green Acres meets Clueless, and we want you to play into the character of, you dont know what youre doing. Kind of just having fun with it in a way. Like, obviously, I know what Walmart is.

Hilton said she wanted to entertain the audience, though I didnt realize what a huge success the show would be, and that I would continue shooting it for five more years. So, I just had to continue doing this character over and over again. And Im also naturally a very shy person, which most people wont believe either. So, I think with that character was kind of like a mask to hide behind because I was a very shy person. So, when I would go into this character, I felt kind of like I was acting, and just having fun with it.

This Is Paris will be much different, Hilton said. Its very emotional, this movie. Its very raw, its very authentic, she went on, apologizing for being a little nervous.

In this film, I really discuss things that Ive never discussed before," she said. "I also show me as a businesswoman, and what Ive created and how hard I work with my empires. And I hope that people are really just going to see who I truly am.

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Chhattisgarh: Light-emitting drone-like object spotted over CRPF camp in Sukma

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Raipur, Jan 19: A drone-like object was spotted flying over a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Chhattisgarh's naxal-affected Sukma district, an official said on Saturday.

Similar light-emitting objects had been spotted flying near camps of CRPF in the district thrice in October last year.

A drone-like object was sighted for about 15 minutes in the sky over the Puswada camp of the CRPF on the highly-sensitive Dornapal-Jagargunda axis on Friday night, Sukma Superintendent of Police Shalabh Sinha told PTI.

BSF personnel shoot down drone along Indo-Pak border

"We launched our UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle or drone) to track its movement. However, the light of the suspected drone went off and it disappeared," he added.

NEWS AT NOON, JANUARY 19th, 2020

The object was similar to those seen flying over security forces' camps in Kistaram and Pallodi area of the district in October, the SP said. It was yet to be ascertained if Maoists were operating these drones, he added. Sukma, around 400 km away from state capitalRaipur, is one of the worst naxal-hit districtsin the country and shares borders with Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

A senior police official posted in Bastar said there were reports that naxals were trying show their lower-rung cadres that they had access to hi-tech equipment in order to motivate them.

"Naxals need not use drones to find the layout of security forces' camps in their core areas," he said. It was also unlikely that Naxals were using drones to keep a watch on the movement of security forces as drones can be shot down easily," the official said.

BSF working on tech solutions to combat drones along Indo-Pak border, says DG V K Johri

"But recently we have got inputs that naxals were showing video clips of police camps, which might have been recorded through drones, to their lower-rung cadres in some interior villages," he said. The objective was to show their strength to the cadres and motivate them, the official added. Flying drones over camps could also be intended to create a "psychological pressure" on the security forces, he said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, January 19, 2020, 10:59 [IST]
(Natural News) Presidential wannabe Andrew Yang has been caught illicitly using Wikipedia as his own personal campaign tool. But since hes a far-left communist, the fake news encyclopedia website is allowing him to do it without consequence.

Just like how Wikipedia allows Big Pharma to control the health narrative across its platform, Wikipedia is also allowing this opponent of Donald Trump to use the Google-promoted platform as a marketing mechanism for trying to seize the presidency this fall.

Even though using Wikipedia for such purposes is a clear violation of the sites official Terms of Use, Yang has apparently been given a free pass to flagrantly abuse the system by shamelessly promoting himself on it.

Yang himself isnt the one doing it, of course. That job was reportedly contracted out to Katie Bloom, the former Marketing Manager at Yangs non-profit group Venture for America, from which he resigned back in 2017.

According to reports, Bloom, whos currently listed as a paid contractor for Yangs presidential campaign committee, used her real name to create Yangs official Wikipedia page, which appeared just a few weeks after Trump was sworn in back in 2017.

Yangs bio initially resembled a puff piece or resume as it relied mainly on Yang and his non-profit as sources for content, largely listing Yangs accomplishments and his media profile, writes T.D. Adler for Breitbart News.

The page also cited other sources generally not considered reliable on Wikipedia and included details not contained in any of the cited sources, a violation of Wikipedia policy  Under Wikipedias Terms of Use paid editing is only permitted so long as editors prominently disclose their employer.

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Why is it okay for Democrats to violate Big Techs terms of use, but health freedom advocates cant even publish science that contradicts the establishment narrative?

Dredged-up archives of Venture for Americas staff page reveal that Bloom was, in fact, the groups Marketing Manager at the time Yangs Wikipedia promotional page was created. But no mention of Blooms affiliation was included in the entry, an undeniable violation of Wikipedias Terms of Use.

Even though Yang had not yet announced that he was running for president at the time when Bloom created his Wikipedia page, his official announcement came about two months later, suggesting that the whole thing was timed specifically for the purpose of promoting his presidential campaign.

His resignation (from Venture for America) took effect in September and he launched his campaign two months later, Adler further explains about the timeline of Yangs Wikipedia page appearing and his soon-after announcement about running for president.

Bloom was subsequently paid as a contractor for Yangs presidential campaign committee that year, where she was listed as having received nearly $2,000 for writing services.

Adler tried to reach out to both Bloom and Yangs campaign, only to receive silence in response. Meanwhile, Venture for America issued an official statement claiming that Bloom had created Yangs Wikipedia page:

 as part of her duties as Marketing Manager in order to provide information on Mr. Yang, who, at the time, was increasingly undertaking numerous speaking engagements as VFAs CEO. The page was created and last edited by Ms. Bloom in February 2017, prior to and without consideration of Mr. Yangs decision to leave VFA in September 2017 or his subsequent run for public office.

This is more than likely a lie, seeing as how its common for both public personalities and corporations to create customized Wikipedia articles just prior to a new product release  or in Yangs case, just prior to his announcement that he would be running for president.

Wikipedia is a bunch of snowflake editors and self-aggrandizing authors, wrote one Breitbart News commenter.

This is why I dont donate to Wikipedia, wrote another, adding that information on Wikipedia cant be trusted.

For more related news about Wikipedia, be sure to check out Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com
Nine teen major state-owned enterprises posted pre-tax profits of nearly 100 trillion $4.3 billion in 2019, marking a year-on-year drop of 10 percent.

The 19 groups and corporations posted consolidated revenues of VND1.48 quadrillion ($63.8 billion), 99 percent of the 2019 target and a 6.4 percent increase over 2018, according to the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises.

The groups and corporations include the The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the Vietnam Railways Corporation, and Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

PVN and EVN were the top gainers, each gaining almost VND400 trillion ($17.3 billion) in revenue for respective growth of 16.9 percent and 14.5 percent.

The commission also said that 10 out of 19 saw an increase in pretax profits last year.

Of these, VNPT and ACV saw their respective pretax profits rise 10.1 percent and 30.6 percent to VND7.1 trillion ($306 million) and VND10 trillion ($431 million).

PetroVietnam, on the other hand, saw its pretax profits fall 13.3 percent year-on-year to VND43.8 trillion ($1.9 billion) despite higher revenues.

Together, the 19 groups and corporations increased their state budget contributions by 17.6 percent year-on-year to more than VND221 trillion ($9.6 billion).

Total exports of businesses under the commission topped $2.2 billion, with rice, latex, alumina, tobacco and charcoal the leading export products.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife were rushed from a Paris theatre late Friday after protesters tried to burst in and disrupt the performance. Riot police were out in force as dozens of people staged a demonstration outside the theatre where Macron and Brigitte were watching "The Fly". About 30 protesters tried to enter the building housing the renowned Bouffes du Nord theatre after some people in the audience tweeted the presence of France's first couple, presidential staff said. The pair "were secured" for several minutes and later returned to their seats to finish watching the play, they said. Police said they prevented the protesters from getting into the theatre in the 10th district of Paris, which lies several kilometres from the president's Elysee Palace's residence. The Macrons, who occasionally slip out to enjoy a dinner or play in the French capital, finally left the theatre under police escort. "All together, general strike," protesters shouted during the stand-off with riot police that lasted around an hour. The demonstration took place on the 44th day of a crippling strike against the Macron government's proposed pension reforms. Though it is now easing, the strike has snarled train and metro traffic and caused misery for millions of commuters in Paris especially. Macron's staff were defiant after Friday's events. "The president will continue to attend plays as he is used to doing. He will watch out to defend creative freedom to ensure it is not undermined by violent political acts," a Macron aide said. Making few public appearances for weeks, Macron last mixed with the crowds when he visited the northern city of Amiens in November before his retirement reforms were announced. The overhaul aims to forge a single pensions system from the country's 42 separate regimes, which offer early retirement and other benefits to public-sector workers as well as lawyers, physical therapists and even Paris Opera employees. Critics say it will effectively force millions of people to work longer for a smaller pension.








By Jung Hae-myoung







Demand for traditional Korean sweets and cookies is increasing as people are trying to find more unique desserts. The current interest in all things traditional and retro among young Koreans is also contributing to the renewed interest in the products.







According to Gmarket statistics, the sales of traditional Korean snacks from Jan. 7 to 13 increased 108 percent compared to the same period last year.







Purchases of "yugwa," an oil-and-honey pastry, have increased 687 percent year-on-year, while Gmarket sales of yanggaeng, a jelly made of red bean paste, and packets of traditional Korean sweets also increased by 532 percent and 149 percent, respectively.







Sales of traditional snacks yakgwa and jeonbyeong increased by 55 percent and 18 percent, respectively.







The growing popularity can be seen in the sales increase in the domestic dessert market, which jumped by 1.5 trillion won in 2018.







With the domestic dessert market getting bigger, not only the western desserts such as cakes and macaroons but also Korean traditional desserts are grabbing more attention.







Companies selling traditional Korean snacks are focusing on making packaging look simpler and more eye-catching in order to attract young people who put more emphasis on the appearance of products.







CU have created fusion dessert offerings, using Korean traditional rice cake, tteok, to create original products such as a "crispy crunch ice bar" and "tteok roll."







According to CU, sales of products made of tteok have been increasing consistently since 2015, and in 2018 increased by 143.6 percent.







The products are also gaining popularity abroad as traditional Korean sweets are consistently being exported to China, followed by the U.K, Japan, Taiwan and other countries.







SPC Samlip have started selling "honey blossom cookies" in Costco outlets in various states in the U.S. including Seattle, San Francisco, and 250 other malls.







"Nowadays, traditional desserts are not only treats for people to enjoy during the holiday season but also in their everyday lives," the Gmarket representative said. "The products can be purchased from various routes from online shopping malls to dessert cafes."


Imperial Valley News Center

Proclamation on Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday, 2020

Washington, DC - On August 28, 1963, nearly a quarter of a million people gathered in the August heat on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to hear the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speak. People traveled to our Nations Capital from places as far away as Atlanta and Los Angeles to witness one of the defining moments in American history. On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King articulated the founding dream of America, the vision of our Founders for all Americans to live as an heir of the legacy of dignity and worth.

Today, we pause to honor the incredible life and accomplishments of Dr. King, who helped shape the Civil Rights Movement, gave hope to millions experiencing discrimination, and whose enduring memory inspires us to pursue a more just and equal society.

Dr. King dedicated his lifes work to fighting for the right of every American to achieve the American Dream. Born the son of a Baptist minister on Auburn Street in Atlanta, Dr. King became an American icon and hero to millions of freedom-loving peoples everywhere, propelled by his powerful and inspiring message of peaceful protest and nonviolent resistance. From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial before thousands to the quiet solitude of a jail cell in Birmingham, Dr. King evinced an unshakable commitment to create a better future, never relenting in his quest for justice.

Since its inception, our Nation has served as a beacon of hope and opportunity around the world. Americas promise of freedom and justice has guided our people through adversity to prosperity. Dr. Kings life and legacy stands as a testament to that promise, one rooted in the inalienable rights of mankind and a commitment to freedom from persecution. Throughout his battle against segregation and discrimination, Dr. King praised his fellow demonstrators for returning back to the deep wells of democracy that trace their roots to our founding. We honor Dr. Kings legacy and our Nations heritage when we act to protect and expand freedom and opportunity.

As President, I remain committed to safeguarding the promise of our Nation and the values we share, the values that Dr. King so ardently worked to achieve. My Administration works each day to ensure that all Americans have every opportunity to realize a better life for themselves and their families regardless of race, class, gender, or any other barriers that have arbitrarily stood in their way. We have seen historic economic growth, with more than 7 million new jobs since my election and record highs in African-American, HispanicAmerican, and Asian-American employment. Through a focused effort of deregulation and growth-oriented policies, we have unleashed the potential of the American economy and bolstered the strength of the greatest workforce in the world, the American workforce. We recognize that economic opportunity is the greatest engine for empowering individuals and families to overcome adversity, and we will continue to fight for opportunity for all Americans.

On this day, we are reminded of what Dr. King described as our noble capacity for justice and love and brotherhood. As we pay tribute to Dr. King, I urge all Americans to heed his call to action so that we may build the Beloved Community that he envisioned, living up to the sacred promise for a better future woven into the fabric of our American identity.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2020, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. On this day, I encourage all Americans to recommit themselves to Dr. Kings dream by engaging in acts of service to others, to their community, and to our Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.


Soldiers from the People's Liberation Army's Northern Theater Command prepare for the military drill "Vostok-2018"in Russia's Trans-Baikal region, Sept 7, 2018. [Photo by PAN MENGQI/CHINA DAILY]

BEIJING -- The Central Military Commission (CMC) has released a set of revised outlines on strengthening the military at the primary level.

The outlines, approved by Xi Jinping, chairman of the CMC, will take effect on Feb 1.

The move aims to build primary-level military units that listen to and follow the Party, is capable of fighting and winning and maintain good discipline and excellent conduct.

The CMC called for earnest efforts to study and implement the outlines.
He not only starred in a film franchise surrounding cars, he was obsessed with them in real life.

Now most of Paul Walker's personal vehicle collection has been sold, while some were kept by the late actor's daughter, Meadow Rain Walker.

The collection, which included a mix of cars, motorcycles and trucks, sold for the final total of $2,333,450 at auction.

Hitting the auction: Most of Paul Walker's personal vehicle collection has been sold, while some were kept by the late actor's daughter, Meadow Rain Walker. The late actor is seen in Germany in March 2009

The auction took place between Wednesday and Saturday.

'Paul Walker has been compared to a modern-day Steve McQueen, who lived his passion for racing in every aspect of his life,' said Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson, the company behind the auction.

'[He] has inspired entire generations of car lovers. We worked closely with a close friend of Paul's who helped care for Paul's collection following his death. He was responsible for consigning and prepping the vehicles for the auction. Paul's daughter, Meadow, kept a few vehicles she had a connection with.'

His pieces: The collection, which included a mix of cars, motorcycles and trucks, sold for the final total of $2,333,450 at auction

Wow: It appears that Paul owned a collection of 'five white BMW M3 Lightweight Editions', which was a big attention-grabber for car enthusiasts, according to The Hollywood Reporter

It appears that Paul owned a collection of 'five white BMW M3 Lightweight Editions', which was a big attention-grabber for car enthusiasts, according to The Hollywood Reporter .

It was astounding that Paul had five, considering there were only 126 made in the world.

Between the five, the 1995 E36 took in $385,000, while the rest brought in $220,000 to $258,500.

Timeline: The auction took place between Wednesday and Saturday

Paul most notable roles was as Brian O'Connor in the Fast and the Furious franchise.

The first film premiered in 2001, and will debut it's 10th movie in 2021. Paul's last film was Fast & Furious 7, which premiered in 2015. He appeared in a portion of it as he was filming it prior to his death. His brothers completed filming for him.

Tragically, the father-of-one died at the age of 40 on November 30, 2013, when pal Roger Rodas, 38, crashed the vehicle he was driving in Valencia, California.
On a recent Saturday afternoon in downtown Chicago, Tara Latta's 36th-floor apartment with stunning river views is a complete mess.

I'm watching the 39-year-old trying to jam the contents of a storage unit into her new one bedroom, and it doesn't appear to be going well. Latta's kitchen table is teeming with CVS receipts, unused thank-you notes, catalogs, utility bills and to-do lists. U-Haul boxes are stacked halfway to the ceiling. The counters are overflowing with tea cups, mixing bowls and water bottles.

But all is not as it seems. Latta is in the midst of her second of three, five-hour sessions with tidying consultant Kristyn Ivey. One of the first steps Ivey demands of her clients is to bare all. That means all the stuff-even old underwear-gets laid out in full sight, and then she gets to work. The former chemical engineer, who charges about $100 an hour, promises to clean up people's homes-and much more.

"This is about confronting yourself and learning about the things that you keep around you," Ivey said. "This is more than an organization strategy."

Ivey is a disciple of Marie Kondo. For the uninitiated, Kondo, also known as KonMari, is the tidying guru and best-selling author who debuted a hit Netflix show a year ago that catapulted her from cult following into the mainstream. Kondo has said she became obsessed with order as a kid-reportedly organizing bookshelves during recess-and after one freak-out over what to throw away had a breakthrough: What she really should be doing is keeping the things that make her happy.

That evolved into Kondo's "spark joy" gospel that's now being spread by nearly 400 certified consultants like Ivey, who had her own come-to-Kondo moment when she parted ways with $300 worth of clothes that still had the tags on. She left her job at consultant Booz Allen Hamilton and three years ago started For The Love of Tidy (tag line: "Tidy your home, change your life").

Ivey found a willing devotee in Latta, who is paying $1,350 for 15 hours of consulting. Latta is fresh off a solo hiking trip in Sedona, Arizona, where she practiced her new ethos of buying less stuff and purchased only a couple things. For Christmas, she focused on experiences instead of physical gifts, including tickets on a replica of the Polar Express for two nieces.

This purge is "kind of like when you go into therapy," Latta says. "This has been giving me the tools to have a process to really face this stuff and really design a life that I enjoy."

Latta is a recent convert to a growing tribe of Americans who are rejecting the post-WWII consumerism that served as the engine of the world's biggest economy. Consumer spending makes up about 70% of the U.S. economy, one of the world's highest rates, and it's even more crucial now that manufacturing has slowed.

But there are signs everywhere of people living stripped-down lives. It's not just KonMari: Reality TV is flooded with shows about tiny houses and saving money. More people are convinced they can live cheaply in their 20s and 30s, and then retire in their 40s-a movement that's been dubbed financial independence retire early, or FIRE.

Instead of buying stuff, consumers are opting to rent, with entire ecosystems built to lease everything from wardrobes to camping gear to toys. 2019 proved to be the year when the re-sale market mainstreamed to the point that buying used goods became OK for Christmas gifts.

Plaster all that with mounting anxiety about climate change and the environmental impact of consumption, including the packaging and miles from e-commerce deliveries, and you have the ingredients for a seismic shift, not just a short-lived trend. It would be more bad news for a struggling U.S. retail sector and a potential long-term threat to consumer spending, according to Michael Solomon, a marketing professor at Saint Joseph's University.

Americans are "moving away from pride of ownership, which has been a bedrock of our capitalist society," Solomon says. "It becomes more like: Use it and give it back, as opposed to own it forever."

Big retail has taken notice. Macy's is selling second-hand clothing at about 40 U.S. locations. Neiman Marcus bought a stake in an e-commerce company that sells pre-owned luxury handbags and other accessories. Meanwhile, malls are filling spaces once occupied by department stores and apparel chains with restaurants and trampoline gyms-another nod to the surging demand for experiences, not stuff.

To be sure, the average American was expected to increase Christmas spending by 4% this year with plans to shell out more than $1,000, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey. But other data shows increasing dissatisfaction. In the U.S., 61% of people say they recently received at least one unwanted gift, according to personal finance website Finder.com. Clothes and household wares top the list.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

I was intrigued watching Ivey help Latta achieve her goal to "eliminate as much paper as possible" and create a clear, cozy environment. Bloomberg paid for her to come to my four-bedroom house, which I share with my husband and three young kids, for a two-hour session. But I was skeptical because I already considered myself a minimalist of sorts: We're constantly donating to Goodwill, and I've never been shy about re-gifting.

Ivey arrived with a pair of indoor gray flats to slip on, a nice courtesy during a slushy winter day, and a small backpack with a label maker for tagging containers. We started at the kitchen table where we open the "The Tidy Home Joy Journal," her own creation that she sells for $9.99 on Amazon and her website. In the "Visualizing Your Best Life" section, I write down that I want to spend more time with family and being outdoors.

That leads us to home in on holiday decor and my closet. I find a candle and two pairs of stretch pants that I hadn't worn in at least a year to ditch. A heart-covered candy bowl, a hand-me-down from my mom, was added to the list. Throughout, Ivey emphasizes being positive. She discourages using words like "junk" or "mess" because even the discarded should be honored. It sounds a little silly at first, but even a few weeks later I find myself treating my things with more care and thought. It seems like a good practice to pass down to my kids.

But this isn't just about throwing stuff away. Ivey suggested rolling socks sushi style, instead of balling them, which can stretch out the elastic. She recommended cutting off store tags from all household goods and clothing to "make them yours." This even includes peeling those super sticky labels off Sterilite storage bins (she's equipped with a special little tool to do just that).

In the end, the biggest takeaway-or maybe breakthrough-from my certified KonMari tidying is the ceremonial release of an item. It should be treated with respect and thanked for its service in your life, Ivey says. After more reflection, I think about how my daughter likes decorating for holidays, even smaller ones like Valentine's Day.

So that candy dish with the hearts is staying.
Irans telecommunications minister has tweeted that two satellites, which have completed their tests were sent to a space facility January 19, to soon complete their launch process.

Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi said in his tweet that Zafar (Victory) 1 and 2 satellites and their launch vehicles represent an important research step for Iran. He did not mention a possible date for the launch.

Iran tried twice last year to launch satellites into space, but the attempts failed due to malfunctioning rockets.

In October 2019, Jahromis deputy Morteza Barari, who is also the head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA), announced that Tehran was going to launch three homegrown satellites by the end of the year to use for different purposes, including the naval activities and during emergencies.

The 90-kg satellite, Zafar, is known to be equipped with four color cameras with eighty-meter resolution and the equipment has an average lifespan of eighteen months.

Irans last attempt to launch a satellite was on August 29, 2019 but the rocket exploded on the launch pad at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Irans Semnan Province.

Less than a week after the explosion, on September 3 Washington imposed sanctions on Iran's space agency (ISA) for the first time, accusing it of developing ballistic missiles under the cover of a civilian program.

Tehran has repeatedly insisted its space program is solely for non-military purposes. However, the program is directly under the control of Iran's defense ministry.
Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): In view of disturbance to public life and Andhra Pradesh Assembly session, the South Coastal Zone Guntur Range Inspector General (IG) Vineet Brijlal on Saturday denied permission to programmes like 'Chalo Assembly' or 'Jail Bharo' called by various political parties and Amaravati Joint Action Committee on January 20.



Guntur range IG Vineet Brijlal has informed through a press communique that 'Chalo Assembly' or 'Jail Bharo' or any similar programs called by various political parties and Amaravati Joint Action Committee on January 20, 2020, have no permission.

He said that Section 30 of the Police Act and Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) are imposed in the capital region.



"Programs like 'Chalo Assembly' will create obstacles not only for Andhra Pradesh Assembly Session. Also. duties of secretariat and high court employees will be hampered and the public life will be disturbed. So, hereby the police informed that the public should not participate in any such programs which have no permission," said the press communique.

The IG appealed to the people of villages in Amravati not to permit any new persons in their houses as "there is a possibility that such persons may instigate violence and indulge in illegal activities. So, legal action will be taken on those who give shelter to any such unknown people."

It was further informed that legal action will be taken on those who extend direct or indirect cooperation and on those who provide vehicles and any other logistics to protestors.



The police appealed to all the people to "cooperate for maintenance of law and order situation."



Andhra Pradesh Assembly special session will start on January 20, in which the government is likely to take a final call on the issue of decentralization of capital and governance.

All political parties except, which are against three capital proposal by the ruling-YSRCP government, have announced 'Chalo Assembly' programs on that day. (ANI)


The platypus, once viewed as so bizarre as to be mythical, could end up merely a legend as habitat destruction and climate threats push the mammal towards the brink of extinction.

Researchers say platypus numbers may have halved or more since Europeans arrived in Australia, predicting local extinctions may have occurred across 40 per cent of the species range due to dam building, land clearing and other disruptions, according to a study published in the scientific journal Biological Conservation.

Taking present day threats and the climate into account, the researchers predicted platypus numbers would decline between 47 per cent and 66 per cent over 50 years.

When adjusted for projected climate change, the decline of an animal once common in waterways across much of the country would be even steeper, at 51 per cent to 73 per cent out to 2070, the research found.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice plans a study to assess the impact of legislations and court judgements on the society, two members of the panel said.

The study is being carried out months after Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu in October called for the need for a Legislative Impact Assessment (LIA), saying it will help in realising the stated objectives of various laws. Naidu had said a detailed assessment is required at both pre-legislation and post-legislation stages.

At a meeting on Monday last, the Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Bhupender Yadav-led 28 member panel unanimously agreed to start work on the study.

Over the years, the government has introduced special laws and new enactments that require setting up of special courts, with the idea to expedite cases. POCSO [Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act] provides for having special courts to hear cases of sexual assaults against minors so that the matters can be disposed of quickly. But is the law really achieving this objective? said a panel member, who did not wish to be named.

In POCSO cases, no new judges have been appointed and judges from the existing pool are designated to head the special courts. If a judge is made to give up his or her work to hear cases exclusively under a special legislation, then the other cases too suffer. We cannot keep creating work with new legislations, the member added.

Another member added that laws are being framed without assessing the burden they can or might create for the judiciary, which is already overworked. For effective legislation, adequate infrastructure is required. The study will ascertain whether the legislations have achieved the desired results and also whether there should be a sunset period for each law, the second member said on condition of anonymity.

The sunset clause relates to a provision of a law that it will be terminated after a fixed time unless extended.

Legal experts say LIA is critical in ensuring the law-making process is scientific. Badly drafted laws based on ill-thought-out policies are often the root causes for multiple litigations, thereby adding to the judiciarys burden. This can be addressed at the outset by conducting Judicial Impact Assessment as part of LIA framework so that all possible ramifications on the judiciary and the law enforcement agencies are anticipated and provided for, said Deepika Kinhal, senior resident fellow, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.

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Delhi BJP on Sunday hit out at Delhi government over senior lawyer Indira Jaising's controversial statement.

"We condemned her statement asking Nirbhaya's mother to forgive her daughter's rapists. This is the lowest level of by Aam Adami Party (AAP) because we all know she is so close to AAP," said BJP leader Saroj Pandey at BJP headquarters.

Indira Jaising has advised Nirbhaya's mother Asha Devi to "forgive her daughter's rapists and murderers just like Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi forgave her husband's killer".

"The first verdict in the Nirbhaya's rape case came in July 2017 and it was Delhi government's duty to informed accused about the punishment decided for them. But Arvind Kejriwal took almost 2 years to do this. Did he inform them in October 2019, why? Does he want to help rapists?," said BJP MP, Manoj Tiwari.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani claims he'd "love" to be a witness in President Trump's Senate impeachment trial, reports The Hill.

Giuliani, who serves as Trump's personal lawyer, told radio talk show host John Catsimatidis: "I would love to see a trial. I'd love to be a witness  because I'm a potential witness in the trial  and explain to everyone the corruption that I found in Ukraine, that far out-surpasses any that I've ever seen before, involving Joe Biden and a lot of other Democrats."

Giuliani was allegedly involved in a push to pressure Ukraine into launching investigations into Trump's political rivals, working to dig up dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden and pushing out former Ukrainian Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, who was reportedly viewed as an obstacle in obtaining the promise of investigations.

Democrats in Congress have called for the Senate impeachment trial, set to begin arguments this week, to include additional witnesses beyond those who testified in the House inquiry. Senate Republicans have so far declined the requests. No evidence has emerged to prove any wrongdoing by Democrats in Ukraine, but Giuliani said "I have those facts. I have those witnesses. I have documents, and I have recordings. And I would love to get them out in public."

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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday presided over a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the signing of a security treaty between Japan and the United States.

Speaking at the event in Tokyo, he said the military alliance with the US had become a "firm pillar" ensuring peace and prosperity in Asia.

Abe's grandfather, Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, signed the treaty on 19 January, 1960, with US President Dwight Eisenhower, whose grand-daughter was a guest at Sunday's ceremony.

The treaty has been the basis for the US stationing 50,000 troops in Japan and forward-deploying American warships.

Abe has pushed for Japan's Self-Defense Force to expand its international role and capability by bolstering cooperation and weapons compatibility with the US, as it increasingly works alongside US troops.

Since US President Donald Trump took office, Japan has also increasingly purchased costly US weapons.
WASHINGTON - More local and state officials are working to ensure that low-income residents stay on Medicaid when they go to jail.

Federal law bars Medicaid recipients from accessing their full federal health benefits while incarcerated. But officials from both parties have pushed for two key changes to ensure little or no disruption of health benefits for pretrial detainees who have not been convicted of a crime and make up most of the 612,000 people held in America's county jails.

In recent years, officials have increasingly implemented a stopgap measure to help inmates more seamlessly reactivate their Medicaid coverage upon release from jail or prison.

And a bipartisan coalition of county sheriffs, commissioners and judges are now lobbying federal lawmakers to change a long-standing policy and let pretrial detainees retain coverage while in custody.

The National Association of Counties and the National Sheriffs' Association, which are supporting the effort, estimate that it would cost the federal government in excess of $3 billion a year.

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"Just because you've been in jail for a short period of time, that shouldn't automatically knock you off the (Medicaid) rolls," David Davis, the Democratic sheriff of Bibb County, Ga., told Stateline. "You then have to go through enrollment all over again."

Some county officials say the policy is discriminatory, allowing people who can post bond to retain their benefits, but denying coverage to indigent individuals. They also say the policy collectively burdens local and state governments with billions of dollars in additional health care costs.

Beyond that, some officials say the denial of federal health benefits to pretrial detainees disrupts inmate medical care, a key factor that can increase their chances of landing behind bars again.

"Jail is not a hotel stay, nor is it vacation," said Brett Clark, Republican sheriff of Hendricks County, Indiana. "But this issue is a hurdle and a barrier for folks who need to get into treatment programs."

Concern regarding what's known as the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy - which dates to 1965 - has grown as sheriffs, jailers and wardens have seen limited budget increases for a jail population that's one of sickest and most vulnerable in the nation.

Once someone is booked in jail, city and county governments are required to pay for the costs of their health care until that person is released. If convicted, federal or state officials typically pick up the tab for medical treatment through the remainder of the sentence. But the disruption to medical care is linked to high risks of mortality, medication lapses and recidivism.

The only time inmates can use their Medicaid benefits is when a practitioner orders a hospital admission that lasts longer than 24 hours.

In a statement, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told Stateline it encourages states to shift from terminating Medicaid enrollment for pretrial detainees - which forces people to reapply after their release - toward suspending enrollment.

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The number of states that suspend enrollment, making it easier for inmates to reactivate their Medicaid benefits, has more than tripled, from 12 to more than 40, during the past six years.

In Washington, sheriffs and police chiefs now provide booking data to the state's health authority, which allows it to reinstate Medicaid coverage to returning residents automatically.

In New York, the state health department has applied for a federal waiver to reactivate inmate Medicaid benefits 30 days before their release.

However, 1 in 6 states - including Missouri and Wisconsin - still terminate Medicaid enrollment, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. And reapplying can take weeks or months.

Officials in those states lack the technology to make similar changes, or, in some cases, misunderstand the exclusion policy, according to the Council of State Governments Justice Center.

But officials in some of those states, including Utah and Idaho, say they're now transitioning to suspending enrollment instead of terminating and reactivating it.

"Medicaid has never been a popular program with our state policymakers," said Karen Crompton, director of Utah's Salt Lake County Human Services. "Now, some local officials are pushing Congress to make changes to the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy."

The issue of jail health care, aside from addiction treatment, was largely left out of the recent federal criminal justice changes - including the First Step Act, which broadly seeks to reduce recidivism, in part by increasing access to addiction treatment.

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Last fall, four Democratic senators introduced legislation to prevent pretrial detainees from losing their federal health benefits. (A companion House bill is expected in the near future.)

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, one of the sponsors, told Stateline that the measure would help counties and states further combat the opioid and mental health epidemics, while also keeping law enforcement officers safer.

At least two Republicans - U.S. Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter of Georgia and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana - have expressed concerns about the price tag potentially attached to the bill.

But some county officials from both sides of the aisle say such financial concerns are misguided, and, in some cases, are fueled by stigma against inmates.

"The federal government is getting a break here," said Nancy Sharpe, a Republican county commissioner in Arapahoe County, Colorado. "These people are entitled and already on the rolls. Counties are instead picking up the cost for something the federal government should be paying for."

Since the late 1970s, America's 3,160 local jails have been required to provide "adequate" medical treatment to inmates, according to standards that emerged from the landmark ruling in Estelle v. Gamble and subsequent cases.

But the federal government doesn't cover local jail or state prison health costs.

Greg Champagne, the Republican sheriff of Louisiana's St. Charles Parish, said the federal policy denying pretrial detainees access to their health benefits violates their constitutional rights under the Fifth and 14th Amendments.

To understand why, the sheriff offered an example of two inmates arrested on charges of drunken driving. The one who has the money to make bail retains federal health benefits, but the second, who can't make bail, loses those benefits.

"We shouldn't treat someone differently because they don't have the money for bail," Champagne said.

A report from the National Association of Counties, which represents over 2,400 U.S. counties, notes that the Social Security Act prohibits Medicaid spending for "inmates of a public institution."

But Blaire Bryant, an associate legislative director for the association, said the 55-year-old federal policy never distinguished between detainees who are still considered innocent and people who are convicted and sentenced to state or federal prison.

"Pretrial detainees, but for their housing status, would be still on their medical benefits," said Bryant, who has led the group's efforts to lobby to end the Medicaid exclusion for pretrial detainees. "And it places an unfair burden on jails."

In a 2017 policy brief, University of Michigan researchers argued states and counties could apply for matching funds for Medicaid-covered services if the federal exclusion policy were repealed.

For decades, most states instead kicked anyone booked in jail who couldn't post bond off their Medicaid rolls. Not only does this force pretrial detainees to use county-funded health care, which is typically more limited than their Medicaid coverage, it also disrupts care after release, Bryant said.

Local and state officials, recognizing this issue, have sought to reduce disruption upon release by suspending inmate participation in the federal health program. This bureaucratic tweak allows jails to help inmates approaching their release date to get their Medicaid reinstated faster.

Democratic Sheriff Jerry Clayton, who oversees the Washtenaw County jail in Ann Arbor, Michigan, devotes staff to help with the paperwork needed to re-enroll inmates near release.

Clark, the Hendricks County sheriff, said his staff's effort to suspend Medicaid enrollment - and later reactivate it - can reduce the risk of recidivism and save taxpayer dollars.

Sharpe, the Arapahoe County commissioner, said current policy requires the county to spend nearly a quarter of its annual jail health care budget - $1.2 million - on pretrial detainees who lose access to Medicaid benefits.

Because Arapahoe, and not the federal government, covers this expense, inmates receive fewer services such as counseling and workforce training, Sharpe said.

Clayton in Washtenaw County budgets roughly $1 million for inmate health care each year. Of that, one-tenth is spent on pretrial detainees. But the sheriff says a single inmate booked with a serious medical condition - like someone in need of dialysis or HIV care - could potentially gobble up the full budget.

"If someone needs significant surgery, the hospital bill can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars," Clayton said. "We're always one or two inmates away from blowing our budget. It's an untenable position."

Faced with growing awareness of the problem, Republican and Democratic local officials have turned to lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to change the Social Security Act to allow pretrial detainees to keep their federal health benefits.

The costs are "a burden to bear for rural and less affluent counties - areas that are predominately Republican," U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon told Stateline. "The cost is a big issue, and the complexity of the administrative burden. I think both things will lead to Republican support."

Despite the support for the bill from the county and sheriff associations, Clayton fears the lobbying effort over a potential $3.3 billion annual price tag will be a hurdle in getting the bill passed.

Helen Stone, a Republican commissioner in Chatham County, Ga., said that she's repeatedly lobbied the office of her U.S. congressman, Carter, the Republican who has expressed concerns about the potential price tag, but has so far been met with "reluctance."

Carter told Stateline that county officials must collect more data to provide him and other lawmakers with a fuller understanding of the issue's national scope.

Cole Avery, a spokesman for Cassidy, the Louisiana Republican who expressed similar concerns, told Stateline that the senator is interested in a form of the policy that could make it to the president's desk.

For that to happen, he believes a bill with a "narrowed scope" that focuses solely on mental health and addiction would have a better chance of advancing through the Senate.

Clark, for his part, said that stigma toward inmates, and the broader indifference toward investing in jail conditions, may dampen widespread support for the federal bill. Some Americans think that a "tough on crime" attitude requires a more punitive approach to inmates, he said.

"No sheriff sees this as weak on crime," Clark said. "We see this as smart on crime. It's always a challenge to see the big picture."

Without changes at the federal level, Miami-Dade County Judge Steve Leifman said, counties will find little to no relief for rising jail costs, which will limit their ability to improve hospitals, roads and schools.

But several local officials told Stateline that legislation is only the first phase of the fight to change this policy. If the bill hits roadblocks in Congress, the county and sheriff associations may potentially file a lawsuit to challenge the policy's constitutionality.

"What we're doing now doesn't make sense," said Michael Adkinson, Republican sheriff of Walton County, Florida, which suspends Medicaid benefits. "It's not saving money. It's cost-shifting."

---

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A religious sect whose members professed to be anointed by God forced a pregnant woman and five of her children to walk through fire as part of a cult ritual, according to local residents.

Police reported seven villagers had been killed by the cult earlier this week, while 14 more were found by authorities the next day, bound and beaten in a temple.

The cult, known as The New Light of God, is made up of indigenous people who claim to be chosen by God to sacrifice non-believers, even if the heretics are members of the own families, according to residents in El Terron, Panama.

Related Video: Cult Rumors Surround Disappearance of Two Missing Idaho Kids

Burned clothes of people killed in a religious ritual in the jungle community of El Terron, Panama: AP

Nine villagers have been arrested and charged with murder, reportedly including a grandfather and two uncles of the five children who died alongside their pregnant mother and a neighbour.

Nobody expected this, said a distraught tribal leader, Evangelisto Santo, who added that local people had largely ignored the religious group.

The sect arose after a villager returned to El Terron following a stint abroad, bringing back unusual religious beliefs with him.

People were dancing and singing and nobody paid attention because we knew that they were in the presence of God, Mr Santo said of the group.

That was before one of the cult members announced that he had had a vision, which told him everyone in the village had to repent their sins or die.

Last weekend, members of the sect began dragging victims into an improvised church, where they beat them into submission with sticks.

Cult members also stood with machetes ready to attack those who failed to repent to their satisfaction.

El Terron is nestled in the jungle of the indigenous Ngabe Bugle enclave on Panamas Caribbean coast and is largely cut off from the modern world.

Many in the community, which is home to about 300 people and gets by growing yuca and rice, are Roman Catholics.

On Thursday, local prosecutor Rafael Baloyes described what investigators found when they arrived at the scene of the massacre.

Story continues

They searched this family out to hold a ritual and they massacred them, mistreated them, killed practically the whole family, Mr Baloyes said.

They were performing a ritual inside the structure. In that ritual, there were people being held against their will, being mistreated.

All of these rites were aimed at killing them, if they did not repent their sins.

Josue Gonzalez, a farmer, managed to rescue two of his children  a 5-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy  from the attack, while a 15-year-old son escaped on his own.

However, he was not able to save his pregnant wife and five of their other children before authorities arrived by helicopter and found Mr Gonzalezs wife, the children and a neighbour decapitated and buried.

The cult members charged in the case reportedly include Mr Gonzalezs own father, and villagers have said two of Mr Gonzalezs brothers had declared themselves prophets of the cult.

Authorities could not confirm these arrests to AP.

Andrew Chesnut, a professor of religious studies specialising in Latin America at Virginia Commonwealth University, said the incident was consistent with the practices of some extremist cults.

Within the logic of religious sacrifices in some extremist cults, theres no greater proof of faith than to turn over the life of a loved one or family member, Mr Chesnut said.

Additional reporting by AP

Read more

Pregnant woman and five children dead in suspected exorcism
Simon Harris appeared with the Taoiseach on the six oclock news on TV, on the evening of January 6. Speechifying by the minute.

Immediately afterwards we had Liam Woods of the HSE on the same broadcast and he was talking about opening beds??

What on earth does he mean when he says opening beds. Are these beds that actually exist in the hospitals that have been kept closed on purpose, because we dont have enough nurses or consultants to allow them open. Mr Woods said there were 700 more beds being opened later in 2020. Why arent they opened straightaway?

Is the government saving the money for the health service to allow more rafting centres in Dublin, along with selling hundreds of millions euros worth of land that Dublin county council are holding in reserve. This while people are crying in homeless poverty, and while our hospitals cannot look after the people who queue for days on end to get a bed, and others wait years upon years for surgery.

While the one legged health service is limping along, still hundreds of thousands are waiting for years to see consultants.

Its time we put a stop to this. Since the famine, no Irish person has been so neglected in hospitals, until now. We elect the government, it is in our power to do whatever we want.

How many will vote once again, for this terrible health minister, and this awful government? Anyone wearing the badge of Fine Gael must be ashamed. They surely know they must take responsibility.

Its time they stopped laying the blame at Fianna Fails door, we all remember that, how could we forget? But there comes a time when the government of the day must accept responsibility. Time to stop telling us about the terrible chaos etc., etc., etc..

Also read: Adapting with good guidance from their elders

I am sickened by the chaos in our hospitals. I am sick and tired of listening to Mr Harris speechifying endlessly, while achieving nothing whatsoever. Its a scandal of monumental consequences that is being allowed before our very eyes.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the present overcrowding is because of record trolley numbers in hospital emergency departments on the current flu outbreak and a longer-term shortage of hospital beds.The Taoiseach must understand this? We have an ageing population - nothing new there - and the current flu outbreak is nothing new either. Anyone who was alive last year, will remember.

With regard to longer term shortage of hospital beds? Who is responsible for the long term shortage of hospital beds? Its either Simon Harris, or Paschal Donohoe. Since the Health Minister has little or no say in financials, it must be Paschal Donohoe. The Minister for Finance seems hell bent on preserving austerity.

This causes people to wait years and years for a service, but as long as the books look well, thats the target. An unprecedented 760 patients were waiting for admission to hospital on Monday morning. Mr Varadkar admitted hospitals were severely overcrowded at present.

The HSE said it apologised to all of those affected by this surge in activity and it was making every effort manage and improve the situation. This surge of activity is almost the same as last year, except this time the nurses took it upon themselves to call a halt, thereby causing a rather meek Liam Woods to start promising opening beds. Do these people think were all fools?

If Ireland is clever, we wont put any one party into power alone. We must have a coalition. The water charges protests caused the charges to be dropped. Are we to take it that those in hospitals dont matter? If we respect and value the sick, maybe its time to march?

I spoke to someone high up in the health service who told me just 30 million (per year) would solve the consultants issue.

Yet, Ireland can manage to spend a fortune on pet projects costing way more than that.

Also read: The rich benefit from the labours of the poor'
I just read an article about the negligent homicide of Judy Paul, and the driver was under the influence of THC.

She was given a slap on the wrist, a chance to hurt someone else. And she did. At what point is the state of Montana going to make their DUI laws stricter? She should never have gotten the chance to do this again. Never.

She should have been in prison, period, she killed someone. Giving anyone a second chance to do this again is mind blowing. There are people out there on their sixth, seventh, eighth and higher DUI. Obviously, taking away their drivers license and giving them a fine is not enough.

I worked at the adult detention center in Virginia. Your felony DUI was an automatic, do not pass go, do not collect $200, prison sentence. You lost your license, paid a fine, and if you wanted to drive again, you had to make sure all your probation, fines and restitution was paid. Then you petitioned the governor to get your license back, if he said no, youre out of luck.

Montana needs stricter laws for DUIs. You should never get the eighth chance, because obviously thats not working. Wake up. Do something. This woman was convicted of a homicide and literally got away with murder. Shame on Montana and the lack of justice for Judy Paul. I was born and raised in Hamilton, and the laws concerning this matter have never changed.

 Shawna Williams, Hamilton

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Until now, technology that readily identifies everyone based on his or her face has been taboo because of its radical erosion of privacy. Tech companies capable of releasing such a tool have refrained from doing so; in 2011, Googles chairman at the time said it was the one technology the company had held back because it could be used in a very bad way. Some large cities, including San Francisco, have barred police from using facial recognition technology.

But without public scrutiny, more than 600 law enforcement agencies have started using Clearview in the past year, according to the company, which declined to provide a list. The computer code underlying its app, analyzed by The New York Times, includes programming language to pair it with augmented-reality glasses; users would potentially be able to identify every person they saw. The tool could identify activists at a protest or an attractive stranger on the subway, revealing not just their names but where they lived, what they did and whom they knew.

And its not just law enforcement: Clearview has also licensed the app to at least a handful of companies for security purposes.

The weaponization possibilities of this are endless, said Eric Goldman, co-director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University. Imagine a rogue law enforcement officer who wants to stalk potential romantic partners, or a foreign government using this to dig up secrets about people to blackmail them or throw them in jail.

Clearview has shrouded itself in secrecy, avoiding debate about its boundary-pushing technology. When I began looking into the company in November, its website was a bare page showing a nonexistent Manhattan address as its place of business. The companys one employee listed on LinkedIn, a sales manager named John Good, turned out to be Mr. Ton-That, using a fake name. For a month, people affiliated with the company would not return my emails or phone calls.
A splash of pink, red and white  some with a hint of yellow sunshine  blossomed big and small on a cloudy day in Conroe on Saturday.

The pigments filled the petals of various species of camellia blooms stemming from a rich history across the hemisphere in Asia to be cultivated by over 20 participants here at home with a display of over 300 entries at Conroes Coushatta Camellia Societys 49th annual flower show.

Its showtime, Coushatta Camellia Society President Frank Ohrt said quietly as he adjusted a bloom on display.

Ranging from an inch to six inches, Judge Randy McDaniel said the blooms are evaluated based on more than size and shape as they look at the overall presentation. Across from him, member Glynda Malleske pointed to a tiny, dark wine-colored Camellia japonica Night Rider with runner-up for Best Bloom written on its card.

The little ones matter just as much as the big ones, Malleske said with delight.

Among this years winners on the center table included several blooms from Conroe resident and member Tommy Weeks, 79, who single-handedly brought 275 entries to this years show from his home, where he grows thousands of species of flowers, including 1,000 camellias.

I didnt believe it until I saw it, but its gorgeous, River Plantation resident and member Dan Kain said.

But this year, Weeks said only 100 of his flowers were put on display due to a petal blight disease that forced many of the blooms to perish before the show. Growing in a cycle, the blooms are ruined by turning to brown after toadstool spores spread and land on the petals, he explained

You have about three days from the time the bloom opens until you go to a show, Weeks said. I cut them all on Sunday, and today they were gone. Everything that you grow, something attacks it.

Despite the challenge, he described the blooms that survived for the show as fantastic, especially the new Ferris Wheel from Nuccios Nursery in California. Yet the camellia is not the only flower that has charmed him over the years.

I like a lot of flowers, Weeks said. I like roses, I grow roses. I have crepe myrtles. I have 50 different varieties of magnolias. Im sort of a collector  Im always trying to find something new and unusual. I dont have any background in horticulture  my mother loved plants, and thats probably where I got it from.

Conroe resident Mary Margaret Thompson joined her mother Joyce Musselman at the flower show, which will continue Sunday at Conroes First Christian Church, 3500 North Loop 336 West. The two were drawn by the white, pale pink and unusual variants.

I think it is just beautiful, Thompson said. Its wonderful.

While the mother and daughter first attended the show only a few years ago, Weeks has been tending his interest since he started landscaping and bought a house with his wife in Shenandoah at the ripe age of 22. At the time, he said there was a nursery called Pauls Green Thumb Nursery, down on FM 1960.

Every Saturday they would have an ad in the paper, and they would have all of these cartoons to sell their product, Weeks recalled. They put some Camellias on sale for a dollar a piece, and I bought 26 of them.

And that was the beginning of the madness, he laughed. But I grow azaleas, and I have about 10,000 daylilies I grow and all the camellias. They keep me busy.

Weeks, who lives on about a five-acre property, has been growing the camelias for about 50 years now. He shared some disappointed that there are not more new members, including young people.

Young people dont seem to like horticulture at all, Weeks said. They are into iPhones and their tablets and everything, and they dont grow. The other thing is, I think, is that a lot of people live on small lots and subdivisions and dont really have a place to grow things.

The one thing he would like for more people to know about the camellias is that they can be grown in pots and kept on the patio.

Camellias are very slow growing, so they are not going to overpower, and they grow well in pots, he said. They are not going to be affected by the cold, so you have them in a pot or patio they are not going to have to worry about it.

The local Coushatta Camellia Society began in 1969 and was founded by W.L. Gilmore, a long-standing nurseryman, and Emil Carroll, a local physician, who happened to be Weekss doctor that encouraged his interest. The public is invited to view the blooms again and select from approximately 90 plants available in three-gallon and seven-gallon sizes to purchase and take home.

For those who want to learn more, Weeks encourages attending a meeting. The Coushatta Camellia Society meets on the second Sunday of each month at 2:30 p.m. from September through April in the Parlor at First Christian Church, 3500 N. Loop, Conroe. The next meeting is on Feb. 10. Visit www.coushattacamelliasociety.com for more information on the local group.

For more information on planting and the care of camellias, visit www.americancamellias.com.

mellsworth@hcnonline.com
Lauren Catharine Coward and Michael Lawrence Craig were married Jan. 18 at 501 Union, an events space in Brooklyn. Pierce Kline, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the occasion, officiated.

Mrs. Craig, 29, is the e-commerce manager for Jenny Yoo, a company specializing in bridesmaid and wedding dresses in Manhattan. She graduated from Florida State.

She is the daughter of Catharine R. Coward and Clay H. Coward of Winter Park, Fla. The brides father is a partner in the Orlando, Fla., office of Wicker, Smith, OHara, McCoy & Ford, a defense litigation law firm based in Miami. Her mother worked as a writer and editor for the development department at Rollins College in Winter Park, before becoming a stay-at-home parent. She is a volunteer at the Joe R. Lee Boys and Girls Club in Eatonville, Fla.

Mr. Craig, 31, is the director of the Northeast territory for Coastal Cloud, an information technology consulting firm based in Palm Coast, Fla. He also graduated from Florida State.
A woman said her car was entered while she was helping clean Rob's Bar, 5300 Dayton Blvd. When she came back out to her vehicle, she discovered her front passenger window was shattered, and her purse was gone. On the ground by the passenger door was a screwdriver and flashlight that she said was not by the car when she went into Rob's Bar. She said in her purse was a wallet with two bank debit cards, her Social Security card, two pocket knives, and a taser. The estimated cost for the passenger window is $350 to $400.

* * *

At a store at 1227 E Main St., employees said a skinny black female (approximate age of 35-41) who may be known as "Lay Lay" walked out of the store with the following items without paying: pack of Newports ($7), 2 drinks ($4), 10 $3 lottery tickets, 1 snack ($2). The suspect acted like she was going to pay, then took all the items when a store employee turned her back to get her another pack of cigarettes. The vehicle was a dark-colored small SUV (possibly a Jeep) with a tire mounted on the back. Tennessee Lottery officials notified police that the tickets had just been scanned at the Kankus store at 3604 Brainerd Road.

* * *

A man said his car was parked at 915 Vine St. when someone made entry into his vehicle and stole a pair of sunglasses and a Beats by Dre Pill speaker. The man has video of the incident. He said over the past few months this was the fourth time someone had entered his vehicles around 4 a.m. He said the thief has some sort of device that unlocks his vehicles as he is constantly locking his cars. The video shows a man ride up on a bicycle and enter into the man's vehicles. The thief remains inside of the car for some time before leaving. An officer was able to pull several fingerprint cards from items inside of the car.

* * *

A man said his Springfield Armory 9mm was stolen from the center console of his vehicle during the night. He said his vehicle was parked and locked in the parking garage at 212 Walnut St. (Walnut Commons). He was unsure how the suspect was able to gain entry into his vehicle.

* * *

At the same address at 212 Walnut St., another man said his 2007 Ford F150 was stolen overnight while parked in the parking garage there. He said the vehicle was locked and he has the keys to the vehicle. Police checked numerous locations where stolen vehicle have recently been dumped, but were unable to locate this one.

* * *

There was still another vehicle theft reported at 7014 Shallowford Road. The victim said he went out around 5 a.m. and started his vehicle to let it warm up. Then he went back inside his hotel room leaving the vehicle running with the keys in it and the doors unlocked. When he came back outside around 5:10 a.m. - about 10 minutes later - lo and behold, his vehicle was gone. There was no suspect information.

* * *

Police went to 936 Mountain Creek Road for a report of a motor vehicle theft. A woman said her 2015 black Honda Accord was parked and locked in a legal parking space outside her apartment. She came outside the next morning and noticed her vehicle gone with the registration to her vehicle on the ground. She staid she also had a loaded Glock 43 in her vehicle's center console.

* * *

A resident of Canal Street said someone broke into his vehicle overnight damaging the passenger side door. He said this is the second time his vehicle was broken into in the recent past. The vehicle was ransacked.

* * *

At a location on Joiner Road, police were made aware of a man who was highly intoxicated lying in his yard. Upon arrival, police found Seth Emery lying in the driveway where he appeared very highly intoxicated. Mr. Emery eventually regained consciousness and walked into his home, where he denied any assistance from fire, police or EMS. Police left the scene without incident after Mr. Emery was in his bed.

* * *

Police spoke with a woman who said she had left her vehicle on the interstate disabled. The location was 18400 Interstate 24 westbound. She returned to the vehicle and nothing was wrong. The next morning, she again returned to the vehicle and found that the window had been broken out. The vehicle battery had also been removed.

* * *

At 17400 I-24 west, a man said his 2003 Chevy Trail Blazer broke down and he left it on the side of the road. When he returned with a tow truck he discovered that the passenger side glass was busted out and a Garmin GPD and two sets of Husky tools were stolen from the vehicle.
You are here: Arts

"Detective Chinatown 3," the latest production of the "Detective Chinatown" film franchise, will hit the big screen in China on Jan. 25, the Spring Festival and first day of the Chinese lunar New Year.



Starring actors Wang Baoqiang and Liu Haoran, the comedy movie tells a mysterious story of the protagonists heading to Tokyo to track down the suspects of a mysterious murder.

The film also features many international movie stars including Masami Nagasawa, Tomokazu Miura and Honami Suzuki.

The previous production of the sequel "Detective Chinatown 2" raked in about 3.4 billion yuan (487 million U.S. dollars) on the Chinese mainland.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Windy and partly cloudy this evening. Mostly cloudy with diminishing winds after midnight. Low 29F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Windy and partly cloudy this evening. Mostly cloudy with diminishing winds after midnight. Low 29F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
She is due to welcome her first child with husband Lance 'Buddy' Franklin any day now.

And on Sunday, heavily pregnant Jesinta Franklin, nee Campbell, looked every inch the stylish mama-to-be as she made her way to Sydney Airport ahead of a flight.

Going makeup-free, the 28-year-old model covered her bump beneath a black silk slip dress.

Baby on board! Heavily pregnant Jesinta Campbell, 28, went makeup-free as she wheeled a Louis Vuitton suitcase down the road ahead of a flight out of Sydney

She also wore a classic Burberry trenchcoat that perfectly matched her Celine handbag.

Jesinta wasn't afraid to flash her expensive taste, opting to carry her luggage in a $3750 Louis Vuitton suitcase.

The former David Jones ambassador completed her look with a pair of Christian Dior kitten heels and slicked her brunette tresses back into a sleek up-do.

Stylish mumma! Going makeup-free, the 28-year-old model covered her bump beneath a silk slip dress and a classic Burburry trenchcoat

Sleek: The former David Jones ambassador slicked her brunette tresses back into a sleek up-do

Jesinta announced that she was expecting her first child with Sydney Swans star Buddy in August last year.

At the Melbourne Cup last year, she spoke to Daily Mail Australia about her pregnancy and said she was finally feeling better after a difficult first trimester.

'I feel great,' Jesinta said at the time. 'I think it's quite common for a lot of women to feel terrible in the first trimester, but I feel really good and feel really healthy.'

Growing family: Jesinta announced that she was expecting her first child with Sydney Swans star Lance 'Buddy' Franklin (right) in August last year

The footy WAG added that she was 'trying to keep as fit as possible' and is doing Pilates throughout her pregnancy.

In October, Jesinta told The Daily Telegraph that it had taken her and Buddy several years to conceive.

'We were trying for years and years, I thought it was important to speak about it because I know a lot of women and couples who struggle,' she said.

'It's not something that's openly talked about, there's a big stigma around it, so if I can share my journey, then hopefully I can give someone else hope.'

Jesinta added that the experience of trying to conceive had 'strengthened' her relationship with her husband.
Two of Prince Harry's closest childhood mentors who supported him in the wake of Diana's death have been revealed as godparents to baby Archie.

Tiggy Pettifer, his and William's former nanny, and Mark Dyer, his minder, were asked by the the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to be their newborn's godparents ahead of his christening last July.

Both confidantes were relatively unknown figures among a star-studded pool of candidates touted to fill the role, which included Meghan's celebrity friends Serena Williams and Misha Nonoo.

But, in a move which suggests Harry values those who rallied round him in tough times, Dyer and Pettifer - formally Tiggy Legge Bourke - were named godfather and godmother, sources told The Sunday Times.

Tiggy Pettifer (then Legge Bourke) with Harry aged eight arriving with Charles at Aberdeen Station to head to Balmoral

Mark Dyer, Harry's minder, with the young prince in 2003 visiting Wattisham Airfield In Suffolk

Archie's godfather Mark Dyer and Prince Harry at the Sentebale Concert, Kensington Palace, in 2016

Harry and Meghan have never publicly revealed their choices, one of the many breaks with royal tradition exhibited by the couple who are quitting their official duties to uproot to Canada.

Their desire to relocate across the Atlantic means Archie will not have as much contact with Dyer and Pettifer as Harry did during his younger years.

It was claimed today that even the Queen has barely seen her eight-month-old great-grandson since his birth in May.

Despite the near 20-year age gap, Dyer quickly developed into more than just an adviser to the young royal and cemented a firm friendship with Harry.

He was instrumental in the Prince's upbringing and his relationship with Harry has been likened to a big brotherly bond, or as a 'second father'.

Known as Marko to his friends, Dyer, 53, worked as an equerry to Prince Charles for 18 months in the mid-Nineties.

Tiggy Pettifer (nee Legge-Bourke) attends the Christening of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor at the private chapel at Windsor Castle

Harry and Meghan have never publicly revealed their choices, one of the many breaks with royal tradition exhibited by the couple who are quitting their official duties to uproot to Canada

The Prince of Wales then tasked the Cheltenham College courtier with keeping an eye on his sons and acting as a counterweight to the more maternal role provided by Pettifer.

During the first half term after Diana's death, when the boys would have been with their mother, Prince Charles was committed to a five day visit to Africa.

He took Harry along and while the Prince carried out engagements, Harry went off on safari in Botswana, organised by Dyer.

From then on he was a key guiding figure as Harry and William tried to come to terms with the loss of their mother.

After his spell as an employee to the Prince ended he remained a mentor to Harry.

In 2009 Dyer founded the management company MDM Bars and Pubs and runs two pubs The Sand's End and The Brown Cow, in south-west London which both became haunts of Prince Harry.

Prince Harry with minder Mark Dyer in 2004 (right) Dyer was a guiding figure as Harry and William tried to come to terms with the loss of their mother. Pettifer has also remained close to both the royals and attended Harry's wedding with her son Tom (right) who is also Harry's godson

Dyer's six-year-old son Jasper, who is Prince Harry's godson, was chosen as a page boy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding.

Pettifer - better known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke - was famously Harry and William's long-term nanny in their formative years.

A constant by the princes' side while they were growing up, Pettifer has remained close to both the royals over the years, and met Meghan before they married.

The Duke of Sussex is godfather to her son Tom Pettifer, who was pictured at the royal wedding.

Pettifor and Dyer join Charlie van Straubenzee as Archie's only known godparents.
JUNEAU, Alaska - Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said shes comfortable waiting to decide if more information is needed as part of the Senates impeachment trial until after hearing arguments from House managers and attorneys for President Donald Trump and questions from members.

The Republican said Saturday she wants to make sure theres a process that allows senators to really hear the case and ask questions before we make that determination as to, what more do we need. I dont know what more we need until Ive been given the base case.

Murkowski spoke to reporters from Anchorage ahead of Senate impeachment trial proceedings expected to begin Tuesday.

If Democrats try to add certain witnesses to an organizing resolution, Murkowski said she expects Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would move to table such a request and that she would support a tabling motion.

Because what Ive worked hard to do is make sure that we have a process that will allow for that determination  whether witnesses or documents are needed, she said. But I want to have that at a point where I know whether or not Im going to need it.

She said there are political pressures on all of us but said her responsibility is not to focus on the politics of where we are but a recognition that we are in the midst of an infrequent and in many ways extraordinary process that the Constitution allows for, and Im going to take my constitutional obligations very, very seriously.

Regardless of how one views the Houses handling of the impeachment process, the matter is now before the Senate, she said, adding later she does not want the proceedings to become a circus.

Trump was impeached by the House on charges he abused his power by pushing Ukraine to investigate his Democratic political rival Joe Biden and that he obstructed Congress by blocking witnesses and testimony in the House investigation. Trump has said he did nothing wrong.

Murkowski said a recent Government Accountability Office report that concluded the White House violated federal law by withholding congressionally approved security aid to Ukraine reminded her of last years debate over Trumps declaration of a border emergency that he invoked to spend more for border barriers than Congress had approved.

During that debate, she said she maintained the president could not take funds congressionally directed to one area and use them to advance his own policies. Whether it was for the wall or for any other thing, I have been one that has said, Congress has a very specific role when it comes to appropriation of funding and that needs to be respected, she said.

She said she viewed the GAO report with a little bit of concern, in part because of the need to respect Congress appropriation powers.

In a telephone interview Friday with the Anchorage Daily News, Alaskas other Republican U.S. senator, Dan Sullivan, said he supports using the same rules as the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in the 1990s, which Sullivan said would give Trump a fair and balanced process. Under those rules, he said, the determination of whether or not to bring witnesses would happen in the second phase.

I think this is going to be a stark contrast to what happened over in the House where you literally witnessed the most rushed most partisan and unprepared impeachment proceedings in the House in U.S. history, Sullivan said.
Kolkata, Jan 19 : Few East Bengal supporters on Sunday protested against the Citizen Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens during their Kolkata I-League derby at the Salt Lake Stadium against Mohun Bagan here.

A packed crowd of 63,756 watched the match which East Bengal lost 1-2.

There was a giant tifo (a choreographed display to form a large image or sign) to protest against NRC and CAA.

It read: "Rakta Diye Kina Mati, Kagaz Diye Noy (A paper cannot replace a land acquired through blood)." "Pala, pala, pala NRC asche" (go away the NRC is coming) showed another placard with a Bengali superhero coming to save with his musclepower.

Another display read: "You Bangal, where are the NRC papers", as Batul the Great, a popular superhero responds with "go away".

A day after ATK registered a victory over FC Goa, their newly merged partner Mohun Bagan made it a happy marriage with their 2-1 win over arch-rivals East Bengal.

Mohun Bagan's in-form Spanish midfielder Joseba Beitia gave the home team the lead in the 18th minute as the Mariners went into the break 1-0 up.

Babacar Diawara doubled Mohun Bagan's tally in the 65th minute but Marc Jimenez pulled one back for East Bengal in the 71st minute to make it a nerve-wracking affair in the final few minutes with Mohun Bagan holding fort in the end.

The victory saw Mohun Bagan extend their lead at the top while East Bengal remained in sixth position. The next leg of the derby will be played on March 15.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

Dear Care and Feeding,

My husband and I have a fantastic toddler and live in a large city, where were looking into private school options. We have whittled our options down to two. Both institutions are amazing places with fantastic, warm, loving staff and parents/guardians/students. One is Catholic, the other is Quaker. Were trying to decide between the two schools and would love your guidance.

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The Catholic school is academically rigorous, has great class sizes, is a Blue Ribbon school, and is a block from where my husband works in case of a midday school emergency. Howeverand I say this as a product of the parochial school system myselfit promotes Catholic perspectives on premarital sex, homosexuality, abortion, and other beliefs that we dont subscribe to. The Quaker school, on the other hand, has a progressive curriculum, is designed around project-based learning, does not get homework-heavy until grade 5, and promotes core values that are in alignment with how we are raising our daughter.

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The Quaker schools curriculumand general vibewill help our kid develop into a critical thinker and a compassionate contributor to the world. HOWEVER, it is considerably more expensive (it would require some sacrifice on our part), and it would add another hour to our already hectic morning commute. In other words, it will make life more difficult on a day-to-day basis. Since our child will get an excellent education at either place, how do we pick between daily quality of life for us and the values system to which our child will be exposed?

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Waiting for an Answer From the Spirit

Dear Waiting,

Just a thought: Choose a public school instead of either?

Oh, rightyou didnt list that as an option. All right, then. For the sake of not muddying the waters of this discussion, Ill make the assumption that the only public school option for you is one that is too terrible to consider (having experienced one of those firsthand myself, I am aware that sometimes there really is no good public option in a particular city at a given time). Ill deal only with the question at hand.

Daily quality of life does not trump (please forgive the verb) values. And if you teach one set of values at home and your daughter is taught an entirely opposing other set of values at school, you will be battling for her soul. And either you win that battle (and she bristles at the values she is being taught each day in schoola bristling that is bound to undermine her otherwise excellent education) or the school wins it (and she grows up subscribing to beliefs you find abhorrent).

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To my mind, choosing a school that will instill the values you hold dearassuming you can indeed figure out a way to cut corners elsewhere to pay for itis well worth some day-to-day inconvenience. Try this thought experiment: Propel yourself into the future and look back: if you chose the more conveniently located and less expensive school, would you think, Oh, thank goodness we saved that extra hour of commuting every day and didnt give up those pricey gym memberships/expensive restaurant meals/fab vacations/premium cable channels!

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In other words, try to take the long view and consider the big-picture quality of life that you wish for your daughter throughout her childhood and as she grows up. Does that matter more to you than the daily quality of life factors you mention, or not?

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 If you missed Fridays Care and Feeding column, read it here.

 Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group!

Dear Care and Feeding,

My wife and I are agonizing over a potential move due to imagined effects on our kids, ages 9 and 11. We (wife and I) dislike the house and town in which we live, and the schools are pretty poor and about to get much worse with a 25 percent budget cut. We are contemplating a move to a town 3045 minutes away that is a nicer community where wed be able to afford a nicer house, and where the schools are better, and wed have a shorter commute. Our kids, however, are very comfortable and happy herewhere they have lived all of their short lives, and where they have friends and activities and favorite hangouts. Neither of them are quick at adjusting to change, especially the younger one, who has gone through a great deal of anxiety about feeling like she doesnt have friends and cant make friends. And now, when she finally has some friends, were contemplating taking her away and making her start over! (I should add that although she now has friends, she doesnt seem to have lost any of her anxiety about not having friends or gained any confidence in her ability to make new ones.) How do we figure out if this move is worth making in spite of a possibly traumatic transition?

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The Kids are Comfortable but Were Not

Dear TKaCbWN,

It would be hard to find a parent who, for better or worse, raised her kid in a more drastically your-happiness-matters-more-than-mine style, which is why I feel confident advising you to go ahead and make that move to a place you feel will make you happier and will offer your kids a better educationwith one caveat that Ill get to in a moment. Im giving you the go-ahead here because sometimes that cliche about how if you are happier, youll be better parents and therefore your kids will be happier too is true (to my mind, its most often used as justification to do something that is going to make the kids lives much worsebut I dont see that in this situation). But Im also doing so because going to better schools is no small thing, even if the kids dont/cant appreciate that right now, and also because working through this transition is going to be good for them. It will be difficult, for sure. But learning how to deal with change is part of learning how to live in the world.

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I believe that I discounted that important truth when my own child was young. I dont have many regrets about the way I raised her, but all the regrets I do have center around the times I didnt do something because I felt it would be too painful for her. Conversely, some of the child-rearing moments I am proudest of are those in which I took a deep breath, followed my healthy instincts, batted away the neurotic impulses masquerading as good motherly instincts, and made a decision that made my daughters life a bit tougher in the short term but was much better for her long-term.

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For the record, my single greatest regret is that I kept her in a very bad and stupid school for way too long because change was so painful to her. Id already had to take her out of a chaotic, dangerous school environment once, and no matter how much the second school infuriated me (a teacher who taught the children that the moon landing was a hoax, then made them promise not to tell their parents that hed done this; a teacher who repeatedly mocked my daughter for using big words when she spoke in class, for example), I couldnt bring myself to put her through another transition so soon after that when she, like many children, found change very difficult to process and accommodate.

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On the worst dayswhen she was obviously bored to death, when teachers corrected her writing by introducing errors, when she came home in tears because classmates had bullied her (or a teacher had!)I would raise the possibility of moving again, and she would become so distressed I would immediately walk it back, telling myself that starting over at a new school would do more harm than good. I was wrong. And I knew better even then: I just couldnt bear to see her suffer, even briefly. Shes 26 now, and I still find it hard to forgive myself for this.

So heres the bottom line: If you believe this move is going to be better for all of you in the long run, it is absolutely worth the temporary jolt to your kids lives. Yes, they will need more support than usual from you, so make sure you offer it. Be patient and be kind. And remind yourself, as often as necessary, that your kids will be more resilient for having worked through this.

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But now I must offer that caveat I promised. If nicer is code for whiter, or where our neighbors have more money, I take back everything Ive just said except for the principle itselfthat is, that what is good for your children in the long run is not necessarily whats going to make them the most comfortable in the moment. I just want to make sure you think hard about what whats good for them means. Make sure its good that youre actually talking about.

Dear Care and Feeding,

My husband and I, both white, moved to a relatively small town before we had kids. The town and immediate surrounding area are very liberal and somewhat diverse, but not far from the center of our town it gets very conservative and less diverse. We had the forethought to move into the best school district in the area in anticipation of our future children, but did not pay attention to the specific school they would attend, since all of the schools have the same curriculum and the school district as a whole has an excellent reputation in our state. The day care that our kids (one 3.5 years old, one 4 months old) attend is pretty diverse and families are encouraged to come in to share their own cultures and traditions and talk about their family structuresmy daughter has celebrated Lunar New Year and Eid; helped to make Japanese, Lebanese, and Slovakian food; and learned about gender identity.

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Through families at the day care, I have recently learned that the elementary school our kids are currently districted to attend is the least diverse of all the schools in the district; it draws from some of the more conservative areas. Less important but still a concern: Only one of our daughters friends from day care will attend the school that we are districted for.

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Right now moving to a different neighborhood is not an option, but we have discovered that the district is willing to let parents petition to transfer their kids to an elementary school elsewhere as long as the parents provide transportation to and from the school. Since well have to pick our kids up from after-school care anyway, the only extra burden on us will be dropping our kids off in the morning rather than relying on a school bus. There are two much more diverse schools on our way to work.

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But even though it seems that the pros for requesting a school transfer outweigh the cons, there is something that is holding me back. Perhaps it is the privilege associated with being able to take my kids to and pick them up from school without relying on school transportation. Maybe its that choosing a school that is not our districted one makes me feel like Im looking down on our neighbors that were friendly with who plan to send their kids to our districted school. I dont want to appear as if I judge them for their decision not to transfer their kids to a more diverse school. Is choosing a more diverse school worth requesting the transfer, or should we stick with our districted school? I would hate for my kids to lose the wonderfully diverse environment that our day care exposes them to, but is that a good enough reason to request a school transfer?

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School Transfer Conundrum

Dear STC,

Yes.

I am sorely tempted to leave it at that. But I will qualify my response slightlybecause if it were obvious, you wouldnt be askingand say that being exposed to children from all backgrounds, religions, cultures, races, and ethnicities will enrich your childrens lives in ways that no teacher, book, or academic program ever can.

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Dear Care and Feeding,

All my life Ive wanted to be a mother. But I dont know how to square that desire with the fact that children born after 2010 are basically doomed to grow up in a world of climate change, pollution, and mass shootings. I know I have the meme-able fatalism of my generation, but when I look past the jokes Im very afraid. It seems to me morally wrong to have a child whose existence in this world will be marred by the very real threat that they will die in a climate-related natural disaster or be shot in algebra class. And yet I still want to be a mother! Im in my early 20s and still feel like a child myself, so I wouldnt want to have a kid for at least 10 years (especially in my expensive city). Im also gay, so becoming pregnant wouldnt be easy or cheap.

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This conflict leaves me feeling angry with the people who write in to the column who have infants (and then I feel guilty about that and swimming in a deep pool of anger and guilt, mixed with desire). How do I make a choice between my deep wish to be a mother and my knowledge that I would be doing a great disservice to a child just by bringing them into the world? Am I overthinking this?

Scared and Conflicted

Dear SaC,

You are not overthinking. Youre thinking. And youre thinking clearly, if you ask me. We live in frightening times; the future looks bleak. But we mustnt give up! We must do all we can to make things better. There are resources you can consult to help you get startedfor example, on climate change. You might even think about running for political office yourself.

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And then there is this: Having a child is an act of hope. If you want to have a child, then when the time comes that you feel ready to do so, I urge you to act hopefully, not fatalistically or fearfully. Because, honestly, if we give up hope, weve given up everything.

Michelle

More Advice From Slate

The other day I was helping my 7-year-old niece zip up her dress and then she turned around and asked me if she looked fat. I was so taken aback I gave some lame answer about its whats on the inside that counts, but I really want a better way to respond to this. Do you have any idea what I can say if this comes up again?
Most people tend to despise broken things, often wanting to throw them away. When you hear the word broken it implies something is wrong. Something is not working the way its supposed to be. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, broken can have a few definitions such as violently separated into parts; shattered or subdued completely; crushed, sorrowful.

We not only like to throw broken things away, we sometimes like throwing broken people away. On the contrary, God seems to love and is actually drawn to broken people. What is it about brokenness that attracts Gods attention? Why does God love using broken people? Lets consider three reasons.

1. Broken People Recognize Their Need of God

In the gospel of Luke chapter 18, we see the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector. They both went to the temple to pray, however their prayers were vastly different. Here is how the Pharisee prayed:

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other peoplerobbers, evildoers, adulterersor even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get (Luke 18:11-12).

Compare that to the prayer of the tax collector:

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner (Luke 18:13).

Hopefully it is evident to you the difference in their prayers. The Pharisee stood confident, boasting in his righteousness, telling God how wonderful a person he is. The tax collector on the other hand was bent low and broken, recognizing how unworthy he is, pleading for the mercy of God.

Guess which one went home justified?

There is an old expression out there that says God helps those who help themselves. That is not true, and it is also not in the Bible. What the Bible teaches us is that God helps those who realize they cant help themselves and who recognize their need for him. This is what Jesus reminds us of in this parable. The broken person recognizes that they need God. When they understand their need, they call upon him. When they call upon him, he comes to help. People who dont recognize their brokenness never understand their need for God and refuse to call upon him for help.

Here is what Psalm 34:18 says  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

If your heart is broken today and you are in a place where you recognize your need for God, you are exactly where God wants you to be. He is close to you ready to step in and help you in your situation. All you have to do is call upon him.

2. Broken People Help Other Broken People

The word empathy means to be able to understand and share the feelings of others. At some point in our lives, we have all been hurt, broken, troubled, crushed, bruised and in need of help and the comfort of God. This is the essence of being broken. Because we understand what it looks like and feels like, we can in turn help someone else. In other words, broken people help other broken people.

I believe the experiences you face in life are not just for you. They happen so you in turn can help someone else. How can you help me overcome if you never had to do the same? This is what Jesus did for us. Hebrews reminds us that we have a high priest who has experienced everything we do, so he can help us. He became broken so he could help us in our brokenness. Therefore, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing we have a God who understands and empathizes with our brokenness. Because God demonstrated this model for us through Christ, we in turn must do the same for others. Notice what Paul says in 2 Corinthians:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

If you have been broken before, then God wants to use that. Remember what it felt like and remember how God brought you through it. Take that and go help someone else who needs you because broken people help other broken people.

3. Broken People Become Trophies of Gods Grace

One of the biggest enemies to the early church was Saul of Tarsus. In Acts 8 after Stephen was stoned, we see that Saul was there and approved of Stephens killing. Right after that, great persecution broke out and Acts 8:3 says, But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. When we get to chapter 9 of Acts, Saul is still spewing out his murderous venom.

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lords disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem (Acts 9:1-2).

Saul felt justified in his righteousness and zealousness as a Pharisee, yet with all of his knowledge and training he missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah. On his way to Damascus, God showed up, encountered Saul, and changed him forever. Saul went from ruthless antagonist to champion of the gospel. He went from Saul of Tarsus to the Apostle Paul. He went from being broken, to becoming a trophy of Gods grace. Here is Paul in his own words:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinnersof whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life (1 Timothy 1:12-16).

The beauty of Pauls story is God took the worst of sinners and made him a chief example of Gods grace. So it is with you. I encourage you to embrace your brokenness. It will draw you closer to God. It will allow you to help someone else and it will allow God to put you on display as a trophy of his grace. Either way if you are broken you are just the one that God is looking for.

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The Prime Minister said he would speak to Mike Pompeo. (AP)

Boris Johnson said he would discuss the driving habits of US personnel around a British airbase with US secretary of state Mike Pompeo following the death of Harry Dunn.

During a conference in Berlin on Sunday, the prime minister was asked what progress had been made in getting the suspect Ann Sacoolas extradited to the UK to face trial.

Ms Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official, is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire and was charged with causing death by dangerous driving after Harrys death.

The PM said: "We're certainly raising all those issues - about the driving habits of US personnel at the base - and we're continuing to work for justice for Harry Dunn and for his family".

Harry Dunn died after being hit while he was riding his motorcycle (Picture: PA)

RAF Croughton became the focus of an international controversy after Mr Dunn was killed in a head-on collision with a car on August 27 last year.

Ms Sacoolas controversially claimed diplomatic immunity after the incident and fled to her home country - she has since refused to return to face justice despite pleas from Harrys family.

The US State Department has also said a UK extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas is highly inappropriate and was an abuse of powers.

READ MORE FROM YAHOO NEWS UK:

Earlier this week Harrys family accused the prime minister of having no wish or intention to meet them to discuss their sons death.

The 19-year-olds parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, had been hopeful of a meeting with Mr Johnson after they said they had repeated assurances from senior members of his cabinet.

Speaking about their hopes of a meeting with the prime minister, Radd Seiger said: Sadly, it is now clear to the parents of Harry Dunn that, despite repeated assurances to the contrary, prime minister Boris Johnson has no wish to, or intention of, meeting with them.

Story continues

For all his multiple faults, even US president Donald Trump took the time and trouble to meet with Harrys parents and extend his condolences personally, albeit for his own personal gain rather than to help Harrys parents.

Trump looked the parents in the eye and told them how sorry he was.

Mr Seiger continued: Johnson, on the other hand, has done his level best to steer clear of Harrys parents and continues to do so.

Asked whether Mr Johnson would meet the family, a Downing Street spokesman said: The legal process is ongoing and the UK has submitted the extradition request.

The prime minister will continue to work to get justice for Harry.




Haiti - Textile Industry : Taiwan releases funds for ADIH and training





Within the framework of Haitian-Taiwanese cooperation and the implementation of the Partnership Agreement signed on August 8, 2019 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28439-haiti-news-zapping.html between the Embassy of Taiwan (Republic of China) and the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) to support training in the textile sector, Bang-Zyh Liu the Ambassador of Taiwan in Haiti received Georges Sassine, the President of the ADIH who was accompanied by Bernard Craan, President of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIH) and Gilbert Hyppolite, President of the Haitian-Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIHT).



Ambassador Bang-Zyh announced the release of the second tranche of funding for the benefit of ADIH in support of the accomplishment of its mission and the proper functioning of two training centers in clothing technology established respectively in the Metropolitan Industrial Park and in the Caracol Industrial Park where Ambassador Liu had been invited at the end of November 2019 to attend the graduation of 93 young professionals https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29424-icihaiti-training-graduation-of-93-young-people-in-clothing-technology.html and during which he could see the quality of the training provided.



Ambassador Liu also took this opportunity to recall that the support of the Taiwanese Government for the proper functioning of these two training centers is part of the aim of supporting Taiwanese investments in Haiti where two Taiwanese companies are already established. textiles (EVEREST and FAIRWAY) which make a significant contribution to job creation and to the industrial and economic development of Haiti.



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-29424-icihaiti-training-graduation-of-93-young-people-in-clothing-technology.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28439-haiti-news-zapping.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















Authorities confirmed that the skeletal remains of the body found inside a crushed car at the bottom of a New Jersey River belonged to Vanessa Smallwood, 46, who was reported missing in February 2014

A New Jersey woman's skeletal remains were found in a crushed car pulled out of a river Thursday, six years after she was reported missing.

Authorities identified the remains as belonging to Vanessa Smallwood, 46, of Burlington Township, New Jersey, who was reported missing in February 2014.

Diving contractors who were working in the river, looking for underwater obstructions that could interfere with shipping, found the crushed car with the remains inside it in New Jersey's Salem River.

The flattened car was pulled out of the water on Thursday at about noon by New Jersey State Police, according to ABC 6.

The remains were then autopsied and confirmed as belonging to Smallwood on Friday.

Authorities did not reveal a cause of death, but said that there was no indication that there had been any foul play involved in her death, NJ.com reported.

Smallwood, a mother of three adult sons, had been reported missing on February 4, 2014, eight days after she was last seen outside a dry cleaners in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Smallwood was said to have been in a Chrysler Town & Country minivan, outside the dry cleaners while her husband was inside the store. When he went back outside, both the car and Smallwood had disappeared.

The car was found at the bottom of the Salem River by diving contractors who were looking for potential underwater obstructions that would interfere with shipping

New Jersey State Police pulled the car  a Chrysler  out of the river Thursday. The remains were autopsied on Friday

Smallwood (pictured) was last seen outside a New Jersey dry cleaners on January 27, 2014. She disappeared, along with her car, while her husband was inside the store

Police said that her cellphone had pinged in Clayton, New Jersey - about a half hour drive away - later that day, but that there was no activity on her credit or debit cards.

Smallwood was said to have had previous mental health issues and was on disability from her contract job at the Philadelphia International Airport at the time of her disappearance.

While authorities confirmed that the car pulled from the river was a Chrysler, they have not yet revealed the year or model of the car.

It's unclear on how long the car had been in the river and how it had wound up there.

After Smallwood's body was identified, one of her sons, Brandon Williams, took to Facebook to say that although he was 'messed me all the way up' by his mother's death, 'at least I know you arent here to suffer anymore in this destructive world we live in.'

He also wrote: 'Ive always know you were no longer here I just didnt want it to be so when I could no longer sense your Aura I knew you were gone Mom I remember so many traditions we had and did together and I promise Ill continue them with my kids tell them all about their grandma one day Im glad you found peace mom for whatever thats worth.'
China's Xi Jinping doubled down on his support for fallen rights icon Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday, signing dozens of infrastructure and trade deals and meeting with the Myanmar army chief accused of overseeing a genocide against Rohingya Muslims. The Chinese president's state visit to Myanmar's purpose-built capital came as Western investors give a wide berth to the country due to the Rohingya crisis. A 2017 military crackdown on the minority, which UN investigators called genocide, forced around 740,000 people from western Rakhine state over the border into Bangladesh. Beijing has stood by the increasingly isolated nation and reaffirmed its position in a joint statement in Chinese state media as Xi's plane left the capital after two days, escorted by fighter jets. China "firmly supports Myanmar's efforts to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and national dignity in the international arena" and for it to advance "peace, stability and development in Rakhine State". The Asian giant is now Myanmar's largest investor even as distrust of its ambitions lingers among the public. More than 30 agreements were signed Saturday on Xi's final day of his visit -- with Suu Kyi and Xi seated across from each other on long tables alongside related ministers. Details were scant but among the 33 deals was a concession and shareholders agreement on the $1.3 billion Kyaukhphyu deep-sea port and economic zone, located in a part of Rakhine state left largely unscathed by the 2017 violence. There was also a letter of intent for "new urban development" in Myanmar's biggest city Yangon and feasibility studies for rail links. The aim is to carve out a so-called "China-Myanmar Economic Corridor" -- a path of infrastructure from China's landlocked south to Myanmar's western Rakhine state which would serve as Beijing's long-awaited gateway to the Indian Ocean. The signing ceremony came between sit-down meetings with Suu Kyi and powerful army chief Min Aung Hlaing, who was put under sanctions by the US after being accused of masterminding the Rohingya crackdown. Myanmar says it was defending itself against attacks by militants. - 'China taking advantage' - After his arrival Friday Xi called the visit a "historical moment" for China-Myanmar relations, according to state-run newspaper the Global New Light of Myanmar. He also touched on the "unfairness and inequality in international relations" in what could be seen as a slight against the United States. Myanmar leader Suu Kyi -- whose reputation lies in tatters in the West's eyes due to her defence of the army over the Rohingya crisis -- said the country would always be at China's side. "It goes without saying that a neighbouring country has no other choice, but to stand together till the end of the world," she said during a celebration late Friday. China remains an indispensable ally for its Southeast Asian neighbour, wielding a protective veto vote at the UN Security Council. The stakes are heightening as the UN's top court prepares to rule next week on whether "emergency measures" should be taken against Myanmar as part of a genocide complaint in The Hague. But widespread suspicion of Beijing's influence in the country persists among those who are sceptical the economic benefits will trickle down to the masses and of ties to rebel groups fighting the state in border areas. "They believe that China has been taking advantage," said Thu Wai, leader of the Democratic Party, one of the 17 political parties who came to Naypyidaw as part of the visit. The lack of transparency surrounding the 33 deals signed Saturday will lead to a "backlash" as mistrust grows, said political analyst Khin Zaw Win. That anger was on display in Yangon, where dozens of protesters rallied against any reinstatement of a controversial Chinese-backed mega-dam. They held signs calling for "termination" of the $3.6 billion Myitsone project, which was not mentioned in the signed deals. "The Chinese president comes with his interest in Myanmar -- but it is not for our sake," said organiser Aung Soe. The 6,000 megawatt dam project was suspended in 2011 in the face of nationwide condemnation. It is believed to have been a personal affront to Xi, who signed the deal with Myanmar's then-military junta as vice president in 2009. China is now Myanmar's largest investor Map of Myanmar highlighting locations of the key projects under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) agreement. Chinese Presdient Xi Jinping called the visit a 'historical moment' for relations between the two neighbours Protestors rally in Yangon against any reinstatement of the controversial Chinese-backed Myitsone dam project




Haiti - Justice : 10 years later, cholera victims still claim reparation





At the international conference on responding to the needs of cholera victims held this week in Port-au-Prince, victims ask the Haitian State and the international community to ensure that rights and expectations of victims are at the heart of priorities and all forms of assistance.



This conference brought together civil society organizations, representatives of the Haitian authorities, doctors, sociologists as well as lawyers from Haiti and various other countries.



"Ten years have passed since the start of the cholera epidemic, introduced by Nepalese MINUSTAH soldiers whose sewage was negligently discharged into a tributary of the Artibonite. While the eradication of the epidemic itself is welcome, the reparation and assistance to which the victims are entitled has still not been provided. After consultation, victims say collective projects are useful in helping the country to overcome the ordeal, but such projects must necessarily be complemented by individual measures responding more specifically to suffering and needs of those most affected by the epidemic, including women, children and others who have lost a loved one. They must be listened to, all the more so since a detailed study concludes that such specific support measures for the main victims are feasible," said Me Pascal Paradis, Director General of Lawyers Without Borders Canada (LWBC).



The LWBCrecalls that in 2016, the United Nations presented its new strategy to fight cholera in Haiti, aimed in particular at providing assistance to victims, their families and their community, and recognized the need to conduct a more in-depth review of the possibility of providing for individual measures in addition to a Community approach.



Despite the commitment made by the Secretary General of the United Nations to "consult the victims, their families and the communities in the context of the development of the system", the limited consultations carried out by the United Nations did not allow victims most affected by cholera to speak out on the best ways to remedy the suffering they have personally suffered.



This is why LWBC and the Interuniversity Research and Development Institute (INURED) conducted a survey among cholera victims and Haitian and international experts and studied the feasibility of an individual assistance approach for people most affected by the epidemic.



"The study recommends that the United Nations respond to the priorities, needs and concerns of cholera victims at all times and at all stages, including the provision of any form of assistance. It recommends implementing complementary measures, individual and collective, of assistance to the victims of cholera in order to remedy their suffering, while taking into account the consequences of cholera on their community," specifies Appolinaire Fotso, head of mission of CBSA.



Download the CBSA study (PDF in French) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/ASFC-10-ans.pdf



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-2875-haiti-cholera-report-of-the-experts-on-the-origin-of-the-epidemic.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















While I was growing up, my dad often talked about building a better tomorrow. He dreamed of all four of his kids being able to stay on the family ranch if we wanted to. Whether that was developing the family farm and ranch into something all of us kids could one day work on or instilling godly values in us that we could one day pass those along to our kids, at the end of the day, he just wanted to give the next generation an opportunity to thrive.

My vision for South Dakota is the same.

We must ensure that every person can build a life in South Dakota and make a good living to provide for their families. This is why I have committed to four pillars of protection: keeping taxes low, limiting government regulation, fighting government intrusion, and keeping government open and honest.

After a year of serving as governor, Im proud to say we stuck to these pillars in 2019, and we made a lot of progress, too.

One of our main priorities last year was recruiting new industries to South Dakota and helping businesses who are looking to grow or expand. And people have responded. Its not hard to understand why. There are so many reasons why South Dakota is the best place in the nation to do business.

Our state has the best people - our work ethic and values are second to none.

We don't have a corporate income tax. And theres also no business inventory tax. We are one of the few remaining states with no personal income tax, and I am committed to keeping it that way. We also don't burden our citizens with a personal property tax or an inheritance tax.

The taxes that we do have to fund state government are stable and predictable. In addition to my commitment to not raising taxes, our constitution requires a 2/3rd vote in both chambers of the legislature to raise taxes. In short, if youre worried about tax increases, you dont need to be.

Government in South Dakota lives within its means. We balance our budget without accounting gimmicks or tricks. And we believe in smart regulation. We roll out the red carpet, not the red tape.

Our part-time legislature is one of just a few that is a true citizen legislature. Our legislators come to Pierre, tackle the problems that need to be tackled that session, and then go home to their jobs, their families, and their communities.

I have traveled all across this country and around the world, and I can tell you, there is no better place to operate a business and raise a family than in South Dakota.

My goal is to make sure folks across the country and around the world know that South Dakota is the place to do business. Whether youve owned and operated a business for four generations, or youre looking to start, expand, or even relocate your current operation, my message is crystal clear: South Dakota is open for business.

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WASHINGTON  President Donald Trumps lawyers on Sunday previewed their impeachment defense with the questionable assertion that the charges against him are invalid, adopting a position rejected by Democrats as nonsense as both sides sharpened their arguments for trial.

Criminal-like conduct is required, said Alan Dershowitz, a constitutional lawyer on Trumps defense team. Dershowitz said he will be making the same argument to the Senate and if it prevails, there will be no need to pursue the witness testimony or documents that Democrats are demanding.

The argument is part of a multi-pronged strategy the presidents team is developing ahead of its impeachment trial brief, which is due Monday. Trump asserts that his Ukraine pressure was perfect and that he is the victim of a witch hunt.

But the no crime, no impeachment approach has been roundly dismissed by scholars and Democrats, who were fresh off a trial brief that called Trumps behavior the worst nightmare of the countrys founders. In their view, the standard of high crimes and misdemeanors is vague and open-ended in the Constitution and meant to encompass abuses of power that arent necessarily illegal.

The White House is pushing an absurdist position, said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the lead Democratic prosecutor of the impeachment case. Thats the argument I suppose you have to make if the facts are so dead set against you. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., another impeachment prosecutor, called it arrant nonsense and said evidence of Trumps misconduct is overwhelming.

The back-and-forth came as all concerned agitated for the Senate to get on with the third impeachment trial in the nations history. Behind the scenes Sunday, the seven House managers were meeting on strategy with staff and shoring up which prosecutor will handle which parts of the case. They were expected to do a walk-through of the Senate chamber on Monday around lunchtime, according to multiple Democrats working on impeachment who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans.

The White House, meanwhile, was working on its response to the Houses brief outlining the charges.

No senators were more eager to get going than the four Democratic presidential candidates facing the prospect of being marooned in the Senate ahead of kickoff nominating votes in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Id rather be here, said Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on New Hampshire Public Radio while campaigning Sunday in Concord.

During the trial, Sanders and other senators are required to sit mutely for perhaps six grueling hours of proceedings daily  except Sundays, per Senate rules  in pursuit of the impartial justice they pledged to pursue. But there was scant evidence that anyones mind was really open about whether Trumps pressure on Ukraine to help him politically amounted to impeachable conduct or removal from office.

Mystery, however, abounded over the trials ground rules. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., shed no light on how the proceedings will follow  and differ from  the precedent of President Bill Clintons impeachment trial in 1999.

The president deserves a fair trial. The American people deserve a fair trial. So lets have that fair trial, said Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, one of the seven impeachment prosecutors.

But whats fair is as vigorously disputed as the basic question of whether Trumps pressure on Ukraine to help him politically merits a Senate conviction and removal from office. The stakes are enormous, with historic influence on the fate of Trumps presidency, the 2020 presidential and congressional elections and the future of any presidential impeachments.

Whatever happens in the Senate, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has said, Trump will be impeached forever. Members of Trumps team countered that if they win a vindication for Trump, it means there will be an acquittal forever as well, Trump attorney Robert Ray said Sunday. That is the task ahead.

For all of the suspense over the trials structure and nature, some clues on whats to come sharpened on Sunday.

The presidents lawyers bore down on the suggestion that House impeachment is invalid unless the accused violated U.S. law. Dershowitzs argument, backed up by Ray, refers to an 1868 speech by Benjamin Curtis, who after serving as a Supreme Court justice acted as the chief lawyer for Andrew Johnson at his Senate impeachment trial.

There can be no crime, there can be no misdemeanor, without a law, written or unwritten, express or implied, Curtis told the Senate. There must be some law; otherwise there is no crime. My interpretation of it is that the language high crimes and misdemeanors means offenses against the laws of the United States.'

Johnson was ultimately acquitted by the Senate.

The core of the impeachment parameters allege that crimes have been committed, treason, bribery, and things like that, in other words, other high crimes and misdemeanors, Ray said Sunday.

Republicans have long signaled the strategy, which has, in turn, been disputed by other scholars.

Rubbish, said Frank Bowman, a University of Missouri law professor and author of his own book about the history of impeachment for the Trump era.

Its comically bad. Dershowitz either knows better or should, said Bowman, who said he had been Dershowitzs student as a law professor at Harvard. Its a common argument, and its always wrong.

Even as he made the case for Trumps acquittal, Dershowitz on Sunday distanced himself from the rest of Trumps defense team and said he would merely speak about the Constitution at the trial. He refused to endorse the strategy pursued by other members of that team or defend Trumps conduct and said he didnt sign onto the White House left brief filed Saturday, which called impeachment a brazen attempt to overturn the 2016 election.

Im a liberal Democrat  Im here as a constitutional lawyer, Dershowitz said. Im here to lend my expertise on that issue and that issue alone.

Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing for witnesses and documents that werent part of the House proceedings. A few Republicans said they want to know more before deciding. Its relevant because new information from Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, is being incorporated in the House case. At the same time, Senate Democrats want to call John Bolton, the former national security adviser, among other potential eyewitnesses, after the White House blocked officials from appearing in the House.

With Republicans controlling the Senate 53-47, they can set the trial rules  or any four Republicans could join with Democrats to change course.

As for being forced back to the Senate in the heat of the nomination fight, Sanders pointed out in New Hampshire that he is not the only senator whos going to be stuck in the impeachment. Also off the campaign trail will be Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Michael Bennet of Colorado.

I cant tell you how long Im going to be in Washington. Is it a week? Is it two weeks? Is it three weeks? Sanders said on NPR. So it creates a difficult political situation.

The House on Dec. 18 voted mostly along party lines to impeach, or indict, Trump. The president rejects both charges as the products of a witch hunt and a hoax, and has cast himself as a victim of Democrats who opposed him from the beginning of his administration.

Crow spoke on CNNs State of the Union and Dershowitz was on CNN and ABCs This Week. Ray was on Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures. Schiff appeared on ABC and Nadler appeared on CBSs Face the Nation.

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Hunter Woodall in Manchester, N.H., contributed to this report.

___

Follow Laurie Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com//APLaurieKellman
Even three years after Demonetisation of high-value currency notes, we have seen numerous instances that highlight its failure in curbing money laundering and making it a masterstroke that was claimed on November 8, 2016.



Every now and then, we come across reports of seizures of fake currency notes. In fact, the numbers have shot up manifold in recent years and most of it has come out to be in Rs 2,000 denomination.

Now, in a strange case, a 56-year-old Swedish woman tourist has been fined over Rs 2 lakhs for being found in possession of over Rs 50,000 in demonetised currency notes.

The incident, according to a report in The Hindu, surfaced at the Cochin International Airport and the security officials had little suspect over the foreign tourist.

Apparently, security has been beefed up at all airports in the country in view of the Republic Day. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the airport has tightened baggage screening too.

They were thus able to detect 49 demonetised notes of Rs 1,000 and another five notes of Rs 500 in the womans luggage. These notes were seized from her possession and was handed over to the Customs authorities, reported The Hindu.

The CISF were quoted as saying by The Hindu that the woman traveller had claimed that she had visited India in 2014 and those notes were from her last trip to India. She also stressed that she was not aware of demonetisation and that she was not told about it by anybody upon her arrival in India.

She was reportedly due to board a flight to Colombo but the hassle over the old notes amounted to her missing the flight. She was allowed to leave for Sri Lanka only after she paid the required fine at the Angamaly First Class Judicial Magistrate court.

Possession of more than 10 pieces of invalidated currency notes by individuals and more than 25 for study, research or numismatics is deemed a criminal offence attracting a minimum fine of Rs 10,000 or five times the cash held, whichever is higher.

Latest reports of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), on the other hand, reveal that in terms of value, Rs 2,000 banknotes comprised 56 per cent of all fake currency seized in India after demonetisation (i.e. in 2017 and 2018).

Fake Rs 2,000 notes contribute the most towards the overall value of seized counterfeit currency in India. In 2017, their share was 53.3 per cent and this increased to 61.01 per cent in 2018.

NCRB's latest annual report titled 'Crime in India' reveals that in 2017 and 2018, law enforcing agencies seized Fake India Currency Note (FICN) worth Rs 46.06 crore.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday arrived at the Chancellery in Berlin to attend the international conference on the crisis in Libya.

He was welcomed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Germany is bringing together the key players in the long-running civil war in a bid to curb foreign military meddling, solidify a ceasefire and help relaunch a political process to determine the nations future.

Merkel has invited leaders from 12 countries, as well as the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union and the Arab League, to Sundays summit at the chancellery in Berlin.

Germanys months-long diplomatic drive seeks to bolster efforts to stop the fighting in Libya by Guterres and his envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame.

Among those expected to attend are not only Pompeo, but also the presidents France, Russia and Turkey, as well as the prime ministers of Italy and the UK.

Other countries invited are the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, and China.

Libya's two main rival leaders: Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj and General Khalifa Hifter are both expected to attend the conference too, according to German government officials.
Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz appeared in court on Monday for a trial in relation to a November 2018 altercation, which was delayed after a Broward deputy was arrested for DUI in Washington state. Cruz is charged with battery, aggravated assault, and use of a chemical or electric weapon against Sgt. Raymond Beltran that happened at the Broward County Jail. Beltran was supposed to appear in court on Monday morning but he was accused of driving under the influence while on duty back in March 2019.

Beltran on duty while driving under influence

Police said Beltran was driving an inmate and was pulled over by an officer after he was illegally changing lanes and speeding. Beltran was given a sobriety test and failed. Then he refused to take a breathalyzer test right after. WSVN 7 stated, his blood was drawn after a court order was issued and Beltran had a blood-alcohol level of .15. The officer informed Beltran that Washington state has a requirement to tow vehicles for DUI. The officer also told him he would have to take him to jail and send his breathalyzer results over to the precinct.

Since Beltran couldn't appear in court due to his pending case and charges, Cruz continued to attend the hearing with his defense attorneys.

The judge scheduled another hearing for Jan. 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Altercation between Cruz and Beltran

According to court documents, the altercation happened at the Broward County Jail after the deputy allegedly told Cruz to pick up his feet. Cruz and Beltran traded words with one another and Cruz ended up punching Beltran in the face then grabbed his stun gun after they scuffled.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Local 10 reported, Defense attorney Joseph Burke stated he would like to view the existing surveillance video that shows what happened before and after the incident. He mentioned that BSO didn't release the video and it could possibly demonstrate what caused Cruz to attack Beltran. Prosecutors are calling this a 'delay tactic' and objected Burke's statement.

The prosecutor mentioned that she wouldn't know where the recording would be and is not sure if whatever happened before the incident would matter. She also suggested that if the recording can't be found, then her team has nothing to do with that.

Murder Trial

The jury for Cruz's murder trial hasn't been selected yet. The selection was planned to be scheduled for the end of this month however the trial ended up being delayed after the defense attorneys requested more time. Cruz has been in jail since he committed the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Valentine's Day in 2018. Cruz requested an Uber and went to the school with a hidden AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle. He killed 17 people.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has issued a decree extending the state of emergency nationwide for three months as of 1 AM Monday , January 27.

The decree was published in the gazette on Sunday.

According to the decree, the Egyptian Armed Forces and the police shall take the necessary measures to counter terrorism, maintain security and protect citizens and properties.

Egypt's House of Representatives approved by two third of its members on the President's decree to extend the state of emergency nationwide on 14 January

The state of emergency was first declared in April 2017 following two suicide bombings in churches in Alexandria and Gharbiya on Palm Sunday that killed 47 worshipers, and has been constantly renewed ever since.

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Amid the ongoing stir against the amended Citizenship Act, BJP MP from Nizamabad D Arvind slammed Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president KT Rama Rao for his stand against the Act and called him "a political illiterate". Arvind further questioned Rao's status to level allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

READ | If CAA Is Passed, No State Can Say 'I Won't Implement', It's Unconstitutional: Kapil Sibal

'Does KTR even have a status?'

"What should we call KTR, he is a political illiterate, after Telangana Rashtra Samiti party came into power in Telangana, KTR came here and contested from Siricilla and won. Has he done anything on his own? Do you stay in public? We do not want to hear from him that what acts should BJP bring," said Arvind in a press conference. "Does KTR even has a status to level allegations against Narendra Modi and Amit Shah?" he asked.

READ | Uttar Pradesh: Joint Commissioner Navin Arora Visits Ghanta Ghar Anti-CAA Protestors

The BJP leader's response has come after KTR said that there was no need to bring the Citizenship law, and asked the government to address more important issues in the country. The BJP leader made a personal attack on Rao stating, "You (KTR) and your sister (Kavitha) have made your father K Chandrashekar Rao (Telangana Chief Minister) stay in a farmhouse only. Your father was a good leader when you and your sister were in America."

READ | AMU Students Take Out Balloon March Against VC, Registrar Over CAA & NRC

CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014. However, in the aftermath of the passage of the CAA, violent protests were witnessed across the country. The process of implementing the amended Citizenship Act has started with Uttar Pradesh becoming the first state to start the implementation process after the center issued a gazette notification announcing that the CAA has come into effect from January 10, 2020.

READ | CAA Is To 'atone For Sin Of Partition': Union Minister Sarangi
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 17:09:05|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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HARARE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least 14 people died Saturday afternoon after a Harare-bound bus collided with a haulage truck just outside the city of Mutare, local media reported Sunday.

Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi told the Sunday Mail newspaper that the accident, which left 40 others injured, happened about 220 km from Harare.

He said preliminary investigations indicated that the bus driver was speeding and the accident happened as he was overtaking another vehicle.
The National Archives is one of the most imposing and beautiful buildings designed by architect John Russell Pope, who also created the West Building of the National Gallery of Art, the Jefferson Memorial and many of the finest houses, churches and association offices in the nation's capital.

Pope was a principal adviser on the design of what is known as Federal Triangle, where the Archives is located, and he was an architect keenly alert to the power of symbols in urban design. When planning the Archives, he succeeded in persuading the government to situate it where it now stands, on Pennsylvania Avenue halfway between the U.S. Capitol and the White House, suggesting its neutrality within the checks-and-balances system of the government.

Now the Archives has foolishly compromised the public's sense of its independence, so artfully embedded in its landmark building. By blurring out details from protest signs in an image of the 2017 Women's March, including the name of President Donald Trump and references to the female anatomy - a decision the Archives publicly apologized for on Saturday - it has damaged the faith many Americans, particularly women, may have had in its role as an impartial conservator of the nation's records. It has unnecessarily squandered something that cannot easily be regained.

There must be consequences.

An Archives spokeswoman told The Washington Post the changes to a large-format image included in an exhibition about women's suffrage were made "so as not to engage in current political controversy." If that was the intent, they obviously failed, embroiling the institution in exactly the controversy they say they wanted to avoid. But no matter the proferred explanation or statement of apology, the decision indicates a lack of leadership and distinct confusion about the mission at the Archives. If the Archives wants to teach Americans about history, then it must be scrupulously honest in its presentation of all documentary evidence.

The blunder is egregious for multiple reasons. It indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of history among those responsible for the exhibition. The Women's March on Jan. 21, 2017, was not a march for suffrage, which was extended to women in 1920. It was a march for equality, dignity and fair treatment. For many who attended, those issues were newly urgent given the man who had been inaugurated the day before. Many of the signs at the march were directed at Trump's denigrating language, his cavalier comments about groping and kissing women without their consent, his support for denying them the right to control their own bodies and the many accusations of harassment and assault he has denied but never disproved.

Inequality, for women today, is not an abstraction, but something understood directly through their bodies, through legislative and regulatory efforts to deny them reproductive freedom, through the fear of assault and through inequities built into our system, from bathrooms to medical research, that makes female bodies - which outnumber male bodies in the United States by several millions - the exception to the male-dominated norms and rules.

Thus, scrubbing out references to women's anatomy in the image was not a benign or neutral act of family-friendly censorship. It was censorship of the fundamental message of the Women's March.

Scrubbing out negative comments about Trump is at least as disturbing, given the ballooning crisis of confidence in democratic institutions. America teeters on the precipice of authoritarianism, and that jeopardy affects every institution, no matter how seemingly detached from partisan politics its mission. The National Park Service was dragged into this vortex from the first day of Trump's term, when a government photographer cropped out empty space in an image of the Mall taken during the president's relatively sparsely attended inauguration. Our armed forces were dragged into it as well, when the president used military hardware as a prop for a rally at the Lincoln Memorial last July 4. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was entangled in the administration's tortuous relation to truth when it backed the president's false claim, complete with an altered storm map, that a hurricane had threatened Alabama last year.

Every institution will be tested, and the Archives has failed. To recover from this terrible mistake, it may be necessary to get out of the business of presenting exhibitions. The impulse to teach history is admirable, but history is never neutral, and institutions have a tendency to equate their mission with the triumph of larger historical forces. At the now-shuttered Newseum, journalists were sometimes presented more as prophets and agents of social change, like the civil rights movement, than neutral observers. It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, for institutions to present history dispassionately without also flattering themselves for playing a constructive role in the drama.

The National Archives is in a particularly difficult position, which can be seen in its basic architecture and the allegorical figures that broadcast its mission. Pope emphasized the Archives' independence by including a dry moat surrounding the building (now altered), massive bronze doors suggesting impregnability and giant porticos with columns on all sides that indicate its intent to rise above the fray in all directions. He dramatized its purpose with statues at its Constitution Avenue entrance, one a female figure dubbed "Heritage," the other a male figure called "Guardianship."

The main thrust of its symbolism is blunt enough: This building protects American heritage. But it is gendered symbolism, with heritage seen as bearing the seeds of the future, and guardianship depicted with the appurtenances of war. And heritage, in the United States, is fraught with violence, racism, anti-Semitism and misogyny, carefully packaged in storybook visions of well-intentioned, white-dominated patriarchy.

Given the severity of this recent blunder, it is not clear the Archives can be trusted to finesse our most complicated cultural and archival challenge, a reassessment of history that is rigorous, honest and inclusive. If the institution's leadership wants to make amends, however, there are two places to start. Replace the image with the original, uncensored one. And seek out the women whose signs were airbrushed out of history and give each of them a genuine apology.
They recently enjoyed a family Christmas in their new London home.

And Binky Felstead shared a gushing tribute to boyfriend Max Fredrik Darnton as they celebrated their one year anniversary together in Paris on Sunday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, called him an 'absolute hero' in the sweet caption alongside two photos of the couple in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Romantic: Binky Felstead shared a gushing tribute to her boyfriend Max Fredrik Darnton, 30, as they celebrated their one year anniversary together in Paris on Sunday

She wrote: 'Happy Anniversary PUP!!! Thank you being an absolute hero and also putting up with two pesky Geminis!

'What a year hey.... very excited for the future ... youre very lucky! Thank you for this amazing weekend away ... I love you a lot. X'

The reality star kept cosy in a sheepskin coat and beanie hat in the pic during her trip to the romantic landmark.

One year: The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, called him an 'absolute hero' in the sweet caption alongside two photos of the couple in front of the Eiffel Tower

In her Stories she shared some more photos from their weekend away including a video of them them placing a lock with their names on the famous Pont des Arts bridge.

She also shared various pics of the duo enjoying some yummy cocktails and pasta.

Binky and Max, who is managing director at a global executive search and consulting firm, have been in a relationship since January last year after meeting at countryside private members' club Soho Farmhouse.

Making memories: In her Stories she shared some more photos from their weekend away including a video of them them placing a lock with their names on the famous Pont des Arts

In November, the couple took the next step by buying a home together in Barnes, west London, where they live with Binky's daughter India, two, who she raises alongside her Made In Chelsea co-star ex-boyfriend Josh 'JP' Patterson, 30.

The reality star recently admitted the relationship is so serious that she and Max have already discussed having children in the not too distant future.

She told MailOnline in an interview last November: 'I think you always want what you are one of. I am one of three, so I've always had three in my head  girl, boy, girl.'

Cute: Binky and Max, who is managing director at a global executive search and consulting firm, have been in a relationship since January last year

Asked whether she could see this happening with Max, Binky replied: 'I wouldnt be mentioning it [my relationship with Max] if I didn't think it had any legs. He is really great. I am very happy.'

Binky appeared on Made In Chelsea from its first episode in 2010 through to 2017, during which time she met fellow star JP.

She and ex JP dated on and off from the summer of 2015, when they got together during the Made In Chelsea spin-off season in Los Angeles, to September 2018 when they confirmed their split.

Delicious: She also shared various pics of the duo enjoying some yummy cocktails and pasta

But the reality star admitted it is refreshing to be in a relationship with someone who isn't in the public eye.

She told MailOnline: 'He [Max] is just amazing. The first thing I told him was that I'm a mum when he asked me what I did.

'He is a businessman, he isn't really into being in the public eye, he just likes to get on with his own stuff.

'He has a firm he runs in Asia. He is very different. He has a different thing to what I have going on which is nice.

'He's very supportive, he gets me, he makes me laugh, we have a giggle and we take the mick out of each other.'
It is 20 years to the month since Brian Cowen ended his stint as health minister. He famously likened the department to Angola, a landmine-strewn country that at the time had been mired in a civil war for decades. Health, he implied, was a job from which one could only want to escape.

The number of healthcare workers employed by the State has grown by two-thirds in the 20 years since he exited the department. The increase has been almost exactly double the rate of overall population growth. Over the past five years, 20,000 more people have been added to the health payroll. Employment in the sector has never been higher and the shrinking effects of a hiring freeze during the austerity years have been more than fully reversed.

Despite cross-county comparisons which show that Irish health spending per person is among the highest in the world, the system is the subject of relentless criticism. It is widely expected to be a major issue in the election campaign over the next three weeks.

If resourcing is not the cause of the undersupply of healthcare services, the problem almost certainly lies in how those resources are used. But making changes, such as using all assets on a 24/7 basis rather than only during standard office hours, would be resisted by vested interests in the system. Ministers since Brian Cowen have, almost without exception, not wanted to take on those interests for fear of the political consequences.

Housing is another issue that has been at the top of voters' concerns for years, and which may be crucial in the coming election. As with health, undersupply has been at the heart of the matter. One reason for this has been a planning system that allows objections to the building of new homes. Such has been the pressure to oppose development in some areas that elected politicians have joined in the objections for fear of losing votes.

Part of the problem in both health reform and planning flows from Ireland's hyper-competitive electoral system. As the country gears up to vote in 20 days, it is worth underscoring how unusual our voting system is (the only other country to use it is Malta). It is also worthy highlighting its defects. Although no electoral system is perfect, the version of proportional representation used in Ireland is so unpopular internationally because of its multiple defects. Moreover, in a world in which both political fragmentation and the complexity of governing are on the rise, the cost of its defects are increasing.

One political consequence of trying to reform the health system has been the emergence of independent candidates at elections. This is one - and only one - of the reasons for the existence of an anti-reform bias in Ireland's political system.

Ireland is an extreme outlier in the democratic world in the number of independent and single-issue candidates who get elected. The electoral systems in almost every other democracy are designed to prevent such fragmentation. In proportional representation systems of the kind Ireland uses, a threshold is usually in place whereby a minimum share of the national vote is needed by any candidate or party to enter parliament. It is for that reason that very few countries have independents in their national parliaments and why none has the number Ireland currently has and is likely to have after the next election.

There are those who believe that independents are a force for good in Irish politics, and there is no doubt that many have done good work over the years. But as the vote has fragmented in recent elections - a trend also in evidence in many other countries - the increase in the number of independents has made it harder to form governments and harder to win support for measures, such as healthcare reform, that will generate opposition from powerful vested interests.

This has not caused the country to be run into the ground over the past four years, but the duration of the 32nd Dail has coincided with a period of economic boom. That has meant that the sort of unavoidable hard choices that come with more austere times have not had to be made. And it is possible that the current expansion, now in its eighth year, will continue over the lifetime of the 33rd Dail. But if it doesn't, things may change and the full costs of extreme political fragmentation may become apparent.

An entirely separate defect of the electoral system is also showing signs of generating higher costs. Critics of Ireland's electoral system have long argued that it rewards TDs who focus on local matters over national, European and international issues. Although there are undoubtedly positive aspects of having TDs do things that local politicians do in many other countries, there are costs too.

And those costs could keep rising. Nothing in recent times has highlighted this better than the reaction among the political class to an EU trade deal. Last year TDs voted in large numbers against a deal which would bring about free trade between Europe and South America. As one of the most successful trading nations on the planet, one might have expected political representatives to have highlighted the gains for Ireland of having better access to a market of hundreds of millions of people. Instead, almost all political focus was on the downsides of the deal for one declining industry - farming. For a country whose economic model is based on openness to trade and investment to become the first in the EU to vote against the deal with South America, and to do so at a time when other member countries were showing solidarity on keeping trade across the border on this island flowing freely, did not reflect well on the political class.

What are the chances of tweaking the voting system to, say, a German-style model whereby half of TDs would be elected as they are now and half from a national list? Very low, must be the answer.

Voters are attached to the system and many like the drama of the multi-seat constituency counts. Its supporters can also argue, with some validity no doubt, that it keeps politicians close to constituents and that the option of voting for independents could explain why the hard right and hard left have not gained traction in Ireland as they have done in many other countries.

At a time when the economy is booming and when politics in many peer countries is making Irish politics look good, critiquing the electoral system is not fashionable. But with politics fragmenting and the country's interests becoming more Europeanised and more globalised, the costs of sticking with it are rising. It may take the next recession to show how much they have risen.
They have returned to the judging panel for the talent series as auditions for the new show kicked off earlier in the week.

And Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon appeared in great spirits as they attended the Britain's Got Talent photocall, held at The London Palladium, Soho in London on Sunday afternoon.

Amanda, 48, stood out in a vibrant pink jumpsuit as she hit the red carpet alongside fellow judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams after revealing she's cured her migraines with acupuncture earlier in the day.

Pals: Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon appeared in great spirits as they attended the Britain's Got Talent photocall, held at The London Palladium, Soho in London on Sunday afternoon

Cutting a typically elegant figure, the Heart host stunned in her colourful one-piece, which featured a kooky balloon-inspired sleeve and flared trousers.

The Big Top actress ensured focus remained on her outfit as she kept accessories to a minimum, sporting a selection of diamond jewellery.

With her youthful-looking complexion highlighted with a full face of dewy make-up, Amanda styled her locks into glamorous waves.

Alesha, 41, looked nothing short of sensational for the day, donning a black crop top that displayed her lithe physique, pairing it with matching trousers.

Stylish: Alesha looked nothing short of sensational for the day, donning a black crop top that displayed her lithe physique, pairing it with matching trousers

Relief: The TV star took to Instagram to reveal she's cured her migraines with acupuncture earlier in the day

The singer also donned a black jacket while she styled her raven locks into an updo for the event.

Adding height to her frame with a pair of heels, Alesha completed her look with a gold necklace and matching earrings.

Amanda took to Instagram ahead of her red carpet appearance as she shared a snap of pins in her neck during her acupuncture therapy.

'Pins & needles... migraine cured! @bgt day 2', the media personality captioned her post.

Sleek: The singer also donned a black jacket while she styled her raven locks into an updo for the event

Stunning: Amanda ensured all eyes were on her for the auditions with her eye-catching pink jumpsuit

Eye-catching: Amanda glided along the red carpet as she was also joined by fellow judges Simon Cowell and David Walliams

Glamour: Amanda looked radiant as she styled her blonde locks into loose curls for the day

The NHS describes acupuncture as a 'treatment derived from ancient Chinese medicine, where fine needles are inserted at certain sites in the body for therapeutic or preventative purposes'.

It was recently revealed that Amanda had signed a three-year deal for 3million to continue her role as a judge on ITV's Britain's Got Talent.

ITV is said to be keen to keep hold of its big names following fears they will be poached for shows by Amazon Prime Video, according to The Sun.

Back in action: Amanda has returned to the judging panel for the talent series as auditions for the new show kicked off earlier in the week

Centre stage: Cutting a typically elegant figure, the Heart host stunned in her colourful one-piece, which featured a kooky balloon-inspired sleeve and flared trousers

Pose: Amanda struck a playful pose as she joined Alesha on the red carpet

In 2018, the blonde signed a 3million two-year deal with Heart Breakfast, cementing her title as the highest paid female broadcaster in the UK with a 5million a year fortune.

On Saturday, judge David, 48, shared a snap of hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, 44, back to work for the first round of auditions for the new series.

Sharing snaps of the day on Instagram, Ant and Dec were seen grinning as judge David, 48, draped his arms over their shoulders.

In good company: The four judges were all smiles as they posed alongside hosts Ant McPartlin (far left) and Declan Donnelly (far right)

Exciting times: They've return to the judging panel for the talent series as auditions for the new show kicked off earlier in the week

Suave appearances: Music mogul Simon, 60, and panellist David, 48, looked dapper in sharp ensembles

Fun: Typically playful David wrapped his arms around Simon who looked less than impressed

Back in action: The four judges all looked ready to get to work as they prepared for another round of auditions

The presenter is set to hand over 31m to his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong in their divorce settlement, including their 5m former home in West London.

According to The Sun, the I'm A Celebrity host is 'delighted' the case has come to an end as he can 'move on', two years after announcing their split.

A source close to both sides told the paper: 'Ant and Lisa agreed to settle and sign their divorce agreement during a productive and civil meeting on Tuesday.

Casually cool: Earlier on, Ant and Dec arrived at the venue in dressed-down numbers

Cheery: The presenter took delight in reuniting with his industry pals for the new series

Hosts with the most: Ant and Dec shared a joke as they arrived on the red carpet

Popular: Ant was in demand on the red carpet as he took selfies with fans

'Ant made a very generous settlement that works out to be more than half of everything that he has.

'He is delighted because it means he can put what has been a very difficult chapter in his life behind him and move on.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ant and Lisa for comment at the time of publication.
At the Republican Donors in his South Florida estate, US President Donald Trump recounted minute-by-minute details of the airstrike that shook the world and resulted in the killing of Iran's General Qassem Soleimani earlier this month. The US had carried out a strike near Baghdad's international airport killing Soleimani, a US-designated terrorist, along with six others on the direction of President Trump earlier this month. According to an audio obtained by an American news channel, Trump in his speech at his estate said that the Iranian General was saying "bad things about our country" which led to his ultimate decision of killing him.

Read: Donald Trump calls Soleimani 'King of Roadside Bombs', slams Obama for staying mute

'One minute to live...'

Trump recalled how Soleimani had arrived at Baghdad International Airport after which US military officials relayed the sequence of events as they watched the air raid. "They're together sir... Sir, they have two minutes and 11 seconds. No emotion. '2 minutes and 11 seconds to live, sir. They're in the car, they're in an armored vehicle. Sir, they have approximately one minute to live, sir. 30 seconds. 10, 9, 8 ...," recalled Trump.

Read: Iran to file lawsuit against US at ICJ over Soleimani's killing

"Then all of a sudden, boom," he said. "They're gone, sir. Cutting off. I said, where is this guy? That was the last I heard from him," said Trump.

The US President also recounted the strike that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and joked that the dog Conan, which took part in the raid got more credit than he did. "The dog Conan became very famous," he said.

The longstanding tension between Iran and the US has surfaced again after Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was slain by the US in an airstrike near Iraq's Baghdad International Airport, ordered by US President Donald Trump. Soon, two airstrikes were reported near the US Embassy in Baghdads Green Zone. A third attack was launched with three Katyusha rockets hitting the Baghdads Green Zone hosting the US officials.

Read: Trump says "doesn't matter" whether Soleimani was 'imminent' threat or not

Read: Soleimani's killing was 'legitimate act of self-defence' says top US attorney
Sandalwood superstar Kiccha Sudeep has previously collaborated with ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli in 2012s fantasy action film Eega. There were a lot of rumours floating in the media that the actor would be collaborating with the Baahubali director in his highly anticipated next titled RRR. It was being reported that the Pehelwaan star was roped in to play a cop in the action extravaganza.

But Sudeep recently took to social media to squash the rumours. The actor has cleared the air by stating that he has not been approached for the project. Sudeep wrote, "With due respect to the film,,,and to all those who r excited to hear this news,,, I wanna being this to everyone's notice tat this isn't a fact tats floating. I haven't been approached,, nor has there been any discussion." (sic)

Meanwhile, RRR was initially set to release on July 30, 2020. But the movie has now been delayed and will hit the silver screens in October 2020. The magnum opus stars Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt in lead roles. The movie is said to narrate the fictional story set in the 1920s pre-independence India based on the lives of real-life revolutionaries  Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem.

On the other hand, Sudeep was last seen on screen in the Salman Khan starrer Dabangg 3. The actor is currently busy hosting the seventh season of Bigg Boss Kannada. He will soon be seen in the Kannada action thriller Kotigobba 3 directed by Shiva Karthik.

ALSO READ: Sudeep Starrer Kotigobba 3 First Look Motion Poster Released, WATCH NOW!





ALSO READ: RRR: Ram Charan And Alia Bhatt Shoot A Romantic Number For SS Rajamouli's Movie?
Czech Republic V4+Austria Summit Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz arrives for a joint press conference with Prime Ministers of the V4 after their meeting at the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

PRAGUE (AP)  Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz told his counterparts from four central European countries on Thursday that Austria is not ready to accept European Union funding of their nuclear energy projects.

After meeting the prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia in Prague, Kurz said: It is important for Austria to support renewable resources but not nuclear energy.

Kurz, whose country decided to be nuclear-free many years ago, said that to use money from the planned 1 trillion-euro ($1.1 trillion) program of investment toward making the EU's economy more environmentally friendly would be a step in the wrong direction.

Kurz was making his first foreign trip after he was sworn in as Austria's chancellor earlier in January to lead a coalition government of his center-right People's Party and the Greens.

The Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary rely heavily on nuclear energy and are working to expand their nuclear programs to reduce emissions, something Austria strictly opposes. Poland remains heavily reliant on coal.

Nuclear energy plays an important role for Slovakia, Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini said.

___

Follow AP's full coverage of climate issues at: https://www.apnews.com/Climate
Imperial Valley News Center

Department of Justice Announces Enhancements to the Risk Assessment System and Updates on First Step Act Implementation

Washington, DC - The Department of Justice announced several significant developments in the implementation of the First Step Act (FSA) in a report published Wednesday.

Today is another milestone in implementing the First Step Act, said Attorney General William P. Barr. Beginning today, inmates will have even greater incentive to participate in evidence-based programs that prepare them for productive lives after incarceration. This is what Congress intended with this bipartisan bill. The First Step Act is an important reform to our criminal justice system, and the Department of Justice is committed to implementing the Act fully and fairly.

Some of the key developments are described here:

In accordance with the First Step Act and due on Jan. 15, 2020, all inmates in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) system have received an initial assessment using the Justice Departments risk and needs assessment tool known as the Prisoner Assessment Tool Targeting Estimated Risk and Need (PATTERN). Initially released last July, the tool is designed to measure risk of recidivism of inmates.

As of Jan. 15, 2020, inmates will be assigned to participate in evidence-based recidivism reduction programs and productive activities based on an initial needs assessment conducted by BOP. Participation and completion of those assigned programs and activities can lead to placement in pre-release custody or a 12-month sentence reduction under the First Step Act. A list of these programs will be published on the BOPs website.

In response to the public comments received and in coordination with the Independent Review Committee (IRC), the Justice Department has made changes to PATTERN that enhance its effectiveness, fairness and transparency. These changes had only a slight effect on PATTERNs high-level of predictability and include: Adding a dynamic measure of offenders infraction free period during his or her current term of incarceration; Modifying programming measures by adding psychology treatment programs (Bureau Rehabilitation and Values Enhancement Program (BRAVE), Challenge, Skills Program, Sex Offender Treatment (both residential and non-residential), Steps Toward Awareness, Growth, and Emotional Strength Program (STAGES), and Step Down programs), the faith-based Life Connections Program (LCP), and the BOPs Drug Education program, to the Number of programs completed (any) measure and combine technical/vocational and Federal Prison Industries (UNICOR) into a new work programming measure; and Removing Age of first arrest/conviction and voluntary surrender.

The department will also begin a pilot program to publish recidivism data and other First Step Act updates on a quarterly basis.

The efficient and effective implementation of the First Step Act continues to be a priority for the Department of Justice and for the Trump Administration. In this follow-up report, the Justice Department highlights changes made to PATTERN as a direct result of public input received during the 45-day public comment period that followed its publication in July 2019. National Institute of Justice (NIJ) held special listening sessions in early September 2019. During the sessions, NIJ and its partners engaged with stakeholders to ensure BOP can implement the most equitable, effective, and predictive tool possible, and to meet the goals of the FSA.

The BOP is working to incorporate these recommended changes to the risk assessment tool and will conduct a review to determine which inmates may have their risk score and level adjusted. In the interim, inmates will continue to be assigned to programs and activities based on their risk and needs and if eligible, will receive credit upon completion. The department believes that any updates to an inmate's risk score based on these changes will be minimal.

The department continues to work with the IRC and our experts to identify ways to improve PATTERN, while maintaining its high level of predictability, in addition to the feedback received from a range of stakeholders. This input has been invaluable as we strive to ensure the equity and effectiveness of PATTERN.

In addition, the Justice Department will soon release a funding opportunity to support continued implementation of the FSA. In the coming weeks, the NIJ will solicit proposals for a five-year project to review and revalidate PATTERN. For more information visit the NIJ webpage .

Implementation Progress, New and Expanded BOP Programs Under FSA.

The FSA provides for eligible inmates to earn time credits if they participate and complete assigned evidence-based recidivism reduction programs or productive activities. It also provides for the expansion of existing programs that allow for compassionate release and home confinement.

Releases for Good Conduct Time. In July 2019, over 3,100 federal prison inmates were released from the Bureau of Prisons custody as a result of the increase in good conduct time under the Act.

Retroactive Resentencing. The Acts retroactive application of the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 (reducing the disparity between crack cocaine and powder cocaine threshold amounts triggering mandatory minimum sentences) has resulted in 2,471 orders for sentence reductions.

Compassionate Release. The BOP updated its policies to reflect the new procedures for inmates to obtain compassionate release sentence reductions under 18 U.S.C. Section 3582 and 4205(g). Since the Act was signed into law, 124 requests have been approved, as compared to 34 total in 2018.

Expanded Use of Home Confinement. The FSA authorizes BOP to maximize the use of home confinement for low risk offenders. Currently, there are approximately 2,000 inmates on Home Confinement. The legislation also expands a pilot program for eligible elderly and terminally ill offenders to be transitioned to Home Confinement as part of a pilot program. Since enactment of the law, 379 inmates have been approved for participation under the pilot program.

Drug Treatment. The BOP has always had a robust drug treatment strategy. Offenders with an identified need are provided an individualized treatment plan to address their need. In FY 2019, approximately 14,800 offenders enrolled in Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), almost 21,000 offenders enrolled in Non-residential drug treatment, and almost 23,000 offenders participated in Drug Education.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). The FSA requires BOP to assess the availability of and the capacity to treat heroin and opioid abuse through evidence-based programs, including medication-assisted treatment. In the wake of the opioid crisis, this initiative is important to improve reentry outcomes. Every inmate within 15 months of release who might qualify for MAT has been screened.

Effective Re-Entry Programming. FSA implementation includes helping offenders successfully reintegrate into the community  a critical factor in preventing recidivism and, in turn, reducing the number of crime victims. Finding gainful employment is an important part of that process. In furtherance of this goal, the BOP launched a Ready to Work initiative to connect private employers with inmates nearing release under the FSA.

Other BOP programs directed towards the full implementation of the FSA include the operation of twenty pilot dog programs, the development of a youth mentoring program, the identification of a dyslexia screening tool, and issuance of a new policy for its employees to carry and store personal weapons on BOP institution property. BOP has also updated existing guidance and training concerning the use of restraints on pregnant inmates, as well as verified that existing policies and contracts comply with the FSA requirement to provide sanitary products to female offenders free of charge. BOP also offers de-escalation training to its employees and officers in accordance with the Act. Finally, BOP has updated its mental health awareness training regarding inmates with psychiatric disorders, and more than 33,700 BOP employees have already received the updated training.
Amid escalating tensions between Karnataka and Maharashtra over the Belagavi border issue, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Saturday asked members of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti to wait till the issue is settled by the Supreme Court.

READ: Belgaum Police Takes Sanjay Raut To 5-star Hotel In Attempt To Avoid Ruckus

Raut had reached Belagavi amid escalated tensions between Karnataka and Maharashtra over border dispute. "Since the matter (of Belagavi) is sub-judice, I ask the membersof Pro-Marathi leaders to wait for the Supreme Court verdict," he told reporters here.

He arrived at Belagavi a day after Maharashtra minister of state Rajendra Patil Yadravkar was detained by police and sent back to Maharashtra for attempting to take part at an event organised by MES in Belagavi. Lamenting that none from the MES got elected to the karnatAssembly, Raut reminded the MES members to unite.

He recalled that there was a time when six MES MLAs were get elected to the Assembly, whereas there were none today. Maharashtra claims Belagavi, part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency, but currently a district of Karnataka, on linguistic grounds. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had in December 2019 appointed ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Eknath Shinde as co-ordinators to oversee his government's efforts to expedite the case related to the boundary dispute with Karnataka.

MES has been fighting for the merge of 800 odd villages with Maharasthra. On the differences between Shiv Senas former ally BJP, Raut said his party supported abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir, but slammed the Centre for not handling the issue properly, as "even today the Kashmiri Pundits are refugees and bullets are still being fired."

He added that taking back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir has been on Shiv Senas agenda, but underlined that there was a need to look into its practicality. On the issue of CitizenshipAmendment Act, Raut clarified that his party opposes the law. He hailed the Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra government for handling the situation in Maharashtra 'tactfully' by holding disussions with Muslim community religious leaders. This effort resulted in no incident of riots in the state, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 18:27:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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GUANGZHOU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in China's southern city of Guangzhou seized 2,983 drug dealers and cracked down 2,750 drug cases in 2019, local office of narcotics control commission said Sunday.

Altogether 820 kg of drugs were seized, with more than 2 tonnes of drug-making materials confiscated, the office said.

A total of 13,425 drug users were found, and 6,748 were sent to mandatory rehab, according to the office.
One more person was arrested from Jharkhand on Sunday in connection with an attack by a group of students on another near a boys' hostel of the Visva-Bharati university campus last week, police said.

Sulav Karmakar, a student of the history department of the central university, is the third person to be arrested in connection with the incident that left several men injured on January 15.

Karmakar was picked up from Godda in Jharkhand, police said.

Two TMCP leaders - Achintya Bagdi and Saber Ali - had been arrested earlier for their alleged involvement in the assault on Left-leaning students on January 15.

The attack took place a week after BJP Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta was heckled by Left-leaning students after he came to deliver a lecture on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on January 8.

An SFI leader of the university had alleged that the attackers said the assault was a fallout of the demonstration the Left students held during Dasgupta's visit to the campus.

Dasgupta, Visva-Bharati Vice-Chancellor Bidyut Chakraborty and others had to remain confined for around eight hours to a building of the central university outside which hundreds of Left-leaning students staged a sit-in, accusing the politician of promoting hatred among communities.

The Visva-Bharati on Friday set up a 3-member panel to probe the alleged confinement of the politician and the incident of assault.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
My wife Mary and I spent a wonderful weekend in California with fellow Trump supporters filming the music video for my Trump Train 2020 song. We boarded our flight back home to the East Coast on Sunday at 8 P.M., arriving at BWI airport in Maryland on Monday at 10:30 am. We were exhausted.

The taxi driver taking us to our car was listening to NPR. A radio show host and his caller were lying about Trump, venomously declaring him a serial liar. Perhaps it was because I was so tired that I had zero tolerance. I spouted, Those guys are lying jerks! I launched into a rant defending my president.

The taxi driver pounced. In a heavy Middle-Eastern accent, with a smirk, he said, You actually believe the president is not a liar? I have lived in this country for 40 years. I am not stupid. Bush left Obama a horrible economy. Obama made things better for everyone.

My feisty wife jumped into the conversation, passionately educating the duped driver. I tapped Mary on the leg, signaling her to stop talking because as their exchange grew more heated, the driver began flailing, taking his hands off the wheel and eyes off the road. I wanted him to calm down and focus on driving. Clearly, our taxi driver was crazed with fake news media-induced Trump Derangement Syndrome. He was not open to hearing truth. Some people are stuck-on-stupid.

Trump-deranged black family and friends believe I am a traitor to my race for not worshiping Obama and supporting Trump. They ignore the truth that blacks moved economically backwards under Obama.

Blacks are thriving under Trump, enjoying the lowest black unemployment in U.S. history. And yet, my siblings are routinely asked by fellow blacks, What is wrong with your brother who supports Trump and votes Republican? Either these blacks are infected with Trump Derangement or stuck-on-stupid.

I'm a former Baltimorian. Several Baltimore blacks insist on remembering their Trump hating late Congressman Elijah Cummings as a hero. Because Cummings was black, they accuse me of betraying my race for writing about Cummings' corruption.

Cummings received over $15 billion in federal funds to clean up his rat-infested, record-breaking black-on-black homicide district which has endless blocks of rundown vacant houses. The federal funds magically disappeared without fulfilling their purpose. Cummings' loyalists absurdly say I am the bad guy, an Uncle Tom tool of Trump and Republicans. These blacks are stuck-on-stupid.

The shocking truth is Elijah Cummings did not give a rat's derriere about improving the lives of or empowering blacks. The same thing is true about the Democrat party, NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, fake news media, and other faux advocates for blacks. To these leftists, blacks are nothing more than a faithful monolithic voting-bloc of useful idiots.

It does not take a genius to recognize that everything good, liberating, and economically empowering for blacks is vehemently opposed by a coalition of leftist faux civil rights activists. The Evil Civil Rights Empire rolls out the red carpet, welcoming illegals who harm blacks economically.

The Evil Civil Rights Empire opposes school choice, sentencing urban black students to suffer in failing violent schools. It opposes traditional marriage and defunding Planned Parenthood which focuses on killing black babies. It also opposes academic standards and black behavioral accountability.

By its bigotry of lowered expectations, the Evil Civil Rights Empire insinuates that blacks are inferior. It always insists that standards be lowered to make things fair for blacks. Remember the insulting Democrat lie that requiring a photo ID to vote disenfranchises black voters?

When Trump announced at the State of the Union that black unemployment was at an historic low, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus sat on their hands, stone-faced, while everyone else in the chamber applauded and cheered. The CBC does not care about blacks. The Evil Civil Rights Empire only cares about gaining power to control every aspect of Americans' lives to implement its socialist/progressive and anti-Christian agenda.

The disgusting dirty secret is the Evil Civil Rights Empire wants blacks solely dependent upon government and uneducated about their constitutional freedoms. It wants blacks believing the lie that a majority of Americans are white supremacists, obsessed with concocting ways to suppress blacks. Its bogus, divisive, destructive, and insidiously evil narrative is vote for Democrats to keep rabidly racist white America at bay.

Thats the bad news. But be of good cheer, folks. I am extremely pleased to announce great news. Shockingly, 34% of blacks say they support Trump. Wow! That is awesome!

To blacks who have seen the light, welcome aboard the Trump Train! To blacks who insist on staying on the Democrats' government plantation, You can't fix stupid.

Even though the taxi driver was annoying, we tipped him.

Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American

Help Lloyd spread the Truth

http://LloydMarcus.com
Appeals Court Denies Review of 15-Week Abortion Ban Ruling in Mississippi

A federal appeals court has denied Mississippis request to review a ruling that stopped the state from implementing a law that banned abortions after 15 weeks.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit upheld a lower courts decision to strike down a law, the Gestational Age Act or House Bill 1510, that provides that an abortion cannot be performed if the gestational age of the unborn child is found to be greater than 15 weeks. This prompted the state to appeal the decision to the full panel of the appeals court, but was rejected in an order on Friday.

HB 1510, which was signed into law in 2018, aimed at protecting the life of unborn children, as well as womens health. Following the bills passage, Jackson Womens Health Organization, the only licensed abortion facility in Mississippi, and one of its doctors, Dr. Sacheen Carr-Ellis, sued the state to challenge the law.

The district court found in favor of the clinic and doctor (pdf), ruling that HB 1510 was unconstitutional because viability marks the earliest point at which the States interest in fetal life is constitutionally adequate to justify a legislative ban on nontherapeutic abortions.

The court went on to say, [t]he record is clear: States may not ban abortions prior to viability; 15 weeks  is prior to viability; and plaintiffs provide abortion services to Mississippi residents after 15 weeks.

The Fifth Circuit came to a similar conclusion, saying that [s]tates may regulate abortion procedures prior to viability so long as they do not impose an undue burden on the womans right, but they may not ban abortions.

The law at issue is a ban. Thus, we affirm the district courts invalidation of the law, as well as its discovery rulings and its award of permanent injunctive relief, the court found.

The Mississippi law is one of the many state laws passed in recent years imposing restrictions on abortions. Many opponents of these laws have widely viewed these laws as a threat to the right to abortion, with many womens groups, abortion clinics, and civil rights groups bringing lawsuits challenging these laws.

One such case has reached the Supreme Court and is expected to be heard in March. The case asks the court to decide whether an unconstitutional burden has been placed on women seeking abortions after Louisiana passed a law requiring doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges within 30 miles of where the procedure was taking place.

For a doctor to have admitting privileges to a hospital, they are required to be a member of a hospitals medical staff and have the ability to admit patients in order to provide diagnostic and therapeutic services.

The case may deal with specific regulations on abortion clinics, but many pro-life and pro-abortion activists are monitoring the case to see the U.S. Supreme Courts attitude toward abortion, especially after the appointment of President Donald Trumps two top court justice picks.

Following the Fifth Circuits decision, former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant (R) vowed to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. We will sustain our efforts to fight for Americas unborn children. Mississippi will continue this mission to the United States Supreme Court, he said.

Meanwhile, current Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R), who took office on Jan. 14, ran his campaign on a platform supporting pro-life advocates. During his campaign, he formed a coalition of over 150 pastors and pro-life advocates across the state to fight for unborn children.
Toby Antony By

Express News Service

KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will collect the voice samples of the member of the Coimbatore module of the terrorist outfit Islamic State (IS), who allegedly knew people involved in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka last year. The voice samples of Coimbatore native Mohammed Azarudeen would be collected to confirm whether he was propagating IS ideology among youths in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The agency filed a petition at the NIA Court here which permitted it to collect the Azarudeens voice samples.

During the probe into the modules activities, the NIA recovered digital devices containing audio and video clips propagating IS ideology. We have reasons to believe Azarudeen was the one propagating the ideology via the contents, said sources.The court will fix a date on which Azarudeen would be produced before it for collecting his voice samples. Experts from C-DAC will record his voice which will be later compared with the voice heard in the audio and video clips as part of evidence collection.

Last month, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against Azarudeen and Sheik Hidayathulla, also from Coimbatore. In the chargesheet, the NIA said the accused persons were inspired by radical preachers like Anwar-al-Awlaki, Robert Musa Cerantonio as well as Zahran Hashim, the mastermind of the Lankan bombings. NIA had, on May 30 last year, registered a case against five persons based on the information about a module in Coimbatore which propagated IS ideology and recruited youths to carry out attacks in South India. The agency claimed Azarudeen had been in touch with Sri Lankan nationals and groups via Facebook and encrypted messaging apps. After getting radicalised in 2016, Azarudeen and Hidayathulla allegedly travelled to Kerala to recruit youths to their group.
Davos: The World Economic Forum is set to welcome both US President Donald Trump and climate activist Greta Thunberg to its annual meeting in Davos on Tuesday, with the environment set to top the agenda.

Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum. Credit:AP

The forum's founder Klaus Schwab has seen vast changes in business, society and culture over the 50 years since he created the yearly gathering in the Swiss Alps. The meeting was initially was a forum for business leaders, but it is now also a key stop for policymakers and activists.

Following another year of extreme heat, bushfires and melting ice sheets, environmental issues are considered to be one of the top five long-term risks confronting the global economy, the World Economic Forum said last week, citing a survey of more than 750 decision-makers.

It said catastrophic trends like global warming, climate change and the extinction of animal species would top the agenda at the meeting when it begins on Tuesday.
Visakhapatnam has geared up to host multilateral naval exercise MILAN in March this year. MILAN is a biennial, multilateral naval exercise which commenced in 1995, and was conducted in Andaman and Nicobar Command until 2018. This year, the event will be organised in Andhra Pradesh. Young cadre performed drills, and parades on the ground and the Naval officer lauded their performance.
Lets see if Al Johnson can get out of this one. The Tories have said many times that they will put a stop to the pursuit of long-retired British soldiers through the courts, for crimes allegedly committed during the Northern Irish Troubles.

But they have also just agreed to do exactly the opposite. A key part of the resurrection of power-sharing in Northern Ireland is a pledge to revive a rather nasty deal called the Stormont House Agreement, swallowed by the Cameron government just before Christmas 2014.

This pretty much makes sure there will be more of these politically motivated cases.

The Stormont House Agreement, which Mr Johnson has just agreed to put into effect, promises: Legislation will establish a new independent body to take forward investigations into outstanding Troubles-related deaths; the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU)'

It is the latest stage in the appeasement of the Provisional IRA and of the other Ulster terror groups, which began in 1998 with the lawless mass release of scores of grisly terrorists, loyalist as well as Republican.

This surrender to criminal violence, the most shameful and abject in modern British history, is generally ignored or forgotten on the mainland.

Its dire effects are mostly felt in Northern Ireland itself. But there is one part of it which reaches across the Irish Sea, and that is the unceasing attempt to pursue these cold cases.

Every time it happens, the Tories say they will stop it. And then it happens again. This is because it is what the IRA (and its front organisation Sinn Fein) want. And what they want happens. Guess why.

Maybe some of these cases are just. I cannot tell. It is not the point. Justice has never been the point of the 1998 agreement.

This not only led to the rapid freedom of many serious murderers, it also effectively prevented the prosecution or punishment of alleged terrorist criminals who were not tried before the deal was reached.

A key part of the resurrection of power-sharing in Northern Ireland (First Minister Arlene Foster of the DUP and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Fein are seen above) is a pledge to revive a rather nasty deal called the Stormont House Agreement, swallowed by the Cameron government just before Christmas 2014

You may remember the case of John Downey, the alleged culprit of the bloody 1982 Hyde Park bombing.

He was one of nearly 200 people who had been given written official promises that they would not be prosecuted.

And, as the judge said, even if he had been convicted he would have served no more than two years  for a crime of astonishing savagery.

So that is the deal for the terrorist side, who are supposed to have been defeated in 1998.

But the Stormont House Agreement, which Mr Johnson has just agreed to put into effect, promises: Legislation will establish a new independent body to take forward investigations into outstanding Troubles-related deaths; the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU).

It adds: In respect of its criminal investigations, the HIU will have full policing powers.

You may remember the case of John Downey, the alleged culprit of the bloody 1982 Hyde Park bombing. He was one of nearly 200 people who had been given written official promises that they would not be prosecuted. And, as the judge said, even if he had been convicted he would have served no more than two years  for a crime of astonishing savagery

The observant Sarah Jones, Labour MP for Croydon Central, quizzed the Prime Minister about this on Wednesday.

She asked: The press were briefed last year that the Prime Minister was going to bring an end to all ongoing investigations from the conflict, and he said on Monday that he would not support vexatious claims when there was no new evidence.

However, the Stormont agreement includes the HIU, and the point of all the ongoing investigations is that the original evidence has never been properly investigated, so will the Prime Minister tell us today, yes or no, whether he now supports the investigation of every single outstanding claim?

Mr Johnsons answer was pure waffle, full of holes: Nothing in the agreement will stop us going ahead with legislation to ensure that no one who has served in our armed forces suffers vexatious or unfair prosecution for cases that happened many years ago when no new evidence has been provided. We will legislate to ensure that cannot happen.

Who decides what is vexatious or unfair? What if the HIU insists that the evidence is new and the Belfast prosecution service agrees?

Heaven help poor British soldiers if this is all the protection they have. The shadow of the gunman still lies across this land.

War twisted into a stupid fairytale

What is the point of the much-praised film 1917, an absurd fairy tale with almost no connection to reality?

Two Great War soldiers are sent on foot across no-mans-land on a desperate mission to prevent a massacre.

Leaving aside the obvious point that futile massacres were pretty much a regular occurrence throughout the First World War, and theres no sign that the high command cared all that much, why go on foot?

As the two heroes stumble from hazard to hazard in what my colleague Matthew Bond has rightly noted is quite like a video game, they watch British planes flying overhead. Couldnt these planes have taken the message?

Having wriggled and struggled sweatily through a deadly maze to get into no-mans-land, the pair are then overtaken by a convoy of British lorries, which appears to have got there by taking the first right turn off the Ypres by-pass.

If the roads are open for trucks, why not send the message by motorbike? And heres another question.

When was the last time a film started collecting awards before it had even been shown in cinemas?

No connection to reality: Actor George MacKay in the absurd film. Two Great War soldiers are sent on foot across no-mans-land on a desperate mission to prevent a massacre

Keep out of my opinions, Mr Plod

The Guardian newspaper, voice of the Establishment, has been squawking like an indignant parakeet about counter-terrorism police listing Extinction Rebellion as an extremist organisation.

XR turned out to be on a list of extremist ideologies, which was to be reported to the Prevent programme.

In a way, I agree with The Guardians outrage. The police have no business probing peoples opinions. There should be no such lists.

The word extremism has no objective meaning and it could one day be applied to me or you, if things carry on as they are.

Policing in this country is already far too political and, to put it politely, police officers really arent very good at understanding such things.

We have a very expensive Security Service, MI5, which thank heaven  has no powers of arrest or prosecution, to keep an eye on those who might move from angry speechmaking into acts of violence.

XR turned out to be on a list of extremist ideologies, which was to be reported to the Prevent programme. In a way, I agree with The Guardians outrage

When I was a Trotskyist in the 1960s and 1970s, MI5 did a pretty good job of watching us without interfering in our freedom of speech and thought.

Alas, all their files on us were destroyed soon after New Labour came to power, as the Blair government was crammed with ex-Trots (including the Blair creature himself), who may not have been all that ex.

And when extremists become the government, who dares call them extremists? But XR can hardly blame the authorities for being interested in them.

The think-tank Policy Exchange made a fascinating study of their nature and origins.

Many who have gone on their protests might be surprised to learn just how radical and fanatical they are.

Remember how they seriously discussed disrupting Heathrow. And how, about the same time, they tweeted (last April 1) that this movement is the best chance of bringing down capitalism.

But they deleted the tweet after nine minutes, presumably when they realised they had given away too much.

Worth watching? Yes, but not by Mr Plod.

Talking of Mr Plod, Im pleased to see that new research by Cambridge University has confirmed what all good coppers know and what Ive been saying for decades.

A visible police presence on foot reduces crime. Just four 15-minute patrols a day on some of the capitals most crime-ridden Underground platforms reduced reported crime by 28 per cent in patrolled locations, while it rose by 16 per cent on platforms without patrols. Will anything happen? I doubt it.

Meanwhile, a major newspaper has just published on its front page, as hot, big news, the fact that police have given up pursuing the serious crime of marijuana possession.

While rejoicing over the sheep that was lost, etc, I have to say that any reader of this column could have told them that years ago.

If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here
Although 2019 began well for cannabis stocks and industry hopes were (pardon the pun) high, it ended in disaster.

With Canada having legalized recreational pot in October 2018, growers on track to launch derivative products later in 2019, and legalization momentum remaining strong in the U.S., the forecast was for marijuana stocks to push toward profitability by year's end. However, this didn't happen.

In Canada, supply issues have been persistent since day one of legalization, and the launch of derivatives wound up being delayed by at least two months, until mid-December. Meanwhile, select U.S. states that have legalized recreational pot have been taxing the daylights out of consumers, which has made it virtually impossible to compete with black-market producers on price. In short, illicit growers have been thriving throughout North America.

Cannabis sales are stagnant in the largest pot market, California

Perhaps no disappointment has been greater than that of California, the biggest marijuana market in the world by annual sales. According to an estimate in the "State of the Legal Cannabis Markets" report by Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics, California was on track for $3.1 billion in legal weed sales in 2019, which is practically quadruple what Canada sold in trailing-first-year sales following the legalization of adult-use weed.

Although $3.1 billion probably sounds like a lot of cannabis being sold, it's best to understand the context of this figure. Total weed sales in 2017 in California were $3 billion. Mind you, recreational pot sales weren't yet legal in 2017, meaning this was being driven entirely by legal medical marijuana sales. In 2018, once the doors were open to adult-use weed, total state sales fell (yes, fell) to $2.5 billion, and are expected to have increased to $3.1 billion in 2019.

How, exactly, does the most lucrative marijuana market in the world stumble so badly in the sales department when there's obvious demand for pot products? All you have to do is look at the state's exorbitant tax rate on cannabis.

On top of already high state and local sales tax rates, California tacks on a 15% excise tax and a wholesale tax that's dependent on the state of the product (i.e., whether it's leaves or flower). Additional expenses, such as laboratory testing, are also factored into the final price of the product. As a result, black-market sales are nearly three times higher than legal sales in the Golden State at the moment.

However, Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, hopes to change this.

California has proposed significant regulatory and tax reforms

A little more than a week ago, Newsom's administration unveiled a number of provisions in the state's annual budget proposal that are designed to simplify the regulatory and tax structure on the pot industry.

For example, Newsom's proposal would create the Department of Cannabis Control by July 2021. This would take three existing licensing entities -- the Bureau of Cannabis Control, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Food and Agriculture -- and place them all under one roof, the hope here being that a single entity with enforcement and licensing power will more effectively help establish a legal presence and drive illicit producers out of business.

Newsom also aims to simplify the tax-collection process on marijuana. As noted in the released provisions, the administration wants to "move the responsibility for the cultivation excise tax from the final distributor to the first, and for the retail excise tax from the distributor to the retailer." Doing this would mean the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration wouldn't have to adjust the markup rate for cannabis products every six months.

But the most exciting change might just be that Newsom and his team are taking into consideration the idea of lowering existing tax rates on legal pot products. Right now California-focused pot businesses simply have no chance of competing on price with black-market growers. Substantially lowering the aggregate tax on legal weed would be viewed as a major step in the right direction.

A big hill to climb

Of course, while an exorbitant tax rate on legal weed is a big problem for California, it's not the only issue.

Like most states that have given the green light to recreational marijuana, California's jurisdictions have the right to decide whether or not to allow cannabis retailers a presence. A little over 80% of the Golden State's jurisdictions have denied retailers the option of selling legal weed in their towns, making it doubly difficult for regulators to effectively drive out the as-of-now dominant illicit presence. As a result, it's the state's retailers that are paying the price.

Perhaps no multistate operator has paid a steeper price for California's struggles than MedMen Enterprises (OTC:MMNFF). MedMen, which has more than a dozen open retail locations in California, has seen sequential quarterly sales growth slow in recent quarters. These slowing sales, coupled with MedMen's aggressive expansion tactics in and outside of California, pushed its operating loss in fiscal 2019 to a staggering $231.7 million.

If California doesn't fix its problems soon, Cresco Labs (OTC:CRLBF) might also regret its acquisition of Origin House, which recently closed. Origin House is one of a select few holders of cannabis distribution licenses in the Golden State. Cresco Labs' all-stock purchase of Origin House gives the company access to approximately 575 dispensaries in the state with which to sell its products. However, if pricing remains a concern due to high tax rates on cannabis, Cresco's ambitions may need to be tempered a bit.

The prospect of regulatory changes being on the horizon is certainly a step in the right direction for California. But I'm not going to be convinced that California-focused marijuana stocks will be better off until the state tackles its ridiculously high tax rates on marijuana.
Following Irans warning about a potential natural gas shortage during the winter months, Iraq's power output has substantially decreased, due to a sharp drop in gas exports from Iran.

"A sharp drop in natural gas imports from Iran within the past three months is the cause behind the decline of electricity production in Iraq," a spokesman for Iraq's electricity ministry, Ahmad Moussa, said on Friday, January 17, in Baghdad.

"Iraq's electricity production, excluding the Kurdish area in the north of the country, shows a 27% drop," Moussa reiterated.

Iranian officials have been boasting that in recent months five new gas production platforms have come on line in South Pars fields in the Persian Gulf, which would mean nearly a 10 percent boost to the countrys gas supplies.

But these claims seem not to be true as a domestic crunch during this winter and a shrap reduction to exports to Iraq indicate.

Based on a contract, the Islamic Republic of Iran is committed to export fifty million cubic meters (approximately 1.8 billion cubic feet) of natural gas per day to Iraq.

Nevertheless, even during the warmer seasons of the year, Iran only exported half of the amount, and even much less in last fall and winter.

"Iran used to export 25 million cubic meters (approximately 883 million cubic feet) of natural gas per day to Iraq, but the amount has dropped to four million cubic meters in recent months," Moussa told Bloomberg.

Following the decline, Iraq's electricity production has dropped from over 19,000 to below 14,000 Megawatts.

Two pipelines laid between Iran and Iraq over the past seven years have failed to deliver as much gas as their combined capacity of 75 million cubic meters a day. At their peak, deliveries reached 27 million, Bloomberg reported.

Earlier on November 11, 2019, Iraq's Undersecretary of the Ministry of Electricity, Abbas Jabr, had maintained that Iraq has three years to achieve the self-sufficiency of electricity.

On the other hand, National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) announced on January 12 that home and industrial natural gas consumption in the country has set a record, passing 573 million cubic meters per day.

Based on the current rate, Iran would be forced to limit delivering natural gas to its power and industrial sectors.

In the meantime, NIGC has recently stopped publishing monthly data concerning the production and consumption of natural gas in Iran.

Nonetheless, the Islamic authorities have repeatedly boasted in the past year that natural gas production has significantly increased in the country.

However, such claims have never been supported by facts and figures.

For example, the NIGC's dispatching director, Mehdi Jamshidi, maintained on November 20 that the total amount of natural gas consumption in Iran had reached 693 million cubic meters. But the figure given was exactly the same as the one published in the previous year, indicating no real increase.

Therefore, one might argue, if the Islamic Republic authorities' claims about operating five phases of Southern Pars Gas Field were true, there should have been no problem for Iran to fulfill its commitments in exporting its product to Iraq and Turkey.

Furthermore, the decline is not limited to exporting natural gas to Iraq. As a matter of fact, the amount of natural gas delivered to local industrial complexes and power stations has also dramatically dropped.

And while the country's natural gas production has sharply declined, the Islamic Republic government has raised the share of selling the product up to four billion dollars in the next Iranian fiscal year (beginning March 21, 2020) which is 17% more than the previous year.

Iran holds some of the world's largest deposits of proved oil and natural gas reserves, ranking as the world's fourth-largest and second-largest reserve holder of oil and natural gas, respectively. Iran also ranks among the world's top ten oil producers and the top five natural gas producers.
By PTI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday lashed out at the Centre over the 'controversial' CAA and said the state would not implement the 'whims and fancies' of the RSS, but would uphold the values of the Constitution.

Vijayan, addressing a massive anti-CAA rally, made it clear that the Left-ruled state would never implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR).

"Many people had doubts when Kerala declared that we will not implement the CAA. We all need to understand that all laws of the country must be in accordance with the Constitution. If a law is ultra vires, it won't stand," he said.

ALSO READ: 'Example of unity' - Pinarayi Vijayan extends wishes after mosque hosts Hindu wedding in Kerala

"We are required to implement the matters concerned with the Constitution of the country and not the whims and fancies of the RSS," Vijayan said.

The agitation across the country was to protect the Indian Constitution and secularism.

"We have seen such protests during the independence struggle. We are witnessing a similar uprising now. Kerala is united in this fight.

The joint protest organised by the ruling and opposition fronts of the state gave out a strong message to the whole country that we are united," the Left leader said.

Kerala would continue its fight to uphold the Constitution, but would keep away the communal forces and the extremists from the movement, he said.

"To those in the state who are worried about the CAA, I would like to tell them, fear not. Worry not. You are living in one of the most secure places. You are living in a fort. The name of the fort is Kerala. There is no reason to worry here. The state government will stand by you," Vijayan said.

The chief minister came down on the Oppostion Congress-led UDF, which has decided not to participate in joint protests with the LDF against the CAA, and said some "narrow-minded" people never want to join hands.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who also addressed the rally, said it was the real patriots who were protesting for safeguarding the Constitution.

When someone opposes CAA or the NRC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister, Amit Shah and the RSS accuse them of being anti-national.

"Let me tell them one thing. Every religion has got a holy book. For an Indian patriot, there is only one holy book, the constitution", he said adding all the protests are to defend and safeguard the constitution.
Kim Brent / The Enterprise

Generally speaking, we dont think the children in Beaumont are any better, or worse, than most other kids in Texas. So when a joint analysis by the Beaumont Enterprise and Houston Chronicle found that Beaumont ISD students are being suspended at a rate more than six times the state average, the numbers seem unsupportable. Theyre just too large.

The state average for school suspension is only seven per 100 students. Beaumonts rate, the highest in the state, is an unfathomable 46 per 100 students. Thats nearly half. This is not a war-torn city or a place ravaged by gangs. Its not much different economically or socially from other medium-sized cities in West Texas or the Panhandle. Given those facts, our suspension rates should be roughly similar to other school districts. Something is wrong. Numbers like that suggest that BISD students are being suspended as a first resort, not a last one.
Today, we'll introduce the concept of the P/E ratio for those who are learning about investing. We'll show how you can use Lazard Ltd's (NYSE:LAZ) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. Looking at earnings over the last twelve months, Lazard has a P/E ratio of 15.50. That means that at current prices, buyers pay $15.50 for every $1 in trailing yearly profits.

Check out our latest analysis for Lazard

How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?

The formula for P/E is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Lazard:

P/E of 15.50 = USD44.24  USD2.85 (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. All else being equal, it's better to pay a low price -- but as Warren Buffett said, 'It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price'.

Does Lazard 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 Lazard has a lower P/E than the average (36.7) P/E for companies in the capital markets industry.

NYSE:LAZ Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 19th 2020

Its relatively low P/E ratio indicates that Lazard shareholders think it will struggle to do as well as other companies in its industry classification. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. You should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

If earnings fall then in the future the 'E' will be lower. That means even if the current P/E is low, it will increase over time if the share price stays flat. A higher P/E should indicate the stock is expensive relative to others -- and that may encourage shareholders to sell.

Lazard saw earnings per share improve by -3.6% last year. And it has bolstered its earnings per share by 2.5% per year over the last five years. In contrast, EPS has decreased by 5.0%, annually, over 3 years.

Story continues

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

The 'Price' in P/E reflects the market capitalization of the company. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio.

Is Debt Impacting Lazard's P/E?

Lazard's net debt is 19% of its market cap. It would probably deserve a higher P/E ratio if it was net cash, since it would have more options for growth.

The Verdict On Lazard's P/E Ratio

Lazard trades on a P/E ratio of 15.5, which is below the US market average of 19.0. The company does have a little debt, and EPS is moving in the right direction. The P/E ratio implies the market is cautious about longer term prospects.

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.

You might be able to find a better buy than Lazard. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).

If you 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.
COLUMBUS, OhioState Rep. Casey Weinstein said Friday that hes worried for his familys safety after discovering in his mailbox a sheath of papers with threatening right-wing memes printed on them.

Weinstein, a Hudson Democrat, said its the latest in a series of intimidating messages hes faced since running for the legislature in 2018. The papers, he said, almost certainly were delivered in response to legislation he introduced last fall that would generally prohibit a person from possessing large-capacity magazines (a magazine holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition).

The meme that worries Weinstein the most read, On this day in 1775, the British demanded we surrender our weapons. We shot them."

To whomever stuffed my mailbox full of printed-out memes like this: you dont scare me. I am not intimidated. And I will NOT back down until we have passed common sense gun reform in Ohio. pic.twitter.com/mTWRwgXHAh  Rep. Casey Weinstein (@RepWeinstein) January 17, 2020

Weinstein said he takes that as a threat that someone will attack him, his wife, and his two young daughters. He said hes notified the Ohio House sergeant-at-arms about the papers and intends to file a police report Friday afternoon.

Weinstein said he doesnt know who left the printouts at his house. Since Weinstein filed his gun-control bill, he said hes seen hateful rhetoric against him in online posts, and hes directly received intimidating messages. But while he dismissed those as noise, the papers at his house have scared him.

When someone comes to your house, it's just it's so different from the online stuff, because they've done the work to print something out. And then they found your house -- they drove to it, they stuck it on your property, Weinstein said.

Its not the first time that intimidating printouts have been left at Weinsteins home. While he was first running for state representative two years ago, Weinstein, who is Jewish, said someone left some vaguely anti-Semitic messages on his front porch.

In response to that, Weinstein said he followed the Hudson polices advice to buy a Ring security camera to monitor his porch. He also improved his homes overall security system and bought a dog.

Weinstein said he has no plans to withdraw his bill, House Bill 349, despite the harassment.

If they think Im going to back down from that, they dont know me, he said.

Weinstein is hardly the only public official to face harsh rhetoric from gun-rights activists, though to date no other lawmakers have reported receiving physical messages at their homes.

Last August, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reviewed comments made by Chris Dorr of Ohio Gun Owners against a gun-reform plan put forward by Gov. Mike DeWine.

"Look, you could do this or there could be political bodies lying all over the ground, Dorr said in a video. Maybe not this election, maybe the next election, but youll get yourself added to a list, my friend. And at some point when you come across the target field, we gun owners will pull the trigger and leave the corpse for the buzzards.

Other recent Ohio political news:

Trump jokes with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow at White House ceremony

Gov. Mike DeWine to deliver 2020 State of the State address on March 31

State hearing on Newburgh Heights mayors campaign spending postponed

New Ohio Parole Board members touted as bringing more diversity and transparency

Ohio medical marijuana 1 year in: What you need to know about successes, struggles of the states program
By Kim Rahn





Lee Jae-jung, superintendent of the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, speaks in a press conference at the office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Jan. 8, that his office will provide more education programs on democracy, including information on elections, as a law revision has enabled some high school seniors to participate in the April 15 general election. / Yonhap

The election watchdog is preparing for an unprecedented situation in the upcoming April 15 general election  some 520,000 people aged 18 will be able to vote, following a relevant law revision that lowered the voting age from 19.

It is the first time in the nation's history that high school seniors will be able to cast their ballots in selecting public officials.

About 140,000 of the new voters are estimated to be high school seniors, according to the education ministry, and the National Election Commission (NEC) is coming up with measures to prevent classrooms from becoming politicized.

The commission said, Wednesday, it had formed a taskforce to carry out the measures and seek cooperation with related authorities, such as the education ministry.

It will make educational materials on voting and the Election Law to be distributed to students and teachers by the end of this month. It will also provide lectures upon schools' request.

Some of the materials will be made in the form of webtoons, raps or social media content, in cooperation with famous YouTubers or other influencers if possible, to catch young voters' attention.

The NEC will also urge political parties and candidates to refrain from activities that could infringe on students' rights to study, such as visiting schools or making speeches with loudspeakers near schools. School visits could be restricted for a candidate who conducts such activities, the commission said.

People will be encouraged to report to the election authorities if teachers or school officials are engaged in activities that could benefit to specific candidates or political parties. Those who report such cases will be given monetary rewards.

If students violate the guidelines, the NEC will notify the school of the fact and the student will be issued a warning. But stern actions will be taken for repeat offenders.

Separately from the commission's measures, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) is seeking to submit a bill to entirely ban electioneering on school campuses.

"Following the lowered voting age, campaign activities can take place in classrooms of high school seniors," LKP floor leader Shim Jae-cheol said during his meeting with an NEC official at the National Assembly, Tuesday.

Earlier this month, the commission also stressed the need to revise some laws to prevent problems that could possibly arise from the voting age change, including banning private school teachers from electioneering as those at public schools are and prohibiting candidates from distributing leaflets at schools or posting campaign banners on school buildings.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's pledge to open up the Amazon to mining companies was tantamount to "genocide", indigenous leaders said Friday at a meeting to oppose the government's environmental policies. Hundreds of elders gathered this week at Pairacu, deep in the rainforest, to form a united front against Bolsonaro's environmental policies, which have seen deforestation in the jungle nearly double since the Brazilian leader came to power a year ago. "Our aim was to join forces and denounce the fact that the Brazilian government's political policy of genocide, ethnocide and ecocide is under way," the group said in a draft manifesto drawn up at the end of the summit. "We do not accept mining on our lands, loggers, illegal fishermen or hydroelectricity. We are opposed to anything that destroys the forest," the text said. They also said that "government threats and hate speech" had encouraged violence against Amazon communities and demanded punishment for the murder of indigenous leaders. At least eight indigenous leaders were killed last year. Brazil's leading indigenous chief, Raoni Metuktire, said Thursday he would personally travel to the capital Brasilia to present the meeting's demands to Congress. "Over there, I'm going to ask Bolsonaro why he speaks so badly about the indigenous peoples," said the 89-year-old leader of the Kayapo tribe. Preliminary data collected by the National Institute for Space Research showed an 85 percent increase in Amazon deforestation last year when compared to 2018. Hundreds of elders gathered this week to form a united front against Jair Bolsonaro's environmental policies
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 07:27:58|Editor: zyl

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People take part in a protest against the newly enacted 'Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)' in Kamrup district of India's northeastern state Assam, Jan. 18, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)
The Lincoln County commissioners will have a long agenda to work through when they meet on Tuesday. The meeting is a day later than usual because of Martin Luther King Day on Monday.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Commissioners Room at the Lincoln County Courthouse.

The board will consider appointments for the following department heads for 2020, which was continued from last week: noxious weed superintendent, highway superintendent, emergency management director and veterans services officer.

The commissioners will also consider setting the salaries for said department heads effective retroactively Jan. 16.

In other action, the board will:

 Consider authorizing the chairman to sign a proposal with Control Masters for a touchscreen/PLC integration upgrade at the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Center.

 Consider special designated liquor permits submitted by Pals Brewing Company for the cornhole league at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds on Feb. 20 and Feb. 27, and a special designated liquor permit submitted by North Platte Jaycees for a fundraiser at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds Livestock Barn on March 7.
A ballistic missile attack believed to have been carried out by Houthi rebels killed at least 79 troops and wounded 81 others at a mosque in a Yemeni training camp late Saturday, the AP reports.

The big picture: The training camp is located in the central province of Marib  an oil-rich area approximately 70 miles east of Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital. Marib is under the jurisdiction of the Saudi-led coalition, which is supported by the U.S.

Why it matters: The attacks marks a military escalation that followed a rare period of stability in Yemen's long-running civil war, which has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises on the planet.

Yemen's internationally-recognized president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Had, condemned the attack as an act of "blatant aggression" that showcases the Houthis' "unwillingness" to find peace.

A spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces said the attack would "answered harshly," with coalition forces reporting Sunday that they launched "massive assaults" on Houthi targets northeast of the capital.

Go deeper: Iran's proxies in the Middle East
Boris Johnson is braced for a Lords defeat on his Brexit bill amid disquiet among Tory peers over the decision to strip support for child refugees from the legislation.

Labour peer Alf Dubs has tabled a new amendment to ensure protections for child refugees remain in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB)  a promise made by Theresa May but noticeably absent from Mr Johnsons new bill.

Despite being summoned to meet Home Office ministers and No 10 officials this week, Lord Dubs, who fled the Nazis as a child on the Kindertransport, was undeterred in his efforts to ensure the right of family reunion for unaccompanied children.

The Labour peer said a number of Tory peers  including ministers  were unhappy about removing the commitment from the bill and may abstain to help the opposition next week.

Lord Dubs told The Independent: All I can say is that there are quite a lot of Conservative members of the Lords who are unhappy about this. They wont vote or speak but they may abstain, which will help.

Recommended Tories defeat bid to help reunite child refugees with UK families

Some of them are government ministers and they are trying to lobby the government behind the scenes.

Its interesting how many Conservative peers are quietly supporting the amendment ... clearly the majority is not with the government.

Lord Dubs said ministers tried to convince him to ditch his amendment by promising to enshrine protections for unaccompanied child migrants in a separate immigration bill.

He said: This is too pie in the sky. I am not at all convinced. They said they wanted to have more flexibility for negotiating [with Brussels] but I dont see this as up for negotiation.

Lord Dubs added: You are talking about children who are in desperately difficult circumstances, in what is left of the camps, sleeping under tarpaulins at Calais or in awful circumstances on Lesbos.

Armed with an 80-strong majority, the prime minister fast-tracked the bill through the Commons unamended earlier this month.

However the government is braced for a battle in the Lords, with four amendments tabled by cross-party peers which could send force Mr Johnsons bill back to the Commons.

Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Show all 8 1 /8 Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Conservative party leader Boris Johnson drives a JCB through a fake wall POOL/AFP via Getty Images Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes REUTERS Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty

Opposition sources in the Lords have told The Independent that they are confident of the numbers to win, which they hope will pressure Tory MPs to shift when the legislation returns to the Commons.

There are also three other cross-party efforts gathering support, including amendments on citizens rights and sovereignty of the devolved nations.

Lord Pannick, the senior lawyer, has also tabled an amendment to scupper powers for ministers to direct British courts on interpretations of EU law, which caused alarm among some legal experts.

Baroness Hayter, shadow Brexit minister, told The Independent: None of what is being proposed in these cross-party amendments will stop Brexit happening later this month.

Indeed, they would strengthen the role of parliament, preserve the distinction between the power of the courts and the executive, acknowledge the Sewel convention and safeguard the wellbeing of both EU citizens and child refugees.

The government would do well to heed concerns from across the House of Lords, rather than cock a tin ear towards the amendments.

A No 10 spokesperson said: The Withdrawal Agreement Bill reaffirms our commitment to protecting vulnerable children while clarifying the role of parliament and government in negotiations.

We have a proud record of helping vulnerable children, granting protection to 41,000 since 2010 and doing more than the vast majority of EU countries to help unaccompanied minors.
The meetings would come nearly a week after Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan agreed to finalize an agreement on the disputed dam later this month.

Sudanese capital of Khartoum is set to host a meeting attended the legal and technical committees from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia later this week to provide a draft agreement on Ethiopia's Grand Renaissance Dam's (GERD) filling and operation, nearly a week after the three countries agreed to finalize an agreement on the disputed dam later this month.

The meetings, scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday, aim to formulate a draft agreement on the giant hydropower dam, a statement by the Sudanese irrigation ministry said.

Washington's meeting sought to assess the outcome of the dam talks over the previous two months, the ministry added.

The negotiators reached consensus on many issues, but they remain at odds over the dam filling and operation rules during periods of drought, the ministry noted.

Last week, Ministers from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia agreed to reconvene on 28-29 January in Washington to finalise an agreement on the filling and operation of GERD.

Following three days of talks in Washington mediated by the Treasury and the World Bank last week, the ministers agreed that the filling of the $4 billion dam will be undertaken in stages while taking into account the potential impact on downstream reservoirs, the joint statement by the US Treasury, which hosted the meetings, said.

Ethiopia hopes that the $4.8 billion GERD project on the Blue Nile, which has been under construction since 2011, will allow it to become Africas biggest power exporter.

Egypt, however, fears that the Ethiopian dam, which is 70 percent complete and set to be fully operational by 2022, will diminish its share of Nile water, which comprises 85 percent of the countrys water resources.

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Two street light cable vandals have been arrested in Lagos. The cable vandals who operate mostly by midnight have been paraded by the Lagos State government.



A statement released by Lagos State Electricity Board says they are the part of the problems the board is facing. The statement reads;

One of the numerous challenges we face with sustaining the provision of street lights in some areas in Lagos is the vandilization of cables and equipments. We often realize theres outage of power within a short space of time of lighting up roads.



These cable vandals operate mostly at midnight and sometimes pretend to be technicians. We urge Lagosians to be conscious and vigilant. It is a collective responsibility to ensure sustainability of government property.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 01:37:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Procuratorates across China approved the arrests of over 1.08 million criminal suspects and prosecuted more than 1.81 million in 2019, according to a meeting of chief procurators held in Beijing this weekend.

Over 90,000 suspects were prosecuted for mafia-style crimes in 2019, an increase of 60.3 percent over the previous year. More than 1,400 suspects were prosecuted for providing "protection umbrellas" for such crimes.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate said it has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Public Security to intervene in all cases of mafia-style organized crime in advance, starting this year.

In 2018, China launched a campaign against organized crime and officials who harbored criminal organizations, in a bid to safeguard social security and improve the people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

Apart from gang crimes, procuratorates across the country prosecuted over 18,000 suspects for duty crimes in 2019, up more than 80 percent over the previous year.

With the support of discipline inspection and supervisory commissions at various levels, procuratorates filed cases against 872 judicial officers for violating citizens' rights and damaging judicial justice.

Procuratorates also stepped up efforts to optimize the legal environment for private businesses by attaching equal importance to cracking down on crimes and guaranteeing the rights and interests of personnel from non-state-owned enterprises and units.

Procuratorates also received over 490,000 letters from the public in 2019, up to 99.1 percent of which were replied to within three months.
Havildar Baljinder Singh of Zahura village in Dasuya tehsil of Hoshiarpur district, who lost his life in line of duty on Siachen Glacier, was cremated in his village in Hoshiarpur district with full military honours on January 19.

Havildar Singh, of 2 Sikh Light Infantry, died after being hit by an avalanche on January 17.

During the cremation, an Indian Army guard conducted the ceremonial drill and gave military honours to the soldier in Zahura village.

Singh is survived by his wife Perdeep Kaur and two sons.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed grief and extended his sympathies to the bereaved family. He announced a financial assistance of 12 lakh to the family and a government job to one eligible member of the family, a state government spokesperson said.

The chief minister said the sacrifice of the valiant soldier at an altitude of 19,000 ft in harsh cold would be remembered by all.
It was sobering for professional historians to be once more reminded of their failings, this time by no less than the Prime Minister himself. Firing his salvo from the capable shoulders of no less than Gurudev, Narendra Modi said recently in Kolkata that in post-independence history writing, it is not mentioned what the people of the country were doing. Didnt they have any existence?

Quite right, too: as students of history, we were all taught that recounting the deeds of Good Kings and Bad Queens did not amount to historical thinking. In 1930, two writers from the then Superpower (UK), WC Sellar and RJ Yeatman debunked dynastic history in their classic 1066 and All That. The only problem with citing Rabindranath Tagores 1902 (not 1903!) Bharatbarsher Itihash (History of India) today is that in the intervening century, dynastic history in India, too, has become just a small corner of a large and richly textured canvas. So, in turning the focus to a peoples history, a history from below, the Prime Minister may have invited a bit of trouble for himself and all those who would like a history to end all (other) histories.

The turn to history from below came from British social historians of the 1950s, most of whom were members of the Communist Party of Great Britain. They included such stalwarts as Eric Hobsbawm and EP Thompson, but legions of other historians followed, in every corner of the world. In India, too, historians, largely but not only of Left persuasion, turned increasingly to all those peoples without history such as the labouring and working classes, the tribals, women, lower castes, forgotten regions, sanyasis, bandits and imposters, to recreate a fuller account of our past. Historians shelves today are groaning under the weight of such lively retellings.

Even well-known moments of our past have been re-interpreted using the perspective of the ordinary people who heard, and even misunderstood, messages, but nevertheless participated in the great movement for Indian freedom. How could Gandhis non-cooperation, as Shahid Amin has shown (in his 1996 classic Event Metaphor Memory: Chauri Chaura 1922-1992), have led ordinary peasants to burn down a police station in 1922? Gyanendra Pandey and several other scholars asked different questions about the Quit India movement of 1942: how did Gandhis call karenge ya marenge (Do or Die!) get fatefully interpreted as a call to kill on behalf of the nation?

Let us turn to one such forgotten incident in Karnatakas Shikaripura district, when the villagers of Isuru turned rebels, declared independence and ran a parallel government under the leadership of a 10-year-old and a 12-year-old for three days, from September 25 to 28, 1942, before the rebellion ended in the killing of two government officials, Tahsildar Chennakrishnappa and Sub Inspector Kenchegowda.

In 2007, I too had asked and tried to answer the question of what led to the movement in Isuru, its violent climax, and most importantly, how the event was commemorated by the state and lives in peoples memory. To write that article, I had to ask questions about the social composition of the village and the movement, the old rivalries and new solidarities that became visible in the build-up to its fatal end, and how memories of the event have highlighted very different aspects of what the judges called an act of savagery.

The fulcrum of the movement in the village was the Veerabhadraswamy temple, which was emblazoned with such paradoxical slogans as Let there be unity. Let government servants be cut to pieces, ryot brethren be united, give up communal differences. Yet, the four principal Lingayat leaders of the movement, Sahukar Basavanappa, Sahukar Rudrappa, Patel Gurushantappa and Angadi Halappa, remained outside the police dragnet, while the death sentence was awarded to five men, life sentences to seven, including three women, and varying terms of imprisonment to a further 14, many of them from an array of lower castes.

The truth of the mob action at Isuru lay somewhere between the purely criminal and the purely political. To produce an understanding of this event, I relied not only on detailed court records, newspaper accounts and police files, but on the recorded memories of those who participated in the freedom struggle, (compiled by Suryanath Kamath in Swatantra Sangramada Smritigalu) as well as a touching personal memoir by C Lingappa Swatantra Sangramadalli Isuru.

Such peoples histories may have been more than what our Prime Minister bargained for in his breezy condemnation, but Tagore would certainly have been pleased (though he would have been pained that his ironic tone has been completely missed by the PM!) Still, let us grasp this change of recalling some words of that wonderful peoples poet Bertolt Brecht who wrote the Questions from a worker who reads:

Who built Thebes of the 7 gates?/In the books you will read the names of kings/Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock?..The young Alexander conquered India/Was he alone?

But the words that might make our PM pine nostalgically for heroic dynastic histories are Brechts concluding lines:

Every ten years a great man/Who paid the bill?/So many reports/So many questions.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 17:01:03|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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PRAGUE, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed in a fire at a home for people with disabilities in western Czech Republic on Sunday morning, local media said.

Twenty-nine others injured were reported, an operations officer of the Fire Brigade of the area told local media.

The fire, which broke out in the early morning in the small town of Vejprty, is no longer spreading, according to local authorities.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday that Britain would be ready to send "people and experts" to help monitor a Libya ceasefire should one be brokered by world powers at a summit in Berlin.

Johnson told Britain's Sky television on his arrival in the German capital that it was time for "external proxies" to stop interfering in the war.

"Proxy conflicts only come to an end when the external proxies decide that they want to bring it to an end," said Johnson.

"We want to have a UN-led peace process and stop this jockeying for position. The people of Libya have suffered enough."



Asked whether UK forces could play a ceasefire monitoring role, Johnson replied: "If there is a ceasefire, yes of course there is a case for us doing what we do very well, which is sending people, experts to monitor the ceasefire.

"I don't see any ceasefire at the moment," he added. "That's what we are arguing for today."



The Berlin summit's main goal is to get foreign powers wielding influence, including Turkey, Russia and France, to stop supporting the rival sides with weapons, troops or financing.

Leaders of both warring factions -- strongman Khalifa Haftar and the head of Tripoli's UN-recognised government Fayez al-Sarraj -- are also expected at what is the first such gathering since 2018.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kaia Gerber seems to be moving on from her split with Pete Davidson, following a brief fling.

And the model is ready to take on the city of love, as she jets off to walk in some of the hottest runway shows.

She was spotted Saturday rocking a fierce travel look in cheetah print as she arrived at the Charles de Gaulle Airport for Paris Fashion Week.

Travel chic: Kaia Gerber was spotted Saturday rocking a fierce travel look in cheetah print as she arrived at the Charles de Gaulle Airport for Paris Fashion Week

The 18-year-old donned a knee-length faux fur coat in the animal print, layered over a black cardigan and a grey New York sweatshirt with black pants.

She completed the look with thin black sunglasses, a white ostrich crossbody handbag and grey New Balance sneakers.

Gerber was accompanied by airport staff, who rolled her luggage on a cart as they walked through the terminal.

It was announced Tuesday that she and Davidson, 26, have reportedly called it quits nearly three months after they were first romantically linked.

Serving layers: The 18-year-old donned a knee-length faux fur coat in the animal print, layered over a black cardigan and a grey New York sweatshirt with black pants

On the go: She completed the look with thin black sunglasses, a white ostrich crossbody handbag and grey New Balance sneakers

A source told Page Six: 'It looks like Pete and Kaia are over. It got very overwhelming for Kaia.

'Pete has a certain M.O. and hes very intense to his girlfriends. Kaia is only 18 and its a lot to deal with.'

Davidson was first spotted leaving Gerber's apartment in late October, and the two have made several romantic outings since.

The relationship quickly drew controversy, as Davidson had only split with ex Margaret Qualley a week before, and Gerber had only turned 18 in September.

In late December, Kaia's model parents Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber were spotted having an intense discussion outside their daughter's apartment.

They seemed to be referring to Davidson (who left the building moments later), saying someone 'scratched eyes' and was 'freaking out.'

The end: It was announced Tuesday that she and Davidson, 26, have reportedly called it quits nearly three months after they were first romantically linked

Brief fling: Davidson was first spotted leaving Gerber's apartment in late October, and the two have made several romantic outings since

Barely legal: The relationship quickly drew controversy, as Davidson had only split with ex Margaret Qualley a week before, and Gerber had only turned 18 in September

The incident came days after the comedian joked on an episode of Saturday Night Live that he would be 'going on a little vacation' to rehab.

Amid their reported split, Kaia has since taken to Instagram with friends Antoni Porowski and Tommy Dorfman from a Miami getaway.

The brunette beauty was seen Wednesday arriving home in New York City with mom Cindy Crawford, who was also in Miami with husband Rande Gerber.

Meanwhile, Davidson appeared Tuesday as the face of Alexander Wang in the brand's latest fashion campaign.

He reportedly first met Kaia last June, when they both walked in the Alexander Wang Collection 1 runway show at New York Fashion Week.

Davidson has had quite the dating history over the past year (including Kate Beckinsale, 46), since his engagement with Ariana Grande ended in October of 2018.

Single life: Amid their reported split, Kaia has since taken to Instagram with friends Antoni Porowski and Tommy Dorfman from a Miami getaway
Imperial Valley News Center

District Court Orders Michigan Seafood and Salad Processor to Comply with Food Safety Requirements

Detroit, Michigan - A federal court in eastern Michigan permanently enjoined a Hamtramck, Michigan, firm from processing or distributing ready-to-eat seafood salads as well as non-seafood salads, pierogis, and dips processed under insanitary conditions, the Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

In a complaint filed on Jan. 13, 2020, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States alleged that defendants Home Style Foods Inc., the companys president, Michael J. Kowalski, and the companys quality manager, Juan Valesquez, violated the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by processing and distributing fish products and other food, including salads, pierogis, and dips, in a facility where government inspectors previously found evidence of listeria contamination. The complaint also alleged violations of seafood safety regulations designed to mitigate hazards associated with the processing of fish and fishery products. According to the complaint, FDA issued a warning letter to Home Style Foods in April 2016.

The Department of Justice is committed to safeguarding consumer health by rigorously enforcing Americas food safety laws, said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Justice Departments Civil Division. We will continue to work with FDA to ensure that companies take food sanitation and safety laws seriously.

Michigans food supply should always be safe, and that is why the Justice Department takes this case so seriously, said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider for the Eastern District of Michigan. There simply is no excuse for serving contaminated food products.

After repeated food safety violations, the FDA worked with DOJ to obtain this injunction in order to prevent potentially contaminated food from reaching consumers. The company failed to take the appropriate corrective actions resulting in this action, said FDA Chief Counsel Stacy Cline Amin, J.D. When a company fails to follow the law, the government will take action to protect the food supply.

The defendants agreed to be bound by a consent decree filed with the complaint in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The order entered by the Court permanently enjoins the defendants from violating the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and requires Home Style Foods to stop processing and distributing its products unless it complies with specific remedial measures set forth in the injunction.

Trial Attorney Danielle Serbin of the Civil Divisions Consumer Protection Branch represented the United States with the assistance of Noah T. Katzen, Associate Chief Counsel, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the General Counsel, Food and Drug Division, and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan on Sunday assessed that the border dispute with Maharashtra has already been settled and urged Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut "not to instigate" people.

"Already, the dispute between the two states has been well settled through the Mahajan (Commission's) report. I don't think they need to repeatedly keep raising these issues. We have been living with very good harmony and cordiality," Narayan told ANI here.

Responding to Sanjay Raut's "Belgaum border dispute can be resolved" statement, Narayan said that they need to conclude "what has already been concluded" (through Mahajan Commission's report) and work together to "bring economic, social and cultural progress" in both the states.

"We need to continue on the same lines. There are enough Maratha people living in Karnataka. I don't think this kind of instigation and rising trivial issues should be done by these people. We need to conclude, which has already been concluded," he said.

Narayan said that we are all Indians and need to live together in harmony.

"They are trying to make an issue out of nothing. Sanjay (Raut) should not get into all this. There are already many issued where we can work together. We need to integrate the people of Karnataka and Maharashtra," he added.

Raut who is in Belgavi today said that the Belgavi border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra is a long-pending dispute but can be resolved if Union Home Minister wants.

"If Home Ministry can resolve Kashmir issue and abrogate Article 370 then I think this border issue can be resolved too if Amit Shah wants. The matter comes under the Home Ministry. It is a long-pending issue. He should pay attention to this too," Raut said.

The Shiv Sena leader also alleged that the Karnataka government was putting Marathis into jail and putting a ban on their work pertaining to Marathi culture.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Opposition parties said they would not contest 24 national assembly seats after failing to obtain election guarantees.

Voters in Comoros are casting their ballots in the first round of a parliamentary election boycotted by opposition parties.

Most voting stations in the Indian Ocean archipelagos capital, Moroni, opened later than scheduled on Sunday because of bad weather, AFP news agency reported.

Opposition parties said they would not contest the 24 seats in the Comoros national assembly after failing to obtain guarantees of a transparent, free and democratic election.

President Azali Assoumani secured a second consecutive term in March 2019, but critics alleged vote rigging and witnesses said ballot boxes were stuffed, the latest scandal in a country blighted by instability and coups.

The president, who has denied the allegations, had urged the opposition to drop the boycott threat in the run-up to the vote, saying in November that my most ardent wish is that they come to participate in these elections because we have a lot to do.

Among the oppositions requests has been that the countrys diaspora of roughly 300,000 should be allowed to vote, a demand Azalis camp said would be impossible to meet.

While the absence of official opposition candidates made for a low-key election campaign, tensions appeared within the ruling coalition this week.

Azalis governing party, the CRC, has accused the Orange party of Interior Minister Mohamed Daoudou of insufficient support for their coalition.

First-round results are expected late on Sunday.
CIUDAD TECUN UMAN, Guatemala  After days of walking and hitchhiking, a crowd of migrants rushed a bridge at Guatemalas border with Mexico on Saturday and clashed with Mexican police who used pepper spray and closed the crossings large metal gates to keep them out.

More than 1,000 migrants were trying to cross the bridge spanning the Suchiate River, which delineates a section of the border between Guatemala and Mexico. After calm was restored, small groups of 20 or so migrants, many of them women and children from Central America, were allowed to file through in orderly fashion and register with Mexican migration officials.

The melee was the latest test of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors resolve to get tougher on undocumented migration and stop the flow of migrants illegally entering Mexico, many of them trying to make their way to the United States.

The governments of Mexico and several Central American countries, the source of many of the undocumented migrants who have sought to cross the southwest border of the United States in recent years, have been under pressure from President Trump to help stem the flow of migrants. Mr. Trump temporarily withheld development aid and threatened tariffs to try to force his counterparts in the region to take a tougher stance.
FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The remains of a paratrooper who was killed a week ago in Afghanistan have been returned to his family in the U.S.

The family of Staff Sgt. Ian McLaughlin greeted his flag-draped casket at Pope Army Airfield at Fort Bragg on Saturday, The Fayetteville Observer reported.

The 29-year-old from Newport News, Virginia, was killed Jan. 11 by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Also killed in the attack was 21-year-old Pfc. Miguel A. Villalon of Joliet, Illinois.

After McLaughlins widow was given a moment to say goodbye, hundreds of other paratroopers lined the roadway to salute as the hearse was escorted away.

More than 50 motorcycles and about 65 members of the North Carolina Patriot Guard Riders escorted the hearse to a funeral home in Fayetteville.

A statement from the 82nd Airborne Division last week said McLaughlins wife and four children are among his survivors.

The Taliban took responsibility for the attack.

More than 2,400 U.S. service members have been killed in Afghanistan. Last year was the deadliest for U.S. service members since 2014, with 23 American troops killed, even as Washington engaged in peace talks with the Taliban.

Both McLaughlin and Villalon were assigned to 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg.
WASHINGTON  Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, has said she's ready to convict President Donald Trump at his impeachment trial that starts next week. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. is a staunch ally of the president who has called the charges a "sham."

On Thursday, they joined the chamber's 98 other senators in taking a constitutionally required oath "to do impartial justice according to the Constitutions and laws" in the impeachment trial of Trump over his attempts to get Ukraine to publicly investigate political rival Joe Biden.

But can Hirono, Graham and many of the other senators who have expressed strong views about the president's conduct really be unbiased? And can they be punished if they betray that oath?

Opening : Senate opens impeachment trial against President Trump; arguments begin in earnest Tuesday

The answers may not be known until the trial is over and a verdict rendered.

It takes at least two-thirds of the Senate, or 67 votes, to convict Trump on the two charges filed by the House  abuse of power and obstruction of Congress  and remove him from office. Nobody expects that to happen in the GOP-controlled Senate where Republicans occupy 53 of the 100 seats.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has made it clear he's not pretending to be objective in what will be only the third impeachment trial of a president ever held in the Senate.

"I'm not an impartial juror. This is a political process. There's not anything judicial about it," the Kentucky Republican told reporters in December. "I would anticipate we will have a largely partisan outcome in the Senate. I'm not impartial about this at all."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., arrives at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 16, 2020. The articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump will be formally read to the Senate by Adam Schiff, lead impeachment manager.

In response, the watchdog group Public Citizen filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee earlier this month against McConnell to determine whether the majority leader's recent statements violate his oath as well as the rules of the Senate requiring impartiality. The complaint seeks a determination on whether he should recuse himself from the impeachment proceedings.

Story continues

The oath is applied any time the Senate considers removal of a judge, a president or a fellow senator. It requires each one to swear or affirm that they will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws.

The oath was originally adopted by the Senate before proceedings in the eventual expulsion of Senator William Blount of Tennessee in 1798 and has remained largely unchanged since, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Presiding over: Chief Justice John Roberts' impeachment trial role: speak softly, set a good example

During the nation's first presidential impeachment trial in 1868, the oath aided Andrew Johnson's acquittal by giving senators justification to follow legal guidelines, not their own political interests, according to scholars Karlyn Kohrs Campbell and Kathleen Hall Jamieson

What the oath established was that each senator was answerable for his vote, not to his constituents or his party, but to the law, the Constitution, and to God, they wrote in Presidents Creating the Presidency. The `impartial justice to which each senator was pledged was the justice the presidents defenders were calling for.

Most senators would never get to serve if this were a regular courtroom since they've already publicly prejudged Trump's guilt or innocence, said Joel Cohen, a lawyer with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and co-author of I Swear: The Meaning Of An Oath.

But because there is no mechanism for easy removal in an impeachment trial, no senator is expected to be disqualified, he wrote in a column for Bloomberg Law.

"Given that specific requirement of 'impartiality,' the oath taken by virtually every senator will be false, whether or not he or she has spoken publicly to the issue," Cohen argued. "So heres the real question. Whats the true value of an oath that unambiguously demands `impartiality' when partiality on both sides has decided the case before the proceedings begin?"

The oath requires that senators maintain "a veil of ignorance" as if they didn't know the party affiliation of the president being impeached, George Washington University experts Ira C. Lupu and Robert W, Tuttle wrote in a blog for The Hill newspaper.

"This includes evaluating the evidence, and deciding whether the proven misconduct justifies removal from office," they wrote. "Senators violate their oath if they apply friendlier standards to Presidents of their own Party than to those of the opposing Party ... Any Republican Senator who would vote to remove a Democratic President for such misconduct must, by their Oath, vote to remove Trump."

Process explained: What is an impeachment manager, and what do they do?

Previous impeachment trials show lawmakers are expected to use their own judgment on how to follow the oath.

During a 2010 trial of a judge, the Senate trial committee noted that there is no set standard of proof of wrongdoing so each senator could use the standard he or she felt was appropriate.

Lawmakers, the Congressional Research Service noted, have sought to ensure that individual members remain free to make their own determinations, guided by their individual conscience and judgment, and their oath to do `impartial justice.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts arrives at the Senate chamber for impeachment proceedings on Jan. 16, 2020, in Washington.

As for punishment, experts say that will ultimately be left up to voters in the next election who will decide whether they acted appropriately and deserve another term.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., urged senators should take their oaths seriously.

"As individuals, we may have biases, but that special oath implies profound trust that we will remove ourselves from the partisan passion of the moment and exercise judgment with sole regard for impartial justice," he wrote in a column for USA TODAY.

"Senators McConnell and Graham made their promises of partiality before they swore the oath that they will be required to swear in a few days. Nothing gives them an excuse for violating their own oaths" Kaine wrote. "For the good of the country, they should rethink their position before they stand in front of the American public and make a promise they intend to evade."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Impeachment trial: What does senators' impartial justice oath mean?
Dead salmon on the shores of the Ugashik, Alaska in July 2019. More than 100,000 fish in Bristol Bay were killed by heat stress in 2019. Photo: Birch Block

By Isabelle Ross

15 January 2020

DILLINGHAM, Alaska (Alaska Public Media)  The sun beat down relentlessly on Bristol Bay this summer, heating up the rivers and lakes where millions of sockeye salmon returned to spawn. July was the regions hottest month on record, and in some rivers, that heat was lethal. Tim Sands, an area management biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, estimates tens of thousands of fish died.

Based on the catch rates we normally see and the escapement we normally see, well over 100,000 fish died in the river, Sands said.

Hes talking about the Igushik River on the west side of Bristol Bay. Its a long, winding, muddy river in the Nushagak District.

A team examines salmon along the Koyukuk River in July 2019. Photo: Stephanie Quinn-Davidson

By early July, biologists were expecting an average of 15,000 fish to swim upriver every day.

Instead, Sands said, We saw 714 fish go up the Igushik by the tower on July 8. The lack of fish moving up the Igushik River definitely was abnormal.

Salmon wont swim through water once it reaches a certain temperature. Water loses oxygen as it gets warmer, and the warmer it gets, the more oxygen fish need. As fish crowd on the bottom of a river waiting for the water to cool, they have less and less oxygen to breathe.

Sands said about half a million fish should have escaped upriver to spawn. They only counted half that.

Dead chum salmon line the shore of the Koyukuk River in July 2019. Photo: Stephanie Quinn-Davidson

The difference could have been all dead fish. Thats why Im saying at least 100,000, cause truthfully I believe it could well have been over 200,000 fish. Cause thats what were missing from the escapement, he said. []

There were also signs of heat stress in Ugashik, on the east side of the bay. The fish werent swimming upriver. In July the fishermen had a lengthy closure, sitting on the beach for days as they waited for the heat to break. Birch Block has fished in the district for eight years, and hes never seen a season like last summer.

Seeing these fish not being able to swim correctly and just acting so lethargic, he said. When the tide went out, they just couldnt even stay in the water, they would just end up, like, lying on the banks of the mud. Ive never seen a salmon that is still ocean-bright acting in such a way. [more]

Record summer heat that killed Kuskokwim salmon wiped out at least 100,000 fish in Bristol Bay, scientists say
Gov. Gavin Newsoms homelessness task force last week urged the state to treat the problem as the intolerable social failure it is by making shelter a constitutional requirement rather than a policy option. While California mandates that education and health care be available to its residents, as the task force noted, the more than 150,000 Californians without housing have no such legal recourse.

Everything that state, county and city governments do to alleviate this crisis is voluntary, says the latest report of the governors Regional Council of Homeless Advisors. There is no mandate to ensure people can live indoors, no legal accountability for failing to do so, no enforceable housing production standard. One of the councils co-chairmen, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, told The Chronicle, We are calling for a legally enforceable mandate requiring governments to bring people home. No more of this being an option. ... When it really matters, we require it. Why should this be any different?

The irony of all this talk of categorical necessity is that it comes from a task force, an age-old device of politicians avoiding decisions. Task forces provide options, not orders.

The governor is treating the recommendation accordingly. He told reporters after the reports release that the task forces notion ... is a good one, that he broadly favors the direction theyre going and that perhaps it should be tried as a pilot project.

While that fell short of a wholehearted gubernatorial endorsement, it was a more polite reception than Steinberg got in July, when he floated a right to shelter that was allowed to sink under its own weight. Modeled after policies in New York and a few other East Coast jurisdictions, it would have coupled a mandate to provide housing and shelter with an obligation that homeless residents take the offer. While New Yorks policy has promoted a vast and costly shelter system that comes in for much criticism, Californias failure to provide a roof of any kind for most of its homeless population  other than cars, tents and freeway overpasses  is hardly preferable.

The task force nevertheless moderated the recommendation last week. Its now proposing an amendment to the California Constitution requiring the state, counties and cities to provide sufficient shelter and housing for their homeless populations while dropping the compulsory aspect of the original proposal, which some feared would promote callous and unconstitutional sweeps and crackdowns.

Even if it gains the governors unqualified support, a constitutional change would require the assent of two-thirds of both legislative chambers and a majority of voters. If the proposal survives that gantlet, the mandate would still rely on state officials and the courts to be vigilant and bold enough to force local compliance. But by making housing a right instead of the luxury its become for an unconscionable number of Californians, the task forces proposal would constitute a dramatic shift in the right direction.

With homelessness ranking as Californians top concern for the first time in the history of one major poll, Newsom is eager to be seen as making it a priority. He dedicated the past week to a homelessness tour and ordered that surplus state land be made available for emergency shelter. His latest proposed budget would add $1.4 billion in annual spending on rental assistance, health care and other services to address the problem, which comes on top of $650 million in onetime emergency funds allocated last year.

The trouble is that, as San Franciscos experience attests, spending large new sums of money on homelessness and housing has not been as consistently effective as it is politically expedient in a liberal state. Making the provision of sufficient housing and shelter obligatory is whats missing.

Much the same is true of the broader housing crisis: The Legislature has added billions in spending on affordable housing in recent years but hesitated to take decisive steps to speed housing production and rein in local governments power to obstruct development.

Home to about 1 in 8 Americans, California claims more than 1 in 4 of those who are homeless and 1 in 2 of those without shelter. The governors determination to change that can be gauged by his willingness to change the rules in place  the results of which, as his task force put it, speak for themselves.

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.
A mixed-race academic who was branded racist by actor Laurence Fox has opened up about the online abuse she has faced since the high profile row, but insists she does not regret her comments.

In the days following the row, Ms Boyle has suffered a stream of hate messages via Twitter and email, mainly from people who seem to hold alt right views, she told The Observer.

At this stage Im not worried but Im going to monitor it closely, she told the paper.

However, she insisted, the support she has received far outweighs the abuse and she would absolutely make the same points again.

Im incredibly proud of how I handled the situation, of what I said, she said. Im proud to be this voice, proud to have this platform.

During the televised discussion, Ms Boyle said the Duchess of Sussex had been torn to pieces by sections of the press due to her ethnicity, calling her treatment undeniably racist.

When an exasperated Mr Fox insisted it was not racism and such suggestions were getting boring, Ms Boyle described him as a white privileged male, prompting him to call her racist.

Ms Boyle told the Observer she believes the row went nuclear because of the way the actor dismissed my perspective, talked over me and then made really ridiculous statements for which he has no basis apart from his own personal position.

The Edge Hill University professor said her decision to highlight white privilege has been heavily influenced by the work of the US activist Peggy McIntosh.

Laurence Fox has continued the row on Twitter, mocking his critics including Ms Boyle / BBC

She talks about the invisible, weightless knapsack of privilege, Ms Boyle explained.

Within this knapsack there are special provisions, assurances, tools, maps, guides, passports, blank cheques you carry around. You have no idea that its there, but you also have no idea of the privilege that whiteness affords you.

The 39-year-old said Meghans treatment highlighted societys ongoing need to question such privilege and be alert to racism.

The way she is treated by the press deeply worries me and makes me uncomfortable, she said.

The comments that Ive seen in both the press and on social media do have racist undertones.

Her remarks in the paper come as Mr Fox takes a "day off" from "winding up the wonderful wokies".

Following more than three days of antagonising his critics on social media, the Lewis star tweeted on Sunday morning: "Morning all. Right, super fun as all this has been, Im going to take a day off from winding up the wonderful wokies.
Every morning Abulrahman leaves his normal primary school lessons in Vienna and joins about 20 other children for three hours to learn to read, write and speak German. Only when his level is deemed good enough will the eight year-old, who arrived from Yemen in July, be allowed to stop what critics call the "ghetto classes". Despite conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's new coalition partners, the Greens, having expressed concerns about the controversial policy, it looks set to continue. Kurz has pledged to maintain his anti-immigration reforms -- with junior partner, the Greens, conceding -- including the special classes, which the government argues allow children with weak German skills to learn at their own pace without holding others back. "It is a way of preventing the permanent exclusion of pupils unable to follow due to a lack of language skills," said Education Minister Heinz Fassmann, who also held the portfolio in Kurz's previous coalition with the far-right. - 'Measure of segregation' - That anti-immigration alliance broke apart in May amid a corruption scandal that engulfed the far-right. Some 6,300 children across Austria are now enrolled in the language classes. The country of 8.8 million inhabitants has been a magnet for those from poorer nearby European Union members, such as Hungary and Romania, looking for work. Since 2015, more than 180,000 people have also sought asylum, as part of a larger movement of those fleeing war-torn countries seeking refuge in Europe. Ahead of the language classes being introduced in 2018, a survey showed that more than 80 percent of respondents were in favour of the plan, which differs from many other European countries where newly arrived pupils are fully immersed in the regular school system right away. However the classes now divide opinion. While some fear that too many non-German-speaking foreigners in class will dilute the level and speed of learning, others slam the reform as a regressive measure, in a country previously known for inclusive housing and other policies. Sonja Hammerschmid, a Social Democrat former education minister, has said that the classes' "harmful effects" of stigma and inequality are "ignored for ideological reasons". Austria's teachers' union has also spoken out against them, saying they are not "viable" and that the decision to introduce them was made without consultation. And linguist Hans-Juergen Krumm, an expert in teaching German as a foreign language at Vienna University, points to the classes being "a measure of segregation, not integration". Kurz's government with the Greens has stressed that schools have the necessary autonomy to implement and shape how the classes are organised. Though the Greens have criticised them as "ghetto classes", they have said that they will accept Kurz's tough line on immigration in order to fight for environmental protection and other issues. - 'Learning to write my name' - "I'm learning to write my name, to say the right words," Abulrahman tells AFP, in still hesitant German at the Felbigergasse school in a privileged district of the capital. Teacher Katrin Baminger collects him and the others, aged six to 10, from their regular classes just after roll call. She accompanies the children -- originally from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hungary, Serbia and elsewhere -- to a small, cheerfully decorated room on the ground floor. There, they learn German before returning to their regular maths, history and other classes for a few more hours a day. Felbigergasse school head teacher Petra Revay-Schwarz acknowledges that having pupils with no German skills is challenging for her staff. "The teachers are relieved at the start of the (school) year because they do not have to take care of new arrivals" who are in the special classes, she said. But she also says that being separated could pose a barrier to learning. "They would progress faster if they could interact with Austrians," she tells AFP. Children are only able to leave the tailored classes after passing a second test, usually after two semesters. Baminger says that the pupils, who already face the challenge of being in a new country, "are lost and torn between two groups" -- the students in their German class and those in their regular classes. "Many (people) describe these classes as ghettos," she says, recognising, too, that pupils could end up with gaps in other subjects from missing those classes. As her son learns the German for "hat", "gloves" and "scarf" to match the snow outside, Abulrahman's mother, Amal, says she would have preferred her son "to go with everyone else". Pupils in Austria with weak German skills leave their normal lessons for special language classes Head teacher Petra Revay-Schwarz says being separated could pose a barrier to learning Separating pupils with weak German however has provoked fears of segregation and claims they are 'ghetto classes' Some 6,300 children across Austria are now enrolled in the language classes
Hailing the repatriation agreement to resettle around 34,000 Bru refugees in Tripura, former Governor of Mizoram Swaraj Kaushal on Sunday said that it is a lasting arrangement. He added that this agreement, signed between the Centre, the governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives, indicates the countrys commitment to national security. Furthermore, he said that the conditions were not habitable inside the camps and the refugees will now lead their lives with dignity.

Swaraj Kaushal of resettling Bru refugees

Swaraj Kaushal, while heaping praises on the initiative, said, "This agreement is a solution, one that is going to last. It's so important. There are so much of good intentions behind this."

Read: Home Minister Amit Shah signs pact to end Bru refugee crisis

"The Bru people have been in camps for more than 23 years. The agreement is to settle them permanently so that they lead a life of dignity. In the camps, everything is missing," he said.

"All these years, Delhi has been too far from the North-East and the North-East has been far too remote from it. The Reangs are Indian citizens. Look at their strategical location. The total population is about two lakh. One lakh Reangs are there in Tripura and nearly 65,000 in Mizoram. These 65,000 Bru refugees are all along the border, then with East Pakistan and now Bangladesh," said Kaushal who has served as the Governor of Mizoram between 1990 and 1993.

"They are all along the rivers and Indo-Bangladesh border. The fact is that Reangs are one of those tribes, which is your first line of defence. You cannot ignore this. I am happy that the government thought of this," he further said.

Read: MBDPF welcomes pact to settle Bru refugees in Tripura

On Thursday, the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah presided over the agreement signing between Centre, Tripura, Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives. As per this agreement, around 34,000 internally displaced people will be settled in Tripura. Shah said that around 34,000 Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura under the new agreement and the state would be given a package of around Rs 600 crore for their rehabilitation. Also, the refugees would now get the rights that the citizens of the state get.

Tripura and Mizoram CMs on signing the agreement

The Chief Ministers of Tripura and Mizoram Biplab Kumar Deb and Zoramthanga were also present during the signing of the agreement. I want to thank Narendra Modiji and Amit Shahji for ending this crisis. Nobody was ready to think about the future of Bru refugees. This step is historic, said CM Biplab Dev.

North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) chief Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was also present, said the Bru refugees will enjoy all the facilities. Zoramthanga had said the pact will permanently solve the 25-year-old "burning issue." "Today we have signed an important agreement with Bru leaders and the Government of Tripura and the Government of Mizoram. This will permanently solve the burning issue that has been going on for 25 years," he said.

Read: Will need 6 months to resettle Bru refugees in Tripura: CM

The Bru Refugees

Ethnically different from Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect, the Brus are spread across Tripura, Mizoram, and parts of southern Assam. Earlier, they had demanded an Autonomous District Council (ADC), under the 6th Schedule of the Constitution, in western Mizoram. In 1997, they had to flee to Tripura from Mizoram. At least, 5,000 families comprising around 30,000 Bru tribals were forced to leave the state.

Centre has been making efforts to rehabilitate these refugees since 2010. The Centre has been assisting the governments of Mizoram and Tripura for taking the care of the refugees. Till 2014, 1,622 Bru families returned to Mizoram in different batches.

The aid provided to these families was increased substantially, in July 209=18 after an agreement was signed between two states, Centre representatives of Bru refugees. Following this development, at least 328 families comprising of 1,369 individuals returned to Mizoram under the 2018 agreement. However, owing to security concerns, there has been a consisted demand from the Bru families to resettle in Tripura since then.

(With ANI Inputs)

Read: "Don't let people die": SC pulls up Centre over ration supply to Mizoram Bru refugees
Shirdi: The temple town of Shirdi which was observing an indefinite shutdown to protest the controversy over the birthplace of Sai Baba, on Sunday (January 19) announced the withdrawal of the bandh, shops and markets in town will remain open from Sunday night. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called for a meeting over the issue at the state secretariat in Mumbai on Monday.

Kailash tope of Sai Baba Sansthan Trust said, "We have called off the indefinite bandh and Shirdi will be open as normal after 12 tonight. There is a meeting scheduled with Chief Minister tomorrow at 2 pm and we will request him to take back his statement about Saibaba`s birthplace. We are not seeking an apology from the CM but all we want is that he should withdraw his statement," he said, adding, "If there is no positive outcome of tomorrow`s meeting locals of Shirdi will decide the future course of action."

The call for the indefinite bandh was made on Saturday which was to come to effect from Sunday. The bandh call witnessed the shutdown of the entire market, several shops, restaurants, other commercial establishments, and even local transport on Sunday.

The shutdown caused a lot of hassle to the pilgrims who reached the place in large numbers. Due to the closure of hotels and restaurants, Sai Prasadalaya  which has both free and paid food services, was visited by almost double the number of people than usual.

Earlier, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh urged people to not disturb the law and order situation in Shirdi. We are requesting people to protest peacefully and maintain law and order. Well listen to people in Pathri and Shirdi about their demands and try to resolve it amicably. Well call them for a meeting to Mumbai or ask our workers to visit them and hear them out, he told reporters.

Tempers flared when Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a grant of Rs 100 crore for the development of Pathri town in Parbhani district as a religious tourism destination. He also called it the birthplace of Sai Baba, which angered the locals in Shirdi.

Angry locals who participated in the shutdown on Sunday claimed that the protests were against the inappropriate comments. "People are making inappropriate comments on the birthplace of Sai Baba. The entire market, several shops, restaurants, other commercial establishments, and local transport remained shut. We demand the government not to make such comments. Sai Baba has always helped people regardless of their caste, religion," a protestor was quoted as saying by ANI.

Speaking on the shut down a protestor Mangesh told ANI, "We have called this bandh but people can still come here. We have shut down our shops," he said, adding, "The Chief Minister has hurt the sentiments of the devotees. Baba has never mentioned any caste and religion. He is worshipped by the people of all religions."

Live TV

The residents of Shirdi are claiming that if the state government decides to develop Pathri as the birthplace of Saibaba, the temple in Shirdi will lose its importance. People from areas near Shirdi also decided to support the bandh call.

Notably, Shirdi's Saibaba temple is one of the most popular destinations in the country, with lakhs of devotees from different parts of the country visiting it every year. The temple receives crores of donation every year from the devotees visiting the temple.
The Congress-ruled Rajasthan has decided to bring in a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the budget session of the state assembly beginning on January 24.

Parliamentary affairs minister Shanti Dhariwal said the assembly session will begin on January 24.

The session is beginning on January 24 because a bill to extend reservation to SC and ST candidates in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for another 10 year has to be ratified before January 25, Dhariwal told reporters here.

He also said the government is mulling to introduce a resolution against the CAA in the assembly session.

The Congress is against the citizenship amendment act and therefore a resolution is likely to be introduced in the assembly, he said.

Official sources said that the resolution is likely to be introduced on the very first day of the session.

On Friday, MLA Wajib Ali, one of six MLAs who defected to ruling Congress from BSP last year, had forwarded a letter to the chief minister requesting him to bring a resolution against the CAA.

Protests against the CAA are being held across the country. The amended act is against the spirit of the Constitution and it is causing social unrest, Ali said.

The opposition BJP alleged that the session was hurriedly convened and the government's move to bring the resolution will be strongly opposed.

The session is convened hurriedly and it is the violation of rules and procedures. The government and chief minister do not take the assembly seriously, Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said.

We will oppose any such move of the government. No one, be it the chief minister or government or any party, is above the law, BJP state president and MLA Satish Poonia said.

Kerala and Punjab have already passed the resolution to step up pressure on the Centre against the amended law, which sparked series of protests and violence in different parts of the country.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot too has repeatedly said the state will not implement CAA and NRC in the state.

He has been vociferous against the controversial law and held a massive and peaceful rally in Jaipur against the CAA last month.

On various occasions, the chief minister said his government will not implement CAA as well as NRC.

Citizenship amendment act cannot be implemented because it is not practical, Gehlot had said earlier.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, will no longer be known as royal highnesses, nor receive public funds for any royal duties they undertake in the future, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Prince Harrys official title was His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and his wife was Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex. They officially resigned from their positions as senior royals on January 8, saying they intend to pursue financial independence in far 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.

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, the couple had said.

But, a statement from the palace, published on the Royal Central, a news portal for the Royal Families on Saturday, said the couple will be known as Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and will also no longer formally represent the Queen.

The palace also said they are to repay the 2.4 million of taxpayer money used for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home

The action comes after the Queen met with the couple last week about their future, following their resignation as senior royals.

The Queen in a statement thanked the couple for their dedicated work, The Queen added: Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much-loved members of my family, the statement continued.

According to the statement, Harry, who served in the British Army and did two tours in Afghanistan, will also give up all his military titles as part of his royal exits.

These official military appointments include Captain General of Marines, Honorary Air Commandant Royal Air Force Honington, and Commodore-in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving. He and the Markle will also lose their appointments as Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors.

The development is expected to take effect in spring (March) 2020.

The statement reads: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are grateful to Her Majesty and the Royal Family for their ongoing support as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

As agreed in this new arrangement, they understand that they are required to step back from Royal duties, including official military appointments. They will no longer receive public funds for Royal duties.

With The Queens blessing, the Sussexes will continue to maintain their private patronages and associations. While they can no longer formally represent The Queen, the Sussexes have made clear that everything they do will continue to uphold the values of Her Majesty.

The Sussexes will not use their HRH titles as they are no longer working members of the Royal Family.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have shared their wish to repay Sovereign Grant expenditure for the refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, which will remain their UK family home.

Buckingham Palace does not comment on the details of security arrangements. There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security.

This new model will take effect in the Spring of 2020.
Whats Next? (Jan. 19-25)

Silent Screen

Apple is gearing up for a legal fight with the Justice Department to defend the privacy of its customers iPhones  or more specifically, two phones used by the gunman behind a deadly shooting last month at a naval base in Florida. Federal authorities are demanding that Apple unlock the mans phones for the sake of public safety. But the tech giant says it is committed to protecting its users information, stating that Americans do not have to choose between weakening encryption and solving investigations. The conflict puts Apples chief executive, Tim Cook, in a tricky spot if he wants to stay in Mr. Trumps good graces. Their alliance has kept Apple relatively unscathed by trade tensions with China  so far.

Cleaner Greenbacks

BlackRock, the giant money management corporation that oversees nearly $7 trillion in investments, announced that it will make investment decisions with environmental sustainability as a core goal moving forward. Which is a little rich, considering its also a major investor in fossil fuel companies like Aramco, Saudi Arabias state-owned oil firm. But BlackRocks chief executive, Larry Fink, said that pressuring companies to be greener could still have a major effect on the market, and hopes other money managers will follow suit. He also said that the decision wasnt a political one, but rather a response to investor demand.

Warm-up Act

Larry Fink will also give a talk at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week. Following the release of new data showing that 2019 was the second-hottest year in recorded history, the global warming crisis will be one of the summits central topics. Which could lead to quite the standoff, especially as Mr. Trump  who has openly scorned climate change science  is among the attendees, along with the 17-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg. Also on the speaking docket: Satya Nadella, the chief executive of Microsoft, which pledged this past Thursday to erase its carbon footprint and invest $1 billion in carbon removal technology.
Kevin Clifton has gushed over his girlfriend Stacey Dooley as she took to the stage to host the Strictly Come Dancing: Live Tour in Birmingham.

The TV presenter, 32, has joined several of her fellow Strictly stars for the tour which kicked off in Birmingham on Thursday and concludes in London's 02 Arena on February 9.

Sharing a snap of Stacey on stage, Kevin wrote: 'So proud of @sjdooley hosting the @bbcstrictly live arena tour. Smashing it and nailing the aesthetics.'

Support: Kevin Clifton, 37, has gushed over his girlfriend Stacey Dooley, 32, as she took to the stage to host the Strictly Come Dancing: Live Tour in Birmingham

Stacey looked nothing short of sensational for Sunday's show, donning a gold shimmering long-sleeved dress.

The BBC host added height to her frame with a pair of heels while she styled her flame-haired locks into curls.

Kevin shared a video of Stacey performing a quick number with a group of dancers before the Strictly stars kicked off the show.

It comes after Kevin and Stacey put on a loved-up display as they enjoyed a beach walk this Christmas time.

Glamour: Stacey looked nothing short of sensational for Sunday's show, donning a shimmering long-sleeved dress

In the sweet snap shared on Instagram the couple are seen from behind as they hold hands and enjoy a stroll along the near empty sands.

The couple, who embarked on a romance in April, spent some of Christmas with Kevin's sister Joanne.

In an Instagram snap dancer Joanne, 36, on Thursday the presenter flashed a peace sign as she relaxed on the floor while her beau grinned from a nearby sofa.

Stacey looked relaxed as she sat beside Joanne wearing cream trousers with a pale green t-shirt tucked in.

Proud: Sharing a snap of Stacey on stage, Kevin wrote: 'So proud of @sjdooley hosting the @bbcstrictly live arena tour. Smashing it and nailing the aesthetics.'

The former Strictly winner wore her sleek tresses down and accessorised with a watch and gold necklace.

Joanne also cut a casual figure as the trio celebrated Christmas in a large living room with a huge tree in the window, and donned a black t-shirt and jeans.

The dancer, who won Strictly herself in 2016 with Ore Oduba, wore her blonde locks down and perfectly styled straight.

Kevin could not contain his delight as he kicked back on his sofa in a long sleeved t-shirt and black jeans.

Time together: Stacey and Kevin put on a loved-up display as they held hands and enjoyed a beach walk over Christmas

Couple: The presenter and dancer (pictured in Febraury) embarked on a romance in April after they were paired together on Strictly Come Dancing

All together: Stacey and Kevin enjoyed a cosy Christmas with his sister Joanne, 36, in a rare snap shared on the blonde's Instagram on Thursday

Joanne captioned her snap 'we had a gudden' [sic] and Stacey quickly commented with a love heart.

Although having met on Strictly more than a year ago, the couple rarely share loved-up pictures together on social media.

In October, the documentary maker gave her fans a glimpse into a glitzy party she threw for Kevin in celebration of his 37th birthday.

She pulled out all the stops for his milestone and appeared enamoured as she cosied up to the dancer in front of gold balloons which read 'King Kev'.

Doting: Stacey rarely shares pictures with Kevin but pulled out all the stops for his 37th birthday in October as she threw him a lavish party

How sweet! In cosy snaps shared to her Instagram, the journalist appeared enamoured as she cosied up to the dancer in front of gold balloons which read 'King Kev' at his party

The two Christmas images comes after Kevin was crowned the winner of this year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special where eh danced with Debbie McGee.

The festive champions wowed the judges and the studio audience with their quickstep to Jingle Bells by Michael Buble, scoring a perfect 40.

The star, 61, who came third on the 2017 series, couldn't hide her delight as she lifted the Strictly Silver Star trophy and paid tribute to her late husband Paul Daniels.

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.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 20:27:24|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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LAMU, Kenya, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan security agencies said Sunday that they have thwarted a major al-Shabab attack, targeting several villagers in the coastal Lamu country on Saturday night.

Lamu county commissioner Irungu Macharia said the heavily armed militants held the Pandanguo village at ransom in a fiery gun battle that lasted for seven hours before the militants were defeated and retreated into Boni forest.

Macharia said the al-Shabab stormed the village from 10 pm on Saturday and left at about 3.30 a.m. in the morning of Sunday after being chased.

He said, however, security officers responded promptly to the attackers and managed to successfully repulse a group of over 60 armed militants.

"There is no cause for panic, we managed to defeat the enemy and no casualties from our side, and we are following crucial leads in pursuing the militants," said the government administrator.

Villagers reported that a group of about 50 militants attempted to gain entry into the village but gunshots from the police officers stationed in the village attracted other security officers stationed in the area.

According to a local farmer Hamadi Kimani who was guarding his farm, some villagers were temporarily taken hostage by the militants who inquired from him about the security situation of the village.

"I didn't mince words, I told them that the village was under heavy security from all security agencies. They told me they wanted no trouble and that all they wanted was food," Hashim said.

But in a show of defiance, the militants proceeded to Hashim's farm where they took bags of green maize away.

Macharia urged locals to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious persons that could pose a threat to the country's security.

Tension remains high in the Pandanguo village and neighboring villages as locals have begun fleeing the area.

"Despite the assurance from the security agencies, we are afraid of our lives, since the militants are just hiding in the nearby Boni forest, and they may strike again and carry out the attacks," said Mariam Salama.

On July 5, 2017, over 200 al-Shabab militants raided the village, ransacked houses and made away with cutlery, foodstuff and clothes.

The village and many others close to the Boni forest all fall within security operation zones that are currently underway.

Meanwhile, the police are interrogating three Somali nationals, a Kenyan and an American who were arrested in Nairobi on Saturday over terrorism suspicion.
The Great Basket Island, a small landmass near Ireland has offered many internet users' 'dream job' by asking a couple or two friends to live on the island as summer caretakers. The 'unique' position has taken the internet by storm as the employers will not only be provided with food but also salary for the long term assignment. Many Twitter users have posted their wish to apply for the job starting from April 1 till October, and some of them also called it 'perfect'.

The island on Europe's Atlantic fridges is majestic 1,100 acres with views, rains, stiff breezes that power the wind turbine. As per international reports, some people who have lived on the island have said that life on the island is 'very tough and difficult'. However, nearly 7,000 applicants have already applied for the job.

** Job Vacancy **

A unique position required - looking for long term management of Island Accommodation and Coffee Shop. Couple or two friends.

1st April 2020 - October 2020 accommodation and food provided.

Email Alice on info@greatblasketisland.net for more information pic.twitter.com/RJFfrr4QDH  Great Blasket Island (@gbisland) January 10, 2020

Netizens 'would love to do this'

As soon as the position was posted on Twitter, it generated a new wave of conversation among netizens. While some of them were eager and said they already applied with their partners, others also said 'it isn't as easy'. However, a fair set of netizens said they 'would love to do the job' or that they 'love island life'. Many even posted about how they're right for the job while sharing their experiences of running restaurants and pubs.

Is there any salary ??!



or is it just food and accommodation provided ?



That should be clarified before we run away with this being a dream job!



no salary was mentioned in the initial tweet!  Brian Hewson (@HewsonBrian) January 11, 2020

Well America, it was nice but this seems more my style  Joshua Martinez (@thebiscuitboy_) January 11, 2020

Me and my husband just applied I managed my family's coffee shop for years pic.twitter.com/pGcKU2QPHf  Vanessa McMullan (@VanessaMcmullan) January 16, 2020

Read - Delhi Police Bust Fake Thailand Airline 'Yo Air' Job Racket

I'm in! Have run pubs and restaurants, plus I love island life.  Tim McKenna (@TimMcKenna5) January 11, 2020

Wow - I'd love to do this. I've been working in coffee for about ten years, and I've always wanted to visit Ireland. Alas, I'm sure thousands have applied. My application was sent in today, however!    (@cwalkenisgod) January 16, 2020

Once there's whistle playing, super nurses eating fresh tayto and checkered wellies the islands will for ever be the homelands of hairy sometimes dreadlock donkeys! pic.twitter.com/hr4x7hQMVk  Phil Kinsella  (@philsella) January 11, 2020

Read - UFC Boss Dana White Offers Job To Best Buy Employee Who Stopped Robbery

Stayed here last summer. Surely a dream job for the right people. Either way worth a visit. Cant beat their water storage tank. pic.twitter.com/kqZ9cPlTm9  GreenStreet (@GreenSt69943397) January 11, 2020

My partner and I just applied!  pic.twitter.com/hKsGLSlloA  Sunny  | Vanlife (@thenomadicsunny) January 15, 2020

Perfect. Just what I was looking for. Downsizing  The Irish Border (@BorderIrish) January 10, 2020

Read - BIZARRE: This Job Requires Interns To Pay USD 15 Per Hr To New York Based Company

Read - Vermont Offers Upto $7500 To Move In For A New Job To Attract Workers
A 48-year-old personnel of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deployed in port town of Paradip was arrested on Saturday on charges of sexually assaulting the four and a half year old daughter of his colleague.

Police in Jagatsinghpur district said M Kandaswami, who was posted as a head-constable in Indian Oil Corporations oil refinery in Paradip as head constable used to show his private parts to the girl.

He used to call the girl to his home on the pretext of giving her chocolate and then used to get disrobed himself. He also at times disrobed the girl. Two days ago, the girls mother became suspicious when the head constable called his daughter home on the pretext of giving chocolate. When the minor girl came back her mother asked her about Kandaswamis behaviour. The girl then narrated about his act, said Jugal Das, inspector of Abhaychandpur police station.

The victims family lodged an FIR on Saturday following which the head constable was arrested. The girl has been sent for medical examination.

Cases under several sections of IPC and POCSO Act have been lodged against the CISF personnel.

In a separate development, an undertrial prisoner of Mayurbhanj district accused of rape, tied knot with the victim in Karanjia Sub-Jail premises on Friday. Kumar Hembram, a 30-year-old rape undertrial, was lodged in Karanjia sub-jail for last 3 months over charges of rape and abduction of a 26-year-old girl.

The marriage was solemnised in the presence of local Sub-Register, Jail superintendent, legal counsel and family members of both the accused and victim.

Jail officials said the marriage was arranged following the order of the additional district and sessions judge in this regard. The accused and the girl were in a relationship before the person was arrested. However, the girls family member did not approve of their relationship and perssurised her to lodge an FIR of rape. Following reconciliation measures, the two decided to marry, said a jail official.
MSG in Chinese food isn't unhealthy -- you're just racist, activists say

Analysis by Jessie Yeung, CNN

Updated 7:13 PM EST, Sat January 18, 2020



[A jar of Ajinomoto MSG (monosodium glutamate) seasoning.]

(CNN)If you've heard of the term "MSG," you might have also heard of its common -- but inaccurate -- connotations.

For years, monosodium glutamate, a food additive known as MSG, has been branded as an unhealthy processed ingredient mainly found in Chinese food, despite a lack of supporting scientific evidence.

This perception, which activists argue is outdated and racist, is so widespread that the Merriam-Webster dictionary has an entry for the term "Chinese restaurant syndrome" -- a type of condition that allegedly affects people eating "Chinese food heavily seasoned with monosodium glutamate," with symptoms like dizziness and palpitations.

Now, activists have launched a campaign called "Redefine CRS." Headed by Japanese food and seasoning company Ajinomoto, the online campaign urges Merriam-Webster to change its entry to reflect the scientific consensus on MSG -- and the impact of misinformation on the American public's perception of Asian cuisine.

[Japanese company Ajinomoto produces MSG seasoning and spice mixes.] Japanese company Ajinomoto produces MSG seasoning and spice mixes.

"To this day, the myth around MSG is ingrained in America's consciousness, with Asian food and culture still receiving unfair blame," said the company in its campaign website. "Chinese Restaurant Syndrome isn't just scientifically false  it's xenophobic."

In a video released by Ajinomoto, several Asian American figures, restaurateurs, and medical professionals spoke out against the misconceptions surrounding MSG and Chinese food.

"Calling it Chinese restaurant syndrome is really ignorant," said restaurateur Eddie Huang, whose memoir was adapted into the hit sitcom "Fresh Off the Boat." In the video, he pointed out that MSG is not only delicious -- but found in practically all processed foods, from ranch dressing to Doritos.

The campaign proposed a new definition for "Chinese restaurant syndrome" in the Merriam-Webster -- "an outdated term that falsely blamed Chinese food containing MSG, or monosodium glutamate, for a group of symptoms."

In response, Merriam-Webster tweeted on Wednesday that it would be "reviewing the term and revising accordingly."

"We're constantly in the process of updating as usage and attitudes evolve, so we're grateful when readers can point us toward a definition that needs attention," said the company.

What MSG is -- and isn't

First off: what is MSG?

Chances are, you've eaten it. It's a common amino acid naturally found in foods like tomatoes and cheese, which people then figured out how to extract and ferment -- a process similar to how we make yogurt and wine.

This fermented MSG is now used to flavor lots of different foods like stews or chicken stock. It's so widely used because it taps into our fifth basic taste: umami (pronounced oo-maa-mee). Umami is less well known than the other tastes like saltiness or sweetness, but it's everywhere -- it's the complex, savory taste you find in mushrooms or Parmesan cheese.

[MSG is used as a food additive in dishes like stews, canned soups, and stocks.] MSG is used as a food additive in dishes like stews, canned soups, and stocks.

People have consumed MSG throughout history, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -- but the debate over its health effects began in 1968, when a man wrote a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine, complaining of numbness after eating at Chinese restaurants.

The idea that Chinese food was dangerous spread quickly, and was lent legitimacy by some medical professionals at the time. A 1969 scientific paper identified MSG as "the cause of the Chinese restaurant syndrome," and warned that it caused "burning sensations, facial pressure, and chest pain."

['Healthy' foods have most of us confused, survey finds]

'Healthy' foods have most of us confused, survey finds

That's not to say it was scientifically proven. A 1986 paper in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology argued that a decade of research had "failed to reveal any objective sign" that MSG was dangerous, and that the very idea of "Chinese restaurant syndrome" was "questionable."

The FDA even set up an independent inquiry into MSG in the 1990s -- which ultimately concluded that MSG is safe.

Still, it was too late to contain public fear and anxiety. MSG had effectively been vilified in the American imagination, and was shunned for decades afterward. Even now, a quick Google search for MSG turns up countless pages that ask: is MSG harmful?

Many regulatory bodies and scientific groups have answered this definitively: No. The addition of MSG in foods is "generally recognized as safe," says the FDA site.

[MSG is found in Chinese cuisine -- but also in tomatoes, cheese, canned soup, and a range of foods.] MSG is found in Chinese cuisine -- but also in tomatoes, cheese, canned soup, and a range of foods.

A joint study by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization "failed to confirm an involvement of MSG in 'Chinese Restaurant Syndrome'," and noted that the syndrome itself was based on "anecdotal" evidence rather than any scientific fact.

Besides, many said, if MSG was so dangerous, masses of people would have fallen sick in countries that cook with the additive, like China and Japan -- something that simply hasn't happened.

The fight for Asian food in America

As the Ajinomoto campaign points out, the public scare over MSG unfairly placed the blame on Chinese food -- and is partly why many in the United States still think of Chinese food as processed, unclean, or unhealthy.

This perception -- and the growing movement to break down this stereotype -- made national headlines in the spring of 2019, when a white woman opened a Chinese restaurant called Lucky Lee's in New York. The restaurant would serve "clean" Chinese food, she wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post -- food that wasn't "too oily," and that wouldn't make people feel "bloated and icky" afterward.

[The Lucky Lee's restaurant in New York, on April 11, 2019.] The Lucky Lee's restaurant in New York, on April 11, 2019.

Almost immediately, the internet was in uproar. Members of the Asian and Asian American community accused the owner of not just appropriating another culture's cuisine, but doing it with an offensive rather than appreciative approach.

The owner responded shortly after the backlash, acknowledging in an Instagram post that Chinese food had "health benefits" and promising to "always listen and reflect accordingly." The restaurant closed in December 2019 -- just eight months after opening.

She apologized more explicitly in an interview with The New York Times -- but still, critics argued that her original post had reinforced negative and false stereotypes around Chinese food instead of exploring what it actually is.

[Gordon Ramsay's new 'authentic Asian' restaurant kicks off cultural appropriation dispute]

Gordon Ramsay's new 'authentic Asian' restaurant kicks off cultural appropriation dispute

The controversy sparked a broader discussion on the racially-driven lines drawn around which foods are "clean" and "sophisticated." Why, for instance, is Italian or French cuisine -- both foreign to the US -- seen as high-class fine dining, while Chinese or Thai food is still often regarded as quick, cheap, and low quality?

Some also pointed out that "ethnic" foods -- a controversy in itself, because what is "ethnic" anyway? -- hold stories that have been erased or unacknowledged completely. For many, "Americanized" Chinese food was born from desperation and adapted for American tastes -- a way for immigrant families to survive in a society that demanded assimilation. To have that food, and its history of immigrant struggle, dismissed as "icky" or "oily" felt like a slap in the face for many in the Asian American community.

[A Chinese restaurant menu stating "No MSG" in Danville, California, December 25, 2019.] A Chinese restaurant menu stating "No MSG" in Danville, California, December 25, 2019.

For years, Chinese restaurants in the US often had signs inside that announced "No MSG used," in an attempt to distance themselves from the stigma. Now, some are reclaiming and openly embracing the additive; Chinese restaurant chain Mission Chinese Food has salt shakers filled with MSG, and MSG margaritas with MSG crystals in the ice cubes.

Then there's Ajinomoto, one of the biggest voices in the MSG market and the leader of the Redefine CRS campaign. You can find Ajinomoto's MSG seasoning packets and spice mixes in many American supermarkets, and it has been working for years to raise awareness about both the safety of consuming MSG and the ways it can be used to add flavor to dishes.

Amid all the hullabaloo, restaurateurs like celebrity chef David Chang, who produced and starred in the Netflix series "Ugly Delicious," and Anthony Bourdain, the late host of CNN's award-winning series "Parts Unknown," have worked to change public perception.

The fears surrounding MSG were just a "psychosomatic myth," Chang said in a tweet. In another post, he shared how he uses MSG in his daily life, adding it as seasoning to snacks like popcorn.

Bourdain, who traveled the world and showcased an extraordinary diversity of cultures and cuisines, was more explicit. "I think (MSG) is good stuff," he said in a 2016 episode of "Parts Unknown" filmed in China. "I don't react to it -- nobody does. It's a lie."

"You know what causes Chinese restaurant syndrome?" he added as he walked through the streets of Sichuan. "Racism."

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In a freak incident, a 17-month- old toddler died of head injuries he sustained after his walker tilted at his home in Imambada area of Nagpur in Maharashtra, police said on Sunday.

The incident occurred on January 13 when Ranjeet Thakre lost his balance and fell on his head, a police officer said, adding that the boy's mother was busy in kitchen while father had gone to office.

Ranjeet was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) where he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, the officer said.

A case of accidental death has been registered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Data Centers, once a niche investment and inflexible asset for global enterprises, are now a cornerstone of the information economy, and $100 billion has poured into the asset class over the past decade, according to Cushman & Wakefields Data Center Market Comparison.

Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 51,000 employees in 400 offices and 70 countries. In 2018, the firm had revenue of $8.2 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services.

Key Takeaways of research on Data Centers:

Although the top three markets (Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley and Dallas) had considerably higher scores than fourth place, the next 12 markets were separated by a final score of less than 10 percent.

Several European markets including Paris, Zurich and Madrid have received considerable international interest, with the continent becoming a new hyper-scale target where power is available

Many markets in Asia-Pacific are expecting considerable growth in the next three years with demand for greater connectivity.

This significant capital inflow has been matched by an equally major technical shift, as enterprises have chosen to move workloads off premises, first to colocation facilities and more recently to a mixture of colocation and public and private clouds. This shift has caused the largest cloud platform providers  Amazon, Google and Microsoft  to become the most influential players in many markets, altering data center sizing by a factor of 10. The 10-megawatt (MW) data center that was impressive 10 years ago now pales in comparison to 30-MW leases now signed with increasing regularity.

Cushman & Wakefields study evaluated 1,162 data centers across 38 global markets, with each data center scored across 12 weighted criteria.

Story continues

In consideration of each market, the highest weight was given to cloud availability, fiber connectivity and market size; mid-weight considerations were development pipeline, government incentives, market vacancy, political stability and sustainability; and low-weight considerations included environmental risk, land prices, power costs and taxes.

For the top 10 markets  Northern Virginia, Silicon Valley, Dallas, Chicago, New York/New Jersey, Singapore, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Seattle and London global leaders maintain supremacy. Still, emerging markets such as Atlanta, Denver, Dublin, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, Sydney and Vancouver offer compelling alternatives.

data centers

Data Centers, once an afterthought for global enterprises, are now a cornerstone of the information economy, and $100 billion has poured into the asset class over the past decade, according to Cushman & Wakefields Global Data Centre Market Comparison. This study evaluated 1,162 data centers around the world, utilizing a unique weighted methodology to rank 38 global markets and arrive at an overall top ten. Key emerging data center markets are also identified. The highest weight was given to cloud availability, fiber connectivity and market size; mid-weight considerations were development pipeline, government incentives, market vacancy, political stability and sustainability; and low-weight considerations included environmental risk, land prices, power costs and taxes.

The speed with which the industry is shifting makes the creation of a data center strategy a complex and daunting task, said Dave Fanning, Executive Managing Director and Leader or Cushman & Wakefields Data Center Advisory Group. Enterprises must determine what to do with their on-premises facility, which workloads to move to the cloud and how implement a hybrid IT strategy. Developers and operators require a parcel with robust fiber and access to power as well as a thorough grasp of the permitting process and all risk factors. Investors must be able to assess the long-term potential of a data center to hold its value and how easily it can be upgraded. All involved require access to capital and a clear understanding of objectives.

Cushman & Wakefields Data Center Advisory Group is a global team of elite professionals delivering specialized real estate solutions for mission critical users, owners, and environments. With scalability, reliability, and security as a driving force, its highly knowledgeable and responsive professionals guide clients to make effective financial decisions. Its expertise includes colocation facilities, control centers, greenfields, powered shell, and trading floors. We lend additional value through our understanding of global dynamics and their impact on local markets.

Although the studys top three markets had considerably higher scores than fourth place, the next 12 markets were separated by a final score of less than 10 percent. This close placement represents a new shift toward key secondary areas fast becoming primary markets around the globe.

Several markets throughout Europe  notably London, Paris, and Milan, and Zurich have received continued interest from international operators, with the continent becoming a new hyperscale target where power is available.

Large sites have sold recently in emerging U.S. markets such as Portland, Phoenix, and Atlanta, with these areas potentially offering significant savings over locating in California or Northern Virginia.

Additional markets in Asia-Pacific  especially Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai  also are expecting considerable growth in the next two to three years, with demand for greater connectivity and need for modernization of older assets required. The top 15 global markets will thus remain extremely competitive for the foreseeable future.

The top markets provide the greatest number of options to the greatest number of perspectives, said Kevin Imboden, Director of Research for Cushman & Wakefields Data Center Advisory Group. While one size sometimes does fit all, for certain specializations its important to review and understand the factors most important to the specific requirement and aim accordingly. Combined with those markets that have been overlooked and underutilized, there is great potential for niche development and secondary markets across the globe.

The post Data Centers are now the cornerstone of information economy appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
The BJP has the convention of electing its president with consensus and without any contest.

New Delhi: BJP working president J.P. Nadda is all set to be elected as its next national president on Monday, succeeding Amit Shah. He is expected to be elected to the post unopposed.

Top party leaders, including Union ministers and those from states, are likely to arrive at the BJP headquarters to file nominations in support of Mr Nadda, who has long been seen as the choice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Shah for the job. His decades-long experience in the organisation, starting from student politics, proximity to the RSS and clean image are seen as his strengths.

Senior BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, who is in charge of the partys organisational poll process, said that nominations for the national presidents election will be filed on January 20, and a contest will take place the next day if required. The BJP has the convention of electing its president with consensus and without any contest, and there is little possibility that it will be any other way this time.

The election of a new president will bring to end incumbent Shahs tenure of over five-and-a-half years during which the BJP expanded its footprints across the country like never before and enjoyed its best phase in electoral contests despite suffering a few setbacks in state polls. With Mr Shah joining the Modi 2.0 government as home minister, the BJP began the exercise for electing his successor as the party has the convention of one person, one post. Mr Nadda was appointed as the partys working president in July last year in an indication that the Himachal Pradesh leader was the likely choice for the top organisational job. In the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he was in-charge of the BJPs election campaign in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, where the party faced a tough challenge from the grand alliance of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). The party won 62 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Having risen through the saffron ranks, Mr Nadda has long been a member of the BJP parliamentary board, its highest decision making body. He had served as a minister in the first Modi government.
John Horsey never met his maternal grandfather. But they shared something in common.

Private Charles Grinter, born in London, initially served as an officers steward in Royal Navy light cruisers from 1902 until 1909 but then started a new life in Sydney.

John Horsey at the Rookwood grave of his grandfather Charles S Grinter 100 years after his death. Credit:Steven Siewert

He enlisted in Holsworthy for the First World War and was severely wounded twice on the Western Front. The second time in action, in March 1918, at Ypres in Belgium, a gunshot wound to the skull just behind the ear resulted in complete paralysis of the right side of his face.

In his war records, a medical officer who observed the lack of movement states: "noticed that his face was 'awry' after the bandages were taken off". Private Grinter is said to have complained of headaches and giddiness.
It was just before 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 31, 1969, and National Airlines stewardesses Donna Goldinher and Leanna Anderson were getting ready for breakfast service.

Anderson was near the front of the DC-8 headed from San Francisco to Miami when she was approached by first class passenger Allan Sheffield. He put his arm around her waist and pushed a gun into her ribs.

Were going to Havana, he whispered in her ear, forcing her toward the cockpit. She fumbled for a moment before getting the door open. Sheffield pushed them both in, repeating his demand to the pilots.

In the back of the plane, Goldinher had no clue anything was awry until the captain came over the intercom.

We are diverting to Havana, he announced.

Oh no, Goldinher sighed. Not again.

It was her second hijacking from SFO in a year.

---

During the 60s and well into the 70s, skyjackings were an American epidemic. Between 1968-72, over 130 airplanes were hijacked, many of them diverting to Cuba. Sometimes, multiple hijackings would occur in a single day. The Sheffield case was the third that week.

It was easy to do. There were no metal detectors so bringing a gun on board presented little problem; in one case, a couple hid a sawed-off shotgun in their five-month-old babys blankets. They were able to divert a short midnight flight from San Francisco to LAX.

"Its my personal belief airlines are unnecessarily reluctant to frisk passengers either by personal search or electronic means," an upset pilot told the UPI in 1969.

As for the destination, there was a great deal of romanticization around Cuba. Theyd just undergone their socialist revolution and, to some, it stood in stark contrast to the problems of Vietnam War-era America. Sheffield told passengers he wanted to live in Cuba because he was "tired of TV dinners and tired of seeing people starve in the world."

The problem was so bad that the FAA actually considered building a fake Cuban airport in Florida. Once on the ground, American law enforcement would be there to meet the plane and arrest the perpetrator. Ultimately, the idea was deemed too expensive.

More for you The star-studded, short-lived and absolutely awful SFO TV show

Its unimaginable today, but stories of SFO hijackings are remarkably calm. Pilots had standing orders to follow the orders of their captors. Because passengers and flight crew rarely got hurt, airlines didnt want to risk a deadly altercation. In most cases, the pilots would simply re-route, let off passengers at another airport, and continue onto Cuba with just the hijacker in tow.

On March 13, 1978, Clay Thomas got into the cockpit five minutes after United Flight 696 took off from SFO. The pilots agreed to land at Oakland Airport to let the passengers off. After being interviewed by the FBI, they were back on a new flight to Seattle in under three hours.

"Everybody was real cool and calm  the flight crew and the passengers," one passenger said. "I just got back from Great America. This was just another ride."

The situation was a little scarier for the flight crew, who stopped in Denver to refuel. There, FBI agents waited on the runway. After landing, the pilots jumped out of the cockpit windows, incurring minor injuries. With neither hostages nor a pilot, Thomas surrendered to law enforcement.

For a while, hijackings were considered far more inconvenient than frightening. Despite pilots pleas, airlines and the public were resistant to implementing more security measures.

It took a decade of plane piracy for things to change. During a hijacking attempt in 1972, three men threatened to crash the plane into a nuclear reactor in Tennessee. The next year, in direct response to the crisis, the FAA instituted bag checks and metal detectors.

In 1985, the hijacking of TWA Flight 847 introduced another element: terrorism. The San Diego-bound flight was hijacked shortly after leaving Cairo by alleged Hezbollah members. During a three-day ordeal, one passenger was killed. Photos of one hijacker leaning out of the cockpit, gun menacing the pilot, became world-famous and permanently altered the perception of hijackings. It wasnt until 9/11, however, that bulletproof, locked cockpit doors became standard.

---

Flight attendant Donna Goldinher later told reporters her second SFO hijacking was "a breeze." The first, in March 1968, was much more harrowing.

She was the flight attendant grabbed by two armed men. She recalled the men "kept clicking the guns" to get her to hurry and unlock the cockpit door. They were sweaty and glassy-eyed; one of the pilots thought they might be on drugs.

The men did not allow the pilots to land and unload passengers, so everyone took a detour to Havana. Once in Cuba, the passengers had a few hours to see the sights before being flown back home the next day.

One passenger was 18-year-old James Zappen, who went straight from the Haight-Ashbury to SFO, bongos still over his shoulders. After he returned to the states, he told reporters a few Cubans asked him to consider staying in Havana.

He gave it a little thought, he said, but ultimately turned down his unexpected new friends.

"Im still young," he said, "and have a lot to learn."

---

Here are even more Bay Area-based hijackings:

 Jan. 1969: National Airlines flight to Miami with 63 passengers aboard

 June 1969: TWA flight hijacked at gunpoint with 79 passengers aboard

 Nov. 1969: TWA jet hijacked all the way to Rome, making it the longest hijacking in history. This ones worth a story of its own at some point, so stay tuned.

 Dec. 1969: TWA flight hijacked at gunpoint with 28 people aboard

 Feb. 1971: A man requests to go to either Cuba or Canada; hes flown to Canada and arrested

 Jan. 1972: The couple with a baby hijack a flight to Cuba. The man says he has a criminal record in the U.S. and is fleeing the authorities.

Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd
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A spiritual sanctuary for Benedictine monks and an enduring tourist attraction, New Norcia is also a town haunted by its past.

A two-hour drive north of Perth, the town of New Norcia - Australia's only monastic town - has been run by Roman Catholic monks since its establishment in 1847.

Thousands visit each year drawn to its unique history, local produce and Spanish-influenced architecture amid the parched Wheatbelt terrain.

For others, it's a place of trauma.

New Norcia is Australia's only monastic town and has been run by Roman Catholic monks since 1847. Pictured: St Gertrude's College in modern times

'Orphanages' in the town were home to Aboriginal children for more than a century, as well as boarding schools for white children. Pictured: St Gertrude's in 1923

For more than a century, the town hosted institutions - misleadingly labelled 'orphanages' - for Aboriginal boys and girls, as well as boarding schools for white children.

They were overseen by the Benedictine Community of New Norcia, which was identified by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse as one of the nation's worst historical child sex offenders.

The commission found one in five Benedictine priests between 1950 and 2010 were alleged child abusers - triple the national average for Catholic institutions.

Some survivors believe the present-day Benedictine Community has failed to sufficiently acknowledge the abuse that occurred in New Norcia.

Noongar woman Dallas Phillips says the abuse she suffered at the St Joseph's girls' institution caused lifelong damage.

'I felt isolated, alone and, at times, distraught,' Ms Phillips told AAP.

'I would cry at night because I wanted to be at home with my family.

The institutions were overseen by the Benedictine Community of New Norcia. Pictured: New Norcia monastery in 1923

'There was no love, no compassion from the nuns. They were hard, they were unforgiving.'

Data collected by the royal commission in 2017 showed the Benedictine Community reported 65 claims of child sexual abuse resulting in a total payment of $869,000.

The highest number of claims made against a single alleged perpetrator was 26.

'I'm so grateful to the royal commission because I finally got to tell my story, and otherwise I would have taken it to the grave,' Ms Phillips said.

Prior to being sent to New Norcia, Ms Phillips says she was abused by a priest in her nearby hometown of Goomalling.

Now 59 and a doting grandmother, she still struggles with her time at St Joseph's where she was put to work and given only basic schooling.

'It's followed me all my life,' she said.

'I've had the most wonderful and happy times when my granddaughter was born but it was always in the back of my head.

The institutions of New Norcia (pictured) were run by Benedictine Community of New Norcia, as one of the nation's worst historical child sex offenders

Survivors of abuse feel as though the current era Benedictine Community of New Norcia (monastery pictured) have failed to acknowledge the past

New Norcia is filled with Spanish-inspired architecture and tourist attractions (hotel pictured) - however many are still traumatised at the abuse they suffered in the institutions run by the Benedictine Community

'I thought I was being taken there to be educated, to make me a stronger person for the world. But that's a load of bulls**t, because they did feast on kids like myself.'

Her sister Lesley, who struggled with rheumatic fever as a child, also attended St Joseph's.

As an adult, Lesley 'hit the drink' and rarely spoke about her experiences.

She died aged 34.

At the New Norcia museum, a permanent exhibition paints a largely positive picture of life at St Joseph's in the building that housed the girls until its closure in 1974.

Tucked towards the back, a poster acknowledges some of the girls having experienced 'a material and human environment' in which unspecified 'neglect and abuse' occurred.

The Abbot of New Norcia, Father John Herbert, declined to be interviewed but provided written responses to a series of questions.

The New Norcia museum paints a largely positive picture of life at St Joseph's in the building that housed the girls until its closure in 1974 (monastery courtyard pictured in 1923)

Father John Herbert said there were efforts to memorialise victims of child abuse being made. Pictured: photo of a 100 metre square re-creation of a painting symbolising reconciliation in 2007

He said the New Norcia Aboriginal Corporation had extensive input into the museum exhibition, as well as hosting an annual reunion and healing weekend which included an acknowledgement and apology from the Benedictine Community.

He added that the community intended to establish a 'Rock of Remembrance' memorial alongside the church abbey explicitly recognising the victims of child sexual abuse.

Western Australia has been slow to acknowledge elements of its history, particularly when it comes to the treatment of indigenous Australians.

One woman said her sister 'hit the drink' and rarely spoke about the experiences of abuse she suffered. Pictured: Old cemetery grounds in 2016

For survivors of abuse in New Norcia, plans for a public memorial are welcome but long overdue. Pictured: Old cemetery grounds in 2016

The Abbot of New Norcia, Father John Herbert, declined to be interviewed about allegations between 1950 and 2010. New Norcia pictured in 1923

Substantial efforts have only recently been made to recognise the grim past of the iconic Rottnest Island, where hundreds of Aboriginal men and boys from across WA died and thousands more were imprisoned in dire conditions.

Until its closure in mid-2018, one of the main prison buildings dating back to 1864 was still being used as holiday accommodation.

There have also been calls for more substantive recognition of the Pinjarra massacre south of Perth in 1834, which saw dozens of Noongar men, women and children slaughtered.

Western Australia has been slow to acknowledge elements of its history, particularly when it comes to the treatment of indigenous Australians. View over New Norcia in 1923

For survivors of abuse in New Norcia, plans for a public memorial are welcome but long overdue.

'I want something there to acknowledge it but it will never bring me comfort, because that place took my being a kid,' Ms Phillips said.

'It damaged me for life.'

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A folk artisan delivers food with a traditional long plate at a large open-air banquet at the Zhongshan ancient town in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Jan. 18, 2020. The large banquet, nicknamed "A Thousand Meter-Long Banquet", has more than 800 tables lining along the street. As a tradition in the Zhongshan ancient town when the Spring Festival comes, the event is held to wish prosperity and good luck for people. More than 20,000 visitors joined in the banquet this year. (Xinhua/Liu Chan)
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Snow this evening will transition to snow showers late. Low 2F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected..

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A woman has a temperature check at Hong Kong airport on April 23, 2004, as a precaution against the SARS virus. (Image: Reuters)

The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 is still fresh in our memories.

SARS is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus. It begins with a high fever and body pains, a flu like symptoms. Patients may develop a dry cough and most of them develop pneumonia. It spreads from person to person like common cold.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared SARS a pandemic in March 2003. There were around 8,000 cases and 774 deaths reported globally due to the outbreak. SARS had caused more social and economic disruption than any war in the first two decades of the millennium.

According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the cost of SARS when it comes to the lost Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in nominal terms, for East and Southeast Asia was about $18 billion or 0.6 percentage points of 2003. Travel, tourism and retail -- the pillars of the economy of East and South Asian countries -- were the most impacted sectors. But due to WHOs swift response and a concerted global action, SARS was largely contained.

Why are we talking about SARS and why is it relevant?

The pneumonia outbreak in China's Wuhan city in Hubei province in December 2019, is said to have been caused by a new coronavirus, coming from the same family of viruses that caused SARS in 2003.

Chinese authorities have specifically linked the latest outbreak to a seafood market in Central Wuhan. The market was closed for environmental sanitation and disinfection.

There have been 50 cases in Wuhan (including two deaths) as well as a person with the virus in both Japan and Thailand. The numbers are steadily rising.

Many countries have issued travel alerts to people traveling to Wuhan. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also issued in its alert asking travellers to Wuhan China from avoiding sick people and animals.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHWF) has issued an advisory for Indians travelling to China, in particular, Wuhan.

To be sure, it is still not a case for panic.

WHO has said that the source of the outbreak in Wuhan is still under investigation.

"Preliminary investigations have identified environmental samples positive for new coronavirus in Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan City, however some laboratory-confirmed patients did not report visiting this market. To date, there is no reported infection among healthcare workers in China, Thailand or Japan," WHO said in a statement.

"Additional investigations are needed to determine how the patients were infected, whether human-to-human transmission has been observed, mode(s) of transmission, the clinical spectrum of disease, and the extent of infection, including presence of subclinical cases that are undetected with current surveillance," the WHO statement added.

It is important for India to keep an eye on this development, without panicking. We cannot afford such an epidemic on Indian shores at a time when our economy is in a slowdown phase.
Long before New Delhis Connaught Place was renamed Rajiv Chowk, its namesake in the city was in the headlines. But it was named after a different Rajiv and a different chowk  and that happened about 30 years ago. Students rose up in spontaneous protests after the announcement of caste-based reservations in jobs and educational institutions. Rajiv Goswami, a commerce student at the Deshbandhu College in south Delhi, was the hero of this agitation. The student protesters named the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) crossing, where he tried to immolate himself, as Rajiv Chowk.

There were widespread protests across the country soon after the announcement on August 7, 1990, but Delhi became its focal point. The agitation was contained and remained largely peaceful, with the protesters not going beyond blocking traffic at important intersections with their dharnas. We were careful not to use force to break those sit-ins, and the protesting students would move to other locations after a couple of hours in one place. Traffic was thrown out of gear, but then the people understood the cause and, in fact, some even empathised with it. It continued for over a month, and as the protests started losing steam, Goswami, attempted self-immolation.

The incident shocked the country, and, soon, the agitation appeared to be spinning out of control. The government provided the best possible medical attention to Goswami, and so he survived despite 85% burns. In the meantime, another immolation of one Surender Singh took place. Several such cases were reported from different parts of the country, and the situation appeared be moving towards a violent confrontation.

On the evening of September 21, 1990, a group of student protestors staged a sit-in at the AIIMS chowk, by now named Rajiv Chowk. As it was the peak traffic hour, they had virtually hit the jugular of the traffic in south Delhi. The Delhi Police made attempts to dissuade the students and sought the help of the dean and the vice-chancellor of Delhi University, but to no avail. Instead of the sit-in melting away, students from other locations joined in. They seemed enthusiastic and the people of the neighbourhood sent food and durries. All indicators pointed towards a long haul.

Rajiv Chowk made headlines daily, and even though people suffered, the number of students continued to swell. The stalemate continued. Violent incidents kept going up. The media had already started comparing it to the 1989 protests at Chinas Tiananmen Square.

Finally, on September 26 evening, the situation precipitated after an incident of violence. Our information suggested that the number of students and locals were more than 2,000, with plenty of missiles such as stones to resist the police. Despite provocations, the Delhi Police maintained restraint. It was around the midnight that the police, wearing riot gear, started moving towards the chowk from all the four sides quietly. They were under strict instructions not to use force. Street lights in the area had been dysfunctional for days, or taken away by the lumpen elements in the last few days of violence. The only source of light was a few generators and portable lights. As the force moved in simultaneously from all the sides, their numbers remained undetected till the last minute due to the darkness. The idea was to push the students back, and as they get hemmed in from all sides, they would panic and begin to melt away, and court arrest in a peaceful manner.

Everyone anticipated violence. But it was an anti-climax  everything remained peaceful, and the sensitive situation was calmly resolved without the use of force.

Policing is one area of administration, which, on account of the very nature of its work, continues to receive negative press. And despite best efforts to rectify, the trend somehow continues. One of the root causes of this is its use of unbridled force on the general public. It is in this context that the use of non-violent force can become an important element of policing.

Though policemen are trained and expected to be patient, they are human beings, and at times do get provoked, which is, of course, unacceptable. It is for this reason that there is a specialised unit for riot control. But what invariably happens is that such specialised units get overexposed during routine law and order deployment, and when the need arises, they end up reacting and behaving like the rest of the police staff. Thus, what we usually see in action is not men of a uniformed force but individuals in uniform. But even if they have to act individually, they must follow their orders and drills, and not take out their anger and frustrations on the public.

The term non-violent force is not an oxymoron. Its a concept that has been put to practical use. Cynics may have doubts but to explain the concept of non-violent force, one has to visualise a mother slapping her child. She has used force, but is she violent? No. The use of force becomes violent when it is applied with a sense of revenge, hostility, hatred, malice, and rancour. The difference is extremely subtle. But it is the loss of this subtleness in crowd management, and the thinking among some policemen to teach the public a lesson and punish them, is what makes the use of force violent, and sometimes even brutal  and it is the source of most of the problems. The need for a change in police methodology has assumed much greater importance.

KK Paul is a former Delhi Police commissioner, member of the UPSC and governor of Uttarakhand and four Northeastern states

The views expressed are personal
The South Bend community has always been at the heart of Petes campaign for president, which is why he planned to attend an MLK event there Monday, the campaign said in a statement. But he also wants to make clear his commitment to earning the support and trust of every voter in South Carolina, including those of the African American community who consistently serve as the base of our party. Pete looks forward to being with the citizens and leaders of Columbia to commemorate the 20th anniversary of King Day at the Dome.
Dogs at the American gold mining concession in northern Korea, circa 1901-1905. Robert Neff Collection



By Robert Neff



In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Westerners living in Korea kept dogs. They were used in hunting, for protection and companionship.



For many, they were treated almost like family. But not everyone liked dogs  especially Horace N. Allen, the American Minister to Korea.



Allen described dogs as "very dangerous pets" and, on reading a letter from his sons in which they described the passing of their uncle's dog, declared that he was "glad the dog has gone to the happy hunting grounds, for old dogs are apt to get cross and bite when not expected to."



Allen took great delight in the drama generated between dog lovers in Seoul. One such incident involved Dalzell A. Bunker and his wife, Annie.



The Bunkers had resided in Korea since 1886 (he worked as a teacher and she worked in the hospital) and had seen many of their fellow Westerners raise large families. They, however, remained childless.



Perhaps it was only natural that Annie filled the void in her life with a pet dog she named Gordon. She loved and coddled it and even slept with it as if it were her child. Many of the other Westerners were fond of this particular dog including Muriel, the American wife of Philipp Jaisohn (Seo Jai-pil). Muriel used to kiss and caress Gordon whenever she was around him  much to Allen's disgust. And, although he referred to Gordon as a "stupid dog" and a "mere cur" in his letters to his sons, he probably didn't voice his opinion to the Bunkers.



Gordon had other enemies. Harry R. Bostwick [an American businessman who helped establish the streetcar system in Seoul, along with several other projects] also had a large dog he called Jack. One day Jack and Gordon happened to meet and a fight ensued in which Jack evidently came out on top and "tried to eat up Gordon."



Annie was so furious that she lodged a complaint with the American legation and it later became "quite a social matter" when she refused to attend a party at another Westerner's residence out of fear that "she might meet the man who let his dog hurt her dog."



Allen thought it amusing that Messrs. Bunker and Bostwick nearly came to blows over the incident.



Allen may not have liked dogs but other diplomats did. The Russian Minister Aleksandr Ivanovich Pavloff had several little dogs that he and his family doted on. But things changed when one of his staff was bitten by one of the dogs and it was discovered to have rabies.





A dog seen in the streets of Busan in 1908. The Bozoky Dezso Exhibit at the Seoul Museum of History Museum. Robert Neff, November 2019
RJD and Congress have forged an alliance for the Delhi Assembly polls and as per the agreement former has got four seats to contest.

RJD candidates will contest on Burari, Kirari, Uttam Nagar and Palam seats.

This came after Congress on Saturday, announced its list of candidates for 54 assembly constituencies out of 70 in the capital.

According to sources, the party will most likely field "Purvanchali faces" as its candidates however it has not disclosed its cards yet.

Both the parties will come out with a common manifesto for the Delhi elections that are expected to be announced soon.

RJD leader Manoj Jha said, "Delhi Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal's silence over CAA, NPR and NRC is surprising."

Voting in Delhi will be held on February 8 and 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.)
Dhaka: Bangladesh's participation in the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi was being discussed as Bangladesh began to distance India from the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Meanwhile, on Sunday, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina has made her stand clear on CAA and NRC.

Sheikh Hasina has said that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is an internal matter of India, but at the same time it said that the law was not necessary. As per the Citizenship Amendment Act, citizens of India, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians from India will be granted citizenship by 31 December 2014 due to religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Protests are going on in many places in India against this disputed law.

In an encounter given to the media, Sheikh Hasina said about India's Citizenship Amendment Act, that we do not understand why the Indian government did it. This was not necessary. His statement came after Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen's statement that CAA and NRC are India's internal issues, but had expressed concern that any kind of uncertainty there would affect the neighborhood.

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NANDIGRAM: BJP's West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh was stopped by police on Saturday from visiting Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district where he was scheduled to address a rally in support of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Ghosh alleged that BJP workers were baton-charged by police when they tried to go to Nandigram, the epicentre of farmland protests led by now Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over a decade back.

"We planned a peaceful rally in Nandigram similar to those we have been conducting in other parts of West Bengal," he said.

"Around 15 days back, we had written to the superintendent of police seeking permission. We had also written to the officer-in-charge of the local police station. Even after that, they did not give us permission. Police baton-charged our party workers for no reason," Ghosh said.

A large number of police personnel were deployed on all roads leading to Nandigram and blockades were also put up at the entry points, officials said.

Around noon, police stopped Ghosh, who tried to enter Nandigram through Chandipur, at Tengua More, following which there was a scuffle between BJP workers and security personnel, who were provoked to baton charge, they said.

Amid the commotion, BJP's state general secretary Sayantan Basu started addressing party workers from his car.

Police soon stopped him, leading to further trouble, officials said.

"We follow rules and laws, that's why we are leaving today. But I will come back and go to Nandigram," Ghosh said.

"I have seen the police beating our party workers for doing no wrong. There were thousands of party workers with us, we could have broken the barricade if I wanted to. That was not our aim. We want to break the autocratic, the undemocratic government ruling West Bengal," he added.

A senior officer of the Purba Medinipur Police, when contacted, denied receiving any letter from the BJP seeking permission for the rally in Nandigram.

"We got the information that the BJP was planning to hold a rally from the media. Political parties need to have police permission to hold any kind of rallies. So we stopped them from entering the area. This could have disturbed the peaceful situation there," the officer told PTI.

The Trinamool Congress hit out at the BJP for trying to go to Nandigram without police permission.

"We have to follow the rules. We need to see whether they conducted the rally following rules or flouting it," said Subrata Mukherjee, a veteran TMC leader and state minister.

"They (BJP) can break the barricades, they can break heads of common people, they can break their rib cage. That's all they can do," he said.
In this Jan. 10, 2020, photo, people work at a portion of border wall which is under construction in Yuma, Ariz. Illegal border crossings have plummeted as the Trump administration has extended a policy to make asylum seekers wait in Mexico for court hearings in the U.S. (AP Photo/Elliot Spagat) Read more

YUMA, Ariz.  Adolfo Cardenas smiles faintly at the memory of traveling with his 14-year-old son from Honduras to the U.S.-Mexico border in only nine days, riding buses and paying a smuggler $6,000 to ensure passage through highway checkpoints.

Father and son walked about 10 minutes in Arizona's stifling June heat before surrendering to border agents. Instead of being released with paperwork to appear in immigration court in Dallas, where Cardenas hopes to live with a cousin, they were bused more than an hour to wait in the Mexican border city of Mexicali.

It was a surprise. I never imagined this would happen," Cardenas, 39, said while waiting at a Mexicali migrant shelter for his fifth court appearance in San Diego, on Jan. 24.

Illegal crossings plummeted across the border after the Trump administration made more asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. court. The drop has been most striking on the western Arizona border, a pancake-flat desert with a vast canal system from the Colorado River that turns bone-dry soil into fields of melons and wheat and orchards of dates and lemons.

Arrests in the Border Patrol's Yuma sector nearly hit 14,000 in May, when the policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico took effect there. By October, they fell 94%, to less than 800, and have stayed there since, making Yuma the second-slowest of the agency's nine sectors on the Mexican border, just ahead of the perennially quiet Big Bend sector in Texas.

Illegal crossings in western Arizona have swung sharply before, and there are several reasons for the recent drop. But Anthony Porvaznik, chief of the Border Patrol's Yuma sector, said the so-called Migration Protection Protocols have been a huge deterrent, based on agents' interviews with people arrested.

Their whole goal was to be released into the United States, and once that was taken off the shelf for them, and they couldn't be released into the United States anymore, then that really diminished the amount of traffic that came through here, Porvaznik said.

In the neighboring Tucson sector, arrests rose each month from August to December, bucking a border-wide trend and making it the second-busiest corridor after Texas' Rio Grande Valley. Porvaznik attributes Tucson's spike to the absence of the policy there until three months ago.

In late November, the administration began busing asylum-seekers five hours from Tucson to El Paso, Texas, for court and delivering them to Mexican authorities there to wait. This month, officials scrapped the buses by returning migrants to Mexico near Tucson and requiring them to travel on their own to El Paso.

More than 55,000 asylum-seekers were returned to Mexico to wait for hearings through November, 10 months after the policy was introduced in San Diego.

The immigrants were from more than three dozen countries, and nearly 2 out of 3 were Guatemalan or Honduran, according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. Mexicans are exempt.

Critics say the policy is unfair and exposes asylum-seekers to extreme violence in Mexican border cities, where attorneys are difficult to find.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups asked to put the policy on hold during a legal challenge. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Oct. 1 and has not indicated when it will decide.

On Tuesday, critics scored a partial victory in a separate lawsuit when a federal judge in San Diego said asylum-seekers who are being returned to Mexico from California must have access to hired attorneys before and during key interviews to determine if they can stay in the U.S. while their cases proceed.

Immigration judges hear cases in San Diego and El Paso, while other asylum-seekers report to tent camps in the Texas cities of Laredo and Brownsville, where they are connected to judges by video.

In Yuma, asylum-seekers are held in short-term cells until space opens up to be returned to Mexicali through a neighboring California sector. Those interviewed by The Associated Press waited up to a week in Yuma, though Border Patrol policy says people generally shouldn't be held more than 72 hours.

Volunteers visit Mexicali shelters to offer bus tickets or a two-hour ride to Tijuana, along with hotel rooms for the night before court appearances in San Diego.

Cardenas, who worked construction in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, said he feels unsafe in Mexico and that it was impossible to escape gangs in Honduras. They are in every corner, he said.

Enma Florian of Guatemala, who crossed the border illegally with her 16- and 13-year-old sons near Yuma in August, doesn't know if she would stay in Mexico or return to Guatemala if denied asylum in the U.S. The grant rate for Guatemalan asylum-seekers was 14% for the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, compared with 18% for Salvadorans, 13% for Hondurans and 11% for Mexicans.

The dream was to reach the United States, she said, holding out hope that she will settle with relatives in Maryland.

While illegal crossings have nosedived in Yuma, asylum-seekers still sign up on a waiting list to enter the U.S. at an official crossing in San Luis, Arizona. U.S. Customs and Border Protection calls the Mexican shelter that manages the list to say how many asylum claims it will process each day. The shelter estimates the wait at three to four months.

Angel Rodriguez, one of 143 Cubans on the shelter's waiting list of 1,484 people, has had bright moments in Mexico, including a beautiful Christmas meal. But the 51-year-old rarely goes outside and says being sent back to Mexico to wait for court dates would be dangerous.

Thats sending me to hell again, said Rodriguez, who hopes to settle with friends in Dallas or Miami. If Im going to seek asylum, Im going to look to a country that is the safest and respects human rights. That country is the United States of America."
France's President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday hit out against foreign troop deployments in war-ravaged Libya, saying such intervention only serves to fuel the conflict and create new risks for everyone.

Voicing his "acute concerns over the arrival of Syrian and foreign fighters in the city of Tripoli", Macron told a Berlin summit on Libya that "that must end".

Ankara has been accused of sending hundreds of Syrian fighters into Tripoli to back up Fayez al-Sarraj's UN-recognised government while Moscow has allegedly deployed mercenaries to lend support to strongman Khalifa Haftar.

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A staunch professionalism combined with an ability to provide a listening ear, solid advice and fun-loving humor has served Ella Riley well over the past 47 years as an employee of one of the states largest community health centers.

She has retired as human resource coordinator of Family Health Centers Inc. after she began her career with the agency nearly half a century ago. She retires as the longest-serving employee -- and third oldest. It is the employees that she will miss most.

My passion was to take care of the employees. I took care of their needs and benefits, and they saw me as a mother figure. I was about 40 when they started calling me 'Mama Riley.' I was insulted initially until somebody pulled me aside and said, You dont why they call you Mama Riley? I said, No, maybe because Ive been there the longest. They said, No, thats not it. You care for us, Riley said.

Thats the type of thing I love doing. And if they had personal problems, theyd come to me and say, I need to talk to you. My first thing to them is, OK, the door is shut and heres these four walls. Whatever you tell me is in confidence, youre not going to hear that again. The only time youre going to hear it is if you told it yourself, she said.

Family Health Centers Inc. began as the Orangeburg County Consumer Health Council, which was founded in September 1969 and was chartered in January 1970.

Family Health Centers now has its main Orangeburg site on Magnolia Street in Orangeburg, along with six satellite sites in Denmark, Vance, Holly Hill, Norway, St. Matthews and St. George. Adult medicine, pediatrics, podiatry, OB/GYN and dental are its services.

Riley started with the agency, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, on Jan. 2, 1973, at the age of 23. She will turn 70 later this year.

I started as a secretary. I was the secretary for the executive director. Back during that time, they called them the project director, and he was W.H. Winborne. After that, I went to be a liaison person between the administration and the providers. Then I went on to become the executive secretary. After executive secretary, I did payroll, purchasing and personnel, Riley said.

She added, In 86, I went just to personnel. I stayed as personnel officer from 86 to 93. Then from there, I served as the benefits coordinator. They changed the name from that to HR coordinator.

The Orangeburg native has served through several administrations, seeing changes in the leadership styles of each executive director.

She recalled when administrative offices used to be Amelia Street before moving to Treadwell Street, where they stayed until September of 1982. The agency would later locate at its present site on Magnolia Street in Orangeburg.

Winborne, who was our project director at that time, was our first visionary. What he wanted was to put everything in one place, a one-stop shop, because in Orangeburg we had our first (medical) site at 404 Whittaker Parkway. We also housed the dental unit in an attached mobile unit. We also had the podiatry on Doyle Street, she said, noting that it was Winbornes vision to house everything from optometry and OB/GYN to pharmacy services in one place.

Riley said the 1986 arrival of executive director Carolyn Emmanuel, another visionary, brought continued change.

She was able to pick up just where Winborne left off. She was the one that built the OB/GYN side. She also built what at that time was what we called the urgent care side. One was done in 90 and one was done in 92. I cant remember which, but that was a big change. You wanted to serve the underprivileged and the under-served people. At that particular time, we did mainly Medicaid and Medicare patients because the doctors in the area treated us like pure dirt, most of the doctors that we had to go to in the hospital, Riley said.

Winborne fought and fought. He had to fight the whites, the doctors and he also had to fight the blacks. I saw that, and I think thats the reason why I know from where we came from to now. So when someone talks trash about Family Health Centers, I take that personally, she said.

She said seeing the changes which were made and the growth in employees and satellite sites throughout the county was amazing.

She said current FHC chief executive officer, Leon Brunson Sr., who started in 2011, is a third visionary.

Winborne was the type of person that believed in on-the-job training. Carolyn Emmanuel believed in on-the-job training plus education. Mr. Brunson believed in education ... and theres a lot of things he brought to the table with the buildings and grants, Riley said.

The agency, for example, secured a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to build a new, free-standing facility in Denmark. The agency also broke ground early last year for what will be a new training center to offer opportunities for employee training, staff development, telemedicine and healthy meal preparation.

Riley said she grew close to several employees over her 47 years of service, giving many of them pet names such as "Speedy," "Doll Baby" and "Home Wrecker."

You would think that they would say, Dont call me that. My name is so and so. But not they did not do that. They look forward to me calling them their pet name, she said, noting that the thing she liked least about her job was not always having an administrative assistant.

In benefits or as HR coordinator, it was more than just benefits that had to be done. There was a lot of stuff that I did other than doing loans, withdrawals, insurance and whatever dealt with coordinating meetings and that kind of stuff with my representatives. I had other things that I had to do like with FMLA, credentialing, making sure certain reports are done.

Reports that come from the government had to be done, and you can forget, you can drop the ball somewhere. If I had more assistants, that would have made it back kind of perfect. Somebody else would have been there to help or make sure that that ball was not dropped, she said.

After 47 years, though, she does not plan to stop working after retiring from FHC. The widowed mother of two grown children and three grandchildren plans on finding another job.

Im hoping not a full-time job. Im not sure, but something else because I cant stay home and sit real quiet. But I love TV. I love the soaps, and then I do love game shows, said Riley, who also enjoys traveling.

She attends St. Paul Baptist Church in Orangeburg and thanks God for her journey.

Oh, Lord, I thank God daily for his grace and mercy, Riley said.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD

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Television

Screen Actors Guild Awards: The 26th annual show features such nominees as Nicole Kidman, Lupita Nyongo, Charlize Theron, Christian Bale, Leonardo DiCaprio, Joaquin Phoenix, Laura Dern, Jennifer Lopez, Margot Robbie, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Michelle Williams, Mahershala Ali, Russell Crowe, Patricia Arquette, Jennifer Aniston, Olivia Colman, Sterling K. Brown, Peter Dinklage and more. (5 p.m. PT, Sunday, TBS, TNT, TruTV)

9-1-1: Lone Star: Rob Lowe stars in a spinoff of the hit, 9-1-1, playing a New York-based firefighter who relocates to Austin, Texas. After the debut episode, the series moves to its regular time slot, which will be 8 p.m. Mondays. (7 p.m. PT Sunday, Fox)

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. (10 p.m. Sunday, HBO)

Curb Your Enthusiasm: Larry David returns with a new group of regulars and guest stars as Season 10 begins. (10:30 p.m. Sunday, HBO)

Project Blue Book: The UFO-hunting drama is back for Season 2. (10 p.m. Tuesday, History)

Awkwafina is Nora From Queens: Performer and writer Awkwafina (The Farewell, Crazy Rich Asians) stars in a new comedy thats based on her own experiences growing up in Flushing, Queens. (10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Comedy Central)

The Bold Type: The stylish drama returns for Season 4. (9 p.m. Thursday, Freeform)

Outmatched: New comedy about working-class parents raising four kids, three of whom also happen to be geniuses. We can already hear the jokes about the kid who isnt a prodigy. Jason Biggs and Maggie Lawson play the parents. (8:30 p.m. Thursday, Fox; stream via )

Streaming

Fortune Feimster: Sweet & Salty: The comedian performs in her own stand-up special. (Streaming beginning Tuesday, Netflix)

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 Thursday, CBS All Access)

-- Kristi Turnquist

kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist

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BERKELEY (BCN)

Police in Berkeley are warning residents of a recent uptick in catalytic converter thefts.

Since the start of the year, there have been more than two dozen such thefts, and most have occurred after dark, police said.

Police have arrested three suspects in connection with catalytic converter thefts over the past three weeks. On Sunday, Jan. 12, Luis Martinez, 31, was arrested in San Leandro in connection with a theft that occurred on Dec. 29, from a car in the Berkeley Bowl parking lot at 2020 Oregon St.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has since charged Martinez with felony grand theft.

Early Tuesday, Richard Harold Reynolds, 57, and Jeni Marie Wadsworth, 47, were arrested early in connection with a catalytic converter theft on Euclid Avenue north of Marin Avenue.

Police received a report that someone might be trying to steal a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked on the street. The suspects were able to cut off the device within minutes and left the scene, police said.

But a few minutes later, officers spotted the suspects' vehicle driving on Marin Avenue near Masonic Avenue and pulled it over. Inside the car officers found a battery-powered reciprocating saw, with spare batteries and blades, along with the stolen catalytic converter, police said.

Both were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, and Reynolds was also arrested on suspicion of violating his parole and possession of burglary tools.

Police advise residents can protect their cars by parking inside a garage, if possible. Parking in well-lit or busy areas is also advised.

Parking near security cameras, if possible, is also helpful, police said.

Officials said that speaking with a repair shop about the options available to make your vehicle's catalytic converter more difficult to steal is also option.

Residents should report anyone suspiciously working under a vehicle with a flashlight in the middle of the night -- especially if you hear the grinding sound of a power saw as well.

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 legal team of Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo state, says election did not hold in the 388 polling units excluded by the Ind...





The legal team of Emeka Ihedioha, former governor of Imo state, says election did not hold in the 388 polling units excluded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Imo governorship poll.





Hope Uzodinma, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship election, had said INEC denied him victory by excluding the votes he garnered from the 388 polling units.





In its ruling, the apex court said INEC was wrong to have excluded results of the 388 polling units during collation.





Uzodinma, APC candidate, had come fourth when the electoral commission declared the final tally in the March election.

But in a statement, Rotimi Peter, one of the counsels of Ihedioha, said the supreme court ignored well-established principles of law that had guided its previous decision in similar cases.





He said the people of Imo were short-changed by the apex court.





Below is the full statement:





1.01 On 14.1.2020, the Supreme Court heard the appeal filed by Senator Hope Uzodinma and APC (numbered as shown above) against the judgment of the Court of Appeal affirming the victory of Emeka Ihedioha and the PDP in the Imo State Governorship election on 9.3.2019.





1.02 The Court of Appeal had, on 19.11.2019, affirmed the judgment of the Governorship election tribunal which dismissed the petition of Senator Uzodinma and APC against the return of Emeka Ihedioha and PDP at the Imo State governorship election held on 9.3.2019.





1.03 Soon after hearing oral arguments of senior counsel for the parties, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment and allowed it, and ordered, amongst others, that Senator Uzodinma be sworn in as the Governor of Imo State.





1.04 Since the delivery of the judgment, commentators have rendered all kinds of opinions on the facts of the case and the judgment of the Supreme Court. Some of the commentators are legal practitioners who were not involved in any professional manner with the case from its inception at the election tribunal up to its conclusion at the Supreme Court. Their comments or opinions now in the public domain, expectedly, are shallow and uninformed and are capable of misinforming the public.





1.05 It has, therefore, become imperative to put the record straight for the benefit of the reading public, even if it would not reverse the unfortunate decision of the Supreme Court and the obvious injustice it has occasioned.





2. BRIEF FACTS OF THE CASE 2.01 In the result of the Imo State Governorship election held on 9.3.2019, INEC declared that Emeka Ihedioha scored the highest number of votes  273,404 amongst all the candidates and met the constitutional requirements, and was returned. The other three candidates coming behind him were credited with the following votes: Uche Nwosu (AA): 190,364

Ifeanyi Araraume (APGA): 114,676

Hope Uzodinma (APC): 96,458





2.02 Each of these candidates filed an election petition at the tribunal premised on different grounds. Senator Uzodinmas petition was premised largely on the false ground that elections were conducted in certain 388 polling units, but the results of the elections which he had copies of (and which were favourable to him) were wrongly excluded by INEC in their collation of results of the election; that if those results were taken into account, he would have won the election.





2.03 The respondents in the petition, including INEC, denied the above allegations and characterised the purported results as false in their respective replies to the petition. Two short examples may be provided here. In paragraph 8i of Ihediohas reply to the petition, it is averred inter alia: . . . Petitioners have embarked on a scheme to introduce false result sheets into the result of the election. They are thus put to the strictest proof of the origin of the result, the existence of the polling units as well as the distribution of election materials to those purported Polling Units.





2.04 In paragraph 7c of INECs reply, it is averred inter alia: The 3rd Respondent did not omit to record and reckon with votes due to the Petitioners as alleged. . . and any such showing results are fictitious and suborned.





2.05 It is thus clear from the foregoing, and having regard to decided cases, particularly of the Supreme Court, that the petitioners had the burden of proving the conduct of elections in those polling units, the results emanating from them and the impact those results would have on the result of the election as declared.





2.06 At the hearing of the petition, Senator Uzodinma and APC called 54 witnesses out of which only 28 were polling unit agents. No ward collation agent was called as a witness. Senator Uzodinma himself testified as PW11. His State Collation agent testified as PW51 and a certain police officer testified as PW54. The other 23 witnesses were local government collation agents and sundry witnesses.





2.07 It is noteworthy that purported results of the election, relied on by the petitioners, were tendered from the Bar in bags and sacks! They remained there throughout the trial, except for the few which were specifically mentioned by the 28 polling unit agents. PW54, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, whose presence and testimony were challenged by the respondents, tendered documents in a pack which he described as result sheets from 366 polling units. He did not open any of them or refer specifically to them. He admitted, in cross-examination, that he did not know the figures they contained or the polling units they were concerned with.





2.08 It is, again, noteworthy that the 28 polling unit agents and PW11 admitted, in cross-examination, that the result sheets which they identified were not legible or did not contain the scores of all the political parties which contested the election. The 28 polling agents also admitted that those purported result sheets did not contain any entry to show the number of ballot papers issued to the respective polling units; the number of ballot papers used and unused in those polling units. Many of the sheets did not show the names and signatures of the presiding officers, and the date of issuance. In some of them, the dates written on them were before or after 9.3.2019.





2.09 PW11 admitted in cross-examination, when confronted with his chart in the petition, that some of the results he listed showed over voting.





3. JUDGMENTS OF THE COURTS





3.01 It was because of the foregoing facts and evidence that the election tribunal, in its judgment, agreed with the respondents that the petitioners did not prove the existence of other results from the so-called 388 polling units. In respect of the evidence of PW54, the police officer, the tribunal, again, agreed with the respondents that he had no locus to be a witness and that his evidence was worthless as he could not tie his testimony to any of the documents he presented. The tribunal held that the petitioners merely dumped documents on the tribunal without relevant oral evidence.3.02 In making these pronouncements, the tribunal relied on the many decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal which have determined the manner such evidence as given by the petitioners should be evaluated. The tribunal, therefore, dismissed the petition.





3.03 At the Court of Appeal, the petitioners complained that the tribunal was in error in dismissing the petition and, in particular, in denouncing the presence of PW54 as a witness and rejecting his evidence. The respondents offered opposing arguments.





3.04 The Court of Appeal, in its majority decision of 4-1, agreed with the petitioners that PW54 was a competent witness, but affirmed the decision of the tribunal that his evidence had no probative value. It dismissed the appeal. The minority judgment upheld the complaints of the petitioners and held that they had proved their case, but it did not say, significantly, the number of additional votes which the petitioners proved in order to show that they had scored a majority of lawful votes cast in the election.





3.05 The petitioners, aggrieved with the decision of the Court of Appeal, appealed to the Supreme Court. Ihedioha, aggrieved with the portion of the decision that PW54 was a competent witness, also appealed to the Supreme Court, and his appeal was numbered as SC.1470/2019.

3.06 As stated above, on 14.1.2020, the Supreme Court heard arguments on the appeals and delivered a judgment soon after. The petitioners appeal was allowed, but Ihediohas appeal was struck out.





4. REMARKS4.01 In allowing the appeal, the Supreme Court did not state the new scores which the petitioners proved from the 388 polling units, especially having regard to the following facts: (a) that only 28 polling unit agents out of the 388 polling units testified and they admitted that the result sheets had all the vices itemised earlier; (b) that PW11 also admitted over voting apparent in some of the results in the chart in the petition; (c) that more than 90% of result sheets were neither identified nor referred to by any witness; (d) that the respondent, particularly, INEC denied the existence of those result sheets and tendered documentary evidence to show that election did not hold in 388 polling units;





(e) that PW54 tendered purported result sheets that were less than the number of polling units mentioned in the petition; (f) that PW54 did not open or read any of the purported result sheets and stated clearly that he did not know the figures or scores they contained or whether there were mutations or tampering in them, and that the documents were not submitted to him.





4.02 The Supreme Court did not state that it has computed the new scores, local government by local government, and determined that the petitioners had satisfied the requirements of section 179(2) of the Constitution before it arrived at the decision that Senator Uzodinma should be sworn-in as the new Governor of Imo State.





4.03 In reaching its decision, the Supreme Court ignored well-established principles of law that had guided its previous decision in similar cases. Perhaps, it is better to state that the Court turned those decisions upside down thereby creating the impression of a double standard.





4.04 Two recent decisions of the Supreme Court easily come to mind. The first decision, SC. 409.2019: PDP v. INEC & Others was delivered on 24.5.2019. It was in respect of the Ekiti State governorship election.

4.05 The second decision, SC. 1211/2019: Atiku Abubakar v. INEC (unreported) was delivered on 15.11.2019. At pages 62-63 of the judgment, the Supreme Court reiterated, thus:Before I conclude on this issue, let me state that whenever documents are tendered from the Bar in election matters, the purport is to speed up the trial in view of time limitation in election matters. Such tendering is not the end itself but a means to an end. The makers of such tendered documents must be called to speak to those documents and be cross-examined on the authenticity of the documents. The law is trite that a party who did not make a document is not competent to give evidence on it. It is also the tested position of the law that where the maker of the document is not called to testify, the document would not be accorded probative value by the Court. That indeed is the fate of Exhibit P80 and P24.

4.06 If the decisions in the above cases were applied to the appeal of Senator Uzodinma and APC, the outcome would have been a dismissal of the appeal. It is a matter of concern and conjecture that the Supreme Court, inexplicably, chose to chart a new, strange course in their decision. Unfortunately, the Court did not indicate that it would give reasons for the decision. That would have offered the Court the opportunity to explain the basis of the decision and state the fate of the long-established principles of law it had led the legal profession and the public to believe were trite.

4.07 In the absence of the explanation, it would be difficult for practitioners and the litigating public to respect decisions of the Supreme Court thereby encouraging disregard of the rule of law.





4.08 Before concluding this piece, it is needful to draw attention to a decision of the Supreme Court in SC. 1384/2019: Ugwumba Uche Nwosu v. Action Peoples Party (unreported) delivered on 20.12.2019, during the pendency of the appeals being discussed.





4.09 The first two paragraphs of the judgment are remarkable. They read:This Appeal deals purely with the issue of double nomination. The Appellant contested and won the primaries conducted by All Progressives Congress [APC] on 16/10/2018, and his name was forwarded to INEC (fourth Respondent) as the gubernatorial candidate of APC at the general election slated for 9/3/2019.But the Appellant also contested and won the Primaries conducted by another Party, Action Alliance, and on 2/11/2018, he was issued with a Certificate of Return & Confirmation as the duly elected Governorship Candidate of the said Party.





4.10 The Supreme Court, therefore, held that by allowing himself to be nominated by two political parties, the Appellant, not only did an act that is not authorised by law, which is illegal, the Electoral Act clearly says in its Section 37, that such a nomination shall be void.





4.11 The implication of the above judgment is that Uche Nwosu was the nominated candidate of APC in the election, but that his nomination became void because he had secured double nomination. It followed that if Uche Nwosu was factually the candidate of APC in the election, Senator Uzodinma could not have, validly, also be the APC candidate in the same election.





4.12 It was for this reason that Emeka Ihedioha filed an application at the Supreme Court, which was argued on 14.1.2020, contending that Senator Uzodinma and APCs appeal should be struck out because of the implication in the above-named Supreme Court judgment.





4.13 In the judgment, the Court summarily dismissed Ihediohas application on the false basis that the matter of double nomination was a pre-election decision and it could not be applied to the appeal which was a post-election litigation.





4.14 The Supreme Court, in this instance, chose technicality at the expense of substantial justice and denied Ihedioha the benefit of an established legal outcome.





4.15 The effect of the foregoing is that the judgment of the Supreme Court does not reflect the justice of the case. The electorate in Imo State has been short-changed.




Going on five years, Iran has been waging a "quiet" war against Israel through its proxies like Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), Hamas, and Hezb'allah. This so-called "war between wars" basically involves rocket attacks on Israel. In just this past November for example, the PIJ reportedly fired over 450 missiles into Israel from the Gaza Strip.

This conflict is a low-intensity cat-and-mouse game having two dimensions. One is where Iranian proxies fire missiles into Israel, while the Israelis use their Iron Dome missile defense system to intercept them. The other is that Iran constantly tries to transfer missiles and missile technology into the hands of its terrorist clients while the Israel Air Force hunts down and attempts to destroy missile storage and assembly sites. Throughout, Israel is playing defense.

So far, Israel is winning this contest. It has taken out some 300 of these high-level targets, and its Iron Dome is said to have a success rate of over 86 percent. A large part of Iron Dome's effectiveness is due to the fact that up until now, the missiles used against Israel have been dumb ones lacking precision guidance. Such rockets do not have target-acquisition capabilities, nor do they possess any GPS (a global positioning system). But as Jonathan Schanzer writes in Commentary, "Iran is now working overtime to establish a program that will allow its proxies to convert their dumb rockets into smart one."

This can be accomplished by retrofitting a dumb rocket with a circuit board and the appropriate software. The estimated cost of such an upgrade is about $15,000. (Think of Obama money at play.) Once done, this then would give the Islamic terrorist the ability to strike within five to ten yards of their intended targets. With precision guidance, the missiles could well "outmaneuver, outsmart, or overwhelm Israeli missile-defense systems." Such missiles might also be immune to electronic jamming, which is something Israel has been relying on.

Precision-guided munitions is a game-changer. To date, Israel has been content to keep its powder dry, responding only in a measured manner to the provocations. However, should these terrorist missiles start hitting sensitive targets, the Israeli public will demand protection. Israel could always initiate ground action, but this is bloody and costly. Before that, the Israeli Air Force is apt to be far more aggressive in its targeting.

One of the defenses that Hezb'allah and the PIJ use to protect their missile infrastructure is human shields. Methods are devised to hide missile assets under homes and in schools, hospitals, refugee camps, apartment buildings, and the like. So far, Israel has been scrupulous in taking care to minimize civilian causalities. This could change with the introduction of precision-guided munitions into the battle space, even though it would entail tremendous public relations damage. The media would undoubtedly paint Israel as the bad guy for destroying the missile factories and the ensuing collateral damage while turning a blind eye to the terrorists who deliberately put their non-combatants at risk while targeting Israeli civilians.

Here, the U.S. has provided some level of relief. In December 2018, President Trump signed the bipartisan "Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act" into law. A variant of this law is also circulating at the United Nations. This law would allow the U.S. to sanction those who use human shields. This might have some deterrence value. But more importantly, this law can enhance the operational legitimacy and freedom of both the U.S. military and the Israeli Defense Force in future conflicts. Once it has been established that targeting terrorist infrastructure surrounded by human shields is legal (and hopefully protected from international opprobrium), those using civilians in this callous way lose one of their key advantages.

Neither this law nor any other one is likely to fully stop Islamic terrorist groups from using their civilians as human shields. The introduction of precision-guided rockets into the battle space can only ramp up the intensity of the conflict. This is probably what the Iranian regime wants, feeling that it can win a war of attrition against Israel.

The mullahs, however, are playing a dangerous game. Someday, Israel might feel that it can no longer afford to play this exhausting game of whack-a-mole and decided to solve its problem by directly cutting off the head of the snake. Tehran shouts "death to Israel" but is too weak to accomplish it. The same cannot be said of Israel. And it is perhaps this impotency relative to Israel that accounts for much of the rage found in the religious fanatics who control Iran.
CALC (China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Limited), a full value-chain aircraft solutions provider for global airlines, has reached an agreement with Airbus on its remaining backlog, and includes an additional order for 40 A321neo aircraft.



It also includes a conversion of 15 of its existing A320neo backlog into A321neos. Together with a previous order for 11 A321neos, CALCs total order for the type rises to 66.



CALCs order is an endorsement for the A321neo and reaffirms the market demand for the aircraft. With unbeatable fuel efficiency and lowest operating costs, it is the best match for CALCs customers. To date, from CALCs total order for 252 A320 Family aircraft, 87 have been delivered, of which one is an A321neo.



The A321neo is the largest member of the A320 Family, seating up to 240 passengers, depending on cabin configuration. Incorporating the latest engines, aerodynamic advances, and cabin innovations, the A321neo offers a reduction in fuel consumption of 20% as well as a 50% noise reduction. To date, the A320 Family has won more than 15,300 orders and more than 9,000 aircraft have been delivered worldwide.- TradeArabia News Service
Abby Huntsman bid farewell to The View on Friday. The moderate conservative broke the news at the beginning of the week she was leaving the show. After days of rumors about drama, Huntsman said she was exiting to help run her fathers political efforts. On her last day though, she was denied to do one important thing.

Abby Huntsman | Paula Lobo/ABC via Getty Images

What happened on Abby Huntsmans last day?

On Friday, Huntsman co-hosted her last show on The View. All of the first segment was dedicated to her with a video tribute from her two seasons on the morning program. Huntsman was surprised with a video from her parents.

Congratulations on two drama-free seasons of The View, Jon Huntsman said in his message. We respect your values in putting family first.

The mother of three also dedicated emotional words to her time on the ABC talk show and her fellow panelists. Huntsman also addressed the rumors around her departure which included an alleged feud between her and Meghan McCain.

You guys see the ups and downs of all of our life, Meghan has been  youve seen what shes been through in her life you guys live it with us. Its not easy everyone to come out here and be so open and honest and talk about the hardest topics of the day. I have so much respect for everyone at this table and for everyone at this show, she added.

Joy Behar quipped saying, you could always change your mind.

I just want to make it as clear as day, with everything that has been written about this place. I am leaving so thankful for all the new friends that I have here, for the friends I had before and still have and for the opportunity because this place has changed my life for the better, Huntsman ended.

After Huntsmans farewell, they did a segment of Hot Topics, an interview with Robin Roberts, an interview with Alicia Menendez, and the Oprahs Favorite Things View Your Deal segment. The latter was presented by Sunny Hostin who then signed off the show for the day with the classic slogan, Take a little time to enjoy the view.

Huntsman did not appear in the last segment and didnt get to say goodbye for good, which was odd. She was last seen during the Menendez interview but was not allowed to appear on the last seconds of her last show.

Why did Abby Huntsman quit The View?

On Mondays show, Huntsman took the first part of the show to announce she was leaving The View.

After much deliberation over the holidays, I have decided to leave the show to dedicate myself full-time in support of my dad and his campaign for Governor of Utah, Huntsman said.

With Huntsman being close to her family and politics, it was only natural for her wanting to help her father out campaigning.

Family has always been my number one priority, and is where I need to be focused at this time, she told People in a statement. We are incredibly close and are there to support and help each other when it matters. Its not often there is a political campaign that involves someone you love and believe in, but this is one of them.

ABC has not officially announced Huntsmans replacement yet. The View airs weekdays at 11 a.m. ET and 10 a.m. PT/CT on ABC.
NATIONAL Security Minister Stuart Young said he spent approximately two hours on Wednesday before the Joint Select Committee providing it with information on why he made the statement that certain people were promoting criminality in the hope of creating panic, fear and mayhem in the country.
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Hollywood's biggest stars were out in force Saturday night 31st annual Producers Guild Awards, which honor film and television producers.

Leading the A-listers at the Hollywood Palladium was Eva Longoria, 44, who sparkled in a gold dress.

Also lighting up the evening's red carpet were Charlize Theron, 44, in her striking black and white dress and Kate Beckinsale, 46, in a sheer jumpsuit.

Leading ladies: Eva Longoria, Charlize Theron and Kate Beckinsale shimmered in some of the most eye-catching looks at the 31st annual Producers Guild Awards Saturday night in Hollywood

Eva was unmissable in her dress, which featured a low-cut top to showcase her cleavage and a multi-layered skirt.

The outfit featured a thick double-buckled belt around her midriff that highlighted her hourglass figure.

She paired the dress with matching gold open-toe heels, and she wore her brunette tresses parted down the middle and resting over her shoulders.

Sparkler: Eva was unmissable in her dress, which featured a low-cut top to showcase her cleavage and a multi-layered skirt

Fit figure: The outfit featured a thick double-buckled belt around her midriff that highlighted her hourglass figure

Pristine: She paired the dress with matching gold open-toe heels, and she wore her brunette tresses parted down the middle and resting over her shoulders

Charlize looked effortlessly elegant in a flowing black dress.

The outfit reached down to the floor and had an intriguing collar folded down over her chest and arms.

The Oscar winner wore a white satin slip underneath and had her bleached blonde hair styled in a pixie cut.

She was representing Bombshell, which was being honored with the Stanley Kramer Award. The award was established in 2002 to recognize productions or producers who raise awareness of important social issues.

Back in black: Charlize looked effortlessly elegant in a flowing black dress. The outfit reached down to the floor and had an intriguing collar folded down over her chest and arms

Short hair: The Oscar winner wore a white satin slip underneath and had her bleached blonde hair styled in a pixie cut. She was representing Bombshell, which was being honored with the Stanley Kramer Award. The award was established in 2002 to recognize productions or producers who raise awareness of important social issues

Kate Beckinsale departed from the dresses with her stunning jumpsuit, which was decorated with sequins, beads and even gold coins in eye-catching patterns.

The sheer outfit had a plunging V-neckline that nearly reached down to her midriff, as well as a pair of open sleeves loosely draped over her arms and attached to her waist.

The Last Days Of Disco star had her lustrous brunette locks swept to one side and cascading over her shoulders in thick curls.

Chic: Kate Beckinsale departed from the dresses with her stunning jumpsuit, which was decorated with sequins, beads and even gold coins in eye-catching patterns

See-through: The sheer outfit had a plunging V-neckline that nearly reached down to her midriff, as well as a pair of open sleeves loosely draped over her arms and attached to her waist

Nicole Kidman was a vision in white with her striking off-the-shoulder outfit.

She paired of white satin blouse with an irregularly shaped bow with a matching pair of pleated slacks.

The Big Little Lies completed her look with some dangling emerald earrings and blue suede heels.

Woman in white: Nicole Kidman was a vision in white with her striking off-the-shoulder outfit. She paired of white satin blouse with an irregularly shaped bow with a matching pair of pleated slacks

Constance Wu of Fresh Off The Boat and Crazy Rich Asians fame beamed as she hit the red carpet.

She rocked a vivacious dark green off-the-shoulder dress adorned with white-dotted patterns.

Zoe Deutch also opted for a patterned off-the-shoulder gown.

She wore a hypnotizing sheer white dress adorned with an interlocking series of colored ribbons.

Seeing green: Constance Wu of Fresh Off The Boat and Crazy Rich Asians fame beamed as she hit the red carpet. She rocked a vivacious dark green off-the-shoulder dress adorned with white-dotted patterns

Colorful: Zoe Deutch also opted for a patterned off-the-shoulder gown. She wore a hypnotizing sheer white dress adorned with an interlocking series of colored ribbons

Laura Dern was featured in two of the evening's nominated films, Marriage Story and Little Women.

She looked chic in a black dress covered in a chain maillike array of pearl-shaped beads.

Brad Pitt was also representing one of the evening's nominees, Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

The shaggy-haired Ad Astra star looked dapper in a classic black suit.

Haute couture: Laura Dern was featured in two of the evening's nominated films, Marriage Story and Little Women. She looked chic in a black dress covered in a chain maillike array of pearl-shaped beads

Dapper: Brad Pitt was also representing one of the evening's nominees, Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. The shaggy-haired Ad Astra star looked dapper in a classic black suit

Theater legend Judith Light showed off her best sultry looks in a black tux, which she paired with a striking silver collar.

The actress showed off a stunning smoky eye and wore her blonde locks in a stylishly messy bob.

She skipped a shirt with the look and kept her footwear simple with a set of black heels.

Octavia Spencer beamed as she hit the red carpet in her black dress, which she covered up with a black blazer with lustrous lapels.

Queens: Theater legend Judith Light showed off her best sultry looks in a black tux, which she paired with a striking silver collar. Octavia Spencer beamed as she hit the red carpet in her black dress, which she covered up with a black blazer with lustrous lapels

Booksmart's Kaitlin Dever rocked an edgy sheer white bustier along with black slacks and black open-toe heels.

She stars in the nominated Netflix series Unbelievable, inspired by the true story of a young woman who was raped by an unknown assailant, then charged with making false statements by police who doubted her story.

Knives Out star Don Johnson looked like he was having a blast as he arrived in his classic black tuxedo.

Jay Roach, the director of Bombshell, also went with the standard black tux, though he wore a long black necktie rather than a bow tie.

Sultry style: Booksmart's Kaitlin Dever rocked an edgy sheer white bustier along with black slacks and black open-toe heels. She stars in the nominated Netflix series Unbelievable, inspired by the true story of a young woman who was raped by an unknown assailant, then charged with making false statements by police who doubted her story

Classy: Knives Out star Don Johnson looked like he was having a blast as he arrived in his classic black tuxedo. Jay Roach, the director of Bombshell, also went with the standard black tux, though he wore a long black necktie rather than a bow tie

Actress and Little Women director Greta Gerwig was also a fan of a black tuxedo. She spiced up her style with a double-breasted outfit with peaked lapels.

She was joined by her husband Noah Baumbach, who directed the Oscar-nominated film Marriage Story. He matched Greta with his more casual black suit.

The Lady Bird director also stopped to pose on the red carpet with her Little Women producer Amy Pascal, who looked stylish in a black sweater dress.

Fierce: Actress and Little Women director Greta Gerwig was also a fan of a black tuxedo. She spiced up her style with a double-breasted outfit with peaked lapels

Cute couple: She was joined by her husband Noah Baumbach, who directed the Oscar-nominated film Marriage Story. He matched Greta with his more casual black suit

Collaborators: The Lady Bird director also stopped to pose on the red carpet with her Little Women producer Amy Pascal, who looked stylish in a black sweater dress

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan and Outlander's Caitriona Balfe both sparkled in sequined outfits.

Rachel looked flapper-chic in her single-sleeve dress, which was covered in sequins and featured a feathered-adorned hem.

Caitriona stunned in a more minimalist black dress with a sequin-covered collar.

Uncut Gems star and Broadway legend Idina Menzel stuck to black as well, though she opted for a more androgynous glittering tuxedo.

Sleek looks: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan and Outlander's Caitriona Balfe both sparkled in sequined outfits. Rachel looked flapper-chic in her single-sleeve dress, which was covered in sequins and featured a feathered-adorned hem. Caitriona stunned in a more minimalist black dress with a sequin-covered collar

Androgynous chic: Uncut Gems star and Broadway legend Idina Menzel stuck to black as well, though she opted for a more androgynous glittering tuxedo

Director Taika Waititi and his producing partner Carthew Neal Neal were both nominated for the Nazi satire Jojo Rabbit.

Carthew wore a standard black suit, while Taika looked snazzy in a patterned midnight blue tuxedo jacket.

The Irishman star Robert De Niro, who also produced the film, paired his black suit with a charcoal patterned tie.

Also representing the film was fellow actor Harvey Keitel, who looked effortlessly cool in a black suit with a black shirt and sunglasses.

His wife Daphna Kaster wore a black dress along with a furry black shawl.

Buddies: Director Taika Waititi and his producing partner Carthew Neal Neal were both nominated for the Nazi satire Jojo Rabbit. Carthew wore a standard black suit, while Taika looked snazzy in a patterned midnight blue tuxedo jacket. The Irishman star Robert De Niro, who also produced the film, paired his black suit with a charcoal patterned tie

Too cool for school: Also representing the film was fellow actor Harvey Keitel, who looked effortlessly cool in a black suit with a black shirt and sunglasses. His wife Daphna Kaster wore a black dress along with a furry black shaw

Chernobyl star Jared Harris beamed in his teal velvet tuxedo jacket while locking arms with his wife Allegra Riggio, who wore a black suit.

Parasite director Bong Joon-ho was joined on the red carpet by his producing partner Kwak Sin-ae, both of whom wore black tuxedos.

Michelle Randolph spiced things up with a sheer black off-the-shoulder dress, while her boyfriend Gregg Sulkin had on a blue velvet tux.

Happy couple: Chernobyl star Jared Harris beamed in his teal velvet tuxedo jacket while locking arms with his wife Allegra Riggio, who wore a black suit

Oscar-nominee: Parasite director Bong Joon-ho was joined on the red carpet by his producing partner Kwak Sin-ae, both of whom wore black tuxedos

Loved up: Michelle Randolph spiced things up with a sheer black off-the-shoulder dress, while her boyfriend Gregg Sulkin had on a blue velvet tux

Joker director Todd Phillips stuck with a black suit, while Zazie Beetz stood out in a gold satin dress.

She paired the look with a silver Yves Saint Laurent handbag and wore her raven locks in thick braids.

They were joined by producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff who wore a long black coat over a black dress.

Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos paired his black suit with a striped tie, while his wife Nicole Avant looked lovelly in a floral-print dress.

Comic book movie: Joker director Todd Phillips stuck with a black suit, while Zazie Beetz stood out in a gold satin dress. She paired the look with a silver Yves Saint Laurent handbag and wore her raven locks in thick braids. They were joined by producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff who wore a long black coat over a black dress

Industry leader: Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos paired his black suit with a striped tie, while his wife Nicole Avant looked lovelly in a floral-print dress

Moving: The audience members were treated to Idina Menzel's breathtaking singing

Having a laugh: Jimmy Kimmel had the audience in stitches while on stage

Glowing: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin wore sparkling suits in black and blue respectively

Sharing the spotlight: The two screen legends introduced honoree Marta Kauffman

Lovebirds: Melissa McCarthy looked lovely in a sheer black dress, and her husband Ben Falcone rocked a classic tuxedo

Old friends: Al Pacino joined his co-star Robert De Niro to address the crowd

Make 'em laugh: Nick Kroll brought some much-needed comic relief to the proceedings

Giggles: Billy On The Street's Billy Eichner also added some levity to the event

Legend: Frances McDormand was as eloquent as ever and unmissable in her green floral suit

Green with envy: Both Constance Wu and Margot Robbie looked gorgeous in similar green patterned outfits

The Bombshell star was ecstatic after her film received the Stanley Kramer Award
YEREVAN.  Ex-president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan attended the memorial service for ex-head of national security service Georgi Kutoyan.

He did not answer the reporters questions and noted that it was not an occasion to give comments.

Kutoyan,38, was found dead with a gunshot wound in his apartment on January 17.

The memorial service was attended by former police chief Vladimir Gasparyan, president of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan, former head of national security service Arthur Vanetsyan, representatives of the Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia parties.

Kutoyan was serving as the head of national security service during the presidency of Serzh Sargsyan.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia  Global politics, big money, high technology and the intricacies of Canadian law will come together on Monday when the extradition hearing of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, begins in a Vancouver courtroom.

Ms. Meng, 47, a former secretary at Huawei who rose to become a public face of the company, was arrested in Vancouver in December 2018 after the United States requested her extradition on fraud charges. She has been detained in the city since then.

The arrest has put Canada in a difficult spot between two world powers  China and the United States  and severely damaged the countrys relations with China. Huawei is one of Chinas most prominent companies.

Shortly after Ms. Mengs arrest, China detained  in retaliation, some say  two Canadians and accused them of espionage. It has also punished Canada by restricting imports of pork, canola oil and other Canadian products. Complicating matters, Canada is in the process of deciding whether to allow Huawei to participate in the development of its next-generation 5G network.
Samsung Electronics' Seocho office in Seoul. / Korea Times file



By Baek Byung-yeul





Samsung Life Insurance CEO Hyun Sung-chul.

Samsung Group is expected to reshuffle the management of its affiliates this week, an industry source said Sunday. The move has been delayed for than a month due to a court hearing involving the group's ownership heir Lee Jae-yong.



On Jan.16, the country's top business enterprise notified executives of certain affiliates that their contracts were not going to be renewed, the source said. Given this is the usual preliminary procedure before the group announces promotions, the source said it indicated that a reshuffle was imminent.



Samsung has traditionally carried out an annual reshuffle of executives in the first week of December, but failed to do so in 2019. Industry officials said this was because Samsung leader Lee was facing a new hearing for his alleged involvement in the massive corruption scandal that unseated former President Park Geun-hye.



A Samsung official refused to give details of the personnel reshuffle, but said the group would announce the leadership changes as early as this week.



"The group is likely to conduct the management reshuffle as early as this week, before the start of Seollal, the Lunar New Year, but we cannot confirm the details at present," the official said.





Samsung Card CEO Won Gee-chan.
Johnson mulling moving Lords to the North

Boris Johnson is planning to move the House of Lords permanently to York, The Sunday Times can reveal. The city has emerged as the frontrunner to host the new second chamber, with Birmingham also in the running. The prime minister last week ordered work to begin on the practicalities of a move, in further evidence that the Conservatives are serious about cementing their gains in what were once Labours heartlands. Disused government-owned land close to York railway station has already been identified as a prime site to build a new second chamber. If York is chosen as the Lords new home, it will be the first time the city has been a centre of political power since the English Civil War, when it played host to the Council of the North.  Sunday Times

Tories urge Prime Minister not to turn party into Labour lite  Sun on Sunday

More:

Civic leaders urge Government to back HS2  Sunday Times

Treasury wants to scrap 2bn Stonehenge tunnel

Comment:

The Prime Minister must remember who put him in power  Andy Street and Andy Burnham, Sunday Times

>Today: ToryDiary: The Queens Speech in York, Cummings-style

>Yesterday: David Gaukes column: As a non-Tory at the last election, my worry is that this Government wont be Conservative enough

Cummings writing the Budget for Javid

Boris Johnsons team has seized control of budget preparations amid claims that the chancellor, Sajid Javid, called for the sacking of Dominic Cummings, the prime ministers most senior aide. Two senior Tories said Javid phoned colleagues on general election day in December, warning that the result was unlikely to be a large majority and Cummings should be removed if that were the case. One of those he is alleged to have spoken to is said to have contacted Cummings. In the end, Johnson won a stonking victory by 80 seats. The chancellor, who led calls for Theresa May to sack her chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, after the 2017 election debacle, categorically denies the claims, an aide said.  Sunday Telegraph

Car-makers say divergence would cost billions  FT

Warning to showboating ministers

Downing Street has warned showboating ministers that they will be primary targets for dismissal in next months reshuffle. A No 10 source said Boris Johnson intended to reward competence and hard work, as insiders criticised ministers who had spent much of their time conducting television and radio interviews in order to build their public profiles. The intervention will bolster claims that Mr Johnson is using the prospect of the reshuffle as a Sword of Damocles to keep ministers in line amid behind-the-scenes tussles over No10s tight restrictions on Cabinet ministers media engagements. Government sources suggested that the reshuffle no longer appeared likely to be the major clear-out that had been expected several weeks ago.  Sunday Telegraph

Cabinet should not flaunt themselves on TV and radio  Sun on Sunday

They will get marks out of ten  Mail on Sunday

Four female ministers face the sack  Sun on Sunday

Government re-opens no deal preparations

Ministers have quietly restarted No Deal planning meetings amid fears trade talks with Brussels will collapse, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Whitehalls EU Exit Operations committee  dubbed XO and chaired by Michael Gove  met on Thursday to begin preparations for a disorderly December, should Brussels fail to grasp we really are going at the end of the year, said a Cabinet Minister who was present. Our revelation comes after Dominic Cummings warned that Brussels has not yet woken up to Britains negotiating position  and would not for several weeks yet.  Mail on Sunday

US trade negotiations to begin  Sunday Telegraph

Trump envoy in heated row over Huawei  Mail on Sunday

Plan for deals by the end of 2020  Sunday Express

>Today: Johnny Leavesley: What Johnson should do to help boost business

>Yesterday: Ali Demirbag in Comment: A post-Brexit visa regime must encourage the brightest and the best to travel to the UK on business

Cabinet Ministers plot to stop Big Ben

A Cabinet Minister secretly plotted with the Commons authorities two weeks ago to kill off the idea of Big Ben bonging for Brexit, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. As public pressure started to mount for the historic clock to break its silence on the evening of January 31, the senior Minister begged: We have to find a way of stopping this. It will be too divisive, Remainers will hate it. Earlier last week, the House of Commons Commission effectively vetoed the plan, claiming it would cost more than 500,000 to interrupt huge repair works now under way on the clock and the historic Elizabeth Tower that houses it. They also rejected offers of donations to meet the cost  to the fury of Brexiteers.  Mail on Sunday

Johnson under pressure to hold vote  Sun on Sunday

>Yesterday: ToryDiary: The Commons should vote on the Big Ben bing bang bong bung

Corbyn nominates Bercow for the peerage

Jeremy Corbyn has nominated John Bercow, the former Commons Speaker, for a peerage, The Sunday Times can reveal. Bercow, a former right-wing Conservative MP who helped resist Boris Johnsons Brexit strategy in parliament, became the first holder of his role in 230 years not to be offered a House of Lords seat upon resigning last year. Tom Watson, Labours former deputy leader, and Karie Murphy, Corbyns chief of staff, also appear on a leaked list of nominees ahead of the upcoming dissolution honours. They are joined by five former MPs, advisers and trade unionists. Murphys likely ennoblement will be explosive in the party, as she is blamed for bullying, failing to tackle anti-semitism and Labours election defeat.  Sunday Times

Labour candidates challenged on anti-Semitism hypocrisy

Three frontbench candidates for the Labour leadership were yesterday accused of hypocrisy over anti-Semitism, as they were challenged by backbench rival Jess Phillips. Confronting the three shadow cabinet ministers vying with her to replace Jeremy Corbyn, the Birmingham Yardley MP claimed that despite tough rhetoric on anti-Semitism now they had failed to adequately confront the issue before the start of the contest. The 38-year-old, dubbed the wildcard of the contest, laid down the gauntlet during the first Labour membership hustings in Liverpool, claiming that she was the only candidate who would terrify Boris Johnson. Her harshest criticism was directed at Rebecca Long-Bailey, the pro-Corbyn favourite, whom she clashed with over free broadband, the partys manifesto and calls for the House of Lords to be abolished.  Sunday Telegraph

Long-Bailey wont deny working on PFI contracts  Mail on Sunday

and tells people not to call Momentum a cult- Sun on Sunday

Starmer cracked down on benefits cheats  Sunday Times

Brown calls for radical constitutional change

Only a radical constitutional revolution can stop the union from unravelling and end the alienation felt by voters in the UKs poorest regions, Gordon Brown warns today. In a stark warning about the immediate future, the former prime minister even suggests the House of Lords could be replaced with a second chamber that represents the UKs nations and regions. Writing in the Observer, Brown argues that the huge election victory secured by Boris Johnson, with big wins in Midlands and northern seats, does not represent a newfound unity or even an emerging national consensus but rather a plea for radical change.  The Observer

The United Kingdom is too precious to be lost to narrow nationalism  Gordon Brown, The Observer

MPs call for tougher electoral law

Political organisations would face unlimited fines for breaking electoral law under new proposals to protect UK elections and referendums from dirty money and dodgy data misuse. A parliamentary inquiry into how to safeguard the UKs democratic processes from abuse advocates abolishing the 20,000 cap on fines for breaking spending laws, a penalty considered so minor that some donors are believed to dismiss it as just the cost of doing business. The suggestion is one of 20 recommendations in a landmark report from a cross-party group of MPs who point out that electoral law has not been properly updated since 2001  when the internet was relatively undeveloped and long before the arrival of social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter.  The Observer

Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step back from royal life

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be banned from using their HRH titles and will no longer receive public funds, in exchange for striking commercial deals under a historic royal peace deal announced last night. In a statement, the Queen announced that Harry and Meghan would always be much loved members of my family and said she hoped they could start building a happy and peaceful new life. But in what amounts to the abdication of the royal rock stars, the couple will repay the 2.4m of public funds used to renovate Frogmore Cottage, their home on the Windsor estate. Under the terms of the historic divorce deal.. the house will remain the couples British base. They will pay commercial rent on its upkeep and take no more taxpayers cash.  Sunday Times
New York, US (PANA) - The fifth UN Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar, whose UN career began with the first ever General Assembly meeting in 1946, celebrates his 100th birthday on Sunday
A man has been stabbed in a horrifying machete attack outside a kebab shop in Sydney.

The victim stumbled into Metro Pita Kebab on George Street near Broadway on Sunday evening with blood pouring from his leg.

The knifeman then came into the shop and threatened to kill his victim, a witness told Daily Mail Australia.

A man was stabbed in the leg with a machete before fleeing to the nearby Metro Pita kebab shop in Sydney (pictured) on Sunday night

Images from the scene show blood splattered over the floor and walls of the kebab shop

A witness told Daily Mail Australia the man came into the store bleeding from a knife wound to his leg shortly before his alleged attacker caught up with him

'The guy ran into the shop but he was already injured, the other guy had already stabbed him in the leg outside,' the witness said.

'After about two to three minutes the guy with the big knife went to scare him and told the guy he was going to die.

'He (the victim) was terrified, he was begging the man with the knife to spare his life.'

The witness said it was a horrific scene as the injured man fell to the ground in the shop with a wound to his leg.

'I saw the injured guy bleeding very hard, then we called the police and ambulance and they arrived about 10 minutes after,' he said.

A New South Wales Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia officers arrived on the scene at about 8.15pm after reports a man had been assaulted and a crime scene has been set up

Images from the scene show blood splattered over the floor and walls of the kebab shop.

A New South Wales Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia officers arrived on the scene at about 8.15pm after reports a man had been assaulted.

'Paramedics attended the scene and treated a stab for a laceration to his leg and he was taken to the St Vincent's Hospital,' the spokesman said.

Police have set up a crime scene and their inquiries are ongoing.
Mexican authorities closed a border entry point in southern Mexico on Saturday after thousands of Central American migrants tried to push their way across a bridge spanning the Suchiate River between Mexico and Guatemala.

Honduran migrants waved their countrys flag and sang the national anthem as they approached the bridge. At the height of the confrontation, Guatemalan authorities estimated 2,500 migrants were on the bridge, or attempting to get on it.

Mexican National Guardsmen slammed down a metal fence to block the path of the migrants.

Amid shoves, Mexican officials did allow a few migrants to enter the country in groups of 20, while a voice over a loudspeaker warned migrants against trying to slip into Mexico without passing through immigration filters.

Piecemeal, more than 150 migrants entered to apply for asylum or some other variation of permission to stay in Mexico as the day wore on. But many migrants prefer to pass through Mexico en route to the United States.

Mexicos National Migration Institute said via Twitter on Saturday that it had reinforced multiple points along the countrys southern border to assure safe, orderly and regular immigration. It also said it was using drones to monitor the region.

Hundreds of guardsmen lined the river to prevent migrants from crossing into Mexico clandestinely. The voice on the loudspeaker warned, over and over, that those aiming to transit through Mexico may not be granted asylum in the U.S., even if they make it there.

As temperatures rose Saturday, migrants trickled back across the bridge to Guatemala. By late afternoon, fewer than a hundred remained on the bridge.

Mexicos government has said migrants entering the country without registering will not be allowed to pass from its southern border area. But those seeking asylum or other protections will be allowed to apply and legalize their status in Mexico.

Guatemalan officials have counted roughly 3,000 migrants who registered at border crossings to enter that country in recent days, and estimated there were an additional 1,300 migrants who did not register. The Guatemalan government is offering to return migrants by bus to their countries of origin.

Guatemalas human rights defenders office said there were more than 1,000 migrants gathered at another point on the Mexican border far to the north in the Peten region. There were reports that Mexican forces were gathered on the other side of the border there.

Vicente Hernandez, head of the Mexican armed forces in the border area, told migrants on the Guatemalan side of the Suchiate on Saturday that there are opportunities for everyone in Mexico.

Here you just have to register, he added, saying that Mexican officials would then offer the migrants jobs.

Mexicos offer of legal status and potential employment for migrants carries a stipulation that would confine migrants to southern Mexico, where wages are lower and there are fewer jobs than elsewhere in the country.

El Salvadors consul general in Mexico, Antonio Azucar, told The Associated Press that Mexican authorities had reported that the migrants crossing into Mexican territory would be housed in Ciudad Hidalgo, the city on the banks of the Suchiate where the bridge standoff happened.

But a Mexican official, who refused to be quoted by name, said those who request asylum in Mexico would be taken to one of two migratory stations in the state of Chiapasone in Tapachula and the other in Tuxtla Gutierrez.

Once in custody, in theory, migrants may request temporary work permits to remain in Mexico. For months, however, non-profit groups have complained that the migrants are instead often returned to their countries of origin.

Many of the migrants leaving Central America say they fear for their lives back home, while others say they are looking for better economic prospects.

By Maria Verza
With 10 years remaining until 2030, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on all countries to accelerate efforts to fulfil their commitments to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and the other health-related targets in the Sustainable Development Goals.

2019 was a landmark year for UHC. At the United Nations General Assembly in September, world leaders agreed the political declaration on UHC, the first time all 193 UN Member States have unified around a common and comprehensive commitment to achieving this goal. In October, at the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Belgrade, Serbia, legislators from 140 countries adopted a comprehensive resolution on UHC, pledging to leverage the power of parliaments to translate political commitment into laws, policies, programmes, and results.

Reflecting on these achievements, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, co-wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Post in December outlining how Japans experience shows that UHC is a foundation for development.

Countries like Japan have shown that universal coverage is not only possible, it pays long-term dividends for the prosperity and stability of nations. Investing in health at an early stage of a countrys economic development can create the fundamental infrastructure for sustainable and comprehensive economic growth and social development, they wrote.

2020 will provide several further opportunities for countries to advance towards UHC. At the UHC Forum, to be held in conjunction with the Prince Mahidol Award Conference in Bangkok from 28 January to 2 February, public health experts and policymakers from around the world will meet to identify challenges and solutions in strengthening health systems, including on sustainable financing.

In December, the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth Summit will be an important moment for countries to chart a course towards achieving the SDG targets on addressing ending malnutrition in all its forms.

Throughout the year, WHO will celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, to highlight the essential role nurses and midwives play in achieving and maintaining UHC. A new report on the state of the worlds nursing will be launched on World Health Day (7 April), with further discussions expected at the World Health Assembly in May. WHO will also seek to use the G20 summit in Saudi Arabia and the G7 summit in the United States of America to ensure health remains a priority for leaders of the worlds wealthiest nations.

Most importantly, WHO will continue to work with and in countries to make the vision of health for all a reality everywhere. -- Tradearabia News Service
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.  SpaceX just took a giant leap forward in its quest to launch astronauts. The private spaceflight company intentionally destroyed one of its rockets on Sunday (Jan. 19) as part of a crucial test of its new Crew Dragon capsule's launch escape system.

The uncrewed test, known as an in-flight abort (IFA) test, is the last major hurdle SpaceX needed to clear before Crew Dragon can begin to carry astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS). Originally scheduled to launch on Saturday (Jan. 18), the unpiloted crew capsule was grounded for 24 hours due to unfavorable weather conditions at both the launch site and the Crew Dragon recovery zone, the Atlantic Ocean just off the Florida coast.

The weather forecast on Sunday looked equally ominous, with the chances of favorable conditions at liftoff worsening. However, the weather cleared and SpaceX was able to lift off at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT).

Video: Watch SpaceX destroy a Falcon 9 in Crew Dragon abort

Related: How SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule works (infographic)

Image 1 of 6 (Image credit: NASA/SpaceX) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the Crew Dragon spacecraft on a major abort system test on Jan. 19, 2020 from Pad 39A of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Image 2 of 6 (Image credit: NASA/SpaceX) The Falcon 9 rocket used to launch Crew Dragon's abort test made its fourth flight for this mission. It did not survive, and that was expected. Image 3 of 6 (Image credit: NASA/SpaceX) Here, SpaceX's Crew Dragon can be seen just after igniting its abort engine burn. Eight SuperDraco engines fired to rip the spacecraft free of its Falcon 9 rocket. Image 4 of 6 (Image credit: NASA/SpaceX) The Falcon 9 rocket, fully fueled for launch, appears to explode and break apart after Crew Dragon's abort maneuver. This was expected and SpaceX warned viewers to expect the rocket's fiery fate. Image 5 of 6 (Image credit: NASA/SpaceX) Crew Dragon's "trunk" is seen here after separating from the crew capsule section. Crew Dragon was expected to reach a maximum altitude of about 25 miles (40 kilometers) during the launch. Image 6 of 6 (Image credit: NASA/SpaceX) The four Mark 3 main parachutes deploy to slow Crew Dragon during its descent back to Earth. The spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the launch site.

Excited onlookers anxiously awaited the test, their cameras poised in a grassy area at the NASA press site. The Falcon 9 roared to life, triggering car alarms and shaking nearby buildings. After the planned launch abort was triggered, 84 seconds into the flight, a fireball was spotted in the sky.

A few moments later, a sonic boom echoed through the sky. The Falcon 9 exploded as expected, and a second boom was heard when its remnants hit the ocean. Onlookers were hoping to see Crew Dragon descend under parachute, but unfortunately clouds obstructed much of the view.

A vital test

The mission starred an unpiloted crew capsule that blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center here in Florida atop a Falcon 9 rocket with a thrice-flown first stage. Before meeting its demise today, this booster made three trips to space in 2018, lofting the first Bangladeshi satellite; an Indonesian communications satellite; and then an epic rideshare mission that launched a stack of 64 satellites.

The booster was the first of SpaceXs upgraded "Block 5" Falcon 9 rockets to fly and, after serving the company well, it went out with a bang today, destroyed by Dragon fire.

The IFA mission was designed to test Crew Dragon's SuperDraco-powered abort system , which will pull the capsule free of its launcher in the event of an emergency during flight.

We are purposefully failing a launch vehicle, to make sure our abort system works, Kathy Lueders, NASAs Commercial Crew Program manager, said during a prelaunch news briefing on Friday (Jan. 17). Thats a very, very different way for us to formally conduct a mission.

Related: See the Evolution of SpaceX's Rockets in Pictures

When NASA retired its fleet of space shuttles in 2011, the agency looked to the commercial sector to ferry crews to and from the ISS, selecting SpaceX and Boeing as its future space taxi providers. Each of these two companies has built a spacecraft capable of safely carrying crew under a series of contracts, the most recent two of which, announced in September 2014, are worth a total of $6.8 billion. Once operational, the two vehicles  SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner  will be NASA's primary means of transporting astronauts to and from space.

SpaceX launched its first Crew Dragon mission, an unpiloted test flight to the station, in March 2019. Crew Dragon's in-flight abort test was delayed when that same capsule exploded during a ground test last April , forcing months of investigation, upgrades and a series of successful static-fire tests to make way for this weekend's launch.

In 2019, Boeing also launched a pad abort test of its own Starliner spacecraft, as well as an unpiloted test flight to orbit. That orbital flight test, however, did not reach the space station as planned due to a mission clock software error.

Despite these hurdles, both SpaceX and Boeing aim to launch their first crewed missions later this year. But before that can happen, both companies must prove their vehicles have what it takes to keep astronauts safe during flight.

Related: Emergency Launch Abort Systems of SpaceX and Boeing Explained

In-flight anomalies are rare, but they do happen, as we saw in October 2018. Back then, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin were on their way to the space station when their launcher  a Russian Soyuz  experienced an in-flight anomaly. The duo were carried to safety by the Soyuz abort system. NASA wants to ensure that, if one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets were to have a similar anomaly, its astronauts would still be brought home safely; this is what the in-flight abort test is all about.

For this test, Falcon 9s ascent trajectory will mimic a Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station to best match the physical environments the rocket and spacecraft will encounter during a normal ascent, SpaceX said in a mission statement .

However, unlike a normal flight, SpaceX programed its Crew Dragon to intentionally trigger a launch escape shortly after "max Q"  the moment of maximum aerodynamic stress on the rocket.

Embedded within the outer hull of the Dragon capsule are eight engines called SuperDracos. If the vehicle's computer senses that something is amiss during flight, it will trigger these thrusters to fire. Then, the SuperDracos will push the Crew Dragon up and away from the rocket. Once the capsule is at a safe distance from the troubled rocket, the Crew Dragon will deploy its parachutes and land in the Atlantic Ocean, where recovery vessels will retrieve the capsule and the crew.

That's exactly what happened during today's test. The capsule blasted free of its rocket ride less than 90 seconds after liftoff. Less than 5 minutes in, Crew Dragon deployed its drogue parachutes, and the four main chutes followed shortly thereafter. The capsule splashed down softly about 20 miles (30 kilometers) off the Florida coast 9 minutes after launch.

Though much analysis will follow, everything seemed to go exactly as planned today.

"It looks like, right now, a great test," SpaceX principal integration engineer John Insprucker said during the company's live webcast, just after splashdown.

No one was on board the Crew Dragon during the IFA, but SpaceX is treating the drill as if it were an actual emergency. To that end, SpaceX outfitted one of its boats with a helicopter landing pad designed to facilitate the recovery of the Crew Dragon during nominal and emergency landings alike.

Related: How Risky Spacecraft Launch Aborts Work (Infographic)

This test was the last major hurdle that SpaceX must clear before it can launch astronauts. As such, both NASA and SpaceX are paying close attention to the IFA and all the data it returns.

This is a big test for us, Benji Reed, SpaceX's director of crew mission management, said prior to launch. It is a test of the system that is supposed to test the crews and is a very important step in us making progress toward crew transportation to the space station.

After a data review, SpaceX hopes that NASA will clear Crew Dragon to carry humans. Once that happens, SpaceX will fly two NASA astronauts, Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, to the space station for a two-week stay during a test mission called Demo-2.

If that initial crew flight goes smoothly, NASA will greenlight Dragon to begin regular crewed flights.

Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook.
Facebook Inc said on Saturday it was working to find out how Chinese leader Xi Jinpings name appeared as Mr Shithole in posts on its platform when translated into English from Burmese, apologising for any offence caused and saying the problem had been fixed.

The error came to light on the second day of a visit by the president to the Southeast Asian country, where Xi and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi signed dozens of agreements covering massive Beijing-backed infrastructure plans.

A statement about the visit published on Suu Kyis official Facebook page was littered with references to Mr Shithole when translated to English, while a headline in local news journal the Irrawaddy appeared as Dinner honors president shithole.

It was not clear how long the issue had lasted but Googles translation function did not show the same error.

We have fixed an issue regarding Burmese to English translations on Facebook and are working to identify the cause to ensure that it doesnt happen again, Facebook said in a statement. This issue is not a reflection of the way our products should work and we sincerely apologise for the offence this has caused.

China is Facebooks biggest country for revenue after the United States, and the tech company is setting up a new engineering team to focus specifically on the lucrative advertising business there, Reuters reported last week.

We are aware of an issue regarding Burmese to English translations on Facebook, and were doing everything we can to fix this as quickly as possible, a spokesperson for the tech company said in a statement.

This issue is not a reflection of the way our products should work and we sincerely apologise for the offence this has caused.

Facebook has faced numerous problems with translation from Burmese in the past. In 2018 it temporarily removed the function after a Reuters report showed the tool was producing bizarre results.

An investigation documented how the company was failing in its efforts to combat vitriolic Burmese language posts about Myanmars Rohingya Muslims, some 730,000 of whom fled a military crackdown in 2017 that the U.N has said was conducted with genocidal intent.

It also showed the translation feature was flawed, citing an anti-Rohingya post advocating killing Muslims that was translated into English as I shouldnt have a rainbow in Myanmar.
The Municipal Chief Executive Officer (MCE) of Kpone Katamanso, Solomon Appiah has vowed that the Akufo-Addo-led government will not relent in its effort to support foreign investors and foreign businesses.

According to him, the businesses will not only boost Ghanas economy but help the numerous unemployed youths to gain employment.

Speaking at the launch of Kofarb Paints in Accra, the MCE said President Akufo-Addo has good visions for the country. The introduction of Kofarb Paints falls under One District One Factory and I believe liaising with Government will help employ lots of the teeming youth

The MCE added that although there is a tough competition in the Ghanaian market, he is confident the public will develop interest and patronize the product.

Hon. Appiah appealed to the Ghanaian Management of Kofarb Ghana to abide by rules and regulations in the country.

Mr. Appiah promised to use the new products for an experiment on his ongoing projects.

Director of KOFARB Poland, Mr. Kamil Nowacui in a presentation on the features and strength of the paint adding that it is heat efficient, energy-saving, anti-corrosive and fungi resistant for both interior and exterior applications.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KOFARB Ghana Limited, Jacob Gbati in an exclusive interview discussed that the firm will source investment from its stakeholders to set up a production plant in Ghana as well as supply paints to the West African sub-region.

He revealed that the products available in Ghana are KOFATERM White, KOFATERM Grey, KOFATERMAL, KOFAKOR Anti-Rust and KOFABIO.

He further noted that the paints are waterproof, environmentally-friendly with heat reflective compound and noise absorbent as well as easy to be used on all surfaces including metal and plastic.

Background

KOFARB Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of KOFARB Poland, has introduced a wide range of KOFARB paints to the Ghanaian market that can be used in domestic and industrial applications, with six years warranty. The Polish firm is an international company manufacturing and marketing different varieties of paints over the past 20 years.
Veteran Spotlight: Marine Cpl. Keil Did Tour in Afghanistan



Keil served in the Marines from 2006 to 2010, including in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  This week's featured veteran is a benchmark to his peers and to the younger generation because of his examples of class, integrity and humility.

Mitchell Keil served his country from 2006 to 2010 in the Marine Corps. A graduate of Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, he was sent to basic training at the famed Parris Island in South Carolina.

"After I graduated, I had two months before I went in. I had a chance to see my family and friends which was great. My parents signed the papers for my induction. If they didn't, I was going to sign them anyway when I turned 18. It was an emotional day," he said, adding he was glad he got to say goodbye to everyone before catching his plane to Boston.

The first days of boot camp were rough  "the drill instructor screams at you on the bus ... they keep you up for a couple of days," Keil said. "You get little power naps ... you're nervous on your way there but after the screaming, I was ready to go!"

After Parris Island, the corporal was sent to Camp Lejeune for Military Occupation Specialty training that entailed Landing Support Specialty, helicopters, organization of beach landings and Departure and Arrival Control Group. He was then sent to Combat Logistics Battalion 24  an intense six months of Military Expeditionary Forces Training. Keil was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in the Helmand Province.

"They sent us for specific training from Kandahar to Garmsir. They have 1,100 miles of paved road and we must have gone through 1,000," he remembered. He spoke a bit on being on patrol and driving through Kandahar City.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking ... you hear stories on not knowing who the enemy is ... I still get in funks for what happened in Afghanistan," he said."

He shared one day in particular that is etched in his memory.

"Our convoy was leaving Kandahar around 2:30-3 a.m. and I was a gunner on top of a Humvee in the back. I saw a flash. An IED hit the third vehicle in our convoy ... blew a hole in the road so big we couldn't leave for 18 hours," he recalled.

I asked him if instincts and training kick in with an attack like that and Keil said, "It all kicks in."

Once the improvised explosive device hit the truck, the one behind in the convoy relates what happens.

"We were ready to retaliate," Keil said but they had to wait for the word. "You instantly look at the roster to see who's in the vehicle that got hit."

His night vision goggles were no help and they couldn't see any activity.

"We found out it was some rogue guy who was trying to take out Canadian Special Forces," he said. "He hit us instead."

He also shared a story on being under the constant threat of attack at the base in Kandahar.

"Insurgents would go up on the mountain every 2-3 days ... dig a hole and put a rocket in the ice and aim it at the base. They'd leave it there, and when the ice melted, it detonated the rocket and it fired on our base," he said. "One landed so close, it knocked me off my bed one night ... we were constantly sitting ducks.

"We had three bases that we rotated on. Kandahar and Camp Bastion, you always got hot showers. At FOB (Forward Operating Base) Dwyer, you showered with baby wipes and a canteen."

Despite the incessant pressure, the corporal said morale was high. But he had a very difficult time when he was deployed over Easter.

"It is the only time of the year my whole family gets together ... really missed it ... was very hard," Keil said. "Nobody could get me out of that funk for a couple of days."

I asked Keil his thoughts on being a Marine. He put it into a wonderful perspective: "You will never see more Marines cry than on the last day of boot camp  your graduation  you're full of so much pride."

"That's what I miss the most ... the camaraderie," he said. "I had 25 guys I served with, we were very close ... knew everyone's birthdays, siblings, anniversaries ... man, that's what I miss the most."

After his discharge, Keil attended Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on the GI Bill and said the faculty and staff were great. He ventured into the North Adams American Legion one day, not knowing what to expect, and was instantly made to feel comfortable by good friend (and former Commander) Dennis St. Pierre.

"He welcomed me genuinely ... introduced me around and got to know my story," he said.

Keil is now the senior vice commander of Frank R. Stiles American Legion Post 125 and I witnessed first-hand the excellent job he did last Memorial Day as master of ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Park.

Cpl. Mitch Keil, thank you for your service to our great country.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 20

Trend:

Today, Azerbaijan commemorates the 30th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy.

January 20 is a day that went down in history of Azerbaijan's fight for independence and territorial integrity.

On January 20, 1990, the Soviet army forces entered Baku to suppress the masses protesting the USSR-supported Armenian aggression based on territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

The result was an unprecedented tragedy for Azerbaijan. Valiant sons and daughters of Azerbaijan put the countrys freedom, honor and dignity above everything else, sacrificed their lives and became martyrs.

On the night of January 19-20, 1990, 147 people were killed, 744 were injured and 841 were illegally arrested after Soviet troops entered Baku. The Soviet troops also destroyed 200 apartments and houses, as well as private and public property.

The January 20 tragedy brought huge losses and death of innocent people. But it also demonstrated the spirit and pride of Azerbaijani nation, which couldn't stand the betrayal of the criminal empire led by Mikhail Gorbachov.

Azerbaijanis gained the independence they were dreaming of, and the country achieved sovereignty.

Despite that many years have passed since those bloody days, Azerbaijanis remember the dreadful night that took many innocent lives and mark the anniversary of the January 20 tragedy every year.

January 20 is immortalized in the memory of Azerbaijani nation as a Day of the Nationwide Sorrow.
Washington, Jan 19 : The US Space Force has defended its newly unveiled camouflage uniforms after they were mocked on social media, the media reported.

The force, officially launched by US President Donald Trump last month, posted a picture of the uniform to its Twitter account on Saturday, reports the BBC.

The uniform in the picture has a woodland camouflage design with badges embroidered on the arm and chest.

Reacting to the uniform, many critics had the same question: "Camo in space?" One Twitter user asked: "Have they never seen space before?", while another illustrated the difference between space and camouflage, which is designed to help military personnel blend in with their surroundings.

Following the mocking, the force explained its rationale in a tweeted response, saying it was "utilising current Army/Air Force uniforms" and "saving costs of designing/producing a new one" in doing so.

"Members will look like their joint counterparts they'll be working with, on the ground," it added.

During the launch last month, Trump said the force would help the US military "deter aggression" in what he called "the world's newest war-fighting domain", the BBC reported.

But the new military service, overseen by the US Air Force, was not intended to put troops into orbit.

Rather, it will protect US assets such as the hundreds of satellites used for communication and surveillance.

US Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said the Space Force would comprise about 16,000 air force and civilian personnel.

The Trump administration has allocated $40 million to fund the force in its first year.
I'm A Celebrity's Charlotte Crosby and Nikki Osborne went head-to-head on Sunday.

In the jungle with their campmates, the stars got into a heated debate over whether you need talent to be a good social media influencer.

While comedian and former model Nikki, 38, diminished their importance, Geordie Shore's Charlotte, 29, said they're crucial to brands and businesses.

'It's not an easy job, you need a lot of talent!' I'm A Celebrity's Charlotte Crosby (left), 29, and Nikki Osborne (right), 38, got into a heated debate over the credibility of social media influencers on Sunday night

The topic arose when campmate Billy Brownless said 'a lot of girls' want to become influencers.

'You don't need any talent,' Nikki responded, causing Charlotte to jump to their defence.

'You do, you need a lot of talent to be a good influencer, 100 per cent,' she stated. 'Not anyone can just be an influencer. It's not an easy job. It's not an easy job.'

In a piece to camera, Nikki became flustered and said she regretted her comment.

'It's not an easy job': After Nikki questioned whether you need talent to be an influencer, Charlotte said: 'You do, you need a lot of talent to be a good influencer, 100 per cent'

'I literally threw myself under the bus there,' the blonde, who has nearly 23,000 followers on Instagram said, raising her hands dramatically.

Charlotte, who boasts 7.1million followers on Instagram, went on to herald the benefits of influencers.

'For brands and businesses, influencers are so important,' she said. 'You don't even understand.'

Positive and negative: On Twitter, viewers offered their thoughts on whether influencers need talent. The response was mixed

On Twitter, viewers offered their thoughts on whether influencers need talent.

'Put it this way - being an influencer IS a job,' one wrote. 'They're being paid to advertise items or a brand. They're an advertiser, that is a job.'

Another dismissed their credibility, saying: 'Of course Charlotte would say that about influencers,' alongside several laughing face emojis.

One savage Tweet also read: 'The only talent you need to be an "influencer" is being able to take selfies, Photoshop them and sell yourself out!'

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues Monday at 7.30pm on Ten
Just a few months after the passing of Rep. Elijah Cummings, Baltimore is honoring the former lawyer and lawmaker in a fitting way: renaming a courthouse.

Baltimore's East Court House Building will become the Elijah E. Cummings Court House Building, announced Mayor Bernard C. Jack Young on Friday.

Young also declared January 18 as Elijah Cummings Day in Baltimore. That day was his birthday.

Two signs will be placed on the north and south side of the courthouse, each honoring Cummings' legacy, CNN affiliate WBAL reported.

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the widow of the late representative, called the renaming "significant" and she thanked the city for the dedication, according to WBAL.

"His legal career started in this courthouse," she said.

Cummings, who represented Maryland's 7th Congressional District (which includes much of Baltimore) since 1996, died in October at the age of 68. He graduated from Baltimore City College High School before attending Howard University in nearby Washington, DC and University of Maryland School of Law.

Chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Cummings was a key figure in leading the investigations into President Donald Trump -- including issues relating to the impeachment inquiry, the treatment of migrants at the southern border and the potential citizenship question for the census.
Cairo: Iran-aligned Houthis have attacked a military training camp in the Yemeni city of Marib, killing 60 military personnel and wounding dozens of others, Saudi state television says.

Al Ekhbariya television quoted sources as saying the attack was carried out with ballistic missiles and drones.

A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which the Houthis ousted from power in the capital Sanaa and is now based in the southern port city of Aden.
One of Saudi Arabia's richest families has become a major shareholder in Burford Capital, the litigation funder under attack from American short seller Muddy Waters.

City sources said the Al Rajhi family is backing Mithaq Capital, which late last year bought a 5.1 per cent shareholding in Burford Capital, one of the largest firms on London's junior stock market AIM.

It has seen its share price decimated after Muddy Waters  the hedge fund run by Carson Block  questioned the company's corporate governance and accounts in a scathing note last year.

City sources said the Al Rajhi family is backing Mithaq Capital, which late last year bought a 5.1 per cent shareholding in Burford Capital

Public documents show Faisal Al Rajhi sits on the board of Riyadh-based Mithaq Holding which, sources told The Mail on Sunday, is linked to Mithaq Capital.

Faisal Al Rajhi is in turn believed to be linked to Sheikh Sulaiman Al Rajhi, who is considered the richest Saudi Arabian not a member of the kingdom's royal family. Forbes estimates Sheikh Al Rajhi, who reportedly has 23 children, is worth $7.7 billion (5.9 billion).

The vote of confidence from such a powerful backer may provide Burford Capital's board with a boost, although their intentions are not yet clear.

Senior City sources described Mithaq Capital as a 'value' investor that looks to buy shareholdings in undervalued companies.

The development comes at an important time for Burford Capital which finances expensive legal cases in the hope its beneficiaries will win vast sums.

The company, which is helping a Russian oligarch's wife in her bid to recover 453million from her ex-husband, Farkhad Akhmedov, has spent the last few months under attack from Muddy Waters.

Short selling is when hedge funds borrow shares in a targeted company, sell the shares, buy them back after the price falls, then return them to the original owner and pocket the difference.

Muddy Waters' allegations resulted in Burford Capital's share price falling over 70 per cent.

Mithaq Capital's only other investment in a London-listed business is AIM-listed Tremor International, an advertising technology firm.

The Saudi Arabian investor recently purchased almost 14 per cent of Tremor, making it one of the largest shareholders in the group.

Mithaq Holding did not return calls for comment. Burford Capital declined to comment.

Reports suggest Sheikh Sulaiman Al Rajhi and his brother started their business by charging for camel caravans across the desert.

In 1983, the brothers were given permission to open the country's first Islamic bank. Since then, the Al Rajhi Bank has grown into one of the country's most profitable financial institutions.
Imperial Valley News Center

Two Peruvians Plead Guilty to Overseeing Call Centers that Threatened and Defrauded Spanish-Speaking U.S. Consumers

Miami, Florida - Two Peruvian men pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud for operating a large fraud and extortion scheme, the Department of Justice announced.

Johnny Enso Hidalgo Marchan, 40, and Rodolfo Hermoza, 44, oversaw call centers in Peru that used government impersonation, lies, and threats to steal money from thousands of U.S. Spanish-speaking victims. Both men were extradited from Peru in December 2019.

As part of their guilty pleas, Hidalgo and Hermoza admitted that they falsely posed as attorneys affiliated with U.S. courts and government agencies in threatening victims with detention, confiscation of property, credit ramifications, deportation, and community-service requirements to obtain payments from the victims. U.S. consumers lost over $1 million to the defendants fraud scheme.

The Department of Justices Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who defraud U.S. consumers, wherever they are, said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Justice Departments Civil Division. Disrupting transnational telemarketing fraud schemes  especially those that target vulnerable populations  is a priority for the Department of Justice. Criminals responsible for those schemes will not escape justice by placing their calls from abroad.

Hidalgo and Hermoza managed and operated Peruvian call centers based in Lima and Cajamarca, Peru, that worked in partnership with another entity in Miami, Florida. Hidalgo, Hermoza, and their employees in Peru used Internet-based telephone calls to lie to and threaten Spanish-speaking victims in the United States. The callers often falsely accused the victims of having failed to accept delivery of certain products and claimed that the victims owed thousands of dollars in fines and that court proceedings would be brought against them. In reality, the victims  many of whom were elderly  had never ordered or received the products.

The defendants and other call center employees claimed that the consumers could resolve the supposed debts and avoid threatened consequences if they immediately paid a settlement fee. Consumers who contested the settlement fees were told that failure to pay could lead to harmed credit, arrest, deportation, or seizure of property.

Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located, said U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida. Protecting the elderly and vulnerable members of our community from schemes, such as this one, is a top priority of this Office and the Department of Justice.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will not allow overseas criminal enterprises to illegally enrich themselves by using the mail to defraud consumers in the United States, said Miami Division Postal Inspector in Charge Antonio J. Gomez. With the continued cooperation of foreign governments these criminals will be aggressively pursued and brought to justice.

A 37-count federal indictment was filed against the defendants in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in June 2015 and was unsealed upon the defendants Dec. 18, 2019 extradition to the United States. A third defendant was also charged with conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and attempted extortion charges and is currently pending trial.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Two individuals previously were brought to justice in connection with this scheme. In 2014, charges were brought against Angeluz and Maria Luzula of Miami and Juan Alejandro Rodriguez Cuya of Lima, Peru. Luzula pleaded guilty to all counts against her midway through trial and was sentenced to serve 165 months in prison. Rodriguez Cuya was convicted following a two-week trial. U.S. District Court Judge Patricia A. Seitz sentenced Rodriguez Cuya to serve 210 months in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Phil Toomajian of the Department of Justices Consumer Protection Branch. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. The Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Florida, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, and the Peruvian National Police provided critical assistance.

Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In particular, this past March the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 260 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep. The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.

More information about the Departments efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov.
The session is likely to pass a resolution for decentralisation of the state capital by shifting some key capital functions from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam and Kurnool.

Amarvati, Jan 19 (IANS) A special session of Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Monday is expected to seal the fate of Amaravati as the state capital.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government proposes to shift the state Secretariat and the Chief Minister's office to Visakhapatnam and the High Court to Kurnool.

Ignoring the protest by the opposition parties and the farmers, who had given 33,000 acres of land for development of Amaravati as the state capital in 2015, the Jagan Mohan Reddy government is going ahead with the proposal.

Before the Assembly session, a state cabinet meeting will be held to approve the recommendations of high-power committee and the Bill and the resolution to be tabled in the Assembly.

The high-power committee, comprising ministers and senior bureaucrats, analysed the reports of an experts' panel and the Boston Consultancy Group (BCG). Both the panels had favoured decentralisation of the state capital.

The government is maintaining secrecy about the Bill and resolution to be tabled in the Assembly.

The government plans to repeal the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Act, 2014.

All the Rules, notifications and Government Orders issued under the CRDA Act, which sought to develop some 33,000 acres in the capital region of Amaravati, would cease to exist.

The areas covered under the CRDA would be vested with the VGTM (Vijaywada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri) Urban Development Authority.

The government may also announce a package to compensate the farmers who may suffer lossess.

Elaborate security arrangements were being made for the Assembly session. Police is maintaining tight vigil in all 29 villages where farmers have been staging protest for last 33 days.

The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has called for 'chalo Assembly' to oppose any move to shift the state capital.

The TDP Legislature Party on Sunday held a meeting to chalk out its strategy during the session. Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu discussed the startegy with the party MLAs.

Amaravati was the brainchild of Naidu, who lost power to the YSRCP in May last year.

The new government alleged that Naidu and other TDP leaders had resorted to insider trading in development of Amaravati and the whole project was designed to benefit a particular caste.

Naidu rubbished the allegations and accused Jagan of killing a golden goose for the state by destroying Amaravati.

ms/vd
He was a civic activist, and he was one of the early residents of what 50 years ago was the new town of Reston, Va., where he was a founder of the Reston Community Association and the Reston Music Center, a program that organizes summer studies for teenage musicians with professional musicians. He volunteered at homeless shelters and at the Whitman-Walker clinics for AIDS patients, where he also did pro bono legal work. In 1985, the county Board of Supervisors honored him for his civic work, one of several community honors.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19

Trend:

On the night of January 19 to 20, 1990, by order of the USSR leadership, 26,000 soviet troops were deployed to launch an operation called "Strike" (Udar) in Baku and Sumgayit, as well as other cities of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the 30th anniversary of the January 20 tragedy, Trend reports.

As a result of this military intervention, 147 civilians were killed and 744 were seriously injured. This event went down in the history of modern Azerbaijan as "Black January".

On January 19, 1990, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, M. Gorbachev, flagrantly violating Article 119 of the USSR Constitution and Article 71 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan SSR, signed a decree declaring the state of emergency in Baku from January 20. However, in order to keep the population unaware of it, the group Alfa of the USSR State Security Committee blasted the power unit of the Azerbaijani television and hence broadcasting in the country cut off. Thus, that night the troops entered the city, which was unaware of the declaration of a state of emergency, and ruthlessly persecuted the civilians.

Before these tragic events, the groundless territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan in the late 1980s, the aggressive separatist activities of Armenian chauvinists in the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan and the soviet leadership's ignorance of this illegal activity, as well as the violent and brutal deportation of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis from Armenia spurred the expansion of the movement against the Soviet government in Azerbaijan. The Soviet army deployed to the country in order to prevent the national movement and break the will of the Azerbaijani people for independence, committed an unprecedented massacre against the peaceful population, violating the norms of international law, the Constitutions of the former USSR and the Azerbaijan SSR.

Immediately after the tragic events, holding a press conference at the Permanent Representation of Azerbaijan in Moscow, national leader Heydar Aliyev sharply condemned this atrocity, called this terror perpetrated against peaceful people an act against law, democracy, and humanity, and demanded political assessment of the massacre against our people and punishment for the perpetrators. After the return of national leader Heydar Aliyev to political power in Azerbaijan, the tragedy of 20 January received political-legal assessment at the state level. At a special session of the Parliament (Milli Majlis) in February 1994, the brutal murder of innocent people on January 20, 1990 was regarded as military aggression and crime, and as a result of the deliberations in March 1994, decision on the tragic events committed in Baku on January 20, 1990 was adopted.

In order to rightfully analyze and evaluate the realities of our history, it is necessary to properly assess the events that led to the January 20 tragedy. The basis of all these calamities was the baseless territorial claims of the Armenians, who were massively resettled in the region, especially in the historical lands of Azerbaijan since the early 19th century.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Azerbaijani people have been exposed to the violent and racial discrimination policy of the Armenian nationalists and have been the victims of unprecedented massacres. Since the late 1980s, with the disintegration of the USSR, Armenia has pursued an open aggressive policy against Azerbaijan and consequently, the Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions of Azerbaijan were occupied. Along with the Azerbaijanis forcibly expelled from their places of permanent residence in Armenia, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis, historically living in the now occupied territories, were subjected to ethnic cleansing. In justification of their territorial claims against Azerbaijan, back in 1988 radical-minded Armenian forces initiated a provocation in the city of Sumgayit, the main initiator and organizer of which, according to the materials of the USSR Prosecutor Generals Office, was an ethnic Armenian Eduard Grigoryan, and he was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The subsequent release of this criminal, who was sent to Armenia to serve his sentence, is a clear indication of the perpetrators of these events.

The bloody events of January 20, committed 30 years ago, require a political and legal assessment of the international community. As a result of this brutal tragedy, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and other international legal documents have been grossly violated and, by its essence and scope, this event was one of the serious crimes of the 20th century. The former soviet leadership is directly responsible for this crime. According to international law, the events of January 20 should be described as a crime against humanity and its initiators and executors must be punished.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

In January 2017, Bernalillo County Sheriffs detectives ran DNA gathered from a rape kit through the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which collects DNA from convicted felons and some arrestees. There were no matches.

So, one night in June 2019, the Crime Strategies Unit with the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office created a profile on GEDmatch and uploaded a genetic file of that suspects DNA. Agents checked the box saying the sample was for law enforcement and confirmed that the case involved a violent crime.

By the morning they had received the first round of results, said Kyle Hartsock, the special agent in charge of the CSU.

Basically, heres how it works: The test counts a unit of measurement used in genetics called a centimorgan. Parents share about half  3,400  of their centimorgans with their offspring. Grandparents share about 25%  1,700 centimorgans  with their grandchildren. The numbers get smaller from there.

In this case, Hartsock said, the highest match found in the initial results shared only 36 centimorgans with the suspect, meaning the relationship was way too far removed to be useful.

Then in August, a user in southern California uploaded his DNA, and it came back with 95 centimorgans in common. That meant he was the suspects second cousin twice removed.

The user, a man in his 60s trying to learn more about his grandparents on his fathers side, was eager to help, and he let investigators collaborate with a part-time genealogist he had hired.

He had his fathers DNA tested as well and found there were 226 centimorgans in common with the suspects DNA.

Hartsock said he, two other special agents, and three college interns then spent thousands of hours building out family trees, digging through public and law enforcement records, and calling all possible relatives.

They zeroed in on Angel Gurule after finding an obituary for his 2-year-old brother, who had been killed in a horrific case of child abuse in Artesia in 1996. The obituary mentioned the victim had a baby brother, Angel Duran. That baby was adopted by the Gurule family, and they all lived within a half mile from where the rape occurred.

In November, investigators learned Gurules wife was at the hospital and, after the couple checked out, they picked up his discarded cup to be tested for DNA. The DNA from the cup matched the rape kit, according to the criminal complaint, and investigators had enough to arrest him.

Gurule was booked into the county jail Wednesday and is charged with criminal sexual penetration.

As for the second cousin twice removed, Hartsock said Thursday, I told him last night  he said awesome!!!
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  A minor political party in New York has sued over a new law approved by political appointees that will make it harder for parties to get on the ballot.

The Serve America Movement Party filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan Tuesday claiming the new requirement violates the publics constitutional right to create and develop new political parties.

Under the new law, minor parties would have to receive either 2% of total votes or 130,000 votes in a presidential year or 140,000 in a gubernatorial year. Before the new law was passed, minor parties could qualify for the ballot by securing 50,000 votes in the governors race.

Lawmakers tasked politically appointed commissioners with drawing up rules that became law in December for an up-to-$100 million system that would match candidates fundraising with taxpayer money. The goal is to reduce the role of deep-pocketed donors and corporations who have long held sway in Albany.

Senior advisor to the governor Rich Azzopardi said he hasn't seen the lawsuit.

But, as the governor said, if a political party wants access to taxpayer dollars, they should be able to generate a real level of support and I can't think of a better example, Azzopardi said.

The lawsuit, first reported by The Albany Times Union, also calls the new law burdensome for forcing the minor party to nominate a presidential candidate to maintain party status.

It's the latest litigation filed by minor political parties who are critical of parts of the new public campaign funding system, which commissioners delayed four years for state legislative races and six years for statewide races.

The Constitution forbids a state from compelling a political party to participate in a national election and address nationwide issues in order to speak to statewide issues, the complaint states.

Former Syracuse mayor Stephanie Miner ran for governor on the SAM party line in 2018.
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to China Saturday evening after a state visit to Myanmar.

He was seen off at the airport by Myanmar First Vice President U Myint Swe.

Four military aircraft of Myanmar took off to escort Xi's plane.

Xi's entourage, including Ding Xuexiang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee; Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee; State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi; and He Lifeng, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and head of the National Development and Reform Commission, also returned to China on the same day.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk speaks with NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, along with astronauts Victor Glover, Doug Hurley, Bob Behnken and Mike Hopkins, in front of the company's Crew Dragon capsule.

Elon Musk expects his space company's inaugural launch of NASA astronauts is only a few months away.

The SpaceX CEO said on Sunday that the company's first crewed mission will probably be in the second quarter of this year, between the months of April and June. Known as Demo-2, this mission would see two NASA astronauts visit the International Space Station for at least a few days. Musk noted that the rocket and spacecraft needed for the mission are already coming together in Florida.

"We're highly confident the hardware will be ready in Q1, most likely in February but no later than March," Musk said.

Musk made the comments at a press conference after the company completed the in-flight abort test of its Crew Dragon capsule. Musk spoke alongside NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who added that the agency and SpaceX are considering making Demo-2 a longer mission than previously expected.

"If it's going to be a longer duration, then we have to have some additional training for our astronauts to actually be prepared to do things on the International Space Station that we weren't planning to have that initial test crew necessarily do. So we've got to look at that and make a determination," Bridenstine said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 21:36:32|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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RABAT, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan authorities foiled on Sunday a mass attempt by over 400 sub-Saharan migrants to storm into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, the authorities of M'diq-Fnideq Prefecture said in a statement.

The migrants tried to enter through the Belyounech frontier post, which separates Morocco from the European territory.

A total of 24 security agents and some migrants sustained injuries and were rushed to hospitals, according to the statement.

Moroccan security services said they have arrested the migrants and handed them to the competent authorities.

Spain's two North African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta are often used as entry points into Europe for African migrants.
Despite the social media having been deluged by displaced Kashmiri pandits' video clippings vowing to "return and die" in the Valley, the community on Sunday appeared to be plagued by self doubts over the prospects of their return.

They demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should settle the community living as "refugees in their own country" for the past 30 years at one place in the Valley.

In the backdrop of Vidhu Vinod Chopra's film 'Shikara' on exodus of KPs, to be released in February, several Kashmiri pandits have taken to social media to express their love and willingness to return to their homeland in the Valley to "live and die" there.

"Haji Sahib, we will come back. We will live and die in Kashmir. Our ashes will be immersed in river Vitasta in Kashmir," is one such video clipping among many similar ones doing the rounds on social media.

Kashmiri pandits consider 'safety and security' as the biggest hurdle in their return to their roots in the Valley.

The displaced KPs across the world commemorated January 19 as 'holocaust day', when over 70 thousand pandit families numbering over 3.5 lakh were forced out of the Valley due to killings and terror by Pakistan sponsored terrorists in 1990.

The event this year was held against the backdrop of abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"We are hopeful that after the epochal decisions on August 5 and amendments in Citizenship Act, Union government under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi will address the pain and agony suffered by Hindus of Kashmir for last 30 years", Panun Kashmir convener Agnishakher said.

He said while Panun Kashmir bats for separate territory to be carved out in Kashmir for 7 lakh KPs, it is for government to discuss with the community the ways and means of the basis of return and rehabilitation of exiled community in accordance with the principle of non-refoulement.

Sitting in one-room quartet at Jagti camp on the outskirts of Jammu city, 89-year-old Mohan Lal Dhar wants one place settlement for all KPs in Kashmir.

He is hopeful that the government under PM Modi will rehabilitate them in Kashmir again.

Dhar, who is among the seven lakh-odd Kashmiri Pandits who had to flee Kashmir Valley in the wake of spread of terrorism in 1989-90, says they are living as "refugees in their own country" for three decades but nothing is being done for their return and rehabilitation, because terrorism is still on.

Somawati, who living Muthi camp after their migration from North Kashmir's Wadipora belt, wants to return to the valley to die there as she urges Modi ji to create condition at one place in valley.

"I want to die there. That is my last wish. Modi ji should settle us at one place in a secured environment. We are hopeful that our dream will be fulfilled", she added.

Spelling there demand, All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) General Secretary Dr T K Bhat said tmost KPs feel that "one place-settlement" is only alternative for return and rehabilitation of the minuscule community in Kashmir after ensuring their safety and security.

"Our core concern is safety and security for the community in Kashmir Valley," Bhat said.

Stressing on the security aspect, Bhat said, "You can guard our houses, colonies...but it is not possible to provide security to each and every Kashmiri Pandit when they go out in the market. Security is the most important aspect connected to the return of the community."



The UPA-1 government had offered a rehabilitation package for KPs that proposed Rs 7.5 lakh to every Kashmiri Pandit family willing to return to the Valley.

Several families volunteered to return and filled up the forms. Eight years after that, there has been no progress," said Poshker Nath, who has been living Roopnagar in Jammu.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had in a written reply in Parliament said that only one family has returned.

Prof B L Zutshi, a prominent social activist said, "one place homeland is the political empowerment of the community, and we look forward to this political empowerment.

He said, right since 1947, Kashmir was gradually moving into grip of fanaticism and theo-fascism and 1990 saw the culmination of a well orchestrated ploy to dislodge Kashmir Pandits the epitome of Indian Nationhood in Kashmir.

Bihari Kak, a popular artist and member of Athwas Cultural Association also feels that the security of the community is prime and first thing for return to the valley.

The KPs say their return to the Kashmir Valley is linked to employment, as the youths willing to return need to have a source of livelihood.

"The proposal to rehabilitate the community in composite townships in the Valley was mooted by the Narendra Modi government, which faced opposition not only from separatists but also the mainstream political parties in Kashmir.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
You can bet that as this year's presidential election campaign heats up, we'll be seeing more and more articles about the federal income tax rates that individual companies pay or the tax refunds that they're getting.

The numbers will be precise and look terrific. The only problem with them is that no one other than the corporations themselves will have any idea if they're accurate. And they almost certainly won't be.

That's because the documents that publicly traded U.S. companies file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are the source of the numbers, lump all sorts of things together, making it impossible to tell how much federal income tax a company pays for a given year.

You can bet that unless something changes, no one in a position of authority will propose the obvious and simple solution to let us find out how much federal income tax individual companies pay for any given year to help support the system that gives their business a chance to succeed in our country.

What's the solution, you ask? It's simple: Require companies that file information with the SEC to reveal information from two lines of their federal income tax returns. Those two lines are "taxable income" and "total tax."

If we had the numbers from those two lines, we'd know how much federal income tax (if any) is paid for a given year by companies like Facebook, Apple, Amazon (whose chief executive Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post) and Alphabet (which owns Google) that are considered major tax avoiders, compared with the overall profits they report.

And we might be able to judge how the corporate tax cut that President Donald Trump pushed through in 2017 is affecting them and other companies.

But absent that tax-return information, there's no way for us to tell how much federal income tax individual companies pay for a given year, regardless of how much work people do trying to parse these companies' financial filings.

No, this isn't just me saying this. It's the opinion of two of the best-known independent tax experts in the country, Bob Willens and Dave Zion, who have more than 70 years of combined history analyzing corporate tax information.

"For investors, trying to figure out taxes is like banging their head against a desk," Zion of Zion Research Group, who has 23 years in the tax biz, told me. "It hurts!"

"I've been asked literally thousands of times by analysts how much tax a company pays for a given year, and I've had to tell them, 'I have no idea,'" says Willens of Robert Willens LLC, who's been at this for 48 years. "It's virtually impossible to glean from the financial statements the amount of federal income taxes a company pays."

Now, let me step back a bit, explain to you how this has come to be, and to confess that for years, I made the same mistake that some of my journalistic colleagues are making by conflating numbers from footnotes in companies' SEC filings with federal income taxes paid for the year the filing covers.

I came to realize that these numbers cover income taxes that companies pay in a given period, not for a given period. And they include state and local and foreign income taxes as well as federal income taxes.

This means that if a company wins a tax case that stretches back years or loses such a case, it can get refunds or have to make large payments that skew an individual year's numbers. There are other complications, as well.

I think that the major reason that no one has gotten corporations to show the federal income tax they pay for a given year is that there's no constituency pushing for such disclosures.

Investors and analysts want to know what impact taxes have on a company's financial statement because that helps determine a company's earnings and presumably its stock price.

But there's no pressure on companies to disclose year-by-year taxes to help us figure out how much a company is supporting - or not supporting - our country. That's a social issue, but not an investment issue.

The simple solution - though not a real-time indicator - is to require companies with publicly traded securities to disclose the "taxable income" and "total tax" numbers from their corporate tax returns.

(It would be nice to require some other numbers, as well, but I'll settle for those two.)

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Companies could disclose that information in SEC filings, at minimal cost to themselves, soon after they file their tax returns. The returns are due April 15 for companies with calendar years, but in many cases companies avail themselves of an automatic six-month extension and don't file until October.

Even with a 10-month time lag, the information would be immensely helpful to those of us who'd like to find out which companies are helping support our country and which are getting free rides at our expense.

In addition, if in the first year these rules were in effect we required companies to file five years of numbers, we'd have data to build on.

There is some movement in both Europe and the United States to require more detailed tax numbers, but I wouldn't bet on it producing the information we need.

For example, the Financial Accounting Standards Board is considering a proposal requiring companies to disclose separate quarter-by-quarter income-taxes-paid numbers for federal, state and foreign taxes. But even if that came to pass, which doesn't seem imminent, we'd know the taxes paid in a given period not for a period.

It would be nice if Congress or the SEC or someone with authority proposed that companies be required to disclose the tax return information I'm looking for.

Or maybe a few giant, non-political institutional investors - index-fund-management firms come to mind - could push for such disclosures because it's in both the public's and investors' long-term interests for accurate tax information to be disclosed.

But until and unless that happens, be prepared to read more stories with inaccurate numbers.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday said he has had detailed discussions with BJP national President Amit Shah on the cabinet expansion and that the exercise would be carried out after his return from Davos.

The Chief Minister told reporters before leaving for Davos to attend the World Economic Forum meet that he hoped his visit would help bring in large-scale investments to the state.

"On cabinet expansion, I had detailed discussions for about half-an-hour (with Amit Shah on Saturday), got a good response... one or two days after I come from Davos, I will expand the cabinet. There are no stumbling blocks for it, Yediyurappa said.

He also rubbished media reports about lack of clarity on the Ministry expansion.

"It is not right... there are no issues, he said.

Asked whether he would travel to Delhi to meet Shah after returning from Davos, Yediyurappa merely said, "It is natural for me to meet Amit Shah."



According to the Chief Ministers tour programme, he will be back in the city on January 24.

Yediyurappa, along with Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Mansukh Mandaviya, as well as Chief Ministers Amarinder Singh of Punjab and Kamal Nath of Madhya Pradesh, are among those expected to join over 100 Indian CEOs at Davos in the coming days for the WEF's 50th annual meeting.

Stating that he was leaving on a four day trip for Davos with an aim to bring investments to the state, he said interactions have been fixed with 38 industrialists and investors.

"There is a large possibility of investments coming to the state from meetings during the WEF meet. I will assure industrialists and investors that the government will give all necessary facilities within our limits and also clear all the doubts that they have," the Chief Minister said.

He said employment opportunities in Karnataka would increase due to all these efforts.

Claiming that the economic situation in Karnataka was stable despite the global economic slowdown, he said the state was also organising the Global Investors Meet in November to attract industries and create employment opportunities.

The delegation led by Yediyurappa includes Industries Minister Jagadish Shattar, Chief Secretary T M Vijaya Bhaskar and top officials of the state government.

The Chief Minister,who was anxiously waiting for the high command's nod to expand his ministry amid intense lobbying by the aspirants, was keen on getting approval for it from Shah, but was asked to visit Delhi after returning from Davos, party sources said.

They also said that with J P Nadda all set to take over as BJP National President, he would have final discussions with Yediyurappa on the Ministry expansion exercise.

S R Vishwanath,Political Secretarytothe Chief Minister too said that Yediyurappa would go to Delhi after his return from Davos and immediately expand the Ministry.

He said the Chief Minister has been asked to hold discussions with Nadda, who is currently BJPs National Working President and finalise things.

As the Chief Minister has already made it clear that 11 of the disqualified JDS-Congress MLAs who got re-elected in the bypolls on BJP tickets will be made ministers, lobbying has been on in the party for the remaining ministerial berths.

Currently there are 18 Ministers, including the Chief Minister in the cabinet that has a sanctioned strength of 34.

However, with some reports that the high command may not be keen on making all the 11 re-elected legislators, whom Yediyurappa has given assurance, as Ministers, it remains to be seen how things turn out.

Cabinet expansion will not be an easy task for the Chief Minister as he will have 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 in his cabinet and also deal with allocation of key portfolios.

Also, disqualified legislators who lost on a BJP ticket during the bypoll like A H Vishwanath (Hunsur) openly expressing their ministerial aspirations has added to the Chief Minister's worry.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Armed Forces personnel were deployed Sunday to help Newfoundland and Labrador dig out from the monster blizzard that paralyzed eastern regions of the province with record breaking amounts of snow, as forecasts called for yet more precipitation overnight.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A snowboarder takes advantage of prime conditions in St. Johns on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. The state of emergency ordered by the City of St. John's continues, leaving businesses closed and vehicles off the roads in the aftermath of the major winter storm that hit the Newfoundland and Labrador capital. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Armed Forces personnel were deployed Sunday to help Newfoundland and Labrador dig out from the monster blizzard that paralyzed eastern regions of the province with record breaking amounts of snow, as forecasts called for yet more precipitation overnight.

Premier Dwight Ball asked for Ottawa's help on Saturday, as residents of St. John's and other communities on the Avalon Peninsula awoke to drifts that blocked doorways and clogged roads.

Through the weekend, neighbours worked to help one another unbury their vehicles and homes, and to locate necessities ranging from prescription medicines to gasoline.

Meanwhile, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians were among the first personnel boarding Hercules aircraft from Gagetown, N.B., to join with reserves in St. John's.

Cpl. Tiffany Mackey, who grew up in Lewisporte, N.L., said she was eager to begin helping residents cope with the highest single-day accumulation on record  more than 76 centimetres in a single day in the capital.

She'd just finished chatting on her cell phone with her stepmother, a nurse who had just worked for 50 hours at a St. John's hospital during the blizzard.

"We're using our resources to help the people of Newfoundland and Labrador ... with this snow mess," said Mackey, a medic.

"The fact I can help out and give back is a really good feeling."

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said at a news conference in Winnipeg that two Cormorant helicopters, at least one Griffin helicopter and two Hercules aircraft have been deployed to Newfoundland.

"What you'll see is probably by the end of today (Sunday), you'll have about 150 to 200 personnel on the ground ready to provide support. This could surge up to anywhere between 250 to 300 by tomorrow and the coming days," he said.

Their expected tasks will include assisting with snow removal, providing residents with transportation to warming or emergency centres, and ensuring the elderly and those with health concerns are cared for.

Some municipalities including St. John's, Portugal Cove-St. Philip's, Conception Bay South and Mount Pearl eased their states of emergency Sunday to make exceptions for some businesses stocking essential needs like medication and gas. People lined up at open gas stations for emergency supplies after days of being snowed in.

St. John's said its state of emergency would remain in place Monday, with exceptions for private snow clearing contractors and gas stations for emergency refueling. After initially saying pharmacies would be open for emergency medication needs, the City later said the forecasted snowfall meant they would need to remain closed.

On Sunday evening, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary took to social media to reminded people to stay off the roads.

"Our municipalities are working hard to remove snow to allow emergency services to navigate in case of an emergency. Motorists and pedestrians must stay off the roads while this work is done," the constabulary shared in a tweet.

Nearby towns of Mount Pearl and Paradise announced that as of Monday, state of emergency conditions would be temporarily lifted during the day, with only emergency vehicles, essential workers travelling to work and snow plows allowed on the roads overnight. Both towns still urged people to stay home unless absolutely necessary.

In the meantime, residents pitched in to assist home-bound neighbours who had reached out for help on social media.

Jess Pynn's west end neighbourhood was buried under snow by Friday evening as she and her fiance dealt with their 13-month-old daughter's unexpected fever.

The family ran out of medicine and Pynn took to a neighbourhood Facebook group asking for help once the skies were clear.

"Within one hour, a lady I had never met before was at my front door with a full bottle of medicine and a box of popsicles," Pynn said by email.

Her daughter's fever was brought under control by Sunday morning and Pynn said she feels "blessed" to live in a place where neighbours cheerily trek through unplowed streets to help those in need.

"If it wasn't for these kind people, I don't know what I would do," Pynn said. "There would be absolutely no way we would be able to leave here by vehicle and she probably would have (gotten) a lot more sick."

A warming centre opened at The Salvation Army Church in Conception Bay South on Sunday, where residents who had been living without power for days but were stuck at home under the state of emergency were permitted to travel for food and warmth.

Reached by phone Sunday afternoon, Maj. Chris Pilgrim with The Salvation Army said one middle-aged married couple had already made it to the centre as organizers prepared for more anticipated arrivals around suppertime.

He said the first visitors had been without power since Friday.

"They woke this morning, they said they could see their breath in the house," Pilgrim said. "It got quite cold for them."

Debbie Forward, the president of the Registered Nurses' Union Newfoundland and Labrador, said that some health care workers had been on the job since Thursday night.

"It's been extraordinary," she said. "It's like something I haven't seen since I was a very young girl."

Meanwhile, a search resumed Sunday morning for a man who went missing during the weekend storm, with the RCMP asking people in the area of Roaches' Line to check sheds, vehicles and other structures on their properties in case 26-year-old Joshua Wall has taken shelter there.

The RCMP in Bay Roberts said Wall disappeared after leaving his home in Roaches Line, about 70 kilometres west of the capital of St. John's, on Friday to walk through a wooded area to a friend's home in nearby Marysvale.

On Sunday morning, an RCMP spokeswoman said the search area has expanded as police now believe Wall may have made it out of the wooded area and back on to the Roaches' Line roadway, following a reported sighting of a man on Saturday night.

But at nightfall, the search was paused yet again. Police said they expected to resume the search on Monday morning, weather permitting.

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Newfoundland Power crews continued working overnight to reconnect about 3,500 customers blacked out during the height of the storm. St. John's International Airport updated its Twitter account Sunday saying commercial flights would not resume until Monday at 8 p.m. evening at the earliest.

And there was one more bit of unwelcome news, as Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the St. John's area, saying at least 15 centimetres of snow was expected to fall between Sunday night and Monday morning. The forecast was updated with a blowing snow advisory Sunday afternoon.

St. John's Mayor Danny Breen said that as of Sunday single lanes of most roads in the capital had been cleared and major thoroughfares had two lanes open, but more snow removal will be needed overnight.

"It's challenging but our staff are working very hard and we're getting there," he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Jan, 19, 2020.

 with files from Michael Tutton in Halifax and Joan Bryden in Winnipeg.
Merrillville-based Centier Bank President and CEO Michael E. Schrage promoted Nikolina Duhon to oversee the bank's risk management efforts.

Schrage named Duhon as supervisor of the bank's Enterprise Risk Management Department, which is responsible for anticipating and mitigating business risks.

The Munster resident provided assurance services to clients like hedge funds and broker-dealer organizations while serving as a senior accountant at a financial firm before joining Centier in 2017. Duhon, an Indiana University Kelley School of Business graduate and member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merillville, most recently served as a financial analyst at the bank, which is the largest privately owned bank in the state of Indiana.

In her new role, she has been tasked with further developing the Enterprise Risk Management program at Centier.

I enjoy communicating with individuals throughout Centier regarding both risk practices and emerging risks, she said. I appreciate working for an organization that has created a corporate culture that encourages professional growth and leadership.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris  Sun, January 19, 2020 08:01 724 48be62e941b44f04afae568c322b4066 2 Entertainment Amelie,La-La-Land,director,Netflix,Jean-Pierre-Jeunet,damien-chazelle Free

The maker of the quirky French hit "Amelie" is shooting a new film for Netflix, the streaming giant revealed Friday.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet, who broke through internationally with his 1991 cannibal comedy "Delicatessen", is working on a similarly black futuristic caper called "Bigbug".french

It was one of some 20 French projects announced by Netflix on Friday, topped by Damien Chazelle's forthcoming musical series set in a Paris jazz club, "The Eddy".

Read also: Sorry, Netflix fans, Telkom says streaming service still blocked on its networks

The Franco-American filmmaker -- who triumphed at the Oscars with "La La Land" in 2017 -- will premiere the series shot over 20 weeks in the French capital at the Berlin film festival next month.

Netflix chief Reed Hastings also said that Fanny Herrero, the creator of the cult show "Call My Agent" had also been commissioned to make a new six-part series in French about young comedians trying to make their name on the Paris stand-up scene.

He said the streamer was investing some 100 million euros ($111 million) in France this year.

Hastings had earlier confirmed that Netflix has some 6.7 millions subscribers in the country and 158 million worldwide.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced that it would hold its planned protest on Monday.

The PDP National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobundu, in a statement said the protest is to register the displeasure of the party against the current state of affairs in the country, especially the miscarriages of justice of the Supreme Court against the lawfully elected Governor of Imo.

He disclosed that the protest will take off from the partys complex, popularly called Legacy House, at Maitama, Abuja by 9 a.m.

The PDP national chairman, Uche Secondus, had announced on Friday during the partys emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that the party would embark on a protest.

Mr. Secondus stated that the aim of the protest was to impress it on Nigerians that injustice had been done to the party.

According to him, the declaration of Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the Imo State Governor is a miscarriage of Justice.

He said although justice comes only from God, the aggrieved PDP leaders must speak out against injustice as their silence could be taken for consent to the alleged injustice.

The Supreme Court had on Tuesday nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as the governor of Imo State.

The apex court declared Hope Uzodinma of the APC as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the state.

Mr Uzodinma originally came fourth in the election while Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance (AA) and Ifeanyi Ararume of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) came second and third respectively.

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad gave the unanimous decision on Tuesday in Abuja.

The PDP called for the immediate review and reversal of the decision of the Supreme Court and the exit of Mr Muhammad as chief justice.
Sol Neelman/The Oregonian

There are a lot of outstanding natural areas in Oregon, but only three places in the state have been officially designated as such.

The Bureau of Land Management reserves its Outstanding Natural Area designation for a place with high scenic values that has been little altered by human impact.

While that could seemingly apply to any number of places around the country, only 11 have earned the distinction: three in California, three in Utah, one in Montana, one in Florida and the three right here in Oregon.



These areas are also all designated as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, where special attention is required to protect historic, cultural or scenic resources, as well as wildlife habitats.

Behind these wonky designations are areas that are simply special. Whether its an ancient old-growth forest, old lava flows in the desert or a spectacular coastal headland, each place is worthy of our attention and praise.

These are the three Outstanding Natural Areas found around Oregon:

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Yaquina Head

One of many beautiful headlands on the Oregon coast, Yaquina Head in Newport is notable for its many natural and human-made features. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse is the most striking  at 162 feet tall, it's the tallest lighthouse in Oregon  but visitors can also go see harbor seals at Quarry Cove, get down to the ocean at Cobble Beach, and find spectacular views atop Salal Hill and Communications Hill. The interpretive center found within the park is also worth a visit, with great exhibits on wildlife and local history.



Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, 7 a.m. to sunset from July 1 to Sept. 15. The park is at 750 N.W. Lighthouse Drive, Newport. Entrance fee is $7 per vehicle. Find more information at blm.gov or call 541-574-3100.

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Valley of the Giants

If the name doesn't catch your attention, a description might do the trick: Valley of the Giants is a pocket of incredible old-growth forest, home to some of the tallest and oldest Douglas fir and hemlock trees in Oregon. Found in the Coast Range between Salem and Lincoln City, the area is open to hikers via an easy 1.6-mile loop trail. The trailhead, however, isn't exactly easy to access. To get there, visitors must navigate a confusing maze of potholed forest roads that crisscross public and private land, and have to dodge logging trucks on the weekdays.



Anyone who wants to visit Valley of the Giants should call the Salem BLM office at 503-375-5646 for up-to-date conditions and directions.

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Diamond Craters

Far out in the high desert of southeast Oregon, Diamond Craters is a series of small volcanic attractions, strung together by winding dirt roads. The craters formed sometime in the last 25,000 years, as molten basalt spilled forth from cracks in the earth, interacting with the environment in several fascinating ways. The result was features like Red Bomb Crater, Malheur Maar and several distinctive lava flows. There are 13 stops in all, which visitors can explore on their own or with the help of an auto tour brochure available online.



Diamond Craters is found in a remote area of southeast Oregon. From Burns, take Oregon Route 78 east, then Oregon Route 205 south. In 40.7 miles, turn left onto Diamond Lane. After 6.8 miles, turn left onto Lava Beds Road. In 3.2 miles, turn left onto a dirt road that leads into the natural area  look for a kiosk on the left just up the road. Dirt roads lead to various numbered attractions within Diamond Craters.

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--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB

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MORE BEAUTIFUL OREGON

Our best Oregon travel photos of 2019

Oregons 50 most beautiful places

The most iconic landmarks on the Oregon coast

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When Mehdi Farsi decided to move production of his companys bicycles out of China to escape U.S. tariffs, it took him months to find another factory in Asia.

Farsi opened State Bicycle Co with his brother in 2009. It is based in the American state of Arizona.

He first turned to Taiwan. But he found that most factories there were so busy with business from competitors that they turned down his low volume and less profitable orders.

Farsis struggle represents the difficulties that many U.S. companies have faced during the trade war between the worlds two biggest economies.

A 'gift' to other countries

A phase 1 trade deal between the United States and China was signed earlier this week. But the deal does not change much for Farsi and others in the bicycle business. The 25-percent tariffs on bicycles and most bike parts remain in place.

Bicycle companies are moving their operations to Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and other places in Asia. But factories outside of China often lack the ability to take in everyone seeking a new base. That has increased the costs of moving and finding new suppliers.

Some U.S. companies say it now makes more sense to just accept the tariff costs and continue manufacturing in China.

After months of research and several trips, Farsi finally found a small Taiwanese factory willing to make his specialty bicycles. But Farsi had to triple orders and pay 30 percent of the cost of goods at the start. When he worked with a factory in China, he only paid after delivery of the products.

Gina Chang is secretary general of the Taiwan Bicycle Association. She called the China-U.S. trade war a Christmas gift for Taiwan. But she said the islands limited capacity meant some manufacturers had turned down business to work on existing orders -- which mostly include electronic bikes from Europe.

Taiwans U.S. bicycle exports jumped 37 percent in the first 10 months of 2019, the association reports. But Chang said manufacturers resisted expanding production lines; they feared orders might drop if the trade war ended.

Moving production back to the U.S.

To help bicycle companies, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been offering tariff exclusions to some of their imports since September 2019. The administration announced additional exclusions earlier this year for electronic bikes and for most childrens bikes.

The exclusions, however, are only for one year. And, they are meant to give companies more time to move production - hopefully to the United States.

But Don DiCostanzo of Pedego Electric Bikes in California said higher labor costs and the lack of a strong supply base have made it nearly impossible to produce bikes in the United States.

DiCostanzo did look into setting up a U.S. factory. But he said production costs would have doubled. Instead, he moved Pedegos production to Vietnam in December 2018. Even if they slap 100 percent tariffs on bicycles, Im not sure that will be enough to bring production back to the U.S, he said.

Farsi said he did not even consider moving production to the United States. And ongoing concerns about tariffs left him no choice but to stay invested in Taiwan.

In the 1970s, the United States produced more than 15 million bicycles a year. Now it makes fewer than 500,000. Those numbers are from industry data presented to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in 2018.

China, on the other hand, made about 95 percent of the bikes sold in the U.S. in 2018.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.

____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tariffs - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country

volume - n. an amount of something

triple - v. to cause (something) to become three times as great or as many

capacity - n. the ability to hold or contain people or things

exclusion - n. the act of leaving (something) out of something
Robert P. George urges AG Barr to take action against porn industry

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Professor Robert P. George, who's described by many as the most influential conservative Christian thinker in the country, is urging U.S. Attorney General William Barr to address the pornography epidemic.

In an interview with The Daily Wire, George, a professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University and one of the founders of the American Principles Project, a conservative think tank, explained why he's advocating that action be taken at the federal level to combat pornography.

The rise of online pornography for children  even young children  has made this issue resurgent again, George told The Daily Wire. Addiction and sexual addiction connected to pornography has contributed to this. People know about it  people who are married to addicts.

He added, "One additional piece of the puzzle: We have become much more cognizant, over the past decade or two decades, with the way the porn industry has become intertwined with sexual enslavement.

You put those things together and you can see why the issue has come back  and come back with an urgency. The moral issues remain, but the public health dimensions and our sensitivity to sexual exploitation has increased. And the #MeToo movement has helped here.

His words come amid a trend in conservative states where Republican-led legislatures have passed resolutions calling attention to the public health harms of porn and its demonstrable link to domestic violence and human trafficking.

Thus far, 15 states have passed anti-porn resolutions, many of which have been based on a template by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, a Washington-based advocacy group that believes the porn industry must be fought on a social level given how it saturates culture.



Last month, four Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives also reached out to Barr, urging the Department of Justice to follow through with President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign promise to restrain the porn industry.

Those who often argue against laws restricting or regulating porn assert that explicit content falls under the umbrella of the First Amendment, that it is essentially another form of constitutionally protected free speech.

The goal of government is to protect health, safety, and morals, along with the common good  certainly in conjunction with protecting individual rights, George told The Daily Wire.

There are social interests here that need to be balanced and Im usually happy to err on the side of freedom, but for the vast amount of pornography, were just not talking about materials that are legally protected.

The Princeton professor's letter to Barr requests clarification on federal policy as it pertains to the enforcement of obscenity laws already on the books and whether they will be applied to internet porn.

As everyone knows, the online pornography industry has exploded, the letter reads.

There has been a dramatic rise in illegal pornography production and distribution. Hotels, cable and TV companies, and internet pornography distributors regularly sell pornography featuring horrific themes such as the rape of teenagers, incest, sexual assault, sex trafficking and slavery, suffocation, bondage, and even cartoon pornography targeted at minor children.  A 13-year-old with a smartphone now has unlimited access to his own personal theatre of sexual horrors.

In December, The American Principles Project and other conservative media outlets deliberately raised the spectre of the harms of pornography in an effort to stir debate about the government's role in restraining it to protect children. But talk of taking more action has been percolating for years among conservatives. In a February 2018 New York Times article, columnist Ross Douthat called for a porn ban.

The reaction against porn from conservatives also comes amid shifting opinions among the general public. Gallup research from June 2018 found that 43 percent of survey respondents said they believed porn was morally acceptable, a 7 point uptick from 2011 when questions of that nature were first asked.
Facebook apologized on Saturday after its platform translated Xi Jinping, the name of the Chinese leader, from Burmese to a vulgar word in English.

The mistranslation caught the companys attention when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto civilian leader of Myanmar, wrote on her official Facebook page about Mr. Xis two-day visit to her country.

When the Burmese posts were translated into English on Facebook, Mr. Xis name repeatedly appeared as Mr. Shithole.

It was not clear how long the issue lasted, but Googles translation function did not show the same error, Reuters reported.
Echelon Data Centres has agreed to purchase a site at the Kish Business Park in Arklow as it looks to develop a second data centre in the Co Wicklow town.

It is understood that Irish-owned Echelon's newly acquired site covers 60 acres of land, with development expected to be undertaken in two phases. The first phase could see the construction of a 100MW, 450,000 sq ft data centre.

A second phase is understood to have been earmarked for either further data centre development, or for the generation of renewable power.

Given the Kish data centre is a similar size to Echelon's first 100MW Arklow centre, it could involve an investment of around 500m from the Dublin company. Announced last year, the original Arklow data centre, located at the Avoca River Park, is set to create 450 construction jobs, followed by another 90 positions to operate the facility.

A spokesman for Echelon, which is owned by Aldgate Developments, confirmed its plan for a second data centre in Arklow.

"Echelon Data Centres can confirm that it has agreed to purchase a site on the Kish Business Park as part of expansion plans to be a major owner and operator of data centres throughout Europe," he said.

"The new site is ideally located to be developed, in conjunction with Echelon's existing Irish sites in Arklow and Dublin, as part of a data centre availability zone which can best meet the requirements of international companies whose businesses rely on being able to handle large amounts of data.

"Additionally, our sites in Kish and Arklow have excellent potential to benefit from the supply of renewable energy, which is a vital factor in Echelon's commitment to the sustainable development of facilities which meet the growing global demand for data centre capacity."

The company would not comment on the size of the data centre, the required investment or the number of jobs it could create.

Echelon Data Centres was founded by Aldgate Developments director Niall Molloy in the second half of 2018.

Last year, the company announced it would build two data centres in Ireland, both of which would be 100MW developments, in Clondalkin, Dublin, and Arklow, representing a total investment of 1bn.

Echelon has expressed an interest in developing data centres in other markets. In September, it invested 150m (176m) in a 115MW facility close to central London.
The hate needs to be hated and not people, was a message from film director Vidhu Vinod Chopra at a special screening of his film "Shikara" which revolves around exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.

A resident of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, an emotional Chopra dedicated his movie to his mother who passed away in 2007.

Chopra said the message "must go out to the whole world and in India that the only thing to hate is hate."



"We live in a country where all the Muslims of Kashmir supported me on a film on the exodus of the Pandits. This was Kashmir and Insha-Allah (God willing) this Kashmir will come back. We will go back and live the way we used to. This is my hope," the director said.

On this day in 1990, the militancy rose its ugly head threatening the Kashmiri Pandit community which led to their exodus to Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country.

Chopra was speaking at a special 30 minute-screening of "Shikara", which was attended by Kashmiri Pandit refugees from Jammu's Jagti migrant camp, along with Abhijat Joshi and Rahul Pandita, the other two writers of the film.

The filmmaker, best known for producing films such as the "Munnabhai" series, "3 Idiots" and "PK", urged the politicians and media to raise the issue in the Parliament.

"I'd like to ask them 'what did you do for the past 30 years?' Nobody listened to us all theseyears. There was no noise in the Parliament. At least make some noise now," Chopra said.

Pandita, a writer-journalist, said the film is the true story of many of the Kashmiri Pandits.

"We were asked to leave our houses within a matter of weeks. All of us left like that, suddenly. My mother was exactly was my age in 1990 when she left Kashmir with three suitcases - one with my and my sisters' books, others had some clothes.

"I can't even narrate what all we faced. The humiliation, bathing under public taps, no daris, no blankets, standing all day for tomatoes, but we never lost hope," he said.

Pandita, the author of the book on the exodus "Our Moon Has Blood Clots", said the legacy of education was the "biggest weapon" they always held on to.

"We never left that. When I go back to Kashmir, I feel a spring of Kashmiri language erupts into me. Many times I wonder if I even know this language, how am I able to summon these words?" he added.

Joshi, Chopra's frequent collaborator, said the film has been under production for 11 years but the director wanted to make "Shikara" since 1994.

"I have seen his struggle for the past 25 years. When Rahul's book came out, there was a belief that maybe we'll be able to make this film after all.To do justice to something so monumental. I was fortunate to be attached to with this project.

"He has lived the reality shown in this film, his mother couldn't go back to Kashmir and yet 25 years later, there's not one moment when I've seen him hate any community or religion," the writer said.

Featuring Aadil Khan and Sadia, the film is slated to be released on February 7.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Indian Constitution had various guiding ideals but the ideal of forging a political society that was democratic, that had diversity and unity was its central glue.

The diversity referred to the unmistakable extant social and economic conditions; the unity and democracy were challenges and aspirations. All of these were, in fact, audacities, because of the particular vision of Indias future that they embodied. They furnished the palette for subsequent idealism; but also, for dubious political extravagances.

In December 1946, when the Constituent Assembly met to draw up the Indian Constitution, the Muslim League members were not in attendance. There were numerous empty seats in the chamber.

Various members, including Jawaharlal Nehru, lamented the empty seats, and expressed the hope that those who were absent would soon join the deliberations of the assembly. This was an indication that many members wanted the Constitution that they were designing to have broad and diverse representation and legitimacy.

Most importantly, they did not want it to have a religious tilt. Even the currently much contested Article 370 only became a part of the Constitution in 1954. Despite the special provisions it made for some citizens, the provision referred only to Jammu and Kashmir. It had an exclusively geographical remit, and did not challenge the Constitutions self-conscious injunction against having a religious base or orientation.

This concern with unity, within the extant context of religious and other forms of diversity, was the defining normative foundation of the Indian Constitution. It anchored the vision of a society, which from its very inception, aspired to a republican form of governance, and was forged around the guiding principles of equality, fundamental rights and universal adult franchise.

These were utterly audacious aspirations because they had a vexed relationship to the conditions on the ground, namely: mass poverty, gross inequality, widespread illiteracy, and a social system built around the stigmatising hierarchies and inequities of the caste system. A third of the country was still under princely rule with their various and arcane intricacies and special relationships with the British Crown, another third lived under direct British rule, there were a dizzying array of languages, and a plethora of minorities with their distinct religious beliefs and practices.

India was a mess. It was not clear what the grounds were for it to be country, let alone a democratic one. It appeared to have few, if any, of the requisite conditions for being a country or a democracy  other than a long history of shared boundaries, comingling, commerce and modes of communicating.

But these aspects of sharing were as much the integuments of a civilisational ethos and practice. Nations, as (German philosopher) Hegel mentioned, have separateness as their essential feature, which require distinct boundaries and a singular and ultimate font of power, i.e. a state.

Many scholars have pointed out that empires were more adept at managing the challenges posed by diversities and minorities, than nation-states. After all, empires were not burdened by the need for uniformity, which has restricted the room for manoeuvre of the modern nation state. The imperatives underlying empires were prestige, which typically came down to size and expansion, and perhaps, economic interests. These were often warped in the language of a civilising moral project; at any rate, identity was not central to their modus vivendi.

This absence of a reliable and distinctive identity was one reason why so many commentators, both Indian and foreign, ended their reflections on India with some version of the question  will India survive?  to which they typically had deeply sceptical or explicitly negative answer.

The early idealism of India can be appreciated by comparing it with European nation states. All the countries of Europe, including what are now known as the northern

European social democratic states, when

they first laid out their republican and

constitutional framework, had restricted franchises, based on religion, property ownership, gender and ethnicity, or they were anchored on racially discriminating ideas to which they gave constitutional legitimacy. They, too, did not have the advantage of shared religion, ethnicity, and historical experience. All of these were constructions. Nationalism is, and always was, as much a nostalgia for a home  typically imaginary, and one that is constructed through acts of collective forgetting.

The theorist of nationalism, Ernst Renan, once asked, Who in France today recalls the massacre at St. Bartholomew in 1572? Yet as an event, it was crucial to the forging of the national identity of France. His point was that the collective forgetting was itself crucial to Frances future identity.

Most countries in Europe faced a similar predicament, that is, they did not have nationalism or republicanism given to them on a platter. How did they navigate these challenges? In the main, it was not a pretty picture. It included war and genocide, mandated programs of cultural and national assimilation, the imposed uniformities of the educational systems, openness towards and but also a fear of immigrants, the generosities and the retractions of public subsidies. That is to say, through a mix of constitutional politics and electoral representational politics, which tend to reflect the eddies of public opinion.

In contrast, the unique features of the Indian constitutional moment, which gave it its distinctive energy, opportunities and imposed its own burdens, was that it had so little it could presume on.

Its foundations from the very beginning were bound to be weak, because both the nation and its guiding normative constitutional structure were fragile. This gave latitude and importance to both the politics of principle, and to the politics of public opinion. Certain features in fact were neither, such as the unity that stemmed from geography: the Himalayan arch on the north, the southern peninsula, the two river systems on the east and west. Following partition, this argument was in bad odour, because it was associated with the breaking up of India, driven by the logic of numbers. (This is a deep tension in democratic politics and theory, because it embraces two ideas, representation and unity, which pull in different directions.)

The other feature which worked to the advantage of the nationalist cause was the shared experience of the struggle against imperial subjection. The collective consciousness, about this relatively new thing called a nation, which these movements produced, and which were led by impressive leaders such as MK Gandhi, Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel, produced a national consolidation and unity. This consciousness is linked to iconic events that helped forge the sense of nation: such as the Satyagraha movement in 1920s, the Dandi march in 1930, the Non-Cooperation movement in 1920 and the mass outpouring of grief following the assassination of Gandhi in 1948.

But finally, there was another distinctive feature of the Indian Constitution, which gave its progressive orientation and idealism. That was its crucial commitment to a liberal constitutional and democratic framework.

It enshrines and gives expression to a particular kind of energy, which is a braid of the political, democratic and diverse. It is in the main, a nationalism that is constructed, almost pure, and almost without foundations; but not quite, because it does have foundations that are of sand; sand which can, at least, occasionally, support and nurture large trees, under whose canopy various life forms can survive, indeed, sometime flourish.

India is an ongoing experiment in the audacity of hope. We, as citizens, must do everything in our power to protect and venerate it, without ever deifying it, because that is a religious category, or leaving it to the whims of popular opinion.

(Mehta is a distinguished professor of political science at Graduate Center, City University of New York)
News

Washington, DC - Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, 39, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, and Majid Ghorbani, 60, an Iranian citizen and resident of California, have been sentenced to prison terms of 38 months and 30 months, respectively, for their criminal convictions relating to their conduct conducting surveillance of and collecting identifying information about American citizens and U.S. nationals who are members of the group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK).

On Jan. 15, 2020, the Honorable Paul L. Friedman sentenced Doostdar to a prison term of 38 months, 36 months of supervised release, and a fine of $14,153. Ghorbani was sentenced to a prison term of 30 months and 36 months of supervised release.

On Oct. 8, 2019, Doostdar entered guilty pleas to one count of acting as an agent of the government of Iran without notifying the Attorney General, in violation of 18 U.S.C.  951, and one count of conspiring to violate that statute, in violation of 18 U.S.C.  371. On Nov. 4, 2019, Ghorbani entered a guilty plea to one count of willfully violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C.  1705, and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations 31 C.F.R. Parts 560.204 and 560.206.

This case illustrates Irans targeting of Americans in the United States in order to silence those who oppose the Iranian regime or otherwise further its goals, said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. The defendants, working for Iran, gathered information on Americans that could then be used by the Iranian intelligence services to intimidate or harm them or their families. These prosecutions should serve as a reminder to anyone here working covertly for Iran that the American law enforcement will pursue you to protect this country, its citizens and the First Amendment principles upon which it was founded.

The sentences in this case illustrate the high cost to those who act as agents of the Iranian government in the United States or provide services that benefit the government of Iran, especially when those activities target the free speech and peaceful assembly rights of people in the United States, said Jessie K. Liu, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. We will continue to thwart efforts by foreign governments to endanger our national security and to stifle the freedoms that all Americans cherish.

"The FBI will not tolerate surveillance being conducted here in the United States at the behest of foreign nations like Iran," said Jay Tabb, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI's National Security Branch. "Such activity is intimidating, particularly to individuals who exercise their constitutional rights to free speech and criticize the Iranian government. The FBI will continue to pursue such activity on U.S. soil and disrupt efforts by any individuals who take such actions on behalf of Iran."

As part of his plea, Doostdar admitted under oath that he traveled to the United States from Iran on three occasions in order to meet with Ghorbani and to convey directions for Ghorbanis activities on behalf of the government of Iran. Prior to Doostdars first trip to the United States, his handler with the government of Iran identified Ghorbani by name, showed Doostdar a photograph of Ghorbani, and told him where Ghorbani worked.

During Doostdars first trip to the United States in July 2017, Doostdar met Ghorbani at Ghorbanis workplace. Doostdar admitted that, during a subsequent conversation, Ghorbani told Doostdar that he was willing to work for the government of Iran in the United States.

On Sept. 20, 2017, Ghorbani attended a rally in New York City organized by the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK). The rally consisted of constitutionally-protected activity, including U.S. citizens denouncing the Iranian regime. At the rally, Ghorbani photographed rally attendees, including MEK leaders.

In December 2017, during Doostdars second trip to the United States as part of the conspiracy, Doostdar met with Ghorbani and collected the rally photographs from Ghorbani. The photographs depicted MEK leaders and included hand-written notes identifying the individuals and listing their positions in the group. Under oath, Ghorbani admitted to attending the September 2017 MEK rally and to photographing and gathering information on rally attendees to provide to Doostdar and ultimately to individuals in Iran. Doostdar paid Ghorbani $2,000 for his work, which Doostdar admitted had been provided by Doostdars government of Iran handler.

During this December 2017 trip, Ghorbani and Doostdar also discussed Ghorbanis planned travel to Iran in March 2018, and Ghorbani offered to provide an in-person briefing on rally attendees during this trip. Later in December 2017, Doostdar departed the United States for Iran with the photographs and handwritten notes provided by Ghorbani.

In May 2018, Ghorbani traveled to another MEK rally, this time in Washington, D.C., where he again collected information on participants critical of the Iranian regime. Following that rally, Doostdar admitted that he and Ghorbani spoke by telephone and discussed the methods that Ghorbani could use to provide the information collected at that rally to Doostdar in Iran.

Doostdar further admitted that, during his travel to the United States to task Ghorbani with collecting information on U.S. persons on behalf of the Iranian regime, he communicated with his government of Iran handler through another co-conspirator. Doostdars handler relayed instructions and encouragement and answered Doostdars questions that came up during his mission in the United States.

The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBIs Washington Field Office and Los Angeles Field Office. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
Ever since she was a kid, Jenuita Lobster looked up to her cousin Vanessa Smallwood.

While Lobster was climbing rickety fences and playing with the boys, Smallwood would hang back, quiet and reading a book.

Only months apart, the younger Lobster  a self-proclaimed troublemaker  always wanted to be just like her cousin.

Even when we were kids, Vanessa was a sweetheart, said Lobster. Vanessa is a few months older than I am, but in the back of my mind, I wanted to be like Vanessa. I just didnt know how.

On Thursday, police identified Smallwood as the woman whose skeletal remains were found in a mangled Chrysler wrested from the Salem River. The discovery was a tragic end to what had become a Salem County cold case, as Smallwood had been missing since 2014.

While an exact cause of death has not been released, there was no indication of a crime, according to the Salem County prosecutor.

On Feb. 6, 2014, Smallwood was reported missing, having last been seen on Jan. 27 outside of a dry cleaning business on Haddonfield Road in Cherry Hill, authorities said at the time. Smallwoods husband had gone into the dry cleaners while she waited outside in a 2005 Chrysler minivan, according to reports at the time.

When her husband came out, Smallwood and the minivan were nowhere to be found. The last lead in the ensuing investigation was a cell phone ping in Clayton, Gloucester County, the day she vanished.

For Lobster, who grew up with Smallwood, finding her cousin six years later was cold comfort, with one loop closed and other threads now left unraveled.

We still dont honestly know exactly what happened, she said. We wanted some form of closure. So we have that. We know shes no longer here with us.

As children, Smallwood and Lobsters parents would take them to church every Sunday, said Lobster. For Smallwood, faith was an anchor and she clung to it into adulthood, she said. As an adult, Smallwoods passion for religion would drive her to become an evangelist.

As an evangelist, Smallwood inspired people with her testimony, said Lobster, with one person writing to her after Smallwoods confirmed death remembering the impact her words alone made.

She was saying that Vanessa was a wonderful evangelist, she said. And Vanessa actually spoke at her mothers funeral and she had people in tears.

At the time of her disappearance, Smallwood was unemployed, living in her parents home with her three adult sons, said Lobster. After Smallwoods mother died and her father suffered strokes, Smallwood grew sick, she said.

Lobster confirmed that Smallwood had vied with mental health issues, but declined to comment further on them.

The last time Lobster saw Smallwood was two days before the last time she was seen by anyone. On January 25, along with two other friends, Smallwood and Lobster gathered in Willingsboro to reminisce and talk about relationship problems and life.

Smallwood was not happy with her marriage, Lobster said, and the four talked about finding their Boaz, a wealthy, altruistic landowner in the Bible who marries Ruth, a widowed woman working in one of his fields.

He was a good man from the Bible, Lobster said. And that was our conversation. When were we going to find our Boaz.

Smallwood, assured in her faith, spoke her last words to Lobster before they parted ways.

Her statement was she knows her Boaz is out there. And shes going to find him, said Lobster.

As of Saturday, services for Smallwood had not been scheduled. The family was waiting for more answers from the coroners office and for everyone to gather back in New Jersey to say goodbye.

But for Lobster, the stark reality was simple.

I miss her, Lobster said.

Rodrigo Torrejon may be reached at rtorrejon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rodrigotorrejon.

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Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly has become the latest figure to rubbish claims the Duchess of Sussex has been subjected to racist coverage by the British press.

Mr Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that the UK is 'one of the least racist, most open and welcoming countries in the world'.

The Tory MP insisted Meghan and Harry's decision to step down as senior royals was down to the 'huge amount of media interest' that the 38-year-old mother-of-one would have found 'really difficult to deal with'.

It comes after Laurence Fox's Question Time showdown with academic Rachel Boyle, which saw him brand her a racist for calling him a 'white privileged male' because he does not believe Meghan has fallen victim to racism during her time in the UK.

Scroll down for video

Co-Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly told Sophy Ridge on Sunday Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has not been subject to racism

The Tory MP insisted Meghan and Harry's decision to step down as senior royals was down to the 'huge amount of media interest' that the 38-year-old mother-of-one would have found 'really difficult to deal with'. They are pictured outside Canada House this month

Quizzed on the Sussexes plans to step down, he told Sky News: 'Ultimately this is a decision for them and her majesty the Queen and the royal family.

'I understand that not everyone wants to live their lives in the media bubble and with that level of intense scrutiny, and that's completely understandable and I'm glad they've clearly come to an arrangement that the Queen is happy with and they're happy with.'

He declined to comment on security arrangements for the couple and said: 'We don't discuss it at all.

'It's really important that these arrangements are kept private and so I won't be drawn on that. The cost implies detail.'

When asked if Meghan was the victim of racism, Mr Cleverly added: 'I think this country is one of the least racist, one of the most open and welcoming countries in the world and that's reinforced by things like the British Attitudes Survey and a whole load of international surveys about people's acceptance of other races.

'But she was subjected to a huge amount of media interest and that can be really difficult to deal with.'

Soon after on the Andrew Marr Show, newly-elected Labour MP Nadia Whitmore (pictured) said the Sussexes departure from public life is being used to 'stoke divisions' in a similar way to Brexit

Nadia Whitmore MP (right with royal correspondent Camilla Tominey left) also claimed Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate's coverage in the British media have been vastly different, suggesting it is down to racism, adding: 'What else can you call it'

Soon after on the Andrew Marr Show, newly-elected Labour MP Nadia Whitmore said the Sussexes departure from public life is being used to 'stoke divisions' in a similar way to Brexit.

The 23-year-old Nottingham East MP said: 'What this really speaks to is the culture war happening in this country.

Full exchange: Rachel Boyle v Laurence Fox Rachel Boyle: 'The problem we've got with this is that Meghan has agreed to be Harry's wife and then the Press have torn her to pieces. Let's be really clear about what this is  let's call it by its name, it's racism, she's a black woman and she has been torn to pieces.' Laurence Fox: 'It's not racism, you can't just...' RB: 'She has been torn to pieces.' LF: 'It's not racism.' RB: 'It absolutely is.' LF: 'No it's not, we're the most tolerant, lovely country in Europe.' RB: 'Says a white privileged man.' LF: 'It's not racism. RB: 'Says a white privileged man.' LF: 'Oh God. It's so easy to throw the charge of racism at everybody and it's really starting to get boring. RB: 'What worries me about your comment is you are a white privileged male who has no experience in this. LF: 'I can't help what I am, I was born like this, it's an immutable characteristic, so to call me a white privileged male is to be racist - you're being racist.' Advertisement

'I think this is very much like Brexit. We're seeing it play out like the Brexit debate. Older people are outraged, while younger, more progressive people are overwhelmingly supportive. And it's being used to stoke division.'

She also claimed Meghan and her sister-in-law Kate's coverage in the British media have been vastly different, suggesting it is down to racism, adding: 'What else can you call it'.

She said: 'Clearly the press has treated Meghan differently to Kate.'

Royal editor for the Daily Telegraph Camilla Tominey argued her and her peers have simply been 'vindicated' for when they were reporting on rifts between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family - only to be shot down by Palace officials.

She also said people 'have very short memories', recalling Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall's reception in the press after her relationship with Prince Charles went public.

Ms Tominey said: 'I think the member of the royal family who has been the most vilified is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. And you can't put that down to racism.'

Actor Laurence Fox sent Twitter into meltdown after his argument with Edge Hill university academic Rachel Boyle.

The 'anti-woke bad boy's' comments saw some hailing him as a 'hero' and 'bang on the money' with others slamming him as 'contemptuous'.

Piers Morgan has also consistently denied any racist treatment of Meghan.

Writing in his MailOnline column, he argued: 'Meghan and Harry havent been criticized because of her color but because shes a selfish social climber and hes a weak whiner - and by playing this despicable race card they have grossly libeled all of Britain.'
Sudhir Suryavanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Mumbais hospitality industry is upbeat about the Maharashtra governments decision to allow shops, malls and eateries in non-residential areas of the metropolis to remain open 24x7 from January 26.

It will truly make aamchi Mumbai a global city, gushed Kunal Vardhan who runs the Atria Mall in Worli.

His sentiments struck an instant bond with Indian Hotel and Restaurants Association president Niranjan Shetty, who said, Mumbai is known as the city that does not sleep but it sure has lost some of its charm and nightlife in the past few years. There can still be life if the proposal is adopted for it will boost tourism, generate jobs and revenue for the government.

While announcing the move, Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray said, Indores Sarafa Market is open at night. Even Ahmedabad city has made some changes in its policy last year. Mumbai, too, should not lag behind in providing similar facilities to people at night as the metropolis functions 24x7.

Aaditya, who has been batting for all-night-open eateries and other establishments in the city since 2013, said the move will boost tourism, generate demand and revive industries.

Most importantly, it will create jobs as malls and shopping complexes will have to deploy three shifts to manage a 24X7 shopping demand cycle.

Officials said the nightlife project will initially be limited to Saturdays and Sundays. Later, as response improves, it will be extended to other days as well.

However, the BJP has opposed the move claiming it will encourage drinking and disturb the peace.

Questioning the alacrity with which the plan was announced, senior BJP leader Ashish Shellar said, The minister should have tabled the proposal in the state Assembly. Aaditya, though, sought to downplay criticism saying its wrong to associate nightlife with just alcohol consumption.

Prices have to be kept low initially

The tourism department had recently held a meeting with Mumbai Police chief Sanjay Barve, BMC chief Pravin Pardeshi and other officials where the 24X7 plan was discussed in detail.

It will start in nonresidential areas. The food courts and other establishments in areas like Marine Drive, Nariman Point, Gateway of India, CST etc will keep open throughout the night. Some 24 malls and restaurants in these areas have expressed their desire to remain open round the clock, said an official privy to the meeting.

Sandip Runwal, managing director, Runwal Developers, which owns R City Mall in Ghatkopar, said, This is done globally and we are happy it has happened in Mumbai. Prices will have to be kept low initially to attract people.

No change in norms

It is up to malls and shops to decide if they want to remain open round the clock. It is not compulsory and no norms have been changed
Amid the uproar over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Assam State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday stated that it is "impossible" to provide a proof of religious persecution under CAA. According to him, a person cannot go to Bangladesh to collect a copy of the police report.

Speaking to the media, he said, "If a person has to prove it then he has to go to Bangladesh and collect a copy of the police report. Why would the police station in Bangladesh give that proof? So, said that it is not possible to prove the concept of religious persecution under the Citizenship Amendment Act."

Questioning the criteria

Earlier during the implementation of the newly amended citizenship act, the Assam State Finance Minister had questioned religious persecution as a criteria for CAA. He had asked, "How can an applicant prove that he is a victim of religious persecution or that he has fled his country of origin and entered India owing to fear of religious persecution?"

Read: AMU students take out balloon march against VC, Registrar over CAA & NRC

Assam CM shown black flags amid protests

On January 15, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was shown black flags by the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) activists during protests against CAA in Dibrugarh district. The protestors were also heard shouting 'Sarbananda, Go Back', 'Sonowal Murdabad', 'CAA aami na maanu' (We do not accept CAA) and 'Jai Aai Asom' (Glory to Mother Assam).

Read: Sena backs Faiz's 'Hum Dekhnge' poem, slams BJP government for terming it 'anti-Hindu'

Protests against CAA

The protests against CAA that first broke out in Assam, spread across the country. Violent protests have been witnessed in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Several universities across the country witnessed clashes between the police and the students after the violence in Jamia Millia.

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

Read: Siddaramaiah targets Home Minister Amit Shah over funds for Karnataka floods and CAA

Read: As Assam celebrates Mag Bighu, some people protest against Citizenship Amendment Act

(With ANI Inputs)
She is a popular presenter and television host, with an eye for style.

And Lizzie Cundy put on a stylish display as she enjoyed an outing at Annabel's private members club in London on Saturday night.

The brunette beauty, 51, showed off her toned legs in a form-fitting gold bodycon dress that accentuated her slender figure.

Glamorous: Lizzie Cundy, 51, showed off her slender figure off her slender figure and toned legs in a gold bodycon dress during a fun night out in London on Saturday

Lizzie boosted her height in a pair of white gladiator heels, while she kept her personal items in a small gold Louis Vuitton handbag.

Her brunette locks were brushed into glamorous waves, and she wore a light palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features.

The TV personality was in bright spirits as she enjoyed her night out, as she posed up a storm in front of the venue.

Attention to detail: Lizzie boosted her height in a pair of white gladiator heels, while she kept her personal items in a small gold Louis Vuitton handbag

Lizzie confirmed her blossoming romance with DJ Friese, 47, while appearing on the Jeremy Vine show back in December.

She admitted that while she's 'having fun' with Brandi Glanville's ex she wants to 'play it cool' as 'it's early days' between the pair, following a 'tough' break-up from businessman Jeremy Gordeno, 53.

Lizzie blushed as she was teased about her relationship by her fellow panellists - host Jeremy, journalist Angela Epstein, and Dancing On Ice judge Jason Gardiner.

Stylish: Lizzie's brunette locks were brushed into glamorous waves, and she wore a light palette of make-up to highlight her pretty features

The media personality - who was first spotted with the hunk in late November - enthused: 'Well I have someone who is rather interested in me, so we'll see what happens.

When asked about whether he boasts a 'solid' physique, a shy Lizzie nodded before sharing more details about her new partner.

The This Morning star explained: 'It's early days. You have to play it cool. They are new beginnings, fresh start, it's going to be a great year... it's all fun.'
Yekani Manufacturings R1-billion electronics factory in East London could soon close its doors for good.

The 28,000 square-metre facility, which forms part of the Yekani Group, was opened by former Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies in the citys Developmental Zone in June 2018.

It produced a number of electronic products, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and decoders.

Liquidation processes have now been initiated after Yekani was unable to make payments to Standard Bank for a large loan.

Workers at the factory have not been paid in five months, and the facility did not resume operations this year.

Yekani responds

MyBroadband reached out to Yekani Manufacturing for comment on the state of the company.

Yekani confirmed that it has been placed under provisional liquidation, but that no final liquidation order has been handed down.

In the event that Yekani is put under final liquidation, approximately 500 direct jobs will be lost, the company said.

It did not detail the issues which led to the dire situation but claimed it had made huge efforts to reach a positive outcome to the financial challenges.

Employee salaries

When asked whether factory workers had received their salaries, Yekani explained that since employees had been on short time since August, they had been at their homes and without an income.

The employees have been claiming for UIF from the Labour Department. Further to this and should Yekani be placed under final liquidation, those employees with valid claims against the company will be able to submit their claims with the liquidators, Yekani stated.

It claimed that the workers were kept abreast of the pressing problems at the company.

A week before Christmas break a staff meeting was called where employees were updated on everything including the provisional liquidation status and the CEO explained in detail the challenges the company is facing, Yekani said.

Yekani CEO Siphiwe Cele apologised to the companys employees, suppliers and customers for the situation.

Yekani deeply regrets the impact that this has had on our employees who have fought so hard to make Yekani a success and sincerely apologises for same, Cele said.

Further and similarly so, Yekani would like to apologise to our suppliers who have been very understanding, supportive and patient, stuck to our business in good and bad times and are now faced with difficult financial choices of their own and lastly, would like to apologise to our customers who are adversely affected by this, he added.

Standard Bank

With regards to the money owed to Standard Bank, Yekani said the amount is far less than R200 million, but added that since the matter is sub judice, it cannot comment further. This was in reference to reports that the company owed R200 million.

Standard Bank spokesperson Ross Linstrom told MyBroadband that it cannot disclose client details with other parties.

The photos below show the factory after its opening in 2018.

Now read: ATIO to close its doors
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Engagement of bouncers at the Congress Bhavan here on Friday to prevent the entry of dissidents and troublemakers while a meeting was going on inside has come in for strong criticism from senior leaders of the party.

While president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik denied reports about presence of musclemen at the party headquarters, dissidents and their supporters maintained that this is a new development.

Stating that no former OPCC president had engaged bouncers to intimidate leaders having differences of opinion, former minister Kanhu Charan Lenka said, "I will definitely bring this matter to the knowledge of the high command," he told mediapersons here.

Disapproving the deployment of bouncers at the Congress Bhavan, former MP Amarnath Pradhan said a person can take such a step when he is weak and afraid of his security. "Bouncers may not have been engaged for attacking rivals, it may have been for self defence," he said.

Party MLA Suresh Kumar Routray also decried the move to deploy bouncers during the high level meeting at the Congress headquarters a day earlier. There is no place for goons in Congress, he said and added that the entire old leadership should go and younger leaders take over for the interest of the party.

Senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati said any kind of indiscipline, that too even at Congress Bhawan and subsequent deployment of musclemen is not a good sign for the party as public will never like it. He demanded stringent action to stop such activities.

The OPCC president, however, said there were no bouncers at the Congress Bhavan on Friday. "People may have mistaken fat leaders like us as bouncers," he said. However, several people looking like bouncers stood guard outside the Congress Bhavan when the meeting was going on in the presence of Odisha in-charge Jitendra Singh.

Party sources said that a heated argument had ensued between two groups during the meeting, following which the top leadership decided to deploy bouncers to prevent troublemakers from creating unwanted situation.

They were directed not to allow disgruntled elements into the meeting room. Following this, a group led by suspended Chhatra Congress leader Itish Pradhan staged a dharna demanding that they should be allowed to go inside and meet the Odisha in-charge.

Dissidents are demanding a change in the leadership in the State unit after the drubbing received by Congress in the 2019 Assembly elections. They alleged that the Congress has lost the trust of the people as was evident in its miserable show in the Assembly and General elections.

The dissidents want firsttime Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim to be appointed as the new OPCC president."There were no bouncers at the Congress Bhavan on Friday. People may have mistaken fat leaders like us as bouncers," said OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik.
The Queen met her grandson, Prince Harry, for face-to-face talks and discussed the future roles for him. (Photo Credit: Reuters)

New Delhi:

Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have agreed to give up their royal titles and stop receiving public funds as part of a settlement with the Queen. "Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family," Queen Elizabeth II said in a statement.

"I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life."

Her comments referred to battles with the media that prompted Harry and Meghan -- known until now as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex -- to sue several newspapers over intrusions into their private lives.

Queen Elizabeth II holds talks with her grandson

On Monday, Britains Queen Elizabeth II agreed to offer Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle a period of transition during which the couple can divide their time between the UK and Canada.

After her first face-to-face talks with her grandson and senior members of the royal family at the 93-year-old monarchs Sandringham estate in Norfolk, Buckingham Palace issued a statement, saying as the transition period kicks in right away, the complex matter of the couples future roles will be fleshed out in the coming days.

The queens announcement is her second on the royal crisisdubbed Megxit in honour of Britains painful battle over Brexitahead of Harry and Meghans effective resignation on March 8.

We have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution, the couple said at the time.

We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America.

Meghan then jetted back to Canada and is now their with their son Archie.

Their announcement caught the royal family by surprise and created a media sensation in both Britain and the wider world.

Their treatment by Londons hard-hitting tabloid press and their personal futureas well as questions about longstanding royal traditionshave turned into daily front-page news.

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As a part of the first batch of Union Cabinet Ministers arrived here under the Centre's outreach programme after the abrogation of Article 370, Union Minister Ashwini Choubey on Saturday said that Jammu and Kashmir is a crown of India and the Centre is working hard to bring development in the region.

"I want to say Jammu and Kashmir is a crown of India. The government is working very hard for the development of the region and to bring employment opportunities," said Choubey while addressing a gathering here at Jammu club.

The Minister for State Health and Family welfare attended a felicitation ceremony of Ayushman Bharat Prime Minister Jan Arogya Yojna at Jammu club.

He said that his government has worked for the development of the pooer under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Emphasising on scrapping of ArtIcle 370 and 35 A in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "If Article 370 and 35 A would have not been abrogated, it was not possible to bring industries in the Valley. We have talked to industrialists and they have shown interest to set up industries here. The Prime Minister has sent us to understand the desire of people of Jammu and Kashmir."

"I am here to listen to you what are your problems and how can we solve them. I will talk to people here and submit my report to the Prime Minister," he added.

As part of the first phase of the Centre's special public outreach programme, Union Ministers, including Minister of State (MoS) in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh; MoS for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Arjun Ram Meghwal and MoS for Health Ashwini Choubey visited Jammu on Saturday.

Under the programme, the delegation will interact with the people during the visit to different districts and educate the people under various themes including rapid development after the President's Rule from June 2018 and now after the re-organisation of J-K in August.

Under the public outreach programme, the Union Ministers will visit different districts with the objective of disseminating information about the importance of the Centre's policies for the overall development of the Union Territory and its people along with the steps taken by the government particularly in the past five months after the abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcation of erstwhile state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
J. Charles Jones, a civil rights activist who led lunch-counter sit-ins and voter-registration drives across the South and once walked the entire length of the Capital Beltway to protest discriminatory housing practices near military bases, died Dec. 27 at his home in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was 82.

The cause was complications from Alzheimer's disease, said a son, Michael Scott Jones.

Jones figured prominently in anti-segregation demonstrations in the early 1960s, when he was a founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a key group that linked young people with the larger civil rights movement.

He organized some of the first lunch-counter sit-ins in Charlotte and later served a sentence of 30 days of hard labor after refusing to post bail when he was arrested in South Carolina.

In the early 1960s, Jones was part of the Freedom Riders, a group that sought to end segregation on interstate buses in the South. He led voter-registration efforts in Georgia and Mississippi. He was arrested multiple times at demonstrations, including twice with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., with whom he was on a first-name basis.

Soon after graduating from the Howard University School of Law in 1966, Jones took up a new cause by drawing attention to segregated housing near Washington-area military installations.

As the president of ACCESS - the Action Coordinating Committee to End Segregation in the Suburbs - Jones identified dozens of apartment buildings and housing developments that did not permit black residents, even when they were members of the military.

Calling the suburbs "a white ghetto surrounding the black ghetto," he told The Washington Post at the time: "The tendency in northern suburbia is to say how bad things are in Mississippi. This time we have to talk about what is happening in suburban metropolitan Washington."

He decided to take his advocacy to the street or, more precisely, to the newly opened Capital Beltway.

"I said to myself, 'Charles, why don't we combine what Martin and I had done, what Gandhi had done, and organize a group and walk around the Beltway, starting at Georgia Avenue on the north side?' " he told Post columnist John Kelly in 2016.

Jones began his march in June 1966, carrying a sign reading "End Apartment Segregation." Walking counterclockwise around the Beltway, from Maryland to Virginia and back into Maryland, he and a changing cast of fellow demonstrators traversed the entire 64-mile circuit of the Beltway in four days. (He and the other marchers stayed overnight at private homes.)

Some drivers jeered and shouted obscenities, and one tractor-trailer appeared to swerve toward the demonstrators, forcing them to scramble out of the way. Other drivers, however, offered encouragement and handed out sandwiches, fruit and lemonade.

The march ended where it began, at the Georgia Avenue interchange north of the District of Columbia, with about 30 demonstrators singing "We Shall Overcome."

"I feel as if I own this road," Jones said at the time. "This is my Beltway. I've grown a lot in these four days. Now we have to make the circle larger."

In September 1966, after a 14-mile march to protest discriminatory housing policies in Northern Virginia, Jones and his followers were met by members of the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party. The groups were kept apart by police.

Seeking to take his complaints about housing directly to Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, Jones and several supporters organized sit-ins at the Pentagon, where they received a surprisingly cordial welcome. He ultimately had a meeting with McNamara's chief deputy, Cyrus Vance.

In 1967, McNamara issued an order prohibiting military personnel from living in segregated housing within about three miles of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The decision was denounced by Rep. Joe Waggonner, D-La., as an "imperial edict" that "follows the demands of that ragtag band of unwashed which paraded around Washington last year under the name ACCESS."

Joseph Charles Jones was born Aug. 23, 1937, in Chester, South Carolina. His father was a Presbyterian minister, his mother a teacher and school administrator. The family moved to Charlotte in 1947.

Jones was a 1958 graduate of the historically black Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte. In February 1960, days after a lunch-counter sit-in by African-American students in Greensboro, North Carolina, Jones organized a sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Charlotte.

He expected about a dozen students to take part, but more than 200 showed up. Everyone involved - the police, students and government officials - acted with restraint, sparing Charlotte from the violence that erupted elsewhere in the South.

Across the state line in Rock Hill, South Carolina, several students from a historically black college were arrested for refusing to leave a whites-only lunch counter. Using a tactic called "Jail, No Bail," they refused to post bail and were kept in jail.

In solidarity, Jones and several other demonstrators were later arrested at a lunch-counter sit-in and held behind bars, serving a 30-day sentence of hard labor.

"We were shoveling wet sand from the creek bed onto dump trucks and busting up rocks," Jones told Charlotte magazine in 2011. "You know if you're gonna do it, you choose and commit yourself to an act and the consequences of it. Then you accept it and embrace it."

As a field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Jones traveled throughout the South, helping African-Americans register to vote, often in the face of barely veiled threats from white police officers. He was twice arrested with King - and hundreds of other demonstrators - in Albany, Georgia, in the early 1960s.

In 1963, Jones entered law school at Howard, graduating three years later. After living in Washington and Pittsburgh, he settled permanently in Charlotte in the mid-1970s. He worked as a prosecuting attorney before establishing a private law practice, with an emphasis on civil rights.

His marriages to Marian Irving and Joanne Vasco ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, the former Jackie Blackwell; a son from his first marriage, Michael Scott Jones; two children from his second marriage, Joseph Charles Jones Jr. and Ireti Jones Burrell; and four grandchildren.

Jones often spoke to school groups and reporters about his experiences in the civil rights movement, including the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his celebrated "I Have a Dream" speech.

"I had never seen that many black people in one place," Jones told the Charlotte Observer in 2013. "We had all been fighting against segregation for so long, and suddenly we were all together and you realized just what you had been a part of. You realized how really big it all was."
The Outbound Tender Volume Index (OTVI.USA) has gone horizontal below its March 2018 starting point of 10,000. The index currently sits at 9,690.61, which is slightly above its yearly comparable by less than 1%. Through the first two weeks of the year, we haven't seen the year-over-year growth we expected due to the current spread between contract and spot rates. OTVI is an index of accepted tender volumes at contract rates.

The current spread between contract and spot rates is much higher than the spread this time last year. Our volume index last year didn't hit 10,000 until the end of February. This is not only because freight volumes were relatively weak but also because many carriers were still looking to accept spot rate loads due to the spread being much tighter between contract and spot. This led us to believe OTVI may exhibit strong year-over-year growth in the first two months of 2020, but that expectation has not come to fruition.

"Capacity is beginning to normalize after holiday demand strained supply," said Michael Fullam of Reed TMS Logistics. "We expect this trend to continue through mid- to late February. Spot market demand has decreased as route guide compliance increases, creating more stability in the transactional marketplace. Looking ahead, we are expecting incremental increases in spot market rates. More specifically, however, we are planning for a significant surge in floral freight in Florida, as well as import produce volume off the East Coast throughout February. We expect rates to increase due to demand pressures in these channels."

Six of the 15 of the markets FreightWaves tracks were positive on a week-over-week basis. Markets with the largest gains in OTVI.USA were Seattle (13.16%), Miami (7.58%) and Savannah, Georgia (4.72%). Markets with the largest declines in OTVI.USA were Memphis, Tennessee (-11.23%); Houston (-6.45%); and Fresno, California (-5.58%).

SONAR: OTVI.USA

SONAR: OTVIY.USA

OTRI settling into 7% range, approaching flat year-over-year

Story continues

After peaking at 14.25% on Christmas Day, the Outbound Tender Reject Index (OTRI) has slipped to 7.71%. This is three straight weeks of declining tender rejections off the peak. The fall was expected as drivers got their wheels turning again after spending time at home over the holidays. As shown in the chart below, a kindred decline occurred last year.

The index experienced a similar but more significant fall at the beginning of 2019, when the index dropped by half in just four weeks. We expect a similar acceleration to the downside in the coming weeks, but for now OTRI is still near 2019 highs.

SONAR: OTRI.USA

For more information on the FreightWaves Freight Intel Group, please contact Kevin Hill at khill@freightwaves.com, Seth Holm at sholm@freightwaves.com or Andrew Cox at acox@freightwaves.com.

Check out the newest episode of the Freight Intel Group's podcast here.

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Shiekh Hasina, who is in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, also said that there has been no recorded reverse migration from India. (Photo Credit: Twitter)

New Delhi:

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday termed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) as internal matters of India, but at the same time said the act was not necessary. "We don't understand why (the Indian government) did it. It was not necessary," Hasina told the Gulf News in an interview.

According to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 and face religious persecution there will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.

President Ram Nath Kovind had given assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, turning it into an Act.

Shiekh Hasina, who is in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, also said that there has been no recorded reverse migration from India.

No, there is no reverse migration from India. But within India, people are facing many problems, she said.

"(Still), it is an internal affair, Hasina said.

"Bangladesh has always maintained that the CAA and NRC are internal matters of India, Hasina said. The Government of India, on their part, has also repeatedly maintained that the NRC is an internal exercise of India and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has in person assured me of the same during my visit to New Delhi in October 2019.

India says our internal matter

India has reached out to countries across the world, including Bangladesh, on the issues of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

"We have explained our position to the Bangladesh government on the NRC. We said this is an internal matter, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said.

"We did reach out to countries across the globe on Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC," Kumar said at a media briefing.

"We emphasised that the Act (CAA) just expedites acquiring of citizenship to persecuted minorities. It does not change basic structure of Constitution," he said.

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The Coalition opposes the Senate passed legislation to place moratorium on closing of two state Department of Human Service centers for the profoundly mentally disabled citizens. It claims is the money saved in closing the centers could be spent to improve community programs.

Every time one of these centers is closed, the coalition hasnt collected the money after their victory, because they hate the fact that our children are so well taken care of by professionals. So, they go after the next center to close, like White Haven and Polk.

What happened to the money from the sale of Altoona Center when it was sold to the former Altoona Hospital? Did the Coalition go after the money through legislation? They said, This money could be spent to improve community programs. When they sold two pieces of land from Ebensburg Center, who got the money?

Did the Coalition go after that? No, they just went to try to close Hamburg Center, and they were successful. After the closing of Hamburg Center, a year ago, 15 deaths have been reported out of the 80 residents, but they regard it as a success, because they say that the residents are happy.

I imagine that the ones that died are happy in the arms of Jesus. I know of a father that wrote to me after his sons transfer to the community, I would have been happier if Hamburg never closed.

If they would be truthful, this Coalition has made a religion out of the closing of the centers. I dont tell them where they should put their children. When the time came with prayerful consideration, we as parents looked at all the options and decided what is best for our profoundly mentally disabled son, and the centers are it. And it works.

Minerva Gordon, secretary of ACE (parents of ACE), Martinsburg, Blair County
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Libyas eastern strongman kept virtually all of the nations oil fields shut, in a show of defiance after world leaders failed to persuade him to sign a peace deal ending the OPEC countrys civil war.

Libyas oil output plunged to the lowest level since August 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Production stopped at its biggest field, the 300,000-barrel-a-day Sharara, a person familiar with the situation said. Eastern commander Khalifa Haftar began a blockade of several ports last week.

World leaders came up short of a durable cease-fire in the North African nation when they met on Sunday in Berlin. Russia, Turkey and other countries provide military support to opposing groups jockeying for political control and access to energy resources. Central authority in Libya has collapsed amid armed conflict since an uprising in 2011 toppled former leader Moammar Al Qaddafi.

Haftar, who is backed by Russia but walked out of an earlier round of truce talks in Moscow last week, and Libyas internationally recognized Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj will now each put forward five names for a committee to hash out the terms of a more permanent halt to fighting. The United Nations is pushing for a meeting of that group in Geneva within days.

Haftar has led a months-long assault on Tripoli, and fighting continued outside the capital over the weekend.

Global oil prices jumped on Monday as the Libyan disruptions coincided with the shutdown of some output in Iraq, reigniting fears about the markets vulnerability to geopolitical risk in key supply regions.

Force Majeure

Libyas production began to plummet when Haftar blocked shipments from ports under his control, according to a statement on Saturday from the state-run National Oil Corp. The NOC declared force majeure, which can allow Libya -- home to Africas largest-proven oil reserves -- to legally suspend delivery contracts.

Story continues

Libya wont be able to pump more than 72,000 barrels per day once its storage tanks are full, according to a spokesman for the NOC, down from more than 1.2 million barrels per day on Saturday. Its remaining production will come from offshore deposits and the Wafa oil field.

Members of the Petroleum Facilities Guard under the command of Haftars Libyan National Army shut down the Hamada-Zawiya oil pipeline, forcing the NOC to limit production and declare force majeure at the Sharara and El Feel fields, the NOC said. The Hamada station hosts pipelines for Mellitah Oil Co. and Akakus, the operators at El Feel and Sharara respectively, it said.

This is a policy-related disruption, said Edward Bell, director of commodity research at Dubai-based bank Emirates NBD PJSC. There could be a pretty quick turnaround if theres a political solution.

Brent crude jumped as much as 1.8% in London to $66 a barrel, but the move was muted compared with the reaction to the attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities on Sept. 14. Libya has less production at stake than Saudi Arabia, and its difficulties are more contained than the Saudi crisis, which threatened to escalate into a war in the Persian Gulf, Bell said.

By shutting down oil fields, Haftar is denying a key source of revenue to al-Sarrajs government. Funds from oil production go to the countrys central bank, and Tripoli uses the money to buy weapons for its defense.

Haftar is proving adept at leveraging his influence as world powers become more entangled in Libyas conflict. Russian mercenaries have supported his forces, officials have told Bloomberg. Egypt and the United Arab Emirates are also backing Haftar. Turkish soldiers are training forces loyal to Sarraj, and Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have also joined the fray.

Turkeys forceful intervention added urgency to the desire of Europeans, themselves split over how to solve the conflict, to be seen to at least be trying to do something almost a decade after airstrikes led by France and the U.K. helped rebels topple Qaddafi.

Libya has been a gateway for migrants seeking refuge in the European Union, which is concerned that the chaos in the country is proving fertile ground for Islamic extremists who have targeted Europeans in the past.

(Updates with force majeure at Sharara and Feel fields in paragraph below map)

--With assistance from Verity Ratcliffe.

To contact the reporter on this story: Salma El Wardany in Cairo at selwardany@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Nayla Razzouk at nrazzouk2@bloomberg.net, Bruce Stanley, Rakteem Katakey

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

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Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg visited the site of one of the worst racial massacres in American history on Sunday, where he planned to announce new economic policies designed to help black voters recover from generations of systemic discrimination and racist terror.

The decision by one of the world's wealthiest men to commemorate the 1921 Tulsa race riots was intended as a dramatic personal moment for his campaign, which hopes to win the Democratic presidential nomination with significant support from black voters.

Bloomberg's campaign has been shadowed by criticism that as mayor he was insensitive to racial issues, including a highly controversial stop-and-frisk policy that he renounced last year. Sunday's speech was notable for its sweeping pledges of direct aid to black voters and its laments about America's racial violence.

Bloomberg's prepared remarks bluntly acknowledged the advantages he received as a white businessman through his career, a departure from his typical description of himself as the embodiment of the American dream who had succeeded through hard work and skill. Born to a working-class family, Bloomberg is now worth more than $50 billion.

"As someone who has been very lucky in life, I often say my story would only have been possible in America  and that's true," he planned to say, according to the prepared remarks. "But I also know that my story might have turned out very differently if I had been black, and that more black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth had they been white."

The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony. She has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty

He cited generations of discrimination in education, housing, employment and other areas that has held back black Americans, joining a chorus of Democratic presidential candidates who have similarly promised to make black economic empowerment a priority in the White House.

To address the legacy of these injustices, Bloomberg said he would go beyond "modern-day attempts to legislate equal rights" and would provide direct support for those who have historically suffered from discrimination. He would set a goal to help 1 million black families buy a home, nearly double the number of black-owned businesses and triple the net worth of the typical black family, which currently owns one-tenth as much as the typical white family.

Recommended Bloomberg defends spending to oust Trump in 2020 election

Without explaining how he would pay for the plans, his campaign also announced a $70 billion programme that would focus on ameliorating racial and economic inequality in 100 communities around the country. Like other Democratic candidates, Bloomberg supports studying the concept of federal reparations for descendants of slaves, but has not endorsed any specific plan.

Bloomberg's unconventional path to the White House depends on attracting moderate and affluent white suburban voters as well as gaining significant support from black voters who now largely support former vice president Joe Biden. Bloomberg still has a long way to go among both black voters and the broader Democratic electorate, according to current polls, which place him in fifth place nationally among all of the party's voters.

A recent Washington Post-Ipsos poll showed him with 4 percent support of the black vote, well behind Biden, who had 48 percent support, and Bernie Sanders, who has 20 percent. Elizabeth Warren has registered 9 percent support with the group, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg continued to trail with 2 percent among African Americans.

Nearly half of black voters in the poll had no opinion of Bloomberg or had never heard of him. Of those who did hold an opinion, more had a favourable view than an unfavourable one.

Injured and wounded prisoners are taken to hospital under guard after the Tulsa, Oklahoma race riots in 1921 when up to 300 African-Americans were massacred by white mobs (AFP/Getty Images)

In recent weeks, Bloomberg has received a number of high-profile endorsements from state and local black leaders, and his campaign schedule has been anchored by visits to majority nonwhite cities  Little Rock, Arkansas; Jackson, Mississippi; Stockton, California; and Memphis, to name a few. In effect, Bloomberg is seeking to counteract questions about his racial record by showing support from black leaders who know him, either through his stint as mayor or his activist and philanthropic donations.

Last year, his campaign responded to an open letter to Democratic presidential candidates written by four black Southern mayors  including Columbia, South Carolina, Mayor Stephen Benjamin, a co-chair of the Bloomberg campaign  outlining priorities they urged the candidates to embrace.

"Our administration will turn the usual relationship between cities and Washington - with the cities coming to the capital with tin cup in hand - upside down," Bloomberg wrote on Dec. 30. "We will invest in progress that can be driven from the ground up."

Despite his past support for unpopular policies like stop-and-frisk policing, Bloomberg aggressively courted black and Latino voters in his three successful mayoral campaigns in New York City. Stop-and-frisk is a policy of briefly searching individuals in an effort to prevent crime, but it has been criticized as encouraging police to inappropriately target minorities.

Bloomberg outperformed former mayor Rudy Giuliani's previous support among blacks in his 2001 campaign, according to exit polls, and he won the support of nearly half of black voters in 2005. When he faced a black Democratic challenger in 2009, Bloomberg received about one in four black votes.

In the speech on Sunday afternoon, he planned to demonstrate that he was continuing to learn about the black experience in the country. He was expected to express shock that he only recently learned the details of the 1921 riots in the Tulsa's Greenwood neighbourhood. Bloomberg awarded a $1 million grant through his philanthropic arm last year to pay for a public art project to commemorate the event.

The Tulsa riot, which occurred at a time of elevated racial tension in the city, began with an unverified and likely baseless claim in the Tulsa Tribune that a black shoe-shiner had tried to rape a white elevator operator, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. A subsequent editorial in the paper was headlined, To Lynch Negro Tonight.

The assault by a white mob that followed destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses in a relatively prosperous middle class neighbourhood in the city. Hundreds of black residents were arrested, and between 50 and 300 blacks were killed.

"I remember thinking: How is it possible that high schools and colleges don't teach this? But as I came to understand: It wasn't just Greenwood," Bloomberg planned to say in the speech. "How many of us were taught in school about East Saint Louis in 1917, when a white mob killed more than two dozen black Americans? Or Elaine, Arkansas, in 1919, where a white mob slaughtered 200 black sharecroppers who dared to join a labour union? Or Rosewood, Florida, in 1923, when a white mob burned the whole town down?"

Bloomberg will cast the horror of those events as a feature of the black experience in the United States that cannot be ignored.

"For black Americans, there was nothing that white landowners, businesses, banks, and politicians might not take: Their wages and their homes, their businesses and their wealth, their votes and their power, and even their lives," his remarks read.

Bloomberg joins a growing shift of Democratic candidates to more directly address historic racism at a time when the parties are ever more divided by race, with a growing percentage of the Democratic electorate comprised of voters of colour.

Warren has promised $7 billion in grants for nonwhite entrepreneurs, more money for historically black schools and a large down-payment assistance program for people who live in communities that banks historically declined to serve.

Buttigieg has issued a "Douglass Plan" on racial justice, including policies that attempt to triple the number of black entrepreneurs and regulations that would encourage diversity among teachers.

 Elizabeth Warren accuses billionaire Michael Bloomberg of trying to 'buy nomination' as she fights to hold on in Iowa

Along with a $2.5 trillion housing plan, Sanders has proposed a commission to establish relief for victims of bank discrimination. Biden has highlighted environmental and health plans for communities of colour, as well as increased funding for historically black education, but has so far stopped short of releasing housing or wealth plans specific to black Americans.

Before the speech, Bloomberg attended services at the Vernon Chapel AME Church, which is located in the Greenwood neighbourhood. The congregation's building was destroyed in the 1921 race riot, and members rebuilt at the current location seven years later.

"The phrase 'do not be afraid' is written in the Bible 365 times," read the words posted on televisions hung in the main chapel as service began. "That's a daily reminder from God to live every day being fearless."

Washington Post
Bengaluru, Jan 19 : The much-awaited expansion of the BJP government in Karnataka got delayed again, as Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has left for Switzerland to participate in the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, a party official said on Sunday.

"The cabinet expansion could not take place as the Chief Minister had to leave for Davos on Sunday on a four-day trip to showcase the state as an investment destination at the Forum. It is likely to take place after his return on January 24," party's state unit spokesman G. Madhusudhana told IANS here.

Though Yediyurappa discussed the issue with party President Amit Shah during the latter's visit to Bengaluru and Hubballi on Saturday, the date for cabinet expansion could not be decided.

"As Yediyurappa could not meet Shah last week in New Delhi due to the latter's pre-occupation with pro-and anti-CAA protests as the Union Home Minister and other party affairs, names for the remaining 16 ministerial berths could not be finalised for the oath-taking ceremony on January 16-17, scheduled tentatively earlier," the spokesman said.

Efforts to expand the cabinet after the by-elections to 15 Assembly seats on December 5 and their favourable results to the ruling party on December 9 did not succeed due to Shah's pre-occupation with the winter session of Parliament and nationwide protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposal to extended the National Register of Citizens across the country from Assam.

The BJP won 12 of the 15 assembly seats, while the opposition Congress could win only two and an Independent won one.

"The cabinet will be expanded in the last week of January or first week of February as the Legislature is set to meet for the first time this year from February 18 and the state budget for the ensuing fiscal (2020-21) has to be presented on March 5. It will give enough time for the ministers to settle down for the task of administration," said Madhusudhana.

With scores of aspirants vying for a ministerial berth, hectic lobbying is on in the ruling party as there are only 16 vacant posts to fill after 17 were inducted in the first cabinet expansion on August 21, with three as Deputy Chief Ministers.

"Among the aspiring legislators, some of them will be made chairmen of boards and corporations... All of them cannot be made ministers due to political compulsions and to ensure the nearly 6-month old government completes its over 3 years remaining office term," he said.

The cabinet expansion will also enable Yediyurappa to distribute most of the portfolios he and some of the ministers are holding due to 16 vacancies since they were inducted in August.
Boris Johnson is considering relocating the House of Lords to the north of England, with York emerging as a frontrunner to house the upper chamber.

Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly confirmed the plan was being considering in Downing Street after reports emerged that the prime minister had ordered officials to look into the practicalities of shifting the Lords outside of London.

The prime minister is believed to be keen to take advantage of plans for the restoration of the crumbling Palace of Westminster, which already requires some 800 peers to another building for six years from 2025.

The move would be considered as part of a wider constitutional review, which will also look at the role of the Supreme Court and the Lord Chancellor, according to The Sunday Times.

Mr Cleverly told Sky News Ridge on Sunday: What we are looking at is a whole range of options about making sure that every part of the UK is properly connected with politics.

Recommended Boris Johnson faces Lords defeat over child refugees protections

When the PM stood up after the day general election and said, This is going to be the peoples government, he meant it.

That meant connecting people with government and with politics.

Pressed on whether it would happen, Mr Cleverly said: We might. Its one of a range of things we are looking into to.

What this is about is demonstrating that we will do things differently.

Challenged again, he said: Its one of a range of things were looking at. Trust me were going to be radical.

It comes as Downing Street made it clear that the prime minister would be focusing on his domestic agenda to cement his support among voters in Labours former heartlands, who abandoned Jeremy Corbyn at the polls in December.

Mr Johnson has asked officials to limit his travel plans over 2020 so he can focus on the home front, sources said.

Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Show all 8 1 /8 Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Conservative party leader Boris Johnson drives a JCB through a fake wall POOL/AFP via Getty Images Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes REUTERS Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty

Shifting the Lords outside of London would fit in with his plan to level up the regions with London, with a number of cities reportedly in the frame to house the upper chamber.

A government source told the paper: The York proposal is much further along.

The PM is also keen to have parliamentary sessions in the regions, be it Sunderland or Manchester, so people get a chance to feel democracy in action first hand.

A No 10 source said: This will serve as a strong signal that we are serious about refocusing attention and investment away from London.

It will set an example for the rest of the public sector and, of course, businesses looking to expand beyond the M25.

However Wendy Chamberlain, Liberal Democrat constitutional relations spokesperson, said: Boris Johnson is the man who tried to silence our democracy by unlawfully shutting down parliament. How can anyone trust him to fix our broken politics?

Our politics doesnt need piecemeal change. It is in need of an urgent and radical overhaul.

It comes amid growing pressure on the prime minister to approve HS2, the governments flagship high speed rail project, from political leaders in the north and midlands.

Andy Burnham, Labours mayor of Greater Manchester, and Andy Street, the Conservative mayor of Birmingham, joined forces to warn Mr Johnson that voters will be watching and waiting.

People in the part of the midlands and the north have handed Boris the keys to Downing Street, they wrote in the paper.

Now he must unleash the potential of our regions. High-speed rail is the place to start.
The SWAT team of Iraqi forces recently scored a big catch in the city of Mosul when they nabbed a morbidly obese ISIS cleric who has been dubbed as Jabba the Jihadi on social media.

Weighing at a whopping 560 pounds (250 kg approx.), the fanatic was loaded onto a flatbed pickup truck by the Iraqi SWAT team as he was too large to be accommodated inside the police car, reported New York Post.

According to an official statement by the Iraqi forces, the apprehended mufti Abu Abdul Bari was known for provocative speeches against the security forces and was an important leader of ISIS gangs.

The statement further added that Bari passed fatwas to order the killings of Islamic clerics who refused to pledge their loyalty to ISIS.

London based anti-Islamic extremism activist Maajid Nawaaz wrote a lengthy post on Facebook ridiculing Bari and his misdeeds, along with images of the fanatic who can be seen immobilized due to his immense weight.

Below are a few excerpts from Maajids Facebook post:

It is good that Syrians, Iraqis & others witness the debasement of this scum. That he is this obese, this immobile & this humiliated is yet another blow to ISIS imbeciles who thought God was with them.

Do not underestimate the psychological blow the image of this obese monster being arrested is to ISIS.

And that he issued rulings to fighters to both kill & be killed en mass, while justifying every manner of atrocity in the name of Islam, this hippo quite obviously had little intention of exerting his body beyond bowel movements. The hypocrisy stinks (figuratively & literately)!

However, Maajid cautioned towards the end that his post shouldnt be used to mock obesity, but instead, the hypocrisy of Islamic extremists.

In another social media post, this time on Twitter, Bari was branded as Jaba the Jihadi by Macer Gifford from Britain, who earlier fought against ISIS alongside the Kurdish militia.

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Despite bloody events in Baku, the day of January 20, 1990, became a page of heroism in the history of the struggle for the independence and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, reads the article published by Jerusalem Post on the January 20 tragedy, Trend reports.

"Azerbaijanis call the massacre of civilians on January 19-20, 1990, Black January, when Soviet tanks and troops, with terrible cruelty, inhuman savagery and violence invaded the streets of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan," reads the article.

The article notes that the main goal of the operation was to crush the makings of an independence movement in Azerbaijan.

"Soviet Army soldiers shot civilians at point-blank range with special brutality; they carried out deliberate assaults with tanks and armored personnel carriers on cars; they bombarded hospitals, preventing medical personnel from treating the wounded," the article says.

The sons and daughters of Azerbaijan perished on January 20, 1990, while defending Azerbaijans freedom and independence, the article notes.

"Their bravery became vivid history in the heroism chronicles of Azerbaijan. Today, 30 years have passed since the tragedy of 'Black January'. The sacred Azerbaijani place of worship  Shehidler Khiyabani (Martyrs Alley)  is visited daily, scarlet carnations are laid on the martyrs graves," the article concludes.
Mexican troops urged a caravan of around 1500 Central American migrants on Saturday to maintain order and respect after the group attempted forced entry into the country from Guatemala in hopes of travelling north to the United States, international media reported. More than 200 migrants rested on the Rodolfo Robles, a bridge at the Guatemala-Mexico border waiting for the arrival of others and hoping sheer numbers will improve their chances of entering Mexico.

Migrants can cross border in controlled manner

According to reports, a National Guard soldier standing at the border continuously warned the people to not endanger their lives by exposing themselves to the human traffickers. The soldier further said that they could not enter Mexico without a visa or a migration document adding that the option of sneaking in was dangerous. National Gaurd General Vincente Hernandez while talking to reporters from Mexican media said that all the migrants will be allowed to cross the border in a controlled manner. He also said that all the migrants will be given equal opportunities, international media reported. The General further said they completely understand the situation before referring to the migrants as their brothers from Honduras El Salvador and Guatemala.

Read: Migrants Walk Through Guatemala To Mexico

Read: Migrants, Troops Slowly Build Up On Guatemala-Mexico Border

On Friday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador offered 4,000 jobs to members of the caravan in an attempt to dissuade them from travelling on to the United States, a news agency cited. An official from National Institute of Migration reported to International media that some 8000 migrants agreed to regularise their status and seek employment in Mexico. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has continuously pressurised its neighbour to slow the surge of undocumented migrants who arrived at the US Mexico Border last year. In May 2019, Trump threatened Lopez Obradors government to impose new tariffs if it did not slow down the influx of migrants.

Read: Mexico: Accident Caused Drowning Deaths Of 4 Personnel

Read: 100s Of Migrants Crossing Guatemala Face New Challenges

On Wednesday, international media reported that Guatemala's President Alejandro Giammattei said that the migrants would be allowed to pass through Guatemala, though he noted that they would need the proper papers and predicted they would run into a "wall" in Mexico. Less-organised migrant groups, tighter controls by Guatemalan and Mexican authorities and the presence of US advisers have reduced the likelihood of a repeat of the huge, cohesive processions - the so-called caravans - that came through Central America and Mexico in 2018 and 2019.

(With inputs from AP)
#KashmiriPandits along with #TheKashmirFiles,A#HumWapasAayenge trended, where Twitterati have showered their support by changing their displays to 'I AM KASHMIRI PANDIT' painted in saffron colour. On January 19, 1990, over five lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced almost overnight to leave the Valley following a genocidal campaign unleashed by the militants.

New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) Netizens on Sunday changed their display pictures (DPs) to mark the 30th anniversary of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley.

Taking to Twitter, filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, changing his display picture giving a message, said "For one day, change your DP. Small gestures help heal our Kashmiri brothers and sisters faster. #TheKashmirFiles".

In another tweet, he wrote, "We bow to the moral and cultural strength of each Kashmiri Hindu brother and sister. For us yours is not a story of only pain and suffering. Struggle and survival. For us it's a story of success. Salute. #TheKashmirFiles."

Major Gaurav Arya (Retd) wrote : "Today in 1990, over 400,000 Kashmiri Pandits were given a choice - Raliv, Galiv ya Chaliv. Convert, die or leave Kashmir. And if you choose to leave, then leave without your womenfolk. Today was the day of the Hindu exodus from the Kashmir Valley. #NextYearInKashmir."

A user after changing his display, tweeted, "I pledge to support Kashmiri Pandits unless they reach back home. I condemn the brutal atrocities & attack on them on this day of 19-01 (30 yrs back)".

While another said, "30 years ago, on this day, Kashmiri Hindus were given 2 choices: 1. Leave 2. Convert or die Radicals demanded: We want Kashmiri Hindu women without their men-folk."

"We have been away from home for THIRTY years now! Time to go back HOME!" posted a user.

/rsu/kr
Moving to Canada could be a savvy decision for Harry and Meghan for a variety of reasons (Picture: PA)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles departure from the Royal Family comes with a decision to build themselves a home across the pond.

While the couple have said they plan to split their time between the UK and North America, keeping Frogmore Cottage as their home here, it appears that they plans to make Canada their home.

While Meghan has links to the US, with her mother Doria living in California, the couple have spent the last seven weeks in Vancouver and appear to be planning to make it their base.

There are a few reasons why Canada could be a smart move for the couple.

Harry and Meghan spent the Christmas holidays in Canada and could be set to make their home there permanently (Picture: REUTERS/Mark Goodnow)

Meghan has friends there

Meghan has plenty of support in Canada.

The former Suits star lived in Toronto for six years while filming the hit TV series and one of her closest friends, Jessica Mulroney, lives there with her husband.

READ MORE

Meghan Markle steps back into public life visiting Vancouver Women's Center for a spot of tea

Meghan and Harry face support and excitement in Canada following royal announcement

Mulroney, who has a career in fashion and marketing, also has links to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeaus wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, putting Meghan and Harry right at the doorstep of some of the countrys most important people.

Meghan is also said to be friends with Markus Anderson, the Toronto-based global membership director of Soho House.

Harry and Meghan are probably hoping they'll have more privacy in Canada (Picture: PA)

Its a wise move financially

There are financial advantages to moving to Canada rather than the US, including when it comes to tax law.

Speaking to MarketWatch, experts point out that if Harry moved to the US he would become subject to US tax law  which allows people to be taxed even if they move abroad, whereas moving to Canada will avoid that situation while still allowing the couple to be close enough to America to travel there.

Its a smarter move than moving to the US, David Lesperance, founder and managing partner of Lesperance & Associates, told MarketWatch.

He also said the couple could benefit from the fact that Canada does not impose a capital gains tax for homes that increase in value as long as the place is a person or familys main residence.

Story continues

Canada is a member of the Commonwealth

As a member of the British Commonwealth, the Queen is Canadas head of state.

That means Meghan and Harry could potentially get help with their security  one of the questions that remains unanswered so far  from the Canadian state.

When the couple spend time in Canada over the festive period, Scotland Yard reportedly received support from the Canadian police in providing protection for them.

Canada is part of the Commonwealth which might make things easier for Harry and Meghan (Picture: PA)

They hope theyll be left alone

While some critics have reminded the couple that the international press will be as interested in their lives as the British press was, it appears that they may hope that theyll be left alone if they live in Canada.

During their festive break, few pictures have emerged of Harry and Meghan, who holidayed on Vancouver Island.

In Amanda Dishaw, who runs the blog Meghan's Mirror, told the BBC that she was surprised at how few paparazzi photographs had been taken of Meghan and it is likely that the couple will be hoping for a return to that situation if they make Canada their home.
When I was in eighth grade, a teacher announced we were going to study capital punishment. The methodology for this process was that the class was divided randomly in half, and each side was assigned the task of writing an essay: one half pro, one half con. After we had completed our essays, the students engaged in open debate about this complex issue.

Perhaps this sort of objective process of critical thinking is still practiced in some American schools, but it surely seems scarce. In its place, secular liberalism, and "progressivism," have become the Church of the American State, administered through public schools.

When Roe v. Wade was decided, the schools may have taught that abortion was legal, but they did not instruct children that it was moral  that was left to parents in the home. By the time marriage was redefined so two men could claim it together as a constitutional liberty, the landscape had clearly changed  not only are children being instructed that homosexuality is the moral equivalent of heterosexuality (in conflict with numerous faith and cultural traditions), but they are being taught that they can select their gender orientation and gender "identity." In Vermont, young children are offered transgender hormone treatment in preparation for transgender surgeries  and if the parents disagree, a court order can bypass them.

Today's children are being institutionally indoctrinated to be unreflective, uncritical automatons of the liberal cause  on immigration, climate change, abortion, and whatever the progressive cause du jour demands. Preying on children is not just for predators anymore. For instance, school walk-outs to ban firearms are not balanced with school walk-outs to uphold the vital Second Amendment and its protections against tyranny. Those who label Donald Trump a tyrant do not teach children to study both sides and consider the importance of an armed citizenry when society is threatened with a tyrant.

The "climate justice warriors" have now taken America's schoolchildren hostage in their battle to impose their tyrannical carbon tax on the citizenry. They encourage children to block traffic, lie in the streets, skip school  because "the world will end in 11 years!" They are not studying both sides of the anthropogenic climate change debate, let alone critically assessing effective responses. Even if the climate is changing from human activity, and even if the world will implode in 11 years, the carbon tax is an ineffective, patently regressive, and inegalitarian measure. This would make a good two-sided essay assignment for critical young minds to weigh.

But children are not being taught to be critical thinkers  they are just being conditioned to be critical of "the other side," mobilized as pawns against their own parents and grandparents. In George Orwell's 1984, the citizenry is kept in fear of fictitious foreign wars to ensure slavish compliance. In today's real-life 1984, children are conditioned so that questioning the carbon tax, gun grab, or transgender mantras will lead to withering condemnation  perhaps even disciplinary action. These kids most surely won't be blocking traffic in an "anticarbon tax" march.

Critical thinkers might challenge the use of fossil fuels absorbed in these marches: both getting students to events and blocking traffic. In one case, cows were stalled in the hot sun for more than 15 minutes while disruptive children blocked a parade, but no one complained about "bovine warming." This is not an effort to aid critical thinking or introspection, but the opposite. It is called indoctrination.

Education teaches always by comparison. Complex issues proffer contrasts best weighed side by side. This also nurtures civility  appreciating opponents' perspectives even if there is disagreement. This ancient process has been swept aside with oversimplified conclusions that are then instilled as undeniable fact, and those who take exception are stifled as ignorant, backward, dangerous, even criminal.

But what is criminal is this process by public schools of indoctrinating the young? This practice is blatant, unapologetic, and nearly universal. "Black Lives Matter" flags fly at most of Vermont's schools  has there been consideration of what that group stands for, its objectives, the legitimacy of its complaints, the plight of children in Africa, or how it seeds racial division in direct conflict with the teachings of Martin Luther King? No, there has not, which is evident every time a school announces its decision, always parroting the same ignorant claims of "raising awareness." As if, when I was in eighth grade and the country was roiling with urban poverty, we children were somehow unaware of the issue.

Particularly flagrant is the institution of "active shooter alerts," which unquestionably terrify  even traumatize  many students instead of providing security to make them feel safe. (I attended a school through the late 1970s where an armed female undercover officer patrolled the hallways and grounds daily  didn't seem very extreme.)

Intellectual oblivion is now instilled by vitriolic partisan ideologues who have infected America's public schools, themselves incapable of the critical analysis of which their charges are deprived. How can teachers send kids out block traffic to call for an economically enslaving tax scheme without assessing its numerous shortcomings, alternative regulatory ideas (like installing pollution control devices on lawnmowers, or restricting fireworks displays), or actually teaching the children to pollute less?

This last issue is where the uncritical indoctrination is most evidently proved. Teachers are not instructing children to turn down thermostats at home, turn lights off when not in use, or take short showers. They surely aren't teaching them to spend less time on computers, TV, or videogames. These decisions of consumption are "left to the home." The uni-dimensional "solution" to curb consumption by a corporate-funded, government-imposed tax means they can go on consuming, externalize their anger at those who pollute less than they do, and just pay a tax to keep on polluting. It takes a special kind of indoctrination, and an utter failure of education, to craft that degree of stupidity.

This simple-minded decline in public schools did not happen overnight. Somewhere, the teachers were inculcated into the same brain-dead condition, or they would be the ones leading children out of, not into, the Orwellian Hell of unquestioning lockstep. Ah, but what grand consumers these little proles will be when they grow up to be teachers  polluting and consuming more than ever, they will now pay an additional corporate-government fee in the confident delusion that they have made a difference.

All that remains is for them to rally to confiscate all firearms so that Big Brother can fully protect them from the world.
Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, waits for the start of his father's debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky., on Oct. 11, 2012. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)

Questions About Hunter Biden Testimony Loom Over Senate Impeachment Trial

Two days before the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, a question on whether witnesses will be called to testify remains unresolved. Perhaps the most talked-out potential witness is former Vice President Joe Bidens son Hunter.

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) told CNN on Sunday that he would be fine with hearing from Hunter Biden, who had received a high-paying board position on Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings while his father was in office. Republicans have said Bidens seat on the board raises questions because he doesnt speak Ukrainian and has no experience in the industry.

Fine. We take the position that we want to hear from witnesses. I dont know what Hunter Biden has to do with the phone call that was made, he said on State of the Union.

Brown was referring to the July 25 phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump asked his counterpart to look into circumstances surrounding potential corruption involving the Bidens and Burisma Holdings.

Im fine with hearingI mean, Im not a lawyer. I understand both sides get to call witnesses, he added. I think many Republicans think thats a distraction, he continued.

Another Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters (Calif.), said she isnt opposed to GOP senators calling either Hunter or Joe Biden.

Waters told MSNBC on Sunday: They can call whomever they want to call. We know should they call Biden, theyre attempting to distract attention away from what the president is accused of.

Last year, amid the impeachment inquiry, the younger Biden defended his work in Ukraine but admitted that it could have been perceived as a conflict of interest.

I think that it was poor judgment on my part. I think that it was poor judgment because I dont believe now when I look back on itI know that there wasdid nothing wrong at all, Hunter Biden told ABC News in mid-October. I gave a hook to some very unethical people to act in illegal ways to try to do some harm to my father. Thats where I made the mistake, Biden said. So I take full responsibility for that. Did I do anything improper? No, not in any way. Not in any way whatsoever.

Democrats and Republicans clash over whether to allow witnesses to be interviewed in the Senate as part of the trial. On the Democratic side, lawmakers have sought to obtain testimony from White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, who had signaled that he would testify if he were subpoenaed. Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, and the whistleblower at the center of the inquiry have been potential witnesses sought by Republicans.

On Sunday, Republicans in the Senate echoed the calls for Biden to take the stand.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told Fox News on Sunday that Democrats are terrified about seeing a witness like Hunter Biden testify because they dont want to hear evidence of actual corruption.

Heres the thing: Fair is fair. If theyre going to put the president through this, theyre going to have to have witnesses on both sides, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) told Fox News on Thursday. No young man who is the son of a politician gets $50,000 a month who has no experience working for a Ukrainian oligarch. You know, for goodness sakesit smells to high heaven. It smells like corruption.
AM/NS  the joint venture in India of ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel  is trying to take control of the captive jetty at Hazira in Gujarat from the Ruias of the Essar group. AM/NS declined to comment on the issue but sources in the state government confirmed it had applied for a transfer of licence from Essar Bulk Terminal (EBTL), the majority in which is held by Essar.

The move has been initiated by AM/NS on the reasoning that this was a captive licence for the steel plant and the captive jetty should remain with the plant. AM/NS India, formerly Essar Steel India ...
More than two decades after Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997, a long border fence still threads between mainland China and the city today. The varied landscapes and lives of residents wedged in these borderlands speak of two different systems that have coexisted on one anothers doorstep.

Far from the marches and salvos of tear gas and petrol bombs over the past half-year of anti-government protests that have convulsed Hong Kong, the residents in this border realm have borne witness to both rapid urbanisation, as China booms, and the preservation of a slower pace of life.

About 20 miles long, this boundary meanders between fish ponds, farmland, sleepy traditional villages and grassy hills on the Hong Kong side, with the gleaming skyscrapers of Chinas high-tech city of Shenzhen on the other. Shenzhen, once itself the bucolic backwater, has risen into Chinas giddy vision of a digital, high-tech future.

Mr Lam, now in his eighties, lives in a house without mobile phone reception, where he farms and catches crabs. A narrow sliver of water separates him from mainland China. He recalls living in a wooden cabin along the Shenzhen River with his family 70 years ago. There were only old and broken sheds on the far shore back then, he says, gazing into the distance. Of course, the mainland is much more advanced than before. Everything is good, even the streets are beautiful.

Over past decades of political upheaval in communist China, waves of mainlanders flooded across the border into Hong Kong, seeking peace and a better life. Lam still remembers the flashlights of the British-run police piercing the dark as they chased illegal immigrants making a dash for freedom.

Andrew Kwok, an old fish farmer living in the area, recalls those who drowned making the perilous crossing. There were a lot of them, hundreds of dead bodies in the river, he says.

The flickering, lonely torches have now been replaced by a vibrant mega-city with a million flashing lights. The living quality for people on both sides may have converged, but a gulf remains. For these two peoples, it remains a struggle to reconcile shifting eras, values and dreams.

Merrin Ke, 23, grew up in Shenzhen but got her masters degree from Hong Kongs Polytechnic University. She had flitted easily between both sides, up until recently, when she moved to Shanghai. I think the situation in Hong Kong is quite sensitive now, which is easy for people to have conflicts due to different political stands, she says. Thats why Ive decided to leave Hong Kong to work and get away from the intense environment.

Even though the protests in Hong Kong show no sign of abating, Ke remains optimistic unity will overcome division. She says: Hong Kong people used to come to have fun in Shenzhen and people from mainland China also liked to visit Hong Kong. But now such things are becoming less and less. I still hope everyone can put differences aside, and its not enough for just one side to do this. It requires the joint efforts of both sides.

 Reuters
President Donald Trump's legal team accused House Democrats of trying to overturn the results of the 2016 election in a filing that lays out the White House's formal response to the two articles of impeachment passed last month.



Trump's lawyers slammed impeachment as a "dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president" ahead of the election this November.



"This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away," the president's legal team said in its filing Saturday.



The filing was a response to a formal summons issued by the Senate notifying Trump of his impending trial and the charges against him. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the trial, administered an oath to senators on Thursday to do "impartial justice" with proceedings set to get underway Tuesday.



The House of Representatives, for its part, filed a brief Saturday outlining its case against Trump and called him an "ongoing threat to the nation." The brief accuses Trump of abandoning his oath to faithfully execute the nation's laws and betraying the public's trust.



"President Trump's misconduct presents a danger to our democratic processes, our national security, and our commitment to the rule of law," the House filing states. "He must be removed from office."



The House, after a three month investigation, voted on Dec. 18 largely along party lines to impeach Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.



Trump is accused of abusing his power by soliciting the interference of a foreign nation in the 2020 presidential election. He allegedly did this by freezing foreign aid to Ukraine in order to pressure its government to open political investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.



The president is also accused of obstructing Congress during its investigation by directing the White House to defy lawful subpoenas for witness testimony and documents. Witness testimony has become a major bone of partisan contention between the Democrat-led House, which has the power to impeach, and Republican-led Senate, which runs the trial.

Though Trump was impeached in December, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi waited weeks to transmit the two articles of impeachment to the Senate, as she sought to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to call additional witnesses during Trump's trial. McConnell made no concessions, but several Republican senators have indicated that they are open to supporting further testimony.



Trump is the third president in U.S. history to face an impeachment trial. His defense team at the trial will include Ken Starr, who led the Whitewater investigation in the 1990s that resulted in the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1998.
Jaden Smith has proven his chops with both acting and music, and now he's attempting to save the world.

The young philanthropist fed the homeless of Skid Row this summer with a free vegan food truck.

He cut a sharp look in black Saturday as he was recognized at the Salute to Greatness Awards Gala in Atlanta.

Guest of honor: Jaden Smith cut a sharp look in black Saturday as he was recognized at the Salute to Greatness Awards Gala in Atlanta

The 21-year-old sported a black Louis Vuitton suit, paired with a black t-shirt and black creepers with white stitching.

He was accompanied by dad Will Smith, whose film Bad Boys for Life premieres this weekend, and grandmother Caroline Bright.

Will put on a dapper display in a tailored blue tartan suit, which he completed with a soft blush t-shirt and black leather dress shoes.

Dear old dad kissed Jaden on the head as his son was called up to the stage to accept his award.

Family outing: He was accompanied by dad Will Smith, whose film Bad Boys for Life premieres this weekend, and grandmother Caroline Bright

Sharp look: The 21-year-old sported a black Louis Vuitton suit, paired with a black t-shirt and black creepers with white stitching

Supportive dad: Dear old dad kissed Jaden on the head as his son was called up to the stage to accept his award

He's a winner: Jaden was the recipient of the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. Award, named after the late wife of Martin Luther King Jr

Doing good: The award recognized his philanthropy, including the mobile water filtration system he brought to the people of Flint, Michigan

Jaden was the recipient of the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. Award, named after the late wife of Martin Luther King Jr.

The award recognized his philanthropy, including the mobile water filtration system he brought to the people of Flint, Michigan.

It was presented by Bernice A King, King Center CEO and the youngest child of Martin and Coretta.

Bernice told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 'It was important to my mother, Coretta Scott King, founder of The King Center, to recognize the leadership of those who carried on the work of building a just, humane and peaceful world through their work and actions in the spirit of my father.

'We are a better world because of the individuals and corporations we choose to honor every year, and hope to hold them up as an inspiration to others.'

Living legacy: It was presented by Bernice A King, King Center CEO and the youngest child of Martin and Coretta

Spirit of MLK: She said of the award: 'It was important to my mother, Coretta Scott King, founder of The King Center, to recognize the leadership of those who carried on the work of building a just, humane and peaceful world through their work and actions in the spirit of my father'

Stylish: Will put on a dapper display in a tailored blue tartan suit

Eye-catching: He completed his look with a soft blush t-shirt and black leather dress shoes

Box office success: The Gemini Man star currently stars in the critically acclaimed hit Bad Boys For Life opposite Martin Lawrence
We as a group thought the building was a major eyesore and there were so many possibilities that could be done with the building, said Meadow Homa, a junior from Alsip, who is working on the project for a Language and Composition advanced placement class at Shepard High School. We were thinking at least the place could be used for extra parking for Shepard High School until a business came along.
(Newser)  A Utah family is shattered after a Friday night shooting that left four members dead, one injured, and a teenage boy charged with firing the weapon that inflicted the carnage, reports the Salt Lake Tribune. Police haven't made identifications or clarified relationships, but say all involved lived at the residence in Grantsville. Dead are two girls, a boy, and a woman. Police say that an unrelated person stopped by the house Friday evening only to encounter the suspect and surviving family member.

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"That person was completely unrelated to the scene, completely unrelated to all the subjects involved and arrived at the scene for a completely different matter and was asked to assist by driving to the hospital," says Grantsville Police Cpl. Rhonda Fields. Once at the hospital, the suspect was taken into custody without incident; the AP notes that he's been charged as a juvenile and faces 10 charges, including aggravated homicide. As for a motive, Fields says, "we don't have any of that." Police have yet to interview the surviving family member, who is in stable condition and expected to survive. (Read more mass murder stories.)
A day after veteran actor Shabana Azmi was injured in an accident on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, her husband and lyricist Javed Akhtar has said that her condition is not serious. Currently, she is undergoing treatment at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, and a series of medical tests are positive.

Javed told Bollywood Hungama, Dont worry. She is in the ICU but all the scan reports are positive. It seems theres no serious harm done. According to sources, Shabana will take more than a month to recover completely from her injuries.

Earlier, Dr Santosh Shetty, Executive Director and CEO Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, had said that the actor was not in danger. She is stable and under observation, he said in a statement issued on Saturday evening.

On Saturday, Shabana was injured after her car rammed into a truck on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, near the Khalapur toll booth. Javed, who was travelling in a separate car behind her, was unharmed.

ALSO WATCH | Shabana Azmi injured in car accident on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, wishes pour in

An FIR has been registered against Shabanas driver Amlesh Yogendra Kamat by the driver of the truck, Rajesh Pandurang Shinde. Due to rash driving by the cars driver, the car hit the moving truck on Pune-Mumbai Expressway which resulted in the accident, the FIR copy read.

Also read: FIR against Shabana Azmis driver for rash driving, hospital says actor under observation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among those who reacted to the news of the accident. He wrote on Twitter, The news of @AzmiShabana Jis injury in an accident is distressing. I pray for her quick recovery.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal also wished her a speedy recovery. Came to know abt Shabana Azmi jis accident. I pray to God for her fast recovery and good health, he tweeted.

Several Bollywood celebrities, including Anil Kapoor, Tabu and Satish Kaushik, rushed to the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital to meet Shabana on Saturday night.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up here to receive the Davos Diary, a special daily newsletter that will run from Jan. 20-24.

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido left the country to start an international tour that includes meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to people familiar with his plans.

Guaido is already in Colombia and will meet with President Ivan Duque Sunday afternoon, Duque said on Twitter. He plans to attend an international conference against terrorism on Monday in Colombia at which Pompeo is due to speak. He will also meet with presidents of countries that recognize him as head of state.

Whos in Charge in Venezuela and What May Come Next: QuickTake

Guaido last defied a travel ban in March, risking jail to visit Colombia and Brazil. As well as Colombia and Davos, his tour will include a visit to the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Brussels.

While more than 50 countries recognize Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela he has struggled to translate that support into concrete gains against a regime that remains solidly entrenched. Last April, he tried to lead an uprising against the government of President Nicolas Maduro which failed after most of the armed forces refused to join.

Pompeo, on his plane from Berlin, confirmed that he expected to meet with Guaido and suggested continued support.

Our mission in Venezuela has not changed, Pompeo told reporters. Maduro has been destructive.

Our mission is to continue to work through all of the diplomatic channels to achieve the outcome that President Trump has laid out now about 18 months ago, he said.

Maduro gave an interview to the Washington Post, published late yesterday, in which he called for direct talks with the U.S. and said Pompeo was among those giving President Donald Trump bad advice.

Guaidos team started organizing the tour at the end of last year, as a strategy to boost his profile and maintain international support.

Story continues

He had also hoped to meet with Trump and Emmanuel Macron of France, but those meetings are still unconfirmed, the people said. His initial idea had been to make the trip as soon as he was sworn in as Leader of the National Assembly for another year on Jan. 5.

But he had to delay after a group of lawmakers backed by Maduro voted in a rival leader even as security forces blocked Guaido and opposition members from entering the building.

(Adds Pompeo quotes from 5th paragraph)

--With assistance from Kevin Cirilli.

To contact the reporters on this story: Alex Vasquez in Caracas Office at avasquez45@bloomberg.net;Sebastian Boyd in Santiago at sboyd9@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Matthew G. Miller at mmiller144@bloomberg.net, Ian Fisher

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.
New Delhi:

The Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft will be inducted into the newly reinstated 222 Tigersharks Squadron of the Indian Airforce on Monday at Thanjavur Air Force Station in Tamil Nadu. It will be the second frontline fighter squadron of IAF to be based in South India, the earlier one being in Coimbatore. However, Thanjavur will be the first Sukhoi-30 Squadron of the Southern Air Command.

Air Force Station in Thanjavur was dedicated to the nation on May 27, 2013 with the primary aim of strengthening the air defence capabilities under Southern Air Command (SAC), headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram.

Also Read: Sukhoi-57 Vs F-35: Which Fighter Jet Has An Edge? Heres A Detailed Analysis

This station was mandated to protect economic interests and assets in Southern peninsula in Indian Ocean region. The presence of two airbases-Tanjavur and Coimbatore will hugely enhance the operational capability of IAF in the southern region.

Recently, India successfully conducted five flight tests of the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) 'Astra' from Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter platform, off Odisha coast. The trials were conducted by Indian Air Force (IAF), simulating all possible threat scenarios.

Also Read: IAF Successfully Conducts Five Flight Tests Of Air-To-Air 'Astra' Missile From Sukhoi-30 MKI

Moreover, in December 2019, Indo-Russian BrahMos Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) was successfully launched by the IAF the from the Russian Su-30 MKI against a sea target.

The deployment of Sukhoi-30 MKI at Thanjavur base will give boost to countrys defence preparedness as it will enhance operational capability.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
There is an ongoing mass protest in some states of the federation against the verdict of the supreme court which led to the removal of Emeka Ihedioha as governor of Imo.

The apex court had on Tuesday sacked Ihedioha and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to return Hope Uzodinma, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the election.

Uzodinma who came fourth in the results in the result announced by INEC was declared him the winner by the Supreme court upon his claim that his votes across 388 polling units were annulled.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had described the judgment as a miscarriage of justice and vowed to protest peacefully.

The opposition party also announced that it would carry out a protest in Abuja on Monday.

Meanwhile, below are photos from ongoing protests in Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Ogun states.

Read Also: Police Warn Ihediohas Supporters Against Planned Protest

See some photos below

#SaveOurJudiciary: Updates: Live pictures from Ogun State  pic.twitter.com/C9Z4MbMxkX  Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) January 19, 2020

#SaveTheJudiciary Ongoing-Live pictures from Aba, Abia state on the injustice done to the people of Imo state by the Supreme Court. The Supreme court must reverse itself on the Imo Guber Election.Lets #SaveOurJudiciary @USEmbassyAbuja @EUinNigeria @EU_Commission @UKinNigeria @UN pic.twitter.com/r6zIweWI33  Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) January 19, 2020

#SaveOurJudiciary Ongoing-Peaceful protest in several states of the federation against the @OfficialAPCNg led government annexing of the judiciary. The highpoint of the protest will take place tomorrow in Abuja. Lets #SaveTheJudiciary. Live pictures from Ogun and Imo states pic.twitter.com/6DqJWf9Nsy  Official PDP Nigeria (@OfficialPDPNig) January 19, 2020
Dividend paying stocks like Fope S.p.A. (BIT:FPE) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments.

Fope yields a solid 3.8%, although it has only been paying for two years. A high yield probably looks enticing, but investors are likely wondering about the short payment history. Some simple analysis can reduce the risk of holding Fope for its dividend, and we'll focus on the most important aspects below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

BIT:FPE Historical Dividend Yield, January 19th 2020

Payout ratios

Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Fope paid out 52% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. A payout ratio above 50% generally implies a business is reaching maturity, although it is still possible to reinvest in the business or increase the dividend over time.

We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Fope paid out 363% of its free cash flow last year, suggesting the dividend is poorly covered by cash flow. 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. Fope paid out less in dividends than it reported in profits, but unfortunately it didn't generate enough free cash flow to cover the dividend. Were it to repeatedly pay dividends that were not well covered by cash flow, this could be a risk to Fope's ability to maintain its dividend.

Story continues

Consider getting our latest analysis on Fope's financial position here.

Dividend Volatility

One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. The dividend has not fluctuated much, but with a relatively short payment history, we can't be sure this is sustainable across a full market cycle. During the past two-year period, the first annual payment was 0.13 in 2018, compared to 0.35 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 67% per year over this time.

Fope has been growing its dividend quite rapidly, which is exciting. However, the short payment history makes us question whether this performance will persist across a full market cycle.

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. Fope has grown its EPS 36% over the past 12 months. It's good to see earnings per share rising, but one year is too short a period to get excited about. Were this trend to continue, we'd be interested. With recent, rapid earnings per share growth and a payout ratio of 52%, this business looks like an interesting prospect if earnings are reinvested effectively. We do note though, one year is too short a time to be drawing strong conclusions about a company's future prospects.

We'd also point out that Fope issued a meaningful number of new shares in the past year. Trying to grow the dividend when issuing new shares reminds us of the ancient Greek tale of Sisyphus - perpetually pushing a boulder uphill. Companies that consistently issue new shares are often suboptimal from a dividend perspective.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Fope's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. Fope gets a pass on its dividend payout ratio, but it paid out virtually all of its cash flow as dividends. This may just be a one-off, but we'd keep an eye on this. We were also glad to see it growing earnings, although its dividend history is not as long as we'd like. In sum, we find it hard to get excited about Fope from a dividend perspective. It's not that we think it's a bad business; just that there are other companies that perform better on these criteria.

Now, if you want to look closer, it would be worth checking out our free research on Fope management tenure, salary, and performance.

We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan has revealed that the Shiv Sena had proposed to form a coalition government with his party and the NCP after the 2014 assembly election to stop the Bharatiya Janata Party from coming to power in the state.

But the Congress had immediately rejected the proposal then, Chavan said.

Even after the assembly election in 2019, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was not ready for a coalition with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena but she relented after long deliberations, he told PTI in an interview.

In November, the Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party and Congress formed a coalition government in Maharashtra under the leadership of Thackeray.

Asked what made the Congress join hands with the ideologically opposite Sena, Chavan said, "A similar situation emerged in 2014 as well. Then too, Shiv Sena and NCP had approached me to form a coalition government to stop the BJP. I immediately rejected the offer then and said winning and losing is normal in In the past too, we lost elections and sat in the opposition."



In 2014, BJP and Shiv Sena fought the Maharashtra polls without an alliance, so did Congress and NCP. After the elections, BJP ran the government but later Shiv Sena also joined it.

Chavan alleged the Devendra Fadnavis government tried to "kill the opposition" and there was a "lot of corruption" in the state.

"During this time, efforts were made to destroy democracy. Around 40 MLAs of Congress and NCP were made to switch sides, people were blackmailed and lured with offers of government positions," he claimed, adding that another term for the BJP would have "completely destroyed democracy".

"It was under these circumstances that we decided to change our role and thought about an alternative government. After a conflict between BJP and Shiv Sena, I initiated the move to form the alternative government and discussions about it began," the senior Congress leader said.

"Initially, the party high command was not in favour of joining hands with Shiv Sena. Sonia ji and Congress leaders from Kerala did not agree. But I held discussions with all MLAs and other leaders of the party. It was accepted that the BJP is our number one ideological enemy and everyone agreed to form the alternative government," Chavan said.

Asked whether the coalition government in Maharashtra would last its full term, Chavan said, "Nobody can give a 100-percent guarantee in case of a coalition government. However, we came together against the BJP because it tried to kill the opposition and betrayed the Shiv Sena."



The former chief minister said there will not be a problem till the coalition partners have a common understanding. He, however, accepted that there will be issues in the day-to-day functioning of a government and there had been problems but the BJP is trying to "highlight the issues of the past."Asked to share his views on NCP leader Ajit Pawar, Chavan said Sharad Pawar made the decision that his nephew be the deputy chief minister. "It would not be right for me to comment on this."On not joining the state cabinet, Chavan said, "Uddhav ji is chief minister, Ajit Pawar is deputy CM and Balasaheb Thorat the leader of the party," and he "did not find it appropriate" to work at a lower position.

Chavan said he was offered the post of assembly speaker, however, to remain active in politics, he did not agree. He said he will accept whatever responsibility is given by the party leadership in future.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Adam Robins, "Bubbies" Board Chairman, Joins Union Cannabis Group Advisory Board UCG has a great track record in the cannabis business with a formidable business model that can provide its customers with significant confidence when choosing a CBD supplier, or in planning their CBD production facilities," Robins said. "Its the best of the best.

Union Cannabis Group Inc (UCG), a leading manufacturing and consulting company in the cannabis industry, recently expanded its advisory board with the addition of Adam E. Robins, an expert in the food and confectionery manufacturing and venture capital industries. UCG sees Robins as a strategic addition to their team at this time, as the consumer product goods (CPG) market is on the verge of widescale adoption of cannabinoid infusion in products.

Robins is an experienced executive director with a background in commercial banking, private investment banking, negotiation, sales and entrepreneurship. He is currently co-founder and president of Dobson Avenue Capital Partners and founder of GrowChicago Fund, which is committed to investing in the food and beverage space in Chicago, targeting startups created and run by minorities, women, LGBQT, veterans and other underserved communities. He also serves on numerous advisory boards. Given my commitment to Chicagos ever-increasing impact in the food space, many of the entrepreneurs I am involved with are already working with or planning on developing a CBD component to their products, he said. These companies want to know they are working with reputable and reliable supply chain vendors and Im excited to introduce them to UCG.

Robins currently serves as Chairman of the Board for Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream & Desserts, Inc., a rapidly expanding frozen novelty company that experienced a 290% growth of revenue from 2017 through 2019 with international distribution including Whole Foods and Costco.

UCG is an expert in the fields of laboratory design, equipment specification, hydrocarbon and ethanol extraction, and product formulation. UCG also owns and operates the award-winning brand Dabstract, a connoisseur recreational cannabis brand that is available throughout the state of Washington and is currently expanding to four additional states. Additionally, UCG has other brands in development including a CBD and other cannabinoid ingredient brand.

UCG is poised to penetrate further into the CBD space in 2020, and Robins, formerly a longtime Chairman and CEO of a candy, confectionery and chocolate manufacturing and distribution company, brings a unique set of skills to the table. With over 20 years in the industry, he is connected to candy and confectionery manufacturers around the country, most of which he says are toying with the idea of implementing CBD in their products: Theres a world waiting for it.

Sushanta Parikh, Chief Executive Officer of UCG, sees this as a strategic time in the legal cannabis industry. We are on the precipice of a large CPG market that will be emerging, he said. This is a transitional time in that while cannabis is not legalized on the federal level, the FDA is getting involved with regulating the CBD that was legalized through the 2018 farm bill. This, he said, is where Robins background and expertise promises to be so impactful.

Any company that decides to add CBD to their product should do as much research as possible to verify that the CBD ingredient they choose is the best available from a quality, supply chain, and formulation perspective, Robins said. UCG has a great track record in the cannabis business with a formidable business model that can provide its customers with significant confidence when choosing a CBD supplier, or in planning their CBD production facilities. Its the best of the best.


The Andhra Pradesh Council of Ministers and the Legislature will meet one after the other here on Monday to decide the fate and the future of the state capital.

There is widespread anticipation on what is in store for the state, already suffering from the pangs of bifurcation since 2014, as the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government is firm on carrying out its new plans for "comprehensive, parallel and decentralized development."



All other political parties and citizens at large, however, are staunchly opposing the ruling YSR Congress' move to basically relocate the state capital from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam, as already indicated by the Chief Minister on the floor of the Assembly on December 17.

How the government is seeking to go ahead with its plans remains a closely-guarded secret but, given any opportunity, the principal opposition Telugu Desam is determined to derail the process by showing its strength in the Legislative Council.

The YSRC may be having a brute majority of 151 in the 175-member Assembly but it's in a woeful minority in the 58-member Council, with its numbers being just nine.

With 28 members, and possible support of BJP and others, the TDP could effectively stall albeit temporarily any legislation intended to alter the status quo vis--vis the capital.

Wary of this, the government has not let its strategy known so far though indications are that it may bring in a Money Bill to foil the opposition attempts.

But the (draft) Money Bill has to be first approved by the Cabinet and sent to the Governor for clearance before it is tabled in the Assembly, government sources said.

The Cabinet is scheduled to meet at 9 am on Monday while the Assembly will convene for its extended winter session at 11 am.

Interestingly, the meeting of the Assembly Business Advisory Committee is scheduled at 10 am, where the legislative business to be taken up will be finalised.

The Council will meet on January 21 as per the Legislature notification and will sit only for two days whereas the Assembly will have one extra day.

What ministers gave everyone to understand ahead of the session, which is supposed to be a landmark, is that the Legislature will essentially deliberate the report of the High-Powered Committee of ministers and bureaucrats on "decentralised development" and take a call on various related issues, including the location of the state capital.

The HPC relied on the recommendations made by the six-member committee of experts and also the Boston Consulting Group, besides the Sivaramakrishnan Committee, while coming out with its own set of suggestions.

The crux of the recommendations, according to highly-placed sources, was that the state should have "distributed capital functions" with the Secretariat and other government departments operating from Visakhapatnam, Legislature from Amaravati and High Court from Kurnool.

The recommendations of these committees are clearly in line with what the Chief Minister announced in the Assembly on December 17.

But how to go about the business, given the possible legal and technical implications, is what is said to be worrying the rulers.

The Chief Minister conferred with select ministers and bureaucrats here on Sunday and discussed the government's strategy, particularly on overcoming the opposition in the Legislative Council.

"The opposition could at best delay the process but not fully stop it," was the counsel offered but there has been no conclusive opinion on what could eventually happen in a court of law, as already a set of petitions are pending on the capital issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 17:04:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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JINAN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The port city of Qingdao, eastern China's Shandong Province, saw robust trade in 2019, according to an annual session of the provincial people's congress Sunday.

It is estimated that Qingdao's GDP rose about 6.5 percent and the import and export of commodity grew about 11 percent in 2019. The construction of the demonstration zone for local economic and trade cooperation with the SCO was accelerated, with 38 construction projects launched and a total investment of 22.3 billion yuan (3.25 billion U.S. dollars).

Its total trade volume with member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) grew 15.4 percent year on year.

In 2019, Qingdao Port's cargo throughput exceeded 600 million tonnes, and its container throughput surpassed 21 million standard containers.

The SCO was established in 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017. Since Qingdao hosted the SCO summit in June 2018, trade between Shandong and SCO countries has grown rapidly.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 19 : The rift between the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government and Governor Arif Mohammed Khan widened on Sunday with Khan reportedly seeking an explanation from the Chief Secretary on why the Governor was not informed about the state government's plan to move the Supreme Court over the controversial new citizenship law.

The Governor and the state government have been caught in a war of words ever since the Citizenship Amendment 2019 Act became a law last month. It reached a flash point when on January 13, Kerala became the first state in the country to file a suit in the Supreme Court against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The suit requests the court to declare the CAA unconstitutional.

However, on Saturday state Law Minister A.K. Balan tried to play down the differences, saying the government has no intention to take a confrontationist stance against the Governor.

Balan said that if the Governor sought a clarification, the state government would surely respond. "We have never questioned the Governor and, in case, if it sounded like that, it pains us," said Balan.

Subsequently, the missive was sent from Khan's office asking Chief Secretary Tom Jose to submit a report.

Government sources said a legal advice has been sought to draft a reply to Khan's query and that the state cabinet would meet on Monday to decide the next course of action.
A man is fighting for his life after his car plunged off a cliff and crashed into exposed reef below.

Emergency services were called to the corner of Marine Parade and Tweed Terrace, in Coolangatta, on Queensland's Gold Coast, at 4.46am on Sunday.

They were responding to reports a car had driven off the cliff face and landed on sharp rocks below.

A man in his 40s was pulled from the car in a critical condition with serious injuries after a delicate rescue operation by paramedics.

Emergency services were called to the corner of Marine Parade and Tweed Terrace, in Coolangatta, on Queensland's Gold Coast, at 4.46am on Sunday

He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

A Queensland Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the incident is being investigated.

Crews are working to remove the car from the crash site.

Horrific images shared by Queensland Ambulance Service showed a ute stranded on the rocks as waves crashed around it.

The vehicle's bonnet appeared to be severely damaged from the crash.

The incident is being investigated and the man is in a critical condition
The Centre is promoting technology for converting garbage and plastic waste into energy, said a senior official in the petroleum ministry.

CNG vehicles are required in public transport and towards this end, CNG needs to be produced on a large scale. In order to reduce the ill-effects of vehicular pollution, the government has laid thrust on research and development on pollution-reducing technologies, M M Kutty, Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said at a global meet on Refining and Petrochemicals Technology here on Sunday.

Anil Kakodkar, Chairperson, Scientific Advisory Committee, said the countrys economy was greatly dependent on gas-based fuels and called for research and development in the field. There is no point of taking up R&D in the coal-based fuel industry. Environmentally-friendly fuel is the need of the hour, he added.

He continued: Japan banned the use of coal after the Fukushima disaster. This is the opportune time to turn the focus on the production of biomass and organic fuel. The use of biomass should be promoted in rural areas. The developments in West Asia are worrisome and the government should take measures for ensuring energy security.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration on Friday took another step toward dismantling Michelle Obamas school nutrition guidelines, proposing a new rule that could lead to more pizza and fries and less fruit and a smaller variety of vegetables on school menus.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who announced the rule changes on Obamas birthday, said they were needed to give schools more flexibility and reduce waste while still providing nutritious and appetizing meals.

But child nutrition advocates saw it differently.

What a shameless, embarrassing capitulation to lobbyists at the expense of American children and their well-being, said Sam Kass, who served as executive director of Obamas Lets Move" campaign to combat child obesity. This country  and its kids  deserve so much better."

Under the proposal, schools would be allowed to cut the amount of certain types of vegetables served at lunch, and legumes offered as a meat alternative also could be counted as part of the vegetable requirement. Potatoes could be served as a vegetable.

The proposal also would allow schools to reduce the amount of fruit at on-the-go breakfast served outside the cafeteria.

Gay Anderson, president of the School Nutrition Association, said that while the nutrition standards had been a success overall, some requirements led to reduced participation in the program, higher costs and waste.

USDAs school meal flexibilities are helping us manage these challenges and prepare nutritious meals that appeal to diverse student tastes, Anderson said in a statement.

The school meals program serves about 30 million students, most of them from low-income families.

The Trump administrations assault on childrens health continues today under the guise of simplifying school meals, Colin Schwartz, the Center for Science in the Public Interests deputy director for legislative affairs, said in a statement.

The proposal would give schools greater flexibility in offering entrees for a la carte purchases, which Schwartz said would create a huge loophole in school nutrition guidelines, paving the way for children to choose pizza, burgers, French fries, and other foods high in calories, saturated fat or sodium in place of balanced school meals every day.

Geraldine Henchy, director of nutrition policy at the Food Research & Action Center, said the bottom line should be nutrition, but the revisions to the a la carte rule would result in students getting a lot more fats, a lot more sodium, a lot more calories.

Specifically, the proposal would reduce the amount of red and orange vegetables that would have to be offered every day at lunch.

For breakfasts taken to go, fruit servings could be reduced from a cup to half a cup.

Rep. Bobby Scott, a Virginia Democrat and chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, said the proposal threatens the progress weve made toward improving nutrition in schools.

For many children, the food they eat at school is their only access to healthy, nutritious meals, he said.

The American Heart Association said the rule would put childrens health at risk.

Healthy school meals help combat childhood obesity and poor cardiovascular health, but they also help establish a foundation for a lifetime of healthy behaviors," the group said.

As first lady, Obama championed healthier school meals as part of the Lets Move campaign.

With one in three of our kids on track to have diabetes, it's unconscionable that the Trump administration would do the bidding of the potato and junk food industries," Kass said.

The 2010 Health, Hunger-Free Kids Act set nutrition standards for school meals, requiring schools to offer fruits and vegetables and more whole-grain foods and to limit calories, fat and sodium.

The proposed rule is the second move by the Trump administration to scale back the school lunch programs nutrition standards. Under a 2018 rule, the administration reduced the whole grains that had to be served and allowed low-fat chocolate milk. Before the rule change, only fat-free flavored milk was permitted.

Perdue announced the proposed changes in San Antonio, Texas.

Schools and school districts continue to tell us that there is still too much food waste and that more common-sense flexibility is needed to provide students nutritious and appetizing meals, he said.

The agency also proposed changes to the summer meals program, which serves 2.6 million children.
If you thought Ricky Gervais was great, you need to meet British actor Laurence Fox. He became an overnight sensation in Britain for stating truths that the bullying woke scolds have forced people to deny for decades now.

It all started on a BBC show in England called Question Time. Once a week, five or so public figures sit on a panel in front of a carefully selected audience that, nowadays, is meant to represent the entire identity-politics spectrum. Audience members can ask questions of the panel.

Last week, one of the panel members was actor Laurence Fox and one of the audience members was Rachel Boyle. Boyle isnt an average person on the street, though. She is a faculty member at Edge Hill University in Lancashire. On the university web page, she is described as a Senior Lecturer in Children, Education & Communities. On her Twitter feed, though, she describes herself as a Race & Ethnicity researcher. To Boyle, race matters.

In a discussion involving Meghan Markles and Prince Harry's decision to abdicate their royal status, something triggered Boyle and she attacked Fox for being racist for refusing to recognize the racism drove Markle from England. In the ensuing discussion, while Boyles Twitter page has a picture of Martin Luther King, its Fox who articulates Kings belief about race and character:

Lets be really clear about what this is, lets call it by its name, its racism.



Were the most tolerant lovely country in Europe, its not racism



This audience member clashes with actor @LozzaFox over the treatment of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/ZwANAlCBbA  BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) January 16, 2020

Rachel Boyle: 'The problem we've got with this is that Meghan has agreed to be Harry's wife and then the Press have torn her to pieces. Let's be really clear about what this is  let's call it by its name, it's racism, she's a black woman and she has been torn to pieces.' Laurence Fox: 'It's not racism, you can't just...' RB: 'She has been torn to pieces.' LF: 'It's not racism.' RB: 'It absolutely is.' LF: 'No it's not, we're the most tolerant, lovely country in Europe.' RB: 'Says a white privileged man.' LF: 'It's not racism. RB: 'Says a white privileged man.' LF: 'Oh God. It's so easy to throw the charge of racism at everybody and it's really starting to get boring. RB: 'What worries me about your comment is you are a white privileged male who has no experience in this. LF: 'I can't help what I am, I was born like this, it's an immutable characteristic, so to call me a white privileged male is to be racist - you're being racist.'

That was not Fox's only challenge to the social justice warriors. He entertained the audience by ignoring other Leftist shibboleths too. As did Ricky Gervais, he sniped at actors who are hypocrites about climate change. Fox also warned that the fear of sounding racist caused people to ignore serious crimes; called Corbyn Magic Grandpa; and said elections are not about women, jeepers creepers, because, as he said, policies matter more than gender. His last point was so well-taken, a female Leftist panelist agreed with him:

For stating honest truths, Fox has been the target of unrelenting social justice warrior assaults. The woke scolds have gone mad with rage. The latest is a demand from the minority ethnic members committee in Equity, the British actors union, demanding that Fox be unequivocally denounced for being guilty of wrong think.

Equitys minority ethnic members committee (@EquityMEM) has called on fellow actors to unequivocally denounce Laurence Fox for comments he made during an appearance on BBC1's Question Time https://t.co/hcnJcBtW0e pic.twitter.com/wtKQcLNV3j  The Stage (@TheStage) January 17, 2020

Some actors, however, are standing up to the censors:

Im aware that your tweet does not equal an endorsement, but I am very grateful to see an actor join this conversation. Finally... https://t.co/qzuJZaz1UW  LAURENCE FOX (@LozzaFox) January 18, 2020

Other beleaguered Brits are openly delighted that someone has talked back to the woke scolds:

John Hooper wrote: 'I dont know much about Laurence Fox, but hes fast turning into a hero of mine' while Edd Lees added: 'Laurence Fox is the hero we never knew we needed.' David Gould added: 'Thank god for people like Laurence Fox and Piers Morgan, talking common sense in an increasingly mad world.' Karen said she's 'with Laurence on account of the fact hes bang on the money'. Viva wrote: 'Laurence Fox is the fatigued and exhausted British Public personified. Hes decided to unsubscribe from the Woke newsletter. Ill join him.'

Fox has been busy making new friends and enemies on his Twitter feed (although he seems unclear, in quite obscene terms, about the fact that the brilliant Titania McGrath is a satire written by a conservative). At the end of the day, Fox tweeted out a rallying call to those tired of being on the receiving end of the censorious, reality-denying, power-hungry woke scolds:

This is the position I took last night and I live by in life. If you can improve on it, Im all ears.



Or you can keep screeching Racist! at me and I can carry on having a jolly good giggle at your expense.



The tide is turning. pic.twitter.com/fFJzkzvFsY  LAURENCE FOX (@LozzaFox) January 17, 2020

The funny thing about revolutions against cultural tyranny is that it really takes only a handful of brave people to lead the way.
Heavy snow covered the streets of Tehran on Sunday, causing major flight delays and forcing the closure of schools, authorities in the Iranian capital said.

AFP correspondents said the snow started falling early in the morning and disrupted the flow of traffic on some of the city's main highways.

"We knew that it would snow as of last night and that it naturally affects traffic," head of Tehran's traffic police Mohammadreza Mehmandar told state television.

"On some highways in the north (of Tehran) there was a bit of ice... and accidents were responded to quickly," he added.

Schools in all the districts of Tehran city and some parts of the province were closed in both morning and the afternoon due to the heavy snowfall.

The snow dump caused long delays to flights to and from Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport.

"Flights at Mehrabad will go ahead but with delays due to the lack of proper vision," said Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesman for Iran's aviation authority.

But flights were still going according to schedule at Imam Khomeini International Airport, also in Tehran, he added.

Snowfall is forecast to continue until Monday in Tehran and other northern provinces.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 15:32:56|Editor: ZX

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ZHENGZHOU, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Farmers in central China's Henan Province have been compensated 1.76 billion yuan (256.6 million U.S. dollars) for their losses in raising pigs in 2019, a local insurance watchdog said.

The value accounted for more than 60 percent of total agricultural insurance payouts last year, according to figures released by the provincial banking and insurance regulatory bureau.

The compensations were paid to offset the losses of farmers, help them resume pig farming and stabilize the pork market, said the bureau.

About 467,000 pig farmers were compensated as pig production was affected by African swine fever and other factors in Henan, a major pork supply base in China.

Statistics show that the pig stock in the province reached 33.63 million units in the first three quarters of 2019, down 24.7 percent year on year.
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Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) implied that Trump is a criminal by pointing out that the people around the president tend to get indicted.

Transcript of Chairman Schiff on ABCs This Week:

STEPHANOPOULOS: Lets talk about Lev Parnas. You released a great deal of information from him. Of course, hes the associate of Rudy Giuliani, now indicted, who testified this week, has given a lot of documents to your committee. Testified in public, I should say. He didnt testify to Congress.

But theres one reference to him in your brief. How much will you be using him in your argument? Are you concerned that he wont be seen as credible because hes under indictment?

SCHIFF: Well, look, you know, it is the fact with many of the people surrounding the president that they end up indicted. These are the people that the president has chosen to work with, people like, you know, Michael Cohen, like Lev Parnas, like so many others, Paul Manafort, and these are people that do have information about the presidents misconduct.

But right now, George, we dont know what witnesses will be allowed and even if well be allowed witnesses. We cant really make a determination on which witnesses well call in the absence of knowing whether the Senate will allow any at all.

The threshold issue here, George, is will there be a fair trial? Will the senators allow the House to call witnesses to introduce documents? That is the foundational issue on which everything else rests. And one thing that the public is overwhelmingly in support of, and that is a fair trial.

Video:

Schiff on Lev Parnas: "It is the fact with many of the people surrounding the president that they end up indicted. These are the people that the president has chosen to work with." Via ABC pic.twitter.com/RuJvfoi14R  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 19, 2020

Innocent people who arent committing crimes tend not to surround themselves with criminals. If the old saying you are the company you keep is applied to Trump, then this president is a criminal.

Rudy Giuliani is under criminal investigation. Giulianis associates have been charged with crimes. Trumps inner circle of his 2016 presidential campaign is full of people who were or are in jail.

Adam Schiff spoke the truth people around this president have a habit of getting indicted, but Trump is trying to sell America on the idea that he is an innocent man awash in a sea of crime.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

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CALGARY  Mike Heier says hes been a soft separatist for 25 years.

And in his mind, hes been betrayed by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

Thats all he did when he took separation off the table, the 60-year-old business director said Saturday.

The moral fabric required to keep this country together is gone.

Heier was one of more than 700 people who gathered at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre this weekend to attend the Value of Alberta event, which was billed by organizers as the largest ever and most comprehensive conference dealing with issues related to Albertas place in Confederation."

While not explicitly a pro-separation event, the conference was, in many ways, a more sober look at western alienation and discussion of what one speaker called the unthinkable.

Last fall, on the heels of the federal election and rising frustration in Alberta with its outcome, hundreds packed into Edmontons Boot Scootin Boogie Dancehall for a Wexit rally.

But on Saturday in Calgary, there were more business suits than Wexit ball caps  and the audience included high-profile speakers from Alberta and beyond.

The views were varied. Many said they simply wanted more autonomy for the West within the country. Some said they wanted a slow progression toward independence, and others yet were no-nonsense separatists.

A few elected United Conservative Party MLAs were in attendance, including Tany Yao, who represents Fort McMurrayWood Buffalo.

He also sits on the Kenney governments Fair Deal Panel and has been travelling around the province listening to Albertans.

Were close, quite honestly, he said when asked about Alberta separating from Canada.

When you see a federal government push through bills that specifically target our products from our province and ignore the products that come in from the Middle East, from Venezuela, even from the United States  thats really discouraging.

Specific topics at the conference included climate policy enacted by the federal government, the energy industry, Indigenous issues and what the downturn in Albertas energy-dependent economy has meant for working people.

Former media mogul Conrad Black was the keynote speaker, and held a book signing afterwards.

While Black didnt touch directly on Alberta independence, he expressed his support for the provinces energy sector.

Alberta is not just suffering from bad luck because it happens to produce something that is environmentally unsound, Black said.

It is suffering from extreme mis-government because the persecution of the energy industry is unjustified on any grounds.

Black also questioned how united scientists are on the question of climate change causing catastrophe in the near future,

(Nearly 100 per cent of the climate science community across the world has agreed that action needs to be taken on human accelerated climate change in order to curb extreme weather events in the future and protect biodiversity.)

Ted Morton, a former Alberta cabinet minister and advocate for more provincial autonomy, and Joe Oliver, once a federal minister under Stephen Harper, delivered remarks as well.

Oliver also questioned the scientific consensus, while stressing that he wasnt a climate change denier. He took issue with alarmist concerns over climate change.

While Oliver said that Alberta should try and get a fair shake, he said he doesnt want Alberta to separate.

My Canada includes Alberta, he said.

But the animosity that has underscored talk about western separation  dubbed various things over the years, from Wexit to Albexit and even Saskalbatoba  was evident at Saturdays event.

As speakers took the stage and stood between the Canada and Alberta flags, a slide show appeared in the background showing an Alberta Transfer Meter counting upward second by second.

Jack Mintz, an economist with the University of Calgarys School of Public Policy, said estimates go as high as $611 billion (in 2017 dollars) that Alberta has contributed through taxes into federal coffers over the past 50 years.

A November poll from Ipsos put Albertas separatist sentiment at 33 per cent and Saskatchewans at 27 per cent.

One question often looms over a potential separation: What about treaty rights?

Wexit is a non-starter for First Nations people, said Treaty 6 Grand Chief Billy Morin, who also spoke at the conference. There are significant issues with Ottawa, but leaving the country isnt the answer, he told the room.

You would have Alberta with a bunch of holes.

Wexit gained national notoriety in the wake of last years federal election that saw the Liberals returned to power with a minority government despite being shut out of Alberta entirely.

Since then, Wexit has been granted party status in Canada, making it eligible for the next election.

But Wexit was derided by some at the conference. Longtime conservative activist Judy Johnson said the movement is painting us so badly.

Albertans are really not like that, she said. I am totally onside with almost everything Jason Kenney is doing.

Well have to see how he does, because if hes not prepared to do some of these things then, yes, Im afraid another party is going to rise in Alberta.

Johnson said she wasnt fully committed to Alberta independence, but pegged the sentiment in the room and the provinces separatist feelings at between three and five on a scale of 10, of like, an earthquake.

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The protesters said they had decided on a more forceful approach because three months of peaceful demonstrations had failed to bring about a new government or any easing of the countrys financial and economic crisis. The value of the Lebanese currency has plunged by half in three months, and ordinary people are prevented from accessing their savings as the central bank seeks to stave off financial collapse.
Eve Gale became the first contestant to be sent packing from the Love Island villa on Friday night.

And the reality star - who left her identical twin Jess behind in South Africa - wasted no time in posing for a sexy shoot, showcasing her curves in a number of revealing outfits.

The blonde bombshell showed off her peachy posterior in a white bra and matching thong, casting a sultry look over one shoulder.

Revealing: Eve Gale became the first contestant to be sent packing from the Love Island villa on Friday night - but has wasted no time posing for a sexy shoot

Eve then changed into a black one piece with zip detailing on the bodice pulled down low to highlight her cleavage.

The blonde beauty's daring shoot - no doubt taken before her brief stint on TV - certainly made the most of her physique.

She became the first contestant to be dumped from the villa during the dramatic recoupling on Friday night.

Daring: The reality star - who left her identical twin Jess behind in South Africa - was showcasing her curves in a number of revealing outfits

Meanwhile, Eve has given her verdict on the new couplings, with the 20-year-old student speaking out against newbie Connagh's decision to 'steal' Sophie from Connor.

Eve told of her 'shock' over Connagh's 'bold move' and revealed that it was 'not nice' that Sophie was separated from Connor.

The coffee bean salesman was left fuming during the recoupling as the Welsh hunk chose his partner Sophie, forcing him to recouple with Siannise instead.

Having her say: Eve has given her verdict on the new couplings, with the 20-year-old student speaking out against newbie Connagh's decision to 'steal' Sophie from Connor

Connor seethed that he was 'snaked out' and alluded to the fact that the model was 'dishonest'.

Revealing her thoughts on the showstopping moment, Eve said in her exit interview: 'It was a bold move Its not nice now that she cant be with Connor.'

The blonde beauty then went on to commend Connagh for daring to risk the wrath of Connor, as she continued: 'But hats off to Connagh, bold move, youve got to do what youve got to do but I was shocked.'

Drama: Eve told of her 'shock' over Connagh's 'bold move' and revealed that it was 'not nice' that Sophie was separated from Connor

Speaking of the former pairing, she added: 'I do think Sophie and Connor were a good couple.

'I dont know whats going to happen now as obviously Sophies been picked by Connagh'.

Aside from the drama between Connor, Connagh and Sophie, Eve faced the agonising moment of being separated from her sister Jess, who was chosen by Nas.

When asked about how she thinks Jess would cope without her, Eve responded: 'I think shes going to miss me. But, in a way, it will be a good thing because shell integrate more. Shes got all the support in there by all the other Islanders.

Not impressed: The coffee bean salesman was left fuming during the recoupling as the Welsh hunk chose his partner Sophie, forcing him to recouple with Siannise instead

Fuming: Connor seethed that he was 'snaked out' and alluded to the fact that the model was 'dishonest'

'Sometimes me and Jess would just go off on our own. Siannise and Leanne are our bestest girlfriends there, shell probably become closer with them.'

Ahead of her exit, Eve insisted that her sister should remain in the villa and not to try to leave with her.

Explaining how she would have felt if Jess decided to leave, Eve said: 'I wouldnt have wanted her to. I dont think Id have let her leave. I dont want me to hold her back.

'I do think its a good thing that she can be in there. Its important to have our independence It is quite irrational to think we cant do it alone - she can do it alone.'

Reaction: Revealing her thoughts on the showstopping moment, Eve said in her exit interview: 'It was a bold move Its not nice now that she cant be with Connor'

Decision: 'But hats off to Connagh, bold move, youve got to do what youve got to do but I was shocked'

But it remains to be seen how well she'll cope without her identical twin as she revealed that they've only ever spent 'five days' apart.

She said: 'I do Geography at uni. I went to Spain for a field trip, it was five days. Thats the longest weve been apart.

'We lived separately, but we would see each other every day because our unis are so close. Wed always see each other for lunch or something.'

Meanwhile, the dumped islander revealed what she thought about Jess being coupled up with Nas.

Separated: Aside from the drama between Connor, Connagh and Sophie, Eve faced the agonising moment of being separated from her sister Jess, who was chosen by Nas

Torn apart: Eve was dumped from the villa after not being picked, meaning she had to pack her bags and leave the South African abode for good

'I feel so happy shes in a couple with Nas,' she gushed. 'I really got along with Nas, hes such a positive, uplifting person. Theyve never completely shut off romance. I think he really gets us and we get him. Hes just the loveliest person ever.

'Me and Jess said on our first day out of all the boys, we can talk to Nas the best. If I was to choose to go on a night out, Id be like, "Nas come on!" He was my best boy friend there.

'We both said that he reminds us of the kind of people wed hang out with at home. Im so happy shes in a couple shes happy with.'

Love Island continues Sunday at 9pm on ITV2.

Stay: Explaining how she would have felt if Jess decided to leave, Eve said: 'I wouldnt have wanted her to. I dont think Id have let her leave. I dont want me to hold her back'
Ukraine's president and other high-ranking officials attended the mourning ceremony.

A commemorative event to honor victims of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752 downed in Iran on January 8 is taking place in Terminal B of Kyiv's Boryspil Airport on Sunday, January 19.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky together with Parliament Speaker Dmytro Razumkov, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk, members of the government and other senior officials gathered at the runway when an Il-76 aircraft with the bodies of the eleven Ukrainians killed in the downing of the UIA plane landed at about 11:00 a.m. Kyiv time on January 19, the presidential press service said.

Read alsoCanada to provide money to Canadian families after Ukraine plane shot down in Iran  media

The caskets with the bodies were delivered by a motorcade from the military airfield to Terminal B. People who gathered along the route of the motorcade paid their last tribute to the dead Ukrainians.

Then, National Guardsmen moved the caskets inside the terminal where the families of those killed were able to bid farewell. The president put flowers at the site of mourning; he also spoke briefly with the victims' relatives and expressed his condolences to them.

The official ceremony was also attended by UIA personnel, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

People continue arriving at the terminal to commemorate the Ukrainians killed in the downing of the plane. The mourning event will continue until 19:00 Kyiv time on January 19.

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 January 8. It was carrying 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. Two passengers, Olena Malakhova and Olha Kobyuk, and the crew were Ukrainians: Volodymyr Haponenko, Oleksiy Naumkin, Serniy Khomenko, Kateryna Statnik, Ihor Matkov, Maria Mykytyuk, Denys Lykhno, Valeria Ovcharuk, Yulia Solohub.

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.

On January 11, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially admitted that the Ukrainian airliner had been shot down by accident as a result of a "human error."
T he chilly weekend continued on Sunday as the mercury dipped below zero and fog coated large parts of the country.

The Met Office said Northern Ireland experienced its coldest night of the winter, while the temperature fell to -6.8C (19.8F) in North Yorkshire's Topcliffe, and hovered around -1C in London.

The agency's Alex Burkhill said a fog warning had been put in place over sections of the West Midlands and north-west England.

"It's been a very frosty start but through the bulk of the day it's going to be largely fine and largely sunny," the forecaster said.

It would still be "quite chilly" with expected highs of 8C scattered across parts of England, Mr Burkhill said.

He added that there would be some rain for the Shetland Islands.

But there would also be plenty of sunshine across the country, the Met Office said.

A mid-range cold weather alert has been issued by Public Health England from 6pm on Sunday to 6pm on Tuesday and the organisation is urging people to prepare for cold weather conditions and look out for those most at risk.

Storm Brendan: Slough clear-up - In pictures 1 /9 Storm Brendan: Slough clear-up - In pictures PA PA PA PA PA PA PA

Dr Owen Landeg, principal environmental public health scientist at PHE, said: "Below 18 degrees, changes to the body mean that the risk of strokes, heart attacks and chest infections increase so heating homes to this temperature is particularly important to stay well."

The cold snap comes after Storm Brendan swept across parts of the UK last weekend, causing road closures and rail disruption, as well as gales of up to 80mph.

It also marks a change from last month when meteorologists confirmed that a new UK maximum temperature record for late December was set in the Highlands.

A temperature of 18.7C (65.66F) was recorded at Achfary in Sutherland on December 28.

The reading was validated following a "rigorous verification process", the Met Office said.
Amid a debate over the implementation of the amended Citizenship Act, the Congress on Sunday said states have the right to challenge the Centre and cannot be "forced" to implement the "unconstitutional law" till the petition in the Supreme Court is decided.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a statement that the CAA is an attack on India's Constitution and the people's movement against the act shall continue "courageously and fearlessly".

The Congress' assertion comes a day after senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said there is no way a state can deny the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when it is already passed by Parliament.

He, however, later asserted that every state assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek the amended Citizenship Act's withdrawal, but if the law is declared constitutional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have become living symbols of 'sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism' using the instrument of state to attack India's ethos and its Constitution," Surjewala alleged.

He accused Modi and Shah of using the CAA as a "manipulative smoke-screen" to "divide and rule".

Repeated statements being made by the home minister and governors "forcing" the states to implement the CAA are itself preposterous and go against the very concept of 'constitutional federalism', Surjewala said.

His remarks come at a time when a tussle is going on between the Kerala government and state's governor Arif Mohammad Khan over the Left dispensation approaching the Supreme Court against the CAA.

"Let the BJP government and its governors not forget that India is a Union of states. As per the established parliamentary practice, states can disagree with the Union and challenge the same by way of their constitutional right under Article 131 of the Constitution," Surjewala said.

In the past, many states such as Karnataka, Bihar and Rajasthan have approached the Supreme Court under Article 131 to resolve disputes with the Union of India on a range of issues, he said.

"Until the (CAA) issue is resolved on a petition moved under Article 131, states cannot be forced to implement an unconstitutional law like the CAA," Surjewala said, referring to the Kerala government moving the Supreme Court to challenge the CAA and seeking to declare it as violative of the principles of equality, freedom and secularism enshrined in the Constitution.

Prime Minister Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) need to understand that the Constitution is not a "jumla" to be discarded at will, he said.

The Constitution is "our biggest 'dharma' of 'raaj', 'neeti' and 'karma', he said.

The inherently "divisive" CAA is an attack on India's Constitution, its poor, Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes and the minorities, Surjewala alleged.

Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah are using CAA as a "manipulative smoke screen" to "divide and rule" in order to hide their unpardonable failing of India's economy, insurmountable unemployment and shocking suicides of the youth as a result thereof, he alleged.

"?To lie and to mislead is 'raaj dharma' for PM Modi and the BJP. Time has come to expose the conspiracy of 'lies and deceit' of the rulers against people of India," he said.

The Congress seeks an opportunity of the Citizenship of India to all Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Muslims and others, irrespective of nationality, country of origin, place of residence, ethnicity or religion, Surjewala asserted.

On the other hand, the "illegal and unconstitutional" CAA, in its present form, seeks to exclude Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, Muslims and others based on the country of origin, country of residence and religion, he said.

He also posed several questions to the prime minister and the home minister, asking why are Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Muslims of Sri Lanka, Tibet (China) and Myanmar (the three bordering countries) being excluded from being given Indian citizenship.

"Why are Hindus or other communities of Nepal and Bhutan being denied India's Citizenship under the present CAA?" he asked.

Surjewala also asked if it was correct that there are only 33,313 persons belonging to the minority communities (Hindus 25,447, Sikh 5,807, Christians 55, Buddhists 2, Parsis 2), who will benefit from the present CAA.

"If the CAA is not unconstitutional, why are the BJP's own allies AASU, Akali Dal, DMK, NPF and others opposing the CAA? Why is the BJP's own Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal opposing the CAA?" he asked.

"?Why is the BJP's North-East Incharge Hemanta Biswa Sarma rejecting the CAA by claiming that 'religious persecution' will not be a ground for grant of citizenship," Surjewala asked.

This exposes the BJP's own doublespeak and fallibility of its divisive agenda, he claimed.

"Let the BJP government, PM and the HM remember that the Indian National Congress has always stood up in challenge against draconian laws, whether brought by the British or by the current dispensation," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eastern Libyan forces commander Khalifa Haftar arrived in Berlin on Saturday for a summit that will take place on Sunday, Libyan al-hadath tv announced on their twitter account, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Germany and the United Nations will push rival Libyan camps and their foreign backers fighting over the capital to agree on Sunday to a truce and monitoring mechanism as first steps towards peace.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- This Thursday, the coalition and Mayor Breed will cut the ribbon for Trans Home SF on Washington Street, San Francisco's first home for trans adults.

Trans Home SF on Washington Street is a transitional housing program that will provide much needed shelter and wrap around services to up to thirteen transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals annually. The home falls under San Francisco's new Our Trans Home program that will support hundreds of low income TGNC community members find or keep their housing through rental subsidies, housing navigation, and case management.

"Every day our trans community struggles to find affordable and inclusive housing. Despite Trumps ongoing attacks San Francisco continues to have some of the strongest non-discrimination protections, although our ongoing housing crisis continues to impact our diverse community," said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. "With one out of every two transgender San Franciscan having experienced homelessness, we knew we had to take bold steps to fix these inequities. I am honored to join the coalition to launch this first of it's kind program because everyone deserves a safe place to call home."

"We are grateful for Mayor London Breed's ongoing support and the groundswell of community support for Our Trans Home SF. San Francisco will invest over $2.3 Million to support trans housing and rental subsidies for our community," said Clair Farley, Director Of the Office of Transgender Initiatives and Senior Advisor to Mayo Breed. "This vital program will save lives and provide safe shelter as our community continues to face attacks from Washington and ongoing rollbacks of Obama era LGBTQ protections. We can make real progress to help end trans homelessness in our City."

The coalition partners includes St. James Infirmary. Larkin Street Youth Services, Transgender Advisory Committee SF, Our Trans Home SF, TAJA's Coalition, El/La para TransLatinas, TGI Justice Project, Trans Thrive, API Equality, Lyon Martin, Trans Health Consulting, Open House, SF LGBT Center, CUAV, SFAF, PRC, San Francisco Community Health Center and Transgender Law Center.

"We are honored to be the leader in the Our Trans Home SF initiative partnering with Mayor Breed and the community to address the housing crisis that is having a devastating impact on trans people of color across the Bay Area," said Toni Newman, Executive Director of St. James Infirmary and administrator of the new initiative. "As a Black trans-led nonprofit, we are hitting the ground running to provide housing to our community members who need it the most and will continue to lead the country in developing solutions for and by our community."

"We have no time to waste if we are going to address the root issues that are keeping our community in poverty and on the streets," said the members of the Our Trans Home Coalition. "We thank Mayor Breed and the Office of Transgender Initiatives for their support in resourcing our community so we flourish and thrive."

St. James Infirmary is also hosting an orientation to the Trans Home SF Rental Support Program, where providers and trans and gender nonconforming community members can learn about the program and enroll into the program on site.

The Trans Home SF Orientation takes place at Noon on Wednesday, January 29, in the Koret Auditorium of the San Francisco Main Public Library. Located on 101 Larkin Street.

Check out http://www.ourtranshomesf.org and http://www.stjamesinfirmary.org

Media Contact:

Maceo Persson

San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives

(415) 671-3073

Photos:

https://www.prlog.org/12806523

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE San Francisco Office Of Transgender Initiatives
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido will meet on Monday in Bogota with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at a regional counter-terrorism conference, according to two people close to Guaido, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Guaido confirmed on Sunday he had arrived in Colombia and would speak with Colombian President Ivan Duque, though he did not mention Pompeo. Spokespeople for the U.S. State Department and Guaido declined to comment on a meeting with Pompeo.

Guaido has not left Venezuela since February, when he defied a court-imposed travel ban and traveled to neighboring Colombia to organize a U.S.-backed effort to transport aid cargos back across the border, which was blocked by troops loyal to President Nicolas Maduro.

In a message on Twitter, Guaido said he was grateful for Duques support and said the trip would generate the conditions that will lead us to freedom.

I can assure you that my return to our country will be full of good news, he added.

Duque, on Twitter, welcomed Guaido to Colombia, saying they would have a private meeting at his presidential residence on Sunday and Guaido would attend Mondays conference. The meeting will address the use of drug-trafficking and illegal gold mining to fund terrorist activities in the Americas.

The United States, along with some 50 other nations, has recognized Guaido as Venezuelas legitimate head-of-state since last January when he invoked the constitution as head of congress and declared Maduro an usurper.

But a year on Maduro remains in power, despite a U.S. campaign to cut off his governments sources of financing by imposing sanctions on Venezuelas vital oil sector, and Guaidos attempts to encourage the military to rebel.

Earlier this month, Venezuelas ruling Socialist Party seized control of the National Assembly and swore in an allied politician who defected from Guaidos camp. Opposition lawmakers than voted in Guaido for a second term as congress chief in a separate session.

Pompeo at the time congratulated Guaido for his re-election and condemned the failed efforts of the former Maduro regime to negate the will of the democratically elected National Assembly.

Maduro accuses Guaido of being a coup-mongering puppet controlled by the White House. In an interview published by the Washington Post on Saturday, Maduro said the Trump administration had underestimated his staying power and he didnt care about sanctions.
The US National Archives admits it made mistake when blurring out anti-Trump signs for womens suffrage exhibit.

The US National Archives said on Saturday it made a mistake when it blurred images of anti-Trump signs in a photograph used in an exhibit on womens suffrage.

The independent agency is charged with preserving government and historical records and said it has always been committed to preserving its holdings without alteration.

But the archives said in a statement on Saturday we made a mistake.

The National Archives statement came one day after The Washington Post published an online report about the altered images.

The Archives said the photo in question is not one of its archival records, but rather was licensed for use as a promotional graphic in the exhibit.

Nonetheless, we were wrong to alter the image, it said.

The current display has been removed and will be replaced as soon as possible with one that uses the original, unaltered image, the archives said.

The exhibit about the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, blurred some anti-Trump messages on protest signs in a photo of the 2017 Womens March in Washington, DC.

Signs that referred to womens private parts, which also were widespread during the march, which was held shortly after Trump took office, were also altered.

The Archives said it will immediately begin a thorough review of its policies and procedures for exhibits so that this does not happen again.

The American Civil Liberties Union called on the archives to issue a more detailed, explanation.

Apologising is not enough, Louise Melling, the organisations deputy legal director, said in a statement. The National Archives must explain to the public why it took the Orwellian step of trying to rewrite history and erasing womens bodies from it, as well as who ordered it.

Archives spokeswoman Miriam Kleiman told the Washington Post that the nonpartisan, nonpolitical federal agency blurred the anti-Trump references so as not to engage in current political controversy.

References to female anatomy in the signs were obscured in deference to student groups and young people who visit the archives, Kleiman told the newspaper.

Kleiman did not respond to an emailed request for comment Saturday from The Associated Press. The public affairs office at the archives emailed the statement.

The Archives issued the apology as thousands again gathered in Washington, DC, and in cities across the country on Saturday for Womens March rallies focused on issues such as climate change, pay equity and reproductive rights.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called an urgent meeting on Monday to resolve the dispute that had arisen over the birthplace of Sai Baba after Shirdi observed a bandh on Sunday to protest his statement referring Pathri town in Parbhani district as the janmasthan (birthplace) of the prominent 19th century spiritual figure.

However, the bandh was later called off.

As a result, the temple town functioned as usual after 12 noon.

Representatives from Pathri and Shirdi, BJP MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and Shiv Sena MP Sadashiv Lokhade, and the CEO of the Shirdi temple trust, Deepak Madukar Muglikar, will attend the meeting. Mr Lokhande announced the withdrawal of the bandh after meeting with locals on Sunday evening. He said that the Chief Minister has convened a meeting in Mumbai on Monday to discuss the issue.

A row has erupted after the Chief Minister announced a grant of `100 crore for the development of facilities at Sai Janmasthan at Pathri, nearly 273 kilometres away from Shirdi, in Ahmednagar district. To protest this, Shirdi remained shut on Sunday. Shops and eateries downed their shutters and vehicles remained off roads. The Sai Baba temple remained open throughout the day with no report of devotees facing any inconvenience. Meanwhile, residents of Shirdi warned that if the meeting with the Chief Minister fails to bring any satisfactory solution, an aggressive protest will be launched.

Former trustee of the temple, Kailash Kote, said that if the outcome of the Chief Ministers meeting is not satisfactory, then the residents of Shirdi will protest aggressively.

About 500 locals were present at the gram sabha, he said.
Violence has once again broken out in Hong Kong after thousands of anti-government demonstrators attempted to march through the city, in defiance of a ban.

Protesters had gathered in the centre of the city for the demonstration which was approved by authorities  as long as participants stayed in one location. But the protest moved, in defiance of the ban on marching and of a prior police warning that they would stop anyone attempting to march.

Riot police fired tear gas at protesters and arrested several people.

Al Jazeeras Sarah Clarke joins us live from Hong Kong.
Experts are concerned the world could see another global outbreak of a new respiratory illness related to SARS  but there are still too many unknown factors to know how serious it is just yet.

As the situation unfolds, the lessons learned from dealing with SARS are top of mind for some.

The new strain of a virus called coronavirus has killed two people in China since New Years Eve, with more than 40 infections reported there. Infected travellers have also been confirmed in both Thailand and Japan. The Public Health Agency of Canada has implemented enhanced screening measures at airports in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Dr. Kamran Khan is an infectious disease physician at St. Micheals Hospital and a University of Toronto researcher who studied airport screenings during the SARS and Ebola outbreaks. He is concerned this virus, said to have originated at a fish market in Wuhan, China, has evolved the capability to spread from person to person and could soon reach outside of Asia.

Khan said the fact that the fish market in Wuhan closed on Jan. 1, but there have since been more reported infections, even in the past 48 hours, is an indication that people are getting infected from person-to-person transmission.

Its unknown how efficient the disease is in spreading from person to person, or how severe and quickly the symptoms develop.

What we dont necessarily see are the people who might have the same illness but its a much milder form, Khan said.

And maybe they dont wind up going to the hospital. ... Whenever there's a new disease that emerges, we often (at first) just see the tip of the iceberg.

There are several factors that could make this new coronavirus strain prone to spreading widely. So far, it doesnt seem as deadly as SARS, meaning infected people are more likely to travel, move around and spread the disease than if they were bed ridden.

It actually is a little bit early to tell because theres still many unknowns about this virus. But what I will say is when we look back at SARS we saw something that was very, very deadly, Khan said, noting that disease had a roughly 10 per cent fatality rate.

It does not seem to have the same level of severity of illness as we saw during SARS  keep in mind that viruses often are continuously evolving and shifting and changing, and so it is also possible that a virus could start to mutate and evolve in a way that makes it either spread more easily or become more virulent, more dangerous and deadly to people, he added.

With Chinese Lunar New Year approaching next weekend, there is even greater chance of the disease leaving the Asian region and spreading globally, Khan noted, which is why the next two weeks will be important to watch.

There is also the fact the incubation period for this virus, or the window of time before an infected person notices symptoms, can be up to two weeks. It puts airports and border agencies in a tricky situation because theyre unlikely to detect the virus by individual inspections  people are more likely to develop the illness after theyve already left the airport.

As of now, Canada has opted to educate travellers on what symptoms to look out for, as the onus is on individuals to report if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms as soon as possible.

Symptoms include respiratory problems, flu-like symptoms including fever, cough, breathing difficulties, pneumonia and kidney failure.

Khan said there are takeaways from his experience researching the SARS outbreak that he could also apply to this new situation.

For one, front-line health-care workers need to be better informed and prepared to recognize signs of infectious disease.

Our front-line health-care workers  they are the difference between one case in a traveller and an outbreak that could cripple an entire city, Khan said.

He added that information about infection and deadly diseases needs to be disseminated much more quickly to prevent deadly outbreaks.

Finally, he worries more viruses will spread from animals to humans due to the industrialization of agriculture and the disruption of wildlife ecosystems.

It's really something for us to think carefully about is that our health, our well being, our security  it's very much intertwined with the health and well being of other living systems in the world.

Omar Mosleh is an Edmonton-based reporter covering inner-city issues, affordable housing and reconciliation for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @OmarMosleh

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Lebanon's President Michel Aoun asked the army and security commanders to restore calm in central Beirut, where security forces clashed with protesters on Saturday night. Police struggled to contain the angry crowds with tear gas and water cannon. Aoun has asked the national army to restore peace and order on the streets of Beirut, as the city saw fierce clashes between protesters and security forces.

The President had called on security forces to protect peaceful protesters and work on restoring clam in downtown Beirut and to protect public and private property. He asked the ministers of defence and interior and heads of security agencies to act.

Outlaws

The clashes took place on the backdrop of a rapidly worsening financial crisis and an ongoing impasse over the formation of a new government after the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Saad Hariri resigned in late October. The confrontations, fires, and acts of sabotage in central Beirut are crazy, suspicious and rejected. They threaten civil peace and warn of grave consequences, tweeted Hariri, the caretaker prime minister. He called those behind the riots outlaws and called on police and armed forces to protect Beirut.

Police fired volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets in Lebanon's capital Saturday to disperse thousands of protesters amid some of the worst riotings since demonstrations against the country's ruling elite erupted three months ago. More than 150 people were injured. The protest movement rocking Lebanon since October 17 revived this week as a deepening economic crisis increases pressure to form a new government.

READ | Thousands Continue Protests In Lebanon, 10 Weeks On

READ | Police Fire More Tear Gas On Lebanon Protesters

"We will not pay the price"

The protesters had called for a demonstration on Saturday afternoon with the theme "we will not pay the price" in reference to debt that stands at about $87 billion, or more than 150% of GDP. As rioting took place in central Beirut, thousands of other protesters arrived later from three different parts of the city to join the demonstration. They were later dispersed and chased by police into nearby Martyr's Square that has been a centre for protests.

No progress appears to have been made towards finalising the cabinet, in which protesters demand to be comprised of independent experts and exclude all established political parties. Lebanon has witnessed three months of protests against the political elite who have ruled the country since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. The protesters blame politicians for widespread corruption and mismanagement in a country that has accumulated one of the largest debt ratios in the world.

READ | Lebanese Protesters Block Roads Against Government Inaction

READ | Lebanese Protesters Decry Security Forces' Use Of Violence

(with inputs from agencies)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 05:18:13|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China's green and sustainable urbanization will set an example for developing countries and ultimately drive global economic and social development, a Chinese expert has said in Silicon Valley.

Zheng Xinli, vice chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges who is currently visiting the Bay Area, made the remarks at an international forum on sustainable development of towns in Palo Alto, California.

"The number of urban residents in China has been rapidly increasing. From 1978 to 2019, the number of urban residents rose to 850 million from 170 million, which means the number increased 680 million in nearly 41 years," Zheng told the forum organized by the Center for Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness at Stanford University.

It's estimated that the number of permanent residents in Chinese cities will reach 1.02 billion by 2030, and the urbanization rate of permanent population and registered population will be 70 percent by 2030, according to Zheng.

Compared with developed countries' average urbanization rate of 80 percent, China still has a 20-percent margin for growth, and urbanization remains a key driving force for China's economic development in the next decade, he said.

China's three world-class city agglomerations -- the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area -- have become the engines of China's economic growth, he said, adding they are poised to become the world's three major growth poles, said Zheng.

By 2020, the GDP of each of the three Chinese urban agglomerations will be over 2 trillion U.S. dollars, exceeding that of the New York Bay Area and the Tokyo Bay Area -- the world's two leading urban agglomerations, he noted.

China's urbanization will bring huge demand and market opportunities for the world, especially in energy and environmental protection, healthcare and education, he said.

"The newly added registered urban dwellers in China generate a new consumption demand of 30 billion dollars a year, driving 7.5 trillion dollars in public investment," said Zheng.

He also noted that China's sustainable urbanization can set an example for developing countries.

"Sixty-one percent of the global population will live in Asia and 17 percent in Africa. When combined, the two continents have close to 80 percent of the global population," said Zheng.

With a growing population and economic strength, Asia and Africa, both the fastest growing regions in the world, will play an increasingly important role in global economic and social development, he said.

However, the Chinese official also noted imminent environmental and social challenges that are restricting their development.

"Once Asia and Africa choose this pathway (sustainable urbanization), they can bring tremendous impetus to the world's social, environmental and economic development, helping realize the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," said Zheng.
The Kremlin is considering calling early elections to blindside Russia's fragmented opposition before dissent grows over sweeping constitutional change that could allow Vladimir Putin to rule indefinitely.

The move would cause further confusion in Russia after the president shocked the country by announcing constitutional change that could allow him to rule beyond the legal terms limit of 2024.

In the clearest indication to date of his future, Mr Putin suggested cutting the powers of the Russian president in favour of parliament and boosting the Constitutional Court and the State Council, an opaque body currently without a legal status.

This was viewed by many as a confirmation that Mr Putin is looking for a new role in the system of power.

Across two days this week the president floated his ideas about the constitution, accepted the resignation of the government and nominated an obscure bureaucrat as the country's new prime minister.

Sources in the presidential administration told respected Russian media outlets that the Kremlin was considering an early election that would allow it to ride the wave of the public's hopes and confusion over the constitutional amendments.

Russia's weak opposition, which has taken a back seat after street protests in Moscow last summer, has been slowly gearing up for the election next autumn.

Several opposition figures have criticised Mr Putin's manoeuvring, accusing him of plotting to "usurp" power.

But no one, including Alexei Navalny, arguably Russia's most popular opposition leader, has yet offered a strategy for their supporters.

To further muddy the waters, Russia's presidential administration is thought to have approved about 10 new "spoiler" parties to split the opposition vote.

An early election would allow Mr Putin's United Russia party to sew up a healthy majority before criticism of his vague reform grows and the real opposition organises itself.

Tatyana Stanovaya, an analyst at the Moscow Carnegie Centre and R Politik, said a snap election would make sense as it would allow the Kremlin to bring in fresh faces on the ruling party ticket as well as take advantage of a rise in Mr Putin's popularity triggered by the purposefully vague reforms, "which is unlikely to have a lasting effect".

Vitaly Milonov, a United Russia MP, told the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper that an early election would help "to make the Duma [lower house] more up to date" to match the new cabinet.

Alexander Yushchenko, a Communist MP, said that calling an early election at this point would be unconstitutional.

Vyacheslav Volodin, the Duma speaker, balked at the reports of an early vote.

Mr Putin's amendments are now on course to breeze through parliament: several Duma deputies say they are to be submitted by the end of March and put to an unspecified kind of popular vote by May.

The pace of implementing the major changes to Russia's power structure is consistent with Mr Putin's signature "special operation" style, when all resources are mobilised for an instant result, according to Ms Stanovaya. "An early Duma election would fit into that," she said.

The changes announced by Mr Putin last Wednesday are likely to be just a prelude to other fundamental political changes, Ms Stanovaya said: "There is going to be an Act Two."

A distinctive feature of Russia's tightly managed democracy is the emergence of small parties widely believed to be "curated" by the Kremlin's spin doctors.

Those declaring an interest so far include Vyacheslav Makarov, a games developer who created the World of Tanks franchise, and Zakhar Prilepin, a novelist who previously commanded a pro-Russian militia.

Both claim to be independent but Russian newspapers report that the Kremlin quietly approves of their projects.

 Telegraph
Education

Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu.

Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu.

Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events:

International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu.

EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu.

Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale  an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s  will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets  June Homecoming: Participant  $18 per person; Sustainer  $25 per person; Benefactor  $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler  Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary.

The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events:

SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available  for information call 610-275-1960

Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above)

SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m.

Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.

Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.  4 p.m.  computers are available during those hours.

Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m.

Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863.

Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376.

Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com.

The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes:

Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at

other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020.

CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313.

The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events:

Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m.

Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30.

Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301.

For Kids & Families

The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443.

Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950.

Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required.

The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950.

Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus.

Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage.

Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun.

Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train.

Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world!

Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class.

Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org.

Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583.

Community Events at the Ambler Y:

-YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register.

Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org.

Health

Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot.

The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863.

The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information.

Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245.

Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net.

Spring Aquatic Programs  UDHS Pool:

-Summer is just around the corner  Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required.

 Shallow Water Aerobics  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR.

 Adult Swim Instructions  Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR

-Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21.

-Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday  Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m.

-Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons.

-Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates.

Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994.

SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com.

Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org.

Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs:

FITNESS CLASSES

Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month.

Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30  9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000.

Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30  7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047.

New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.  12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30  4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931.

Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325.

Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes.

Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com.

Librarytalk

Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744

www.upperdublinlibrary.org

APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS:

Storytimes: Please register in the library.

o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m.

o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m.

o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m.

o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6.

APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS:

North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee

APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS:

NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org.

One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register  contact info above.

Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744.

o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register.

Meetings:

Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m.

Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m.

Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org.

For children and teens at Blue Bell:

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m.

* May 14  Despicable Me

* June 11  Alpha and Omega

* Special Events

* April  watch for date of spring/Easter events

* April 14 at 4:30 p.m.  Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children.

* April 14 at 7 p.m.  Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided.

* April 16 at 1 p.m.  Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King.

* April 16 at 1:30 p.m.  Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes?

* April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button.

* April 30 through May 3  Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults.

* May  sign up for Science in the Summer

* June  sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children

* June  sign up for Summer Reading, all ages

For adults at Blue Bell:

* Daytime Book Discussion Group  fourth Tuesday, Jan  April at 1:30 p.m.

* April 26  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Night-time Book Discussion Group  third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.

o April 19  The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester

* Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges

o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked?

*Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs

* Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class.

* Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class.

* Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m.

* Giant Book Sale, April 29  May 3

o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults!

o Held during library hours.

o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m.

o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join.

* Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series

o May 11 at 1 p.m.  Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society

* Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room.

* Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read.

* Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome.

* Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome.

*Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older.

* Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours

* Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours

* Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday!

Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library.

* Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian.

* Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages.

* Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages.

* For adults:

* Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn.

* Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net

* Special Events:

* April 14 at 1:30 p.m.  Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.

* April 19 at 7 p.m.  Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m.

* April 21 at 7 p.m.  Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades.

*May 2 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

*May 10  Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*May 12 at 1:30p.m.  Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman.

*May 17  Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m.

*June 13 at 6:30 p.m.  Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time.

Meetings and Lectures

The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833.

The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313.

Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200.

The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/.

LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings.

Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org.

Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org)

-Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them.

The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter.

For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps.

Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin.

Special Events

The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County.

The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065.

Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org.

The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members.

Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex.

The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com.

The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348.

The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org.

Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163.

The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu.

The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com.

The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net.

Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd.

The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages.

13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries.

Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler.

The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family.

The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler.

JPRN  Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them  Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike.

Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies.

Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately.

Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information.

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways.

Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table.

Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m.

Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp  Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374

Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall:

-Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store.

Music and Theater

The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220.

Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html.

Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free.

The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org

Religious News

The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276.

Reunions

St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net.

Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572.

Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779.

Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net

Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net

The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411.

Support

New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149.

PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931.

The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296.

Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656.

Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group  every other Wednesday, 7  8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support  second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner  Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers  Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information.

CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7  8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich,
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  Over 5,000 tons of South Korean garbage which were dumped in the Philippines will be exported back starting today, an environment group said.

The EcoWaste Coalition said Sunday that a "return to sender" ceremony was held at the Mindanao International Container Terminal in Misamis Oriental to re-export the first 60 container vans of contaminated plastic waste from South Korea.

The remaining batch of waste products would be returned to the country on February 9.

Other environment advocates such as the Development Interventions for Sustainability, the Sustainable Davao Morment, and the Bureau of Customs (BuCor) held the re-export of the waste shipments.

"The re-exportation of the falsely declared waste materials back to South Korea affirms our nation's readiness and resolve to bring this dumping controversy to its just conclusion," BuCor-Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) port collector John Simon said.

The tons of illegal waste, which have been sitting in the country since 2018, was supposed to be returned to the source as far back as January 2019.

Of the 6,500 tons of unwanted waste which authorities discovered sometime in July and October 2018, only 1,400 tons were returned to South Korea last year.

The rest of the garbage remained at the Verde Soko compound within the Phividec Industrial Authority premises in Tagoloan due to logistical issues.

The South Korean government previously said that it would assist the Philippines in processing the re-exportation of the garbage through its embassy in Manila.

READ: 5,000 tons of garbage may finally be shipped back to South Korea soon
Terrorism financing schemes using cryptocurrencies are growing in sophistication, according to researcher Chainalysis Inc., which helps law enforcement track digital-coin transactions.

In one instance, terrorists collected crypto donations worth tens of thousands of dollars in just one campaign last year, a much quicker way to raise funds than prior efforts, the New York-based firm said in a report Friday. It also made it much harder for researchers to track movement of funds than prior, more simple campaigns, Chainalysis said.

In 2019, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (AQB), the military wing of Hamas and a designated terrorist organization, collected money through a website that generated a new Bitcoin address for every donor to send funds to, the first verified example of such technology deployed by a terrorist organization, Chainalysis said. A previous effort that started in 2016 used a single Bitcoin address for donations.

The AQB campaign also published a video on its website, teaching people how to donate anonymously; in the past, terrorism contributors have had to figure that out on their own. For example, AQB advised people to donate while using public Wi-Fi, so their computers IP address couldnt be traced by law enforcement. The end result was, this campaign raised as much money in nine months, and attracted more donors, than a 2016 campaign by another organization that ran for two years.

Theres just more sophistication, Kim Grauer, senior economist at Chainalysis, said in a phone interview. This is obviously a growing homeland security problem that agencies need to be monitoring.

Crypto exchanges  sometimes based in the U.S.  have been involved in terrorism financing plots, Chainalysis found. Even though they check their users, they accounted for the largest chunk of the funds that AQB received last year, Chainalysis said.

Once we identify these campaigns, our exchange customers are starting to block payments or filing suspicious activity reports based on information we are providing, Jonathan Levin, co-founder of Chainalysis, said in a phone interview. I think theres an increase in collaboration between the exchanges and the law enforcement community when it comes to this.

Bitcoin was created by, and long supported by people who wished to develop an alternative to the traditional banking system. Its early advocates were mostly Libertarians, wishing to have as little government oversight of their affairs as possible.

Use by terrorists has been a key concern for regulators and politicians alike as they seek to tighten their oversight of cryptocurrencies, the vast majority of which are not issued by or controlled by a government. Last summer, the Financial Action Task Force, whose guidance is followed by about 200 countries including the U.S., began requiring exchanges to collect more data about customers and their transactions to better filter out money laundering and terrorism financing. Facebook Inc.s Libra effort has stalled partly due to concerns that the coin could be used by terrorists and criminals.

Bitcoin and other coins have already been implicated in a number of Ponzi schemes and other criminal activities. Mainstream exchanges have been growing their share of money laundering, and Chainalysis traced $2.8 billion in Bitcoin that moved from criminal entities to exchanges, the company said in a Jan. 15 report. Just over 50% went to Malta-based Binance  the worlds largest Bitcoin spot exchange  and Huobi in Singapore, the report said.

As global capital flows into crypto, we are aware of the growing trend and movements of illicit funds, and we are working with like-minded partners such as Chainalysis to improve on existing systems and address these concerns, Binance Chief Compliance Officer Samuel Lim said in a statement.

Huobi also emphasized that its working to crack down on illegal activities.

As an exchange that works closely with regulators and government agencies in every country we operate in, we practice a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to illicit activities, Ciara Sun, vice president of global markets at Huobi Group said in a statement.

Now read: Ditch Google for these great alternatives
The consumption of motorcycles on the local market amounted to over three million units last year, down 3.8% against 2018.

Motorcyclists cross an overpass in HCMC. The consumption of motorcycles on the local market amounted to over three million units last year, down 3.8% against 2018  PHOTO: VNA

Statistics from the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) indicate that in 2019, five members of VAMM, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Piaggio and SYM, sold a combined 3.3 million motorbikes of all types, down 131,130 units, or 3.8% against 2018.

After the strong rise in consumption of motorbikes in the 2017-2018 period, the motorcycle market showed signs of a slowdown.

Last year, Vietnamese customers purchased over 8,910 motorbikes each day, falling by 359 units from the 2018 figure.

Some experts attributed the decline in consumption of motorbikes last year to worsening air pollution and traffic jams mainly caused by the large number of motorbikes on roads.

Besides this, the emergence of electric motorbikes and the strong growth of the automobile market contributed to the fall in motorbike consumption last year.

The purchase of motorcycles is expected to continue to decline in the coming months, some experts noted.

However, sales of motorbikes in 2019 could have been higher than the figure released by VAMM as, in addition to VAMM members, the local market supported 10 other motorbike distributors and tens of motorcycle trading firms.

These firms mainly imported motorbikes from Thailand, China, Indonesia and India. Aside from this, VinFast bikes were put up for sale on the local market in 2019.

Scooters, currently holding a market share of 45% in Vietnam, have become popular among Vietnamese customers, according to motorcycle trading firms. As such, many major motorcycle manufacturers such as Yamaha and Honda have focused on renewing and renovating their scooter models.

Despite the slowdown in motorbike consumption, Vietnam still takes the fourth position in the world for motorcycle consumption, after India, China and Indonesia, according to statistics from MotorCycles Data. SGT
WINNIPEGA small number of apparently passionate Manitobans have been giving Premier Brian Pallister an earful about having to change their clocks twice a year.

The premier received six emails, unprompted, from members of the public between September and December last year on the subject of daylight saving time.

One has an anatomical reference.

There is no reason for us to be changing the time! reads one of the emails, obtained by The Canadian Press under the provinces freedom of information law.

The e-mailer asks Pallister, figuratively, to pull his head out of his posterior  although another word was used  and actually do something that the people want!

Another person emailed with a concern that touched on interprovincial rivalries on the Prairies.

Please stop letting Saskatchewan be smarter than us, a reference to the fact that most areas of Saskatchewan remain on central standard time year-round.

Another e-mailer took a friendlier tone with the Progressive Conservative government, and suggested stopping clock changes could help the party.

Whether its urban or rural residents, I think the idea would get some good traction, even with (opposition) members across the aisle. Something to think about. Cheers and keep up the good work.

While Pallister has shown no interest in changing the current system that requires people to spring ahead in March and fall back to standard time in November, the debate over daylight saving time in Manitoba and elsewhere has been growing.

The NDP government in British Columbia has put forward legislation to adopt daylight saving time year-round, although Premier John Horgan has said he will wait to see whether Washington, Oregon and California do the same.

The Alberta government launched an online survey in November to let residents weigh in.

In Manitoba, the Opposition New Democrats set up a web page last month to garner public input, and the provincial Liberals are pushing to have the idea put to a referendum in the 2023 provincial election.

Opinions in Manitoba are mixed, and that was reflected in the emails to the premier.

One email expressed worry that ending daylight saving time would put an end to the long summer evenings beloved by many.

Do not change daylight savings. I dont want the sun up at 5 a.m. in the summer and I live (sic) the sun out until 10 p.m. in the summer.

The names and other identifying information about the people who wrote to the premier were not released, under a section of the freedom of information law that protects third-party privacy.

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We converted another conference room into a control center. From there, our director of photography coordinated camera coverage over radio as the director, executives and producers of The Weekly monitored all five camera feeds, listening in on the 20 audio channels (the board members and the candidate all had their own mic), and taking notes that would be used later to inform choices in the edit rooms.

At the end of filming, we faced a challenge that comes with television production. The program would run 50 minutes in length, but we had recorded roughly 14 hours of candidate interviews and hours of the boards deliberations. Any documentary involves boiling scenes down to their essence, but in this case, we had the added weight of creating a historical record.

To meet that challenge, we huddled with a few members of the board after every interview, identifying the exchanges that felt most salient. Then we set strict rules for the editing: We would stick to chronology  no question or answer could come earlier or later than it actually happened, and the exchanges would, of course, be edited to condense but never to alter their meaning. The portions that didnt make it in would be posted in their entirety online, along with annotated transcripts. (The Times also has published excerpts in a special section of todays print edition.)

A last hurdle we encountered had to do with protecting the secret  the endorsement itself  which would be revealed during the show. Kathleen Kingsbury, the deputy editorial page editor, takes the boards vote into consideration and presents her decision to the publisher. Ordinarily those two  plus a handful of Opinion staff members tasked with drafting the endorsement  are the only people in the world who know until the pick is published.

But television shows require a veritable army of creative, technical and administrative professionals to get the job done. To keep the secret secret, we created two versions of the episode and left the final scene out during any reviews, which meant that most of the crew  and even some top executives  would see the ending for the first time on air.
A Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket lifts off from pad 39A during a test flight to demonstrate the capsule's emergency escape system at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Elon Musk's SpaceX simulated a successful emergency landing on Sunday in a dramatic test of a crucial abort system on an unmanned astronaut capsule, laying the foundation for its mission to fly NASA astronauts for the first time.

A Crew Dragon astronaut capsule launched at 10:30 a.m. and softly splashed down about 19 miles (32 km) off the coast of Cape Canaveral in Florida roughly eight minutes later, after ejecting itself from a rocket that cut off its engines 12 miles (19 km) above the ocean to mimic a launch failure.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration administrator Jim Bridenstine called the mission a success.

"This critical test puts us on the cusp of once again launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil," Bridenstine wrote on Twitter. "Spacecraft recovery operations are underway."

Expand Close A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket engine self-destructs after jettisoning the Crew Dragon astronaut capsule during an in-flight abort test, a key milestone before flying humans in 2020 under NASA's commercial crew program, after lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Joe Rimkus Jr / Facebook

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Whatsapp A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket engine self-destructs after jettisoning the Crew Dragon astronaut capsule during an in-flight abort test, a key milestone before flying humans in 2020 under NASA's commercial crew program, after lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Joe Rimkus Jr

In a key trial for carrying humans, SpaceX was also testing its rescue teams' response after splash down. They scrambled toward Crew Dragon with the US Air Force's Detachment 3 emergency rescue teams in tow  a vital part of the test to practice a rescue mission to retrieve astronauts from the capsule.

Moments before the launch, Musk wrote on Twitter that it was a risky mission that was "pushing the envelope in so many ways".

The Crew Dragon capsule, an acorn-shaped pod that can seat seven astronauts, fired on-board thrusters to detach itself from a Falcon 9 rocket less than two minutes after liftoff, simulating an emergency abort scenario to prove it can return astronauts to safety. Each stage of the test prompted loud cheers from SpaceX crew members watching the footage from back on land.

The test is crucial to qualify the capsule to fly humans to the International Space Station, something NASA expects to come as soon as mid-2020. It follows years of development and delays as the United States has sought to revive its human spaceflight program through private partnerships.

NASA awarded $4.2 billion to Boeing and $2.5 billion to SpaceX in 2014 to develop separate capsule systems capable of ferrying astronauts to the space station from US soil for the first time since NASA's space shuttle program ended in 2011.

The space agency has since relied on Russian spacecraft for rides to the space station. During the test the Falcon 9 rocket's boosters shut down in a mock failure that triggered Crew Dragon's so-called SuperDraco thrusters to jet itself away at supersonic speeds of up to 1,500 miles per hour (2,400 kph). The Falcon 9 booster free-fell back to the ocean, with its first stage crashing into the ocean creating a tall plume of smoke seen on the horizon.

The capsule deployed four parachutes to slow its descent to the water, and carried two human-shaped test dummies on seats fitted with motion sensors to collect data on the immense g-force  the effect of acceleration on the body  astronauts would be subjected to during abort.

The test was originally scheduled for mid-2019 but was delayed after a Crew Dragon capsule exploded in April on a test stand just before firing its launch abort thrusters, triggering a lengthy investigation.

SpaceX-led investigators in July zeroed in on a previously unknown explosive reaction between a titanium valve and a propellant used to ignite the thrusters. A SpaceX official said the company completed the investigation within the last week
Brown Sugar Kitchen. | Photo: Mike C./Yelp

Here's the latest in SF food news. In this edition, a popular Southern eatery will close in the Ferry Building while a bagel shop plans to expand there. Plus, an Afghan restaurant reopens after closing for renovations.

Closings

Embarcadero

Brown Sugar Kitchen (One Ferry Building, Suite 4)

Photo: Stephanie Joyce D./Yelp

After less than a year, Oakland's popular Brown Sugar Kitchen will close its Ferry Building location. The eatery, known for its buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, will have its last day of service on January 19. (The flagship Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland is not affected, and will remain open.)

Holland confirmed the closure to Eater SF, but did not provide a reason. She told Eater that she is working on some new projects in 2020.

Despite the closure, "Im personally deeply proud to have established the first black female-owned restaurant in the iconic San Francisco Ferry Building," she told Eater.

The news of the closure seems to indicate a bit of trouble for female restaurateurs at the Ferry Building. Last week, Traci Des Jardins shuttered her Ferry Building Mexican restaurant, Mijita, which had operated for 15 years.

Openings

Embarcadero

Daily Driver (One Ferry Building)

Photo: Daily Driver/Facebook

However, there's also some good news at the Ferry Building: six-month-old Dogpatch bagel shop Daily Driver plans to expand there. It's taking the space that formerly housed Chris Cosentino and Mark Pastore's Boccalone Salumeria, which closed in 2017.

As reported by the Chronicle, Daily Driver's duo of husband-and-wife teams David & Hadley Kreitz and Tamara Hicks & David Jablons  will debut the new shop as a pop-up, with the goal of going permanent.

Unlike the original Daily Driver, the Ferry Building shop will focus on a limited menu of take-out items, with no seating. The centerpiece will be hand-rolled, wood-fired bagels, with build-your-own topping combos of housemade cream cheese or cultured butter, sliced tomato, onion and capers.

Story continues

Also on offer: pretzels and drip coffee from Red Bay Coffee. Bagel sandwiches could be added down the line.

A representative for the company told Hoodline the new location could open as early as next weekend. Once it debuts, it will open at 6 a.m. seven days a week; closing times are TBD.

Russian Hill

Helmond Palace (2424 Van Ness Ave.)

Photo: Helmand Palace/Yelp

After a nearly nine-month closure for a seismic retrofit, Helmand Palace, one of SF's only Afghan restaurants, reopened its doors in mid-December.

During the closure, the owners decided to spruce up the space, and diners will see new floors, new paint, and a relocated bar, which was moved from the front of the restaurant to the side wall.

Most of the menu items, like baked baby pumpkin and chargrilled leg of lamb, have stayed the same. But there are a few new items, such as a Mediterranean plate with fresh hummus, tabouli and baba ganoush.

A representative for the restaurant said its nice to be open again, and to see many of the restaurant's old customers returning.

Hours are 5:30  10 p.m. on weekdays and 5:30  11 p.m. on weekends.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico is switching to a teacher candidate exam system that will increase costs for first-time test takers.

The state has previously used the National Evaluation Series to test K-12 educator hopefuls, but its shifting to the new-to-New Mexico Praxis system, aiming to have a test that provides test-takers with more support.

Information from the state Public Education Department shows that the move will cost teacher candidates up to $50 more for required assessments at the get-go.

Hope Morales, executive director of Teach Plus New Mexico, said an uptick in the initial price tag could hamper someone eying a career in education.

While the change to Praxis costs more for individual tests, PED Deputy Secretary Gwen Perea Warniment said candidates will have free retakes and more resources.

Under the previous testing platform, a candidate would pay full price for a second go at the exam.

For elementary reading, the new Praxis test will cost candidates $146  up from $95 for the NES equivalent, according to the PED. Similarly, Praxis basic skills sub-tests will cost $150 whereas NES cost $100.

Not all of the Praxis exams will have that steep of a bump, however. Some tests will be closer to $25 extra, such as the special education assessment.

New Mexico has a substantial need for teachers. As of September, there were 644 open teacher positions across the state, according to a New Mexico State University report.

Morales emphasized the state should have an exam that is accessible but maintains high expectations.

We are not in a place right now where we have an abundance of teachers. If there is something that could be a blocker, like a financial component, we need to be looking ahead and make sure there arent barriers that could hinder teachers getting to the classroom, she told the Journal.

Perea Warniment said, while the state is aware of the teacher vacancy issue, it has to find an exam that measures academic expertise thoroughly.

A comparison of NES and Praxis found the Praxis system to be stronger, Perea Warniment said, adding that more states use Praxis.

The tricky thing around this is really wanting to build out capacity and the workforce because we know were in a crisis  but also not necessarily lower standards, she said.

Praxis resources and the opportunity to take the test multiple times was a key factor in the switch.

There was much more solid wrap-around support (with Praxis). The first  of those wrap-around supports is if an educator or candidate fails the test, they dont have to pay for it the second time. They can simply retake the test, she said. Thats a big barrier for many of the educators right now.

Under Praxis, a teacher candidate will also be able to access Khan Academy, a nonprofit that provides online educational tools.

And there will be Praxis practice tests, though NES also offered practice tests.

The new testing requirements primarily affect those entering the teacher profession. But it can affect teachers already in the classroom if they want to teach a different grade or subject and need to take the necessary exams, Perea Warniment explained.

Until the end of August, candidates will be able to choose between the two testing systems. But by Sept. 1, Praxis will be the only option.
A circular from the Syro-Malabar Church on the alleged incidents of Christian girls in Kerala and other states being trapped in love and recruited by terror outfit IS was read out in many of its churches during the holy mass on Sunday, sources said here.

In the circular, the church head Cardinal George Alencherry urged the priests and laity of the Syro-Malabar Church to take serious note of Christian girls getting trapped in love and being killed in Kerala and other states.

The term 'Love Jihad' was not used in the circular.

The Bishops of the Church had faced flak from a section of priests and laity after the Synod of the Church last week issued a statement saying that Love Jihad is a reality."



The statement alleged that scores of Christian women from the southern state were being lured into the trap of Islamic State and used in terror activities.

In the circular read out in churches, the Cardinal expressed concern over the growing incidents of inter- religious love affairs with intentions endangering communal harmony and peace in society.

"It is a fact that such planned moves targeting Christian girls are happening," the circular said adding that Christian girls were even recruited by the Islamic State terror organisation.

The church said it should be an 'eye-opener' for all the priests and its followers.

Through the circular, the Cardinal urged the law enforcement agencies not to approach it as a religious issue but demanded speedy action against the culprits involved in such activities, treating it as a terror issue or a law and order issue.

He also called for efforts to sensitise parents and children to the danger of 'Love Jihad'



Sources said many of the churches under Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese did not read out the circular, as most of the priests in the diocese had differences of opinion over the recent statement of the Synod of the Church on the issue 'Love Jihad'.

A priest of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese had publicly come out against the statement, saying it was not the right time to say something about 'Love Jihad' when the nation is allegedly polarised along religious lines.

The DYFI, youth wing of Kerala's ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), slammed the Syro-Malabar Church over the issue, urging it to produce evidences of 'Love Jihad' in the state.

The youth wing alleged that the propaganda unleashed by the church against 'Love Jihad' would only help the Hindu outfit RSS.

Another Hindu outfit, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) had welcomed the church statement and called for a united fight against 'Love Jihad' in Kerala society.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Attiya Darwishs face was hit with a tear gas canister in December 2018 while covering Friday protests in Gaza Strip.

For the second time in less than three months, a Palestinian photojournalist has lost his eye after being hit by Israeli forces during a protest.

A tear gas canister hit Attiyah Darwishs face in December 2018 while he was covering the weekly Friday protests in the Gaza Strip near the Israeli separation barrier.

The protests have been part of the Great March of the Return movement, which began in March 2018 as Palestinians demanded the right of return to lands their families were violently expelled from during the founding of Israel in 1948.

The protests have also called for an end to the 12-year blockade on the coastal enclave.

According to Gaza-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, at least 215 Palestinians have been killed during the demonstrations, including two journalists. Tens of thousands of others have been wounded.

Lost vision

Darwish, who sought medical treatment for his eye in Egypt and Jordan since his injury, was told on Sunday that he had lost all vision in his left eye.

I was taking pictures, then suddenly I felt a heavy blow on my face with a muffled explosion, the 32-year-old told Palestinian news agencies, recalling the moment he was injured.

I fell down from the pain and the shock.

Darwish suffered several fractures and broken bones in his face and jaw, and severe bleeding in his left eye and ear, which initially resulted in at least 80 percent of severe visual impairment, his doctors said.

According to Jordanian doctor Faisal Tawfiq Fayyad, Darwishs left eye suffered a scar in the centre of his vision, and despite multiple surgeries, ended up in an irreversible loss of sight.

The photographers lower jaw was repaired and the broken bones in the left side of his face were replaced with a metal plate.

Palestinian social media users circulated the hashtag #AttiyaEye and #EyeOfTruth in Arabic after a popular support campaign for photographer Muath Amarneh went viral last November.

Amarneh, a freelance journalist, was hit in the eye by an Israeli rubber-coated bullet while covering a protest in the occupied West Bank town of Surif near the city of Hebron.

In a show of support, activists from a number of countries took photos of themselves covering an eye with one hand and posted them on social media, alongside another hashtag #MuathEye.

Palestinian photojournalist Atiya Darwish, was shot in the eye by Israeli snipers while covering Israeli human rights violations at the #Gaza border.

He was told by medics that he had completely lost vision in the left eye#_ pic.twitter.com/sW2oac33Al  Alaa Imoor  (@imoor_alaa) January 19, 2020

   #_   51       2014          .#_        . pic.twitter.com/qHgFyLgEoc     #  (@adham922) January 19, 2020

Translation: I worked with my colleague Attiya Darwish during the 51-day Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014, and he is a courageous journalist who looks for the truth to document. Attiyas eye was targeted by the Zionist army to obscure the truth he was conveying.

Darwish currently works for the Palestinian Alray news agency and has been a photographer for the past 10 years.

I dont feel the left side of my face, and the intense pain doesnt leave me. especially during the cold and when I eat, Darwish said, adding that he will continue to take photographs.

I still have one eye though.
The next few weeks will test that relationship, particularly because the men have opposing views of what the trial should be. McConnell and his more moderate GOP senators facing difficult reelection bids want the trial to be serious  a markedly different tone than the reality-TV-star-turned-president who prefers a brawl. It remains to be seen whether Trump goes with his gut, as he likes to do, or listens to the advice of the longtime Republican leader.
Islamabad/IBNS: In the Naya Pakistan, as was promised to be established by Pakistan PM Imran Khan, another Hindu girl has been allegedly kidnapped and then converted to Islam forcibly. A video of the girl, converted to Islam and sitting beside the Muslim man who allegedly married her, has surfaced online.

She has been married to a man named Ali Raza Machi.

The girl was identified as Mehak Kumari.

She was kidnapped from Jacobabad district in Sindh province on Jan 15, reports said.

The girl, who is the daughter of Vijay Kumar, went missing after she went to school, sources said.

Meanwhile, a video has surfaced online where the girl could be seen converted to Islam and married to the Muslim man.

In the video, she could be seen sitting beside Raza and saying that she converted to Islam on her free will.

"I have converted to Islam on my own free will and my Muslim name now is Aliza," she is quoted as saying in the video.

In the video, she could be seen saying that her age is 18 years.

All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat said it is working very closely on the kidnapping of Mehak Kumari.

"Kidnapper Ali Raza Machi is 28 years old. He was married 2 times earlier. Some time back, he left his first wife. He has 4 children," sources said on the person who kidnapped and married the Hindu girl.

Jacobabad Police team with Panchayat members are at Dera Murad Jamali in a bid to arrest those behind the incident.

"APHP and Jacobabad Panchayat have mutually decided that No FIR has been launched on this case & try to resolve it in a different way," APHP General Secretary Ravi Dawani said in a statement.

"Police are also supporting on this case," he said.

Dawani claimed that the girl was 15 years old.

Representatives from Dargh Amroti Sharif have justified the conversation of a minor Hindu girl Mehak from Jacobabad, sources said.

"Our Hindu community will stage protests against this abduction and forced conversion... across Pakistan," a Hindu community representative told India Today.

"If such issues keep happening, our Hindu community will be forced to leave our homes, our businesses and this country. I call on the chief justice, army chief and prime minister to take the matter of forced conversions of Hindu minor girls in the Parliament and assemblies and give us safety and security so that we can live our lives here with peace," he added.

The incidents of forceful conversion of non-Muslim minor girls in Pakistan are not new as in 2019 a Sikh girl was allegedly abducted and forcefully converted in Pakistan's Nankana Sahib city.

The family of abducted Jagjit Kaur had alleged that she was forced to marry a Muslim man after being converted to Islam.

In a similar episode, a Pakistani Christian girl, who was identified as Huma Masih, was allegedly abducted and then converted to Islam.

Huma was also married to a Muslim man (supposedly a taxi driver) after her conversion.

However, Huma released a statement saying she was not kidnapped and was converted upon her own will and has done 'nikkah' (marriage) on her own will as well.

Another teenaged Hindu girl abducted, forcefully converted to Islam in Imran Khan's 'Naya Pakistan' Reacting strongly to this incident, Akali MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the same thing was done by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and Zakariya Khan. https://t.co/zi7GaNARiD  Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) January 18, 2020

Indian politician Manjinder S Sirsa tweeted: " Another teenaged Hindu girl abducted, forcefully converted to Islam in Imran Khan's 'Naya Pakistan' Reacting strongly to this incident, Akali MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that the same thing was done by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and Zakariya Khan."
Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Jan 19 (ANI): The body of Ponnapalli Jagadeesh, who died in a road accident in the Philippines nearly twenty days ago, reached his hometown Nandigama here on Sunday morning.



Jagadeesh (22) went to Philippines to pursue a veterinary course at Virgen Milagrosa University in San Carlos.

On December 31, Jagadeesh was hit by a bus from behind while he was driving a motorcycle. He died on the spot.

Putting an end to the wait of his parents and family members, his body reached Nandigama town. The whole village has been mourning Jagadeesh's tragic death. (ANI)


Union Minister of State for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi attacked the Congress for spreading misinformation about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), saying that those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, and Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country.

"Those who set the country on fire are not patriots. Those who do not accept India's freedom, unity, Vande Mataram, have no right to stay in the country," said Sarangi in a press conference in Surat.



#WATCH Union Minister Pratap Sarangi in Surat, Gujarat: Those who do not accept Vande Mataram have no right to live in India. (18.01.2020) pic.twitter.com/zEr4R8Z7Op  ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2020

However, Sarangi's comments did not go down well with the people on Twitter, who called him communal for the loose statement.

Get lost, the communal cow!

'No right to live in India if U can't chant Vande Mataram': Union min Pratap Sarangi! Yeyo Sarangi, Is India yr paternal property? Which law says so? Never chant anything perforce! U can't force anyone to recite even Jana Gana Mana. That's law.  Sankara Narayanan (@psn1946) January 19, 2020

Mr Sarangi it seems your party preaches to say Vande Matram at road side.... n inside campus n home they insult n torture women.... JNU,... Baba Ramdev,.... Kuldeep Sanger.......? Do u need the full list.....  Lalatendu (@lala_tendu) January 19, 2020

Don't allow hate mongers to spread negativity and keep the hands tight with each other to move the society forward.

The flower never hates the flower next to it. It just blooms and spreads fragrance. pic.twitter.com/uuSqXAVfKk  Sajeeta Sarangi Tripathy (@TripathySajeeta) January 19, 2020

@AmitShah @narendramodi @PMOIndia Sarangi ji... with that logic if some one from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malaysia learn and chant Vande Mataram... We will automatically give them Indian passport? Sarangi Narangi dont make CAA effort a joke its being intro with good faith  PhewPhew Gun (@shnix7) January 19, 2020

Sarangi said people should be thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring the CAA, the act which grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians facing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

He also said Partition, which took place on a communal basis, was not unavoidable, and questioned then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for entering into an agreement with people who propounded the two-nation theory.

The Partition did not take place on any political, economical, geographical, or historical basis. It was done on a communal basis. We never said we cannot live with Muslims.

We lived with them for thousands of years, Sarangi said.

Continuing his tirade against the Congress, the Union Minister further said that the CAA was a way to "atone for the sin of Partition" committed by the Congress.

"The CAA should have implemented 70 years ago. The act is a way to atone for a sin committed by our forefathers. Congress committed the sin, and we are atoning," he said.Last year in September, Sarangi gave a similar remark in wake of the protests erupted against the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir by the central government.

"When the staunch opposition parties of BJP have supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision of scrapping Article 370, the Congress objected it. Amit Shah has made it clear to Congress leaders that Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Siachen are also part of India. Those who do not accept Vande Mataram have no right to live in India," he had said at the Jan Jagran Sabha in Odisha.




CLEVELAND, Ohio  In one year, Frechic Burton-Austin of Mayfield Heights lost her job and got divorced.

She had three kids, and she needed to go back to school. For that, she needed public assistance. She met every requirement for aid, except for the red tape. A single piece of paper, lost in transit, cost her three months of food assistance.

Recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often known as food stamps, have required more recipients to prove they are working or studying. More changes are on the way. For many, like Burton-Austin, the problem isnt the work. Theyre doing that already. The problem is the paperwork.

In each case, adding more hurdles will mean Ohioans will go without food assistance, which could be detrimental to their health, according to John Corlett, president and executive director of The Center for Community Solutions, a Cleveland-based think tank, and former Ohio Medicaid director.

Theres a lot of research to indicate when we reduce peoples access to food there are consequences: increased illness, increased visits to doctors and emergency rooms, Corlett said.

In Ohio, 1.3 million people receive SNAP benefits. To qualify, a households gross monthly income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty line, with exceptions for the elderly and those who are disabled.

An estimated 67% of SNAP participants in Ohio are from families with children, 37% are from families with those who are elderly or disabled and 45% are from working families, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank.

The federal government is restructuring SNAP to reduce dependence and encourage employment, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which manages SNAP.

Work requirements

Starting April 1, the federal government will impose stricter standards for who can be exempted from work requirements.

Under SNAP, able-bodied adults without dependents must work 20 hours per week or receive approved job training to receive food assistance for more than three months during a three-year period. However, workers can be exempted from these requirements on a state-by-state basis.

In Ohio, people are exempt from work requirements if they live in 42 counties, including Cuyahoga, with high unemployment rates.

Under the new rule, which limits exemptions to those living in counties with at least a 6% unemployment rate, only individuals in 13 counties will remain eligible for the exemption. Those counties are: Adams, Coshocton, Gallia, Jackson, Jefferson, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Noble, Ottawa, Pike, Scioto and Vinton, according to a state proposal submitted to the federal government.

Nationwide, the new rule could affect 688,000, according to the USDA.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the work requirements encourage self-sufficiency.

We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand, but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand, Perdue said in an op-ed in the Arizona Daily Star.

In addition to cutting food aid, an overlooked impact of the new SNAP work requirement may be how it affects access to health care in Medicaid, said Loren Anthes, public policy fellow for Community Solutions.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services directs that states use the same county exemptions for Medicaid work requirements as they do for SNAP. Ohio was approved in March 2019 to implement work requirements for its Medicaid expansion population, and those requirements are projected to go into effect Jan. 1, 2021.

Anthes estimates that could affect 286,000 people, or half of the Medicaid expansion population, unless they qualify for another exemption.

Automatic eligibility

The federal government in July also proposed limiting automatic eligibility in SNAP for recipients who already qualify for other public assistance like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, which provides aid to families with children.

Under the new plan, only households that receive at least $50 in TANF benefits per month for at least six months will qualify for automatic eligibility for SNAP.

The proposed rule would fix a loophole that has expanded SNAP recipients in some states to include people who receive assistance when they clearly dont need it, the USDA said in a news release.

Corlett said the added bureaucracy would put an even greater burden on those trying to access benefits and increases the hassle factor.

For many who are in need of multiple social services, navigating the system is already difficult.

Geoff Lake, a social worker in Cleveland, said the system is challenging for people who work, especially for those in hourly jobs or who rely on public transit.

Suddenly, this appointment has cost half a days work for somebody thats already financially strapped, Lake said.

For Burton-Austin to remain eligible for food assistance, Medicaid, cash assistance, day care vouchers and mandatory child support, she had to regularly meet with seven caseworkers and submit paperwork, including faxing an attendance record from a professor that proved she was attending college.

Near the end of her social work program at Lakeland Community College, the fax of her attendance record didnt go through, and her food and cash assistance benefits were suspended for three months.

It was extremely detrimental. I was completely dependent on those services, Burton-Austin said. With the click of a button, you determine whether their kids eat or not that day.

She had to turn to family and friends for help until she could start a job as a probation officer in East Cleveland after graduation. They invited her family over for meals to ease the burden.

Utility assistance

Another proposed change to SNAP that could go into effect this year involves how households qualify for benefits.

Households are eligible for food assistance based on their gross income, minus allowable deductions for things such as housing and utility costs. Historically, states have set their own utility allowances.

The USDA in October proposed creating national standards for household utility allowances based on utility data for each state. The federal government said the national standards will remove variations and inequities between states.

For Ohio, the proposed standards are expected to result in a 7% decrease in total benefits, according to the USDA. That means about 300,000 households across the state would be affected, with an average loss of $540 per household, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

I think it would be catastrophic, said Corlett, whose organization estimates that Cuyahoga County will lose $21 million in food aid annually, $13 million of which will be in Cleveland.

Community Solutions calculated that the loss in benefit would equate to 4.1 million fewer meals in Cleveland and 6.7 million fewer meals in the county.

I dont believe our charitable organizations are prepared or able to fill a gap that large, Corlett said.

That gap means a greater strain on families trying to put food on the table, he said.

These people are dealing with a lot. Theyre dealing with life, said Burton-Austin, who now runs her own digital marketing company creating content for government agencies and nonprofits.

Nobody wants to be there. Its humiliating. Its not something were proud of. No one is shouting from the rooftops that they have [a food stamp] card. Its something we dont want to have to need. If you see us in the grocery line on the first of the month, its not because we want to be there; its because were doing everything we can to take care of our family.

This story was completed with the help of readers, who responded to a call for comment.
The crisis with plastic pollution will continue because the Assembly blocked the passage of the plastic ban bill. The bill would have been a major step forward in dealing with single-use plastics as well as polystyrene and plastic straws. Unfortunately, this legislation was stopped by special interests, whether it was the paper lobbyists or the phony plastic bag lobbyists or the oil industry.

Now that the plastic ban bill is dead, plastics will continue to kill whales and get into our environment and into us. We will have to start all over to protect our environment and public health.

By not passing this landmark legislation, the legislature has failed to protect the people of New Jersey. Because of these setbacks, we will redouble our efforts to get this comprehensive plastic bag ban passed in the next session. Thirty-eight towns in New Jersey already have plastic bans in effect, 18 have passed ordinances that are not yet in effect, and dozens more are in the process. We will get another 100 towns or more to pass bans this year to put more pressure on the Legislature to pass a statewide ban.

Jeff Tittel, director, New Jersey Sierra Club

Dems, fix your ballot listings

We all like to believe that when we go into the voting booth we are making informed decisions and voting for the candidate of our choice. But when New Jersey Democrats go to vote, they are faced with a confusing ballot listing Democratic candidates in different columns. Although in reality voters can cross columns, many people do not realize that and go down the line. Just because a candidate isnt in the first column doesnt make that candidate less worthy  it just means he or she hasnt been anointed by the big Jersey machine!

Cleaning up New Jersey Democratic Party politics begins with getting rid of this system and replacing it with one that is fair, transparent and easy to read. Until that happens, share this information with those you know, and give the grassroots, new and reforming candidates a chance in New Jersey.

Laura Morowitz, Verona

Mulshine ignores risks to lakes

The Watershed Institute takes issue with Paul Mulshines column (Murphy tells residents to go jump in the lake) that contains spurious criticism of lake closures last summer because harmful algal blooms, or HABs, threatened public health and safety.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection closed Lake Hopatcong, Greenwood Lake, Rosedale Lake and others after the explosive growth of HABs, yet Mulshine belittles this public-safety move by comparing the growth of toxins in lakes to a $25 bottle of spirulina sold in health food stores.

While cyanobacteria occurs naturally and isnt harmful in isolation, many toxins are released when surface-water conditions favor the growth and formation of algal blooms. Exposure to HABs can lead to flu-like symptoms, respiratory ailments, skin rashes or worse. Pets died from exposure to HABs in several states last summer.

Conditions are ripe for HABs in a warming climate when nutrients  pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals  are baked in the summer heat. Unless climate change, stormwater runoff and other human impacts on the environment are tackled, more HABs are likely.

While there are costly impacts on summer tourism and recreation, these algal blooms pose a public threat and state officials shouldnt be faulted for prioritizing these concerns. Mulshine would be better served finding solutions to HABs.

Jim Waltman, executive director, Watershed Institute, Hopewell

Reviews focus on unhealthy foods

I think its time you tried a new food editor. Peter Genovese is not really in sync with the times.

His idea of the best food is often unhealthy, and heavy on pork and cheese. Pizza is not the healthy snack it was once purported to be. It is greasy and filled with cheese (bad for arteries).

I dont see mention of vegetarian dishes, or even just vegetables. Not everyone eats clams, oysters and pulled pork. Think about it, please. At least have him do some reviews for healthier options and more conventional taste.

Barbara Finkel, Edison

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
U.S. Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris is accused of being disrespectful toward South Korea's sovereignty following his remarks on President Moon Jae-in's intention to restart suspended inter-Korean projects. / AP-Yonhap



By Yi Whan-woo



Whenever he is asked about the South Korea-U.S. alliance, U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris has always reaffirmed its importance.



For instance, he said the bilateral bond "remains strong and vibrant" at one time, and that the alliance was the "linchpin for Northeast Asian security" at another.



Ironically, it is Harris' straightforward yet blunt way with words that is viewed by Koreans as disruptive toward the alliance.



And concerns over the impact of his communication style are apparently looming large after Cheong Wa Dae explicitly expressed discontent with him over his latest remarks.



Speaking before foreign correspondents, Thursday, Harris said South Korea should consult with the U.S. about its plans to engage with North Korea to avoid any "misunderstandings" that may trigger sanctions.



His remarks were related to President Moon Jae-in's statement that individual tours to North Korea did not violate U.N. sanctions and that it could eventually induce the North to return to dialogue.



"It's very inappropriate for the ambassador to make such a claim in the media over remarks made by the president of the host nation," a Cheong Wa Dae official said.






Refugees and migrants burn garbage bins and chant slogans as they demonstate outside Moria camp, following the stabbing death of an 20-year-old man from Yemen in the Greek island of Lesbos, Friday, Jan, 17, 2020. (Photo | AFP)

Dubai: More than 80 Yemeni soldiers have been killed and scores injured in a missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, medical and military sources said Sunday.

Saturdays strike follows months of relative calm in the war between the Iran-backed Huthis and Yemens internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led military coalition.

The Huthis attacked a mosque in a military camp in the central province of Maribabout 170 kilometres (105 miles) east of the capital Sanaaduring evening prayers, military sources told AFP.

A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where the casualties were transported, said that 83 soldiers were killed and 148 injured in the strike.

Death tolls in Yemens grinding conflict are often disputed, but the huge toll in Marib represents one of the bloodiest single attacks since the war erupted in 2014 when the rebels seized Sanaa.

The drone and missile strike came a day after coalition-backed government forces launched a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa.

Fighting in Nihm was ongoing on Sunday, a military source said according to the official Saba news agency.

Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured, the source added.

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the cowardly and terrorist attack on the mosque, Saba reported.

The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region, it quoted Hadi as saying.

The president also stressed the importance of increasing military vigilance to foil hostile and destructive plans and maintain security and stability.

The Huthis did not make any immediate claim of responsibility and the Saba report did not give a death toll.

De-escalation cannot be sustained

The uptick in violence comes shortly after United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed a sharp reduction in air strikes and the movement of ground forces.

We are surely, and I hope this is true and I hope it will remain so, witnessing one of the quietest periods of this conflict, he said in a briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday.

Experience however tells us that military de-escalation cannot be sustained without political progress between the parties, and this has become the next challenge.

A year after Yemens warring sides agreed to a UN-brokered truce for the key Red Sea port city of Hodeida and its surroundings, fighting in the province has subsided but the slow implementation of the deal has quashed hopes for an end to the conflict.

The landmark agreement signed in Sweden in December 2018 had been hailed as Yemens best chance so far to end the fighting that has pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war that has ravaged the country, triggering what the UN describes as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in the conflict to back the government against the Huthis in March 2015, shortly after the rebels seized control of Sanaa.

A senior UN official warned Thursday that certain key factors that threatened to trigger a famine in Yemen last year were once again looming large, including a plunge in the value of the national currency.

With a rapidly depreciating rial and disrupted salary payments, we are again seeing some of the key conditions that brought Yemen to the brink of famine a year ago, Ramesh Rajasingham, who coordinates humanitarian aid in Yemen, told the UN Security Council.

We must not let that happen again, he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 05:59:16|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- At least two police officers in Honolulu, Hawaii, were killed Sunday morning in an apparent shooting, according to local law enforcement sources.

The shooting happened near Diamond Head in Honolulu. The circumstances that led up to the shooting are unclear at this time, according to Hawaii News Now.

One officer, a female, was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in extremely critical condition and later died.

Another officer who had been reported to be in extremely critical condition has also died, according to law enforcement sources.

Soon after the shooting incident was reported, the home believed to be the scene of the shooting caught fire and became fully engulfed in flames.

Witnesses in the area said the fire has spread to at least four other nearby homes in the area, and Honolulu firefighters were staging nearby while waiting for police officials, who have control of the scene, to give the all-clear, according to Hawaii News Now.

Several vehicles, including a marked Honolulu Police Department vehicle, were also on fire. The flames and thick smoke are visible for miles.
WACO, Texas  More than 4,400 Baylor University students were named to the Dean's Academic Honor Roll for the 2019 fall semester. Students honored on the Dean's List are Baylor undergraduates with a minimum grade-point average of 3.7, while enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours.
Some devotees claim that Pathri is the real birthplace of Sai Baba. (Photo Credit: ANI)

Mumbai:

Sai Baba Temple remained open on Sunday despite indefinite bandh in Shirdi over Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays statement where he described Pathri in Parbhani district as his birthplace. The temple attracts lakhs of devotees from all over India every year. A controversy has erupted over the location of the birthplace of the 19th-century saint, even as the chief minister would be holding talks to defuse the row. The bandh has been called as locals and opposition leaders in Shirdi are demanding that Thackeray withdraw his official statement.

Some devotees claim that Pathri is the real birthplace of Sai Baba. But residents of Shirdi claimed that the exact birthplace of the famed saint was not known. Deepak Mugalikar, chief executive officer of the Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust at Shirdi, said the temple will remain open despite the bandh call.

Maharashtra: Shirdi Sai Baba temple remains open amid bandh called today in Shirdi town, against CM Uddhav Thackeray's reported comment calling Pathri (in Parbhani) as Sai Baba's birthplace. pic.twitter.com/fNAx3FrPTa  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

BJP leaders supporting the Bandh call

Local BJP leaders are supporting the Bandh call given by residents. BJP MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said he supported the call for shut-down. The chief minister should withdraw his statement that Pathri was Saibabas birthplace, he demanded.

Pathri only has one of several Sai temples in the country. All Sai devotees are feeling hurt, so this controversy should be ended, the former state minister said.

Congress leader and former chief minister Ashok Chavan had said on Friday that the creation of facilities for devotees at Pathri should not be opposed over the controversy over birthplace.

Earlier, the 11-day holiday rush saw over 8 lakh visitors thronging the Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, which received Rs 17.42 crore in donations, Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) said.

Maharashtra: A bandh has been called today in Shirdi town, against CM Uddhav Thackeray's reported comment calling Pathri (in Parbhani) as Sai Baba's birthplace. pic.twitter.com/wxPGlrRJki  ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020

From December 23 last year to January 2, as many as 8.23 lakh devotees visited the famed temple at Shirdi in Maharashtras Ahmednagar district, the trusts chief executive officer Deepak Mugalikar said.

A total of 1,213.680 gm in gold and 17,223 gm silver were donated to the temple, Mugalikar said, adding that the total donations were valued at Rs 17.42 crore. In the same period last year, the temple had received Rs 14.5 crore in donations, he added.

With PTI Inputs
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has applauded SHE-CAN - a US-based International Humanitarian Organization for providing a fully-funded International tertiary scholarship to young Liberian females scholars.

SHE-CAN is a humanitarian organization that anchors on equipping and empowering young women from post-conflict countries to become productive leaders. The US-based organization focuses on low-income young women through Education, Leadership Skills, and Mentorship.

The Thursday, January 16, 2020 meeting which took place at the Ministry's Office

(Ministerial Complex) in Oldest Congo Town, Monrovia had in attendance six high power delegation from SHE-CAN Organization and the Deputy Minister for Gender Hon Alice Johnson Howard.

It can be recalled that in November of 2018, a delegation of SHE-CAN visited the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and informed the Ministry that Liberia was added to a list of post-conflict countries (Cambodia and Rwanda) to benefit annual International scholarships funded by SHE-CAN organization and partners.

Madam Barbara Bylenga the Founder & Executive Director of SHE-CAN said her institution is proud to announce that as of the result of said discussion in 2018 held with the Ministry of Gender, SHE-CAN has concluded extreme academic vetting of female applicants and four successful candidates have met all criteria to acquire fully funded tertiary education in the United States of America beginning this year.

"We as are an organization believe that when women become leaders many of the biggest issues facing countries will be solved", Executive Director Bylenga averred.

The beneficiaries ages from 17-23 years are: Janet Kwenah, Jennifer Maxwell, Shennel Henries and Tarlee Dahn. They will enroll in Lafayette College, Muhlenberg College, the University of San Francisco and Babson College respectively.

According to the organization's profile, since 2011, 18 million United States Dollars has been mobilized in building women's global leadership; 64 low-income women have won full-ride scholarships; 280 professionals are SHE-CAN mentors, creating a network of support; 26 U.S. colleges including 12 Partner colleges support their education; more than 1,500 Donors financially support their journey and 140 Global Partner Organizations provide internships, jobs and network support.

Executive Director Bylenga assured the Ministry of Gender that all beneficiaries of the scholarship were made to sign a mandatory form to return home upon graduation to impact the Liberian society.

In appreciation, Deputy Minister for Gender Hon Alice Johnson Howard thanked the She-Can family for providing an opportunity to less privileged females that will harness their full potentials through Education and Mentorship.

Deputy Minister Johnson mentioned that said initiative will buttress the Government of Liberia's Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development specifically Pillar One under empowering women and Girls. Pillar One stressed the need to reduce out of school, and increase retention and completion rates for girls.

Hon Howard Johnson conveyed her Boss Minister Williametta E. Saydee-Tarr commitment to supporting initiatives meant to uplift women and girls out of poverty.

"Gender would like to re-emphasize that it supports any initiative provided that such initiative is in compliance with the laws of the land and the full protection of fundamental human rights of women and girls", Deputy Minister Alice Johnson Howard concluded.
Center-right politician can become factor in April polls



Former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo returned to Korea, Sunday, after staying overseas following his defeat in the Seoul mayoral race in June 2018.



It is premature to predict whether he will emerge as an opposition leader, but the resumption of his political career is creating ripple effects in the political circle with fewer than 90 days before the April 15 general election.



"I'll consider how to change Korean politics and how the Republic of Korea should move toward the future," Ahn wrote on Facebook, Jan. 2, announcing his plan to return to politics.



Expectations are high among conservative voters that he will help unify them and prevent the much-anticipated liberal domination of the crucial election. However, the harsh reality is that existing conservative parties have differed on how to confront the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and Ahn's political influence is not as strong as it used to be.



Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn recently asked Ahn, considered a center-right politician, to join in efforts to unify conservative forces, but Ahn said he was not interested in this idea; only in "changing Korean politics."



But with public support for the ruling party and President Moon Jae-in remaining high, there is prevailing skepticism that his return will merely be a "storm in a teacup."



Ahn has become an old-timer, but what voters expect from him has not changed from 2011 when the doctor-turned-computer expert entered politics. We hope he will pursue new politics that transcend deep-rooted problems in Korean society, such as ideological divisions and regionalism. Ahn will resume political activities Monday by paying respects to fallen national heroes at the Seoul National Cemetery. Good luck to him.


The small-town aspect of the village is something he enjoys.

You have more time to interact with the citizens, he said. You get more time to handle their complaints and talk to them. You just have more time to interact with the citizens of the town.

He knows hes taking over at a very interesting time in terms of history and changes in the state of Illinois, such as the legalization of recreational marijuana in the state. But hes not too worried about that.

I think its going to be a learning curve for everybody, he said. I dont think we completely have all the laws, and how we are going to deal with it with the States Attorneys Office. So its going to be a learning process with everybody.

Not surprisingly, Whitney does have his eyes on the future for his department.

He wants to further the careers of the young officers under him.

We have a lot of young officers in the department, and we need to get them developed so they can take over vacancies and promotions when they arise, Whitney said.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday posted on Twitter a photo of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami in an agricultural field with a sickle in hand, and praised him for not "forgetting his roots" and stressed on the need for making agriculture profitable.

Responding to the comment by the Vice President, Palaniswami assured him of focusing more on the development of agriculture.

"Pleased to see Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Edappadi K Palaniswami working in fields as a farmer, who will never forget his roots. It may be symbolic but it inspires people. Everyone should focus on making agriculture profitable and sustainable. This is the need of hour," the Vice President said in his official twitter account while posting the photo.

Replying to the tweet, the Tamil Nadu chief minister in his official twitter account said, "I am very much thankful and encouraged by the words of His Excellency Sree @VPSecretariat Ji, Vice President of India. I assure to focus more on the development of agriculture and for upliftment of the downtrodden."



Earlier in the day, Naidu visited the Central Institute of Classical Tamil Research and also the International Institute of Tamil Studies in Chennai. He was accompanied by AIADMK Ministers 'Mafoi' K Pandiarajan and D Jayakumar among others.

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

The Rajasthan government under chief minister Ashok Gehlot will bring a resolution in the state assembly against the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The resolution is likely to be brought on the first day of budget session of Rajasthan state assembly, said government sources. The decision to bring resolution against the contentious legislation comes after senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Saturday said there is no way a state can deny the implementation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when it is already passed by the parliament. He had added that denial of the legislation would be unconstitutional.

Moreover, Kerala and Punjab have already passed resolutions to step up pressure on the Centre against the amended law, which has sparked a series of protests and violence in different parts of the country.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan had also written a letter to 11 non-BJP chief ministers citing a resolution passed by the state demanding scrapping of the amended Citizenship Act and asking them to take similar steps against the contentious legislation.

Also Read: Accountability Should Be Fixed, No Point In Blaming Previous Govt: Sachin Pilot After Visiting Kota

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been repeatedly opposing the contentious law and has said the state government will not implement the CAA and NRC in the state. Earlier, he also held a massive and peaceful rally in Jaipur against CAA.

On various occasions, the chief minister has clearly said that his government will neither implement CAA nor NRC.

Also Read: Won't Withdraw Citizenship Amendment Act Come What May: Amit Shah Hits Back At Opposition

However, the opposition BJP has said that it will strongly oppose governments move to bring the resolution.

BJP state president MLA Satish Poonia said, We will oppose any such move of the government. No one, be it the chief minister or government or any party, is above the law.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (4th L), the granddaughter Mary Jean Eisenhower (4th R) and great grandson Merrill Eisenhower Atwater (3rd R) of former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, attend a sake barrel-breaking ceremony in the 60th anniversary commemorative reception of the signing of the Japan-US security treaty in Tokyo, Japan, on Jan. 19, 2020. (Kyodo/via Reuters)

Trump Marks US-Japan Security Pact With Call for Stronger, Deeper Alliance

President Trump marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the security treaty between the United States and Japan with a call for a stronger and deeper alliance between the two countries, despite criticizing the pact six months ago.

As the security environment continues to evolve and new challenges arise, it is essential that our alliance further strengthen and deepen, Trump said in a statement dated Jan. 18.

I am confident that in the months and years ahead, Japans contributions to our mutual security will continue to grow, and the alliance will continue to thrive.

Last June, Trump told a news conference in Japan that the treatysigned six decades ago on Sunday and the linchpin of Japans defense policywas unfair and should be changed, echoing his long-held view that Japan is a free-rider on defense.

Trump at the time added he was not thinking of withdrawing from the pact.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday called for making the treaty more robust.

We have elevated the relationship to one in which each of us, the United State and Japan, protects the other, thereby giving further force to the alliance, Abe said at a Tokyo reception to mark the anniversary of the signing.

Going forward, it is incumbent upon us to make it even more robust, to make it a pillar for safeguarding peace and security in both outer space and cyberspace.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands as they attend a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, on Aug. 25, 2019. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its U.S.-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by the United States to project power in Asia.

The treaty was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Abes grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi. Kishi was forced to step down afterwards following a massive public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would pull their country into conflict.

Abe since taking office in 2012 has raised Japans defense spending by 10 percent after years of decline and his government in 2014 reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two.

Although generally supportive of the alliance, Japanese voters remain concerned about their country getting dragged into U.S.-led conflicts. A recent survey by Kyodo news agency showed 58.4 percent opposed Tokyos decision to dispatch a warship and patrol planes to the Middle East to help protect ships bringing goods to Japan.

Trumps administration has also pushed for Japan to pay more for U.S. forces stationed in the country. Under an agreement reached in 2015, Japan pledged to increase its spending for U.S. forces stationed there by 1.4 percent over the following five years to 189.3 billion yen ($1.72 billion) per year on average.
Beijings iconic Summer Palace tourist resort is the home of a huge new ice rink thats opened just ahead of the Winter Olympics. The rink measures 300,000 square meters and consists of two areas designed for different types of activities. The city has opened seven municipal ice rinks and four snow resorts to the public. Since 2014, ice and snow activities in municipal parks have attracted nearly 2 million visitors, according to the Beijing Municipal Administration Center for Parks

Jan 11, 2022 07:26 PM
Simon Prim is owner of Simon Prim Book Shop, Main Street, Kinsale, Co Cork, which sells second-hand books.

How long have you been open?

Over five and a half years. We opened in May 2014.

How did you get into the book business?

People often come into the shop and ask me if it was my dream to open a bookshop. I say, not really, I was just copying my dad [Alan Prim bookshop in Youghal, Co Cork]. In saying that, I love it. I knew I would enjoy it because I liked working with my dad, especially looking for books. I had a head start with my dad and he helped me with the stock when I opened. I feel I am still learning from him as well, serving a form of apprenticeship.

Why did you choose Kinsale?

I grew up in Youghal and lived in Cork for seven years, I went to college in UCC. I moved to Kinsale in January 2013 and I was working two jobs in the city and commuting  one in the Farmgate cafe and the other was in NASC, the immigrant support centre. I love Kinsale and I wanted to see if I could do something myself down here and I thought, Why not try a bookshop?. When I left the Farmgate, I started working down here in the Black Pig wine bar and I still do a few shifts there in the summer. I love working in restaurants as well  so I have a good balance now.

How is business?

I rely on about 75% tourist trade. I have a good few local customers who would come in every few weeks and purchase a good few books, and people come here from the city as well. We get a lot of people from Dublin who spend their summers down here in Kinsale who come in every year to buy books. Im still building things up but its going alright. Every year I am getting busier, so I think the demand is increasing, for sure. I dont really want to go online, because I dont want to be checking my laptop all the time but I may have to do that eventually. As long as I can sustain it without having to do that, I am happy.

Tell us more about the shop.

It is quite a big space. I have a little coffee bar down the back where I serve takeaway coffees. I have a piano, a chessboard, a Scrabble board and some nice paintings. People like to wander around; I think they like the atmosphere.

Where do you source your books?

Generally, I buy from the public. I do get donations sometimes but it is almost better to buy them, because you know what you want, you give your price, otherwise you could be stuck with several boxes you dont need that you are trying to shift. Often its people downsizing, or clearing out a library. I often go down and raid my dads bookshop as well.

Does he mind?

He does sometimes [laughs] but he is very good to me. He loves going around scouting for books, it is his favourite aspect of the job. He will often keep a few aside for me as well.

The sign describes your business as bibliotherapy?

People always comment on it. It was my dads idea. Its a nice touch. Theres a peace inside a bookshop, people do come in to escape. Theres a playground down from the bookshop, and you often get parents who come in and just leave out a sigh. Its a nice place to be and a nice place to work. I can even bring my dog to work, which is a bonus.

What is Kinsale like to do business in?

I fell in love with Kinsale when I moved down here. Everyone is so friendly. The day I was setting up, i was building shelves with a friend and three people who I barely knew came in and helped us for the day. It is a welcoming town, and everyone is positive and encouraging.

There are a few other bookshops, An Bookstor and the Kinsale Bookshop, and everyone is friendly with each other, we send people to each others shops. Up to a couple of years ago, there was a fourth bookshop, The Time Traveller was here for a while. Then you have Poets Corner just two doors down from me, which is a book exchange and cafe. Its weird that it ended up like a miniature Hay-on-Wye but its great. You often hear people going past, going, What, another bookshop?

Which books or authors would you recommend?

My favourite book I read in the last year was Any Human Heart by William Boyd, it was fantastic. At the moment, Im reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Everyone who recommended it said they had broken down several times reading it but I havent yet. Theres about 100 pages left and Im waiting for this big emotional ending. I also love all of Donal Ryans books, they are dark, funny and sad but beautiful.
Researchers from Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an original approach to flight scheduling that, if implemented, could result in a significant increase in profits for airlines and more flights that align with passengers' preferences. The approach is presented in a paper, "Airline Timetable Development and Fleet Assignment Incorporating Passenger Choice," recently published in Transportation Science, the leading journal in the field of transportation analysis.

Some of the most critical decision-making steps taken by airlines across the world rely on tools that do not fully incorporate passengers' preferences and the dynamics of flight scheduling, resulting in missed profits and unsatisfied passengers, according to the authors. The new paper uses 2016 data from Alaska Airlines to introduce an original integrated optimization approach to comprehensive flight timetabling and fleet assignment while taking into consideration passengers' preferences, such as flight departure time.

"Beyond ticket prices, perhaps the biggest thing that air passengers care about is the convenience of flight schedule. Yet, due to the associated computational complexities, nobody has really tried to completely redesign an airline's flight schedule from scratch to take passenger preference into account," said co-author Vikrant Vaze, assistant professor of engineering at Dartmouth. "This paper does just that, by proposing a comprehensive mathematical model and a new algorithm to solve it. It aligns the flight schedules to passenger preferences, in turn maximizing airline profits."

The model's flexible and comprehensive approach would enable airlines to increase the number of passengers with one-stop itineraries, and, consequently, dramatically increase the total one-stop revenue and the total operating profit compared with the most advanced approaches currently used in the industry. In addition, the paper suggests that an airline using this approach would experience a significant increase in market share.

First author Keji Wei, who was an engineering PhD candidate at Dartmouth while working on the study, received the Anna Valicek Award at the Airline Group of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (AGIFORS) Symposium last fall for his work on this paper. Wei is now a senior operations research analyst at Sabre Corporation, a leading technology solutions provider to the travel industry.

In addition to Wei and Vaze, the paper was co-authored by Alexandre Jacquillat, an assistant professor of operations research and statistics at the MIT Sloan School of Management.

The authors note that the paper doesn't consider factors such as business strategy and aircraft orders because the data is not available, as well as airport gate and slot availability for simplicity's sake. However, the approach is designed to be versatile and usable for a variety of strategic planning decisions made by major airlines with a realistic computational budget.

Vaze is currently working on a follow-up paper that will incorporate revenue management considerations into scheduling and fleet assignment.
Advocates for and against US President Donald Trump gave no ground on Sunday over his impeachment trial, digging in on whether a crime is required for his conviction and removal, and whether witnesses will be called.

Even as Mr Trumps defence team and the House prosecutor pressed their cases on TV talk shows, mystery still surrounded the basic structure for the impeachment trial  only the third in American history  which resumes on Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shed no light on what will differ from Bill Clintons impeachment trial in 1999.

The president deserves a fair trialDemocrat Jason Crow

All sides agitated to get on with it, most of all the four Democratic senators running for president and facing the prospect of being marooned in the Senate chamber for the trial heading into Iowas kick-off caucus on February 3.

Democratic representative Jason Crow, of Colorado, one of the seven impeachment prosecutors who will make the case for Trumps removal, said: The president deserves a fair trial. The American people deserve a fair trial. So lets have that fair trial.

Whatever happens in the Senate, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said Mr Trump will be impeached forever.

Members of the presidents team said if they it means an acquittal forever as well.

Lawyer Robert Ray said on Sunday. That is the task ahead.

The House on Decenber 18 voted mostly along party lines to impeach, or indict, Mr Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

He denies both charges as the products of a witch hunt and a hoax, and has cast himself as a victim of Democrats who want to overturn his 2016 election.
The latest protests in Iran by people angry over the Iranian militarys missile launch that unintentionally downed a Ukrainian jetliner killing many Iranians, Canadians and others, is different from past protests over rigged elections, rising gas prices and what Americans like to call voter suppression.

This time, the protests are over a much wider area of the country. This time, there were no death to America or death to Israel chants. Video showed demonstrators refusing to walk on U.S. and Israeli flags. This time, anger was directed at the theocratic regimes handling of the missile strike. This time, a president of the United States tweeted his support for the protesters in English and in Farsi and warned the world is watching. Thats something President Obama failed to do when demonstrations over a rigged election broke out in the summer of 2009 and the regime began killing and imprisoning protesters. Obama, opting at first for a wait-and-see approach, once violence reached its zenith, was finally forced to declare, The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats, beatings and imprisonments of the last few days, and strongly condemned these unjust actions. Of course, his statement was too late to have much, if any, effect on the regimes actions.

Democrats were nearly silent about the latest protests. Democrats once boldly voiced opposition to totalitarian regimes. When Democrats do comment it is often without substance or meaning.

Interviewed on ABCs This Week last Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to minimize the significance of the demonstrations. Host George Stephanopoulos asked her if she supported the demonstrations and whether it would be good for the regime to collapse. She replied: The protesters are protesting  as I understand it, this brand of protesters  about the fact that that plane went down. And many students were on that plane and these are largely students in the street.

Come again?

The lunatic left, which increasingly dominates the Democratic Party, predictably took Irans side against their own country. Actress Rose McGowan tweeted: Dear #Iran. The USA has disrespected your country, your flag, your people. 52 percent of us humbly apologize. We want peace with your nation. We are being held hostage by a terrorist regime. We do not know how to escape. Please do not kill us. #Soleimani.

A.J. Caschetta responded to McGowan and many others on the far left in National Review magazine: While it may be tempting to dismiss McGowans attempts at wit, her line of reasoning, however faulty, is echoed by nearly all the Democrats on the campaign trail and by virtually every Middle East specialist in the media and in academia. Her apologetic plea for peace and her moral equivalency between Trumps terrorist regime and #Soleimani differ from tweets of her erudite allies only in the number of polysyllabic words and historical references. Otherwise they are quite similar; in some cases practically identical.

Why arent the Democratic presidential candidates asked if they share such views? Perhaps it is because those asking the questions dont want to do anything that would harm the chances of one of the Democrat presidential candidates beating President Trump in the November election. Does that sound too harsh? Consider that 92 percent of media coverage of the president has been negative, according to a study by the Media Research Center, a politically conservative content analysis group based in Reston, Virginia.

Could the protests in Iran follow the pattern of other freedom movements, like Solidarity in Poland, or demonstrations that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union? Or, could they end in a stalemate with increasingly brutal repression, as in Venezuela? Its too early to say, but the least that should be expected is that people who enjoy the blessings of liberty, including the right to say very foolish things, support the efforts of others who want to free themselves from totalitarian oppression. If they wont, perhaps they should pick what they think is a better country and live there.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for his new book, Americas Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States.

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Meghan Markle made a subtle outfit change while visiting women's charities in Canada - for a meaningful reason [Image: Getty]

Ahead of an agreement with the Queen last night over their future as royals, Meghan Markle has been keeping busy in Canada.

The Duchess of Sussex, 38, visited two female-focused charities earlier this week, close to where she has been staying on Vancouver Island.

Her first visit was to Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, and later in the day she called in at Justice for Girls.

For the outing she wore a casual ensemble of a knitted cream jumper, skinny jeans and brown knee-high boots, along with a green Parka coat when outdoors to beat off the chilly weather.

READ MORE: Prince Harry to follow in Princess Diana's footsteps and be styled 'Harry, Duke of Sussex'

The charities both shared pictures from Meghans visits.

However, while the meetings took place on the same day, the images show that the duchess made a subtle outfit change - and for a very sweet reason.

For the first engagement, she could be seen wearing a gold pendant necklace.

But for the second, she appeared to have removed the piece of jewellery in favour of another gold design featuring a whale tail.

READ MORE: Prince Harry's beloved childhood nanny is baby son Archie's secret godmother

The story behind the easy-to-miss swap was later revealed on social media.

During her first visit, Meghan had been gifted the 18ct gold and white diamond necklace - designed by Hollie Barlett, a member of the Haisla Nation - and ensured it was fully in shot during images of her second engagement.

The jewellery designer chose the piece, worth 1,270, from her collection at Vancouver's Douglas Reynolds Gallery, which specialises in historic and contemporary northwest coast native art.

Taking to Instagram, the gallery revealed: HRH The Duchess of Sussex @sussexroyal wearing @holliebartlett!"

Yesterday, The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle visited to discuss climate justice for girls and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Was great to talk about the importance of a holistic approach to social justice, and the power of young womens leadership. #DuchessOfSussex pic.twitter.com/M9LaqEELl7  Justice For Girls (@JFG_Canada) January 16, 2020

READ MORE: READ MORE: Full list of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's current patronages

Story continues

The Douglas Reynolds Gallery added: "We are incredibly proud of our artist @holliebearbartlett who came into the #douglasreynoldsgallery to pick one of her favourite pendants to gift to the #DuchessofSussex #MeaghanMarkle.

"Thank you @sussexroyal for looking so beautiful while supporting our #northwestcoast #indigenous artists. Hollies piece is an 18k yellow gold #killerwhale pendant with a solitary #diamond.

"We carry a wide variety of B.C.s #FirstNations art with a large selection of jewelry including the work of Hollie Bartlett. Her Whale Tail Pendants have always been a gallery favourite so we can see why it was chosen for the Duchess."

Also posting on social media about her visit were Justice For Girls, who took to Twitter to share the news alongside images of the meeting with the royal.

They wrote: Yesterday, The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle visited to discuss climate justice for girls and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Was great to talk about the importance of a holistic approach to social justice, and the power of young womens leadership.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
OTTAWA - Quebec MP Gerard Deltell says he's decided not to enter the Conservative leadership race.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quebec MP Gerard Deltell says he's decided not to enter the Conservative leadership race. Deltell rises during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa, Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Quebec MP Gerard Deltell says he's decided not to enter the Conservative leadership race.

Deltell made the announcement on social media after a meeting with his riding association.

He says there are other ways for him to remain involved in the party and he intends to contribute in another capacity.

Deltell is one of the more prominent Quebec MPs in the Conservative caucus, and an endorsement from him would be valuable to any of the candidates.

So far, current MP Marilyn Gladu and former Conservative cabinet minister Peter MacKay are among those who've officially declared they will run.

Those still mulling over a bid include another well-known Quebec politician: former provincial premier Jean Charest.

He's been meeting with Conservative party members for weeks to see if he has enough national support to mount a bid.

Party watchers are also waiting to see if former interim leader Rona Ambrose will run.

Conservative MPs and senators are holding a meeting next weekend to prepare for the return of Parliament, and it's expected that several candidates will announce, one way or another, their intentions by then.

Current leader Andrew Scheer - who will resign when his replacement is elected - is expected to put in place several rules for MPs who are running for leadership.

They'll include guidelines on how much time they're expected to be in the House of Commons, and a requirement that they relinquish their posts as portfolio critics.

Deltell says he's looking forward to holding on to his file.

"As I have been doing with passion for over 11 years, I will continue working for the people of my riding, and I will diligently discharge my duties as Official Opposition critic for intergovernmental affairs," he wrote in a Facebook post Sunday.

He says he's also looking forward to getting ready for a new role: being a grandfather.

Candidates have until Feb. 27 to register to run in the race, and until March 25 to meet all the financial and other requirements.

Party members will elect a new leader in June.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 19, 2020.
Unsettling Science

If recent events in Trenton have taught us anything, its that we need to have a better conversation about the science that supports our public health solutions. Is it really antivax and anti-science to demand that the HHS make good on its promise to monitor safety? Parents are not alone in their safety concerns. At the Global Vaccine Safety Summit last month, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHOs chief scientist, acknowledged a need for more safety studies because current science does not support the claims that are being made about vaccine safety. Is the WHO anti-vax, too?

 Ann from Westfield

Yes, this is all anti-vax and anti-vax is indeed anti-science. I hadnt heard anything about Dr. Swaminathans alleged questioning of vaccine safety, but a quick google search showed a bunch of hits on disreputable sites. And searching WHOs and Dr. Swaminathans actual statements about vaccines goes directly against the point youre trying to make. Of course if you get your information from anti-vaxxer consiracy sites, youll think this is true. I prefer to get information about vaccines from actual science publications that are legitimate.

 Ed Note

Quiet Hamilton

Hey guys, got to admit, your newspaper is so boring since the Hamilton elections. Such a quiet and peaceful transition and appointments. No Russian interference or collision claims by the Mercer GOP. So where is Kelly and the cast of characters in her administration? Living happily ever after somewhere. Hamilton Township is dead like a dormant volcano.

 A reader

This time of year is usually quiet, but yeah, this transition has been pretty boring. Wed love for something interesting to happen. This past election cycle gave us a lot of local stuff to write about. Mayor Martin threatened us with this boring transition and hes been delivering so far.

 Ed Note
The Party Committee, Peoples Council, Peoples Committee and the Fatherland Front Committee of the southern province of Vinh Long held a meeting on January 17 to celebrate the Partys 90th founding anniversary and welcome the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh attended the ceremony and presented awards to collectives and individuals who gained outstanding achievements in the province.

On the occasion, five people were awarded the title of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers by the State President.

A similar event was also held in the southern province of Binh Duong on January 17. The meeting saw the presence of former President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The provincial Party Committee also presented the 65-year Party membership badge to 21 party members.

On the same day, the southern province of Binh Phuoc organised a meeting to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and honour 11 outstanding secretaries of the party cells, and 29 outstanding party members of the province.

A exhibition featuring Spring Newspapers was held in Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City on January 17.

The event, held by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications attracted the participation of over 100 press agencies.
Global Executive Search Firm Expands International Footprint with Office in Tel Aviv

DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kingsley Gate Partners, a leading global executive search firm, announced that it has acquired Everest Search Partners, an Israeli-based boutique executive search firm. Jeff Shapiro and Noam Eisenberg have joined the company as Senior Partners and are based in Tel Aviv. The acquisition of Everest Search Partners represents an important addition to Kingsley Gate Partners' international reach and expansion.

Everest Search Partners specializes in recruiting world-class CxO and VP executives across the technology and life sciences spectrum. The company concentrates on Israeli-founded companies and has successfully partnered with several Israeli 'unicorns' over the past decade in the market.

"The addition of Jeff and Noam to our team cements Kingsley Gate Partners' presence as the go-to, senior-level recruitment firm for any Israeli company interested in global expansion as well as a professional executive search process in Israel," stated Martin Mendelsohn, Senior Partner with the organization who has been working with Israeli clients in the region for the past decade. "Noam and Jeff are world-class professionals with extensive search experience and industry credibility. We are very pleased that they have elected to join our firm".

Jeff's career in executive search spans two decades. He specializes in recruiting Board Director, CxOs, and VPs of Sales, Marketing, Business Development and Engineering. Previously, he worked at global search firms, including CTPartners, Korn/Ferry and Egon Zehnder, where he was responsible for engagement delivery and client management.

Noam brings over 20 years of professional experience in executive search and has earned a reputation among his clients as trusted counsel and adviser, and project delivery expert. He partners with Principal investors and their portfolio companies on global mandates across the CxO spectrum, in addition to Board Director recruitment. Before founding Everest Search Partners in 2005, Noam led his own executive search practice where he worked with leading VCs and Boards to build global management teams for early and mid-stage growth companies.

Noam & Jeff stated, "Kingsley Gate Partners is at the forefront of the fast-changing executive recruitment landscape. The company has built some of the most impressive analytics technology we have seen in the industry and combine it with world-class search process methodology. We know that we can leverage this to enhance the service that we deliver to our clients and are thrilled to be part of this exciting team."

About Kingsley Gate Partners

Transforming the world of retained executive search, Kingsley Gate Partners leverages the scientific interviewing approach of its Synchronous Fit framework, deep industry insights of a world-class cadre of consultants and state-of-the-art technology to deliver enhanced accountability, accuracy, velocity and transparency ensuring a lasting strategic fit between our placements and clients. Headquartered in Dallas, the partnership employs search consultants worldwide with expertise in private equity, life sciences, financial services, technology, manufacturing and professional services. The firm works with best-of-breed organizations across the globe, having completed searches in 29 countries.

Editorial contact :

Natalie Bennett

Kingsley Gate Partners

Phone: 216.930.4895

Email: nbennett@kingsleygate.com

SOURCE Kingsley Gate Partners
- ICPC has begun fresh recruitment exercise

- The agency said it has employed the service of DSCL corporate services limited to conduct the recruitment on its behalf

- Interested candidates have also been warned against fraudsters who may want to defraud unsuspecting applicants

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the commencement of recruitment exercise into the agency.

Sahara Reporters reports that the anti-graft agency also warned interested candidates in its recruitment exercise to be careful of fraudsters.

Legit.ng gathered that the agency said it has engaged the services of DSCL corporate services limited to conduct the recruitment on its behalf to fill vacant positions approved by government.

"The general public is hereby advised to be wary of fraudulent advertisement of the ICPC recruitment on any portal different from its own.

ICPC headquarters office in Abuja

Source: UGC

"Application for the positions is absolutely free and all processes attached to the recruitment exercise shall be in accordance with established parameters.

"Members of the public are therefore urged to report to ICPC any demand for money or other favours by anyone including officials of DCSL corporate services limited. Advertisement of the recruitment exercise on any unauthorised portal and demand for money will be investigated and persons found culpable will be prosecuted," the agency was quoted by the online medium.

PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet!

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Muhammad Babandede, the comptroller-general of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), alerted the general public that fraudsters were using a fake NIS website to defraud Nigerians who were seeking employment.

It was reported that the NIS spokesman, Sunday James, indicated that Babandede said the scammers opened a website where they are presently carrying out fake recruitment activities.

NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better.

Nigerians set 2nd term agenda for President Buhari | - on Legit TV

Source: Legit.ng
The legal team representing President Trump in his Senate impeachment trial will reportedly include some familiar faces, especially for regular viewers of Fox News: Ken Starr, the former independent counsel who led the Whitewater investigation into President Bill Clinton, and Alan Dershowitz, a retired Harvard Law School professor who has represented many controversial defendants.

Starr is a Fox News contributor. Dershowitz is a frequent guest on Trumps favorite cable news network.

Professor Dershowitz will present oral arguments at the Senate trial to address the constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal, a spokesman for Trumps legal team said in a statement. While Professor Dershowitz is nonpartisan when it comes to the Constitution  he opposed the impeachment of President Bill Clinton and voted for Hillary Clinton  he believes the issues at stake go to the heart of our enduring Constitution. He is participating in this impeachment trial to defend the integrity of the Constitution and to prevent the creation of a dangerous constitutional precedent.

Robert Ray, Starrs successor as the special Whitewater prosecutor and another Fox News regular, is also joining the presidents defense team.

White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow, Trumps outside attorney, will serve as the lead lawyers during the Senate trial, which begins Tuesday.

The team will also include former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Jane Raskin, Trumps longtime personal counsel.

Ken Starr and Alan Dershowitz. Photos: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images, John Lamparski/Getty Images)

Dershowitz and Starr were part of the legal defense team for Jeffrey Epstein, the financier who was accused of sex trafficking and abusing hundreds of underage girls. Epstein died, in what has been ruled a suicide, in a federal jail in New York last year. Dershowitz and Starr helped negotiate a widely criticized plea deal for Epstein when he faced sex-trafficking charges in Florida in 2007. The prosecutor in that case was Alexander Acosta, who served as Trumps labor secretary until he was pressured to step down following Epsteins arrest last year.

Story continues

Dershowitz has admitted to receiving a massage at Epsteins Palm Beach home but said the woman who provided it was of legal age. According to the Miami Herald, that home was where Epstein was assembling a large, cult-like network of underage girls  with the help of young female recruiters  to coerce into having sex acts behind the walls of his opulent waterfront mansion as often as three times a day, the Town of Palm Beach police found.

Dershowitz is also involved in an ongoing legal battle with Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a woman who claims to have been pressured into having sex with Epstein when she was 17. She and Dershowitz are suing each other, each claiming the other is lying.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi named seven impeachment managers who will act as prosecutors in the Senate trial: House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif.; House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y.; Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.; Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo.; Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.; Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla.; and Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas.

Schiff and Nadler will take the lead.

On Thursday, those managers formally delivered two articles of impeachment to the Senate: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress  stemming from Trumps dealings with Ukraine.

Chief Justice John Roberts, who will preside over the impeachment trial, was sworn in by Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, then swore in all 100 sitting senators, who will act as jurors.

The trial is expected to last until mid-February and will end with Trump either acquitted or convicted and removed from office.

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Magsaysay awardee and anti-corruption crusader-bureaucrat Sanjiv Chaturvedi has written to Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa claiming he faced harassment and hardship when Lavasa was Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest between 2014 to 2016 and was dealing with Chaturvedi's case of inter-state deputation to Delhi government.

Interestingly, Chaturvedi wrote to Lavasa on 2 January, 2020, a few days after the Election Commissioner published an opinion piece titled as the difficulty of being honest. The alleged harassment of Lavasas family by Central investigative agencies triggered a political storm after he gave a dissent notes against Election Commission's clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah in alleged violation of code of coduct during last year's general election.

Chaturvedi, however, has turned the table on Lavasa and has asked him to clarify whether his opinion on honesty now and action then as Secretary, Ministry of Environment while dealing with his case are contradictory.

Chaturvedi's 90-page letter with 22 annexures, including various court orders and government file noting, alleges that his inter-state deputation, a simple administrative task, was prolonged for 16 months, despite four judicial orders, with an aim to harass him. The services of Chaturvedi, a 2020-batch Indian Forest Service officer, were sought by Delhi government in February 2015, however, it never materialised despite court orders and Ministry of Environment, the cadre controlling authority rejected the case in 2016. Chaturvedi, in his letter to Lavasa, said that rules were violated and facts were twisted to dishonestly reject his case.

Rule positions were repeatedly violated, and to such an extent, which even compelled the courts to direct you to act strictly as per all India service rule in its order dated 27 April, 2016. Thoroughly illegal orders dated 15 February, 2016, and 18 April, 2016, issued under your explicit approval, had to be nullified by courts," Chaturvedi wrote in his letter to Lavasa.

Lavasa did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment. Providing the details of event in the letter, Chaturvedi said the proposal of his inter-state deputation was considered in February 2015 and a letter was sent to Uttarakhand government (state cadre) seeking No-objection Certificate (NoC). Chaturvedi has alleged that after discussion with the minister, then environment secretary Lavasa overruled proposal of the Ministry of Environment officials and instead proposed to seek opinion of Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) allegedly to delay the matter.

Chaturvedi claimed DoPT opinion was not required under Rule 6(1) of Cadre Rules. Subsequently, after the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) direction, the process was initiated from the beginning in October 2015, almost after a gap of eight months. Uttarakhand government was again asked for NoC on 29 October, 2015, to avoid the contempt of the court.

The Uttarakhand government unconditionally issued the NoC on 26 November, 2015, and Chaturvedi case file was sent to Appointment Committee of Cabinet (ACC) for final approval. However, again on 22 December, 2015, another letter was written by the Ministry of Environment to Uttarakhand government to reconsider the NoC and on 15 February, 2016, Chaturvedi claims his case was rejected by the Ministry allegedly bypassing the ACC: Kindly clarify in the interest of and as part of a healthy, informed and objective debate on this very sensitive/important issue as to how your various actions in deliberately and willfully keeping my above mentioned case pending and undecided for months (by overruling the lawful opinion of senior Ministry officials, in your own handwriting after 'discussion' with Minister); making frequent U-turns; willfully concealing the documents related to relevant precedence, passing thoroughly illegal orders by usurping the powers of ACC, which were immediately nullified by Courts; various adverse court observations on your malicious actions/inactions and which resulted in my relentless harassment, without any fault and in fact, only for doing my duties honestly and fearlessly fit into overall framework of observations made in your article as you have now triggered a very wide debate on cost of honesty by way of said article (opinion piece), Chaturvedi asked Lavasa.

His letter further, citing the opinion piece that only those who have faced some difficulties for being honest, should preach and pontificate on honesty in bureaucracy.

One should not have only practised honesty but also should have actually faced some difficulties for being honest, on a real time basis (rather than making the life of an honest officer difficult), however, in this case, above mentioned court orders and other records indicate differently. In fact, in view of above mentioned categorical court orders/your own file noting, regarding my undue harassment, during your tenure (as Secretary, Ministry of Environment), the above mentioned article appears to be a complete travesty, Chaturvedi wrote to Lavasa.

The whistleblower bureaucrat went a step further, claiming that Lavasa throughout his career enjoyed good positions both at the state and Centre and his opinion piece on honesty is perplexing. Chaturvedi said Lavasas article elaborates in detail about the hardships for supposedly working honestly in discharge of duties, about which everyone is already aware, with plethora of examples already being in public domain.

However, despite my best efforts, I could not comprehend as to whose sufferings were being alluded in the said article: of yours or anybody else, and could not find any connect in this regard, as there is absolutely no such record available in public domain, of any undue hardship in your case from ruling establishment on any issue of vital public importance, or any major corruption case of any politician/senior bureaucrat being ever brought in public domain or before any enforcement agency/Courts, during any of your posting, rather the service details ( as per ER sheet on DoPT website), reflect a very smooth sailing in which throughout the service, most significant positions in Centre and State, in sectors of Industries, Power, Civil Aviation, Home, Environment & Forests, and Finance, were assigned, Chaturvedi wrote.
Pastor of 5,000-member church plant identifies key ministry trends leading millennials to Christ

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Pastor Tim Lucas doesnt buy into the idea that millennials and Generation Z are the least Christian generations to date.

Theres the popular thought where Millennials are leaving the church in droves. Thats true; theres a record rise of the religious nones, but I see it more like a rise of the religious dones, the pastor of Liquid Church in Parsippany, New Jersey, told The Christian Post.

Theres a generation growing up who are done with traditional church and the way we know it from the last 50 years. However, they are probably some of the most spiritually open and curious generations weve ever seen."

According to Lucas, the problem isnt with young people; its with the way the message of the Gospel has traditionally been presented by the church.

"I think the hand-wringing approach to millenials and Gen Z is an invitation for a wholesale reinvention of the methods by which we present Jesus to a new generation," he said.

Theres a cultural shift underway, where young people are extremely experientially oriented. They want to know, Whats the social good in this before I buy it? So the churchs traditional message of evangelism was propositional truth: Heres why Christianity is valid and a superior belief system. The Good News was proclaimed and explained.

However, when Jesus shared the Gospel of grace with truly hell-bent pagans, He adopted a double approach, Lucas argued.

There was a demonstration of grace: Be healed, serve the poor. And then theres the proclamation of the Gospel: Your sins are forgiven, he said. Up and coming generations are concerned with biblical justice; how the church tangibly helps the poor and needy. Its a reverse discipleship process. The church must reclaim its birthright of saying, The message of the Gospel is good for both the soul and body.

Lucas knows a thing or two about reaching rising generations and the unchurched for Christ.

In 2007, he and a handful of his 20-something friends founded Liquid Church in a post-Christian region of the northeast where the words dry, boring, stale, and irrelevant are seen as synonymous with church.

In the gospel of John, Jesus promises living water to spiritually thirsty people and we believe church should be refreshing, Lucas explained. We launched Liquid Church in a very dry region of our country. We have a God-given vision to saturate our state with the gospel of Jesus Christ without watering down the Gospel.

Fast forward to 2020 and Liquid Church is a thriving, multi-campus church with over 5,000 members of all ages and demographics.

We have five generations all sitting in the pews at the same time, he noted. Boomers, Gen X, Millenials, Gen Z  there is an unprecedented moment of generational transfer thats happening. Were seeing older generations and millennials partnering together to revitalize churches.

Liquid Church, Lucas said, seeks to saturate the state of New Jersey with the Gospel through two hands, one open, and one closed.

Were close-handed about the message, meaning the Gospel never changes, yet were open about the methods because they always need to change to reach the hearts and minds for the next generation.

"The liquid metaphor is appropriate because we need to take a fluid approach to ministry. Were not changing the message but our methods need to change. The Gospel of grace is timeless, but the methods need to look different to reach the next generation for Christ.

An estimated 3,500 churches in North America will close their doors this year, Lucas stressed. Something needs to change. Its an absolute tragedy.

In his new book, Liquid Church: 6 Powerful Currents to Saturate Your City for Christ, the pastor pairs up with award-winning researcher and author Dr. Warren Bird to share the ministry currents that are resonating with rising generations and attracting thousands to the cause of Christ.

His goal, he told CP, is to inspire church leaders wanting to broaden their reach, whether they serve a new church plant, a fast-growing congregation, or an aging ministry.

I want to help pastors identify when their church is ready for rebirth, he said. When you wake up and realize youre preaching to the choir or already converted every Sunday, your church needs a rebirth. At that point, youre in the 'movement-to museum stage. You find youre burying more people than youre baptizing.

Its difficult to get a church when its in that decline. Another indication your church is ready for rebirth is when the cost of maintenance starts outpacing the impact of the ministry.

Two Liquid Church campuses are rebirth campuses, he said. One church was down to 27 seniors when they called us. They were going to close their doors. They said, We hate your music, but youre baptizing our grandchildren.

These senior saints admitted they had confused the message with the methods. In 30 days, they voted unanimously to donate their entire church building property, assets, parsonage to Liquid. They took an incredible risk to be reborn into a new era of ministry.

For the next 18 months, tattooed millennials partnered with senior saints to remodel the church, replacing stained glass with hi-definition screens. On opening day, the church had over 1,000 visitors.

It became Liquids fastest-growing campus in the churchs history at that time," the pastor said. "You have an older church that has assets, a spiritual legacy, but typically few people, no vision, not much momentum. Theyre joining hands with younger churches that have momentum and vision and reaching new converts, and together, theyre reaching a lost world with the Gospel.

Today, those 27 seniors still attend Liquid Church. Many of them have become mentors to those in the next generation.

They still cry when they talk about our ministry merger, he said. They say, This is what we always dreamed of. And as a young church, we are so blessed to have these spiritually mature mothers and fathers alongside us.

The world, Lucas emphasized, is desperate to see generations come together and do something great for God.

When God brings generations together, its a win-win for the Kingdom, he said. There's a palpable hunger today for multigenerational ministry that unites young and old millennials, boomers, seniors, all generations around the person of Jesus.

Christians humbly crossing generational lines is vital for churches to not only survive but thrive in today's fluid culture.
Boris Johnson condemned Vladimir Putin over the 'brazen' Salisbury attack as the leaders held face-to-face talks today.

The PM warned the Russian president there is no prospect of normal relations between the countries until Moscow stops 'undermining the safety of our citizens and collective security'.

The bruising encounter between the pair, the first since Mr Johnson took over in Downing Street, came as they attended a summit in Berlin.

The gathering is to discuss the fate of Libya, where the UK has accused Russia and Turkey of causing chaos by pursuing a 'proxy' conflict.

Boris Johnson met Vladimir Putin for talk in Berlin today for the first since he took over in Downing Street

Boris Johnson (right) condemned Vladimir Putin (centre) over the 'brazen' Salisbury attack as the leaders held face-to-face talks today

A No10 spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister met President Putin in the margins of the Berlin Conference on Libya.

'He was clear there had been no change in the UK's position on Salisbury, which was a reckless use of chemical weapons and a brazen attempt to murder innocent people on UK soil. He said that such an attack must not be repeated.

'The Prime Minister said that they both had a responsibility to address issues of international security including Libya, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

'The Prime Minister said there will be no normalisation of our bilateral relationship until Russia ends the destabilising activity that threatens the UK and our allies and undermines the safety of our citizens and our collective security.'

The UK and its allies blamed Russia for the use of Novichok nerve agent against former agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March 2018.

There were a round of tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions as relations between the countries, which had not recovered from the Alexander Litvinenko killing in the UK in 2006, plunged into deep freeze.
By Express News Service

KURNOOL: The district administration has suspended boating operations across River Krishna in Kurnool district on Saturday. Thousands of people from various villages in Nandikotkur Assembly segment travel regularly by country boats to reach Kollapur and Wanaparthy in Telangana.

However, due to suspension of boating operations, devotees who wanted to witness the three-day Singotam Jatara beginning from Saturday, faced inconvenience. The jatara is being held on a grand note in Wanaparthy district of Telangana State.

Several residents in Atmakur, Nandikotkur, Pagidyala, Jupadu Bungalow, Pamulapadu and Kothapalli mandals take up this risky boat ride regularly. But for the first time in the history of the village, the police and revenue departments banned the boat operation and stopped travelling across the river in the view of recurring tragedies.

However, people went to Singotam Jatara by road using private and government vehicles. "It is a very long and tiring journey by road to reach the jatara venue," said G Venkateswarlu, a resident of Muchumarri. The three-day jatara attracts thousands of people from the two Telugu speaking states.

Nearly, 100 villagers from Nandikotkur Assembly constituency in Kurnool district used to visit the jatara during this period by crossing the river. The bus transportation is costly and tiresome as one has to travel a distance of more than 230 km to reach the spot.

Hence, people are demanding the construction of a bridge, which would help in transporting thousands of people in the two states and will extend its services to Prakasam district. Mucchumarri SI Srinivasulu said that people were going by private and government vehicles, including buses, lorries, jeeps, tractors and other transport to the jatara.

As per directions of higher officials, they stopped people from travelling by boats. We have deployed police security along with revenue staff at Murvakonda, Arlapadu and ghats, he added.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-19 15:18:54|Editor: Shi Yinglun

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SANAA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of Yemeni soldiers killed on Saturday in a ballistic missile attack by Houthi rebels in Yemen's northeastern province of Marib has risen to at least 70, local media said on Sunday.
Free bus ride for students, deployment of mohalla marshals for women security, a 24-hour supply of power and clean piped water to every household and reducing pollution to one-third were among 10 steps "guaranteed" by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday to woo the Delhi electorate.

Releasing 'Kejriwal ka guarantee card' ahead of February 8 Assembly election, the Delhi chief minister said schemes like free 200 units of electricity, 20,000 litres of water and healthcare services will continue for the next five years if the Aam Aadmi Party is voted to power again and also promised basic infrastructure in unauthorized colonies as well as "a pukka house for all slum dwellers".

"This is not a manifesto. It is much more than that. This guarantee card and the 10 promises listed in it will touch the lives of all the people of Delhi.

"A detailed manifesto will be released in the coming 7-10 days," he said.

Noting that people are affected by basic services like electricity, water, education, and healthcare, Kejriwal vowed to continue the existing subsidies in these sectors. "Opposition parties are spreading rumours that these services will be terminated by March 2020, after the elections. This is a lie.

"The manifesto will have a detailed set of promises addressing the issues of specific groups like advocates, teachers, students, workers etc. separately," he said.

"Those promises also will be implemented effectively in the coming five years as we fulfilled all our 70 promises made five years ago," Kejriwal added.

The AAP leader said Delhi will get a 24-hour electricity supply and 200 units will continue to be free as he listed the "10 guarantees of Kejriwal".

"Electricity will be distributed to all households through underground cables so that chaotic mess of overhead electricity cables will end," Kejriwal said.

Promising a 24-hour supply of clean piped water to every household in Delhi, he said, "When we came to power in 2015, only 58 per cent of Delhi had access to piped water. We improved it to 93 per cent.

"In the next five years, the rest seven per cent will also be added to the water network. I assure 24-hour clean drinking water straight from the tap to every household in Delhi."



"Also, the scheme of 20,000-litre free water to every household will continue," Kejriwal said.

The third assurance to the electorate is to provide quality education to all till graduation.

"Children born in Delhi will get quality education till graduation. We stopped the arbitrary fee hike in private schools in Delhi. We'll continue to facilitate the students in Delhi with loans for graduate studies. We'll build new schools wherever required.

"We will create a world-class education system for every child in Delhi. This, I take as our government's responsibility," he said.

He said the AAP government will provide cheap, accessible and better healthcare for all. "We have done a lot of work in the health sector in Delhi. We'll build more mohalla clinics, polyclinics, and hospitals.

"We are adding 15,000 beds in Delhi's government hospitals. Through modern hospitals and mohalla clinics, free and proper treatment will be given to all people in every household, to save the lives of people," Kejriwal said.

He also promised to provide the "largest and cheapest" transport system in Delhi.

"The transport system in Delhi will be made a robust one with over 11,000 buses and more than 500 kilometers of metro network.

"Apart from this, we'll develop last-mile connectivity to ensure woman safety. Along with women, free bus ride scheme will be extended to include students," he said.

Pledging to make Delhi pollution-free, Kejriwal said pollution will be reduced to one-third in the course of next five years.

He said making Delhi safe for women is one of the most important priorities of the AAP government.

"We have installed nearly 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras, and another 1.5 lakh will be installed in the next few months. The numbers don't matter, we'll install as many CCTV cameras, and street lights as needed in the city to ensure woman safety. Similar to bus marshals, Mohalla Marshals will be appointed," he said.

"Dust on roads will be removed using vacuum cleaners. With planting two crore trees, Green Delhi will be made. The Yamuna will be cleaned and made pollution-free. We promise that after five years, anyone will be able to take a dip in the Yamuna without fearing of diseases due to dirty water," Kejriwal said.

He also listed a slew of steps to make Delhi "clean and beautiful" including cleaning landfills.

"Delhi will shine after five years and become on par with international cities," Kejriwal said.

He promised to provide basic infrastructure in unauthorized colonies. "People in slums of Delhi live in extremely difficult situations. In order to give a dignified life to the slum dwellers, they will be provided with pakka houses near to the slums," Kejriwal assured.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NeNe Leakes and Kenya Moore are feuding on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The latter returned to the show for season 12 which is currently airing. We are at the midway point of the series and Bravo released a trailer for whats coming up ahead. Fans were able to witness the infamous scene where Leakes was about to spit on Moore. Following the video, viewers are siding with The New Normal alum.

NeNe Leakes and Kenya Moore | Noel Vasquez/Getty Images / Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Fans react to RHOA trailer

After the mid-season trailer for RHOA was released, Leakes took to Twitter to give her take on the drama.

She needs to be spit on [with] all the horrible things she has said and done, Leakes tweeted. From constantly starting sh** with me all season, lying on me, saying Im on drugs, and bipolar. Plus that recent tweet she posted, so enjoy the moment. I did the act but didnt spit. I wish I had though. No regrets.

Fans also took to social media to share their opinions. Although there were many that thought Leakes was in the wrong for going that low, many sided with her because they dont like Moore.

This made me love NeNe again, a fan said. I honestly tried to like Kenya but Im wanting her to shut the f*** up.

Kenya is an animal, Im glad NeNe is standing up to that monster, a viewer added. Ive been watching the show from day one and that woman has attacked everyone from their child, mother, husband, homewrecker, and grandmother. Shes an evil person with an ugly heart. She didnt spit on her though.

Honestly, after seeing that Kenya has a moment planned to embarrass Tanya, I dont care if NeNe spits on her, I actually welcome it. Kenya is a straight-up hater, another fan wrote.

Team NeNe, Kenya deserves everything youre giving her, a Twitter user commented. Shes too messy and nobody speaks on what she does to others.

Why are Kenya Moore and NeNe Leakes feuding?

Ahead of season 12 of RHOA, Moore stopped by The Wendy Williams Show. The shows host did not miss a beat and made the Bravo star spill the tea. Moore shared that her relationship with Leakes suffered after she learned she was pregnant.

I had a high-risk pregnancy, that I wanted my entire life, she never once called me, Moore told Williams. When I did show up, she never checked on my child. She never said, Is everything okay? when she learned I wasnt going to be on the show. She never said, Are you okay girl, do you need anything? And then when she did see me eight months pregnant, she called me a monster and said that my child was a buffalo and she was hurling insults.

Moore then talked about the spitting incident.

She tried to act like she was going to spit on me, Moore revealed saying that the OG of Atlanta was hawking up her saliva. You will see that on the show.

Leakes heard what Moore said on the show and called her friend Williams to clarify the situation. The former said she did the motion of spitting but she never actually proceeded.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.
She is the woman behind some of the top, big-budget dramas on our television screen at the moment, but multi-award winning Northern Ireland director Andrea Harkin says she is just a Derry Girl at heart.

The 38-year-old, who is still based in Northern Ireland but works in London, has been nominated for a Bafta, directed award-winning dramas on BBC and recently completed work as the lead director on highly-acclaimed The Trial of Christine Keeler for BBC One.

She says there are days she has to pinch herself but that moving in celebrity circles and working with some of the biggest names in acting is just all in a day's work.

"When I started off on this journey and I started film-making, I thought I might like to make little low budget feature films," she admits. "I never thought I'd be working on multi-million-pound prime-time drama. I didn't really see that. It has been really great."

Andrea has just finished work on The Trial of Christine Keeler, which has had viewers glued to their televisions for the revamped story of the Profumo affair told from a rare perspective, Christine's. She says it felt like activism telling the story a different way.

"It definitely felt special," she reveals.

"It felt like a big step up for me. There was a cast of 79, there were a lot of locations and the BBC told us that they wanted it to be their flagship Christmas show, so we had a bit of pressure to make this good. I worked on it for over a year, it was a long job but it was brilliant.

Expand Close Derry director, Andrea Harkin. On the set of The Trial of Christine Keeler / Facebook

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Whatsapp Derry director, Andrea Harkin. On the set of The Trial of Christine Keeler

"It's lovely to hear that people love it. I am really proud of it. It felt like a passion project for everyone involved. I think that was because the material was so good and we were doing a fresh take on Christine Keeler. She had been written off in the history books as this promiscuous tart, labelled a slut and a prostitute, and her story was always told from a male perspective.

"We wanted to tell it from a female one, and from Christine's perspective. Basically to show a bit more of her life and what she was going through, her back story and how she was manipulated.

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"For that reason it felt special because it felt like there was a little bit of activism, although it was subtle. It felt like there was a meaning and purpose behind it."

Andrea finds herself moving in circles with some of the top names in entertainment, yet she stresses it's all about getting the job done.

"On Come Home I had worked with Christopher Eccleston and that had been the first time I had worked with an actor of that profile," she says.

"And we had Sophie Cookston, James Norton, Emilia Fox and Ben Miles on Keeler. But there is no star power. You are doing a job together and you don't see them through that starstruck gaze, you just see them as collaborators.

"But of course it is exciting to meet them because I knew of their work and I thought highly of them. But on the day it is very much getting the job done. There is no star power getting in the way."

Andrea went to school with another famous Northern Irish daughter - Derry Girls writer Lisa McGee. The two were in the same A-level drama class and Andrea says she has always admired her skills.

"Lisa is brilliant and I am a huge fan of Derry Girls," she says.

Expand Close Derry Girls cast members Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Dylan Llewellyn, and creator Lisa McGee Lorcan Doherty / Facebook

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Whatsapp Derry Girls cast members Louisa Harland, Nicola Coughlan, Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Dylan Llewellyn, and creator Lisa McGee

"We were at Thornhill College together and a lot of the in-jokes felt like a trip down memory lane. Her short play won the North West Schools Competition back then and I remember cheering her on all the way. There was never any rivalry, because at school it felt very much like Lisa was the writer and I was the director but sadly we never collaborated as we were in different groups. I had lots of admiration for her back then and still do and I'm proud to say I'm a Derry Girl of that generation."

Andrea is now working on an exciting new series written by those behind the smash hit Black Mirror. Set in the future, it's about the concept that science can tell you who your soulmate is and how that wreaks havoc on various relationships and situations. She says she is sometimes in disbelief over what she has achieved.

"Me and the producers have had some really nice emails from the BBC to say that they are very, very happy with it and that is a pinch yourself moment," she says. "It's really rewarding to see that all the hard work paid off. I'm proud."
The Prisoner of War/Missing In Action Connecticut Forget-Me-Nots group based in New Milford will host the 35th annual bell-ringing ceremony Jan. 26 at noon.

The ceremony, which will take place at St. Francis Xavier parish center on Elm Street near the top of the Green in New Milford, will mark the 47th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Peace Agreement, a document to end active involvement in Vietnam at which time all prisoners of war would be returned within 90 days.
New evidence from Lev Parnas has Democrats more insistent than ever that the Senate impeachment trial include testimony from witnesses who did not appear before the House. Parnas joins the ranks of John Bolton and Mick Mulvaney as key witnesses the Dems say they need testimony from.

Even the Democrats cant deny that Parnas is a problematic witness. He appears to be a crook with a motive to lie.

However, Parnas has provided documents to support some of his claims. The documents cannot be dismissed on credibility grounds.

Before turning to the documents, lets take a moment to reflect that it was Rudy Giuliani who selected Parnas as a key operative in Ukraine, and President Trump who selected Giuliani to control administration policy towards Ukraine. Giving power to sleazes isnt an impeachable offense, but its a mark against the Trump administration.

What about the documents, though? To the extent they tend to show that President Trump, for a time, made important aspects of U.S. policy towards Ukraine contingent on an investigation of Joe and Hunter Biden (or at least on the announcement of such an investigation), the documents are cumulative. The evidence gathered by the House leaves no serious doubt that this is what Trump did.

It may be difficult, though, for Trumps defense team and some of his Senate defenders to make this argument. They steadfastly insist that, in the face of strong evidence to the contrary, that no aspect of Trumps Ukraine policy depended for even a minute on Ukraine investigating, or announcing it would investigate, the Bidens.

In any case, Parnass documents shed light on another matter  the removal of Marie Yovanovitch as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. The documents show that in early 2019 Yuri Lutsenko, then Ukraines chief prosecutor, was strongly urging the administration, via emails and texts to Parnas, to fire Yovanovitch. And they suggest that his cooperation in investigating the Bidens hinged on her removal.

In March, Parnas sent Lutsenko a series of questions about Yovanovitch and the Bidens  questions formulated by John Solomon of The Hill. Lutsenko didnt take kindly to the questions. He responded:

Im sorry, but this is all simply b***s**t. Im f*****g sick of all this. . .Im prepared to [thrash] your opponent. But you want more and more. Were over.

Parnas understood the opponent to be Joe Biden.

Phone records show that very soon thereafter, Parnas spoke with Solomon. A week after Lutsenkos angry email, Solomon published an article airing some of Lutsenkos grievances against Ambassador Yovanovitch.

Lutsenko remained less than fully satisfied. The next day, he texted Parnas:

Its just that if you dont make a decision about Madam, you are bringing into question all my allegations. Including about B.

Parnas understood Madam to be Yovanovitch, the decision to be her removal, and B to be Joe Biden.

Less than a week later, Lutsenko told Parnas that he had documents showing payments by Burisma, the company on whose board Hunter Biden sat, to a consulting firm for which Hunter Biden worked. Parnas asked, can you send them? Lutsenko responded, Ill give them to you through the new ambassador, adding a smiling emoticon.

A few weeks later, Yovanovitch was recalled from Ukraine.

Im not sufficiently conversant with the record regarding Yovanovitchs firing to say whether the evidence from Parnass documents adds meaningfully to the record or, as with his evidence on quid pro quo, is cumulative. But lets assume that this is meaningful new evidence. Does it warrant calling Parnas as a witness?

I say it doesnt because the conduct described in (or that can be inferred from) the documents doesnt remotely rise to the level of impeachable behavior.

Presidents have the right to remove ambassadors with or without cause. Indeed, ambassadors are routinely appointed and removed for partisan political purposes.

It is not an impeachable offense for a president to remove an ambassador because she has incurred the displeasure of someone in the country where she serves whom the administration regards as important (for whatever reason). Nor is it an impeachable offence for a president to remove an ambassador because she disagrees with the president about whether a former American officials conduct is worthy of being investigated (even if that former official is a political rival of the presidents).

Withholding, for political purposes, military aid appropriated by Congress to a nation under military attack is a serious matter (though in this case the aid was withheld only briefly, thus making the matter less serious). Recalling an ambassador, for whatever reason, is not very serious. It may be a matter for congressional oversight, but it is not even close to the stuff of an impeachment.

To summarize, Parnass testimony regarding quid pro quo is cumulative. His testimony regarding the removal of Marie Yovanovitch is irrelevant to impeachment.

Therefore, the Senate should not take Parnass testimony in this impeachment trial.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday met with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Washington DC and discussed a host of issues including the latest developments in the Middle East, the Afghan peace process, stability in South Asia and the Kashmir issue.

"In my meeting today with US Secretary of State @SecPompeo, discussed engagement between Pakistan and the US, its mutual benefit, along with it being a factor for stability in South Asia. Exchanged how stronger trade and investment is imp for an enduring partnership," he said. "The convergence between Pakistan and the US stands as a unique opp for peace in Afghanistan, ultimately a shared responsibility. Discussed recent developments in ME and reiterated Pakistan will continue to play a part for peace in the entire region. We are committed to security and stability," Qureshi said in a follow-up tweet. Qureshi also discussed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the top US diplomat.

On the other hand, Pompeo said he "enjoyed" meeting with Qureshi and talked about issues including Afghan peace process, "countering Iranian aggression" and bilateral trade relations. The State Department also issued a statement on the meeting between Qureshi and Pompeo. "Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi today in Washington, D.C. Secretary Pompeo and Minister Qureshi discussed a range of issues, including Iran's malign activities in the region, the importance of U.S.-Pakistan cooperation on the Afghan peace process, and building bilateral economic ties." State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said.

READ| Pakistan-Taliban meet irks Afghanistan, questions legitimacy of meet

Qureshi is on a two-day visit to the US in a bid to support efforts for de-escalating and resolving tensions in the Middle East through political and diplomatic means. The Pakistan Foreign Minister is undertaking the visit under the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan in the wake of simmering tensions in the region following the killing of top Iranian General Qassem Soleimani by the US in Iraq earlier this month.

Pakistan's balancing Act between Iran-US

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had called for "maximum restraint" and accentuated the need to talk to resolve the latest flare-up in the Iran-US tensions. The Pakistani Foreign Officer released the statement after Qureshi's meeting with the top Iranian leadership. On directions of Imran Khan, Pakistan Foreign Minister had even embarked on his two-day visit last week to Iran and Saudi Arabia to defuse the ongoing tensions in the region following the killing of Iran's Commander Qasem Soleimani in a US-led drone strike in Baghdad.

Pakistan's Army had asserted that the country, that shares its border with Iran, will not allow its soil to be used against anyone. In the 1980s Pakistan's soil was used against the Soviet Union by the US. In a similar proclamation, Imran Khan said that Pakistan will not be a party to any regional conflict, and would rather make a peacemarker's role. Pakistan's first response over the issue did not come from the government, but unsurprisingly, from the Pakistani military.

READ| Pakistan claims 'discussed India's Hindutva agenda' with US, Pompeo only mentions Iran

READ| Iran strikes US base in Iraq: World divided, oil prices surge; everything you need to know

(with ANI inputs)
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Some protestors tried to drown out Rep. Robin Smith at the Women's Rally at Miller Park on a wet Saturday.

The Hixson Republican mainly spoke about a Chattanoogan named Abby Crawford Milton, who in 1920 played a pivotal role in securing women the right to vote. Through protest and lobbying, Ms. Milton convinced enough Tennesseans to support womens suffrage, thus making the Volunteer State the essential 36th state needed to ratify the 19th amendment. And on the Centennial celebration of this momentous occasion, a new generation of protesters voiced their belief that there was still progress that needed to be made.

Shes anti-woman, and she just recently voted for the bill that would keep LGBT parents from adopting, said a protester holding a sign that read Shame on Robin Smith. Shes been a constant racist, homophobe, and xenophobe. Shes very anti-choice and sponsored two anti-choice bills, and she does not belong at a womens march event.



The 2020s womens march was the subject of controversy in the weeks leading up to it. Originally conceived as a way to shed light on the need to fight for womens rights, this years edition became a celebration of the past. This change was not well-received from some quarters, as many of the featured speakers possessed views and voting records that many believed went against the original spirit of the march.



Rep. Smith, a conservative representative in the Tennessee legislature, was announced earlier as one of the featured speakers at the event. When she came up to speak, a group of protesters shouted vociferously, drowning out whatever she had to say. After a few moments, the shouting became more intermittent, allowing her to talk about Abby Crawford Miltons role in the womens suffrage movement.

This is a wonderful event organized by ladies who are committed to celebrating our states history, as we are in the centennial of the womans suffrage events, said Rep. Smith, who seemed to ignore the shouting from the protesters.

They have a message and they have a voice, said Rep. Smith about the protesters at the park. Just like in 1920, there were women for suffrage and women against suffrage, and today its no different. But today were all standing for womens suffrage, and its a great day.

Throughout the cold and rainy afternoon, different speakers took the stage to celebrate the occasion. One of these speakers represented Girls Inc. of Chattanooga, a nonprofit devoted to empowering young women.

Our mission is to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold, and to teach them to be independent, educated, and healthy, said director of program operations Toccora Johnson. We are here because we know that one day our girls will be in those positions to be politicians, to be CEOs, to be entrepreneurs. Were here to let them know they do have a city that supports them and the right to be themselves.

Sprinkled throughout the protesters and political activists were an assortment of neutral observers. One young woman opined, I was surprised at how seriously people were protesting, especially after they were just listening to a poem about listening to people with diverse opinions. I just hope to see positivity and talking about things that matter.

Another woman, holding her daughter close as she spoke, brought up her disapproval of Robin Smiths policies, who by this point had left the soggy field in front of the looming federal courthouse. She said she was there to support womens rights, and did not believe Rep. Smith did a good job of doing that in office.



I dont think the GOP is supporting womens rights at all. I think they need to support the Violence Against Women act and the equal rights amendment act, said the mother, and I dont like what is happening with womens health. Bill Lee is about to sign a bill that will outlaw abortion in the state of Tennessee, and I dont like that at all. If Robin Smith supports that, then shes not supporting my rights as a woman or the rights of my daughter.



Councilwoman Carol Berz drew a parallel to the suffragettes of 1920 to the protesters of 2020 when asked about her thoughts on the protesters, saying, Thats what democracy is about. If youre schooled in the suffrage movement, then you know there were women on both sides (of the political spectrum) who did the same thing. Thats what freedom of speech is about, so its fine to have them here.



After getting a question about how well-behaved the protesters were, Councilwoman Berz had a succinct answer.



Theres a saying that well-behaved women probably wont succeed. So the bottom line is, theyre exercising their freedom of speech, and thats fine.


The father of a tragic soldier who served alongside Prince Harry has voiced his deep sorrow at the severing of the royals military connections.

Derek Hunt, whose son Nathan was deployed with the duke to Afghanistan and later took his own life after suffering post-traumatic stress disorder, said many in the Armed Forces were feeling let down.

Mr Hunt said: I am disappointed. If hes giving up his Armed Forces patronages then its a bitter blow. And I think theres a lot of disappointment out there.

Warrant Officer Nathan Hunt (front right) with Prince Harry (back centre) and other members of their battle group on deployment in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan in 2008

Ive been looking at groups for the military and ex-military on Facebook and people are saying How can he do it?. The majority feel a bit let down.

It feels particularly close to us because we met Prince Harry and he sent a letter of condolence to us. Personally, my wife and I feel deep sorrow over this.

His son, a soldier who protected Harry on the front line in Helmand, was a Warrant Officer class 2 in the Royal Engineers, attached to the Household Cavalry.

He was mentioned in media reports from Afghanistan for saving his comrades by finding improvised explosive devices in 2008. Nathan was just 39 when he died two years ago.

Mr Hunts view was echoed by Major General Patrick Cordingley, who commanded the Desert Rats during the Gulf War in 1991.

Prince Harry running out from the VHR (very high readiness) tent to scramble to his Apache helicopter with fellow pilots at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province

Im very sad that this is the decision because he was a popular member of the Armed Forces, he said.

Collectively people in the Armed Forces world will feel its a shame  but I do understand the reasons behind it.

Lord West, former First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff who also served as a Labour security minister, said he was disappointed Harry was stepping back from military roles.

The whole situation is extremely sad. It is unfortunate, after his splendid service, that he will now no longer be involved with the military in the UK, he said.

The official statement released by Buckingham Palace over the weekend made it clear that Harry would be required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments.

The duke will retain his involvement as patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, one of his proudest achievements. But the other military-linked connections will most likely be severed including his role as the Royal Marines Captain General, the ceremonial head of the Corps.

He was appointed to the role in December 2017 by the Queen, succeeding his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh who held the position for more than 64 years. Harrys appointment as Captain General was regarded as a high honour  previous holders were the Queens father King George VI, who held the role for 15 years, and King George V, for 35 years.

The prince is also Commodore-in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command, and Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Honington, in Suffolk.

Retired Colonel Tim Collins, who is best known for his inspirational eve-of-war speech to his men in the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, in 2003, said Harrys move was regrettable but inevitable. I think he has to give it up because it goes with the territory. While its regrettable, its his choice and there is no alternative.

His happiness comes before anything else. Hes a private individual and that has to be respected, Col Collins said.

Major Charles Heyman, defence analyst and former editor of Janes World Armies, said he did not think Harrys departure would affect his standing among the ex-military.

Hes going to lose his ceremonial titles with three different organisations but I dont think that matters very much, he said. They will find another royal to slot in.

His departure is devastating for the armed forces: Royal biographer A.N. WILSON fears Prince Harry's decision to step away from the Royal family, severing his military ties, will have far-reaching consequences

No one, least of all Prince Harry himself, would claim he is an intellectual. But he is a decent, amiable and courageous man. And for that our Armed Forces welcomed him with open arms.

As soon as Harry entered Sandhurst military academy in May 2005, he became one of their own.

When he was commissioned a year later as an officer in the Household Cavalrys Blues and Royals, it was clear that here was a young man who had found his place and was thriving.

Harrys particular set of gifts  not just the fact that he has served with distinction, but also his immense capacity for empathy and sense of fun  will be hard to replace. His absence will be particularly felt in the oft-neglected area of mental health. He is pictured at a Green Beret presentation in February last year

Everyone who served with him during his ten years as a soldier  not least those who encountered him on his two tours in Afghanistan, as a co-pilot gunner flying Apache helicopters  tells a similar story of good humour, gallantry and commitment to comrades.

All of which makes his departure from the royal frontline particularly disappointing for his former brothers-in-arms, many of whom no doubt believe that Harry isnt just leaving his family behind, but them too.

Last week, an ex-captain in the Royal Marines broke ranks to criticise the princes decision.

James Glancy, who won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross following three campaigns in Afghanistan, praised Harry for his work with the military  but added that his behaviour over the past year was not appropriate for the Royal Marines Captain General  a position he took over from Prince Philip, and must now relinquish.

Everyone who served with him during his ten years as a soldier  not least those who encountered him on his two tours in Afghanistan, as a co-pilot gunner flying Apache helicopters  tells a similar story of good humour, gallantry and commitment to comrades

It is not easy for those of us who havent served in the Forces to appreciate the importance of the Royal Familys involvement.

Philip, who saved countless lives in the Second World War as a first lieutenant in the Royal Navy, was an avid supporter of his regiments.

He would turn up in far-flung barracks out of the blue to muck in, cheering the troops up with his sharp jokes, befriending them and their families.

Harrys willingness to discuss his demons, as a child haunted by the loss of his mother, resonated with many in the Forces who felt ill-served by the Ministry of Defence after they returned to civilian life. Now Harry is giving it all up. Harry and Princess Diana are pictured together at Thorpe Park in 1992

Many, many more hours were spent doing this than the public ever witnessed.

Even aged 85, after a whistle-stop tour of Baltic states with the Queen, the prince insisted on flying off to the Iraqi port of Basra for a surprise visit to the Royal Hussars.

It was boiling hot, but he dressed in combat gear.

It was good to see him here in these hard conditions, taking the time to see us, said one 22-year-old lance corporal at the time.

We civilians, perfectly properly, sometimes wonder whether we need a monarchy. But in the military, such sentiments are regarded as beyond the pale.

At no time is this more evident than every November, when the Queen and the Royal Family gather at the Cenotaph in Whitehall to honour the glorious dead.

For over a century, the connection has been much more than something symbolic.

Queen Victorias father, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, was a serving soldier  mostly in Canada, as it happens  and she personally devised the idea of the Victoria Cross, with its simple motto: For Valour.

Ever since, our sovereigns and their children have not merely supported the armed services in a ceremonial way, but have joined them.

Like the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queens father was a respected officer in the Navy.

Prince Charles served on three battleships before becoming a qualified helicopter pilot and joining the 845 Naval Air Squadron.

For all of Prince Andrews failings, no one can take away the fact that he served with bravery as a helicopter pilot in the Falklands.

We civilians, perfectly properly, sometimes wonder whether we need a monarchy. But in the military, such sentiments are regarded as beyond the pale. At no time is this more evident than every November, when the Queen and the Royal Family gather at the Cenotaph in Whitehall to honour the glorious dead

Now that the Duke of York is to withdraw from public life  he remains Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, but it is only a matter of time before someone decides thats no longer sustainable  Harrys departure is twice as devastating for the Armed Forces.

As his father and his brother have become, inevitably, more and more caught up in the constitutional role of the hereditary monarchy, there was ample scope for Harrys relationship with the troops to flourish.

Indeed his flair, as a veteran himself, for working with the Armed Forces was so touchingly demonstrated by his creation of, and commitment to, the Invictus Games for wounded, injured or sick personnel. (The fifth Games will be held in The Hague in May.)

Philip, who saved countless lives in the Second World War as a first lieutenant in the Royal Navy, was an avid supporter of his regiments. He would turn up in far-flung barracks out of the blue to muck in, cheering the troops up with his sharp jokes, befriending them and their families

In the coming months, other members of the Royal Family will of course step up.

But Harrys particular set of gifts  not just the fact that he has served with distinction, but also his immense capacity for empathy and sense of fun  will be hard to replace.

His absence will be particularly felt in the oft-neglected area of mental health. It is a testament to Harrys devoted campaigning that we are increasingly conscious of the psychological burden we lay on our servicemen and women.

Prince Charles is no doubt sympathetic to this cause at heart. Likewise the Dukes of Kent and Gloucester, as well Prince William.

But Harrys willingness to discuss his demons, as a child haunted by the loss of his mother, resonated with many in the Forces who felt ill-served by the Ministry of Defence after they returned to civilian life.

Now Harry is giving it all up. The question on the lips of many former comrades is: for the sake of what exactly?

For me, his appearance at Buckingham Palace last week to host the draw for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup was particularly poignant.

There he was, grinning, laughing and at ease, demonstrating just how adept he is at this sort of thing  cheering us all up.

For any members of the armed services watching, it was a heartbreaking reminder of what they have now lost.
Maharashtra minister Rajesh Tope on Sunday said that 6,500 'Health Wellness Centres' will be set up in the state by the end of March this year.

He said that all the sub-centres, primary health centres and public primary health centres will be converted into 'Health Wellness Centers' (Arogyavardhini Kendra) step by step for taking the preventive and persuasive health services to the common people in the state.

"The Maharashtra government's emphasis is on strengthening the primary health facilities. As many as 6,500 health wellness centers will be established in the state by the end of March," the Health Minister told reporters.

Tope said that degree holders from Ayurveda, Unani and nursing streams will be appointed as community health officers at these centres.

Female health servants, multi-purpose health service providers and accredited social health activist (ASHA) workers will be deployed for strengthening the health services at the wellness centers.

He added that that those selected as community health officers will undergo a training for six months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth leaves St. Mary the Virgin church in Hillington, near royal Sandringham estate, in Norfolk, Britain January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Chris Radburn

The British Queen has made her first appearance following the announcement that Harry and Meghan will be stepping back from the royal family.

The Duke of York joined the Queen at St Mary the Virgin church in Norfolk to attend a Sunday service.

Expand Close Queen Elizabeth II leaves after attending a morning church service at St Mary the Virgin church in Hillington, Norfolk. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 19, 2020. Joe Giddens/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Queen Elizabeth II leaves after attending a morning church service at St Mary the Virgin church in Hillington, Norfolk. PA Photo. Picture date: Sunday January 19, 2020. Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Wearing a grey houndstooth checked dress and matching coat with a grey hat, the monarch smiled broadly as she arrived at the church in Hillington close to her estate.

In a statement issued after royal family talks concluded on Saturday, the Sussexes announced they will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring, no longer use HRH and will repay the taxpayers' millions spent on their Berkshire home.

Harry and Meghan said that under the agreement they understood they were "required" to step back from royal duties.

The Queen said she recognised the "challenges" the couple had faced over the past year, and added: "I want to thank them for all their dedicated work across this country, the Commonwealth and beyond, and am particularly proud of how Meghan has so quickly become one of the family.

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"It is my whole family's hope that today's agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life."

Karen Astoe, 55, from Dudley in the West Midlands, came to see the Queen attend church.

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She said the monarch appeared in high spirits despite Harry and Meghan's decision.

"She'll just take it in her stride won't she, she'll be fine," said Ms Astoe. "She looked very happy."

Expand Close Members of the public look at Queen Elizabeth II's car outside St Mary the Virgin, Hillington, Norfolk as she attends a Sunday church service. Joe Giddens/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Members of the public look at Queen Elizabeth II's car outside St Mary the Virgin, Hillington, Norfolk as she attends a Sunday church service. Joe Giddens/PA Wire

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Royal fan Rosie Viles, from nearby Hunstanton, came to the church with her six-year-old granddaughter Imogen Viles.

She said the issue of Megxit, as it has been dubbed by the media, would have been "stressful" for the Queen, "but she sorts it all out, always does".

"It's not a surprise what has happened," said Mrs Viles. "It's sad but it's his decision.

"He perhaps thinks of his mum and doesn't want the pressure for his wife and child.

Expand Close Britain's Queen Elizabeth leaves St. Mary the Virgin church in Hillington, near royal Sandringham estate, in Norfolk, Britain January 19, 2020. REUTERS/Chris Radburn / Facebook

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"I think that now they've agreed to pay back Frogmore I think a lot of people will appreciate that."

Harry and Meghan said they would like to repay the 2.4 million of taxpayers' money that was spent on refurbishing their grade-II listed home near Windsor Castle, Frogmore Cottage.

Well-wisher Alex Wilson, 42, of Kettering, Northamptonshire, stood near to the church with his family.

He said news that the Sussexes were leaving the monarchy must have been "stressful, difficult, upsetting" for the Queen, adding: "She's a great lady."

"It was what they wanted wasn't it, so it was a good outcome if that's what they wanted, they've got to be allowed to go and do their own thing," he said.

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The announcements from the young royals have raised fresh questions about Andrew's ongoing role in the royal family.

The Duke of York stepped down from royal duties in November following his disastrous Newsnight interview over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

However, Andrew has so-far kept his HRH title.

He reportedly faces changes to his security in the wake of Harry and Meghan's decision to leave the monarchy and split their time between the UK and Canada.

The Evening Standard reported the Home Office is recommending a major downgrade of security for the Queen's second son after a Scotland Yard review.

Harry and Meghan, like Andrew, have personal protection officers from the Metropolitan Police, paid for by taxpayers.

But the change in roles for the Sussexes, relocation and removal of public funds, meant their security and its funding formed part of the crisis talks.

After the allegations first surfaced in August, Andrew's TV interview sealed his fate when he was accused of lacking empathy for Epstein's victims and of failing to show regret over his friendship with the disgraced financier.

Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked by Epstein, gave an interview to BBC Panorama and said she was left "horrified and ashamed" after an alleged sexual encounter with Andrew in London in 2001.

Since the interview, the duke has resigned a large number of his major patronages.
TWELVE months ago Thomas Foley braved crocodile and snake infested flood waters to save animals.

The Lisnagry man was hailed as a hero in Australia for his role in rescuing pets during the floods in North Queensland.

Thousands of homes, including theirs, was flooded by the unprecedented rainfall.

A year on, what they wouldnt give for a deluge as the country burns.

Australia is known as the land of extremes for a reason. NASA said on Tuesday evening that the smoke coming off the Australian fires has circumnavigated the Earth. Man, beast and nature has suffered incalculable losses.

Thomas said it brings a tear to your eye when people talk about their loved ones who have lost, literally, everything.

Everywhere you go people are talking about it. Businesses from around the country are pledging to help. Our company Prestige HOPE [weddings, birthday parties and corporate event planning] is donating 10% of all sales for January and February to Victorian animal rehab groups, but it never feels enough.

My fiancee Emma, who is Australian, has to turn the TV off or close down the computer when the devastation comes on. Its unfathomable, a burning wasteland, said Thomas, who played rugby with UL Bohemian RFC.

He says they are fortunate enough to be in North Queensland and away from the majority of the catastrophic fires.

However, the memory of a natural disaster is very fresh, so our hearts are constantly with them. It is always hot this time of year, however with the gathering of forest undergrowth year after year and restrictions on land management, it has laid the perfect foundation for one massive bonfire and its heartbreaking to see.

Those who know the land best, now have it taken from them, because they were not allowed to manage it correctly as farmers have done for hundreds of years and the Aboriginal people have done for over 40,000 years, said Thomas.

As well as loss of life and property, the loss of animals is devastating, he says.

Over half a billion animals are gone and that number will rise. Many of those animals are unique to the continent of Australia. We just hope that the correct programmes are given the funds to replenish the populations, mainly the koala who is on the brink of extinction and a part of the Australian identity, said Thomas.

The Australian community has rallied, more than he has ever seen before.

The general public has raised in excess of $45 million, along with celebrities from around the world who have pledged millions. Aussie people are very welcoming and easy to get along with, so its no surprise the world wants to help, said Thomas.

He says people from around the world and County Limerick can help.

Visit a rural town when you come to Australia. Dont be distracted by the big draws, some of the nicest, most humble and welcoming people, the true heart of Australia, live in remote towns. The pints are also unreal, so stop by, spend some money and bring the heart of Australia back to life, said Thomas.

It must seem like an eternity ago when he and Emma had to flee their Townsville home as the water was rising fast. Their street was turned into a river.

After getting safely out, Thomas and a friend headed back, got into a canoe and fought through strong currents to save animals. Snakes and crocodiles were hiding below.

Amazingly, that was easy compared to rescuing wild and farm animals in the fires. Sadly they have been left to paddle their own canoe.
Ghana braids have become the majority's favourite among African women in this 21st century. Many celebrities have been rocking this hair, thus making many girls and women aspire to have the same style on their heads. Ghana braids are also known as cornrows, and they are a perfect choice for any woman who is looking to wear a protective hairstyle.

Image: instagram.com @babystyles

Source: UGC

The origin of Ghana weaves dates back to the colonial period when they were used to honour and signify various things such as age, religion, social status and the ethnicity of the woman. During those days, African women were very creative in making these weaves, and they could come up with different styles and hair updos.

Although the masters wanted the slaves to shave or straighten their hair, it didn't matter much as during the slave trade all the slaves were sold with their hair cut. Luckily, the weaves were able to stand the test of time and survive to this day.

Ghana braids designs

What are Ghana braids? These are protective styles for African women with curly hair, and they are also known as the banana weaves, cornrows or straight-backs. The pictures of Ghana braids styles will give you more insight on this trending style. There are numerous Ghana braids styles that you could try out on your hair if you want to look amazing. Here is a list of the various Ghana braids hairstyle that you can try out.

1. All-back cornrows

Even though there are several Ghana braid styles suitable for different women, the all-back cornrow design remains to be fashionable and very stylish. It is one of the particularly great Ghana braids for round faces as it helps define the face while making you look smart.

2. Zigzag weaves

Image: instagram.com @cutestyles

Source: UGC

If you want to try out Ghana braids on natural hair, you should try the curved design. It looks stylish, neat and a bit rebellious, thus making it stand out. If you want to express your kids individuality, this a perfect Ghana braids updos option for you.

3. Bulky weaves with a low bun

Ghana braids cornrows can be elegantly made by grabbing them in a low bun at the back of the head. You can complement this style by wearing large loop earrings. This is one of the classiest Ghana braids ponytail thats never out of fashion.

4. Ghana braids with bun

Image: instagram.com @kidsstyle

Source: UGC

This is one of the smartest looking Ghana braids for kids that you should try on your daughter. You can add some coloured beads to make the final look sassier.

5. Colourful braids

Whether you want you weaves fancy or just classic, you can twist the look by adding some colour to it. Ghana braids with colour will help in adding more personality to your kid's look.

6. Ghana weaves with two buns

Image: instagram.com @simpleplaits

Source: UGC

Ghana braids to the side are a perfect look for younger girls, and it can be mixed with several other styles such as zigzags to make it a bit complicated. Whether you opt to go for the pencil braids or jumbo Ghana braids, your child will still look adorable with two buns.

READ ALSO: Ghana fashion styles: Trending in 2020 (photos)

How to do Ghana braids

Are you desperately in need of wearing beautiful and unique hair yet you dont know how to do Ghana braids on yourself? Do Ghana braids pictures make you wish you had that style on your head? Here are step by step Ghana braids tutorial that will make you a prowess after doing regular practices.

Requirements

Hair pick

Hairpins

Hair cutting scissors

A package of synthetic weaving hair

Hair gel

Tooth comb

Step by step procedure to do different Ghana braids hairstyles

Image: instagram.com @cutestyles

Source: UGC

1. The first and obvious step to weaving your hair is washing it clean using shampoo and conditioner.

2. Dry the hair entirely, and one way to ensure that its scorched is by moving your fingers through it without straining.

3. The third step is parting your hair into small sections according to your preference. The sections should be equal so that the final look will be a presentable one. You can use the hairpins to hold the parts in place.

4. Add some hair gel at the root of each section before you begin weaving.

5. Take a little piece of your natural hair and start weaving it with your first weave.

6. Add some synthetic hair beneath your natural hair to make it appear more identical to your real one to add more volume to the hair.

7. Keep weaving until you attain your desired length. While adding the synthetic hair makes sure not to add too much as it will make the hair look unnatural.

8. Repeat this procedure for all the other parted sections.

9. With the use of scissors, cut off the stragglers to make the appearance neat.

Although Ghana braids pics of tightly done hair can be deceiving, always remember to be gentle with your hair to avoid causing damage to the scalp. Similarly, do not weave or comb the hair too roughly and strongly to prevent the same effect as well.

After learning this procedure, one may ask, how many packs of hair for Ghana braids will I need? It depends on the style you want to create as well as the bulkiness you wish to achieve. More pack of hair will make it bulkier while few packs will make it less cumbersome. Others might ask how long do Ghana braids last? Similarly, this depends on the style you are wearing as well as the amount of care you give to your head.

You have become well acquainted with the various Ghana braids styles available for your kids. Although they are the latest trends among women, you can opt to personalize them to your liking and preference.

READ ALSO: Fashion Designers in Ghana: Top 10 in 2020

Source: YEN.com.gh
I grew up in northern Oakland County and I dont drive a car. It is wrong for township supervisors to say there is no benefit to public transit. I find it personally offensive that they vehemently oppose even placing a regional transit plan up for a vote.

I am a life-long wheelchair user who has lived in multiple north Oakland communities that are public transportation deserts. For anyone who cant drive, cant afford to drive, or just doesnt want to drive, access to public transportation is most certainly a benefit. One that I missed out on and has cost me and countless others dearly.

Cars are expensive. Wheelchair accessible vehicles cost upwards of $50,000, so many wheelchair-users cant afford their own vehicle. Add to that people who cant drive because of vision impairments or physical injuries, because they are too young, or because theyve aged out of driving (an ever-increasing population). So how can public transportation provide no benefit when one third of society doesnt drive?

While most northern communities are unlikely to have fixed bus routes, we would still benefit. Im originally from the Clarkston/Independence Township area, just a 10-minute commute from Great Lakes Crossing. If regionwide transit had been available while I was going to school for my Masters degree at Wayne State University, I could have taken the Independence Township seniors bus, which only travels outside the boundaries of the city to go to Meijer or Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, to travel the rest of the way to school by bus.

With regionwide transit, I wouldnt have had to stress over not being able to graduate on time when my vans lift broke down during my last semester. By the grace of some very generous friends who lifted me in and out of their own vehicles and pushed me around in my manual wheelchair for those few miserable weeks, I did finish school and earned my degree. However, my van permanently broke down less than 6 months later, leaving me stranded for months until I was able to raise enough money through fundraising to buy another used vehicle.

Im far from the only person in this situation. For both people with disabilities and for our communities growing senior population, isolation and guilt of having to depend on friends and loved ones for rides are major problems for anyone who is unable to drive. It impacts peoples quality of life. Research shows that seniors without transit who no longer drive make 15% fewer trips to the doctor, 59% fewer trips to shop or eat out, and 65% fewer trips to visit friends and family, than drivers of them same age.

Transit isnt just important for seniors. The old-fashioned idea that being a car-owner means freedom of the open road just doesnt apply to younger generations anymore. Even if older generations like their auto-centric rural lifestyles, most younger people want the choice of a more urban setting where a car is an option, not an expensive requirement. Even if you never personally use transit, its a lot easier to visit your kids and grandkids in Royal Oak or Detroit than in Chicago or DC.

People who drive can benefit from transit too. My father is a successful manager for a successful auto parts manufacturing company and loves his car. He has to drive to Southfield from Clarkston every day to work and would gladly take a bus to work to not have to fight through I-75 traffic. If an able-bodied baby boomer from a northern Oakland County township feels that way, its just absurd to make a blanket statement that there is absolutely no benefit of regional transit to Oakland County.

I think itd just be fair to give Oakland County residents another chance to vote on it.

Kristen Milefchik, 38, is a lifetime wheelchair user and disability and transit advocate.

https://www.theoaklandpress.com/news/oakland-county-s-township-supervisors-say-they-re-against-regional/article_83d358c2-36f2-11ea-a8c0-c3d81118f4c9.html
President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that the closure of land borders in Nigeria is to strengthen the countrys security and economic.

Speaking via a statement which was released by his spokesman, Femi Adesina shortly after meeting with Nigerians in the UK on Saturday, he added that reports that say borders were closed so as to punish Nigerias neighbour is not true.

He noted that Nigerian farmers have been celebrating the closure which has drastically reduced smuggling of agricultural produce as well as arms and ammunition, the statement read.

Read Also: Buhari Orders Malami To Handle Case Of Nigerian Cleric On Deathrow In Saudi Arabia

President Buhari attributed the countrys virtual food security position to the very good last three rainy seasons; the federal governments reduction in the price of fertilisers by 50 per cent and the presidential directive to the Central Bank of Nigeria not to give foreign exchange for food imports thereby saving the nations billions of naira.

Commending Nigerians in the Diaspora for their huge home remittances  more than $25 billion in 2018  the President also lauded their individual performances in their various fields of expertise.

Explaining the achievements of his administration in implementing its three-point campaign agenda by focusing on fixing the economy, providing security and tackling corruption, the President said Nigerias huge, vibrant youth population have been encouraged to go back to the farms and are living decent and respectable lifestyles.

On security, he said it is common sense that you can only run the country if it is secured, adding that the country has not done badly in the northeast.

The president added that his administration has now focused on retrieving stolen fixed assets and returning the proceeds of the sale to the treasury through the treasury single account (TSA) so that nobody can return them back to the convicts even after his tenure.
The Oscars red carpet could become a breakfast TV battleground this year.

While Nine's revamped Today show is pulling out all the stops to take down Sunrise, Channel Seven has enjoyed a big win by securing official telecast rights for the Academy Awards this year.

The event will be covered by Sunrise and will likely see Samantha Armytage reporting from the red carpet.

The ultimate revenge? Channel Seven has been named the official broadcaster for the Oscars - amid rumours Sunrise could bar its rivals at Today from the red carpet. Pictured: Sunrise producer Michael Pell and host Samantha Armytage

On Sunday, The Sydney Morning Herald speculated that reporters from Seven's rival networks could be strategically barred from the red carpet.

When quizzed on whether Seven will be excluding other networks from the ruby pile, Sunrise producer Michael Pell remained tight-lipped.

'We're really excited to be the official broadcaster this year. The Oscars are a perfect fit for Sunrise and we'll be unveiling our full coverage plans very soon,' he said.

Competition: While Nine's revamped Today show is pulling out all the stops to take down Sunrise, Channel Seven has enjoyed a big win. Pictured: Today's Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon

In 2018, Sunrise's Edwina Bartholomew was humiliatingly forced to report on the Oscars from a nearby shopping centre rooftop.

Channel Nine, who were the telecast partner that year, denied being behind this.

Wearing a glamorous black frock atop the Hollywood and Highland complex in 2018, Edwina joked with fans during a live cross: 'My invitation was lost in the mail!'

Snubbed! In 2018, Sunrise's Edwina Bartholomew was humiliatingly forced to report on the Oscars from a nearby shopping centre rooftop (pictured)

She added: 'We don't have the broadcast rights to the Oscars. Still plenty to see!'

Nine Network's director of news and current affairs, Darren Wick, told TV Tonight at the time that his view on the issue was 'pretty black and white'.

He said: 'They're not a rights-holder. In the words of Barnaby Joyce, 'Bugger off.''

All dressed up with nowhere to go? 'We don't have the broadcast rights to the Oscars. Still plenty to see,' said Edwina, while dressed up in a ball gown and reporting live from across the street

Darren went on to say that as they were the exclusive rights holders, Nine should have 'premium access on the red carpet'.

'If we're in a position to block the other guys, fine. Do it,' he added.

This year's show will air on Monday, February 10, accommodating for the time difference with LA, where the ceremony will take place on Sunday, February 9.

Brooke Boney is expected to fly to LA to cover the event for Nine's Today show, while Angela Bishop will be there for Channel 10's Studio 10.

Flying over: Brooke Boney (pictured) is expected to fly to LA to cover the event for Nine's Today show
Scheffler had a 66 on the adjacent Stadium Course, also the site of the final round Sunday.

"It's a tough course. It's a good track," Scheffler said. "If you're not on your game, you can really struggle. There's a lot of trouble out there, so you've got to hit a lot of quality shots to keep the ball in play. Good test."

Fowler, tied with Scheffler for the second-round lead, overcame two front-nine bogeys to shoot 70 at the Stadium Course. At the event for the first time in six years, he played the Pete Dye-designed course for the time Saturday after only taking a quick scouting drive early in the week.

"I was actually surprised by the green speed early on," Fowler said. "They were a bit slower than what I've seen the last two days, so adjusting to that, really didn't have anything go in early on until the ninth hole. But I thought I did a good job of hanging around, not getting too far behind."

Ryan Moore and Chase Seiffert were five strokes back at 16 under. Moore had a 67 at the Stadium, and Seiffert shot 67 on the Nicklaus layout.

Tournament host Phil Mickelson missed the cut by six strokes. The 49-year-old Hall of Famer finished three rounds at 3 under. He eagled the par-5 16th on Saturday in a 71.

Landry lost a playoff to Jon Rahm two years ago at PGA West. The 32-year-old Texan has found something in the desert after missing the cuts in seven of eight starts this season.

"It's been a heck of a week so far with my ball-striking," Landy said. "Just kind of one day's ball-striking, the next day's putting and putting's just been here all week. So, we'll just keep riding it out and see what happens tomorrow."

The 2018 Valero Texas Open winner closed with a 12-foot par save on the par-4 ninth after bogeying the par-3 eighth. He birdied six of his first eight holes.

Scheffler got a break on his final hole, escaping with par on the par-4 18th after his drive bounced out of the rocks along the left-side water and into the fairway.
They are two of Britain's most accomplished actors, with hundreds of films and awards between them.

And Helen Mirren, 74, and Jim Broadbent, 70, have joined forces for their next big screen adventure as they were spotted filming the first scenes for The Duke in Bradford, Yorkshire on Sunday.

The pair, who have together clocked up an astonishing 96 years in the film business, donned their woollies as they walked between sets for the upcoming heist comedy.

Acting royalty: Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent join forces for their next big screen adventure as they were spotted filming the first scenes for The Duke in Bradford, Yorkshire on Sunday

Screen legends: The pair, who have together clocked up an astonishing 96 years in the film business, donned their woollies as they walked between sets for the upcoming heist comedy

Helen wore a large green wool blend coat with fur-lined boots to combat the chilly weather.

Looking every bit a 1960s woman, she had a grey locks permed underneath a brown felt hat.

But soon after, the Academy Award-winner was being hoisted onto actors shoulders for a scene as co-star Jim smiled in the background.

The Queen actress was also spotted chatting to Aimee Kelly, 26, who has an unknown role in the film.

In character: Helen, 74, wore a large green wool blend coat with fur-lined boots to combat the chilly weather

Plot: Hot Fuzz actor Jim stars as a 60 year old taxi driver that steals a Goya portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London

Young talent: The Queen actress was also spotted chatting to Aimee Kelly, 26, who has an unknown role in the film

Jim looked at home in a suit and trenchcoat ensemble during takes, before donning a thick Canada Goose jacket for a walkabout outside.

The Hot Fuzz actor stars as a 60 year old taxi driver that steals a Goya portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. Helen plays the thief's wife.

Dunkirk's Fionn Whitehead has also joined the cast in an unspecified role.

Up and away: The Academy Award-winner was seen being hoisted onto actors shoulders for a scene as co-star Jim smiled in the background

Cosy: Jim, 70, looked at home in a suit and trenchcoat ensemble during takes, before donning a thick Canada Goose jacket for a walkabout outside

On set: Dunkirk's Fionn Whitehead has also joined the cast in an unspecified role

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reported in October last year that the stars were in final negotiations over the film which revolves around a stolen painting  and a crime that gripped the nation.

In the summer of 1961, Francisco de Goyas celebrated 1812 portrait of a victorious Duke of Wellington was stolen  just 19 days after it had been put on display at the National Gallery.

Alerts were posted at seaports and airports around the globe. Scotland Yard asked Interpol and the FBI to check on highly placed sources in the art world in case the painting was being auctioned on the black market.

In the picture: Jim takes on the role of thief Kempton Bunton alongside Helen as his wife. Bunton allegedly stole a Goya painting of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London in 1961

A 5,000 reward was offered and the hue and cry continued until an anonymous letter was sent to a newspaper, demanding that 140,000 (the paintings worth at the time) be donated to charity. Further correspondence was sent to the Daily Mirror declaring: The Duke is safe, his temperature cared for, his future uncertain.

The theft even featured in the first 007 film, Dr. No. The Bond baddie had the portrait of Wellington propped on an easel in his lair. Sean Connery walked in, glanced at it, and muttered: So there it is.

Unfortunately, back in the real world, the authorities had no idea where the national treasure was. Not, that is, until June 1965, when a letter arrived at the Mirror, along with a left luggage ticket for Birmingham New Street station. The Goya canvas was found there, rolled up inside a locked box.

Whodunnit? Bunton hid the painting in the back of a wardrobe and later told police that he had stolen the picture to protest against pensioners having to shell out for a television licence

But who had taken it remained a mystery until Kempton Bunton, a 61-year-old retired Geordie bus driver who lived with his wife May, a cleaning woman, and their children in a council house in Newcastle upon Tyne, gave himself up.

He had hidden Wellingtons portrait in the back of a wardrobe. He hadnt confided in his wife because otherwise the world would have known. When he did finally reveal it, she gave the Goya a good spray of Mr Sheen and a wipe because she didnt want it to be returned dusty.

Bunton told police he had stolen the painting to protest against pensioners having to shell out for a television licence. Hed noticed that the Goya had been partially acquired through state and private funding, and felt the money could have been better used to help pensioners.

Crime: The assistant keeper of the National Gallery (pictured left) and Bunton (right) appeared outside Bow Street's Magistrates Court on August 11, 1965

Confidential files from the director of public prosecutions, released via the National Archives in 2012, added another layer to the mystery.

Michell has told friends he wants the film to have the raw, working-class grittiness and humour of British New Wave movies that came out in the Sixties, such as A Taste Of Honey.
"We made some terrible mistakes, and have not effectively addressed our shortcomings."

Those were the words of Wells Fargo's new CEO, Charlie Scharf, last week in his first quarterly earnings call as head of the storied bank. Years after the bank's fake account scandal, it was a stark demonstration of how little has changed at the San Francisco-based institution.

"We still have much more work to do to put these issues behind us," Scharf said, adding that he has spent almost all of his time as CEO trying to start to fix the bank's tarnished image in the eyes of the public and address regulators' concerns. "We will take whatever actions are necessary. Our future success depends on resolving these issues, so we will act accordingly.

"The management team will be judged and held accountable for resolving these issues."

Scharf's task is not limited to repairing the bank's reputation. He also has to navigate an industry-wide digital transformation and crack down on inefficiency.

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Those challenges manifested in a quarterly earnings report for Wells Fargo that disappointed Wall Street, in part due to a $1.5 billion charge for legal costs in part related to the fake account scandal.

The results aren't likely to affect Scharf's standing among investors  he's only been in the role for a few months, and is in the midst of a wide-ranging review of the company. Those reforms, as well as how he handles the bank's regulators, will determine if he lasts longer than his impermanent predecessors.

Those executives promised swift action to fix the sprawling bank's myriad woes, which begin with the yearslong wake of a fake account scandal and spread to far-flung corners of the bank, like an ailing rail-car business. They are all out of a job, and most of those woes still remain.

Waiting for answers

Scharf chose a different tack on Tuesday, preaching caution and asking investors to be patient. He even said that he wasn't sure if any of the bank's "public issues" would be resolved this year.

And those looking for how Scharf plans to resolve those issues were out of luck.

Despite Wall Street analysts' prodding for clarity and specifics, Scharf declined to give much detail about Wells Fargo's future on the earnings call.

The 27,000 Wells Fargo employees based in Charlotte  the most of any city  will likely have to wait for clarity on the future of the bank.

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On the call, he said that there are parts of the company that are "extraordinarily inefficient," but declined to offer specifics about where cuts may be made, and on what scale. There may be "pruning" of lines of business that aren't central to the bank, but detail on what that may look like was sparse.

In his few months, Scharf has already made some changes.

He touted two new executives, both based in New York, and is in the process of hiring a new general counsel. In the process, he's started to shift the decentralized bank's power center away from its headquarters in San Francisco and towards New York where Scharf is based.
19.01.2020 LISTEN

The Deputy General of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen has condemned the recent demonstration led by the NDC, insisting the protest march to prevent a new voters register was needless.

According to the NPP chief scribe, he says since the Electoral Commission (EC) is already engaging political parties and other stakeholders there is no need to do demonstrations.

Speaking to Lawyer Ohene Gyan on Pae Mu Ka on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7, Nana Obiri Boahen said: Demonstration by the NDC and other political parties are baseless and useless it will not change anything, the EC has the sole mandate to decide whether to do a new register or not. Nana Obiri Boahen

What kind of party goes out to hold a demonstration when at the same time discussions are ongoing indoors to deliberate on the same issues, he asked.

The EC contends that the current register had been overstretched, and needed additional features of facial verification, hence the need for a new register.

The opposition parties, however, have vowed to do everything necessary to prevent the compilation of a new register, which they suspect could be used to disenfranchise some Ghanaians.

---KingdomfmOnline
FILE PHOTO: Facebook logos are seen on a mobile phone in this picture illustration taken December 2, 2019. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/Illustration

Reuters/Johanna Geron/Illustration

Clearwater AI, a facial-recognition startup that scraped social media for images, has been adopted by at least 600 law-enforcement agencies, according to a New York Times report.

The software developers relied on current and former Republican officials to sell the software to law-enforcement agencies.

The agencies reportedly have little information about the origin of Clearwater AI, which likely violated policies of sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to create its database of billions of photos.

There has been growing concern among law enforcement's use of facial-recognition technologies, particularly over fears the tools have a racial bias.

A facial-recognition startup is being used by hundreds of law enforcement agencies in the US to solve crimes, but little is known about the software, particularly among the law enforcement community, according to a Saturday report.

Per The New York Times, the software  Clearview AI  is a collaboration between Hoan Ton-That, an Australian native who moved to the US in 2007, and Richard Schwartz, a former aide to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

The two first crossed paths at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, The Times reported.

Kirenaga Partners, a small New York-based private equity firm, is also an early investor in Clearview AI, which has also received funding from venture capitalist Peter Thiel, per the report. Thiel  Facebook's first large outside investor, per CNN  still serves on Facebook's board of directors.

When a user uploads a photo to the application, which has been used by more than 600 law-enforcement agencies, Clearview AI scans for matches across its catalogue of billions of photos it scraped from social media websites, typically in violation of those sites' terms of service, according to The Times. It then shows the results to whomever made the search.

Story continues

Clearview did not share which law-enforcement agencies have used its tool. In addition to the hundreds of law-enforcement agencies, the company has also licensed its software to private companies, The Times reported. But according to the report, both local and national law enforcement agencies confirmed they had used the software to help solve crimes ranging from shoplifting to murder. The law-enforcement agencies said they had little knowledge of who had developed Clearview AI, or how the software worked, according to the report.

Facebook says it's investigating Clearview AI after The Times' report

The app's founders reportedly began marketing the service to law-enforcement agencies for as little as $2,000, The Times said. The founders reportedly relied on former and current Republican officials to approach law-enforcement agencies about using the low-priced service, or in some cases, a free trial of the software.

When analyzed by The Times, underlying code in the application also revealed the software had been designed to work with augmented reality technology, meaning someone wearing special goggles or glasses could potentially use Clearview AI to instantly determine details, including a person's identity and address. Ton-That told The Times his company was developing the augmented reality technology as a prototype, but it had no plans to release it publicly.

In a statement, a Facebook spokesperson told Business Insider the company was investigating Clearview AI following the report.

"Scraping Facebook information or adding it to a directory are prohibited by our policies, so we are reviewing the claims about this company and will take appropriate action if we find they are violating our rules," the spokesperson said.

The Facebook spokesperson would not comment on Thiel's investment in the startup, though he pointed Business Insider toward a statement from Thiel's spokesperson given to The Times.

"In 2017, Peter gave a talented young founder $200,000, which two years later converted to equity in Clearview AI," Jeremiah Hall, Thiel's spokesman said, per The Times. "That was Peter's only contribution; he is not involved in the company."

As The Times noted, Thiel attained fame for bankrolling Hulk Hogan's lawsuit that bankrupted Gawker. Thiel and Ton-That had both received negative coverage on Gawker, per the Times report.

Peter Thiel

Gettty/Neilson Barnard

Spokespeople for other social media platforms reportedly used by Clearview AI, like Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Venmo confirmed to The Times that scraping for images on its sites violated company policies. Twitter went a step further, telling The Times that it was against policy to use images from its platform for facial recognition.

When The Times asked a law-enforcement agency to run its own reporter's photo through the software, representatives for the Clearview AI, who had previously ignored her requests for information, contacted the law enforcement agencies to ask if they'd been speaking with the media.

The Times concluded the company had been keeping tabs on the reporter, Kashmir Hill, and that Clearview AI was able to see what law enforcement was searching for and when they were searching for it.

Concerns over facial recognition technology have long been centered around privacy issues and claims of racial bias in the technology. In December 2019, a study released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found facial recognition technology had a racial-bias, typically having a a more difficult time identifying non-white people and women.

On Wednesday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, expressed fears about facial-recognition technology during a meeting of the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

"This is some real life Black Mirror stuff that we're seeing here," Ocasio-Cortez said, in reference to the hit British Netflix series that often develops into the dystopian aspects of technology.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images

Despite concerns over the technology, law-enforcement agencies around the US have reportedly adopted such controversial technology, albeit the use is not often publicized due to the nature of police investigations, Business Insider previously reported.

But in addition to the typical risks and controversies associated with the use of facial-recognition technologies, Clearview AI presents new risks as potentially sensitive images are shared by law enforcement with the software with little knowledge of how the company handles its data.

As The Times noted, police agencies have had access to facial-recognition technology for decades, though tools like Clearview AI don't limit searches to government databases, which has long been a limitation for law enforcement's facial-recognition software.

Clearview AI said its software was effective about 75% of the time, though, as The Times noted, it's impossible to determine how many false results the service provides, as it has not been tested by a third party.

Read more:

Amazon is working to develop biometric scanners to link handprints to credit cards, allowing shoppers to buy with the swipe of their palm

Goldman Sachs stresses that it decides who gets an Apple Card  after Apple's snub that it was 'created by Apple, not a bank'

These clothes use outlandish designs to trick facial recognition software into thinking you're not human

AOC is sounding the alarm about the rise of facial recognition: 'This is some real-life "Black Mirror" stuff'

Read the original article on Business Insider
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-20 03:19:05|Editor: xuxin

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SANAA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths on Sunday condemned a missile attack on a government military camp in the Yemeni northeastern province of Marib.

"Progress that Yemen has made on de-escalation is very fragile. Such actions can derail this progress," Griffiths warned in a statement.

"The negotiation tables are more effective than battlefields in resolving the conflict," said the statement.

The attack on Al-Estiqbal military camp in Marib on Saturday evening killed at least 80 soldiers and injured 150 others, according to the government officials.

Marib, Yemen's oil-rich province, east of the Houthi-held capital Sanaa, is controlled by the forces of the internationally-recognized government of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, which have been battling the Houthi rebels since late 2014.

President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi asked the army to be on high alert following the attack which he blamed it on the Houthi rebels, according to a statement carried by the state SABA news agency.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the attack.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 after the Houthi group stormed much of the country's north and forced Hadi's government out of the capital Sanaa.

The United Nations has been trying to end the war that has killed tens of thousands of people and pushed the country to the brink of famine.
(Newser)  There are no restaurants in Toksook Bay, Alaska. No motels or factories. Or roads, even. But the first Americans to be counted in the 2020 census live in this tiny community of 661, at last count, on the edge of the American expanse. Their homes are huddled in a windswept Bering Sea village, painted vivid lime green, purple or neon blue to help distinguish the signs of life from a frigid white winterscape that makes it hard to tell where the frozen sea ends and the village begins. In this isolated outpost that looks little like other towns in the country, the official attempt to count everyone living in the United States will begin Tuesday. The decennial census has started in rural Alaska, out of tradition and necessity, ever since the US purchased the territory from Russia in 1867.

story continues below

Once the spring thaw hits, residents scatter for hunting and fishing grounds, and the frozen ground of January by March turns to marsh thats difficult to traverse. Mail service is spotty and internet service unreliable, which makes door-to-door surveying important. So the count has to start early. The rest of the country, plus urban areas of Alaska, will begin the census in mid-March. Some of the challenges are especially difficult in Toksook Bay, about 500 miles west of Anchorage and accessible only by boat or plane. The census provides questionnaires in 13 languages and other materials in many more, but none is one of 20 official Alaska Native languages. So translators and language experts are coming together to covey census wording and intent. It's complicated. For example, there's no equivalent for "apportionment"  the system for determining congressional representation  in the language Denaakke, also known as Koyukon Athabascan. So translators use terms for divvying up moose meat.

(Read more US Census stories.)
Koo Bon-chang speaks during a recent interview with the Hankook Ilbo, the sister of the Korea Times./ Korea Times file



By Kim Se-jeong



Koo Bon-chang, an activist for Korean-Philippine children  referred to as Kopinos here  and the creator of the blog Bad Fathers, said Sunday that last week's court ruling acquitting him and his colleagues of defamation charges has led to countless requests for them to help with recovering overdue child support payments.



"In the 24 hours after the ruling, the Kakao Talk app was flooded with messages requesting my help," Koo told The Korea Times. "Requests even came from Thailand."



In 2018, Koo and his colleagues were sued for defamation by five Koreans  three men two women  who were featured on the blog because they didn't pay child support to their former partners. They claimed that putting their pictures on the blog Bad Fathers (https://badfather540837381.wordpress.com/blog/) to push them to pay the money was slander. Koo and his colleagues won the case last week.



In the ruling, the Suwon District Court said Koo and his colleagues did not make any profit from the blog which instead served the public good. The prosecution argued posting the photos violated the information and communications network utilization laws and was intended to defame the five plaintiffs.



Koo said fear of defamation charges was what had held many of his clients back from running pictures on the blog.



"When we started the blog in July 2018, we had almost 3,100 requests at hand. But only 400 clients were courageous enough to post the pictures of their former partners. Among this 400, another 170 ended up deleting the pictures because of defamation threats. Now, they don't have to worry about this."



Koo said the court's decision caught him by surprise. "Even my lawyers said the chances of us winning were not high."



He said the ruling is helping to get pending cases solved.

"Five paid the overdue money in full and had their photos deleted. And two couples are now in negotiations."



The ruling has shed light on the issue of unpaid child care support which has until now been considered a personal affair. Although rules exist, the issue did not get enough attention even from law enforcement agencies.



A victim who testified last week said she had to turn to Bad Fathers because nothing she tried, including taking legal action, worked to make her former partner pay the child support.



Calling on the government to do more, the Kyunghyang Ilbo, a Korean language daily, wrote the work of Bad Fathers came as a wake-up call to the government which has been "deaf" to the cries of these single parents.



In 2015, the government launched the Child Support Agency to help people recover child support payments. Yet, the victim testified that she pushed her ex-husband through the agency, but it didn't work.



The ruling is expected to further empower the single parents. According to Yonhap News Agency, the police detained a father for beating up his ex-wife last weekend after she staged a protest at his workplace, demanding child care support. The man had his picture posted on the Bad Fathers blog, according to the news agency.



Koo was previously known for his activism for Kopinos, abandoned children born between Filipino mothers and Korean fathers. He helped the Filipina mothers find the Korean fathers and get child support by revealing the fathers' personal information online. The scope of his work expanded to cover cases in Korea.



He said his activism for them hasn't stopped.



"They're related. If Korean mothers don't get child care support from their spouses, there will be no hope for the Filipino mothers. That's why this ruling is important for the Kopinos."








Vineet Upadhyay By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: Magsaysay Awardee Civil Servant Sanjiv Chaturvedi has written letter to Ashok Lavasa, election commissioner of India in response to his opinion piece published in various publications calling the article by him a 'Complete Travesty' questioning his conduct in his tenure as secretary of union ministry of forest, environment and climate change regarding former's cadre change from Delhi to Uttarakhand.

Whistleblower 2002 batch Indian Forest Services Chaturvedi is currently posted as a conservator of forests (research) in Haldwani.

Chaturvedi has written 90-page letter to Lavasa through the editor of an English daily in which he has annexed 22 annexures including five court orders and various file notings during the tenure of Lavasa who was Secretary, union ministry of environment, forest and climate change from August 2014 to April 2016.

In his letter officer stated, "Despite repeated adverse observations of Court regarding unusual delay, non-compliance of pointed Court directions, and passing the orders by usurping the powers of ACC (Appointment Committee for Cabinet), which were subsequently nullified by Court and concealing the relevant precedence, no accountability of any sort was ever fixed as all these acts were committed under political directions."

"In fact, this case is a live testimony of how nexus of politicians and bureaucrats work, as bureaucrats are given perfect immunity by politicians for complying with their illegal orders, in lieu of joint partnership in various corrupt practices."

The officer, raising the issue of his interstate deputation to GNCT (Government of National Capital Territory) Delhi in year 2015-16 he has asked Lavasa to clarify, As to how your various actions in deliberately and wilfully keeping my above-mentioned case pending and undecided for months making frequent U-turns, wilfully concealing the documents, passing thoroughly illegal orders by usurping the powers of ACC which were immediately nullified by courts as various adverse court observations on your malicious actions/inactions and which resulted in my relentless harassment without any fault fit into overall framework of observations made in your article.

In the letter, he mentioned that the court orders of May 2015, October 2015, November 2015, April 2016 and June 2016.

The order of June 2016 stated that surprisingly enough, the respondents (MoEFCC and its secretary) have not yet complied with the pointed directions, which necessitated the applicant, to file the present application, for time-bound disposal of his case of inter-cadre deputation.

The letter further quotes the court order which stated, "What cannot possibly be disputed here is that the applicant was compelled to repeatedly approach this Tribunal for redressal of his grievance."

Mentioning the file boring of February 2015, the letter states Lavasa overruled the proposal of MoEFCC officials and instead proposed to take the opinion of DoPT (Department of Personnel Training) first which amount to a violation of rules.

In October 2015, the court observed, "As noticed above, admittedly no decision has been taken by the respondent No. 2 (Secretary, MoEFCC) till date, despite the expiry of about eight months from submission of the aforesaid proposed.

The whistleblower officer who was promoted this year to chief conservator of forests further wrote in the letter, "There is absolutely no such record available in public domain of any due hardship on any issue of vital public importance, or any major corruption case of any politician / senior bureaucrat being ever brought in public domain or before any enforcement agency/ courts, during any of your postings, rather the service details reflect a very smooth sailing in which throughout the service most significant positions in centre and state were assigned.

Lavasa, a 1980 batch Indian administrative Services officer has held many important positions in central government such as secretary MoEFCC, finance and civil aviation.

Recently financial and real estate transactions of family members of Lavasa were on scanner of enforcement directorate and income tax department which included allegations of stamp duty evasion in gifting of a 1.75 crore Gurugram flat between Lavasa, his wife and his sister, overseas investment from Mauritius of rupees 7.25 crore into a firm in which his son was director, discrepancies in income tax returns of wife of Lavasa from time period of 2015 to 2017.

Despite being contacted by the reporter, Lavasa was not available for the comment.
India has pledged a $50 million security assistance to Sri Lanka as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and discussed a range of bilateral issues, including strengthening cooperation in defence, intelligence sharing and maritime security.

Doval arrived in Colombo on January 18 on a previously unannounced visit during which he also met several foreign diplomats and discussed important issues of mutual interest.

"A very cordial discussion was held with National Security Advisor of India, Ajit Doval today. Strengthening of bilateral cooperation on national security, intelligence sharing, maritime security & fostering of regional collaboration, were some of the key points of discussion," President Rajapaksa tweeted on Saturday.

The President's office said Doval pledged that India will provide $50 million to Sri Lanka to help the country purchase equipment for its security forces.

During the talks, India also pledged to provide assistance to Sri Lanka with technology on intelligence gathering, The Sunday Times newspaper reported.

The President's office said President Rajapaksa and Doval also discussed improving bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation between the armed forces and coastguard agencies of the two countries and maritime security.

Doval pointed out the importance of reviewing the intelligence related to the maritime zone between Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India. He said other regional countries should also be brought into this process as observers, the paper said, quoting the President's office.

Doval has become the second highest ranking Indian official to visit Colombo after Rajapaksa assumed office in mid November.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was the first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka soon after Rajapaksa's election victory, amid China's growing influence in the island nation.

Rajapaksa chose New Delhi for his first overseas visit after becoming the president.

India's pledge for enhancing defence cooperation comes days after Russia said it will assist Sri Lanka, which is seeking ways to consolidate its regional position through balanced diplomacy and attracting foreign investments, to improve its defence capacity.

"We have been providing Sri Lanka cooperation in defence and we will continue to do so," Russian Foreign Minister Serge Lavarov said here on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka has seen a flurry of visits from high ranking foreign officials this month, including from US' Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 19)  The Philippine military confirmed that local terror group Abu Sayyaf kidnapped five Indonesians off Sabah, Malaysia and is looking into the possibility that the suspects have reached Sulu province.

The kidnapping, which happened Thursday in waters near Tambisan Island close to Tawi-Tawi, had been reported by Malaysian and Singaporean media. Eight Indonesian fishermen were initially abducted by six men, but three of them were later released.

Mataas yung probability, wala pa sa mainland Sulu nasa island pa ng Sulare, kasi immediately after the incident nakatawag agad yung Malaysia authorities sa atin, the militarys Western Mindanao Command chief LtGen Cirilito Sobejana told reporters Sunday.

[Translation: There is a high probability that they have not reached mainland Sulu and are still in Sulare island because Malaysian authorities immediately alerted us about the incident.]

Sobejana said the five who remain captive have not yet been spotted, but the speed boat which the fishermen identified to be the vessel used by their abductors was destroyed in an encounter in Sulu on Saturday which also resulted in the death of an Abu Sayyaf member.

The military rescued just last week Indonesian national Mohammad Farhan after he escaped from the Abu Sayyaf. Farhans two companions were rescued by the military in December.
The RJD, in alliance with the Congress, will contest in four constituencies of Delhi  Burari, Kirari, Palam and Uttamnagar

New Delhi: Seeking to expand its footprint outside Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will contest on four Assembly seats in Delhi in alliance with the Congress.

Polling for the 70 member-Delhi Assembly will be held on 8 February.

The RJD had initially demanded 10 percent seats in Delhi from the Congress, but finally it was decided that the party would contest on four constituencies  Burari, Kirari, Palam and Uttamnagar, senior RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said.

"We have a list of 39-40 candidates for the four seats and our SWOT analysis is going on. We will announce our candidates on Monday," he said. The last day for filing of nomination papers for the Delhi polls is Tuesday.

The RJD banking on presence of a sizeable number of Purvanchali voters in Delhi and would hope to open its account in the city with the help of its senior alliance partner. "We will give a good fight on all the four seats we are contesting," Jha said.

Delhi Congress president Subhash Chopra said the alliance will help the Congress in its efforts of challenging the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and exuded confidence that his party would form government in Delhi. The Congress, which ruled the city for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013, will for the first time go in the Assembly polls in Delhi in alliance with another party.

Taking a dig at the AAP and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for "not being vocal" against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Chopra said, "We are not opposed to Kejriwal but we do not appreciate his silence on fundamental issues that are currently being talked about."

The RJD had presence in Delhi and it contested elections here. Out of the four seats it has got in the pre-poll alliance, the party had earlier unsuccessfully contested in Kirari, Burari and Palam seats.

As a member of United Progressive Alliance(UPA), RJD contested recent Jharkhand Assembly polls along with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress and bagged one seat.
Imo State Police Command has warned against a planned public protest by supporters of Emeka Ihedioha over his sack as governor of the state and installation of Senator Hope Uzodinma as governor, by the Supreme Court.

According to police, it would not tolerate violence of any form or hijacking of the process by hoodlums.

The warning was issued the command in a press statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr Orlando Ikeokwu, and made available to newsmen in Owerri.

Read Also: SCourt Judgement: I Am Still In Shock: Ihedioha

The statement read, The Command wish to state in clear terms that it is the right of every individual or group to protest about any issue of grieve, but such protest must be carried out in accordance to the provisions of the laws, as the protest must not be violent, nor hijacked by hoodlums and used as a tool for looting, chaos and anarchy or conducted in a manner likely to cause breach of the public peace. 

The Command in conjunction with all security agencies in the state, is determined to protect the lives and properties of all and sundry, as such anyone or group that insights (sic), instigates, procures violence nor conduct itself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, will be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

The PPRO then advised members of the public to go about their lawful business without fear of molestation, as arrangements are in place, to ensure safety and security of all and sundry.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

Overall 2019 was a busy and successful year for Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Kazakhstan and ADB hopes to further build on the projects and initiatives that were launched, a representative of ADB told Trend.

According to the representative, 2019 marked the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan-ADB partnership. This year ADB approved three sovereign local currency loans for a total of $517 million-equivalent in transport, finance and agriculture and three non-sovereign loans in support of solar power development and agribusiness for a total amount of $61.5 million.

Thus, ADB has a current active sovereign loan portfolio worth $755 million for three projects.

"They include strengthening access to finance for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), especially those located in rural areas and led by women and modernizing transport infrastructure along the Aktobe-Makat and Zhetybai-Zhanaozen roads in West Kazakhstan. At the request of the Kostanay region authorities, ADB is also providing technical assistance and analytical support to the local government to foster SME creation and entrepreneurship," the official said.

In turn, banks non-sovereign loan portfolio in Kazakhstan includes three projects for about $162 million. Ongoing private sector projects include a loan to Samruk-Energy, Kazakhstans largest power generation company, to support its overall business restructuring and transformation plan, and two loans to support the construction and operation of solar power plants of a 50MW and 100 MW installed capacity in the Southern Kazakhstan.

"This year we also started activities under the new facility, ADB Ventures, to invest in business startups and facilitate the transfer of critical technology and innovative business models. Thirteen companies have already been selected for the first acceleration program in the country, leading the most successful companies to receive investment and advisory support," the official said.

To combat climate change and promote the use of clean and renewable resources, ADB is providing technical assistance to prepare a low-carbon growth strategy and an integrated water masterplan for Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan.

"In November, we launched a pilot clean technology project in Nur-Sultan that installs engine block heaters in cars to reduce the environmental impacts of starting a vehicles cold engine during the winter months," the representative said.

The bank is also working closely with the United Nations to provide support to Kazakhstan in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

"In November, we supported the First Regional Sustainable Development Goals Summit: Mobilizing Finance for SDGs organized by the government of Kazakhstan in Almaty. This years discussions focused on energy, water and climate resilience," the report said.

Talking about the impact of these projects, the official noted that the purpose of banls MSMEs support project is to help Kazakhstan in economic diversification by promoting private sector development and improving access to finance.

"It also helps reduce income inequalities and foster gender mainstreaming. The project has managed to sustain the flow of credit to the real sector, against the backdrop of an economic downturn following the decline in hydrocarbon prices that started in 2014. Funds were provided to over 16,000 local businesses, with 50 percent of loans directed to promote women-owned businesses, whereas over 70 percent of ADB-financed loans were provided to MSMEs located in regions outside the cities of Nur-Sultan and Almaty," the official said.

In turn, Aktobe-Makat and Zhetybai-Zhanaozen road projects, once completed, are expected to boost regional connectivity, promote inclusive economic growth, and increase the countrys trade links with markets in East Asia, Europe, and the Caspian Sea subregion. The solar power plants in South Kazakhstan that ADB is financing will support the development of an early-stage solar power sector in the country and help replace imports of electricity in power-deficient southern Kazakhstan with indigenous renewable sources.

In the future year, 2020, ADB is planning to work on the implementation of ongoing and newly approved sovereign and non-sovereign projects named above and continue providing advisory support through technical assistance.

"As for the sovereign financing planned for 2020, new approvals are expected to be in the order of $640 million, covering sectors such as agriculture, transport, water supply and sanitation, as well as finance. We are guided by three strategic pillars of our Country Partnership Strategy for Kazakhstan: the first pillar is to help the country diversify its economy; second is to promote inclusive development; and the third one is to strengthen a green and sustainable growth," the official concluded.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
Boris Johnson faces mounting pressure to distance the UK from Chinese telecoms giant Huawei as an alleged fraud by a top executive  China's 'Tech Princess'  is laid bare in court tomorrow.

Meng Wanzhou, 47, is the daughter of the billionaire founder of Huawei, Ren Zhengfei, 75, and is also its chief financial officer. That makes her one of China's most powerful female bosses and heiress to Huawei's billions.

But she has been humbled by allegations against her and has been under house arrest in Canada for more than a year. She has been forced to wear an electronic tag on her ankle and her passport has been seized to ensure she does not attempt to flee the country.

Extradition battle: Meng Wanzhou leaving her home in Vancouver with her every step monitored

Tomorrow, after months of legal battles, Meng is finally set to attend an extradition hearing in a Vancouver court.

Matthew Henderson of the Asia Study Centre at the Henry Jackson Society, which is opposed to Huawei being allowed into the UK's 5G infrastructure, told the Mail on Sunday last night: 'There are many reasons why it would be a very grave mistake for the British Government to encourage further Huawei engagement with Britain's digital infrastructure. But in any case it would be extraordinary for the British Government to do so when one of the company's most senior, best-connected and influential officials is about to face criminal charges related to fraud.'

Meng, a mother-of-four, has regularly been seen in public dressed immaculately and with her tracking device on full display. She has set up residence in the larger of her two homes in Canada, which she acquired when she previously lived in the country and which are worth a total of around 13million.

If her crack team of lawyers succeed she will be free to return to her home in Shenzhen, southern China. If she loses her case, which is complex and likely to stretch out over many months, Meng will be sent to the United States to go on trial.

The extradition hearing will not seek to determine whether or not Meng is guilty of fraud.

But its timing, and the fact that it will give an airing to the allegations, is awkward for Prime Minister Johnson, who is preparing to allow Huawei to play a part in building Britain's new high-speed internet structure, 5G.

Boris Johnson is preparing to allow Huawei to play a part in building Britain's new high-speed internet structure, 5G

The US has warned the British government it 'would be madness' to use Huawei technology and is understood to have handed over a dossier outlining why the firm poses a national security risk.

Tory MP Bob Seely has said Huawei 'to all intents and purposes is part of the Chinese state' and would potentially give its government access to UK networks. Huawei denies this and any links to the state.

The renewed focus on Huawei's business practices will increase pressure on Johnson to fall in line with President Donald Trump's blanket ban on Huawei, the world's largest telecoms organisation.

It is understood the British Government is preparing to hand Huawei, which has already helped build UK broadband infrastructure, a 'limited' role in developing 5G networks. Johnson said last week: 'If people oppose one brand or another then they have to tell us what's the alternative.'

Meng, who also goes by the names Sabrina Meng and Cathy Meng, was shocked when Royal Canadian Mounted Police dramatically arrested her in December 2018.

Despite being a former resident of Vancouver  a picturesque city in the western Canadian province of British Columbia that is now best known as the holiday destination of choice for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex  she was only changing flights at the city's airport on a trip from Hong Kong to Mexico City.

The renewed focus on Huawei's business practices will increase pressure on Johnson to fall in line with President Donald Trump's blanket ban on Huawei

Last month, Meng wrote a blog on Huawei's website in which she spoke of her 'fear, pain, disappointment, helplessness, torment and struggle' since being detained.

The US initially issued a warrant for Meng's arrest in August 2018. On November 30 that year, one day before Meng was due to change flights in Vancouver, the US issued Canada with a Provisional Arrest Warrant, obliging its neighbour to detain Meng on its behalf.

In the US, Meng is accused of fraud by misleading Washington and Huawei's banks, including HSBC, about the firm's business connections with Iran, in violation of US trade sanctions.

It is alleged that the Chinese giant effectively operated an Iranian telecoms company called Skycom but that Meng, and others, misled lenders about the nature of the relationship so that they would continue to offer financial support.

Ahead of tomorrow's hearing at British Columbia's Supreme Court, the Attorney General of Canada filed a written statement saying Meng's alleged conduct would amount to fraud against HSBC.

Web of intrigue: What 5G row means for UK By Jamie Nimmo What is 5G? Third generation  or 3G  mobile phone standards ushered in the era of mobile internet for consumers, while 4G allowed users to watch videos on the move. 5G is the next generation, with huge implications for the amount of data that can be transferred. The major advantage of 5G is likely to be for industry, where the real-time transfer of data is critical for automation in factories and supply chains. How does it work? 5G needs cables in the ground, just like broadband, but also antennae called 'cells', which transmit the signals over the airwaves. What is Huawei's role in this? The Chinese giant has become the world's key manufacturer of internet equipment used by major telecoms players such as BT and Vodafone  making both the cable and cells. It is among several companies that specialise in this technology, along with Ericsson and Nokia. Why is Huawei controversial? Critics argue that the Chinese state could gain access to Huawei's network if it wanted to because of the way business works in China. Huawei denies this and insists it is independent from the state. Why don't we just use other firms? We already do. The 5G infrastructure is a complex network that requires several firms' cables and equipment to be layered on top of the other. Huawei's kit is said to be cheaper but also better, according to some experts. But BT and Vodafone have already stopped fitting Huawei's technology in the most sensitive part of the network, known as the 'core'. Why are Huawei's critics worried about 5G but not broadband? Increasing amounts of sensitive data will be transmitted via 5G because it can transfer data in real time. That means more is at stake if the network is hacked.

It is claimed Meng misled an HSBC executive by giving a PowerPoint presentation saying Huawei no longer had a controlling interest in Skycom. Meng denies wrongdoing. Her lawyers allege the US action is politically motivated and claim Canadian authorities mishandled her arrest and tried to unlawfully gather information against her.

The court hearing could be the first of several stretching into 2020. British Columbia's Supreme Court will consider 'double criminality' this week, focusing on whether allegations made against Meng in the US would also be crimes in Canada.

Under extradition laws, this is the first hurdle that lawyers for Canada's Attorney General will have to overcome. Meng's lawyers say that because the case relates to US sanctions her alleged actions should not be considered criminal in Canada.

The length of the extradition battle will likely confine Meng to British Columbia for an extended time.

After a 10-day stint in a women's correctional centre following her arrest in December 2018, Meng was permitted to relocate to one of her Vancouver homes, a six-bedroom house, in exchange for Can$ 10million (6million) bail money.

Later, her lawyers persuaded the court to allow her to move into her larger abode  a seven-bedroom mansion, currently valued at around Can$ 19million (11million)  which had previously been undergoing renovation work.

Meng cannot leave her home between 11pm and 6am without permission. She is also restricted from leaving the area and is under 24-7 surveillance.

Huawei declined to comment.
MONTREAL - Francis Lalonde Langlois's favourite memory of his mother is when he was five years old and she blew up 2,000 balloons on New Years Eve because she wanted her three children to remember the first moments of the new millennium.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 19/1/2020 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Danny Lalonde Langlois, from left to right, Linda Lalonde, Stephanie Lalonde, Serge Langlois and Francis Lalonde Langlois pose in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Stephanie Lalonde, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

MONTREAL - Francis Lalonde Langlois's favourite memory of his mother is when he was five years old and she blew up 2,000 balloons on New Years Eve because she wanted her three children to remember the first moments of the new millennium.

For his sister Stephanie, it's bringing her own kids to bake and decorate for Christmas with their grandmother.

"She was very strong and had a huge heart," she said.

On the night of Nov. 15, 2019, Linda Lalonde's life was cut short when, days before her 49th birthday, she was killed in her home in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que., west of Montreal. Police said at the time that her body was found after her husband, Stephane Masse, turned himself in at a police station.

Lalonde's death is one of a recent series of alleged domestic homicides in the province that has left advocates hoping they'll be the catalyst needed to spur genuine change.

The latest woman to lose her life in the province was Jael Cantin, a 33-year-old mother of six whose body was found Thursday morning in a home in Mascouche, a suburb about 45 kilometres north of Montreal. Her partner, Benoit Cardinal, has been charged with second-degree murder.

In Lalonde's case, her family says they never saw it coming. In a recent interview at a coffee shop, two of her three children and her sisters, Julie and Carole, explained that Lalonde, a cancer survivor, had been happier than ever after getting in shape and losing 100 pounds. Masse, they said, was liked by the whole family and appeared to dote on his wife of 10 years, whom he described as his angel.

"It there was a ladder high enough to unhook the moon for her, he would have done it," Carole Lalonde said.

But experts say that in most cases, signs of domestic violence are present, and recognizing them is key to preventing murder.

The executive director of Shield of Athena, a non-profit organization for victims of family violence, says that every case is different, but domestic violence usually occurs in an escalating cycle.

There is typically rising tension, an explosion and a cool-down or "honeymoon" period that leads the abused partner to believe the violence was a momentary lapse, Melpa Kamateros said in a phone interview.

Other times, she said, the signs can be much more subtle  repeatedly calling one's partner, isolating them from friends and community or trying to control how they dress.

Researchers reported last year that Canada's domestic homicide rates have not declined in recent years, despite efforts to tackle intimate partner violence.

Women made up between 76 and 80 per cent of the adult victims of the 662 cases recorded over a nine-year stretch between 2010 and 2019, according to Peter Jaffe, a Western University professor and co-leader of the Canadian Domestic Homicide Prevention Initiative.

Every trend that emerged when the project began examining domestic homicide rates between 2010 and 2015 remained virtually unchanged when research was expanded to include data from the last three years, according to a report released last fall.

"Every death our research team reads about is painful, and it's especially painful because when the facts come out, the cases seem so predictable in hindsight," Jaffe said in a phone interview.

In about 10 per cent of cases, he said, children are killed in the context of domestic violence when one parent, most often the father, kills the children as an act of revenge against a partner leaving the relationship, or as part of a murder-suicide.

That tragic scenario played out in an east-end Montreal neighbourhood in October, when a father and his children, ages five and seven, were found dead in what police described as an apparent murder-suicide. Local media reported the mother, who found the bodies, had been in the process of separating from the father.

Only weeks later, police arriving at another Montreal home found the bodies of Dahia Khellaf, 42, and her two young sons, ages two and four. Her husband, who died by suicide, had been previously charged with assaulting her but had been acquitted around the time he signed a peace bond agreeing not to contact her.

Jaffe says warning signs can include a prior history of domestic violence, a recent or imminent separation, stalking behaviour, depression, drug abuse and access to weapons.

But all too often, he says, both victims and those around them are reluctant to speak out, due fear or shame on the part of the victim, or an unwillingness to get involved or believe the abuser is capable of violence.

"It's hard for friends, family to believe someone is capable of that," he said.

In addition to added resources to help victims and better co-ordination between police, judges, and social services, Jaffe and Kamateros say there needs to be more public awareness surrounding domestic violence, which has long been viewed as a taboo subject.

Jaffe hopes for large-scale awareness campaigns comparable to what has been done surrounding sexual harassment and mental health, in order to de-stigmatize domestic violence and encourage workplaces and families to support victims.

Kamateros agrees and wonders whether the recent spate of homicides in and around Montreal will be enough to jar society into action, in the way the denunciations against movie mogul Harvey Weinstein did for sexual assault and harassment.

"We're still waiting for that 'me too' moment," she said.

The Lalonde family say they have struggled for answers in the wake of Linda's death, which has led to a charge of first-degree murder against Masse. Stephanie Lalonde says she's still numb, "like a wilted flower," unable to process the death. Francis feels flashes of anger.

In retrospect, they look back at old photos of their mother and Masse and wonder if the way he wrapped his arm around her, or the way he phoned her repeatedly when she was out, were signs of possessiveness. But all four family members say the couple seemed happy, and Lalonde wasn't the type to endure domestic violence without saying something to her close-knit family.

They describe her as a fighter, a woman who had three children despite being told she couldn't carry a pregnancy. "She was not a victim, my sister," Julie Lalonde said.

Francis Lalonde Langlois said that, if anything, his mother's story should send the message that no family is immune from violence, no matter how happy they seem.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Jan. 19, 2020.
Cases of abduction of non-Muslim girls and forced conversion to Islam remains unabetted in PM Imran Khan's 'Naya' Pakistan. In the recent incident that joins the list, a 15-year-old girl named Mehak Kumari was abducted from her house in Jacobabad in Sindh province on Wednesday. A video from her later revealed that she had converted to Islam and married a Muslim boy named Ali Raza Machi.

"I have converted to Islam on my own free will and my Muslim name now is Aliza. I accepted Islam at Dargah Amrot Sharif and have married Raza there," said Mehak Kumari, now Aliza. The girl, student of class 9, went missing after school on January 15. Since then, her parents have complained that she was kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam.

READ | Imran Khan Ups Rhetoric, Claims 'Pakistan Ready For Referendum In PoK'

Hindu group takes up matter

The All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat (APHP), an organisation that seeks to address issues of Pakistan's minority Hindu community, said it is working very closely on the case. "Kidnapper Ali Raza Machi is 28 years old. He was married twice earlier. Some time back, he left his first wife. He has four children," an APHP member said. "APHP and Jacobabad Panchayat have mutually decided that no FIR be filed on this case and try to resolve it in a different way," APHP General Secretary Ravi Dawani said in a statement.

READ | Manjinder Sirsa Slams Pakistan For Its Treatment Of Minorities, Explains Why CAA Is Needed

Arrests made, couple untraced

Meanwhile, the Jacobabad police informed that they have arrested Ali Raza's uncle, few cousins and other family members but the couple remains untraced. The police have tied up with APHP Jacobabad chief Lalchand and other panchayat members to look for the couple in Dera Murad Jamali in a bid to arrest those behind the incident. "APHP is very much hopeful about her (Mehak's) recovery in the next 48 to 96 hours," Dawani said.

READ | Pak Sikh Girl, Allegedly Forced To Convert To Islam, Refuses To Go Home: Court Official

Other such incidents

Last year, a Sikh girl was abducted and forcefully converted in Pakistan's Nankana Sahib. Her family had alleged that she was forced to marry a Muslim man after being converted to Islam. In a similar episode, a Pakistani Christian girl, who was identified as Huma Masih, was allegedly abducted and then converted to Islam. Although she later claimed that she eloped with a Muslim man of her own will, her family said it was forced.

READ | Pakistan's Nankana Sahib Gurdwara Attacked By Mob Led By Forced-conversion Accused's Kin
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19

Trend:

Military units of the armed forces of Armenia violated ceasefire 23 times throughout the day in various direction of the front, using large-caliber machine guns,Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Armenian armed forces, located in Voskevan village and on nameless hills in Noyemberyan region, in Aygedzor village of Berd region, and on nameless hills in Krasnoselsk region subjected to fire the positions of the Azerbaijan Army located in Kamarli, Gushchu Ayrim villages of Gazakh region, in Munjuglu village of Tovuz region, in Garaveliler village and on nameless hills in Gadabay region.

The positions of Azerbaijan Army were also fired from the positions of Armenian military units located near the occupied Ajarly, Yusifjanly villages of Aghdam region, Horadiz village of Fuzuli region, as well as from the positions located on nameless hills in Goranboy and Terter regions.

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.
TULSA, Okla. - Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg made a pitch to African American voters the day before the national holiday honouring Martin Luther King Jr., visiting the site of a race massacre nearly 100 years ago that left hundreds dead and the citys thriving African American community in rubble.

The former New York City mayor spoke out against an American history of race-based economic inequality from slavery to segregation to redlining, and outlined an proposal aimed at increasing the number of black-owned homes and businesses. The plan includes a $70 billion investment in the nations most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

For black Americans, there was nothing that white landowners, businesses, banks, and politicians might not take: Their wages and their homes, their businesses and their wealth, their votes and their power, and even their lives, Bloomberg said during a speech to several hundred people at the Greenwood Cultural Center, which houses artifacts and other memorabilia from the 1921 Tulsa race massacre.

Bloomberg described the initiative as a plan for righting what I think are historic wrongs and creating opportunity and wealth in black communities.

The plan offers incentives for investment in underserved communities, increases support for black-owned banks and ties federal housing money to progress in reducing segregation. It would require bias training for police, teachers and federal contractors, and address voter disenfranchisement practices such as ID requirements, poll purging and gerrymandering.

As someone who has been very lucky in life, I often say my story would only have been possible in America, and I think thats true, Bloomberg said. But I also know that my story would have turned out very differently if I had been black, and that more black Americans of my generation would have ended up with far more wealth, had they been white.

Bloomberg also pledged to back a commission to study whether black Americans should receive reparations for slavery.

Bloomberg faced some criticism in November for visiting a black church in Brooklyn just days before launching his presidential bid, when he apologized for his longstanding support of the controversial stop-and-frisk police strategy he embraced as mayor that disproportionately impacted people of colour.

The visit to Oklahoma, a Super Tuesday state whose primary is March 3, keeps with Bloombergs strategy of skipping early voting states such as Iowa and New Hampshire and focusing on delegate-rich Texas, California and others.

Danyelle Solomon, vice-president for race and ethnicity policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund, said she was glad to see Bloomberg give the speech in Tulsa and show his awareness of how racism has had an impact over time, and was pleased that he announced policies specifically targeted at black communities. But while he hit some of the key points that need to be talked about, she said, the devil is in the details.

Theodore Johnson, who studies race, politics and policy as as senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, said Bloombergs pitch of calling for economic justice wasnt a new one, but that his record of business success could make people more inclined to listen.

Because hes so successful ... that when he talks about economic programming for black America, he actually knows what hes talking about, Johnson said.

But Johnson said black voters would be watching to see what else he did, or if it appeared that Sundays event would be a one-time speech.

In the massacre, white mobs killed an estimated 300 black residents and injured 800 more. About 8,000 residents were left homeless after firebombs, including some dropped from airplanes, destroyed movie theatres, churches and hotels and decimated the economic and cultural mecca that had become known as Black Wall Street.

The black community rebuilt in the decade that followed, but urban renewal programs in the 1950s and 1960s wiped out much of that progress, and the city remains largely segregated.

Although its been nearly 100 years since the massacre took place, we are still dealing with issues of racism and inequality in our city, said Mechelle Brown, program co-ordinator at the centre. I think our community, especially, is dealing with the historical trauma to that has been passed down from generation to generation, specifically as it relates to the history of the massacre.

Those feelings of fear, anger, bitterness, resentment have been passed down.

In the past year, several presidential candidates visited the Greenwood district, including former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. It was the first time that Brown could recall any major presidential candidate visiting the area. ORourke and Booker have seen quit the 2020 race.

While those campaign stops are undoubtedly an attempt by Democratic candidates to reach black voters, a critically important segment of the partys electorate, they also present an opportunity for residents to meet the candidates firsthand, said Judy Eason McIntyre, who represented the district in the state Legislature for a decade.

Yes, some will say its pandering, but Im not one of those, McIntyre said. It allows people to get to know them up close. It also maybe generates some excitement and knowledge about getting out to vote.

Although Sundays visit was Bloombergs first campaign stop in Oklahoma, Bloomberg Philanthropies last year granted a $1 million grant to the city to commission temporary works of art accessible to the public.

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Hajela reported from New York City.